Effect of membrane lateral pressure on the expression of fructosyltransferases in Lactobacillus reuteri

The effect of environmental conditions on the production of homo-polysaccharides and oligosaccharides from sucrose and the regulation of glycosyltransferase genes responsible for biosynthesis of homo-polysaccharides was determined in Lactobacillus reuteri TMW1.106 (reutericyclin-producer) and LTH5448 (reutericyclin-negative). Strain L. reuteri TMW 1.106 harbours the glycosyltransferase genes gtfA and inu, strain LTH5448 harbours a fructosyltransferase, ftfA. Fructan and fructose-oligosaccharide (FOS) production in both strains was inducible by reutericyclin, trans-isohumulone, and nigericin at the levels of their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) as well as phenylethanol (6 mM) and elevated growth temperatures (45 °C), but not by nisin, CCCP or gramicidin. Elevated temperature (45 °C), reutericyclin or trans-isohumulone but not CCCP furthermore increased enhanced inu and ftfA transcription in L. reuteri TMW1.106 and LTH5448, respectively. Generally, effects of the various agents on fructosyltransferase transcription corresponded to their effect on formation of poly and oligosaccharides from sucrose. The effect of membrane-active agents on fructosyltransferase expression was compared to their effect on membrane biophysical parameters. The ability of chemical and physical agents to induce expression of fructosyltransferases correlated to their effect on the membrane lateral pressure as measured by pyrene-labelled phospholipids in membrane vesicles. Dextran, levan and fructose-oligosaccharides added at 50 g L−1 protected L. reuteri towards the membrane-active inhibitors nisin, reutericyclin, and CCCP. The induction of glycosyltransferases by membrane stress indicates a protective role of fructans and FOS to lactobacilli exposed to physical and chemical environmental stressors.