Phytoene desaturase, CrtI, of the purple photosynthetic bacterium, Rubrivivax gelatinosus, produces both neurosporene and lycopene

Biosynthesis of carotenoids in Azospirillum brasilense Cd is mediated via squalene (C30) route

Azospirillum brasilense is a non-photosynthetic α-Proteobacteria, belongs to the family of Rhodospirillaceae and produces carotenoids to protect itself from photooxidative stress. In this study, we have used Resonance Raman Spectra to show similarity of bacterioruberins of Halobacterium salinarum to that of A. brasilense Cd. To navigate the role of genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis, we used mutational analysis to inactivate putative genes predicted to be involved in carotenoid biosynthesis in A. brasilense Cd. We have shown that HpnCED enzymes are involved in the biosynthesis of squalene (C30), which is required for the synthesis of carotenoids in A. brasilense Cd. We also found that CrtI and CrtP desaturases were involved in the transformation of colorless squalene into the pink-pigmented carotenoids. This study elucidates role of some genes which constitute very pivotal role in biosynthetic pathway of carotenoid in A. brasilense Cd.

Genes and Pathway Reactions Related to Carotenoid Biosynthesis in Purple Bacteria

In purple bacteria, the genes of the carotenoid pathways are part of photosynthesis gene clusters which were distributed among different species by horizontal gene transfer. Their close organisation facilitated the first-time cloning of carotenogenic genes and promoted the molecular investigation of spheroidene and spirilloxanthin biosynthesis. This review highlights the cloning of the spheroidene and spirilloxanthin pathway genes and presents the current knowledge on the enzymes involved in the carotenoid biosynthesis of purple sulphur and non-sulphur bacteria. Mostly, spheroidene or spirilloxanthin biosynthesis exists in purple non-sulphur bacteria but both pathways operate simultaneously in Rubrivivax gelatinosus. In the following years, genes from other bacteria including purple sulphur bacteria with an okenone pathway were cloned. The individual steps were investigated by kinetic studies with heterologously expressed pathway genes which supported the establishment of the reaction mechanisms. In particular, the substrate and product specificities revealed the sequential order of the speroidene and spiriloxanthin pathways as well as their interactions. Information on the enzymes involved revealed that the phytoene desaturase determines the type of pathway by the formation of different products. By selection of mutants with amino acid exchanges in the putative substrate-binding site, the neurosporene-forming phytoene desaturase could be changed into a lycopene-producing enzyme and vice versa. Concerning the oxygen groups in neurosporene and lycopene, the tertiary alcohol group at C1 is formed from water and not by oxygenation, and the C2 or C4 keto groups are inserted differently by an oxygen-dependent or oxygen-independent ketolation reaction, respectively.

Globally distributed Myxococcota with photosynthesis gene clusters illuminate the origin and evolution of a potentially chimeric lifestyle

Photosynthesis is a fundamental biogeochemical process, thought to be restricted to a few bacterial and eukaryotic phyla. However, understanding the origin and evolution of phototrophic organisms can be impeded and biased by the difficulties of cultivation. Here, we analyzed metagenomic datasets and found potential photosynthetic abilities encoded in the genomes of uncultivated bacteria within the phylum Myxococcota. A putative photosynthesis gene cluster encoding a type-II reaction center appears in at least six Myxococcota families from three classes, suggesting vertical inheritance of these genes from an early common ancestor, with multiple independent losses in other lineages. Analysis of metatranscriptomic datasets indicate that the putative myxococcotal photosynthesis genes are actively expressed in various natural environments. Furthermore, heterologous expression of myxococcotal pigment biosynthesis genes in a purple bacterium supports that the genes can drive photosynthetic processes. Given that predatory abilities are thought to be widespread across Myxococcota, our results suggest the intriguing possibility of a chimeric lifestyle (combining predatory and photosynthetic abilities) in members of this phylum.

A Review of the Chemistry and Biological Activities of Natural Colorants, Dyes, and Pigments: Challenges, and Opportunities for Food, Cosmetics, and Pharmaceutical Application

Natural pigments are important sources for the screening of bioactive lead compounds. This article reviewed the chemistry and therapeutic potentials of over 570 colored molecules from plants, fungi, bacteria, insects, algae, and marine sources. Moreover, related biological activities, advanced extraction, and identification approaches were reviewed. A variety of biological activities, including cytotoxicity against cancer cells, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, anti-microbial, antiviral, and anti-protozoal activities, have been reported for different pigments. Considering their structural backbone, they were classified as naphthoquinones, carotenoids, flavonoids, xanthones, anthocyanins, benzotropolones, alkaloids, terpenoids, isoprenoids, and non-isoprenoids. Alkaloid pigments were mostly isolated from bacteria and marine sources, while flavonoids were mostly found in plants and mushrooms. Colored quinones and xanthones were mostly extracted from plants and fungi, while colored polyketides and terpenoids are often found in marine sources and fungi. Carotenoids are mostly distributed among bacteria, followed by fungi and plants. The pigments isolated from insects have different structures, but among them, carotenoids and quinone/xanthone are the most important. Considering good manufacturing practices, the current permitted natural colorants are: Carotenoids (canthaxanthin, β-carotene, β-apo-8'-carotenal, annatto, astaxanthin) and their sources, lycopene, anthocyanins, betanin, chlorophyllins, spirulina extract, carmine and cochineal extract, henna, riboflavin, pyrogallol, logwood extract, guaiazulene, turmeric, and soy leghemoglobin.

Engineering the β-Carotene Metabolic Pathway of Microalgae Dunaliella To Confirm Its Carotenoid Synthesis Pattern in Comparison To Bacteria and Plants

Dunaliella salina is the most salt-tolerant eukaryote and has the highest β-carotene content, but its carotenoid synthesis pathway is still unclear, especially the synthesis of lycopene, the upstream product of β-carotene. In this study, DsGGPS, DsPSY, DsPDS, DsZISO, DsZDS, DsCRTISO, and DsLYCB genes were cloned from D. salina and expressed in Escherichia coli. A series of carotenoid engineering E. coli strains from phytoene to β-carotene were obtained. ZISO was first identified from Chlorophyta, while CRTISO was first isolated from algae. It was found that DsZISO and DsCRTISO were essential for isomerization of carotenoids in photosynthetic organisms and could not be replaced by photoisomerization, unlike some plants. DsZDS was found to have weak beta cyclization abilities, and DsLYCB was able to catalyze 7,7',9,9'-tetra-cis-lycopene to generate 7,7',9,9'-tetra-cis-β-carotene, which had not been reported before. A new carotenoid 7,7',9,9'-tetra-cis-β-carotene, the beta cyclization product of prolycopene, was discovered. Compared with the bacterial-derived carotenoid synthesis pathway, there is higher specificity and greater efficiency of the carotenoid synthesis pathway in algae. This research experimentally confirmed that the conversion of phytoene to lycopene in D. salina was similar to that of plants and different from bacteria and provided a new possibility for the metabolic engineering of β-carotene. IMPORTANCE The synthesis mode of all trans-lycopene in bacteria and plants is clear, but there are still doubts in microalgae. Dunaliella is the organism with the highest β-carotene content, and plant-type and bacterial-type enzyme genes have been found in its carotenoid metabolism pathway. In this study, the entire plant-type enzyme gene was completely cloned into Escherichia coli, and high-efficiency expression was obtained, which proved that carotenoid synthesis of algae is similar to that of plants. In bacteria, CRT can directly catalyze 4-step continuous dehydrogenation to produce all trans-lycopene. In plants, four enzymes (PDS, ZISO, ZDS, and CRTISO) are involved in this process. Although a carotenoid synthetase similar to that of bacteria has been found in algae, it does not play a major role. This research reveals the evolutionary relationship of carotenoid metabolism in bacteria, algae, and plants and is of methodologically innovative significance for molecular evolution research.

Diversity and origin of carotenoid biosynthesis: its history of coevolution towards plant photosynthesis

The development of photosynthesis was a highlight in the progression of bacteria. In addition to the photosystems with their structural proteins, the photosynthesis apparatus consists of different cofactors including essential carotenoids. Thus, the evolution of the carotenoid pathways in relation to the functionality of the resulting structures in photosynthesis is the focus of this review. Analysis of carotenoid pathway genes indicates early evolutionary roots in prokaryotes. The pathway complexity leading to a multitude of structures is a result of gene acquisition, including their functional modifications, emergence of novel genes and gene exchange between species. Along with the progression of photosynthesis, carotenoid pathways coevolved with photosynthesis according to their advancing functionality. Cyanobacteria, with their oxygenic photosynthesis, became a landmark for evolutionary events including carotenogenesis. Concurrent with endosymbiosis, the cyanobacterial carotenoid pathways were inherited into algal plastids. In the lineage leading to Chlorophyta and plants, carotenoids evolved to their prominent role in protection and regulation of light energy input as constituents of a highly efficient light-harvesting complex.

The oleaginous astaxanthin-producing alga Chromochloris zofingiensis: potential from production to an emerging model for studying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis

The algal lipids-based biodiesel, albeit having advantages over plant oils, still remains high in the production cost. Co-production of value-added products with lipids has the potential to add benefits and is thus believed to be a promising strategy to improve the production economics of algal biodiesel. Chromochloris zofingiensis, a unicellular green alga, has been considered as a promising feedstock for biodiesel production because of its robust growth and ability of accumulating high levels of triacylglycerol under multiple trophic conditions. This alga is also able to synthesize high-value keto-carotenoids and has been cited as a candidate producer of astaxanthin, the strongest antioxidant found in nature. The concurrent accumulation of triacylglycerol and astaxanthin enables C. zofingiensis an ideal cell factory for integrated production of the two compounds and has potential to improve algae-based production economics. Furthermore, with the advent of chromosome-level whole genome sequence and genetic tools, C. zofingiensis becomes an emerging model for studying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the production of triacylglycerol and astaxanthin by C. zofingiensis. We also update our understanding in the distinctive molecular mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis, with an emphasis on triacylglycerol and astaxanthin biosynthesis and crosstalk between the two pathways. Furthermore, strategies for trait improvements are discussed regarding triacylglycerol and astaxanthin synthesis in C. zofingiensis.

Carotenoid composition and antioxidant activities of Chinese orange-colored tomato cultivars and the effects of thermal processing on the bioactive components

To facilitate the production of tomato products with high bioactivity and improve the utilization of orange-colored tomatoes, the carotenoids of 11 tomato cultivars were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. Moreover, antioxidant activities were evaluated by four chemical-based assays, and the influences of thermal treatment on the carotenoids in orange-colored tomatoes rich in tetra-cis (7Z, 9Z, 7'Z, and 9'Z)-lycopene, phytofluene, and phytoene were studied. The nine orange-colored tomatoes (OT) were divided into two categories: OT-B, containing five cultivars rich in β-carotene, and OT-L, containing the other four cultivars that were abundant in tetra-cis-lycopene, phytofluene, and phytoene. The antioxidant activities of OT-L were higher than those of OT-B and the SD-2 cultivar in OT-L showed similar antioxidant activity to the red tomatoes. During thermal processing, tetra-cis-lycopene in SD-2 decreased about 38% after being exposed to heat for 2 hr at 80 °C, while its content was still higher than other lycopene isomers. Other-Z-lycopenes and all-trans (E)-lycopene increased from 2.36 ± 0.19 to 14.73 ± 1.16 µg/g fresh weight (FW) and 0.75 ± 0.10 to 5.91 ± 1.02 µg/g FW, respectively. Thus, thermal treatments at lower temperature, such as cold break and pasteurization, were more suitable for processing OT-L. The results demonstrated that OT-L could be an excellent raw material to produce tomato products with high bioavailability and bioactivity. The results of this research could provide helpful information for the research and development of tomato products using orange tomatoes and benefit planters and consumers. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Some orange tomato cultivars are promising raw materials for tomato products because of their high contents of bioactive tetra-cis-lycopene, phytofluene, and phytoene. This study demonstrated the carotenoid components and antioxidant activities of the widely planted orange-colored tomatoes in China. The obtained knowledge, including the thermal processing effects on the isomerization and degradation of carotenoids in the cultivars, will offer useful information to food processors and benefit the consumers.

Reprogramming microorganisms for the biosynthesis of astaxanthin via metabolic engineering

There is an increasing demand for astaxanthin in food, feed, cosmetics and pharmaceutical applications because of its superior anti-oxidative and coloring properties. However, naturally produced astaxanthin is expensive, mainly due to low productivity and limited sources. Reprogramming of microorganisms for astaxanthin production via metabolic engineering is a promising strategy. We primarily focus on the application of synthetic biology, enzyme engineering and metabolic engineering in enhancing the synthesis and accumulation of astaxanthin in microorganisms in this review. We also discuss the biosynthetic pathways of astaxanthin within natural producers, and summarize the achievements and challenges in reprogramming microorganisms for enhancing astaxanthin production. This review illuminates recent biotechnological advances in microbial production of astaxanthin. Future perspectives on utilization of new technologies for boosting microbial astaxanthin production are also discussed.

Exploring Catalysis Specificity of Phytoene Dehydrogenase CrtI in Carotenoid Synthesis

Carotenoids, a variety of natural products, have significant pharmaceutical and commercial potential. Phytoene dehydrogenase (CrtI) is the rate-limit enzyme for carotenoid synthesis, whose catalysis specificity results in various carotenoids. However, the structural characteristics of CrtI for controlling the catalysis specificity on dehydrogenation steps are still unclear, which limited the development of CrtI function. Here we confirmed two mutation sites H136 and H453 in the mutant library of CrtI from Blakeslea trispora, which markedly regulated catalytic specificity. Interestingly, the sequence alignment features at H136 and H453 were consistent with the phylogenetic analysis of CrtI families. Subsequently, the functions of saturated mutants at H136 and H453 were clustered by principal component analysis (PCA) and k-means. According to the clustering results, diversiform mutants with specific dehydrogenation function provided important application value for carotenoid product customization. Meanwhile, this study also enriched the theory of enzyme evolution and guided the functional development of enzymes.

Functional annotation of hypothetical proteins from the Exiguobacterium antarcticum strain B7 reveals proteins involved in adaptation to extreme environments, including high arsenic resistance

Exiguobacterium antarcticum strain B7 is a psychrophilic Gram-positive bacterium that possesses enzymes that can be used for several biotechnological applications. However, many proteins from its genome are considered hypothetical proteins (HPs). These functionally unknown proteins may indicate important functions regarding the biological role of this bacterium, and the use of bioinformatics tools can assist in the biological understanding of this organism through functional annotation analysis. Thus, our study aimed to assign functions to proteins previously described as HPs, present in the genome of E. antarcticum B7. We used an extensive in silico workflow combining several bioinformatics tools for function annotation, sub-cellular localization and physicochemical characterization, three-dimensional structure determination, and protein-protein interactions. This genome contains 2772 genes, of which 765 CDS were annotated as HPs. The amino acid sequences of all HPs were submitted to our workflow and we successfully attributed function to 132 HPs. We identified 11 proteins that play important roles in the mechanisms of adaptation to adverse environments, such as flagellar biosynthesis, biofilm formation, carotenoids biosynthesis, and others. In addition, three predicted HPs are possibly related to arsenic tolerance. Through an in vitro assay, we verified that E. antarcticum B7 can grow at high concentrations of this metal. The approach used was important to precisely assign function to proteins from diverse classes and to infer relationships with proteins with functions already described in the literature. This approach aims to produce a better understanding of the mechanism by which this bacterium adapts to extreme environments and to the finding of targets with biotechnological interest.

Metabolic Redesign of Rhodobacter sphaeroides for Lycopene Production

Lycopene plays an important role as an antioxidative and anticancer agent, and is an increasingly valuable commodity in the global market. Rhodobacter sphaeroides, a carotenogenic and phototrophic bacterium, is an efficient and practical host for carotenoid production. Herein, we explored the potential of metabolically engineered Rb. sphaeroides as a novel platform to produce lycopene. The basal lycopene-producing strain was generated by introducing an exogenous crtI₄ from Rhodospirillum rubrum to replace the native crtI₃ and deleting crtC in Rb. sphaeroides. Furthermore, knocking out zwf blocked the competitive pentose phosphate pathway and improved the lycopene content by 88%. Finally, the methylerythritol phosphate pathway was reinforced by integration of dxs combined with zwf deletion, which further increased the lycopene content. The final engineered strain produced lycopene to 10.32 mg/g dry cell weight. This study describes a new lycopene producer and provides insight into a photosynthetic bacterium as a host for lycopene biosynthesis.

Molecular mechanism of seed dormancy release induced by fluridone compared with cod stratification in Notopterygium incisum

BACKGROUND

Notopterygium incisum is an important Chinese medicinal plant. Its mature seeds have underdeveloped embryos and are physiological dormant. We found the seeds with full developed embryos can germinate after treated by fluridone (FL), an inhibitor of abscisic acid (ABA). In order to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying seed dormancy release by FL, we compared the transcriptomic changes in dormancy release induced by two different methods, FL and cold stratification (CS) in N. incisum. We further analyzed the gene expression patterns involved in seed germination and dormancy using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR.

RESULTS

RNA-sequence analysis revealed more dramatic changes in the transcriptomes of FL than those in CS, particularly for genes involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of gibberellins (GAs) and ABA. The down-regulation of ABA biosynthesis genes and the dramatic up-regulation of NiCYP707As, an ABA catabolic gene, contributed to the reduced ABA levels in FL. The increased GA3 levels in CS-treated seeds were due to the up-regulation of NiGA3OX. Both NiABI5 (a positive ABA regulator) and NiGAI (a negative regulator of GA) were down-regulated in FL and CS. The upregulation of strigolactones (SLs; the metabolites with the same precursor as ABA) biosynthesis and regulatory genes in both FL- and CS-treated seeds indicates that SLs contribute positively to seed dormancy release in N. incisum.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that FL- and CS-seed dormancy release possibly depends on two totally different mechanisms: alleviation of the effects of ABA and potentiation of the effects of GA, respectively. However, NiABI5 and NiGAI probably function as common factors integrating the effects of ABA and GA on seed dormancy release.

Draft Genome Sequences of 12 Dry-Heat-Resistant Bacillus Strains Isolated from the Cleanrooms Where the Viking Spacecraft Were Assembled

Spore-forming microorganisms are of concern for forward contamination because they can survive harsh interplanetary travel. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of 12 spore-forming strains isolated from the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building (MSOB) and the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) in Cape Canaveral, FL, where the Viking spacecraft were assembled.

Carotenoids biosynthesis and cleavage related genes from bacteria to plants

Carotenoids are essential for photosynthesis and photoprotection in photosynthetic organisms and beneficial for human health. Apocarotenoids derived from carotenoid degradation can serve critical functions including hormones, volatiles, and signals. They have been used commercially as food colorants, animal feed supplements, and nutraceuticals for cosmetic and pharmaceutical purposes. This review focuses on the molecular evolution of carotenogenic enzymes and carotenoid cleavage oxygenases (CCOs) from bacteria, fungi, cyanobacteria, algae, and plants. The diversity of carotenoids and apocarotenoids as well as their complicated biosynthetic pathway in different species can shed light on the history of early molecular evolution. Some carotenogenic genes (such as phytoene synthases) have high protein sequence similarity from bacteria to land plants, but some (such as phytoene desaturases, lycopene cyclases, carotenoid hydroxylases, and CCOs) have low similarity. The broad diversity of apocarotenoid volatile compounds can be attributed to large numbers of carotenoid precursors and the various cleavage sites catalyzed by CCOs enzymes. A variety of carotenogenic enzymes and CCOs indicate the functional diversification of carotenoids and apocrotenoids in different species. New carotenoids, new apocarotenoids, new carotenogenic enzymes, new CCOs, and new pathways still need to be explored.

Guide for Carotenoid Identification in Biological Samples

In recent years there has been considerable interest in carotenoids with respect to their biological roles in animals, microorganisms, and plants, in addition to their use in the chemical, cosmetics, food, pharmaceutical, poultry, and other industries. However, the structural diversity, the different range of concentration, and the presence of cis/trans-isomers complicate the identification of carotenoids. This review provides updated information on their physical and chemical properties as well as spectroscopic and chromatographic data for the unambiguous determination of carotenoids in biological samples.

Carotenoids and Photosynthesis

Carotenoids are ubiquitous and essential pigments in photosynthesis. They absorb in the blue-green region of the solar spectrum and transfer the absorbed energy to (bacterio-)chlorophylls, and so expand the wavelength range of light that is able to drive photosynthesis. This is an example of singlet-singlet energy transfer, and so carotenoids serve to enhance the overall efficiency of photosynthetic light reactions. Carotenoids also act to protect photosynthetic organisms from the harmful effects of excess exposure to light. Triplet-triplet energy transfer from chlorophylls to carotenoids plays a key role in this photoprotective reaction. In the light-harvesting pigment-protein complexes from purple photosynthetic bacteria and chlorophytes, carotenoids have an additional role of structural stabilization of those complexes. In this article we review what is currently known about how carotenoids discharge these functions. The molecular architecture of photosynthetic systems will be outlined first to provide a basis from which to describe carotenoid photochemistry, which underlies most of their important functions in photosynthesis.

Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering for marine carotenoids: new opportunities and future prospects

Carotenoids are a class of diverse pigments with important biological roles such as light capture and antioxidative activities. Many novel carotenoids have been isolated from marine organisms to date and have shown various utilizations as nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. In this review, we summarize the pathways and enzymes of carotenoid synthesis and discuss various modifications of marine carotenoids. The advances in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology for carotenoid production are also reviewed, in hopes that this review will promote the exploration of marine carotenoid for their utilizations.

Construction of carotenoid biosynthetic pathways using squalene synthase

The first committed steps of steroid/hopanoid pathways involve squalene synthase (SQS). Here, we report the Escherichia coli production of diaponeurosporene and diapolycopene, yellow C30 carotenoid pigments, by expressing human SQS and Staphylococcus aureus dehydrosqualene (C30 carotenoid) desaturase (CrtN). We suggest that the carotenoid pigments are synthesized mainly via the desaturation of squalene rather than the direct synthesis of dehydrosqualene through the non-reductive condensation of prenyl diphosphate precursors, indicating the possible existence of a "squalene route" and a "lycopersene route" for C30 and C40 carotenoids, respectively. Additionally, this finding yields a new method of colorimetric screening for the cellular activity of squalene synthases, which are major targets for cholesterol-lowering drugs.

High-level production of the industrial product lycopene by the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum

The biosynthesis of the major carotenoid spirilloxanthin by the purple nonsulfur bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum is thought to occur via a linear pathway proceeding through phytoene and, later, lycopene as intermediates. This assumption is based solely on early chemical evidence (B. H. Davies, Biochem. J. 116:93-99, 1970). In most purple bacteria, the desaturation of phytoene, catalyzed by the enzyme phytoene desaturase (CrtI), leads to neurosporene, involving only three dehydrogenation steps and not four as in the case of lycopene. We show here that the chromosomal insertion of a kanamycin resistance cassette into the crtC-crtD region of the partial carotenoid gene cluster, whose gene products are responsible for the downstream processing of lycopene, leads to the accumulation of the latter as the major carotenoid. We provide spectroscopic and biochemical evidence that in vivo, lycopene is incorporated into the light-harvesting complex 1 as efficiently as the methoxylated carotenoids spirilloxanthin (in the wild type) and 3,4,3',4'-tetrahydrospirilloxanthin (in a crtD mutant), both under semiaerobic, chemoheterotrophic, and photosynthetic, anaerobic conditions. Quantitative growth experiments conducted in dark, semiaerobic conditions, using a growth medium for high cell density and high intracellular membrane levels, which are suitable for the conventional industrial production in the absence of light, yielded lycopene at up to 2 mg/g (dry weight) of cells or up to 15 mg/liter of culture. These values are comparable to those of many previously described Escherichia coli strains engineered for lycopene production. This study provides the first genetic proof that the R. rubrum CrtI produces lycopene exclusively as an end product.

Carotenogenesis gene cluster and phytoene desaturase catalyzing both three- and four-step desaturations from Rhodobacter azotoformans

A carotenogenesis gene cluster from the purple nonsulfur photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter azotoformans CGMCC 6086 was cloned. A total of eight carotenogenesis genes ( crtA , crtI , crtB , tspO , crtC , crtD , crtE , and crtF ) were located in two separate regions within the genome, a 4.9 kb region containing four clustered genes of crtAIB - tspO and a 5.3 kb region containing four clustered genes of crtCDEF . The organization was unusual for a carotenogenesis gene cluster in purple photosynthetic bacteria. A gene encoding phytoene desaturase ( CrtI ) from Rba. azotoformans was expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant CrtI could catalyze both three- and four-step desaturations of phytoene to produce neurosporene and lycopene, and the relative contents of neurosporene and lycopene formed by CrtI were approximately 23% and 75%, respectively. Even small amounts of five-step desaturated 3,4-didehydrolycopene could be produced by CrtI . This product pattern was novel because CrtI produced only neurosporene leading to spheroidene pathway in the cells of Rba. azotoformans. In the in vitro reaction, the relative content of lycopene in desaturated products increased from 19.6% to 62.5% when phytoene reduced from 2.6 to 0.13 μM. The results revealed that the product pattern of CrtI might be affected by the kinetics.

