Characterization of the Tellurite-Resistance Properties and Identification of the Core Function Genes for Tellurite Resistance in <i>Pseudomonas citronellolis</i> SJTE-3
2022
Wanli Peng | Yanqiu Wang | Yali Fu | Zixin Deng | Shuangjun Lin | Rubing Liang
Tellurite is highly toxic to bacteria and commonly used in the clinical screening for pathogens; it is speculated that there is a potential relationship between tellurite resistance and bacterial pathogenicity. Until now, the core function genes of tellurite resistance and their characteristics are still obscure. <i>Pseudomonas citronellolis</i> SJTE-3 was found able to resist high concentrations of tellurite (250 μg/mL) and formed vacuole-like tellurium nanostructures. The <i>terZABCDE</i> gene cluster located in the large plasmid pRBL16 endowed strain SJTE-3 with the tellurite resistance of high levels. Although the <i>terC</i> and <i>terD</i> genes were identified as the core function genes for tellurite reduction and resistance, the inhibition of cell growth was observed when they were used solely. Interestingly, co-expression of the <i>terA</i> gene or <i>terZ</i> gene could relieve the burden caused by the expression of the <i>terCD</i> genes and recover normal cell growth. TerC and TerD proteins commonly shared the conserved sequences and are widely distributed in many pathogenic bacteria, highly associated with the pathogenicity factors.
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