1
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Fontana A, Falasconi I, Bellassi P, Fanfoni E, Puglisi E, Morelli L. Comparative Genomics of Halobacterium salinarum Strains Isolated from Salted Foods Reveals Protechnological Genes for Food Applications. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11030587. [PMID: 36985161 PMCID: PMC10058572 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Archaeal cell factories are becoming of great interest given their ability to produce a broad range of value-added compounds. Moreover, the Archaea domain often includes extremophilic microorganisms, facilitating their cultivation at the industrial level under nonsterile conditions. Halophilic archaea are studied for their ability to grow in environments with high NaCl concentrations. In this study, nine strains of Halobacterium salinarum were isolated from three different types of salted food, sausage casings, salted codfish, and bacon, and their genomes were sequenced along with the genome of the collection strain CECT 395. A comparative genomic analysis was performed on these newly sequenced genomes and the publicly available ones for a total of 19 H. salinarum strains. We elucidated the presence of unique gene clusters of the species in relation to the different ecological niches of isolation (salted foods, animal hides, and solar saltern sediments). Moreover, genome mining at the single-strain level highlighted the metabolic potential of H. salinarum UC4242, which revealed the presence of different protechnological genes (vitamins and myo-inositol biosynthetic pathways, aroma- and texture-related features, and antimicrobial compounds). Despite the presence of genes of potential concern (e.g., those involved in biogenic amine production), all the food isolates presented archaeocin-related genes (halocin-C8 and sactipeptides).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Fontana
- Department for Sustainable Food Process—DiSTAS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Bissolati, 74, 26100 Cremona, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.F.); (L.M.)
| | - Irene Falasconi
- Department for Sustainable Food Process—DiSTAS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Bissolati, 74, 26100 Cremona, Italy
| | - Paolo Bellassi
- Department for Sustainable Food Process—DiSTAS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Bissolati, 74, 26100 Cremona, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Fanfoni
- Department for Sustainable Food Process—DiSTAS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Bissolati, 74, 26100 Cremona, Italy
| | - Edoardo Puglisi
- Department for Sustainable Food Process—DiSTAS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense, 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Morelli
- Department for Sustainable Food Process—DiSTAS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Bissolati, 74, 26100 Cremona, Italy
- Department for Sustainable Food Process—DiSTAS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense, 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.F.); (L.M.)
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2
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Comparative Genomic Insights into Chemoreceptor Diversity and Habitat Adaptation of Archaea. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0157422. [DOI: 10.1128/aem.01574-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Archaea are capable of sensing and responding to environmental changes by several signal transduction systems with different mechanisms. Much attention is paid to model organisms with complex signaling networks to understand their composition and function, but general principles regarding how an archaeal species organizes its chemoreceptor diversity and habitat adaptation are poorly understood.
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3
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Liu YF, Yang L, Liu ZL, Chen J, Fang B, Zhou L, Liu JF, Yang SZ, Gu JD, Mu BZ. Discovery of the non-cosmopolitan lineages in Candidatus Thermoprofundales. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:3063-3080. [PMID: 35254697 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The recently proposed order Candidatus Thermoprofundales, currently containing only one family-level lineage Marine Benthic Group-D (MBG-D), is distributed in global subsurface ecosystems and ecologically important, but its diversity, evolution and metabolism remain largely unknown. Here we described two novel family-level specialized lineages in Ca. Thermoprofundales, JdFR-43 and HyVt, which are restricted to specific biotopes (primarily in marine hydrothermal vents and occasionally in oil reservoirs and hot springs) in contrast to the cosmopolitan lineage MBG-D. The comparative genomics revealed that the specialized lineages have streamlined genomes, higher GC contents, enriched genes associated with nucleotide biosynthesis, ribosome biogenesis and DNA repair and additional thermostable aminopeptidases, enabling them to adapt to high-temperature habitats such as marine hydrothermal vents, deep subsurface oil reservoirs and hot springs. On the contrary, the unique metabolic traits of the cosmopolitan MBG-D, motility, glycolysis, butanoate metabolism, secondary metabolites production and additional genes for specific peptides and carbohydrates degradation potentially enhance its response to environmental change. Substrate preference is found for most MAGs across all lineages with the ability to utilize both polysaccharides (chitin and starch) and proteinaceous substances, whereas JdFR-43 members from oil reservoirs can only utilize proteins. These results expand the diversity of Ca. Thermoprofundales significantly and further improve our understandings of the adaptations of Ca. Thermoprofundales to various environments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Fan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China.,Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China.,Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, P.R. China
| | - Liu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China.,Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
| | - Zhong-Lin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China.,Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
| | - Jing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China.,Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
| | - Bo Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China.,Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
| | - Lei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China.,Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
| | - Jin-Feng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China.,Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
| | - Shi-Zhong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China.,Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
| | - Ji-Dong Gu
- Environmental Science and Engineering Group, Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 241 Daxue Road, Shantou, Guangdong, 515063, P.R. China
| | - Bo-Zhong Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China.,Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China
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4
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Vershinin Z, Zaretsky M, Guan Z, Eichler J. Identifying Components of a Halobacterium salinarum N-Glycosylation Pathway. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:779599. [PMID: 34925283 PMCID: PMC8674786 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.779599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Whereas N-glycosylation is a seemingly universal process in Archaea, pathways of N-glycosylation have only been experimentally verified in a mere handful of species. Toward expanding the number of delineated archaeal N-glycosylation pathways, the involvement of the putative Halobacterium salinarum glycosyltransferases VNG1067G, VNG1066C, and VNG1062G in the assembly of an N-linked tetrasaccharide decorating glycoproteins in this species was addressed. Following deletion of each encoding gene, the impact on N-glycosylation of the S-layer glycoprotein and archaellins, major glycoproteins in this organism, was assessed by mass spectrometry. Likewise, the pool of dolichol phosphate, the lipid upon which this glycan is assembled, was also considered in each deletion strain. Finally, the impacts of such deletions were characterized in a series of biochemical, structural and physiological assays. The results revealed that VNG1067G, VNG1066C, and VNG1062G, renamed Agl25, Agl26, and Agl27 according to the nomenclature used for archaeal N-glycosylation pathway components, are responsible for adding the second, third and fourth sugars of the N-linked tetrasaccharide decorating Hbt. salinarum glycoproteins. Moreover, this study demonstrated how compromised N-glycosylation affects various facets of Hbt. salinarum cell behavior, including the transcription of archaellin-encoding genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zlata Vershinin
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Marianna Zaretsky
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Ziqiang Guan
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jerry Eichler
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
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5
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de Sousa Machado JN, Vollmar L, Schimpf J, Chaudhury P, Kumariya R, van der Does C, Hugel T, Albers SV. Autophosphorylation of the KaiC-like protein ArlH inhibits oligomerization and interaction with ArlI, the motor ATPase of the archaellum. Mol Microbiol 2021; 116:943-956. [PMID: 34219289 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Motile archaea are propelled by the archaellum, whose motor complex consists of the membrane protein ArlJ, the ATPase ArlI, and the ATP-binding protein ArlH. Despite its essential function and the existence of structural and biochemical data on ArlH, the role of ArlH in archaellum assembly and function remains elusive. ArlH is a structural homolog of KaiC, the central component of the cyanobacterial circadian clock. Since autophosphorylation and dephosphorylation of KaiC are central properties for the function of KaiC, we asked whether autophosphorylation is also a property of ArlH proteins. We observed that both ArlH from the euryarchaeon Pyrococcus furiosus (PfArlH) and from the crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius (SaArlH) have autophosphorylation activity. Using a combination of single-molecule fluorescence measurements and biochemical assays, we show that autophosphorylation of ArlH is closely linked to its oligomeric state when bound to hexameric ArlI. These experiments also strongly suggest that ArlH is a hexamer in its ArlI-bound state. Mutagenesis of the putative catalytic residue (Glu-57 in SaArlH) in ArlH results in a reduced autophosphorylation activity and abolished archaellation and motility in S. acidocaldarius, indicating that optimum phosphorylation activity of ArlH is essential for archaellation and motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Nuno de Sousa Machado
- Molecular Biology of Archaea and Signaling Research Centre BIOSS, Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Leonie Vollmar
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Institute of Physical Chemistry and Signaling Research Centers BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Julia Schimpf
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Institute of Physical Chemistry and Signaling Research Centers BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Paushali Chaudhury
- Molecular Biology of Archaea and Signaling Research Centre BIOSS, Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Rashmi Kumariya
- Molecular Biology of Archaea and Signaling Research Centre BIOSS, Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Chris van der Does
- Molecular Biology of Archaea and Signaling Research Centre BIOSS, Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Hugel
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Signaling Research Centers BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sonja-Verena Albers
- Molecular Biology of Archaea and Signaling Research Centre BIOSS, Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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6
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Jarrell KF, Albers SV, Machado JNDS. A comprehensive history of motility and Archaellation in Archaea. FEMS MICROBES 2021; 2:xtab002. [PMID: 37334237 PMCID: PMC10117864 DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtab002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Each of the three Domains of life, Eukarya, Bacteria and Archaea, have swimming structures that were all originally called flagella, despite the fact that none were evolutionarily related to either of the other two. Surprisingly, this was true even in the two prokaryotic Domains of Bacteria and Archaea. Beginning in the 1980s, evidence gradually accumulated that convincingly demonstrated that the motility organelle in Archaea was unrelated to that found in Bacteria, but surprisingly shared significant similarities to type IV pili. This information culminated in the proposal, in 2012, that the 'archaeal flagellum' be assigned a new name, the archaellum. In this review, we provide a historical overview on archaella and motility research in Archaea, beginning with the first simple observations of motile extreme halophilic archaea a century ago up to state-of-the-art cryo-tomography of the archaellum motor complex and filament observed today. In addition to structural and biochemical data which revealed the archaellum to be a type IV pilus-like structure repurposed as a rotating nanomachine (Beeby et al. 2020), we also review the initial discoveries and subsequent advances using a wide variety of approaches to reveal: complex regulatory events that lead to the assembly of the archaellum filaments (archaellation); the roles of the various archaellum proteins; key post-translational modifications of the archaellum structural subunits; evolutionary relationships; functions of archaella other than motility and the biotechnological potential of this fascinating structure. The progress made in understanding the structure and assembly of the archaellum is highlighted by comparing early models to what is known today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken F Jarrell
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Sonja-Verena Albers
- Institute for Biology II- Microbiology, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, Freiburg 79104, Germany
| | - J Nuno de Sousa Machado
- Institute for Biology II- Microbiology, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, Freiburg 79104, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstraße 19A, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
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7
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de Sousa Machado JN, Vollmar L, Schimpf J, Chaudhury P, Kumariya R, van der Does C, Hugel T, Albers S. Autophosphorylation of the KaiC-like protein ArlH inhibits oligomerisation and interaction with ArlI, the motor ATPase of the archaellum.. [DOI: 10.1101/2021.03.19.436134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/19/2023]
Abstract
Motile archaea are propelled by the archaellum, whose motor complex consists of the membrane protein ArlJ, the ATPase ArlI, and the ATP-binding protein ArlH. Despite its essential function and the existence of structural and biochemical data on ArlH, the role of ArlH in archaellum assembly and function remains elusive. ArlH is a structural homolog of KaiC, the central component of the cyanobacterial circadian clock. Similar to KaiC, ArlH exhibits autophosphorylation activity, which was observed for both ArlH of the euryarchaeonPyrococcus furiosus (PfArlH)and the crenarchaeonSulfolobus acidocaldarius(SaArlH). Using a combination of single molecule fluorescence measurements and biochemical assays, it is shown that autophosphorylation of ArlH is closely linked to the oligomeric state of ArlH bound to ArlI. These experiments also strongly suggest that ArlH is a hexamer in its functional ArlI bound state. Mutagenesis of the putative catalytic residue Glu-57 inSaArlH results in a reduced autophosphorylation activity and abolished archaellation and motility, suggesting that optimum phosphorylation activity of ArlH is essential for both archaellation and motility.
