scholarly journals Polymerization of Bacillus Subtilis MreB on A Lipid Membrane Reveals Lateral Co-Polymerization of MreB Paralogs and Strong Effects of Cations on Filament Formation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Dersch ◽  
Christian Reimold ◽  
Hannes Breddermann ◽  
Thomas Heimerl ◽  
Hervé Joel Defeu Soufo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Membrane System ◽  
Lateral Interaction ◽  
Lateral Side ◽  
Filament Formation ◽  
Divalent Ions ◽  
Average Width ◽  
Monovalent Ions ◽  
Planar Membrane

Abstract Background MreB is a bacterial ortholog of actin and forms mobile filaments underneath the cell membrane, perpendicular to the long axis of the cell, which play a crucial role for cell shape maintenance. We wished to visualize Bacillus subtilis MreB in vitro and therefore established a protocol to obtain monomeric protein, which could be polymerized on a planar membrane system, or associated with large membrane vesicles. Results Using a planar membrane system and electron microscopy, we show that Bacillus subtilis MreB forms bundles of filaments, which can branch and fuse, with an average width of 70 nm. Fluorescence microscopy of non-polymerized YFP-MreB, CFP-Mbl and mCherry-MreBH proteins showed uniform binding to the membrane, suggesting that 2D diffusion along the membrane could facilitate filament formation. After addition of divalent ions, all three proteins formed highly disordered filaments that appeared to branch and fuse, such that at high protein concentration, MreB and its paralogs generated a network of filaments extending away from the membrane. Filament formation was positively affected by divalent ions and negatively by monovalent ions. YFP-MreB or CFP-Mbl also formed filaments between two adjacent membranes, which frequently has a curved appearance. New MreB, Mbl or MreBH monomers could add to the lateral side of preexisting filaments, and MreB paralogs co-polymerized, indicating direct lateral interaction between MreB paralogs. Conslusions Our data show that B. subtilis MreB paralogs do not easily form ordered filaments in vitro, possibly due to extensive lateral contacts, but can co-polymerase. Monomeric MreB, Mbl and MreBH uniformly bind to a membrane, and form irregular and frequently branched filamentous structures, facilitated by the addition of divalent ions, and counteracted by monovalent ions, suggesting that intracellular potassium levels may be one important factor to counteract extensive filament formation and filament branching in vivo.

scholarly journals Polymerization of Bacillus subtilis MreB on a lipid membrane reveals lateral co-polymerization of MreB paralogs and strong effects of cations on filament formation

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Dersch ◽  
Christian Reimold ◽  
Joshua Stoll ◽  
Hannes Breddermann ◽  
Thomas Heimerl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Membrane System ◽  
Lateral Interaction ◽  
Lateral Side ◽  
Filament Formation ◽  
Divalent Ions ◽  
Average Width ◽  
Monovalent Ions ◽  
Planar Membrane

Abstract Background MreB is a bacterial ortholog of actin and forms mobile filaments underneath the cell membrane, perpendicular to the long axis of the cell, which play a crucial role for cell shape maintenance. We wished to visualize Bacillus subtilis MreB in vitro and therefore established a protocol to obtain monomeric protein, which could be polymerized on a planar membrane system, or associated with large membrane vesicles. Results Using a planar membrane system and electron microscopy, we show that Bacillus subtilis MreB forms bundles of filaments, which can branch and fuse, with an average width of 70 nm. Fluorescence microscopy of non-polymerized YFP-MreB, CFP-Mbl and mCherry-MreBH proteins showed uniform binding to the membrane, suggesting that 2D diffusion along the membrane could facilitate filament formation. After addition of divalent magnesium and calcium ions, all three proteins formed highly disordered sheets of filaments that could split up or merge, such that at high protein concentration, MreB and its paralogs generated a network of filaments extending away from the membrane. Filament formation was positively affected by divalent ions and negatively by monovalent ions. YFP-MreB or CFP-Mbl also formed filaments between two adjacent membranes, which frequently has a curved appearance. New MreB, Mbl or MreBH monomers could add to the lateral side of preexisting filaments, and MreB paralogs co-polymerized, indicating direct lateral interaction between MreB paralogs. Conclusions Our data show that B. subtilis MreB paralogs do not easily form ordered filaments in vitro, possibly due to extensive lateral contacts, but can co-polymerise. Monomeric MreB, Mbl and MreBH uniformly bind to a membrane, and form irregular and frequently split up filamentous structures, facilitated by the addition of divalent ions, and counteracted by monovalent ions, suggesting that intracellular potassium levels may be one important factor to counteract extensive filament formation and filament splitting in vivo.

