Salt-induced osmotic stress remodels osmoadaptive gene expression and physiology in the polyhydroxyalkanoate-accumulating thermophilic bacterium Caldimonas thermodepolymerans

Abstract

Caldimonas thermodepolymerans is a thermophilic polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-producing bacterium with strong potential for sustainable bioplastic production. Besides serving as intracellular carbon and energy storage compounds, PHAs are increasingly associated with bacterial stress resistance and cellular robustness. This study aimed to investigate the physiological and transcriptomic response of C. thermodepolymerans to osmotic stress induced by elevated NaCl concentrations. Growth analysis demonstrated tolerance up to a supplementation of 2% NaCl, while moderate salt concentrations enhanced PHA accumulation, reaching 65% cell dry weight at 1.5% NaCl supplementation. To better understand the bacterial response to osmotic stress, RNA sequencing was performed under sublethal salt stress conditions. Differential expression analysis revealed major changes in genes related to osmoprotection, trehalose metabolism and type VI secretion systems, whereas motility and chemotaxis genes were strongly repressed. Phenotypic assays confirmed increased biofilm formation and reduced swarming motility under salt-induced osmotic stress. Although canonical PHA biosynthesis genes were not significantly differentially expressed, increased polymer accumulation suggests other underlying mechanisms linked to osmoadaptation. Together, these findings demonstrate that osmotic stress induces metabolic, physiological and regulatory responses in C. thermodepolymerans, highlighting the importance of PHA in stress adaptation besides its industrial applicability.