Premium
A genomic island in a plant beneficial rhizobacterium encodes novel antimicrobial fatty acids and a self‐protection shield to enhance its competition
Author(s) -
Wang Dandan,
Xu Zhihui,
Zhang Guishan,
Xia Liming,
Dong Xiaoyan,
Li Qing,
Liles Mark R.,
Shao Jiahui,
Shen Qirong,
Zhang Ruifu
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.14683
Subject(s) - rhizobacteria , biology , bacteria , rhizosphere , biochemistry , antimicrobial , fatty acid , primer (cosmetics) , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , genetics , chemistry , organic chemistry
Summary Rhizobacteria devote a relatively large percentage of their genomes to encode bioactive natural products that are important for competition in the rhizosphere. In this study, a plant beneficial rhizobacterium Bacillus velezensis SQR9 was discovered to produce novel antibacterial fatty acids, Bacillunoic acids, which are encoded on a genomic island (GI). This GI contains a hybrid type I fatty acid synthase (FAS)‐polyketide synthase (PKS) system and an ABC transporter. The FAS was predicted to synthesize a primer that was transferred to the PKS to synthesize Bacillunoic acids. The synthesized Bacillunoic acids inhibit the growth of diverse bacteria, with the strongest activity against closely related Bacillus strains, the ABC transporter exported the toxic Bacillunoic acids upon their induction for protecting the producing strain. The inhibition of other Bacillus strains by Bacillunoic acids extended the antimicrobial spectrum of SQR9 and enhanced its competition with closely related root‐associated bacteria. So, through the obtaining of this GI by horizontal gene transfer, strain SQR9 not only acquired a competitive weapon but also acquired a self‐protecting shield, which increased its competition with other rhizobacteria.