Surfactin Facilitates Horizontal Gene Transfer in Bacillus subtilis

• DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.657407
• Publication Date: 2021-05-14T05:15:24Z
• Authors: Tjaša Danevčič; Anna Dragoš; Mihael Spacapan; Polonca Stefanic; Iztok Dogsa; Ines Mandic-Mulec
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; info:eu-repo/classification/udc/579.22/.26:579.852.11; horizontalni prenos genov; Cell lysis; competence; surfaktin; quorum sensing; Horizontal gene transfer; DNA exchange; surfactin; Microbiology; QR1-502; Quorum sensing; 03 medical and health sciences; Competence; Extracellular DNA; horizontal gene transfer; cell lysis; zaznavanje kvoruma; Bacillus subtilis; Surfactin; extracellular DNA

Genetic competence for the uptake and integration of extracellular DNA is a key process in horizontal gene transfer (HGT), one of the most powerful forces driving the evolution of bacteria. In several species, development of genetic competence is coupled with cell lysis. Using Bacillus subtilis as a model bacterium, we studied the role of surfactin, a powerful biosurfactant and antimicrobial lipopeptide, in genetic transformation. We showed that surfactin itself promotes cell lysis and DNA release, thereby promoting HGT. These results, therefore, provide evidence for a fundamental mechanism involved in HGT and significantly increase our understanding of the spreading of antibiotic resistance genes and diversification of microbial communities in the environment.