Transcriptional regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis in Lactococcus lactis

J Bacteriol. 2013 Mar;195(5):1081-9. doi: 10.1128/JB.02043-12. Epub 2012 Dec 28.

Abstract

Here we study the influence of the putative fatty acid biosynthesis (FAB) regulator FabT (originally called RmaG [Llmg_1788]) on gene transcription in Lactococcus lactis MG1363. A strain with a knockout mutation of the putative regulator was constructed, and its transcriptome was compared to that of the wild-type strain. Almost all FAB genes were significantly upregulated in the knockout. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) and DNase I footprinting, the binding motif of the regulator and the binding locations in the genome were characterized. Fatty acid composition analysis revealed that a strain lacking FabT contained significantly more saturated acyl chains in its phospholipids. This observation demonstrates that the vital pathway of FAB in L. lactis is regulated by the repressor FabT.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA Footprinting
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • DNA, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Deoxyribonuclease I / metabolism
  • Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay
  • Fatty Acids / biosynthesis*
  • Fatty Acids / chemistry
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Lactococcus lactis / genetics*
  • Lactococcus lactis / metabolism*
  • Membrane Lipids / chemistry
  • Mutation
  • Phospholipids / chemistry
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Fatty Acids
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Phospholipids
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Deoxyribonuclease I