Standard approaches to RNAseq-based transcriptional profiling of bacillus subtilis chassis in response to stress and metabolic load

One of the goals in synthetic biology is to produce large scale engineering of biological systems for the improved production of various (novel) metabolites, including biofuels, drugs, renewable chemicals and bio-based material. The introduction of synthetic genetic constructs into a chassis could, however, cause unwanted adverse effects on the host organism, imposing a metabolic burden and reducing the yield of the desired product. Consequently, a method for monitoring the overall affect of these changes is required. We are using RNAseq based transcriptional profiling of Bacillus subtilis to monitor changes in transcription at a global level in response to stress and metabolic load. We have identified genes which have been up and down-regulated in response to oxidative stress and compared this to previous data obtained from tiling arrays to confirm that our methodology is reliable.