Surfactin Facilitates Horizontal Gene Transfer in Bacillus subtilis

Frontiers in Microbiology

Anna Dragoš¹  Polonca Stefanic²  Ines Mandic-Mulec²  Mihael Spacapan²  Iztok Dogsa²  Tjaša Danevčič² 

[1] Bacterial Interactions and Evolution Group, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark;Chair of Microbiology, Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia;

关键词: quorum sensing;    competence;    surfactin;    DNA exchange;    extracellular DNA;    cell lysis;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fmicb.2021.657407

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Genetic competence for the uptake and integration of extracellular DNA is a key process in horizontal gene transfer (HGT), one of the most powerful forces driving the evolution of bacteria. In several species, development of genetic competence is coupled with cell lysis. Using Bacillus subtilis as a model bacterium, we studied the role of surfactin, a powerful biosurfactant and antimicrobial lipopeptide, in genetic transformation. We showed that surfactin itself promotes cell lysis and DNA release, thereby promoting HGT. These results, therefore, provide evidence for a fundamental mechanism involved in HGT and significantly increase our understanding of the spreading of antibiotic resistance genes and diversification of microbial communities in the environment.

【 授权许可】

Unknown