title: Analysis of mutants disrupted in bacillithiol metabolism in Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Bacillithiol (BSH), an α-anomeric glycoside of l-cysteinyl-d-glucosaminyl-l-malate, is a major low molecular weight thiol found in low GC Gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus. Like other low molecular weight thiols, BSH is likely involved in protection against a number of stresses. We examined S. aureus transposon mutants disrupted in each of the three genes associated with BSH biosynthesis. These mutants are sensitive to alkylating stress, oxidative stress, and metal stress indicating that BSH and BSH-dependent enzymes are involved in protection of S. aureus. We further demonstrate that BshB, a deacetylase involved in the second step of BSH biosynthesis, also acts as a BSH conjugate amidase and identify S. aureus USA 300 LAC 2626 as a BSH-S-transferase, which is able to conjugate chlorodinitrobenzene, cerulenin, and rifamycin to BSH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, California State University - Fresno, Fresno, CA 937401, United States.
authors.forename: Arishma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rajkarnikar
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strankman
authors.forename: Shayla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duran
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Alexandra A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barretto
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Upton
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Mamta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rawat
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D007460:Iodoacetamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008670:Metals / Q000494:pharmacology; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D016877:Oxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D011765:Pyruvaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008670:Metals; D016877:Oxidants; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C543521:bacillithiol; D011765:Pyruvaldehyde; D003545:Cysteine; D005944:Glucosamine; D007460:Iodoacetamide