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8
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Tittes C, Schwarzer S, Pfeiffer F, Dyall-Smith M, Rodriguez-Franco M, Oksanen HM, Quax TEF. Cellular and Genomic Properties of Haloferax gibbonsii LR2-5, the Host of Euryarchaeal Virus HFTV1. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:625599. [PMID: 33664716 PMCID: PMC7921747 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.625599] [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] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypersaline environments are the source of many viruses infecting different species of halophilic euryarchaea. Information on infection mechanisms of archaeal viruses is scarce, due to the lack of genetically accessible virus–host models. Recently, a new archaeal siphovirus, Haloferax tailed virus 1 (HFTV1), was isolated together with its host belonging to the genus Haloferax, but it is not infectious on the widely used model euryarcheon Haloferax volcanii. To gain more insight into the biology of HFTV1 host strain LR2-5, we studied characteristics that might play a role in its virus susceptibility: growth-dependent motility, surface layer, filamentous surface structures, and cell shape. Its genome sequence showed that LR2-5 is a new strain of Haloferax gibbonsii. LR2-5 lacks obvious viral defense systems, such as CRISPR-Cas, and the composition of its cell surface is different from Hfx. volcanii, which might explain the different viral host range. This work provides first deep insights into the relationship between the host of halovirus HFTV1 and other members of the genus Haloferax. Given the close relationship to the genetically accessible Hfx. volcanii, LR2-5 has high potential as a new model for virus–host studies in euryarchaea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Tittes
- Archaeal Virus-Host Interactions, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sabine Schwarzer
- Archaeal Virus-Host Interactions, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Friedhelm Pfeiffer
- Computational Biology Group, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Mike Dyall-Smith
- Computational Biology Group, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany.,Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Hanna M Oksanen
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tessa E F Quax
- Archaeal Virus-Host Interactions, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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9
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Collins M, Afolayan S, Igiraneza AB, Schiller H, Krespan E, Beiting DP, Dyall-Smith M, Pfeiffer F, Pohlschroder M. Mutations Affecting HVO_1357 or HVO_2248 Cause Hypermotility in Haloferax volcanii, Suggesting Roles in Motility Regulation. Genes (Basel) 2020; 12:58. [PMID: 33396553 PMCID: PMC7824242 DOI: 10.3390/genes12010058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Motility regulation plays a key role in prokaryotic responses to environmental stimuli. Here, we used a motility screen and selection to isolate hypermotile Haloferax volcanii mutants from a transposon insertion library. Whole genome sequencing revealed that hypermotile mutants were predominantly affected in two genes that encode HVO_1357 and HVO_2248. Alterations of these genes comprised not only transposon insertions but also secondary genome alterations. HVO_1357 contains a domain that was previously identified in the regulation of bacteriorhodopsin transcription, as well as other domains frequently found in two-component regulatory systems. The genes adjacent to hvo_1357 encode a sensor box histidine kinase and a response regulator, key players of a two-component regulatory system. None of the homologues of HVO_2248 have been characterized, nor does it contain any of the assigned InterPro domains. However, in a significant number of Haloferax species, the adjacent gene codes for a chemotaxis receptor/transducer. Our results provide a foundation for characterizing the root causes underlying Hfx. volcanii hypermotility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiyah Collins
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (M.C.); (S.A.); (A.B.I.); (H.S.)
| | - Simisola Afolayan
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (M.C.); (S.A.); (A.B.I.); (H.S.)
| | - Aime B. Igiraneza
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (M.C.); (S.A.); (A.B.I.); (H.S.)
| | - Heather Schiller
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (M.C.); (S.A.); (A.B.I.); (H.S.)
| | - Elise Krespan
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (E.K.); (D.P.B.)
| | - Daniel P. Beiting
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (E.K.); (D.P.B.)
| | - Mike Dyall-Smith
- Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia;
- Computational Biology Group, Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany;
| | - Friedhelm Pfeiffer
- Computational Biology Group, Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany;
| | - Mechthild Pohlschroder
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (M.C.); (S.A.); (A.B.I.); (H.S.)
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10
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Li Z, Rodriguez‐Franco M, Albers S, Quax TEF. The switch complex ArlCDE connects the chemotaxis system and the archaellum. Mol Microbiol 2020; 114:468-479. [PMID: 32416640 PMCID: PMC7534055 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cells require a sensory system and a motility structure to achieve directed movement. Bacteria and archaea possess rotating filamentous motility structures that work in concert with the sensory chemotaxis system. This allows microorganisms to move along chemical gradients. The central response regulator protein CheY can bind to the motor of the motility structure, the flagellum in bacteria, and the archaellum in archaea. Both motility structures have a fundamentally different protein composition and structural organization. Yet, both systems receive input from the chemotaxis system. So far, it was unknown how the signal is transferred from the archaeal CheY to the archaellum motor to initiate motor switching. We applied a fluorescent microscopy approach in the model euryarchaeon Haloferax volcanii and shed light on the sequence order in which signals are transferred from the chemotaxis system to the archaellum. Our findings indicate that the euryarchaeal-specific ArlCDE are part of the archaellum motor and that they directly receive input from the chemotaxis system via the adaptor protein CheF. Hence, ArlCDE are an important feature of the archaellum of euryarchaea, are essential for signal transduction during chemotaxis and represent the archaeal switch complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengqun Li
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Faculty of BiologyUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | | | - Sonja‐Verena Albers
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Faculty of BiologyUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Tessa E. F. Quax
- Archaeal Virus–Host Interactions, Faculty of BiologyUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
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11
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Xu L, Sun C, Fang C, Oren A, Xu XW. Genomic-based taxonomic classification of the family Erythrobacteraceae. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2020; 70:4470-4495. [PMID: 32726199 PMCID: PMC7660246 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.004293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 290] [Impact Index Per Article: 72.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The family Erythrobacteraceae, belonging to the order Sphingomonadales, class Alphaproteobacteria, is globally distributed in various environments. Currently, this family consist of seven genera: Altererythrobacter, Croceibacterium, Croceicoccus, Erythrobacter, Erythromicrobium, Porphyrobacter and Qipengyuania. As more species are identified, the taxonomic status of the family Erythrobacteraceae should be revised at the genomic level because of its polyphyletic nature evident from 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Phylogenomic reconstruction based on 288 single-copy orthologous clusters led to the identification of three separate clades. Pairwise comparisons of average nucleotide identity, average amino acid identity (AAI), percentage of conserved protein and evolutionary distance indicated that AAI and evolutionary distance had the highest correlation. Thresholds for genera boundaries were proposed as 70 % and 0.4 for AAI and evolutionary distance, respectively. Based on the phylo-genomic and genomic similarity analysis, the three clades were classified into 16 genera, including 11 novel ones, for which the names Alteraurantiacibacter, Altericroceibacterium, Alteriqipengyuania, Alteripontixanthobacter, Aurantiacibacter, Paraurantiacibacter, Parerythrobacter, Parapontixanthobacter, Pelagerythrobacter, Tsuneonella and Pontixanthobacter are proposed. We reclassified all species of Erythromicrobium and Porphyrobacter as species of Erythrobacter. This study is the first genomic-based study of the family Erythrobacteraceae, and will contribute to further insights into the evolution of this family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Ministry of Natural Resources & Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, PR China
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
| | - Cong Sun
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Ministry of Natural Resources & Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, PR China
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
| | - Chen Fang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Ministry of Natural Resources & Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, PR China
- College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210000, PR China
| | - Aharon Oren
- The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Xue-Wei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Ministry of Natural Resources & Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, PR China
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, PR China
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12
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Beeby M, Ferreira JL, Tripp P, Albers SV, Mitchell DR. Propulsive nanomachines: the convergent evolution of archaella, flagella and cilia. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2020; 44:253-304. [DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Echoing the repeated convergent evolution of flight and vision in large eukaryotes, propulsive swimming motility has evolved independently in microbes in each of the three domains of life. Filamentous appendages – archaella in Archaea, flagella in Bacteria and cilia in Eukaryotes – wave, whip or rotate to propel microbes, overcoming diffusion and enabling colonization of new environments. The implementations of the three propulsive nanomachines are distinct, however: archaella and flagella rotate, while cilia beat or wave; flagella and cilia assemble at their tips, while archaella assemble at their base; archaella and cilia use ATP for motility, while flagella use ion-motive force. These underlying differences reflect the tinkering required to evolve a molecular machine, in which pre-existing machines in the appropriate contexts were iteratively co-opted for new functions and whose origins are reflected in their resultant mechanisms. Contemporary homologies suggest that archaella evolved from a non-rotary pilus, flagella from a non-rotary appendage or secretion system, and cilia from a passive sensory structure. Here, we review the structure, assembly, mechanism and homologies of the three distinct solutions as a foundation to better understand how propulsive nanomachines evolved three times independently and to highlight principles of molecular evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Beeby
- Department of Life Sciences, Frankland Road, Imperial College of London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Josie L Ferreira
- Department of Life Sciences, Frankland Road, Imperial College of London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Patrick Tripp
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Institute of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestrasse 1, 79211 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sonja-Verena Albers
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Institute of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestrasse 1, 79211 Freiburg, Germany
| | - David R Mitchell
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 750 E. Adams St., Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
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13
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Paithankar KS, Enderle M, Wirthensohn DC, Miller A, Schlesner M, Pfeiffer F, Rittner A, Grininger M, Oesterhelt D. Structure of the archaeal chemotaxis protein CheY in a domain-swapped dimeric conformation. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2019; 75:576-585. [PMID: 31475924 PMCID: PMC6718144 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x19010896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Archaea are motile by the rotation of the archaellum. The archaellum switches between clockwise and counterclockwise rotation, and movement along a chemical gradient is possible by modulation of the switching frequency. This modulation involves the response regulator CheY and the archaellum adaptor protein CheF. In this study, two new crystal forms and protein structures of CheY are reported. In both crystal forms, CheY is arranged in a domain-swapped conformation. CheF, the protein bridging the chemotaxis signal transduction system and the motility apparatus, was recombinantly expressed, purified and subjected to X-ray data collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthik Shivaji Paithankar
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 15, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Mathias Enderle
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 15, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - David C. Wirthensohn
- Department of Membrane Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Arthur Miller
- Department of Membrane Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Matthias Schlesner
- Department of Membrane Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Friedhelm Pfeiffer
- Computational Biology Group, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Alexander Rittner
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 15, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Martin Grininger
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 15, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Dieter Oesterhelt
- Department of Membrane Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
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14
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Denise R, Abby SS, Rocha EPC. Diversification of the type IV filament superfamily into machines for adhesion, protein secretion, DNA uptake, and motility. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000390. [PMID: 31323028 PMCID: PMC6668835 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Processes of molecular innovation require tinkering and shifting in the function of existing genes. How this occurs in terms of molecular evolution at long evolutionary scales remains poorly understood. Here, we analyse the natural history of a vast group of membrane-associated molecular systems in Bacteria and Archaea-the type IV filament (TFF) superfamily-that diversified in systems involved in flagellar or twitching motility, adhesion, protein secretion, and DNA uptake. The phylogeny of the thousands of detected systems suggests they may have been present in the last universal common ancestor. From there, two lineages-a bacterial and an archaeal-diversified by multiple gene duplications, gene fissions and deletions, and accretion of novel components. Surprisingly, we find that the 'tight adherence' (Tad) systems originated from the interkingdom transfer from Archaea to Bacteria of a system resembling the 'EppA-dependent' (Epd) pilus and were associated with the acquisition of a secretin. The phylogeny and content of ancestral systems suggest that initial bacterial pili were engaged in cell motility and/or DNA uptake. In contrast, specialised protein secretion systems arose several times independently and much later in natural history. The functional diversification of the TFF superfamily was accompanied by genetic rearrangements with implications for genetic regulation and horizontal gene transfer: systems encoded in fewer loci were more frequently exchanged between taxa. This may have contributed to their rapid evolution and spread across Bacteria and Archaea. Hence, the evolutionary history of the superfamily reveals an impressive catalogue of molecular evolution mechanisms that resulted in remarkable functional innovation and specialisation from a relatively small set of components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rémi Denise
- Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Institut Pasteur, CNRS, UMR3525, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Collège doctoral, Paris, France
| | - Sophie S. Abby
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, TIMC-IMAG, Grenoble, France
| | - Eduardo P. C. Rocha
- Microbial Evolutionary Genomics, Institut Pasteur, CNRS, UMR3525, Paris, France
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15
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Zaretsky M, Darnell CL, Schmid AK, Eichler J. N-Glycosylation Is Important for Halobacterium salinarum Archaellin Expression, Archaellum Assembly and Cell Motility. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1367. [PMID: 31275283 PMCID: PMC6591318 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Halobacterium salinarum are halophilic archaea that display directional swimming in response to various environmental signals, including light, chemicals and oxygen. In Hbt. salinarum, the building blocks (archaellins) of the archaeal swimming apparatus (the archaellum) are N-glycosylated. However, the physiological importance of archaellin N-glycosylation remains unclear. Here, a tetrasaccharide comprising a hexose and three hexuronic acids decorating the five archaellins was characterized by mass spectrometry. Such analysis failed to detect sulfation of the hexuronic acids, in contrast to earlier reports. To better understand the physiological significance of Hbt. salinarum archaellin N-glycosylation, a strain deleted of aglB, encoding the archaeal oligosaccharyltransferase, was generated. In this ΔaglB strain, archaella were not detected and only low levels of archaellins were released into the medium, in contrast to what occurs with the parent strain. Mass spectrometry analysis of the archaellins in ΔaglB cultures did not detect N-glycosylation. ΔaglB cells also showed a slight growth defect and were impaired for motility. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed dramatically reduced transcript levels of archaellin-encoding genes in the mutant strain, suggesting that N-glycosylation is important for archaellin transcription, with downstream effects on archaellum assembly and function. Control of AglB-dependent post-translational modification of archaellins could thus reflect a previously unrecognized route for regulating Hbt. salinarum motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Zaretsky
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
| | | | - Amy K Schmid
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States.,Center for Genomics and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jerry Eichler
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
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16
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Ten-Caten F, Vêncio RZN, Lorenzetti APR, Zaramela LS, Santana AC, Koide T. Internal RNAs overlapping coding sequences can drive the production of alternative proteins in archaea. RNA Biol 2018; 15:1119-1132. [PMID: 30175688 PMCID: PMC6161675 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2018.1509661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Prokaryotic genomes show a high level of information compaction often with different molecules transcribed from the same locus. Although antisense RNAs have been relatively well studied, RNAs in the same strand, internal RNAs (intraRNAs), are still poorly understood. The question of how common is the translation of overlapping reading frames remains open. We address this question in the model archaeon Halobacterium salinarum. In the present work we used differential RNA-seq (dRNA-seq) in H. salinarum NRC-1 to locate intraRNA signals in subsets of internal transcription start sites (iTSS) and establish the open reading frames associated to them (intraORFs). Using C-terminally flagged proteins, we experimentally observed isoforms accurately predicted by intraRNA translation for kef1, acs3 and orc4 genes. We also recovered from the literature and mass spectrometry databases several instances of protein isoforms consistent with intraRNA translation such as the gas vesicle protein gene gvpC1. We found evidence for intraRNAs in horizontally transferred genes such as the chaperone dnaK and the aerobic respiration related cydA in both H. salinarum and Escherichia coli. Also, intraRNA translation evidence in H. salinarum, E. coli and yeast of a universal elongation factor (aEF-2, fusA and eEF-2) suggests that this is an ancient phenomenon present in all domains of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Ten-Caten
- a Department of Biochemistry and Immunology , Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , Brazil
| | - Ricardo Z N Vêncio
- b Department of Computation and Mathematics, Faculdade de Filosofia , Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , Brazil
| | - Alan Péricles R Lorenzetti
- a Department of Biochemistry and Immunology , Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , Brazil
| | - Livia Soares Zaramela
- a Department of Biochemistry and Immunology , Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Santana
- c Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents , Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , Brazil
| | - Tie Koide
- a Department of Biochemistry and Immunology , Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo , Ribeirão Preto , Brazil
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17
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Chaudhury P, van der Does C, Albers SV. Characterization of the ATPase FlaI of the motor complex of the Pyrococcus furiosus archaellum and its interactions between the ATP-binding protein FlaH. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4984. [PMID: 29938130 PMCID: PMC6011876 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The archaellum, the rotating motility structure of archaea, is best studied in the crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. To better understand how assembly and rotation of this structure is driven, two ATP-binding proteins, FlaI and FlaH of the motor complex of the archaellum of the euryarchaeon Pyrococcus furiosus, were overexpressed, purified and studied. Contrary to the FlaI ATPase of S. acidocaldarius, which only forms a hexamer after binding of nucleotides, FlaI of P. furiosus formed a hexamer in a nucleotide independent manner. In this hexamer only 2 of the ATP binding sites were available for binding of the fluorescent ATP-analog MANT-ATP, suggesting a twofold symmetry in the hexamer. P. furiosus FlaI showed a 250-fold higher ATPase activity than S. acidocaldarius FlaI. Interaction studies between the isolated N- and C-terminal domains of FlaI showed interactions between the N- and C-terminal domains and strong interactions between the N-terminal domains not previously observed for ATPases involved in archaellum assembly. These interactions played a role in oligomerization and activity, suggesting a conformational state of the hexamer not observed before. Further interaction studies show that the C-terminal domain of PfFlaI interacts with the nucleotide binding protein FlaH. This interaction stimulates the ATPase activity of FlaI optimally at a 1:1 stoichiometry, suggesting that hexameric PfFlaI interacts with hexameric PfFlaH. These data help to further understand the complex interactions that are required to energize the archaellar motor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paushali Chaudhury
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Institute of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Chris van der Does
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Institute of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sonja-Verena Albers
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Institute of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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18
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Kinosita Y, Nishizaka T. Cross-kymography analysis to simultaneously quantify the function and morphology of the archaellum. Biophys Physicobiol 2018; 15:121-128. [PMID: 29955563 PMCID: PMC6018435 DOI: 10.2142/biophysico.15.0_121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In many microorganisms helical structures are important for motility, e.g., bacterial flagella and kink propagation in Spiroplasma eriocheiris. Motile archaea also form a helical-shaped filament called the ‘archaellum’ that is functionally equivalent to the bacterial flagellum, but structurally resembles type IV pili. The archaellum motor consists of 6–8 proteins called fla accessory genes, and the filament assembly is driven by ATP hydrolysis at catalytic sites in FlaI. Remarkably, previous research using a dark-field microscopy showed that right-handed filaments propelled archaeal cells forwards or backwards by clockwise or counterclockwise rotation, respectively. However, the shape and rotational rate of the archaellum during swimming remained unclear, due to the low signal and lack of temporal resolution. Additionally, the structure and the motor properties of the archaellum and bacterial flagellum have not been precisely determined during swimming because they move freely in three-dimensional space. Recently, we developed an advanced method called “cross-kymography analysis”, which enables us to be a long-term observation and simultaneously quantify the function and morphology of helical structures using a total internal reflection fluorescence microscope. In this review, we introduce the basic idea of this analysis, and summarize the latest information in structural and functional characterization of the archaellum motor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiaki Kinosita
- Department of Physics, Gakushuin University, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-8588, Japan
| | - Takayuki Nishizaka
- Department of Physics, Gakushuin University, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-8588, Japan
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19
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Albers SV, Jarrell KF. The Archaellum: An Update on the Unique Archaeal Motility Structure. Trends Microbiol 2018; 26:351-362. [PMID: 29452953 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2018.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Each of the three domains of life exhibits a unique motility structure: while Bacteria use flagella, Eukarya employ cilia, and Archaea swim using archaella. Since the new name for the archaeal motility structure was proposed, in 2012, a significant amount of new data on the regulation of transcription of archaella operons, the structure and function of archaellum subunits, their interactions, and cryo-EM data on in situ archaellum complexes in whole cells have been obtained. These data support the notion that the archaellum is evolutionary and structurally unrelated to the flagellum, but instead is related to archaeal and bacterial type IV pili and emphasize that it is a motility structure unique to the Archaea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja-Verena Albers
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Institute of Biology II - Microbiology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Ken F Jarrell
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
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20
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Chaudhury P, Quax TEF, Albers SV. Versatile cell surface structures of archaea. Mol Microbiol 2017; 107:298-311. [PMID: 29194812 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Archaea are ubiquitously present in nature and colonize environments with broadly varying growth conditions. Several surface appendages support their colonization of new habitats. A hallmark of archaea seems to be the high abundance of type IV pili (T4P). However, some unique non T4 filaments are present in a number of archaeal species. Archaeal surface structures can mediate different processes such as cellular surface adhesion, DNA exchange, motility and biofilm formation and represent an initial attachment site for infecting viruses. In addition to the functionally characterized archaeal T4P, archaeal genomes encode a large number of T4P components that might form yet undiscovered surface structures with novel functions. In this review, we summarize recent advancement in structural and functional characterizations of known archaeal surface structures and highlight the diverse processes in which they play a role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paushali Chaudhury
- Institute of Biology II, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tessa E F Quax
- Institute of Biology II, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sonja-Verena Albers
- Institute of Biology II, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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21
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Phylogenetic distribution of the euryarchaeal archaellum regulator EarA and complementation of a Methanococcus maripaludis ∆earA mutant with heterologous earA homologues. Microbiology (Reading) 2017; 163:804-815. [DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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22
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Genomic reconstruction of multiple lineages of uncultured benthic archaea suggests distinct biogeochemical roles and ecological niches. ISME JOURNAL 2017; 11:1118-1129. [PMID: 28085154 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2016.189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Genomic bins belonging to multiple archaeal lineages were recovered from distinct redox regimes in sediments of the White Oak River estuary. The reconstructed archaeal genomes were identified as belonging to the rice cluster subgroups III and V (RC-III, RC-V), the Marine Benthic Group D (MBG-D), and a newly described archaeal class, the Theionarchaea. The metabolic capabilities of these uncultured archaea were inferred and indicated a common capability for extracellular protein degradation, supplemented by other pathways. The multiple genomic bins within the MBG-D archaea shared a nearly complete reductive acetyl-CoA pathway suggesting acetogenic capabilities. In contrast, the RC-III metabolism appeared centered on the degradation of detrital proteins and production of H2, whereas the RC-V archaea lacked capabilities for protein degradation and uptake, and appeared to be specialized on carbohydrate fermentation. The Theionarchaea appeared as complex metabolic hybrids; encoding a complete tricarboxylic acid cycle permitting carbon (acetyl-CoA) oxidation, together with a complete reductive acetyl-CoA pathway and sulfur reduction by a sulfhydrogenase. The differentiated inferred capabilities of these uncultured archaeal lineages indicated lineage-specific linkages with the nitrogen, carbon and sulfur cycles. The predicted metabolisms of these archaea suggest preferences for distinct geochemical niches within the estuarine sedimentary environment.
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23
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Poweleit N, Ge P, Nguyen HH, Ogorzalek Loo RR, Gunsalus RP, Zhou ZH. CryoEM structure of the Methanospirillum hungatei archaellum reveals structural features distinct from the bacterial flagellum and type IV pilus. Nat Microbiol 2016; 2:16222. [PMID: 27922015 PMCID: PMC5695567 DOI: 10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Archaea use flagella known as archaella-distinct both in protein composition and structure from bacterial flagella-to drive cell motility, but the structural basis of this function is unknown. Here, we report an atomic model of the archaella, based on the cryo electron microscopy (cryoEM) structure of the Methanospirillum hungatei archaellum at 3.4 Å resolution. Each archaellum contains ∼61,500 archaellin subunits organized into a curved helix with a diameter of 10 nm and average length of 10,000 nm. The tadpole-shaped archaellin monomer has two domains, a β-barrel domain and a long, mildly kinked α-helix tail. Our structure reveals multiple post-translational modifications to the archaella, including six O-linked glycans and an unusual N-linked modification. The extensive interactions among neighbouring archaellins explain how the long but thin archaellum maintains the structural integrity required for motility-driving rotation. These extensive inter-subunit interactions and the absence of a central pore in the archaellum distinguish it from both the bacterial flagellum and type IV pili.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Poweleit
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Electron Imaging Center for Nanomachines, California Nano Systems Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Peng Ge
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Electron Imaging Center for Nanomachines, California Nano Systems Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Hong H. Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles 90095, UCLA, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Rachel R. Ogorzalek Loo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles 90095, UCLA, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Robert P. Gunsalus
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- The UCLA-DOE Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Z. Hong Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Electron Imaging Center for Nanomachines, California Nano Systems Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
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Haurat MF, Figueiredo AS, Hoffmann L, Li L, Herr K, J Wilson A, Beeby M, Schaber J, Albers SV. ArnS, a kinase involved in starvation-induced archaellum expression. Mol Microbiol 2016; 103:181-194. [PMID: 27731916 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Organisms have evolved motility organelles that allow them to move to favourable habitats. Cells integrate environmental stimuli into intracellular signals to motility machineries to direct this migration. Many motility organelles are complex surface appendages that have evolved a tight, hierarchical regulation of expression. In the crenearchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, biosynthesis of the archaellum is regulated by regulatory network proteins that control expression of archaellum components in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. A major trigger for archaellum expression is nutrient starvation, but although some components are known, the regulatory cascade triggered by starvation is poorly understood. In this work, the starvation-induced Ser/Thr protein kinase ArnS (Saci_1181) which is located proximally to the archaellum operon was identified. Deletion of arnS results in reduced motility, though the archaellum is properly assembled. Therefore, our experimental and modelling results indicate that ArnS plays an essential role in the precisely controlled expression of archaellum components during starvation-induced motility in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Furthermore they combined in vivo experiments and mathematical models to describe for the first time in archaea the dynamics of key regulators of archaellum expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Florencia Haurat
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Institute of Biology II University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, Freiburg, 79104, Germany
| | - Ana Sofia Figueiredo
- Institute for Experimental Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty, Otto von Guericke University, Pfälzer Platz 2, Magdeburg, 39106, Germany
| | - Lena Hoffmann
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Institute of Biology II University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, Freiburg, 79104, Germany
| | - Lingling Li
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Institute of Biology II University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, Freiburg, 79104, Germany
| | - Katharina Herr
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Institute of Biology II University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, Freiburg, 79104, Germany
| | - Amanda J Wilson
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Morgan Beeby
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Jörg Schaber
- Institute for Experimental Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty, Otto von Guericke University, Pfälzer Platz 2, Magdeburg, 39106, Germany
| | - Sonja-Verena Albers
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Institute of Biology II University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, Freiburg, 79104, Germany
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25
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Zhang X, Liu X, Liang Y, Fan F, Zhang X, Yin H. Metabolic diversity and adaptive mechanisms of iron- and/or sulfur-oxidizing autotrophic acidophiles in extremely acidic environments. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2016; 8:738-751. [PMID: 27337207 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Many studies have investigated the mechanisms underlying the survival and growth of certain organisms in extremely acidic environments known to be harmful to most prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Acidithiobacillus and Leptospirillum spp. are dominant bioleaching bacteria widely used in bioleaching systems, which are characterized by extremely acidic environments. To survive and grow in such settings, these acidophiles utilize shared molecular mechanisms that allow life in extreme conditions. In this review, we have summarized the results of published genomic analyses, which underscore the ability of iron- and/or sulfur-oxidizing autotrophic acidophiles belonging to the genera Acidithiobacillus and Leptospirillum to adapt to acidic environmental conditions. Several lines of evidence point at the metabolic diversity and multiplicity of pathways involved in the survival of these organisms. The ability to thrive in adverse environments requires versatile activation of structural and functional adaptive responses, including bacterial adhesion, motility, and resistance to heavy metals. We have highlighted recent developments centered on the key survival mechanisms employed by dominant extremophiles, and have laid the foundation for future studies focused on the ability of acidophiles to thrive in extremely acidic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Zhang
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xueduan Liu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yili Liang
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Fenliang Fan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxia Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Collection and Preservation, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huaqun Yin
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
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26
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Zhang X, She S, Dong W, Niu J, Xiao Y, Liang Y, Liu X, Zhang X, Fan F, Yin H. Comparative genomics unravels metabolic differences at the species and/or strain level and extremely acidic environmental adaptation of ten bacteria belonging to the genus Acidithiobacillus. Syst Appl Microbiol 2016; 39:493-502. [PMID: 27712915 DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2016.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Members of the Acidithiobacillus genus are widely found in extreme environments characterized by low pH and high concentrations of toxic substances, thus it is necessary to identify the cellular mechanisms needed to cope with these harsh conditions. Pan-genome analysis of ten bacteria belonging to the genus Acidithiobacillus suggested the existence of core genome, most of which were assigned to the metabolism-associated genes. Additionally, the unique genes of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans were much less than those of other species. A large proportion of Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans-specific genes were mapped especially to metabolism-related genes, indicating that diverse metabolic pathways might confer an advantage for adaptation to local environmental conditions. Analyses of functional metabolisms revealed the differences of carbon metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, and sulfur metabolism at the species and/or strain level. The findings also showed that Acidithiobacillus spp. harbored specific adaptive mechanisms for thriving under extreme environments. The genus Acidithiobacillus had the genetic potential to resist and metabolize toxic substances such as heavy metals and organic solvents. Comparison across species and/or strains of Acidithiobacillus populations provided a deeper appreciation of metabolic differences and environmental adaptation, as well as highlighting the importance of cellular mechanisms that maintain the basal physiological functions under complex acidic environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Zhang
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China; Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Siyuan She
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China; Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Weiling Dong
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China; Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Jiaojiao Niu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China; Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Yunhua Xiao
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China; Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Yili Liang
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China; Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Xueduan Liu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China; Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Xiaoxia Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Collection and Preservation, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China; Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Fenliang Fan
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China.
| | - Huaqun Yin
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China; Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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27
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Direct observation of rotation and steps of the archaellum in the swimming halophilic archaeon Halobacterium salinarum. Nat Microbiol 2016; 1:16148. [PMID: 27564999 DOI: 10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Motile archaea swim using a rotary filament, the archaellum, a surface appendage that resembles bacterial flagella structurally, but is homologous to bacterial type IV pili. Little is known about the mechanism by which archaella produce motility. To gain insights into this mechanism, we characterized archaellar function in the model organism Halobacterium salinarum. Three-dimensional tracking of quantum dots enabled visualization of the left-handed corkscrewing of archaea in detail. An advanced analysis method combined with total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, termed cross-kymography, was developed and revealed a right-handed helical structure of archaella with a rotation speed of 23 ± 5 Hz. Using these structural and kinetic parameters, we computationally reproduced the swimming and precession motion with a hydrodynamic model and estimated the archaellar motor torque to be 50 pN nm. Finally, in a tethered-cell assay, we observed intermittent pauses during rotation with ∼36° or 60° intervals, which we speculate may be a unitary step consuming a single adenosine triphosphate molecule, which supplies chemical energy of 80 pN nm when hydrolysed. From an estimate of the energy input as ten or six adenosine triphosphates per revolution, the efficiency of the motor is calculated to be ∼6-10%.
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28
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Schäffer C, Messner P. Emerging facets of prokaryotic glycosylation. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2016; 41:49-91. [PMID: 27566466 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuw036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycosylation of proteins is one of the most prevalent post-translational modifications occurring in nature, with a wide repertoire of biological implications. Pathways for the main types of this modification, the N- and O-glycosylation, can be found in all three domains of life-the Eukarya, Bacteria and Archaea-thereby following common principles, which are valid also for lipopolysaccharides, lipooligosaccharides and glycopolymers. Thus, studies on any glycoconjugate can unravel novel facets of the still incompletely understood fundamentals of protein N- and O-glycosylation. While it is estimated that more than two-thirds of all eukaryotic proteins would be glycosylated, no such estimate is available for prokaryotic glycoproteins, whose understanding is lagging behind, mainly due to the enormous variability of their glycan structures and variations in the underlying glycosylation processes. Combining glycan structural information with bioinformatic, genetic, biochemical and enzymatic data has opened up an avenue for in-depth analyses of glycosylation processes as a basis for glycoengineering endeavours. Here, the common themes of glycosylation are conceptualised for the major classes of prokaryotic (i.e. bacterial and archaeal) glycoconjugates, with a special focus on glycosylated cell-surface proteins. We describe the current knowledge of biosynthesis and importance of these glycoconjugates in selected pathogenic and beneficial microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Schäffer
- Department of NanoBiotechnology, Institute of Biologically Inspired Materials, NanoGlycobiology unit, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, A-1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - Paul Messner
- Department of NanoBiotechnology, Institute of Biologically Inspired Materials, NanoGlycobiology unit, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, A-1180 Vienna, Austria
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29
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Meshcheryakov VA, Wolf M. Crystal structure of the flagellar accessory protein FlaH of Methanocaldococcus jannaschii suggests a regulatory role in archaeal flagellum assembly. Protein Sci 2016; 25:1147-55. [PMID: 27060465 DOI: 10.1002/pro.2932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2016] [Revised: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Archaeal flagella are unique structures that share functional similarity with bacterial flagella, but are structurally related to bacterial type IV pili. The flagellar accessory protein FlaH is one of the conserved components of the archaeal motility system. However, its function is not clearly understood. Here, we present the 2.2 Å resolution crystal structure of FlaH from the hyperthermophilic archaeon, Methanocaldococcus jannaschii. The protein has a characteristic RecA-like fold, which has been found previously both in archaea and bacteria. We show that FlaH binds to immobilized ATP-however, it lacks ATPase activity. Surface plasmon resonance analysis demonstrates that ATP affects the interaction between FlaH and the archaeal motor protein FlaI. In the presence of ATP, the FlaH-FlaI interaction becomes significantly weaker. A database search revealed similarity between FlaH and several DNA-binding proteins of the RecA superfamily. The closest structural homologs of FlaH are KaiC-like proteins, which are archaeal homologs of the circadian clock protein KaiC from cyanobacteria. We propose that one of the functions of FlaH may be the regulation of archaeal motor complex assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir A Meshcheryakov
- Molecular Cryo-Electron Microscopy Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Kunigami, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Matthias Wolf
- Molecular Cryo-Electron Microscopy Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna, Kunigami, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
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30
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Lazar CS, Baker BJ, Seitz K, Hyde AS, Dick GJ, Hinrichs KU, Teske AP. Genomic evidence for distinct carbon substrate preferences and ecological niches of Bathyarchaeota in estuarine sediments. Environ Microbiol 2016; 18:1200-11. [PMID: 26626228 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Revised: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Investigations of the biogeochemical roles of benthic Archaea in marine sediments are hampered by the scarcity of cultured representatives. In order to determine their metabolic capacity, we reconstructed the genomic content of four widespread uncultured benthic Archaea recovered from estuary sediments at 48% to 95% completeness. Four genomic bins were found to belong to different subgroups of the former Miscellaneous Crenarcheota Group (MCG) now called Bathyarchaeota: MCG-6, MCG-1, MCG-7/17 and MCG-15. Metabolic predictions based on gene content of the different genome bins indicate that subgroup 6 has the ability to hydrolyse extracellular plant-derived carbohydrates, and that all four subgroups can degrade detrital proteins. Genes encoding enzymes involved in acetate production as well as in the reductive acetyl-CoA pathway were detected in all four genomes inferring that these Archaea are organo-heterotrophic and autotrophic acetogens. Genes involved in nitrite reduction were detected in all Bathyarchaeota subgroups and indicate a potential for dissimilatory nitrite reduction to ammonium. Comparing the genome content of the different Bathyarchaeota subgroups indicated preferences for distinct types of carbohydrate substrates and implicitly, for different niches within the sedimentary environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandre Sara Lazar
- University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Marine Sciences, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Organic Geochemistry Group, MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.,Institute of Ecology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Straße 159, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Brett J Baker
- University of Texas Austin, Department of Marine Science, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX, 78383, USA
| | - Kiley Seitz
- University of Texas Austin, Department of Marine Science, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX, 78383, USA
| | - Andrew S Hyde
- University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Marine Sciences, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Gregory J Dick
- University of Michigan, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Kai-Uwe Hinrichs
- Organic Geochemistry Group, MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Andreas P Teske
- University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Marine Sciences, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Chaudhury P, Neiner T, D'Imprima E, Banerjee A, Reindl S, Ghosh A, Arvai AS, Mills DJ, van der Does C, Tainer JA, Vonck J, Albers SV. The nucleotide-dependent interaction of FlaH and FlaI is essential for assembly and function of the archaellum motor. Mol Microbiol 2015; 99:674-85. [PMID: 26508112 PMCID: PMC5019145 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The motor of the membrane-anchored archaeal motility structure, the archaellum, contains FlaX, FlaI and FlaH. FlaX forms a 30 nm ring structure that acts as a scaffold protein and was shown to interact with the bifunctional ATPase FlaI and FlaH. However, the structure and function of FlaH has been enigmatic. Here we present structural and functional analyses of isolated FlaH and archaellum motor subcomplexes. The FlaH crystal structure reveals a RecA/Rad51 family fold with an ATP bound on a conserved and exposed surface, which presumably forms an oligomerization interface. FlaH does not hydrolyze ATP in vitro, but ATP binding to FlaH is essential for its interaction with FlaI and for archaellum assembly. FlaH interacts with the C-terminus of FlaX, which was earlier shown to be essential for FlaX ring formation and to mediate interaction with FlaI. Electron microscopy reveals that FlaH assembles as a second ring inside the FlaX ring in vitro. Collectively these data reveal central structural mechanisms for FlaH interactions in mediating archaellar assembly: FlaH binding within the FlaX ring and nucleotide-regulated FlaH binding to FlaI form the archaellar basal body core.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paushali Chaudhury
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, Institute of Biology II, Schaenzlestr.1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tomasz Neiner
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, Institute of Biology II, Schaenzlestr.1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Edoardo D'Imprima
- Department of Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Str. 3, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ankan Banerjee
- FB- Chemie-Biochemie, AG-Essen, Philipps Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 4, 35039, Marburg, Germany
| | - Sophia Reindl
- Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Abhrajyoti Ghosh
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, Institute of Biology II, Schaenzlestr.1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Andrew S Arvai
- Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Deryck J Mills
- Department of Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Str. 3, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Chris van der Does
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, Institute of Biology II, Schaenzlestr.1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - John A Tainer
- Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Janet Vonck
- Department of Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Str. 3, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Sonja-Verena Albers
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, Institute of Biology II, Schaenzlestr.1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
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32
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Syutkin AS, Pyatibratov MG, Fedorov OV. Flagella of halophilic archaea: differences in supramolecular organization. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2015; 79:1470-82. [PMID: 25749160 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297914130033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Archaeal flagella are similar functionally to bacterial flagella, but structurally they are completely different. Helical archaeal flagellar filaments are formed of protein subunits called flagellins (archaellins). Notwithstanding progress in studies of archaeal flagella achieved in recent years, many problems in this area are still unsolved. In this review, we analyze the formation of these supramolecular structures by the example of flagellar filaments of halophilic archaea. Recent data on the structure of the flagellar filaments demonstrate that their supramolecular organization differs considerably in different haloarchaeal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Syutkin
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia.
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33
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Chimileski S, Papke RT. Getting a hold on archaeal type IV pili: an expanding repertoire of cellular appendages implicates complex regulation and diverse functions. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:362. [PMID: 25999922 PMCID: PMC4419858 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2015] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Scott Chimileski
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Storrs, CT, USA
| | - R Thane Papke
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut Storrs, CT, USA
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34
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Abstract
Recent studies on archaeal motility have shown that the archaeal motility structure is unique in several aspects. Although it fulfills the same swimming function as the bacterial flagellum, it is evolutionarily and structurally related to the type IV pilus. This was the basis for the recent proposal to term the archaeal motility structure the "archaellum." This review illustrates the key findings that led to the realization that the archaellum was a novel motility structure and presents the current knowledge about the structural composition, mechanism of assembly and regulation, and the posttranslational modifications of archaella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja-Verena Albers
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Institute of Biology II-Microbiology, University of Freiburg , Freiburg, Germany ; Molecular Biology of Archaea, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology , Marburg, Germany
| | - Ken F Jarrell
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University , Kingston, ON, Canada
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35
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Losensky G, Vidakovic L, Klingl A, Pfeifer F, Fröls S. Novel pili-like surface structures of Halobacterium salinarum strain R1 are crucial for surface adhesion. Front Microbiol 2015; 5:755. [PMID: 25628607 PMCID: PMC4292770 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
It was recently shown that haloarchaeal strains of different genera are able to adhere to surfaces and form surface-attached biofilms. However, the surface structures mediating the adhesion were still unknown. We have identified a novel surface structure with Halobacterium salinarum strain R1, crucial for surface adhesion. Electron microscopic studies of surface-attached cells frequently showed pili-like surface structures of two different diameters that were irregularly distributed on the surface. The thinner filaments, 7–8 nm in diameter, represented a so far unobserved novel pili-like structure. Examination of the Hbt. salinarum R1 genome identified two putative gene loci (pil-1 and pil-2) encoding type IV pilus biogenesis complexes besides the archaellum encoding fla gene locus. Both pil-1 and pil-2 were expressed as transcriptional units, and the transcriptional start of pil-1 was identified. In silico analyses revealed that the pil-1 locus is present with other euryarchaeal genomes whereas the pil-2 is restricted to haloarchaea. Comparative real time qRT-PCR studies indicated that the general transcriptional activity was reduced in adherent vs. planktonic cells. In contrast, the transcription of pilB1 and pilB2, encoding putative type IV pilus assembly ATPases, was induced in comparison to the archaella assembly/motor ATPase (flaI) and the ferredoxin gene. Mutant strains were constructed that incurred a flaI deletion or flaI/pilB1 gene deletions. The absence of flaI caused the loss of the archaella while the additional absence of pilB1 led to loss of the novel pili-like surface structures. The ΔflaI/ΔpilB1 double mutants showed a 10-fold reduction in surface adhesion compared to the parental strain. Since surface adhesion was not reduced with the non-archaellated ΔflaI mutants, the pil-1 filaments have a distinct function in the adhesion process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald Losensky
- Microbiology and Archaea, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Lucia Vidakovic
- Microbiology and Archaea, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Andreas Klingl
- Cell Biology and LOEWE Research Centre for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps-Universität Marburg Marburg, Germany ; Department of Biology I, Biozentrum, University of Munich Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Felicitas Pfeifer
- Microbiology and Archaea, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Sabrina Fröls
- Microbiology and Archaea, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt Darmstadt, Germany
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36
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Nair DB, Jarrell KF. Pilin Processing Follows a Different Temporal Route than That of Archaellins in Methanococcus maripaludis. Life (Basel) 2015; 5:85-101. [PMID: 25569238 PMCID: PMC4390842 DOI: 10.3390/life5010085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 12/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Methanococcus maripaludis has two different surface appendages: type IV-like pili and archaella. Both structures are believed to be assembled using a bacterial type IV pilus mechanism. Each structure is composed of multiple subunits, either pilins or archaellins. Both pilins and archaellins are made initially as preproteins with type IV pilin-like signal peptides, which must be removed by a prepilin peptidase-like enzyme. This enzyme is FlaK for archaellins and EppA for pilins. In addition, both pilins and archaellins are modified with N-linked glycans. The archaellins possess an N-linked tetrasaccharide while the pilins have a pentasaccharide which consists of the archaellin tetrasaccharide but with an additional sugar, an unidentified hexose, attached to the linking sugar. In this report, we show that archaellins can be processed by FlaK in the absence of N-glycosylation and N-glycosylation can occur on archaellins that still retain their signal peptides. In contrast, pilins are not glycosylated unless they have been acted on by EppA to have the signal peptide removed. However, EppA can still remove signal peptides from non-glycosylated pilins. These findings indicate that there is a difference in the order of the posttranslational modifications of pilins and archaellins even though both are type IV pilin-like proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya B Nair
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada.
| | - Ken F Jarrell
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada.
