Selection for novel metabolic capabilities in Salmonella enterica.

ABSTRACT: Bacteria are known to display extensive metabolic diversity and many studies have shown that they can use an extensive repertoire of small molecules as carbon- and energy sources. However, it is less clear to what extent a bacterium can expand its existing metabolic capabilities by acquiring mutations that, for example, rewire its metabolic pathways. To investigate this capability and potential for evolution of novel phenotypes, we sampled large populations of mutagenized Salmonella enterica to select very rare mutants that can grow on minimal media containing 124 low molecular weight compounds as sole carbon sources. We found mutants growing on 18 of these novel carbon sources, and identified the causal mutations that allowed growth for four of them. Mutations that relieve physiological c

SUBMITTER: Warsi O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6593847 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature