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Gilhar O, Ben-Navi LR, Olender T, Aharoni A, Friedman J, Kolodkin-Gal I. Multigenerational inheritance drives symbiotic interactions of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis with its plant host. Microbiol Res 2024; 286:127814. [PMID: 38954993 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis is a beneficial bacterium that supports plant growth and protects plants from bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. Using a simplified system of B. subtilis and Arabidopsis thaliana interactions, we studied the fitness and transcriptome of bacteria detached from the root over generations of growth in LB medium. We found that bacteria previously associated with the root or exposed to its secretions had greater stress tolerance and were more competitive in root colonization than bacteria not previously exposed to the root. Furthermore, our transcriptome results provide evidence that plant secretions induce a microbial stress response and fundamentally alter signaling by the cyclic nucleotide c-di-AMP, a signature maintained by their descendants. The changes in cellular physiology due to exposure to plant exudates were multigenerational, as they allowed not only the bacterial cells that colonized a new plant but also their descendants to have an advance over naive competitors of the same species, while the overall plasticity of gene expression and rapid adaptation were maintained. These changes were hereditary but not permanent. Our work demonstrates a bacterial memory manifested by multigenerational reversible adaptation to plant hosts in the form of activation of the stressosome, which confers an advantage to symbiotic bacteria during competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omri Gilhar
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel; Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Tsviya Olender
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Asaph Aharoni
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Jonathan Friedman
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ilana Kolodkin-Gal
- Scojen Institute for Synthetic Biology, Reichman University, Herzliya, Israel.
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2
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Xingya Z, Xiaoping F, Jie Z, Jun Y, Hongchen Z, Wenqin B, Hui S. BsuMI regulates DNA transformation in Bacillus subtilis besides the defense system and the constructed strain with BsuMI-absence is applicable as a universal transformation platform for wild-type Bacillus. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:225. [PMID: 39123211 PMCID: PMC11311917 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02493-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To effectively introduce plasmids into Bacillus species and conduct genetic manipulations in Bacillus chassis strains, it is essential to optimize transformation methods. These methods aim to extend the period of competence and enhance the permeability of the cell membrane to facilitate the entry of exogenous DNA. Although various strategies have been explored, few studies have delved into identifying metabolites and pathways associated with enhanced competence. Additionally, derivative Bacillus strains with non-functional restriction-modification systems have demonstrated superior efficiency in transforming exogenous DNA, lacking more explorations in the regulation conducted by the restriction-modification system to transformation process. RESULTS Transcriptomic comparisons were performed to discover the competence forming mechanism and the regulation pathway conducted by the BsuMI methylation modification group in Bacillus. subtilis 168 under the Spizizen transformation condition, which were speculated to be the preferential selection of carbon sources by the cells and the preference for specific metabolic pathway when utilizing the carbon source. The cells were found to utilize the glycolysis pathway to exploit environmental glucose while reducing the demand for other phosphorylated precursors in this pathway. The weakening of these ATP-substrate competitive metabolic pathways allowed more ATP substrates to be distributed into the auto-phosphorylation of the signal transduction factor ComP during competence formation, thereby increasing the expression level of the key regulatory protein ComK. The expression of ComK upregulated the expression of the negative regulator SacX of starch and sucrose in host cells, reinforcing the preference for glucose as the primary carbon source. The methylation modification group of the primary protein BsuMI in the restriction-modification system was associated with the functional modification of key enzymes in the oxidative phosphorylation pathway. The absence of the BsuMI methylation modification group resulted in a decrease in the expression of subunits of cytochrome oxidase, leading to a weakening of the oxidative phosphorylation pathway, which promoted the glycolytic rate of cells and subsequently improved the distribution of ATP molecules into competence formation. A genetic transformation platform for wild-type Bacillus strains was successfully established based on the constructed strain B. subtilis 168-R-M- without its native restriction-modification system. With this platform, high plasmids transformation efficiencies were achieved with a remarkable 63-fold improvement compared to the control group and an increased universality in Bacillus species was also obtained. CONCLUSIONS The enhanced competence formation mechanism and the regulation pathway conducted by the functional protein BsuMI of the restriction-modification system were concluded, providing a reference for further investigation. An effective transformation platform was established to overcome the obstacles in DNA transformations in wild-type Bacillus strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Xingya
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Fu Xiaoping
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Zhen Jie
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Yang Jun
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Zheng Hongchen
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China.
