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Deng D, Meng H, Ma Y, Guo Y, Wang Z, He H, Xie W, Liu JE, Zhang L. The cumulative impact of temperature and nitrogen availability on the potential nitrogen fixation and extracellular polymeric substances secretion by Dolichospermum. HARMFUL ALGAE 2024; 135:102633. [PMID: 38830715 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2024.102633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria not only cause severe blooms but also play an important role in the nitrogen input processes of lakes. The production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and the ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere provide nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria with a competitive advantage over other organisms. Temperature and nitrogen availability are key environmental factors in regulating the growth of cyanobacteria. In this study, Dolichospermum (formerly known as Anabaena) was cultivated at three different temperatures (10 °C, 20 °C, and 30 °C) to examine the impact of temperature and nitrogen availability on nitrogen fixation capacity and the release of EPS. Initially, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and the quantification of heterocysts at different temperatures revealed that lower temperatures (10 °C) hindered the differentiation of heterocysts under nitrogen-deprived conditions. Additionally, while heterocysts inhibited the photosynthetic activity of Dolichospermum, the secretion of EPS was notably affected by nitrogen limitation, particularly at 30 °C. Finally, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to measure the expression of nitrogen-utilizing genes (ntcA and nifH) and EPS synthesis-related genes (wzb and wzc). The results indicated that under nitrogen-deprived conditions, the expression of each gene was upregulated, and there was a significant correlation between the upregulation of nitrogen-utilizing and EPS synthesis genes (P < 0.05). Our findings suggested that Dolichospermum responded to temperature variation by affecting the formation of heterocysts, impacting its potential nitrogen fixation capacity. Furthermore, the quantity of EPS released was more influenced by nitrogen availability than temperature. This research enhances our comprehension of interconnections between nitrogen deprivation and EPS production under the different temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dailan Deng
- School of Environment, Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China; Jiangsu Engineering Lab of Water and Soil Eco-remediation, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Han Meng
- School of Environment, Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China; Jiangsu Engineering Lab of Water and Soil Eco-remediation, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - You Ma
- School of Environment, Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China; Jiangsu Engineering Lab of Water and Soil Eco-remediation, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yongqi Guo
- School of Environment, Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China; Jiangsu Engineering Lab of Water and Soil Eco-remediation, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zixuan Wang
- School of Environment, Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China; Jiangsu Engineering Lab of Water and Soil Eco-remediation, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Huan He
- School of Environment, Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China; Jiangsu Engineering Lab of Water and Soil Eco-remediation, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Wenming Xie
- School of Environment, Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China; Jiangsu Engineering Lab of Water and Soil Eco-remediation, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jin-E Liu
- School of Environment, Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China; Jiangsu Engineering Lab of Water and Soil Eco-remediation, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Limin Zhang
- School of Environment, Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China; Green Economy Development Institute, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210023, PR China
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Debnath S, Muthuraj M, Bandyopadhyay TK, Bobby MN, Vanitha K, Tiwari ON, Bhunia B. Engineering strategies and applications of cyanobacterial exopolysaccharides: A review on past achievements and recent perspectives. Carbohydr Polym 2024; 328:121686. [PMID: 38220318 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are ideally suited for developing sustainable biological products but are underdeveloped due to a lack of genetic tools. Exopolysaccharide (EPS) is one of the essential bioproducts with widespread industrial applications. Despite their unique structural characteristics associated with distinct biological and physicochemical aspects, EPS from cyanobacteria has been underexplored. However, it is expected to accelerate in the near future due to the utilization of low-cost cyanobacterial platforms and readily available information on the structural data and specific features of these biopolymers. In recent years, cyanobacterial EPSs have attracted growing scientific attention due to their simple renewability, rheological characteristics, massive production, and potential uses in several biotechnology domains. This review focuses on the most recent research on potential new EPS producers and their distinct compositions responsible for novel biological activities. Additionally, nutritional and process parameters discovered recently for enhancing EPS production and engineering strategies applied currently to control the biosynthetic pathway for enhanced EPS production are critically highlighted. The process intensification of previously developed EPS extraction and purification processes from cyanobacterial biomass is also extensively explained. Furthermore, the newly reported biotechnological applications of cyanobacterial exopolysaccharides are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubhankar Debnath
- Bioproducts Processing Research Laboratory (BPRL), Department of Bio Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Agartala 799046, India
| | - Muthusivaramapandian Muthuraj
- Bioproducts Processing Research Laboratory (BPRL), Department of Bio Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Agartala 799046, India.
