1
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de Kok NAW, Driessen AJM. The catalytic and structural basis of archaeal glycerophospholipid biosynthesis. Extremophiles 2022; 26:29. [PMID: 35976526 PMCID: PMC9385802 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-022-01277-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Archaeal glycerophospholipids are the main constituents of the cytoplasmic membrane in the archaeal domain of life and fundamentally differ in chemical composition compared to bacterial phospholipids. They consist of isoprenyl chains ether-bonded to glycerol-1-phosphate. In contrast, bacterial glycerophospholipids are composed of fatty acyl chains ester-bonded to glycerol-3-phosphate. This largely domain-distinguishing feature has been termed the “lipid-divide”. The chemical composition of archaeal membranes contributes to the ability of archaea to survive and thrive in extreme environments. However, ether-bonded glycerophospholipids are not only limited to extremophiles and found also in mesophilic archaea. Resolving the structural basis of glycerophospholipid biosynthesis is a key objective to provide insights in the early evolution of membrane formation and to deepen our understanding of the molecular basis of extremophilicity. Many of the glycerophospholipid enzymes are either integral membrane proteins or membrane-associated, and hence are intrinsically difficult to study structurally. However, in recent years, the crystal structures of several key enzymes have been solved, while unresolved enzymatic steps in the archaeal glycerophospholipid biosynthetic pathway have been clarified providing further insights in the lipid-divide and the evolution of early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels A W de Kok
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Arnold J M Driessen
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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2
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Kropp C, Lipp J, Schmidt AL, Seisenberger C, Linde M, Hinrichs K, Babinger P. Identification of acetylated diether lipids in halophilic Archaea. Microbiologyopen 2022; 11:e1299. [PMID: 35765181 PMCID: PMC9179154 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
As a hallmark of Archaea, their cell membranes are comprised of ether lipids. However, Archaea-type ether lipids have recently been identified in Bacteria as well, with a somewhat different composition: In Bacillales, sn-glycerol 1-phosphate is etherified with one C35 isoprenoid chain, which is longer than the typical C20 chain in Archaea, and instead of a second isoprenoid chain, the product heptaprenylglyceryl phosphate becomes dephosphorylated and afterward diacetylated by the O-acetyltransferase YvoF. Interestingly, database searches have revealed YvoF homologs in Halobacteria (Archaea), too. Here, we demonstrate that YvoF from Haloferax volcanii can acetylate geranylgeranylglycerol in vitro. Additionally, we present the first-time identification of acetylated diether lipids in H. volcanii and Halobacterium salinarum by mass spectrometry. A variety of different acetylated lipids, namely acetylated archaeol, and acetylated archaetidylglycerol, were found, suggesting that halobacterial YvoF has a broad substrate range. We suppose that the acetyl group might serve to modify the polarity of the lipid headgroup, with still unknown biological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosimo Kropp
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, Regensburg Center for BiochemistryUniversity of RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | - Julius Lipp
- MARUM Center for Marine Environmental SciencesUniversity of BremenBremenGermany
| | - Anna Lena Schmidt
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, Regensburg Center for BiochemistryUniversity of RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | - Christina Seisenberger
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, Regensburg Center for BiochemistryUniversity of RegensburgRegensburgGermany
- Present address:
Roche Diagnostics GmbHPenzbergGermany
| | - Mona Linde
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, Regensburg Center for BiochemistryUniversity of RegensburgRegensburgGermany
- Present address:
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG.Biberach an der RißGermany
| | - Kai‐Uwe Hinrichs
- MARUM Center for Marine Environmental SciencesUniversity of BremenBremenGermany
| | - Patrick Babinger
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, Regensburg Center for BiochemistryUniversity of RegensburgRegensburgGermany
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Fiore M, Chieffo C, Lopez A, Fayolle D, Ruiz J, Soulère L, Oger P, Altamura E, Popowycz F, Buchet R. Synthesis of Phospholipids Under Plausible Prebiotic Conditions and Analogies with Phospholipid Biochemistry for Origin of Life Studies. ASTROBIOLOGY 2022; 22:598-627. [PMID: 35196460 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Phospholipids are essential components of biological membranes and are involved in cell signalization, in several enzymatic reactions, and in energy metabolism. In addition, phospholipids represent an evolutionary and non-negligible step in life emergence. Progress in the past decades has led to a deeper understanding of these unique hydrophobic molecules and their most pertinent functions in cell biology. Today, a growing interest in "prebiotic lipidomics" calls for a new assessment of these relevant biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Fiore
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut de Chimie et de Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR 5246, CNRS, CPE, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Carolina Chieffo
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut de Chimie et de Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR 5246, CNRS, CPE, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Augustin Lopez
