Expression of degQ gene and its effect on lipopeptide production as well as formation of secretory proteases in Bacillus subtilis strains

The lipopeptide-producingBacillus subtilis strains JABs24 and DSM10T differ by one single base substitution in thedegQ promoter region, resulting in drastically reduceddegQ expression in JABs24. Subsequent deletion of thedegQ gene in DSM10T or integration of a natively expresseddegQ version in JABs24 revealed, among others, the differential effects of DegQ on the formation of the lipopeptides surfactin and plipastatin. Additional effects on the formation of secretory proteases do not seem to have any influence on lipopeptide stability. AbstractBacillus subtilis is described as a promising production strain for lipopeptides. In the case ofB.subtilis strains JABs24 and DSM10T, surfactin and plipastatin are produced. Lipopeptide formation is controlled, among others, by the DegU response regulator. The activating phospho-transfer by the DegS sensor kinase is stimulated by the pleiotropic regulator DegQ, resulting in enhanced DegU activation. InB. subtilis 168, a point mutation in thedegQ promoter region leads to a reduction in gene expression. Corresponding reporter strains showed a 14-fold reduced expression. This effect ondegQ expression and the associated impact on lipopeptide formation was examined forB.subtilis JABs24, a lipopeptide-producing derivative of strain 168, andB.subtilis wild-type strain DSM10T, which has a nativedegQ expression. Based on the stimulatory effects of the DegU regulator on secretory protease formation, the impact ofdegQ expression on extracellular ...

Source: MicrobiologyOpen - October 14, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: Lars Lilge, Maliheh Vahidinasab, Isabel Adiek, Philipp Becker, Chanthiya Kuppusamy Nesamani, Chantal Treinen, Mareen Hoffmann, Kambiz Morabbi Heravi, Marius Henkel, Rudolf Hausmann Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research