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Soder-Walz JM, Deobald D, Vicent T, Marco-Urrea E, Adrian L. MecE, MecB, and MecC proteins orchestrate methyl group transfer during dichloromethane fermentation. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024:e0097824. [PMID: 39320083 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00978-24] [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: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Dichloromethane (DCM), a common hazardous industrial chemical, is anaerobically metabolized by four bacterial genera: Dehalobacter, Dehalobacterium, Ca. Dichloromethanomonas, and Ca. Formimonas. However, the pivotal methyltransferases responsible for DCM transformation have remained elusive. In this study, we investigated the DCM catabolism of Dehalobacterium formicoaceticum strain EZ94, contained in an enriched culture, using a combination of biochemical approaches. Initially, enzymatic assays were conducted with cell-free protein extracts, after protein separation by blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In the slices with the highest DCM transformation activity, a high absolute abundance of the methyltransferase MecC was revealed by mass spectrometry. Enzymatic activity assays with heterologously expressed MecB, MecC, and MecE from strain EZ94 showed complete DCM transformation only when all three enzymes were present. Our experimental results, coupled with the computational analysis of MecB, MecC, and MecE sequences, enabled us to assign specific roles in DCM transformation to each of the proteins. Our findings reveal that both MecE and MecC are zinc-dependent methyltransferases responsible for DCM demethylation and re-methylation of a product, respectively. MecB functions as a cobalamin-dependent shuttle protein transferring the methyl group between MecE and MecC. This study provides the first biochemical evidence of the enzymes involved in the anaerobic metabolism of DCM.IMPORTANCEDichloromethane (DCM) is a priority regulated pollutant frequently detected in groundwater. In this work, we identify the proteins responsible for the transformation of DCM fermentation in Dehalobacterium formicoaceticum strain EZ94 using a combination of biochemical approaches, heterologous expression of proteins, and computational analysis. These findings provide the basis to apply these proteins as biological markers to monitor bioremediation processes in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesica M Soder-Walz
- Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Darja Deobald
- Department Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Teresa Vicent
- Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Ernest Marco-Urrea
- Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Lorenz Adrian
- Department Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Geobiotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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2
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Kumar A, Yang X, Li J, Lewis JC. First and second sphere interactions accelerate non-native N-alkylation catalysis by the thermostable, methanol-tolerant B 12-dependent enzyme MtaC. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:4798-4801. [PMID: 37000588 PMCID: PMC10134074 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc01071f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
The corrinoid protein MtaC, which is natively involved in methyl transferase catalysis, catalyzes N-alkylation of aniline using ethyl diazoacetate. Our results show how the native preference of B12 scaffolds for radical versus polar chemistry translates to non-native catalysis, which could guide selection of B12-dependent proteins for biocatalysis. MtaC also has high thermal stability and organic solvent tolerance, remaining folded even in pure methanol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amardeep Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
| | - Xinhang Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
| | - Jianbin Li
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
| | - Jared C Lewis
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
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3
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Jin Q, Wu Q, Shapiro BM, McKernan SE. Limited Mechanistic Link Between the Monod Equation and Methanogen Growth: a Perspective from Metabolic Modeling. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0225921. [PMID: 35238612 PMCID: PMC9045329 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02259-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Monod equation has been widely applied as the general rate law of microbial growth, but its applications are not always successful. By drawing on the frameworks of kinetic and stoichiometric metabolic models and metabolic control analysis, the modeling reported here simulated the growth kinetics of a methanogenic microorganism and illustrated that different enzymes and metabolites control growth rate to various extents and that their controls peak at either very low, intermediate, or very high substrate concentrations. In comparison, with a single term and two parameters, the Monod equation only approximately accounts for the controls of rate-determining enzymes and metabolites at very high and very low substrate concentrations, but neglects the enzymes and metabolites whose controls are most notable at intermediate concentrations. These findings support a limited link between the Monod equation and methanogen growth, and unify the competing views regarding enzyme roles in shaping growth kinetics. The results also preclude a mechanistic derivation of the Monod equation from methanogen metabolic networks and highlight a fundamental challenge in microbiology: single-term expressions may not be sufficient for accurate prediction of microbial growth. IMPORTANCE The Monod equation has been widely applied to predict the rate of microbial growth, but its application is not always successful. Using a novel metabolic modeling approach, we simulated the growth of a methanogen and uncovered a limited mechanistic link between the Monod equation and the methanogen's metabolic network. Specifically, the equation provides an approximation to the controls by rate-determining metabolites and enzymes at very low and very high substrate concentrations, but it is missing the remaining enzymes and metabolites whose controls are most notable at intermediate concentrations. These results support the Monod equation as a useful approximation of growth rates and highlight a fundamental challenge in microbial kinetics: single-term rate expressions may not be sufficient for accurate prediction of microbial growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qusheng Jin
- Geobiology Group, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | - Qiong Wu
- Geobiology Group, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
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4
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Chi Z, Zhu Y, Yin Y. Insight into SO 4(-II)- dependent anaerobic methane oxidation in landfill: Dual-substrates dynamics model, microbial community, function and metabolic pathway. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 141:115-124. [PMID: 35114562 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In anaerobic landfill, SO42- could serve as electron receptor for methane oxidation. In theory, concentrations of both methane and SO42- should be related to methane oxidation rate. However, the dynamics process has yet to be discovered, and the understanding of metabolic pathways of the sulfate-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (S-DAMO) process in landfill remains limited. In this study, S-DAMO dynamics was investigated by observing the CH4 oxidation rates under different CH4/ SO42-counter-gradients. The CH4-SO42- dual-substrate model based on MichaeliseMenten equation was got (maximum substrate degradation rate Vmax [22.9 ± 1.31] µmol/[kg·d], half-saturation constants [Formula: see text] , and [Formula: see text] ). High-throughput sequencing analysis indicated Methanobacterials, Methanosarcinales, and Soil Crenarchaeotic were the main functional microorganisms for S-DAMO in landfill. The metabolic pathway of S-DAMO was speculated as the reverse methanogenesis pathway through Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUST) analysis, while methanogenesis was the methyl nutrition way based on methanol. The enzymes related to the carbon and sulfur cycles and their relative abundances in the microcosms were analyzed to graph the methane metabolic pathway and the sulfur metabolic pathway. The findings provide important parameters for CH4 mitigation in landfills, and give a new insight for understanding S-DAMO metabolic pathway in landfill.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zifang Chi
- Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China.
| | - Yuhuan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China
| | - Ying Yin
- Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China
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5
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Chadwick GL, Skennerton CT, Laso-Pérez R, Leu AO, Speth DR, Yu H, Morgan-Lang C, Hatzenpichler R, Goudeau D, Malmstrom R, Brazelton WJ, Woyke T, Hallam SJ, Tyson GW, Wegener G, Boetius A, Orphan VJ. Comparative genomics reveals electron transfer and syntrophic mechanisms differentiating methanotrophic and methanogenic archaea. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001508. [PMID: 34986141 PMCID: PMC9012536 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled to sulfate reduction is a microbially mediated process requiring a syntrophic partnership between anaerobic methanotrophic (ANME) archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Based on genome taxonomy, ANME lineages are polyphyletic within the phylum Halobacterota, none of which have been isolated in pure culture. Here, we reconstruct 28 ANME genomes from environmental metagenomes and flow sorted syntrophic consortia. Together with a reanalysis of previously published datasets, these genomes enable a comparative analysis of all marine ANME clades. We review the genomic features that separate ANME from their methanogenic relatives and identify what differentiates ANME clades. Large multiheme cytochromes and bioenergetic complexes predicted to be involved in novel electron bifurcation reactions are well distributed and conserved in the ANME archaea, while significant variations in the anabolic C1 pathways exists between clades. Our analysis raises the possibility that methylotrophic methanogenesis may have evolved from a methanotrophic ancestor. A comparative genomics study of anaerobic methanotrophic (ANME) archaea reveals the genetic "parts list" associated with the repeated evolutionary transition between methanogenic and methanotrophic metabolism in the archaeal domain of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grayson L. Chadwick
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (GLC); (VJO)
| | - Connor T. Skennerton
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Rafael Laso-Pérez
- Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Science, and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Andy O. Leu
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Daan R. Speth
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Hang Yu
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Connor Morgan-Lang
- Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, University of British Columbia, Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Roland Hatzenpichler
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Danielle Goudeau
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Rex Malmstrom
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - William J. Brazelton
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Tanja Woyke
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Steven J. Hallam
- Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, University of British Columbia, Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
- Genome Science and Technology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- ECOSCOPE Training Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Gene W. Tyson
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gunter Wegener
- Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Science, and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Antje Boetius
- Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Science, and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Victoria J. Orphan
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (GLC); (VJO)
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6
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Kurth JM, Nobu MK, Tamaki H, de Jonge N, Berger S, Jetten MSM, Yamamoto K, Mayumi D, Sakata S, Bai L, Cheng L, Nielsen JL, Kamagata Y, Wagner T, Welte CU. Methanogenic archaea use a bacteria-like methyltransferase system to demethoxylate aromatic compounds. THE ISME JOURNAL 2021; 15:3549-3565. [PMID: 34145392 PMCID: PMC8630106 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-01025-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Methane-generating archaea drive the final step in anaerobic organic compound mineralization and dictate the carbon flow of Earth's diverse anoxic ecosystems in the absence of inorganic electron acceptors. Although such Archaea were presumed to be restricted to life on simple compounds like hydrogen (H2), acetate or methanol, an archaeon, Methermicoccus shengliensis, was recently found to convert methoxylated aromatic compounds to methane. Methoxylated aromatic compounds are important components of lignin and coal, and are present in most subsurface sediments. Despite the novelty of such a methoxydotrophic archaeon its metabolism has not yet been explored. In this study, transcriptomics and proteomics reveal that under methoxydotrophic growth M. shengliensis expresses an O-demethylation/methyltransferase system related to the one used by acetogenic bacteria. Enzymatic assays provide evidence for a two step-mechanisms in which the methyl-group from the methoxy compound is (1) transferred on cobalamin and (2) further transferred on the C1-carrier tetrahydromethanopterin, a mechanism distinct from conventional methanogenic methyl-transfer systems which use coenzyme M as final acceptor. We further hypothesize that this likely leads to an atypical use of the methanogenesis pathway that derives cellular energy from methyl transfer (Mtr) rather than electron transfer (F420H2 re-oxidation) as found for methylotrophic methanogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M Kurth
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Soehngen Institute of Anaerobic Microbiology, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Masaru K Nobu
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan.
| | - Hideyuki Tamaki
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Nadieh de Jonge
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg East, Denmark
| | - Stefanie Berger
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mike S M Jetten
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Soehngen Institute of Anaerobic Microbiology, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Earth System Science Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kyosuke Yamamoto
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Sapporo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Mayumi
- Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Susumu Sakata
- Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Liping Bai
- Key Laboratory of Energy Microbiology and Its Application of Ministry of Agriculture, Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Energy Microbiology and Its Application of Ministry of Agriculture, Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, China
| | - Jeppe Lund Nielsen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg East, Denmark
| | - Yoichi Kamagata
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Tristan Wagner
- Microbial Metabolism research group, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Cornelia U Welte
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Soehngen Institute of Anaerobic Microbiology, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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7
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Kremp F, Müller V. Methanol and methyl group conversion in acetogenic bacteria: biochemistry, physiology and application. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 45:5903270. [PMID: 32901799 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of bulk chemicals mostly depends on exhausting petroleum sources and leads to emission of greenhouse gases. Within the last decades the urgent need for alternative sources has increased and the development of bio-based processes received new attention. To avoid the competition between the use of sugars as food or fuel, other feedstocks with high availability and low cost are needed, which brought acetogenic bacteria into focus. This group of anaerobic organisms uses mixtures of CO2, CO and H2 for the production of mostly acetate and ethanol. Also methanol, a cheap and abundant bulk chemical produced from methane, is a suitable substrate for acetogenic bacteria. In methylotrophic acetogens the methyl group is transferred to the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, a pathway to reduce CO2 to acetate via a series of C1-intermediates bound to tetrahydrofolic acid. Here we describe the biochemistry and bioenergetics of methanol conversion in the biotechnologically interesting group of anaerobic, acetogenic bacteria. Further, the bioenergetics of biochemical production from methanol is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Kremp
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue Str. 9, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Volker Müller
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue Str. 9, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
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8
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Fischer PQ, Sánchez‐Andrea I, Stams AJM, Villanueva L, Sousa DZ. Anaerobic microbial methanol conversion in marine sediments. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:1348-1362. [PMID: 33587796 PMCID: PMC8048578 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Methanol is an ubiquitous compound that plays a role in microbial processes as a carbon and energy source, intermediate in metabolic processes or as end product in fermentation. In anoxic environments, methanol can act as the sole carbon and energy source for several guilds of microorganisms: sulfate-reducing microorganisms, nitrate-reducing microorganisms, acetogens and methanogens. In marine sediments, these guilds compete for methanol as their common substrate, employing different biochemical pathways. In this review, we will give an overview of current knowledge of the various ways in which methanol reaches marine sediments, the ecology of microorganisms capable of utilizing methanol and their metabolism. Furthermore, through a metagenomic analysis, we shed light on the unknown diversity of methanol utilizers in marine sediments which is yet to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Q. Fischer
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4Wageningen6708 WEThe Netherlands
- Department of Marine Microbiology and BiogeochemistryRoyal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, P.O. Box 59Den BurgTexel7197 ABThe Netherlands
| | - Irene Sánchez‐Andrea
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4Wageningen6708 WEThe Netherlands
| | - Alfons J. M. Stams
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4Wageningen6708 WEThe Netherlands
- Centre of Biological EngineeringUniversity of Minho, Campus de GualtarBraga4710‐057Portugal
| | - Laura Villanueva
- Department of Marine Microbiology and BiogeochemistryRoyal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, P.O. Box 59Den BurgTexel7197 ABThe Netherlands
- Faculty of GeosciencesUtrecht University, Princetonlaan 8aUtrecht3584 CBThe Netherlands
| | - Diana Z. Sousa
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4Wageningen6708 WEThe Netherlands
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9
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Jia J, Li J, Qi L, Li L, Yue L, Dong X. Post-transcriptional regulation is involved in the cold-active methanol-based methanogenic pathway of a psychrophilic methanogen. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:3773-3788. [PMID: 33538379 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The methanol-derived methanogenetic pathway contributes to bulk methane production in cold regions, but the cold adaptation mechanisms are obscure. This work investigated the mechanisms using a psychrophilic methylotrophic methanogen Methanolobus psychrophilus R15. R15 possesses two mtaCB operon paralogues-encoding methanol:corrinoid methyltransferase that is key to methanol-based methanogenesis. Molecular combined methanogenic assays determined that MtaC1 is important in methanogenesis at the optimal temperature of 18°C, but MtaC2 can be a cold-adaptive paralogue by highly upregulated at 8°C. The 5'P-seq and 5'RACE all assayed that processing occurred at the 5' untranslated region (5'-UTR) of mtaC2; reporter genes detected higher protein expression, and RNA half-life experiments assayed prolonged lifespan of the processed transcript. Therefore, mtaC2 5'-UTR processing to move the bulged structure elevated both the translation efficiency and transcript stability. 5'P-seq, quantitative RT-PCR and northern blot all identified enhanced mtaC2 5'-UTR processing at 8°C, which could contribute to the upregulation of mtaC2 at cold. The R15 cell extract contains an endoribonuclease cleaving an identified 10 nt-processing motif and the native mtaC2 5'-UTR particularly folded at 8°C. Therefore, this study revealed a 5'-UTR processing mediated post-transcriptional regulation mechanism controlling the cold-adaptive methanol-supported methanogenetic pathway, which may be used by other methylotrophic methanogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lei Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Lingyan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Lei Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiuzhu Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100049, China
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10
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Zhang JW, Dong HP, Hou LJ, Liu Y, Ou YF, Zheng YL, Han P, Liang X, Yin GY, Wu DM, Liu M, Li M. Newly discovered Asgard archaea Hermodarchaeota potentially degrade alkanes and aromatics via alkyl/benzyl-succinate synthase and benzoyl-CoA pathway. ISME JOURNAL 2021; 15:1826-1843. [PMID: 33452484 PMCID: PMC8163825 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-00890-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Asgard archaea are widely distributed in anaerobic environments. Previous studies revealed the potential capability of Asgard archaea to utilize various organic substrates including proteins, carbohydrates, fatty acids, amino acids and hydrocarbons, suggesting that Asgard archaea play an important role in sediment carbon cycling. Here, we describe a previously unrecognized archaeal phylum, Hermodarchaeota, affiliated with the Asgard superphylum. The genomes of these archaea were recovered from metagenomes generated from mangrove sediments, and were found to encode alkyl/benzyl-succinate synthases and their activating enzymes that are similar to those identified in alkane-degrading sulfate-reducing bacteria. Hermodarchaeota also encode enzymes potentially involved in alkyl-coenzyme A and benzoyl-coenzyme A oxidation, the Wood–Ljungdahl pathway and nitrate reduction. These results indicate that members of this phylum have the potential to strictly anaerobically degrade alkanes and aromatic compounds, coupling the reduction of nitrate. By screening Sequence Read Archive, additional genes encoding 16S rRNA and alkyl/benzyl-succinate synthases analogous to those in Hermodarchaeota were identified in metagenomic datasets from a wide range of marine and freshwater sediments. These findings suggest that Asgard archaea capable of degrading alkanes and aromatics via formation of alkyl/benzyl-substituted succinates are ubiquitous in sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.,School of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China
| | - Hong-Po Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
| | - Li-Jun Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
| | - Yang Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Ya-Fei Ou
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yan-Ling Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Ping Han
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Xia Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Guo-Yu Yin
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Dian-Ming Wu
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Min Liu
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Meng Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
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11
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Huening KA, Jiang R, Krzycki JA. Kinetic and substrate complex characterization of RamA, a corrinoid protein reductive activase from Methanosarcina barkeri. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2020; 367:5896951. [PMID: 32840570 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnaa128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In microbial corrinoid-dependent methyltransferase systems, adventitious Co(I)-corrinoid oxidation halts catalysis and necessitates repair by ATP-dependent reductive activases. RamA, an activase with a C-terminal ferredoxin domain with two [4Fe-4S] clusters from methanogenic archaea, has been far less studied than the bacterial activases bearing an N-terminal ferredoxin domain with one [2Fe-2S] cluster. These differences suggest RamA might prove to have other distinctive characteristics. Here, we examine RamA kinetics and the stoichiometry of the corrinoid protein:RamA complex. Like bacterial activases, K+ stimulates RamA. Potassium stimulation had been questioned due to differences in the primary structure of bacterial and methanogen activases. Unlike one bacterial activase, ATP is not inhibitory allowing the first determination of apparent kinetic parameters for any corrinoid activase. Unlike bacterial activases, a single RamA monomer complexes a single corrinoid protein monomer. Alanine replacement of a RamA serine residue corresponding to the serine of one bacterial activase which ligates the corrinoid cobalt during complex formation led to only moderate changes in the kinetics of RamA. These results reveal new differences in the two types of corrinoid activases, and provide direct evidence for the proposal that corrinoid activases act as catalytic monomers, unlike other enzymes that couple ATP hydrolysis to difficult reductions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Huening
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Ruisheng Jiang
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Joseph A Krzycki
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.,The Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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12
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Kißling L, Greiser Y, Dürichen H, Studenik S. Flavodoxin hydroquinone provides electrons for the ATP-dependent reactivation of protein-bound corrinoid cofactors. FEBS J 2020; 287:4971-4981. [PMID: 32160390 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Corrinoid-dependent enzyme systems rely on the super-reduced state of the protein-bound corrinoid cofactor to be functional, for example, in methyl transfer reactions. Due to the low redox potential of the [CoII ]/[CoI ] couple, autoxidation of the corrinoid cofactor occurs and leads to the formation of the inactive [CoII ]-state. For the reactivation, which is an energy-demanding process, electrons have to be transferred from a physiological donor to the corrinoid cofactor by the help of a reductive activator protein. In this study, we identified reduced flavodoxin as electron donor for the ATP-dependent reduction of protein-bound corrinoid cofactors of bacterial O-demethylase enzyme systems. Reduced flavodoxin was generated enzymatically using pyruvate:ferredoxin/flavodoxin oxidoreductase rather than hydrogenase. Two of the four flavodoxins identified in Acetobacterium dehalogenans and Desulfitobacterium hafniense DCB-2 were functional in supplying electrons for corrinoid reduction. They exhibited a midpoint potential of about -400 mV (ESHE , pH 7.5) for the semiquinone/hydroquinone transition. Reduced flavodoxin could be replaced by reduced clostridial ferredoxin. It was shown that the low-potential electrons of reduced flavodoxin are first transferred to the iron-sulfur cluster of the reductive activator and finally to the protein-bound corrinoid cofactor. This study further highlights the importance of reduced flavodoxin, which allows maintaining a variety of enzymatic reaction cycles by delivering low-potential electrons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Kißling
- Department of Applied and Ecological Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Yvonne Greiser
- Department of Applied and Ecological Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Hendrike Dürichen
- Department of Applied and Ecological Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Sandra Studenik
- Department of Applied and Ecological Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
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13
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Creighbaum AJ, Ticak T, Shinde S, Wang X, Ferguson DJ. Examination of the Glycine Betaine-Dependent Methylotrophic Methanogenesis Pathway: Insights Into Anaerobic Quaternary Amine Methylotrophy. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2572. [PMID: 31787957 PMCID: PMC6855144 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies indicate that environmentally abundant quaternary amines (QAs) are a primary source for methanogenesis, yet the catabolic enzymes are unknown. We hypothesized that the methanogenic archaeon Methanolobus vulcani B1d metabolizes glycine betaine (GB) through a corrinoid-dependent GB:coenzyme M (CoM) methyl transfer pathway. The draft genome sequence of M. vulcani B1d revealed a gene encoding a predicted non-pyrrolysine MttB homolog (MV8460) with high sequence similarity to the GB methyltransferase encoded by Desulfitobacterium hafniense Y51. MV8460 catalyzes GB-dependent methylation of free cob(I)alamin indicating it is an authentic MtgB enzyme. Proteomic analysis revealed that MV8460 and a corrinoid binding protein (MV8465) were highly abundant when M. vulcani B1d was grown on GB relative to growth on trimethylamine. The abundance of a corrinoid reductive activation enzyme (MV10335) and a methylcorrinoid:CoM methyltransferase (MV10360) were significantly higher in GB-grown B1d lysates compared to other homologs. The GB:CoM pathway was fully reconstituted in vitro using recombinant MV8460, MV8465, MV10335, and MV10360. Demonstration of the complete GB:CoM pathway expands the knowledge of direct QA-dependent methylotrophy and establishes a model to identify additional ecologically relevant anaerobic quaternary amine pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Creighbaum
- Department of Microbiology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
| | - Tomislav Ticak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States
| | - Shrameeta Shinde
- Department of Microbiology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
| | - Donald J Ferguson
- Department of Microbiology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States.,Department of Biological Sciences, Miami University Regionals, Hamilton, OH, United States
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14
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Holland SI, Edwards RJ, Ertan H, Wong YK, Russell TL, Deshpande NP, Manefield MJ, Lee M. Whole genome sequencing of a novel, dichloromethane-fermenting Peptococcaceae from an enrichment culture. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7775. [PMID: 31592187 PMCID: PMC6778437 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria capable of dechlorinating the toxic environmental contaminant dichloromethane (DCM, CH2Cl2) are of great interest for potential bioremediation applications. A novel, strictly anaerobic, DCM-fermenting bacterium, "DCMF", was enriched from organochlorine-contaminated groundwater near Botany Bay, Australia. The enrichment culture was maintained in minimal, mineral salt medium amended with dichloromethane as the sole energy source. PacBio whole genome SMRTTM sequencing of DCMF allowed de novo, gap-free assembly despite the presence of cohabiting organisms in the culture. Illumina sequencing reads were utilised to correct minor indels. The single, circularised 6.44 Mb chromosome was annotated with the IMG pipeline and contains 5,773 predicted protein-coding genes. Based on 16S rRNA gene and predicted proteome phylogeny, the organism appears to be a novel member of the Peptococcaceae family. The DCMF genome is large in comparison to known DCM-fermenting bacteria. It includes an abundance of methyltransferases, which may provide clues to the basis of its DCM metabolism, as well as potential to metabolise additional methylated substrates such as quaternary amines. Full annotation has been provided in a custom genome browser and search tool, in addition to multiple sequence alignments and phylogenetic trees for every predicted protein, http://www.slimsuite.unsw.edu.au/research/dcmf/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie I. Holland
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Richard J. Edwards
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Haluk Ertan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Yie Kuan Wong
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Tonia L. Russell
- Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nandan P. Deshpande
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michael J. Manefield
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Matthew Lee
- UNSW Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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15
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Biochemical Characterization of the Methylmercaptopropionate:Cob(I)alamin Methyltransferase from Methanosarcina acetivorans. J Bacteriol 2019; 201:JB.00130-19. [PMID: 30936368 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00130-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Methanogenesis from methylated substrates is initiated by substrate-specific methyltransferases that generate the central metabolic intermediate methyl-coenzyme M. This reaction involves a methyl-corrinoid protein intermediate and one or two cognate methyltransferases. Based on genetic data, the Methanosarcina acetivorans MtpC (corrinoid protein) and MtpA (methyltransferase) proteins were suggested to catalyze the methylmercaptopropionate (MMPA):coenzyme M (CoM) methyl transfer reaction without a second methyltransferase. To test this, MtpA was purified after overexpression in its native host and characterized biochemically. MtpA catalyzes a robust methyl transfer reaction using free methylcob(III)alamin as the donor and mercaptopropionate (MPA) as the acceptor, with k cat of 0.315 s-1 and apparent Km for MPA of 12 μM. CoM did not serve as a methyl acceptor; thus, a second unidentified methyltransferase is required to catalyze the full MMPA:CoM methyl transfer reaction. The physiologically relevant methylation of cob(I)alamin with MMPA, which is thermodynamically unfavorable, was also demonstrated, but only at high substrate concentrations. Methylation of cob(I)alamin with methanol, dimethylsulfide, dimethylamine, and methyl-CoM was not observed, even at high substrate concentrations. Although the corrinoid protein MtpC was poorly expressed alone, a stable MtpA/MtpC complex was obtained when both proteins were coexpressed. Biochemical characterization of this complex was not feasible, because the corrinoid cofactor of this complex was in the inactive Co(II) state and was not reactivated by incubation with strong reductants. The MtsF protein, composed of both corrinoid and methyltransferase domains, copurifies with the MtpA/MtpC, suggesting that it may be involved in MMPA metabolism.IMPORTANCE Methylmercaptopropionate (MMPA) is an environmentally significant molecule produced by degradation of the abundant marine metabolite dimethylsulfoniopropionate, which plays a significant role in the biogeochemical cycles of both carbon and sulfur, with ramifications for ecosystem productivity and climate homeostasis. Detailed knowledge of the mechanisms for MMPA production and consumption is key to understanding steady-state levels of this compound in the biosphere. Unfortunately, the biochemistry required for MMPA catabolism under anoxic conditions is poorly characterized. The data reported here validate the suggestion that the MtpA protein catalyzes the first step in the methanogenic catabolism of MMPA. However, the enzyme does not catalyze a proposed second step required to produce the key intermediate, methyl coenzyme M. Therefore, the additional enzymes required for methanogenic MMPA catabolism await discovery.
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16
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Ghosh AP, Mamun AA, Lodowski P, Jaworska M, Kozlowski PM. Mechanism of the photo-induced activation of Co C bond in methylcobalamin-dependent methionine synthase. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY 2018; 189:306-317. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2018.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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17
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Kremp F, Poehlein A, Daniel R, Müller V. Methanol metabolism in the acetogenic bacterium Acetobacterium woodii. Environ Microbiol 2018; 20:4369-4384. [PMID: 30003650 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Methanol derived from plant tissue is ubiquitous in anaerobic sediments and a good substrate for anaerobes growing on C1 compounds such as methanogens and acetogens. In contrast to methanogens little is known about the physiology, biochemistry and bioenergetics of methanol utilization in acetogenic bacteria. To fill this gap, we have used the model acetogen Acetobacterium woodii to study methanol metabolism using physiological and biochemical experiments paired with molecular studies and transcriptome analysis. These studies identified the genes and enzymes involved in acetogenesis from methanol and the redox carriers involved. We will present the first comprehensive model for carbon and electron flow from methanol in an acetogen and the bioenergetics of acetogenesis from methanol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Kremp
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue Str. 9, D-60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Anja Poehlein
- Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rolf Daniel
- Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Georg August University, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Volker Müller
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue Str. 9, D-60438, Frankfurt, Germany
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18
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Lechtenfeld M, Heine J, Sameith J, Kremp F, Müller V. Glycine betaine metabolism in the acetogenic bacteriumAcetobacterium woodii. Environ Microbiol 2018; 20:4512-4525. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mats Lechtenfeld
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & BioenergeticsInstitute of Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Max‐von‐Laue Str. 9, D‐60438 Frankfurt Germany
| | - Julia Heine
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & BioenergeticsInstitute of Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Max‐von‐Laue Str. 9, D‐60438 Frankfurt Germany
| | - Janin Sameith
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & BioenergeticsInstitute of Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Max‐von‐Laue Str. 9, D‐60438 Frankfurt Germany
| | - Florian Kremp
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & BioenergeticsInstitute of Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Max‐von‐Laue Str. 9, D‐60438 Frankfurt Germany
| | - Volker Müller
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & BioenergeticsInstitute of Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Max‐von‐Laue Str. 9, D‐60438 Frankfurt Germany
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19
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The deep-subsurface sulfate reducer Desulfotomaculum kuznetsovii employs two methanol-degrading pathways. Nat Commun 2018; 9:239. [PMID: 29339722 PMCID: PMC5770442 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02518-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Methanol is generally metabolized through a pathway initiated by a cobalamine-containing methanol methyltransferase by anaerobic methylotrophs (such as methanogens and acetogens), or through oxidation to formaldehyde using a methanol dehydrogenase by aerobes. Methanol is an important substrate in deep-subsurface environments, where thermophilic sulfate-reducing bacteria of the genus Desulfotomaculum have key roles. Here, we study the methanol metabolism of Desulfotomaculum kuznetsovii strain 17T, isolated from a 3000-m deep geothermal water reservoir. We use proteomics to analyze cells grown with methanol and sulfate in the presence and absence of cobalt and vitamin B12. The results indicate the presence of two methanol-degrading pathways in D. kuznetsovii, a cobalt-dependent methanol methyltransferase and a cobalt-independent methanol dehydrogenase, which is further confirmed by stable isotope fractionation. This is the first report of a microorganism utilizing two distinct methanol conversion pathways. We hypothesize that this gives D. kuznetsovii a competitive advantage in its natural environment.
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20
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Kröninger L, Gottschling J, Deppenmeier U. Growth Characteristics of Methanomassiliicoccus luminyensis and Expression of Methyltransferase Encoding Genes. ARCHAEA (VANCOUVER, B.C.) 2017; 2017:2756573. [PMID: 29230105 PMCID: PMC5688252 DOI: 10.1155/2017/2756573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
DNA sequence analysis of the human gut revealed the presence a seventh order of methanogens referred to as Methanomassiliicoccales. Methanomassiliicoccus luminyensis is the only member of this order that grows in pure culture. Here, we show that the organism has a doubling time of 1.8 d with methanol + H2 and a growth yield of 2.4 g dry weight/mol CH4. M. luminyensis also uses methylamines + H2 (monomethylamine, dimethylamine, and trimethylamine) with doubling times of 2.1-2.3 d. Similar cell yields were obtained with equimolar concentrations of methanol and methylamines with respect to their methyl group contents. The transcript levels of genes encoding proteins involved in substrate utilization indicated increased amounts of mRNA from the mtaBC2 gene cluster in methanol-grown cells. When methylamines were used as substrates, mRNA of the mtb/mtt operon and of the mtmBC1 cluster were found in high abundance. The transcript level of mtaC2 was almost identical in methanol- and methylamine-grown cells, indicating that genes for methanol utilization were constitutively expressed in high amounts. The same observation was made with resting cells where methanol always yielded the highest CH4 production rate independently from the growth substrate. Hence, M. luminyensis is adapted to habitats that provide methanol + H2 as substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Kröninger
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Uwe Deppenmeier
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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21
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Gilmore SP, Henske JK, Sexton JA, Solomon KV, Seppälä S, Yoo JI, Huyett LM, Pressman A, Cogan JZ, Kivenson V, Peng X, Tan Y, Valentine DL, O'Malley MA. Genomic analysis of methanogenic archaea reveals a shift towards energy conservation. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:639. [PMID: 28826405 PMCID: PMC5563889 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4036-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The metabolism of archaeal methanogens drives methane release into the environment and is critical to understanding global carbon cycling. Methanogenesis operates at a very low reducing potential compared to other forms of respiration and is therefore critical to many anaerobic environments. Harnessing or altering methanogen metabolism has the potential to mitigate global warming and even be utilized for energy applications. RESULTS Here, we report draft genome sequences for the isolated methanogens Methanobacterium bryantii, Methanosarcina spelaei, Methanosphaera cuniculi, and Methanocorpusculum parvum. These anaerobic, methane-producing archaea represent a diverse set of isolates, capable of methylotrophic, acetoclastic, and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Assembly and analysis of the genomes allowed for simple and rapid reconstruction of metabolism in the four methanogens. Comparison of the distribution of Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) proteins to a sample of genomes from the RefSeq database revealed a trend towards energy conservation in genome composition of all methanogens sequenced. Further analysis of the predicted membrane proteins and transporters distinguished differing energy conservation methods utilized during methanogenesis, such as chemiosmotic coupling in Msar. spelaei and electron bifurcation linked to chemiosmotic coupling in Mbac. bryantii and Msph. cuniculi. CONCLUSIONS Methanogens occupy a unique ecological niche, acting as the terminal electron acceptors in anaerobic environments, and their genomes display a significant shift towards energy conservation. The genome-enabled reconstructed metabolisms reported here have significance to diverse anaerobic communities and have led to proposed substrate utilization not previously reported in isolation, such as formate and methanol metabolism in Mbac. bryantii and CO2 metabolism in Msph. cuniculi. The newly proposed substrates establish an important foundation with which to decipher how methanogens behave in native communities, as CO2 and formate are common electron carriers in microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean P Gilmore
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - John K Henske
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Jessica A Sexton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Kevin V Solomon
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.,Present Address: Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Susanna Seppälä
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.,Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | - Justin I Yoo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Lauren M Huyett
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Abe Pressman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - James Z Cogan
- Biology Program, College of Creative Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Veronika Kivenson
- Department of Earth Science and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Xuefeng Peng
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.,Department of Earth Science and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - YerPeng Tan
- California NanoScience Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - David L Valentine
- Department of Earth Science and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Michelle A O'Malley
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.
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22
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Dong M, Gonzalez TD, Klems MM, Steinberg LM, Chen W, Papoutsakis ET, Bahnson BJ. In vitro methanol production from methyl coenzyme M using the Methanosarcina barkeri MtaABC protein complex. Biotechnol Prog 2017; 33:1243-1249. [PMID: 28556629 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.2503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Methanol:coenzyme M methyltransferase is an enzyme complex composed of three subunits, MtaA, MtaB, and MtaC, found in methanogenic archaea and is needed for their growth on methanol ultimately producing methane. MtaABC catalyzes the energetically favorable methyl transfer from methanol to coenzyme M to form methyl coenzyme M. Here we demonstrate that this important reaction for possible production of methanol from the anaerobic oxidation of methane can be reversed in vitro. To this effect, we have expressed and purified the Methanosarcina barkeri MtaABC enzyme, and developed an in vitro functional assay that demonstrates MtaABC can catalyze the energetically unfavorable (ΔG° = 27 kJ/mol) reverse reaction starting from methyl coenzyme M and generating methanol as a product. Demonstration of an in vitro ability of MtaABC to produce methanol may ultimately enable the anaerobic oxidation of methane to produce methanol and from methanol alternative fuel or fuel-precursor molecules. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:1243-1249, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Dong
- Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716
| | - Tara D Gonzalez
- Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716
| | - Meghan M Klems
- Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716
| | - Lisa M Steinberg
- Dept. of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Delaware Biotechnology Inst., University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19711
| | - Wilfred Chen
- Dept. of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716
| | - Eleftherios T Papoutsakis
- Dept. of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Delaware Biotechnology Inst., University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19711
| | - Brian J Bahnson
- Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716
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23
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Visser M, Pieterse MM, Pinkse MWH, Nijsse B, Verhaert PDEM, de Vos WM, Schaap PJ, Stams AJM. Unravelling the one-carbon metabolism of the acetogen Sporomusa strain An4 by genome and proteome analysis. Environ Microbiol 2015; 18:2843-55. [PMID: 26147498 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Revised: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 06/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The Sporomusa genus comprises anaerobic spore-forming acetogenic bacteria that stain Gram-negative. Sporomusa species typically grow with one-carbon substrates and N-methylated compounds. In the degradation of these compounds methyltransferases are involved. In addition, Sporomusa species can grow autotrophically with H2 and CO2 , and use a variety of sugars for acetogenic growth. Here we describe a genome analysis of Sporomusa strain An4 and a proteome analysis of cells grown under five different conditions. Comparison of the genomes of Sporomusa strain An4 and Sporomusa ovata strain H1 indicated that An4 is a S. ovata strain. Proteome analysis showed a high abundance of several methyltransferases, predominantly trimethylamine methyltransferases, during growth with betaine, whereas trimethylamine is one of the main end-products of betaine degradation. In methanol degradation methyltransferases are also involved. In methanol-utilizing methanogens, two methyltransferases catalyse methanol conversion, methyltransferase 1 composed of subunits MtaB and MtaC and methyltransferase 2, also called MtaA. The two methyltransferase 1 subunits MtaB and MtaC were highly abundant when strain An4 was grown with methanol. However, instead of MtaA a methyltetrahydrofolate methyltransferase was synthesized. We propose a novel methanol degradation pathway in Sporomusa strain An4 that uses a methyltetrahydrofolate methyltransferase instead of MtaA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Visser
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Mervin M Pieterse
- Department of Biotechnology, Technische Universiteit Delft, Julianalaan 67, 2628 BC, Delft, The Netherlands.,Netherlands Proteomics Centre, Julianalaan 67, 2628 BC, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn W H Pinkse
- Department of Biotechnology, Technische Universiteit Delft, Julianalaan 67, 2628 BC, Delft, The Netherlands.,Netherlands Proteomics Centre, Julianalaan 67, 2628 BC, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Bart Nijsse
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter D E M Verhaert
- Department of Biotechnology, Technische Universiteit Delft, Julianalaan 67, 2628 BC, Delft, The Netherlands.,Netherlands Proteomics Centre, Julianalaan 67, 2628 BC, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Willem M de Vos
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Peter J Schaap
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Alfons J M Stams
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
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Rerouting Cellular Electron Flux To Increase the Rate of Biological Methane Production. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:6528-37. [PMID: 26162885 PMCID: PMC4561719 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01162-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 06/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Methanogens are anaerobic archaea that grow by producing methane, a gas that is both an efficient renewable fuel and a potent greenhouse gas. We observed that overexpression of the cytoplasmic heterodisulfide reductase enzyme HdrABC increased the rate of methane production from methanol by 30% without affecting the growth rate relative to the parent strain. Hdr enzymes are essential in all known methane-producing archaea. They function as the terminal oxidases in the methanogen electron transport system by reducing the coenzyme M (2-mercaptoethane sulfonate) and coenzyme B (7-mercaptoheptanoylthreonine sulfonate) heterodisulfide, CoM-S-S-CoB, to regenerate the thiol-coenzymes for reuse. In Methanosarcina acetivorans, HdrABC expression caused an increased rate of methanogenesis and a decrease in metabolic efficiency on methylotrophic substrates. When acetate was the sole carbon and energy source, neither deletion nor overexpression of HdrABC had an effect on growth or methane production rates. These results suggest that in cells grown on methylated substrates, the cell compensates for energy losses due to expression of HdrABC with an increased rate of substrate turnover and that HdrABC lacks the appropriate electron donor in acetate-grown cells.