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China.
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China.
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China.
| | - Bai Wenqin
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China.
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China.
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China.
| | - Song Hui
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin Airport Economic Area, 32 West 7th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China
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3
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Povolotsky TL, Levy Barazany H, Shacham Y, Kolodkin-Gal I. Bacterial epigenetics and its implication for agriculture, probiotics development, and biotechnology design. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 75:108414. [PMID: 39019123 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
In their natural habitats, organisms encounter numerous external stimuli and must be able to sense and adapt to those stimuli to survive. Unlike mutations, epigenetic changes do not alter the underlying DNA sequence. Instead, they create modifications that promote or silence gene expression. Bacillus subtilis has long been a model organism in studying genetics and development. It is beneficial for numerous biotechnological applications where it is included as a probiotic, in fermentation, or in bio-concrete design. This bacterium has also emerged recently as a model organism for studying bacterial epigenetic adaptation. In this review, we examine the evolving knowledge of epigenetic regulation (restriction-modification systems (RM), orphan methyltransferases, and chromosome condensation) in B. subtilis and related bacteria, and utilize it as a case study to test their potential roles and future applications in genetic engineering and microbial biotechnology. Finally, we suggest how the implementation of these fundamental findings promotes the design of synthetic epigenetic memory circuits and their future applications in agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana L Povolotsky
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstraße 23A, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hilit Levy Barazany
- Scojen Institute for Synthetic Biology, Reichman University, Hauniversita 8, Herzeliya, Israel
| | - Yosi Shacham
- Scojen Institute for Synthetic Biology, Reichman University, Hauniversita 8, Herzeliya, Israel
| | - Ilana Kolodkin-Gal
- Scojen Institute for Synthetic Biology, Reichman University, Hauniversita 8, Herzeliya, Israel.
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4
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Fernandez NL, Simmons LA. Two distinct regulatory systems control pulcherrimin biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011283. [PMID: 38753885 PMCID: PMC11135676 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Regulation of transcription is a fundamental process that allows bacteria to respond to external stimuli with appropriate timing and magnitude of response. In the soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis, transcriptional regulation is at the core of developmental processes needed for cell survival. Gene expression in cells transitioning from exponential phase to stationary phase is under the control of a group of transcription factors called transition state regulators (TSRs). TSRs influence numerous developmental processes including the decision between biofilm formation and motility, genetic competence, and sporulation, but the extent to which TSRs influence bacterial physiology remains to be fully elucidated. Here, we demonstrate two TSRs, ScoC and AbrB, along with the MarR-family transcription factor PchR negatively regulate production of the iron chelator pulcherrimin in B. subtilis. Genetic analysis of the relationship between the three transcription factors indicate that all are necessary to limit pulcherrimin production during exponential phase and influence the rate and total amount of pulcherrimin produced. Similarly, expression of the pulcherrimin biosynthesis gene yvmC was found to be under control of ScoC, AbrB, and PchR and correlated with the amount of pulcherrimin produced by each background. Lastly, our in vitro data indicate a weak direct role for ScoC in controlling pulcherrimin production along with AbrB and PchR. The layered regulation by two distinct regulatory systems underscores the important role for pulcherrimin in B. subtilis physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas L. Fernandez
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Lyle A. Simmons
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
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5
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Shi C, Wang L, Xu H, Zhao Y, Tian B, Hua Y. Characterization of a Novel N4-Methylcytosine Restriction-Modification System in Deinococcus radiodurans. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1660. [PMID: 38338939 PMCID: PMC10855626 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Deinococcus radiodurans is an extremophilic microorganism that possesses a unique DNA damage repair system, conferring a strong resistance to radiation, desiccation, oxidative stress, and chemical damage. Recently, we discovered that D. radiodurans possesses an N4-methylation (m4C) methyltransferase called M.DraR1, which recognizes the 5'-CCGCGG-3' sequence and methylates the second cytosine. Here, we revealed its cognate restriction endonuclease R.DraR1 and recognized that it is the only endonuclease specially for non-4C-methylated 5'-CCGCGG-3' sequence so far. We designated the particular m4C R.DraR1-M.DraR1 as the DraI R-M system. Bioinformatics searches displayed the rarity of the DraI R-M homologous system. Meanwhile, recombination and transformation efficiency experiments demonstrated the important role of the DraI R-M system in response to oxidative stress. In addition, in vitro activity experiments showed that R.DraR1 could exceptionally cleave DNA substrates with a m5C-methlated 5'-CCGCGG-3' sequence instead of its routine activity, suggesting that this particular R-M component possesses a broader substrate choice. Furthermore, an imbalance of the DraI R-M system led to cell death through regulating genes involved in the maintenance of cell survival such as genome stability, transporter, and energy production. Thus, our research revealed a novel m4C R-M system that plays key roles in maintaining cell viability and defending foreign DNA in D. radiodurans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxiang Shi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection, Institute of Biophysics, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (C.S.); (H.X.); (Y.Z.); (B.T.)
