1
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Lipońska A, Lee H, Yap MN. Staphylococcal exoribonuclease YhaM destabilizes ribosomes by targeting the mRNA of a hibernation factor. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:8998-9013. [PMID: 38979572 PMCID: PMC11347170 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae596] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The hibernation-promoting factor (Hpf) in Staphylococcus aureus binds to 70S ribosomes and induces the formation of the 100S complex (70S dimer), leading to translational avoidance and occlusion of ribosomes from RNase R-mediated degradation. Here, we show that the 3'-5' exoribonuclease YhaM plays a previously unrecognized role in modulating ribosome stability. Unlike RNase R, which directly degrades the 16S rRNA of ribosomes in S. aureus cells lacking Hpf, YhaM destabilizes ribosomes by indirectly degrading the 3'-hpf mRNA that carries an intrinsic terminator. YhaM adopts an active hexameric assembly and robustly cleaves ssRNA in a manganese-dependent manner. In vivo, YhaM appears to be a low-processive enzyme, trimming the hpf mRNA by only 1 nucleotide. Deletion of yhaM delays cell growth. These findings substantiate the physiological significance of this cryptic enzyme and the protective role of Hpf in ribosome integrity, providing a mechanistic understanding of bacterial ribosome turnover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lipońska
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 320 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Hyun Lee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Biophysics Core in Research Resources Center, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), 1100 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Mee-Ngan F Yap
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 320 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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2
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Ueta M, Wada A, Wada C. The hibernation promoting factor of Betaproteobacteria Comamonas testosteroni cannot induce 100S ribosome formation but stabilizes 70S ribosomal particles. Genes Cells 2024; 29:613-634. [PMID: 38937957 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.13137] [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: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria use several means to survive under stress conditions such as nutrient depletion. One such response is the formation of hibernating 100S ribosomes, which are translationally inactive 70S dimers. In Gammaproteobacteria (Enterobacterales), 100S ribosome formation requires ribosome modulation factor (RMF) and short hibernation promoting factor (HPF), whereas it is mediated by only long HPF in the majority of bacteria. Here, we investigated the role of HPFs of Comamonas testosteroni, which belongs to the Betaproteobacteria with common ancestor to the Gammaproteobacteria. C. testosteroni has two genes of HPF homologs of differing length (CtHPF-125 and CtHPF-119). CtHPF-125 was induced in the stationary phase, whereas CtHPF-119 conserved in many other Betaproteobacteria was not expressed in the culture conditions used here. Unlike short HPF and RMF, and long HPF, CtHPF-125 could not form 100S ribosome. We first constructed the deletion mutant of Cthpf-125 gene. When the deletion mutant grows in the stationary phase, 70S particles were degraded faster than in the wild strain. CtHPF-125 contributes to stabilizing the 70S ribosome. CtHPF-125 and CtHPF-119 both inhibited protein synthesis by transcription-translation in vitro. Our findings suggest that CtHPF-125 binds to ribosome, and stabilizes 70S ribosomes, inhibits translation without forming 100S ribosomes and supports prolonging life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masami Ueta
- Biological Information Research, Yoshida Biological Laboratory Inc., Yoshida Biological Laboratory, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akira Wada
- Biological Information Research, Yoshida Biological Laboratory Inc., Yoshida Biological Laboratory, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Chieko Wada
- Biological Information Research, Yoshida Biological Laboratory Inc., Yoshida Biological Laboratory, Kyoto, Japan
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3
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Ekemezie CL, Melnikov SV. Hibernating ribosomes as drug targets? Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1436579. [PMID: 39135874 PMCID: PMC11317432 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1436579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
When ribosome-targeting antibiotics attack actively growing bacteria, they occupy ribosomal active centers, causing the ribosomes to stall or make errors that either halt cellular growth or cause bacterial death. However, emerging research indicates that bacterial ribosomes spend a considerable amount of time in an inactive state known as ribosome hibernation, in which they dissociate from their substrates and bind to specialized proteins called ribosome hibernation factors. Since 60% of microbial biomass exists in a dormant state at any given time, these hibernation factors are likely the most common partners of ribosomes in bacterial cells. Furthermore, some hibernation factors occupy ribosomal drug-binding sites - leading to the question of how ribosome hibernation influences antibiotic efficacy, and vice versa. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge on physical and functional interactions between hibernation factors and ribosome-targeting antibiotics and explore the possibility of using antibiotics to target not only active but also hibernating ribosomes. Because ribosome hibernation empowers bacteria to withstand harsh conditions such as starvation, stress, and host immunity, this line of research holds promise for medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology: by learning to regulate ribosome hibernation, we could enhance our capacity to manage the survival of microorganisms in dormancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinenye L. Ekemezie
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Sergey V. Melnikov
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Medical School of Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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4
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Sikora F, Budja LVP, Milojevic O, Ziemniewicz A, Dudys P, Görke B. Multiple regulatory inputs including cell envelope stress orchestrate expression of the Escherichia coli rpoN operon. Mol Microbiol 2024; 122:11-28. [PMID: 38770591 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15280] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
The rpoN operon, an important regulatory hub in Enterobacteriaceae, includes rpoN encoding sigma factor σ54, hpf involved in ribosome hibernation, rapZ regulating glucosamine-6-phosphate levels, and two genes encoding proteins of the nitrogen-related phosphotransferase system. Little is known about regulatory mechanisms controlling the abundance of these proteins. This study employs transposon mutagenesis and chemical screens to dissect the complex expression of the rpoN operon. We find that envelope stress conditions trigger read-through transcription into the rpoN operon from a promoter located upstream of the preceding lptA-lptB locus. This promoter is controlled by the envelope stress sigma factor E and response regulator PhoP is required for its full response to a subset of stress signals. σE also stimulates ptsN-rapZ-npr expression using an element downstream of rpoN, presumably by interfering with mRNA processing by RNase E. Additionally, we identify a novel promoter in the 3' end of rpoN that directs transcription of the distal genes in response to ethanol. Finally, we show that translation of hpf and ptsN is individually regulated by the RNA chaperone Hfq, perhaps involving small RNAs. Collectively, our work demonstrates that the rpoN operon is subject to complex regulation, integrating signals related to envelope stress and carbon source quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Sikora
- Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter Campus (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- Max Perutz Labs, Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Lara Veronika Perko Budja
- Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter Campus (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- Max Perutz Labs, Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Olja Milojevic
- Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter Campus (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- Max Perutz Labs, Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Amelia Ziemniewicz
- Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter Campus (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- Max Perutz Labs, Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Przemyslaw Dudys
- Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter Campus (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- Max Perutz Labs, Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Boris Görke
- Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter Campus (VBC), Vienna, Austria
- Max Perutz Labs, Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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5
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Koli S, Shetty S. Ribosomal dormancy at the nexus of ribosome homeostasis and protein synthesis. Bioessays 2024; 46:e2300247. [PMID: 38769702 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300247] [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: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Dormancy or hibernation is a non-proliferative state of cells with low metabolic activity and gene expression. Dormant cells sequester ribosomes in a translationally inactive state, called dormant/hibernating ribosomes. These dormant ribosomes are important for the preservation of ribosomes and translation shut-off. While recent studies attempted to elucidate their modes of formation, the regulation and roles of the diverse dormant ribosomal populations are still largely understudied. The mechanistic details of the formation of dormant ribosomes in stress and especially their disassembly during recovery remain elusive. In this review, we discuss the roles of dormant ribosomes and their potential regulatory mechanisms. Furthermore, we highlight the paradigms that need to be answered in the field of ribosomal dormancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saloni Koli
- Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, India
| | - Sunil Shetty
- Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India
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6
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Helena-Bueno K, Chan LI, Melnikov SV. Rippling life on a dormant planet: hibernation of ribosomes, RNA polymerases, and other essential enzymes. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1386179. [PMID: 38770025 PMCID: PMC11102965 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1386179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Throughout the tree of life, cells and organisms enter states of dormancy or hibernation as a key feature of their biology: from a bacterium arresting its growth in response to starvation, to a plant seed anticipating placement in fertile ground, to a human oocyte poised for fertilization to create a new life. Recent research shows that when cells hibernate, many of their essential enzymes hibernate too: they disengage from their substrates and associate with a specialized group of proteins known as hibernation factors. Here, we summarize how hibernation factors protect essential cellular enzymes from undesired activity or irreparable damage in hibernating cells. We show how molecular hibernation, once viewed as rare and exclusive to certain molecules like ribosomes, is in fact a widespread property of biological molecules that is required for the sustained persistence of life on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sergey V. Melnikov
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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7
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Dimitrova-Paternoga L, Kasvandik S, Beckert B, Granneman S, Tenson T, Wilson DN, Paternoga H. Structural basis of ribosomal 30S subunit degradation by RNase R. Nature 2024; 626:1133-1140. [PMID: 38326618 PMCID: PMC10901742 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07027-6] [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: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Protein synthesis is a major energy-consuming process of the cell that requires the controlled production1-3 and turnover4,5 of ribosomes. Although the past few years have seen major advances in our understanding of ribosome biogenesis, structural insight into the degradation of ribosomes has been lacking. Here we present native structures of two distinct small ribosomal 30S subunit degradation intermediates associated with the 3' to 5' exonuclease ribonuclease R (RNase R). The structures reveal that RNase R binds at first to the 30S platform to facilitate the degradation of the functionally important anti-Shine-Dalgarno sequence and the decoding-site helix 44. RNase R then encounters a roadblock when it reaches the neck region of the 30S subunit, and this is overcome by a major structural rearrangement of the 30S head, involving the loss of ribosomal proteins. RNase R parallels this movement and relocates to the decoding site by using its N-terminal helix-turn-helix domain as an anchor. In vitro degradation assays suggest that head rearrangement poses a major kinetic barrier for RNase R, but also indicate that the enzyme alone is sufficient for complete degradation of 30S subunits. Collectively, our results provide a mechanistic basis for the degradation of 30S mediated by RNase R, and reveal that RNase R targets orphaned 30S subunits using a dynamic mechanism involving an anchored switching of binding sites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sergo Kasvandik
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Bertrand Beckert
- Dubochet Center for Imaging (DCI) at EPFL, EPFL SB IPHYS DCI, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sander Granneman
- Centre for Engineering Biology (SynthSys), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tanel Tenson
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Daniel N Wilson
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Helge Paternoga
- Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
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8
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Helena-Bueno K, Rybak MY, Ekemezie CL, Sullivan R, Brown CR, Dingwall C, Baslé A, Schneider C, Connolly JPR, Blaza JN, Csörgő B, Moynihan PJ, Gagnon MG, Hill CH, Melnikov SV. A new family of bacterial ribosome hibernation factors. Nature 2024; 626:1125-1132. [PMID: 38355796 PMCID: PMC10901736 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07041-8] [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: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
To conserve energy during starvation and stress, many organisms use hibernation factor proteins to inhibit protein synthesis and protect their ribosomes from damage1,2. In bacteria, two families of hibernation factors have been described, but the low conservation of these proteins and the huge diversity of species, habitats and environmental stressors have confounded their discovery3-6. Here, by combining cryogenic electron microscopy, genetics and biochemistry, we identify Balon, a new hibernation factor in the cold-adapted bacterium Psychrobacter urativorans. We show that Balon is a distant homologue of the archaeo-eukaryotic translation factor aeRF1 and is found in 20% of representative bacteria. During cold shock or stationary phase, Balon occupies the ribosomal A site in both vacant and actively translating ribosomes in complex with EF-Tu, highlighting an unexpected role for EF-Tu in the cellular stress response. Unlike typical A-site substrates, Balon binds to ribosomes in an mRNA-independent manner, initiating a new mode of ribosome hibernation that can commence while ribosomes are still engaged in protein synthesis. Our work suggests that Balon-EF-Tu-regulated ribosome hibernation is a ubiquitous bacterial stress-response mechanism, and we demonstrate that putative Balon homologues in Mycobacteria bind to ribosomes in a similar fashion. This finding calls for a revision of the current model of ribosome hibernation inferred from common model organisms and holds numerous implications for how we understand and study ribosome hibernation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mariia Yu Rybak
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | | | - Rudi Sullivan
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Charlotte R Brown
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Arnaud Baslé
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Claudia Schneider
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - James N Blaza
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, UK
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, University of York, York, UK
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, UK
| | - Bálint Csörgő
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | | | - Matthieu G Gagnon
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Sealy Center for Structural Biology & Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Institute for Human Infections & Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
| | - Chris H Hill
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, University of York, York, UK.
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, UK.
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK.
| | - Sergey V Melnikov
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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9
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Kumar N, Sharma S, Kaushal PS. Cryo- EM structure of the mycobacterial 70S ribosome in complex with ribosome hibernation promotion factor RafH. Nat Commun 2024; 15:638. [PMID: 38245551 PMCID: PMC10799931 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44879-y] [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: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Ribosome hibernation is a key survival strategy bacteria adopt under environmental stress, where a protein, hibernation promotion factor (HPF), transitorily inactivates the ribosome. Mycobacterium tuberculosis encounters hypoxia (low oxygen) as a major stress in the host macrophages, and upregulates the expression of RafH protein, which is crucial for its survival. The RafH, a dual domain HPF, an orthologue of bacterial long HPF (HPFlong), hibernates ribosome in 70S monosome form, whereas in other bacteria, the HPFlong induces 70S ribosome dimerization and hibernates its ribosome in 100S disome form. Here, we report the cryo- EM structure of M. smegmatis, a close homolog of M. tuberculosis, 70S ribosome in complex with the RafH factor at an overall 2.8 Å resolution. The N- terminus domain (NTD) of RafH binds to the decoding center, similarly to HPFlong NTD. In contrast, the C- terminus domain (CTD) of RafH, which is larger than the HPFlong CTD, binds to a distinct site at the platform binding center of the ribosomal small subunit. The two domain-connecting linker regions, which remain mostly disordered in earlier reported HPFlong structures, interact mainly with the anti-Shine Dalgarno sequence of the 16S rRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niraj Kumar
- Structural Biology & Translation Regulation Laboratory, UNESCO-DBT, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121 001, India
| | - Shivani Sharma
- Structural Biology & Translation Regulation Laboratory, UNESCO-DBT, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121 001, India
| | - Prem S Kaushal
- Structural Biology & Translation Regulation Laboratory, UNESCO-DBT, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121 001, India.
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10
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Ciolli Mattioli C, Eisner K, Rosenbaum A, Wang M, Rivalta A, Amir A, Golding I, Avraham R. Physiological stress drives the emergence of a Salmonella subpopulation through ribosomal RNA regulation. Curr Biol 2023; 33:4880-4892.e14. [PMID: 37879333 PMCID: PMC10843543 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.064] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria undergo cycles of growth and starvation to which they must adapt swiftly. One important strategy for adjusting growth rates relies on ribosomal levels. Although high ribosomal levels are required for fast growth, their dynamics during starvation remain unclear. Here, we analyzed ribosomal RNA (rRNA) content of individual Salmonella cells by using fluorescence in situ hybridization (rRNA-FISH) and measured a dramatic decrease in rRNA numbers only in a subpopulation during nutrient limitation, resulting in a bimodal distribution of cells with high and low rRNA content. During nutritional upshifts, the two subpopulations were associated with distinct phenotypes. Using a transposon screen coupled with rRNA-FISH, we identified two mutants, DksA and RNase I, acting on rRNA transcription shutdown and degradation, which abolished the formation of the subpopulation with low rRNA content. Our work identifies a bacterial mechanism for regulation of ribosomal bimodality that may be beneficial for population survival during starvation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Ciolli Mattioli
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Kfir Eisner
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Aviel Rosenbaum
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Mengyu Wang
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Andre' Rivalta
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Ariel Amir
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Ido Golding
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Roi Avraham
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
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11
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Njenga R, Boele J, Öztürk Y, Koch HG. Coping with stress: How bacteria fine-tune protein synthesis and protein transport. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105163. [PMID: 37586589 PMCID: PMC10502375 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Maintaining a functional proteome under different environmental conditions is challenging for every organism, in particular for unicellular organisms, such as bacteria. In order to cope with changing environments and stress conditions, bacteria depend on strictly coordinated proteostasis networks that control protein production, folding, trafficking, and degradation. Regulation of ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis are cornerstones of this cellular adaptation in all domains of life, which is rationalized by the high energy demand of both processes and the increased resistance of translationally silent cells against internal or external poisons. Reduced protein synthesis ultimately also reduces the substrate load for protein transport systems, which are required for maintaining the periplasmic, inner, and outer membrane subproteomes. Consequences of impaired protein transport have been analyzed in several studies and generally induce a multifaceted response that includes the upregulation of chaperones and proteases and the simultaneous downregulation of protein synthesis. In contrast, generally less is known on how bacteria adjust the protein targeting and transport machineries to reduced protein synthesis, e.g., when cells encounter stress conditions or face nutrient deprivation. In the current review, which is mainly focused on studies using Escherichia coli as a model organism, we summarize basic concepts on how ribosome biogenesis and activity are regulated under stress conditions. In addition, we highlight some recent developments on how stress conditions directly impair protein targeting to the bacterial membrane. Finally, we describe mechanisms that allow bacteria to maintain the transport of stress-responsive proteins under conditions when the canonical protein targeting pathways are impaired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Njenga
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Julian Boele
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Yavuz Öztürk
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Georg Koch
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ZBMZ, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
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12
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Scott M, Hwa T. Shaping bacterial gene expression by physiological and proteome allocation constraints. Nat Rev Microbiol 2023; 21:327-342. [PMID: 36376406 PMCID: PMC10121745 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-022-00818-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Networks of molecular regulators are often the primary objects of focus in the study of gene regulation, with the machinery of protein synthesis tacitly relegated to the background. Shifting focus to the constraints imposed by the allocation of protein synthesis flux reveals surprising ways in which the actions of molecular regulators are shaped by physiological demands. Using carbon catabolite repression as a case study, we describe how physiological constraints are sensed through metabolic fluxes and how flux-controlled regulation gives rise to simple empirical relations between protein levels and the rate of cell growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Scott
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
| | - Terence Hwa
- Department of Physics, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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13
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tRNAs Are Stable After All: Pitfalls in Quantification of tRNA from Starved Escherichia coli Cultures Exposed by Validation of RNA Purification Methods. mBio 2023; 14:e0280522. [PMID: 36598190 PMCID: PMC9973347 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02805-22] [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: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
tRNAs and ribosomal RNAs are often considered stable RNAs. In contrast to this view, we recently proposed that tRNAs are degraded during amino acid starvation and drug-induced transcription inhibition. However, reevaluation of our experimental approach revealed that common RNA extraction methods suffer from alarming extraction and size biases that can lead to gross underestimation of RNA levels in starved Escherichia coli populations. Quantification of tRNAs suffers additional biases due to differing fractions of tRNAs with base modifications in growing versus starved bacteria. Applying an improved methodology, we measured tRNA levels after starvation for amino acids, glucose, phosphate, or ammonium and transcription inhibition by rifampicin. We report that tRNA levels remain largely unaffected in all tested conditions, including several days of starvation. This confirms that tRNAs are remarkably stable RNAs and serves as a cautionary tale about quantification of RNA from cells cultured outside the steady-state growth regime. rRNA, conversely, is extensively degraded during starvation. Thus, E. coli downregulates the translation machinery in response to starvation by reducing the ribosome pool through rRNA degradation, while a high concentration of tRNAs available to supply amino acids to the remaining ribosomes is maintained. IMPORTANCE We show that E. coli tRNAs are remarkably stable during several days of nutrient starvation, although rRNA is degraded extensively under these conditions. The levels of these two major RNA classes are considered to be strongly coregulated at the level of transcription. We demonstrate that E. coli can control the ratio of tRNAs per ribosome under starvation by means of differential degradation rates. The question of tRNA stability in stressed E. coli cells has become subject to debate. Our in-depth analysis of RNA quantification methods reveals hidden technical pitfalls at every step of the analysis, from RNA extraction to target detection and normalization. Most importantly, starved E. coli populations were more resilient to RNA extraction than unstarved populations. The current results underscore that the seemingly trivial task of quantifying an abundant RNA species is not straightforward for cells cultured outside the exponential growth regime.
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Ribosome Protein Composition Mediates Translation during the Escherichia coli Stationary Phase. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043128. [PMID: 36834540 PMCID: PMC9959377 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043128] [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] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial ribosomes contain over 50 ribosome core proteins (r-proteins). Tens of non-ribosomal proteins bind to ribosomes to promote various steps of translation or suppress protein synthesis during ribosome hibernation. This study sets out to determine how translation activity is regulated during the prolonged stationary phase. Here, we report the protein composition of ribosomes during the stationary phase. According to quantitative mass-spectrometry analysis, ribosome core proteins bL31B and bL36B are present during the late log and first days of the stationary phase and are replaced by corresponding A paralogs later in the prolonged stationary phase. Ribosome hibernation factors Rmf, Hpf, RaiA, and Sra are bound to the ribosomes during the onset and a few first days of the stationary phase when translation is strongly suppressed. In the prolonged stationary phase, a decrease in ribosome concentration is accompanied by an increase in translation and association of translation factors with simultaneous dissociation of ribosome hibernating factors. The dynamics of ribosome-associated proteins partially explain the changes in translation activity during the stationary phase.
