Growth characteristics, redox potential changes and proton motive force generation in <i>Thermus scotoductus</i> K1 during growth on various carbon sources

Hripsime Petrosyan; Karen Trchounian; Hripsime Petrosyan; Karen Trchounian

doi:10.3934/microbiol.2024045

AIMS Microbiology

2024, Volume 10, Issue 4: 1052-1067. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2024045

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Research article

Growth characteristics, redox potential changes and proton motive force generation in Thermus scotoductus K1 during growth on various carbon sources

Hripsime Petrosyan ^1,2,3,
Karen Trchounian ^{1,2,3
,
,}

1.
Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Yerevan State University, 0025 Yerevan, Armenia
2.
Microbial Biotechnologies and Biofuel Innovation Center, Faculty of Biology, Yerevan State University, 0025 Yerevan, Armenia
3.
Scientific-Research Institute of Biology, Yerevan State University, 0025 Yerevan, Armenia

Received: 29 July 2024 Revised: 11 October 2024 Accepted: 15 November 2024 Published: 22 November 2024

The extremophile microorganism Thermus scotoductus primarily exhibits aerobic metabolism, though some strains are capable of anaerobic growth, utilizing diverse electron acceptors. We focused on the T. scotoductus K1 strain, exploring its aerobic growth and metabolism, responses to various carbon sources, and characterization of its bioenergetic and physiological properties. The strain grew on different carbon sources, depending on their concentration and the medium's pH, demonstrating adaptability to acidic environments (pH 6.0). It was shown that 4 g L⁻¹ glucose inhibited the specific growth rate by approximately 4.8-fold and 5.6-fold compared to 1 g L⁻¹ glucose at pH 8.5 and pH 6.0, respectively. However, this inhibition was not observed in the presence of fructose, galactose, lactose, and starch. Extracellular and intracellular pH variations were mainly alkalifying during growth. At pH 6.0, the membrane potential (ΔΨ) was lower for all carbon sources compared to pH 8.5. The proton motive force (Δp) was lower only during growth on lactose due to the difference in the transmembrane proton gradient (ΔpH). Moreover, at pH 6.0 during growth on lactose, a positive Δp was detected, indicating the cells' ability to employ a unique energy-conserving strategy. Taken together, these findings concluded that Thermus scotoductus K1 exhibits different growth and bioenergetic properties depending on the carbon source, which can be useful for biotechnological applications. These findings offer valuable insights into how bacterial cells function under high-temperature conditions, which is essential for applying bioenergetics knowledge in future biotechnological advancements.
- Thermus scotoductus,
- aerobic metabolism,
- temperature,
- proton motive force,
- pH
Citation: Hripsime Petrosyan, Karen Trchounian. Growth characteristics, redox potential changes and proton motive force generation in Thermus scotoductus K1 during growth on various carbon sources[J]. AIMS Microbiology, 2024, 10(4): 1052-1067. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2024045

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Abstract

The extremophile microorganism Thermus scotoductus primarily exhibits aerobic metabolism, though some strains are capable of anaerobic growth, utilizing diverse electron acceptors. We focused on the T. scotoductus K1 strain, exploring its aerobic growth and metabolism, responses to various carbon sources, and characterization of its bioenergetic and physiological properties. The strain grew on different carbon sources, depending on their concentration and the medium's pH, demonstrating adaptability to acidic environments (pH 6.0). It was shown that 4 g L⁻¹ glucose inhibited the specific growth rate by approximately 4.8-fold and 5.6-fold compared to 1 g L⁻¹ glucose at pH 8.5 and pH 6.0, respectively. However, this inhibition was not observed in the presence of fructose, galactose, lactose, and starch. Extracellular and intracellular pH variations were mainly alkalifying during growth. At pH 6.0, the membrane potential (ΔΨ) was lower for all carbon sources compared to pH 8.5. The proton motive force (Δp) was lower only during growth on lactose due to the difference in the transmembrane proton gradient (ΔpH). Moreover, at pH 6.0 during growth on lactose, a positive Δp was detected, indicating the cells' ability to employ a unique energy-conserving strategy. Taken together, these findings concluded that Thermus scotoductus K1 exhibits different growth and bioenergetic properties depending on the carbon source, which can be useful for biotechnological applications. These findings offer valuable insights into how bacterial cells function under high-temperature conditions, which is essential for applying bioenergetics knowledge in future biotechnological advancements.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the grant from Higher Education and Science Committee, MESCS of Armenia Grant Agreement No 22AA-1F007.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author contributions

Conceptualization and design, H.P and K.T; Data Collection, H.P; Analysis and Interpretation of Data, H.P and K.T.; Writing—Original Draft Preparation, H.P and K.T.; Writing—Review and Editing, K.T.; Supervision, K.T.; Obtained Funding: H.P and K.T. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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