About 20 genes of unknown function were also differentially
expressed more than three-fold in response to cysteine availability in our transcriptomic data (Table 1). Except for cpe2538, all these genes were induced during conditions of cysteine limitation. Four genes (cpe1078, cpe1386, cpe1387 and cpe1388) encode cysteine-rich proteins. It was rather surprising to observe a drastic increase (6 to 11-fold) of synthesis of cysteine-rich proteins during cysteine limitation. Proteins required for sulfur assimilation, which are induced during conditions of sulfur starvation, are usually relatively depleted in sulfur-containing amino acids [40, 41]. We will focus this paper on the genes involved in sulfur metabolism or functions with possible links with cysteine such as iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis and redox. Table 1 Genes differentially expressed in strain 13 after growth in the presence of homocysteine Tariquidar solubility dmso AZD8931 or cystine. Gene name (synonym) Function/similarity Transcriptome analysis qRT-PCR Homocysteine/cysteine p-value Homocysteine/cysteine T-box Cys controlled genes cpe1321 (cysE) Serine acetyl-transferase 7.91 0.0001 cpe1322 (cysK) OAS-thiol-lyase 6.86 0.0002 120 cpe0967 Na+-H+/Amino acid symporter 15.53 6.6E-06 cpe0947 Na+-H+/Amino acid symporter 7.01 0.0002 S-box controlled genes cpe2177 (metK) SAM-synthase 2.7 0.015 14 cpe2317 probable Na+-H+ antiporter 1.4 0.01 Iron sulfur clusters cpe1786 Rrf2-type
regulator 3.41 0.0001 14 cpe1785 (iscS) Cysteine desulfurase 3.36 0.00027 cpe1784 (iscU) Iron sulfur cluster assembly 6.73 0.00008 cpe1783 (trmU) Methylaminomethyl-2-Thiouridylate- 3.5 < 1E-05 methyltransferase cpe1469 IscS-like protein 2.5 0.0009 8 cpe0664 HesB-like protein 3.83 1.5E-05 11 Functions associated to redox cpe2511 (fer) Ferredoxin [3Fe-4S] 3.2 < 1E-05 cpe777 (rubR1) Rubredoxin 1.8 0.001 PTK6 cpe0780 (rubR2) Rubredoxin 2.4 < 1E-05 4.3 cpe0778 Probable flavohemoprotein 1.62 0.005 cpe1331 (rubY) Rubrerythrine 1.64 0.01 cpe2447 (fer) Ferredoxin 2[2Fe-2S] 0.52 0.01 cpe0782 Alkyl hydrogen peroxide reductase 0.49 < 1E-05 cpe2537 cytochrome c-type
biogenesis protein 0.41 < 1E-05 cpe2538 Unknown 0.25 3.5E-05 Carbon metabolism cpe2308 Mannose-1-phosphate 3.5 2.3E-05 guanylyltransferase cpe0103 (ldh) Lactate dehydrogenase 2.73 0.004 15 Transporters, membrane or exported proteins cpe2151 Mercure-copper binding protein 5.1 < 1E-05 cpe1371 Na+-dependent symporter 3.3 0.009 5 cpe0049 Membrane protein 3.02 < 1E-05 cpe2456 Membrane protein 2.84 1E-05 cpe0554 Protein with signal sequence 2.74 0.0002 cpe0383 Holin-like protein 2.6 0.004 cpe2595 Na+/H+ antiporter 0.34 < 1E-05 Virulence cpe0163 Perfringolysin O 0.3 0.02 0.16 cpe1523 (nagL) Hyaluronidase 1.82 9.5E-05 2.3 Proteins of unknown function cpe1078 Unknown (73 aa) 10.8 < 1E-05 cpe1079 Unknown 7.