Abstract
BackgroundThe marine model organism Rhodopirellula baltica SH1T was the first Planctomycete to have its genome completely sequenced. The genome analysis predicted a complex lifestyle and a variety of genetic opportunities to adapt to the marine environment. Its adaptation to environmental stressors was studied by transcriptional profiling using a whole genome microarray.ResultsStress responses to salinity and temperature shifts were monitored in time series experiments. Chemostat cultures grown in mineral medium at 28°C were compared to cultures that were shifted to either elevated (37°C) or reduced (6°C) temperatures as well as high salinity (59.5‰) and observed over 300 min. Heat shock showed the induction of several known chaperone genes. Cold shock altered the expression of genes in lipid metabolism and stress proteins. High salinity resulted in the modulation of genes coding for compatible solutes, ion transporters and morphology. In summary, over 3000 of the 7325 genes were affected by temperature and/or salinity changes.ConclusionTranscriptional profiling confirmed that R. baltica is highly responsive to its environment. The distinct responses identified here have provided new insights into the complex adaptation machinery of this environmentally relevant marine bacterium. Our transcriptome study and previous proteome data suggest a set of genes of unknown functions that are most probably involved in the global stress response. This work lays the foundation for further bioinformatic and genetic studies which will lead to a comprehensive understanding of the biology of a marine Planctomycete.
Highlights
The marine model organism Rhodopirellula baltica SH1T was the first Planctomycete to have its genome completely sequenced
Transcriptional profiling confirmed that R. baltica is highly responsive to its environment
Our transcriptome study and previous proteome data suggest a set of genes of unknown functions that are most probably involved in the global stress response
Summary
The marine model organism Rhodopirellula baltica SH1T was the first Planctomycete to have its genome completely sequenced. The genome analysis predicted a complex lifestyle and a variety of genetic opportunities to adapt to the marine environment. Microorganisms are known to be the 'gatekeepers' of these processes, and insight into their lifestyle and fitness enhances our ability to monitor, model and predict the course and effect of global changes. A interesting representative of the marine picoplankton community is Rhodopirellula baltica SH1T, a free-living bacterium which was isolated from the water column of the Kiel Fjord (Baltic Sea) [2]. R. baltica belongs to the phylum Planctomycetes, a broadly distributed group of bacteria, whose members can be found in terrestrial, marine and freshwater habitats [3,4,5,6,7], and in extreme environments like hot springs [8], marine sponges [9] and the hepatopancreas of crustaceans [10]
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