1
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Cea PA, Pérez M, Herrera SM, Muñoz SM, Fuentes-Ugarte N, Coche-Miranda J, Maturana P, Guixé V, Castro-Fernandez V. Deciphering Structural Traits for Thermal and Kinetic Stability across Protein Family Evolution through Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae127. [PMID: 38913681 PMCID: PMC11229819 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae127] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural proteins are frequently marginally stable, and an increase in environmental temperature can easily lead to unfolding. As a result, protein engineering to improve protein stability is an area of intensive research. Nonetheless, since there is usually a high degree of structural homology between proteins from thermophilic organisms and their mesophilic counterparts, the identification of structural determinants for thermoadaptation is challenging. Moreover, in many cases, it has become clear that the success of stabilization strategies is often dependent on the evolutionary history of a protein family. In the last few years, the use of ancestral sequence reconstruction (ASR) as a tool for elucidation of the evolutionary history of functional traits of a protein family has gained strength. Here, we used ASR to trace the evolutionary pathways between mesophilic and thermophilic kinases that participate in the biosynthetic pathway of vitamin B1 in bacteria. By combining biophysics approaches, X-ray crystallography, and molecular dynamics simulations, we found that the thermal stability of these enzymes correlates with their kinetic stability, where the highest thermal/kinetic stability is given by an increase in small hydrophobic amino acids that allow a higher number of interatomic hydrophobic contacts, making this type of interaction the main support for stability in this protein architecture. The results highlight the potential benefits of using ASR to explore the evolutionary history of protein sequence and structure to identify traits responsible for the kinetic and thermal stability of any protein architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo A Cea
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Myriam Pérez
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sixto M Herrera
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastián M Muñoz
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicolás Fuentes-Ugarte
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - José Coche-Miranda
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pablo Maturana
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Victoria Guixé
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Victor Castro-Fernandez
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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2
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Grzesiak J, Rogala MM, Gawor J, Kouřilová X, Obruča S. Polyhydroxyalkanoate involvement in stress-survival of two psychrophilic bacterial strains from the High Arctic. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:273. [PMID: 38520566 PMCID: PMC10960890 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13092-8] [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: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
An ever-growing body of literature evidences the protective role of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) against a plethora of mostly physical stressors in prokaryotic cells. To date, most of the research done involved bacterial strains isolated from habitats not considered to be life-challenging or extremely impacted by abiotic environmental factors. Polar region microorganisms experience a multitude of damaging factors in combinations rarely seen in other of Earth's environments. Therefore, the main objective of this investigation was to examine the role of PHAs in the adaptation of psychrophilic, Arctic-derived bacteria to stress conditions. Arctic PHA producers: Acidovorax sp. A1169 and Collimonas sp. A2191, were chosen and their genes involved in PHB metabolism were deactivated making them unable to accumulate PHAs (ΔphaC) or to utilize them (Δi-phaZ) as a carbon source. Varying stressors were applied to the wild-type and the prepared mutant strains and their survival rates were assessed based on CFU count. Wild-type strains with a functional PHA metabolism were best suited to survive the freeze-thaw cycle - a common feature of polar region habitats. However, the majority of stresses were best survived by the ΔphaC mutants, suggesting that the biochemical imbalance caused by the lack of PHAs induced a permanent cell-wide stress response thus causing them to better withstand the stressor application. Δi-phaZ mutants were superior in surviving UV irradiation, hinting that PHA granule presence in bacterial cells is beneficial despite it being biologically inaccessible. Obtained data suggests that the ability to metabolize PHA although important for survival, probably is not the most crucial mechanism in the stress-resistance strategies arsenal of cold-loving bacteria. KEY POINTS: • PHA metabolism helps psychrophiles survive freezing • PHA-lacking psychrophile mutants cope better with oxidative and heat stresses • PHA granule presence enhances the UV resistance of psychrophiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Grzesiak
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5A, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Małgorzata Marta Rogala
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5A, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jan Gawor
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5A, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Xenie Kouřilová
- Department of Food Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkynova 118, 612 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Stanislav Obruča
- Department of Food Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkynova 118, 612 00, Brno, Czech Republic
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3
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Collins T, Feller G. Psychrophilic enzymes: strategies for cold-adaptation. Essays Biochem 2023; 67:701-713. [PMID: 37021674 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220193] [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: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Psychrophilic organisms thriving at near-zero temperatures synthesize cold-adapted enzymes to sustain cell metabolism. These enzymes have overcome the reduced molecular kinetic energy and increased viscosity inherent to their environment and maintained high catalytic rates by development of a diverse range of structural solutions. Most commonly, they are characterized by a high flexibility coupled with an intrinsic structural instability and reduced substrate affinity. However, this paradigm for cold-adaptation is not universal as some cold-active enzymes with high stability and/or high substrate affinity and/or even an unaltered flexibility have been reported, pointing to alternative adaptation strategies. Indeed, cold-adaptation can involve any of a number of a diverse range of structural modifications, or combinations of modifications, depending on the enzyme involved, its function, structure, stability, and evolutionary history. This paper presents the challenges, properties, and adaptation strategies of these enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Collins
- Department of Biology, Center of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Georges Feller
- Department of Life Sciences, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Center for Protein Engineering-InBioS, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
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4
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Marchetti A, Orlando M, Mangiagalli M, Lotti M. A cold‐active esterase enhances mesophilic properties through Mn
2+
binding. FEBS J 2022; 290:2394-2411. [PMID: 36266734 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A key aspect of adaptation to cold environments is the production of cold-active enzymes by psychrophilic organisms. These enzymes not only have high activity at low temperatures, but also exhibit remarkable structural flexibility and thermolability. In this context, the role of metal ions has been little explored, and the few available studies seem to suggest that metal binding counteracts structural flexibility. This article reports an investigation into the role of the binding of manganese ion (Mn2+ ) in the thermal adaptation of an esterase (M-Est) of the GDSx family, identified in the genome of the Antarctic bacterium Marinomonas sp. ef1. M-Est is specific for esters containing acetate groups and turned out to be a highly thermolabile cold-active enzyme, with a catalysis optimum temperature of 5 °C and a melting temperature of 31.7 °C. A combination of biochemical and computational analyses, including molecular dynamics simulations, revealed that M-Est binds Mn2+ ions via a single binding site located on the surface of the enzyme, close to the active site. Although the interaction between M-Est and Mn2+ induces only local conformational changes involving the active site, quite surprisingly they trigger an improvement in both thermal stability and catalytic efficiency under mild temperature conditions. These results, together with the conservation of the Mn2+ binding site among psychrophilic and psychrotolerant homologues, suggest that Mn2+ binding may be a useful, albeit atypical, strategy to mitigate the detrimental effects of temperature on true cold-active enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Orlando
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences University of Milano‐Bicocca Italy
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences University of Insubria Varese Italy
| | - Marco Mangiagalli
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences University of Milano‐Bicocca Italy
| | - Marina Lotti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences University of Milano‐Bicocca Italy
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5
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Molecular and thermodynamic mechanisms for protein adaptation. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL 2022; 51:519-534. [DOI: 10.1007/s00249-022-01618-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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6
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The Porifera microeukaryome: Addressing the neglected associations between sponges and protists. Microbiol Res 2022; 265:127210. [PMID: 36183422 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127210] [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: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
While bacterial and archaeal communities of sponges are intensively studied, given their importance to the animal's physiology as well as sources of several new bioactive molecules, the potential and roles of associated protists remain poorly known. Historically, culture-dependent approaches dominated the investigations of sponge-protist interactions. With the advances in omics techniques, these associations could be visualized at other equally important scales. Of the few existing studies, there is a strong tendency to focus on interactions with photosynthesizing taxa such as dinoflagellates and diatoms, with fewer works dissecting the interactions with other less common groups. In addition, there are bottlenecks and inherent biases in using primer pairs and bioinformatics approaches in the most commonly used metabarcoding studies. Thus, this review addresses the issues underlying this association, using the term "microeukaryome" to refer exclusively to protists associated with an animal host. We aim to highlight the diversity and community composition of protists associated with sponges and place them on the same level as other microorganisms already well studied in this context. Among other shortcomings, it could be observed that the biotechnological potential of the microeukaryome is still largely unexplored, possibly being a valuable source of new pharmacological compounds, enzymes and metabolic processes.
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7
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John MS, Nagoth JA, Ramasamy KP, Mancini A, Giuli G, Miceli C, Pucciarelli S. Synthesis of Bioactive Silver Nanoparticles Using New Bacterial Strains from an Antarctic Consortium. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20090558. [PMID: 36135747 PMCID: PMC9505403 DOI: 10.3390/md20090558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we report on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) achieved by using three bacterial strains Rhodococcus, Brevundimonas and Bacillus as reducing and capping agents, newly isolated from a consortium associated with the Antarctic marine ciliate Euplotes focardii. After incubation of these bacteria with a 1 mM solution of AgNO3 at 22 °C, AgNPs were synthesized within 24 h. Unlike Rhodococcus and Bacillus, the reduction of Ag+ from AgNO3 into Ag0 has never been reported for a Brevundimonas strain. The maximum absorbances of these AgNPs in the UV-Vis spectra were in the range of 404 nm and 406 nm. EDAX spectra showed strong signals from the Ag atom and medium signals from C, N and O due to capping protein emissions. TEM analysis showed that the NPs were spherical and rod-shaped, with sizes in the range of 20 to 50 nm, and they were clustered, even though not in contact with one another. Besides aggregation, all the AgNPs showed significant antimicrobial activity. This biosynthesis may play a dual role: detoxification of AgNO3 and pathogen protection against both the bacterium and ciliate. Biosynthetic AgNPs also represent a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics against common nosocomial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Sindhura John
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
- Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Joseph Amruthraj Nagoth
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Kesava Priyan Ramasamy
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Alessio Mancini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Gabriele Giuli
- School of Sciences and Technology, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Cristina Miceli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
- Correspondence:
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8
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Baziyar P, Seyedalipour B, Hosseinkhani S. Zinc binding loop mutations of hSOD1 promote amyloid fibrils under physiological conditions: Implications for initiation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Biochimie 2022; 199:170-181. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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9
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Noby N, Auhim HS, Winter S, Worthy HL, Embaby AM, Saeed H, Hussein A, Pudney CR, Rizkallah PJ, Wells SA, Jones DD. Structure and in silico simulations of a cold-active esterase reveals its prime cold-adaptation mechanism. Open Biol 2021; 11:210182. [PMID: 34847772 PMCID: PMC8633780 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Here we determined the structure of a cold active family IV esterase (EstN7) cloned from Bacillus cohnii strain N1. EstN7 is a dimer with a classical α/β hydrolase fold. It has an acidic surface that is thought to play a role in cold-adaption by retaining solvation under changed water solvent entropy at lower temperatures. The conformation of the functionally important cap region is significantly different to EstN7's closest relatives, forming a bridge-like structure with reduced helical content providing greater access to the active site through more than one substrate access tunnel. However, dynamics do not appear to play a major role in cold adaption. Molecular dynamics at different temperatures, rigidity analysis, normal mode analysis and geometric simulations of motion confirm the flexibility of the cap region but suggest that the rest of the protein is largely rigid. Rigidity analysis indicates the distribution of hydrophobic tethers is appropriate to colder conditions, where the hydrophobic effect is weaker than in mesophilic conditions due to reduced water entropy. Thus, it is likely that increased substrate accessibility and tolerance to changes in water entropy are important for of EstN7's cold adaptation rather than changes in dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nehad Noby
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt,School of Biosciences, Molecular Biosciences Division, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Husam Sabah Auhim
- School of Biosciences, Molecular Biosciences Division, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK,Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Samuel Winter
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Harley L. Worthy
- School of Biosciences, Molecular Biosciences Division, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Amira M. Embaby
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Hesham Saeed
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Hussein
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | | | | | | | - D. Dafydd Jones
- School of Biosciences, Molecular Biosciences Division, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
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10
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Manganese-Oxidizing Antarctic Bacteria (Mn-Oxb) Release Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) as Secondary Mn(II) Oxidation Mechanisms to Avoid Toxicity. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10101004. [PMID: 34681103 PMCID: PMC8533519 DOI: 10.3390/biology10101004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Manganese (Mn) oxidation is performed through oxidative Mn-oxidizing bacteria (MnOxb) as the main bio-weathering mechanism for Mn(III/IV) deposits during soil formation. However, with an increase in temperature, the respiration rate also increases, producing Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) as by-products, which are harmful to microbial cells. We hypothesize that bacterial ROS oxidize Mn(II) to Mn(III/IV) as a secondary non-enzymatic temperature-dependent mechanism for cell protection. Fourteen MnOxb were isolated from Antarctic soils under the global warming effect, and peroxidase (PO) activity, ROS, and Mn(III/IV) production were evaluated for 120 h of incubation at 4 °C, 15 °C, and 30 °C. ROS contributions to Mn oxidation were evaluated in Arthrobacter oxydans under antioxidant (Trolox) and ROS-stimulated (menadione) conditions. The Mn(III/IV) concentration increased with temperature and positively correlated with ROS production. ROS scavenging with Trolox depleted the Mn oxidation, and ROS-stimulant increased the Mn precipitation in A. oxydans. Increasing the Mn(II) concentration caused a reduction in the membrane potential and bacterial viability, which resulted in Mn precipitation on the bacteria surface. In conclusion, bacterial ROS production serves as a complementary non-enzymatic temperature-dependent mechanism for Mn(II) oxidation as a response in warming environments.
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11
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Mozzicafreddo M, Pucciarelli S, Swart EC, Piersanti A, Emmerich C, Migliorelli G, Ballarini P, Miceli C. The macronuclear genome of the Antarctic psychrophilic marine ciliate Euplotes focardii reveals new insights on molecular cold adaptation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18782. [PMID: 34548559 PMCID: PMC8455672 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98168-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The macronuclear (MAC) genomes of ciliates belonging to the genus Euplotes species are comprised of numerous small DNA molecules, nanochromosomes, each typically encoding a single gene. These genomes are responsible for all gene expression during vegetative cell growth. Here, we report the analysis of the MAC genome from the Antarctic psychrophile Euplotes focardii. Nanochromosomes containing bacterial sequences were not found, suggesting that phenomena of horizontal gene transfer did not occur recently, even though this ciliate species has a substantial associated bacterial consortium. As in other euplotid species, E. focardii MAC genes are characterized by a high frequency of translational frameshifting. Furthermore, in order to characterize differences that may be consequent to cold adaptation and defense to oxidative stress, the main constraints of the Antarctic marine microorganisms, we compared E. focardii MAC genome with those available from mesophilic Euplotes species. We focussed mainly on the comparison of tubulin, antioxidant enzymes and heat shock protein (HSP) 70 families, molecules which possess peculiar characteristic correlated with cold adaptation in E. focardii. We found that α-tubulin genes and those encoding SODs and CATs antioxidant enzymes are more numerous than in the mesophilic Euplotes species. Furthermore, the phylogenetic trees showed that these molecules are divergent in the Antarctic species. In contrast, there are fewer hsp70 genes in E. focardii compared to mesophilic Euplotes and these genes do not respond to thermal stress but only to oxidative stress. Our results suggest that molecular adaptation to cold and oxidative stress in the Antarctic environment may not only be due to particular amino acid substitutions but also due to duplication and divergence of paralogous genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Mozzicafreddo
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy.
| | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Estienne C Swart
- Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Angela Piersanti
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | | | - Giovanna Migliorelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Patrizia Ballarini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Cristina Miceli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
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12
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Lou D, Liu X, Tan J. An Overview of 7α- and 7β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases: Structure, Specificity and Practical Application. Protein Pept Lett 2021; 28:1206-1219. [PMID: 34397319 DOI: 10.2174/0929866528666210816114032] [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: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
7α-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 7β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase are key enzymes involved in bile acid metabolism. They catalyze the epimerization of a hydroxyl group through 7-keto bile acid intermediates. Basic research of the two enzymes has focused on exploring new enzymes and the structure-function relationship. The application research focused on the in vitro biosynthesis of bile acid drugs and the exploration and improvement of their catalytic ability based on molecular engineering. This article summarized the primary and advanced structural characteristics, specificities, biochemical properties, and applications of the two enzymes. The emphasis is also given to obtaining of novel 7α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 7β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase that are thermally stable and active in the presence of organic solvents, high substrate concentration, and extreme pH values. To achieve these goals, enzyme redesigning based on protein engineering and genomics may be the most useful approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deshuai Lou
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing 400067, China
| | - Xi Liu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing 400067, China
| | - Jun Tan
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University of Education, Chongqing 400067, China
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13
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Yusof NA, Hashim NHF, Bharudin I. Cold Adaptation Strategies and the Potential of Psychrophilic Enzymes from the Antarctic Yeast, Glaciozyma antarctica PI12. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7070528. [PMID: 34209103 PMCID: PMC8306469 DOI: 10.3390/jof7070528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychrophilic organisms possess several adaptive strategies which allow them to sustain life at low temperatures between −20 to 20 °C. Studies on Antarctic psychrophiles are interesting due to the multiple stressors that exist on the permanently cold continent. These organisms produce, among other peculiarities, cold-active enzymes which not only have tremendous biotechnological potential but are valuable models for fundamental research into protein structure and function. Recent innovations in omics technologies such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics have contributed a remarkable perspective of the molecular basis underpinning the mechanisms of cold adaptation. This review critically discusses similar and different strategies of cold adaptation in the obligate psychrophilic yeast, Glaciozyma antarctica PI12 at the molecular (genome structure, proteins and enzymes, gene expression) and physiological (antifreeze proteins, membrane fluidity, stress-related proteins) levels. Our extensive studies on G. antarctica have revealed significant insights towards the innate capacity of- and the adaptation strategies employed by this psychrophilic yeast for life in the persistent cold. Furthermore, several cold-active enzymes and proteins with biotechnological potential are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Athirah Yusof
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia;
| | - Noor Haza Fazlin Hashim
- Water Quality Laboratory, National Water Research Institute Malaysia (NAHRIM), Ministry of Environment and Water, Jalan Putra Permai, Seri Kembangan 43300, Selangor, Malaysia;
| | - Izwan Bharudin
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
- Correspondence:
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14
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Mangiagalli M, Barbiroli A, Santambrogio C, Ferrari C, Nardini M, Lotti M, Brocca S. The activity and stability of a cold-active acylaminoacyl peptidase rely on its dimerization by domain swapping. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 181:263-274. [PMID: 33775759 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.03.150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The study of enzymes from extremophiles arouses interest in Protein Science because of the amazing solutions these proteins adopt to cope with extreme conditions. Recently solved, the structure of the psychrophilic acyl aminoacyl peptidase from Sporosarcina psychrophila (SpAAP) pinpoints a mechanism of dimerization unusual for this class of enzymes. The quaternary structure of SpAAP relies on a domain-swapping mechanism involving the N-terminal A1 helix. The A1 helix is conserved among homologous mesophilic and psychrophilic proteins and its deletion causes the formation of a monomeric enzyme, which is inactive and prone to aggregate. Here, we investigate the dimerization mechanism of SpAAP through the analysis of chimeric heterodimers where a protomer lacking the A1 helix combines with a protomer carrying the inactivated catalytic site. Our results indicate that the two active sites are independent, and that a single A1 helix is sufficient to partially recover the quaternary structure and the activity of chimeric heterodimers. Since catalytically competent protomers are unstable and inactive unless they dimerize, SpAAP reveals as an "obligomer" for both structural and functional reasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Mangiagalli
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy.
| | - Alberto Barbiroli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Carlo Santambrogio
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Cristian Ferrari
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Nardini
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Marina Lotti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Brocca
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy.
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15
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Zhang ZB, Xia YL, Dong GH, Fu YX, Liu SQ. Exploring the Cold-Adaptation Mechanism of Serine Hydroxymethyltransferase by Comparative Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1781. [PMID: 33670090 PMCID: PMC7916883 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cold-adapted enzymes feature a lower thermostability and higher catalytic activity compared to their warm-active homologues, which are considered as a consequence of increased flexibility of their molecular structures. The complexity of the (thermo)stability-flexibility-activity relationship makes it difficult to define the strategies and formulate a general theory for enzyme cold adaptation. Here, the psychrophilic serine hydroxymethyltransferase (pSHMT) from Psychromonas ingrahamii and its mesophilic counterpart, mSHMT from Escherichia coli, were subjected to μs-scale multiple-replica molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to explore the cold-adaptation mechanism of the dimeric SHMT. The comparative analyses of MD trajectories reveal that pSHMT exhibits larger structural fluctuations and inter-monomer positional movements, a higher global flexibility, and considerably enhanced local flexibility involving the surface loops and active sites. The largest-amplitude motion mode of pSHMT describes the trends of inter-monomer dissociation and enlargement of the active-site cavity, whereas that of mSHMT characterizes the opposite trends. Based on the comparison of the calculated structural parameters and constructed free energy landscapes (FELs) between the two enzymes, we discuss in-depth the physicochemical principles underlying the stability-flexibility-activity relationships and conclude that (i) pSHMT adopts the global-flexibility mechanism to adapt to the cold environment and, (ii) optimizing the protein-solvent interactions and loosening the inter-monomer association are the main strategies for pSHMT to enhance its flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Bi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan & School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Z.-B.Z.); (Y.-L.X.); (G.-H.D.)
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine & Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yuan-Ling Xia
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan & School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Z.-B.Z.); (Y.-L.X.); (G.-H.D.)
| | - Guang-Heng Dong
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan & School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Z.-B.Z.); (Y.-L.X.); (G.-H.D.)
| | - Yun-Xin Fu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan & School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Z.-B.Z.); (Y.-L.X.); (G.-H.D.)
- Human Genetics Center and Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shu-Qun Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan & School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Z.-B.Z.); (Y.-L.X.); (G.-H.D.)
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16
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Abraham JS, Somasundaram S, Maurya S, Gupta R, Makhija S, Toteja R. Characterization of Euplotes lynni nov. spec., E. indica nov. spec. and description of E. aediculatus and E. woodruffi (Ciliophora, Euplotidae) using an integrative approach. Eur J Protistol 2021; 79:125779. [PMID: 33706203 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2021.125779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Four species belonging to the genus Euplotes have been investigated, namely: E. lynni nov. spec., E. indica nov. spec., E. aediculatus, and E. woodruffi. All populations are from India and were investigated using morphological and molecular markers. The phylogenetic relationships were inferred from small subunit ribosomal rRNA gene (SSU rRNA), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Predicted secondary structure models for two new species using the hypervariable region of the SSU rRNA gene and ITS2 region support the distinctness of both species. Morphological characters were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) and genetic variations were studied in-depth to analyze the relatedness of the two new species with their congeners. An integrative approach combining morphological features, molecular analysis, and ecological characteristics was carried out to understand the phylogenetic position of the reported species within the different clades of the genus Euplotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeeva Susan Abraham
- Ciliate Biology Laboratory, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Govindpuri, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India
| | - Sripoorna Somasundaram
- Ciliate Biology Laboratory, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Govindpuri, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India
| | - Swati Maurya
- Ciliate Biology Laboratory, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Govindpuri, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India
| | - Renu Gupta
- Maitreyi College, University of Delhi, Bapu Dham, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, India.
| | - Seema Makhija
- Ciliate Biology Laboratory, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Govindpuri, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India
| | - Ravi Toteja
- Ciliate Biology Laboratory, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Govindpuri, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India.
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17
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Yang G, Mozzicafreddo M, Ballarini P, Pucciarelli S, Miceli C. An In-Silico Comparative Study of Lipases from the Antarctic Psychrophilic Ciliate Euplotes focardii and the Mesophilic Congeneric Species Euplotes crassus: Insight into Molecular Cold-Adaptation. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:md19020067. [PMID: 33513970 PMCID: PMC7912073 DOI: 10.3390/md19020067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cold-adapted enzymes produced by psychrophilic organisms have elevated catalytic activities at low temperatures compared to their mesophilic counterparts. This is largely due to amino acids changes in the protein sequence that often confer increased molecular flexibility in the cold. Comparison of structural changes between psychrophilic and mesophilic enzymes often reveal molecular cold adaptation. In the present study, we performed an in-silico comparative analysis of 104 hydrolytic enzymes belonging to the family of lipases from two evolutionary close marine ciliate species: The Antarctic psychrophilic Euplotes focardii and the mesophilic Euplotes crassus. By applying bioinformatics approaches, we compared amino acid composition and predicted secondary and tertiary structures of these lipases to extract relevant information relative to cold adaptation. Our results not only confirm the importance of several previous recognized amino acid substitutions for cold adaptation, as the preference for small amino acid, but also identify some new factors correlated with the secondary structure possibly responsible for enhanced enzyme activity at low temperatures. This study emphasizes the subtle sequence and structural modifications that may help to transform mesophilic into psychrophilic enzymes for industrial applications by protein engineering.
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18
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Mangiagalli M, Lotti M. Cold-Active β-Galactosidases: Insight into Cold Adaption Mechanisms and Biotechnological Exploitation. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:md19010043. [PMID: 33477853 PMCID: PMC7832830 DOI: 10.3390/md19010043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
β-galactosidases (EC 3.2.1.23) catalyze the hydrolysis of β-galactosidic bonds in oligosaccharides and, under certain conditions, transfer a sugar moiety from a glycosyl donor to an acceptor. Cold-active β-galactosidases are identified in microorganisms endemic to permanently low-temperature environments. While mesophilic β-galactosidases are broadly studied and employed for biotechnological purposes, the cold-active enzymes are still scarcely explored, although they may prove very useful in biotechnological processes at low temperature. This review covers several issues related to cold-active β-galactosidases, including their classification, structure and molecular mechanisms of cold adaptation. Moreover, their applications are discussed, focusing on the production of lactose-free dairy products as well as on the valorization of cheese whey and the synthesis of glycosyl building blocks for the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
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19
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Pileggi M, Pileggi SA, Sadowsky MJ. Herbicide bioremediation: from strains to bacterial communities. Heliyon 2020; 6:e05767. [PMID: 33392402 PMCID: PMC7773584 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
There is high demand for herbicides based on the necessity to increase crop production to satisfy world-wide demands. Nevertheless, there are negative impacts of herbicide use, manifesting as selection for resistant weeds, production of toxic metabolites from partial degradation of herbicides, changes in soil microbial communities and biogeochemical cycles, alterations in plant nutrition and soil fertility, and persistent environmental contamination. Some herbicides damage non-target microorganisms via directed interference with host metabolism and via oxidative stress mechanisms. For these reasons, it is necessary to identify sustainable, efficient methods to mitigate these environmental liabilities. Before the degradation process can be initiated by microbial enzymes and metabolic pathways, microorganisms need to tolerate the oxidative stresses caused by the herbicides themselves. This can be achieved via a complex system of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidative stress systems. Many of these response systems are not herbicide specific, but rather triggered by a variety of substances. Collectively, these nonspecific response systems enhance the survival and fitness potential of microorganisms. Biodegradation studies and remediation approaches have relied on individually selected strains to effectively remediate herbicides in the environment. Nevertheless, it has been shown that microbial communication systems that modulate social relationships and metabolic pathways inside biofilm structures among microorganisms are complex; therefore, use of isolated strains for xenobiotic degradation needs to be enhanced using a community-based approach with biodegradation pathway integration. Bioremediation efforts can use omics-based technologies to gain a deeper understanding of the molecular complexes of bacterial communities to achieve to more efficient elimination of xenobiotics. With this knowledge, the possibility of altering microbial communities is increased to improve the potential for bioremediation without causing other environmental impacts not anticipated by simpler approaches. The understanding of microbial community dynamics in free-living microbiota and those present in complex communities and in biofilms is paramount to achieving these objectives. It is also essential that non-developed countries, which are major food producers and consumers of pesticides, have access to these techniques to achieve sustainable production, without causing impacts through unknown side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Pileggi
- Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology, Biological Science and Health Institute, Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, and Genetics, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Sônia A.V. Pileggi
- Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology, Biological Science and Health Institute, Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, and Genetics, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Michael J. Sadowsky
- The Biotechnology Institute, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
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20
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Orlando M, Pucciarelli S, Lotti M. Endolysins from Antarctic Pseudomonas Display Lysozyme Activity at Low Temperature. Mar Drugs 2020; 18:E579. [PMID: 33233712 PMCID: PMC7699920 DOI: 10.3390/md18110579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms specialized to thrive in cold environments (so-called psychrophiles) produce enzymes with the remarkable ability to catalyze chemical reactions at low temperature. Cold activity relies on adaptive changes in the proteins' sequence and structural organization that result in high conformational flexibility. As a consequence of flexibility, several such enzymes are inherently heat sensitive. Cold-active enzymes are of interest for application in a number of bioprocesses, where cold activity coupled with easy thermal inactivation can be of advantage. We describe the biochemical and functional properties of two glycosyl hydrolases (named LYS177 and LYS188) of family 19 (GH19), identified in the genome of an Antarctic marine Pseudomonas. Molecular evolutionary analysis placed them in a group of characterized GH19 endolysins active on lysozyme substrates, such as peptidoglycan. Enzyme activity peaks at about 25-35 °C and 40% residual activity is retained at 5 °C. LYS177 and LYS188 are thermolabile, with Tm of 52 and 45 °C and half-lives of 48 and 12 h at 37 °C, respectively. Bioinformatics analyses suggest that low heat stability may be associated to temperature-driven increases in local flexibility occurring mainly in a specific region of the polypeptide that is predicted to contain hot spots for aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Orlando
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, State University of Milano Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy;
| | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy;
| | - Marina Lotti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, State University of Milano Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy;
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21
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Zamora RA, Ramirez-Sarmiento CA, Castro-Fernández V, Villalobos P, Maturana P, Herrera-Morande A, Komives EA, Guixé V. Tuning of Conformational Dynamics Through Evolution-Based Design Modulates the Catalytic Adaptability of an Extremophilic Kinase. ACS Catal 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.0c01300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo A. Zamora
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile
| | - Cesar A. Ramirez-Sarmiento
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Avenida Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, Santiago 6904411, Chile
| | - Víctor Castro-Fernández
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile
| | - Pablo Villalobos
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile
| | - Pablo Maturana
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile
| | - Alejandra Herrera-Morande
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile
| | - Elizabeth A. Komives
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92092-0378, United States
| | - Victoria Guixé
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile
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22
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Zhang Y, Li C, Geary T, Simpson BK. Contribution of Special Structural Features to High Thermal Stability of a Cold-Active Transglutaminase. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2020; 68:7935-7945. [PMID: 32643372 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c03344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A cold-active transglutaminase (TGase, EC 2.3.2.13) that catalyzes the reaction of protein glutamine + protein lysine ↔ protein with γ-glutamyl-ε-lysine cross-link + NH3 at low temperatures was reported previously. This study verified the thermal stability of the TGase from 0-80 °C. Fluorescence and CD spectra studies confirmed tertiary structural damage at 40 °C, α-helix reduction at 60 °C, and refolding during cooling to 20 °C. The TGase sequence was obtained by transcriptomics and used to build its structure. Its catalytic triad was Cys333-His403-Asp426 and its catalytic process was inferred from the model. Molecular dynamics simulation illustrated that its cold activity resulted from its flexible active site, while high thermostability was conferred by an overall rigid structure, a large amount of stable Val and Lys, and strong electrostatic interactions at the N- and C- terminals. This study fills gaps in the correlation of conformational changes with stability and activity of TGase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Department of Food Science & Agricultural Chemistry, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Chen Li
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Timothy Geary
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Benjamin Kofi Simpson
- Department of Food Science & Agricultural Chemistry, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec H9X 3V9, Canada
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23
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John MS, Nagoth JA, Ramasamy KP, Ballarini P, Mozzicafreddo M, Mancini A, Telatin A, Liò P, Giuli G, Natalello A, Miceli C, Pucciarelli S. Horizontal gene transfer and silver nanoparticles production in a new Marinomonas strain isolated from the Antarctic psychrophilic ciliate Euplotes focardii. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10218. [PMID: 32576860 PMCID: PMC7311414 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66878-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
We isolated a novel bacterial strain from a prokaryotic consortium associated to the psychrophilic marine ciliate Euplotes focardii, endemic of the Antarctic coastal seawater. The 16S rDNA sequencing and the phylogenetic analysis revealed the close evolutionary relationship to the Antarctic marine bacterium Marinomonas sp. BSw10506 and the sub antarctic Marinomonas polaris. We named this new strain Marinomonas sp. ef1. The optimal growth temperature in LB medium was 22 °C. Whole genome sequencing and analysis showed a reduced gene loss limited to regions encoding for transposases. Additionally, five genomic islands, e.g. DNA fragments that facilitate horizontal gene transfer phenomena, were identified. Two open reading frames predicted from the genomic islands coded for enzymes belonging to the Nitro-FMN-reductase superfamily. One of these, the putative NAD(P)H nitroreductase YfkO, has been reported to be involved in the bioreduction of silver (Ag) ions and the production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). After the Marinomonas sp. ef1 biomass incubation with 1 mM of AgNO3 at 22 °C, we obtained AgNPs within 24 h. The AgNPs were relatively small in size (50 nm) and had a strong antimicrobial activity against twelve common nosocomial pathogenic microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus and two Candida strains. To our knowledge, this is the first report of AgNPs biosynthesis by a Marinomonas strain. This biosynthesis may play a dual role in detoxification from silver nitrate and protection from pathogens for the bacterium and potentially for the associated ciliate. Biosynthetic AgNPs also represent a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics against common pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Sindhura John
- School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Joseph Amruthraj Nagoth
- School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Kesava Priyan Ramasamy
- School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Patrizia Ballarini
- School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Matteo Mozzicafreddo
- School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Alessio Mancini
- School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Andrea Telatin
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Gut Microbes and Health Institute Strategic Program, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Pietro Liò
- Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 15 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gabriele Giuli
- School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Antonino Natalello
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - Cristina Miceli
- School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy.
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24
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Mangiagalli M, Lapi M, Maione S, Orlando M, Brocca S, Pesce A, Barbiroli A, Camilloni C, Pucciarelli S, Lotti M, Nardini M. The co-existence of cold activity and thermal stability in an Antarctic GH42 β-galactosidase relies on its hexameric quaternary arrangement. FEBS J 2020; 288:546-565. [PMID: 32363751 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To survive in cold environments, psychrophilic organisms produce enzymes endowed with high specific activity at low temperature. The structure of these enzymes is usually flexible and mostly thermolabile. In this work, we investigate the structural basis of cold adaptation of a GH42 β-galactosidase from the psychrophilic Marinomonas ef1. This enzyme couples cold activity with astonishing robustness for a psychrophilic protein, for it retains 23% of its highest activity at 5 °C and it is stable for several days at 37 °C and even 50 °C. Phylogenetic analyses indicate a close relationship with thermophilic β-galactosidases, suggesting that the present-day enzyme evolved from a thermostable scaffold modeled by environmental selective pressure. The crystallographic structure reveals the overall similarity with GH42 enzymes, along with a hexameric arrangement (dimer of trimers) not found in psychrophilic, mesophilic, and thermophilic homologues. In the quaternary structure, protomers form a large central cavity, whose accessibility to the substrate is promoted by the dynamic behavior of surface loops, even at low temperature. A peculiar cooperative behavior of the enzyme is likely related to the increase of the internal cavity permeability triggered by heating. Overall, our results highlight a novel strategy of enzyme cold adaptation, based on the oligomerization state of the enzyme, which effectively challenges the paradigm of cold activity coupled with intrinsic thermolability. DATABASE: Structural data are available in the Protein Data Bank database under the accession number 6Y2K.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Mangiagalli
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Michela Lapi
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milano, Italy
| | - Serena Maione
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Marco Orlando
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Stefania Brocca
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Barbiroli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milano, Italy
| | | | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Italy
| | - Marina Lotti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Marco Nardini
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milano, Italy
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25
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Vallesi A, Pucciarelli S, Buonanno F, Fontana A, Mangiagalli M. Bioactive molecules from protists: Perspectives in biotechnology. Eur J Protistol 2020; 75:125720. [PMID: 32569992 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2020.125720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
For hundreds of years, mankind has benefited from the natural metabolic processes of microorganisms to obtain basic products such as fermented foods and alcoholic beverages. More recently, microorganisms have been exploited for the production of antibiotics, vitamins and enzymes to be used in medicine and chemical industries. Additionally, several modern drugs, including those for cancer therapy, are natural products or their derivatives. Protists are a still underexplored source of natural products potentially of interest for biotechnological and biomedical applications. This paper focuses on some examples of bioactive molecules from protists and associated bacteria and their possible use in biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Vallesi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Camerino, Camerino (MC), Italy.
| | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Camerino, Camerino (MC), Italy.
| | - Federico Buonanno
- Laboratory of Protistology and Biology Education, Department of E.C.H.T. Università degli Studi di Macerata, Macerata, Italy
| | - Angelo Fontana
- Bio-Organic Chemistry Unit, CNR-Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Marco Mangiagalli
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
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26
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Effects of the substituted amino acid residues on the thermal properties of monomeric isocitrate dehydrogenases from a psychrophilic bacterium, Psychromonas marina, and a mesophilic bacterium, Azotobacter vinelandii. Extremophiles 2019; 23:809-820. [PMID: 31595369 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-019-01137-0] [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: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
A cold-adapted monomeric isocitrate dehydrogenase from a psychrophilic bacterium, Psychromonas marina (PmIDH), showed a high degree of amino acid sequential identity (64%) to a mesophilic one from a mesophilic bacterium, Azotobacter vinelandii (AvIDH). In this study, eight corresponding amino acid residues were substituted between them by site-directed mutagenesis, and several thermal properties of the mutated IDHs were examined. In the PmIDH mutants, PmL735F, substituted Leu735 of PmIDH by the corresponding Phe of AvIDH, showed higher specific activity and thermostability of activity than wild-type PmIDH, while the H600Y and N741P mutations of PmIDH resulted in decreased specific activity and thermostability of activity. On the other hand, among the AvIDH mutants, AvP718T showed lower optimum temperature and thermostability of activity than wild-type AvIDH. In PmIDH variously combined the H600Y, L735F and N741P mutations, PmH600YL735F, including the H600Y and L735F mutations, showed higher specific activity than PmH600Y and similar optimum temperature and thermostability of activity to PmH600Y. Furthermore, PmL735FN741P exhibited higher specific activity and thermostability of activity than PmN741P. These results indicated that the effects of the three mutations of PmIDH are additive on the specific activity of both PmH600YL735F and PmL735FN741P and on thermostability of PmL735FN741P.