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut de Chimie et de Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR 5246, CNRS, CPE, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Dimitri Fayolle
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut de Chimie et de Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR 5246, CNRS, CPE, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Johal Ruiz
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut de Chimie et de Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR 5246, CNRS, CPE, Villeurbanne, France
- Institut National Des Sciences Appliquées, INSA Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Laurent Soulère
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut de Chimie et de Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR 5246, CNRS, CPE, Villeurbanne, France
- Institut National Des Sciences Appliquées, INSA Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Philippe Oger
- Microbiologie, Adaptation et Pathogénie, UMR 5240, Université de Lyon, Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Emiliano Altamura
- Chemistry Department, Università degli studi di Bari "Aldo Moro," Bari, Italy
| | - Florence Popowycz
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut de Chimie et de Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR 5246, CNRS, CPE, Villeurbanne, France
- Institut National Des Sciences Appliquées, INSA Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - René Buchet
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Institut de Chimie et de Biochimie Moléculaires et Supramoléculaires, UMR 5246, CNRS, CPE, Villeurbanne, France
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4
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Straub K, Linde M, Kropp C, Blanquart S, Babinger P, Merkl R. Sequence selection by FitSS4ASR alleviates ancestral sequence reconstruction as exemplified for geranylgeranylglyceryl phosphate synthase. Biol Chem 2019; 400:367-381. [PMID: 30763032 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2018-0344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
For evolutionary studies, but also for protein engineering, ancestral sequence reconstruction (ASR) has become an indispensable tool. The first step of every ASR protocol is the preparation of a representative sequence set containing at most a few hundred recent homologs whose composition determines decisively the outcome of a reconstruction. A common approach for sequence selection consists of several rounds of manual recompilation that is driven by embedded phylogenetic analyses of the varied sequence sets. For ASR of a geranylgeranylglyceryl phosphate synthase, we additionally utilized FitSS4ASR, which replaces this time-consuming protocol with an efficient and more rational approach. FitSS4ASR applies orthogonal filters to a set of homologs to eliminate outlier sequences and those bearing only a weak phylogenetic signal. To demonstrate the usefulness of FitSS4ASR, we determined experimentally the oligomerization state of eight predecessors, which is a delicate and taxon-specific property. Corresponding ancestors deduced in a manual approach and by means of FitSS4ASR had the same dimeric or hexameric conformation; this concordance testifies to the efficiency of FitSS4ASR for sequence selection. FitSS4ASR-based results of two other ASR experiments were added to the Supporting Information. Program and documentation are available at https://gitlab.bioinf.ur.de/hek61586/FitSS4ASR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Straub
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Mona Linde
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Cosimo Kropp
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Samuel Blanquart
- University of Rennes, Inria, CNRS, IRISA, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Patrick Babinger
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Rainer Merkl
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
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Linde M, Heyn K, Merkl R, Sterner R, Babinger P. Hexamerization of Geranylgeranylglyceryl Phosphate Synthase Ensures Structural Integrity and Catalytic Activity at High Temperatures. Biochemistry 2018; 57:2335-2348. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b01284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mona Linde
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kristina Heyn
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Rainer Merkl
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Reinhard Sterner
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Babinger
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
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Staley JT, Fuerst JA. Ancient, highly conserved proteins from a LUCA with complex cell biology provide evidence in support of the nuclear compartment commonality (NuCom) hypothesis. Res Microbiol 2017; 168:395-412. [PMID: 28111289 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2017.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Revised: 01/08/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The nuclear compartment commonality (NuCom) hypothesis posits a complex last common ancestor (LUCA) with membranous compartments including a nuclear membrane. Such a LUCA then evolved to produce two nucleated lineages of the tree of life: the Planctomycetes-Verrucomicrobia-Chlamydia superphylum (PVC) within the Bacteria, and the Eukarya. We propose that a group of ancient essential protokaryotic signature proteins (PSPs) originating in LUCA were incorporated into ancestors of PVC Bacteria and Eukarya. Tubulins, ubiquitin system enzymes and sterol-synthesizing enzymes are consistent with early origins of these features shared between the PVC superphylum and Eukarya.
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Affiliation(s)
- James T Staley
- Department of Microbiology and Astrobiology Program, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA
| | - John A Fuerst
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
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7
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Linde M, Peterhoff D, Sterner R, Babinger P. Identification and Characterization of Heptaprenylglyceryl Phosphate Processing Enzymes in Bacillus subtilis. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:14861-70. [PMID: 27226549 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.711994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In Archaea, ether lipids play an essential role as the main building blocks of the cellular membrane. Recently, ether lipids have also been discovered in the domain of Bacteria, and the key enzymes that catalyze their synthesis, glycerol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase and heptaprenylglyceryl phosphate synthase, have been described. In Bacillales, heptaprenylglyceryl phosphate does not become linked to a second polyprenyl moiety like ether lipids in Archaea but is dephosphorylated and acetylated. Here, we report on the enzymes that catalyze these reactions. We enriched the phosphatase activity from a B. subtilis cell extract and suppose that dephosphorylation is catalyzed by the phosphatase PhoB or by any other phosphatase in an unspecific manner. By screening a B. subtilis knock-out library for deficiency in acetylation, the yvoF gene product was identified to be the acetyltransferase. The acetyl-CoA-dependent enzyme YvoF is a close relative of maltose O-acetyltransferase (MAT). Its catalytic properties were analyzed and compared with MAT. YvoF and MAT partially overlap in substrate and product range in vitro, but MAT is not able to complement the yvoF knock-out in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Linde
- From the Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - David Peterhoff
- From the Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Reinhard Sterner
- From the Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Babinger
- From the Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
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8
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Peterhoff D, Beer B, Rajendran C, Kumpula EP, Kapetaniou E, Guldan H, Wierenga RK, Sterner R, Babinger P. A comprehensive analysis of the geranylgeranylglyceryl phosphate synthase enzyme family identifies novel members and reveals mechanisms of substrate specificity and quaternary structure organization. Mol Microbiol 2014; 92:885-99. [PMID: 24684232 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Geranylgeranylglyceryl phosphate synthase (GGGPS) family enzymes catalyse the formation of an ether bond between glycerol-1-phosphate and polyprenyl diphosphates. They are essential for the biosynthesis of archaeal membrane lipids, but also occur in bacterial species, albeit with unknown physiological function. It has been known that there exist two phylogenetic groups (I and II) of GGGPS family enzymes, but a comprehensive study has been missing. We therefore visualized the variability within the family by applying a sequence similarity network, and biochemically characterized 17 representative GGGPS family enzymes regarding their catalytic activities and substrate specificities. Moreover, we present the first crystal structures of group II archaeal and bacterial enzymes. Our analysis revealed that the previously uncharacterized bacterial enzymes from group II have GGGPS activity like the archaeal enzymes and differ from the bacterial group I enzymes that are heptaprenylglyceryl phosphate synthases. The length of the isoprenoid substrate is determined in group II GGGPS enzymes by 'limiter residues' that are different from those in group I enzymes, as shown by site-directed mutagenesis. Most of the group II enzymes form hexamers. We could disrupt these hexamers to stable and catalytically active dimers by mutating a single amino acid that acts as an 'aromatic anchor'.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Peterhoff
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, 93040, Germany
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9
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Peterhoff D, Zellner H, Guldan H, Merkl R, Sterner R, Babinger P. Dimerization Determines Substrate Specificity of a Bacterial Prenyltransferase. Chembiochem 2012; 13:1297-303. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201200127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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10
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Guldan H, Matysik FM, Bocola M, Sterner R, Babinger P. Functional assignment of an enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of an archaea-type ether lipid in bacteria. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2011; 50:8188-91. [PMID: 21761520 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201101832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2011] [Revised: 05/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
An archaea-type ether lipid in bacteria: PcrB, the bacterial homologue of the archaea-specific geranylgeranylglyceryl phosphate synthase, produces heptaprenylglyceryl phosphate in bacillales. The product becomes dephosphorylated and acetylated in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald Guldan
- Institut für Biophysik und physikalische Biochemie, Universität Regensburg, Germany
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Guldan H, Matysik FM, Bocola M, Sterner R, Babinger P. Aufklärung der Funktion eines Enzyms mit der Fähigkeit zur Synthese eines Archaea-typischen Lipids in Bacteria. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201101832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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12
