Methanol production during chemotaxis to amino acids in Bacillus subtilis

Molecular Microbiology
J R KirbyG W Ordal

Abstract

The 20 common amino acids act as attractants during chemotaxis by the Gram-positive organism Bacillus subtilis. In this study, we report that all amino acids induce B. subtilis to produce methanol both upon addition and removal of the chemoeffector. Asparagine-induced methanol production is specific to the McpB receptor and aspartate-induced methanol production correlates with receptor occupancy. These findings suggest that addition and removal of all amino acids cause demethylation of specific receptors which results in methanol production. We also demonstrate that certain attractants cause greater production of methanol after multiple stimulations. CheC and CheD, while affecting the levels of receptor methylation, are not absolutely required for either methylation or demethylation. In contrast, CheY is necessary for methanol formation upon removal of attractant but not upon addition of attractant. We conclude that methanol formation due to negative stimuli indicates the existence of a unique adaptational mechanism in B. subtilis involving the response regulator, CheY.

Citations

Dec 2, 2004·Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology·George H Wadhams, Judith P Armitage
Jul 19, 2002·Molecular Microbiology·Michael A ZimmerGeorge W Ordal
Jun 22, 2006·Journal of Bacteriology·Bonnie B StephensGladys Alexandre
Nov 22, 2001·Journal of Bacteriology·A C MartinJ P Armitage
Jun 10, 2004·Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews : MMBR·Hendrik Szurmant, George W Ordal
Aug 2, 2003·Biotechnology Progress·Thomas G CusterRay Fall
Sep 9, 2008·Trends in Microbiology·Christopher V RaoGeorge W Ordal
Jul 17, 2003·Molecular Microbiology·Daniel B Kearns, Richard Losick
Jan 21, 2004·Molecular Microbiology·Michael W Bunn, George W Ordal
Sep 3, 1998·Biophysical Journal·G CercignaniD Petracchi
Apr 10, 1999·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·J R KirbyG W Ordal
Mar 30, 2017·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Hassan MassalhaAsaph Aharoni
May 29, 2000·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·M A ZimmerG W Ordal
Mar 12, 1998·Journal of Bacteriology·M D MansonR M Macnab

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