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Fuchs H, Ullrich SR, Hedrich S. Vibrio natriegens as a superior host for the production of c-type cytochromes and difficult-to-express redox proteins. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6093. [PMID: 38480761 PMCID: PMC10937671 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54097-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
C-type cytochromes fulfil many essential roles in both aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Their characterization requires large quantities of protein which can be obtained through heterologous production. Heterologous production of c-type cytochromes in Escherichia coli is hindered since the ccmABCDEFGH genes necessary for incorporation of heme c are only expressed under anaerobic conditions. Different strategies were devised to bypass this obstacle, such as co-expressing the ccm genes from the pEC86 vector. However, co-expression methods restrict the choice of expression host and vector. Here we describe the first use of Vibrio natriegens Vmax X2 for the recombinant production of difficult-to-express redox proteins from the extreme acidophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans CCM4253, including three c-type cytochromes. Co-expression of the ccm genes was not required to produce holo-c-type cytochromes in Vmax X2. E. coli T7 Express only produced holo-c-type cytochromes during co-expression of the ccm genes and was not able to produce the inner membrane cytochrome CycA. Additionally, Vmax X2 cell extracts contained higher portions of recombinant holo-proteins than T7 Express cell extracts. All redox proteins were translocated to the intended cell compartment in both hosts. In conclusion, V. natriegens represents a promising alternative for the production of c-type cytochromes and difficult-to-express redox proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Fuchs
- TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Institute of Biosciences, Leipziger Straße 29, 09599, Freiberg, Germany.
| | - Sophie R Ullrich
- TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Institute of Biosciences, Leipziger Straße 29, 09599, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Sabrina Hedrich
- TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Institute of Biosciences, Leipziger Straße 29, 09599, Freiberg, Germany.
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Unusual Cytochrome c552 from Thioalkalivibrio paradoxus: Solution NMR Structure and Interaction with Thiocyanate Dehydrogenase. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179969. [PMID: 36077365 PMCID: PMC9456337 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The search of a putative physiological electron acceptor for thiocyanate dehydrogenase (TcDH) newly discovered in the thiocyanate-oxidizing bacteria Thioalkalivibrio paradoxus revealed an unusually large, single-heme cytochrome c (CytC552), which was co-purified with TcDH from the periplasm. Recombinant CytC552, produced in Escherichia coli as a mature protein without a signal peptide, has spectral properties similar to the endogenous protein and serves as an in vitro electron acceptor in the TcDH-catalyzed reaction. The CytC552 structure determined by NMR spectroscopy reveals significant differences compared to those of the typical class I bacterial cytochromes c: a high solvent accessible surface area for the heme group and so-called “intrinsically disordered” nature of the histidine-rich N- and C-terminal regions. Comparison of the signal splitting in the heteronuclear NMR spectra of oxidized, reduced, and TcDH-bound CytC552 reveals the heme axial methionine fluxionality. The TcDH binding site on the CytC552 surface was mapped using NMR chemical shift perturbations. Putative TcDH-CytC552 complexes were reconstructed by the information-driven docking approach and used for the analysis of effective electron transfer pathways. The best pathway includes the electron hopping through His528 and Tyr164 of TcDH, and His83 of CytC552 to the heme group in accordance with pH-dependence of TcDH activity with CytC552.
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Zhou L, Maldonado M, Padavannil A, Guo F, Letts JA. Structures of Tetrahymena's respiratory chain reveal the diversity of eukaryotic core metabolism. Science 2022; 376:831-839. [PMID: 35357889 PMCID: PMC9169680 DOI: 10.1126/science.abn7747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Respiration is a core biological energy-converting process whose last steps are carried out by a chain of multisubunit complexes in the inner mitochondrial membrane. To probe the functional and structural diversity of eukaryotic respiration, we examined the respiratory chain of the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila (Tt). Using cryo-electron microscopy on a mixed sample, we solved structures of a supercomplex between Tt complex I (Tt-CI) and Tt-CIII2 (Tt-SC I+III2) and a structure of Tt-CIV2. Tt-SC I+III2 (~2.3 megadaltons) is a curved assembly with structural and functional symmetry breaking. Tt-CIV2 is a ~2.7-megadalton dimer with more than 50 subunits per protomer, including mitochondrial carriers and a TIM83-TIM133-like domain. Our structural and functional study of the T. thermophila respiratory chain reveals divergence in key components of eukaryotic respiration, thereby expanding our understanding of core metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Zhou
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Critical Care Medicine of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - María Maldonado
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Abhilash Padavannil
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Fei Guo
- BIOEM Facility, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - James A. Letts
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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A noncanonical cytochrome c stimulates calcium binding by PilY1 for type IVa pili formation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2115061119. [PMID: 35121662 PMCID: PMC8833165 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2115061119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Type IVa pili (T4aP) are versatile bacterial cell surface structures that undergo extension/adhesion/retraction cycles powered by the cell envelope-spanning T4aP machine. In this machine, a complex composed of four minor pilins and PilY1 primes T4aP extension and is also present at the pilus tip mediating adhesion. Similar to many several other bacteria, Myxococcus xanthus contains multiple minor pilins/PilY1 sets that are incompletely understood. Here, we report that minor pilins and PilY1 (PilY1.1) of cluster_1 form priming and tip complexes contingent on calcium and a noncanonical cytochrome c (TfcP) with an unusual His/Cys heme ligation. We provide evidence that TfcP is unlikely to participate in electron transport and instead stimulates calcium binding by PilY1.1 at low-calcium concentrations, thereby stabilizing PilY1.1 and enabling T4aP function in a broader range of calcium concentrations. These results not only identify a previously undescribed function of cytochromes c but also illustrate how incorporation of an accessory factor expands the environmental range under which the T4aP system functions.
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Abstract
Iron (Fe) oxidation is one of Earth’s major biogeochemical processes, key to weathering, soil formation, water quality, and corrosion. However, our understanding of microbial contribution is limited by incomplete knowledge of microbial iron oxidation mechanisms, particularly in neutrophilic iron oxidizers. The genomes of many diverse iron oxidizers encode a homolog to an outer membrane cytochrome (Cyc2) shown to oxidize iron in two acidophiles. Phylogenetic analyses show Cyc2 sequences from neutrophiles cluster together, suggesting a common function, though this function has not been verified in these organisms. Therefore, we investigated the iron oxidase function of heterologously expressed Cyc2 from a neutrophilic iron oxidizer Mariprofundus ferrooxydans PV-1. Cyc2PV-1 is capable of oxidizing iron, and its redox potential is 208 ± 20 mV, consistent with the ability to accept electrons from Fe2+ at neutral pH. These results support the hypothesis that Cyc2 functions as an iron oxidase in neutrophilic iron-oxidizing organisms. The results of sequence analysis and modeling reveal that the entire Cyc2 family shares a unique fused cytochrome-porin structure, with a defining consensus motif in the cytochrome region. On the basis of results from structural analyses, we predict that the monoheme cytochrome Cyc2 specifically oxidizes dissolved Fe2+, in contrast to multiheme iron oxidases, which may oxidize solid Fe(II). With our results, there is now functional validation for diverse representatives of Cyc2 sequences. We present a comprehensive Cyc2 phylogenetic tree and offer a roadmap for identifying cyc2/Cyc2 homologs and interpreting their function. The occurrence of cyc2 in many genomes beyond known iron oxidizers presents the possibility that microbial iron oxidation may be a widespread metabolism.
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Waghwani HK, Douglas T. Cytochrome C with peroxidase-like activity encapsulated inside the small DPS protein nanocage. J Mater Chem B 2021; 9:3168-3179. [PMID: 33885621 DOI: 10.1039/d1tb00234a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Nature utilizes self-assembled protein-based structures as subcellular compartments in prokaryotes to sequester catalysts for specialized biochemical reactions. These protein cage structures provide unique isolated environments for the encapsulated enzymes. Understanding these systems is useful in the bioinspired design of synthetic catalytic organelle-like nanomaterials. The DNA binding protein from starved cells (Dps), isolated from Sulfolobus solfataricus, is a 9 nm dodecameric protein cage making it the smallest known naturally occurring protein cage. It is naturally over-expressed in response to oxidative stress. The small size, natural biodistribution to the kidney, and ability to cross the glomerular filtration barrier in in vivo experiments highlight its potential as a synthetic antioxidant. Cytochrome C (CytC) is a small heme protein with peroxidase-like activity involved in the electron transport chain and also plays a critical role in cellular apoptosis. Here we report the encapsulation of CytC inside the 5 nm interior cavity of Dps and demonstrate the catalytic activity of the resultant Dps nanocage with enhanced antioxidant behavior. The small cavity can accommodate a single CytC and this was achieved through self-assembly of chimeric cages comprising Dps subunits and a Dps subunit to which the CytC was fused. For selective isolation of CytC containing Dps cages, we utilized engineered polyhistidine tag present only on the enzyme fused Dps subunits (6His-Dps-CytC). The catalytic activity of encapsulated CytC was studied using guaiacol and 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as two different peroxidase substrates and compared to the free (unencapsulated) CytC activity. The encapsulated CytC showed better pH dependent catalytic activity compared to free enzyme and provides a proof-of-concept model to engineer these small protein cages for their potential as catalytic nanoreactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitesh Kumar Waghwani
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 E Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA.
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Dulchavsky M, Clark CT, Bardwell JCA, Stull F. A cytochrome c is the natural electron acceptor for nicotine oxidoreductase. Nat Chem Biol 2021; 17:344-350. [PMID: 33432238 PMCID: PMC7904663 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-020-00712-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Nicotine oxidoreductase (NicA2), a member of the flavin-containing amine oxidase family, is of medical relevance as it shows potential as a therapeutic to aid cessation of smoking due to its ability to oxidize nicotine into a non-psychoactive metabolite. However, the use of NicA2 in this capacity is stymied by its dismal O2-dependent activity. Unlike other enzymes in the amine oxidase family, NicA2 reacts very slowly with O2, severely limiting its nicotine-degrading activity. Instead of using O2 as an oxidant, we discovered that NicA2 donates electrons to a cytochrome c, which means that NicA2 is actually a dehydrogenase. This is surprising, as enzymes of the flavin-containing amine oxidase family were invariably thought to use O2 as an electron acceptor. Our findings establish new perspectives for engineering this potentially useful therapeutic and prompt a reconsideration of the term 'oxidase' in referring to members of the flavin-containing amine 'oxidase' family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Dulchavsky
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - James C. A. Bardwell
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA., or
| | - Frederick Stull
- Department of Chemistry, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA., or
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Featherston ER, Rose HR, McBride MJ, Taylor EM, Boal AK, Cotruvo JA. Biochemical and Structural Characterization of XoxG and XoxJ and Their Roles in Lanthanide-Dependent Methanol Dehydrogenase Activity. Chembiochem 2019; 20:2360-2372. [PMID: 31017712 PMCID: PMC6814260 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Lanthanide (Ln)-dependent methanol dehydrogenases (MDHs) have recently been shown to be widespread in methylotrophic bacteria. Along with the core MDH protein, XoxF, these systems contain two other proteins, XoxG (a c-type cytochrome) and XoxJ (a periplasmic binding protein of unknown function), about which little is known. In this work, we have biochemically and structurally characterized these proteins from the methyltroph Methylobacterium extorquens AM1. In contrast to results obtained in an artificial assay system, assays of XoxFs metallated with LaIII , CeIII , and NdIII using their physiological electron acceptor, XoxG, display Ln-independent activities, but the Km for XoxG markedly increases from La to Nd. This result suggests that XoxG's redox properties are tuned specifically for lighter Lns in XoxF, an interpretation supported by the unusually low reduction potential of XoxG (+172 mV). The X-ray crystal structure of XoxG provides a structural basis for this reduction potential and insight into the XoxG-XoxF interaction. Finally, the X-ray crystal structure of XoxJ reveals a large hydrophobic cleft and suggests a role in the activation of XoxF. These studies enrich our understanding of the underlying chemical principles that enable the activity of XoxF with multiple lanthanides in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R. Featherston