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15
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Ranava D, Scheidler CM, Pfanzelt M, Fiedler M, Sieber SA, Schneider S, Yap MNF. Bidirectional sequestration between a bacterial hibernation factor and a glutamate metabolizing protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2207257119. [PMID: 36122228 PMCID: PMC9522360 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2207257119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial hibernating 100S ribosomes (the 70S dimers) are excluded from translation and are protected from ribonucleolytic degradation, thereby promoting long-term viability and increased regrowth. No extraribosomal target of any hibernation factor has been reported. Here, we discovered a previously unrecognized binding partner (YwlG) of hibernation-promoting factor (HPF) in the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. YwlG is an uncharacterized virulence factor in S. aureus. We show that the HPF-YwlG interaction is direct, independent of ribosome binding, and functionally linked to cold adaptation and glucose metabolism. Consistent with the distant resemblance of YwlG to the hexameric structures of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-specific glutamate dehydrogenases (GDHs), YwlG overexpression can compensate for a loss of cellular GDH activity. The reduced abundance of 100S complexes and the suppression of YwlG-dependent GDH activity provide evidence for a two-way sequestration between YwlG and HPF. These findings reveal an unexpected layer of regulation linking the biogenesis of 100S ribosomes to glutamate metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Ranava
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | | | - Martin Pfanzelt
- Department of Chemistry, Chair of Organic Chemistry III, Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA), Technische Universität München, 80333 Garching, Germany
| | - Michaela Fiedler
- Department of Chemistry, Chair of Organic Chemistry III, Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA), Technische Universität München, 80333 Garching, Germany
| | - Stephan A. Sieber
- Department of Chemistry, Chair of Organic Chemistry III, Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA), Technische Universität München, 80333 Garching, Germany
| | - Sabine Schneider
- Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Mee-Ngan F. Yap
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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16
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Khaova EA, Kashevarova NM, Tkachenko AG. Ribosome Hibernation: Molecular Strategy of Bacterial Survival (Review). APPL BIOCHEM MICRO+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0003683822030061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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17
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Distinct Survival, Growth Lag, and rRNA Degradation Kinetics during Long-Term Starvation for Carbon or Phosphate. mSphere 2022; 7:e0100621. [PMID: 35440180 PMCID: PMC9241543 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.01006-21] [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: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The stationary phase is the general term for the state a bacterial culture reaches when no further increase in cell mass occurs due to exhaustion of nutrients in the growth medium. Depending on the type of nutrient that is first depleted, the metabolic state of the stationary phase cells may vary greatly, and the subsistence strategies that best support cell survival may differ. As ribosomes play a central role in bacterial growth and energy expenditure, ribosome preservation is a key element of such strategies. To investigate the degree of ribosome preservation during long-term starvation, we compared the dynamics of rRNA levels of carbon-starved and phosphorus-starved Escherichia coli cultures for up to 28 days. The starved cultures' contents of full-length 16S and 23S rRNA decreased as the starvation proceeded in both cases, and phosphorus starvation resulted in much more rapid rRNA degradation than carbon starvation. Bacterial survival and regrowth kinetics were also quantified. Upon replenishment of the nutrient in question, carbon-starved cells resumed growth faster than cells starved for phosphate for the equivalent amount of time, and for both conditions, the lag time increased with the starvation time. While these results are in accordance with the hypothesis that cells with a larger ribosome pool recover more readily upon replenishment of nutrients, we also observed that the lag time kept increasing with increasing starvation time, also when the amount of rRNA per viable cell remained constant, highlighting that lag time is not a simple function of ribosome content under long-term starvation conditions. IMPORTANCE The exponential growth of bacterial populations is punctuated by long or short periods of starvation lasting from the point of nutrient exhaustion until nutrients are replenished. To understand the consequences of long-term starvation for Escherichia coli cells, we performed month-long carbon and phosphorus starvation experiments and measured three key phenotypes of the cultures, namely, the survival of the cells, the time needed for them to resume growth after nutrient replenishment, and the levels of intact rRNA preserved in the cultures. The starved cultures' concentration of rRNA dropped with starvation time, as did cell survival, while the lag time needed for regrowth increased. While all three phenotypes were more severely affected during starvation for phosphorus than for carbon, our results demonstrate that neither survival nor lag time is correlated with ribosome content in a straightforward manner.
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How to save a bacterial ribosome in times of stress. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 136:3-12. [PMID: 35331628 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Biogenesis of ribosomes is one of the most cost- and resource-intensive processes in all living cells. In bacteria, ribosome biogenesis is rate-limiting for growth and must be tightly coordinated to yield maximum fitness of the cells. Since bacteria are continuously facing environmental changes and stress conditions, they have developed sophisticated systems to sense and regulate their nutritional status. Amino acid starvation leads to the synthesis and accumulation of the nucleotide-based second messengers ppGpp and pppGpp [(p)ppGpp], which in turn function as central players of a pleiotropic metabolic adaptation mechanism named the stringent response. Here, we review our current knowledge on the multiple roles of (p)ppGpp in the stress-related modulation of the prokaryotic protein biosynthesis machinery with the ribosome as its core constituent. The alarmones ppGpp/pppGpp act as competitors of their GDP/GTP counterparts, to affect a multitude of ribosome-associated P-loop GTPases involved in the translation cycle, ribosome biogenesis and hibernation. A similar mode of inhibition has been found for the GTPases of the proteins involved in the SRP-dependent membrane-targeting machinery present in the periphery of the ribosome. In this sense, during stringent conditions, binding of (p)ppGpp restricts the membrane insertion and secretion of proteins. Altogether, we highlight the enormously resource-intensive stages of ribosome biogenesis as a critical regulatory hub of the stringent response that ultimately tunes the protein synthesis capacity and consequently the survival of the cell.
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19
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Maki Y, Yoshida H. Ribosomal Hibernation-Associated Factors in Escherichia coli. Microorganisms 2021; 10:microorganisms10010033. [PMID: 35056482 PMCID: PMC8778775 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10010033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria convert active 70S ribosomes to inactive 100S ribosomes to survive under various stress conditions. This state, in which the ribosome loses its translational activity, is known as ribosomal hibernation. In gammaproteobacteria such as Escherichia coli, ribosome modulation factor and hibernation-promoting factor are involved in forming 100S ribosomes. The expression of ribosome modulation factor is regulated by (p)ppGpp (which is induced by amino acid starvation), cAMP-CRP (which is stimulated by reduced metabolic energy), and transcription factors involved in biofilm formation. This indicates that the formation of 100S ribosomes is an important strategy for bacterial survival under various stress conditions. In recent years, the structures of 100S ribosomes from various bacteria have been reported, enhancing our understanding of the 100S ribosome. Here, we present previous findings on the 100S ribosome and related proteins and describe the stress-response pathways involved in ribosomal hibernation.
