S-layer protein production by Corynebacterium strains is dependent on the carbon source

Three strains of Corynebacterium producing various amounts of PS2 S-layer protein were studied. For all strains, more PS2 was produced if the bacteria were grown in minimal medium supplemented with lactate than if they were grown in minimal medium supplemented with glucose. The consumption of substrate and PS2 production was studied in cultures with mixed carbon sources. It was found that the inhibitory effect of glucose consumption was stronger than the stimulatory effect of lactate in one strain, but not in the other two strains. The regulation of gene expression involved in S-layer formation may involve metabolic pathways, which probably differ between strains. S-layer organization was also studied by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. It was found that low levels of PS2 production correlated with the partial covering of the cell surface by a crystalline array. Finally, it was found that PS2 production was mainly regulated by changes in gene expression and that secretion was probably not a limiting step in PS2 accumulation.