Pathway evolution by horizontal transfer and positive selection is accommodated by relaxed negative selection upon upstream pathway genes in purple bacterial carotenoid biosynthesis

Horizontal gene transfer and selection are major forces driving microbial evolution. However, interactions between them are rarely studied. Phylogenetic analyses of purple bacterial carotenoid biosynthesis genes suggest two lineages: one producing spheroidenone and the other producing spirilloxanthin. Of the latter lineage, Rubrivivax gelatinosus S1 and Hoeflea phototrophica DFL-43 also or instead produce spheroidenone. Evolution of the spheroidenone pathway from that producing spirilloxanthin theoretically requires changes in the substrate specificity of upstream pathway enzymes and acquisition of a terminal ketolase (CrtA). In R. gelatinosus and likely also in H. phototrophica, CrtA was acquired from the Bacteroidetes, in which it functions as a hydroxylase. Estimation of nonsynonymous and synonymous mutations using several pairwise methods indicated positive selection upon both genes, consistent with their functional changes from hydroxylases to ketolases. Relaxed negative selection upon all other carotenoid biosynthetic genes in these organisms was also apparent, likely facilitating changes in their substrate specificities. Furthermore, all genes responsible for terminal carotenoid biosynthetic pathway steps were under reduced negative selection compared to those known to govern biosynthetic pathway specificity. Horizontal transfer of crtA into R. gelatinosus and H. phototrophica has therefore likely been promoted by (i) the apparent selective advantage of spheroidenone production relative to spirilloxanthin production, (ii) reduced negative selection upon other carotenoid biosynthetic genes, facilitating changes in their substrate specificities, and (iii) preexisting low enzyme substrate specificities due to relaxed negative selection. These results highlight the importance and complexity of selection acting upon both a horizontally transferred gene and the biochemical network into which it is integrating.

Evolution of carotene desaturation: the complication of a simple pathway

In a series of desaturation reactions, the trienoic structures of phytoene and diapophytoene are extended to a maximum of 15 or 11 conjugated double bonds, respectively. After the cloning of several genes from bacteria and eukaryotes, the desaturation reactions were first analyzed in a heterologous host by functional genetic complementation. In addition, different desaturases were heterologously expressed and the reactions studied in vitro. This revealed that in archaea, non-photosynthetic prokaryotes and fungi the desaturases differ significantly from convergently evolved desaturases in cyanobacteria, Chlorobaculum (old name Chlorobium) species and eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms including plants. Detailed analysis of the desaturation reactions including the determination of the substrates converted by the enzymes, the intermediates and the products formed in the reactions revealed the bacterial all-trans desaturation pathway catalyzed by a single enzyme and the cyanobacterial/plant type poly-cis desaturation pathway which involves two closely related desaturases. This indicates that in the course of evolution of carotenogenesis from bacteria via cyanobacteria to plants, the simple situation of one enzyme for the entire reaction sequence from phytoene to all-trans lycopene changed to a more complex process. Three individual enzymes, newly acquired phytoene and zeta-carotene desaturases, as well as a carotene isomerase which is phylogenetically related to CrtI are involved. Only the CrtI-type enzymes seem to have the property to catalyze cis to trans conversion of carotenes.

Isorenieratene biosynthesis in green sulfur bacteria requires the cooperative actions of two carotenoid cyclases

The cyclization of lycopene to gamma- or beta-carotene is a major branch point in the biosynthesis of carotenoids in photosynthetic bacteria. Four families of carotenoid cyclases are known, and each family includes both mono- and dicyclases, which catalyze the formation of gamma- and beta-carotene, respectively. Green sulfur bacteria (GSB) synthesize aromatic carotenoids, of which the most commonly occurring types are the monocyclic chlorobactene and the dicyclic isorenieratene. Recently, the cruA gene, encoding a conserved hypothetical protein found in the genomes of all GSB and some cyanobacteria, was identified as a lycopene cyclase. Further genomic analyses have found that all available fully sequenced genomes of GSB encode an ortholog of cruA. Additionally, the genomes of all isorenieratene-producing species of GSB encode a cruA paralog, now named cruB. The cruA gene from the chlorobactene-producing GSB species Chlorobaculum tepidum and both cruA and cruB from the brown-colored, isorenieratene-producing GSB species Chlorobium phaeobacteroides strain DSM 266(T) were heterologously expressed in lycopene- and neurosporene-producing strains of Escherichia coli, and the cruB gene of Chlorobium clathratiforme strain DSM 5477(T) was also heterologously expressed in C. tepidum by inserting the gene at the bchU locus. The results show that CruA is probably a lycopene monocyclase in all GSB and that CruB is a gamma-carotene cyclase in isorenieratene-producing species. Consequently, the branch point for the synthesis of mono- and dicyclic carotenoids in GSB seems to be the modification of gamma-carotene, rather than the cyclization of lycopene as occurs in cyanobacteria.

The biochemical basis for structural diversity in the carotenoids of chlorophototrophic bacteria

Ongoing work has led to the identification of most of the biochemical steps in carotenoid biosynthesis in chlorophototrophic bacteria. In carotenogenesis, a relatively small number of modifications leads to a great diversity of carotenoid structures. This review examines the individual steps in the pathway, discusses how each contributes to structural diversity among carotenoids, and summarizes recent progress in elucidating the biosynthetic pathways for carotenoids in chlorophototrophs.

Kinetic variations determine the product pattern of phytoene desaturase from Rubrivivax gelatinosus

In bacteria and fungi, the degree of carotenoid desaturation is determined by a single enzyme, the CrtI-type phytoene desaturase. In different organisms, this enzyme can carry out either three, four or even five desaturation steps. The purple bacterium Rubrivivax gelatinosus is the only known species in which reaction products of a 3-step and a 4-step desaturation (i.e. neurosporene and lycopene derivatives) accumulate simultaneously. The properties of this phytoene desaturation to catalyze neurosporene or lycopene were analyzed by heterologous complementations in Escherichia coli and by in vitro studies. They demonstrated that high enzyme concentrations or low phytoene supply favor the formation of lycopene. Under these conditions, CrtI from Rhodobacter spheroides can be forced in vitro to lycopene formation although this carotene is not synthesized in this species. All results can be explained by a model based on the competition between phytoene and neurosporene for the substrate binding site of phytoene desaturase. Mutations in CrtI from Rvi. gelatinosus have been generated resulting in increased lycopene formation in Escherichia coli. This modification in catalysis is due to increased amounts of CrtI protein.

Identification and functional analysis of a phytoene desaturase gene from the extremely radioresistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans

The phytoene-related desaturases are the key enzymes in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway. The gene encoding phytoene desaturase in the deinoxanthin synthesis pathway of Deinococcus radiodurans was identified and characterized. Two putative phytoene desaturase homologues (DR0861 and DR0810) were identified by analysis of conserved amino acid regions, and the former displayed the highest identity (68 %) with phytoene desaturase of the cyanobacterium Gloeobacter violaceus. DR0861 gene knockout and dinucleotide-binding motif deletion resulted in the arrest of lycopene synthesis and the accumulation of phytoene. The colourless DR0861 knockout mutant became more sensitive to acute ionizing radiation and oxygen stress. Complementation of the mutant with a heterologous or homologous gene restored its pigment and resistance. The desaturase activity of DR0861 (crtI) was further confirmed by the assay of enzyme activity in vitro and heterologous expression in Escherichia coli containing crtE and crtB genes (responsible for phytoene synthesis) from Erwinia uredovora. In addition, the amount of lycopene synthesis in E. coli resulting from the expression of crtI from D. radiodurans was determined, and this had significant dose-dependent effects on the survival rate of E. coli exposed to hydrogen peroxide and ionizing radiation.

Rubrivivax benzoatilyticus sp. nov., an aromatic, hydrocarbon-degrading purple betaproteobacterium

A brown-coloured bacterium was isolated from photoheterotrophic (benzoate) enrichments of flooded paddy soil from Andhra Pradesh, India. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain JA2(T) was shown to belong to the class Betaproteobacteria, related to Rubrivivax gelatinosus (99 % sequence similarity). Cells of strain JA2(T) are Gram-negative, motile rods with monopolar single flagella. The strain contained bacteriochlorophyll a and most probably the carotenoids spirilloxanthin and sphaeroidene, but did not have internal membrane structures. Intact cells had absorption maxima at 378, 488, 520, 590, 802 and 884 nm. No growth factors were required. Strain JA2(T) grew on benzoate, 2-aminobenzoate (anthranilate), 4-aminobenzoate, 4-hydroxybenzoate, phthalate, phenylalanine, trans-cinnamate, benzamide, salicylate, cyclohexanone, cyclohexanol and cyclohexane-2-carboxylate as carbon sources and/or electron donors. The DNA G+C content was 74.9 mol%. Based on DNA-DNA hybridization studies, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and morphological and physiological characteristics, strain JA2(T) is different from representatives of other photosynthetic species of the Betaproteobacteria and was recognised as representing a novel species, for which the name Rubrivivax benzoatilyticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JA2(T) (=ATCC BAA-35(T)=JCM 13220(T)=MTCC 7087(T)).

Establishment of Tn5096-based transposon mutagenesis in Gordonia polyisoprenivorans

The transposons Tn5, Tn10, Tn611, and Tn5096 were characterized regarding transposition in Gordonia polyisoprenivorans strain VH2. No insertional mutants were obtained employing Tn5 or Tn10. The thermosensitive plasmid pCG79 harboring Tn611 integrated into the chromosome of G. polyisoprenivorans; however, the insertional mutants were fairly unstable und reverted frequently to the wild-type phenotype. In contrast, various stable mutants were obtained employing Tn5096-mediated transposon mutagenesis. Auxotrophic mutants, mutants defective or deregulated in carotenoid biosynthesis, and mutants defective in utilization of rubber and/or highly branched isoprenoid hydrocarbons were obtained by integration of plasmid pMA5096 harboring Tn5096 as a whole into the genome. From about 25,000 isolated mutants, the insertion loci of pMA5096 were subsequently mapped in 20 independent mutants in genes which could be related to the above-mentioned metabolic pathways or to putative regulation proteins. Analyses of the genotypes of pMA5096-mediated mutants defective in biodegradation of poly(cis-1,4-isoprene) did not reveal homologues to recently identified genes coding for enzymes catalyzing the initial cleavage of poly(cis-1,4-isoprene). One rubber-negative mutant was disrupted in mcr, encoding an alpha-methylacyl-coenzyme A racemase. This mutant was defective in degradation of poly(cis-1,4-isoprene) and also of highly branched isoprenoid hydrocarbons.

