Stress-Induced Sulfide Production by Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus megaterium

Abstract

It was previously discovered that, in the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli growing on a minimal medium with sulfate, stress-induced growth arrest is accompanied by the release of hydrogen sulfide. The source of the sulfide is the desulfurization of intracellular cysteine as one of the ways of maintaining it at a safe level. The danger of excess cysteine is associated with its participation in the Fenton reaction, leading to the formation of highly toxic hydroxyl radicals. Using electrochemical sensors, we identified stress-induced sulfide production in the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus megaterium, growing on a minimal medium with sulfate, and changes in physiological parameters such as Eh, pH, and oxygen and potassium consumption. Sulfide production was observed during growth arrest due to the depletion of glucose, ammonium or antibiotic action. The use of sensors allowed to continuously record, in growing cultures, even small changes in parameters. There were significant differences in the amount and kinetics of sulfide production between Bacillus and E. coli. These differences are thought to be due to the lack of glutathione in Bacillus. It is suggested that stress-induced sulfide production by Bacillus under the described conditions may be one of the previously unknown sources of hydrogen sulfide in nature.