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Schwardmann LS, Benninghaus L, Lindner SN, Wendisch VF. Prospects of formamide as nitrogen source in biotechnological production processes. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:105. [PMID: 38204134 PMCID: PMC10781810 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12962-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
This review presents an analysis of formamide, focussing on its occurrence in nature, its functional roles, and its promising applications in the context of the bioeconomy. We discuss the utilization of formamide as an innovative nitrogen source achieved through metabolic engineering. These approaches underscore formamide's potential in supporting growth and production in biotechnological processes. Furthermore, our review illuminates formamide's role as a nitrogen source capable of safeguarding cultivation systems against contamination in non-sterile conditions. This attribute adds an extra layer of practicality to its application, rendering it an attractive candidate for sustainable and resilient industrial practices. Additionally, the article unveils the versatility of formamide as a potential carbon source that could be combined with formate or CO2 assimilation pathways. However, its attributes, i.e., enriched nitrogen content and comparatively limited energy content, led to conclude that formamide is more suitable as a co-substrate and that its use as a sole source of carbon for biomass and bio-production is limited. Through our exploration of formamide's properties and its applications, this review underscores the significance of formamide as valuable resource for a large spectrum of industrial applications. KEY POINTS: • Formidases enable access to formamide as source of nitrogen, carbon, and energy • The formamide/formamidase system supports non-sterile fermentation • The nitrogen source formamide supports production of nitrogenous compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn S Schwardmann
- Genetics of Prokaryotes, Faculty of Biology and CeBiTec, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
- , Aminoverse B.V., Daelderweg 9, 6361 HK, Nuth, Beekdaelen, The Netherlands
| | - Leonie Benninghaus
- Genetics of Prokaryotes, Faculty of Biology and CeBiTec, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Steffen N Lindner
- Department of Biochemistry, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, Germany
| | - Volker F Wendisch
- Genetics of Prokaryotes, Faculty of Biology and CeBiTec, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany.
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Lavrov KV, Shemyakina AO, Grechishnikova EG, Gerasimova TV, Kalinina TI, Novikov AD, Leonova TE, Ryabchenko LE, Bayburdov TA, Yanenko AS. A new concept of biocatalytic synthesis of acrylic monomers for obtaining water-soluble acrylic heteropolymers. Metab Eng Commun 2024; 18:e00231. [PMID: 38222043 PMCID: PMC10787234 DOI: 10.1016/j.mec.2023.e00231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Rhodococcus strains were designed as model biocatalysts (BCs) for the production of acrylic acid and mixtures of acrylic monomers consisting of acrylamide, acrylic acid, and N-alkylacrylamide (N-isopropylacrylamide). To obtain BC strains, we used, among other approaches, adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE), based on the use of the metabolic pathway of amide utilization. Whole genome sequencing of the strains obtained after ALE, as well as subsequent targeted gene disruption, identified candidate genes for three new amidases that are promising for the development of BCs for the production of acrylic acid from acrylamide. New BCs had two types of amidase activities, acrylamide-hydrolyzing and acrylamide-transferring, and by varying the ratio of these activities in BCs, it is possible to influence the ratio of monomers in the resulting mixtures. Based on these strains, a prototype of a new technological concept for the biocatalytic synthesis of acrylic monomers was developed for the production of water-soluble acrylic heteropolymers containing valuable N-alkylacrylamide units. In addition to the possibility of obtaining mixtures of different compositions, the advantages of the concept are a single starting reagent (acrylamide), more unification of processes (all processes are based on the same type of biocatalyst), and potentially greater safety for personnel and the environment compared to existing chemical technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin V. Lavrov
- NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Genomic Center, 123182, Akademika Kurchatova pl. 1, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna O. Shemyakina
- NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Genomic Center, 123182, Akademika Kurchatova pl. 1, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena G. Grechishnikova
- NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Genomic Center, 123182, Akademika Kurchatova pl. 1, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatyana V. Gerasimova
- NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Genomic Center, 123182, Akademika Kurchatova pl. 1, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatyana I. Kalinina
- NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Genomic Center, 123182, Akademika Kurchatova pl. 1, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey D. Novikov
- NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Genomic Center, 123182, Akademika Kurchatova pl. 1, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatyana E. Leonova
- NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Genomic Center, 123182, Akademika Kurchatova pl. 1, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ludmila E. Ryabchenko
- NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Genomic Center, 123182, Akademika Kurchatova pl. 1, Moscow, Russia
| | - Telman A. Bayburdov
- Saratov Chemical Plant of Acrylic Polymers “AKRYPOL”, 410059, Saratov, Russia
| | - Alexander S. Yanenko
- NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Genomic Center, 123182, Akademika Kurchatova pl. 1, Moscow, Russia
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Smith OB, Frkic RL, Rahman MG, Jackson CJ, Kaczmarski JA. Identification and Characterization of a Bacterial Periplasmic Solute Binding Protein That Binds l-Amino Acid Amides. Biochemistry 2024; 63:1322-1334. [PMID: 38696389 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.4c00096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Periplasmic solute-binding proteins (SBPs) are key ligand recognition components of bacterial ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters that allow bacteria to import nutrients and metabolic precursors from the environment. Periplasmic SBPs comprise a large and diverse family of proteins, of which only a small number have been empirically characterized. In this work, we identify a set of 610 unique uncharacterized proteins within the SBP_bac_5 family that are found in conserved operons comprising genes encoding (i) ABC transport systems and (ii) putative amidases from the FmdA_AmdA family. From these uncharacterized SBP_bac_5 proteins, we characterize a representative periplasmic SBP from Mesorhizobium sp. A09 (MeAmi_SBP) and show that MeAmi_SBP binds l-amino acid amides but not the corresponding l-amino acids. An X-ray crystal structure of MeAmi_SBP bound to l-serinamide highlights the residues that impart distinct specificity for l-amino acid amides and reveals a structural Ca2+ binding site within one of the lobes of the protein. We show that the residues involved in ligand and Ca2+ binding are conserved among the 610 SBPs from experimentally uncharacterized FmdA_AmdA amidase-associated ABC transporter systems, suggesting these homologous systems are also likely to be involved in the sensing, uptake, and metabolism of l-amino acid amides across many Gram-negative nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria. We propose that MeAmi_SBP is involved in the uptake of such solutes to supplement pathways such as the citric acid cycle and the glutamine synthetase-glutamate synthase pathway. This work expands our currently limited understanding of microbial interactions with l-amino acid amides and bacterial nitrogen utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver B Smith
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Rebecca L Frkic
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide & Protein Science, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Marina G Rahman
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Colin J Jackson
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide & Protein Science, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Joe A Kaczmarski
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
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Carbamate C-N Hydrolase Gene ameH Responsible for the Detoxification Step of Methomyl Degradation in Aminobacter aminovorans Strain MDW-2. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 87:AEM.02005-20. [PMID: 33097501 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02005-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Methomyl {bis[1-methylthioacetaldehyde-O-(N-methylcarbamoyl)oximino]sulfide} is a highly toxic oxime carbamate insecticide. Several methomyl-degrading microorganisms have been reported so far, but the role of specific enzymes and genes in this process is still unexplored. In this study, a protein annotated as a carbamate C-N hydrolase was identified in the methomyl-degrading strain Aminobacter aminovorans MDW-2, and the encoding gene was termed ameH A comparative analysis between the mass fingerprints of AmeH and deduced proteins of the strain MDW-2 genome revealed AmeH to be a key enzyme of the detoxification step of methomyl degradation. The results also demonstrated that AmeH was a functional homodimer with a subunit molecular mass of approximately 34 kDa and shared the highest identity (27%) with the putative formamidase from Schizosaccharomyces pombe ATCC 24843. AmeH displayed maximal enzymatic activity at 50°C and pH 8.5. Km and k cat of AmeH for methomyl were 87.5 μM and 345.2 s-1, respectively, and catalytic efficiency (k cat/Km ) was 3.9 μM-1 s-1 Phylogenetic analysis revealed AmeH to be a member of the FmdA_AmdA superfamily. Additionally, five key amino acid residues (162, 164, 191, 193, and 207) of AmeH were identified by amino acid variations.IMPORTANCE Based on the structural characteristic, carbamate insecticides can be classified into oxime carbamates (methomyl, aldicarb, oxamyl, etc.) and N-methyl carbamates (carbaryl, carbofuran, isoprocarb, etc.). So far, research on the degradation of carbamate pesticides has mainly focused on the detoxification step and hydrolysis of their carbamate bond. Several genes, such as cehA, mcbA, cahA, and mcd, and their encoding enzymes have also been reported to be involved in the detoxification step. However, none of these enzymes can hydrolyze methomyl. In this study, a carbamate C-N hydrolase gene, ameH, responsible for the detoxification step of methomyl in strain MDW-2 was cloned and the key amino acid sites of AmeH were investigated. These findings provide insight into the microbial degradation mechanism of methomyl.
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Yilmazer B, Isupov MN, De Rose SA, Bulut H, Benninghoff JC, Binay B, Littlechild JA. Structural insights into the NAD+-dependent formate dehydrogenase mechanism revealed from the NADH complex and the formate NAD+ ternary complex of the Chaetomium thermophilum enzyme. J Struct Biol 2020; 212:107657. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2020.107657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Wu Z, Liu C, Zhang Z, Zheng R, Zheng Y. Amidase as a versatile tool in amide-bond cleavage: From molecular features to biotechnological applications. Biotechnol Adv 2020; 43:107574. [PMID: 32512219 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Amidases (EC 3. 5. 1. X) are versatile biocatalysts for synthesis of chiral carboxylic acids, α-amino acids and amides due to their hydrolytic and acyl transfer activity towards the C-N linkages. They have been extensively exploited and studied during the past years for their high specific activity and excellent enantioselectivity involved in various biotechnological applications in pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. Additionally, they have attracted considerable attentions in biodegradation and bioremediation owing to environmental pressures. Motivated by industrial demands, crystallographic investigations and catalytic mechanisms of amidases based on structural biology have witnessed a dramatic promotion in the last two decades. The protein structures showed that different types of amidases have their typical stuctural elements, such as the conserved AS domains in signature amidases and the typical architecture of metal-associated active sites in acetamidase/formamidase family amidases. This review provides an overview of recent research advances in various amidases, with a focus on their structural basis of phylogenetics, substrate specificities and catalytic mechanisms as well as their biotechnological applications. As more crystal structures of amidases are determined, the structure/function relationships of these enzymes will also be further elucidated, which will facilitate molecular engineering and design of amidases to meet industrial requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheming Wu
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Synthesis of Zhejiang Province, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China; Engineering Research Center of Bioconversion and Biopurification of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China; The National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Biomanufacturing of Chiral Chemicals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China
| | - Changfeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Synthesis of Zhejiang Province, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China; Engineering Research Center of Bioconversion and Biopurification of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China; The National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Biomanufacturing of Chiral Chemicals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaoyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Synthesis of Zhejiang Province, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China; Engineering Research Center of Bioconversion and Biopurification of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China; The National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Biomanufacturing of Chiral Chemicals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China
| | - Renchao Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Synthesis of Zhejiang Province, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China; Engineering Research Center of Bioconversion and Biopurification of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China; The National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Biomanufacturing of Chiral Chemicals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yuguo Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Synthesis of Zhejiang Province, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China; Engineering Research Center of Bioconversion and Biopurification of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China; The National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Biomanufacturing of Chiral Chemicals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, People's Republic of China
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7
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Venkatesan A, Palaniyandi K, Narayanan S. Molecular characterization of AmiC, a positive regulator in acetamidase operon of Mycobacterium smegmatis. Cell Stress Chaperones 2018; 23:539-550. [PMID: 29273966 PMCID: PMC6045532 DOI: 10.1007/s12192-017-0861-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Revised: 10/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium smegmatis, a rapidly growing non-pathogenic mycobacterium, is currently used as a model organism to study mycobacterial genetics. Acetamidase of M. smegmatis is the highly inducible enzyme of Mycobacteria, which utilizes several amide compounds as sole carbon and nitrogen sources. The acetamidase operon has a complex regulatory mechanism, which involves three regulatory proteins, four promoters, and three operator elements. In our previous study, we showed that over-expression of AmiA leads to a negative regulation of acetamidase by blocking the P2 promoter. In this study, we have identified a new positive regulatory protein, AmiC that interacts with AmiA through protein-protein interaction. Gel mobility shift assay showed that AmiC protein inhibits AmiA from binding to the P2 promoter. Interaction of AmiC with cis-acting elements identified its binding ability to multiple regulatory regions of the operon such as P3, OP3, and P1 promoter/operator. Consequently, the addition of inducer acetamide to AmiC complexe trips the complexes, causing AmiC to appear to be the sensory protein for the amides. Homology modeling and molecular docking studies suggest AmiC as a member of Periplasmic binding proteins, which preferentially bind to the inducers and not to the suppressor. Over-expression of AmiC leads to down-regulation of the negative regulator, amiA, and constitutive up-regulation of acetamidase. Based on these findings, we conclude that AmiC positively regulates the acetamidase operon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arunkumar Venkatesan
- Department of Immunology, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chetpet, Chennai, 600 031, India
| | - Kannan Palaniyandi
- Department of Immunology, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chetpet, Chennai, 600 031, India
| | - Sujatha Narayanan
- Department of Immunology, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chetpet, Chennai, 600 031, India.
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Identification and characterization of a thermostable and cobalt-dependent amidase from Burkholderia phytofirmans ZJB-15079 for efficient synthesis of (R)-3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionic acid. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 101:1953-1964. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-7921-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Revised: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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9
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Liao Y, Williams TJ, Walsh JC, Ji M, Poljak A, Curmi PMG, Duggin IG, Cavicchioli R. Developing a genetic manipulation system for the Antarctic archaeon, Halorubrum lacusprofundi: investigating acetamidase gene function. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34639. [PMID: 27708407 PMCID: PMC5052560 DOI: 10.1038/srep34639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
No systems have been reported for genetic manipulation of cold-adapted Archaea. Halorubrum lacusprofundi is an important member of Deep Lake, Antarctica (~10% of the population), and is amendable to laboratory cultivation. Here we report the development of a shuttle-vector and targeted gene-knockout system for this species. To investigate the function of acetamidase/formamidase genes, a class of genes not experimentally studied in Archaea, the acetamidase gene, amd3, was disrupted. The wild-type grew on acetamide as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen, but the mutant did not. Acetamidase/formamidase genes were found to form three distinct clades within a broad distribution of Archaea and Bacteria. Genes were present within lineages characterized by aerobic growth in low nutrient environments (e.g. haloarchaea, Starkeya) but absent from lineages containing anaerobes or facultative anaerobes (e.g. methanogens, Epsilonproteobacteria) or parasites of animals and plants (e.g. Chlamydiae). While acetamide is not a well characterized natural substrate, the build-up of plastic pollutants in the environment provides a potential source of introduced acetamide. In view of the extent and pattern of distribution of acetamidase/formamidase sequences within Archaea and Bacteria, we speculate that acetamide from plastics may promote the selection of amd/fmd genes in an increasing number of environmental microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Liao
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - T J Williams
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - J C Walsh
- School of Physics, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia.,The ithree institute, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, New South Wales, 2007, Australia
| | - M Ji
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - A Poljak
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Facility, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - P M G Curmi
- School of Physics, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - I G Duggin
- The ithree institute, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, New South Wales, 2007, Australia
| | - R Cavicchioli
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
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Borges CL, Parente JA, Barbosa MS, Santa JM, Báo SN, de Sousa MV, de Almeida Soares CM. Detection of a homotetrameric structure and protein-protein interactions of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis formamidase lead to new functional insights. FEMS Yeast Res 2016; 10:104-13. [PMID: 20002196 DOI: 10.1111/j.1567-1364.2009.00594.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis causes paracoccidioidomycosis, a systemic mycosis in Latin America. Formamidases hydrolyze formamide, putatively plays a role in fungal nitrogen metabolism. An abundant 45-kDa protein was identified as the P. brasiliensis formamidase. In this study, recombinant formamidase was overexpressed in bacteria and a polyclonal antibody to this protein was produced. We identified a 180-kDa protein species reactive to the antibody produced in mice against the P. brasiliensis recombinant purified formamidase of 45 kDa. The 180-kDa purified protein yielded a heat-denatured species of 45 kDa. Both protein species of 180 and 45 kDa were identified as formamidase by peptide mass fingerprinting using MS. The identical mass spectra generated by the 180 and the 45-kDa protein species indicated that the fungal formamidase is most likely homotetrameric in its native conformation. Furthermore, the purified formamidase migrated as a protein of 191 kDa in native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, thus revealing that the enzyme forms a homotetrameric structure in its native state. This enzyme is present in the fungus cytoplasm and the cell wall. Use of a yeast two-hybrid system revealed cell wall membrane proteins, in addition to cytosolic proteins interacting with formamidase. These data provide new insights into formamidase structure as well as potential roles for formamidase and its interaction partners in nitrogen metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clayton Luiz Borges
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas II, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
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Terrado R, Monier A, Edgar R, Lovejoy C. Diversity of nitrogen assimilation pathways among microbial photosynthetic eukaryotes. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2015; 51:490-506. [PMID: 26986665 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
In an effort to better understand the diversity of genes coding for nitrogen (N) uptake and assimilation pathways among microalgae, we analyzed the transcriptomes of five phylogenetically diverse single celled algae originally isolated from the same high arctic marine region. The five photosynthetic flagellates (a pelagophyte, dictyochophyte, chrysoph-yte, cryptophyte and haptophyte) were grown on standard media and media with only urea or nitrate as a nitrogen source; cells were harvested during late exponential growth. Based on homolog protein sequences, transcriptomes of each alga were interrogated to retrieve genes potentially associated with nitrogen uptake and utilization pathways. We further investigated the phylogeny of poorly characterized genes and gene families that were identified. While the phylogeny of the active urea transporter (DUR3) was taxonomically coherent, those for the urea transporter superfamily, putative nitrilases and amidases indicated complex evolutionary histories, and preliminary evidence for horizontal gene transfers. All five algae expressed genes for ammonium assimilation and all but the chrysophyte expressed genes involved in nitrate utilization and the urea cycle. Among the four algae with nitrate transporter transcripts, we detected lower expression levels in three of these (the dictyochophyte, pelagophyte, and cryptophyte) grown in the urea only medium compared with cultures from the nitrate only media. The diversity of N pathway genes in the five algae, and their ability to grow using urea as a nitrogen source, suggest that these flagellates are able to use a variety of organic nitrogen sources, which would be an advantage in an inorganic nitrogen - limited environment, such as the Arctic Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramon Terrado
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 90089, USA
| | - Adam Monier
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Robyn Edgar
- Département de Biologie, Takuvik Joint International Laboratory, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France, CNRS UMI 3376), Québec Océan, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Connie Lovejoy
- Département de Biologie, Takuvik Joint International Laboratory, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France, CNRS UMI 3376), Québec Océan, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada
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Shahrbabak SS, Khodabandehlou Z, Shahverdi AR, Skurnik M, Ackermann HW, Varjosalo M, Yazdi MT, Sepehrizadeh Z. Isolation, characterization and complete genome sequence of PhaxI: a phage of Escherichia coli O157 : H7. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2013; 159:1629-1638. [PMID: 23676434 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.063776-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Bacteriophages are considered as promising biological agents for the control of infectious diseases. Sequencing of their genomes can ascertain the absence of antibiotic resistance, toxin or virulence genes. The anti-O157 : H7 coliphage, PhaxI, was isolated from a sewage sample in Iran. Morphological studies by transmission electron microscopy showed that it has an icosahedral capsid of 85-86 nm and a contractile tail of 115×15 nm. PhaxI contains dsDNA composed of 156 628 nt with a G+C content of 44.5 mol% that encodes 209 putative proteins. In MS analysis of phage particles, 92 structural proteins were identified. PhaxI lyses Escherichia coli O157 : H7 in Luria-Bertani medium and milk, has an eclipse period of 20 min and a latent period of 40 min, and has a burst size of about 420 particles per cell. PhaxI is a member of the genus 'Viunalikevirus' of the family Myoviridae and is specific for E. coli O157 : H7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salehe Sabouri Shahrbabak
- Pharmaceutics Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 76175-493, Kerman, Iran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Biotechnology Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 14155-6451, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Khodabandehlou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Biotechnology Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 14155-6451, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Reza Shahverdi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Biotechnology Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 14155-6451, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mikael Skurnik
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital Laboratory, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hans-Wolfgang Ackermann
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectiology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, QC; G1X 4C6, Canada
| | - Markku Varjosalo
- Institute of Biotechnology, PO Box 65, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mojtaba Tabatabaei Yazdi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Biotechnology Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 14155-6451, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zargham Sepehrizadeh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Biotechnology Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 14155-6451, Tehran, Iran
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Ang D, Georgopoulos C. An ORFan no more: the bacteriophage T4 39.2 gene product, NwgI, modulates GroEL chaperone function. Genetics 2012; 190:989-1000. [PMID: 22234860 PMCID: PMC3296260 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.111.135640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2011] [Accepted: 11/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are the most abundant biological entities in our biosphere, characterized by their hyperplasticity, mosaic composition, and the many unknown functions (ORFans) encoded by their immense genetic repertoire. These genes are potentially maintained by the bacteriophage to allow efficient propagation on hosts encountered in nature. To test this hypothesis, we devised a selection to identify bacteriophage-encoded gene(s) that modulate the host Escherichia coli GroEL/GroES chaperone machine, which is essential for the folding of certain host and bacteriophage proteins. As a result, we identified the bacteriophage RB69 gene 39.2, of previously unknown function and showed that homologs of 39.2 in bacteriophages T4, RB43, and RB49 similarly modulate GroEL/GroES. Production of wild-type bacteriophage T4 Gp39.2, a 58-amino-acid protein, (a) enables diverse bacteriophages to plaque on the otherwise nonpermissive groES or groEL mutant hosts in an allele-specific manner, (b) suppresses the temperature-sensitive phenotype of both groES and groEL mutants, (c) suppresses the defective UV-induced PolV function (UmuCD) of the groEL44 mutant, and (d) is lethal to the host when overproduced. Finally, as proof of principle that Gp39.2 is essential for bacteriophage growth on certain bacterial hosts, we constructed a T4 39.2 deletion strain and showed that, unlike the isogenic wild-type parent, it is incapable of propagating on certain groEL mutant hosts. We propose a model of how Gp39.2 modulates GroES/GroEL function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debbie Ang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5650
| | - Costa Georgopoulos
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5650
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Biochemical and mutational studies of the Bacillus cereus CECT 5050T formamidase support the existence of a C-E-E-K tetrad in several members of the nitrilase superfamily. Appl Environ Microbiol 2011; 77:5761-9. [PMID: 21705545 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00312-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Formamidases (EC 3.5.1.49) are poorly characterized proteins. In spite of this scarce knowledge, ammonia has been described as playing a central role in the pathogenesis of human pathogens such as Helicobacter pylori, for which formamidase has been shown to participate in the nitrogen metabolic pathway. Sequence analysis has revealed that at least two different groups of formamidases are classified as EC 3.5.1.49: on the one hand, the derivatives of the FmdA-AmdA superfamily, which are the best studied to date, and on the other hand, the derivatives of Helicobacter pylori AmiF. Here we present the cloning, purification, and characterization of a recombinant formamidase from Bacillus cereus CECT 5050T (BceAmiF), the second member of the AmiF subfamily to be characterized, showing new features of the enzyme further supporting its relationship with aliphatic amidases. We also present homology modeling-based mutational studies confirming the importance of the Glu140 and Tyr191 residues in the enzymatic activities of the AmiF family. Moreover, we can conclude that a second glutamate residue is critical in several members of the nitrilase superfamily, meaning that what has consistently been identified as a C-E-K triad is in fact a C-E-E-K tetrad.
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15
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Mela F, Fritsche K, de Boer W, van Veen JA, de Graaff LH, van den Berg M, Leveau JHJ. Dual transcriptional profiling of a bacterial/fungal confrontation: Collimonas fungivorans versus Aspergillus niger. ISME JOURNAL 2011; 5:1494-504. [PMID: 21614084 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2011.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Interactions between bacteria and fungi cover a wide range of incentives, mechanisms and outcomes. The genus Collimonas consists of soil bacteria that are known for their antifungal activity and ability to grow at the expense of living fungi. In non-contact confrontation assays with the fungus Aspergillus niger, Collimonas fungivorans showed accumulation of biomass concomitant with inhibition of hyphal spread. Through microarray analysis of bacterial and fungal mRNA from the confrontation arena, we gained new insights into the mechanisms underlying the fungistatic effect and mycophagous phenotype of collimonads. Collimonas responded to the fungus by activating genes for the utilization of fungal-derived compounds and for production of a putative antifungal compound. In A. niger, differentially expressed genes included those involved in lipid and cell wall metabolism and cell defense, which correlated well with the hyphal deformations that were observed microscopically. Transcriptional profiles revealed distress in both partners: downregulation of ribosomal proteins and upregulation of mobile genetic elements in the bacteria and expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress and conidia-related genes in the fungus. Both partners experienced nitrogen shortage in each other's presence. Overall, our results indicate that the Collimonas/Aspergillus interaction is a complex interplay between trophism, antibiosis and competition for nutrients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Mela
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
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16
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Gunji Y, Yasueda H. Enhancement of l-lysine production in methylotroph Methylophilus methylotrophus by introducing a mutant LysE exporter. J Biotechnol 2006; 127:1-13. [PMID: 16870294 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2006.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2005] [Revised: 05/16/2006] [Accepted: 06/06/2006] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The obligate methylotroph Methylophilus methylotrophus AS1 expressing a mutant form of dapA (dapA24) encoding a dihydrodipicolinate synthase desensitized from feedback inhibition by L-lysine could secrete L-lysine into the medium, but also maintained a high concentration of intracellular L-lysine. To improve the yield from excretion, we attempted to introduce an L-lysine/L-arginine exporter (LysE) from Corynebacterium glutamicum 2256 into M. methylotrophus. We were unable to stably transform M. methylotrophus with a plasmid expressing the wild type lysE gene, but happened to obtain a transformant carrying a spontaneously mutated lysE gene (designated lysE24) which could induce L-lysine production even in the wild type strain. The transformant also possessed increased tolerance to S-(2-aminoethyl)-L-cysteine (an L-lysine analog). lysE24 has a single-base insertion mutation in the middle of the lysE gene, and its product is presumably quite different in structure from wild-type LysE. When lysE24 was introduced into an L-lysine producer of M. methylotrophus carrying dapA24, the level of intracellular L-lysine fell. During fermentation, M. methylotrophus carrying both lysE24 and dapA24 produced 10-fold more L-lysine (11.3 gl(-1) in jar-fermentation) than the parent producer carrying only dapA24 or lysE24. These results show the importance of the factor (lysE24) involved in the excretion of L-lysine on its overproduction in M. methylotrophus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiya Gunji
- Fermentation and Biotechnology Laboratories, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Kawasaki, Japan
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17
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Sonke T, Ernste S, Tandler RF, Kaptein B, Peeters WPH, van Assema FBJ, Wubbolts MG, Schoemaker HE. L-selective amidase with extremely broad substrate specificity from Ochrobactrum anthropi NCIMB 40321. Appl Environ Microbiol 2006; 71:7961-73. [PMID: 16332774 PMCID: PMC1317364 DOI: 10.1128/aem.71.12.7961-7973.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
An industrially attractive L-specific amidase was purified to homogeneity from Ochrobactrum anthropi NCIMB 40321 wild-type cells. The purified amidase displayed maximum initial activity between pH 6 and 8.5 and was fully stable for at least 1 h up to 60 degrees C. The purified enzyme was strongly inhibited by the metal-chelating compounds EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline. The activity of the EDTA-treated enzyme could be restored by the addition of Zn2+ (to 80%), Mn2+ (to 400%), and Mg2+ (to 560%). Serine and cysteine protease inhibitors did not influence the purified amidase. This enzyme displayed activity toward a broad range of substrates consisting of alpha-hydrogen- and (bulky) alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino acid amides, alpha-hydroxy acid amides, and alpha-N-hydroxyamino acid amides. In all cases, only the L-enantiomer was hydrolyzed, resulting in E values of more than 150. Simple aliphatic amides, beta-amino and beta-hydroxy acid amides, and dipeptides were not converted. The gene encoding this L-amidase was cloned via reverse genetics. It encodes a polypeptide of 314 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 33,870. Since the native enzyme has a molecular mass of about 66 kDa, it most likely has a homodimeric structure. The deduced amino acid sequence showed homology to a few other stereoselective amidases and the acetamidase/formamidase family of proteins (Pfam FmdA_AmdA). Subcloning of the gene in expression vector pTrc99A enabled efficient heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. Altogether, this amidase has a unique set of properties for application in the fine-chemicals industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theo Sonke
- DSM Pharma Chemicals-Advanced Synthesis, Catalysis and Development, P.O. Box 18, 6160 MD Geleen, The Netherlands.
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18
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Greenwood JA, Mills J, Jones CW. Purification, properties and physiological regulation of a putative outer-membrane porin for methanol in Methylophilus methylotrophus. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2006. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1997.tb10478.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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19
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Borges CL, Pereira M, Felipe MSS, de Faria FP, Gomez FJ, Deepe GS, Soares CMA. The antigenic and catalytically active formamidase of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis: protein characterization, cDNA and gene cloning, heterologous expression and functional analysis of the recombinant protein. Microbes Infect 2005; 7:66-77. [PMID: 15716068 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2004.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2004] [Revised: 09/10/2004] [Accepted: 09/17/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is a well-characterized pathogen of humans. To identify proteins involved in the fungus-host interaction, P. brasiliensis yeast proteins were separated by liquid isoelectric focusing, and fractions were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis. Immunoreactive bands were detected with pooled sera of patients with P. brasiliensis infection. A protein species with a molecular mass of 45 kDa was subsequently purified to homogeneity by preparative gel electrophoresis. The amino acid sequence of four endoproteinase Lys-C-digested peptides indicated that the protein was a formamidase (FMD) (E.C. 3.5.1.49) of P. brasiliensis. The complete cDNA and a genomic clone (Pbfmd) encoding the isolated FMD were isolated. An open reading frame predicted a 415-amino acid protein. The sequence contained each of the peptide sequences obtained from amino acid sequencing. The Pbfmd gene contained five exons interrupted by four introns. Northern and Southern blot analysis suggested that there is one copy of the gene in P. brasiliensis and that it is preferentially expressed in mycelium. The complete coding cDNA was expressed in Escherichia coli to produce a recombinant fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase (GST). The purified recombinant protein was recognized by sera of patients with proven paracoccidioidomycosis and not by sera of healthy individuals. The recombinant 45-kDa protein was shown to be catalytically active; FMD activity was detected in P. brasiliensis yeast and mycelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clayton L Borges
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, ICBII, Universidade Federal de Goiás, 74001-970 Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
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20
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Roberts G, Muttucumaru DGN, Parish T. Control of the acetamidase gene of Mycobacterium smegmatis by multiple regulators. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2003; 221:131-6. [PMID: 12694921 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1097(03)00177-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The acetamidase of Mycobacterium smegmatis is an inducible enzyme which enables the organism to utilise several amides as sole carbon sources. The acetamidase structural gene (amiE) is located downstream of four other genes, of which three form a probable operon with amiE; the fourth (amiC) is divergently transcribed. We constructed deletion mutants in two of these genes in order to determine their role in acetamidase expression. Both AmiC and AmiD were shown to be positive regulators of acetamidase expression required for induction. Combinations of regulatory gene deletions were made which revealed that AmiC interacts with the previously characterised negative regulator AmiA, whereas AmiD does not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gretta Roberts
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Barts and the London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, Turner Street, London E1 2AD, UK
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21
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Trott S, Bürger S, Calaminus C, Stolz A. Cloning and heterologous expression of an enantioselective amidase from Rhodococcus erythropolis strain MP50. Appl Environ Microbiol 2002; 68:3279-86. [PMID: 12089004 PMCID: PMC126760 DOI: 10.1128/aem.68.7.3279-3286.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The gene for an enantioselective amidase was cloned from Rhodococcus erythropolis MP50, which utilizes various aromatic nitriles via a nitrile hydratase/amidase system as nitrogen sources. The gene encoded a protein of 525 amino acids which corresponded to a protein with a molecular mass of 55.5 kDa. The deduced complete amino acid sequence showed homology to other enantioselective amidases from different bacterial genera. The nucleotide sequence approximately 2.5 kb upstream and downstream of the amidase gene was determined, but no indications for a structural coupling of the amidase gene with the genes for a nitrile hydratase were found. The amidase gene was carried by an approximately 40-kb circular plasmid in R. erythropolis MP50. The amidase was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and shown to hydrolyze 2-phenylpropionamide, alpha-chlorophenylacetamide, and alpha-methoxyphenylacetamide with high enantioselectivity; mandeloamide and 2-methyl-3-phenylpropionamide were also converted, but only with reduced enantioselectivity. The recombinant E. coli strain which synthesized the amidase gene was shown to grow with organic amides as nitrogen sources. A comparison of the amidase activities observed with whole cells or cell extracts of the recombinant E. coli strain suggested that the transport of the amides into the cells becomes the rate-limiting step for amide hydrolysis in recombinant E. coli strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Trott
- Institut für Mikrobiologie, Universität Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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22
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Fournand D, Arnaud A. Aliphatic and enantioselective amidases: from hydrolysis to acyl transfer activity. J Appl Microbiol 2001; 91:381-93. [PMID: 11556902 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2672.2001.01378.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D Fournand
- GER de Chimie Biologique, Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon, Thiverval-Grignon, France
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23
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Fraser JA, Davis MA, Hynes MJ. The formamidase gene of Aspergillus nidulans: regulation by nitrogen metabolite repression and transcriptional interference by an overlapping upstream gene. Genetics 2001; 157:119-31. [PMID: 11139496 PMCID: PMC1461490 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/157.1.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to utilize formamide as a sole nitrogen source has been found in numerous fungi. We have cloned the fmdS gene encoding a formamidase from Aspergillus nidulans and found that it belongs to a highly conserved family of proteins separate from the major amidase families. The expression of fmdS is primarily regulated via AreA-mediated nitrogen metabolite repression and does not require the addition of exogenous inducer. Consistent with this, deletion analysis of the 5' region of fmdS has confirmed the presence of multiple AreA-binding sites containing a characteristic core GATA sequence. Under carbon starvation conditions the response to nitrogen starvation is eliminated, indicating that the lack of a carbon source may result in inactivation of AreA. Sequence analysis and isolation of cDNAs show that a gene of unknown function lies directly 5' of fmdS with its transcript overlapping the fmdS coding region. Disruption of the 5' gene and analysis of the effects of overexpression of this gene on fmdS expression has shown that expression of this upstream gene interferes with fmdS transcription, resulting in a strong dependence on AreA activation for expression. Therefore the relative position of these two genes is essential for normal regulation of fmdS.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Fraser
- Department of Genetics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010 Australia
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24
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McAnulla C, Woodall CA, McDonald IR, Studer A, Vuilleumier S, Leisinger T, Murrell JC. Chloromethane utilization gene cluster from Hyphomicrobium chloromethanicum strain CM2(T) and development of functional gene probes to detect halomethane-degrading bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol 2001; 67:307-16. [PMID: 11133460 PMCID: PMC92571 DOI: 10.1128/aem.67.1.307-316.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyphomicrobium chloromethanicum CM2(T), an aerobic methylotrophic member of the alpha subclass of the class proteobacteria, can grow with chloromethane as the sole carbon and energy source. H. chloromethanicum possesses an inducible enzyme system for utilization of chloromethane, in which two polypeptides (67-kDa CmuA and 35-kDa CmuB) are expressed. Previously, four genes, cmuA, cmuB, cmuC, and purU, were shown to be essential for growth of Methylobacterium chloromethanicum on chloromethane. The cmuA and cmuB genes were used as probes to identify homologs in H. chloromethanicum. A cmu gene cluster (9.5 kb) in H. chloromethanicum contained 10 open reading frames: folD (partial), pduX, orf153, orf207, orf225, cmuB, cmuC, cmuA, fmdB, and paaE (partial). CmuA from H. chloromethanicum (67 kDa) showed high identity to CmuA from M. chloromethanicum and contains an N-terminal methyltransferase domain and a C-terminal corrinoid-binding domain. CmuB from H. chloromethanicum is related to a family of methyl transfer proteins and to the CmuB methyltransferase from M. chloromethanicum. CmuC from H. chloromethanicum shows identity to CmuC from M. chloromethanicum and is a putative methyltransferase. folD codes for a methylene-tetrahydrofolate cyclohydrolase, which may be involved in the C(1) transfer pathway for carbon assimilation and CO(2) production, and paaE codes for a putative redox active protein. Molecular analyses and some preliminary biochemical data indicated that the chloromethane utilization pathway in H. chloromethanicum is similar to the corrinoid-dependent methyl transfer system in M. chloromethanicum. PCR primers were developed for successful amplification of cmuA genes from newly isolated chloromethane utilizers and enrichment cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- C McAnulla
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, England
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Narayanan S, Selvakumar S, Aarati R, Vasan SK, Narayanan PR. Transcriptional analysis of inducible acetamidase gene of Mycobacterium smegmatis. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2000; 192:263-8. [PMID: 11064205 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2000.tb09392.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Isolation and analysis of strong and regulatable promoters of mycobacteria should be useful tools to aid the expression of cloned genes in mycobacteria. In the present study, we have mapped the transcriptional start site of the inducible acetamidase gene of Mycobacterium smegmatis and studied the mechanism of its regulation. Northern blot, reverse transcription-PCR and primer extension analysis studies were used to determine the position of the promoter.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Narayanan
- Department of Immunology, Tuberculosis Research Centre, Mayor V.R. Ramanathan Road, Chennai 600 031, Chetput, India
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Guerreiro N, Djordjevic MA, Rolfe BG. Proteome analysis of the model microsymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti: isolation and characterisation of novel proteins. Electrophoresis 1999; 20:818-25. [PMID: 10344253 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1522-2683(19990101)20:4/5<818::aid-elps818>3.0.co;2-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Sinorhizobium meliloti is an agriculturally and ecologically important microbe due to its capacity to establish nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with plant legumes. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of total cellular protein was used to establish a proteome reference map for the model microsymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti strain 1021. The extent of changes in the gene expression of cells grown in a defined medium at different growth phases was established. After examination of over 2000 resolved protein spots, a minimum of 52 reproducible changes in protein expression levels were detected when early exponential phase cells were compared to late exponential phase cells. In contrast, induction of nodulation gene expression by the addition of the flavonoid luteolin to cells did not result in detectable changes in protein expression at either early or late exponential phase. N-terminal microsequencing of eighteen unknown constitutive proteins plus four proteins, induced or up-regulated in late exponential phase cells, allowed the identification of proteins not previously described in rhizobia. These included an amide-binding protein, a putative hydrolase of the glyoxalase II protein family, a nucleoside diphosphate kinase, and a 5'-nucleotidase. N-terminal microsequencing was also valuable in revealing N-terminal post-translational processing and assigning a subcellular location to the analysed protein. Proteome analysis will provide a powerful analytical tool to complement the sequencing of the genome of strain 1021.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Guerreiro
- Plant-Microbe Interaction Group, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra City, ACT
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27
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Mills J, Greenwood JA, Jones CW. The effect of growth in continuous culture at various input C:N ratios on the expression of proteins involved in the transport and metabolism of methanol and short-chain amides byMethylophilus methylotrophus. FEMS Microbiol Lett 1998. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1998.tb12945.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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28
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Greenwood JA, Mills J, Tyler PD, Jones CW. Physiological regulation, purification and properties of urease fromMethylophilus methylotrophus. FEMS Microbiol Lett 1998. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1998.tb12902.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Parish T, Mahenthiralingam E, Draper P, Davis EO, Colston EO. Regulation of the inducible acetamidase gene of Mycobacterium smegmatis. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 1997; 143 ( Pt 7):2267-2276. [PMID: 9245815 DOI: 10.1099/00221287-143-7-2267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The inducible acetamidase of Mycobacterium smegmatis NCTC 8159 is expressed at high levels in the presence of a suitable inducer, such as acetamide. The gene and 1.5 kb of upstream sequence had previously been sequenced. A further 1.4 kb of upstream sequence has now been determined, containing an additional ORF on the opposite strand to the acetamidase gene. This ORF has significant homologies to genes encoding regulatory proteins involved in amidase expression in other organisms. Restriction fragments from the 4 kb region were subcloned into a promoter-probe shuttle vector to locate the approximate region of the acetamidase promoter and investigate the mechanism of regulation. An inducible promoter was found to lie in the 1.4 kb region situated 1.5 kb upstream from the acetamidase coding region. Expression of the acetamidase was studied at the protein and mRNA levels. Using immunoblotting, induction of the enzyme was demonstrated in minimal medium containing succinate plus acetamide, but not in a richer medium (Lemco broth) plus acetamide, confirming that regulation of acetamidase expression is mediated by both positive and negative control elements. After induction by acetamide, an increase above basal level could be detected after 1 h for both protein levels (using ELISA) and mRNA levels (using Northern blot analysis), indicating that control of expression is at the mRNA level. The size of the mRNA transcript detected was approximately 1.2 kb, the size of the acetamidase coding region. Since no promoter was identified immediately upstream of the coding region, this raises the possibility that a larger, primary transcript (possibly polycistronic) is cleaved to produce a stable form encoding the acetamidase protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Parish
- Laboratory for Leprosy and Mycobacterial Research, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Eshwar Mahenthiralingam
- Department of Paediatrics, University of British Columbia, The Research Centre, 950 W 28th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4H4
| | - Philip Draper
- Laboratory for Leprosy and Mycobacterial Research, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Elaine O Davis
- Laboratory for Leprosy and Mycobacterial Research, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Elaine O Colston
- Laboratory for Leprosy and Mycobacterial Research, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
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Mills J, Greenwood JA, Wyborn NR, Williams SG, Jones CW. An outer-membrane porin inducible by short-chain amides and urea in the methylotrophic bacterium Methylophilus methylotrophus. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 1997; 143 ( Pt 7):2373-2379. [PMID: 9245819 DOI: 10.1099/00221287-143-7-2373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The fmdA and fmdB genes encoding formamidase and a putative regulatory protein, respectively, from the methylotrophic bacterium Methylophilus methylotrophus were recloned with additional flanking DNA (pSW1). fmdC, encoding a weakly hydrophilic protein containing an N-terminal signal sequence, was identified upstream of fmdAB. The derived amino acid sequence of mature FmdC (M(r) 39204) showed that it was rich in beta-sheet and aromatic amino acids, and exhibited significant similarities to several outer-membrane porins from other bacteria. Cell fractionation studies showed that the protein was located in the outer membrane. Mature FmdC was purified and shown to consist of a single type of subunit (M(r) 40,000) with the predicted N-terminal amino acid sequence (GATISF-). SDS-PAGE and Western blotting of cells grown in continuous culture under various conditions showed that mature FmdC was induced by formamide, acetamide and urea, repressed by excess ammonia, and over-expressed during prolonged growth under formamide limitation. It is concluded that mature FmdC is a porin involved in the transport of short-chain amides and urea through the outer membrane of M. methylotrophus under conditions where these nitrogen sources are present at very low concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Mills
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | | | - Neil R Wyborn
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Steven G Williams
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Colin W Jones
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
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