The E. coli ArsA is involved in arsenic detoxification but the role of yArsA (ArsA homologue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, encoded by YDL100c ORF) in yeast is still undefined. Disruption of YDL100c ORF is not lethal but the disrupted strain (KO) shows decreased thermotolerance. To study the role of yArsA in thermotolerance, wild type (WT) and KO were grown at 25¢Jand 37¢J, and assayed for the intracellular levels of trehalose accumulation and molecular oxidation, and the biosynthesis of heat shock proteins. The results show that molecular oxidation is higher and trehalose accumulation is lower in KO compared with WT grown at 37¢J, suggesting that increased ROS and decreased trehalose content are the cause of cell death. Further analysis of the expression of ROS defense mechanisms show that there is no significant difference in TSL1 and SOD1 expression in WT and KO grown at 25¢J or 37¢J but the CTT1 expression in KO was much less than WT grown at 37¢J. These observations are consistent with the assays of enzymatic activity of catalase and antioxidant GSH contents. Loss of catalase activity, decreased trehalose contents and Hsp104p expression suggest a deficiency in activation of general but not specific stress response in KO when grown at 37¢J. Therefore, yArsA was involved in signaling the general stress response in stress tolerance network.

The genus Bartonella contains Gram-negative arthropod-borne bacteria that are found in many small animal reservoirs and are capable of causing human disease. Bacteria utilize a general stress response system to combat stresses from their surrounding environments. In α-proteobacteria, the general stress response system uses an alternate σ factor as the main regulator and incorporates it with a two-component system into a unique system. Our study identifies the general stress response system in the α-proteobacterium, Bartonella henselae, where the gene synteny is conserved and both the PhyR and alternate σ factor have similar sequence and domain structures with other α-proteobacteria. Furthermore, we showed that the general stress response genes are up-regulated under conditions that mimic the cat flea vector. We also showed that both RpoE and PhyR positively regulate this system and that RpoE also affects transcription of genes encoding heme-binding proteins and the BadA adhesin. Finally, we also identified a histidine kinase, annotated as BH13820 that can potentially phosphorylate PhyR. In addition, analysis of the transcriptome from the Houston-1 strain of B. henselae by RNA-Seq reveals a family of small RNAs (termed Brt1-Brt9 for Bartonella Regulatory Transcripts 1-9) that may rapidly adapt gene expression patterns to the diverse hosts of this bacterium. This family of RNAs consists of nine novel, highly expressed intergenic transcripts, ranging from 193-205 nucleotides with a high degree of homology (70-100%) and stable predicted secondary structures that are unique to the genus Bartonella. Northern blot analysis indicates that transcription of these sRNAs was highest under conditions mimicking those of the cat flea vector (low temperature, high hemin). The predicted promoters for Brt1-Brt9 have been cloned upstream of a β-galactosidase reporter gene in pNS2 to identify conditions altering transcription. Immediately downstream of each of the nine putative sRNAs is a helix-turn-helix DNA binding protein (termed Trp1-9 for Transcriptional Regulatory Protein 1-9) that is poorly transcribed as determined by RNA-Seq. This gene organization is suggestive of a potential cis-acting RNA mechanism or riboswitch with the RNA secondary structure controlling transcription of the cognate downstream trp.

We have previously characterized a Bacillus subtilis mutant defective in growth and osmoadaptation under limited K+ concentrations. In this mutant, the yxkO gene encoding a putative ribokinase is disrupted. This gene is supposed to belong to the sigma B operon and its expression is induced after osmotic, heat and ethanol shock. In comparison to the wild type, this mutation causes pleiotropic changes in host phenotype. In addition to its osmosensitivity, the mutant differs in cell shape, motility and ability to produce endospores. Our goal was to focus on manifestations of the mutation in the yxkO gene in other bacteria of the genus Bacillus. Using plasmid pMUTIN4 we have prepared mutants with disruptions of this gene derived from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii strains differing in the yxkO surroundings and in the level of laboratory domestication. As in the previous study (with laboratory strain Bacillus subtilis 168) we demonstrate impaired ability of the mutant strain derived from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens to grow in potassium limitation and osmotic shock. We have studied this phenomenon at the level of the growth dynamics of the bacterial culture. We have also detected an increased sensitivity of the strain derived from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens to...