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Näther-Schindler DJ, Schopf S, Bellack A, Rachel R, Wirth R. Pyrococcus furiosus flagella: biochemical and transcriptional analyses identify the newly detected flaB0 gene to encode the major flagellin. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:695. [PMID: 25566211 PMCID: PMC4263178 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 11/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We have described previously that the flagella of the Euryarchaeon Pyrococcus furiosus are multifunctional cell appendages used for swimming, adhesion to surfaces and formation of cell-cell connections. Here, we characterize these organelles with respect to their biochemistry and transcription. Flagella were purified by shearing from cells followed by CsCl-gradient centrifugation and were found to consist mainly of a ca. 30 kDa glycoprotein. Polymerization studies of denatured flagella resulted in an ATP-independent formation of flagella-like filaments. The N-terminal sequence of the main flagellin was determined by Edman degradation, but none of the genes in the complete genome code for a protein with that N-terminus. Therefore, we resequenced the respective region of the genome, thereby discovering that the published genome sequence is not correct. A total of 771 bp are missing in the data base, resulting in the correction of the previously unusual N-terminal sequence of flagellin FlaB1 and in the identification of a third flagellin. To keep in line with the earlier nomenclature we call this flaB0. Very interestingly, the previously not identified flaB0 codes for the major flagellin. Transcriptional analyses of the revised flagellar operon identified various different cotranscripts encoding only a single protein in case of FlaB0 and FlaJ or up to five proteins (FlaB0-FlaD). Analysing the RNA of cells from different growth phases, we found that the length and number of detected cotranscript increased over time suggesting that the flagellar operon is transcribed mostly in late exponential and stationary growth phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela J Näther-Schindler
- Institute of Microbiology and Archaea Center, University of Regensburg Regensburg, Germany ; Plant Development, Department of Biology I, Biocenter of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Simone Schopf
- Institute of Microbiology and Archaea Center, University of Regensburg Regensburg, Germany ; Department of Biology - Section Environmental Microbiology, Technical University Freiberg Freiberg, Germany
| | - Annett Bellack
- Institute of Microbiology and Archaea Center, University of Regensburg Regensburg, Germany
| | - Reinhard Rachel
- Institute of Microbiology and Archaea Center, University of Regensburg Regensburg, Germany
| | - Reinhard Wirth
- Institute of Microbiology and Archaea Center, University of Regensburg Regensburg, Germany
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Cabezón E, Ripoll-Rozada J, Peña A, de la Cruz F, Arechaga I. Towards an integrated model of bacterial conjugation. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2014; 39:81-95. [PMID: 25154632 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6976.12085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial conjugation is one of the main mechanisms for horizontal gene transfer. It constitutes a key element in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes to human pathogenic bacteria. DNA transfer is mediated by a membrane-associated macromolecular machinery called Type IV secretion system (T4SS). T4SSs are involved not only in bacterial conjugation but also in the transport of virulence factors by pathogenic bacteria. Thus, the search for specific inhibitors of different T4SS components opens a novel approach to restrict plasmid dissemination. This review highlights recent biochemical and structural findings that shed new light on the molecular mechanisms of DNA and protein transport by T4SS. Based on these data, a model for pilus biogenesis and substrate transfer in conjugative systems is proposed. This model provides a renewed view of the mechanism that might help to envisage new strategies to curb the threating expansion of antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Cabezón
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, IBBTEC, (Universidad de Cantabria, CSIC) Santander, Spain
| | - Jorge Ripoll-Rozada
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, IBBTEC, (Universidad de Cantabria, CSIC) Santander, Spain
| | - Alejandro Peña
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, IBBTEC, (Universidad de Cantabria, CSIC) Santander, Spain
| | - Fernando de la Cruz
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, IBBTEC, (Universidad de Cantabria, CSIC) Santander, Spain
| | - Ignacio Arechaga
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, IBBTEC, (Universidad de Cantabria, CSIC) Santander, Spain
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VibrioBase: a model for next-generation genome and annotation database development. ScientificWorldJournal 2014; 2014:569324. [PMID: 25243218 PMCID: PMC4138799 DOI: 10.1155/2014/569324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
To facilitate the ongoing research of Vibrio spp., a dedicated platform for the Vibrio research community is needed to host the fast-growing amount of genomic data and facilitate the analysis of these data. We present VibrioBase, a useful resource platform, providing all basic features of a sequence database with the addition of unique analysis tools which could be valuable for the Vibrio research community. VibrioBase currently houses a total of 252 Vibrio genomes developed in a user-friendly manner and useful to enable the analysis of these genomic data, particularly in the field of comparative genomics. Besides general data browsing features, VibrioBase offers analysis tools such as BLAST interfaces and JBrowse genome browser. Other important features of this platform include our newly developed in-house tools, the pairwise genome comparison (PGC) tool, and pathogenomics profiling tool (PathoProT). The PGC tool is useful in the identification and comparative analysis of two genomes, whereas PathoProT is designed for comparative pathogenomics analysis of Vibrio strains. Both of these tools will enable researchers with little experience in bioinformatics to get meaningful information from Vibrio genomes with ease. We have tested the validity and suitability of these tools and features for use in the next-generation database development.
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Banerjee A, Neiner T, Tripp P, Albers SV. Insights into subunit interactions in theSulfolobus acidocaldariusarchaellum cytoplasmic complex. FEBS J 2013; 280:6141-9. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.12534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2013] [Revised: 08/12/2013] [Accepted: 09/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ankan Banerjee
- Molecular Biology of Archaea; Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology; Marburg Germany
| | - Tomasz Neiner
- Molecular Biology of Archaea; Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology; Marburg Germany
| | - Patrick Tripp
- Molecular Biology of Archaea; Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology; Marburg Germany
| | - Sonja-Verena Albers
- Molecular Biology of Archaea; Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology; Marburg Germany
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Yelton AP, Comolli LR, Justice NB, Castelle C, Denef VJ, Thomas BC, Banfield JF. Comparative genomics in acid mine drainage biofilm communities reveals metabolic and structural differentiation of co-occurring archaea. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:485. [PMID: 23865623 PMCID: PMC3750248 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Metal sulfide mineral dissolution during bioleaching and acid mine drainage (AMD) formation creates an environment that is inhospitable to most life. Despite dominance by a small number of bacteria, AMD microbial biofilm communities contain a notable variety of coexisting and closely related Euryarchaea, most of which have defied cultivation efforts. For this reason, we used metagenomics to analyze variation in gene content that may contribute to niche differentiation among co-occurring AMD archaea. Our analyses targeted members of the Thermoplasmatales and related archaea. These results greatly expand genomic information available for this archaeal order. Results We reconstructed near-complete genomes for uncultivated, relatively low abundance organisms A-, E-, and Gplasma, members of Thermoplasmatales order, and for a novel organism, Iplasma. Genomic analyses of these organisms, as well as Ferroplasma type I and II, reveal that all are facultative aerobic heterotrophs with the ability to use many of the same carbon substrates, including methanol. Most of the genomes share genes for toxic metal resistance and surface-layer production. Only Aplasma and Eplasma have a full suite of flagellar genes whereas all but the Ferroplasma spp. have genes for pili production. Cryogenic-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and tomography (cryo-ET) strengthen these metagenomics-based ultrastructural predictions. Notably, only Aplasma, Gplasma and the Ferroplasma spp. have predicted iron oxidation genes and Eplasma and Iplasma lack most genes for cobalamin, valine, (iso)leucine and histidine synthesis. Conclusion The Thermoplasmatales AMD archaea share a large number of metabolic capabilities. All of the uncultivated organisms studied here (A-, E-, G-, and Iplasma) are metabolically very similar to characterized Ferroplasma spp., differentiating themselves mainly in their genetic capabilities for biosynthesis, motility, and possibly iron oxidation. These results indicate that subtle, but important genomic differences, coupled with unknown differences in gene expression, distinguish these organisms enough to allow for co-existence. Overall this study reveals shared features of organisms from the Thermoplasmatales lineage and provides new insights into the functioning of AMD communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis P Yelton
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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Jarrell KF, Ding Y, Nair DB, Siu S. Surface appendages of archaea: structure, function, genetics and assembly. Life (Basel) 2013; 3:86-117. [PMID: 25371333 PMCID: PMC4187195 DOI: 10.3390/life3010086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2012] [Revised: 01/09/2013] [Accepted: 01/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms representing diverse subgroupings of the Domain Archaea are known to possess unusual surface structures. These can include ones unique to Archaea such as cannulae and hami as well as archaella (archaeal flagella) and various types of pili that superficially resemble their namesakes in Bacteria, although with significant differences. Major advances have occurred particularly in the study of archaella and pili using model organisms with recently developed advanced genetic tools. There is common use of a type IV pili-model of assembly for several archaeal surface structures including archaella, certain pili and sugar binding structures termed bindosomes. In addition, there are widespread posttranslational modifications of archaellins and pilins with N-linked glycans, with some containing novel sugars. Archaeal surface structures are involved in such diverse functions as swimming, attachment to surfaces, cell to cell contact resulting in genetic transfer, biofilm formation, and possible intercellular communication. Sometimes functions are co-dependent on other surface structures. These structures and the regulation of their assembly are important features that allow various Archaea, including thermoacidophilic, hyperthermophilic, halophilic, and anaerobic ones, to survive and thrive in the extreme environments that are commonly inhabited by members of this domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken F Jarrell
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada.
| | - Yan Ding
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada.
| | - Divya B Nair
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada.
| | - Sarah Siu
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada.
