Protein Homeostasis Impairment Alters Phenotypic Heterogeneity of Biofilm Communities
(2025) In Molecular Microbiology 124(1). p.1-19- Abstract
Biofilms are highly organized, cooperating communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular matrix, providing resilience against external stress such as antimicrobial agents and host defenses. A hallmark of biofilms is their phenotypic heterogeneity, which enhances the overall growth and survival of the community. In this study, we demonstrate that removing the dnaK and tig genes encoding the core molecular chaperones DnaK (Hsp70 homolog) and Trigger factor disrupted protein homeostasis in Bacillus subtilis and resulted in the formation of an extremely mucoid biofilm with aberrant architecture, compromised structural integrity, and altered phenotypic heterogeneity. These changes include a large reduction in the... (More)
Biofilms are highly organized, cooperating communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular matrix, providing resilience against external stress such as antimicrobial agents and host defenses. A hallmark of biofilms is their phenotypic heterogeneity, which enhances the overall growth and survival of the community. In this study, we demonstrate that removing the dnaK and tig genes encoding the core molecular chaperones DnaK (Hsp70 homolog) and Trigger factor disrupted protein homeostasis in Bacillus subtilis and resulted in the formation of an extremely mucoid biofilm with aberrant architecture, compromised structural integrity, and altered phenotypic heterogeneity. These changes include a large reduction in the motile subpopulation and an overrepresentation of matrix producers and endospores. Overproduction of poly-γ-glutamic acid contributed crucially to the mucoid phenotype and aberrant biofilm architecture. Homeostasis impairment, triggered by elevated temperatures, in wild-type cells led to mucoid and aberrant biofilm phenotypes similar to those observed in strains lacking both dnaK and tig. Our findings show that disruption of protein homeostasis, whether due to the absence of molecular chaperones or because of environmental factors, severely changes biofilm features.
(Less)
- author
- Matavacas, Judith LU and von Wachenfeldt, Claes LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-07
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Bacillus subtilis, DnaK, molecular chaperone, phenotypic heterogeneity, proteostasis, trigger factor
- in
- Molecular Microbiology
- volume
- 124
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 19 pages
- publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105005188002
- pmid:40243034
- ISSN
- 0950-382X
- DOI
- 10.1111/mmi.15366
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Molecular Microbiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- id
- 1ca8b2bc-7e62-459d-bfaf-939589f5678e
- date added to LUP
- 2025-08-15 14:52:59
- date last changed
- 2025-08-16 03:00:03
@article{1ca8b2bc-7e62-459d-bfaf-939589f5678e,
abstract = {{<p>Biofilms are highly organized, cooperating communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular matrix, providing resilience against external stress such as antimicrobial agents and host defenses. A hallmark of biofilms is their phenotypic heterogeneity, which enhances the overall growth and survival of the community. In this study, we demonstrate that removing the dnaK and tig genes encoding the core molecular chaperones DnaK (Hsp70 homolog) and Trigger factor disrupted protein homeostasis in Bacillus subtilis and resulted in the formation of an extremely mucoid biofilm with aberrant architecture, compromised structural integrity, and altered phenotypic heterogeneity. These changes include a large reduction in the motile subpopulation and an overrepresentation of matrix producers and endospores. Overproduction of poly-γ-glutamic acid contributed crucially to the mucoid phenotype and aberrant biofilm architecture. Homeostasis impairment, triggered by elevated temperatures, in wild-type cells led to mucoid and aberrant biofilm phenotypes similar to those observed in strains lacking both dnaK and tig. Our findings show that disruption of protein homeostasis, whether due to the absence of molecular chaperones or because of environmental factors, severely changes biofilm features.</p>}},
author = {{Matavacas, Judith and von Wachenfeldt, Claes}},
issn = {{0950-382X}},
keywords = {{Bacillus subtilis; DnaK; molecular chaperone; phenotypic heterogeneity; proteostasis; trigger factor}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{1--19}},
publisher = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
series = {{Molecular Microbiology}},
title = {{Protein Homeostasis Impairment Alters Phenotypic Heterogeneity of Biofilm Communities}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mmi.15366}},
doi = {{10.1111/mmi.15366}},
volume = {{124}},
year = {{2025}},
}