A genome-wide screen in reveals that ubiquinone is a key antioxidant for metabolism of long-chain fatty acids.

Long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) are used as a rich source of metabolic energy by several bacteria including important pathogens. Because LCFAs also induce oxidative stress, which may be detrimental to bacterial growth, it is imperative to understand the strategies employed by bacteria to counteract such stresses. Here, we performed a genetic screen in on the LCFA, oleate, and compared our results with published genome-wide screens of multiple non-fermentable carbon sources.