Extremophile Metal Resistance: Plasmid-Encoded Functions in Streptomyces Mirabilis

The extreme metal tolerance of up to 130 mM NiSO in Streptomyces mirabilis P16B-1 was investigated. Genome sequencing revealed the presence of a large linear plasmid, pI. To identify plasmid-encoded determinants of metal resistance, a newly established transformation system was used to characterize the predicted plasmid-encoded loci , and . Reintroduction into the plasmid-cured S. mirabilis ΔpI confirmed that the predicted metal transporter gene constitutes a nickel resistance factor, which was further supported by its heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. In contrast, the predicted nickel exporter gene decreased nickel tolerance, while copper tolerance was enhanced. The predicted copper-dependent transcriptional regulator gene did not induce tolerance toward either metal. Since genes for transfer were identified on the plasmid, its conjugational transfer to the metal-sensitive Streptomyces lividans TK24 was checked. This resulted in acquired tolerance toward 30 mM nickel and additionally increased the tolerance toward copper and cobalt, while oxidative stress tolerance remained unchanged. Intracellular nickel concentrations decreased in the transconjugant strain. The high extracellular nickel concentrations allowed for biomineralization. Plasmid transfer could also be confirmed into the co-occurring actinomycete spp. in soil microcosms. Living in extremely metal-rich environments requires specific adaptations, and often, specific metal tolerance genes are encoded on a transferable plasmid. Here, Streptomyces mirabilis P16B-1, isolated from a former mining area and able to grow with up to 130 mM NiSO, was investigated. The bacterial chromosome, as well as a giant plasmid, was sequenced. The plasmid-borne gene was confirmed to confer metal resistance. A newly established transformation system allowed us to construct a plasmid-cured S. mirabilis as well as an -rescued strain in addition to confirming encoding nickel resistance if heterologously expressed in E. coli. The potential of intra- and interspecific plasmid transfer, together with the presence of metal resistance factors on that plasmid, underlines the importance of plasmids for transfer of resistance factors within a bacterial soil community.