Cell Reports
Volume 29, Issue 5, 29 October 2019, Pages 1192-1202.e5
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Article
Antibiotic Bacillomycin D Affects Iron Acquisition and Biofilm Formation in Bacillus velezensis through a Btr-Mediated FeuABC-Dependent Pathway

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2019.09.061Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Increasing intracellular iron concentrations serves as a cue for biofilm development

  • Bacillomycin D controls transcription of the specific iron transport gene feuABC

  • Bacillomycin D directly binds to the iron transport regulator Btr

  • Bacillomycin D modulates biofilm formation through the KinB-Spo0A-SinI-SinR pathway

Summary

Bacillus spp. produce a wide range of secondary metabolites, including antibiotics, which have been well studied for their antibacterial properties but less so as signaling molecules. Previous results indicated that the lipopeptide bacillomycin D is a signal that promotes biofilm development of Bacillus velezensis SQR9. However, the mechanism behind this signaling is still unknown. Here, we show that bacillomycin D promotes biofilm development by promoting the acquisition of iron. Bacillomycin D promotes the transcription of the iron ABC transporter FeuABC by binding to its transcription factor, Btr. These actions increase intracellular iron concentration and activate the KinB-Spo0A-SinI-SinR-dependent synthesis of biofilm matrix components. We demonstrate that this strategy is beneficial for biofilm development and competition with the Pseudomonas fluorescens PF-5. Our results unravel an antibiotic-dependent signaling mechanism that links iron acquisition to biofilm development and ecological competition.

Keywords

Bacillus
bacillomycin D
iron uptake
FeuABC
transcription factor Btr
biofilm
interspecific competition

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