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Liangyan Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection, Institute of Biophysics, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (C.S.); (H.X.); (Y.Z.); (B.T.)
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hong Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection, Institute of Biophysics, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (C.S.); (H.X.); (Y.Z.); (B.T.)
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ye Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection, Institute of Biophysics, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (C.S.); (H.X.); (Y.Z.); (B.T.)
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Bing Tian
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection, Institute of Biophysics, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (C.S.); (H.X.); (Y.Z.); (B.T.)
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yuejin Hua
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection, Institute of Biophysics, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (C.S.); (H.X.); (Y.Z.); (B.T.)
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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6
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Fernandez NL, Simmons LA. Two Distinct Regulatory Systems Control Pulcherrimin Biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.03.574033. [PMID: 38260623 PMCID: PMC10802322 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.03.574033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Regulation of transcription is a fundamental process that allows bacteria to respond to external stimuli with appropriate timing and magnitude of response. In the soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis, transcriptional regulation is at the core of developmental processes needed for cell survival. Gene expression in cells transitioning from exponential phase to stationary phase is under the control of a group of transcription factors called transition state regulators (TSRs). TSRs influence numerous developmental processes including the decision between biofilm formation and motility, genetic competence, and sporulation, but the extent to which TSRs influence bacterial physiology remains to be fully elucidated. Here, we demonstrate two TSRs, ScoC and AbrB, along with the MerR-family transcription factor PchR negatively regulate production of the iron chelator pulcherrimin in B. subtilis. Genetic analysis of the relationship between the three transcription factors indicate that all are necessary to limit pulcherrimin production during exponential phase and influence the rate and total amount of pulcherrimin produced. Similarly, expression of the pulcherrimin biosynthesis gene yvmC was found to be under control of ScoC, AbrB, and PchR and correlated with the amount of pulcherrimin produced by each background. Lastly, our in vitro data indicate a weak direct role for ScoC in controlling pulcherrimin production along with AbrB and PchR. The layered regulation by two distinct regulatory systems underscores the important, and somewhat enigmatic, role for pulcherrimin in B. subtilis physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas L. Fernandez
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Lyle A. Simmons
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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7
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Bai J, Yang H, Wu C. MLACNN: an attention mechanism-based CNN architecture for predicting genome-wide DNA methylation. Theory Biosci 2023; 142:359-370. [PMID: 37648910 PMCID: PMC10564812 DOI: 10.1007/s12064-023-00402-3] [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: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Methylation is an important epigenetic regulation of methylation genes that plays a crucial role in regulating biological processes. While traditional methods for detecting methylation in biological experiments are constantly improving, the development of artificial intelligence has led to the emergence of deep learning and machine learning methods as a new trend. However, traditional machine learning-based methods rely heavily on manual feature extraction, and most deep learning methods for studying methylation extract fewer features due to their simple network structures. To address this, we propose a bottomneck network based on an attention mechanism and use new methods to ensure that the deep network can learn more effective features while minimizing overfitting. This approach enables the model to learn more features from nucleotide sequences and make better predictions of methylation. The model uses three coding methods to encode the original DNA sequence and then applies feature fusion based on attention mechanisms to obtain the best fusion method. Our results demonstrate that MLACNN outperforms previous methods and achieves more satisfactory performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- JianGuo Bai
- Shandong Jiaotong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province China
| | - Hai Yang
- Shandong Jiaotong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province China
| | - ChangDe Wu
- Shandong Jiaotong University, Jinan City, Shandong Province China
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8
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Łazowski K. Efficient, robust, and versatile fluctuation data analysis using MLE MUtation Rate calculator (mlemur). Mutat Res 2023; 826:111816. [PMID: 37104996 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2023.111816] [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: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
The fluctuation assay remains an important tool for analyzing the levels of mutagenesis in microbial populations. The mutant counts originating from some average number of mutations are usually assumed to obey the Luria-Delbrück distribution. While several tools for estimating mutation rates are available, they sometimes lack accuracy or versatility under non-standard conditions. In this work, extensions to the Luria-Delbrück protocol to account for phenotypic lag and cellular death with either perfect or partial plating were developed. Hence, the novel MLE MUtation Rate calculator, or mlemur, is the first tool that provides a user-friendly graphical interface allowing the researchers to model their data with consideration for partial plating, differential growth of mutants and non-mutants, phenotypic lag, cellular death, variability of the final number of cells, post-exponential-phase mutations, and the size of the inoculum. Additionally, mlemur allows the users to incorporate most of these special conditions at the same time to obtain highly accurate estimates of mutation rates and P values, confidence intervals for an arbitrary function of data (such as fold), and perform power analysis and sample size determination for the likelihood ratio test. The accuracy of point and interval estimates produced by mlemur against historical and simulated fluctuation experiments are assessed. Both mlemur and the analyses in this work might be of great help when evaluating fluctuation experiments and increase the awareness of the limitations of the widely-used Lea-Coulson formulation of the Luria-Delbrück distribution in the more realistic biological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystian Łazowski
- Laboratory of DNA Replication and Genome Stability, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5a, Warsaw 02-106, Poland.
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9
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DNA Methylation and RNA-DNA Hybrids Regulate the Single-Molecule Localization of a DNA Methyltransferase on the Bacterial Nucleoid. mBio 2023; 14:e0318522. [PMID: 36645292 PMCID: PMC9973331 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03185-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial DNA methyltransferases (MTases) function in restriction modification systems, cell cycle control, and the regulation of gene expression. DnmA is a recently described DNA MTase that forms N6-methyladenosine at nonpalindromic 5'-GACGAG-3' sites in Bacillus subtilis, yet how DnmA activity is regulated is unknown. To address DnmA regulation, we tested substrate binding in vitro and found that DnmA binds poorly to methylated DNA and to an RNA-DNA hybrid with the DNA recognition sequence. Further, DnmA variants with amino acid substitutions that disrupt cognate sequence recognition or catalysis also bind poorly to DNA. Using superresolution fluorescence microscopy and single-molecule tracking of DnmA-PAmCherry, we characterized the subcellular DnmA diffusion and detected its preferential localization to the replisome region and the nucleoid. Under conditions where the chromosome is highly methylated, upon RNA-DNA hybrid accumulation, or with a DnmA variant with severely limited DNA binding activity, DnmA is excluded from the nucleoid, demonstrating that prior methylation or accumulation of RNA-DNA hybrids regulates the association of DnmA with the chromosome in vivo. Furthermore, despite the high percentage of methylated recognition sites and the proximity to putative endonuclease genes conserved across bacterial species, we find that DnmA fails to protect B. subtilis against phage predation, suggesting that DnmA is functionally an orphan MTase involved in regulating gene expression. Our work explores the regulation of a bacterial DNA MTase and identifies prior methylation and RNA-DNA hybrids as regulators of MTase localization. These MTase regulatory features could be common across biology. IMPORTANCE DNA methyltransferases (MTases) influence gene expression, cell cycle control, and host defense through DNA modification. Predicted MTases are pervasive across bacterial genomes, but the vast majority remain uncharacterized. Here, we show that in the soil microorganism Bacillus subtilis, the DNA MTase dnmA and neighboring genes are remnants of a phage defense system that no longer protects against phage predation. This result suggests that portions of the bacterial methylome may originate from inactive restriction modification systems that have maintained methylation activity. Analysis of DnmA movement in vivo shows that active DnmA localizes in the nucleoid, suggesting that DnmA can search for recognition sequences throughout the nucleoid region with some preference for the replisome. Our results further show that prior DNA methylation and RNA-DNA hybrids regulate DnmA dynamics and nucleoid localization, providing new insight into how DNA methylation is coordinated within the cellular environment.
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Vasilchenko NG, Prazdnova EV, Lewitin E. Epigenetic Mechanisms of Gene Expression Regulation in Bacteria of the Genus Bacillus. RUSS J GENET+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795422010124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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11
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Vasileva D, Streich J, Burdick L, Klingeman D, Chhetri HB, Brelsford C, Ellis JC, Close DM, Jacobson D, Michener J. Protoplast fusion in Bacillus species produces frequent, unbiased, genome-wide homologous recombination. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:6211-6223. [PMID: 35061904 PMCID: PMC9226520 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotes, fine-scale maps of meiotic recombination events have greatly advanced our understanding of the factors that affect genomic variation patterns and evolution of traits. However, in bacteria that lack natural systems for sexual reproduction, unbiased characterization of recombination landscapes has remained challenging due to variable rates of genetic exchange and influence of natural selection. Here, to overcome these limitations and to gain a genome-wide view on recombination, we crossed Bacillus strains with different genetic distances using protoplast fusion. The offspring displayed complex inheritance patterns with one of the parents consistently contributing the major part of the chromosome backbone and multiple unselected fragments originating from the second parent. Our results demonstrate that this bias was in part due to the action of restriction-modification systems, whereas genome features like GC content and local nucleotide identity did not affect distribution of recombination events around the chromosome. Furthermore, we found that recombination occurred uniformly across the genome without concentration into hotspots. Notably, our results show that species-level genetic distance did not affect genome-wide recombination. This study provides a new insight into the dynamics of recombination in bacteria and a platform for studying recombination patterns in diverse bacterial species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dawn M Klingeman
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
| | - Hari B Chhetri
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA,Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
| | - Christa M Brelsford
- Geospatial Science and Human Security Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
| | - J Christopher Ellis
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA,Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
| | - Dan M Close
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
| | - Daniel A Jacobson
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Daniel A. Jacobson. Tel: +1 865 574 6134; Fax: +1 865 241 2869;
| | - Joshua K Michener
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 865 576 7957; Fax: +1 865 576 8646;
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12
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Tellgren-Roth C, Couturier M. Detecting DNA Methylations in the Hyperthermoacidophilic Crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius Using SMRT Sequencing. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2516:39-50. [PMID: 35922620 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2413-5_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylations are one of the most well-known epigenetic modifications along with histone modifications and noncoding RNAs. They are found at specific sites along the DNA in all domains of life, with 5-mC and 6-mA/4-mC being well-characterized in eukaryotes and bacteria respectively, and they have not only been described as contributing to the structure of the double helix itself but also as regulators of DNA-based processes such as replication, transcription, and recombination. Different methods have been developed to accurately identify and/or map methylated motifs to decipher the involvement of DNA methylations in regulatory networks that affect the cellular state.Although DNA methylations have been detected along archaeal genomes, their involvement as regulators of DNA-based processes remains the least known. To highlight the importance of DNA methylations in the control of key cellular mechanisms and their dynamics in archaea cells, we have used single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing. This sequencing technology allows the identification and direct mapping of the methylated motifs along the genome of an organism. In this chapter, we present a step-by-step protocol for detecting DNA methylations in the hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius using SMRT sequencing. This protocol can easily be adapted to other prokaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Tellgren-Roth
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, National Genomics Infrastructure, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mohea Couturier
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
- Research Group of Microbiology, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
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Jiang Z, Wang C, Wu Z, Chen K, Yang W, Deng H, Song H, Zhou X. Enzymatic deamination of the epigenetic nucleoside N6-methyladenosine regulates gene expression. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:12048-12068. [PMID: 34850126 PMCID: PMC8643624 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most extensively studied epigenetic modification due to its crucial role in regulating an array of biological processes. Herein, Bsu06560, formerly annotated as an adenine deaminase derived from Bacillus subtilis 168, was recognized as the first enzyme capable of metabolizing the epigenetic nucleoside N6-methyladenosine. A model of Bsu06560 was constructed, and several critical residues were putatively identified via mutational screening. Two mutants, F91L and Q150W, provided a superiorly enhanced conversion ratio of adenosine and N6-methyladenosine. The CRISPR-Cas9 system generated Bsu06560-knockout, F91L, and Q150W mutations from the B. subtilis 168 genome. Transcriptional profiling revealed a higher global gene expression level in BS-F91L and BS-Q150W strains with enhanced N6-methyladenosine deaminase activity. The differentially expressed genes were categorized using GO, COG, KEGG and verified through RT-qPCR. This study assessed the crucial roles of Bsu06560 in regulating adenosine and N6-methyladenosine metabolism, which influence a myriad of biological processes. This is the first systematic research to identify and functionally annotate an enzyme capable of metabolizing N6-methyladenosine and highlight its significant roles in regulation of bacterial metabolism. Besides, this study provides a novel method for controlling gene expression through the mutations of critical residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoran Jiang
- The Institute of Advanced Studies, and Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 40072 Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Chao Wang
- The Institute of Advanced Studies, and Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 40072 Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Zixin Wu
- The Institute of Advanced Studies, and Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 40072 Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Kun Chen
- The Institute of Advanced Studies, and Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 40072 Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Wei Yang
- The Institute of Advanced Studies, and Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 40072 Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Hexiang Deng
- The Institute of Advanced Studies, and Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 40072 Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Heng Song
- The Institute of Advanced Studies, and Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 40072 Wuhan, P.R. China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- The Institute of Advanced Studies, and Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 40072 Wuhan, P.R. China
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Huang M, Liu M, Huang L, Wang M, Jia R, Zhu D, Chen S, Zhao X, Zhang S, Gao Q, Zhang L, Cheng A. The activation and limitation of the bacterial natural transformation system: The function in genome evolution and stability. Microbiol Res 2021; 252:126856. [PMID: 34454311 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2021.126856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria can take up exogenous naked DNA and integrate it into their genomes, which has been regarded as a main contributor to bacterial evolution. The competent status of bacteria is influenced by environmental cues and by the immune systems of bacteria. Here, we review recent advances in understanding the working mechanisms underlying activation of the natural transformation system and limitations thereof. Environmental stresses including the presence of antimicrobials can activate the natural transformation system. However, bacterial enzymes (nucleases), non-coding RNAs, specific DNA sequences, the restriction-modification (R-M) systems, CRISPR-Cas systems and prokaryotic Argonaute proteins (Agos) are have been found to be involved in the limitation of the natural transformation system. Together, this review represents an opportunity to gain insight into bacterial genome stability and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Huang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Mafeng Liu
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Li Huang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Mingshu Wang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Renyong Jia
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Dekang Zhu
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Shun Chen
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Xinxin Zhao
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Shaqiu Zhang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Qun Gao
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Anchun Cheng
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Research Centre of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China.
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15
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Mehershahi KS, Chen SL. DNA methylation by three Type I restriction modification systems of Escherichia coli does not influence gene regulation of the host bacterium. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:7375-7388. [PMID: 34181709 PMCID: PMC8287963 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is a common epigenetic mark that influences transcriptional regulation, and therefore cellular phenotype, across all domains of life. In particular, both orphan methyltransferases and those from phasevariable restriction modification systems (RMSs) have been co-opted to regulate virulence epigenetically in many bacteria. We now show that three distinct non-phasevariable Type I RMSs in Escherichia coli have no measurable impact on gene expression, in vivo virulence, or any of 1190 in vitro growth phenotypes. We demonstrated this using both Type I RMS knockout mutants as well as heterologous installation of Type I RMSs into two E. coli strains. These data provide three clear and currently rare examples of restriction modification systems that have no impact on their host organism’s gene regulation. This leads to the possibility that other such nonregulatory methylation systems may exist, broadening our view of the potential role that RMSs may play in bacterial evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurosh S Mehershahi
- NUHS Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore 119228
| | - Swaine L Chen
- NUHS Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore 119228.,Laboratory of Bacterial Genomics, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore 138672
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16
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Anton BP, Roberts RJ. Beyond Restriction Modification: Epigenomic Roles of DNA Methylation in Prokaryotes. Annu Rev Microbiol 2021; 75:129-149. [PMID: 34314594 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-040521-035040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The amount of bacterial and archaeal genome sequence and methylome data has greatly increased over the last decade, enabling new insights into the functional roles of DNA methylation in these organisms. Methyltransferases (MTases), the enzymes responsible for DNA methylation, are exchanged between prokaryotes through horizontal gene transfer and can function either as part of restriction-modification systems or in apparent isolation as single (orphan) genes. The patterns of DNA methylation they confer on the host chromosome can have significant effects on gene expression, DNA replication, and other cellular processes. Some processes require very stable patterns of methylation, resulting in conservation of persistent MTases in a particular lineage. Other processes require patterns that are more dynamic yet more predictable than what is afforded by horizontal gene transfer and gene loss, resulting in phase-variable or recombination-driven MTase alleles. In this review, we discuss what is currently known about the functions of DNA methylation in prokaryotes in light of these evolutionary patterns. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 75 is October 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian P Anton
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts 01938, USA; ,
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17
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Zhou J, Horton JR, Blumenthal RM, Zhang X, Cheng X. Clostridioides difficile specific DNA adenine methyltransferase CamA squeezes and flips adenine out of DNA helix. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3436. [PMID: 34103525 PMCID: PMC8187626 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23693-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infections are an urgent medical problem. The newly discovered C. difficile adenine methyltransferase A (CamA) is specified by all C. difficile genomes sequenced to date (>300), but is rare among other bacteria. CamA is an orphan methyltransferase, unassociated with a restriction endonuclease. CamA-mediated methylation at CAAAAA is required for normal sporulation, biofilm formation, and intestinal colonization by C. difficile. We characterized CamA kinetic parameters, and determined its structure bound to DNA containing the recognition sequence. CamA contains an N-terminal domain for catalyzing methyl transfer, and a C-terminal DNA recognition domain. Major and minor groove DNA contacts in the recognition site involve base-specific hydrogen bonds, van der Waals contacts and the Watson-Crick pairing of a rearranged A:T base pair. These provide sufficient sequence discrimination to ensure high specificity. Finally, the surprisingly weak binding of the methyl donor S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) might provide avenues for inhibiting CamA activity using SAM analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jujun Zhou
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - John R Horton
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Robert M Blumenthal
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and Program in Bioinformatics, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Xing Zhang
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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18
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Hasan MM, Shoombuatong W, Kurata H, Manavalan B. Critical evaluation of web-based DNA N6-methyladenine site prediction tools. Brief Funct Genomics 2021; 20:258-272. [PMID: 33491072 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elaa028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylation of DNA N6-methyladenosine (6mA) is a type of epigenetic modification that plays pivotal roles in various biological processes. The accurate genome-wide identification of 6mA is a challenging task that leads to understanding the biological functions. For the last 5 years, a number of bioinformatics approaches and tools for 6mA site prediction have been established, and some of them are easily accessible as web application. Nevertheless, the accurate genome-wide identification of 6mA is still one of the challenging works that lead to understanding the biological functions. Especially in practical applications, these tools have implemented diverse encoding schemes, machine learning algorithms and feature selection methods, whereas few systematic performance comparisons of 6mA site predictors have been reported. In this review, 11 publicly available 6mA predictors evaluated with seven different species-specific datasets (Arabidopsis thaliana, Tolypocladium, Diospyros lotus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans and Escherichia coli). Of those, few species are close homologs, and the remaining datasets are distant sequences. Our independent, validation tests demonstrated that Meta-i6mA and MM-6mAPred models for A. thaliana, Tolypocladium, S. cerevisiae and D. melanogaster achieved excellent overall performance when compared with their counterparts. However, none of the existing methods were suitable for E. coli, C. elegans and D. lotus. A feasibility of the existing predictors is also discussed for the seven species. Our evaluation provides useful guidelines for the development of 6mA site predictors and helps biologists selecting suitable prediction tools.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Watshara Shoombuatong
- Data Mining and Biomedical Informatics, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University
| | - Hiroyuki Kurata
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics in the Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan
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Futo M, Opašić L, Koska S, Čorak N, Široki T, Ravikumar V, Thorsell A, Lenuzzi M, Kifer D, Domazet-Lošo M, Vlahoviček K, Mijakovic I, Domazet-Lošo T. Embryo-Like Features in Developing Bacillus subtilis Biofilms. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:31-47. [PMID: 32871001 PMCID: PMC7783165 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Correspondence between evolution and development has been discussed for more than two centuries. Recent work reveals that phylogeny-ontogeny correlations are indeed present in developmental transcriptomes of eukaryotic clades with complex multicellularity. Nevertheless, it has been largely ignored that the pervasive presence of phylogeny-ontogeny correlations is a hallmark of development in eukaryotes. This perspective opens a possibility to look for similar parallelisms in biological settings where developmental logic and multicellular complexity are more obscure. For instance, it has been increasingly recognized that multicellular behavior underlies biofilm formation in bacteria. However, it remains unclear whether bacterial biofilm growth shares some basic principles with development in complex eukaryotes. Here we show that the ontogeny of growing Bacillus subtilis biofilms recapitulates phylogeny at the expression level. Using time-resolved transcriptome and proteome profiles, we found that biofilm ontogeny correlates with the evolutionary measures, in a way that evolutionary younger and more diverged genes were increasingly expressed toward later timepoints of biofilm growth. Molecular and morphological signatures also revealed that biofilm growth is highly regulated and organized into discrete ontogenetic stages, analogous to those of eukaryotic embryos. Together, this suggests that biofilm formation in Bacillus is a bona fide developmental process comparable to organismal development in animals, plants, and fungi. Given that most cells on Earth reside in the form of biofilms and that biofilms represent the oldest known fossils, we anticipate that the widely adopted vision of the first life as a single-cell and free-living organism needs rethinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Momir Futo
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Luka Opašić
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department for Evolutionary Theory, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany
| | - Sara Koska
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nina Čorak
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tin Široki
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vaishnavi Ravikumar
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Annika Thorsell
- Proteomics Core Facility, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Maša Lenuzzi
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Domagoj Kifer
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mirjana Domazet-Lošo
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Kristian Vlahoviček
- Bioinformatics Group, Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- School of Biosciences, University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden
| | - Ivan Mijakovic
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Division, Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tomislav Domazet-Lošo
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
- Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
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Nye TM, Fernandez NL, Simmons LA. A positive perspective on DNA methylation: regulatory functions of DNA methylation outside of host defense in Gram-positive bacteria. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2020; 55:576-591. [PMID: 33059472 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2020.1828257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The presence of post-replicative DNA methylation is pervasive among both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. In bacteria, the study of DNA methylation has largely been in the context of restriction-modification systems, where DNA methylation serves to safeguard the chromosome against restriction endonuclease cleavage intended for invading DNA. There has been a growing recognition that the methyltransferase component of restriction-modification systems can also regulate gene expression, with important contributions to virulence factor gene expression in bacterial pathogens. Outside of restriction-modification systems, DNA methylation from orphan methyltransferases, which lack cognate restriction endonucleases, has been shown to regulate important processes, including DNA replication, DNA mismatch repair, and the regulation of gene expression. The majority of research and review articles have been focused on DNA methylation in the context of Gram-negative bacteria, with emphasis toward Escherichia coli, Caulobacter crescentus, and related Proteobacteria. Here we summarize the epigenetic functions of DNA methylation outside of host defense in Gram-positive bacteria, with a focus on the regulatory effects of both phase variable methyltransferases and DNA methyltransferases from traditional restriction-modification systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor M Nye
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Nicolas L Fernandez
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lyle A Simmons
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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