Growth of Escherichia coli MG1655 on LB medium : monitoring utilization of sugars, alcohols, and organic acids with transcriptional microarrays

• Published in: Applied microbiology and biotechnology Vol. 71; no. 3; pp. 310 - 316
• Main Authors: BAEV, Mark V, BAEV, Dmitry, JANCSO RADEK, Agnes, CAMPBELL, John W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.07.2006; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Carbon sources; Culture Media; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; E coli; Environmental changes; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - genetics; Escherichia coli - growth & development; Escherichia coli - metabolism; Escherichia coli Proteins - genetics; Escherichia coli Proteins - metabolism; Fermentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Glycerol - metabolism; Lactic Acid - metabolism; Metabolism; Microorganisms; Nutrient availability; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis - methods; Organic acids; Sugar; Transcription, Genetic; Transcription; Growth; Escherichia coli; Bacteria; Alcohol; Organic acids; Monitoring; Sugar; Enterobacteriaceae
• ISSN: 0175-7598; 1432-0614
• DOI: 10.1007/s00253-006-0317-6

Microorganisms respond to environmental changes by reprogramming their metabolism primarily through altered patterns of gene expression. DNA microarrays provide a tool for exploiting microorganisms as living sensors of their environment. The potential of DNA microarrays to reflect availability of nutrient components during fermentations on complex media was examined by monitoring global gene expression throughout batch cultivation of Escherichia coli MG1655 on Luria-Bertani (LB) medium. Gene expression profiles group into pathways that clearly demonstrate the metabolic changes occurring in the course of fermentation. Functional analysis of the gene expression related to metabolism of sugars, alcohols, and organic acids revealed that E. coli growing on LB medium switches from a sequential mode of substrate utilization to the simultaneous one in the course of the growth. Maltose and maltodextrins are the first of these substrates to support growth. Utilization of these nutrients associated with the highest growth rate of the culture was followed by simultaneous induction of enzymes involved in assimilation of a large group of other carbon sources including D-mannose, melibiose, D-galactose, L-fucose, L-rhamnose, D-mannitol, amino sugars, trehalose, L-arabinose, glycerol, and lactate. Availability of these nutrients to the cells was monitored by induction of corresponding transport and/or catabolic systems specific for each of the compounds.