Effects of nutrients on quorum signals and secondary metabolite productions of Burkholderia sp. O33.

Several bioactive metabolites, including pyrrolnitrin, Nacylhomoserine lactones, and polyhydroxyalkanoates were isolated from Burkholderia sp. O33. Effects of various nutrients, including sugars, gluconolactone, glycerol, tryptophan, chloride, and zinc were investigated in relation to the production of these metabolites. Logarithmic increase of pyrrolnitrin was observed between 2-5 days and reached a maximum at 7-10 days. Tryptophan concentration reached the maximum at 3 days, whereas 7-chlorotryptophan was gradually increased throughout the studies. Among various carbon sources, gluconolactone, trehalose, and glycerol enhanced pyrrolnitrin production, whereas strong inhibitory effects were found with glucose. Relative concentrations of pyrrolnitrin and its precursors were in the order of pyrrolnitrin >> dechloroaminopyrrolnitrin or aminopyrrolnitrin throughout the experiments. Among three N-acylhomoserine lactones, the N-octanoyl analog was the most abundant quorum sensing signal, of which the concentrations reached the maximum in 2-3 days, followed by a rapid dissipation to trace level. No significant changes in pyrrolnitrin biosynthesis were observed by external addition of N-acylhomoserine lactones. Polyhydroxyalkanoates accumulated up to 3-4 days and decreased slowly thereafter. According to the kinetic analyses, no strong correlations were found between the levels of pyrrolnitrin, N-acylhomoserine lactones,and Polyhydroxyalkanoates.