Characterization and distribution of the gene cluster encoding RumC, an anti‐Clostridium perfringens bacteriocin produced in the gut

• Published in: FEMS microbiology ecology Vol. 78; no. 2; pp. 405 - 415
• Main Authors: Pujol, Ange, Crost, Emmanuelle H., Simon, Gwenola, Barbe, Valerie, Vallenet, David, Gomez, Ana, Fons, Michel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell 01-11-2011; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Bacteriocins - genetics; Bacteriocins - metabolism; Bacteriocins - toxicity; Bacteriology; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Biosynthesis; Clostridium perfringens - drug effects; Clostridium perfringens - genetics; Clostridium perfringens - metabolism; colonization resistance; dissemination; Ecology; Feces; Feces - microbiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastrointestinal Tract - metabolism; Gastrointestinal Tract - microbiology; gut microbiota; in vivo expression; Microbial ecology; Microbiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Multigene Family; Open Reading Frames; Peptides; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Rats; Ruminococcus - genetics; Ruminococcus - growth & development; Ruminococcus - metabolism; Ruminococcus gnavus; Trypsin - genetics; Trypsin - metabolism; Eubacteriales; Gene cluster; Digestive system; Bacteriocin; Gut; Ruminococcus gnavus; Clostridiales; Microflora; Peptococcaceae; colonization resistance; Clostridium perfringens; gut microbiota; Characterization; Resistance; In vivo; Sensitivity resistance; Dissemination; in vivo expression; Clostridiaceae; Ruminococcus; Bacteria; Colonization
• ISSN: 0168-6496; 1574-6941
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01176.x

Ruminococcin C (RumC) is a trypsin‐dependent bacteriocin produced by Ruminococcus gnavus E1, a gram‐positive strict anaerobic strain isolated from human feces. It consists of at least three similar peptides active against Clostridium perfringens. In this article, a 15‐kb region from R. gnavus E1 chromosome, containing the biosynthetic gene cluster of RumC was characterized. It harbored 17 open reading frames (called rumc genes) with predicted functions in bacteriocin biosynthesis and post‐translational modification, signal transduction regulation, and immunity. An unusual feature of the locus is the presence of five genes encoding highly homologous, but nonidentical RumC precursors. The transcription levels of the rumc genes were quantified. The rumC genes were found to be highly expressed in vivo, when R. gnavus E1 colonized the digestive tract of mono‐contaminated rats, whereas the amount of corresponding transcripts was below detection level when it grew in liquid culture medium. Moreover, the rumC‐like genes were disseminated among 10 strains (R. gnavus or related species) previously isolated from human fecal samples and selected for their capability to produce a trypsin‐dependant anti‐C. perfringens compound. All harbored at least a rumC1‐like copy, four exhibited rumC1–5 genes identical to those of strain E1.