Identification of a putative operon involved in fructooligosaccharide utilization by Lactobacillus paracasei.

ABSTRACT: The growth and activity of some Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains are stimulated by the presence of nondigestible fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which are selectively fermented by specific intestinal bacteria. Consumption of FOS, therefore, enriches for those bacteria that possess metabolic pathways necessary for FOS metabolism. In this study, a DNA microarray consisting of 7,680 random genomic library fragments of Lactobacillus paracasei 1195 was used to examine genes involved in the utilization of FOS in this organism. Differential expression profiles between cells grown on FOS and those grown on glucose provided a basis for identifying genes specifically induced by FOS. Several of the FOS-induced genes shared sequence identity with genes encoding beta-fructosidases and components

SUBMITTER: Goh YJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1694223 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature