Using heme as an energy boost for lactic acid bacteria

Genomics of Weissella cibaria with an examination of its metabolic traits

“…LAB scavenge the necessary haem from the environment, while not all strains are capable of menaquinone biosynthesis. Those that lack the ability to synthesize menaquinones assimilate it from the environment (Lechardeur et al, 2011). It has been shown that, for example, in Lactococcus lactis haem-induced respiration dramatically alters the phenotype, improving growth efficiency and also robustness (i.e.…”

“…In addition, this strain also contains the complete complement of enzymes required for the synthesis of menaquinone from chorismate. It has been shown that strains of closely related genera such as Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Oenococcus oeni have the same genetic potential for respiration, which was experimentally confirmed for Leuconostoc mesenteroides (Lechardeur et al, 2011). Brooijmans et al (2009) examined the haeminduced respiration abilities of a number of LAB (determination of increased biomass in the presence of haem and/ or menaquinone), including two Weissella strains (one W. cibaria and one W. halotolerans).…”

Structural Basis for the Transcriptional Regulation of Heme Homeostasis in Lactococcus lactis

“…L. lactis undergoes a metabolic shift from fermentation to respiration in an aerobic environment when heme is supplied (11,12). Acquired heme is used as a source of heme, rather than of iron, to activate cytochrome oxidase (cytochrome bd) for oxygen respiration because this bacterium cannot biosynthesize heme (10,13,14).…”

Dynamic Stresses of Lactic Acid Bacteria Associated to Fermentation Processes

“…It was generally believed that these bacteria could under no condition use oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor [17]. However, many LAB have NADH oxidase and some can even express a functionally active respiratory chain in the presence of heme [51][52][53][54][55][56][57]. Respiration-competent LAB differ from the features of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, since they carry limited equipment for respiration.…”