BrnQ Branched-Chain Amino Acid Transporters Influence Toxin Production by, but Not Growth of, <i>Clostridium perfringens</i> Type A Strain ATCC3624.

ABSTRACT: By producing alpha toxin (PLC) and perfringolysin O (PFO), Clostridium perfringens type A strains are the most common cause of traumatic gas gangrene. C. perfringens cannot synthesize branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), so BCAA transporters are essential for C. perfringens growth and survival. C. perfringens type A strain ATCC3624 encodes the BrnQ1, BrnQ2, and BrnQ3 BCAA transporters. RT-PCR analyses showed that, with increasing culture time in TY broth, brnQ2 and brnQ3 expression levels remained stable but brnQ1 expression levels declined. Single null mutants unable to produce one of the BrnQ proteins grew and survived similarly as wild type. However, these mutants all showed altered PLC production, especially in the early culture stage, an

SUBMITTER: Li J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12031218 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature