Stabilization of homoserine-O-succinyltransferase (MetA) decreases the frequency of persisters in Escherichia coli under stressful conditions.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial persisters are a small subpopulation of cells that exhibit multi-drug tolerance without genetic changes. Generally, persistence is associated with a dormant state in which the microbial cells are metabolically inactive. The bacterial response to unfavorable environmental conditions (heat, oxidative, acidic stress) induces the accumulation of aggregated proteins and enhances formation of persister cells in Escherichia coli cultures. We have found that methionine supplementation reduced the frequency of persisters at mild (37°C) and elevated (42°C) temperatures, as well as in the presence of acetate. Homoserine-o-succinyltransferase (MetA), the first enzyme in the methionine biosynthetic pathway, is prone to aggregation under many stress conditions, resulting in a methionine limita

SUBMITTER: Mordukhova EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4201533 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature