The role of ubiquinone in the respiratory chain of Acetobacter xylinum

Reconstruction, verification and in-silico analysis of a genome-scale metabolic model of bacterial cellulose producing Komagataeibacter xylinus

In this study, a comprehensive genome-scale metabolic network of Komagataeibacter xylinus as the model microorganism was reconstructed based on genome annotation, for better understanding of metabolic growth and biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose (BC). The reconstructed network included 640 genes, 783 metabolic reactions and 865 metabolites. The model was completely successful to predict the lack of growth under anaerobic conditions. Model validation by the data for the growth of acetic acid bacteria with ethanol-limited chemostat cultures showed that there is a good agreement for the O₂ and CO₂ fluxes with actual growth conditions. Then the model was used to forecast the simultaneous production of BC and by-products. The obtained data showed that the rate of BC production is consistent with experimental data with an accuracy of 93.7%. Finally, the study of flux balance analysis (FBA) data showed that the pentose phosphate pathway and the TCA cycle play an important role in growth-promoting metabolism in K. xylinus and have a close relationship with BC biosynthesis. By integrating this model with various metabolic engineering and systems biology tools in the future, it is possible to overcome the common challenges in the large-scale BC production, such as low yield and productivity.

Respiratory system of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus PAL5 Evidence for a cyanide-sensitive cytochrome bb and cyanide-resistant cytochrome ba quinol oxidases

In highly aerobic environments, Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus uses a respiratory protection mechanism to preserve nitrogenase activity from deleterious oxygen. Here, the respiratory system was examined in order to ascertain the nature of the respiratory components, mainly of the cyanide sensitive and resistant pathways. The membranes of G. diazotrophicus contain Q(10), Q(9) and PQQ in a 13:1:6.6 molar ratios. UV(360 nm) photoinactivation indicated that ubiquinone is the electron acceptor for the dehydrogenases of the outer and inner faces of the membrane. Strong inhibition by rotenone and capsaicin and resistance to flavone indicated that NADH-quinone oxidoreductase is a NDH-1 type enzyme. KCN-titration revealed the presence of at least two terminal oxidases that were highly sensitive and resistant to the inhibitor. Tetrachorohydroquinol was preferentially oxidized by the KCN-sensitive oxidase. Neither the quinoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase nor its associated cytochromes c were instrumental components of the cyanide resistant pathway. CO-difference spectrum and photodissociation of heme-CO compounds suggested the presence of cytochromes b-CO and a(1)-CO adducts. Air-oxidation of cytochrome b (432 nm) was arrested by concentrations of KCN lower than 25 microM while cytochrome a(1) (442 nm) was not affected. A KCN-sensitive (I(50)=5 microM) cytochrome bb and a KCN-resistant (I(50)=450 microM) cytochrome ba quinol oxidases were separated by ion exchange chromatography.

Partial bioenergetic characterization of Gluconacetobacter xylinum cells released from cellulose pellicles by a novel methodology

AIMS

Gluconacetobacter xylinum is well known for its ability to produce large amounts of cellulose, however, little is known about its cell physiology. Our goal was to study the respiratory metabolism and components of the respiratory system of this bacterium in static cultures. To reach our goal, a medium formulation had to be designed to improve cell growth and cellulose production together with a novel method for the recovery of cells from cellulose pellicles.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Successive modifications of a nutrient medium improved G. xylinum cell growth 4.5-fold under static culture conditions. A blender homogenization procedure for the releasing of cells from the cellulose matrix gave a high yield of cells recovered. Respiratory activities of purified cells were greatly stimulated by exogenous substrates and showed to be resistant to KCN. Unexpectedly, exogenous NADH was oxidized at high rates. Cytochromes a, b, c and d were identified after spectral analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Partial bioenergetic characterization of G. xylinum cells allowed us to propose a scheme for its respiratory system. In addition, the growth medium for biomass production and the procedure for the efficient recovery of cells from cellulose pellicles were significantly improved.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This work provides the first-ever bioenergetic characterization of G. xylinum grown in static cultures. In addition, a novel methodology to obtain purified cells in suitable quantities for biochemical research is described.

The respiratory chain of a newly isolated Methylomonas Pl1

1. Whole cells of Methylomonas Pl1 contained ubiquinone, identified as ubiquinone-8. No naphthaquinone was detected. Ubiquinone was located predominantly in the particulate fraction, which also contained most of the NADH oxidase activity. 2. Aerobic incubation of cells with formaldehyde or methanol resulted in about 20% reduction of ubiquinone, irrespective of the presence or absence of dinitrophenol. On inhibition of the respiration by cyanide, ubiquinone became partly reduced by endogenous substrates (15--25%), and a further reduction occurred only in the presence of formaldehyde (up to 60%). When endogenous substrates were completely exhausted, then 44 and 23% of ubiquinone was reduced by formaldehyde or methanol respectively. 3. The difference spectra at room and liquid-N2 temperatures revealed the presence of cytochrome b and two cytochromes c (c-552.5 and c-549) all tightly bound to the membrane. Cytochrome c-552.5 was also found in the soluble fraction. 4. Redox changes of cytochromes b and c, with methanol or formaldehyde as substrates, respond to the aerobic and anaerobic states of the cell and to KCN inhibition in a manner characteristic of the electron carriers of the respiratory chain. 5. The merging point for electron transport from NADH dehydrogenase and formaldehyde dehydrogenase is suggested to be at the level of ubiquinone.

L-malate oxidation by the electron transport fraction of Azotobacter vinelandii

The membrane-bound l-malate oxidoreductase of Azotobacter vinelandii strain O was found to be a flavoprotein-dependent enzyme associated with the electron transport system (R(3)) of this organism. The particulate R(3) fraction, which possessed the l-malate oxidoreductase, carried out the cyanide-sensitive oxidation of l-malate, d-lactate, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, succinate, cytochrome c, tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine, and p-phenylenediamine, with molecular O(2) as the terminal electron acceptor. d-Malate was not oxidized, but l-malate was oxidized to oxalacetate. Phenazine methosulfate (PMS), vitamin K(3), K(3)Fe(CN)(6), nitro blue tetrazolium, and dichloroindophenol all served as good terminal electron acceptors for the l-malate oxidoreductase. Cytochrome c was a poor electron acceptor. Extensive studies on the l-malate oxidase and PMS and K(3) reductases revealed that all were stimulated specifically by flavine adenine dinucleotide and nonspecifically by di- or trivalent cations, i.e., Ca(++), Ba(++), Mn(++), Mg(++), Fe(+++), Ni(++), and Al(+++). All these activities were markedly sensitive to ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA). The V(max) values for the l-malate oxidase, PMS, and vitamin K(3) reductases were, respectively, 3.4, 15.1, and 45.5 mumoles of substrate oxidized per min per mg of protein at 37 C. Spectral studies revealed that the Azotobacter R(3) flavoprotein and cytochromes (a(2), a(1), b(1), c(4), and c(5)) were reduced by l-malate. l-Malate oxidase activity was sensitive to various inhibitors of the electron transport system, namely, p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid, chlorpromazine, 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide, antimycin A, and KCN. Minor inhibitory effects were noted with the inhibitors 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-thienyl)-1,3-butanedione, rotenone, and Amytal.