High-temperature stimulation enhances polyhydroxyalkanoates accumulation in thermophile Aeribacillus pallidus BK1

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are intracellular storage polymers that enhance bacterial resistance in environments. While the role of PHAs regulation in thermophiles under high-temperature stimulation is understudied, this work investigates Aeribacillus pallidus BK1, a thermophile with heat resistance up to 155 °C. Our results showed that A. pallidus's PHAs yield was 1.45 g/L. After 90 °C and 121 °C stimulations, the PHAs yield doubled to 3.33 g/L. The PHAs ratios increased from 35.63 % (60 °C) to 75.46 % (90 °C) and 77.15 % (121 °C). RNA-seq analysis revealed a common strategy of activating glucose transporters to enhance glucose uptake at both temperatures. At 90 °C, A. pallidus BK1 prioritized PHAs accumulation over the TCA cycle. At 121 °C, PHAs production was further enhanced by upregulating monomer polymerization and downregulating acetyl-CoA carboxylase expression. These findings offered valuable insights into the high-temperature defense mechanisms of thermophiles and suggested that A. pallidus BK1 holds promise as a bio-production platform for PHAs production under thermal stimulation.