Simulated microgravity triggers a membrane adaptation to stress in E. coli REL606
Abstract Investigating the evolution of Escherichia coli in microgravity offers valuable insights into microbial adaptation to extreme environments. Here the effects of simulated microgravity (SµG) on gene expression and genome evolution of E. coli REL606, a strain evolved terrestrially for 35 years...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-04064-7 |
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| author | Brittney Lozzi Lea Adepoju Josh L. Espinoza Michael Padgen Macarena Parra Antonio Ricco Sarah Castro-Wallace Jeffrey E. Barrick Aubrie O’Rourke |
| author_facet | Brittney Lozzi Lea Adepoju Josh L. Espinoza Michael Padgen Macarena Parra Antonio Ricco Sarah Castro-Wallace Jeffrey E. Barrick Aubrie O’Rourke |
| author_sort | Brittney Lozzi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Investigating the evolution of Escherichia coli in microgravity offers valuable insights into microbial adaptation to extreme environments. Here the effects of simulated microgravity (SµG) on gene expression and genome evolution of E. coli REL606, a strain evolved terrestrially for 35 years, is explored. The transcriptomic changes for glucose-limited and glucose-replete conditions over 24 h illustrate that SµG increased the expression of genes involved in stress response, biofilm, and metabolism. A greater number of differentially expressed genes related to the general stress response (GSR) and biofilm formation is observed in simulated microgravity cultures under glucose-limited conditions in comparison to glucose-replete conditions. Longer term SµG culture under glucose-limited conditions led to the accumulation of unique mutations when compared to control cultures, particularly in the mraZ/fruR intergenic region and the elyC gene, suggesting changes in peptidoglycan and enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) production. These findings highlight the physiological and genomic adaptations of E. coli to microgravity, offering a foundation for future research into the long-term effects of space conditions on bacterial evolution. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4c8ab6a439c54bd0bb4a7c970e4fc2a7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2180 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-4c8ab6a439c54bd0bb4a7c970e4fc2a72025-08-20T02:06:31ZengBMCBMC Microbiology1471-21802025-06-0125111410.1186/s12866-025-04064-7Simulated microgravity triggers a membrane adaptation to stress in E. coli REL606Brittney Lozzi0Lea Adepoju1Josh L. Espinoza2Michael Padgen3Macarena Parra4Antonio Ricco5Sarah Castro-Wallace6Jeffrey E. Barrick7Aubrie O’Rourke8Space Center Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Intern Program, NASA Kennedy, Kennedy Space CenterSpace Center Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Intern Program, NASA Kennedy, Kennedy Space CenterDepartment of Environment and Sustainability, J. Craig Venter InstituteNASA Ames Research CenterNASA Ames Research CenterNASA Ames Research CenterBiomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division, NASA Johnson Space CenterDepartment of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, The University of Texas at AustinNASA Exploration Research and Technology, Kennedy Space CenterAbstract Investigating the evolution of Escherichia coli in microgravity offers valuable insights into microbial adaptation to extreme environments. Here the effects of simulated microgravity (SµG) on gene expression and genome evolution of E. coli REL606, a strain evolved terrestrially for 35 years, is explored. The transcriptomic changes for glucose-limited and glucose-replete conditions over 24 h illustrate that SµG increased the expression of genes involved in stress response, biofilm, and metabolism. A greater number of differentially expressed genes related to the general stress response (GSR) and biofilm formation is observed in simulated microgravity cultures under glucose-limited conditions in comparison to glucose-replete conditions. Longer term SµG culture under glucose-limited conditions led to the accumulation of unique mutations when compared to control cultures, particularly in the mraZ/fruR intergenic region and the elyC gene, suggesting changes in peptidoglycan and enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) production. These findings highlight the physiological and genomic adaptations of E. coli to microgravity, offering a foundation for future research into the long-term effects of space conditions on bacterial evolution.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-04064-7Simulated microgravityE. coliREL606Gene expressionExperimental evolution |
| spellingShingle | Brittney Lozzi Lea Adepoju Josh L. Espinoza Michael Padgen Macarena Parra Antonio Ricco Sarah Castro-Wallace Jeffrey E. Barrick Aubrie O’Rourke Simulated microgravity triggers a membrane adaptation to stress in E. coli REL606 BMC Microbiology Simulated microgravity E. coli REL606 Gene expression Experimental evolution |
| title | Simulated microgravity triggers a membrane adaptation to stress in E. coli REL606 |
| title_full | Simulated microgravity triggers a membrane adaptation to stress in E. coli REL606 |
| title_fullStr | Simulated microgravity triggers a membrane adaptation to stress in E. coli REL606 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Simulated microgravity triggers a membrane adaptation to stress in E. coli REL606 |
| title_short | Simulated microgravity triggers a membrane adaptation to stress in E. coli REL606 |
| title_sort | simulated microgravity triggers a membrane adaptation to stress in e coli rel606 |
| topic | Simulated microgravity E. coli REL606 Gene expression Experimental evolution |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-025-04064-7 |
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