title: Effect of glutathione on growth of the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri.
abstract: Glutathione (GSH) is an abundant nonprotein thiol that plays numerous roles within the cell. Previously, we showed that Lactobacillus salivarius has the capacity to mount a glutathione-mediated acid-tolerance response. In the present work we provide evidence of a requirement for GSH by Lactobacillus reuteri and have studied the role of GSH during cell growth. Medium supplementation with 0.5 mM GSH as the sole sulfur source enhanced cell growth, resulting in an increase in glucose consumption, and increased cell GSH and protein contents compared with levels seen in the absence of supplementation. Moreover, L. reuteri showed enhanced amino acid consumption when grown with 0.5 mM GSH. These findings indicate that glutathione is a nutrient for bacterial growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Songdo Technopark, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea. klee02@empal.com
authors.forename: KiBeom
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ho-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Beom-Seop
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Rho
authors.forename: Sang-Kee
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yun-Jaie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D052200:Limosilactobacillus reuteri / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D005978:Glutathione; D005947:Glucose