Metabolism

B. subtilis is a chemoheterotrophic organism. It uses glucose and ammonium/glutamine as preferred sources of carbon and nitrogen, respectively. The bacteria can grow on a minimal medium. It produces all cofactors.

A suite of models of B. subtilis metabolism can by found in SubtiPathways.

The major categories

1. Cellular processes
2. Metabolism
3. Information processing
4. Lifestyles
5. Prophages and mobile genetic elements
6. Groups of genes

2. Metabolism

• 2.1. Electron transport and ATP synthesis
  • 2.1.1. Regulators of electron transport
  • 2.1.2. Respiration
    • 2.1.2.1. Terminal oxidases
    • 2.1.2.2. Anaerobic respiration
    • 2.1.2.3. Respiration/ other
  • 2.1.3. Electron transport/ other
  • 2.1.4. ATP synthesis
• 2.2. Carbon metabolism
  • 2.2.1. Carbon core metabolism
    • 2.2.1.1. Glycolysis
    • 2.2.1.2. Gluconeogenesis
    • 2.2.1.3. Pentose phosphate pathway
    • 2.2.1.4. TCA cycle
    • 2.2.1.5. Overflow metabolism
  • 2.2.2. Utilization of specific carbon sources
    • 2.2.2.1. Utilization of organic acids
    • 2.2.2.2. Utilization of acetoin
    • 2.2.2.3. Utilization of glycerol/ glycerol 3-phosphate
    • 2.2.2.4. Utilization of ribose
    • 2.2.2.5. Utilization of xylan/ xylose
    • 2.2.2.6. Utilization of arabinan/ arabinose/ arabitol
    • 2.2.2.7. Utilization of fructose
    • 2.2.2.8. Utilization of galactose
    • 2.2.2.9. Utilization of mannose
    • 2.2.2.10. Utilization of mannitol
    • 2.2.2.11. Utilization of glucitol
    • 2.2.2.12. Utilization of rhamnose
    • 2.2.2.13. Utilization of gluconate
    • 2.2.2.14. Utilization of glucarate/ galactarate
    • 2.2.2.15. Utilization of hexuronate
    • 2.2.2.16. Utilization of inositol
    • 2.2.2.17. Utilization of amino sugars
    • 2.2.2.18. Utilization of beta-glucosides
    • 2.2.2.19. Utilization of sucrose
    • 2.2.2.20. Utilization of trehalose
    • 2.2.2.21. Utilization of melibiose
    • 2.2.2.22. Utilization of maltose
    • 2.2.2.23. Utilization of starch/ maltodextrin
    • 2.2.2.24. Utilization of glucomannan
    • 2.2.2.25. Utilization of pectin
    • 2.2.2.26. Utilization of other polymeric carbohydrates
• 2.3. Amino acid/ nitrogen metabolism
  • 2.3.1. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of amino acids
    • 2.3.1.1. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of glutamate/ glutamine/ ammonium assimilation
    • 2.3.1.2. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of proline
    • 2.3.1.3. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of arginine
    • 2.3.1.4. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of aspartate/ asparagine
    • 2.3.1.5. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of lysine/ threonine
    • 2.3.1.6. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of serine/ glycine/ alanine
    • 2.3.1.7. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of cysteine
    • 2.3.1.8. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of methionine/ S-adenosylmethionine
    • 2.3.1.9. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of branched-chain amino acids
    • 2.3.1.10. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of aromatic amino acids
    • 2.3.1.11. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of histidine
  • 2.3.2. Utilization of amino acids
    • 2.3.2.1. Utilization of glutamine/ glutamate
    • 2.3.2.2. Utilization of proline
    • 2.3.2.3. Utilization of arginine/ ornithine
    • 2.3.2.4. Utilization of histidine
    • 2.3.2.5. Utilization of asparagine/ aspartate
    • 2.3.2.6. Utilization of alanine/ serine
    • 2.3.2.7. Utilization of threonine/ glycine
