Transcriptomic and metabolomic investigation of molecular inactivation mechanisms in Escherichia coli triggered by graphene quantum dots

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), a novel broad-spectrum antibacterial agent, are considered potential candidates in the field of biomedical and food safety due to their outstanding antimicrobial properties and excellent biocompatibility. To uncover the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying the phenotypes, the overall regulation of genes and metabolites in Escherichia coli (E. coli) after GQDs stimulation was investigated by RNA-sequencing and LC-MS. Gene transcription and metabolite expression related to a series of crucial biomolecular processes were influenced by the GQDs stimulation, including biofilm formation, bacterial secretion system, sulfur metabolism and nitrogen metabolism, etc. This study could provide profound insights into the GQDs stress response in E. coli, which would be useful for the development and application of GQDs in food safety.