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Hannah R. Rose
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Molly J. McBride
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Elle M. Taylor
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Amie K. Boal
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Joseph A. Cotruvo
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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Völler J, Biava H, Koksch B, Hildebrandt P, Budisa N. Orthogonal Translation Meets Electron Transfer: In Vivo Labeling of Cytochromecfor Probing Local Electric Fields. Chembiochem 2015; 16:742-5. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201500022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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10
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Goldbeck CP, Jensen HM, TerAvest MA, Beedle N, Appling Y, Hepler M, Cambray G, Mutalik V, Angenent LT, Ajo-Franklin CM. Tuning promoter strengths for improved synthesis and function of electron conduits in Escherichia coli. ACS Synth Biol 2013; 2:150-9. [PMID: 23656438 DOI: 10.1021/sb300119v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Introduction of the electron transfer complex MtrCAB from Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 into a heterologous host provides a modular and molecularly defined route for electrons to be transferred to an extracellular inorganic solid. However, an Escherichia coli strain expressing this pathway displayed limited control of MtrCAB expression and impaired cell growth. To overcome these limitations and to improve heterologous extracellular electron transfer, we used an E. coli host with a more tunable induction system and a panel of constitutive promoters to generate a library of strains that separately transcribe the mtr and cytochrome c maturation (ccm) operons over 3 orders of magnitude. From this library, we identified strains that show 2.2 times higher levels of MtrC and MtrA and that have improved cell growth. We find that a ~300-fold decrease in the efficiency of MtrC and MtrA synthesis with increasing mtr promoter activity critically limits the maximum expression level of MtrC and MtrA. We also tested the extracellular electron transfer capabilities of a subset of the strains using a three-electrode microbial electrochemical system. Interestingly, the strain with improved cell growth and fewer morphological changes generated the largest maximal current per cfu, rather than the strain with more MtrC and MtrA. This strain also showed ~30-fold greater maximal current per cfu than its ccm-only control strain. Thus, the conditions for optimal MtrCAB expression and anode reduction are distinct, and minimal perturbations to cell morphology are correlated with improved extracellular electron transfer in E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heather M. Jensen
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California,
Berkeley, California 94720,
United States
| | - Michaela A. TerAvest
- Department
of Biological and
Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | | | | | - Matt Hepler
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California,
Berkeley, California 94720,
United States
| | - Guillaume Cambray
- BIOFAB International Open Facility Advancing Biotechnology (BIOFAB), Emeryville,
California 94608, United States
- California Institute for Quantitative
Biosciences, University of California,
Berkeley, California, 94720, United States
| | - Vivek Mutalik
- BIOFAB International Open Facility Advancing Biotechnology (BIOFAB), Emeryville,
California 94608, United States
| | - Largus T. Angenent
- Department
of Biological and
Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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Fonseca BM, Tien M, Rivera M, Shi L, Louro RO. Efficient and selective isotopic labeling of hemes to facilitate the study of multiheme proteins. Biotechniques 2012; 52:000113859. [PMID: 26307249 DOI: 10.2144/000113859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2012] [Accepted: 04/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Specific isotopic labeling of hemes provides a unique opportunity to characterize the structure and function of heme-proteins. Unfortunately, current methods do not allow efficient labeling in high yields of multiheme cytochromes c, which are of great biotechnological interest. Here, a method for production of recombinant multiheme cytochromes c in Escherichia coli with isotopically labeled hemes is reported. A small tetraheme cytochrome of 12 kDa from Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 was used to demonstrate the method, achieving a production of 4 mg pure protein per liter. This method achieves, in a single step, efficient expression and incorporation of hemes isotopically labeled in specific atom positions adequate for spectroscopic characterization of these complex heme proteins. It is, furthermore, of general application to heme proteins, opening new possibilities for the characterization of this important class of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno M Fonseca
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Ming Tien
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Mario Rivera
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Liang Shi
- Microbiology Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Ricardo O Louro
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
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