Role of RelGsu in stress response and Fe(III) reduction in Geobacter sulfurreducens.

TitleRole of RelGsu in stress response and Fe(III) reduction in Geobacter sulfurreducens.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2006
AuthorsDiDonato LN, Sullivan SA, Methé BA, Nevin KP, England R, Lovley DR
JournalJ Bacteriol
Volume188
Issue24
Pagination8469-78
Date Published2006 Dec
ISSN0021-9193
KeywordsBacterial Proteins, Culture Media, Ferric Compounds, Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial, Geobacter, Guanosine Tetraphosphate, Heat-Shock Response, Ligases, Mutation, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Oxidation-Reduction, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Sulfur
Abstract

Geobacter species are key members of the microbial community in many subsurface environments in which dissimilatory metal reduction is an important process. The genome of Geobacter sulfurreducens contains a gene designated rel(Gsu), which encodes a RelA homolog predicted to catalyze both the synthesis and the degradation of guanosine 3',5'-bispyrophosphate (ppGpp), a regulatory molecule that signals slow growth in response to nutrient limitation in bacteria. To evaluate the physiological role of Rel(Gsu) in G. sulfurreducens, a rel(Gsu) mutant was constructed and characterized, and ppGpp levels were monitored under various conditions in both the wild-type and rel(Gsu) mutant strains. In the wild-type strain, ppGpp and ppGp were produced in response to acetate and nitrogen deprivation, whereas exposure to oxygen resulted in an accumulation of ppGpp alone. Neither ppGpp nor ppGp could be detected in the rel(Gsu) mutant. The rel(Gsu) mutant consistently grew to a higher cell density than the wild type in acetate-fumarate medium and was less tolerant of oxidative stress than the wild type. The capacity for Fe(III) reduction was substantially diminished in the mutant. Microarray and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analyses indicated that during stationary-phase growth, protein synthesis genes were up-regulated in the rel(Gsu) mutant and genes involved in stress responses and electron transport, including several implicated in Fe(III) reduction, were down-regulated in the mutant. The results are consistent with a role for Rel(Gsu) in regulating growth, stress responses, and Fe(III) reduction in G. sulfurreducens under conditions likely to be prevalent in subsurface environments.

DOI10.1128/JB.01278-06
Alternate JournalJ. Bacteriol.
PubMed ID17041036