1
|
Zhang Z, Diao R, Sun J, Liu Y, Zhao M, Wang Q, Xu Z, Zhong B. Diversified molecular adaptations of inorganic nitrogen assimilation and signaling machineries in plants. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 241:2108-2123. [PMID: 38155438 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Plants evolved sophisticated machineries to monitor levels of external nitrogen supply, respond to nitrogen demand from different tissues and integrate this information for coordinating its assimilation. Although roles of inorganic nitrogen in orchestrating developments have been studied in model plants and crops, systematic understanding of the origin and evolution of its assimilation and signaling machineries remains largely unknown. We expanded taxon samplings of algae and early-diverging land plants, covering all main lineages of Archaeplastida, and reconstructed the evolutionary history of core components involved in inorganic nitrogen assimilation and signaling. Most components associated with inorganic nitrogen assimilation were derived from the ancestral Archaeplastida. Improvements of assimilation machineries by gene duplications and horizontal gene transfers were evident during plant terrestrialization. Clusterization of genes encoding nitrate assimilation proteins might be an adaptive strategy for algae to cope with changeable nitrate availability in different habitats. Green plants evolved complex nitrate signaling machinery that was stepwise improved by domains shuffling and regulation co-option. Our study highlights innovations in inorganic nitrogen assimilation and signaling machineries, ranging from molecular modifications of proteins to genomic rearrangements, which shaped developmental and metabolic adaptations of plants to changeable nutrient availability in environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhua Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Runjie Diao
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jingyan Sun
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yannan Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Mengru Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Qiuping Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Zilong Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Bojian Zhong
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Williamson G, Harris T, Bizior A, Hoskisson PA, Pritchard L, Javelle A. Biological ammonium transporters: evolution and diversification. FEBS J 2024. [PMID: 38265636 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Although ammonium is the preferred nitrogen source for microbes and plants, in animal cells it is a toxic product of nitrogen metabolism that needs to be excreted. Thus, ammonium movement across biological membranes, whether for uptake or excretion, is a fundamental and ubiquitous biological process catalysed by the superfamily of the Amt/Mep/Rh transporters. A remarkable feature of the Amt/Mep/Rh family is that they are ubiquitous and, despite sharing low amino acid sequence identity, are highly structurally conserved. Despite sharing a common structure, these proteins have become involved in a diverse range of physiological process spanning all domains of life, with reports describing their involvement in diverse biological processes being published regularly. In this context, we exhaustively present their range of biological roles across the domains of life and after explore current hypotheses concerning their evolution to help to understand how and why the conserved structure fulfils diverse physiological functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gordon Williamson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Thomas Harris
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Adriana Bizior
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Paul Alan Hoskisson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Leighton Pritchard
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Arnaud Javelle
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Maniero RA, Koltun A, Vitti M, Factor BG, de Setta N, Câmara AS, Lima JE, Figueira A. Identification and functional characterization of the sugarcane ( Saccharum spp.) AMT2-type ammonium transporter ScAMT3;3 revealed a presumed role in shoot ammonium remobilization. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1299025. [PMID: 38098795 PMCID: PMC10720369 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1299025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is an important crop for sugar and bioethanol production worldwide. To maintain and increase sugarcane yields in marginal areas, the use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers is essential, but N overuse may result in the leaching of reactive N to the natural environment. Despite the importance of N in sugarcane production, little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in N homeostasis in this crop, particularly regarding ammonium (NH4 +), the sugarcane's preferred source of N. Here, using a sugarcane bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library and a series of in silico analyses, we identified an AMMONIUM TRANSPORTER (AMT) from the AMT2 subfamily, sugarcane AMMONIUM TRANSPORTER 3;3 (ScAMT3;3), which is constitutively and highly expressed in young and mature leaves. To characterize its biochemical function, we ectopically expressed ScAMT3;3 in heterologous systems (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Arabidopsis thaliana). The complementation of triple mep mutant yeast demonstrated that ScAMT3;3 is functional for NH3/H+ cotransport at high availability of NH4 + and under physiological pH conditions. The ectopic expression of ScAMT3;3 in the Arabidopsis quadruple AMT knockout mutant restored the transport capacity of 15N-NH4 + in roots and plant growth under specific N availability conditions, confirming the role of ScAMT3;3 in NH4 + transport in planta. Our results indicate that ScAMT3;3 belongs to the low-affinity transport system (Km 270.9 µM; Vmax 209.3 µmol g-1 root DW h-1). We were able to infer that ScAMT3;3 plays a presumed role in NH4 + source-sink remobilization in the shoots via phloem loading. These findings help to shed light on the functionality of a novel AMT2-type protein and provide bases for future research focusing on the improvement of sugarcane yield and N use efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo A. Maniero
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Koltun
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Marielle Vitti
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruna G. Factor
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Nathalia de Setta
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | - Amanda S. Câmara
- Genebank Department, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Seeland, Germany
| | - Joni E. Lima
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Antonio Figueira
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Huang J, Zheng X, Tian M, Zhang K. Ammonia and Nematode Ascaroside Are Synergistic in Trap Formation in Arthrobotrys oligospora. Pathogens 2023; 12:1114. [PMID: 37764922 PMCID: PMC10536950 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12091114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Nematode-trapping (NT) fungi are natural predators of the soil living nematodes. Diverse external signals mediate the generation of predatory devices of NT fungi. Among these, broad ascarosides and nitrogenous ammonia are highly efficient inducers for trap structure initiation. However, the overlay effect of ammonia and ascaroside on the trap morphogenesis remains unclear. This study demonstrated that the combination of nitrogenous substances with nematode-derived ascarosides led to higher trap production compared to the single inducing cues; notably, ammonia and Ascr#18 had the most synergistic effect on the trap in A. oligospora. Further, the deletion of ammonia transceptor Amt43 blocked trap formation against ammonia addition in A. oligospora but not for the ascaroside Ascr#18 induction. Moreover, ammonia addition could promote plasma endocytosis in the process of trap formation. In contrast, ascaroside addition would facilitate the stability of intracellular organization away from endocytosis. Therefore, there is a synergistic effect on trap induction from different nitrogenous and ascaroside signals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinrong Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (J.H.); (X.Z.)
| | - Xi Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (J.H.); (X.Z.)
| | - Mengqing Tian
- Key Laboratory for Potato Biology of Yunnan Province, The CAAS-YNNU-YINMORE Joint Academy of Potato Science, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650091, China;
| | - Keqin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (J.H.); (X.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Scharnagl K, Tagirdzhanova G, Talbot NJ. The coming golden age for lichen biology. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R512-R518. [PMID: 37279685 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.03.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Lichens are a diverse group of organisms. They are both commonly observed but also mysterious. It has long been known that lichens are composite symbiotic associations of at least one fungus and an algal or cyanobacterial partner, but recent evidence suggests that they may be much more complex. We now know that there can be many constituent microorganisms in a lichen, organized into reproducible patterns that suggest a sophisticated communication and interplay between symbionts. We feel the time is right for a more concerted effort to understand lichen biology. Rapid advances in comparative genomics and metatranscriptomic approaches, coupled with recent breakthroughs in gene functional studies, suggest that lichens may now be more tractable to detailed analysis. Here we set out some of the big questions in lichen biology, and we speculate about the types of gene functions that may be critical to their development, as well as the molecular events that may lead to initial lichen formation. We define both the challenges and opportunities in lichen biology and offer a call to arms to study this remarkable group of organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Klara Scharnagl
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK; University & Jepson Herbaria, University of California Berkeley, Valley Life Sciences Building, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Gulnara Tagirdzhanova
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Nicholas J Talbot
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Fang L, Wang M, Chen X, Zhao J, Wang J, Liu J. Analysis of the AMT gene family in chili pepper and the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization on the expression patterns of CaAMT2 genes. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:158. [PMID: 36991328 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09226-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ammonium (NH4+) is a key nitrogen source supporting plant growth and development. Proteins in the ammonium transporter (AMT) family mediate the movement of NH4+ across the cell membrane. Although several studies have examined AMT genes in various plant species, few studies of the AMT gene family have been conducted in chili pepper. RESULTS Here, a total of eight AMT genes were identified in chili pepper, and their exon/intron structures, phylogenetic relationships, and expression patterns in response to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization were explored. Synteny analyses among chili pepper, tomato, eggplant, soybean, and Medicago revealed that the CaAMT2;1, CaAMT2.4, and CaAMT3;1 have undergone an expansion prior to the divergence of Solanaceae and Leguminosae. The expression of six AMT2 genes was either up-regulated or down-regulated in response to AM colonization. The expression of CaAMT2;1/2;2/2;3 and SlAMT2;1/2;2/2;3 was significantly up-regulated in AM fungi-inoculated roots. A 1,112-bp CaAMT2;1 promoter fragment and a 1,400-bp CaAMT2;2 promoter fragment drove the expression of the β-glucuronidase gene in the cortex of AM roots. Evaluation of AM colonization under different NH4+ concentrations revealed that a sufficient, but not excessive, supply of NH4+ promotes the growth of chili pepper and the colonization of AM. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CaAMT2;2 overexpression could mediate NH4+ uptake in tomato plants. CONCLUSION In sum, our results provide new insights into the evolutionary relationships and functional divergence of chili pepper AMT genes. We also identified putative AMT genes expressed in AM symbiotic roots.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Fang
- College of Resource and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, China
| | - Miaomiao Wang
- College of Resource and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, China
| | - Xiao Chen
- MOA Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization in Lower-Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong, China
| | - Jianrong Zhao
- College of Resource and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, China
| | - Jianfei Wang
- College of Resource and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, China
| | - Jianjian Liu
- College of Resource and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, China.
