Understanding the metabolism of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri in vitro by a transcriptomic analysis

It is generally known that the culture for mycoplasma is time-consuming and a variety of nutrients are needed in the culture medium. This brings a lot of difficulties to mycoplasma research and application, including Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri (Mmc). Furthermore, little research on the characteristics of Mmc metabolism has been reported. In this study, Mmc PG3 strain cultures were investigated for dynamic gene expression. Culture samples were harvested during logarithmic phase (PG3-1), stationary phase (PG3-2), decline phase (PG3-3) and late decline phase (PG3-4). Twelve RNA samples (three replicates for each of the four growth stages considered) from these cultures were collected and sequenced. Paired comparison between consecutive growth phases in the four growth stages showed 45 significant differentially expressed genes (P<0.01) were linked to PG3 metabolism. The enzymes these genes coded were mainly involved in ATP synthase, pyrimidine metabolism, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism. Among these, cytidylate kinase, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolases Class II, nicotinate-nucleotide adenylyltransferase and dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase play a key role in Mmc metabolism. These results provide a baseline to build our understanding of the metabolic pathway of Mmc.