Regulation of gene expression under high hydrostatic pressure: the versatile role of the master regulator SurR in energy metabolism

In Thermococcales, energy metabolism genes are regulated by the sulfur-responsive transcriptional regulator SurR. In the piezophilic archaeon Thermococcus barophilus, these genes are also influenced by hydrostatic pressure. To explore the interaction between pressure, sulfur availability, and gene r...

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Main Authors: Yann Moalic, Toan Bao Hung Nguyen, Jordan Hartunians, Tiphaine Birien, Axel Thiel, Mohamed Jebbar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1593936/full
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author Yann Moalic
Toan Bao Hung Nguyen
Jordan Hartunians
Tiphaine Birien
Axel Thiel
Mohamed Jebbar
author_facet Yann Moalic
Toan Bao Hung Nguyen
Jordan Hartunians
Tiphaine Birien
Axel Thiel
Mohamed Jebbar
author_sort Yann Moalic
collection DOAJ
description In Thermococcales, energy metabolism genes are regulated by the sulfur-responsive transcriptional regulator SurR. In the piezophilic archaeon Thermococcus barophilus, these genes are also influenced by hydrostatic pressure. To explore the interaction between pressure, sulfur availability, and gene regulation, we constructed and analyzed several deletion mutants, including a partial surR knockout, under varying conditions. Our results show that hydrostatic pressure modulates the expression of energy metabolism genes and that SurR is essential for activating the hydrogenogenic gene cluster, even in sulfur-rich environments. Under sulfur limitation, the membrane-bound sulfur-reducing complex (MBS) is required for normal growth. These regulatory patterns expand current models derived from non-piezophilic species such as Pyrococcus furiosus and Thermococcus kodakarensis. Overall, our findings indicate that hydrostatic pressure shapes SurR function in T. barophilus, reflecting its adaptive plasticity in extreme environments.
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Microbiology
spelling doaj-art-0bc8e5a45fb94853ad3a7ea27da917a72025-08-20T03:21:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-05-011610.3389/fmicb.2025.15939361593936Regulation of gene expression under high hydrostatic pressure: the versatile role of the master regulator SurR in energy metabolismYann MoalicToan Bao Hung NguyenJordan HartuniansTiphaine BirienAxel ThielMohamed JebbarIn Thermococcales, energy metabolism genes are regulated by the sulfur-responsive transcriptional regulator SurR. In the piezophilic archaeon Thermococcus barophilus, these genes are also influenced by hydrostatic pressure. To explore the interaction between pressure, sulfur availability, and gene regulation, we constructed and analyzed several deletion mutants, including a partial surR knockout, under varying conditions. Our results show that hydrostatic pressure modulates the expression of energy metabolism genes and that SurR is essential for activating the hydrogenogenic gene cluster, even in sulfur-rich environments. Under sulfur limitation, the membrane-bound sulfur-reducing complex (MBS) is required for normal growth. These regulatory patterns expand current models derived from non-piezophilic species such as Pyrococcus furiosus and Thermococcus kodakarensis. Overall, our findings indicate that hydrostatic pressure shapes SurR function in T. barophilus, reflecting its adaptive plasticity in extreme environments.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1593936/fullpiezophilic archaeahigh hydrostatic pressureenergy metabolismtranscriptional regulationsulfur metabolismgene expression
spellingShingle Yann Moalic
Toan Bao Hung Nguyen
Jordan Hartunians
Tiphaine Birien
Axel Thiel
Mohamed Jebbar
Regulation of gene expression under high hydrostatic pressure: the versatile role of the master regulator SurR in energy metabolism
Frontiers in Microbiology
piezophilic archaea
high hydrostatic pressure
energy metabolism
transcriptional regulation
sulfur metabolism
gene expression
title Regulation of gene expression under high hydrostatic pressure: the versatile role of the master regulator SurR in energy metabolism
title_full Regulation of gene expression under high hydrostatic pressure: the versatile role of the master regulator SurR in energy metabolism
title_fullStr Regulation of gene expression under high hydrostatic pressure: the versatile role of the master regulator SurR in energy metabolism
title_full_unstemmed Regulation of gene expression under high hydrostatic pressure: the versatile role of the master regulator SurR in energy metabolism
title_short Regulation of gene expression under high hydrostatic pressure: the versatile role of the master regulator SurR in energy metabolism
title_sort regulation of gene expression under high hydrostatic pressure the versatile role of the master regulator surr in energy metabolism
topic piezophilic archaea
high hydrostatic pressure
energy metabolism
transcriptional regulation
sulfur metabolism
gene expression
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1593936/full
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