Genomic studies provide deeper insights into secondary metabolites produced by diverse bacterial communities, residing in various environmental niches. This study aims to understand the potential of a biosurfactant producing Bacillus sp. AM13, isolated from soil. An integrated approach of genomic and chemical analysis was employed to characterize the antibacterial lipopeptide produced by the strain AM13. Genome analysis revealed that strain AM13 harbors a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) cluster; highly similar with known biosynthetic gene clusters from surfactin family: lichenysin (85 %) and surfactin (78 %). These findings were substantiated with supplementary experiments of oil displacement assay and surface tension measurements, confirming the biosurfactant production. Further investigation using LCMS approach exhibited similarity of the biomolecule with biosurfactants of the surfactin family. Our consolidated effort of functional genomics provided chemical as well as genetic leads for understanding the biochemical characteristics of the bioactive compound.
The response of cellular fatty acids to various environmental stresses was studied using two endophytic species of Micrococcus. A total of 18 samples with three biological replicates from low, moderate and high stress conditions of salt (0.5, 5 and 10 % NaCl), pH (5, 7 and 10) and temperatures (15, 25 and 41°C) were analysed. Branched chain fatty acids dominated in both the organisms, while saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were detected less frequently. The mole percentage of isoforms of branched chain fatty acids gradually increased with increasing salinity and showed more than a twofold increase at higher concentration of salt (10 %). Unlike Micrococcus yunnanensis DSM 21948 T , Micrococcus aloeverae MCC 2184 T showed more agreement with previous findings related to stress tolerance in other bacteria. Data indicate that iso fatty acids are responsible for the growth of Micrococcus at high salt concentration. In addition, instead of individual fatty acids, the ratio of the total content of iso/ anteiso forms modulates membrane fluidity and functions during environmental stress in Micrococcus. For a comparative study of salinity stress in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, the strain of Halomonas was alsoincluded.
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