Staphylococcus aureus requires cardiolipin for survival under conditions of high salinity.
BACKGROUND
The ability of staphylococci to grow in a wide range of salt concentrations is well documented. In this study, we aimed to clarify the role of cardiolipin (CL) in the adaptation of Staphylococcus aureus to high salinity.


RESULTS
Using an improved extraction method, the analysis of phospholipid composition suggested that CL levels increased slightly toward stationary phase, but that this was not induced by high salinity. Deletion of the two CL synthase genes, SA1155 (cls1) and SA1891 (cls2), abolished CL synthesis. The cls2 gene encoded the dominant CL synthase. In a cls2 deletion mutant, Cls1 functioned under stress conditions, including high salinity. Using these mutants, CL was shown to be unnecessary for growth in either basal or high-salt conditions, but it was critical for prolonged survival in high-salt conditions and for generation of the L-form.


CONCLUSIONS
CL is not essential for S. aureus growth under conditions of high salinity, but is necessary for survival under prolonged high-salt stress and for the generation of L-form variants.
Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan.
Melody
M
Tsai
Ryosuke L
RL
Ohniwa
Yusuke
Y
Kato
Sayaka L
SL
Takeshita
Toshiko
T
Ohta
Shinji
S
Saito
Hideo
H
Hayashi
Kazuya
K
Morikawa
D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000378:metabolism; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D054712:Salinity; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D017855:Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups) / Q000235:genetics
D002308:Cardiolipins; D003470:Culture Media; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010743:Phospholipids; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D017855:Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups); C100091:cardiolipin synthetase
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