Affiliation:
1. Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of the Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Applied Microorganisms and Metabolic Engineering, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
2. Biochemical Engineering College, Beijing Union University, Beijing, China
3. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
Abstract
Serratia marcescens
, a Gram-negative bacterium, is found in a wide range of ecological niches and can produce several secondary metabolites, including prodigiosin, althiomycin, and serratamolide. Among them, prodigiosin shows diverse functions as an immunosuppressant, antimicrobial, and anticancer agent. However, the regulatory mechanisms behind prodigiosin synthesis in
S. marcescens
are not completely understood. Here, we adapted a transposon mutant library to identify the genes related to prodigiosin synthesis, and the
BVG90_22495
gene encoding the LysR-type regulator MetR was found to negatively regulate prodigiosin synthesis. The molecular mechanism of the
metR
mutant hyperproducing prodigiosin was investigated. Additionally, we provided evidence supporting new roles for MetR in regulating methionine biosynthesis, cell motility, heat tolerance, H
2
O
2
tolerance, and exopolysaccharide synthesis in
S. marcescens
. Collectively, this work provides novel insight into regulatory mechanisms of prodigiosin synthesis and uncovers novel roles for the highly conserved MetR protein in regulating prodigiosin synthesis, heat tolerance, exopolysaccharide (EPS) synthesis, and biofilm formation.
Funder
National first-class Discipline Program of Light Industry Technology and Engineering
Key Research and Development Program of Ningxia hui autonomous region
Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities
Program of the Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, China
Innovation project of Jiangsu Province
National Natural Science Foundation of China
MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China Stem Cell and Translational Research
Publisher
American Society for Microbiology
Subject
Ecology,Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology,Food Science,Biotechnology