Global transcriptome analysis of hexavalent chromium stress responses in Staphylococcus aureus LZ-01

Staphylococcus aureus strain LZ-01, isolated from the Lanzhou reaches of the Yellow River, is capable of reducing Cr(VI) to Cr(III) aerobically. We employed transcriptome sequencing analysis to identify genes involved in Cr(VI) stress responses in S. aureus LZ-01. Our results showed that 512 of the 2,370 predicted genes displayed up-regulation (>2-fold), and 49 genes were down-regulated (<50 %) after Cr(VI) exposure. Among up-regulated genes, 128 genes were annotated to encode proteins involved in cellular processes; 68 were categorized to transport and binding proteins; 26 were involved in DNA repair and 32 were associated with regulatory functions. To further elucidate the Cr(VI) resistance and reduction mechanism, we carried out physiological tests and quantitative PCR analysis. Both RNA-seq and qRT-PCR data showed genes encoding a thioredoxin reductase and main subunits of cytochrome c oxidase complex were up-regulated upon Cr(VI) treatment. Either cadmium or NaN3 treatment could inhibit Cr(VI) reduction which indicates that thioredoxin and cytochrome are involved in Cr(VI) reduction strain LZ-01. 29 ABC-type metal/multidrug transporters and efflux pumps were up-regulated, suggesting that they are involved in Cr(VI) resistance by pumping chromium ions out of cells. The up-regulation of 26 DNA repair genes demonstrate that Cr(VI) is toxic to DNA and those DNA protection proteins need to be responded for Cr(VI) stress. Based on these results, the mechanism of strain LZ-01 resists and reduces Cr(VI) is revealed.