Functional analysis of the response regulator DegU in Bacillus megaterium DSM319 and comparative secretome analysis of degSU mutants

Bacterial cell differentiation during plant root colonization: the putative role of fructans

Plant-growth-promoting microorganisms are extensively studied and employed as alternatives to toxic agrochemicals to enhance plant health. However, one of the main concerns regarding their use is their limited capacity to colonize plant tissues after initial application. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved during plant colonization could help to develop strategies to improve the efficacy of beneficial microbes in the field. Polysaccharides, including fructans, may be of particular interest since they have been shown to promote cellular and morphological changes in bacteria from the genus Bacillus that are typically associated with improved root colonization, such as increased motility and biofilm reinforcement. The potential role of fructans as signalling molecules affecting plant-microbe interactions is discussed in the context of plant root colonization with a focus on the model organism Bacillus subtilis, a well-characterized rhizobacterium. First, the molecular processes underlying B. subtilis cell differentiation are explained and connected to plant root colonization. Secondly, we explore how fructans, in particular inulin and levan, may interfere during these processes. These views call for further research into the putative role of inulin and levan-type fructans as microbial signalling molecules, with the aim of developing beneficial microbial networks in the rhizosphere.

Tuning transcription factor DegU for developing extracellular protease overproducer in Bacillus pumilus

BACKGROUND

Global transcription machinery engineering (gTME) is an effective approach employed in strain engineering to rewire gene expression and reshape cellular metabolic fluxes at the transcriptional level.

RESULTS

In this study, we utilized gTME to engineer the positive transcription factor, DegU, in the regulation network of major alkaline protease, AprE, in Bacillus pumilus. To validate its functionality when incorporated into the chromosome, we performed several experiments. First, three negative transcription factors, SinR, Hpr, and AbrB, were deleted to promote AprE synthesis. Second, several hyper-active DegU mutants, designated as DegU(hy), were selected using the fluorescence colorimetric method with the host of the Bacillus subtilis ΔdegSU mutant. Third, we integrated a screened degU(L113F) sequence into the chromosome of the Δhpr mutant of B. pumilus SCU11 to replace the original degU gene using a CRISPR/Cas9 system. Finally, based on transcriptomic and molecular dynamic analysis, we interpreted the possible mechanism of high-yielding and found that the strain produced alkaline proteases 2.7 times higher than that of the control strain (B. pumilus SCU11) in LB medium.

CONCLUSION

Our findings serve as a proof-of-concept that tuning the global regulator is feasible and crucial for improving the production performance of B. pumilus. Additionally, our study established a paradigm for gene function research in strains that are difficult to handle.

Regulator DegU is required for multicellular behavior in Lysinibacillus sphaericus

DegS and DegU make up a two component system belonging to a class of signal transduction systems that play important roles in a broad range of bacterial responses to the environment. However, little study has been done to explore the physiological functions of DegS-DegU in mosquitocidal Lysinibacillus sphaericus. In this study, it was found that deletion of degU or degS-degU inhibited the swarming motility, biofilm formation, sporulation and binary toxin production through regulating the related genes, and phosphorylation was necessary for the functions of DegU. Based on the findings, a regulation network mediated by DegU was delineated. Both DegU-pi and Spo0A-pi positively regulates genes which are linked with the transition from stage Ⅱ to the end of the sporulation process and also influences the production of binary toxins via regulation on sigE. Both DegU-pi and Spo0A-pi negatively regulate abrB/sinR and influence the biofilm formation. DegU-pi can positively regulate the motility via the regulation on sigD. Whether the regulations are directly or indirectly need to be explored. Moreover, Spo0A-pi may indirectly regulate the swarming motility through negatively regulating DegU. It was concluded that DegU is a global transcriptional regulator on cell swarming motility, biofilm formation, sporulation and virulence in L. sphaericus.

