title: Inactivation of the ftsH gene of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1: effects on growth, stress tolerance, cell surface properties and biofilm formation.
abstract: FtsH proteins are ubiquitous membrane-bound, ATP-dependent metalloproteases of the AAA family. In eubacteria, FtsH is involved in protein quality control under stress conditions. Lactobacillus plantarum is a widespread lactic acid bacterium that is encountered in several fermented food, including dairy products, vegetables and meat. In the present work the expression of the ftsH gene of L. plantarum was studied by quantitative real time RT-PCR in bacterial cultures subjected to various abiotic stresses. Both oxidative stress and addition of a membrane-fluidizing agent induced ftsH transcription, while a depletion of carbon-source repressed its mRNA level. Mutants deprived of the FtsH protease exhibited remarkable sensitivity to elevated temperature and increased salt concentration; conversely, overexpression of ftsH resulted in increased thermotolerance and resistance to salt. FtsH mutant had a reduced capacity to form biofilms on abiotic surfaces and exhibited different cell surface physico-chemical properties with respect to the wild type strain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, University of Foggia, via L. Pinto, 71122 Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bove
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Capozzi
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garofalo
authors.forename: Aurelie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rieu
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spano
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fiocco
mesh_terms: D049069:ATP-Dependent Proteases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects; D017353:Gene Deletion; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012492:Salts / Q000633:toxicity; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D012492:Salts; D049069:ATP-Dependent Proteases