| | | | - Md Nazneen Bobby
- Department of Biotechnology, Vignan's Foundation for Science Technology and Research, Guntur 522213, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Kondi Vanitha
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Vishnu Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Narsapur, Medak, Telangana, India
| | - Onkar Nath Tiwari
- Centre for Conservation and Utilization of Blue Green Algae, Division of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR), New Delhi 110012, India.
| | - Biswanath Bhunia
- Bioproducts Processing Research Laboratory (BPRL), Department of Bio Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Agartala 799046, India.
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3
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Madsen MA, Semerdzhiev S, Twigg JD, Moss C, Bavington CD, Amtmann A. Environmental modulation of exopolysaccharide production in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:6121-6134. [PMID: 37552253 PMCID: PMC10485101 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12697-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms produce extracellular polymeric substances (EPS, also known as exopolysaccharides) of diverse composition and structure. The biochemical and biophysical properties of these biopolymers enable a wide range of industrial applications. EPS from cyanobacteria are particularly versatile as they incorporate a larger number and variety of building blocks and adopt more complex structures than EPS from other organisms. However, the genetic makeup and regulation of EPS biosynthetic pathways in cyanobacteria are poorly understood. Here, we measured the effect of changing culture media on titre and composition of EPS released by Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, and we integrated this information with transcriptomic data. Across all conditions, daily EPS productivity of individual cells was highest in the early growth phase, but the total amount of EPS obtained from the cultures was highest in the later growth phases due to accumulation. Lowering the magnesium concentration in the media enhanced per-cell productivity but the produced EPS had a lower total sugar content. Levels of individual monosaccharides correlated with specific culture media components, e.g. xylose with sulfur, glucose and N-acetyl-galactosamine with NaCl. Comparison with RNA sequencing data suggests a Wzy-dependent biosynthetic pathway and a protective role for xylose-rich EPS. This multi-level analysis offers a handle to link individual genes to the dynamic modulation of a complex biopolymer. KEY POINTS: • Synechocystis exopolysaccharide amount and composition depends on culture condition • Production rate and sugar content can be modulated by Mg and S respectively • Wzy-dependent biosynthetic pathway and protective role proposed for xylose-rich EPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Ann Madsen
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK
| | - Stefan Semerdzhiev
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK
| | - Jordan D Twigg
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK
| | - Claire Moss
- GlycoMar Ltd, Malin House, European Marine Science Park, Oban, Scotland, PA37 1SZ, UK
| | - Charles D Bavington
- GlycoMar Ltd, Malin House, European Marine Science Park, Oban, Scotland, PA37 1SZ, UK
| | - Anna Amtmann
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK.
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Baria DM, Patel NY, Yagnik SM, Panchal RR, Rajput KN, Raval VH. Exopolysaccharides from marine microbes with prowess for environment cleanup. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:76611-76625. [PMID: 36166130 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23198-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A variety of both small and large biologically intriguing compounds can be found abundantly in the marine environment. Researchers are particularly interested in marine bacteria because they can produce classes of bioactive secondary metabolites that are structurally diverse. The main secondary metabolites produced by marine bacteria are regarded as steroids, alkaloids, peptides, terpenoids, biopolymers, and polyketides. The global urbanization leads to the increased use of organic pollutants that are both persistent and toxic for humans, other life forms and tend to biomagnified in environment. The issue can be addressed, by using marine microbial biopolymers with ability for increased bioremediation. Amongst biopolymers, the exopolysaccharides (EPS) are the most prominent under adverse environmental stress conditions. The present review emphasizes the use of EPS as a bio-flocculent for wastewater treatment, as an adsorbent for the removal of textile dye and heavy metals from industrial effluents. The biofilm-forming ability of EPS helps with soil reclamation and reduces soil erosion. EPS are an obvious choice being environmentally friendly and cost-effective in processes for developing sustainable technology. However, a better understanding of EPS biosynthetic pathways and further developing novel sustainable technologies is desirable and certainly will pave the way for efficient usage of EPS for environment cleanup.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhritiksha Mansukhlal Baria
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, 380 009, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Nidhi Yogeshbhai Patel
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, 380 009, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | | | - Rakeshkumar Ramanlal Panchal
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, 380 009, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Kiransinh Narendrasinh Rajput
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, 380 009, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Vikram Hiren Raval
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, 380 009, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
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Sheikh T, Hamid B, Baba Z, Iqbal S, Yatoo A, Fatima S, Nabi A, Kanth R, Dar K, Hussain N, Alturki AI, Sunita K, Sayyed R. Extracellular polymeric substances in psychrophilic cyanobacteria: A potential bioflocculant and carbon sink to mitigate cold stress. BIOCATALYSIS AND AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcab.2022.102375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Ferreira EA, Pacheco CC, Rodrigues JS, Pinto F, Lamosa P, Fuente D, Urchueguía J, Tamagnini P. Heterologous Production of Glycine Betaine Using Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803-Based Chassis Lacking Native Compatible Solutes. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 9:821075. [PMID: 35071221 PMCID: PMC8777070 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.821075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Among compatible solutes, glycine betaine has various applications in the fields of nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Currently, this compound can be extracted from sugar beet plants or obtained by chemical synthesis, resulting in low yields or high carbon footprint, respectively. Hence, in this work we aimed at exploring the production of glycine betaine using the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 as a photoautotrophic chassis. Synechocystis mutants lacking the native compatible solutes sucrose or/and glucosylglycerol-∆sps, ∆ggpS, and ∆sps∆ggpS-were generated and characterized. Under salt stress conditions, the growth was impaired and accumulation of glycogen decreased by ∼50% whereas the production of compatible solutes and extracellular polymeric substances (capsular and released ones) increased with salinity. These mutants were used as chassis for the implementation of a synthetic device based on the metabolic pathway described for the halophilic cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica for the production of the compatible solute glycine betaine. Transcription of ORFs comprising the device was shown to be stable and insulated from Synechocystis' native regulatory network. Production of glycine betaine was achieved in all chassis tested, and was shown to increase with salinity. The introduction of the glycine betaine synthetic device into the ∆ggpS background improved its growth and enabled survival under 5% NaCl, which was not observed in the absence of the device. The maximum glycine betaine production [64.29 µmol/gDW (1.89 µmol/mg protein)] was reached in the ∆ggpS chassis grown under 3% NaCl. Taking into consideration this production under seawater-like salinity, and the identification of main key players involved in the carbon fluxes, this work paves the way for a feasible production of this, or other compatible solutes, using optimized Synechocystis chassis in a pilot-scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunice A. Ferreira
- I3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Catarina C. Pacheco
- I3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - João S. Rodrigues
- I3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Filipe Pinto
- I3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Lamosa
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, ITQB NOVA, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - David Fuente
- Instituto de Aplicaciones de las Tecnologías de la Información y de las Comunicaciones Avanzadas, Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain
| | - Javier Urchueguía
- Instituto de Aplicaciones de las Tecnologías de la Información y de las Comunicaciones Avanzadas, Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain
| | - Paula Tamagnini
- I3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Klähn S, Mikkat S, Riediger M, Georg J, Hess WR, Hagemann M. Integrative analysis of the salt stress response in cyanobacteria. Biol Direct 2021; 16:26. [PMID: 34906211 PMCID: PMC8670252 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-021-00316-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms evolved specific acclimation strategies to thrive in environments of high or fluctuating salinities. Here, salt acclimation in the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 was analyzed by integrating transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic data. A dynamic reorganization of the transcriptome occurred during the first hours after salt shock, e.g. involving the upregulation of genes to activate compatible solute biochemistry balancing osmotic pressure. The massive accumulation of glucosylglycerol then had a measurable impact on the overall carbon and nitrogen metabolism. In addition, we observed the coordinated induction of putative regulatory RNAs and of several proteins known for their involvement in other stress responses. Overall, salt-induced changes in the proteome and transcriptome showed good correlations, especially among the stably up-regulated proteins and their transcripts. We define an extended salt stimulon comprising proteins directly or indirectly related to compatible solute metabolism, ion and water movements, and a distinct set of regulatory RNAs involved in post-transcriptional regulation. Our comprehensive data set provides the basis for engineering cyanobacterial salt tolerance and to further understand its regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Klähn
- Department of Solar Materials, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Mikkat
- Core Facility Proteome Analysis, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Matthias Riediger
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jens Georg
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang R. Hess
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin Hagemann
- Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, University of Rostock, A.-Einstein-Str. 3, 18059 Rostock, Germany
- Department Life, Light and Matter, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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8
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Santos M, Pacheco CC, Yao L, Hudson EP, Tamagnini P. CRISPRi as a Tool to Repress Multiple Copies of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS)-Related Genes in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11111198. [PMID: 34833074 PMCID: PMC8620461 DOI: 10.3390/life11111198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of the versatile cyanobacterial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) for biotechnological/biomedical applications implies an extensive knowledge of their biosynthetic pathways to improve/control polymer production yields and characteristics. The multiple copies of EPS-related genes, scattered throughout cyanobacterial genomes, adds another layer of complexity, making these studies challenging and time-consuming. Usually, this issue would be tackled by generating deletion mutants, a process that in cyanobacteria is also hindered by the polyploidy. Thus, the use of the CRISPRi multiplex system constitutes an efficient approach to addressing this redundancy. Here, three putative Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 kpsM homologues (slr0977, slr2107, and sll0574) were repressed using this methodology. The characterization of the 3-sgRNA mutant in terms of fitness/growth and total carbohydrates, released and capsular polysaccharides, and its comparison with previously generated single knockout mutants pointed towards Slr0977 being the key KpsM player in Synechocystis EPS production. This work validates CRISPRi as a powerful tool to unravel cyanobacterial complex EPS biosynthetic pathways expediting this type of studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Santos
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4000-008 Porto, Portugal; (M.S.); (C.C.P.)
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4000-008 Porto, Portugal
- Programa Doutoral em Biologia Molecular e Celular (MCbiology), Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, 4000-008 Porto, Portugal
| | - Catarina C. Pacheco
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4000-008 Porto, Portugal; (M.S.); (C.C.P.)
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4000-008 Porto, Portugal
| | - Lun Yao
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10004 Stockholm, Sweden; (L.Y.); (E.P.H.)
- Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10004 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elton P. Hudson
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10004 Stockholm, Sweden; (L.Y.); (E.P.H.)
- Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10004 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Paula Tamagnini
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4000-008 Porto, Portugal; (M.S.); (C.C.P.)
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4000-008 Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4000-008 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-226074957
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9
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Maeda K, Okuda Y, Enomoto G, Watanabe S, Ikeuchi M. Biosynthesis of a sulfated exopolysaccharide, synechan, and bloom formation in the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803. eLife 2021; 10:66538. [PMID: 34127188 PMCID: PMC8205485 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellularpolysaccharides of bacteria contribute to biofilm formation, stress tolerance, and infectivity. Cyanobacteria, the oxygenic photoautotrophic bacteria, uniquely produce sulfated extracellular polysaccharides among bacteria to support phototrophic biofilms. In addition, sulfated polysaccharides of cyanobacteria and other organisms have been focused as beneficial biomaterial. However, very little is known about their biosynthesis machinery and function in cyanobacteria. Here, we found that the model cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803, formed bloom-like cell aggregates embedded in sulfated extracellular polysaccharides (designated as synechan) and identified whole set of genes responsible for synechan biosynthesis and its transcriptional regulation, thereby suggesting a model for the synechan biosynthesis apparatus. Because similar genes are found in many cyanobacterial genomes with wide variation, our findings may lead elucidation of various sulfated polysaccharides, their functions, and their potential application in biotechnology. Bacteria are single-cell microorganisms that can form communities called biofilms, which stick to surfaces such as rocks, plants or animals. Biofilms confer protection to bacteria and allow them to colonize new environments. The physical scaffold of biofilms is a viscous matrix made of several molecules, the main one being polysaccharides, complex carbohydrates formed by many monosaccharides (single sugar molecules) joined together. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are a type of bacteria that produce oxygen and use sunlight as an energy source, just as plants and algae do. Cyanobacteria produce extracellular polysaccharides that contain sulfate groups. These sulfated polysaccharides are also produced by animals and algae but are not common in other bacteria or plants. One possible role of sulfated, extracellular polysaccharides in cyanobacteria is keeping cells together in the floating aggregates found in cyanobacterial blooms. These are visible discolorations of the water caused by an overgrowth of cyanobacteria that occur in lakes, estuaries and coastal waters. However, little is known about how these polysaccharides are synthesized in cyanobacteria and what their natural role is. Maeda et al. found a strain of cyanobacteria that formed bloom-like aggregates that were embedded in sulfated extracellular polysaccharides. Using genetic engineering techniques, the researchers identified a set of genes responsible for producing a sulfated extracellular polysaccharide and regulating its levels. They also found that cell aggregates of cyanobacteria can float without having intracellular gas vesicles, which was previously thought to enable blooms to float. The results of the present study could have applications for human health, since many sulfated polysaccharides have antiviral, antitumor or anti-inflammatory properties, and similar genes are found in many cyanobacteria. In addition, these findings could be useful for controlling toxic cyanobacterial blooms, which are becoming increasingly problematic for society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaisei Maeda
- Department of Life Sciences (Biology), Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukiko Okuda
- Department of Life Sciences (Biology), Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gen Enomoto
- Department of Life Sciences (Biology), Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoru Watanabe
- Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiko Ikeuchi
- Department of Life Sciences (Biology), Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Faculty of Education and Integrated Arts and Sciences, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
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10
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Santos M, Pereira SB, Flores C, Príncipe C, Couto N, Karunakaran E, Cravo SM, Oliveira P, Tamagnini P. Absence of KpsM (Slr0977) Impairs the Secretion of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) and Impacts Carbon Fluxes in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. mSphere 2021; 6:e00003-21. [PMID: 33504656 PMCID: PMC7885315 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00003-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Many cyanobacteria produce extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), composed mainly of heteropolysaccharides, that play a variety of physiological roles, being crucial for cell protection, motility, and biofilm formation. However, due to their complexity, the EPS biosynthetic pathways as well as their assembly and export mechanisms are still far from being fully understood. Here, we show that the absence of a putative EPS-related protein, KpsM (Slr0977), has a pleiotropic effect on Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 physiology, with a strong impact on the export of EPS and carbon fluxes. The kpsM mutant exhibits a significant reduction of released polysaccharides and a smaller decrease of capsular polysaccharides, but it accumulates more polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) than the wild type. In addition, this strain shows a light/cell density-dependent clumping phenotype and exhibits an altered protein secretion capacity. Furthermore, the most important structural component of pili, the protein PilA, was found to have a modified glycosylation pattern in the mutant compared to the wild type. Proteomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed significant changes in the mechanisms of energy production and conversion, namely, photosynthesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and carbon metabolism, in response to the inactivation of slr0977 Overall, this work shows for the first time that cells with impaired EPS secretion undergo transcriptomic and proteomic adjustments, highlighting the importance of EPS as a major carbon sink in cyanobacteria. The accumulation of PHB in cells of the mutant, without affecting significantly its fitness/growth rate, points to its possible use as a chassis for the production of compounds of interest.IMPORTANCE Most cyanobacteria produce extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that fulfill different biological roles depending on the strain/environmental conditions. The interest in the cyanobacterial EPS synthesis/export pathways has been increasing, not only to optimize EPS production but also to efficiently redirect carbon flux toward the production of other compounds, allowing the implementation of industrial systems based on cyanobacterial cell factories. Here, we show that a Synechocystis kpsM (slr0977) mutant secretes less EPS than the wild type, accumulating more carbon intracellularly, as polyhydroxybutyrate. Further characterization showed a light/cell density-dependent clumping phenotype, altered protein secretion, and modified glycosylation of PilA. The proteome and transcriptome of the mutant revealed significant changes, namely, in photosynthesis and carbon metabolism. Altogether, this work provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of kpsM disruption on Synechocystis physiology, highlighting the importance of EPS as a carbon sink and showing how cells adapt when their secretion is impaired, and the redirection of the carbon fluxes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Santos
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Programa Doutoral em Biologia Molecular e Celular (MCbiology), Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara B Pereira
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carlos Flores
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Catarina Príncipe
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Narciso Couto
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Esther Karunakaran
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Sara M Cravo
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Matosinhos, Portugal
- Laboratório de Química Orgânica, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paulo Oliveira
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Tamagnini
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Mittermair S, Richter J, Doppler P, Trenzinger K, Nicoletti C, Forsich C, Spadiut O, Herwig C, Lackner M. Impact ofexoDgene knockout on the polyhydroxybutyrate overaccumulating mutant Mt_a24. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOBASED PLASTICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/24759651.2020.1863020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Mittermair
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, AG Biosciences , Wels, Austria
| | - Juliane Richter
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, AG Biosciences , Wels, Austria
| | - Philipp Doppler
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Area Biochemical Engineering, Technische Universität Wien , Vienna, Austria
| | - Kevin Trenzinger
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, AG Biosciences , Wels, Austria
| | - Cecilia Nicoletti
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, AG Biosciences , Wels, Austria
| | - Christian Forsich
- Department of Materials Technology, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria , Wels, Austria
| | - Oliver Spadiut
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Area Biochemical Engineering, Technische Universität Wien , Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Herwig
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Area Biochemical Engineering, Technische Universität Wien , Vienna, Austria
| | - Maximilian Lackner
- Lackner Ventures & Consulting GmbH , Vienna, Austria
- University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien , Vienna, Austria
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12
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Ciebiada M, Kubiak K, Daroch M. Modifying the Cyanobacterial Metabolism as a Key to Efficient Biopolymer Production in Photosynthetic Microorganisms. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7204. [PMID: 33003478 PMCID: PMC7582838 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are photoautotrophic bacteria commonly found in the natural environment. Due to the ecological benefits associated with the assimilation of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and utilization of light energy, they are attractive hosts in a growing number of biotechnological processes. Biopolymer production is arguably one of the most critical areas where the transition from fossil-derived chemistry to renewable chemistry is needed. Cyanobacteria can produce several polymeric compounds with high applicability such as glycogen, polyhydroxyalkanoates, or extracellular polymeric substances. These important biopolymers are synthesized using precursors derived from central carbon metabolism, including the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Due to their unique metabolic properties, i.e., light harvesting and carbon fixation, the molecular and genetic aspects of polymer biosynthesis and their relationship with central carbon metabolism are somehow different from those found in heterotrophic microorganisms. A greater understanding of the processes involved in cyanobacterial metabolism is still required to produce these molecules more efficiently. This review presents the current state of the art in the engineering of cyanobacterial metabolism for the efficient production of these biopolymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Ciebiada
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, 2199 Lishui Rd., Shenzhen 518055, China;
- Institute of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Lodz University of Technology, 4/40 Stefanowskiego Str, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kubiak
- Institute of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Lodz University of Technology, 4/40 Stefanowskiego Str, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
| | - Maurycy Daroch
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, 2199 Lishui Rd., Shenzhen 518055, China;
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13
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Pereira SB, Sousa A, Santos M, Araújo M, Serôdio F, Granja P, Tamagnini P. Strategies to Obtain Designer Polymers Based on Cyanobacterial Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS). Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E5693. [PMID: 31739392 PMCID: PMC6888056 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Biopolymers derived from polysaccharides are a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to the synthetic counterparts available in the market. Due to their distinctive properties, the cyanobacterial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), mainly composed of heteropolysaccharides, emerge as a valid alternative to address several biotechnological and biomedical challenges. Nevertheless, biotechnological/biomedical applications based on cyanobacterial EPS have only recently started to emerge. For the successful exploitation of cyanobacterial EPS, it is important to strategically design the polymers, either by genetic engineering of the producing strains or by chemical modification of the polymers. This requires a better understanding of the EPS biosynthetic pathways and their relationship with central metabolism, as well as to exploit the available polymer functionalization chemistries. Considering all this, we provide an overview of the characteristics and biological activities of cyanobacterial EPS, discuss the challenges and opportunities to improve the amount and/or characteristics of the polymers, and report the most relevant advances on the use of cyanobacterial EPS as scaffolds, coatings, and vehicles for drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara B. Pereira
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Aureliana Sousa
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Marina Santos
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Marco Araújo
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Filipa Serôdio
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Granja
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- FEUP - Faculdade de Engenharia, Departamento de Engenharia Metalúrgica e Materiais, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Tamagnini
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- FCUP - Faculdade de Ciências, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, Edifício FC4, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
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14
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Flores C, Lima RT, Adessi A, Sousa A, Pereira SB, Granja PL, De Philippis R, Soares P, Tamagnini P. Characterization and antitumor activity of the extracellular carbohydrate polymer from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis ΔsigF mutant. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 136:1219-1227. [PMID: 31233798 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.06.152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Cyanobacterial extracellular carbohydrate polymers are particularly attractive for biotechnological applications. Previously, we determined the monosaccharidic composition of the polymer of a Synechocystis ΔsigF overproducing mutant. Here, we further characterized this polymer, demonstrated that it is possible to recover it in high yields, and successfully use it for biomedical research. This amorphous polymer is formed by a mesh of fibrils/lamellar structures with high porosity, is constituted by high molecular mass fractions, is highly sulfated and displays low viscosity, even in highly concentrated aqueous solutions. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of several functional groups. We demonstrated that the ΔsigF polymer has strong biological activity, decreasing the viability of melanoma, thyroid and ovary carcinoma cells by inducing high levels of apoptosis, through p53 and caspase-3 activation. Therefore, the ΔsigF Synechocystis mutant is a promising platform for the sustainable production of biological active carbohydrate polymer(s) with the desired characteristics for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Flores
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Raquel T Lima
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; FMUP - Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Alessandra Adessi
- DAGRI - Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Via Maragliano 77, 50144 Firenze, Italy.
| | - Aureliana Sousa
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Sara B Pereira
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Pedro L Granja
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; FEUP - Faculdade de Engenharia, Departamento de Engenharia Metalúrgica e Materiais, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Roberto De Philippis
- DAGRI - Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Via Maragliano 77, 50144 Firenze, Italy.
