Transcriptional Regulator AcrR Increases Ethanol Tolerance through Regulation of Fatty Acid Synthesis in Lactobacillus plantarum

Abstract

Ethanol tolerance is essential for L. plantarum strains living in substances with more than 9% ethanol, such as wine and beer. The details regarding how L. plantarum adapts to ethanol are still lacking. This study demonstrates that AcrR regulates the de novo synthesis of fatty acids in L. plantarum adapting to toxic levels of ethanol. We also identified the ability of the TetR/AcrR family regulator to bind to the fatty acid biosynthesis gene promoter, P fabZ1 , in L. plantarum and defined the binding sites. This finding facilitates the induction of the adaptation of L. plantarum strains to ethanol for food fermentation applications.