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20
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Lang M, Krin E, Korlowski C, Sismeiro O, Varet H, Coppée JY, Mazel D, Baharoglu Z. Sleeping ribosomes: Bacterial signaling triggers RaiA mediated persistence to aminoglycosides. iScience 2021; 24:103128. [PMID: 34611612 PMCID: PMC8476650 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Indole is a molecule proposed to be involved in bacterial signaling. We find that indole secretion is induced by sublethal tobramycin concentrations and increases persistence to aminoglycosides in V. cholerae. Indole transcriptomics showed increased expression of raiA, a ribosome associated factor. Deletion of raiA abolishes the appearance of indole dependent persisters to aminoglycosides, although its overexpression leads to 100-fold increase of persisters, and a reduction in lag phase, evocative of increased active 70S ribosome content, confirmed by sucrose gradient analysis. We propose that, under stress conditions, RaiA-bound inactive 70S ribosomes are stored as “sleeping ribosomes”, and are rapidly reactivated upon stress relief. Our results point to an active process of persister formation through ribosome protection during translational stress (e.g., aminoglycoside treatment) and reactivation upon antibiotic removal. Translation is a universal process, and these results could help elucidate a mechanism of persistence formation in a controlled, thus inducible way. Indole is produced under sub-MIC tobramycin stress in V. cholerae and upregulates raiA RaiA is involved in indole-dependent formation of aminoglycoside specific persisters RaiA overexpression allows faster growth restart and increases 70S ribosome content RaiA-bound inactive 70S ribosomes form intact and reactivable sleeping ribosome pools
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Lang
- Département Génomes et Génétique, Institut Pasteur, UMR3525, CNRS, Unité Plasticité du Génome Bactérien, 75015 Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Collège Doctoral, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Evelyne Krin
- Département Génomes et Génétique, Institut Pasteur, UMR3525, CNRS, Unité Plasticité du Génome Bactérien, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Chloé Korlowski
- Département Génomes et Génétique, Institut Pasteur, UMR3525, CNRS, Unité Plasticité du Génome Bactérien, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Odile Sismeiro
- Biomics Technological Platform, Center for Technological Resources and Research, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Hugo Varet
- Biomics Technological Platform, Center for Technological Resources and Research, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Department of Computational Biology, USR 3756 CNRS, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Yves Coppée
- Biomics Technological Platform, Center for Technological Resources and Research, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Didier Mazel
- Département Génomes et Génétique, Institut Pasteur, UMR3525, CNRS, Unité Plasticité du Génome Bactérien, 75015 Paris, France
- Corresponding author
| | - Zeynep Baharoglu
- Département Génomes et Génétique, Institut Pasteur, UMR3525, CNRS, Unité Plasticité du Génome Bactérien, 75015 Paris, France
- Corresponding author
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21
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Hibernation-Promoting Factor Sequesters Staphylococcus aureus Ribosomes to Antagonize RNase R-Mediated Nucleolytic Degradation. mBio 2021; 12:e0033421. [PMID: 34253058 PMCID: PMC8406268 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00334-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial and eukaryotic hibernation factors prevent translation by physically blocking the decoding center of ribosomes, a phenomenon called ribosome hibernation that often occurs in response to nutrient deprivation. The human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus lacking the sole hibernation factor HPF undergoes massive ribosome degradation via an unknown pathway. Using genetic and biochemical approaches, we find that inactivating the 3′-to-5′ exonuclease RNase R suppresses ribosome degradation in the Δhpf mutant. In vitro cell-free degradation assays confirm that 30S and 70S ribosomes isolated from the Δhpf mutant are extremely susceptible to RNase R, in stark contrast to nucleolytic resistance of the HPF-bound 70S and 100S complexes isolated from the wild type. In the absence of HPF, specific S. aureus 16S rRNA helices are sensitive to nucleolytic cleavage. These RNase hot spots are distinct from that found in the Escherichia coli ribosomes. S. aureus RNase R is associated with ribosomes, but unlike the E. coli counterpart, it is not regulated by general stressors and acetylation. The results not only highlight key differences between the evolutionarily conserved RNase R homologs but also provide direct evidence that HPF preserves ribosome integrity beyond its role in translational avoidance, thereby poising the hibernating ribosomes for rapid resumption of translation.
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22
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YbeY, éminence grise of ribosome biogenesis. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:727-745. [PMID: 33929506 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
YbeY is an ultraconserved small protein belonging to the unique heritage shared by most existing bacteria and eukaryotic organelles of bacterial origin, mitochondria and chloroplasts. Studied in more than a dozen of evolutionarily distant species, YbeY is invariably critical for cellular physiology. However, the exact mechanisms by which it exerts such penetrating influence are not completely understood. In this review, we attempt a transversal analysis of the current knowledge about YbeY, based on genetic, structural, and biochemical data from a wide variety of models. We propose that YbeY, in association with the ribosomal protein uS11 and the assembly GTPase Era, plays a critical role in the biogenesis of the small ribosomal subunit, and more specifically its platform region, in diverse genetic systems of bacterial type.
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23
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Prossliner T, Gerdes K, Sørensen MA, Winther KS. Corrigendum to article 'Hibernation factors directly block ribonucleases from entering the ribosome in response to starvation'. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:3599. [PMID: 33693886 PMCID: PMC8034641 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Prossliner
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kenn Gerdes
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Askvad Sørensen
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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