Transcriptional reprogramming and phenotypic switching associated with the adaptation of Lactobacillus plantarum C2 to plant niches.
Lactobacillus plantarum has been isolated from a large variety of ecological niches, thus highlighting its remarkable environmental adaptability as a generalist. Plant fermentation conditions markedly affect the functional features of L. plantarum strains. We investigated the plant niche-specific traits of L. plantarum through whole-transcriptome and phenotypic microarray profiles. Carrot (CJ) and pineapple (PJ) juices were chosen as model systems, and MRS broth was used as a control. A set of 3,122 genes was expressed, and 21 to 31% of genes were differentially expressed depending on the plant niche and cell physiological state. L. plantarum C2 seemed to specifically respond to plant media conditions. When L. plantarum was cultured in CJ, useful pathways were activated, which were aimed to sense the environment, save energy and adopt alternative routes for NAD(+) regeneration. In PJ the acidic environment caused a transcriptional switching, which was network-linked to an acid tolerance response involving carbohydrate flow, amino acid and protein metabolism, pH homeostasis and membrane fluidity. The most prominent phenotypic dissimilarities observed in cells grown in CJ and PJ were related to carbon and nitrogen metabolism, respectively. Summarising, a snapshot of a carrot and pineapple sensing and adaptive regulation model for L. plantarum C2 was proposed.
Department of Plant, Soil and Food Sciences, University of Bari A. Moro, Via Amendola 165/a, 70126 Bari, Italy.
Pasquale
P
Filannino
Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Via Orabona, 4, 70126 Bari, Italy.
Raffaella
R
Di Cagno
Department of Plant, Soil and Food Sciences, University of Bari A. Moro, Via Amendola 165/a, 70126 Bari, Italy.
Carmine
C
Crecchio
Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Via Orabona, 4, 70126 Bari, Italy.
Caterina
C
De Virgilio
Department of Plant, Soil and Food Sciences, University of Bari A. Moro, Via Amendola 165/a, 70126 Bari, Italy.
Maria
M
De Angelis
Department of Plant, Soil and Food Sciences, University of Bari A. Moro, Via Amendola 165/a, 70126 Bari, Italy.
Marco
M
Gobbetti
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic