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Moanis R, Geeraert H, Van den Brande N, Hennecke U, Peeters E. Paracoccus kondratievae produces poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) under elevated temperature conditions. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2024; 16:e13260. [PMID: 38838099 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
As part of ongoing efforts to discover novel polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacterial species, we embarked on characterizing the thermotolerant species, Paracoccus kondratievae, for biopolymer synthesis. Using traditional chemical and thermal characterization techniques, we found that P. kondratievae accumulates poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), reaching up to 46.8% of the cell's dry weight after a 24-h incubation at 42°C. Although P. kondratievae is phylogenetically related to the prototypical polyhydroxyalkanoate producer, Paracoccus denitrificans, we observed significant differences in the PHB production dynamics between these two Paracoccus species. Notably, P. kondratievae can grow and produce PHB at elevated temperatures ranging from 42 to 47°C. Furthermore, P. kondratievae reaches its peak PHB content during the early stationary growth phase, specifically after 24 h of growth in a flask culture. This is then followed by a decline in the later stages of the stationary growth phase. The depolymerization observed in this growth phase is facilitated by the abundant presence of the PhaZ depolymerase enzyme associated with PHB granules. We observed the highest PHB levels when the cells were cultivated in a medium with glycerol as the sole carbon source and a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 10. Finally, we found that PHB production is induced as an osmotic stress response, similar to other polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radwa Moanis
- Research Group of Microbiology, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Faculty of Sciences, Botany and Microbiology Department, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
| | - Hannelore Geeraert
- Research Group of Physical Chemistry and Polymer Science, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Niko Van den Brande
- Research Group of Physical Chemistry and Polymer Science, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ulrich Hennecke
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Eveline Peeters
- Research Group of Microbiology, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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2
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Manesh MJH, Willard DJ, Lewis AM, Kelly RM. Extremely thermoacidophilic archaea for metal bioleaching: What do their genomes tell Us? BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 391:129988. [PMID: 37949149 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Elevated temperatures favor bioleaching processes through faster kinetics, more favorable mineral chemistry, lower cooling requirements, and less surface passivation. Extremely thermoacidophilic archaea from the order Sulfolobales exhibit novel mechanisms for bioleaching metals from ores and have great potential. Genome sequences of many extreme thermoacidophiles are now available and provide new insights into their biochemistry, metabolism, physiology and ecology as these relate to metal mobilization from ores. Although there are some molecular genetic tools available for extreme thermoacidophiles, further development of these is sorely needed to advance the study and application of these archaea for bioleaching applications. The evolving landscape for bioleaching technologies at high temperatures merits a closer look through a genomic lens at what is currently possible and what lies ahead in terms of new developments and emerging opportunities. The need for critical metals and the diminishing primary deposits for copper should provide incentives for high temperature bioleaching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad J H Manesh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA
| | - Daniel J Willard
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA
| | - April M Lewis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA
| | - Robert M Kelly
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA.
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3
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Bhowmick A, Bhakta K, Roy M, Gupta S, Das J, Samanta S, Patranabis S, Ghosh A. Heat shock response in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius and first implications for cross-stress adaptation. Res Microbiol 2023; 174:104106. [PMID: 37516156 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2023.104106] [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: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, a thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon, frequently encounters temperature fluctuations, oxidative stress, and nutrient limitations in its environment. Here, we employed a high-throughput transcriptomic analysis to examine how the gene expression of S. acidocaldarius changes when exposed to high temperatures (92 °C). The data obtained was subsequently validated using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. Our particular focus was on genes that are involved in the heat shock response, type-II Toxin-Antitoxin systems, and putative transcription factors. To investigate how S. acidocaldarius adapts to multiple stressors, we assessed the expression of these selected genes under oxidative and nutrient stresses using qRT-PCR analysis. The results demonstrated that the gene thβ encoding the β subunit of the thermosome, as well as hsp14 and hsp20, play crucial roles in the majority of stress conditions. Furthermore, we observed overexpression of at least eight different TA pairs belonging to the type II TA systems under all stress conditions. Additionally, four common transcription factors: FadR, TFEβ, CRISPR loci binding protein, and HTH family protein were consistently overexpressed across all stress conditions, indicating their significant role in managing stress. Overall, this work provides the first insight into molecular players involved in the cross-stress adaptation of S. acidocaldarius.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arghya Bhowmick
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bose Institute, EN Block, Sector-V, Kolkata-700091, India
| | - Koustav Bhakta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bose Institute, EN Block, Sector-V, Kolkata-700091, India
| | - Mousam Roy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bose Institute, EN Block, Sector-V, Kolkata-700091, India
| | - Sayandeep Gupta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bose Institute, EN Block, Sector-V, Kolkata-700091, India
| | - Jagriti Das
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bose Institute, EN Block, Sector-V, Kolkata-700091, India
| | - Shirsha Samanta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bose Institute, EN Block, Sector-V, Kolkata-700091, India
| | | | - Abhrajyoti Ghosh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bose Institute, EN Block, Sector-V, Kolkata-700091, India.
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Baes R, Grünberger F, Pyr dit Ruys S, Couturier M, De Keulenaer S, Skevin S, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Vertommen D, Grohmann D, Ferreira-Cerca S, Peeters E. Transcriptional and translational dynamics underlying heat shock response in the thermophilic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. mBio 2023; 14:e0359322. [PMID: 37642423 PMCID: PMC10653856 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03593-22] [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: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Heat shock response is the ability to respond adequately to sudden temperature increases that could be harmful for cellular survival and fitness. It is crucial for microorganisms living in volcanic hot springs that are characterized by high temperatures and large temperature fluctuations. In this study, we investigated how S. acidocaldarius, which grows optimally at 75°C, responds to heat shock by altering its gene expression and protein production processes. We shed light on which cellular processes are affected by heat shock and propose a hypothesis on underlying regulatory mechanisms. This work is not only relevant for the organism's lifestyle, but also with regard to its evolutionary status. Indeed, S. acidocaldarius belongs to the archaea, an ancient group of microbes that is more closely related to eukaryotes than to bacteria. Our study thus also contributes to a better understanding of the early evolution of heat shock response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rani Baes
- Research Group of Microbiology, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Felix Grünberger
- Institute of Microbiology and Archaea Centre, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Mohea Couturier
- Research Group of Microbiology, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sarah De Keulenaer
- NXTGNT, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sonja Skevin
- NXTGNT, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Didier Vertommen
- Institut de Duve, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dina Grohmann
- Institute of Microbiology and Archaea Centre, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sébastien Ferreira-Cerca
- Cellular Biochemistry of Microorganisms, Biochemie III, Universität Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Laboratoire de Biologie Structurale de la Cellule (BIOC), UMR 7654 -CNRS, Ecole polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau, France
| | - Eveline Peeters
- Research Group of Microbiology, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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5
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Grünberger F, Schmid G, El Ahmad Z, Fenk M, Vogl K, Reichelt R, Hausner W, Urlaub H, Lenz C, Grohmann D. Uncovering the temporal dynamics and regulatory networks of thermal stress response in a hyperthermophile using transcriptomics and proteomics. mBio 2023; 14:e0217423. [PMID: 37843364 PMCID: PMC10746257 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02174-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Facing rapid fluctuations in their natural environment, extremophiles, like the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus, exhibit remarkable adaptability to extreme conditions. However, our understanding of their dynamic cellular responses remains limited. This study integrates RNA-sequencing and mass spectrometry data, thereby elucidating transcriptomic and proteomic responses to heat and cold shock stress in P. furiosus. Our results reveal rapid and dynamic changes in gene and protein expression following these stress responses. Heat shock triggers extensive transcriptome reprogramming, orchestrated by the transcriptional regulator Phr, targeting a broader gene repertoire than previously demonstrated. For heat shock signature genes, RNA levels swiftly return to baseline upon recovery, while protein levels remain persistently upregulated, reflecting a rapid but sustained response. Intriguingly, cold shock at 4°C elicits distinct short- and long-term responses at both RNA and protein levels. Cluster analysis identified gene sets with either congruent or contrasting trends in RNA and protein changes, representing well-separated arCOG groups tailored to their individual cellular responses. Particularly, upregulation of ribosomal proteins and significant enrichment of 5'-leadered sequences in cold-shock responsive genes suggest that translation regulation is important during cold shock adaption. Further investigating transcriptomic features, we reveal that thermal stress genes are equipped with basal sequence elements, such as strong promoter and poly(U)-terminators, facilitating a regulated response of the respective transcription units. Our study provides a comprehensive overview of the cellular response to temperature stress, advancing our understanding of stress response mechanisms in hyperthermophilic archaea and providing valuable insights into the molecular adaptations that facilitate life in extreme environments.IMPORTANCEExtreme environments provide unique challenges for life, and the study of extremophiles can shed light on the mechanisms of adaptation to such conditions. Pyrococcus furiosus, a hyperthermophilic archaeon, is a model organism for studying thermal stress response mechanisms. In this study, we used an integrated analysis of RNA-sequencing and mass spectrometry data to investigate the transcriptomic and proteomic responses of P. furiosus to heat and cold shock stress and recovery. Our results reveal the rapid and dynamic changes in gene and protein expression patterns associated with these stress responses, as well as the coordinated regulation of different gene sets in response to different stressors. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular adaptations that facilitate life in extreme environments and advance our understanding of stress response mechanisms in hyperthermophilic archaea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Grünberger
- Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Archaea Centre, Single-Molecule Biochemistry Lab and Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Georg Schmid
- Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Archaea Centre, Single-Molecule Biochemistry Lab and Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Zubeir El Ahmad
- Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Archaea Centre, Single-Molecule Biochemistry Lab and Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Martin Fenk
- Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Archaea Centre, Single-Molecule Biochemistry Lab and Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Vogl
- Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Archaea Centre, Single-Molecule Biochemistry Lab and Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Robert Reichelt
- Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Archaea Centre, Single-Molecule Biochemistry Lab and Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Winfried Hausner
- Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Archaea Centre, Single-Molecule Biochemistry Lab and Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Henning Urlaub
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christof Lenz
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dina Grohmann
- Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Archaea Centre, Single-Molecule Biochemistry Lab and Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Breuer R, Gomes-Filho JV, Yuan J, Randau L. Transcriptome profiling of Nudix hydrolase gene deletions in the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1197877. [PMID: 37396357 PMCID: PMC10311068 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1197877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Nudix hydrolases comprise a large and ubiquitous protein superfamily that catalyzes the hydrolysis of a nucleoside diphosphate linked to another moiety X (Nudix). Sulfolobus acidocaldarius possesses four Nudix domain-containing proteins (SACI_RS00730/Saci_0153, SACI_RS02625/Saci_0550, SACI_RS00060/Saci_0013/Saci_NudT5, and SACI_RS00575/Saci_0121). Deletion strains were generated for the four individual Nudix genes and for both Nudix genes annotated to encode ADP-ribose pyrophosphatases (SACI_RS00730, SACI_RS00060) and did not reveal a distinct phenotype compared to the wild-type strain under standard growth conditions, nutrient stress or heat stress conditions. We employed RNA-seq to establish the transcriptome profiles of the Nudix deletion strains, revealing a large number of differentially regulated genes, most notably in the ΔSACI_RS00730/SACI_RS00060 double knock-out strain and the ΔSACI_RS00575 single deletion strain. The absence of Nudix hydrolases is suggested to impact transcription via differentially regulated transcriptional regulators. We observed downregulation of the lysine biosynthesis and the archaellum formation iModulons in stationary phase cells, as well as upregulation of two genes involved in the de novo NAD+ biosynthesis pathway. Furthermore, the deletion strains exhibited upregulation of two thermosome subunits (α, β) and the toxin-antitoxin system VapBC, which are implicated in the archaeal heat shock response. These results uncover a defined set of pathways that involve archaeal Nudix protein activities and assist in their functional characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Breuer
- Prokaryotic RNA Biology, Department of Biology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Jing Yuan
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
- SYNMIKRO, Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Lennart Randau
- Prokaryotic RNA Biology, Department of Biology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- SYNMIKRO, Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
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7
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Cooper CR, Lewis AM, Notey JS, Mukherjee A, Willard DJ, Blum PH, Kelly RM. Interplay between transcriptional regulators and VapBC toxin-antitoxin loci during thermal stress response in extremely thermoacidophilic archaea. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:1200-1215. [PMID: 36752722 PMCID: PMC10580297 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16350] [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: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Thermoacidophilic archaea lack sigma factors and the large inventory of heat shock proteins (HSPs) widespread in bacterial genomes, suggesting other strategies for handling thermal stress are involved. Heat shock transcriptomes for the thermoacidophilic archaeon Saccharolobus (f. Sulfolobus) solfataricus 98/2 revealed genes that were highly responsive to thermal stress, including transcriptional regulators YtrASs (Ssol_2420) and FadRSs (Ssol_0314), as well as type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) loci VapBC6 (Ssol_2337, Ssol_2338) and VapBC22 (Ssol_0819, Ssol_0818). The role, if any, of type II TA loci during stress response in microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli, is controversial. But, when genes encoding YtrASs , FadRSs , VapC22, VapB6, and VapC6 were systematically mutated in Sa. solfataricus 98/2, significant up-regulation of the other genes within this set was observed, implicating an interconnected regulatory network during thermal stress response. VapBC6 and VapBC22 have close homologues in other Sulfolobales, as well as in other archaea (e.g. Pyrococcus furiosus and Archaeoglobus fulgidus), and their corresponding genes were also heat shock responsive. The interplay between VapBC TA loci and heat shock regulators in Sa solfataricus 98/2 not only indicates a cellular mechanism for heat shock response that differs from bacteria but one that could have common features within the thermophilic archaea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte R. Cooper
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905
| | - April M. Lewis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905