    • 2.3.2.8. Utilization of branched-chain amino acids
    • 2.3.2.9. Utilization of gamma-amino butyric acid
  • 2.3.3. Utilization of nitrogen sources other than amino acids
    • 2.3.3.1. Utilization of nitrate/ nitrite
    • 2.3.3.2. Utilization of urea
    • 2.3.3.3. Utilization of amino sugars
    • 2.3.3.4. Utilization of peptides
    • 2.3.3.5. Utilization of proteins
  • 2.3.4. Putative amino acid transporter
• 2.4. Lipid metabolism
  • 2.4.1. Utilization of lipids
    • 2.4.1.1. Utilization of phospholipids
    • 2.4.1.2. Utilization of fatty acids
    • 2.4.1.3. Utilization of lipids/ other
  • 2.4.2. Biosynthesis of lipids
    • 2.4.2.1. Biosynthesis of fatty acids
    • 2.4.2.2. Biosynthesis of phospholipids
    • 2.4.2.3. Biosynthesis of isoprenoids
  • 2.4.3. Lipid metabolism/ other
• 2.5. Nucleotide metabolism
  • 2.5.1. Utilization of nucleotides
  • 2.5.2. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of nucleotides
    • 2.5.2.1. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of purine nucleotides
    • 2.5.2.2. Purine salvage and interconversion
    • 2.5.2.3. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of pyrimidine nucleotides
    • 2.5.2.4. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of nucleotides/ other
  • 2.5.3. Metabolism of signalling nucleotides
  • 2.5.4. Nucleotide metabolism/ other
• 2.6. Additional metabolic pathways
  • 2.6.1. Biosynthesis of cell wall components
    • 2.6.1.1. Biosynthesis of peptidoglycan
    • 2.6.1.2. Biosynthesis of lipoteichoic acid
    • 2.6.1.3. Biosynthesis of teichoic acid
    • 2.6.1.4. Biosynthesis of teichuronic acid
  • 2.6.2. Biosynthesis of cofactors
    • 2.6.2.1. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of biotin
    • 2.6.2.2. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of riboflavin/ FAD
    • 2.6.2.3. Biosynthesis/ acquisition of thiamine
    • 2.6.2.4. Biosynthesis of coenzyme A
    • 2.6.2.5. Biosynthesis of folate
    • 2.6.2.6. Biosynthesis of heme/ siroheme
    • 2.6.2.7. Biosynthesis of lipoic acid
    • 2.6.2.8. Biosynthesis of menaquinone
    • 2.6.2.9. Biosynthesis of molybdopterin
    • 2.6.2.10. Biosynthesis of NAD(P)
    • 2.6.2.11. Biosynthesis of pyridoxal phosphate
  • 2.6.3. Phosphate metabolism
  • 2.6.4. Sulfur metabolism
  • 2.6.5. Iron metabolism
    • 2.6.5.1. Acquisition of iron
    • 2.6.5.2. Biosynthesis of iron-sulfur clusters
  • 2.6.6. Miscellaneous metabolic pathways
    • 2.6.6.1. Biosynthesis of antibacterial compounds
    • 2.6.6.2. Biosynthesis of bacillithiol
    • 2.6.6.3. Biosynthesis of dipicolinate
    • 2.6.6.4. Biosynthesis of glycine betaine
    • 2.6.6.5. Biosynthesis of glycogen
    • 2.6.6.6. Metabolism of polyamines

Important original publications

Additional publications: PubMed

Heather Maughan, Wayne L Nicholson
Increased fitness and alteration of metabolic pathways during Bacillus subtilis evolution in the laboratory.
Appl Environ Microbiol: 2011, 77(12);4105-18
[PubMed:21531833] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Roelco J Kleijn, Joerg M Buescher, Ludovic Le Chat, Matthieu Jules, Stephane Aymerich, Uwe Sauer
Metabolic fluxes during strong carbon catabolite repression by malate in Bacillus subtilis.
J Biol Chem: 2010, 285(3);1587-96
[PubMed:19917605] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Minimal genome projects

Yusuke Azuma, Motonori Ota
An evaluation of minimal cellular functions to sustain a bacterial cell.
BMC Syst Biol: 2009, 3;111
[PubMed:19943949] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I e)

Relevant papers on other organisms

Additional publications: PubMed