Physiological characteristics of Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR-1 that control cell growth under high-iron and low-oxygen conditions

Sci Rep. 2017 Jun 5;7(1):2800. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-03012-4.

Abstract

Magnetosome formation by Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR-1 is dependent on iron and oxygen levels. We used transcriptome to evaluate transcriptional profiles of magnetic and non-magnetic MSR-1 cells cultured under high-iron and low-iron conditions. A total of 80 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 53 upregulated and 27 downregulated under high-iron condition. These DEGs belonged to the functional categories of biological regulation, oxidation-reduction process, and ion binding and transport, and were involved in sulfur metabolism and cysteine/methionine metabolism. Comparison with our previous results from transcriptome data under oxygen-controlled conditions indicated that transcription of mam or mms was not regulated by oxygen or iron signals. 17 common DEGs in iron- and oxygen-transcriptomes were involved in energy production, iron transport, and iron metabolism. Some unknown-function DEGs participate in iron transport and metabolism, and some are potential biomarkers for identification of Magnetospirillum strains. IrrA and IrrB regulate iron transport in response to low-oxygen and high-iron signals, respectively. Six transcription factors were predicted to regulate DEGs. Fur and Crp particularly co-regulate DEGs in response to changes in iron or oxygen levels, in a proposed joint regulatory network of DEGs. Our findings provide new insights into biomineralization processes under high- vs. low-iron conditions in magnetotactic bacteria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / radiation effects
  • Iron / metabolism*
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Magnetosomes / metabolism*
  • Magnetospirillum / physiology*
  • Multigene Family
  • Oxygen / metabolism*

Substances

  • Iron
  • Oxygen