| | - Jaspreet S. Notey
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905
| | - Arpan Mukherjee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905
| | - Daniel J. Willard
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905
| | - Paul H. Blum
- Beadle Center for Genetics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0666
| | - Robert M. Kelly
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905
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8
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Chauhan SM, Poudel S, Rychel K, Lamoureux C, Yoo R, Al Bulushi T, Yuan Y, Palsson BO, Sastry AV. Machine Learning Uncovers a Data-Driven Transcriptional Regulatory Network for the Crenarchaeal Thermoacidophile Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:753521. [PMID: 34777307 PMCID: PMC8578740 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.753521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Dynamic cellular responses to environmental constraints are coordinated by the transcriptional regulatory network (TRN), which modulates gene expression. This network controls most fundamental cellular responses, including metabolism, motility, and stress responses. Here, we apply independent component analysis, an unsupervised machine learning approach, to 95 high-quality Sulfolobus acidocaldarius RNA-seq datasets and extract 45 independently modulated gene sets, or iModulons. Together, these iModulons contain 755 genes (32% of the genes identified on the genome) and explain over 70% of the variance in the expression compendium. We show that five modules represent the effects of known transcriptional regulators, and hypothesize that most of the remaining modules represent the effects of uncharacterized regulators. Further analysis of these gene sets results in: (1) the prediction of a DNA export system composed of five uncharacterized genes, (2) expansion of the LysM regulon, and (3) evidence for an as-yet-undiscovered global regulon. Our approach allows for a mechanistic, systems-level elucidation of an extremophile's responses to biological perturbations, which could inform research on gene-regulator interactions and facilitate regulator discovery in S. acidocaldarius. We also provide the first global TRN for S. acidocaldarius. Collectively, these results provide a roadmap toward regulatory network discovery in archaea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth M. Chauhan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Saugat Poudel
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Kevin Rychel
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Cameron Lamoureux
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Reo Yoo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Tahani Al Bulushi
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Bernhard O. Palsson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anand V. Sastry
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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9
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Lewis AM, Recalde A, Bräsen C, Counts JA, Nussbaum P, Bost J, Schocke L, Shen L, Willard DJ, Quax TEF, Peeters E, Siebers B, Albers SV, Kelly RM. The biology of thermoacidophilic archaea from the order Sulfolobales. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 45:fuaa063. [PMID: 33476388 PMCID: PMC8557808 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Thermoacidophilic archaea belonging to the order Sulfolobales thrive in extreme biotopes, such as sulfuric hot springs and ore deposits. These microorganisms have been model systems for understanding life in extreme environments, as well as for probing the evolution of both molecular genetic processes and central metabolic pathways. Thermoacidophiles, such as the Sulfolobales, use typical microbial responses to persist in hot acid (e.g. motility, stress response, biofilm formation), albeit with some unusual twists. They also exhibit unique physiological features, including iron and sulfur chemolithoautotrophy, that differentiate them from much of the microbial world. Although first discovered >50 years ago, it was not until recently that genome sequence data and facile genetic tools have been developed for species in the Sulfolobales. These advances have not only opened up ways to further probe novel features of these microbes but also paved the way for their potential biotechnological applications. Discussed here are the nuances of the thermoacidophilic lifestyle of the Sulfolobales, including their evolutionary placement, cell biology, survival strategies, genetic tools, metabolic processes and physiological attributes together with how these characteristics make thermoacidophiles ideal platforms for specialized industrial processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- April M Lewis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Alejandra Recalde
- Institute for Biology, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christopher Bräsen
- Department of Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - James A Counts
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Phillip Nussbaum
- Institute for Biology, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jan Bost
- Institute for Biology, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Larissa Schocke
- Department of Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Lu Shen
- Department of Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Daniel J Willard
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Tessa E F Quax
- Archaeal Virus–Host Interactions, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eveline Peeters
- Research Group of Microbiology, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bettina Siebers
- Department of Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Sonja-Verena Albers
- Institute for Biology, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Robert M Kelly
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
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