1
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Put H, Gerstmans H, Vande Capelle H, Fauvart M, Michiels J, Masschelein J. Bacillus subtilis as a host for natural product discovery and engineering of biosynthetic gene clusters. Nat Prod Rep 2024; 41:1113-1151. [PMID: 38465694 DOI: 10.1039/d3np00065f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Covering: up to October 2023Many bioactive natural products are synthesized by microorganisms that are either difficult or impossible to cultivate under laboratory conditions, or that produce only small amounts of the desired compound. By transferring biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) into alternative host organisms that are more easily cultured and engineered, larger quantities can be obtained and new analogues with potentially improved biological activity or other desirable properties can be generated. Moreover, expression of cryptic BGCs in a suitable host can facilitate the identification and characterization of novel natural products. Heterologous expression therefore represents a valuable tool for natural product discovery and engineering as it allows the study and manipulation of their biosynthetic pathways in a controlled setting, enabling innovative applications. Bacillus is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria that is widely used in industrial biotechnology as a host for the production of proteins from diverse origins, including enzymes and vaccines. However, despite numerous successful examples, Bacillus species remain underexploited as heterologous hosts for the expression of natural product BGCs. Here, we review important advantages that Bacillus species offer as expression hosts, such as high secretion capacity, natural competence for DNA uptake, and the increasing availability of a wide range of genetic tools for gene expression and strain engineering. We evaluate different strain optimization strategies and other critical factors that have improved the success and efficiency of heterologous natural product biosynthesis in B. subtilis. Finally, future perspectives for using B. subtilis as a heterologous host are discussed, identifying research gaps and promising areas that require further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Put
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Hans Gerstmans
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Discovery & Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Biosensors Group, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hanne Vande Capelle
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Discovery & Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Fauvart
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
- imec, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Michiels
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Joleen Masschelein
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Discovery & Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
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2
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Huang Y, Swarge BN, Roseboom W, Bleeker JD, Brul S, Setlow P, Kramer G. Integrative Metabolomics and Proteomics Allow the Global Intracellular Characterization of Bacillus subtilis Cells and Spores. J Proteome Res 2024; 23:596-608. [PMID: 38190553 PMCID: PMC10845140 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00386] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Reliable and comprehensive multi-omics analysis is essential for researchers to understand and explore complex biological systems more completely. Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) is a model organism for Gram-positive spore-forming bacteria, and in-depth insight into the physiology and molecular basis of spore formation and germination in this organism requires advanced multilayer molecular data sets generated from the same sample. In this study, we evaluated two monophasic methods for polar and nonpolar compound extraction (acetonitrile/methanol/water; isopropanol/water, and 60% ethanol) and two biphasic methods (chloroform/methanol/water, and methyl tert-butyl ether/methanol/water) on coefficients of variation of analytes, identified metabolite composition, and the quality of proteomics profiles. The 60% EtOH protocol proved to be the easiest in sample processing and was more amenable to automation. Collectively, we annotated 505 and 484 metabolites and identified 1665 and 1562 proteins in B. subtilis vegetative cells and spores, respectively. We also show differences between vegetative cells and spores from a multi-omics perspective and demonstrate that an integrative multi-omics analysis can be implemented from one sample using the 60% EtOH protocol. The results obtained by the 60% EtOH protocol provide comprehensive insight into differences in the metabolic and protein makeup of B. subtilis vegetative cells and spores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Huang
- Laboratory
for Mass Spectrometry of Biomolecules, Swammerdam Institute for Life
Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Molecular
Biology and Microbial Food Safety, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bhagyashree N. Swarge
- Laboratory
for Mass Spectrometry of Biomolecules, Swammerdam Institute for Life
Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Molecular
Biology and Microbial Food Safety, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Winfried Roseboom
- Laboratory
for Mass Spectrometry of Biomolecules, Swammerdam Institute for Life
Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jurre D. Bleeker
- Laboratory
for Mass Spectrometry of Biomolecules, Swammerdam Institute for Life
Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stanley Brul
- Molecular
Biology and Microbial Food Safety, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Setlow
- Department
of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn
Health, Farmington, Connecticut 06030-3305, United States
| | - Gertjan Kramer
- Laboratory
for Mass Spectrometry of Biomolecules, Swammerdam Institute for Life
Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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3
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Jeckel H, Nosho K, Neuhaus K, Hastewell AD, Skinner DJ, Saha D, Netter N, Paczia N, Dunkel J, Drescher K. Simultaneous spatiotemporal transcriptomics and microscopy of Bacillus subtilis swarm development reveal cooperation across generations. Nat Microbiol 2023; 8:2378-2391. [PMID: 37973866 PMCID: PMC10686836 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01518-4] [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: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Development of microbial communities is a complex multiscale phenomenon with wide-ranging biomedical and ecological implications. How biological and physical processes determine emergent spatial structures in microbial communities remains poorly understood due to a lack of simultaneous measurements of gene expression and cellular behaviour in space and time. Here we combined live-cell microscopy with a robotic arm for spatiotemporal sampling, which enabled us to simultaneously acquire phenotypic imaging data and spatiotemporal transcriptomes during Bacillus subtilis swarm development. Quantitative characterization of the spatiotemporal gene expression patterns revealed correlations with cellular and collective properties, and phenotypic subpopulations. By integrating these data with spatiotemporal metabolome measurements, we discovered a spatiotemporal cross-feeding mechanism fuelling swarm development: during their migration, earlier generations deposit metabolites which are consumed by later generations that swarm across the same location. These results highlight the importance of spatiotemporal effects during the emergence of phenotypic subpopulations and their interactions in bacterial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Jeckel
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Physics, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Kazuki Nosho
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Konstantin Neuhaus
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Physics, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Alasdair D Hastewell
- Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dominic J Skinner
- NSF-Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Dibya Saha
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Nicole Paczia
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jörn Dunkel
- Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Knut Drescher
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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4
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Winkler KR, Mizrahi V, Warner DF, De Wet TJ. High-throughput functional genomics: A (myco)bacterial perspective. Mol Microbiol 2023; 120:141-158. [PMID: 37278255 PMCID: PMC10953053 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Advances in sequencing technologies have enabled unprecedented insights into bacterial genome composition and dynamics. However, the disconnect between the rapid acquisition of genomic data and the (much slower) confirmation of inferred genetic function threatens to widen unless techniques for fast, high-throughput functional validation can be applied at scale. This applies equally to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the leading infectious cause of death globally and a pathogen whose genome, despite being among the first to be sequenced two decades ago, still contains many genes of unknown function. Here, we summarize the evolution of bacterial high-throughput functional genomics, focusing primarily on transposon (Tn)-based mutagenesis and the construction of arrayed mutant libraries in diverse bacterial systems. We also consider the contributions of CRISPR interference as a transformative technique for probing bacterial gene function at scale. Throughout, we situate our analysis within the context of functional genomics of mycobacteria, focusing specifically on the potential to yield insights into M. tuberculosis pathogenicity and vulnerabilities for new drug and regimen development. Finally, we offer suggestions for future approaches that might be usefully applied in elucidating the complex cellular biology of this major human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristy R. Winkler
- Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit and DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, Department of Pathology and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular MedicineUniversity of Cape TownRondeboschSouth Africa
| | - Valerie Mizrahi
- Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit and DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, Department of Pathology and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular MedicineUniversity of Cape TownRondeboschSouth Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in AfricaUniversity of Cape TownRondeboschSouth Africa
| | - Digby F. Warner
- Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit and DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, Department of Pathology and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular MedicineUniversity of Cape TownRondeboschSouth Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in AfricaUniversity of Cape TownRondeboschSouth Africa
| | - Timothy J. De Wet
- Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit and DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, Department of Pathology and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular MedicineUniversity of Cape TownRondeboschSouth Africa
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in AfricaUniversity of Cape TownRondeboschSouth Africa
- Department of Integrative Biomedical SciencesUniversity of Cape TownRondeboschSouth Africa
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5
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Kim H, Kim HK, Hong D, Kim M, Jang S, Yang CS, Yoon S. Identification of ulcerative colitis-specific immune cell signatures from public single-cell RNA-seq data. Genes Genomics 2023; 45:957-967. [PMID: 37133723 DOI: 10.1007/s13258-023-01390-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Single-cell RNA-seq enabled microscopic studies on tissue microenvironment of many diseases. Inflammatory bowel disease, an autoimmune disease, is involved with various dysfunction of immune cells, for which single-cell RNA-seq may provide us a deeper insight into the causes and mechanism of this complex disease. OBJECTIVE In this work, we used public single-cell RNA-seq data to study tissue microenvironment around ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease causing chronic inflammation and ulcers in large intestine. METHODS Since not all the datasets provide cell-type annotations, we first identified cell identities to select cell populations of our interest. Differentially expressed genes and gene set enrichment analysis was then performed to infer the polarization/activation state of macrophages and T cells. Cell-to-cell interaction analysis was also performed to discover distinct interactions in ulcerative colitis. RESULTS Differentially expressed genes analysis of the two datasets confirmed the regulation of CTLA4, IL2RA, and CCL5 genes in the T cell subset and regulation of S100A8/A9, CLEC10A genes in macrophages. Cell-to-cell interaction analysis showed CD4+ T cells and macrophages interact actively to each other. We also identified IL-18 pathway activation in inflammatory macrophages, evidence that CD4+ T cells induce Th1 and Th2 differentiation, and also found that macrophages regulate T cell activation through different ligand-receptor pairs, viz. CD86-CTL4, LGALS9-CD47, SIRPA-CD47, and GRN-TNFRSF1B. CONCLUSION Analysis of these immune cell subsets may suggest novel strategies for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanbyeol Kim
- Dept of Computer Science, College of SW Convergence, Dankook Univ, Yongin-si, 16890, Korea
| | - Hyo Keun Kim
- Dept of Molecular and Life Science and Center for Bionano Intelligence Education and Research, Hanyang University, Ansan-si, 15588, Korea
| | - Dawon Hong
- Dept of Molecular Biology, Graduate Department of Bioconvergence Engineering, Dankook University, Yongin-si, 16890, Korea
| | - Minsu Kim
- Dept of Computer Science, College of SW Convergence, Dankook Univ, Yongin-si, 16890, Korea
| | - Sein Jang
- Dept of Molecular and Life Science and Center for Bionano Intelligence Education and Research, Hanyang University, Ansan-si, 15588, Korea
| | - Chul-Su Yang
- Dept of Medicinal/Molecular and Life Science and Center for Bionano Intelligence Education and Research, Hanyang University, Ansan-si, 15588, Korea
| | - Seokhyun Yoon
- Dept of Electronics & Electrical Eng, College of Engineering, Dankook Univ, Yongin-si, 16890, Korea.
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6
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Milton ME, Cavanagh J. The Biofilm Regulatory Network from Bacillus subtilis: A Structure-Function Analysis. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167923. [PMID: 36535428 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167923] [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: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are notorious for their ability to protect bacteria from environmental challenges, most importantly the action of antibiotics. Bacillus subtilis is an extensively studied model organism used to understand the process of biofilm formation. A complex network of principal regulatory proteins including Spo0A, AbrB, AbbA, Abh, SinR, SinI, SlrR, and RemA, work in concert to transition B. subtilis from the free-swimming planktonic state to the biofilm state. In this review, we explore, connect, and summarize decades worth of structural and biochemical studies that have elucidated this protein signaling network. Since structure dictates function, unraveling aspects of protein molecular mechanisms will allow us to devise ways to exploit critical features of the biofilm regulatory pathway, such as possible therapeutic intervention. This review pools our current knowledge base of B. subtilis biofilm regulatory proteins and highlights potential therapeutic intervention points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan E Milton
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, NC 27834, USA.
| | - John Cavanagh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, NC 27834, USA.
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7
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Hogan AM, Cardona ST. Gradients in gene essentiality reshape antibacterial research. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:fuac005. [PMID: 35104846 PMCID: PMC9075587 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Essential genes encode the processes that are necessary for life. Until recently, commonly applied binary classifications left no space between essential and non-essential genes. In this review, we frame bacterial gene essentiality in the context of genetic networks. We explore how the quantitative properties of gene essentiality are influenced by the nature of the encoded process, environmental conditions and genetic background, including a strain's distinct evolutionary history. The covered topics have important consequences for antibacterials, which inhibit essential processes. We argue that the quantitative properties of essentiality can thus be used to prioritize antibacterial cellular targets and desired spectrum of activity in specific infection settings. We summarize our points with a case study on the core essential genome of the cystic fibrosis pathobiome and highlight avenues for targeted antibacterial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Hogan
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, 45 Chancellor's Circle, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Silvia T Cardona
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, 45 Chancellor's Circle, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Room 543 - 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 0J9, Canada
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8
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Tellechea-Luzardo J, Hobbs L, Velázquez E, Pelechova L, Woods S, de Lorenzo V, Krasnogor N. Versioning biological cells for trustworthy cell engineering. Nat Commun 2022; 13:765. [PMID: 35140226 PMCID: PMC8828774 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28350-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
“Full-stack” biotechnology platforms for cell line (re)programming are on the horizon, thanks mostly to (a) advances in gene synthesis and editing techniques as well as (b) the growing integration of life science research with informatics, the internet of things and automation. These emerging platforms will accelerate the production and consumption of biological products. Hence, traceability, transparency, and—ultimately—trustworthiness is required from cradle to grave for engineered cell lines and their engineering processes. Here we report a cloud-based version control system for biotechnology that (a) keeps track and organizes the digital data produced during cell engineering and (b) molecularly links that data to the associated living samples. Barcoding protocols, based on standard genetic engineering methods, to molecularly link to the cloud-based version control system six species, including gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria as well as eukaryote cells, are shown. We argue that version control for cell engineering marks a significant step toward more open, reproducible, easier to trace and share, and more trustworthy engineering biology. Full traceability and transparency are important to establish trust in engineered cell lines. Here the authors argue that version control for cell engineering marks a significant step toward more open, reproducible, traceable and ultimately more trustworthy engineering biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Tellechea-Luzardo
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex Biosystems (ICOS) Research Group, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 5TG, UK
| | - Leanne Hobbs
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex Biosystems (ICOS) Research Group, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 5TG, UK
| | - Elena Velázquez
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Department, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lenka Pelechova
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex Biosystems (ICOS) Research Group, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 5TG, UK
| | - Simon Woods
- Policy Ethics and Life Sciences (PEALS), Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Víctor de Lorenzo
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Department, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Natalio Krasnogor
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex Biosystems (ICOS) Research Group, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 5TG, UK.
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9
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Pedreira T, Elfmann C, Stülke J. The current state of SubtiWiki, the database for the model organism Bacillus subtilis. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 50:D875-D882. [PMID: 34664671 PMCID: PMC8728116 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis is a Gram-positive model bacterium with extensive documented annotation. However, with the rise of high-throughput techniques, the amount of complex data being generated every year has been increasing at a fast pace. Thus, having platforms ready to integrate and give a representation to these data becomes a priority. To address it, SubtiWiki (http://subtiwiki.uni-goettingen.de/) was created in 2008 and has been growing in data and viewership ever since. With millions of requests every year, it is the most visited B. subtilis database, providing scientists all over the world with curated information about its genes and proteins, as well as intricate protein–protein interactions, regulatory elements, expression data and metabolic pathways. However, there is still a large portion of annotation to be unveiled for some biological elements. Thus, to facilitate the development of new hypotheses for research, we have added a Homology section covering potential protein homologs in other organisms. Here, we present the recent developments of SubtiWiki and give a guided tour of our database and the current state of the data for this organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Pedreira
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Elfmann
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Stülke
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +49 551 3933781; Fax: +49 551 3933808;
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10
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Michalik S, Reder A, Richts B, Faßhauer P, Mäder U, Pedreira T, Poehlein A, van Heel AJ, van Tilburg AY, Altenbuchner J, Klewing A, Reuß DR, Daniel R, Commichau FM, Kuipers OP, Hamoen LW, Völker U, Stülke J. The Bacillus subtilis Minimal Genome Compendium. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:2767-2771. [PMID: 34587446 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
To better understand cellular life, it is essential to decipher the contribution of individual components and their interactions. Minimal genomes are an important tool to investigate these interactions. Here, we provide a database of 105 fully annotated genomes of a series of strains with sequential deletion steps of the industrially relevant model bacterium Bacillus subtilis starting with the laboratory wild type strain B. subtilis 168 and ending with B. subtilis PG38, which lacks approximately 40% of the original genome. The annotation is supported by sequencing of key intermediate strains as well as integration of literature knowledge for the annotation of the deletion scars and their potential effects. The strain compendium presented here represents a comprehensive genome library of the entire MiniBacillus project. This resource will facilitate the more effective application of the different strains in basic science as well as in biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Michalik
- C_FunGene, Department of Functional Genomics, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, 17487 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Alexander Reder
- C_FunGene, Department of Functional Genomics, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, 17487 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Björn Richts
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August University Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Patrick Faßhauer
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August University Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Mäder
- C_FunGene, Department of Functional Genomics, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, 17487 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Tiago Pedreira
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August University Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anja Poehlein
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August University Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Auke J. van Heel
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Amanda Y. van Tilburg
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Josef Altenbuchner
- Institute for Industrial Genetics, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Anika Klewing
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August University Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Daniel R. Reuß
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August University Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rolf Daniel
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August University Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Fabian M. Commichau
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August University Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- FG Synthetic Microbiology, Brandenburg University of Technology, 01958 Senftenberg, Germany
| | - Oscar P. Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Leendert W. Hamoen
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Uwe Völker
- C_FunGene, Department of Functional Genomics, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, 17487 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jörg Stülke
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August University Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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11
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Pedreira T, Elfmann C, Singh N, Stülke J. SynWiki: Functional annotation of the first artificial organism Mycoplasma mycoides JCVI-syn3A. Protein Sci 2021; 31:54-62. [PMID: 34515387 PMCID: PMC8740822 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The new field of synthetic biology aims at the creation of artificially designed organisms. A major breakthrough in the field was the generation of the artificial synthetic organism Mycoplasma mycoides JCVI-syn3A. This bacterium possesses only 452 protein-coding genes, the smallest number for any organism that is viable independent of a host cell. However, about one third of the proteins have no known function indicating major gaps in our understanding of simple living cells. To facilitate the investigation of the components of this minimal bacterium, we have generated the database SynWiki (http://synwiki.uni-goettingen.de/). SynWiki is based on a relational database and gives access to published information about the genes and proteins of M. mycoides JCVI-syn3A. To gain a better understanding of the functions of the genes and proteins of the artificial bacteria, protein-protein interactions that may provide clues for the protein functions are included in an interactive manner. SynWiki is an important tool for the synthetic biology community that will support the comprehensive understanding of a minimal cell as well as the functional annotation of so far uncharacterized proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Pedreira
- Department of General Microbiology, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Elfmann
- Department of General Microbiology, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Neil Singh
- Department of General Microbiology, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Stülke
- Department of General Microbiology, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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12
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Benda M, Woelfel S, Faßhauer P, Gunka K, Klumpp S, Poehlein A, Kálalová D, Šanderová H, Daniel R, Krásný L, Stülke J. Quasi-essentiality of RNase Y in Bacillus subtilis is caused by its critical role in the control of mRNA homeostasis. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:7088-7102. [PMID: 34157109 PMCID: PMC8266666 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA turnover is essential in all domains of life. The endonuclease RNase Y (rny) is one of the key components involved in RNA metabolism of the model organism Bacillus subtilis. Essentiality of RNase Y has been a matter of discussion, since deletion of the rny gene is possible, but leads to severe phenotypic effects. In this work, we demonstrate that the rny mutant strain rapidly evolves suppressor mutations to at least partially alleviate these defects. All suppressor mutants had acquired a duplication of an about 60 kb long genomic region encompassing genes for all three core subunits of the RNA polymerase—α, β, β′. When the duplication of the RNA polymerase genes was prevented by relocation of the rpoA gene in the B. subtilis genome, all suppressor mutants carried distinct single point mutations in evolutionary conserved regions of genes coding either for the β or β’ subunits of the RNA polymerase that were not tolerated by wild type bacteria. In vitro transcription assays with the mutated polymerase variants showed a severe decrease in transcription efficiency. Altogether, our results suggest a tight cooperation between RNase Y and the RNA polymerase to establish an optimal RNA homeostasis in B. subtilis cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Benda
- Department of General Microbiology, GZMB, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Simon Woelfel
- Department of General Microbiology, GZMB, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Patrick Faßhauer
- Department of General Microbiology, GZMB, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katrin Gunka
- Department of General Microbiology, GZMB, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Klumpp
- Institute for the Dynamics of Complex Systems, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anja Poehlein
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology & Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, GZMB, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Debora Kálalová
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Šanderová
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Rolf Daniel
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology & Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, GZMB, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Libor Krásný
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jörg Stülke
- Department of General Microbiology, GZMB, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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13
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Labana P, Dornan MH, Lafrenière M, Czarny TL, Brown ED, Pezacki JP, Boddy CN. Armeniaspirols inhibit the AAA+ proteases ClpXP and ClpYQ leading to cell division arrest in Gram-positive bacteria. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:1703-1715.e11. [PMID: 34293284 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Multi-drug-resistant bacteria present an urgent threat to modern medicine, creating a desperate need for antibiotics with new modes of action. As natural products remain an unsurpassed source for clinically viable antibiotic compounds, we investigate the mechanism of action of armeniaspirol. The armeniaspirols are a structurally unique class of Gram-positive antibiotic discovered from Streptomyces armeniacus for which resistance cannot be readily obtained. We show that armeniaspirol inhibits the ATP-dependent proteases ClpXP and ClpYQ in vitro and in the model Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis. This inhibition dysregulates the divisome and elongasome supported by an upregulation of key proteins FtsZ, DivIVA, and MreB inducing cell division arrest. The inhibition of ClpXP and ClpYQ to dysregulate cell division represents a unique antibiotic mechanism of action and armeniaspirol is the only known natural product inhibitor of the coveted anti-virulence target ClpP. Thus, armeniaspirol possesses a promising lead scaffold for antibiotic development with unique pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puneet Labana
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Mark H Dornan
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Matthew Lafrenière
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Tomasz L Czarny
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Eric D Brown
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - John P Pezacki
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Christopher N Boddy
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
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14
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Richts B, Lentes S, Poehlein A, Daniel R, Commichau FM. A Bacillus subtilis ΔpdxT mutant suppresses vitamin B6 limitation by acquiring mutations enhancing pdxS gene dosage and ammonium assimilation. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2021; 13:218-233. [PMID: 33559288 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP), the biologically active form of vitamin B6, serves as a cofactor for many enzymes. The Gram-positive model bacterium Bacillus subtilis synthesizes PLP via the PdxST enzyme complex, consisting of the PdxT glutaminase and the PdxS PLP synthase subunits, respectively. PdxT converts glutamine to glutamate and ammonia of which the latter is channelled to PdxS. At high extracellular ammonium concentrations, the PdxS PLP synthase subunit does not depend on PdxT. Here, we assessed the potential of a B. subtilis ΔpdxT mutant to adapt to PLP limitation at the genome level. The majority of ΔpdxT suppressors had amplified a genomic region containing the pdxS gene. We also identified mutants having acquired as yet undescribed mutations in ammonium assimilation genes, indicating that the overproduction of PdxS and the NrgA ammonium transporter partially relieve vitamin B6 limitation in a ΔpdxT mutant when extracellular ammonium is scarce. Furthermore, we found that PdxS positively affects complex colony formation in B. subtilis. The catalytic mechanism of the PdxS PLP synthase subunit could be the reason for the limited evolution of the enzyme and why we could not identify a PdxS variant producing PLP independently of PdxT at low ammonium concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Richts
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Sabine Lentes
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Anja Poehlein
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Rolf Daniel
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Fabian M Commichau
- FG Synthetic Microbiology, Institute for Biotechnology, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, 01968, Germany
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15
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Mechanistic Insight into Royal Protein Inhibiting the Gram-Positive Bacteria. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11010064. [PMID: 33418906 PMCID: PMC7825125 DOI: 10.3390/biom11010064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Royal jelly (RJ), a natural honeybee product, has a wide range of antibacterial activities. N-glycosylated major royal jelly protein 2 (N-MRJP2), purified from RJ, can inhibit the growth of Paenibacillus larvae (P. larvae, Gram-positive), a contagious etiological agent of the American foulbrood disease of honeybees. However, the inhibitory mechanism is largely unknown. Antibacterial assay and membrane proteome were conducted to investigate the inhibition capacity of RJ from different instar larvae and P. larvae treated by N-MRJP2, respectively. The similar antibacterial efficiency of RJ from different larval instar indicates that RJ is vital for the adaptive immune defense of small larvae. The killing of P. larvae by N-MRJP2 is achieved by disturbing the cell wall biosynthesis, increasing the permeability of cell membrane, hindering aerobic respiration, restraining cell division and inducing cell death. This demonstrates that RJ is critical for the passive immunity of immature larvae and N-MRJP2 can be used as natural antibiotic substance to resist P. larvae, even for other gram-positive bacteria. This constitutes solid evidence that RJ and N-MRJP2 have potentials as novel antibacterial agents.
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16
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Vohradsky J, Schwarz M, Ramaniuk O, Ruiz-Larrabeiti O, Vaňková Hausnerová V, Šanderová H, Krásný L. Kinetic Modeling and Meta-Analysis of the Bacillus subtilis SigB Regulon during Spore Germination and Outgrowth. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9010112. [PMID: 33466511 PMCID: PMC7824861 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The exponential increase in the number of conducted studies combined with the development of sequencing methods have led to an enormous accumulation of partially processed experimental data in the past two decades. Here, we present an approach using literature-mined data complemented with gene expression kinetic modeling and promoter sequence analysis. This approach allowed us to identify the regulon of Bacillus subtilis sigma factor SigB of RNA polymerase (RNAP) specifically expressed during germination and outgrowth. SigB is critical for the cell's response to general stress but is also expressed during spore germination and outgrowth, and this specific regulon is not known. This approach allowed us to (i) define a subset of the known SigB regulon controlled by SigB specifically during spore germination and outgrowth, (ii) identify the influence of the promoter sequence binding motif organization on the expression of the SigB-regulated genes, and (iii) suggest additional sigma factors co-controlling other SigB-dependent genes. Experiments then validated promoter sequence characteristics necessary for direct RNAP-SigB binding. In summary, this work documents the potential of computational approaches to unravel new information even for a well-studied system; moreover, the study specifically identifies the subset of the SigB regulon, which is activated during germination and outgrowth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiri Vohradsky
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic;
- Correspondence:
| | - Marek Schwarz
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Olga Ramaniuk
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (O.R.); (O.R.-L.); (V.V.H.); (H.Š.); (L.K.)
| | - Olatz Ruiz-Larrabeiti
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (O.R.); (O.R.-L.); (V.V.H.); (H.Š.); (L.K.)
- Bacterial Stress Response Research Group, Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Viola Vaňková Hausnerová
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (O.R.); (O.R.-L.); (V.V.H.); (H.Š.); (L.K.)
| | - Hana Šanderová
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (O.R.); (O.R.-L.); (V.V.H.); (H.Š.); (L.K.)
| | - Libor Krásný
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (O.R.); (O.R.-L.); (V.V.H.); (H.Š.); (L.K.)
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17
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Engineering Bacillus subtilis Cells as Factories: Enzyme Secretion and Value-added Chemical Production. BIOTECHNOL BIOPROC E 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12257-020-0104-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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18
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Cirrone J, Brooks MD, Bonneau R, Coruzzi GM, Shasha DE. OutPredict: multiple datasets can improve prediction of expression and inference of causality. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6804. [PMID: 32321967 PMCID: PMC7176633 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63347-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to accurately predict the causal relationships from transcription factors to genes would greatly enhance our understanding of transcriptional dynamics. This could lead to applications in which one or more transcription factors could be manipulated to effect a change in genes leading to the enhancement of some desired trait. Here we present a method called OutPredict that constructs a model for each gene based on time series (and other) data and that predicts gene's expression in a previously unseen subsequent time point. The model also infers causal relationships based on the most important transcription factors for each gene model, some of which have been validated from previous physical experiments. The method benefits from known network edges and steady-state data to enhance predictive accuracy. Our results across B. subtilis, Arabidopsis, E.coli, Drosophila and the DREAM4 simulated in silico dataset show improved predictive accuracy ranging from 40% to 60% over other state-of-the-art methods. We find that gene expression models can benefit from the addition of steady-state data to predict expression values of time series. Finally, we validate, based on limited available data, that the influential edges we infer correspond to known relationships significantly more than expected by chance or by state-of-the-art methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Cirrone
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Department of Computer Science, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, USA.
| | - Matthew D Brooks
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Richard Bonneau
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Department of Computer Science, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, USA
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
- Center for Computational Biology, Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation, New York, NY, 10010, USA
| | - Gloria M Coruzzi
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Dennis E Shasha
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Department of Computer Science, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, USA
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19
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Bacillus subtilis Regulators MntR and Zur Participate in Redox Cycling, Antibiotic Sensitivity, and Cell Wall Plasticity. J Bacteriol 2020; 202:JB.00547-19. [PMID: 31818924 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00547-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The Bacillus subtilis MntR and Zur transcriptional regulators control homeostasis of manganese and zinc, two essential elements required in various cellular processes. In this work, we describe the global impact of mntR and zur deletions at the protein level. Using a comprehensive proteomic approach, we showed that 33 and 55 proteins are differentially abundant in ΔmntR and Δzur cells, respectively, including proteins involved in metal acquisition, translation, central metabolism, and cell wall homeostasis. In addition, both mutants showed modifications in intracellular metal ion pools, with significant Mg2+ accumulation in the ΔmntR mutant. Phenotypic and morphological analyses of ΔmntR and Δzur mutants revealed their high sensitivity to lysozyme, beta-lactam antibiotics, and external oxidative stress. Mutant strains had a modified cell wall thickness and accumulated lower levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) than the wild-type strain. Remarkably, our results highlight an intimate connection between MntR, Zur, antibiotic sensitivity, and cell wall structure.IMPORTANCE Manganese and zinc are essential transition metals involved in many fundamental cellular processes, including protection against external oxidative stress. In Bacillus subtilis, Zur and MntR are key transcriptional regulators of zinc and manganese homeostasis, respectively. In this work, proteome analysis of B. subtilis wild-type, ΔmntR, and Δzur strains provided new insights into bacterial adaptation to deregulation of essential metal ions. Deletions of mntR and zur genes increased bacterial sensitivity to lysozyme, beta-lactam antibiotics, and external oxidative stress and impacted the cell wall thickness. Overall, these findings highlight that Zur and MntR regulatory networks are connected to antibiotic sensitivity and cell wall plasticity.
