Inactivation of Cysteine Synthase CysK-A enhances flocculation, biofilm formation, and sensitivity to oxidative stress in <i>Azospirillum brasilense</i> Sp7.

ABSTRACT: Cysteine biosynthesis is a critical metabolic pathway for bacterial physiology. However, the full impact on the lifestyle of the plant-beneficial bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 is not completely understood. Our previous work identified a cysteine synthase A (CysK-A) as a key enzyme in cysteine synthesis in A. brasilense Sp7, but its inactivation did not lead to cysteine auxotrophy, suggesting functional redundancy in this type of enzyme. Here, we comprehensively characterized an A. brasilense AR cysK-A mutant, revealing a multifaceted phenotype that highlights the indispensable role of CysK-A. The cysK-A mutant exhibited a growth defect that was rescued by genetic and chemical complementation, underscoring the importance of de novo cysteine

SUBMITTER: Herrera-Galindo J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12811640 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature