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Bongirwar R, Shukla P. Engineering regulatory networks of cyanobacteria. Trends Biotechnol 2024:S0167-7799(23)00368-2. [PMID: 38296717 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.12.012] [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: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Engineering a cell's regulatory networks to dynamically control gene expression has been considered a new frontier in biological engineering. In cyanobacteria, the lack of well-characterized, modular gene regulatory elements makes regulatory network engineering challenging. Here, we suggest potential tools to modify various gene expression steps in cyanobacterial regulatory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riya Bongirwar
- Enzyme Technology and Protein Bioinformatics Laboratory, School of Biotechnology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Pratyoosh Shukla
- Enzyme Technology and Protein Bioinformatics Laboratory, School of Biotechnology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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2
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Liu SJ, Lin GM, Yuan YQ, Chen W, Zhang JY, Zhang CC. A conserved protein inhibitor brings under check the activity of RNase E in cyanobacteria. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:404-419. [PMID: 38000383 PMCID: PMC10783494 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1094] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterial ribonuclease RNase E plays a key role in RNA metabolism. Yet, with a large substrate spectrum and poor substrate specificity, its activity must be well controlled under different conditions. Only a few regulators of RNase E are known, limiting our understanding on posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms in bacteria. Here we show that, RebA, a protein universally present in cyanobacteria, interacts with RNase E in the cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC 7120. Distinct from those known regulators of RNase E, RebA interacts with the catalytic region of RNase E, and suppresses the cleavage activities of RNase E for all tested substrates. Consistent with the inhibitory function of RebA on RNase E, depletion of RNase E and overproduction of RebA caused formation of elongated cells, whereas the absence of RebA and overproduction of RNase E resulted in a shorter-cell phenotype. We further showed that the morphological changes caused by altered levels of RNase E or RebA are dependent on their physical interaction. The action of RebA represents a new mechanism, potentially conserved in cyanobacteria, for RNase E regulation. Our findings provide insights into the regulation and the function of RNase E, and demonstrate the importance of balanced RNA metabolism in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Juan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430070, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Gui-Ming Lin
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yu-Qi Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Wenli Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ju-Yuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Cheng-Cai Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430070, China
- Key Laboratory of Lake and Watershed Science for Water Security, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
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3
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Hoffmann UA, Lichtenberg E, Rogh SN, Bilger R, Reimann V, Heyl F, Backofen R, Steglich C, Hess WR, Wilde A. The role of the 5' sensing function of ribonuclease E in cyanobacteria. RNA Biol 2024; 21:1-18. [PMID: 38469716 PMCID: PMC10939160 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2024.2328438] [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] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
RNA degradation is critical for synchronising gene expression with changing conditions in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. In bacteria, the preference of the central ribonucleases RNase E, RNase J and RNase Y for 5'-monophosphorylated RNAs is considered important for RNA degradation. For RNase E, the underlying mechanism is termed 5' sensing, contrasting to the alternative 'direct entry' mode, which is independent of monophosphorylated 5' ends. Cyanobacteria, such as Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (Synechocystis), encode RNase E and RNase J homologues. Here, we constructed a Synechocystis strain lacking the 5' sensing function of RNase E and mapped on a transcriptome-wide level 283 5'-sensing-dependent cleavage sites. These included so far unknown targets such as mRNAs encoding proteins related to energy metabolism and carbon fixation. The 5' sensing function of cyanobacterial RNase E is important for the maturation of rRNA and several tRNAs, including tRNAGluUUC. This tRNA activates glutamate for tetrapyrrole biosynthesis in plant chloroplasts and in most prokaryotes. Furthermore, we found that increased RNase activities lead to a higher copy number of the major Synechocystis plasmids pSYSA and pSYSM. These results provide a first step towards understanding the importance of the different target mechanisms of RNase E outside Escherichia coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ute A. Hoffmann
- Molecular Genetics of Prokaryotes, Institute of Biology III, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elisabeth Lichtenberg
- Molecular Genetics of Prokaryotes, Institute of Biology III, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Said N. Rogh
- Molecular Genetics of Prokaryotes, Institute of Biology III, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Raphael Bilger
- Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Viktoria Reimann
- Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Florian Heyl
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Rolf Backofen
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Steglich
- Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang R. Hess
- Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Annegret Wilde
- Molecular Genetics of Prokaryotes, Institute of Biology III, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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4
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Zhou Y, Sun H, Rapiejko AR, Vargas-Blanco DA, Martini MC, Chase MR, Joubran SR, Davis AB, Dainis JP, Kelly JM, Ioerger TR, Roberts LA, Fortune SM, Shell SS. Mycobacterial RNase E cleaves with a distinct sequence preference and controls the degradation rates of most Mycolicibacterium smegmatis mRNAs. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105312. [PMID: 37802316 PMCID: PMC10641625 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105312] [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: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms and regulation of RNA degradation in mycobacteria have been subject to increased interest following the identification of interplay between RNA metabolism and drug resistance. Mycobacteria encode multiple ribonucleases predicted to participate in mRNA degradation and/or processing of stable RNAs. RNase E is hypothesized to play a major role in mRNA degradation because of its essentiality in mycobacteria and its role in mRNA degradation in gram-negative bacteria. Here, we defined the impact of RNase E on mRNA degradation rates transcriptome-wide in the nonpathogenic model Mycolicibacterium smegmatis. RNase E played a rate-limiting role in degradation of the transcripts encoded by at least 89% of protein-coding genes, with leadered transcripts often being more affected by RNase E repression than leaderless transcripts. There was an apparent global slowing of transcription in response to knockdown of RNase E, suggesting that M. smegmatis regulates transcription in responses to changes in mRNA degradation. This compensation was incomplete, as the abundance of most transcripts increased upon RNase E knockdown. We assessed the sequence preferences for cleavage by RNase E transcriptome-wide in M. smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis and found a consistent bias for cleavage in C-rich regions. Purified RNase E had a clear preference for cleavage immediately upstream of cytidines, distinct from the sequence preferences of RNase E in gram-negative bacteria. We furthermore report a high-resolution map of mRNA cleavage sites in M. tuberculosis, which occur primarily within the RNase E-preferred sequence context, confirming that RNase E has a broad impact on the M. tuberculosis transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhou
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Huaming Sun
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Abigail R Rapiejko
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Diego A Vargas-Blanco
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Maria Carla Martini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael R Chase
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Samantha R Joubran
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alexa B Davis
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joseph P Dainis
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jessica M Kelly
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas R Ioerger
- Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Louis A Roberts
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sarah M Fortune
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Scarlet S Shell
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
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5
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Broglia L, Le Rhun A, Charpentier E. Methodologies for bacterial ribonuclease characterization using RNA-seq. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2023; 47:fuad049. [PMID: 37656885 PMCID: PMC10503654 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuad049] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria adjust gene expression at the post-transcriptional level through an intricate network of small regulatory RNAs and RNA-binding proteins, including ribonucleases (RNases). RNases play an essential role in RNA metabolism, regulating RNA stability, decay, and activation. These enzymes exhibit species-specific effects on gene expression, bacterial physiology, and different strategies of target recognition. Recent advances in high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) approaches have provided a better understanding of the roles and modes of action of bacterial RNases. Global studies aiming to identify direct targets of RNases have highlighted the diversity of RNase activity and RNA-based mechanisms of gene expression regulation. Here, we review recent RNA-seq approaches used to study bacterial RNases, with a focus on the methods for identifying direct RNase targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Broglia
- Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
- Center for Human Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16152 Genova, Italy
| | - Anaïs Le Rhun
- Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, ARNA, UMR 5320, U1212, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Emmanuelle Charpentier
- Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt University, D-10115 Berlin, Germany
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6
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Watanabe S, Stazic D, Georg J, Ohtake S, Sakamaki Y, Numakura M, Asayama M, Chibazakura T, Wilde A, Steglich C, Hess WR. Regulation of RNase E during the UV stress response in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. MLIFE 2023; 2:43-57. [PMID: 38818332 PMCID: PMC10989929 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Endoribonucleases govern the maturation and degradation of RNA and are indispensable in the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. A key endoribonuclease in Gram-negative bacteria is RNase E. To ensure an appropriate supply of RNase E, some bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, feedback-regulate RNase E expression via the rne 5'-untranslated region (5' UTR) in cis. However, the mechanisms involved in the control of RNase E in other bacteria largely remain unknown. Cyanobacteria rely on solar light as an energy source for photosynthesis, despite the inherent ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. In this study, we first investigated globally the changes in gene expression in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 after a brief exposure to UV. Among the 407 responding genes 2 h after UV exposure was a prominent upregulation of rne mRNA level. Moreover, the enzymatic activity of RNase E rapidly increased as well, although the protein stability decreased. This unique response was underpinned by the increased accumulation of full-length rne mRNA caused by the stabilization of its 5' UTR and suppression of premature transcriptional termination, but not by an increased transcription rate. Mapping of RNA 3' ends and in vitro cleavage assays revealed that RNase E cleaves within a stretch of six consecutive uridine residues within the rne 5' UTR, indicating autoregulation. These observations suggest that RNase E in cyanobacteria contributes to reshaping the transcriptome during the UV stress response and that its required activity level is secured at the RNA level despite the enhanced turnover of the protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Watanabe
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics and Experimental BioinformaticsUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Damir Stazic
- Department of BioscienceTokyo University of AgricultureSetagaya‐kuTokyoJapan
- Present address:
NexxiotPrime Tower (Hardstrasse 201)ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Jens Georg
- Department of BioscienceTokyo University of AgricultureSetagaya‐kuTokyoJapan
| | - Shota Ohtake
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics and Experimental BioinformaticsUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Yutaka Sakamaki
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics and Experimental BioinformaticsUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Megumi Numakura
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics and Experimental BioinformaticsUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Munehiko Asayama
- School of Agriculture, Molecular GeneticsIbaraki UniversityIbarakiJapan
| | - Taku Chibazakura
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics and Experimental BioinformaticsUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Annegret Wilde
- Faculty of Biology, Molecular GeneticsUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Claudia Steglich
- Department of BioscienceTokyo University of AgricultureSetagaya‐kuTokyoJapan
| | - Wolfgang R. Hess
- Department of BioscienceTokyo University of AgricultureSetagaya‐kuTokyoJapan
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7
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Kaltenbrunner A, Reimann V, Hoffmann UA, Aoyagi T, Sakata M, Nimura-Matsune K, Watanabe S, Steglich C, Wilde A, Hess WR. Regulation of pSYSA defense plasmid copy number in Synechocystis through RNase E and a highly transcribed asRNA. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1112307. [PMID: 36876071 PMCID: PMC9978351 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1112307] [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: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biology approaches toward the development of cyanobacterial producer strains require the availability of appropriate sets of plasmid vectors. A factor for the industrial usefulness of such strains is their robustness against pathogens, such as bacteriophages infecting cyanobacteria. Therefore, it is of great interest to understand the native plasmid replication systems and the CRISPR-Cas based defense mechanisms already present in cyanobacteria. In the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, four large and three smaller plasmids exist. The ~100 kb plasmid pSYSA is specialized in defense functions by encoding all three CRISPR-Cas systems and several toxin-antitoxin systems. The expression of genes located on pSYSA depends on the plasmid copy number in the cell. The pSYSA copy number is positively correlated with the expression level of the endoribonuclease E. As molecular basis for this correlation we identified the RNase E-mediated cleavage within the pSYSA-encoded ssr7036 transcript. Together with a cis-encoded abundant antisense RNA (asRNA1), this mechanism resembles the control of ColE1-type plasmid replication by two overlapping RNAs, RNA I and II. In the ColE1 mechanism, two non-coding RNAs interact, supported by the small protein Rop, which is encoded separately. In contrast, in pSYSA the similar-sized protein Ssr7036 is encoded within one of the interacting RNAs and it is this mRNA that likely primes pSYSA replication. Essential for plasmid replication is furthermore the downstream encoded protein Slr7037 featuring primase and helicase domains. Deletion of slr7037 led to the integration of pSYSA into the chromosome or the other large plasmid pSYSX. Moreover, the presence of slr7037 was required for successful replication of a pSYSA-derived vector in another model cyanobacterium, Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. Therefore, we annotated the protein encoded by slr7037 as Cyanobacterial Rep protein A1 (CyRepA1). Our findings open new perspectives on the development of shuttle vectors for genetic engineering of cyanobacteria and of modulating the activity of the entire CRISPR-Cas apparatus in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Kaltenbrunner
- Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics Group, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Viktoria Reimann
- Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics Group, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ute A Hoffmann
- Molecular Genetics of Prokaryotes, Institute of Biology III, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tomohiro Aoyagi
- Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minori Sakata
- Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Satoru Watanabe
- Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Claudia Steglich
- Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics Group, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Annegret Wilde
- Molecular Genetics of Prokaryotes, Institute of Biology III, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang R Hess
- Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics Group, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Wei G, Li S, Ye S, Wang Z, Zarringhalam K, He J, Wang W, Shao Z. High-Resolution Small RNAs Landscape Provides Insights into Alkane Adaptation in the Marine Alkane-Degrader Alcanivorax dieselolei B-5. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415995. [PMID: 36555635 PMCID: PMC9788540 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Alkanes are widespread in the ocean, and Alcanivorax is one of the most ubiquitous alkane-degrading bacteria in the marine ecosystem. Small RNAs (sRNAs) are usually at the heart of regulatory pathways, but sRNA-mediated alkane metabolic adaptability still remains largely unknown due to the difficulties of identification. Here, differential RNA sequencing (dRNA-seq) modified with a size selection (~50-nt to 500-nt) strategy was used to generate high-resolution sRNAs profiling in the model species Alcanivorax dieselolei B-5 under alkane (n-hexadecane) and non-alkane (acetate) conditions. As a result, we identified 549 sRNA candidates at single-nucleotide resolution of 5'-ends, 63.4% of which are with transcription start sites (TSSs), and 36.6% of which are with processing sites (PSSs) at the 5'-ends. These sRNAs originate from almost any location in the genome, regardless of intragenic (65.8%), antisense (20.6%) and intergenic (6.2%) regions, and RNase E may function in the maturation of sRNAs. Most sRNAs locally distribute across the 15 reference genomes of Alcanivorax, and only 7.5% of sRNAs are broadly conserved in this genus. Expression responses to the alkane of several core conserved sRNAs, including 6S RNA, M1 RNA and tmRNA, indicate that they may participate in alkane metabolisms and result in more actively global transcription, RNA processing and stresses mitigation. Two novel CsrA-related sRNAs are identified, which may be involved in the translational activation of alkane metabolism-related genes by sequestering the global repressor CsrA. The relationships of sRNAs with the characterized genes of alkane sensing (ompS), chemotaxis (mcp, cheR, cheW2), transporting (ompT1, ompT2, ompT3) and hydroxylation (alkB1, alkB2, almA) were created based on the genome-wide predicted sRNA-mRNA interactions. Overall, the sRNA landscape lays the ground for uncovering cryptic regulations in critical marine bacterium, among which both the core and species-specific sRNAs are implicated in the alkane adaptive metabolisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangshan Wei
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources of Fujian Province, Xiamen 361005, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Sujie Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources of Fujian Province, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Sida Ye
- Department of Mathematics, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
- Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
| | - Zining Wang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources of Fujian Province, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Kourosh Zarringhalam
- Department of Mathematics, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
- Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
| | - Jianguo He
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Wanpeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources of Fujian Province, Xiamen 361005, China
- Correspondence: (W.W.); (Z.S.)
| | - Zongze Shao
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources of Fujian Province, Xiamen 361005, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519000, China
- Correspondence: (W.W.); (Z.S.)
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9
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Song K, Hagemann M, Georg J, Maaß S, Becher D, Hess WR. Expression of the Cyanobacterial F oF 1 ATP Synthase Regulator AtpΘ Depends on Small DNA-Binding Proteins and Differential mRNA Stability. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0256221. [PMID: 35446123 PMCID: PMC9241938 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02562-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
FoF1 ATP synthases produce ATP, the universal biological energy source. ATP synthase complexes on cyanobacterial thylakoid membranes use proton gradients generated either by photosynthesis or respiration. AtpΘ is an ATP synthase regulator in cyanobacteria which is encoded by the gene atpT. AtpΘ prevents the hydrolysis of ATP (reverse reaction) that otherwise would occur under unfavorable conditions. In the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, AtpΘ is expressed maximum in darkness but at very low levels under optimum phototrophic growth conditions or in the presence of glucose. DNA coimmunoprecipitation experiments followed by mass spectrometry identified the binding of the two transcriptional regulators cyAbrB1 and cyAbrB2 to the promoter and the histone-like protein HU to the 5'UTR of atpT. Analyses of nucleotide substitutions in the promoter and GFP reporter assays identified a functionally relevant sequence motif resembling the HLR1 element bound by the RpaB transcription factor. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays confirmed interaction of cyAbrB1, cyAbrB2, and RpaB with the promoter DNA. However, overall the effect of transcriptional regulation was comparatively low. In contrast, atpT transcript stabilities differed dramatically, half-lives were 1.6 min in the light, 33 min in the dark and substantial changes were observed if glucose or DCMU were added. These findings show that transcriptional control of atpT involves nucleoid-associated DNA-binding proteins, positive regulation through RpaB, while the major effect on the condition-dependent regulation of atpT expression is mediated by controlling mRNA stability, which is related to the cellular redox and energy status. IMPORTANCE FoF1 ATP synthases produce ATP, the universal biological energy source. Under unfavorable conditions, ATP synthases can operate in a futile reverse reaction, pumping protons while ATP is used up. Cyanobacteria perform plant-like photosynthesis, but they cannot use the same mechanism as plant chloroplasts to inhibit ATP synthases during the night because respiratory and photosynthetic complexes are both located in the same membrane system. AtpΘ is a small protein encoded by the gene atpT in cyanobacteria that can prevent the ATP synthase reverse reaction (ATPase activity). Here we found that three transcription factors contribute to the regulation of atpT expression. However, the control of mRNA stability was identified as the major regulatory process governing atpT expression. Thus, it is the interplay between transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation that position the AtpΘ-based regulatory mechanism within the context of the cellular redox and energy balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo Song
- Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin Hagemann
- Plant Physiology Department, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Jens Georg
- Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sandra Maaß
- Department of Microbial Proteomics, Institute of Microbiology, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Dörte Becher
- Department of Microbial Proteomics, Institute of Microbiology, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Wolfgang R. Hess
- Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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10
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Zhang J, Hess WR, Zhang C. "Life is short, and art is long": RNA degradation in cyanobacteria and model bacteria. MLIFE 2022; 1:21-39. [PMID: 38818322 PMCID: PMC10989914 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
RNA turnover plays critical roles in the regulation of gene expression and allows cells to respond rapidly to environmental changes. In bacteria, the mechanisms of RNA turnover have been extensively studied in the models Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, but not much is known in other bacteria. Cyanobacteria are a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that have great potential for the sustainable production of valuable products using CO2 and solar energy. A better understanding of the regulation of RNA decay is important for both basic and applied studies of cyanobacteria. Genomic analysis shows that cyanobacteria have more than 10 ribonucleases and related proteins in common with E. coli and B. subtilis, and only a limited number of them have been experimentally investigated. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about these RNA-turnover-related proteins in cyanobacteria. Although many of them are biochemically similar to their counterparts in E. coli and B. subtilis, they appear to have distinct cellular functions, suggesting a different mechanism of RNA turnover regulation in cyanobacteria. The identification of new players involved in the regulation of RNA turnover and the elucidation of their biological functions are among the future challenges in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju‐Yuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of HydrobiologyChinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
| | - Wolfgang R. Hess
- Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, Faculty of BiologyUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Cheng‐Cai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of HydrobiologyChinese Academy of SciencesWuhanChina
- Institut WUT‐AMUAix‐Marseille University and Wuhan University of TechnologyWuhanChina
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