Systems evaluation reveals novel transporter YohJK renders 3-hydroxypropionate tolerance in Escherichia coli

Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 4;10(1):19064. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-76120-3.

Abstract

Previously, we have reported that 3-hydroxypropionate (3-HP) tolerance in Escherichia coli W is improved by deletion of yieP, a less-studied transcription factor. Here, through systems analyses along with physiological and functional studies, we suggest that the yieP deletion improves 3-HP tolerance by upregulation of yohJK, encoding putative 3-HP transporter(s). The tolerance improvement by yieP deletion was highly specific to 3-HP, among various C2-C4 organic acids. Mapping of YieP binding sites (ChIP-exo) coupled with transcriptomic profiling (RNA-seq) advocated seven potential genes/operons for further functional analysis. Among them, the yohJK operon, encoding for novel transmembrane proteins, was the most responsible for the improved 3-HP tolerance; deletion of yohJK reduced 3-HP tolerance regardless of yieP deletion, and their subsequent complementation fully restored the tolerance in both the wild-type and yieP deletion mutant. When determined by 3-HP-responsive biosensor, a drastic reduction of intracellular 3-HP was observed upon yieP deletion or yohJK overexpression, suggesting that yohJK encodes for novel 3-HP exporter(s).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing
  • Escherichia coli Proteins* / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins* / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli* / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli* / genetics
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Lactic Acid* / analogs & derivatives
  • Lactic Acid* / toxicity
  • Operon
  • Protein Binding

Substances

  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • hydracrylic acid
  • Lactic Acid