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Zhu J, Wang X, Zhao J, Ji F, Zeng J, Wei Y, Xu L, Dong G, Ma X, Wang C. Genomic characterization and related functional genes of γ- poly glutamic acid producing Bacillus subtilis. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:125. [PMID: 38622505 PMCID: PMC11017564 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03262-z] [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: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
γ- poly glutamic acid (γ-PGA), a high molecular weight polymer, is synthesized by microorganisms and secreted into the extracellular space. Due to its excellent performance, γ-PGA has been widely used in various fields, including food, biomedical and environmental fields. In this study, we screened natto samples for two strains of Bacillus subtilis N3378-2at and N3378-3At that produce γ-PGA. We then identified the γ-PGA synthetase gene cluster (PgsB, PgsC, PgsA, YwtC and PgdS), glutamate racemase RacE, phage-derived γ-PGA hydrolase (PghB and PghC) and exo-γ-glutamyl peptidase (GGT) from the genome of these strains. Based on these γ-PGA-related protein sequences from isolated Bacillus subtilis and 181 B. subtilis obtained from GenBank, we carried out genotyping analysis and classified them into types 1-5. Since we found B. amyloliquefaciens LL3 can produce γ-PGA, we obtained the B. velezensis and B. amyloliquefaciens strains from GenBank and classified them into types 6 and 7 based on LL3. Finally, we constructed evolutionary trees for these protein sequences. This study analyzed the distribution of γ-PGA-related protein sequences in the genomes of B. subtilis, B. velezensis and B. amyloliquefaciens strains, then the evolutionary diversity of these protein sequences was analyzed, which provided novel information for the development and utilization of γ-PGA-producing strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayue Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Xue Wang
- Guangdong key Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Science, Guangzhou, 510260, China
| | - Jianan Zhao
- Guangdong key Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Science, Guangzhou, 510260, China
| | - Fang Ji
- Guangdong key Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Science, Guangzhou, 510260, China
| | - Jun Zeng
- Guangdong key Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Science, Guangzhou, 510260, China
| | - Yanwen Wei
- Guangdong key Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Science, Guangzhou, 510260, China
| | - LiLi Xu
- Union Biology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 201100, China
| | - Guoying Dong
- College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xingyuan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
| | - Chengmin Wang
- Guangdong key Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Science, Guangzhou, 510260, China.
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Hoffmann K, Halmschlag B, Briel S, Sieben M, Putri S, Fukusaki E, Blank LM, Büchs J. Online measurement of the viscosity in shake flasks enables monitoring of γ-PGA production in depolymerase knockout mutants of Bacillus subtilis with the phosphate-starvation inducible promoter P pst. Biotechnol Prog 2023; 39:e3293. [PMID: 36081345 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.3293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is a biopolymer with a wide range of applications, mainly produced using Bacillus strains. The formation and concomitant secretion of γ-PGA increases the culture broth viscosity, while enzymatic depolymerisation and degradation of γ-PGA decreases the culture broth viscosity. In this study, the recently published ViMOS (Viscosity Monitoring Online System) is applied for optical online measurements of broth viscosity in eight parallel shake flasks. It is shown that the ViMOS is suitable to monitor γ-PGA production and degradation online in shake flasks. This online monitoring enables the detailed analysis of the Ppst promoter and γ-PGA depolymerase knockout mutants in genetically modified Bacillus subtilis 168. The Ppst promoter becomes active under phosphate starvation. The different single depolymerase knockout mutants are ∆ggt, ∆pgdS, ∆cwlO and a triple knockout mutant. An increase in γ-PGA yield in gγ-PGA /gglucose of 190% could be achieved with the triple knockout mutant compared to the Ppst reference strain. The single cwlO knockout also increased γ-PGA production, while the other single knockouts of ggt and pgdS showed no impact. Partial depolymerisation of γ-PGA occurred despite the triple knockout. The online measured data are confirmed with offline measurements. The online viscosity system directly reflects γ-PGA synthesis, γ-PGA depolymerisation, and changes in the molecular weight. Thus, the ViMOS has great potential to rapidly gain detailed and reliable information about new strains and cultivation conditions. The broadened knowledge will facilitate the further optimization of γ-PGA production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra Hoffmann
- AVT - Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Birthe Halmschlag
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Simon Briel
- AVT - Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Michaela Sieben
- AVT - Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Sastia Putri
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Eiichiro Fukusaki
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Lars M Blank
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jochen Büchs
- AVT - Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Ramaswamy S, Rasheed M, Morelli CF, Calvio C, Sutton BJ, Pastore A. The structure of PghL hydrolase bound to its substrate poly-γ-glutamate. FEBS J 2018; 285:4575-4589. [PMID: 30387270 PMCID: PMC6506827 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The identification of new strategies to fight bacterial infections in view of the spread of multiple resistance to antibiotics has become mandatory. It has been demonstrated that several bacteria develop poly‐γ‐glutamic acid (γ‐PGA) capsules as a protection from external insults and/or host defence systems. Among the pathogens that shield themselves in these capsules are Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis and several Staphylococcus strains. These are important pathogens with a profound influence on human health. The recently characterised γ‐PGA hydrolases, which can dismantle the γ‐PGA‐capsules, are an attractive new direction that can offer real hope for the development of alternatives to antibiotics, particularly in cases of multidrug resistant bacteria. We have characterised in detail the cleaving mechanism and stereospecificity of the enzyme PghL (previously named YndL) from Bacillus subtilis encoded by a gene of phagic origin and dramatically efficient in degrading the long polymeric chains of γ‐PGA. We used X‐ray crystallography to solve the three‐dimensional structures of the enzyme in its zinc‐free, zinc‐bound and complexed forms. The protein crystallised with a γ‐PGA hexapeptide substrate and thus reveals details of the interaction which could explain the stereospecificity observed and give hints on the catalytic mechanism of this class of hydrolytic enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneha Ramaswamy
- The Randall Centre for Cell & Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, UK
| | - Masooma Rasheed
- The Wohl Institute, King's College London, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute at King's College London, UK
| | | | - Cinzia Calvio
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Italy
| | - Brian J Sutton
- The Randall Centre for Cell & Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, UK
| | - Annalisa Pastore
- The Wohl Institute, King's College London, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute at King's College London, UK.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Italy
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Solution scattering study of the Bacillus subtilis PgdS enzyme involved in poly-γ-glutamic acids degradation. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195355. [PMID: 29608608 PMCID: PMC5880399 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The PgdS enzyme is a poly-γ-glutamic (γ-PGA) hydrolase, which has potential application for a controllable degradation of γ-PGA by enzymatic depolymerization; however, the structure of PgdS is still unknown. Here, to study in detail the full-length PgdS structure, we analyze the low-resolution architecture of PgdS hydrolase from Bacillus subtilis in solution using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) method. Combining with other methods, like dynamic light scattering and mutagenesis analyses, a model for the full length structure and the possible substrate delivery route of PgdS are proposed. The results will provide useful hints for future investigations into the mechanisms of γ-PGA degradation by the PgdS hydrolase and may provide valuable practical information.
