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Flamholz AI, Goldford JE, Richter PA, Larsson EM, Jinich A, Fischer WW, Newman DK. Annotation-free prediction of microbial dioxygen utilization. mSystems 2024:e0076324. [PMID: 39230322 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00763-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Aerobes require dioxygen (O2) to grow; anaerobes do not. However, nearly all microbes-aerobes, anaerobes, and facultative organisms alike-express enzymes whose substrates include O2, if only for detoxification. This presents a challenge when trying to assess which organisms are aerobic from genomic data alone. This challenge can be overcome by noting that O2 utilization has wide-ranging effects on microbes: aerobes typically have larger genomes encoding distinctive O2-utilizing enzymes, for example. These effects permit high-quality prediction of O2 utilization from annotated genome sequences, with several models displaying ≈80% accuracy on a ternary classification task for which blind guessing is only 33% accurate. Since genome annotation is compute-intensive and relies on many assumptions, we asked if annotation-free methods also perform well. We discovered that simple and efficient models based entirely on genomic sequence content-e.g., triplets of amino acids-perform as well as intensive annotation-based classifiers, enabling rapid processing of genomes. We further show that amino acid trimers are useful because they encode information about protein composition and phylogeny. To showcase the utility of rapid prediction, we estimated the prevalence of aerobes and anaerobes in diverse natural environments cataloged in the Earth Microbiome Project. Focusing on a well-studied O2 gradient in the Black Sea, we found quantitative correspondence between local chemistry (O2:sulfide concentration ratio) and the composition of microbial communities. We, therefore, suggest that statistical methods like ours might be used to estimate, or "sense," pivotal features of the chemical environment using DNA sequencing data.IMPORTANCEWe now have access to sequence data from a wide variety of natural environments. These data document a bewildering diversity of microbes, many known only from their genomes. Physiology-an organism's capacity to engage metabolically with its environment-may provide a more useful lens than taxonomy for understanding microbial communities. As an example of this broader principle, we developed algorithms that accurately predict microbial dioxygen utilization directly from genome sequences without annotating genes, e.g., by considering only the amino acids in protein sequences. Annotation-free algorithms enable rapid characterization of natural samples, highlighting quantitative correspondence between sequences and local O2 levels in a data set from the Black Sea. This example suggests that DNA sequencing might be repurposed as a multi-pronged chemical sensor, estimating concentrations of O2 and other key facets of complex natural settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avi I Flamholz
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Joshua E Goldford
- Division of Geological & Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Philippa A Richter
- Division of Geological & Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Elin M Larsson
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Adrian Jinich
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Woodward W Fischer
- Division of Geological & Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Dianne K Newman
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
- Division of Geological & Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
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2
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Gyaltshen Y, Ishii Y, Charvet S, Goetz E, Maruyama S, Kim E. Molecular diversity of green-colored microbial mats from hot springs of northern Japan. Extremophiles 2024; 28:43. [PMID: 39217229 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-024-01358-y] [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: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
We acquired and analyzed metagenome and 16S/18S rRNA gene amplicon data of green-colored microbial mats from two hot springs within the Onikobe geothermal region (Miyagi Prefecture, Japan). The two collection sites-Tamago and Warabi-were in proximity and had the same temperature (40 °C), but the Tamago site was connected to a nearby stream, whereas the Warabi site was isolated. Both the amplicon and metagenome data suggest the bacterial, especially cyanobacterial, dominance of the mats; other abundant groups include Chloroflexota, Pseudomonadota, Bacteroidota/Chlorobiota, and Deinococcota. At finer resolution, however, the taxonomic composition entirely differed between the mats. A total of 5 and 21 abundant bacterial 16S rRNA gene OTUs were identified for Tamago and Warabi, respectively; of these, 12 are putative chlorophyll- or rhodopsin-based phototrophs. The presence of phylogenetically diverse microbial eukaryotes was noted, with ciliates and amoebozoans being the most abundant eukaryote groups for Tamago and Warabi, respectively. Fifteen metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were obtained, represented by 13 bacteria, one ciliate (mitochondrion), and one giant virus. A total of 15 novel taxa, including a new deeply branching Chlorobiota species, is noted from the amplicon and MAG data, highlighting the importance of environmental sequencing in uncovering hidden microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangtsho Gyaltshen
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology and Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY, 10024, USA
| | - Yuu Ishii
- Department of Ecological Developmental Adaptability Life Sciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aramaki Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
- Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake Cho, Sakyo ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
- Department of Biology, Miyagi University of Education, 149, Aramaki-Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-0845, Japan
| | - Sophie Charvet
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology and Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY, 10024, USA
- Department of Biology, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA, 17870, USA
| | - Eleanor Goetz
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology and Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY, 10024, USA
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Shinichiro Maruyama
- Department of Ecological Developmental Adaptability Life Sciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aramaki Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
- Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, 2-1-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8610, Japan
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8562, Japan
| | - Eunsoo Kim
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology and Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY, 10024, USA.
- Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03760, South Korea.
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3
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Chen L, Qin X, Wang G, Teng M, Zheng Y, Yang F, Du H, Wang L, Xu Y. Oxygen influences spatial heterogeneity and microbial succession dynamics during Baijiu stacking process. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 403:130854. [PMID: 38761866 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
The spontaneous solid-state stacking process (SSSP) of Baijiu is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective process for enriching and assembling environmental microorganisms to guarantee the subsequent fermentation efficiency. In this study, how SSSP create spatial heterogeneity of stacking piles were found through spatiotemporal sampling. The degree of difficulty in oxygen exchange categorizes the stacking pile into depleted (≤4%), transitional (4 %-17 %), and enriched (≥17 %) oxygen-defined layers. This results in variation in succession rates (Vdepleted > Vtransitional > Venriched), which accelerates spatial heterogeneity during SSSP. As a dominant species (65 %-99 %) in depleted and transitional layers, Acetilactobacillus jinshanensis can rapidly reduce oxygen disturbance by upregulating poxL and catE, that sustains spatial heterogeneity. The findings demonstrated the value of oxygen control in shaping spatial heterogeneity during SSSP processes, which can create specific functional microbiome. Adding spatial heterogeneity management will help achieve more precise control of such solid-state fermentation systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangqiang Chen
- Laboratory of Brewing Microbiology and Applied Enzymology, Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China; Moutai Institute, Renhuai 564500, Guizhou, China; Guizhou Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Exploration in Fermentation industry, Kweichow Moutai Group, Renhuai 564500, Guizhou, China
| | - Xing Qin
- Guizhou Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Exploration in Fermentation industry, Kweichow Moutai Group, Renhuai 564500, Guizhou, China
| | - Guozheng Wang
- Guizhou Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Exploration in Fermentation industry, Kweichow Moutai Group, Renhuai 564500, Guizhou, China
| | - Mengjing Teng
- Guizhou Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Exploration in Fermentation industry, Kweichow Moutai Group, Renhuai 564500, Guizhou, China
| | - Yuxi Zheng
- Moutai Institute, Renhuai 564500, Guizhou, China; Guizhou Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Exploration in Fermentation industry, Kweichow Moutai Group, Renhuai 564500, Guizhou, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Guizhou Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Exploration in Fermentation industry, Kweichow Moutai Group, Renhuai 564500, Guizhou, China
| | - Hai Du
- Laboratory of Brewing Microbiology and Applied Enzymology, Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Li Wang
- Guizhou Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Exploration in Fermentation industry, Kweichow Moutai Group, Renhuai 564500, Guizhou, China.
| | - Yan Xu
- Laboratory of Brewing Microbiology and Applied Enzymology, Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China.
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Mrnjavac N, Nagies FSP, Wimmer JLE, Kapust N, Knopp MR, Trost K, Modjewski L, Bremer N, Mentel M, Esposti MD, Mizrahi I, Allen JF, Martin WF. The radical impact of oxygen on prokaryotic evolution-enzyme inhibition first, uninhibited essential biosyntheses second, aerobic respiration third. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:1692-1714. [PMID: 38750628 PMCID: PMC7616280 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14906] [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: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Molecular oxygen is a stable diradical. All O2-dependent enzymes employ a radical mechanism. Generated by cyanobacteria, O2 started accumulating on Earth 2.4 billion years ago. Its evolutionary impact is traditionally sought in respiration and energy yield. We mapped 365 O2-dependent enzymatic reactions of prokaryotes to phylogenies for the corresponding 792 protein families. The main physiological adaptations imparted by O2-dependent enzymes were not energy conservation, but novel organic substrate oxidations and O2-dependent, hence O2-tolerant, alternative pathways for O2-inhibited reactions. Oxygen-dependent enzymes evolved in ancestrally anaerobic pathways for essential cofactor biosynthesis including NAD+, pyridoxal, thiamine, ubiquinone, cobalamin, heme, and chlorophyll. These innovations allowed prokaryotes to synthesize essential cofactors in O2-containing environments, a prerequisite for the later emergence of aerobic respiratory chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Mrnjavac
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Falk S P Nagies
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jessica L E Wimmer
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nils Kapust
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael R Knopp
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Katharina Trost
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Luca Modjewski
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nico Bremer
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marek Mentel
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | - Itzhak Mizrahi
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
| | - John F Allen
- Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, UK
| | - William F Martin
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
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5
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Randazzo A, Venturi S, Tassi F. Soil processes modify the composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from CO 2- and CH 4-dominated geogenic and landfill gases: A comprehensive study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 923:171483. [PMID: 38458441 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Degradation mechanisms affecting non-methane volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during gas uprising from different hypogenic sources to the surface were investigated through extensive sampling surveys in areas encompassing a high enthalpy hydrothermal system associated with active volcanism, a CH4-rich sedimentary basin and a municipal waste landfill. For a comprehensive framework, published data from medium-to-high enthalpy hydrothermal systems were also included. The investigated systems were characterised by peculiar VOC suites that reflected the conditions of the genetic environments in which temperature, contents of organic matter, and gas fugacity had a major role. Differences in VOC patterns between source (gas vents and landfill gas) and soil gases indicated VOC transformations in soil. Processes acting in soil preferentially degraded high-molecular weight alkanes with respect to the low-molecular weight ones. Alkenes and cyclics roughly behaved like alkanes. Thiophenes were degraded to a larger extent with respect to alkylated benzenes, which were more reactive than benzene. Furan appeared less degraded than its alkylated homologues. Dimethylsulfoxide was generally favoured with respect to dimethylsulfide. Limonene and camphene were relatively unstable under aerobic conditions, while α-pinene was recalcitrant. O-bearing organic compounds (i.e., aldehydes, esters, ketones, alcohols, organic acids and phenol) acted as intermediate products of the ongoing VOC degradations in soil. No evidence for the degradation of halogenated compounds and benzothiazole was observed. This study pointed out how soil degradation processes reduce hypogenic VOC emissions and the important role played by physicochemical and biological parameters on the effective VOC attenuation capacity of the soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Randazzo
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy; Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy.
| | - S Venturi
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy; Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy
| | - F Tassi
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy; Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy
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6
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Dong S, Yan PF, Mezzari MP, Abriola LM, Pennell KD, Cápiro NL. Using Network Analysis and Predictive Functional Analysis to Explore the Fluorotelomer Biotransformation Potential of Soil Microbial Communities. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:7480-7492. [PMID: 38639388 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c00942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Microbial transformation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including fluorotelomer-derived PFAS, by native microbial communities in the environment has been widely documented. However, few studies have identified the key microorganisms and their roles during the PFAS biotransformation processes. This study was undertaken to gain more insight into the structure and function of soil microbial communities that are relevant to PFAS biotransformation. We collected 16S rRNA gene sequencing data from 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate biotransformation studies conducted in soil microcosms under various redox conditions. Through co-occurrence network analysis, several genera, including Variovorax, Rhodococcus, and Cupriavidus, were found to likely play important roles in the biotransformation of fluorotelomers. Additionally, a metagenomic prediction approach (PICRUSt2) identified functional genes, including 6-oxocyclohex-1-ene-carbonyl-CoA hydrolase, cyclohexa-1,5-dienecarbonyl-CoA hydratase, and a fluoride-proton antiporter gene, that may be involved in defluorination. This study pioneers the application of these bioinformatics tools in the analysis of PFAS biotransformation-related sequencing data. Our findings serve as a foundational reference for investigating enzymatic mechanisms of microbial defluorination that may facilitate the development of efficient microbial consortia and/or pure microbial strains for PFAS biotransformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Dong
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, 214 Riley-Robb Hall, 111 Wing Drive, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Peng-Fei Yan
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, 214 Riley-Robb Hall, 111 Wing Drive, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Melissa P Mezzari
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Linda M Abriola
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Kurt D Pennell
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Natalie L Cápiro
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, 214 Riley-Robb Hall, 111 Wing Drive, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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7
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Ramoneda J, Stallard-Olivera E, Hoffert M, Winfrey CC, Stadler M, Niño-García JP, Fierer N. Building a genome-based understanding of bacterial pH preferences. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf8998. [PMID: 37115929 PMCID: PMC10146879 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf8998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The environmental preferences of many microbes remain undetermined. This is the case for bacterial pH preferences, which can be difficult to predict a priori despite the importance of pH as a factor structuring bacterial communities in many systems. We compiled data on bacterial distributions from five datasets spanning pH gradients in soil and freshwater systems (1470 samples), quantified the pH preferences of bacterial taxa across these datasets, and compiled genomic data from representative bacterial taxa. While taxonomic and phylogenetic information were generally poor predictors of bacterial pH preferences, we identified genes consistently associated with pH preference across environments. We then developed and validated a machine learning model to estimate bacterial pH preferences from genomic information alone, a model that could aid in the selection of microbial inoculants, improve species distribution models, or help design effective cultivation strategies. More generally, we demonstrate the value of combining biogeographic and genomic data to infer and predict the environmental preferences of diverse bacterial taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josep Ramoneda
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Corresponding author. (J.R.); (N.F.)
| | - Elias Stallard-Olivera
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Michael Hoffert
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Claire C. Winfrey
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Masumi Stadler
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Case Postale 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Juan Pablo Niño-García
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Case Postale 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
- Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, Ciudad Universitaria Calle 67 No 12 53-108, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Noah Fierer
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Corresponding author. (J.R.); (N.F.)
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8
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Jabłońska J, Tawfik DS. Innovation and tinkering in the evolution of oxidases. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4310. [PMID: 35481655 PMCID: PMC9040561 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Although molecular oxygen is a relative newcomer to the biosphere, it has had a profound impact on metabolism. About 700 oxygen‐dependent enzymatic reactions are known, the vast majority of which emerged only after the appearance of oxygen in the biosphere, circa 3 billion years ago. Oxygen was a major driving force for evolutionary innovation—~60% of all known oxygen‐dependent enzyme families emerged as such; that is, the founding ancestor was an O2‐dependent enzyme. The other 40% seem to have diverged by tinkering from pre‐existing proteins whose function was not related to oxygen. Here, we focus on the latter. We describe transitions from various enzyme classes, as well as from non‐enzymatic proteins, and we explore these transitions in terms of catalytic chemistry, metabolism, and protein structure. These transitions vary from subtle ones, such as simply repurposing oxidoreductases by replacing an electron acceptor such as NAD by O2, to drastic changes in reaction mechanism, such as turning carboxylases and hydrolases into oxidases. The latter is more common and can occur with strikingly minor changes, for example, only one mutation in the active site. We further suggest that engineering enzymes to harness the extraordinary reactivity of oxygen may yield higher catabolic power and versatility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagoda Jabłońska
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Dan S Tawfik
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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9
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Berg JS, Ahmerkamp S, Pjevac P, Hausmann B, Milucka J, Kuypers MMM. OUP accepted manuscript. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6517451. [PMID: 35094062 PMCID: PMC9075580 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxygen (O2) is the ultimate oxidant on Earth and its respiration confers such an energetic advantage that microorganisms have evolved the capacity to scavenge O2 down to nanomolar concentrations. The respiration of O2 at extremely low levels is proving to be common to diverse microbial taxa, including organisms formerly considered strict anaerobes. Motivated by recent advances in O2 sensing and DNA/RNA sequencing technologies, we performed a systematic review of environmental metatranscriptomes revealing that microbial respiration of O2 at nanomolar concentrations is ubiquitous and drives microbial activity in seemingly anoxic aquatic habitats. These habitats were key to the early evolution of life and are projected to become more prevalent in the near future due to anthropogenic-driven environmental change. Here, we summarize our current understanding of aerobic microbial respiration under apparent anoxia, including novel processes, their underlying biochemical pathways, the involved microorganisms, and their environmental importance and evolutionary origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine S Berg
- Corrresponding author: Géopolis, Quartier Unil-Mouline, Université de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. E-mail:
| | - Soeren Ahmerkamp
- Department of Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen 2359, Germany
| | - Petra Pjevac
- Joint Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Bela Hausmann
- Joint Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Jana Milucka
- Department of Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen 2359, Germany
| | - Marcel M M Kuypers
- Department of Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen 2359, Germany
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10
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Bygd MD, Aukema KG, Richman JE, Wackett LP. Unexpected Mechanism of Biodegradation and Defluorination of 2,2-Difluoro-1,3-Benzodioxole by Pseudomonas putida F1. mBio 2021; 12:e0300121. [PMID: 34781746 PMCID: PMC8593668 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03001-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Perfluorinated carbon atoms in a diether linkage are common in commercial anesthetics, drugs, fungicides, and insecticides. An important chemical group comprising perfluorodiethers is the 2,2-fluoro-1,3-benzodioxole (DFBD) moiety. The fluorine atoms stabilize the molecule by mitigating against metabolism by humans and microbes, as used in drugs and pesticides, respectively. Pseudomonas putida F1 catalyzed defluorination of DFBD at an initial rate of 2,100 nmol/h per mg cellular protein. This is orders of magnitude higher than previously reported microbial defluorination rates with multiply fluorinated carbon atoms. Defluorination rates declined after several hours, and the medium darkened. Significant defluorination activity was observed with cells grown on toluene but not l-arginine. Defluorination required only toluene dioxygenase. Pseudomonas and recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing toluene dioxygenase oxidized DFBD to DFBD-4,5-dihydrodiol. The dihydrodiol could be oxidized to 4,5-dihydroxy-DFBD via the dihydrodiol dehydrogenase from P. putida F1. The dihydrodiol dehydrated with acid to yield a mixture of 4-hydroxy-DFBD and 5-hydroxy-DFBD. All those metabolites retained the difluoromethylene group; no fluoride or dark color was observed. The major route of DFBD-4,5-dihydrodiol decomposition produced fluoride and 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene, or pyrogallol, and that was shown to be the source of the dark colors in the medium. A mechanism for DFBD-4,5-dihydrodiol transformation to two fluoride ions and pyrogallol is proposed. The Pseudomonas genome database and other databases revealed hundreds of bacteria with enzymes sharing high amino acid sequence identity to toluene dioxygenase from P. putida F1, suggesting the mechanism revealed here may apply to the defluorination of DFBD-containing compounds in the environment. IMPORTANCE There are more than 9,000 polyfluorinated compounds developed for commercial use, some negatively impacting human health, and they are generally considered to be resistant to biodegradation. Only a limited number of studies have identified microbes with enzymes sufficiently reactive to defluorinate difluoromethylene carbon groups. The present study examined one important group of commercial fluorinated chemicals and showed its rapid defluorination by a bacterium and its key enzyme, a Rieske dioxygenase. Rieske dioxygenases are common in environmental bacteria, and those closely resembling toluene dioxygenase from Pseudomonas putida F1 are candidates for biodegradative defluorination of the common 2,2-fluoro-1,3-benzodioxole (DFBD) moiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison D. Bygd
