AUTHOR=Habjanič Jelena , Mathew Anugraha , Eberl Leo , Freisinger Eva 

TITLE=Deciphering the Enigmatic Function of Pseudomonas Metallothioneins

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01709

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2020.01709

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Metallothioneins (MTs) are low molecular weight, Cys-rich proteins that sequester both essential and non-essential metal ions. Despite being highly conserved in the <italic>Pseudomonas</italic> genus of Gram-negative bacteria, knowledge of their physiological function in this species is scarce. Using the strain <italic>P. fluorescens</italic> Q2-87 as a model organism, we investigated the role of a conserved MT in zinc homeostasis, cadmium detoxification as well as its implications in stress response. We show that MT expression is only induced in the stationary phase and provides a fitness benefit for long-term starvation survival, while it is not required for metal resistance and acquisition, oxidative or nitrosative stress response, biofilm formation or motility.</p>