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20
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Kaspar F, Neubauer P, Gimpel M. Bioactive Secondary Metabolites from Bacillus subtilis: A Comprehensive Review. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2019; 82:2038-2053. [PMID: 31287310 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis is widely underappreciated for its inherent biosynthetic potential. This report comprehensively summarizes the known bioactive secondary metabolites from B. subtilis and highlights potential applications as plant pathogen control agents, drugs, and biosurfactants. B. subtilis is well known for the production of cyclic lipopeptides exhibiting strong surfactant and antimicrobial activities, such as surfactins, iturins, and fengycins. Several polyketide-derived macrolides as well as nonribosomal peptides, dihydroisocoumarins, and linear lipopeptides with antimicrobial properties have been reported, demonstrating the biosynthetic arsenal of this bacterium. Promising efforts toward the application of B. subtilis strains and their natural products in areas of agriculture and medicine are underway. However, industrial-scale availability of these compounds is currently limited by low fermentation yields and challenging accessibility via synthesis, necessitating the development of genetically engineered strains and optimized cultivation processes. We hope that this review will attract renewed interest in this often-overlooked bacterium and its impressive biosynthetic skill set.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Kaspar
- Institute of Biotechnology , Technical University of Berlin , Ackerstraße 76 , 13355 Berlin , Germany
| | - Peter Neubauer
- Institute of Biotechnology , Technical University of Berlin , Ackerstraße 76 , 13355 Berlin , Germany
| | - Matthias Gimpel
- Institute of Biotechnology , Technical University of Berlin , Ackerstraße 76 , 13355 Berlin , Germany
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21
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Omony J, de Jong A, Kok J, van Hijum SAFT. Reconstruction and inference of the Lactococcus lactis MG1363 gene co-expression network. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214868. [PMID: 31116749 PMCID: PMC6530827 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Lactic acid bacteria are Gram-positive bacteria used throughout the world in many industrial applications for their acidification, flavor and texture formation attributes. One of the species, Lactococcus lactis, is employed for the production of fermented milk products like cheese, buttermilk and quark. It ferments lactose to lactic acid and, thus, helps improve the shelf life of the products. Many physiological and transcriptome studies have been performed in L. lactis in order to comprehend and improve its biotechnological assets. Using large amounts of transcriptome data to understand and predict the behavior of biological processes in bacterial or other cell types is a complex task. Gene networks enable predicting gene behavior and function in the context of transcriptionally linked processes. We reconstruct and present the gene co-expression network (GCN) for the most widely studied L. lactis strain, MG1363, using publicly available transcriptome data. Several methods exist to generate and judge the quality of GCNs. Different reconstruction methods lead to networks with varying structural properties, consequently altering gene clusters. We compared the structural properties of the MG1363 GCNs generated by five methods, namely Pearson correlation, Spearman correlation, GeneNet, Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), and Sparse PArtial Correlation Estimation (SPACE). Using SPACE, we generated an L. lactis MG1363 GCN and assessed its quality using modularity and structural and biological criteria. The L. lactis MG1363 GCN has structural properties similar to those of the gold-standard networks of Escherichia coli K-12 and Bacillus subtilis 168. We showcase that the network can be used to mine for genes with similar expression profiles that are also generally linked to the same biological process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy Omony
- Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Anne de Jong
- Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Kok
- Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN), Wageningen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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22
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Zhang P, Wang Z, Zhao S, Wang Y, Matthews S, Liu B. 1H, 13C and 15N NMR assignments of Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage SPO1 protein Gp46. BIOMOLECULAR NMR ASSIGNMENTS 2019; 13:245-247. [PMID: 30830594 DOI: 10.1007/s12104-019-09885-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial antibiotic resistance is a serious threat to public health and bacteriophage therapy is an alternative for antibiotics in the era of multidrug resistance. While phage draws attention in fighting bacterial infection and is used in protein display to study macromolecular interactions, the molecular machinery of the host invasion mechanism remains largely unclear for many bacteriophages. Despite recent studies on T4 and T7 phages of Gram-negative model organism Escherichia coli revealing many interesting features of their invasive strategies, the studies on Gram-positive bacterial phages still lag far behind their counterparts. SPO1 is a lytic phage of model organism Bacillus subtilis and one of the best studied Gram-positive bacterial phages. SPO1 features a unique Host Takeover Module coding for 24 proteins which show little similarity to any previously known proteins. Gp46, located in this module, is an acidic protein that is produced by SPO1 presumably during the host takeover event. Here we describe the complete resonance assignment of Gp46 as the basis for the first structure determination of SPO1 phage protein and further mechanism study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peipei Zhang
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, 710061, China
| | - Zhihao Wang
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Medical Research Council Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Siyu Zhao
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, 710061, China
| | - Yawen Wang
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, 710061, China
| | - Steve Matthews
- Medical Research Council Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Bing Liu
- BioBank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, 710061, China.
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23
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Wicke D, Schulz LM, Lentes S, Scholz P, Poehlein A, Gibhardt J, Daniel R, Ischebeck T, Commichau FM. Identification of the first glyphosate transporter by genomic adaptation. Environ Microbiol 2019; 21:1287-1305. [PMID: 30666812 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis can get into contact with growth-inhibiting substances, which may be of anthropogenic origin. Glyphosate is such a substance serving as a nonselective herbicide. Glyphosate specifically inhibits the 5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase, which generates an essential precursor for de novo synthesis of aromatic amino acids in plants, fungi, bacteria and archaea. Inhibition of the EPSP synthase by glyphosate results in depletion of the cellular levels of aromatic amino acids unless the environment provides them. Here, we have assessed the potential of B. subtilis to adapt to glyphosate at the genome level. In contrast to Escherichia coli, which evolves glyphosate resistance by elevating the production and decreasing the glyphosate sensitivity of the EPSP synthase, B. subtilis primarily inactivates the gltT gene encoding the high-affinity glutamate/aspartate symporter GltT. Further adaptation of the gltT mutants to glyphosate led to the inactivation of the gltP gene encoding the glutamate transporter GltP. Metabolome analyses confirmed that GltT is the major entryway of glyphosate into B. subtilis. GltP, the GltT homologue of E. coli also transports glyphosate into B. subtilis. Finally, we found that GltT is involved in uptake of the herbicide glufosinate, which inhibits the glutamine synthetase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Wicke
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lisa M Schulz
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sabine Lentes
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Patricia Scholz
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences and Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anja Poehlein
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Johannes Gibhardt
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rolf Daniel
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Till Ischebeck
- Department for Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences and Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Fabian M Commichau
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Goettingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
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Kok J, van Gijtenbeek LA, de Jong A, van der Meulen SB, Solopova A, Kuipers OP. The Evolution of gene regulation research in Lactococcus lactis. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2018; 41:S220-S243. [PMID: 28830093 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fux028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lactococcus lactis is a major microbe. This lactic acid bacterium (LAB) is used worldwide in the production of safe, healthy, tasteful and nutritious milk fermentation products. Its huge industrial importance has led to an explosion of research on the organism, particularly since the early 1970s. The upsurge in the research on L. lactis coincided not accidentally with the advent of recombinant DNA technology in these years. The development of methods to take out and re-introduce DNA in L. lactis, to clone genes and to mutate the chromosome in a targeted way, to control (over)expression of proteins and, ultimately, the availability of the nucleotide sequence of its genome and the use of that information in transcriptomics and proteomics research have enabled to peek deep into the functioning of the organism. Among many other things, this has provided an unprecedented view of the major gene regulatory pathways involved in nitrogen and carbon metabolism and their overlap, and has led to the blossoming of the field of L. lactis systems biology. All of these advances have made L. lactis the paradigm of the LAB. This review will deal with the exciting path along which the research on the genetics of and gene regulation in L. lactis has trodden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Kok
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Lieke A van Gijtenbeek
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Anne de Jong
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd B van der Meulen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ana Solopova
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands
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Modrák M, Vohradský J. Genexpi: a toolset for identifying regulons and validating gene regulatory networks using time-course expression data. BMC Bioinformatics 2018; 19:137. [PMID: 29653518 PMCID: PMC5899412 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-018-2138-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying regulons of sigma factors is a vital subtask of gene network inference. Integrating multiple sources of data is essential for correct identification of regulons and complete gene regulatory networks. Time series of expression data measured with microarrays or RNA-seq combined with static binding experiments (e.g., ChIP-seq) or literature mining may be used for inference of sigma factor regulatory networks. RESULTS We introduce Genexpi: a tool to identify sigma factors by combining candidates obtained from ChIP experiments or literature mining with time-course gene expression data. While Genexpi can be used to infer other types of regulatory interactions, it was designed and validated on real biological data from bacterial regulons. In this paper, we put primary focus on CyGenexpi: a plugin integrating Genexpi with the Cytoscape software for ease of use. As a part of this effort, a plugin for handling time series data in Cytoscape called CyDataseries has been developed and made available. Genexpi is also available as a standalone command line tool and an R package. CONCLUSIONS Genexpi is a useful part of gene network inference toolbox. It provides meaningful information about the composition of regulons and delivers biologically interpretable results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Modrák
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská, 1083, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Jiří Vohradský
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská, 1083, Prague, Czech Republic
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26