In a bacterium's environment, life conditions are subject to constant changes. One of the proposed mechanisms of adaptation to these changes is the increase in mutation rate. Bacterial mutability is generally kept very low by action of various mechanisms of control and repair, one of the most important ones being the Mismatch Repair, which is the master regulator of genetic stability of organisms. When its function is impaired, larger amounts of mutations occur in cells. In adverse conditions, these might be beneficial for cells' adaptation. The role of these repair mechanisms in adaptive processes in Bacillus subtilis has not yet been definitely resolved. The previous work in our lab focused on establishing an experimental system to measure the extent of mutagenesis in B. subtilis, and the influence of several stresses on mutation rate was assessed. No significant increase in mutability was found to be triggered by nutrient limitation in stationary growth phase, hyperosmotic stress or increased cultivation temperature. Furthermore, a system to monitor the expression of mismatch repair proteins was constructed, which has not revealed significant differences between stressed and nonstressed growth conditions. This thesis follows the results of previous experiments, expanding the range of stresses...

ROLE OF THE YXKO GENE OF BACILLUS SUBTILIS IN RESPONCE TO ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS Abstract Mutation of the yxkO gene, which encodes a putative ribokinase and belongs to the σB general stress response regulon, leads to reduced salt tolerance under potassium limitation in Bacillus subtilis. The biological function of the yxkO gene has not been determined yet, but it may be involved in the high affinity potassium uptake system, which has been described in Escherichia coli in contrast to Bacillus subtilis. Our goal was to describe another features of a mutant in the yxkO gene and to try to propose the role of this gene. Using the integration vector pMutin4, we prepared a Bacillus subtilis strain MP2 with a yxkO gene inactivation. The MP2 strain displays limited growth in a rich medium and it is a sensitive strain to tetracycline. Furthermore, this strain is unable to form endospores and the cells are longer, which indicates a septum formation defect. We accomplished a 2-D protein gel analysis to compare expression profiles of the MP2 strain and the 1A680 standard strain after salt and ethanol stress. The MP2 strain shows changes in productions of some energy metabolism enzymes and flagellin protein. We conclude that yxkO is a regulatory gene, whose product has a pleiotropic effect on many of cell functions.

Les théories évolutives du vieillissement et la théorie du «disposable soma» en particulier ont été la base théorique d'une avance récente de recherche sur le vieillissement animal. Pourtant, leur hypothèse centrale sur la physiologie de l'entretien et de la réparation cellulaires n'a pas été testée empiriquement. Dans cette thèse, j'ai analysé la physiologie du vieillissement de Escherichia coli sous restriction de carbone, en tant que système modèle pour valider empiriquement les théories évolutives du vieillissement. Les outils microfluidiques sont utilisés pour isoler de larges populations de cellules isolées de E. coli et pour obtenir une restriction carbonée homogène. Malgré le partage de la même génétique et des conditions environnementales, les cellules individuelles de la population présentent des variations significatives de la durée de vie et de cause de décès. Les distributions de durée de vie présentent des caractéristiques typiques du processus de vieillissement, souvent observées en études démographiques animales et humaines. Le taux de vieillissement peut être modifié par des mutations de la réponse générale au stress. Comme la longévité induite par la restriction calorique, la réponse générale au stress prolonge la durée de vie d'E.coli en atténuant l'effet du vieillissement au détriment des besoins immédiats des cellules. Un modèle quantitatif de ce compromis physiologique est construit et correctement prédit des observations expérimentales. En conclusion, je confirme la théorie du «disposable soma» du vieillissement avec les détails physiologiques du vieillissement de E.coli en famine. / The evolutionary theories of aging and the disposable soma theory in particular, have been the theoretical basis for a recent surge of animal aging research. Yet their central assumption about the physiology of cellular maintenance and repair has not been empirically tested. In this thesis, I analysed the physiology of E.coli aging under carbon starvation, as a model system to empirically validate evolutionary theories of aging. Microfluidic tools are used to isolate large populations of isogenic single E.coli cells, and to achieve homogenous carbon starvation. Despite sharing the same genetical background and environmental conditions, individual cells in the population exhibit significant variations in lifespans and causes of death. Distributions of lifespans exhibit typical features of the aging process, often seen in animal and human demographic studies. The rate of aging can be altered by mutations of the general stress response pathway. Resembling caloric restriction induced longevity, the general stress response pathway extends starvation lifespans of E.coli by attenuating the effect of aging at the expense of immediate needs of the cells. A quantitative model of this physiological trade-off is constructed and correctly predicted experimental observations. As a conclusion, I substantiate the disposable soma theory of aging with the physiological details of E.coli aging in starvation.