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Barco RA, Merino N, Lam B, Budnik B, Kaplan M, Wu F, Amend JP, Nealson KH, Emerson D. Comparative proteomics of a versatile, marine, iron-oxidizing chemolithoautotroph. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16632. [PMID: 38861374 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
This study conducted a comparative proteomic analysis to identify potential genetic markers for the biological function of chemolithoautotrophic iron oxidation in the marine bacterium Ghiorsea bivora. To date, this is the only characterized species in the class Zetaproteobacteria that is not an obligate iron-oxidizer, providing a unique opportunity to investigate differential protein expression to identify key genes involved in iron-oxidation at circumneutral pH. Over 1000 proteins were identified under both iron- and hydrogen-oxidizing conditions, with differentially expressed proteins found in both treatments. Notably, a gene cluster upregulated during iron oxidation was identified. This cluster contains genes encoding for cytochromes that share sequence similarity with the known iron-oxidase, Cyc2. Interestingly, these cytochromes, conserved in both Bacteria and Archaea, do not exhibit the typical β-barrel structure of Cyc2. This cluster potentially encodes a biological nanowire-like transmembrane complex containing multiple redox proteins spanning the inner membrane, periplasm, outer membrane, and extracellular space. The upregulation of key genes associated with this complex during iron-oxidizing conditions was confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. These findings were further supported by electromicrobiological methods, which demonstrated negative current production by G. bivora in a three-electrode system poised at a cathodic potential. This research provides significant insights into the biological function of chemolithoautotrophic iron oxidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman A Barco
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, Maine, USA
| | - N Merino
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Livermore, California, USA
| | - B Lam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - B Budnik
- Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Resource Laboratory, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - M Kaplan
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - F Wu
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - J P Amend
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - K H Nealson
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - D Emerson
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, Maine, USA
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2
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Li W, Feng Q, Li Z, Jin T, Zhang Y, Southam G. Inhibition of iron oxidation in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans by low-molecular-weight organic acids: Evaluation of performance and elucidation of mechanisms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:171919. [PMID: 38554963 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
The catalytic role of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans) in iron biooxidation is pivotal in the formation of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), which poses a significant threat to the environment. To control AMD generation, treatments with low-molecular-weight organic acids are being studied, yet their exact mechanisms are unclear. In this study, AMD materials, organic acids, and molecular methods were employed to gain a deeper understanding of the inhibitory effects of low-molecular-weight organic acids on the biooxidation of iron by A. ferrooxidans. The inhibition experiments of A. ferrooxidans on the oxidation of Fe2+ showed that to attain a 90 % inhibition efficacy within 72 h, the minimum concentrations required for formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, and lactic acid are 0.5, 6, 4, and 10 mmol/L, respectively. Bacterial imaging illustrated the detrimental effects of these organic acids on the cell envelope structure. This includes severe damage to the outer membrane, particularly from formic and acetic acids, which also caused cell wall damage. Coupled with alterations in the types and quantities of protein, carbohydrate, and nucleic acid content in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), indicate the mechanisms underlying these inhibitory treatments. Transcriptomic analysis revealed interference of these organic acids with crucial metabolic pathways, particularly those related to energy metabolism. These findings establish a comprehensive theoretical basis for understanding the inhibition of A. ferrooxidans' biooxidation by low-molecular-weight organic acids, offering a novel opportunity to effectively mitigate the generation of AMD at its source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Li
- School of Environment and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China; Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education for Mine Ecological Restoration, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China; School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
| | - Qiyan Feng
- School of Environment and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China; Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education for Mine Ecological Restoration, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China.
| | - Ze Li
- School of Environment and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China; Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education for Mine Ecological Restoration, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
| | - Tao Jin
- School of Environment and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China; Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education for Mine Ecological Restoration, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- School of Environment and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China; Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education for Mine Ecological Restoration, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
| | - Gordon Southam
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia; The Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
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Bulaev A, Kadnikov V, Elkina Y, Beletsky A, Melamud V, Ravin N, Mardanov A. Shifts in the Microbial Populations of Bioleach Reactors Are Determined by Carbon Sources and Temperature. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1411. [PMID: 37998010 PMCID: PMC10669018 DOI: 10.3390/biology12111411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, the effect of additional carbon sources (carbon dioxide and molasses) on the bio-oxidation of a pyrite-arsenopyrite concentrate at temperatures of 40-50 °C was studied, and novel data regarding the patterns of the bio-oxidation of gold-bearing sulfide concentrates and the composition of the microbial populations performing these processes were obtained. At 40 °C, additional carbon sources did not affect the bio-oxidation efficiency. At the same time, the application of additional carbon dioxide improved the bio-oxidation performance at temperatures of 45 and 50 °C and made it possible to avoid the inhibition of bio-oxidation due to an increase in the temperature. Therefore, the use of additional carbon dioxide may be proposed to prevent the negative effect of an increase in temperature on the bio-oxidation of sulfide concentrates. 16S rRNA gene profiling revealed archaea of the family Thermoplasmataceae (Acidiplasma, Ferroplasma, Cuniculiplasma, and A-plasma group) and bacteria of the genera Leptospirillum, with Sulfobacillus and Acidithiobacillus among the dominant groups in the community. Temperature influenced the composition of the communities to a greater extent than the additional sources of carbon and the mode of operation of the bioreactor. Elevating the temperature from 40 °C to 50 °C resulted in increases in the shares of Acidiplasma and Sulfobacillus and decreases in the relative abundances of Ferroplasma, Leptospirillum, and Acidithiobacillus, while Cuniculiplasma and A-plasma were more abundant at 45 °C. A metagenomic analysis of the studied population made it possible to characterize novel archaea belonging to an uncultivated, poorly-studied group of Thermoplasmatales which potentially plays an important role in the bio-oxidation process. Based on an analysis of the complete genome, we propose describing the novel species and novel genus as "Candidatus Carboxiplasma ferriphilum" gen. nov., spec. nov.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandr Bulaev
- Research Center of Biotechnology, The Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky Ave. 33 Bld. 2, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (V.K.); (Y.E.); (A.B.); (V.M.); (A.M.)
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Jones S, Santini JM. Mechanisms of bioleaching: iron and sulfur oxidation by acidophilic microorganisms. Essays Biochem 2023; 67:685-699. [PMID: 37449416 PMCID: PMC10427800 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Bioleaching offers a low-input method of extracting valuable metals from sulfide minerals, which works by exploiting the sulfur and iron metabolisms of microorganisms to break down the ore. Bioleaching microbes generate energy by oxidising iron and/or sulfur, consequently generating oxidants that attack sulfide mineral surfaces, releasing target metals. As sulfuric acid is generated during the process, bioleaching organisms are typically acidophiles, and indeed the technique is based on natural processes that occur at acid mine drainage sites. While the overall concept of bioleaching appears straightforward, a series of enzymes is required to mediate the complex sulfur oxidation process. This review explores the mechanisms underlying bioleaching, summarising current knowledge on the enzymes driving microbial sulfur and iron oxidation in acidophiles. Up-to-date models are provided of the two mineral-defined pathways of sulfide mineral bioleaching: the thiosulfate and the polysulfide pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Jones
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, WC1E 6BT, U.K
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, U.K
| | - Joanne M Santini
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, WC1E 6BT, U.K
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Moya-Beltrán A, Gajdosik M, Rojas-Villalobos C, Beard S, Mandl M, Silva-García D, Johnson DB, Ramirez P, Quatrini R, Kucera J. Influence of mobile genetic elements and insertion sequences in long- and short-term adaptive processes of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strains. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10876. [PMID: 37407610 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37341-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent revision of the Acidithiobacillia class using genomic taxonomy methods has shown that, in addition to the existence of previously unrecognized genera and species, some species of the class harbor levels of divergence that are congruent with ongoing differentiation processes. In this study, we have performed a subspecies-level analysis of sequenced strains of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans to prove the existence of distinct sublineages and identify the discriminant genomic/genetic characteristics linked to these sublineages, and to shed light on the processes driving such differentiation. Differences in the genomic relatedness metrics, levels of synteny, gene content, and both integrated and episomal mobile genetic elements (MGE) repertoires support the existence of two subspecies-level taxa within A. ferrooxidans. While sublineage 2A harbors a small plasmid related to pTF5, this episomal MGE is absent in sublineage 2B strains. Likewise, clear differences in the occurrence, coverage and conservation of integrated MGEs are apparent between sublineages. Differential MGE-associated gene cargo pertained to the functional categories of energy metabolism, ion transport, cell surface modification, and defense mechanisms. Inferred functional differences have the potential to impact long-term adaptive processes and may underpin the basis of the subspecies-level differentiation uncovered within A. ferrooxidans. Genome resequencing of iron- and sulfur-adapted cultures of a selected 2A sublineage strain (CCM 4253) showed that both episomal and large integrated MGEs are conserved over twenty generations in either growth condition. In turn, active insertion sequences profoundly impact short-term adaptive processes. The ISAfe1 element was found to be highly active in sublineage 2A strain CCM 4253. Phenotypic mutations caused by the transposition of ISAfe1 into the pstC2 encoding phosphate-transport system permease protein were detected in sulfur-adapted cultures and shown to impair growth on ferrous iron upon the switch of electron donor. The phenotypic manifestation of the △pstC2 mutation, such as a loss of the ability to oxidize ferrous iron, is likely related to the inability of the mutant to secure the phosphorous availability for electron transport-linked phosphorylation coupled to iron oxidation. Depletion of the transpositional △pstC2 mutation occurred concomitantly with a shortening of the iron-oxidation lag phase at later transfers on a ferrous iron-containing medium. Therefore, the pstII operon appears to play an essential role in A. ferrooxidans when cells oxidize ferrous iron. Results highlight the influence of insertion sequences and both integrated and episomal mobile genetic elements in the short- and long-term adaptive processes of A. ferrooxidans strains under changing growth conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Moya-Beltrán
- Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Avenida Del Valle Norte 725, 8580702, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Martin Gajdosik
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 61137, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Camila Rojas-Villalobos
- Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Avenida Del Valle Norte 725, 8580702, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Simón Beard
- Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Avenida Del Valle Norte 725, 8580702, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, 7510157, Providencia, Santiago, Chile
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Martin Mandl
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 61137, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Danitza Silva-García
- Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Avenida Del Valle Norte 725, 8580702, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Genómica y Bioinformática, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Camino La Piramide 5750, 8580000, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile
| | - D Barrie Johnson
- College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK
- Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Pablo Ramirez
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
| | - Raquel Quatrini
- Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Avenida Del Valle Norte 725, 8580702, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile.
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, 7510157, Providencia, Santiago, Chile.
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Jiri Kucera
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 61137, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Effects of UV stress on Shewanella azerbaijanica bioremediation response. RADIOCHIM ACTA 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/ract-2022-0059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Shewanella azerbaijanica roles as a live electrode, passing electrons from electron donors to electron acceptors, to gain energy from the extracellular electron transfer (EET) pathway. The present study, considered the quantitative expressions of the major EET reductase genes (mtr cluster), together with uranium removal, live-cell counting, and spectrophotometry in UV-C treated bacteria (0, 60, 120 and 180 s). The simultaneous decline in the uranium removal and cell counting, along with major mtr gene expression patterns (mtrABDEF), approved the negative effects of UV-C radiation on uranium bioreduction in S. azerbaijanica. Uranium removal and cell counting decreased to 25.49% and 0.45 × 109 cells/mL in the 180s UV-C treated sample, respectively at 2 mM uranium concentration, while no decline trend found in 0.5 mM for the counted cells and uranium removal tests. No considerable expression of omcA and omcB (mtrC) genes were traced due to spontaneous mutagenesis during the in vitro serial passages, proposing a novel alternative EET pathway in S. azerbaijanica during uranium bioreduction process. The results could pave the way for further researches to modify the bioremediation process through genetic manipulation.
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Sand W, Schippers A, Hedrich S, Vera M. Progress in bioleaching: fundamentals and mechanisms of microbial metal sulfide oxidation - part A. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:6933-6952. [PMID: 36194263 PMCID: PMC9592645 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12168-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Bioleaching of metal sulfides is performed by diverse microorganisms. The dissolution of metal sulfides occurs via two chemical pathways, either the thiosulfate or the polysulfide pathway. These are determined by the metal sulfides’ mineralogy and their acid solubility. The microbial cell enables metal sulfide dissolution via oxidation of iron(II) ions and inorganic sulfur compounds. Thereby, the metal sulfide attacking agents iron(III) ions and protons are generated. Cells are active either in a planktonic state or attached to the mineral surface, forming biofilms. This review, as an update of the previous one (Vera et al., 2013a), summarizes some recent discoveries relevant to bioleaching microorganisms, contributing to a better understanding of their lifestyle. These comprise phylogeny, chemical pathways, surface science, biochemistry of iron and sulfur metabolism, anaerobic metabolism, cell–cell communication, molecular biology, and biofilm lifestyle. Recent advances from genetic engineering applied to bioleaching microorganisms will allow in the future to better understand important aspects of their physiology, as well as to open new possibilities for synthetic biology applications of leaching microbial consortia. Key points • Leaching of metal sulfides is strongly enhanced by microorganisms • Biofilm formation and extracellular polymer production influences bioleaching • Cell interactions in mixed bioleaching cultures are key for process optimization
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Sand
- Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany. .,Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Axel Schippers
- Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR), Hannover, Germany
| | - Sabrina Hedrich
- Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Mario Vera
- Instituto de Ingeniería Biológica y Médica, Escuelas de Ingeniería, Medicina y Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. .,Departamento de Ingeniería Hidráulica y Ambiental, Escuela de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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Accessing Metals from Low-Grade Ores and the Environmental Impact Considerations: A Review of the Perspectives of Conventional versus Bioleaching Strategies. MINERALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/min12050506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Mining has advanced primarily through the use of two strategies: pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy. Both have been used successfully to extract valuable metals from ore deposits. These strategies, without a doubt, harm the environment. Furthermore, due to decades of excessive mining, there has been a global decline in high-grade ores. This has resulted in a decrease in valuable metal supply, which has prompted a reconsideration of these traditional strategies, as the industry faces the current challenge of accessing the highly sought-after valuable metals from low-grade ores. This review outlines these challenges in detail, provides insights into metal recovery issues, and describes technological advances being made to address the issues associated with dealing with low-grade metals. It also discusses the pragmatic paradigm shift that necessitates the use of biotechnological solutions provided by bioleaching, particularly its environmental friendliness. However, it goes on to criticize the shortcomings of bioleaching while highlighting the potential solutions provided by a bespoke approach that integrates research applications from omics technologies and their applications in the adaptation of bioleaching microorganisms and their interaction with the harsh environments associated with metal ore degradation.
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Zarei M, Mir-Derikvand M, Hosseinpour H, Samani TR, Ghasemi R, Fatemi F. U (VI) tolerance affects Shewanella sp. RCRI7 biological responses: growth, morphology and bioreduction ability. Arch Microbiol 2021; 204:81. [PMID: 34958431 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-021-02716-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Native Shewanella sp. RCRI7 is recently counted as an operative bacterium in the uranium bio-reduction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of uranium tolerance on the morphology and population of RCRI7, following its potential removal capacity in different time intervals. In this research, the bacterial growth and uranium removal kinetic were evaluated in aerobic TSB medium, uranium-reducing condition (URC), aerobic uranium-containing (AUC) and anaerobic uranium-free (AUF) solution, following evaluations of omcAB gene expressions. In addition, spectrophotometry analyses were performed in URC confirming the bio-reduction mechanism. It was found that the bacteria can grow efficiently in the presence of 0.5 mM uranium anaerobically, unlike AUC and AUF solutions. Since the bacterium's adsorption capacity is quickly saturated, it can be deduced that uranium reduction should be dominant as incubation times proceed up to 84 h in URC. In 92 h incubation, the adsorbed uranium containing unreduced and reduced (U (IV) monomeric), was released to the solution due to either increased pH or bacterial death. In AUC and AUF, improper conditions lead to the reduced bacterial size (coccus-shape formation) and increased bacterial aggregations; however, membrane vesicles produced by the bacteria avoid the uranium incrustation in AUC. In overall, this study implies that Shewanella sp. RCRI7 are well tolerated by uranium under anaerobic conditions and the amount of regenerated uranium increases over time in the reduced form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Zarei
- Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mir-Derikvand
- Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Razieh Ghasemi
- Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faezeh Fatemi
- Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.
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Nasiri SS, Sarabi M, Fatemi F, Dini S. Investigating the rus and petI operon expression patterns in exposed Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans sp. FJ2 to different doses of gamma irradiation. Appl Radiat Isot 2021; 177:109911. [PMID: 34481316 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2021.109911] [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: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The bioleaching process is developing as an economic and successful biotechnology method in the metallurgy industry. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is one of the most important bacteria involved in uranium bioleaching which converts insoluble U4+ to soluble U6+ by oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ using several periplasmic proteins encoded by the genes in rus and petI operons in its electron transport pathway. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to consider the expression of these genes through exposed A. ferrooxidans sp. FJ2 to γ-ray in 17 different doses targeting uranium extraction yield. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans sp. FJ2 was irradiated by gamma rays at 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 300, 450, 600, 750 Gy and 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 kGy doses. Moreover, the Eh value of 9k culture media was measured as special screening criteria to select the four treatments. The selected bacteria were cultured in 9k media, containing 50% uranium ore powder in the bioleaching process. Then, the value of pH & Eh of culture media, Fe2+ and uranium concentrations in 4, 8 and 13 day's period of incubation were measured. In followings, the expression levels of cyc1, cyc2, rus, coxB, petA, petB, petC and cycA genes at the end of each period were investigated by real-time PCR. Overall, all samples demonstrated a decrease in pH value and Fe2+ concentration and an increase in Eh value and U concentration in time intervals. The gamma irradiation in given doses raised the expression levels of all genes encoded in rus and petI operons, except petB gene during the bioleaching process, although, it had no effect either on the pH, Eh values or on Fe2+ and uranium concentrations. This result implies that during the oxidation of ferrous iron and formation of Jarosite sediment, the decreasing trend of pH and the increasing trend of Eh occurred in all samples. However, the differences in expression of the genes of rus and petI operons in the samples did not have an effect on uranium extraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Sheikh Nasiri
- Radiation Application Development Company, AEOI, Tehran, Iran; Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mona Sarabi
- Radiation Application Development Company, AEOI, Tehran, Iran; Department of Biology, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faezeh Fatemi
- Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology, Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Salome Dini
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
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11
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Inaba Y, Kernan T, West AC, Banta S. Dispersion of sulfur creates a valuable new growth medium formulation that enables earlier sulfur oxidation in relation to iron oxidation in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans cultures. Biotechnol Bioeng 2021; 118:3225-3238. [PMID: 34086346 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is an acidophilic chemolithoautotroph that is commonly reported to exhibit diauxic population growth behavior where ferrous iron is oxidized before elemental sulfur when both are available, despite the higher energy content of sulfur. We have discovered sulfur dispersion formulations that enables sulfur oxidation before ferrous iron oxidation. The oxidation of dispersed sulfur can lower the culture pH within days below the range where aerobic ferrous iron oxidation can occur. Thus, ferric iron reduction can be observed quickly which had previously been reported over extended incubation periods with untreated sulfur. Therefore, we demonstrate that this substrate utilization pattern is strongly dependent on the cell loading in relation to sulfur concentration, sulfur surface hydrophobicity, and the pH of the culture. Our dispersed sulfur formulation, lig-sulfur, can be used to support the rapid antibiotic selection of plasmid-transformed cells, which is not possible in liquid cultures where ferrous iron is the main source of energy for these acidophiles. Furthermore, we find that media containing lig-sulfur supports higher production of green fluorescent protein compared to media containing ferrous iron. The use of dispersed sulfur is a valuable new tool for the development of engineered A. ferrooxidans strains and it provides a new method to control iron and sulfur oxidation behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Inaba
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Timothy Kernan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Alan C West
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Scott Banta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, USA
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Degli Esposti M, Moya-Beltrán A, Quatrini R, Hederstedt L. Respiratory Heme A-Containing Oxidases Originated in the Ancestors of Iron-Oxidizing Bacteria. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:664216. [PMID: 34211444 PMCID: PMC8239418 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.664216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiration is a major trait shaping the biology of many environments. Cytochrome oxidase containing heme A (COX) is a common terminal oxidase in aerobic bacteria and is the only one in mammalian mitochondria. The synthesis of heme A is catalyzed by heme A synthase (CtaA/Cox15), an enzyme that most likely coevolved with COX. The evolutionary origin of COX in bacteria has remained unknown. Using extensive sequence and phylogenetic analysis, we show that the ancestral type of heme A synthases is present in iron-oxidizing Proteobacteria such as Acidithiobacillus spp. These bacteria also contain a deep branching form of the major COX subunit (COX1) and an ancestral variant of CtaG, a protein that is specifically required for COX biogenesis. Our work thus suggests that the ancestors of extant iron-oxidizers were the first to evolve COX. Consistent with this conclusion, acidophilic iron-oxidizing prokaryotes lived on emerged land around the time for which there is the earliest geochemical evidence of aerobic respiration on earth. Hence, ecological niches of iron oxidation have apparently promoted the evolution of aerobic respiration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Degli Esposti
- Center for Genomic Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Ana Moya-Beltrán
- Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- ANID–Millennium Science Initiative Program–Millennium Nucleus in the Biology of the Intestinal Microbiota, Santiago, Chile
| | - Raquel Quatrini
- Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- ANID–Millennium Science Initiative Program–Millennium Nucleus in the Biology of the Intestinal Microbiota, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastian, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lars Hederstedt
- The Microbiology Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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13
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Shojapour M, Fatemi F, Farahmand S, Shasaltaneh MD. Investigation of Cyc 1 protein structure stability after H53I mutation using computational approaches to improve redox potential. J Mol Graph Model 2021; 105:107864. [PMID: 33647753 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2021.107864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (Af) is an acidophilic bacterium that grows in rigid surroundings and gets its own energy from the oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+. These bacteria are involved in the bioleaching process. Cyc1 is a periplasmic protein with a crucial role in electron transportation in the respiratory chain. His53 of the Cyc1 protein, involved in electron transfer to CoxB, was selected for mutation and bioinformatics studies. His53 was substituted by Ile using PyMol software. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed for wild and mutant types of Cyc1 protein. The conformational changes of mutated protein were studied by analyzing RMSD, RMSF, SASA, Rg, H Bond, and DSSP. The results of the RMSF analysis indicated an increase in the flexibility of the ligand in the mutant. Finally, active site instability leads to an increase in the value of E0 at the mutation point and improving electron transfer. On the other, His53 in Cyc1 is interconnected to Glu126 in CoxB through the water molecule (W76) and hydrogen bonding. In the H53I mutation, there was a decrease in the distance between H2O 2030, 2033, and isoleucine 53, and subsequently, the distance to the water molecule 76 between the two proteins was reduced and strengthens the hydrogen bond between Cyc1 and CoxB, finally improves electron transfer and the bioleaching process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahnaz Shojapour
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Faezeh Fatemi
- Materials and Nuclear Fuel Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran, Iran
| | - Somayeh Farahmand
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
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14
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Gupta D, Guzman MS, Bose A. Extracellular electron uptake by autotrophic microbes: physiological, ecological, and evolutionary implications. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 47:863-876. [DOI: 10.1007/s10295-020-02309-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Microbes exchange electrons with their extracellular environment via direct or indirect means. This exchange is bidirectional and supports essential microbial oxidation–reduction processes, such as respiration and photosynthesis. The microbial capacity to use electrons from insoluble electron donors, such as redox-active minerals, poised electrodes, or even other microbial cells is called extracellular electron uptake (EEU). Autotrophs with this capability can thrive in nutrient and soluble electron donor-deficient environments. As primary producers, autotrophic microbes capable of EEU greatly impact microbial ecology and play important roles in matter and energy flow in the biosphere. In this review, we discuss EEU-driven autotrophic metabolisms, their mechanism and physiology, and highlight their ecological, evolutionary, and biotechnological implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh Gupta
- grid.4367.6 0000 0001 2355 7002 Department of Biology Washington University in St. Louis One Brookings Drive 63130 St. Louis MO USA
| | - Michael S Guzman
- grid.250008.f 0000 0001 2160 9702 Biosciences and Biotechnology Division Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore CA USA
| | - Arpita Bose
- grid.4367.6 0000 0001 2355 7002 Department of Biology Washington University in St. Louis One Brookings Drive 63130 St. Louis MO USA
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15
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Inaba Y, West AC, Banta S. Enhanced microbial corrosion of stainless steel by
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans
through the manipulation of substrate oxidation and overexpression of
rus. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 117:3475-3485. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.27509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Inaba
- Department of Chemical Engineering Columbia University New York New York
| | - Alan C. West
- Department of Chemical Engineering Columbia University New York New York
| | - Scott Banta
- Department of Chemical Engineering Columbia University New York New York
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16
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Evaluation of mtr cluster expression in Shewanella RCRI7 during uranium removal. Arch Microbiol 2020; 202:2711-2726. [DOI: 10.1007/s00203-020-01981-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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17
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Wang X, Li Q, Liao Q, Yan Y, Xia J, Lin Q, Wang Q, Liang Y. Arsenic(III) biotransformation to tooeleite associated with the oxidation of Fe(II) via Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 248:126080. [PMID: 32032883 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Tooeleite (Fe6(AsO3)4(SO4)(OH)4·4H2O), the only known ferric arsenite sulfate bearing mineral, has great potential for arsenic remediation due to its structure favoring incorporation of As(III). Based on the natural attenuation of removing As(III) directly by the formation of tooeleite via microorganisms, an iron-oxidizing bacterial strain Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 (At.ferrooxidans) was selected to facilitate the formation of tooeleite. The optimized condition for the biogenic tooeleite was obtained at pH of 2.0, 30 °C and an initial arsenic of 500 mg/L. The process of biological mineralization is accompanied by the removal of 95.4% arsenic. What's more, biosynthetic tooeleite crystallization via a three-stage process was revealed using a combination of liquid and solid analyses (ICP-OES, XRD, XPS, FT-IR, SEM, STEM, particle distribution). The three stages included Fe2+ oxidation by At.ferrooxidans, Fe3+ hydrolysis and an initial Fe-As amorphous precursors formation, and finally transforming to tooeleite crystal. Moreover, RT-qPCR was used to reveal the relationship between functional gene expression of At.ferrooxidans and the mineral formation. The results showed the biogenic tooeleite exerts significant control on the geochemistry of arsenic contaminated systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Wang
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Qingzhu Li
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China; Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha, 410083, China; Water Pollution Control Technology Key Lab of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410083, China.
| | - Qi Liao
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China; Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Yuchen Yan
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Juan Xia
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Qiuhong Lin
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Qingwei Wang
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China; Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha, 410083, China; Water Pollution Control Technology Key Lab of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Yanjie Liang
- School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China; Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha, 410083, China
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McAllister SM, Polson SW, Butterfield DA, Glazer BT, Sylvan JB, Chan CS. Validating the Cyc2 Neutrophilic Iron Oxidation Pathway Using Meta-omics of Zetaproteobacteria Iron Mats at Marine Hydrothermal Vents. mSystems 2020; 5:e00553-19. [PMID: 32071158 PMCID: PMC7029218 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00553-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Zetaproteobacteria create extensive iron (Fe) oxide mats at marine hydrothermal vents, making them an ideal model for microbial Fe oxidation at circumneutral pH. Comparison of neutrophilic Fe oxidizer isolate genomes has revealed a hypothetical Fe oxidation pathway, featuring a homolog of the Fe oxidase Cyc2 from Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans However, Cyc2 function is not well verified in neutrophilic Fe oxidizers, particularly in Fe-oxidizing environments. Toward this, we analyzed genomes and metatranscriptomes of Zetaproteobacteria, using 53 new high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes reconstructed from Fe mats at Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Mariana Backarc, and Loihi Seamount (Hawaii) hydrothermal vents. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated conservation of Cyc2 sequences among most neutrophilic Fe oxidizers, suggesting a common function. We confirmed the widespread distribution of cyc2 and other model Fe oxidation pathway genes across all represented Zetaproteobacteria lineages. High expression of these genes was observed in diverse Zetaproteobacteria under multiple environmental conditions and in incubations. The putative Fe oxidase gene cyc2 was highly expressed in situ, often as the top expressed gene. The cyc2 gene showed increased expression in Fe(II)-amended incubations, with corresponding increases in carbon fixation and central metabolism gene expression. These results substantiate the Cyc2-based Fe oxidation pathway in neutrophiles and demonstrate its significance in marine Fe-mineralizing environments.IMPORTANCE Iron oxides are important components of our soil, water supplies, and ecosystems, as they sequester nutrients, carbon, and metals. Microorganisms can form iron oxides, but it is unclear whether this is a significant mechanism in the environment. Unlike other major microbial energy metabolisms, there is no marker gene for iron oxidation, hindering our ability to track these microbes. Here, we investigate a promising possible iron oxidation gene, cyc2, in iron-rich hydrothermal vents, where iron-oxidizing microbes dominate. We pieced together diverse Zetaproteobacteria genomes, compared these genomes, and analyzed expression of cyc2 and other hypothetical iron oxidation genes. We show that cyc2 is widespread among iron oxidizers and is highly expressed and potentially regulated, making it a good marker for the capacity for iron oxidation and potentially a marker for activity. These findings will help us understand and potentially quantify the impacts of neutrophilic iron oxidizers in a wide variety of marine and terrestrial environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean M McAllister
- School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Shawn W Polson
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - David A Butterfield
- Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Ocean, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Brian T Glazer
- Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA
| | - Jason B Sylvan
- Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Clara S Chan
- School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
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19
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Blake RC, White RA. In situ absorbance measurements: a new means to study respiratory electron transfer in chemolithotrophic microorganisms. Adv Microb Physiol 2020; 76:81-127. [PMID: 32408948 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2020.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Absorbance measurements on intact chemolithotrophic microorganisms that respire aerobically on soluble iron are described that used a novel integrating cavity absorption meter to eliminate the effects of light scattering on the experimental results. Steady state kinetic measurements on ferric iron production by intact cells revealed that the Michaelis Menten equation described the initial rates of product formation for at least 8 different chemolithotrophic microorganisms in 6 phyla distributed equally among the archaea and the Gram negative and Gram positive eubacteria. Cell-monitored turnover measurements during aerobic respiration on soluble iron by the same 12 intact microorganisms revealed six different patterns of iron-dependent absorbance changes, suggesting that there may be at least six different sets of prosthetic groups and biomolecules that can accomplish aerobic respiration on soluble iron. Detailed kinetic studies revealed that the 3-component iron respiratory chain of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans functioned as an ensemble with a single macroscopic rate constant when the iron-reduced proteins were oxidized in the presence of excess molecular oxygen. The principal member of this 3-component system was a cupredoxin called rusticyanin that was present in the periplasm of At. ferrooxidans at an approximate concentration of 350 mg/mL, an observation that provides new insights into the crowded environments in the periplasms of Gram negative eubacteria that conduct electrons across their periplasm. The ability to conduct direct spectrophotometric measurements under noninvasive physiological conditions represents a new and powerful approach to examine the rates and extents of biological events in situ without disrupting the complexity of the live cellular environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert C Blake
- College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, United States
| | - Richard A White
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States; RAW Molecular Systems (RMS) LLC, Spokane, WA, United States; Australian Centre for Astrobiology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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20
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Complete Genome Sequence of Acidithiobacillus Ferrooxidans YNTRS-40, a Strain of the Ferrous Iron- and Sulfur-Oxidizing Acidophile. Microorganisms 2019; 8:microorganisms8010002. [PMID: 31861345 PMCID: PMC7023503 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans YNTRS-40 (A. ferrooxidans) is a chemolithoautotrophic aerobic bacterium isolated from Tengchong hot springs, Yunnan Province, China, with a broad growth pH range of 1.0–4.5. This study reports the genome sequence of this strain and the information of genes related to the adaptation of diverse stresses and the oxidation of ferrous iron and sulfur. Results showed that YNTRS-40 possesses chromosomal DNA (3,209,933-bp) and plasmid DNA (47,104-bp). The complete genome of 3,257,037-bp consists of 3,349 CDS genes comprising 6 rRNAs, 52 tRNAs, and 6 ncRNAs. There are many encoded genes associated with diverse stresses adaptation and ferrous iron and sulfur oxidation such as rus operon, res operon, petI, petII, sqr, doxDA, cydAB, and cyoABCD. This work will provide essential information for further application of A. ferrooxidans YNTRS-40 in industry.
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21
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Fariq A, Blazier JC, Yasmin A, Gentry TJ, Deng Y. Whole genome sequence analysis reveals high genetic variation of newly isolated Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans IO-2C. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13049. [PMID: 31506467 PMCID: PMC6736930 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49213-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, a chemolithoautotrophic bacterium, is well known for its mineral oxidizing properties. The current study combines experimental and whole genome sequencing approaches to investigate an iron oxidizing, extreme acidophilic bacterium, A. ferrooxidans isolate (IO-2C) from an acid seep area near Carlos, TX, USA. Strain IO-2C was capable of oxidizing iron i.e. iron sulphate and iron ammonium sulphate yielding shwertmannite and jarosite minerals. Further, the bacterium's genome was sequenced, assembled and annotated to study its general features, structure and functions. To determine genetic heterogeneity, it was compared with the genomes of other published A. ferrooxidans strains. Pan-genome analysis displayed low gene conservation and significant genetic diversity in A. ferrooxidans species comprising of 6926 protein coding sequences with 23.04% (1596) core genes, 46.13% (3195) unique and 30.82% (2135) accessory genes. Variant analysis showed >75,000 variants, 287 of them with a predicted high impact, in A. ferrooxidans IO-2C genome compared to the reference strain, resulting in abandonment of some important functional key genes. The genome contains numerous functional genes for iron and sulphur metabolism, nitrogen fixation, secondary metabolites, degradation of aromatic compounds, and multidrug and heavy metal resistance. This study demonstrated the bio-oxidation of iron by newly isolated A. ferrooxidans IO-2C under acidic conditions, which was further supported by genomic analysis. Genomic analysis of this strain provided valuable information about the complement of genes responsible for the utilization of iron and tolerance of other metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anila Fariq
- Microbiology & Biotechnology Research Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, 46000, Pakistan.,Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - John C Blazier
- Texas A&M Institute of Genome Sciences and Society, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Azra Yasmin
- Microbiology & Biotechnology Research Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, 46000, Pakistan.
| | - Terry J Gentry
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Youjun Deng
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
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22
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Walnut Shell Powder Can Limit Acid Mine Drainage Formation by Shaping the Bacterial Community Structure. Curr Microbiol 2019; 76:1199-1206. [PMID: 31278425 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-019-01734-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The formation of acid mine drainage (AMD), which results from the oxidation of sulfur minerals by air and water, can be accelerated by acidophilic and chemolithotrophic bacteria such as Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Our previous study revealed that walnut shell powder and its phenolic component inhibit the growth of A. ferrooxidans. However, their inhibitory effect on AMD formation in the environment needs verification. We established a bioleaching system to test whether walnut shell powder and its phenolic component can limit AMD formation. Our results showed that lignin and cellulose isolated from walnut shell decreased metal ion concentrations through absorption, whereas the phenolic component increased pH by downregulating the expression of Fe2+-oxidizing genes and rus operon genes of A. ferrooxidans. Only walnut shell powder showed an excellent ability to curb AMD by binding metal ions and increasing the pH value. On probing deeper into the alteration of the bacterial community structure in the bioleaching system, we found that the bacterial community became more diverse-the amount of A. ferrooxidans decreased and that of some non-acidophilic bacteria increased. The bacterial community in samples treated with walnut shell powder or its phenolic component had low abundance in the pathways of metabolism and energy production, as determined by phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt). In other words, preponderant microbes, mainly A. ferrooxidans, lacked energy to grow well in the treated samples. Our findings provide a practical applicability of walnut shell powder to reduce leaching from a complex environmental community.
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23
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Torrenegra JD, Agudelo-Morimitsu LC, Márquez-Godoy MA, Hernández-Ortiz JP. Active fluid with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans: correlations between swimming and the oxidation route. J Biol Phys 2019; 45:193-211. [PMID: 31073789 PMCID: PMC6548800 DOI: 10.1007/s10867-019-09524-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
To explore engineering platforms towards 'active bacterial baths', we grow and characterize native and commercial strains of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans to promote swimming locomotion. Three different energy sources were used, namely elemental sulfur, ferrous sulfate, and pyrite. The characteristics of the culture, such as pH, Eh, and the concentration of cells and ions, are monitored to seek correlations between the oxidation route and the transport mechanism. We found that only elemental sulfur induces swimming mobility in the commercial DSMZ - 24,419 strain, while ferrous sulfate and the sulfide mineral, pyrite, did not activate swimming on any strain. The bacterial mean squared displacement and the mean velocity are measured to provide a quantitative description of the bacterial mobility. We found that, even if the A. ferrooxidans strain is grown in a sulfur-rich environment, it preferentially oxidizes iron when an iron-based material is included in the media. Similar to other species, once the culture pH decreases below 1.2, the active locomotion is inhibited. The engineering control and activation of swimming in bacterial cultures offer fertile grounds towards applications of active suspensions such as energy-efficient bioleaching, mixing, drug delivery, and bio-sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan D Torrenegra
- Departamento de Materiales y Minerales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín, Calle 75 # 79A-51, Bloque M17, Faculty of Mines, Medellín, Colombia, 050034
- Colombia/Wisconsin One-Health Consortium, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín, Medellín, Colombia, 050034
| | - Liliam C Agudelo-Morimitsu
- Departamento de Materiales y Minerales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín, Calle 75 # 79A-51, Bloque M17, Faculty of Mines, Medellín, Colombia, 050034
- Colombia/Wisconsin One-Health Consortium, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín, Medellín, Colombia, 050034
| | - Marco A Márquez-Godoy
- Departamento de Materiales y Minerales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín, Calle 75 # 79A-51, Bloque M17, Faculty of Mines, Medellín, Colombia, 050034
| | - Juan P Hernández-Ortiz
- Departamento de Materiales y Minerales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín, Calle 75 # 79A-51, Bloque M17, Faculty of Mines, Medellín, Colombia, 050034.
- Colombia/Wisconsin One-Health Consortium, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín, Medellín, Colombia, 050034.
- The Biotechnology Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706-1691, USA.
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24
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Farahmand S, Fatemi F, Hajihosseini R. Sequencing of the rus gene before and after the mutation with DES in the bacterial Acidithiobacillus sp. FJ2. NOVA BIOLOGICA REPERTA 2019. [DOI: 10.29252/nbr.6.1.50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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25
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Zhan Y, Yang M, Zhang S, Zhao D, Duan J, Wang W, Yan L. Iron and sulfur oxidation pathways of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 35:60. [PMID: 30919119 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-019-2632-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is a gram-negative, autotrophic and rod-shaped bacterium. It can gain energy through the oxidation of Fe(II) and reduced inorganic sulfur compounds for bacterial growth when oxygen is sufficient. It can be used for bio-leaching and bio-oxidation and contributes to the geobiochemical circulation of metal elements and nutrients in acid mine drainage environments. The iron and sulfur oxidation pathways of A. ferrooxidans play key roles in bacterial growth and survival under extreme circumstances. Here, the electrons transported through the thermodynamically favourable pathway for the reduction to H2O (downhill pathway) and against the redox potential gradient reduce to NAD(P)(H) (uphill pathway) during the oxidation of Fe(II) were reviewed, mainly including the electron transport carrier, relevant operon and regulation of its expression. Similar to the electron transfer pathway, the sulfur oxidation pathway of A. ferrooxidans, related genes and operons, sulfur oxidation mechanism and sulfur oxidase system are systematically discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhan
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Recycling of Argo-Waste in Cold Region, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, 5 Xinfeng Road, Daqing, 163319, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengran Yang
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Recycling of Argo-Waste in Cold Region, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, 5 Xinfeng Road, Daqing, 163319, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuang Zhang
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Recycling of Argo-Waste in Cold Region, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, 5 Xinfeng Road, Daqing, 163319, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Zhao
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Recycling of Argo-Waste in Cold Region, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, 5 Xinfeng Road, Daqing, 163319, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiangong Duan
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Donggang West Road No. 199, Lanzhou, 730020, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Weidong Wang
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Recycling of Argo-Waste in Cold Region, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, 5 Xinfeng Road, Daqing, 163319, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Yan
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Recycling of Argo-Waste in Cold Region, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, 5 Xinfeng Road, Daqing, 163319, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China. .,College of Food Science, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, 5 Xinfeng Road, Daqing, 163319, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China.
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Vilar-Sanz A, Pous N, Puig S, Balaguer MD, Colprim J, Bañeras L. Denitrifying nirK-containing alphaproteobacteria exhibit different electrode driven nitrite reduction capacities. Bioelectrochemistry 2018; 121:74-83. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2018.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Zhang S, Yan L, Xing W, Chen P, Zhang Y, Wang W. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and its potential application. Extremophiles 2018; 22:563-579. [PMID: 29696439 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-018-1024-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The widely distributed Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans) lives in extremely acidic conditions by fixing CO2 and nitrogen, and by obtaining energy from Fe2+ oxidation with either downhill or uphill electron transfer pathway and from reduced sulfur oxidation. A. ferrooxidans exists as different genomovars and its genome size is 2.89-4.18 Mb. The chemotactic movement of A. ferrooxidans is regulated by quorum sensing. A. ferrooxidans shows weak magnetotaxis due to formation of 15-70 nm magnetite magnetosomes with surface functional groups. The room- and low-temperature magnetic features of A. ferrooxidans are different from other magnetotactic bacteria. A. ferrooxidans has potential for removing sulfur from solids and gases, metals recycling from metal-bearing ores, electric wastes and sludge, biochemical production synthesizing, and metal workpiece machining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Zhang
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Recycling of Argo-Waste in Cold Region, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University (HBAU), 5 Xinfeng Road, Daqing High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Daqing, 163319, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Yan
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Recycling of Argo-Waste in Cold Region, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University (HBAU), 5 Xinfeng Road, Daqing High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Daqing, 163319, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China.
| | - Weijia Xing
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Recycling of Argo-Waste in Cold Region, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University (HBAU), 5 Xinfeng Road, Daqing High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Daqing, 163319, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Donggang West Road No. 199, Lanzhou, 730020, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Recycling of Argo-Waste in Cold Region, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University (HBAU), 5 Xinfeng Road, Daqing High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Daqing, 163319, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Weidong Wang
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Recycling of Argo-Waste in Cold Region, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University (HBAU), 5 Xinfeng Road, Daqing High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Daqing, 163319, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
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Salt Stress-Induced Loss of Iron Oxidoreduction Activities and Reacquisition of That Phenotype Depend on rus Operon Transcription in Acidithiobacillus ferridurans. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.02795-17. [PMID: 29374029 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02795-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The type strain of the mineral-oxidizing acidophilic bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferridurans was grown in liquid medium containing elevated concentrations of sodium chloride with hydrogen as electron donor. While it became more tolerant to chloride, after about 1 year, the salt-stressed acidophile was found to have lost its ability to oxidize iron, though not sulfur or hydrogen. Detailed molecular examination revealed that this was due to an insertion sequence, ISAfd1, which belongs to the ISPepr1 subgroup of the IS4 family, having been inserted downstream of the two promoters PI and PII of the rus operon (which codes for the iron oxidation pathway in this acidophile), thereby preventing its transcription. The ability to oxidize iron was regained on protracted incubation of the culture inoculated onto salt-free solid medium containing ferrous iron and incubated under hydrogen. Two revertant strains were obtained. In one, the insertion sequence ISAfd1 had been excised, leaving an 11-bp signature, while in the other an ∼2,500-bp insertion sequence (belonging to the IS66 family) was detected in the downstream inverted repeat of ISAfd1 The transcriptional start site of the rus operon in the second revertant strain was downstream of the two ISs, due to the creation of a new "hybrid" promoter. The loss and subsequent regaining of the ability of A. ferriduransT to reduce ferric iron were concurrent with those observed for ferrous iron oxidation, suggesting that these two traits are closely linked in this acidophile.IMPORTANCE Iron-oxidizing acidophilic bacteria have primary roles in the oxidative dissolution of sulfide minerals, a process that underpins commercial mineral-processing biotechnologies ("biomining"). Most of these prokaryotes have relatively low tolerance to chloride, which limits their activities when only saline or brackish waters are available. The study showed that it was possible to adapt a typical iron-oxidizing acidophile to grow in the presence of salt concentrations similar to those in seawater, but in so doing they lost their ability to oxidize iron, though not sulfur or hydrogen. The bacterium regained its capacity for oxidizing iron when the salt stress was removed but simultaneously reverted to tolerating lower concentrations of salt. These results suggest that the bacteria that have the main roles in biomining operations could survive but become ineffective in cases where saline or brackish waters are used for irrigation.
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Norris PR, Laigle L, Slade S. Cytochromes in anaerobic growth of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Microbiology (Reading) 2018; 164:383-394. [DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Paul R. Norris
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- Present address: Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Ludovic Laigle
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- Present address: The Native Antigen Company, Langford Locks, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 1LH, UK
| | - Susan Slade
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- Present address: Waters Corporation, Stamford Avenue, Altrincham Road, Wilmslow, SK9 4AX, UK
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Ai C, Liang Y, Miao B, Chen M, Zeng W, Qiu G. Identification and Analysis of a Novel Gene Cluster Involves in Fe 2+ Oxidation in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270, a Typical Biomining Acidophile. Curr Microbiol 2018; 75:818-826. [PMID: 29464360 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-018-1453-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Iron-oxidizing Acidithiobacillus spp. are applied worldwide in biomining industry to extract metals from sulfide minerals. They derive energy for survival through Fe2+ oxidation and generate Fe3+ for the dissolution of sulfide minerals. However, molecular mechanisms of their iron oxidation still remain elusive. A novel two-cytochrome-encoding gene cluster (named tce gene cluster) encoding a high-molecular-weight cytochrome c (AFE_1428) and a c4-type cytochrome c552 (AFE_1429) in A. ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 was first identified in this study. Bioinformatic analysis together with transcriptional study showed that AFE_1428 and AFE_1429 were the corresponding paralog of Cyc2 (AFE_3153) and Cyc1 (AFE_3152) which were encoded by the extensively studied rus operon and had been proven involving in ferrous iron oxidation. Both AFE_1428 and AFE_1429 contained signal peptide and the classic heme-binding motif(s) as their corresponding paralog. The modeled structure of AFE_1429 showed high resemblance to Cyc1. AFE_1428 and AFE_1429 were preferentially transcribed as their corresponding paralogs in the presence of ferrous iron as sole energy source as compared with sulfur. The tce gene cluster is highly conserved in the genomes of four phylogenetic-related A. ferrooxidans strains that were originally isolated from different sites separated with huge geographical distance, which further implies the importance of this gene cluster. Collectively, AFE_1428 and AFE_1429 involve in Fe2+ oxidation like their corresponding paralog by integrating with the metalloproteins encoded by rus operon. This study provides novel insights into the Fe2+ oxidation mechanism in Fe2+-oxidizing A. ferrooxidans ssp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenbing Ai
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Yuting Liang
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Bo Miao
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Miao Chen
- CSIRO Process Science and Engineering, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Weimin Zeng
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, Hunan, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
- CSIRO Process Science and Engineering, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
| | - Guanzhou Qiu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, Hunan, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
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Guiral M, Neitzel C, Salvador Castell M, Martinez N, Giudici-Orticoni MT, Peters J. The effect of pH on the dynamics of natural membranes. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2018; 41:22. [PMID: 29464436 DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2018-11630-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Pure phospholipids and membrane fragments from bacterial cells living under various conditions were studied against the influence of the surrounding acidity on the internal dynamics. For that we compared mean square displacements extracted from elastic incoherent neutron scattering data, measured both at low and at neutral pH, of the phospholipids 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and of samples from neutralophilic and acidophilic micro-organisms (some being hyperthermophilic and others mesophilic). The lipids showed a slight shift in the phase transition temperature of about 4 degrees under pH variation and became slightly more mobile at lower pH. The membrane fragments not used to extreme acidic conditions were significantly more sensitive to variations in the pH values, whereas the acidophilic and -tolerant samples were much less influenced by this parameter. They presented the higher softness at low pH, which was closer to their native condition. Such findings might be a hint for adaptation mechanisms to different acidity conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Guiral
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, BIP, Marseille, France
| | - C Neitzel
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LiPhy, F-38000, Grenoble, France
- Institut Laue Langevin, Cedex 9, F-38042, Grenoble, France
| | - M Salvador Castell
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LiPhy, F-38000, Grenoble, France
- Institut Laue Langevin, Cedex 9, F-38042, Grenoble, France
| | - N Martinez
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LiPhy, F-38000, Grenoble, France
- Institut Laue Langevin, Cedex 9, F-38042, Grenoble, France
| | | | - J Peters
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LiPhy, F-38000, Grenoble, France.
- Institut Laue Langevin, Cedex 9, F-38042, Grenoble, France.
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Moinier D, Byrne D, Amouric A, Bonnefoy V. The Global Redox Responding RegB/RegA Signal Transduction System Regulates the Genes Involved in Ferrous Iron and Inorganic Sulfur Compound Oxidation of the Acidophilic Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1277. [PMID: 28747899 PMCID: PMC5506826 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The chemical attack of ore by ferric iron and/or sulfuric acid releases valuable metals. The products of these reactions are recycled by iron and sulfur oxidizing microorganisms. These acidophilic chemolithotrophic prokaryotes, among which Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, grow at the expense of the energy released from the oxidation of ferrous iron and/or inorganic sulfur compounds (ISCs). In At. ferrooxidans, it has been shown that the expression of the genes encoding the proteins involved in these respiratory pathways is dependent on the electron donor and that the genes involved in iron oxidation are expressed before those responsible for ISCs oxidation when both iron and sulfur are present. Since the redox potential increases during iron oxidation but remains stable during sulfur oxidation, we have put forward the hypothesis that the global redox responding two components system RegB/RegA is involved in this regulation. To understand the mechanism of this system and its role in the regulation of the aerobic respiratory pathways in At. ferrooxidans, the binding of different forms of RegA (DNA binding domain, wild-type, unphosphorylated and phosphorylated-like forms of RegA) on the regulatory region of different genes/operons involved in ferrous iron and ISC oxidation has been analyzed. We have shown that the four RegA forms are able to bind specifically the upstream region of these genes. Interestingly, the phosphorylation of RegA did not change its affinity for its cognate DNA. The transcriptional start site of these genes/operons has been determined. In most cases, the RegA binding site(s) was (were) located upstream from the −35 (or −24) box suggesting that RegA does not interfere with the RNA polymerase binding. Based on the results presented in this report, the role of the RegB/RegA system in the regulation of the ferrous iron and ISC oxidation pathways in At. ferrooxidans is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Moinier
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille UniversitéMarseille, France
| | - Deborah Byrne
- Protein Expression Facility, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille UniversitéMarseille, France
| | - Agnès Amouric
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille UniversitéMarseille, France
| | - Violaine Bonnefoy
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille UniversitéMarseille, France
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Kernan T, West AC, Banta S. Characterization of endogenous promoters for control of recombinant gene expression in
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2017; 64:793-802. [DOI: 10.1002/bab.1546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Kernan
- Department of Physiology & Cellular Biophysics Columbia University New York NY USA
| | - Alan C. West
- Department of Chemical Engineering Columbia University New York NY USA
| | - Scott Banta
- Department of Chemical Engineering Columbia University New York NY USA
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Johnson DB, Hedrich S, Pakostova E. Indirect Redox Transformations of Iron, Copper, and Chromium Catalyzed by Extremely Acidophilic Bacteria. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:211. [PMID: 28239375 PMCID: PMC5301019 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Experiments were carried out to examine redox transformations of copper and chromium by acidophilic bacteria (Acidithiobacillus, Leptospirillum, and Acidiphilium), and also of iron (III) reduction by Acidithiobacillus spp. under aerobic conditions. Reduction of iron (III) was found with all five species of Acidithiobacillus tested, grown aerobically on elemental sulfur. Cultures maintained at pH 1.0 for protracted periods displayed increasing propensity for aerobic iron (III) reduction, which was observed with cell-free culture liquors as well as those containing bacteria. At. caldus grown on hydrogen also reduced iron (III) under aerobic conditions, confirming that the unknown metabolite(s) responsible for iron (III) reduction were not (exclusively) sulfur intermediates. Reduction of copper (II) by aerobic cultures of sulfur-grown Acidithiobacillus spp. showed similar trends to iron (III) reduction in being more pronounced as culture pH declined, and occurring in both the presence and absence of cells. Cultures of Acidithiobacillus grown anaerobically on hydrogen only reduced copper (II) when iron (III) (which was also reduced) was also included; identical results were found with Acidiphilium cryptum grown micro-aerobically on glucose. Harvested biomass of hydrogen-grown At. ferridurans oxidized iron (II) but not copper (I), and copper (I) was only oxidized by growing cultures of Acidithiobacillus spp. when iron (II) was also included. The data confirmed that oxidation and reduction of copper were both mediated by acidophilic bacteria indirectly, via iron (II) and iron (III). No oxidation of chromium (III) by acidophilic bacteria was observed even when, in the case of Leptospirillum spp., the redox potential of oxidized cultures exceeded +900 mV. Cultures of At. ferridurans and A. cryptum reduced chromium (VI), though only when iron (III) was also present, confirming an indirect mechanism and contradicting an earlier report of direct chromium reduction by A. cryptum. Measurements of redox potentials of iron, copper and chromium couples in acidic, sulfate-containing liquors showed that these differed from situations where metals are not complexed by inorganic ligands, and supported the current observations of indirect copper oxido-reduction and chromium reduction mediated by acidophilic bacteria. The implications of these results for both industrial applications of acidophiles and for exobiology are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Barrie Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University Bangor, UK
| | - Sabrina Hedrich
- Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources Hannover, Germany
| | - Eva Pakostova
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University Bangor, UK
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Fatemi F, Miri S, Jahani S. Effect of metal sulfide pulp density on gene expression of electron transporters in Acidithiobacillus sp. FJ2. Arch Microbiol 2016; 199:521-530. [PMID: 27885407 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-016-1318-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, one of the most important bioleaching bacterial species, the proteins encoded by the rus operon are involved in the electron transfer from Fe2+ to O2. To obtain further knowledge about the mechanism(s) involved in the adaptive responses of the bacteria to growth on the different uranium ore pulp densities, we analyzed the expression of the four genes from the rus operon by real-time PCR, when Acidithiobacillus sp. FJ2 was grown in the presence of different uranium concentrations. The uranium bioleaching results showed the inhibitory effects of the metal pulp densities on the oxidation activity of the bacteria which can affect Eh, pH, Fe oxidation and uranium extractions. Gene expression analysis indicated that Acidithiobacillus sp. FJ2 tries to survive in the stress with increasing in the expression levels of cyc2, cyc1, rus and coxB, but the metal toxicity has a negative effect on the gene expression in different pulp densities. These results indicated that Acidithiobacillus sp. FJ2 could leach the uranium even in high pulp density (50%) by modulation in rus operon gene responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faezeh Fatemi
- Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Saba Miri
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Science, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samaneh Jahani
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran
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36
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Martínez-Bussenius C, Navarro CA, Jerez CA. Microbial copper resistance: importance in biohydrometallurgy. Microb Biotechnol 2016; 10:279-295. [PMID: 27790868 PMCID: PMC5328820 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Industrial biomining has been extensively used for many years to recover valuable metals such as copper, gold, uranium and others. Furthermore, microorganisms involved in these processes can also be used to bioremediate places contaminated with acid and metals. These uses are possible due to the great metal resistance that these extreme acidophilic microorganisms possess. In this review, the most recent findings related to copper resistance mechanisms of bacteria and archaea related to biohydrometallurgy are described. The recent search for novel metal resistance determinants is not only of scientific interest but also of industrial importance, as reflected by the genomic sequencing of microorganisms present in mining operations and the search of those bacteria with extreme metal resistance to improve the extraction processes used by the biomining companies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristóbal Martínez-Bussenius
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudio A Navarro
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos A Jerez
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Kucera J, Sedo O, Potesil D, Janiczek O, Zdrahal Z, Mandl M. Comparative proteomic analysis of sulfur-oxidizing Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans CCM 4253 cultures having lost the ability to couple anaerobic elemental sulfur oxidation with ferric iron reduction. Res Microbiol 2016; 167:587-94. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2016.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Revised: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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38
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Are there multiple mechanisms of anaerobic sulfur oxidation with ferric iron in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ? Res Microbiol 2016; 167:357-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2016.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Revised: 02/09/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Li Y, Liu Y, Tan H, Zhang Y, Yue M. Use of Walnut Shell Powder to Inhibit Expression of Fe(2+)-Oxidizing Genes of Acidithiobacillus Ferrooxidans. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 13:ijerph13050461. [PMID: 27144574 PMCID: PMC4881086 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13050461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2016] [Revised: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is a Gram-negative bacterium that obtains energy by oxidizing Fe(2+) or reduced sulfur compounds. This bacterium contributes to the formation of acid mine drainage (AMD). This study determined whether walnut shell powder inhibits the growth of A. ferrooxidans. First, the effects of walnut shell powder on Fe(2+) oxidization and H⁺ production were evaluated. Second, the chemical constituents of walnut shell were isolated to determine the active ingredient(s). Third, the expression of Fe(2+)-oxidizing genes and rus operon genes was investigated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Finally, growth curves were plotted, and a bioleaching experiment was performed to confirm the active ingredient(s) in walnut shells. The results indicated that both walnut shell powder and the phenolic fraction exert high inhibitory effects on Fe(2+) oxidation and H⁺ production by A. ferrooxidans cultured in standard 9K medium. The phenolic components exert their inhibitory effects by down-regulating the expression of Fe(2+)-oxidizing genes and rus operon genes, which significantly decreased the growth of A. ferrooxidans. This study revealed walnut shell powder to be a promising substance for controlling AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhui Li
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University, Hefei 230601, China.
| | - Yehao Liu
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
| | - Huifang Tan
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University, Hefei 230601, China.
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University, Hefei 230601, China.
| | - Mei Yue
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University, Hefei 230601, China.
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40
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Martínez-Bussenius C, Navarro CA, Orellana L, Paradela A, Jerez CA. Global response of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 53993 to high concentrations of copper: A quantitative proteomics approach. J Proteomics 2016; 145:37-45. [PMID: 27079981 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2016.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2015] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is used in industrial bioleaching of minerals to extract valuable metals. A. ferrooxidans strain ATCC 53993 is much more resistant to copper than other strains of this microorganism and it has been proposed that genes present in an exclusive genomic island (GI) of this strain would contribute to its extreme copper tolerance. ICPL (isotope-coded protein labeling) quantitative proteomics was used to study in detail the response of this bacterium to copper. A high overexpression of RND efflux systems and CusF copper chaperones, both present in the genome and the GI of strain ATCC 53993 was found. Also, changes in the levels of the respiratory system proteins such as AcoP and Rus copper binding proteins and several proteins with other predicted functions suggest that numerous metabolic changes are apparently involved in controlling the effects of the toxic metal on this acidophile. SIGNIFICANCE Using quantitative proteomics we overview the adaptation mechanisms that biomining acidophiles use to stand their harsh environment. The overexpression of several genes present in an exclusive genomic island strongly suggests the importance of the proteins coded in this DNA region in the high tolerance of A. ferrooxidans ATCC 53993 to metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristóbal Martínez-Bussenius
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudio A Navarro
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luis Orellana
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alberto Paradela
- Proteomics Laboratory, National Biotechnology Center, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos A Jerez
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Dekker L, Arsène-Ploetze F, Santini JM. Comparative proteomics of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans grown in the presence and absence of uranium. Res Microbiol 2016; 167:234-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2016.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Campodonico MA, Vaisman D, Castro JF, Razmilic V, Mercado F, Andrews BA, Feist AM, Asenjo JA. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans's comprehensive model driven analysis of the electron transfer metabolism and synthetic strain design for biomining applications. Metab Eng Commun 2016; 3:84-96. [PMID: 29468116 PMCID: PMC5779729 DOI: 10.1016/j.meteno.2016.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Revised: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is a gram-negative chemolithoautotrophic γ-proteobacterium. It typically grows at an external pH of 2 using the oxidation of ferrous ions by oxygen, producing ferric ions and water, while fixing carbon dioxide from the environment. A. ferrooxidans is of great interest for biomining and environmental applications, as it can process mineral ores and alleviate the negative environmental consequences derived from the mining processes. In this study, the first genome-scale metabolic reconstruction of A. ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 was generated (iMC507). A total of 587 metabolic and transport/exchange reactions, 507 genes and 573 metabolites organized in over 42 subsystems were incorporated into the model. Based on a new genetic algorithm approach, that integrates flux balance analysis, chemiosmotic theory, and physiological data, the proton translocation stoichiometry for a number of enzymes and maintenance parameters under aerobic chemolithoautotrophic conditions using three different electron donors were estimated. Furthermore, a detailed electron transfer and carbon flux distributions during chemolithoautotrophic growth using ferrous ion, tetrathionate and thiosulfate were determined and reported. Finally, 134 growth-coupled designs were calculated that enables Extracellular Polysaccharide production. iMC507 serves as a knowledgebase for summarizing and categorizing the information currently available for A. ferrooxidans and enables the understanding and engineering of Acidithiobacillus and similar species from a comprehensive model-driven perspective for biomining applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Campodonico
- Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, CeBiB, University of Chile, Beauchef 850, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniela Vaisman
- Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, CeBiB, University of Chile, Beauchef 850, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jean F Castro
- Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, CeBiB, University of Chile, Beauchef 850, Santiago, Chile
| | - Valeria Razmilic
- Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, CeBiB, University of Chile, Beauchef 850, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francesca Mercado
- Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, CeBiB, University of Chile, Beauchef 850, Santiago, Chile
| | - Barbara A Andrews
- Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, CeBiB, University of Chile, Beauchef 850, Santiago, Chile
| | - Adam M Feist
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive # 0412, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Juan A Asenjo
- Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, CeBiB, University of Chile, Beauchef 850, Santiago, Chile
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Cytoplasmic CopZ-Like Protein and Periplasmic Rusticyanin and AcoP Proteins as Possible Copper Resistance Determinants in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 82:1015-1022. [PMID: 26637599 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02810-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acidophilic organisms, such as Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, possess high-level resistance to copper and other metals. A. ferrooxidans contains canonical copper resistance determinants present in other bacteria, such as CopA ATPases and RND efflux pumps, but these components do not entirely explain its high metal tolerance. The aim of this study was to find other possible copper resistance determinants in this bacterium. Transcriptional expression of A. ferrooxidans genes coding for a cytoplasmic CopZ-like copper-binding chaperone and the periplasmic copper-binding proteins rusticyanin and AcoP, which form part of an iron-oxidizing supercomplex, was found to increase when the microorganism was grown in the presence of copper. All of these proteins conferred more resistance to copper when expressed heterologously in a copper-sensitive Escherichia coli strain. This effect was absent when site-directed-mutation mutants of these proteins with altered copper-binding sites were used in this metal sensitivity assay. These results strongly suggest that the three copper-binding proteins analyzed here are copper resistance determinants in this extremophile and contribute to the high-level metal resistance of this industrially important biomining bacterium.
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Abstract
Colonies of iron-oxidising acidophilic bacteria were isolated on solid media containing up to 500 mM NaCl from non-saline samples from the Rio Tinto (Spain). One of these isolates was identified as an "Acidithiobacillusferriphilus" strain. Laboratory cultures of the type strain ofAcidithiobacillusferriduransgrown on hydrogen for one year were also found to adapt to the presence of 500 mM salt. This culture also grew on sulfur, but not on ferrous iron, in media containing 500 mM NaCl. It regained its ability to oxidise iron only after protracted incubation in salt-free media. Molecular analysis found an insertion of about 1.5 kb in the regulatory region of therusoperon of the strain that was unable to oxidize iron. This insertion was lost in the strain that had subsequently regained this ability. Our results suggest that chloride tolerance and dissimilatory oxidation of iron by these bacteria do appear to be mutually exclusive.
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Li TF, Painter RG, Ban B, Blake RC. The Multicenter Aerobic Iron Respiratory Chain of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans Functions as an Ensemble with a Single Macroscopic Rate Constant. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:18293-303. [PMID: 26041781 PMCID: PMC4513090 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.657551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Revised: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Electron transfer reactions among three prominent colored proteins in intact cells of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans were monitored using an integrating cavity absorption meter that permitted the acquisition of accurate absorbance data in suspensions of cells that scattered light. The concentrations of proteins in the periplasmic space were estimated to be 350 and 25 mg/ml for rusticyanin and cytochrome c, respectively; cytochrome a was present as one molecule for every 91 nm(2) in the cytoplasmic membrane. All three proteins were rapidly reduced to the same relative extent when suspensions of live bacteria were mixed with different concentrations of ferrous ions at pH 1.5. The subsequent molecular oxygen-dependent oxidation of the multicenter respiratory chain occurred with a single macroscopic rate constant, regardless of the proteins' in vitro redox potentials or their putative positions in the aerobic iron respiratory chain. The crowded electron transport proteins in the periplasm of the organism constituted an electron conductive medium where the network of protein interactions functioned in a concerted fashion as a single ensemble with a standard reduction potential of 650 mV. The appearance of product ferric ions was correlated with the reduction levels of the periplasmic electron transfer proteins; the limiting first-order catalytic rate constant for aerobic respiration on iron was 7,400 s(-1). The ability to conduct direct spectrophotometric studies under noninvasive physiological conditions represents a new and powerful approach to examine the extent and rates of biological events in situ without disrupting the complexity of the live cellular environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Feng Li
- From the College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana 70125
| | - Richard G Painter
- From the College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana 70125
| | - Bhupal Ban
- From the College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana 70125
| | - Robert C Blake
- From the College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana 70125
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New Insight into Microbial Iron Oxidation as Revealed by the Proteomic Profile of an Obligate Iron-Oxidizing Chemolithoautotroph. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:5927-37. [PMID: 26092463 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01374-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Microaerophilic, neutrophilic, iron-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) grow via the oxidation of reduced Fe(II) at or near neutral pH, in the presence of oxygen, making them relevant in numerous environments with elevated Fe(II) concentrations. However, the biochemical mechanisms for Fe(II) oxidation by these neutrophilic FeOB are unknown, and genetic markers for this process are unavailable. In the ocean, microaerophilic microorganisms in the genus Mariprofundus of the class Zetaproteobacteria are the only organisms known to chemolithoautotrophically oxidize Fe and concurrently biomineralize it in the form of twisted stalks of iron oxyhydroxides. The aim of this study was to identify highly expressed proteins associated with the electron transport chain of microaerophilic, neutrophilic FeOB. To this end, Mariprofundus ferrooxydans PV-1 was cultivated, and its proteins were extracted, assayed for redox activity, and analyzed via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for identification of peptides. The results indicate that a cytochrome c4, cbb3-type cytochrome oxidase subunits, and an outer membrane cytochrome c were among the most highly expressed proteins and suggest an involvement in the process of aerobic, neutrophilic bacterial Fe oxidation. Proteins associated with alternative complex III, phosphate transport, carbon fixation, and biofilm formation were abundant, consistent with the lifestyle of Mariprofundus.
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Electroactive bacteria—molecular mechanisms and genetic tools. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 98:8481-95. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-6005-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Revised: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Almárcegui RJ, Navarro CA, Paradela A, Albar JP, von Bernath D, Jerez CA. Response to copper of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 grown in elemental sulfur. Res Microbiol 2014; 165:761-72. [PMID: 25041950 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2014.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2014] [Accepted: 07/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The response of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 to copper was analyzed in sulfur-grown cells by using quantitative proteomics. Forty-seven proteins showed altered levels in cells grown in the presence of 50 mM copper sulfate. Of these proteins, 24 were up-regulated and 23 down-regulated. As seen before in ferrous iron-grown cells, there was a notorious up-regulation of RND-type Cus systems and different RND-type efflux pumps, indicating that these proteins are very important in copper resistance. Copper also triggered the down-regulation of the major outer membrane porin of A. ferrooxidans in sulfur-grown bacteria, suggesting they respond to the metal by decreasing the influx of cations into the cell. On the contrary, copper in sulfur-grown cells caused an overexpression of putative TadA and TadB proteins known to be essential for biofilm formation in bacteria. Surprisingly, sulfur-grown microorganisms showed increased levels of proteins related with energy generation (rus and petII operons) in the presence of copper. Although rus operon is overexpressed mainly in cells grown in ferrous iron, the up-regulation of rusticyanin in sulfur indicates a possible role for this protein in copper resistance as well. Finally, copper response in A. ferrooxidans appears to be influenced by the substrate being oxidized by the microorganism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo J Almárcegui
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Claudio A Navarro
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Alberto Paradela
- Proteomics Laboratory, National Biotechnology Center, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Juan Pablo Albar
- Proteomics Laboratory, National Biotechnology Center, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Diego von Bernath
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Carlos A Jerez
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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Wakai S, Kikumoto M, Kanao T, Kamimura K. Involvement of Sulfide:Quinone Oxidoreductase in Sulfur Oxidation of an Acidophilic Iron-Oxidizing Bacterium,Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidansNASF-1. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2014; 68:2519-28. [PMID: 15618623 DOI: 10.1271/bbb.68.2519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The effects of cyanide, azide, and 2-n-Heptyl-4-hydroxy-quinoline-N-oxide (HQNO) on the oxidation of ferrous ion or elemental sulfur with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans NASF-1 cells grown in iron- or sulfur-medium were examined. The iron oxidation of both iron- and sulfur-grown cells was strongly inhibited by cyanide and azide, but not by HQNO. Sulfur oxidation was relatively resistant to cyanide and azide, and inhibited by HQNO. Higher sulfide oxidation, ubiquinol dehydrogenase activity, and sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR) activity were observed in sulfur-grown cells more than in iron-grown cells. Sulfide oxidation in the presence of ubiquinone with the membrane fraction was inhibited by HQNO, but not by cyanide, azide, antimycin A, and myxothiazol. The transcription of three genes, encoding an aa(3)-type cytochrome c oxidase (coxB), a bd-type ubiquinol oxidase (cydA), and an sqr, were measured by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The transcriptional levels of coxB and cydA genes were similar in sulfur- and iron-grown cells, but that of sqr was 3-fold higher in sulfur-grown cells than in iron-grown cells. A model is proposed for the oxidation of reduced inorganic sulfur compounds in A. ferrooxidans NASF-1 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Wakai
- Division of Science and Technology for Energy Conversion, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-Naka, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
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Purification and Characterization of Sulfide:Quinone Oxidoreductase from an Acidophilic Iron-Oxidizing Bacterium,Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2014; 71:2735-42. [DOI: 10.1271/bbb.70332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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