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Omony J, de Jong A, Krawczyk AO, Eijlander RT, Kuipers OP. Dynamic sporulation gene co-expression networks for Bacillus subtilis 168 and the food-borne isolate Bacillus amyloliquefaciens: a transcriptomic model. Microb Genom 2018; 4. [PMID: 29424683 PMCID: PMC5857382 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sporulation is a survival strategy, adapted by bacterial cells in response to harsh environmental adversities. The adaptation potential differs between strains and the variations may arise from differences in gene regulation. Gene networks are a valuable way of studying such regulation processes and establishing associations between genes. We reconstructed and compared sporulation gene co-expression networks (GCNs) of the model laboratory strain Bacillus subtilis 168 and the food-borne industrial isolate Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Transcriptome data obtained from samples of six stages during the sporulation process were used for network inference. Subsequently, a gene set enrichment analysis was performed to compare the reconstructed GCNs of B. subtilis 168 and B. amyloliquefaciens with respect to biological functions, which showed the enriched modules with coherent functional groups associated with sporulation. On basis of the GCNs and time-evolution of differentially expressed genes, we could identify novel candidate genes strongly associated with sporulation in B. subtilis 168 and B. amyloliquefaciens. The GCNs offer a framework for exploring transcription factors, their targets, and co-expressed genes during sporulation. Furthermore, the methodology described here can conveniently be applied to other species or biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy Omony
- 1Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.,2Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN), Nieuwe Kanaal 9A, 6709 PA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Anne de Jong
- 1Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.,2Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN), Nieuwe Kanaal 9A, 6709 PA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Antonina O Krawczyk
- 1Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.,2Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN), Nieuwe Kanaal 9A, 6709 PA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Robyn T Eijlander
- 1Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.,2Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN), Nieuwe Kanaal 9A, 6709 PA Wageningen, The Netherlands.,3NIZO Food Research, B.V., P.O. Box 20, Ede 6710 BA, Ede, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- 1Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.,2Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN), Nieuwe Kanaal 9A, 6709 PA Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Fuchs S, Mehlan H, Bernhardt J, Hennig A, Michalik S, Surmann K, Pané-Farré J, Giese A, Weiss S, Backert L, Herbig A, Nieselt K, Hecker M, Völker U, Mäder U. AureoWiki ̵ The repository of the Staphylococcus aureus research and annotation community. Int J Med Microbiol 2017; 308:558-568. [PMID: 29198880 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2017.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In light of continuously accumulating data and knowledge on major human pathogens, comprehensive and up-to-date sources of easily accessible information are urgently required. The AureoWiki database (http://aureowiki.med.uni-greifswald.de) provides detailed information on the genes and proteins of clinically and experimentally relevant S. aureus strains, currently covering NCTC 8325, COL, Newman, USA300_FPR3757, and N315. By implementing a pan-genome approach, AureoWiki facilitates the transfer of knowledge gained in studies with different S. aureus strains, thus supporting functional annotation and better understanding of this organism. All data related to a given gene or gene product is compiled on a strain-specific gene page. The gene pages contain sequence-based information complemented by data on, for example, protein function and localization, transcriptional regulation, and gene expression. The information provided is connected via links to other databases and published literature. Importantly, orthologous genes of the individual strains, which are linked by a pan-genome gene identifier and a unified gene name, are presented side by side using strain-specific tabs. The respective pan-genome gene page contains an orthologue table for 32 S. aureus strains, a multiple-strain genome viewer, a protein sequence alignment as well as other comparative information. The data collected in AureoWiki is also accessible through various download options in order to support bioinformatics applications. In addition, based on two large-scale gene expression data sets, AureoWiki provides graphical representations of condition-dependent mRNA levels and protein profiles under various laboratory and infection-related conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Fuchs
- FG13 Nosocomial Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance, Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany; Institute for Microbiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Henry Mehlan
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jörg Bernhardt
- Institute for Microbiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - André Hennig
- Center for Bioinformatics Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stephan Michalik
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Kristin Surmann
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jan Pané-Farré
- Institute for Microbiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Anne Giese
- Institute for Microbiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stefan Weiss
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Linus Backert
- Center for Bioinformatics Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Herbig
- Center for Bioinformatics Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kay Nieselt
- Center for Bioinformatics Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michael Hecker
- Institute for Microbiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; ZIK FunGene, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald and University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Uwe Völker
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; ZIK FunGene, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald and University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ulrike Mäder
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
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Large-Scale Bioinformatics Analysis of Bacillus Genomes Uncovers Conserved Roles of Natural Products in Bacterial Physiology. mSystems 2017; 2:mSystems00040-17. [PMID: 29152584 PMCID: PMC5686519 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00040-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria possess an amazing capacity to synthesize a diverse range of structurally complex, bioactive natural products known as specialized (or secondary) metabolites. Many of these specialized metabolites are used as clinical therapeutics, while others have important ecological roles in microbial communities. The biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) that generate these metabolites can be identified in bacterial genome sequences using their highly conserved genetic features. We analyzed an unprecedented 1,566 bacterial genomes from Bacillus species and identified nearly 20,000 BGCs. By comparing these BGCs to one another as well as a curated set of known specialized metabolite BGCs, we discovered that the majority of Bacillus natural products are comprised of a small set of highly conserved, well-distributed, known natural product compounds. Most of these metabolites have important roles influencing the physiology and development of Bacillus species. We identified, in addition to these characterized compounds, many unique, weakly conserved BGCs scattered across the genus that are predicted to encode unknown natural products. Many of these "singleton" BGCs appear to have been acquired via horizontal gene transfer. Based on this large-scale characterization of metabolite production in the Bacilli, we go on to connect the alkylpyrones, natural products that are highly conserved but previously biologically uncharacterized, to a role in Bacillus physiology: inhibiting spore development. IMPORTANCEBacilli are capable of producing a diverse array of specialized metabolites, many of which have gained attention for their roles as signals that affect bacterial physiology and development. Up to this point, however, the Bacillus genus's metabolic capacity has been underexplored. We undertook a deep genomic analysis of 1,566 Bacillus genomes to understand the full spectrum of metabolites that this bacterial group can make. We discovered that the majority of the specialized metabolites produced by Bacillus species are highly conserved, known compounds with important signaling roles in the physiology and development of this bacterium. Additionally, there is significant unique biosynthetic machinery distributed across the genus that might lead to new, unknown metabolites with diverse biological functions. Inspired by the findings of our genomic analysis, we speculate that the highly conserved alkylpyrones might have an important biological activity within this genus. We go on to validate this prediction by demonstrating that these natural products are developmental signals in Bacillus and act by inhibiting sporulation.
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Kocabaş P, Çalık P, Çalık G, Özdamar TH. Analyses of extracellular protein production in Bacillus subtilis – I: Genome-scale metabolic model reconstruction based on updated gene-enzyme-reaction data. Biochem Eng J 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2017.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Rosenberg J, Yeak KC, Commichau FM. A two-step evolutionary process establishes a non-native vitamin B6 pathway in Bacillus subtilis. Environ Microbiol 2017; 20:156-168. [PMID: 29027347 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Revised: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), the most important form of vitamin B6 serves as a cofactor for many proteins. Two alternative pathways for de novo PLP biosynthesis are known: the short deoxy-xylulose-5-phosphate (DXP)-independent pathway, which is present in the Gram-positive model bacterium Bacillus subtilis and the longer DXP-dependent pathway, which has been intensively studied in the Gram-negative model bacterium Escherichia coli. Previous studies revealed that bacteria contain many promiscuous enzymes causing a so-called 'underground metabolism', which can be important for the evolution of novel pathways. Here, we evaluated the potential of B. subtilis to use a truncated non-native DXP-dependent PLP pathway from E. coli for PLP synthesis. Adaptive laboratory evolution experiments revealed that two non-native enzymes catalysing the last steps of the DXP-dependent PLP pathway and two genomic alterations are sufficient to allow growth of vitamin B6 auxotrophic bacteria as rapid as the wild type. Thus, the existence of an underground metabolism in B. subtilis facilitates the generation of a pathway for synthesis of PLP using parts of a non-native vitamin B6 pathway. The introduction of non-native enzymes into a metabolic network and rewiring of native metabolism could be helpful to generate pathways that might be optimized for producing valuable substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Rosenberg
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - KahYen C Yeak
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Fabian M Commichau
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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31
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Mol M, Kabra R, Singh S. Genome modularity and synthetic biology: Engineering systems. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 132:43-51. [PMID: 28801037 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Whole genome sequencing projects running in various laboratories around the world has generated immense data. A systematic phylogenetic analysis of this data shows that genome complexity goes on decreasing as it evolves, due to its modular nature. This modularity can be harnessed to minimize the genome further to reduce it with the bare minimum essential genes. A reduced modular genome, can fuel progress in the area of synthetic biology by providing a ready to use plug and play chassis. Advances in gene editing technology such as the use of tailor made synthetic transcription factors will further enhance the availability of synthetic devices to be applied in the fields of environment, agriculture and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milsee Mol
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, SP Pune University Campus, Pune 411007, India
| | - Ritika Kabra
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, SP Pune University Campus, Pune 411007, India
| | - Shailza Singh
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, SP Pune University Campus, Pune 411007, India.
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32
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Ramaniuk O, Černý M, Krásný L, Vohradský J. Kinetic modelling and meta-analysis of the B. subtilis SigA regulatory network during spore germination and outgrowth. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2017. [PMID: 28648455 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2017.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
This study describes the meta-analysis and kinetic modelling of gene expression control by sigma factor SigA of Bacillus subtilis during germination and outgrowth based on microarray data from 14 time points. The analysis computationally models the direct interaction among SigA, SigA-controlled sigma factor genes (sigM, sigH, sigD, sigX), and their target genes. Of the >800 known genes in the SigA regulon, as extracted from databases, 311 genes were analysed, and 190 were confirmed by the kinetic model as being controlled by SigA. For the remaining genes, alternative regulators satisfying kinetic constraints were suggested. The kinetic analysis suggested another 214 genes as potential SigA targets. The modelling was able to (i) create a particular SigA-controlled gene expression network that is active under the conditions for which the expression time series was obtained, and where SigA is the dominant regulator, (ii) suggest new potential SigA target genes, and (iii) find other possible regulators of a given gene or suggest a new mechanism of its control by identifying a matching profile of unknown regulator(s). Selected predicted regulatory interactions were experimentally tested, thus validating the model.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Ramaniuk
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology CAS, v.v.i., Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Víničná 5, CZ-12843 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
| | - M Černý
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Institute of Microbiology CAS, v.v.i., Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - L Krásný
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics and Gene Expression, Institute of Microbiology CAS, v.v.i., Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - J Vohradský
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Institute of Microbiology CAS, v.v.i., Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic.
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Li L, Mu L, Wang X, Yu J, Hu R, Li Z. A novel expression vector for the secretion of abaecin in Bacillus subtilis. Braz J Microbiol 2017; 48:809-814. [PMID: 28651889 PMCID: PMC5628310 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjm.2017.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Revised: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to describe a Bacillus subtilis expression system based on genetically modified B. subtilis. Abaecin, an antimicrobial peptide obtained from Apis mellifera, can enhance the effect of pore-forming peptides from other species on the inhibition of bacterial growth. For the exogenous expression, the abaecin gene was fused with a tobacco etch virus protease cleavage site, a promoter Pglv, and a mature beta-glucanase signal peptide. Also, a B. subtilis expression system was constructed. The recombinant abaecin gene was expressed and purified as a recombinant protein in the culture supernatant. The purified abaecin did not inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli strain K88. Cecropin A and hymenoptaecin exhibited potent bactericidal activities at concentrations of 1 and 1.5μM. Combinatorial assays revealed that cecropin A and hymenoptaecin had sublethal concentrations of 0.3 and 0.5μM. This potentiating functional interaction represents a promising therapeutic strategy. It provides an opportunity to address the rising threat of multidrug-resistant pathogens that are recalcitrant to conventional antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- College of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China.
| | - Lan Mu
- College of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Xiaojuan Wang
- College of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Jingfeng Yu
- College of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Ruiping Hu
- College of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China.
| | - Zhen Li
- College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Haidian District, Beijing, China
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Koo BM, Kritikos G, Farelli JD, Todor H, Tong K, Kimsey H, Wapinski I, Galardini M, Cabal A, Peters JM, Hachmann AB, Rudner DZ, Allen KN, Typas A, Gross CA. Construction and Analysis of Two Genome-Scale Deletion Libraries for Bacillus subtilis. Cell Syst 2017; 4:291-305.e7. [PMID: 28189581 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2016.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 348] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2016] [Revised: 11/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
A systems-level understanding of Gram-positive bacteria is important from both an environmental and health perspective and is most easily obtained when high-quality, validated genomic resources are available. To this end, we constructed two ordered, barcoded, erythromycin-resistance- and kanamycin-resistance-marked single-gene deletion libraries of the Gram-positive model organism, Bacillus subtilis. The libraries comprise 3,968 and 3,970 genes, respectively, and overlap in all but four genes. Using these libraries, we update the set of essential genes known for this organism, provide a comprehensive compendium of B. subtilis auxotrophic genes, and identify genes required for utilizing specific carbon and nitrogen sources, as well as those required for growth at low temperature. We report the identification of enzymes catalyzing several missing steps in amino acid biosynthesis. Finally, we describe a suite of high-throughput phenotyping methodologies and apply them to provide a genome-wide analysis of competence and sporulation. Altogether, we provide versatile resources for studying gene function and pathway and network architecture in Gram-positive bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byoung-Mo Koo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - George Kritikos
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Horia Todor
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Kenneth Tong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Harvey Kimsey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ilan Wapinski
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Marco Galardini
- European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Angelo Cabal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jason M Peters
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Anna-Barbara Hachmann
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David Z Rudner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Karen N Allen
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Athanasios Typas
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Carol A Gross
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; California Institute of Quantitative Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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Genome and transcriptome analysis of surfactin biosynthesis in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MT45. Sci Rep 2017; 7:40976. [PMID: 28112210 PMCID: PMC5256033 DOI: 10.1038/srep40976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural Bacillus isolates generate limited amounts of surfactin (<10% of their biomass), which functions as an antibiotic or signalling molecule in inter-/intra-specific interactions. However, overproduction of surfactin in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MT45 was observed at a titre of 2.93 g/l, which is equivalent to half of the maximum biomass. To systemically unravel this efficient biosynthetic process, the genome and transcriptome of this bacterium were compared with those of B. amyloliquefaciens type strain DSM7T. MT45 possesses a smaller genome while containing more unique transporters and resistance-associated genes. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed notable enrichment of the surfactin synthesis pathway in MT45, including central carbon metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis to provide sufficient quantities of building precursors. Most importantly, the modular surfactin synthase overexpressed (9 to 49-fold) in MT45 compared to DSM7T suggested efficient surfactin assembly and resulted in the overproduction of surfactin. Furthermore, based on the expression trends observed in the transcriptome, there are multiple potential regulatory genes mediating the expression of surfactin synthase. Thus, the results of the present study provide new insights regarding the synthesis and regulation of surfactin in high-producing strain and enrich the genomic and transcriptomic resources available for B. amyloliquefaciens.
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36
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Liu Y, Li J, Du G, Chen J, Liu L. Metabolic engineering of Bacillus subtilis fueled by systems biology: Recent advances and future directions. Biotechnol Adv 2017; 35:20-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2016.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Revised: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Fused Regression for Multi-source Gene Regulatory Network Inference. PLoS Comput Biol 2016; 12:e1005157. [PMID: 27923054 PMCID: PMC5140053 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding gene regulatory networks is critical to understanding cellular differentiation and response to external stimuli. Methods for global network inference have been developed and applied to a variety of species. Most approaches consider the problem of network inference independently in each species, despite evidence that gene regulation can be conserved even in distantly related species. Further, network inference is often confined to single data-types (single platforms) and single cell types. We introduce a method for multi-source network inference that allows simultaneous estimation of gene regulatory networks in multiple species or biological processes through the introduction of priors based on known gene relationships such as orthology incorporated using fused regression. This approach improves network inference performance even when orthology mapping and conservation are incomplete. We refine this method by presenting an algorithm that extracts the true conserved subnetwork from a larger set of potentially conserved interactions and demonstrate the utility of our method in cross species network inference. Last, we demonstrate our method’s utility in learning from data collected on different experimental platforms. Gene regulatory networks describing related biological processes are thought to share conserved interaction structure. This assumption motivates a great deal of work in model systems–where discovery of gene regulation may be more experimentally tractable–but is difficult to directly evaluate using existing methods. The presence of shared structure in a well studied model system or process should make the problem of network inference in a related process easier, but this information is not often applied to the discovery of global gene regulatory networks. Further, to be able to successfully translate findings between different organisms, it is important to be able to identify where regulatory structure is different. We provide a method based on penalized fused regression for inferring gene regulatory networks given prior knowledge about the similarity of interactions in each network. This method is demonstrated on synthetic data, and applied to the problem of inferring networks in distantly related bacterial organisms. We then introduce an extension of the method to deal with the condition of uncertainty over the degree of regulatory conservation by simultaneously inferring gene conservation and interaction weights.
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Regulatory RNAs in Bacillus subtilis: a Gram-Positive Perspective on Bacterial RNA-Mediated Regulation of Gene Expression. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2016; 80:1029-1057. [PMID: 27784798 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00026-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria can employ widely diverse RNA molecules to regulate their gene expression. Such molecules include trans-acting small regulatory RNAs, antisense RNAs, and a variety of transcriptional attenuation mechanisms in the 5' untranslated region. Thus far, most regulatory RNA research has focused on Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella. Hence, there is uncertainty about whether the resulting insights can be extrapolated directly to other bacteria, such as the Gram-positive soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis. A recent study identified 1,583 putative regulatory RNAs in B. subtilis, whose expression was assessed across 104 conditions. Here, we review the current understanding of RNA-based regulation in B. subtilis, and we categorize the newly identified putative regulatory RNAs on the basis of their conservation in other bacilli and the stability of their predicted secondary structures. Our present evaluation of the publicly available data indicates that RNA-mediated gene regulation in B. subtilis mostly involves elements at the 5' ends of mRNA molecules. These can include 5' secondary structure elements and metabolite-, tRNA-, or protein-binding sites. Importantly, sense-independent segments are identified as the most conserved and structured potential regulatory RNAs in B. subtilis. Altogether, the present survey provides many leads for the identification of new regulatory RNA functions in B. subtilis.