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Enzymes from Marine Polar Regions and Their Biotechnological Applications. Mar Drugs 2019; 17:md17100544. [PMID: 31547548 PMCID: PMC6835263 DOI: 10.3390/md17100544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The microorganisms that evolved at low temperatures express cold-adapted enzymes endowed with unique catalytic properties in comparison to their mesophilic homologues, i.e., higher catalytic efficiency, improved flexibility, and lower thermal stability. Cold environments are therefore an attractive research area for the discovery of enzymes to be used for investigational and industrial applications in which such properties are desirable. In this work, we will review the literature on cold-adapted enzymes specifically focusing on those discovered in the bioprospecting of polar marine environments, so far largely neglected because of their limited accessibility. We will discuss their existing or proposed biotechnological applications within the framework of the more general applications of cold-adapted enzymes.
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Folgueira I, Lamas J, de Felipe AP, Sueiro RA, Leiro JM. Identification and Molecular Characterization of Superoxide Dismutases Isolated From A Scuticociliate Parasite: Physiological Role in Oxidative Stress. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13329. [PMID: 31527617 PMCID: PMC6746850 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49750-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Philasterides dicentrarchi is a free-living microaerophilic scuticociliate that can become a facultative parasite and cause a serious parasitic disease in farmed fish. Both the free-living and parasitic forms of this scuticociliate are exposed to oxidative stress associated with environmental factors and the host immune system. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by the host are neutralized by the ciliate by means of antioxidant defences. In this study we aimed to identify metalloenzymes with superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity capable of inactivating the superoxide anion (•O2-) generated during induction of oxidative stress. P. dicentrarchi possesses the three characteristic types of SOD isoenzymes in eukaryotes: copper/zinc-SOD, manganese-SOD and iron-SOD. The Cu/Zn-SOD isoenzymes comprise three types of homodimeric proteins (CSD1-3) of molecular weight (MW) 34-44 kDa and with very different AA sequences. All Cu/Zn-SODs are sensitive to NaCN, located in the cytosol and in the alveolar sacs, and one of them (CSD2) is extracellular. Mn- and Fe-SOD transcripts encode homodimeric proteins (MSD and FSD, respectively) in their native state: a) MSD (MW 50 kDa) is insensitive to H2O2 and NaN3 and is located in the mitochondria; and b) FSD (MW 60 kDa) is sensitive to H2O2, NaN3 and the polyphenol trans-resveratrol and is located extracellularly. Expression of SOD isoenzymes increases when •O2- is induced by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, and the increase is proportional to the dose of energy applied, indicating that these enzymes are actively involved in cellular protection against oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iria Folgueira
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Research and Food Analysis, Campus Vida, University of Santiago de Compostela, E-15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Jesús Lamas
- Department of Fundamental Biology, Institute of Aquaculture, Campus Vida, University of Santiago de Compostela, E-15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ana Paula de Felipe
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Research and Food Analysis, Campus Vida, University of Santiago de Compostela, E-15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Rosa Ana Sueiro
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Research and Food Analysis, Campus Vida, University of Santiago de Compostela, E-15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - José Manuel Leiro
- Department of Fundamental Biology, Institute of Aquaculture, Campus Vida, University of Santiago de Compostela, E-15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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Expression and molecular characterization of stress-responsive genes (hsp70 and Mn-sod) and evaluation of antioxidant enzymes (CAT and GPx) in heavy metal exposed freshwater ciliate, Tetmemena sp. Mol Biol Rep 2019; 46:4921-4931. [PMID: 31273612 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-019-04942-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Response of heavy metals namely cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) on the expression of stress responsive genes in the fresh water ciliate, Tetmemena sp. (single cell eukaryote) was studied. Stress responsive genes include heat shock protein genes and genes involved in antioxidant defence system. Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) was employed to evaluate the effects of Cd and Cu on the expression of cytosolic hsp70 and Mn-sod genes. Increase in the expression of these genes was observed after exposure with the heavy metals. The macronuclear cytosolic hsp70 and Mn-sod (SOD2) genes were also sequenced and characterized using various bioinformatics tools. In antioxidant defence system, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) family is a first line antioxidant enzyme group involved in catalysing reactive oxygen species (ROS) to hydrogen peroxide and molecular oxygen. Influence of Cd and Cu on the activity of SOD has already been reported by our group. Therefore, the enzymatic activities of antioxidant enzymes, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were studied in the presence of Cd and Cu and there was significant increase in activity of these enzymes in concentration dependent manner. This study suggests that cytosolic hsp70, Mn-sod and the antioxidant enzymes such as CAT and GPx can be used as effective molecular biomarkers for heavy metal toxicity and Tetmemena sp. can be used as potential model for understanding the molecular response to heavy metal contamination in aquatic ecosystems.
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