Improved Production of Two Anti-Candida Lipopeptide Homologues Co- Produced by the Wild-Type Bacillus subtilis RLID 12.1 under Optimized Conditions

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 438-450
Author(s):  
Ramya Ramchandran ◽  
Swetha Ramesh ◽  
Anviksha A ◽  
RamLal Thakur ◽  
Arunaloke Chakrabarti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Production Yield ◽  
Yield Enhancement ◽  
Bioactive Metabolites ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
Media Formulation ◽  
Static Conditions

Background:: Antifungal cyclic lipopeptides, bioactive metabolites produced by many species of the genus Bacillus, are promising alternatives to synthetic fungicides and antibiotics for the biocontrol of human pathogenic fungi. In a previous study, the co- production of five antifungal lipopeptides homologues (designated as AF1, AF2, AF3, AF4 and AF5) by the producer strain Bacillus subtilis RLID 12.1 using unoptimized medium was reported; though the two homologues AF3 and AF5 differed by 14 Da and in fatty acid chain length were found effective in antifungal action, the production/ yield rate of these two lipopeptides determined by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography was less in the unoptimized media. Methods:: In this study, the production/yield enhancement of the two compounds AF3 and AF5 was specifically targeted. Following the statistical optimization (Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken designs) of media formulation, temperature and growth conditions, the production of AF3 and AF5 was improved by about 25.8- and 7.4-folds, respectively under static conditions. Results:: To boost the production of these two homologous lipopeptides in the optimized media, heat-inactivated Candida albicans cells were used as a supplement resulting in 34- and 14-fold increase of AF3 and AF5, respectively. Four clinical Candida auris isolates had AF3 and AF5 MICs (100 % inhibition) ranging between 4 and 16 μg/ml indicating the lipopeptide’s clinical potential. To determine the in vitro pharmacodynamic potential of AF3 and AF5, time-kill assays were conducted which showed that AF3 (at 4X and 8X concentrations) at 48h exhibited mean log reductions of 2.31 and 3.14 CFU/ml of C. albicans SC 5314, respectively whereas AF5 at 8X concentration showed a mean log reduction of 2.14 CFU/ml. Conclusion:: With the increasing threat of multidrug-resistant yeasts and fungi, these antifungal lipopeptides produced by optimized method promise to aid in the development of novel antifungal that targets disease-causing fungi with improved efficacy.

scholarly journals Safety Assessment of Bacillus subtilis MB40 for Use in Foods and Dietary Supplements

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 733
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Spears ◽  
Richard Kramer ◽  
Andrey I. Nikiforov ◽  
Marisa O. Rihner ◽  
Elizabeth A. Lambert
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
Genome Sequencing ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Safety Assessment ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Strain Identification ◽  
Consumer Safety

With the growing popularity of probiotics in dietary supplements, foods, and beverages, it is important to substantiate not only the health benefits and efficacy of unique strains but also safety. In the interest of consumer safety and product transparency, strain identification should include whole-genome sequencing and safety assessment should include genotypic and phenotypic studies. Bacillus subtilis MB40, a unique strain marketed for use in dietary supplements, and food and beverage, was assessed for safety and tolerability across in silico, in vitro, and in vivo studies. MB40 was assessed for the absence of undesirable genetic elements encoding toxins and mobile antibiotic resistance. Tolerability was assessed in both rats and healthy human volunteers. In silico and in vitro testing confirmed the absence of enterotoxin and mobile antibiotic resistance genes of safety concern to humans. In rats, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for MB40 after repeated oral administration for 14 days was determined to be 2000 mg/kg bw/day (equivalent to 3.7 × 1011 CFU/kg bw/day). In a 28 day human tolerability trial, 10 × 109 CFU/day of MB40 was well tolerated. Based on genome sequencing, strain characterization, screening for undesirable attributes and evidence of safety by appropriately designed safety evaluation studies in rats and humans, Bacillus subtilis MB40 does not pose any human health concerns under the conditions tested.

scholarly journals Deletion of Rap‐Phr systems in Bacillus subtilis influences in vitro biofilm formation and plant root colonization

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathilde Nordgaard ◽  
Rasmus Møller Rosenbek Mortensen ◽  
Nikolaj Kaae Kirk ◽  
Ramses Gallegos‐Monterrosa ◽  
Ákos T. Kovács
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Root Colonization ◽  
Plant Root

scholarly journals Kinetic Analysis of tRNA-Directed Transcription Antitermination of the Bacillus subtilis glyQS Gene In Vitro

2004 ◽  
Vol 186 (16) ◽  
pp. 5392-5399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank J. Grundy ◽  
Tina M. Henkin
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Assay System ◽  
Nascent Transcript ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
T Box ◽  
Transcription Antitermination ◽  
Transcriptional Pausing ◽  
Transcription Complexes ◽  
Kinetics Of

ABSTRACT Binding of uncharged tRNA to the nascent transcript promotes readthrough of a leader region transcription termination signal in genes regulated by the T box transcription antitermination mechanism. Each gene in the T box family responds independently to its cognate tRNA, with specificity determined by base pairing of the tRNA to the leader at the anticodon and acceptor ends of the tRNA. tRNA binding stabilizes an antiterminator element in the transcript that sequesters sequences that participate in formation of the terminator helix. tRNAGly-dependent antitermination of the Bacillus subtilis glyQS leader was previously demonstrated in a purified in vitro assay system. This assay system was used to investigate the kinetics of transcription through the glyQS leader and the effect of tRNA and transcription elongation factors NusA and NusG on transcriptional pausing and antitermination. Several pause sites, including a major site in the loop of stem III of the leader, were identified, and the effect of modulation of pausing on antitermination efficiency was analyzed. We found that addition of tRNAGly can promote antitermination as long as the tRNA is added before the majority of the transcription complexes reach the termination site, and variations in pausing affect the requirements for timing of tRNA addition.

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