{
  "abstract": "Mesoplasma florum is a fast-growing, near-minimal bacterium and an emerging model for systems and synthetic biology. However, its dependence on complex serum-containing media limits experimental control and complicates the interpretation of cellular phenotypes. Here, we developed CMRL-AT, a serum-free, quasi-defined medium that supports rapid growth comparable to the commonly used ATCC 1161 medium. Despite supporting similar biomass, CMRL-AT profoundly reshaped the M. florum transcriptome, with approximately one-third of the annotated protein-encoding genes being differentially expressed relative to ATCC 1161. These changes revealed distinct physiological programs associated with rapid growth in complex medium and higher nutrient acquisition in CMRL-AT, illustrating how medium composition alters the functional priorities of a near-minimal cell. Transcriptome profiling across six energy sources further uncovered distinct sugar-responsive expression programs. Combining these responses with transcription-unit organization, protein-domain predictions, and metabolic context resolved fructose- and sucrose-responsive modules, and allowed the assignment of previously ambiguous phosphotransferase system components to specific sugar-utilization pathways. CMRL-AT provides an experimental framework to help resolving gene functions, refining metabolic models, and designing reduced genomes adapted to defined environments.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Usherbrooke"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "A. Duval"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. Gagnon"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Jeanneau"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. Matteau"
    },
    {
      "name": "P.-E. Jacques"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "S. Rodrigue"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7e6k9gv6pj5j2.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.29.755377",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.29.755377v1.full",
  "id": "7e6k9gv6pj5j2",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.29.755377v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "systems biology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214899042",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.29.755377v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-29",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7e6k9gv6pj5j2.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:25:25Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.29.755377",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.29.755377v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:systems biology",
      "subfield": "systems-synthetic"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Reducing growth-medium complexity reveals nutrient-responsive programs in a near-minimal bacterium",
  "title_text": "Reducing growth-medium complexity reveals nutrient-responsive programs in a near-minimal bacterium",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:25:25Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7e6k9gv6pj5j2",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}