Dimethyl phthalate inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli K-12 by regulating sugar transport and energy metabolism

Abstract

Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) is one of the most widely used plasticizers, and it is easily released into the environment, posing a threat to microbes. In this study, the impact of DMP on the uptake and metabolism of sugars in E. coli K-12 was assessed using proteomics, computational simulation analysis, transcriptome analysis, and sugar utilization experiments. DMP contamination inhibited the growth of E. coli K-12 and downregulated the expression of proteins in ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and the phosphotransferase (PTS) system of E. coli K-12, which are primarily involved in the transmembrane transport of sugars. DMP formed a stable complex with sugar transporters and changed the rigidity and stability of the proteins. Furthermore, DMP treatment decreased the utilization of L-arabinose, glucose, D-xylose, and maltose. Moreover, carbon metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation were also downregulated by DMP. Our study shows that DMP reduces the uptake of sugars and ATP production and subsequently inhibits the growth of E. coli K-12.

Keywords: Carbon metabolic pathway; Computer simulation; Dimethyl phthalate; Escherichia coli K-12; Sugar transporters; Toxicity mechanism.