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Kim KM, Caetano-Anollés G. The proteomic complexity and rise of the primordial ancestor of diversified life. BMC Evol Biol 2011; 11:140. [PMID: 21612591 PMCID: PMC3123224 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-11-140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2011] [Accepted: 05/25/2011] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The last universal common ancestor represents the primordial cellular organism from which diversified life was derived. This urancestor accumulated genetic information before the rise of organismal lineages and is considered to be either a simple 'progenote' organism with a rudimentary translational apparatus or a more complex 'cenancestor' with almost all essential biological processes. Recent comparative genomic studies support the latter model and propose that the urancestor was similar to modern organisms in terms of gene content. However, most of these studies were based on molecular sequences, which are fast evolving and of limited value for deep evolutionary explorations. RESULTS Here we engage in a phylogenomic study of protein domain structure in the proteomes of 420 free-living fully sequenced organisms. Domains were defined at the highly conserved fold superfamily (FSF) level of structural classification and an iterative phylogenomic approach was used to reconstruct max_set and min_set FSF repertoires as upper and lower bounds of the urancestral proteome. While the functional make up of the urancestral sets was complex, they represent only 5-11% of the 1,420 FSFs of extant proteomes and their make up and reuse was at least 5 and 3 times smaller than proteomes of free-living organisms, repectively. Trees of proteomes reconstructed directly from FSFs or from molecular functions, which included the max_set and min_set as articial taxa, showed that urancestors were always placed at their base and rooted the tree of life in Archaea. Finally, a molecular clock of FSFs suggests the min_set reflects urancestral genetic make up more reliably and confirms diversified life emerged about 2.9 billion years ago during the start of planet oxygenation. CONCLUSIONS The minimum urancestral FSF set reveals the urancestor had advanced metabolic capabilities, was especially rich in nucleotide metabolism enzymes, had pathways for the biosynthesis of membrane sn1,2 glycerol ester and ether lipids, and had crucial elements of translation, including a primordial ribosome with protein synthesis capabilities. It lacked however fundamental functions, including transcription, processes for extracellular communication, and enzymes for deoxyribonucleotide synthesis. Proteomic history reveals the urancestor is closer to a simple progenote organism but harbors a rather complex set of modern molecular functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung Mo Kim
- Evolutionary Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Crop Science, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Korean Bioinformation Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 111 Gwahangno, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-806, Korea
| | - Gustavo Caetano-Anollés
- Evolutionary Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Crop Science, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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The origin of a derived superkingdom: how a gram-positive bacterium crossed the desert to become an archaeon. Biol Direct 2011; 6:16. [PMID: 21356104 PMCID: PMC3056875 DOI: 10.1186/1745-6150-6-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2010] [Accepted: 02/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tree of life is usually rooted between archaea and bacteria. We have previously presented three arguments that support placing the root of the tree of life in bacteria. The data have been dismissed because those who support the canonical rooting between the prokaryotic superkingdoms cannot imagine how the vast divide between the prokaryotic superkingdoms could be crossed. RESULTS We review the evidence that archaea are derived, as well as their biggest differences with bacteria. We argue that using novel data the gap between the superkingdoms is not insurmountable. We consider whether archaea are holophyletic or paraphyletic; essential to understanding their origin. Finally, we review several hypotheses on the origins of archaea and, where possible, evaluate each hypothesis using bioinformatics tools. As a result we argue for a firmicute ancestry for archaea over proposals for an actinobacterial ancestry. CONCLUSION We believe a synthesis of the hypotheses of Lake, Gupta, and Cavalier-Smith is possible where a combination of antibiotic warfare and viral endosymbiosis in the bacilli led to dramatic changes in a bacterium that resulted in the birth of archaea and eukaryotes. REVIEWERS This article was reviewed by Patrick Forterre, Eugene Koonin, and Gáspár Jékely.
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Díaz Arenas C, Lehman N. Darwin’s concepts in a test tube: Parallels between organismal and in vitro evolution. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2009; 41:266-73. [PMID: 18809507 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2008.08.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2008] [Revised: 08/13/2008] [Accepted: 08/20/2008] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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15
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Abstract
The origin of the eukaryotic genetic apparatus is thought to be central to understanding the evolution of the eukaryotic cell. Disagreement about the source of the relevant genes has spawned competing hypotheses for the origins of the eukaryote nuclear lineage. The iconic rooted 3-domains tree of life shows eukaryotes and archaebacteria as separate groups that share a common ancestor to the exclusion of eubacteria. By contrast, the eocyte hypothesis has eukaryotes originating within the archaebacteria and sharing a common ancestor with a particular group called the Crenarchaeota or eocytes. Here, we have investigated the relative support for each hypothesis from analysis of 53 genes spanning the 3 domains, including essential components of the eukaryotic nucleic acid replication, transcription, and translation apparatus. As an important component of our analysis, we investigated the fit between model and data with respect to composition. Compositional heterogeneity is a pervasive problem for reconstruction of ancient relationships, which, if ignored, can produce an incorrect tree with strong support. To mitigate its effects, we used phylogenetic models that allow for changing nucleotide or amino acid compositions over the tree and data. Our analyses favor a topology that supports the eocyte hypothesis rather than archaebacterial monophyly and the 3-domains tree of life.
