The presence of conjugative plasmid pLS20 affects global transcription of Its Bacillus subtilis host and confers beneficial stress resistance to cells.

ABSTRACT: Conjugation activity of plasmid pLS20 from Bacillus subtilis subsp. natto is induced when cells are diluted into fresh medium and diminishes as cells enter into stationary-phase growth. Transcriptional profiling shows that during mid-exponential growth, more than 5% of the host genes are affected in the presence of the plasmid, in contrast to the minor changes seen in freshly diluted and stationary-phase cells. Changes occurred in many metabolic pathways, although pLS20 does not confer any detectable burden on its host cell, as well as in membrane and cell wall-associated processes, in the large motility operon, and in several other cellular processes. In agreement with these changes, we found considerable alterations in motility and enzyme activity and increased resistance against several

SUBMITTER: Rosch TC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3911045 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature