Growth Substrate and Prophage Induction Collectively Influence Metabolite and Lipid Profiles in a Marine Bacterium
Jonelle T. R. Basso, Katarina A. Jones, Kaylee R. Jacobs, Courtney J. Christopher, Haley B. Fielland, Shawn R. Campagna, Alison Buchan
Abstract
Community-level metabolomics approaches are increasingly used to characterize natural microbial populations. These approaches typically depend upon temporal snapshots from which the status and function of communities are often inferred. Such inferences are typically drawn from lab-based studies of select model organisms raised under limited growth conditions. To better interpret community-level data, the extent to which ecologically relevant bacteria demonstrate metabolic flexibility requires elucidation. Herein, we used an environmentally relevant model heterotrophic marine bacterium to assess the relationship between growth determinants and metabolome. We also aimed to assess the contribution of phage activity to the host metabolome. Striking differences in primary metabolite and lipid profiles appeared to be driven primarily by growth regime and, secondarily, by phage type. These findings demonstrated the malleable nature of metabolomes and lipidomes and lay the foundation for future studies that relate cellular composition with function in complex environmental microbial communities.