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Schlesner M, Miller A, Besir H, Aivaliotis M, Streif J, Scheffer B, Siedler F, Oesterhelt D. The protein interaction network of a taxis signal transduction system in a halophilic archaeon. BMC Microbiol 2012; 12:272. [PMID: 23171228 PMCID: PMC3579733 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-12-272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2012] [Accepted: 10/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The taxis signaling system of the extreme halophilic archaeon Halobacterium (Hbt.) salinarum differs in several aspects from its model bacterial counterparts Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. We studied the protein interactions in the Hbt. salinarum taxis signaling system to gain an understanding of its structure, to gain knowledge about its known components and to search for new members. Results The interaction analysis revealed that the core signaling proteins are involved in different protein complexes and our data provide evidence for dynamic interchanges between them. Fifteen of the eighteen taxis receptors (halobacterial transducers, Htrs) can be assigned to four different groups depending on their interactions with the core signaling proteins. Only one of these groups, which contains six of the eight Htrs with known signals, shows the composition expected for signaling complexes (receptor, kinase CheA, adaptor CheW, response regulator CheY). From the two Hbt. salinarum CheW proteins, only CheW1 is engaged in signaling complexes with Htrs and CheA, whereas CheW2 interacts with Htrs but not with CheA. CheY connects the core signaling structure to a subnetwork consisting of the two CheF proteins (which build a link to the flagellar apparatus), CheD (the hub of the subnetwork), two CheC complexes and the receptor methylesterase CheB. Conclusions Based on our findings, we propose two hypotheses. First, Hbt. salinarum might have the capability to dynamically adjust the impact of certain Htrs or Htr clusters depending on its current needs or environmental conditions. Secondly, we propose a hypothetical feedback loop from the response regulator to Htr methylation made from the CheC proteins, CheD and CheB, which might contribute to adaptation analogous to the CheC/CheD system of B. subtilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Schlesner
- Department of Membrane Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany.
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Lassak K, Ghosh A, Albers SV. Diversity, assembly and regulation of archaeal type IV pili-like and non-type-IV pili-like surface structures. Res Microbiol 2012; 163:630-44. [PMID: 23146836 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2012.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2012] [Accepted: 10/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Archaea have evolved fascinating surface structures allowing rapid adaptation to changing environments. The archaeal surface appendages display such diverse biological roles as motility, adhesion, biofilm formation, exchange of genetic material and species-specific interactions and, in turn, increase fitness of the cells. Intriguingly, despite sharing the same functions with their bacterial counterparts, the assembly mechanism of many archaeal surface structures is rather related to assembly of bacterial type IV pili. This review summarizes our state-of-the-art knowledge about unique structural and biochemical properties of archaeal surface appendages with a particular focus on archaeal type IV pili-like structures. The latter comprise not only widely distributed archaella (formerly known as archaeal flagella), but also different highly specialized archaeal pili, which are often restricted to certain species. Recent findings regarding assembly mechanisms, structural aspects and physiological roles of these type IV pili-like structures will be discussed in detail. Recently, first regulatory proteins involved in transition from both planktonic to sessile lifestyle and in assembly of archaella were identified. To conclude, we provide novel insights into regulatory mechanisms underlying the assembly of archaeal surface structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Lassak
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Molecular Biology of Archaea, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany
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Siddaramappa S, Challacombe JF, DeCastro RE, Pfeiffer F, Sastre DE, Giménez MI, Paggi RA, Detter JC, Davenport KW, Goodwin LA, Kyrpides N, Tapia R, Pitluck S, Lucas S, Woyke T, Maupin-Furlow JA. A comparative genomics perspective on the genetic content of the alkaliphilic haloarchaeon Natrialba magadii ATCC 43099T. BMC Genomics 2012; 13:165. [PMID: 22559199 PMCID: PMC3403918 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2011] [Accepted: 05/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natrialba magadii is an aerobic chemoorganotrophic member of the Euryarchaeota and is a dual extremophile requiring alkaline conditions and hypersalinity for optimal growth. The genome sequence of Nab. magadii type strain ATCC 43099 was deciphered to obtain a comprehensive insight into the genetic content of this haloarchaeon and to understand the basis of some of the cellular functions necessary for its survival. RESULTS The genome of Nab. magadii consists of four replicons with a total sequence of 4,443,643 bp and encodes 4,212 putative proteins, some of which contain peptide repeats of various lengths. Comparative genome analyses facilitated the identification of genes encoding putative proteins involved in adaptation to hypersalinity, stress response, glycosylation, and polysaccharide biosynthesis. A proton-driven ATP synthase and a variety of putative cytochromes and other proteins supporting aerobic respiration and electron transfer were encoded by one or more of Nab. magadii replicons. The genome encodes a number of putative proteases/peptidases as well as protein secretion functions. Genes encoding putative transcriptional regulators, basal transcription factors, signal perception/transduction proteins, and chemotaxis/phototaxis proteins were abundant in the genome. Pathways for the biosynthesis of thiamine, riboflavin, heme, cobalamin, coenzyme F420 and other essential co-factors were deduced by in depth sequence analyses. However, approximately 36% of Nab. magadii protein coding genes could not be assigned a function based on Blast analysis and have been annotated as encoding hypothetical or conserved hypothetical proteins. Furthermore, despite extensive comparative genomic analyses, genes necessary for survival in alkaline conditions could not be identified in Nab. magadii. CONCLUSIONS Based on genomic analyses, Nab. magadii is predicted to be metabolically versatile and it could use different carbon and energy sources to sustain growth. Nab. magadii has the genetic potential to adapt to its milieu by intracellular accumulation of inorganic cations and/or neutral organic compounds. The identification of Nab. magadii genes involved in coenzyme biosynthesis is a necessary step toward further reconstruction of the metabolic pathways in halophilic archaea and other extremophiles. The knowledge gained from the genome sequence of this haloalkaliphilic archaeon is highly valuable in advancing the applications of extremophiles and their enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jean F Challacombe
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Rosana E DeCastro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3250 4to Nivel, Mar del Plata, 7600, Argentina
| | - Friedhelm Pfeiffer
- Department of Membrane Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, D-82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Diego E Sastre
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3250 4to Nivel, Mar del Plata, 7600, Argentina
| | - María I Giménez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3250 4to Nivel, Mar del Plata, 7600, Argentina
| | - Roberto A Paggi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Funes 3250 4to Nivel, Mar del Plata, 7600, Argentina
| | - John C Detter
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Karen W Davenport
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Lynne A Goodwin
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Nikos Kyrpides
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, 94598, USA
| | - Roxanne Tapia
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Samuel Pitluck
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, 94598, USA
| | - Susan Lucas
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, 94598, USA
| | - Tanja Woyke
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, 94598, USA
| | - Julie A Maupin-Furlow
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Bldg. 981, Museum Rd., P.O. Box 110700, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0700, USA
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Lassak K, Neiner T, Ghosh A, Klingl A, Wirth R, Albers SV. Molecular analysis of the crenarchaeal flagellum. Mol Microbiol 2011; 83:110-24. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07916.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Archaeal flagellar ATPase motor shows ATP-dependent hexameric assembly and activity stimulation by specific lipid binding. Biochem J 2011; 437:43-52. [PMID: 21506936 DOI: 10.1042/bj20110410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Microbial motility frequently depends on flagella or type IV pili. Using recently developed archaeal genetic tools, archaeal flagella and its assembly machinery have been identified. Archaeal flagella are functionally similar to bacterial flagella and their assembly systems are homologous with type IV pili assembly systems of Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore elucidating their biochemistry may result in insights in both archaea and bacteria. FlaI, a critical cytoplasmic component of the archaeal flagella assembly system in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, is a member of the type II/IV secretion system ATPase superfamily, and is proposed to be bi-functional in driving flagella assembly and movement. In the present study we show that purified FlaI is a Mn2+-dependent ATPase that binds MANT-ATP [2'-/3'-O-(N'- methylanthraniloyl)adenosine-5'-O-triphosphate] with a high affinity and hydrolyses ATP in a co-operative manner. FlaI has an optimum pH and temperature of 6.5 and 75 °C for ATP hydrolysis. Remarkably, archaeal, but not bacterial, lipids stimulated the ATPase activity of FlaI 3-4-fold. Analytical gel filtration indicated that FlaI undergoes nucleotide-dependent oligomerization. Furthermore, SAXS (small-angle X-ray scattering) analysis revealed an ATP-dependent hexamerization of FlaI in solution. The results of the present study report the first detailed biochemical analyses of the motor protein of an archaeal flagellum.
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Archaeal type IV pilus-like structures—evolutionarily conserved prokaryotic surface organelles. Curr Opin Microbiol 2011; 14:357-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2011.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2011] [Revised: 03/10/2011] [Accepted: 03/11/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Abstract
Motility is a common behaviour in prokaryotes. Both bacteria and archaea use flagella for swimming motility, but it has been well documented that structures of the flagellum from these two domains of life are completely different, although they contribute to a similar function. Interestingly, information available to date has revealed that structurally archaeal flagella are more similar to bacterial type IV pili rather than to bacterial flagella. With the increasing genome sequence information and advancement in genetic tools for archaea, identification of the components involved in the assembly of the archaeal flagellum is possible. A subset of these components shows similarities to components from type IV pilus-assembly systems. Whereas the molecular players involved in assembly of the archaeal flagellum are being identified, the mechanics and dynamics of the assembly of the archaeal flagellum have yet to be established. Recent computational analysis in our laboratory has identified conserved highly charged loop regions within one of the core proteins of the flagellum, the membrane integral protein FlaJ, and predicted that these are involved in the interaction with the assembly ATPase FlaI. Interestingly, considerable variation was found among the loops of FlaJ from the two major subkingdoms of archaea, the Euryarchaeota and the Crenarchaeota. Understanding the assembly pathway and creating an interaction map of the molecular players in the archaeal flagellum will shed light on the details of the assembly and also the evolutionary relationship to the bacterial type IV pili-assembly systems.
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