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Hori H. Transfer RNA Modification Enzymes with a Thiouridine Synthetase, Methyltransferase and Pseudouridine Synthase (THUMP) Domain and the Nucleosides They Produce in tRNA. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14020382. [PMID: 36833309 PMCID: PMC9957541 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The existence of the thiouridine synthetase, methyltransferase and pseudouridine synthase (THUMP) domain was originally predicted by a bioinformatic study. Since the prediction of the THUMP domain more than two decades ago, many tRNA modification enzymes containing the THUMP domain have been identified. According to their enzymatic activity, THUMP-related tRNA modification enzymes can be classified into five types, namely 4-thiouridine synthetase, deaminase, methyltransferase, a partner protein of acetyltransferase and pseudouridine synthase. In this review, I focus on the functions and structures of these tRNA modification enzymes and the modified nucleosides they produce. Biochemical, biophysical and structural studies of tRNA 4-thiouridine synthetase, tRNA methyltransferases and tRNA deaminase have established the concept that the THUMP domain captures the 3'-end of RNA (in the case of tRNA, the CCA-terminus). However, in some cases, this concept is not simply applicable given the modification patterns observed in tRNA. Furthermore, THUMP-related proteins are involved in the maturation of other RNAs as well as tRNA. Moreover, the modified nucleosides, which are produced by the THUMP-related tRNA modification enzymes, are involved in numerous biological phenomena, and the defects of genes for human THUMP-related proteins are implicated in genetic diseases. In this review, these biological phenomena are also introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Hori
- Department of Materials Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan
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2
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Juhas M. The World of Microorganisms. BRIEF LESSONS IN MICROBIOLOGY 2023:1-16. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-29544-7_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
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3
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Wang Z, Wang L, Liu R, Li Z, Wu J, Wei X, Wei W, Fang J, Cao J, Wei Y, Xie Z. Community structure and activity potentials of archaeal communities in hadal sediments of the Mariana and Mussau trenches. MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 4:150-161. [PMID: 37073355 PMCID: PMC10077302 DOI: 10.1007/s42995-021-00105-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Hadal trenches are the least explored marine habitat on earth. Archaea has been shown to be the dominant group in trench sediments. However, the activity potentials and detailed diversity of these communities as well as their inter-trench variations are still not known. In this study, we combined datasets from two pairs of primers to investigate at high resolution the structure and activity potentials of the archaeal communities in vertically sectioned sediment cores taken from the deepest points of the Mariana (10,853 m) and Mussau (7011 m) trenches. The compositions of the potentially active communities revealed, via 16S ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) and RNA (rRNA), significant differences between samples. Marine Group I (MGI), with nine identified subgroups, was the most dominant class in the active archaeal communities of the two trenches. Significantly different species composition and vertical variations were observed between the two trenches. Vertical transitions from aerobic MGI α to anaerobic MGI η and υ subgroups were observed in MST but not in MT sediments, which might be related to the faster microbial oxygen consumption in MST. These results provide a better understanding on archaeal activity and diversity in trench sediments. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-021-00105-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixuan Wang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306 China
| | - Li Wang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306 China
| | - Rulong Liu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306 China
| | - Zhenzhen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Geological Process and Mineral Resources, Department of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074 China
| | - JiaXin Wu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306 China
| | - Xing Wei
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306 China
| | - Wenxia Wei
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306 China
| | - Jiasong Fang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306 China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237 China
- Department of Natural Sciences, Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, HI 96813 USA
| | - Junwei Cao
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306 China
| | - Yuli Wei
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306 China
| | - Zhe Xie
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306 China
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4
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Wani AK, Akhtar N, Sher F, Navarrete AA, Américo-Pinheiro JHP. Microbial adaptation to different environmental conditions: molecular perspective of evolved genetic and cellular systems. Arch Microbiol 2022; 204:144. [PMID: 35044532 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-02757-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms are ubiquitous on Earth and can inhabit almost every environment. In a complex heterogeneous environment or in face of ecological disturbance, the microbes adjust to fluctuating environmental conditions through a cascade of cellular and molecular systems. Their habitats differ from cold microcosms of Antarctica to the geothermal volcanic areas, terrestrial to marine, highly alkaline zones to the extremely acidic areas and freshwater to brackish water sources. The diverse ecological microbial niches are attributed to the versatile, adaptable nature under fluctuating temperature, nutrient availability and pH of the microorganisms. These organisms have developed a series of mechanisms to face the environmental changes and thereby keep their role in mediate important ecosystem functions. The underlying mechanisms of adaptable microbial nature are thoroughly investigated at the cellular, genetic and molecular levels. The adaptation is mediated by a spectrum of processes like natural selection, genetic recombination, horizontal gene transfer, DNA damage repair and pleiotropy-like events. This review paper provides the fundamentals insight into the microbial adaptability besides highlighting the molecular network of microbial adaptation under different environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atif Khurshid Wani
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India
| | - Nahid Akhtar
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India
| | - Farooq Sher
- Department of Engineering, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK
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5
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Chan PP, Lin BY, Mak AJ, Lowe TM. tRNAscan-SE 2.0: improved detection and functional classification of transfer RNA genes. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:9077-9096. [PMID: 34417604 PMCID: PMC8450103 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 521] [Impact Index Per Article: 173.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
tRNAscan-SE has been widely used for transfer RNA (tRNA) gene prediction for over twenty years, developed just as the first genomes were decoded. With the massive increase in quantity and phylogenetic diversity of genomes, the accurate detection and functional prediction of tRNAs has become more challenging. Utilizing a vastly larger training set, we created nearly one hundred specialized isotype- and clade-specific models, greatly improving tRNAscan-SE’s ability to identify and classify both typical and atypical tRNAs. We employ a new comparative multi-model strategy where predicted tRNAs are scored against a full set of isotype-specific covariance models, allowing functional prediction based on both the anticodon and the highest-scoring isotype model. Comparative model scoring has also enhanced the program's ability to detect tRNA-derived SINEs and other likely pseudogenes. For the first time, tRNAscan-SE also includes fast and highly accurate detection of mitochondrial tRNAs using newly developed models. Overall, tRNA detection sensitivity and specificity is improved for all isotypes, particularly those utilizing specialized models for selenocysteine and the three subtypes of tRNA genes encoding a CAU anticodon. These enhancements will provide researchers with more accurate and detailed tRNA annotation for a wider variety of tRNAs, and may direct attention to tRNAs with novel traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia P Chan
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Baskin School of Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Brian Y Lin
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Baskin School of Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Allysia J Mak
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Baskin School of Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Todd M Lowe
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Baskin School of Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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6
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Subedi BP, Martin WF, Carbone V, Duin EC, Cronin B, Sauter J, Schofield LR, Sutherland-Smith AJ, Ronimus RS. Archaeal pseudomurein and bacterial murein cell wall biosynthesis share a common evolutionary ancestry. FEMS MICROBES 2021; 2:xtab012. [PMID: 37334239 PMCID: PMC10117817 DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtab012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria near-universally contain a cell wall sacculus of murein (peptidoglycan), the synthesis of which has been intensively studied for over 50 years. In striking contrast, archaeal species possess a variety of other cell wall types, none of them closely resembling murein. Interestingly though, one type of archaeal cell wall termed pseudomurein found in the methanogen orders Methanobacteriales and Methanopyrales is a structural analogue of murein in that it contains a glycan backbone that is cross-linked by a L-amino acid peptide. Here, we present taxonomic distribution, gene cluster and phylogenetic analyses that confirm orthologues of 13 bacterial murein biosynthesis enzymes in pseudomurein-containing methanogens, most of which are distantly related to their bacterial counterparts. We also present the first structure of an archaeal pseudomurein peptide ligase from Methanothermus fervidus DSM1088 (Mfer336) to a resolution of 2.5 Å and show that it possesses a similar overall tertiary three domain structure to bacterial MurC and MurD type murein peptide ligases. Taken together the data strongly indicate that murein and pseudomurein biosynthetic pathways share a common evolutionary history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bishwa P Subedi
- AgResearch Ltd. Grasslands, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
- Massey University, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - William F Martin
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf Universitätsstraße 1, D-40225, Germany
| | - Vincenzo Carbone
- AgResearch Ltd. Grasslands, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Eduardus C Duin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Bryan Cronin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Julia Sauter
- AgResearch Ltd. Grasslands, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Linley R Schofield
- AgResearch Ltd. Grasslands, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | | | - Ron S Ronimus
- AgResearch Ltd. Grasslands, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
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7
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The reductive carboxylation activity of heterotetrameric pyruvate synthases from hyperthermophilic archaea. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 572:151-156. [PMID: 34364295 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.07.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Pyruvate synthase (pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, PFOR) catalyzes the interconversion of acetyl-CoA and pyruvate, but the reductive carboxylation activities of heterotetrameric PFORs remain largely unknown. In this study, we cloned, expressed, and purified selected six heterotetrameric PFORs from hyperthermophilic archaea. The reductive carboxylation activities of these heterotetrameric PFORs were measured at 70 °C and the ratio of reductive carboxylation activity to oxidative decarboxylation activity (red/ox ratio) were calculated. Four out of six showed reductive decarboxylation activities. Among them, the PFORpfm from Pyrolobus fumarii showed the highest reductive carboxylation activities and the highest red/ox ratio, which were 54.32 mU/mg and 0.51, respectively. The divergence of the reductive carboxylation activities and the red/ox ratios of heterotetrameric PFORs in hyperthermophilic archaea indicate the diversity of the functions of PFOR over long-term evolution. This can help us better understand the autotrophic CO2 fixation process in thermal vent, or in other CO2-rich high temperature habitat.
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8
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Zubareva VM, Lapashina AS, Shugaeva TE, Litvin AV, Feniouk BA. Rotary Ion-Translocating ATPases/ATP Synthases: Diversity, Similarities, and Differences. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2021; 85:1613-1630. [PMID: 33705299 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297920120135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Ion-translocating ATPases and ATP synthases (F-, V-, A-type ATPases, and several P-type ATPases and ABC-transporters) catalyze ATP hydrolysis or ATP synthesis coupled with the ion transport across the membrane. F-, V-, and A-ATPases are protein nanomachines that combine transmembrane transport of protons or sodium ions with ATP synthesis/hydrolysis by means of a rotary mechanism. These enzymes are composed of two multisubunit subcomplexes that rotate relative to each other during catalysis. Rotary ATPases phosphorylate/dephosphorylate nucleotides directly, without the generation of phosphorylated protein intermediates. F-type ATPases are found in chloroplasts, mitochondria, most eubacteria, and in few archaea. V-type ATPases are eukaryotic enzymes present in a variety of cellular membranes, including the plasma membrane, vacuoles, late endosomes, and trans-Golgi cisternae. A-type ATPases are found in archaea and some eubacteria. F- and A-ATPases have two main functions: ATP synthesis powered by the proton motive force (pmf) or, in some prokaryotes, sodium-motive force (smf) and generation of the pmf or smf at the expense of ATP hydrolysis. In prokaryotes, both functions may be vitally important, depending on the environment and the presence of other enzymes capable of pmf or smf generation. In eukaryotes, the primary and the most crucial function of F-ATPases is ATP synthesis. Eukaryotic V-ATPases function exclusively as ATP-dependent proton pumps that generate pmf necessary for the transmembrane transport of ions and metabolites and are vitally important for pH regulation. This review describes the diversity of rotary ion-translocating ATPases from different organisms and compares the structural, functional, and regulatory features of these enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- V M Zubareva
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - A S Lapashina
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia.,Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - T E Shugaeva
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - A V Litvin
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - B A Feniouk
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia. .,Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
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9
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Evolutionary Origins of DNA Repair Pathways: Role of Oxygen Catastrophe in the Emergence of DNA Glycosylases. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071591. [PMID: 34202661 PMCID: PMC8307549 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
It was proposed that the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) evolved under high temperatures in an oxygen-free environment, similar to those found in deep-sea vents and on volcanic slopes. Therefore, spontaneous DNA decay, such as base loss and cytosine deamination, was the major factor affecting LUCA’s genome integrity. Cosmic radiation due to Earth’s weak magnetic field and alkylating metabolic radicals added to these threats. Here, we propose that ancient forms of life had only two distinct repair mechanisms: versatile apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonucleases to cope with both AP sites and deaminated residues, and enzymes catalyzing the direct reversal of UV and alkylation damage. The absence of uracil–DNA N-glycosylases in some Archaea, together with the presence of an AP endonuclease, which can cleave uracil-containing DNA, suggests that the AP endonuclease-initiated nucleotide incision repair (NIR) pathway evolved independently from DNA glycosylase-mediated base excision repair. NIR may be a relic that appeared in an early thermophilic ancestor to counteract spontaneous DNA damage. We hypothesize that a rise in the oxygen level in the Earth’s atmosphere ~2 Ga triggered the narrow specialization of AP endonucleases and DNA glycosylases to cope efficiently with a widened array of oxidative base damage and complex DNA lesions.
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10
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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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11
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Westphal L, Litty D, Müller V. Functional production of an archaeal ATP synthase with a V-type c subunit in Escherichia coli. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 2021; 1862:148378. [PMID: 33460587 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2021.148378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
ATP synthases are the key elements of cellular bioenergetics and present in any life form and the overall structure and function of this rotary energy converter is conserved in all domains of life. However, ancestral microbes, the archaea, have a unique and huge diversity in the size and number of ion-binding sites in their membrane-embedded rotor subunit c. Due to the harsh conditions for ATP synthesis in these life forms it has never been possible to address the consequences of these unusual c subunits for ATP synthesis. Recently, we have found a Na+-dependent archaeal ATP synthase with a V-type c subunit in a mesophilic bacterium and here, we have cloned and expressed the genes in the ATP synthase-negative strain Escherichia coli DK8. The enzyme was present in membranes of E. coli DK8 and catalyzed ATP hydrolysis with a rate of 35 nmol·min-1·mg protein-1. Inverted membrane vesicles of this strain were then checked for their ability to synthesize ATP. Indeed, ATP was synthesized driven by NADH oxidation despite the V-type c subunit. ATP synthesis was dependent on Na+ and inhibited by ionophores. Most importantly, ATPase activity was inhibited by DCCD and this inhibition was relieved by addition of Na+, indicating a functional coupling of the F1 and FO domains, a prerequisite for studies on structure-function relationship. A first step in this direction was the exchange of a conserved arginine (Arg530) in the FO motor subunit a which led to loss of ATP synthesis whereas ATP hydrolysis was retained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Westphal
- Molecular Microbiology & Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Dennis Litty
- Molecular Microbiology & Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Volker Müller
- Molecular Microbiology & Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany.
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12
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Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus strain ΔH as a potential microorganism for bioconversion of CO2 to methane. J CO2 UTIL 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2020.101210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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13
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Methane, arsenic, selenium and the origins of the DMSO reductase family. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10946. [PMID: 32616801 PMCID: PMC7331816 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67892-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mononuclear molybdoenzymes of the dimethyl sulfoxide reductase (DMSOR) family catalyze a number of reactions essential to the carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, arsenic, and selenium biogeochemical cycles. These enzymes are also ancient, with many lineages likely predating the divergence of the last universal common ancestor into the Bacteria and Archaea domains. We have constructed rooted phylogenies for over 1,550 representatives of the DMSOR family using maximum likelihood methods to investigate the evolution of the arsenic biogeochemical cycle. The phylogenetic analysis provides compelling evidence that formylmethanofuran dehydrogenase B subunits, which catalyze the reduction of CO2 to formate during hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis, constitutes the most ancient lineage. Our analysis also provides robust support for selenocysteine as the ancestral ligand for the Mo/W atom. Finally, we demonstrate that anaerobic arsenite oxidase and respiratory arsenate reductase catalytic subunits represent a more ancient lineage of DMSORs compared to aerobic arsenite oxidase catalytic subunits, which evolved from the assimilatory nitrate reductase lineage. This provides substantial support for an active arsenic biogeochemical cycle on the anoxic Archean Earth. Our work emphasizes that the use of chalcophilic elements as substrates as well as the Mo/W ligand in DMSORs has indelibly shaped the diversification of these enzymes through deep time.
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14
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McKay LJ, Dlakić M, Fields MW, Delmont TO, Eren AM, Jay ZJ, Klingelsmith KB, Rusch DB, Inskeep WP. Co-occurring genomic capacity for anaerobic methane and dissimilatory sulfur metabolisms discovered in the Korarchaeota. Nat Microbiol 2019; 4:614-622. [PMID: 30833730 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0362-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Phylogenetic and geological evidence supports the hypothesis that life on Earth originated in thermal environments and conserved energy through methanogenesis or sulfur reduction. Here we describe two populations of the deeply rooted archaeal phylum Korarchaeota, which were retrieved from the metagenome of a circumneutral, suboxic hot spring that contains high levels of sulfate, sulfide, methane, hydrogen and carbon dioxide. One population is closely related to 'Candidatus Korarchaeum cryptofilum OPF8', while the more abundant korarchaeote, 'Candidatus Methanodesulfokores washburnensis', contains genes that are necessary for anaerobic methane and dissimilatory sulfur metabolisms. Phylogenetic and ancestral reconstruction analyses suggest that methane metabolism originated in the Korarchaeota, whereas genes for dissimilatory sulfite reduction were horizontally transferred to the Korarchaeota from the Firmicutes. Interactions among enzymes involved in both metabolisms could facilitate exergonic, sulfite-dependent, anaerobic oxidation of methane to methanol; alternatively, 'Ca. M. washburnensis' could conduct methanogenesis and sulfur reduction independently. Metabolic reconstruction suggests that 'Ca. M. washburnensis' is a mixotroph, capable of amino acid uptake, assimilation of methane-derived carbon and/or CO2 fixation by archaeal type III-b RuBisCO for scavenging ribose carbon. Our findings link anaerobic methane metabolism and dissimilatory sulfur reduction within a single deeply rooted archaeal population and have implications for the evolution of these traits throughout the Archaea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke J McKay
- Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA. .,Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
| | - Mensur Dlakić
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Matthew W Fields
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Tom O Delmont
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Genoscope, Évry, France
| | - A Murat Eren
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Josephine Bay Paul Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Zackary J Jay
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | | | | | - William P Inskeep
- Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA. .,Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
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15
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Functional annotation of operome from Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus ΔH: An insight to metabolic gap filling. Int J Biol Macromol 2018; 123:350-362. [PMID: 30445075 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.11.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 11/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus ΔH (MTH) is a potential methanogen known to reduce CO2 with H2 for producing methane biofuel in thermophilic digesters. The genome of this organism contains ~50.5% conserved hypothetical proteins (HPs; operome) whose function is still not determined precisely. Here, we employed a combined bioinformatics approach to annotate a precise function to HPs and categorize them as enzymes, binding proteins, and transport proteins. Results of our study show that 315 (35.6%) HPs have exhibited well-defined functions contributing imperative roles in diverse cellular metabolism. Some of them are responsible for stress-response mechanisms and cell cycle, membrane transport, and regulatory processes. The genome-neighborhood analysis found five important gene clusters (dsr, ehb, kaiC, cmr, and gas) involving in the energetic metabolism and defense systems. MTH operome contains 223 enzymes with 15 metabolic subsystems, 15 cell cycle proteins, 17 transcriptional regulators and 33 binding proteins. Functional annotation of its operome is thus more fundamental to a profound understanding of the molecular and cellular machinery at systems-level.
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Carbone V, Schofield LR, Sang C, Sutherland-Smith AJ, Ronimus RS. Structural determination of archaeal UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 4-epimerase from Methanobrevibacter ruminantium M1 in complex with the bacterial cell wall intermediate UDP-N-acetylmuramic acid. Proteins 2018; 86:1306-1312. [PMID: 30242905 DOI: 10.1002/prot.25606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Revised: 09/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The crystal structure of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 4-epimerase (UDP-GlcNAc 4-epimerase; WbpP; EC 5.1.3.7), from the archaeal methanogen Methanobrevibacter ruminantium strain M1, was determined to a resolution of 1.65 Å. The structure, with a single monomer in the crystallographic asymmetric unit, contained a conserved N-terminal Rossmann-fold for nucleotide binding and an active site positioned in the C-terminus. UDP-GlcNAc 4-epimerase is a member of the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases superfamily, sharing sequence motifs and structural elements characteristic of this family of oxidoreductases and bacterial 4-epimerases. The protein was co-crystallized with coenzyme NADH and UDP-N-acetylmuramic acid, the latter an unintended inclusion and well known product of the bacterial enzyme MurB and a critical intermediate for bacterial cell wall synthesis. This is a non-native UDP sugar amongst archaea and was most likely incorporated from the E. coli expression host during purification of the recombinant enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Carbone
- AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Linley R Schofield
- AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Carrie Sang
- AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | | | - Ron S Ronimus
- AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Hebditch M, Carballo-Amador MA, Charonis S, Curtis R, Warwicker J. Protein-Sol: a web tool for predicting protein solubility from sequence. Bioinformatics 2018; 33:3098-3100. [PMID: 28575391 PMCID: PMC5870856 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btx345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 370] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Motivation Protein solubility is an important property in industrial and therapeutic applications. Prediction is a challenge, despite a growing understanding of the relevant physicochemical properties. Results Protein–Sol is a web server for predicting protein solubility. Using available data for Escherichia coli protein solubility in a cell-free expression system, 35 sequence-based properties are calculated. Feature weights are determined from separation of low and high solubility subsets. The model returns a predicted solubility and an indication of the features which deviate most from average values. Two other properties are profiled in windowed calculation along the sequence: fold propensity, and net segment charge. The utility of these additional features is demonstrated with the example of thioredoxin. Availability and implementation The Protein–Sol webserver is available at http://protein-sol.manchester.ac.uk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Hebditch
- School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | | | - Spyros Charonis
- School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Robin Curtis
- School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Jim Warwicker
- School of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
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Kaneta A, Fujishima K, Morikazu W, Hori H, Hirata A. The RNA-splicing endonuclease from the euryarchaeaon Methanopyrus kandleri is a heterotetramer with constrained substrate specificity. Nucleic Acids Res 2018; 46:1958-1972. [PMID: 29346615 PMCID: PMC5829648 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Revised: 12/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Four different types (α4, α'2, (αβ)2 and ϵ2) of RNA-splicing endonucleases (EndAs) for RNA processing are known to exist in the Archaea. Only the (αβ)2 and ϵ2 types can cleave non-canonical introns in precursor (pre)-tRNA. Both enzyme types possess an insert associated with a specific loop, allowing broad substrate specificity in the catalytic α units. Here, the hyperthermophilic euryarchaeon Methanopyrus kandleri (MKA) was predicted to harbor an (αβ)2-type EndA lacking the specific loop. To characterize MKA EndA enzymatic activity, we constructed a fusion protein derived from MKA α and β subunits (fMKA EndA). In vitro assessment demonstrated complete removal of the canonical bulge-helix-bulge (BHB) intron structure from MKA pre-tRNAAsn. However, removal of the relaxed BHB structure in MKA pre-tRNAGlu was inefficient compared to crenarchaeal (αβ)2 EndA, and the ability to process the relaxed intron within mini-helix RNA was not detected. fMKA EndA X-ray structure revealed a shape similar to that of other EndA types, with no specific loop. Mapping of EndA types and their specific loops and the tRNA gene diversity among various Archaea suggest that MKA EndA is evolutionarily related to other (αβ)2-type EndAs found in the Thaumarchaeota, Crenarchaeota and Aigarchaeota but uniquely represents constrained substrate specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayano Kaneta
- Department of Materials Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Kosuke Fujishima
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Wataru Morikazu
- Department of Materials Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Hori
- Department of Materials Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Akira Hirata
- Department of Materials Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
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Yu Z, Ma Y, Zhong W, Qiu J, Li J. Comparative Genomics of Methanopyrus sp. SNP6 and KOL6 Revealing Genomic Regions of Plasticity Implicated in Extremely Thermophilic Profiles. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1278. [PMID: 28744269 PMCID: PMC5504354 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Methanopyrus spp. are usually isolated from harsh niches, such as high osmotic pressure and extreme temperature. However, the molecular mechanisms for their environmental adaption are poorly understood. Archaeal species is commonly considered as primitive organism. The evolutional placement of archaea is a fundamental and intriguing scientific question. We sequenced the genomes of Methanopyrus strains SNP6 and KOL6 isolated from the Atlantic and Iceland, respectively. Comparative genomic analysis revealed genetic diversity and instability implicated in niche adaption, including a number of transporter- and integrase/transposase-related genes. Pan-genome analysis also defined the gene pool of Methanopyrus spp., in addition of ~120-Kb genomic region of plasticity impacting cognate genomic architecture. We believe that Methanopyrus genomics could facilitate efficient investigation/recognition of archaeal phylogenetic diverse patterns, as well as improve understanding of biological roles and significance of these versatile microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiliang Yu
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of TechnologyHangzhou, China
| | - Yunting Ma
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of TechnologyHangzhou, China
| | - Weihong Zhong
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of TechnologyHangzhou, China
| | - Juanping Qiu
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of TechnologyHangzhou, China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of TechnologyHangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai, China
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Zafrir Z, Tuller T. Unsupervised detection of regulatory gene expression information in different genomic regions enables gene expression ranking. BMC Bioinformatics 2017; 18:77. [PMID: 28143396 PMCID: PMC5286865 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-017-1497-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The regulation of all gene expression steps (e.g., Transcription, RNA processing, Translation, and mRNA Degradation) is known to be primarily encoded in different parts of genes and in genomic regions in proximity to genes (e.g., promoters, untranslated regions, coding regions, introns, etc.). However, the entire gene expression codes and the genomic regions where they are encoded are still unknown. Results Here, we employ an unsupervised approach to estimate the concentration of gene expression codes in different non-coding parts of genes and transcripts, such as introns and untranslated regions, focusing on three model organisms (Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Schizosaccharomyces pombe). Our analyses support the conjecture that regions adjacent to the beginning and end of ORFs and the beginning and end of introns tend to include higher concentration of gene expression information relatively to regions further away. In addition, we report the exact regions with elevated concentration of gene expression codes. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the concentration of these codes in different genetic regions is correlated with the expression levels of the corresponding genes, and with splicing efficiency measurements and meiotic stage gene expression measurements in S. cerevisiae. Conclusion We suggest that these discoveries improve our understanding of gene expression regulation and evolution; they can also be used for developing improved models of genome/gene evolution and for engineering gene expression in various biotechnological and synthetic biology applications. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12859-017-1497-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohar Zafrir
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Tamir Tuller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel. .,Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel.
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21
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Coevolution Theory of the Genetic Code at Age Forty: Pathway to Translation and Synthetic Life. Life (Basel) 2016; 6:life6010012. [PMID: 26999216 PMCID: PMC4810243 DOI: 10.3390/life6010012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Revised: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The origins of the components of genetic coding are examined in the present study. Genetic information arose from replicator induction by metabolite in accordance with the metabolic expansion law. Messenger RNA and transfer RNA stemmed from a template for binding the aminoacyl-RNA synthetase ribozymes employed to synthesize peptide prosthetic groups on RNAs in the Peptidated RNA World. Coevolution of the genetic code with amino acid biosynthesis generated tRNA paralogs that identify a last universal common ancestor (LUCA) of extant life close to Methanopyrus, which in turn points to archaeal tRNA introns as the most primitive introns and the anticodon usage of Methanopyrus as an ancient mode of wobble. The prediction of the coevolution theory of the genetic code that the code should be a mutable code has led to the isolation of optional and mandatory synthetic life forms with altered protein alphabets.
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Archaeal Clusters of Orthologous Genes (arCOGs): An Update and Application for Analysis of Shared Features between Thermococcales, Methanococcales, and Methanobacteriales. Life (Basel) 2015; 5:818-40. [PMID: 25764277 PMCID: PMC4390880 DOI: 10.3390/life5010818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Revised: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
With the continuously accelerating genome sequencing from diverse groups of archaea and bacteria, accurate identification of gene orthology and availability of readily expandable clusters of orthologous genes are essential for the functional annotation of new genomes. We report an update of the collection of archaeal Clusters of Orthologous Genes (arCOGs) to cover, on average, 91% of the protein-coding genes in 168 archaeal genomes. The new arCOGs were constructed using refined algorithms for orthology identification combined with extensive manual curation, including incorporation of the results of several completed and ongoing research projects in archaeal genomics. A new level of classification is introduced, superclusters that unit two or more arCOGs and more completely reflect gene family evolution than individual, disconnected arCOGs. Assessment of the current archaeal genome annotation in public databases indicates that consistent use of arCOGs can significantly improve the annotation quality. In addition to their utility for genome annotation, arCOGs also are a platform for phylogenomic analysis. We explore this aspect of arCOGs by performing a phylogenomic study of the Thermococci that are traditionally viewed as the basal branch of the Euryarchaeota. The results of phylogenomic analysis that involved both comparison of multiple phylogenetic trees and a search for putative derived shared characters by using phyletic patterns extracted from the arCOGs reveal a likely evolutionary relationship between the Thermococci, Methanococci, and Methanobacteria. The arCOGs are expected to be instrumental for a comprehensive phylogenomic study of the archaea.
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Harel A, Karkar S, Cheng S, Falkowski P, Bhattacharya D. Deciphering Primordial Cyanobacterial Genome Functions from Protein Network Analysis. Curr Biol 2015; 25:628-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.12.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2014] [Revised: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Li J, Wong CF, Wong MT, Huang H, Leung FC. Modularized evolution in archaeal methanogens phylogenetic forest. Genome Biol Evol 2014; 6:3344-59. [PMID: 25502908 PMCID: PMC4986457 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evu259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Methanogens are methane-producing archaea that plays a key role in the global carbon cycle. To date, the evolutionary history of methanogens and closely related nonmethanogen species remains unresolved among studies conducted upon different genetic markers, attributing to horizontal gene transfers (HGTs). With an effort to decipher both congruent and conflicting evolutionary events, reconstruction of coevolved gene clusters and hierarchical structure in the archaeal methanogen phylogenetic forest, comprehensive evolution, and network analyses were performed upon 3,694 gene families from 41 methanogens and 33 closely related archaea. Our results show that 1) greater than 50% of genes are in topological dissonance with others; 2) the prevalent interorder HGTs, even for core genes, in methanogen genomes led to their scrambled phylogenetic relationships; 3) most methanogenesis-related genes have experienced at least one HGT; 4) greater than 20% of the genes in methanogen genomes were transferred horizontally from other archaea, with genes involved in cell-wall synthesis and defense system having been transferred most frequently; 5) the coevolution network contains seven statistically robust modules, wherein the central module has the highest average node strength and comprises a majority of the core genes; 6) different coevolutionary module genes boomed in different time and evolutionary lineage, constructing diversified pan-genome structures; 7) the modularized evolution is also closely related to the vertical evolution signals and the HGT rate of the genes. Overall, this study presented a modularized phylogenetic forest that describes a combination of complicated vertical and nonvertical evolutionary processes for methanogenic archaeal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi-Fat Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, China School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Mabel Ting Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, China Present address: Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - He Huang
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Japan
| | - Frederick C Leung
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong, China Bioinformatics Center, Nanjing Agricultural University, People's Republic of China
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One-carbon metabolic pathway rewiring in Escherichia coli reveals an evolutionary advantage of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (Fhs) in survival under hypoxia. J Bacteriol 2014; 197:717-26. [PMID: 25448816 DOI: 10.1128/jb.02365-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In cells, N(10)-formyltetrahydrofolate (N(10)-fTHF) is required for formylation of eubacterial/organellar initiator tRNA and purine nucleotide biosynthesis. Biosynthesis of N(10)-fTHF is catalyzed by 5,10-methylene-tetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase/cyclohydrolase (FolD) and/or 10-formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (Fhs). All eubacteria possess FolD, but some possess both FolD and Fhs. However, the reasons for possessing Fhs in addition to FolD have remained unclear. We used Escherichia coli, which naturally lacks fhs, as our model. We show that in E. coli, the essential function of folD could be replaced by Clostridium perfringens fhs when it was provided on a medium-copy-number plasmid or integrated as a single-copy gene in the chromosome. The fhs-supported folD deletion (ΔfolD) strains grow well in a complex medium. However, these strains require purines and glycine as supplements for growth in M9 minimal medium. The in vivo levels of N(10)-fTHF in the ΔfolD strain (supported by plasmid-borne fhs) were limiting despite the high capacity of the available Fhs to synthesize N(10)-fTHF in vitro. Auxotrophy for purines could be alleviated by supplementing formate to the medium, and that for glycine was alleviated by engineering THF import into the cells. The ΔfolD strain (harboring fhs on the chromosome) showed a high NADP(+)-to-NADPH ratio and hypersensitivity to trimethoprim. The presence of fhs in E. coli was disadvantageous for its aerobic growth. However, under hypoxia, E. coli strains harboring fhs outcompeted those lacking it. The computational analysis revealed a predominant natural occurrence of fhs in anaerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria.
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26
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Cheng S, Karkar S, Bapteste E, Yee N, Falkowski P, Bhattacharya D. Sequence similarity network reveals the imprints of major diversification events in the evolution of microbial life. Front Ecol Evol 2014. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2014.00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
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Characterization of the frhAGB-encoding hydrogenase from a non-methanogenic hyperthermophilic archaeon. Extremophiles 2014; 19:109-18. [PMID: 25142159 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-014-0689-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The F420-reducing hydrogenase has been known as a key enzyme in methanogenesis. Its homologs have been identified in non-methanogenic hyperthermophilic archaea, including Thermococcus onnurineus NA1, but neither physiological function nor biochemical properties have been reported to date. The enzyme of T. onnurineus NA1 was distinguished from those of other methanogens and the members of the family Desulfurobacteriaceae with respect to the phylogenetic distribution of the α and β subunits, organization of frhAGB genes and conservation of F420-coordinating residues. RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses revealed frhA gene is not silent but is expressed in T. onnurineus NA1 grown in the presence of sulfur, carbon monoxide, or formate. The trimeric enzyme complex was purified to homogeneity via affinity chromatography from T. onnurineus NA1 and exhibited catalytic activity toward the electron acceptors such as viologens and flavins but not the deazaflavin coenzyme F420. This is the first biochemical study on the function of the frhAGB-encoding enzyme from a non-methanogenic archaea.
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Mayer F, Müller V. Adaptations of anaerobic archaea to life under extreme energy limitation. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2014; 38:449-72. [DOI: 10.1111/1574-6976.12043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2013] [Revised: 08/30/2013] [Accepted: 09/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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General Characteristics and Important Model Organisms. ARCHAEA-AN INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2014. [DOI: 10.1128/9781555815516.ch2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Crystal structure of Arabidopsis glutamyl-tRNA reductase in complex with its stimulator protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:6630-5. [PMID: 24753615 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1400166111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tetrapyrrole biosynthesis in plants, algae, and most bacteria starts from the NADPH-dependent reduction of glutamyl-tRNA by glutamyl-tRNA reductase (GluTR). The GluTR-catalyzed reaction is the rate-limiting step, and GluTR is the target of multiple posttranslational regulations, such as heme feedback inhibition, for the tetrapyrrole biosynthetic pathway. A recently identified GluTR regulator, GluTR binding protein (GluBP), has been shown to spatially organize tetrapyrrole synthesis by distributing GluTR into different suborganellar locations. Here we report the complex structure of GluTR-GluBP from Arabidopsis thaliana. The dimeric GluBP binds symmetrically to the catalytic domains of the V-shaped GluTR dimer via its C-terminal domain. A substantial conformational change of the GluTR NADPH-binding domain is observed, confirming the postulated rotation of the NADPH-binding domain for hydride transfer from NADPH to the substrate. Arg146, "guarding the door" for metabolic channeling, adopts alternative conformations, which may represent steps involved in substrate recognition and product release. A coupled enzyme assay shows that GluBP stimulates GluTR catalytic efficiency with an approximate threefold increase of the 5-aminolevulinic acid formation rate. In addition, the GluTR activity can be inhibited by heme in a concentration-dependent way regardless of the presence of GluBP. A structural alignment indicates that GluBP belongs to a heme-binding family involved in heme metabolism. We propose a catalytic mechanism model for GluTR, through which photosynthetic organisms can achieve precise regulation of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis.
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Grüber G, Manimekalai MSS, Mayer F, Müller V. ATP synthases from archaea: the beauty of a molecular motor. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 2014; 1837:940-52. [PMID: 24650628 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2014.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2013] [Revised: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Archaea live under different environmental conditions, such as high salinity, extreme pHs and cold or hot temperatures. How energy is conserved under such harsh environmental conditions is a major question in cellular bioenergetics of archaea. The key enzymes in energy conservation are the archaeal A1AO ATP synthases, a class of ATP synthases distinct from the F1FO ATP synthase ATP synthase found in bacteria, mitochondria and chloroplasts and the V1VO ATPases of eukaryotes. A1AO ATP synthases have distinct structural features such as a collar-like structure, an extended central stalk, and two peripheral stalks possibly stabilizing the A1AO ATP synthase during rotation in ATP synthesis/hydrolysis at high temperatures as well as to provide the storage of transient elastic energy during ion-pumping and ATP synthesis/-hydrolysis. High resolution structures of individual subunits and subcomplexes have been obtained in recent years that shed new light on the function and mechanism of this unique class of ATP synthases. An outstanding feature of archaeal A1AO ATP synthases is their diversity in size of rotor subunits and the coupling ion used for ATP synthesis with H(+), Na(+) or even H(+) and Na(+) using enzymes. The evolution of the H(+) binding site to a Na(+) binding site and its implications for the energy metabolism and physiology of the cell are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard Grüber
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Republic of Singapore.
| | | | - Florian Mayer
- Molecular Microbiology & Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Volker Müller
- Molecular Microbiology & Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany.
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Genetic manipulations of the hyperthermophilic piezophilic archaeon Thermococcus barophilus. Appl Environ Microbiol 2014; 80:2299-306. [PMID: 24487541 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00084-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we developed a gene disruption system for Thermococcus barophilus using simvastatin for positive selection and 5-fluoroorotic acid (5-FOA) for negative selection or counterselection to obtain markerless deletion mutants using single- and double-crossover events. Disruption plasmids carrying flanking regions of each targeted gene were constructed and introduced by transformation into wild-type T. barophilus MP cells. Initially, a pyrF deletion mutant was obtained as a starting point for the construction of further markerless mutants. A deletion of the hisB gene was also constructed in the UBOCC-3256 (ΔpyrF) background, generating a strain (UBOCC-3260) that was auxotrophic for histidine. A functional pyrF or hisB allele from T. barophilus was inserted into the chromosome of UBOCC-3256 (ΔpyrF) or UBOCC-3260 (ΔpyrF ΔhisB), allowing homologous complementation of these mutants. The piezophilic genetic tools developed in this study provide a way to construct strains with multiple genetic backgrounds that will allow further genetic studies for hyperthermophilic piezophilic archaea.
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Maus I, Wibberg D, Stantscheff R, Cibis K, Eikmeyer FG, König H, Pühler A, Schlüter A. Complete genome sequence of the hydrogenotrophic Archaeon Methanobacterium sp. Mb1 isolated from a production-scale biogas plant. J Biotechnol 2013; 168:734-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2013.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2013] [Accepted: 10/09/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Predominant Acidilobus-like populations from geothermal environments in yellowstone national park exhibit similar metabolic potential in different hypoxic microbial communities. Appl Environ Microbiol 2013; 80:294-305. [PMID: 24162572 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02860-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
High-temperature (>70°C) ecosystems in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) provide an unparalleled opportunity to study chemotrophic archaea and their role in microbial community structure and function under highly constrained geochemical conditions. Acidilobus spp. (order Desulfurococcales) comprise one of the dominant phylotypes in hypoxic geothermal sulfur sediment and Fe(III)-oxide environments along with members of the Thermoproteales and Sulfolobales. Consequently, the primary goals of the current study were to analyze and compare replicate de novo sequence assemblies of Acidilobus-like populations from four different mildly acidic (pH 3.3 to 6.1) high-temperature (72°C to 82°C) environments and to identify metabolic pathways and/or protein-encoding genes that provide a detailed foundation of the potential functional role of these populations in situ. De novo assemblies of the highly similar Acidilobus-like populations (>99% 16S rRNA gene identity) represent near-complete consensus genomes based on an inventory of single-copy genes, deduced metabolic potential, and assembly statistics generated across sites. Functional analysis of coding sequences and confirmation of gene transcription by Acidilobus-like populations provide evidence that they are primarily chemoorganoheterotrophs, generating acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) via the degradation of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, and auxotrophic with respect to several external vitamins, cofactors, and metabolites. No obvious pathways or protein-encoding genes responsible for the dissimilatory reduction of sulfur were identified. The presence of a formate dehydrogenase (Fdh) and other protein-encoding genes involved in mixed-acid fermentation supports the hypothesis that Acidilobus spp. function as degraders of complex organic constituents in high-temperature, mildly acidic, hypoxic geothermal systems.
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36
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Su AAH, Tripp V, Randau L. RNA-Seq analyses reveal the order of tRNA processing events and the maturation of C/D box and CRISPR RNAs in the hyperthermophile Methanopyrus kandleri. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 41:6250-8. [PMID: 23620296 PMCID: PMC3695527 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2013] [Revised: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 04/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The methanogenic archaeon Methanopyrus kandleri grows near the upper temperature limit for life. Genome analyses revealed strategies to adapt to these harsh conditions and elucidated a unique transfer RNA (tRNA) C-to-U editing mechanism at base 8 for 30 different tRNA species. Here, RNA-Seq deep sequencing methodology was combined with computational analyses to characterize the small RNome of this hyperthermophilic organism and to obtain insights into the RNA metabolism at extreme temperatures. A large number of 132 small RNAs were identified that guide RNA modifications, which are expected to stabilize structured RNA molecules. The C/D box guide RNAs were shown to exist as circular RNA molecules. In addition, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats RNA processing and potential regulatory RNAs were identified. Finally, the identification of tRNA precursors before and after the unique C8-to-U8 editing activity enabled the determination of the order of tRNA processing events with termini truncation preceding intron removal. This order of tRNA maturation follows the compartmentalized tRNA processing order found in Eukaryotes and suggests its conservation during evolution.
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MESH Headings
- Euryarchaeota/genetics
- Euryarchaeota/metabolism
- High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
- Hot Temperature
- Inverted Repeat Sequences
- RNA Editing
- RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional
- RNA, Archaeal/chemistry
- RNA, Archaeal/classification
- RNA, Archaeal/metabolism
- RNA, Small Untranslated/chemistry
- RNA, Small Untranslated/classification
- RNA, Small Untranslated/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer/chemistry
- RNA, Transfer/metabolism
- Sequence Analysis, RNA
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas A. H. Su
- Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Max Planck Research Group: Prokaryotic Small RNA Biology, Karl-von-Frisch Strasse 10, 35037 Marburg, Germany and LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (Synmikro), 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Vanessa Tripp
- Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Max Planck Research Group: Prokaryotic Small RNA Biology, Karl-von-Frisch Strasse 10, 35037 Marburg, Germany and LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (Synmikro), 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Lennart Randau
- Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Max Planck Research Group: Prokaryotic Small RNA Biology, Karl-von-Frisch Strasse 10, 35037 Marburg, Germany and LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (Synmikro), 35037 Marburg, Germany
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37
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Characterization of the methanogen community in a household anaerobic digester fed with swine manure in China. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2013; 97:8163-71. [PMID: 23649353 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-013-4957-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2013] [Revised: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Household anaerobic digesters have been installed across rural China for biogas production, but information on methanogen community structure in these small biogas units is sparsely available. By creating clone libraries for 16S rRNA and methyl coenzyme M reductase alpha subunit (mcrA) genes, we investigated the methanogenic consortia in a household biogas digester treating swine manure. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were defined by comparative sequence analysis, seven OTUs were identified in the 16S rRNA gene library, and ten OTUs were identified in the mcrA gene library. Both libraries were dominated by clones highly related to the type strain Methanocorpusculum labreanum Z, 64.0 % for 16S rRNA gene clones and 64.3 % for mcrA gene clones. Additionally, gas chromatography assays showed that formic acid was 84.54 % of the total volatile fatty acids and methane was 57.20 % of the biogas composition. Our results may help further isolation and characterization of methanogenic starter strains for industrial biogas production.
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Nolla-Ardèvol V, Strous M, Sorokin DY, Merkel AY, Tegetmeyer HE. Activity and diversity of haloalkaliphilic methanogens in Central Asian soda lakes. J Biotechnol 2012; 161:167-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2012.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2011] [Revised: 04/05/2012] [Accepted: 04/10/2012] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Mayer F, Leone V, Langer JD, Faraldo-Gómez JD, Müller V. A c subunit with four transmembrane helices and one ion (Na+)-binding site in an archaeal ATP synthase: implications for c ring function and structure. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:39327-37. [PMID: 23007388 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.411223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The ion-driven membrane rotors of ATP synthases consist of multiple copies of subunit c, forming a closed ring. Subunit c typically comprises two transmembrane helices, and the c ring features an ion-binding site in between each pair of adjacent subunits. Here, we use experimental and computational methods to study the structure and specificity of an archaeal c subunit more akin to those of V-type ATPases, namely that from Pyrococcus furiosus. The c subunit was purified by chloroform/methanol extraction and determined to be 15.8 kDa with four predicted transmembrane helices. However, labeling with DCCD as well as Na(+)-DCCD competition experiments revealed only one binding site for DCCD and Na(+), indicating that the mature c subunit of this A(1)A(O) ATP synthase is indeed of the V-type. A structural model generated computationally revealed one Na(+)-binding site within each of the c subunits, mediated by a conserved glutamate side chain alongside other coordinating groups. An intriguing second glutamate located in-between adjacent c subunits was ruled out as a functional Na(+)-binding site. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the c ring of P. furiosus is highly Na(+)-specific under in vivo conditions, comparable with the Na(+)-dependent V(1)V(O) ATPase from Enterococcus hirae. Interestingly, the same holds true for the c ring from the methanogenic archaeon Methanobrevibacter ruminantium, whose c subunits also feature a V-type architecture but carry two Na(+)-binding sites instead. These findings are discussed in light of their physiological relevance and with respect to the mode of ion coupling in A(1)A(O) ATP synthases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Mayer
- Molecular Microbiology & Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
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40
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Susanti D, Mukhopadhyay B. An intertwined evolutionary history of methanogenic archaea and sulfate reduction. PLoS One 2012; 7:e45313. [PMID: 23028926 PMCID: PMC3448663 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2011] [Accepted: 08/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis and dissimilatory sulfate reduction, two of the oldest energy conserving respiratory systems on Earth, apparently could not have evolved in the same host, as sulfite, an intermediate of sulfate reduction, inhibits methanogenesis. However, certain methanogenic archaea metabolize sulfite employing a deazaflavin cofactor (F(420))-dependent sulfite reductase (Fsr) where N- and C-terminal halves (Fsr-N and Fsr-C) are homologs of F(420)H(2) dehydrogenase and dissimilatory sulfite reductase (Dsr), respectively. From genome analysis we found that Fsr was likely assembled from freestanding Fsr-N homologs and Dsr-like proteins (Dsr-LP), both being abundant in methanogens. Dsr-LPs fell into two groups defined by following sequence features: Group I (simplest), carrying a coupled siroheme-[Fe(4)-S(4)] cluster and sulfite-binding Arg/Lys residues; Group III (most complex), with group I features, a Dsr-type peripheral [Fe(4)-S(4)] cluster and an additional [Fe(4)-S(4)] cluster. Group II Dsr-LPs with group I features and a Dsr-type peripheral [Fe(4)-S(4)] cluster were proposed as evolutionary intermediates. Group III is the precursor of Fsr-C. The freestanding Fsr-N homologs serve as F(420)H(2) dehydrogenase unit of a putative novel glutamate synthase, previously described membrane-bound electron transport system in methanogens and of assimilatory type sulfite reductases in certain haloarchaea. Among archaea, only methanogens carried Dsr-LPs. They also possessed homologs of sulfate activation and reduction enzymes. This suggested a shared evolutionary history for methanogenesis and sulfate reduction, and Dsr-LPs could have been the source of the oldest (3.47-Gyr ago) biologically produced sulfide deposit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dwi Susanti
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
- Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Ph.D Program, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Biswarup Mukhopadhyay
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
- Departments of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
- Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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41
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Roy Chowdhury A, Dutta C. A pursuit of lineage-specific and niche-specific proteome features in the world of archaea. BMC Genomics 2012; 13:236. [PMID: 22691113 PMCID: PMC3416665 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2012] [Accepted: 06/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Archaea evoke interest among researchers for two enigmatic characteristics –a combination of bacterial and eukaryotic components in their molecular architectures and an enormous diversity in their life-style and metabolic capabilities. Despite considerable research efforts, lineage- specific/niche-specific molecular features of the whole archaeal world are yet to be fully unveiled. The study offers the first large-scale in silico proteome analysis of all archaeal species of known genome sequences with a special emphasis on methanogenic and sulphur-metabolising archaea. Results Overall amino acid usage in archaea is dominated by GC-bias. But the environmental factors like oxygen requirement or thermal adaptation seem to play important roles in selection of residues with no GC-bias at the codon level. All methanogens, irrespective of their thermal/salt adaptation, show higher usage of Cys and have relatively acidic proteomes, while the proteomes of sulphur-metabolisers have higher aromaticity and more positive charges. Despite of exhibiting thermophilic life-style, korarchaeota possesses an acidic proteome. Among the distinct trends prevailing in COGs (Cluster of Orthologous Groups of proteins) distribution profiles, crenarchaeal organisms display higher intra-order variations in COGs repertoire, especially in the metabolic ones, as compared to euryarchaea. All methanogens are characterised by a presence of 22 exclusive COGs. Conclusions Divergences in amino acid usage, aromaticity/charge profiles and COG repertoire among methanogens and sulphur-metabolisers, aerobic and anaerobic archaea or korarchaeota and nanoarchaeota, as elucidated in the present study, point towards the presence of distinct molecular strategies for niche specialization in the archaeal world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anindya Roy Chowdhury
- Structural Biology & Bioinformatics Division, CSIR Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700032, India
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Pavlov AR, Pavlova NV, Kozyavkin SA, Slesarev AI. Cooperation between catalytic and DNA binding domains enhances thermostability and supports DNA synthesis at higher temperatures by thermostable DNA polymerases. Biochemistry 2012; 51:2032-43. [PMID: 22320201 DOI: 10.1021/bi2014807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We have previously introduced a general kinetic approach for comparative study of processivity, thermostability, and resistance to inhibitors of DNA polymerases [Pavlov, A. R., et al. (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.99, 13510-13515]. The proposed method was successfully applied to characterize hybrid DNA polymerases created by fusing catalytic DNA polymerase domains with various sequence-nonspecific DNA binding domains. Here we use the developed kinetic analysis to assess basic parameters of DNA elongation by DNA polymerases and to further study the interdomain interactions in both previously constructed and new chimeric DNA polymerases. We show that connecting helix-hairpin-helix (HhH) domains to catalytic polymerase domains can increase thermostability, not only of DNA polymerases from extremely thermophilic species but also of the enzyme from a faculatative thermophilic bacterium Bacillus stearothermophilus. We also demonstrate that addition of Topo V HhH domains extends efficient DNA synthesis by chimerical polymerases up to 105 °C by maintaining processivity of DNA synthesis at high temperatures. We found that reversible high-temperature structural transitions in DNA polymerases decrease the rates of binding of these enzymes to the templates. Furthermore, activation energies and pre-exponential factors of the Arrhenius equation suggest that the mechanism of electrostatic enhancement of diffusion-controlled association plays a minor role in binding of templates to DNA polymerases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey R Pavlov
- Fidelity Systems, Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879, United States.
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43
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Li PY, Xie BB, Zhang XY, Qin QL, Dang HY, Wang XM, Chen XL, Yu J, Zhang YZ. Genetic structure of three fosmid-fragments encoding 16S rRNA genes of the Miscellaneous Crenarchaeotic Group (MCG): implications for physiology and evolution of marine sedimentary archaea. Environ Microbiol 2011; 14:467-79. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2011.02637.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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44
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Nakashima H, Kuroda Y. Differences in dinucleotide frequencies of thermophilic genes encoding water soluble and membrane proteins. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2011; 12:419-27. [PMID: 21634034 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b1000331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The occurrence frequencies of the dinucleotides of genes of three thermophilic and three mesophilic species from both archaea and eubacteria were investigated in this study. The genes encoding water soluble proteins were rich in the dinucleotides of purine dimers, whereas the genes encoding membrane proteins were rich in pyrimidine dimers. The dinucleotides of purine dimers are the counterparts of pyrimidine dimers in a double-stranded DNA. The purine/pyrimidine dimers were favored in the thermophiles but not in the mesophiles, based on comparisons of observed and expected frequencies. This finding is in agreement with our previous study which showed that purine/pyrimidine dimers are positive factors that increase the thermal stability of DNA. The dinucleotides AA, AG, and GA are components of the codons of charged residues of Glu, Asp, Lys, and Arg, and the dinucleotides TT, CT, and TC are components of the codons of hydrophobic residues of Leu, Ile, and Phe. This is consistent with the suitabilities of the different amino acid residues for water soluble and membrane proteins. Our analysis provides a picture of how thermophilic species produce water soluble and membrane proteins with distinctive characters: the genes encoding water soluble proteins use DNA sequences rich in purine dimers, and the genes encoding membrane proteins use DNA sequences rich in pyrimidine dimers on the opposite strand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Nakashima
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Graduate Course of Medical Science and Technology, School of Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, 5-11-80 Kodatsuno, Kanazawa 920-0942, Japan.
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Genome and proteome of Campylobacter jejuni bacteriophage NCTC 12673. Appl Environ Microbiol 2011; 77:8265-71. [PMID: 21965409 DOI: 10.1128/aem.05562-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni continues to be the leading cause of bacterial food-borne illness worldwide, so improvements to current methods used for bacterial detection and disease prevention are needed. We describe here the genome and proteome of C. jejuni bacteriophage NCTC 12673 and the exploitation of its receptor-binding protein for specific bacterial detection. Remarkably, the 135-kb Myoviridae genome of NCTC 12673 differs greatly from any other proteobacterial phage genome described (including C. jejuni phages CP220 and CPt10) and instead shows closest homology to the cyanobacterial T4-related myophages. The phage genome contains 172 putative open reading frames, including 12 homing endonucleases, no visible means of packaging, and a putative trans-splicing intein. The phage DNA appears to be strongly associated with a protein that interfered with PCR amplification and estimation of the phage genome mass by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Identification and analyses of the receptor-binding protein (Gp48) revealed features common to the Salmonella enterica P22 phage tailspike protein, including the ability to specifically recognize a host organism. Bacteriophage receptor-binding proteins may offer promising alternatives for use in pathogen detection platforms.
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46
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Su AAH, Randau L. A-to-I and C-to-U editing within transfer RNAs. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2011; 76:932-7. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006297911080098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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47
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Genome sequence of a mesophilic hydrogenotrophic methanogen Methanocella paludicola, the first cultivated representative of the order Methanocellales. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22898. [PMID: 21829548 PMCID: PMC3146512 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2011] [Accepted: 07/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We report complete genome sequence of a mesophilic hydrogenotrophic methanogen Methanocella paludicola, the first cultured representative of the order Methanocellales once recognized as an uncultured key archaeal group for methane emission in rice fields. The genome sequence of M. paludicola consists of a single circular chromosome of 2,957,635 bp containing 3004 protein-coding sequences (CDS). Genes for most of the functions known in the methanogenic archaea were identified, e.g. a full complement of hydrogenases and methanogenesis enzymes. The mixotrophic growth of M. paludicola was clarified by the genomic characterization and re-examined by the subsequent growth experiments. Comparative genome analysis with the previously reported genome sequence of RC-IMRE50, which was metagenomically reconstructed, demonstrated that about 70% of M. paludicola CDSs were genetically related with RC-IMRE50 CDSs. These CDSs included the genes involved in hydrogenotrophic methane production, incomplete TCA cycle, assimilatory sulfate reduction and so on. However, the genetic components for the carbon and nitrogen fixation and antioxidant system were different between the two Methanocellales genomes. The difference is likely associated with the physiological variability between M. paludicola and RC-IMRE50, further suggesting the genomic and physiological diversity of the Methanocellales methanogens. Comparative genome analysis among the previously determined methanogen genomes points to the genome-wide relatedness of the Methanocellales methanogens to the orders Methanosarcinales and Methanomicrobiales methanogens in terms of the genetic repertoire. Meanwhile, the unique evolutionary history of the Methanocellales methanogens is also traced in an aspect by the comparative genome analysis among the methanogens.
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Yoon SH, Reiss DJ, Bare JC, Tenenbaum D, Pan M, Slagel J, Moritz RL, Lim S, Hackett M, Menon AL, Adams MWW, Barnebey A, Yannone SM, Leigh JA, Baliga NS. Parallel evolution of transcriptome architecture during genome reorganization. Genome Res 2011; 21:1892-904. [PMID: 21750103 DOI: 10.1101/gr.122218.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Assembly of genes into operons is generally viewed as an important process during the continual adaptation of microbes to changing environmental challenges. However, the genome reorganization events that drive this process are also the roots of instability for existing operons. We have determined that there exists a statistically significant trend that correlates the proportion of genes encoded in operons in archaea to their phylogenetic lineage. We have further characterized how microbes deal with operon instability by mapping and comparing transcriptome architectures of four phylogenetically diverse extremophiles that span the range of operon stabilities observed across archaeal lineages: a photoheterotrophic halophile (Halobacterium salinarum NRC-1), a hydrogenotrophic methanogen (Methanococcus maripaludis S2), an acidophilic and aerobic thermophile (Sulfolobus solfataricus P2), and an anaerobic hyperthermophile (Pyrococcus furiosus DSM 3638). We demonstrate how the evolution of transcriptional elements (promoters and terminators) generates new operons, restores the coordinated regulation of translocated, inverted, and newly acquired genes, and introduces completely novel regulation for even some of the most conserved operonic genes such as those encoding subunits of the ribosome. The inverse correlation (r=-0.92) between the proportion of operons with such internally located transcriptional elements and the fraction of conserved operons in each of the four archaea reveals an unprecedented view into varying stages of operon evolution. Importantly, our integrated analysis has revealed that organisms adapted to higher growth temperatures have lower tolerance for genome reorganization events that disrupt operon structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Ho Yoon
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
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Mirete S, de Figueras CG, González-Pastor JE. Diversity of Archaea in Icelandic hot springs based on 16S rRNA and chaperonin genes. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2011; 77:165-75. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01095.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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50
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Abstract
AbstractThe rotary ATPase family of membrane protein complexes may have only three members, but each one plays a fundamental role in biological energy conversion. The F1Fo-ATPase (F-ATPase) couples ATP synthesis to the electrochemical membrane potential in bacteria, mitochondria and chloroplasts, while the vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) operates as an ATP-driven proton pump in eukaryotic membranes. In different species of archaea and bacteria, the A1Ao-ATPase (A-ATPase) can function as either an ATP synthase or an ion pump. All three of these multi-subunit complexes are rotary molecular motors, sharing a fundamentally similar mechanism in which rotational movement drives the energy conversion process. By analogy to macroscopic systems, individual subunits can be assigned to rotor, axle or stator functions. Recently, three-dimensional reconstructions from electron microscopy and single particle image processing have led to a significant step forward in understanding of the overall architecture of all three forms of these complexes and have allowed the organisation of subunits within the rotor and stator parts of the motors to be more clearly mapped out. This review describes the emerging consensus regarding the organisation of the rotor and stator components of V-, A- and F-ATPases, examining core similarities that point to a common evolutionary origin, and highlighting key differences. In particular, it discusses how newly revealed variation in the complexity of the inter-domain connections may impact on the mechanics and regulation of these molecular machines.
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