Integrated omics analysis reveals reorganization of nitrogen and lipid metabolism in a toluene-degrading bacterium in the gas phase

Gas-phase toluene degradation by Acinetobacter sp. Tol 5 is linked to a distinct metabolic state, with 97 metabolites, 108 lipids, and 3,899 genes showing phase-specific reprogramming.

• Why it matters: Gas-phase bioprocesses lack bulk water and can limit nutrient replenishment, but the metabolic mechanisms that keep cells active under low-water conditions are poorly understood.
• What they did: Cells on polyurethane carriers from independent cultures were exposed to gas or two aqueous media (nitrogen-depleted basal salt medium and phosphate-buffered saline), then integrated metabolomics, lipidomics, and transcriptomics were analyzed during active toluene degradation.
• The result: In the gas phase, amino acid and nucleotide degradation increased while glutamate stayed high and citrulline accumulated; membrane lipids were remodeled and triacylglycerol was consumed, suggesting nitrogen metabolism and lipid mobilization support adaptation.

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