- Microbial Engineering, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kelly G. Aukema
- Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jack E. Richman
- Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Lawrence P. Wackett
- Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
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Pathways of Iron and Sulfur Acquisition, Cofactor Assembly, Destination, and Storage in Diverse Archaeal Methanogens and Alkanotrophs. J Bacteriol 2021; 203:e0011721. [PMID: 34124941 PMCID: PMC8351635 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00117-21] [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] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Archaeal methanogens, methanotrophs, and alkanotrophs have a high demand for iron (Fe) and sulfur (S); however, little is known of how they acquire, traffic, deploy, and store these elements. Here, we examined the distribution of homologs of proteins mediating key steps in Fe/S metabolism in model microorganisms, including iron(II) sensing/uptake (FeoAB), sulfide extraction from cysteine (SufS), and the biosynthesis of iron-sulfur [Fe-S] clusters (SufBCDE), siroheme (Pch2 dehydrogenase), protoheme (AhbABCD), cytochrome c (Cyt c) (CcmCF), and iron storage/detoxification (Bfr, FtrA, and IssA), among 326 publicly available, complete or metagenome-assembled genomes of archaeal methanogens/methanotrophs/alkanotrophs. The results indicate several prevalent but nonuniversal features, including FeoB, SufBC, and the biosynthetic apparatus for the basic tetrapyrrole scaffold, as well as its siroheme (and F430) derivatives. However, several early-diverging genomes lacked SufS and pathways to synthesize and deploy heme. Genomes encoding complete versus incomplete heme biosynthetic pathways exhibited equivalent prevalences of [Fe-S] cluster binding proteins, suggesting an expansion of catalytic capabilities rather than substitution of heme for [Fe-S] in the former group. Several strains with heme binding proteins lacked heme biosynthesis capabilities, while other strains with siroheme biosynthesis capability lacked homologs of known siroheme binding proteins, indicating heme auxotrophy and unknown siroheme biochemistry, respectively. While ferritin proteins involved in ferric oxide storage were widespread, those involved in storing Fe as thioferrate were unevenly distributed. Collectively, the results suggest that differences in the mechanisms of Fe and S acquisition, deployment, and storage have accompanied the diversification of methanogens/methanotrophs/alkanotrophs, possibly in response to differential availability of these elements as these organisms evolved. IMPORTANCE Archaeal methanogens, methanotrophs, and alkanotrophs, argued to be among the most ancient forms of life, have a high demand for iron (Fe) and sulfur (S) for cofactor biosynthesis, among other uses. Here, using comparative bioinformatic approaches applied to 326 genomes, we show that major differences in Fe/S acquisition, trafficking, deployment, and storage exist in this group. Variation in these characters was generally congruent with the phylogenetic placement of these genomes, indicating that variation in Fe/S usage and deployment has contributed to the diversification and ecology of these organisms. However, incongruency was observed among the distribution of cofactor biosynthesis pathways and known protein destinations for those cofactors, suggesting auxotrophy or yet-to-be-discovered pathways for cofactor biosynthesis.
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12
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Díez López C, Kayser M, Vidaki A. Estimating the Time Since Deposition of Saliva Stains With a Targeted Bacterial DNA Approach: A Proof-of-Principle Study. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:647933. [PMID: 34149638 PMCID: PMC8206545 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.647933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Information on the time when a stain was deposited at a crime scene can be valuable in forensic investigations. It can link a DNA-identified stain donor with a crime or provide a post-mortem interval estimation in cases with cadavers. The available methods for estimating stain deposition time have limitations of different types and magnitudes. In this proof-of-principle study we investigated for the first time the use of microbial DNA for this purpose in human saliva stains. First, we identified the most abundant and frequent bacterial species in saliva using publicly available 16S rRNA gene next generation sequencing (NGS) data from 1,848 samples. Next, we assessed time-dependent changes in 15 identified species using de-novo 16S rRNA gene NGS in the saliva stains of two individuals exposed to indoor conditions for up to 1 year. We selected four bacterial species, i.e., Fusobacterium periodonticum, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Veillonella dispar, and Veillonella parvula showing significant time-dependent changes and developed a 4-plex qPCR assay for their targeted analysis. Then, we analyzed the saliva stains of 15 individuals exposed to indoor conditions for up to 1 month. Bacterial counts generally increased with time and explained 54.9% of the variation (p = <2.2E–16). Time since deposition explained ≥86.5% and ≥88.9% of the variation in each individual and species, respectively (p = <2.2E–16). Finally, based on sample duplicates we built and tested multiple linear regression models for predicting the stain deposition time at an individual level, resulting in an average mean absolute error (MAE) of 5 days (ranging 3.3–7.8 days). Overall, the deposition time of 181 (81.5%) stains was correctly predicted within 1 week. Prediction models were also assessed in stains exposed to similar conditions up to 1 month 7 months later, resulting in an average MAE of 8.8 days (ranging 3.9–16.9 days). Our proof-of-principle study suggests the potential of the DNA profiling of human commensal bacteria as a method of estimating saliva stains time since deposition in the forensic scenario, which may be expanded to other forensically relevant tissues. The study considers practical applications of this novel approach, but various forensic developmental validation and implementation criteria will need to be met in more dedicated studies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celia Díez López
- Department of Genetic Identification, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Manfred Kayser
- Department of Genetic Identification, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Athina Vidaki
- Department of Genetic Identification, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Jabłońska J, Tawfik DS. The evolution of oxygen-utilizing enzymes suggests early biosphere oxygenation. Nat Ecol Evol 2021; 5:442-448. [PMID: 33633374 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-020-01386-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Production of molecular oxygen was a turning point in the Earth's history. The geological record indicates the Great Oxidation Event, which marked a permanent transition to an oxidizing atmosphere around 2.4 Ga. However, the degree to which oxygen was available to life before oxygenation of the atmosphere remains unknown. Here, phylogenetic analysis of all known oxygen-utilizing and -producing enzymes (O2-enzymes) indicates that oxygen became widely available to living organisms well before the Great Oxidation Event. About 60% of the O2-enzyme families whose birth can be dated appear to have emerged at the separation of terrestrial and marine bacteria (22 families, compared to two families assigned to the last universal common ancestor). This node, dubbed the last universal oxygen ancestor, coincides with a burst of emergence of both oxygenases and other oxidoreductases, thus suggesting a wider availability of oxygen around 3.1 Ga.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagoda Jabłońska
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Dan S Tawfik
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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14
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ROS-associated immune response and metabolism: a mechanistic approach with implication of various diseases. Arch Toxicol 2020; 94:2293-2317. [PMID: 32524152 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02801-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The immune system plays a pivotal role in maintaining the defense mechanism against external agents and also internal danger signals. Metabolic programming of immune cells is required for functioning of different subsets of immune cells under different physiological conditions. The field of immunometabolism has gained ground because of its immense importance in coordination and balance of immune responses. Metabolism is very much related with production of energy and certain by-products. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated as one of the by-products of various metabolic pathways. The amount, localization of ROS and redox status determine transcription of genes, and also influences the metabolism of immune cells. This review discusses ROS, metabolism of immune cells at different cellular conditions and sheds some light on how ROS might regulate immunometabolism.
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Time-Course Transcriptome of Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius DSM 6285 Grown in the Presence of Carbon Monoxide and Air. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21113870. [PMID: 32485888 PMCID: PMC7312162 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21113870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius is a metabolically versatile, facultatively anaerobic thermophile belonging to the family Bacillaceae. Previous studies have shown that this bacterium harbours co-localised genes coding for a carbon monoxide (CO) dehydrogenase (CODH) and Ni-Fe hydrogenase (Phc) complex and oxidises CO and produces hydrogen (H2) gas via the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction. To elucidate the genetic events culminating in the WGS reaction, P. thermoglucosidasius DSM 6285 was cultivated under an initial gas atmosphere of 50% CO and 50% air and total RNA was extracted at ~8 (aerobic phase), 20 (anaerobic phase), 27 and 44 (early and late hydrogenogenic phases) hours post inoculation. The rRNA-depleted fraction was sequenced using Illumina NextSeq, v2.5, 1x75bp chemistry. Differential expression revealed that at 8 vs.. 20, 20 vs.. 27 and 27 vs.. 44 h post inoculation, 2190, 2118 and 231 transcripts were differentially (FDR < 0.05) expressed. Cluster analysis revealed 26 distinct gene expression trajectories across the four time points. Of these, two similar clusters, showing overexpression at 20 relative to 8 h and depletion at 27 and 44 h, harboured the CODH and Phc transcripts, suggesting possible regulation by O2. The transition between aerobic respiration and anaerobic growth was marked by initial metabolic deterioration, as reflected by up-regulation of transcripts linked to sporulation and down-regulation of transcripts linked to flagellar assembly and metabolism. However, the transcriptome and growth profiles revealed the reversal of this trend during the hydrogenogenic phase.
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