MetA is a "thermal fuse" that inhibits growth and protects Escherichia coli at elevated temperatures. 2022

Severin J Schink, and Zara Gough, and Elena Biselli, and Mariel Garcia Huiman, and Yu-Fang Chang, and Markus Basan, and Ulrich Gerland
Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Physics of Complex Biosystems, Physics Department, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany. Electronic address: info@severin-schink.eu.

Adaptive stress resistance in microbes is mostly attributed to the expression of stress response genes, including heat-shock proteins. Here, we report a response of E. coli to heat stress caused by degradation of an enzyme in the methionine biosynthesis pathway (MetA). While MetA degradation can inhibit growth, which by itself is detrimental for fitness, we show that it directly benefits survival at temperatures exceeding 50°C, increasing survival chances by more than 1,000-fold. Using both experiments and mathematical modeling, we show quantitatively how protein expression, degradation rates, and environmental stressors cause long-term growth inhibition in otherwise habitable conditions. Because growth inhibition can be abolished with simple mutations, namely point mutations of MetA and protease knockouts, we interpret the breakdown of methionine synthesis as a system that has evolved to halt growth at high temperatures, analogous to "thermal fuses" in engineering that shut off electricity to prevent overheating.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008715 Methionine A sulfur-containing essential L-amino acid that is important in many body functions. L-Methionine,Liquimeth,Methionine, L-Isomer,Pedameth,L-Isomer Methionine,Methionine, L Isomer
D004926 Escherichia coli A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc. Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D006358 Hot Temperature Presence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably higher than an accustomed norm. Heat,Hot Temperatures,Temperature, Hot,Temperatures, Hot
D006360 Heat-Shock Proteins Proteins which are synthesized in eukaryotic organisms and bacteria in response to hyperthermia and other environmental stresses. They increase thermal tolerance and perform functions essential to cell survival under these conditions. Stress Protein,Stress Proteins,Heat-Shock Protein,Heat Shock Protein,Heat Shock Proteins,Protein, Stress
D013696 Temperature The property of objects that determines the direction of heat flow when they are placed in direct thermal contact. The temperature is the energy of microscopic motions (vibrational and translational) of the particles of atoms. Temperatures
D051082 Homoserine O-Succinyltransferase The first enzyme in the METHIONINE biosynthetic pathway, this enzyme catalyzes the succinylation reaction of L-homoserine to O-succinyl-L-homoserine and COENZYME A using succinyl-CoA. Homoserine Succinyltransferase,Homoserine Transsuccinylase,Homoserine O Succinyltransferase,O-Succinyltransferase, Homoserine,Succinyltransferase, Homoserine,Transsuccinylase, Homoserine
D018869 Heat-Shock Response A sequence of responses that occur when an organism is exposed to excessive heat. In humans, an increase in skin temperature triggers muscle relaxation, sweating, and vasodilation. Heat-Shock Reaction,Heat Shock,Heat Shock Stress,Heat Stress,Heat-Stress Reaction,Heat-Stress Response,Heat Shock Reaction,Heat Shock Response,Heat Shock Stresses,Heat Shocks,Heat Stress Reaction,Heat Stress Response,Heat Stresses,Heat-Shock Reactions,Heat-Shock Responses,Heat-Stress Reactions,Heat-Stress Responses,Shock, Heat,Stress, Heat,Stress, Heat Shock
D029968 Escherichia coli Proteins Proteins obtained from ESCHERICHIA COLI. E coli Proteins

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