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Ozaki T, Abe N, Kimura K, Suzuki A, Kaneko J. Genomic analysis of Bacillus subtilis lytic bacteriophage ϕNIT1 capable of obstructing natto fermentation carrying genes for the capsule-lytic soluble enzymes poly-γ-glutamate hydrolase and levanase. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2016; 81:135-146. [PMID: 27885938 DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2016.1232153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis strains including the fermented soybean (natto) starter produce capsular polymers consisting of poly-γ-glutamate and levan. Capsular polymers may protect the cells from phage infection. However, bacteriophage ϕNIT1 carries a γ-PGA hydrolase gene (pghP) that help it to counteract the host cell's protection strategy. ϕNIT had a linear double stranded DNA genome of 155,631-bp with a terminal redundancy of 5,103-bp, containing a gene encoding an active levan hydrolase. These capsule-lytic enzyme genes were located in the possible foreign gene cluster regions between central core and terminal redundant regions, and were expressed at the late phase of the phage lytic cycle. All tested natto origin Spounavirinae phages carried both genes for capsule degrading enzymes similar to ϕNIT1. A comparative genomic analysis revealed the diversity among ϕNIT1 and Bacillus phages carrying pghP-like and levan-hydrolase genes, and provides novel understanding on the acquisition mechanism of these enzymatic genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuro Ozaki
- a Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Naoki Abe
- a Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Keitarou Kimura
- b Laboratory of Applied Microbiology , Food Research Institute-National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NFRI-NARO) , Tsukuba , Japan
| | - Atsuto Suzuki
- a Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Jun Kaneko
- a Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
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γ-PGA Hydrolases of Phage Origin in Bacillus subtilis and Other Microbial Genomes. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0130810. [PMID: 26158264 PMCID: PMC4497714 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Poly-γ-glutamate (γ-PGA) is an industrially interesting polymer secreted mainly by members of the class Bacilli which forms a shield able to protect bacteria from phagocytosis and phages. Few enzymes are known to degrade γ-PGA; among them is a phage-encoded γ-PGA hydrolase, PghP. The supposed role of PghP in phages is to ensure access to the surface of bacterial cells by dismantling the γ-PGA barrier. We identified four unannotated B. subtilis genes through similarity of their encoded products to PghP; in fact these genes reside in prophage elements of B. subtilis genome. The recombinant products of two of them demonstrate efficient polymer degradation, confirming that sequence similarity reflects functional homology. Genes encoding similar γ-PGA hydrolases were identified in phages specific for the order Bacillales and in numerous microbial genomes, not only belonging to that order. The distribution of the γ-PGA biosynthesis operon was also investigated with a bioinformatics approach; it was found that the list of organisms endowed with γ-PGA biosynthetic functions is larger than expected and includes several pathogenic species. Moreover in non-Bacillales bacteria the predicted γ-PGA hydrolase genes are preferentially found in species that do not have the genetic asset for polymer production. Our findings suggest that γ-PGA hydrolase genes might have spread across microbial genomes via horizontal exchanges rather than via phage infection. We hypothesize that, in natural habitats rich in γ-PGA supplied by producer organisms, the availability of hydrolases that release glutamate oligomers from γ-PGA might be a beneficial trait under positive selection.
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Yuan Y, Peng Q, Wu D, Kou Z, Wu Y, Liu P, Gao M. Effects of actin-like proteins encoded by two Bacillus pumilus phages on unstable lysogeny, revealed by genomic analysis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:339-50. [PMID: 25344242 PMCID: PMC4272706 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02889-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 10/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We characterized two newly isolated myoviruses, Bp8p-C and Bp8p-T, infecting the ginger rhizome rot disease pathogen Bacillus pumilus GR8. The plaque of Bp8p-T exhibited a clear center with a turbid rim, suggesting that Bp8p-T could transform into latent phage. Lysogeny assays showed that both the two phages could form latent states, while Bp8p-T could form latent phage at a higher frequency and stability than Bp8p-C. The genomes of Bp8p-C and Bp8p-T were 151,417 and 151,419 bp, respectively; both encoded 212 putative proteins, and only differed by three nucleotides. Moreover, owing to this difference, Bp8p-C encoded a truncated, putative actin-like plasmid segregation protein Gp27-C. Functional analysis of protein Gp27 showed that Gp27-T encoded by Bp8p-T exhibited higher ATPase activity and assembly ability than Gp27-C. The results indicate that the difference in Gp27 affected the phage lysogenic ability. Structural proteome analysis of Bp8p-C virion resulted in the identification of 14 structural proteins, among which a pectin lyase-like protein, a putative poly-gamma-glutamate hydrolase, and three proteins with unknown function, were firstly identified as components of the phage virion. Both phages exhibited specific lytic ability to the host strain GR8. Bp8p-C showed better control effect on the pathogen in ginger rhizome slices than Bp8p-T, suggesting that Bp8p-C has a potential application in bio-control of ginger rhizome rot disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihui Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Qin Peng
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Dandan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng Kou
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Pengming Liu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Meiying Gao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
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