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Depletion of Undecaprenyl Pyrophosphate Phosphatases Disrupts Cell Envelope Biogenesis in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 2016; 198:2925-2935. [PMID: 27528508 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00507-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The integrity of the bacterial cell envelope is essential to sustain life by countering the high turgor pressure of the cell and providing a barrier against chemical insults. In Bacillus subtilis, synthesis of both peptidoglycan and wall teichoic acids requires a common C55 lipid carrier, undecaprenyl-pyrophosphate (UPP), to ferry precursors across the cytoplasmic membrane. The synthesis and recycling of UPP requires a phosphatase to generate the monophosphate form Und-P, which is the substrate for peptidoglycan and wall teichoic acid synthases. Using an optimized clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) system with catalytically inactive ("dead") CRISPR-associated protein 9 (dCas9)-based transcriptional repression system (CRISPR interference [CRISPRi]), we demonstrate that B. subtilis requires either of two UPP phosphatases, UppP or BcrC, for viability. We show that a third predicted lipid phosphatase (YodM), with homology to diacylglycerol pyrophosphatases, can also support growth when overexpressed. Depletion of UPP phosphatase activity leads to morphological defects consistent with a failure of cell envelope synthesis and strongly activates the σM-dependent cell envelope stress response, including bcrC, which encodes one of the two UPP phosphatases. These results highlight the utility of an optimized CRISPRi system for the investigation of synthetic lethal gene pairs, clarify the nature of the B. subtilis UPP-Pase enzymes, and provide further evidence linking the σM regulon to cell envelope homeostasis pathways. IMPORTANCE The emergence of antibiotic resistance among bacterial pathogens is of critical concern and motivates efforts to develop new therapeutics and increase the utility of those already in use. The lipid II cycle is one of the most frequently targeted processes for antibiotics and has been intensively studied. Despite these efforts, some steps have remained poorly defined, partly due to genetic redundancy. CRISPRi provides a powerful tool to investigate the functions of essential genes and sets of genes. Here, we used an optimized CRISPRi system to demonstrate functional redundancy of two UPP phosphatases that are required for the conversion of the initially synthesized UPP lipid carrier to Und-P, the substrate for the synthesis of the initial lipid-linked precursors in peptidoglycan and wall teichoic acid synthesis.
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Peters JM, Colavin A, Shi H, Czarny TL, Larson MH, Wong S, Hawkins JS, Lu CHS, Koo BM, Marta E, Shiver AL, Whitehead EH, Weissman JS, Brown ED, Qi LS, Huang KC, Gross CA. A Comprehensive, CRISPR-based Functional Analysis of Essential Genes in Bacteria. Cell 2016; 165:1493-1506. [PMID: 27238023 PMCID: PMC4894308 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 462] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Revised: 02/28/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Essential gene functions underpin the core reactions required for cell viability, but their contributions and relationships are poorly studied in vivo. Using CRISPR interference, we created knockdowns of every essential gene in Bacillus subtilis and probed their phenotypes. Our high-confidence essential gene network, established using chemical genomics, showed extensive interconnections among distantly related processes and identified modes of action for uncharacterized antibiotics. Importantly, mild knockdown of essential gene functions significantly reduced stationary-phase survival without affecting maximal growth rate, suggesting that essential protein levels are set to maximize outgrowth from stationary phase. Finally, high-throughput microscopy indicated that cell morphology is relatively insensitive to mild knockdown but profoundly affected by depletion of gene function, revealing intimate connections between cell growth and shape. Our results provide a framework for systematic investigation of essential gene functions in vivo broadly applicable to diverse microorganisms and amenable to comparative analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Peters
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | | | - Handuo Shi
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Tomasz L Czarny
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 3Z5, Canada; Michael G. DeGroote Institute of Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
| | - Matthew H Larson
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; California Institute for Quantitative Biomedical Research, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Center for RNA Systems Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Spencer Wong
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - John S Hawkins
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Biophysics Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Candy H S Lu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Byoung-Mo Koo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Elizabeth Marta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Anthony L Shiver
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Biophysics Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Evan H Whitehead
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; California Institute for Quantitative Biomedical Research, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; UCSF Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jonathan S Weissman
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; California Institute for Quantitative Biomedical Research, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Center for RNA Systems Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; UCSF Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Eric D Brown
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 3Z5, Canada; Michael G. DeGroote Institute of Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
| | - Lei S Qi
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Kerwyn Casey Huang
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Carol A Gross
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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Faria JP, Overbeek R, Taylor RC, Conrad N, Vonstein V, Goelzer A, Fromion V, Rocha M, Rocha I, Henry CS. Reconstruction of the Regulatory Network for Bacillus subtilis and Reconciliation with Gene Expression Data. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:275. [PMID: 27047450 PMCID: PMC4796004 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We introduce a manually constructed and curated regulatory network model that describes the current state of knowledge of transcriptional regulation of Bacillus subtilis. The model corresponds to an updated and enlarged version of the regulatory model of central metabolism originally proposed in 2008. We extended the original network to the whole genome by integration of information from DBTBS, a compendium of regulatory data that includes promoters, transcription factors (TFs), binding sites, motifs, and regulated operons. Additionally, we consolidated our network with all the information on regulation included in the SporeWeb and Subtiwiki community-curated resources on B. subtilis. Finally, we reconciled our network with data from RegPrecise, which recently released their own less comprehensive reconstruction of the regulatory network for B. subtilis. Our model describes 275 regulators and their target genes, representing 30 different mechanisms of regulation such as TFs, RNA switches, Riboswitches, and small regulatory RNAs. Overall, regulatory information is included in the model for ∼2500 of the ∼4200 genes in B. subtilis 168. In an effort to further expand our knowledge of B. subtilis regulation, we reconciled our model with expression data. For this process, we reconstructed the Atomic Regulons (ARs) for B. subtilis, which are the sets of genes that share the same “ON” and “OFF” gene expression profiles across multiple samples of experimental data. We show how ARs for B. subtilis are able to capture many sets of genes corresponding to regulated operons in our manually curated network. Additionally, we demonstrate how ARs can be used to help expand or validate the knowledge of the regulatory networks by looking at highly correlated genes in the ARs for which regulatory information is lacking. During this process, we were also able to infer novel stimuli for hypothetical genes by exploring the genome expression metadata relating to experimental conditions, gaining insights into novel biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- José P Faria
- Computation Institute, University of ChicagoChicago, IL, USA; Computing, Environment and Life Sciences, Argonne National LaboratoryArgonne, IL, USA; Centre of Biological Engineering, University of MinhoBraga, Portugal
| | - Ross Overbeek
- Fellowship for Interpretation of Genomes Burr Ridge, IL, USA
| | - Ronald C Taylor
- Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, United States Department of Energy Richland, WA, USA
| | - Neal Conrad
- Computing, Environment and Life Sciences, Argonne National Laboratory Argonne, IL, USA
| | | | - Anne Goelzer
- UR1404 Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from Genomes to the Environment, INRA, Paris-Saclay University Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Vincent Fromion
- UR1404 Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from Genomes to the Environment, INRA, Paris-Saclay University Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Miguel Rocha
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho Braga, Portugal
| | - Isabel Rocha
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho Braga, Portugal
| | - Christopher S Henry
- Computation Institute, University of ChicagoChicago, IL, USA; Mathematics and Computer Science Division, Argonne National LaboratoryArgonne, IL, USA
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Zheng L, Abhyankar W, Ouwerling N, Dekker HL, van Veen H, van der Wel NN, Roseboom W, de Koning LJ, Brul S, de Koster CG. Bacillus subtilis Spore Inner Membrane Proteome. J Proteome Res 2016; 15:585-94. [PMID: 26731423 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5b00976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The endospore is the dormant form of Bacillus subtilis and many other Firmicutes. By sporulation, these spore formers can survive very harsh physical and chemical conditions. Yet, they need to go through germination to return to their growing form. The spore inner membrane (IM) has been shown to play an essential role in triggering the initiation of germination. In this study, we isolated the IM of bacterial spores, in parallel with the isolation of the membrane of vegetative cells. With the use of GeLC-MS/MS, over 900 proteins were identified from the B. subtilis spore IM preparations. By bioinformatics-based membrane protein predictions, ca. one-third could be predicted to be membrane-localized. A large number of unique proteins as well as proteins common to the two membrane proteomes were identified. In addition to previously known IM proteins, a number of IM proteins were newly identified, at least some of which are likely to provide new insights into IM physiology, unveiling proteins putatively involved in spore germination machinery and hence putative germination inhibition targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Henk van Veen
- Electron Microscopy Centre Amsterdam, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Academic Medical Center , 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nicole N van der Wel
- Electron Microscopy Centre Amsterdam, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Academic Medical Center , 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Arrieta-Ortiz ML, Hafemeister C, Bate AR, Chu T, Greenfield A, Shuster B, Barry SN, Gallitto M, Liu B, Kacmarczyk T, Santoriello F, Chen J, Rodrigues CDA, Sato T, Rudner DZ, Driks A, Bonneau R, Eichenberger P. An experimentally supported model of the Bacillus subtilis global transcriptional regulatory network. Mol Syst Biol 2015; 11:839. [PMID: 26577401 PMCID: PMC4670728 DOI: 10.15252/msb.20156236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms from all domains of life use gene regulation networks to control cell growth, identity, function, and responses to environmental challenges. Although accurate global regulatory models would provide critical evolutionary and functional insights, they remain incomplete, even for the best studied organisms. Efforts to build comprehensive networks are confounded by challenges including network scale, degree of connectivity, complexity of organism–environment interactions, and difficulty of estimating the activity of regulatory factors. Taking advantage of the large number of known regulatory interactions in Bacillus subtilis and two transcriptomics datasets (including one with 38 separate experiments collected specifically for this study), we use a new combination of network component analysis and model selection to simultaneously estimate transcription factor activities and learn a substantially expanded transcriptional regulatory network for this bacterium. In total, we predict 2,258 novel regulatory interactions and recall 74% of the previously known interactions. We obtained experimental support for 391 (out of 635 evaluated) novel regulatory edges (62% accuracy), thus significantly increasing our understanding of various cell processes, such as spore formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario L Arrieta-Ortiz
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christoph Hafemeister
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ashley Rose Bate
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Timothy Chu
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alex Greenfield
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bentley Shuster
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samantha N Barry
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew Gallitto