A Bacillus megaterium System for the Production of Recombinant Proteins and Protein Complexes

For many years the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus megaterium has been used for the production and secretion of recombinant proteins. For this purpose it was systematically optimized. Plasmids with different inducible promoter systems, with different compatible origins, with small tags for protein purification and with various specific signals for protein secretion were combined with genetically improved host strains. Finally, the development of appropriate cultivation conditions for the production strains established this organism as a bacterial cell factory even for large proteins. Along with the overproduction of individual proteins the organism is now also used for the simultaneous coproduction of up to 14 recombinant proteins, multiple subsequently interacting or forming protein complexes. Some of these recombinant strains are successfully used for bioconversion or the biosynthesis of valuable components including vitamins. The titers in the g per liter scale for the intra- and extracellular recombinant protein production prove the high potential of B. megaterium for industrial applications. It is currently further enhanced for the production of recombinant proteins and multi-subunit protein complexes using directed genetic engineering approaches based on transcriptome, proteome, metabolome and fluxome data.

Metabolome analysis reveals the effect of carbon catabolite control on the poly(γ-glutamic acid) biosynthesis of Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 9945

Poly(γ-glutamic acid) (PGA) is a polymer composed of L- and/or D-glutamic acids that is produced by Bacillus sp. Because the polymer has various features as water soluble, edible, non-toxic and so on, it has attracted attention as a candidate for many applications such as foods, cosmetics and so on. However, although it is well known that the intracellular metabolism of Bacillus sp. is mainly regulated by catabolite control, the effect of the catabolite control on the PGA producing Bacillus sp. is largely unknown. This study is the first report of metabolome analysis on the PGA producing Bacillus sp. that reveals the effect of carbon catabolite control on the metabolism of PGA producing Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 9945. Results showed that the cells cultivated in glycerol-containing medium showed higher PGA production than the cells in glucose-containing medium. Furthermore, metabolome analysis revealed that the activators of CcpA and CodY, global regulatory proteins of the intracellular metabolism, accumulated in the cells cultivated in glycerol-containing and glucose-containing medium, respectively, with CodY apparently inhibiting PGA production. Moreover, the cells seemed to produce glutamate from citrate and ammonium using glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase. Pulsed addition of di-ammonium hydrogen citrate, as suggested by the metabolome result, was able to achieve the highest value so far for PGA production in B. licheniformis.

Getting the big beast to work--systems biotechnology of Bacillus megaterium for novel high-value proteins

The high industrial relevance of the soil bacterium Bacillus megaterium as host for recombinant proteins is driving systems-wide analyses of its metabolic and regulatory networks. The present review highlights novel systems biology tools available to unravel the various cellular components on the level of metabolic and regulatory networks. These provide a rational platform for systems metabolic engineering of B. megaterium. In line, a number of interesting studies have particularly focused on studying recombinant B. megaterium in its industrial bioprocess environment thus integrating systems metabolic engineering with systems biotechnology and providing the full picture toward optimal processes.

Transcriptome profiling of degU expression reveals unexpected regulatory patterns in Bacillus megaterium and discloses new targets for optimizing expression

The first whole transcriptome assessment of a Bacillus megaterium strain provides unanticipated insights into the degSU regulon considered to be of central importance for exo-enzyme production. Regulatory patterns as well as the transcription of degSU itself deviate from the model organism Bacillus subtilis; the number of DegU-regulated secretory enzymes is rather small. Targets for productivity optimization, besides degSU itself, arise from the unexpected DegU-dependent induction of the transition-state regulator AbrB during exponential growth. Induction of secretion-assisting factors, such as the translocase subunit SecY or the signal peptidase SipM, promote hypersecretion. B. megaterium DegSU transcriptional control is advantageous for production purposes, since the degU32 constitutively active mutant conferred hypersecretion of a heterologous Bacillus amyloliquefaciens amylase without the detrimental rise, as for B. subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis, in extracellular proteolytic activities.