A single point mutation in the listerial betL sigma(A)-dependent promoter leads to improved osmo- and chill-tolerance and a morphological shift at elevated osmolarity

Authors

Ronald F. Hoffman, Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre; University College Cork; Cork, Ireland; Department of Biological Sciences; Cork Institute of Technology; Cork, Ireland.
Susan McLernon, Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre; University College Cork; Cork, Ireland
Audrey Feeney, Department of Biological Sciences; Cork Institute of Technology; Cork, Ireland.
Colin Hill, Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre; University College Cork; Cork, Ireland
Roy D. Sleator, Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre; University College Cork; Cork, Ireland; Department of Biological Sciences; Cork Institute of Technology; Cork, Ireland.

Abstract

Betaine uptake in Listeria monocytogenes is mediated by three independent transport systems, the simplest of which in genetic terms is the secondary transporter BetL. Using a random mutagenesis approach, based on the E. coli XL1 Red mutator strain, we identified a single point mutation in a putative promoter region upstream of the BetL coding region which leads to a significant increase in betL transcript levels under osmo- and chill-stress conditions and a concomitant increase in stress tolerance. Furthermore, the mutation appears to counter the heretofore unreported “twisted” cell morphology observed for L. monocytogenes grown at elevated osmolarities in tryptone soy broth.

Disciplines

Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology | Biotechnology | Food Biotechnology | Food Microbiology | Food Science

DOI

10.4161/bioe.24094

Full Publication Date

March 2013

Publication Details

Bioengineered

Originally published by Landes Sciences, which was acquired by Taylor & Francis in June 2014

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Funder Name 1

European Commission

Award Number 1

FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IAPP

Funder Name 2

Irish Research Council of Science Engineering and Technology (IRCSET)

Award Number 2

RS/2010/2300

Funder Name 3

ESCMID Society

Resource Type

journal article

Access Rights

open access

Open Access Route

Undetermined

License Condition

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Alternative Identifier

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4161/bioe.24095

Recommended Citation

Bioengineered. (2013). A single point mutation in the listerial betL σA-dependent promoter leads to improved osmo- and chill-tolerance and a morphological shift at elevated osmolarity. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4161/bioe.24094. ‌