Journal Article

Mechanisms underlying Clostridium pasteurianum’s metabolic shift when grown with Geobacter sulfurreducens

Desmond-Le Quéméner, Elie, Bernet, Nicolas, Santa-Catalina, Gaëlle, Trably, Eric, Pérez-Bernal, María Fernanda, Berthomieu, Roland

2022

Overview

Recently, a study showed that glycerol fermentation by Clostridium pasteurianum could be metabolically redirected when the electroactive bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens was added in the culture. It was assumed that this metabolic shift of the fermentative species resulted from an interspecies electron transfer. The aim of this study was to find out the mechanisms used for this interaction and how they affect the metabolism of C. pasteurianum . To get insights into the mechanisms involved, several coculture setups and RNA sequencing with differential expression analysis were performed. As a result, a putative interaction model was proposed: G. sulfurreducens produces cobamide molecules that possibly modify C. pasteurianum metabolic pathway at the key enzyme glycerol dehydratase, and affect its vanadium nitrogenase expression. In addition, the results suggested that G. sulfurreducens ’ electrons could enter C. pasteurianum through its transmembrane flavin-bound polyferredoxin and cellular cytochrome b5–rubredoxin interplay, putatively reinforcing the metabolic shift. Unravelling the mechanisms behind the interaction between fermentative and electroactive bacteria helps to better understand the role of bacterial interactions in fermentation setups. Key points • C. pasteurianum–G. sulfurreducens interaction inducing a metabolic shift is mediated • C. pasteurianum’s metabolic shift in coculture might be induced by cobamides • Electrons possibly enter C. pasteurianum through a multiflavin polyferredoxin Graphical abstract

• Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg,Springer,Springer Nature B.V,Springer Verlag
• Subject: Analysis / Bacteria / biochemical pathways / Bioenergy and Biofuels / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biotechnology / Cell culture / Chemical properties / Clostridium / Clostridium - genetics / Clostridium pasteurianum / coculture / Cytochrome b5 / Cytochromes / Dehydration / Electron transfer / Electron Transport / Electrons / Environmental Engineering / Environmental Sciences / Fermentation / Flavin / Gene expression / gene expression regulation / Gene sequencing / Geobacter - genetics / Geobacter sulfurreducens / Glycerol / Glycerol dehydratase / Growth / Interaction models / Life Sciences / Metabolic pathways / Metabolism / Microbial Genetics and Genomics / Microbial metabolism / Microbiology / Nitrogenase / Oxidation-Reduction / RNA / Vanadium / Varieties