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16
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Glansdorff N, Xu Y, Labedan B. The last universal common ancestor: emergence, constitution and genetic legacy of an elusive forerunner. Biol Direct 2008; 3:29. [PMID: 18613974 PMCID: PMC2478661 DOI: 10.1186/1745-6150-3-29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2008] [Accepted: 07/09/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the reclassification of all life forms in three Domains (Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya), the identity of their alleged forerunner (Last Universal Common Ancestor or LUCA) has been the subject of extensive controversies: progenote or already complex organism, prokaryote or protoeukaryote, thermophile or mesophile, product of a protracted progression from simple replicators to complex cells or born in the cradle of "catalytically closed" entities? We present a critical survey of the topic and suggest a scenario. RESULTS LUCA does not appear to have been a simple, primitive, hyperthermophilic prokaryote but rather a complex community of protoeukaryotes with a RNA genome, adapted to a broad range of moderate temperatures, genetically redundant, morphologically and metabolically diverse. LUCA's genetic redundancy predicts loss of paralogous gene copies in divergent lineages to be a significant source of phylogenetic anomalies, i.e. instances where a protein tree departs from the SSU-rRNA genealogy; consequently, horizontal gene transfer may not have the rampant character assumed by many. Examining membrane lipids suggest LUCA had sn1,2 ester fatty acid lipids from which Archaea emerged from the outset as thermophilic by "thermoreduction," with a new type of membrane, composed of sn2,3 ether isoprenoid lipids; this occurred without major enzymatic reconversion. Bacteria emerged by reductive evolution from LUCA and some lineages further acquired extreme thermophily by convergent evolution. This scenario is compatible with the hypothesis that the RNA to DNA transition resulted from different viral invasions as proposed by Forterre. Beyond the controversy opposing "replication first" to metabolism first", the predictive arguments of theories on "catalytic closure" or "compositional heredity" heavily weigh in favour of LUCA's ancestors having emerged as complex, self-replicating entities from which a genetic code arose under natural selection. CONCLUSION Life was born complex and the LUCA displayed that heritage. It had the "body "of a mesophilic eukaryote well before maturing by endosymbiosis into an organism adapted to an atmosphere rich in oxygen. Abundant indications suggest reductive evolution of this complex and heterogeneous entity towards the "prokaryotic" Domains Archaea and Bacteria. The word "prokaryote" should be abandoned because epistemologically unsound. REVIEWERS This article was reviewed by Anthony Poole, Patrick Forterre, and Nicolas Galtier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Glansdorff
- JM Wiame Research Institute for Microbiology and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1 ave E. Gryzon, B-1070 Brussels, Belgium.
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Guldan H, Sterner R, Babinger P. Identification and characterization of a bacterial glycerol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase: Ni(2+)-dependent AraM from Bacillus subtilis. Biochemistry 2008; 47:7376-84. [PMID: 18558723 DOI: 10.1021/bi8005779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The exclusive presence of glycerol-1-phosphate dehydrogenases (G1PDH) has been postulated to be a key feature that distinguishes archaea from bacteria. However, homologues of G1PDH genes can be found in several bacterial species, among them the hitherto uncharacterized open reading frame araM from Bacillus subtilis. We produced recombinant AraM in Escherichia coli and demonstrate that the purified protein forms a homodimer that reversibly reduces dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) to glycerol-1-phosphate (G1P) in a NADH-dependent manner. AraM, which constitutes the first identified G1PDH from bacteria, has a similar catalytic efficiency as its archaeal homologues, but its activity is dependent on the presence of Ni (2+) instead of Zn (2+). On the basis of these findings and the analysis of an araM knockout mutant, we propose that AraM generates G1P for the synthesis of phosphoglycerolipids in Gram-positive bacterial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald Guldan
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
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