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E. coli aggregation and impaired cell division after terahertz irradiation
Sergey Peltek1,2, Irina Meshcheryakova3,4, Elena Kiseleva4
1Laboratory of Molecular Biotechnologies of Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Lavrentiev Aven., Novosibirsk, Russia, 630090. peltek@bionet.nsc.ru.
Terahertz (THz) radiation exposure alters gene activity in Escherichia coli (E. coli), affecting cell aggregation, motility, division, and adhesion. This leads to abnormal cell morphology and impaired division, demonstrating adverse effects on bacterial populations.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biophysics
- Genetics
Background:
- Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a model organism for studying bacterial responses to environmental stimuli.
- Terahertz (THz) radiation is a non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation with emerging applications in various scientific fields.
- Understanding the biological effects of THz radiation is crucial for its safe and effective use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of terahertz (THz) radiation on the gene expression and morphology of Escherichia coli (E. coli).
- To identify specific cellular processes affected by THz exposure, including cell aggregation, motility, division, and cell envelope integrity.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of E. coli cultures to terahertz (THz) radiation.
- Gene expression analysis targeting specific operons and genes related to bacterial physiology (e.g., tdcABCDEFGR, matA-F, yjjQ, dicABCF, FtsZ, minCDE, sfmACDHF, yjbEFGH, gfcA, csg operon).
- Electron microscopy to visualize morphological changes in irradiated E. coli cells.
Main Results:
- THz radiation significantly altered the activity of genes involved in cell aggregation, motility suppression, cell division suppression, adhesin synthesis, and cell envelope stabilization.
- Induction of amyloid biosynthesis genes (csg operon) was observed in THz-exposed E. coli.
- Electron microscopy confirmed increased bacterial aggregation, formation of pili bundles, and aberrations in cell wall structure, leading to elongated cell morphology and impaired division.
Conclusions:
- Terahertz (THz) radiation induces significant molecular and morphological changes in Escherichia coli (E. coli).
- The observed alterations suggest adverse effects on bacterial viability and proliferation, including impaired cell division and altered adhesive properties.
- These findings highlight the potential impact of THz radiation on bacterial populations and underscore the need for further research into its biological mechanisms.
