Proteomic analysis of Shewanella oneidensis overexpressing or not the putrescin decarboxylase speC

Some microorganisms can respire with extracellular electron acceptors using an extended electron transport chain to the cell surface. These organisms apply flavin molecules as cofactors to facilitate one-electron transfer catalysed by the terminal reductases and as endogenous electron shuttles. In the model organism Shewanella oneidensis, riboflavin production and excretion triggers a specific biofilm formation response that is initiated at a specific threshold concentration, similar to canonical quorum sensing molecules. Riboflavin-mediated messaging is based on the overexpression of the gene encoding the putrescin decarboxylase speC which leads to posttranscriptional overproduction of proteins involved in biofilm formation. We performed a mass spectrometry-based analysis of cells with and without speC overexpression to identify the effect of SpeC overexpression on the cell proteome.