Article

Agmatine deiminase pathway genes in Lactobacillus brevis are linked to the tyrosine decarboxylation operon in a putative acid resistance locus.

UMR 1219, Université Bordeaux 2, INRA, ISVV, Talence, France.
Microbiology (impact factor: 3.06). 08/2007; 153(Pt 7):2221-30. DOI:10.1099/mic.0.2007/006320-0 pp.2221-30
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT In lactic acid bacteria (LAB), amino acids and their derivatives may be converted into amine-containing compounds designated biogenic amines, in pathways providing metabolic energy and/or acid resistance to the bacteria. In a previous study, a pathway converting tyrosine to tyramine was detected in Lactobacillus brevis and a fragment of a gene possibly involved in the production of another biogenic amine, putrescine, from agmatine, was detected in the same locus. The present study was carried out to determine if Lb. brevis actually harbours two biogenic amine-producing pathways in the same locus and to investigate the occurrence of the two gene clusters in other bacteria. Sequencing of the DNA locus in Lb. brevis revealed a cluster of six genes that are related to previously reported genes of agmatine deiminase pathways but with marked differences such as two genes encoding putative agmatine deiminases rather than one. Heterologous expression of encoded enzymes confirmed the presence of at least one active agmatine deiminase and one amino acid transporter that efficiently exchanged agmatine and putrescine. It was concluded that the Lb. brevis gene cluster encodes a functional and highly specific agmatine deiminase pathway. Screening of a collection of 197 LAB disclosed the same genes in 36 strains from six different species, and almost all the positive bacteria also contained the tyrosine catabolic pathway genes in the same locus. These results support the hypothesis that the agmatine deiminase and tyrosine catabolic pathways belong to a genomic region that provides acid resistance and that is exchanged horizontally as a whole between LAB.

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Keywords

36 strains
 
agmatine deiminase pathways
 
amino acid transporter
 
amino acids
 
biogenic amine
 
biogenic amines
 
different species
 
DNA locus
 
exchanged agmatine
 
genomic region
 
lactic acid bacteria
 
one active agmatine deiminase
 
positive bacteria
 
provides acid resistance
 
specific agmatine deiminase pathway
 
two gene clusters
 
two genes encoding putative agmatine deiminases
 
tyramine
 
tyrosine catabolic pathway genes
 
tyrosine catabolic pathways