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Nat Microbiol

Title:		Developmentally regulated volatiles geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol attract a soil arthropod to Streptomyces bacteria promoting spore dispersal
Author(s):		Becher PG; Verschut V; Bibb MJ; Bush MJ; Molnar BP; Barane E; Al-Bassam MM; Chandra G; Song L; Challis GL; Buttner MJ; Flardh K;
Address:		"Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden. paul.becher@slu.se. Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden. Department of Molecular Microbiology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK. Zoology Department, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary. Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. klas.flardh@biol.lu.se"
Journal Title:		Nat Microbiol
Year:		2020
Volume:		20200406
Issue:		6
Page Number:		821 - 829
DOI:		10.1038/s41564-020-0697-x
ISSN/ISBN:		2058-5276 (Electronic) 2058-5276 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Volatile compounds emitted by bacteria are often sensed by other organisms as odours, but their ecological roles are poorly understood(1,2). Well-known examples are the soil-smelling terpenoids geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB)(3,4), which humans and various animals sense at extremely low concentrations(5,6). The conservation of geosmin biosynthesis genes among virtually all species of Streptomyces bacteria (and genes for the biosynthesis of 2-MIB in about 50%)(7,8), suggests that the volatiles provide a selective advantage for these soil microbes. We show, in the present study, that these volatiles mediate interactions of apparent mutual benefit between streptomycetes and springtails (Collembola). In field experiments, springtails were attracted to odours emitted by Streptomyces colonies. Geosmin and 2-MIB in these odours induce electrophysiological responses in the antennae of the model springtail Folsomia candida, which is also attracted to both compounds. Moreover, the genes for geosmin and 2-MIB synthases are under the direct control of sporulation-specific transcription factors, constraining emission of the odorants to sporulating colonies. F. candida feeds on the Streptomyces colonies and disseminates spores both via faecal pellets and through adherence to its hydrophobic cuticle. The results indicate that geosmin and 2-MIB production is an integral part of the sporulation process, completing the Streptomyces life cycle by facilitating dispersal of spores by soil arthropods"
Keywords:		"Animals Arthropods/*microbiology Camphanes/*pharmacology Naphthols/*pharmacology Pheromones/*pharmacology Soil/*parasitology *Spores, Bacterial *Streptomyces;"
Notes:		"MedlineBecher, Paul G Verschut, Vasiliki Bibb, Maureen J Bush, Matthew J Molnar, Bela P Barane, Elisabeth Al-Bassam, Mahmoud M Chandra, Govind Song, Lijiang Challis, Gregory L Buttner, Mark J Flardh, Klas eng BB/P012523/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom BB/J004561/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom BB/I002197/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom BB/H006125/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom BBS/E/J/00000015/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2020/04/07 Nat Microbiol. 2020 Jun; 5(6):821-829. doi: 10.1038/s41564-020-0697-x. Epub 2020 Apr 6"