In vivo carotenoid triplet formation in response to excess light: a supramolecular photoprotection mechanism revisited

Carotenoids have been known for their photoprotective role for about 50 years. However, despite many advances in laser flash photolysis, no photodynamic studies have been so far performed on whole cells to determine the harmful threshold of light. In the present work, we investigate the coupling between energy conversion and energy deactivation, in isolated complexes of RC-LH1 and LH2 increasingly integrated systems up to intact cells of the purple anaerobic photosynthetic bacterium Rubrivivax gelatinosus. A continuous light similar to the mean daily sun irradiance on the surface of the earth is found to saturate the in vivo electron transfer turnover and to give rise to carotenoid triplet formation. This accounts for the widespread use of carotenoids among phototrophic prokaryotes and emphasizes their essential protective role in the natural environment.

A deficiency at the gene coding for zeta-carotene desaturase characterizes the sunflower non dormant-1 mutant

The non dormant-1 (nd-1) mutant of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is characterized by an albino and viviparous phenotype. Pigment analysis by spectrophotometer and HPLC demonstrated in nd-1 cotyledons the absence of beta-carotene, lutein and violaxanthin. Additionally, we found a strong accumulation of zeta-carotene and, to a lesser extent, of phytofluene and cis-phytoene in nd-1 seedlings grown in very dim light (1 micro mol m(-2) s(-1)). These results suggested that zeta-carotene desaturation was impaired in the mutant plants. To understand the molecular basis of the nd-1 mutation, we cloned and characterized the zeta-carotene desaturase (Zds) gene from sunflower. A reconstructed full-length sequence (1,916 bp) of the Zds cDNA was obtained from homozygous Nd-1/Nd-1 wild-type plants. It contains a 1,761-bp CDS, 62 nucleotides of 5'-untranslated region (UTR), and 77 nucleotides of 3'-UTR. The predicted protein (64.9 kDa) consists of 587 amino acid residues with a putative transit sequence for plastid targeting in the N-terminal region and a typical amino oxidase domain that includes the flavin adenosine dinucleotide (FAD) binding motif. The phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the sunflower Zds was clustered to marigold (Tagetes) Zds gene, for which it showed an overall aminoacidic identity of 96.6% and resulted strictly correlated with other Zds sequences of higher plants. Interestingly, RT-PCR analyses showed that nd-1 plants were unable to accumulate Zds transcripts. Sequence information from the Zds cDNA was used to design specific primers and to isolate the full-length exons/introns region of the gene. The sunflower Zds gene (HaZds) comprises 14 exons and 13 introns scattered in a ca. 5.0-kb region. Also, HaZds showed a high conservation of the distribution and size of the exons with rice Zds gene. Based on genomic Southern analysis, the nd-1 genome disclosed a large deficiency at the Zds locus.

Heterologous expression, purification, and enzymatic characterization of the acyclic carotenoid 1,2-hydratase from Rubrivivax gelatinosus

The carotenoid 1,2-hydratase CrtC from Rubrivivax gelatinosus has been expressed in Escherichia coli in an active form and purified by affinity chromatography. The enzyme catalyzes the conversion of various acyclic carotenes including 1-hydroxy derivatives. This broad substrate specificity reflects the participation of CrtC in 1'-HO-spheroidene and in spirilloxanthin biosynthesis. Enzyme kinetic studies including the determination of substrate specificity constants indicate that among the alternative biosynthetic routes to 1'-HO-spheroidene the one via spheroidene is the dominating pathway. In contrast to CrtC from Rvi. gelatinosus, the equivalent enzyme from Rhodobacter capsulatus, a closely related bacterium which lacks the biosynthetic branch to spirilloxanthin and accumulates spheroidene instead of substantial amounts of 1'-HO-spheroidene, is extremely poor in converting 1-HO-carotenoids. The individual catalytic properties of both carotenoid 1,2-hydratases reflect the in situ carotenogenic pathways in both purple photosynthetic bacteria.

Characterization of unusual hydroxy- and ketocarotenoids in Rubrivivax gelatinosus: involvement of enzyme CrtF or CrtA

Carotenoids are widely spread terpenoids found in photosynthetic organisms and a number of non-photosynthetic fungi and bacteria. The photosynthetic non-sulfur purple bacterium Rubrivivax gelatinosus produces carotenoids by both the spheroidene and the normal spirilloxanthin pathways. The characteristics of two carotenogenesis enzymes, spheroidene monooxygenase CrtA and O-methyltransferase CrtF, were investigated. Disruption of the corresponding genes by insertional mutagenesis affected carotenoid species in both pathways, and the genetic evidence indicated that both genes are involved in the two pathways. In these mutants, several unusual hydroxy- and ketocarotenoids were identified by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Moreover, the carotenoid analyses demonstrated that a large number of different carotenoid intermediates are accepted as substrates by the CrtA enzyme. The combined manipulation of crtF and crtA allowed new carotenoids to be produced and broadened the diversity of structurally different carotenoids synthesized by Rvi. gelatinosus. Methylated carotenoids, such as spheroidene and spirilloxanthin, are known to function as accessory pigments in the light-harvesting and reaction-center complexes of purple bacteria; the demethylated carotenoids described here were able to fulfill the same functions in the mutants.