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brian Liu
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thadeous Kacmarczyk
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Francis Santoriello
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jie Chen
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Tsutomu Sato
- Department of Frontier Bioscience, Hosei University, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - David Z Rudner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Adam Driks
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Richard Bonneau
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA Courant Institute of Mathematical Science, Computer Science Department, New York, NY, USA Simons Foundation, Simons Center for Data Analysis, New York, NY, USA
| | - Patrick Eichenberger
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
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Michna RH, Zhu B, Mäder U, Stülke J. SubtiWiki 2.0--an integrated database for the model organism Bacillus subtilis. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 44:D654-62. [PMID: 26433225 PMCID: PMC4702770 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv1006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand living cells, we need knowledge of each of their parts as well as about the interactions of these parts. To gain rapid and comprehensive access to this information, annotation databases are required. Here, we present SubtiWiki 2.0, the integrated database for the model bacterium Bacillus subtilis (http://subtiwiki.uni-goettingen.de/). SubtiWiki provides text-based access to published information about the genes and proteins of B. subtilis as well as presentations of metabolic and regulatory pathways. Moreover, manually curated protein-protein interactions diagrams are linked to the protein pages. Finally, expression data are shown with respect to gene expression under 104 different conditions as well as absolute protein quantification for cytoplasmic proteins. To facilitate the mobile use of SubtiWiki, we have now expanded it by Apps that are available for iOS and Android devices. Importantly, the App allows to link private notes and pictures to the gene/protein pages. Today, SubtiWiki has become one of the most complete collections of knowledge on a living organism in one single resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael H Michna
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Bingyao Zhu
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Mäder
- Department of Functional Genomics, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Jahnstr. 15a, D-17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jörg Stülke
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
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Rosenberg A, Soufi B, Ravikumar V, Soares NC, Krug K, Smith Y, Macek B, Ben-Yehuda S. Phosphoproteome dynamics mediate revival of bacterial spores. BMC Biol 2015; 13:76. [PMID: 26381121 PMCID: PMC4574613 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-015-0184-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bacterial spores can remain dormant for decades, yet harbor the exceptional capacity to rapidly resume metabolic activity and recommence life. Although germinants and their corresponding receptors have been known for more than 30 years, the molecular events underlying this remarkable cellular transition from dormancy to full metabolic activity are only partially defined. Results Here, we examined whether protein phospho-modifications occur during germination, the first step of exiting dormancy, thereby facilitating spore revival. Utilizing Bacillus subtilis as a model organism, we performed phosphoproteomic analysis to define the Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphoproteome of a reviving spore. The phosphoproteome was found to chiefly comprise newly identified phosphorylation sites located within proteins involved in basic biological functions, such as transcription, translation, carbon metabolism, and spore-specific determinants. Quantitative comparison of dormant and germinating spore phosphoproteomes revealed phosphorylation dynamics, indicating that phospho-modifications could modulate protein activity during this cellular transition. Furthermore, by mutating select phosphorylation sites located within proteins representative of key biological processes, we established a functional connection between phosphorylation and the progression of spore revival. Conclusions Herein, we provide, for the first time, a phosphoproteomic view of a germinating bacterial spore. We further show that the spore phosphoproteome is dynamic and present evidence that phosphorylation events play an integral role in facilitating spore revival. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12915-015-0184-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Rosenberg
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 12272, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Boumediene Soufi
- Proteome Center Tuebingen, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tuebingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Vaishnavi Ravikumar
- Proteome Center Tuebingen, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tuebingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Nelson C Soares
- Proteome Center Tuebingen, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tuebingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Karsten Krug
- Proteome Center Tuebingen, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tuebingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Yoav Smith
- Genomic Data Analysis Unit, The Hebrew University - Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Boris Macek
- Proteome Center Tuebingen, Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tuebingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.
| | - Sigal Ben-Yehuda
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 12272, 91120, Jerusalem, Israel.
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An Essential Poison: Synthesis and Degradation of Cyclic Di-AMP in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 2015; 197:3265-74. [PMID: 26240071 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00564-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Gram-positive bacteria synthesize the second messenger cyclic di-AMP (c-di-AMP) to control cell wall and potassium homeostasis and to secure the integrity of their DNA. In the firmicutes, c-di-AMP is essential for growth. The model organism Bacillus subtilis encodes three diadenylate cyclases and two potential phosphodiesterases to produce and degrade c-di-AMP, respectively. Among the three cyclases, CdaA is conserved in nearly all firmicutes, and this enzyme seems to be responsible for the c-di-AMP that is required for cell wall homeostasis. Here, we demonstrate that CdaA localizes to the membrane and forms a complex with the regulatory protein CdaR and the glucosamine-6-phosphate mutase GlmM. Interestingly, cdaA, cdaR, and glmM form a gene cluster that is conserved throughout the firmicutes. This conserved arrangement and the observed interaction between the three proteins suggest a functional relationship. Our data suggest that GlmM and GlmS are involved in the control of c-di-AMP synthesis. These enzymes convert glutamine and fructose-6-phosphate to glutamate and glucosamine-1-phosphate. c-di-AMP synthesis is enhanced if the cells are grown in the presence of glutamate compared to that in glutamine-grown cells. Thus, the quality of the nitrogen source is an important signal for c-di-AMP production. In the analysis of c-di-AMP-degrading phosphodiesterases, we observed that both phosphodiesterases, GdpP and PgpH (previously known as YqfF), contribute to the degradation of the second messenger. Accumulation of c-di-AMP in a gdpP pgpH double mutant is toxic for the cells, and the cells respond to this accumulation by inactivation of the diadenylate cyclase CdaA. IMPORTANCE Bacteria use second messengers for signal transduction. Cyclic di-AMP (c-di-AMP) is the only second messenger known so far that is essential for a large group of bacteria. We have studied the regulation of c-di-AMP synthesis and the role of the phosphodiesterases that degrade this second messenger. c-di-AMP synthesis strongly depends on the nitrogen source: glutamate-grown cells produce more c-di-AMP than glutamine-grown cells. The accumulation of c-di-AMP in a strain lacking both phosphodiesterases is toxic and results in inactivation of the diadenylate cyclase CdaA. Our results suggest that CdaA is the critical diadenylate cyclase that produces the c-di-AMP that is both essential and toxic upon accumulation.
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Wenzel M, Altenbuchner J. Development of a markerless gene deletion system for Bacillus subtilis based on the mannose phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2015; 161:1942-1949. [PMID: 26238998 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
To optimize Bacillus subtilis as a production strain for proteins and low molecular substances by genome engineering, we developed a markerless gene deletion system. We took advantage of a general property of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS), in particular the mannose PTS. Mannose is phosphorylated during uptake by its specific transporter (ManP) to mannose 6-phosphate, which is further converted to fructose 6-phosphate by the mannose-6-phosphate isomerase (ManA). When ManA is missing, accumulation of the phosphorylated mannose inhibits cell growth. This system was constructed by deletion of manP and manA in B. subtilis Δ6, a 168 derivative strain with six large deletions of prophages and antibiotic biosynthesis genes. The manP gene was inserted into an Escherichia coli plasmid together with a spectinomycin resistance gene for selection in B. subtilis. To delete a specific region, its up- and downstream flanking sites (each of approximately 700 bp) were inserted into the vector. After transformation, integration of the plasmid into the chromosome of B. subtilis by single cross-over was selected by spectinomycin. In the second step, excision of the plasmid was selected by growth on mannose. Finally, excision and concomitant deletion of the target region were verified by colony PCR. In this way, all nine prophages, seven antibiotic biosynthesis gene clusters and two sigma factors for sporulation were deleted and the B. subtilis genome was reduced from 4215 to 3640 kb. Despite these extensive deletions, growth rate and cell morphology remained similar to the B. subtilis 168 parental strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian Wenzel
- Institut für Industrielle Genetik, Universität Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Josef Altenbuchner
- Institut für Industrielle Genetik, Universität Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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Bossy R, Golik W, Ratkovic Z, Valsamou D, Bessières P, Nédellec C. Overview of the gene regulation network and the bacteria biotope tasks in BioNLP'13 shared task. BMC Bioinformatics 2015. [PMID: 26202448 PMCID: PMC4511173 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2105-16-s10-s1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We present the two Bacteria Track tasks of BioNLP 2013 Shared Task (ST): Gene Regulation Network (GRN) and Bacteria Biotope (BB). These tasks were previously introduced in the 2011 BioNLP-ST Bacteria Track as Bacteria Gene Interaction (BI) and Bacteria Biotope (BB). The Bacteria Track was motivated by a need to develop specific BioNLP tools for fine-grained event extraction in bacteria biology. The 2013 tasks expand on the 2011 version by better addressing the biological knowledge modeling needs. New evaluation metrics were designed for the new goals. Moving beyond a list of gene interactions, the goal of the GRN task is to build a gene regulation network from the extracted gene interactions. BB'13 is dedicated to the extraction of bacteria biotopes, i.e. bacterial environmental information, as was BB'11. BB'13 extends the typology of BB'11 to a large diversity of biotopes, as defined by the OntoBiotope ontology. The detection of entities and events is tackled by distinct subtasks in order to measure the progress achieved by the participant systems since 2011. Results This paper details the corpus preparations and the evaluation metrics, as well as summarizing and discussing the participant results. Five groups participated in each of the two tasks. The high diversity of the participant methods reflects the dynamism of the BioNLP research community. The highest scores for the GRN and BB'13 tasks are similar to those obtained by the participants in 2011, despite of the increase in difficulty. The high density of events in short text segments (multi-event extraction) was a difficult issue for the participating systems for both tasks. The analysis of the BB'13 results also shows that co-reference resolution and entity boundary detection remain major hindrances. Conclusion The evaluation results suggest new research directions for the improvement and development of Information Extraction for molecular and environmental biology. The Bacteria Track tasks remain publicly open; the BioNLP-ST website provides an online evaluation service, the reference corpora and the evaluation tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Kampf
- Department of General Microbiology, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Stülke
- Department of General Microbiology, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Databases play an increasingly important role in biology. They archive, store, maintain, and share information on genes, genomes, expression data, protein sequences and structures, metabolites and reactions, interactions, and pathways. All these data are critically important to microbiologists. Furthermore, microbiology has its own databases that deal with model microorganisms, microbial diversity, physiology, and pathogenesis. Thousands of biological databases are currently available, and it becomes increasingly difficult to keep up with their development. The purpose of this minireview is to provide a brief survey of current databases that are of interest to microbiologists.
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