| | - Paula Soares
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; FMUP - Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Paula Tamagnini
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; FCUP - Faculdade de Ciências, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, Edifício FC4, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
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15
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Pereira SB, Santos M, Leite JP, Flores C, Eisfeld C, Büttel Z, Mota R, Rossi F, De Philippis R, Gales L, Morais‐Cabral JH, Tamagnini P. The role of the tyrosine kinase Wzc (Sll0923) and the phosphatase Wzb (Slr0328) in the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) by Synechocystis PCC 6803. Microbiologyopen 2019; 8:e00753. [PMID: 30675753 PMCID: PMC6562117 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Many cyanobacteria produce extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) mainly composed of heteropolysaccharides with unique characteristics that make them suitable for biotechnological applications. However, manipulation/optimization of EPS biosynthesis/characteristics is hindered by a poor understanding of the production pathways and the differences between bacterial species. In this work, genes putatively related to different pathways of cyanobacterial EPS polymerization, assembly, and export were targeted for deletion or truncation in the unicellular Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. No evident phenotypic changes were observed for some mutants in genes occurring in multiple copies in Synechocystis genome, namely ∆wzy (∆sll0737), ∆wzx (∆sll5049), ∆kpsM (∆slr2107), and ∆kpsM∆wzy (∆slr2107∆sll0737), strongly suggesting functional redundancy. In contrast, Δwzc (Δsll0923) and Δwzb (Δslr0328) influenced both the amount and composition of the EPS, establishing that Wzc participates in the production of capsular (CPS) and released (RPS) polysaccharides, and Wzb affects RPS production. The structure of Wzb was solved (2.28 Å), revealing structural differences relative to other phosphatases involved in EPS production and suggesting a different substrate recognition mechanism. In addition, Wzc showed the ATPase and autokinase activities typical of bacterial tyrosine kinases. Most importantly, Wzb was able to dephosphorylate Wzc in vitro, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation/dephosphorylation plays a role in cyanobacterial EPS production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara B. Pereira
- i3S ‐ Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdeUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- IBMC ‐ Instituto de Biologia Molecular e CelularUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | - Marina Santos
- i3S ‐ Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdeUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- IBMC ‐ Instituto de Biologia Molecular e CelularUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- ICBAS – Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel SalazarPortoPortugal
| | - José P. Leite
- i3S ‐ Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdeUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- IBMC ‐ Instituto de Biologia Molecular e CelularUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- ICBAS – Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel SalazarPortoPortugal
| | - Carlos Flores
- i3S ‐ Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdeUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- IBMC ‐ Instituto de Biologia Molecular e CelularUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- ICBAS – Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel SalazarPortoPortugal
| | - Carina Eisfeld
- i3S ‐ Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdeUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- IBMC ‐ Instituto de Biologia Molecular e CelularUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Present address:
Department of Water ManagementDelft University of TechnologyDelftThe Netherlands
| | - Zsófia Büttel
- IBMC ‐ Instituto de Biologia Molecular e CelularUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Present address:
Molecular Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology InstituteUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Rita Mota
- i3S ‐ Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdeUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- IBMC ‐ Instituto de Biologia Molecular e CelularUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | - Federico Rossi
- Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental SciencesUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
| | - Roberto De Philippis
- Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental SciencesUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
| | - Luís Gales
- i3S ‐ Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdeUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- IBMC ‐ Instituto de Biologia Molecular e CelularUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- ICBAS – Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel SalazarPortoPortugal
| | - João H. Morais‐Cabral
- i3S ‐ Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdeUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- IBMC ‐ Instituto de Biologia Molecular e CelularUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
| | - Paula Tamagnini
- i3S ‐ Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em SaúdeUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- IBMC ‐ Instituto de Biologia Molecular e CelularUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
- Faculdade de Ciências, Departamento de BiologiaUniversidade do PortoPortoPortugal
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