- MOA Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization in Lower-Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Densi A, Iyer RS, Bhat PJ. Synonymous and Nonsynonymous Substitutions in Dictyostelium discoideum Ammonium Transporter amtA Are Necessary for Functional Complementation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0384722. [PMID: 36840598 PMCID: PMC10100761 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03847-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Ammonium transporters are present in all three domains of life. They have undergone extensive horizontal gene transfer (HGT), gene duplication, and functional diversification and therefore offer an excellent paradigm to study protein evolution. We attempted to complement a mep1Δmep2Δmep3Δ strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (triple-deletion strain), which otherwise cannot grow on ammonium as a sole nitrogen source at concentrations of <3 mM, with amtA of Dictyostelium discoideum, an orthologue of S. cerevisiae MEP2. We observed that amtA did not complement the triple-deletion strain of S. cerevisiae for growth on low-ammonium medium. We isolated two mutant derivatives of amtA (amtA M1 and amtA M2) from a PCR-generated mutant plasmid library that complemented the triple-deletion strain of S. cerevisiae. amtA M1 bears three nonsynonymous and two synonymous substitutions, which are necessary for its functionality. amtA M2 bears two nonsynonymous substitutions and one synonymous substitution, all of which are necessary for functionality. Interestingly, AmtA M1 transports ammonium but does not confer methylamine toxicity, while AmtA M2 transports ammonium and confers methylamine toxicity, demonstrating functional diversification. Preliminary biochemical analyses indicated that the mutants differ in their conformations as well as their mechanisms of ammonium transport. These intriguing results clearly point out that protein evolution cannot be fathomed by studying nonsynonymous and synonymous substitutions in isolation. The above-described observations have significant implications for various facets of biological processes and are discussed in detail. IMPORTANCE Functional diversification following gene duplication is one of the major driving forces of protein evolution. While the role of nonsynonymous substitutions in the functional diversification of proteins is well recognized, knowledge of the role of synonymous substitutions in protein evolution is in its infancy. Using functional complementation, we isolated two functional alleles of the D. discoideum ammonium transporter gene (amtA), which otherwise does not function in S. cerevisiae as an ammonium transporters. One of them is an ammonium transporter, while the other is an ammonium transporter that also confers methylammonium (ammonium analogue) toxicity, suggesting functional diversification. Surprisingly, both alleles require a combination of synonymous and nonsynonymous substitutions for their functionality. These results bring out a hitherto-unknown pathway of protein evolution and pave the way for not only understanding protein evolution but also interpreting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Asha Densi
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
| | - Revathi S. Iyer
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
| | - Paike Jayadeva Bhat
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Xia J, Wang Y, Zhang T, Pan C, Ji Y, Zhou Y, Jiang X. Genome-wide identification, expression profiling, and functional analysis of ammonium transporter 2 (AMT2) gene family in cassava ( Manihot esculenta crantz). Front Genet 2023; 14:1145735. [PMID: 36911399 PMCID: PMC9992417 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1145735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Nitrogen (N), absorbed primarily as ammonium (NH4 +) from soil by plant, is a necessary macronutrient in plant growth and development. Ammonium transporter (AMT) plays a vital role in the absorption and transport of ammonium (NH4 +). Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) has a strong adaptability to nitrogen deprivation. However, little is known about the functions of ammonium transporter AMT2 in cassava. Methods: The cassava AMT2-type genes were identified and their characteristics were analyzed using bioinformatic techniques. The spatial expression patterns were analyzed based on the public RNA-seq data and their expression profiles under low ammonium treatment were studied using Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) method. The cassava AMT2 genes were transformed into yeast mutant strain TM31019b by PEG/LiAc method to investigate their functions. Results: Seven AMT2-type genes (MeAMT2.1-2.7) were identified in cassava and they were distributed on 6 chromosomes and included two segmental duplication events (MeAMT2.2/MeAMT2.4 and MeAMT2.3/MeAMT2.5). Based on their amino acid sequences, seven MeAMT2 were further divided into four subgroups, and each subgroup contained similar motif constitution and protein structure. Synteny analysis showed that two and four MeAMT2 genes in cassava were collinear with those in the Arabidopsis and soybean genomes, respectively. Sixteen types of cis-elements were identified in the MeAMT2 promoters, and they were related to light-, hormone-, stress-, and plant growth and development-responsive elements, respectively. Most of the MeAMT2 genes displayed tissue-specific expression patterns according to the RNA-seq data, of them, three MeAMT2 (MeAMT2.3, MeAMT2.5, and MeATM2.6) expressions were up-regulated under ammonium deficiency. Complementation experiments showed that yeast mutant strain TM31019b transformed with MeAMT2.3, MeAMT2.5, or MeATM2.6 grew better than untransgenic yeast cells under ammonium deficiency, suggesting that MeAMT2.3, MeAMT2.5, and MeATM2.6 might be the main contributors in response to ammonium deficiency in cassava. Conclusion: This study provides a basis for further study of nitrogen efficient utilization in cassava.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinze Xia
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice, College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Key Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crops of Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crops of Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Xiangyang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xiangyang, China
| | - Chengcai Pan
- Key Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crops of Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Yiyin Ji
- Key Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crops of Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Key Laboratory for Quality Regulation of Tropical Horticultural Crops of Hainan Province, School of Horticulture, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Xingyu Jiang
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice, College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Genome-Wide Identification of AMT2-Type Ammonium Transporters Reveal That CsAMT2.2 and CsAMT2.3 Potentially Regulate NH 4+ Absorption among Three Different Cultivars of Camellia sinensis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415661. [PMID: 36555302 PMCID: PMC9779401 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ammonium (NH4+), as a major inorganic source of nitrogen (N) for tea plant growth, is transported and distributed across membranes by the proteins of ammonium transporters (AMTs). However, the AMT2-type AMTs from tea plants remain poorly understood. In this study, five CsAMT2 subfamily genes were identified in tea plant genomes, and their full-length coding sequences (CDS) were isolated from roots. Then, a NH4+ uptake kinetic comparison of Fudingdabaicha (FD), Huangdan (HD), and Maoxie (MX) showed that FD was a high N efficiency (HNE) cultivar that had a wide range of adaptability to NH4+, HD was a high N efficiency under high N conditions (HNEH) cultivar, in which it was easy to obtain higher yield in a high N environment, and MX was a high N efficiency under low N conditions (HNEL) cultivar, which had a higher affinity for NH4+ than the other two. Tissue-specific expression analysis suggested that CsAMT2.2 and CsAMT2.3 were highly expressed in the roots, indicating that these two members may be unique in the CsAMT2 subfamily. This is further supported by our findings from the temporal expression profiles in the roots among these three different N adaptation cultivars. Expression levels of CsAMT2.2 and CsAMT2.3 in FD and HD were upregulated by a short time (2 h) under high NH4+ treatment, while under low NH4+ treatment, CsAMT2.2 and CsAMT2.3 were highly expressed at 0 h and 2 h in the HNEL-type cultivar-MX. Furthermore, the functional analysis illustrated that CsAMT2.2 and CsAMT2.3 could make a functional complementation of NH4+-defective mutant yeast cells at low NH4+ levels, and the transport efficiency of CsAMT2.3 was higher than that of CsAMT2.2. Thus, we concluded that CsAMT2.2 and CsAMT2.3 might play roles in controlling the NH4+ uptake from the soil to the roots. These results will further the understanding of the NH4+ signal networks of AMT2-type proteins in tea plants.
Collapse
|
10
|
Koltun A, Maniero RA, Vitti M, de Setta N, Giehl RFH, Lima JE, Figueira A. Functional characterization of the sugarcane ( Saccharum spp.) ammonium transporter AMT2;1 suggests a role in ammonium root-to-shoot translocation. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1039041. [PMID: 36466275 PMCID: PMC9716016 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1039041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
AMMONIUM TRANSPORTER/METHYLAMMONIUM PERMEASE/RHESUS (AMT) family members transport ammonium across membranes in all life domains. Plant AMTs can be categorized into AMT1 and AMT2 subfamilies. Functional studies of AMTs, particularly AMT1-type, have been conducted using model plants but little is known about the function of AMTs from crops. Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a major bioenergy crop that requires heavy nitrogen fertilization but depends on a low carbon-footprint for competitive sustainability. Here, we identified and functionally characterized sugarcane ScAMT2;1 by complementing ammonium uptake-defective mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Arabidopsis thaliana. Reporter gene driven by the ScAMT2;1 promoter in A. thaliana revealed preferential expression in the shoot vasculature and root endodermis/pericycle according to nitrogen availability and source. Arabidopsis quadruple mutant plants expressing ScAMT2;1 driven by the CaMV35S promoter or by a sugarcane endogenous promoter produced significantly more biomass than mutant plants when grown in NH4 + and showed more 15N-ammonium uptake by roots and nitrogen translocation to shoots. In A. thaliana, ScAMT2;1 displayed a Km of 90.17 µM and Vmax of 338.99 µmoles h-1 g-1 root DW. Altogether, our results suggest that ScAMT2;1 is a functional high-affinity ammonium transporter that might contribute to ammonium uptake and presumably to root-to-shoot translocation under high NH4 + conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Koltun
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo A. Maniero
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Marielle Vitti
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Nathalia de Setta
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ricardo F. H. Giehl
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Joni E. Lima
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Antonio Figueira
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Hui J, An X, Li Z, Neuhäuser B, Ludewig U, Wu X, Schulze WX, Chen F, Feng G, Lambers H, Zhang F, Yuan L. The mycorrhiza-specific ammonium transporter ZmAMT3;1 mediates mycorrhiza-dependent nitrogen uptake in maize roots. THE PLANT CELL 2022; 34:4066-4087. [PMID: 35880836 PMCID: PMC9516061 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Most plant species can form symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs), which may enhance the host plant's acquisition of soil nutrients. In contrast to phosphorus nutrition, the molecular mechanism of mycorrhizal nitrogen (N) uptake remains largely unknown, and its physiological relevance is unclear. Here, we identified a gene encoding an AMF-inducible ammonium transporter, ZmAMT3;1, in maize (Zea mays) roots. ZmAMT3;1 was specifically expressed in arbuscule-containing cortical cells and the encoded protein was localized at the peri-arbuscular membrane. Functional analysis in yeast and Xenopus oocytes indicated that ZmAMT3;1 mediated high-affinity ammonium transport, with the substrate NH4+ being accessed, but likely translocating uncharged NH3. Phosphorylation of ZmAMT3;1 at the C-terminus suppressed transport activity. Using ZmAMT3;1-RNAi transgenic maize lines grown in compartmented pot experiments, we demonstrated that substantial quantities of N were transferred from AMF to plants, and 68%-74% of this capacity was conferred by ZmAMT3;1. Under field conditions, the ZmAMT3;1-dependent mycorrhizal N pathway contributed >30% of postsilking N uptake. Furthermore, AMFs downregulated ZmAMT1;1a and ZmAMT1;3 protein abundance and transport activities expressed in the root epidermis, suggesting a trade-off between mycorrhizal and direct root N-uptake pathways. Taken together, our results provide a comprehensive understanding of mycorrhiza-dependent N uptake in maize and present a promising approach to improve N-acquisition efficiency via plant-microbe interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Hui
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, MOE, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xia An
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, MOE, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Zhibo Li
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, MOE, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Benjamin Neuhäuser
- Department of Nutritional Crop Physiology, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, 70593, Germany
| | - Uwe Ludewig
- Department of Nutritional Crop Physiology, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, 70593, Germany
| | - Xuna Wu
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, Institute for Physiology and Biotechnology of Plants, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, 70593, Germany
| | - Waltraud X Schulze
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, Institute for Physiology and Biotechnology of Plants, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, 70593, Germany
| | - Fanjun Chen
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, MOE, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Gu Feng
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, MOE, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Hans Lambers
- School of Biological Science and Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA6009, Australia
| | - Fusuo Zhang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, MOE, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Pang CZ, Ip YK, Chew SF. Ammonia transporter 2 as a molecular marker to elucidate the potentials of ammonia transport in phylotypes of Symbiodinium, Cladocopium and Durusdinium in the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2022; 269:111225. [PMID: 35460895 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Giant clams harbor coccoid Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates that are phototrophic. These dinoflagellates generally include multiple phylotypes (species) of Symbiodinium, Cladocopium, and Durusdinium in disparate proportions depending on the environmental conditions. The coccoid symbionts can share photosynthate with the clam host, which in return supply them with nutrients containing inorganic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. Symbionts can recycle nitrogen by absorbing and assimilating the endogenous ammonia produced by the host. This study aimed to use the transcript levels of ammonia transporter 2 (AMT2) in Symbiodinium (Symb-AMT2), Cladocopium (Clad-AMT2) and Durusdinium (Duru-AMT2) as molecular indicators to estimate the potential of ammonia transport in these three genera of Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates in different organs of the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, obtained from Vietnam. We also determined the transcript levels of form II ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rbcII) and nitrate transporter 2 (NRT2) in Symbiodinium (Symb-rbcII; Symb-NRT2), Cladocopium (Clad-rbcII; Clad-NRT2) and Durusdinium (Duru-rbcII; Duru-NRT2), in order to examine the potential of ammonia transport with reference to the potentials of phototrophy or NO3- uptake independent of the quantities and proportion of these Symbiodiniaceae phylotypes. Our results indicated for the first time that phylotypes of Symbiodinium and Cladocopium could have different potentials of ammonia transport, and that phylotypes of Symbiodinium might have higher potential of NO3- transport than ammonia transport. They also suggested that Symbiodiniaceae phylotypes residing in different organs of T. squamosa could have disparate potentials of ammonia transport, alluding to the functional diversity among phylotypes of coccoid Symbiodinium, Cladocopium, and Durusdinium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caryn Z Pang
- Natural Sciences and Science Education, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Nanyang Walk, Singapore 637616, Republic of Singapore
| | - Yuen K Ip
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore 117543, Republic of Singapore
| | - Shit F Chew
- Natural Sciences and Science Education, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, 1 Nanyang Walk, Singapore 637616, Republic of Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kellom M, Pagliara S, Richards TA, Santoro AE. Exaggerated trans-membrane charge of ammonium transporters in nutrient-poor marine environments. Open Biol 2022; 12:220041. [PMID: 35857930 PMCID: PMC9277239 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Transporter proteins are a vital interface between cells and their environment. In nutrient-limited environments, microbes with transporters that are effective at bringing substrates into their cells will gain a competitive advantage over variants with reduced transport function. Microbial ammonium transporters (Amt) bring ammonium into the cytoplasm from the surrounding periplasm space, but diagnosing Amt adaptations to low nutrient environments solely from sequence data has been elusive. Here, we report altered Amt sequence amino acid distribution from deep marine samples compared to variants sampled from shallow water in two important microbial lineages of the marine water column community-Marine Group I Archaea (Thermoproteota) and the uncultivated gammaproteobacterial lineage SAR86. This pattern indicates an evolutionary pressure towards an increasing dipole in Amt for these clades in deep ocean environments and is predicted to generate stronger electric fields facilitating ammonium acquisition. This pattern of increasing dipole charge with depth was not observed in lineages capable of accessing alternative nitrogen sources, including the abundant alphaproteobacterial clade SAR11. We speculate that competition for ammonium in the deep ocean drives transporter sequence evolution. The low concentration of ammonium in the deep ocean is therefore likely due to rapid uptake by Amts concurrent with decreasing nutrient flux.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Kellom
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Stefano Pagliara
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Thomas A. Richards
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Alyson E. Santoro
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Ma J, Wang S, Zhu X, Sun G, Chang G, Li L, Hu X, Zhang S, Zhou Y, Song CP, Huang J. Major episodes of horizontal gene transfer drove the evolution of land plants. MOLECULAR PLANT 2022; 15:857-871. [PMID: 35235827 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2022.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
How horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has contributed to the evolution of animals and plants remains a major puzzle. Despite recent progress, defining the overall scale and pattern of HGT events in land plants has been largely elusive. In this study, we performed systematic analyses for acquired genes in different plant groups and throughout land plant evolution. We found that relatively recent HGT events occurred in charophytes and all major land plant groups, but their frequency declined rapidly in seed plants. Two major episodes of HGT events occurred in land plant evolution, corresponding to the early evolution of streptophytes and the origin of land plants, respectively. Importantly, a vast majority of the genes acquired in the two episodes have been retained in descendant groups, affecting numerous activities and processes of land plants. We analyzed some of the acquired genes involved in stress responses, ion and metabolite transport, growth and development, and specialized metabolism, and further assessed the cumulative effects of HGT in land plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianchao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Shuanghua Wang
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Xiaojing Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Guiling Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Guanxiao Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Linhong Li
- Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiangyang Hu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bio-Energy Crops, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Shouzhou Zhang
- Fairy Lake Botanical Garden, Shenzhen & Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518004, China
| | - Yun Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Chun-Peng Song
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Jinling Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China; Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China; Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Cornet L, Baurain D. Contamination detection in genomic data: more is not enough. Genome Biol 2022; 23:60. [PMID: 35189924 PMCID: PMC8862208 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02619-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The decreasing cost of sequencing and concomitant augmentation of publicly available genomes have created an acute need for automated software to assess genomic contamination. During the last 6 years, 18 programs have been published, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Deciding which tools to use becomes more and more difficult without an understanding of the underlying algorithms. We review these programs, benchmarking six of them, and present their main operating principles. This article is intended to guide researchers in the selection of appropriate tools for specific applications. Finally, we present future challenges in the developing field of contamination detection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luc Cornet
- BCCM/IHEM, Mycology and Aerobiology, Sciensano, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Denis Baurain
- InBioS-PhytoSYSTEMS, Eukaryotic Phylogenomics, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Kell DB. A protet-based, protonic charge transfer model of energy coupling in oxidative and photosynthetic phosphorylation. Adv Microb Physiol 2021; 78:1-177. [PMID: 34147184 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2021.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Textbooks of biochemistry will explain that the otherwise endergonic reactions of ATP synthesis can be driven by the exergonic reactions of respiratory electron transport, and that these two half-reactions are catalyzed by protein complexes embedded in the same, closed membrane. These views are correct. The textbooks also state that, according to the chemiosmotic coupling hypothesis, a (or the) kinetically and thermodynamically competent intermediate linking the two half-reactions is the electrochemical difference of protons that is in equilibrium with that between the two bulk phases that the coupling membrane serves to separate. This gradient consists of a membrane potential term Δψ and a pH gradient term ΔpH, and is known colloquially as the protonmotive force or pmf. Artificial imposition of a pmf can drive phosphorylation, but only if the pmf exceeds some 150-170mV; to achieve in vivo rates the imposed pmf must reach 200mV. The key question then is 'does the pmf generated by electron transport exceed 200mV, or even 170mV?' The possibly surprising answer, from a great many kinds of experiment and sources of evidence, including direct measurements with microelectrodes, indicates it that it does not. Observable pH changes driven by electron transport are real, and they control various processes; however, compensating ion movements restrict the Δψ component to low values. A protet-based model, that I outline here, can account for all the necessary observations, including all of those inconsistent with chemiosmotic coupling, and provides for a variety of testable hypotheses by which it might be refined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Douglas B Kell
- Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative, Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Carr EC, Harris SD, Herr JR, Riekhof WR. Lichens and biofilms: Common collective growth imparts similar developmental strategies. ALGAL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2021.102217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
18
|
Chen R, Huangfu L, Lu Y, Fang H, Xu Y, Li P, Zhou Y, Xu C, Huang J, Yang Z. Adaptive innovation of green plants by horizontal gene transfer. Biotechnol Adv 2020; 46:107671. [PMID: 33242576 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) refers to the movement of genetic material between distinct species by means other than sexual reproduction. HGT has contributed tremendously to the genome plasticity and adaptive evolution of prokaryotes and certain unicellular eukaryotes. The evolution of green plants from chlorophyte algae to angiosperms and from water to land represents a process of adaptation to diverse environments, which has been facilitated by acquisition of genetic material from other organisms. In this article, we review the occurrence of HGT in major lineages of green plants, including chlorophyte and charophyte green algae, bryophytes, lycophytes, ferns, and seed plants. In addition, we discuss the significance of horizontally acquired genes in the adaptive innovations of green plants and their potential applications to crop breeding and improvement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rujia Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Liexiang Huangfu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yue Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Huimin Fang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yang Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Pengcheng Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yong Zhou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Chenwu Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.
| | - Jinling Huang
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 28590, USA; State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China; Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China.
| | - Zefeng Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Agricultural College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Durant AC, Donini A. Ammonium transporter expression in sperm of the disease vector Aedes aegypti mosquito influences male fertility. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:29712-29719. [PMID: 33168715 PMCID: PMC7703593 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2011648117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The ammonium transporter (AMT)/methylammonium permease (MEP)/Rhesus glycoprotein (Rh) family of ammonia (NH3/NH4+) transporters has been identified in organisms from all domains of life. In animals, fundamental roles for AMT and Rh proteins in the specific transport of ammonia across biological membranes to mitigate ammonia toxicity and aid in osmoregulation, acid-base balance, and excretion have been well documented. Here, we observed enriched Amt (AeAmt1) mRNA levels within reproductive organs of the arboviral vector mosquito, Aedes aegypti, prompting us to explore the role of AMTs in reproduction. We show that AeAmt1 is localized to sperm flagella during all stages of spermiogenesis and spermatogenesis in male testes. AeAmt1 expression in sperm flagella persists in spermatozoa that navigate the female reproductive tract following insemination and are stored within the spermathecae, as well as throughout sperm migration along the spermathecal ducts during ovulation to fertilize the descending egg. We demonstrate that RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated AeAmt1 protein knockdown leads to significant reductions (∼40%) of spermatozoa stored in seminal vesicles of males, resulting in decreased egg viability when these males inseminate nonmated females. We suggest that AeAmt1 function in spermatozoa is to protect against ammonia toxicity based on our observations of high NH4+ levels in the densely packed spermathecae of mated females. The presence of AMT proteins, in addition to Rh proteins, across insect taxa may indicate a conserved function for AMTs in sperm viability and reproduction in general.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea C Durant
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada M3J 1P3
| | - Andrew Donini
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada M3J 1P3
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Needham DM, Poirier C, Hehenberger E, Jiménez V, Swalwell JE, Santoro AE, Worden AZ. Targeted metagenomic recovery of four divergent viruses reveals shared and distinctive characteristics of giant viruses of marine eukaryotes. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 374:20190086. [PMID: 31587639 PMCID: PMC6792449 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Giant viruses have remarkable genomic repertoires-blurring the line with cellular life-and act as top-down controls of eukaryotic plankton. However, to date only six cultured giant virus genomes are available from the pelagic ocean. We used at-sea flow cytometry with staining and sorting designed to target wild predatory eukaryotes, followed by DNA sequencing and assembly, to recover novel giant viruses from the Pacific Ocean. We retrieved four 'PacV' partial genomes that range from 421 to 1605 Kb, with 13 contigs on average, including the largest marine viral genomic assembly reported to date. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that three of the new viruses span a clade with deep-branching members of giant Mimiviridae, incorporating the Cafeteria roenbergensis virus, the uncultivated terrestrial Faunusvirus, one PacV from a choanoflagellate and two PacV with unclear hosts. The fourth virus, oPacV-421, is phylogenetically related to viruses that infect haptophyte algae. About half the predicted proteins in each PacV have no matches in NCBI nr (e-value < 10-5), totalling 1735 previously unknown proteins; the closest affiliations of the other proteins were evenly distributed across eukaryotes, prokaryotes and viruses of eukaryotes. The PacVs encode many translational proteins and two encode eukaryotic-like proteins from the Rh family of the ammonium transporter superfamily, likely influencing the uptake of nitrogen during infection. cPacV-1605 encodes a microbial viral rhodopsin (VirR) and the biosynthesis pathway for the required chromophore, the second finding of a choanoflagellate-associated virus that encodes these genes. In co-collected metatranscriptomes, 85% of cPacV-1605 genes were expressed, with capsids, heat shock proteins and proteases among the most highly expressed. Based on orthologue presence-absence patterns across the PacVs and other eukaryotic viruses, we posit the observed viral groupings are connected to host lifestyles as heterotrophs or phototrophs. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Single cell ecology'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David M. Needham
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA
| | - Camille Poirier
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA
- Ocean EcoSystems Biology Unit, RD3, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel, 24105, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Hehenberger
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA
- Ocean EcoSystems Biology Unit, RD3, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel, 24105, Germany
| | - Valeria Jiménez
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA
| | - Jarred E. Swalwell
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Box 357940, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Alyson E. Santoro
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Alexandra Z. Worden
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA
- Ocean EcoSystems Biology Unit, RD3, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel, 24105, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Zhao JH, Guo HS. Trans-kingdom RNA interactions drive the evolutionary arms race between hosts and pathogens. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2019; 58-59:62-69. [PMID: 31472442 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2019.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Trans-kingdom RNA plays a key role in host-parasite interactions. Hosts export specific endogenous microRNAs (miRNAs) into pathogens to target pathogen virulence genes and inhibit their invasion. In addition, trans-kingdom sRNAs produced by parasites may function as RNA effectors to suppress host immunity. Here, we summarize recent, important findings regarding trans-kingdom RNA and focus on the roles of trans-kingdom RNA in driving an evolutionary arms race between host and pathogen. We suggest that trans-kingdom RNA is a new platform for such arms races. Furthermore, we conjecture that trans-kingdom RNA contributes to horizontal gene transfer (HGT) involved in host-pathogen interactions. In addition, we propose that trans-kingdom RNA exchange and RNA driven HGT can have a great impact on the evolutionary ecology of interacting species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Hua Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
| | - Hui-Shan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Armaleo D, Müller O, Lutzoni F, Andrésson ÓS, Blanc G, Bode HB, Collart FR, Dal Grande F, Dietrich F, Grigoriev IV, Joneson S, Kuo A, Larsen PE, Logsdon JM, Lopez D, Martin F, May SP, McDonald TR, Merchant SS, Miao V, Morin E, Oono R, Pellegrini M, Rubinstein N, Sanchez-Puerta MV, Savelkoul E, Schmitt I, Slot JC, Soanes D, Szövényi P, Talbot NJ, Veneault-Fourrey C, Xavier BB. The lichen symbiosis re-viewed through the genomes of Cladonia grayi and its algal partner Asterochloris glomerata. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:605. [PMID: 31337355 PMCID: PMC6652019 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5629-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lichens, encompassing 20,000 known species, are symbioses between specialized fungi (mycobionts), mostly ascomycetes, and unicellular green algae or cyanobacteria (photobionts). Here we describe the first parallel genomic analysis of the mycobiont Cladonia grayi and of its green algal photobiont Asterochloris glomerata. We focus on genes/predicted proteins of potential symbiotic significance, sought by surveying proteins differentially activated during early stages of mycobiont and photobiont interaction in coculture, expanded or contracted protein families, and proteins with differential rates of evolution. RESULTS A) In coculture, the fungus upregulated small secreted proteins, membrane transport proteins, signal transduction components, extracellular hydrolases and, notably, a ribitol transporter and an ammonium transporter, and the alga activated DNA metabolism, signal transduction, and expression of flagellar components. B) Expanded fungal protein families include heterokaryon incompatibility proteins, polyketide synthases, and a unique set of G-protein α subunit paralogs. Expanded algal protein families include carbohydrate active enzymes and a specific subclass of cytoplasmic carbonic anhydrases. The alga also appears to have acquired by horizontal gene transfer from prokaryotes novel archaeal ATPases and Desiccation-Related Proteins. Expanded in both symbionts are signal transduction components, ankyrin domain proteins and transcription factors involved in chromatin remodeling and stress responses. The fungal transportome is contracted, as are algal nitrate assimilation genes. C) In the mycobiont, slow-evolving proteins were enriched for components involved in protein translation, translocation and sorting. CONCLUSIONS The surveyed genes affect stress resistance, signaling, genome reprogramming, nutritional and structural interactions. The alga carries many genes likely transferred horizontally through viruses, yet we found no evidence of inter-symbiont gene transfer. The presence in the photobiont of meiosis-specific genes supports the notion that sexual reproduction occurs in Asterochloris while they are free-living, a phenomenon with implications for the adaptability of lichens and the persistent autonomy of the symbionts. The diversity of the genes affecting the symbiosis suggests that lichens evolved by accretion of many scattered regulatory and structural changes rather than through introduction of a few key innovations. This predicts that paths to lichenization were variable in different phyla, which is consistent with the emerging consensus that ascolichens could have had a few independent origins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Olaf Müller
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, USA
| | | | - Ólafur S. Andrésson
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Guillaume Blanc
- Aix Marseille University, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Helge B. Bode
- Molekulare Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Biowissenschaften & Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS), Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Frank R. Collart
- Argonne National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Argonne, & Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA
| | - Francesco Dal Grande
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center (SBiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Fred Dietrich
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, USA
| | - Igor V. Grigoriev
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California – Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Suzanne Joneson
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, USA
- College of General Studies, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee at Waukesha, Waukesha, USA
| | - Alan Kuo
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, USA
| | - Peter E. Larsen
- Argonne National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Argonne, & Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA
| | | | | | - Francis Martin
- INRA, Université de Lorraine, Interactions Arbres-Microorganismes, INRA-Nancy, Champenoux, France
| | - Susan P. May
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, USA
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA
| | - Tami R. McDonald
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, USA
- Department of Biology, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, USA
| | - Sabeeha S. Merchant
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California – Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California – Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Vivian Miao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Emmanuelle Morin
- INRA, Université de Lorraine, Interactions Arbres-Microorganismes, INRA-Nancy, Champenoux, France
| | - Ryoko Oono
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California - Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, USA
| | - Matteo Pellegrini
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, and DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Nimrod Rubinstein
- National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, Durham, USA
- Calico Life Sciences LLC, South San Francisco, USA
| | | | | | - Imke Schmitt
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center (SBiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Fachbereich Biowissenschaften, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jason C. Slot
- College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA
| | - Darren Soanes
- College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Péter Szövényi
- Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Claire Veneault-Fourrey
- INRA, Université de Lorraine, Interactions Arbres-Microorganismes, INRA-Nancy, Champenoux, France
- Université de Lorraine, INRA, Interactions Arbres-Microorganismes, Faculté des Sciences et Technologies, Vandoeuvre les Nancy Cedex, France
| | - Basil B. Xavier
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Li L, Gong H, Sun Z, Li T. Identification of conserved genes involved in nitrogen metabolic activities in wheat. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7281. [PMID: 31328042 PMCID: PMC6625498 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) plays a very important role in crop growth and development. Many N-metabolism-related genes responsive to N application have been identified in many plants such as Arabidopsis, rice and maize; however, few genes have been reported in wheat, which is one of the most widely grown crops in the world. In this study, a wheat wild type with N dependent lesion mimic (LM) and its mutants without LM were used to identify conserved N-metabolism-related genes. TaPAP, TaUPS and TaNMR were differentially expressed among N levels both in the wild type and two of its mutants, and the expression patterns of these genes were further studied under application of three chemotypes of N (NH4+, NO3- and NH4NO3). The results showed that these genes are conserved N-metabolism-related genes and TaNMR is a novel player in N-metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Hao Gong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zhengxi Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Tao Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology/Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Modern Production Technology of Grain Crops, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Savory FR, Milner DS, Miles DC, Richards TA. Ancestral Function and Diversification of a Horizontally Acquired Oomycete Carboxylic Acid Transporter. Mol Biol Evol 2019; 35:1887-1900. [PMID: 29701800 PMCID: PMC6063262 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msy082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) can equip organisms with novel genes, expanding the repertoire of genetic material available for evolutionary innovation and allowing recipient lineages to colonize new environments. However, few studies have characterized the functions of HGT genes experimentally or examined postacquisition functional divergence. Here, we report the use of ancestral sequence reconstruction and heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to examine the evolutionary history of an oomycete transporter gene family that was horizontally acquired from fungi. We demonstrate that the inferred ancestral oomycete HGT transporter proteins and their extant descendants transport dicarboxylic acids which are intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The substrate specificity profile of the most ancestral protein has largely been retained throughout the radiation of oomycetes, including in both plant and animal pathogens and in a free-living saprotroph, indicating that the ancestral HGT transporter function has been maintained by selection across a range of different lifestyles. No evidence of neofunctionalization in terms of substrate specificity was detected for different HGT transporter paralogues which have different patterns of temporal expression. However, a striking expansion of substrate range was observed for one plant pathogenic oomycete, with a HGT derived paralogue from Pythium aphanidermatum encoding a protein that enables tricarboxylic acid uptake in addition to dicarboxylic acid uptake. This demonstrates that HGT acquisitions can provide functional additions to the recipient proteome as well as the foundation material for the evolution of expanded protein functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fiona R Savory
- Living Systems Institute, School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - David S Milner
- Living Systems Institute, School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel C Miles
- Living Systems Institute, School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas A Richards
- Living Systems Institute, School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Chen KH, Liao HL, Bellenger JP, Lutzoni F. Differential gene expression associated with fungal trophic shifts along the senescence gradient of the moss Dicranum scoparium. Environ Microbiol 2019; 21:2273-2289. [PMID: 30900793 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Bryophytes harbour microbiomes, including diverse communities of fungi. The molecular mechanisms by which perennial mosses interact with these fungal partners along their senescence gradients are unknown, yet this is an ideal system to study variation in gene expression associated with trophic state transitions. We investigated differentially expressed genes of fungal communities and their host Dicranum scoparium across its naturally occurring senescence gradient using a metatranscriptomic approach. Higher activity of fungal nutrient-related (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur) transporters and Carbohydrate-Active enZyme (CAZy) genes was detected toward the bottom, partially decomposed, layer of the moss. The most prominent variation in the expression levels of fungal nutrient transporters was from inorganic nitrogen-related transporters, whereas the breakdown of organonitrogens was detected as the most enriched gene ontology term for the host D. scoparium, for those transcripts having higher expression in the partially decomposed layer. The abundance of bacterial rRNA transcripts suggested that more living members of Cyanobacteria are associated with the photosynthetic layer of D. scoparium, while members of Rhizobiales are detected throughout the gametophytes. Plant genes for specific fungal-plant communication, including defense responses, were differentially expressed, suggesting that different genetic pathways are involved in plant-microbe crosstalk in photosynthetic tissues compared to partially decomposed tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ko-Hsuan Chen
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Hui-Ling Liao
- North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Quincy, FL, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Environment-dependent fitness gains can be driven by horizontal gene transfer of transporter-encoding genes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:5613-5622. [PMID: 30842288 PMCID: PMC6431176 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1815994116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is the transfer of genetic information between genomes by a route other than from parent to offspring. Of particular interest here are the transfers of transporter-encoding genes, which can allow an organism to utilize a new metabolite, often via the acquisition of a single foreign gene. Here we have identified a range of HGT events of transporter-encoding genes, characterized the substrate preferences for each HGT encoded protein, and demonstrated that the gain of one of these HGTs can provide yeast with a distinct competitive advantage in a given environment. This has wide implications for understanding how acquisition of single genes by HGT can drastically influence the environments fungi can colonize. Many microbes acquire metabolites in a “feeding” process where complex polymers are broken down in the environment to their subunits. The subsequent uptake of soluble metabolites by a cell, sometimes called osmotrophy, is facilitated by transporter proteins. As such, the diversification of osmotrophic microorganisms is closely tied to the diversification of transporter functions. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has been suggested to produce genetic variation that can lead to adaptation, allowing lineages to acquire traits and expand niche ranges. Transporter genes often encode single-gene phenotypes and tend to have low protein–protein interaction complexity and, as such, are potential candidates for HGT. Here we test the idea that HGT has underpinned the expansion of metabolic potential and substrate utilization via transfer of transporter-encoding genes. Using phylogenomics, we identify seven cases of transporter-gene HGT between fungal phyla, and investigate compatibility, localization, function, and fitness consequences when these genes are expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using this approach, we demonstrate that the transporters identified can alter how fungi utilize a range of metabolites, including peptides, polyols, and sugars. We then show, for one model gene, that transporter gene acquisition by HGT can significantly alter the fitness landscape of S. cerevisiae. We therefore provide evidence that transporter HGT occurs between fungi, alters how fungi can acquire metabolites, and can drive gain in fitness. We propose a “transporter-gene acquisition ratchet,” where transporter repertoires are continually augmented by duplication, HGT, and differential loss, collectively acting to overwrite, fine-tune, and diversify the complement of transporters present in a genome.
Collapse
|
27
|
Guo H, Wang N, McDonald TR, Reinders A, Ward JM. MpAMT1;2 from Marchantia polymorpha is a High-Affinity, Plasma Membrane Ammonium Transporter. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 59:997-1005. [PMID: 29444306 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcy038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Plant ammonium transporters in the AMT/MEP/Rh (ammonium transporter/methylammonium and ammonium permease/Rhesus factor) superfamily have only been previously characterized in flowering plants (angiosperms). Plant AMT1s are electrogenic, while plant AMT2s are electroneutral, and MEP and Rh transporters in other organisms are electroneutral. We analyzed the transport function of MpAMT1;2 from the basal land plant Marchantia polymorpha, a liverwort. MpAMT1;2 was shown to localize to the plasma membrane in Marchantia gametophyte thallus by stable transformation using a C-terminal citrine fusion. MpAMT1;2 expression was studied using quantitative real-time PCR and shown to be higher when plants were N deficient and lower when plants were grown on media containing ammonium, nitrate or the amino acid glutamine. Expression in Xenopus oocytes and analysis by electrophysiology revealed that MpAMT1;2 is an electrogenic ammonium transporter with a very high affinity for ammonium (7 µM at pH 5.6 and a membrane potential of -137 mV). A conserved inhibitory phosphorylation site identified in angiosperm AMT1s is also present in all AMT1s in Marchantia. Here we show that a phosphomimetic mutation T475D in MpAMT1;2 completely inhibits ammonium transport activity. The results indicate that MpAMT1;2 may be important for ammonium uptake into cells in the Marchantia thallus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanqing Guo
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Nu Wang
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Tami R McDonald
- Biology Department, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Anke Reinders
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - John M Ward
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Zhu Y, Hao Y, Liu H, Sun G, Chen R, Song S. Identification and characterization of two ammonium transporter genes in flowering Chinese cabbage ( Brassica campestris). PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY (TOKYO, JAPAN) 2018; 35:59-70. [PMID: 31275038 PMCID: PMC6543737 DOI: 10.5511/plantbiotechnology.18.0202a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Ammonium transporters (AMTs), which include AMT1 and AMT2 subfamilies, have been identified and partially characterized in many plants. In this study, two AMT2-type genes from Brassica campestris, namely BcAMT2 and BcAMT2like, were identified and characterized. BcAMT2 and BcAMT2like are 2666 bp and 2952 bp, encode proteins of 490 and 489 amino acids, respectively, and contain five exons and four introns. Transient expression of these proteins labelled with green fluorescence protein in onion epidermal cells indicated that both are located on the plasma membrane. When expressing BcAMT2 or BcAMT2like, the mutant yeast strain 31019b could grow on medium containing 2 mM ammonium as the only nitrogen source when expressing BcAMT2 or BcAMT2like, indicating that both are functional AMT genes. Quantitative PCR results showed that BcAMT2 and BcAMT2like were expressed in all tissues, but they displayed different expression patterns in the reproductive stages. BcAMT2s transcript levels in leaves were positively correlated with ammonium concentration and external pH. Moreover, the expression BcAMT2s responded to diurnal change. Furthermore, the uncharged form of ammonium, i.e., ammonia, might also be transported by BcAMT2s. These results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying ammonium absorption and transportation by the AMT2 subfamily in B. campestris.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunna Zhu
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanwei Hao
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Houcheng Liu
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guangwen Sun
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Riyuan Chen
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shiwei Song
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, 510642, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Li H, Yang QS, Liu W, Lin J, Chang YH. The AMT1 family genes from Malus robusta display differential transcription features and ammonium transport abilities. Mol Biol Rep 2017; 44:379-390. [PMID: 28840433 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-017-4119-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2016] [Accepted: 08/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ammonium is an important nitrogen sources for plant growth. In this study, we report on the gene characterization of the ammonium transporter AMT1 subfamily in the apple rootstock Malus robusta Rehd. Thirteen AMT genes were comprehensively evaluated from the apple genome (version 1.0). Then the gene features and expression patterns of five AMT1 members from M. robusta were analyzed. These genes fell into four clusters in the AMT phylogenetic tree: clade I (MrAMT1;1 and MrAMT1;3), clade II (MrAMT1;4), clade III (MrAMT1;2), and clade IV (MrAMT1;5). All the AMT1s, apart from MrAMT1;4, were expressed in vegetative organs and strongly responded to nitrogen concentration changes. For example, MrAMT1;2 and MrAMT1;3 had high transcript accumulation levels in the leaves and roots, respectively. Finally, the functions of these AMT1s were studied in detail by heterologous expression in yeast. These genes allowed strain 31019b to assimilate nitrogen, but their 15NH4+ uptake kinetics varied. These results revealed the functional roles of AMT1 during ammonium absorption in the AMT-defective mutant yeast system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Institute of Horticulture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing, China
| | - Qing-Song Yang
- Institute of Horticulture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Institute of Horticulture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing Lin
- Institute of Horticulture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing, China
| | - You-Hong Chang
- Institute of Horticulture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Host-derived viral transporter protein for nitrogen uptake in infected marine phytoplankton. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E7489-E7498. [PMID: 28827361 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1708097114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Phytoplankton community structure is shaped by both bottom-up factors, such as nutrient availability, and top-down processes, such as predation. Here we show that marine viruses can blur these distinctions, being able to amend how host cells acquire nutrients from their environment while also predating and lysing their algal hosts. Viral genomes often encode genes derived from their host. These genes may allow the virus to manipulate host metabolism to improve viral fitness. We identify in the genome of a phytoplankton virus, which infects the small green alga Ostreococcus tauri, a host-derived ammonium transporter. This gene is transcribed during infection and when expressed in yeast mutants the viral protein is located to the plasma membrane and rescues growth when cultured with ammonium as the sole nitrogen source. We also show that viral infection alters the nature of nitrogen compound uptake of host cells, by both increasing substrate affinity and allowing the host to access diverse nitrogen sources. This is important because the availability of nitrogen often limits phytoplankton growth. Collectively, these data show that a virus can acquire genes encoding nutrient transporters from a host genome and that expression of the viral gene can alter the nutrient uptake behavior of host cells. These results have implications for understanding how viruses manipulate the physiology and ecology of phytoplankton, influence marine nutrient cycles, and act as vectors for horizontal gene transfer.
Collapse
|
31
|
Kakinuma M, Nakamoto C, Kishi K, Coury DA, Amano H. Isolation and functional characterization of an ammonium transporter gene, PyAMT1, related to nitrogen assimilation in the marine macroalga Pyropia yezoensis (Rhodophyta). MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 128:76-87. [PMID: 27581686 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2016.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Ammonium and nitrate are the primary nitrogen sources in natural environments, and are essential for growth and development in photosynthetic eukaryotes. In this study, we report on the isolation and characterization of an ammonium transporter gene (PyAMT1) which performs a key function in nitrogen (N) metabolism of Pyropia yezoensis thalli. The predicted length of PyAMT1 was 483 amino acids (AAs). The AA sequence included 11 putative transmembrane domains and showed approximately 33-44% identity to algal and plant AMT1 AA sequences. Functional complementation in an AMT-defective yeast mutant indicated that PyAMT1 mediated ammonium transport across the plasma membrane. Expression analysis showed that the PyAMT1 mRNA level was strongly induced by N-deficiency, and was more highly suppressed by resupply of inorganic-N than organic-N. These results suggest that PyAMT1 plays important roles in the ammonium transport system, and is highly regulated in response to external/internal N-status.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Kakinuma
- Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, 1577 Kurima-machiya, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
| | - Chika Nakamoto
- Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, 1577 Kurima-machiya, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan
| | - Kazuki Kishi
- Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, 1577 Kurima-machiya, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan
| | - Daniel A Coury
- Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, 1577 Kurima-machiya, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan
| | - Hideomi Amano
- Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, 1577 Kurima-machiya, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Castro-Rodríguez V, Cañas RA, de la Torre FN, Pascual MB, Avila C, Cánovas FM. Molecular fundamentals of nitrogen uptake and transport in trees. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2017; 68:2489-2500. [PMID: 28369488 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erx037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) is frequently a limiting factor for tree growth and development. Because N availability is extremely low in forest soils, trees have evolved mechanisms to acquire and transport this essential nutrient along with biotic interactions to guarantee its strict economy. Here we review recent advances in the molecular basis of tree N nutrition. The molecular characteristics, regulation, and biological significance of membrane proteins involved in the uptake and transport of N are addressed. The regulation of N uptake and transport in mycorrhized roots and transcriptome-wide studies of N nutrition are also outlined. Finally, several areas of future research are suggested.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Castro-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Rafael A Cañas
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Fernando N de la Torre
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Ma Belén Pascual
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Concepción Avila
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Francisco M Cánovas
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
dos Santos TB, Lima JE, Felicio MS, Soares JDM, Domingues DS. Genome-wide identification, classification and transcriptional analysis of nitrate and ammonium transporters in Coffea. Genet Mol Biol 2017; 40:346-359. [PMID: 28399192 PMCID: PMC5452133 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2016-0041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) is quantitatively the main nutrient required by coffee plants, with acquisition mainly by the roots and mostly exported to coffee beans. Nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+) are the most important inorganic sources for N uptake. Several N transporters encoded by different gene families mediate the uptake of these compounds. They have an important role in source preference for N uptake in the root system. In this study, we performed a genome-wide analysis, including in silico expression and phylogenetic analyses of AMT1, AMT2, NRT1/PTR, and NRT2 transporters in the recently sequenced Coffea canephora genome. We analyzed the expression of six selected transporters in Coffea arabica roots submitted to N deficiency. N source preference was also analyzed in C. arabica using isotopes. C. canephora N transporters follow the patterns observed for most eudicots, where each member of the AMT and NRT families has a particular role in N mobilization, and where some of these are modulated by N deficiency. Despite the prevalence of putative nitrate transporters in the Coffea genome, ammonium was the preferential inorganic N source for N-starved C. arabica roots. This data provides an important basis for fundamental and applied studies to depict molecular mechanisms involved in N uptake in coffee trees.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Benedito dos Santos
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Vegetal, Instituto Agronômico do Paraná,
Londrina, PR, Brazil
- Programa de pós-graduação em Agronomia, Universidade do Oeste
Paulista (UNOESTE), Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Joni Esrom Lima
- Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas,
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA), Escola Superior de
Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz” (ESALQ), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba.
SP, Brazil
| | - Mariane Silva Felicio
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Vegetal, Instituto Agronômico do Paraná,
Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | | | - Douglas Silva Domingues
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Vegetal, Instituto Agronômico do Paraná,
Londrina, PR, Brazil
- Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências de Rio Claro,
Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP,
Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Matassi G. Horizontal gene transfer drives the evolution of Rh50 permeases in prokaryotes. BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:2. [PMID: 28049420 PMCID: PMC5209957 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0850-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Rh50 proteins belong to the family of ammonia permeases together with their Amt/MEP homologs. Ammonia permeases increase the permeability of NH3/NH4+ across cell membranes and are believed to be involved in excretion of toxic ammonia and in the maintenance of pH homeostasis. RH50 genes are widespread in eukaryotes but absent in land plants and fungi, and remarkably rare in prokaryotes. The evolutionary history of RH50 genes in prokaryotes is just beginning to be unveiled. Results Here, a molecular phylogenetic approach suggests horizontal gene transfer (HGT) as a primary force driving the evolution and spread of RH50 among prokaryotes. In addition, the taxonomic distribution of the RH50 gene among prokaryotes turned out to be very narrow; a single-copy RH50 is present in the genome of only a small proportion of Bacteria, and, first evidence to date, in only three methanogens among Euryarchaea. The coexistence of RH50 and AMT in prokaryotes seems also a rare event. Finally, phylogenetic analyses were used to reconstruct the HGT network along which prokaryotic RH50 evolution has taken place. Conclusions The eukaryotic or bacterial “origin” of the RH50 gene remains unsolved. The RH50 prokaryotic HGT network suggests a preferential directionality of transfer from aerobic to anaerobic organisms. The observed HGT events between archaeal methanogens, anaerobic and aerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria suggest that syntrophic relationships play a major role in the structuring of the network, and point to oxygen minimum zones as an ecological niche that might be of crucial importance for HGT-driven evolution. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0850-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Matassi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agro-alimentari, Ambientali e Animali (DI4A), Università di Udine, Via delle Scienze, 206-33100, Udine, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Lichen symbioses comprise a fascinating relationship between algae and fungi. The lichen symbiotic lifestyle evolved early in the evolution of ascomycetes and is also known from a few basidiomycetes. The ascomycete lineages have diversified in the lichenized stage to give rise to a tremendous variety of morphologies. Their thalli are often internally complex and stratified for optimized integration of algal and fungal metabolisms. Thalli are frequently colonized by specific nonlichenized fungi and occasionally also by other lichens. Microscopy has revealed various ways these fungi interact with their hosts. Besides the morphologically recognizable diversity of the lichen mycobionts and lichenicolous (lichen-inhabiting) fungi, many other microorganisms including other fungi and bacterial communities are now detected in lichens by culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches. The application of multi-omics approaches, refined microscopic techniques, and physiological studies has added to our knowledge of lichens, not only about the taxa involved in the lichen interactions, but also about their functions.
Collapse
|
36
|
Beilby MJ. Multi-Scale Characean Experimental System: From Electrophysiology of Membrane Transporters to Cell-to-Cell Connectivity, Cytoplasmic Streaming and Auxin Metabolism. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:1052. [PMID: 27504112 PMCID: PMC4958633 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The morphology of characean algae could be mistaken for a higher plant: stem-like axes with leaf-like branchlets anchored in the soil by root-like rhizoids. However, all of these structures are made up of giant multinucleate cells separated by multicellular nodal complexes. The excised internodal cells survive long enough for the nodes to give rise to new thallus. The size of the internodes and their thick cytoplasmic layer minimize impalement injury and allow specific micro-electrode placement. The cell structure can be manipulated by centrifugation, perfusion of cell contents or creation of cytoplasmic droplets, allowing access to both vacuolar and cytoplasmic compartments and both sides of the cell membranes. Thousands of electrical measurements on intact or altered cells and cytoplasmic droplets laid down basis to modern plant electrophysiology. Furthermore, the giant internodal cells and whole thalli facilitate research into many other plant properties. As nutrients have to be transported from rhizoids to growing parts of the thallus and hormonal signals need to pass from cell to cell, Characeae possess very fast cytoplasmic streaming. The mechanism was resolved in the characean model. Plasmodesmata between the internodal cells and nodal complexes facilitate transport of ions, nutrients and photosynthates across the nodes. The internal structure was found to be similar to those of higher plants. Recent experiments suggest a strong circadian influence on metabolic pathways producing indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and serotonin/melatonin. The review will discuss the impact of the characean models arising from fragments of cells, single cells, cell-to-cell transport or whole thalli on understanding of plant evolution and physiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary J. Beilby
- School of Physics, The University of New South Wales, SydneyNSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Li H, Han JL, Chang YH, Lin J, Yang QS. Gene characterization and transcription analysis of two new ammonium transporters in pear rootstock (Pyrus betulaefolia). JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH 2016; 129:737-748. [PMID: 26943161 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-016-0799-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Ammonium is the primarily nitrogen source for plant growth, but the molecular basis of ammonium acquisition in fruit species remains poorly understood. In this study, we report on the characterization of two new ammonium transporters (AMT) in the perennial tree Pyrus betulaefolia. In silico analyses and yeast complementation assays revealed that both PbAMT1;3 and PbAMT1;5 can be classified in the AMT1 sub-family. The specific expression of PbAMT1;3 in roots and of PbAMT1;5 in leaves indicates that they have diverse functions in ammonium uptake or transport in P. betulaefolia. Their expression was strongly influenced by ammonium availability. In addition, the transcript level of PbAMT1;5 was significantly affected by the diurnal cycle and senescence hormones. They conferred the ability to uptake nitrogen to the yeast strain 31019b; however, the (15)NH4 (+) uptake kinetics of PbAMT1;3 were different from those of PbAMT1;5. Indeed, PbAMT1;3 had a higher affinity for (15)NH4 (+), and pH changes were associated with this substrates' transport in yeast. The present study provides basic gene features and transcriptional information for the two new members of the AMT1 sub-family in P. betulaefolia and will aid in decoding the precise roles of AMTs in P. betulaefolia physiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Institute of Horticulture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, No. 50 Zhongling Street, Nanjing, 210014, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jin-Long Han
- Institute of Horticulture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, No. 50 Zhongling Street, Nanjing, 210014, Jiangsu, China
| | - You-Hong Chang
- Institute of Horticulture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, No. 50 Zhongling Street, Nanjing, 210014, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Jing Lin
- Institute of Horticulture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, No. 50 Zhongling Street, Nanjing, 210014, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qing-Song Yang
- Institute of Horticulture, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, No. 50 Zhongling Street, Nanjing, 210014, Jiangsu, China
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Carniel FC, Gerdol M, Montagner A, Banchi E, De Moro G, Manfrin C, Muggia L, Pallavicini A, Tretiach M. New features of desiccation tolerance in the lichen photobiont Trebouxia gelatinosa are revealed by a transcriptomic approach. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 91:319-339. [PMID: 26992400 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-016-0468-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Trebouxia is the most common lichen-forming genus of aero-terrestrial green algae and all its species are desiccation tolerant (DT). The molecular bases of this remarkable adaptation are, however, still largely unknown. We applied a transcriptomic approach to a common member of the genus, T. gelatinosa, to investigate the alteration of gene expression occurring after dehydration and subsequent rehydration in comparison to cells kept constantly hydrated. We sequenced, de novo assembled and annotated the transcriptome of axenically cultured T. gelatinosa by using Illumina sequencing technology. We tracked the expression profiles of over 13,000 protein-coding transcripts. During the dehydration/rehydration cycle c. 92 % of the total protein-coding transcripts displayed a stable expression, suggesting that the desiccation tolerance of T. gelatinosa mostly relies on constitutive mechanisms. Dehydration and rehydration affected mainly the gene expression for components of the photosynthetic apparatus, the ROS-scavenging system, Heat Shock Proteins, aquaporins, expansins, and desiccation related proteins (DRPs), which are highly diversified in T. gelatinosa, whereas Late Embryogenesis Abundant Proteins were not affected. Only some of these phenomena were previously observed in other DT green algae, bryophytes and resurrection plants, other traits being distinctive of T. gelatinosa, and perhaps related to its symbiotic lifestyle. Finally, the phylogenetic inference extended to DRPs of other chlorophytes, embryophytes and bacteria clearly pointed out that DRPs of chlorophytes are not orthologous to those of embryophytes: some of them were likely acquired through horizontal gene transfer from extremophile bacteria which live in symbiosis within the lichen thallus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Candotto Carniel
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Trieste, via L. Giorgieri, 10, 34127, Trieste, Italy
- Institute of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestraße, 15, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Marco Gerdol
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Trieste, via L. Giorgieri, 10, 34127, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Alice Montagner
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Trieste, via L. Giorgieri, 10, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Elisa Banchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Trieste, via L. Giorgieri, 10, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Gianluca De Moro
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Trieste, via L. Giorgieri, 10, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Chiara Manfrin
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Trieste, via L. Giorgieri, 10, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Lucia Muggia
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Trieste, via L. Giorgieri, 10, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Alberto Pallavicini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Trieste, via L. Giorgieri, 10, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Mauro Tretiach
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Trieste, via L. Giorgieri, 10, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
McDonald TR, Ward JM. Evolution of Electrogenic Ammonium Transporters (AMTs). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:352. [PMID: 27066024 PMCID: PMC4814505 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The ammonium transporter gene family consists of three main clades, AMT, MEP, and Rh. The evolutionary history of the AMT/MEP/Rh gene family is characterized by multiple horizontal gene transfer events, gene family expansion and contraction, and gene loss; thus the gene tree for this family of transporters is unlike the organismal tree. The genomes of angiosperms contain genes for both electrogenic and electroneutral ammonium transporters, but it is not clear how far back in the land plant lineage electrogenic ammonium transporters occur. Here, we place Marchantia polymorpha ammonium transporters in the AMT/MEP/Rh phylogeny and we show that AMTs from the liverwort M. polymorpha are electrogenic. This information suggests that electrogenic ammonium transport evolved at least as early as the divergence of bryophytes in the land plant lineage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - John M. Ward
- Department of Plant Biology, University of MinnesotaSt. Paul, MN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Marsit S, Mena A, Bigey F, Sauvage FX, Couloux A, Guy J, Legras JL, Barrio E, Dequin S, Galeote V. Evolutionary Advantage Conferred by an Eukaryote-to-Eukaryote Gene Transfer Event in Wine Yeasts. Mol Biol Evol 2015; 32:1695-707. [PMID: 25750179 PMCID: PMC4476156 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msv057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Although an increasing number of horizontal gene transfers have been reported in eukaryotes, experimental evidence for their adaptive value is lacking. Here, we report the recent transfer of a 158-kb genomic region between Torulaspora microellipsoides and Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine yeasts or closely related strains. This genomic region has undergone several rearrangements in S. cerevisiae strains, including gene loss and gene conversion between two tandemly duplicated FOT genes encoding oligopeptide transporters. We show that FOT genes confer a strong competitive advantage during grape must fermentation by increasing the number and diversity of oligopeptides that yeast can utilize as a source of nitrogen, thereby improving biomass formation, fermentation efficiency, and cell viability. Thus, the acquisition of FOT genes has favored yeast adaptation to the nitrogen-limited wine fermentation environment. This finding indicates that anthropic environments offer substantial ecological opportunity for evolutionary diversification through gene exchange between distant yeast species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Souhir Marsit
- INRA, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France Montpellier SupAgro, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France Montpellier University, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France
| | - Adriana Mena
- Department of Genetics, University of Valencia, and Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Frédéric Bigey
- INRA, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France Montpellier SupAgro, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France Montpellier University, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France
| | - François-Xavier Sauvage
- INRA, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France Montpellier SupAgro, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France Montpellier University, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France
| | - Arnaud Couloux
- CEA, Institut de Génomique, Genoscope, Centre National de Séquençage, Evry, France
| | - Julie Guy
- CEA, Institut de Génomique, Genoscope, Centre National de Séquençage, Evry, France
| | - Jean-Luc Legras
- INRA, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France Montpellier SupAgro, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France Montpellier University, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France
| | - Eladio Barrio
- Department of Genetics, University of Valencia, and Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sylvie Dequin
- INRA, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France Montpellier SupAgro, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France Montpellier University, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France
| | - Virginie Galeote
- INRA, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France Montpellier SupAgro, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France Montpellier University, UMR1083, SPO, F-34060 Montpellier, France
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Rogato A, Amato A, Iudicone D, Chiurazzi M, Ferrante MI, d'Alcalà MR. The diatom molecular toolkit to handle nitrogen uptake. Mar Genomics 2015; 24 Pt 1:95-108. [PMID: 26055207 DOI: 10.1016/j.margen.2015.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2015] [Revised: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Nutrient concentrations in the oceans display significant temporal and spatial variability, which strongly affects growth, distribution and survival of phytoplankton. Nitrogen (N) in particular is often considered a limiting resource for prominent marine microalgae, such as diatoms. Diatoms possess a suite of N-related transporters and enzymes and utilize a variety of inorganic (e.g., nitrate, NO3(-); ammonium, NH4(+)) and organic (e.g., urea; amino acids) N sources for growth. However, the molecular mechanisms allowing diatoms to cope efficiently with N oscillations by controlling uptake capacities and signaling pathways involved in the perception of external and internal clues remain largely unknown. Data reported in the literature suggest that the regulation and the characteristic of the genes, and their products, involved in N metabolism are often diatom-specific, which correlates with the peculiar physiology of these organisms for what N utilization concerns. Our study reveals that diatoms host a larger suite of N transporters than one would expected for a unicellular organism, which may warrant flexible responses to variable conditions, possibly also correlated to the phases of life cycle of the cells. All this makes N transporters a crucial key to reveal the balance between proximate and ultimate factors in diatom life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Rogato
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, CNR, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Alberto Amato
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Villa Comunale 1, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - Daniele Iudicone
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Villa Comunale 1, 80121 Naples, Italy
| | - Maurizio Chiurazzi
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, CNR, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Immacolata Ferrante
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Villa Comunale 1, 80121 Naples, Italy.
| | - Maurizio Ribera d'Alcalà
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Villa Comunale 1, 80121 Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Terrado R, Monier A, Edgar R, Lovejoy C. Diversity of nitrogen assimilation pathways among microbial photosynthetic eukaryotes. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2015; 51:490-506. [PMID: 26986665 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
In an effort to better understand the diversity of genes coding for nitrogen (N) uptake and assimilation pathways among microalgae, we analyzed the transcriptomes of five phylogenetically diverse single celled algae originally isolated from the same high arctic marine region. The five photosynthetic flagellates (a pelagophyte, dictyochophyte, chrysoph-yte, cryptophyte and haptophyte) were grown on standard media and media with only urea or nitrate as a nitrogen source; cells were harvested during late exponential growth. Based on homolog protein sequences, transcriptomes of each alga were interrogated to retrieve genes potentially associated with nitrogen uptake and utilization pathways. We further investigated the phylogeny of poorly characterized genes and gene families that were identified. While the phylogeny of the active urea transporter (DUR3) was taxonomically coherent, those for the urea transporter superfamily, putative nitrilases and amidases indicated complex evolutionary histories, and preliminary evidence for horizontal gene transfers. All five algae expressed genes for ammonium assimilation and all but the chrysophyte expressed genes involved in nitrate utilization and the urea cycle. Among the four algae with nitrate transporter transcripts, we detected lower expression levels in three of these (the dictyochophyte, pelagophyte, and cryptophyte) grown in the urea only medium compared with cultures from the nitrate only media. The diversity of N pathway genes in the five algae, and their ability to grow using urea as a nitrogen source, suggest that these flagellates are able to use a variety of organic nitrogen sources, which would be an advantage in an inorganic nitrogen - limited environment, such as the Arctic Ocean.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramon Terrado
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 90089, USA
| | - Adam Monier
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Robyn Edgar
- Département de Biologie, Takuvik Joint International Laboratory, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France, CNRS UMI 3376), Québec Océan, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Connie Lovejoy
- Département de Biologie, Takuvik Joint International Laboratory, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France, CNRS UMI 3376), Québec Océan, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Metcalf JA, Funkhouser-Jones LJ, Brileya K, Reysenbach AL, Bordenstein SR. Antibacterial gene transfer across the tree of life. eLife 2014; 3. [PMID: 25422936 PMCID: PMC4241558 DOI: 10.7554/elife.04266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2014] [Accepted: 10/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Though horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is widespread, genes and taxa experience biased rates of transferability. Curiously, independent transmission of homologous DNA to archaea, bacteria, eukaryotes, and viruses is extremely rare and often defies ecological and functional explanations. Here, we demonstrate that a bacterial lysozyme family integrated independently in all domains of life across diverse environments, generating the only glycosyl hydrolase 25 muramidases in plants and archaea. During coculture of a hydrothermal vent archaeon with a bacterial competitor, muramidase transcription is upregulated. Moreover, recombinant lysozyme exhibits broad-spectrum antibacterial action in a dose-dependent manner. Similar to bacterial transfer of antibiotic resistance genes, transfer of a potent antibacterial gene across the universal tree seemingly bestows a niche-transcending adaptation that trumps the barriers against parallel HGT to all domains. The discoveries also comprise the first characterization of an antibacterial gene in archaea and support the pursuit of antibiotics in this underexplored group. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04266.001 Living things inherit most of their genetic material from their parents, so genes tend to be passed on from one generation to the next—from ancestors to descendants. Sometimes, however, DNA is transferred from one organism to another by other means. These events, collectively called horizontal gene transfer, are fairly common in nature; genes have been passed between different species as well as between different groups of organisms. For example, genes that confer resistance to antibacterial drugs have transferred from one species of bacteria to another, and other genes have also ‘jumped’ from bacteria to plants or animals. Now Metcalf et al. have studied a gene that first arose in bacteria and that encodes an enzyme called a lysozyme. This enzyme breaks down the outer casing of a bacterial cell: a step that is required for a bacterium to reproduce and divide in two. When Metcalf et al. searched for relatives of the lysozyme gene, they found copies in many other species of bacteria and revealed that this gene has been repeatedly transferred between different bacteria. Members of the lysozyme gene family have also ‘jumped out’ of bacteria and into other organisms at least four times. Metcalf et al. found related lysozyme genes in a plant, an insect, many species of fungi, and a single-celled microbe (called an archaeon) that lives at hot, deep-sea vents. A gene family being spread this widely across the tree of life has not been seen before. Nevertheless, as DNA is a common biological language to all living things, it is likely that all the different species that have received a lysozyme gene might use it for similar purposes. Metcalf et al. reveal that the lysozyme could be being used as an antibacterial molecule. The archaeon lysozyme can kill a broad range of bacteria; and when the gene was transferred into Escherichia coli bacteria, only the bacteria that mutated the lysozyme gene to render it useless were able to survive. Metcalf et al. also revealed that the archaeon microbe produces more of the enzyme if bacteria are present, which allows it to outcompete these bacteria. These findings suggest that there may be a number of horizontally transferred genes that have antibacterial activity against a wide range of bacteria. Searching for these genes—particularly in the largely underexplored group of archaea—might reveal new sources for antibiotic drugs to treat bacterial infections. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.04266.002
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason A Metcalf
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
| | | | - Kristen Brileya
- Department of Biology, Portland State University, Portland, United States
| | | | - Seth R Bordenstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Ardin AC, Fujita K, Nagayama K, Takashima Y, Nomura R, Nakano K, Ooshima T, Matsumoto-Nakano M. Identification and functional analysis of an ammonium transporter in Streptococcus mutans. PLoS One 2014; 9:e107569. [PMID: 25229891 PMCID: PMC4167856 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 08/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus mutans, a Gram-positive bacterium, is considered to be a major etiologic agent of human dental caries and reported to form biofilms known as dental plaque on tooth surfaces. This organism is also known to possess a large number of transport proteins in the cell membrane for export and import of molecules. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for Gram-positive bacteria, though alternative sources such as ammonium can also be utilized. In order to obtain nitrogen for macromolecular synthesis, nitrogen-containing compounds must be transported into the cell. However, the ammonium transporter in S. mutans remains to be characterized. The present study focused on characterizing the ammonium transporter gene of S. mutans and its operon, while related regulatory genes were also analyzed. The SMU.1658 gene corresponding to nrgA in S. mutans is homologous to the ammonium transporter gene in Bacillus subtilis and SMU.1657, located upstream of the nrgA gene and predicted to be glnB, is a member of the PII protein family. Using a nrgA-deficient mutant strain (NRGD), we examined bacterial growth in the presence of ammonium, calcium chloride, and manganese sulfate. Fluorescent efflux assays were also performed to reveal export molecules associated with the ammonium transporter. The growth rate of NRGD was lower, while its fluorescent intensity was much higher as compared to the parental strain. In addition, confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that the structure of biofilms formed by NRGD was drastically different than that of the parental strain. Furthermore, transcriptional analysis showed that the nrgA gene was co-transcribed with the glnB gene. These results suggest that the nrgA gene in S. mutans is essential for export of molecules and biofilm formation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arifah Chieko Ardin
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuyo Fujita
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Kayoko Nagayama
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yukiko Takashima
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Ryota Nomura
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Nakano
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takashi Ooshima
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Michiyo Matsumoto-Nakano
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Offre P, Kerou M, Spang A, Schleper C. Variability of the transporter gene complement in ammonia-oxidizing archaea. Trends Microbiol 2014; 22:665-75. [PMID: 25169021 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2014.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2014] [Revised: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) are a widespread and abundant component of microbial communities in many different ecosystems. The extent of physiological differences between individual AOA is, however, unknown. Here, we compare the transporter gene complements of six AOA, from four different environments and two major clades, to assess their potential for substrate uptake and efflux. Each of the corresponding AOA genomes encode a unique set of transporters and although the composition of AOA transporter complements follows a phylogenetic pattern, few transporter families are conserved in all investigated genomes. A comparison of ammonia transporters encoded by archaeal and bacterial ammonia oxidizers highlights the variance among AOA lineages as well as their distinction from the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, and suggests differential ecological adaptations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Offre
- University of Vienna, Department of Ecogenomics and Systems Biology, Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Division, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Wien, Austria.
| | - Melina Kerou
- University of Vienna, Department of Ecogenomics and Systems Biology, Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Division, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Wien, Austria
| | - Anja Spang
- Uppsala University, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Box 596, SE-75123, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Christa Schleper
- University of Vienna, Department of Ecogenomics and Systems Biology, Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Division, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Wien, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Hom EFY, Murray AW. Plant-fungal ecology. Niche engineering demonstrates a latent capacity for fungal-algal mutualism. Science 2014; 345:94-8. [PMID: 24994654 PMCID: PMC4409001 DOI: 10.1126/science.1253320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Mutualistic symbioses shape the evolution of species and ecosystems and catalyze the emergence of biological complexity, yet how such symbioses first form is unclear. We show that an obligate mutualism between the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii--two model eukaryotes with very different life histories--can arise spontaneously in an environment requiring reciprocal carbon and nitrogen exchange. This capacity for mutualism is phylogenetically broad, extending to other Chlamydomonas and fungal species. Furthermore, we witnessed the spontaneous association of Chlamydomonas algal cells physically interacting with filamentous fungi. These observations demonstrate that under specific conditions, environmental change induces free-living species to become obligate mutualists and establishes a set of experimentally tractable, phylogenetically related, synthetic systems for studying the evolution of symbiosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erik F Y Hom
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. Faculty of Arts and Sciences Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| | - Andrew W Murray
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. Faculty of Arts and Sciences Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
von Wittgenstein NJJB, Le CH, Hawkins BJ, Ehlting J. Evolutionary classification of ammonium, nitrate, and peptide transporters in land plants. BMC Evol Biol 2014; 14:11. [PMID: 24438197 PMCID: PMC3922906 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-14-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2013] [Accepted: 12/30/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Nitrogen uptake, reallocation within the plant, and between subcellular compartments involves ammonium, nitrate and peptide transporters. Ammonium transporters are separated into two distinct families (AMT1 and AMT2), each comprised of five members on average in angiosperms. Nitrate transporters also form two discrete families (NRT1 and NRT2), with angiosperms having four NRT2s, on average. NRT1s share an evolutionary history with peptide transporters (PTRs). The NRT1/PTR family in land plants usually has more than 50 members and contains also members with distinct activities, such as glucosinolate and abscisic acid transport. Results Phylogenetic reconstructions of each family across 20 land plant species with available genome sequences were supplemented with subcellular localization and transmembrane topology predictions. This revealed that both AMT families diverged prior to the separation of bryophytes and vascular plants forming two distinct clans, designated as supergroups, each. Ten supergroups were identified for the NRT1/PTR family. It is apparent that nitrate and peptide transport within the NRT1/PTR family is polyphyletic, that is, nitrate and/or peptide transport likely evolved multiple times within land plants. The NRT2 family separated into two distinct clans early in vascular plant evolution. Subsequent duplications occurring prior to the eudicot/monocot separation led to the existence of two AMT1, six AMT2, 31 NRT1/PTR, and two NRT2 clans, designated as groups. Conclusion Phylogenetic separation of groups suggests functional divergence within the angiosperms for each family. Distinct groups within the NRT1/PTR family appear to separate peptide and nitrate transport activities as well as other activities contained within the family, for example nitrite transport. Conversely, distinct activities, such as abscisic acid and glucosinolate transport, appear to have recently evolved from nitrate transporters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jürgen Ehlting
- Centre for Forest Biology & Department of Biology, University of Victoria, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Wang YY, Liu B, Zhang XY, Zhou QM, Zhang T, Li H, Yu YF, Zhang XL, Hao XY, Wang M, Wang L, Wei JC. Genome characteristics reveal the impact of lichenization on lichen-forming fungus Endocarpon pusillum Hedwig (Verrucariales, Ascomycota). BMC Genomics 2014; 15:34. [PMID: 24438332 PMCID: PMC3897900 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2013] [Accepted: 01/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lichen is a classic mutualistic organism and the lichenization is one of the fungal symbioses. The lichen-forming fungus Endocarpon pusillum is living in symbiosis with the green alga Diplosphaera chodatii Bialsuknia as a lichen in the arid regions. RESULTS 454 and Illumina technologies were used to sequence the genome of E. pusillum. A total of 9,285 genes were annotated in the 37.5 Mb genome of E. pusillum. Analyses of the genes provided direct molecular evidence for certain natural characteristics, such as homothallic reproduction and drought-tolerance. Comparative genomics analysis indicated that the expansion and contraction of some protein families in the E. pusillum genome reflect the specific relationship with its photosynthetic partner (D. chodatii). Co-culture experiments using the lichen-forming fungus E. pusillum and its algal partner allowed the functional identification of genes involved in the nitrogen and carbon transfer between both symbionts, and three lectins without signal peptide domains were found to be essential for the symbiotic recognition in the lichen; interestingly, the ratio of the biomass of both lichen-forming fungus and its photosynthetic partner and their contact time were found to be important for the interaction between these two symbionts. CONCLUSIONS The present study lays a genomic analysis of the lichen-forming fungus E. pusillum for demonstrating its general biological features and the traits of the interaction between this fungus and its photosynthetic partner D. chodatii, and will provide research basis for investigating the nature of its drought resistance and symbiosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Manna S, Barth C. Identification of a novel pentatricopeptide repeat subfamily with a C-terminal domain of bacterial origin acquired via ancient horizontal gene transfer. BMC Res Notes 2013; 6:525. [PMID: 24321137 PMCID: PMC4029402 DOI: 10.1186/1756-0500-6-525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2013] [Accepted: 11/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins are a large family of sequence-specific RNA binding proteins involved in organelle RNA metabolism. Very little is known about the origin and evolution of these proteins, particularly outside of plants. Here, we report the identification of a novel subfamily of PPR proteins not found in plants and explore their evolution. Results We identified a novel subfamily of PPR proteins, which all contain a C-terminal tRNA guanine methyltransferase (TGM) domain, suggesting a predicted function not previously associated with PPR proteins. This group of proteins, which we have named the PPR-TGM subfamily, is found in distantly related eukaryotic lineages including cellular slime moulds, entamoebae, algae and diatoms, but appears to be the first PPR subfamily absent from plants. Each PPR-TGM protein identified is predicted to have different subcellular locations, thus we propose that these proteins have roles in tRNA metabolism in all subcellular locations, not just organelles. We demonstrate that the TGM domain is not only similar to bacterial TGM proteins, but that it is most similar to chlamydial TGMs in particular, despite the absence of PPR proteins in bacteria. Based on our data, we postulate that this subfamily of PPR proteins evolved from a TGM-encoding gene of a member of the Chlamydiae, which was obtained via ancient prokaryote-to-eukaryote horizontal gene transfer. Following its acquisition, the N-terminus of the encoded TGM protein must have been extended to include PPR motifs, possibly to confer additional functions to the protein, giving rise to the PPR-TGM subfamily. Conclusions The identification of a unique PPR subfamily which originated from the Chlamydiae group of bacteria offers novel insight into the origin and evolution of PPR proteins not previously considered. It also provides further understanding into their roles in non-organellar RNA metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian Barth
- Department of Microbiology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Ellerbeck M, Schüßler A, Brucker D, Dafinger C, Loos F, Brachmann A. Characterization of three ammonium transporters of the glomeromycotan fungus Geosiphon pyriformis. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2013; 12:1554-62. [PMID: 24058172 PMCID: PMC3837933 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00139-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2013] [Accepted: 09/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Members of the Glomeromycota form the arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis. They supply plants with inorganic nutrients, including nitrogen, from the soil. To gain insight into transporters potentially facilitating nitrogen transport processes, ammonium transporters (AMTs) of Geosiphon pyriformis, a glomeromycotan fungus forming a symbiosis with cyanobacteria, were studied. Three AMT genes were identified, and all three were expressed in the symbiotic stage. The localization and functional characterization of the proteins in a heterologous yeast system revealed distinct characteristics for each of them. AMT1 of G. pyriformis (GpAMT1) and GpAMT2 were both plasma membrane localized, but only GpAMT1 transported ammonium. Neither protein transported the ammonium analogue methylammonium. Unexpectedly, GpAMT3 was localized in the vacuolar membrane, and it has as-yet-unknown transport characteristics. An unusual cysteine residue in the AMT signature of GpAMT2 and GpAMT3 was identified, and the corresponding residue was demonstrated to play an important role in ammonium transport. Surprisingly, each of the three AMTs of G. pyriformis had very distinct features. The localization of an AMT in the yeast vacuolar membrane is novel, as is the described amino acid residue that clearly influences ammonium transport. The AMT characteristics might reflect adaptations to the lifestyle of glomeromycotan fungi.
Collapse
|