Abstract:
Objective: This study focused on the
Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WCFS1 strain to investigate the structure–function relationship of its exopolysaccharide (EPS) biosynthesis gene clusters (
cps), thereby laying the foundation for further research into strain-specific characteristics of lactic acid bacteria EPS. Methods: Mutant strains WCFS1∆
cps1-3 and WCFS1∆
cps4 were constructed using Cre-loxP homologous recombination and CRISPR/Cas9 techniques. The growth characteristics, EPS yield, and monosaccharide composition of the mutant strains were analyzed using the wild-type strain as a control. Transcriptomic analysis was performed to examine the functional roles of differentially expressed genes in the WCFS1∆
cps1-3 mutant under three distinct culture conditions. Results: The WCFS1∆
cps4 mutant exhibited a greater reduction in EPS yield, dropping to 62.2% of the wild-type level. This was accompanied by slow growth, with the time to reach the stationary phase delayed from 12 h to 32 h. However, biomass remained unaffected. The monosaccharide composition of EPS showed significant changes in the WCFS1∆
cps1-3 mutant, with mannose content increasing markedly to 32.68% and galactose content decreasing significantly to 3.83%, while rhamnose was undetectable. The number of significantly differentially expressed genes in the WCFS1∆
cps1-3 mutant compared to that in the wild-type strain under varying culture conditions accounted for only 5.1% (upregulated) and 6.8% (downregulated) of those observed under MRS culture conditions, with GO and KEGG analyses revealing substantial functional differences. Conclusion: The structure–function relationships of the
cps clusters in the WCFS1 strain varied. The highly conserved
cps4 cluster may regulate EPS yield to ensure normal bacterial growth. However, the
cps1-3 cluster likely modulates the monosaccharide composition of EPS, conferring greater environmental adaptability to the strain.