The <it>rgg</it>_{<it>0182 </it>}gene encodes a transcriptional regulator required for the full <it>Streptococcus thermophilus </it>LMG18311 thermal adaptation

• Main Authors: Bertin Stéphane, Gardan Rozenn, Bruneau Emmanuelle, Henry Romain, Fleuchot Betty, Decaris Bernard, Leblond-Bourget Nathalie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2011-10-01
• Series: BMC Microbiology
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2180/11/223

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Streptococcus thermophilus </it>is an important starter strain for the production of yogurt and cheeses. The analysis of sequenced genomes of four strains of <it>S. thermophilus </it>indicates that they contain several genes of the <it>rgg </it>familly potentially encoding transcriptional regulators. Some of the Rgg proteins are known to be involved in bacterial stress adaptation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, we demonstrated that <it>Streptococcus thermophilus </it>thermal stress adaptation required the <it>rgg</it>_{<it>0182 </it>}gene which transcription depends on the culture medium and the growth temperature. This gene encoded a protein showing similarity with members of the Rgg family transcriptional regulator. Our data confirmed that Rgg₀₁₈₂is a transcriptional regulator controlling the expression of its neighboring genes as well as chaperones and proteases encoding genes. Therefore, analysis of a Δ<it>rgg</it>_{<it>0182 </it>}mutant revealed that this protein played a role in the heat shock adaptation of <it>Streptococcus thermophilus </it>LMG18311.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data showed the importance of the Rgg₀₁₈₂transcriptional regulator on the survival of <it>S. thermophilus </it>during dairy processes and more specifically during changes in temperature.</p>