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Lodowski P, Jaworska M, Garabato BD, Kozlowski PM. Mechanism of Co–C Bond Photolysis in Methylcobalamin: Influence of Axial Base. J Phys Chem A 2015; 119:3913-28. [DOI: 10.1021/jp5120674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Lodowski
- Department
of Theoretical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Silesia, Szkolna 9, PL-40 006 Katowice, Poland
| | - Maria Jaworska
- Department
of Theoretical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Silesia, Szkolna 9, PL-40 006 Katowice, Poland
| | - Brady D. Garabato
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, United States
| | - Pawel M. Kozlowski
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, United States
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Leon DR, Ytterberg AJ, Boontheung P, Kim U, Loo JA, Gunsalus RP, Ogorzalek Loo RR. Mining proteomic data to expose protein modifications in Methanosarcina mazei strain Gö1. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:149. [PMID: 25798134 PMCID: PMC4350412 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2014] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteomic tools identify constituents of complex mixtures, often delivering long lists of identified proteins. The high-throughput methods excel at matching tandem mass spectrometry data to spectra predicted from sequence databases. Unassigned mass spectra are ignored, but could, in principle, provide valuable information on unanticipated modifications and improve protein annotations while consuming limited quantities of material. Strategies to "mine" information from these discards are presented, along with discussion of features that, when present, provide strong support for modifications. In this study we mined LC-MS/MS datasets of proteolytically-digested concanavalin A pull down fractions from Methanosarcina mazei Gö1 cell lysates. Analyses identified 154 proteins. Many of the observed proteins displayed post-translationally modified forms, including O-formylated and methyl-esterified segments that appear biologically relevant (i.e., not artifacts of sample handling). Interesting cleavages and modifications (e.g., S-cyanylation and trimethylation) were observed near catalytic sites of methanogenesis enzymes. Of 31 Methanosarcina protein N-termini recovered by concanavalin A binding or from a previous study, only M. mazei S-layer protein MM1976 and its M. acetivorans C2A orthologue, MA0829, underwent signal peptide excision. Experimental results contrast with predictions from algorithms SignalP 3.0 and Exprot, which were found to over-predict the presence of signal peptides. Proteins MM0002, MM0716, MM1364, and MM1976 were found to be glycosylated, and employing chromatography tailored specifically for glycopeptides will likely reveal more. This study supplements limited, existing experimental datasets of mature archaeal N-termini, including presence or absence of signal peptides, translation initiation sites, and other processing. Methanosarcina surface and membrane proteins are richly modified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah R Leon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - A Jimmy Ytterberg
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Pinmanee Boontheung
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Unmi Kim
- Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Joseph A Loo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA ; Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA ; UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Robert P Gunsalus
- Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA ; UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rachel R Ogorzalek Loo
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA ; UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Purwantini E, Torto-Alalibo T, Lomax J, Setubal JC, Tyler BM, Mukhopadhyay B. Genetic resources for methane production from biomass described with the Gene Ontology. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:634. [PMID: 25520705 PMCID: PMC4253957 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2014] [Accepted: 11/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Methane (CH4) is a valuable fuel, constituting 70–95% of natural gas, and a potent greenhouse gas. Release of CH4 into the atmosphere contributes to climate change. Biological CH4 production or methanogenesis is mostly performed by methanogens, a group of strictly anaerobic archaea. The direct substrates for methanogenesis are H2 plus CO2, acetate, formate, methylamines, methanol, methyl sulfides, and ethanol or a secondary alcohol plus CO2. In numerous anaerobic niches in nature, methanogenesis facilitates mineralization of complex biopolymers such as carbohydrates, lipids and proteins generated by primary producers. Thus, methanogens are critical players in the global carbon cycle. The same process is used in anaerobic treatment of municipal, industrial and agricultural wastes, reducing the biological pollutants in the wastes and generating methane. It also holds potential for commercial production of natural gas from renewable resources. This process operates in digestive systems of many animals, including cattle, and humans. In contrast, in deep-sea hydrothermal vents methanogenesis is a primary production process, allowing chemosynthesis of biomaterials from H2 plus CO2. In this report we present Gene Ontology (GO) terms that can be used to describe processes, functions and cellular components involved in methanogenic biodegradation and biosynthesis of specialized coenzymes that methanogens use. Some of these GO terms were previously available and the rest were generated in our Microbial Energy Gene Ontology (MENGO) project. A recently discovered non-canonical CH4 production process is also described. We have performed manual GO annotation of selected methanogenesis genes, based on experimental evidence, providing “gold standards” for machine annotation and automated discovery of methanogenesis genes or systems in diverse genomes. Most of the GO-related information presented in this report is available at the MENGO website (http://www.mengo.biochem.vt.edu/).
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Affiliation(s)
- Endang Purwantini
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Trudy Torto-Alalibo
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Jane Lomax
- European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), European Molecular Biology Laboratory Hinxton, UK
| | - João C Setubal
- Department of Biochemistry, Universidade de São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil ; Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Brett M Tyler
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA, USA ; Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Biswarup Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA, USA ; Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA, USA ; Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA, USA
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Ticak T, Hariraju D, Arcelay MB, Arivett BA, Fiester SE, Ferguson DJ. Isolation and characterization of a tetramethylammonium-degrading Methanococcoides strain and a novel glycine betaine-utilizing Methanolobus strain. Arch Microbiol 2014; 197:197-209. [DOI: 10.1007/s00203-014-1043-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Revised: 09/23/2014] [Accepted: 09/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Borrel G, O'Toole PW, Harris HMB, Peyret P, Brugère JF, Gribaldo S. Phylogenomic data support a seventh order of Methylotrophic methanogens and provide insights into the evolution of Methanogenesis. Genome Biol Evol 2014; 5:1769-80. [PMID: 23985970 PMCID: PMC3814188 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evt128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence from sequence data from various environments, including the human gut, suggests the existence of a previously unknown putative seventh order of methanogens. The first genomic data from members of this lineage, Methanomassiliicoccus luminyensis and “Candidatus Methanomethylophilus alvus,” provide insights into its evolutionary history and metabolic features. Phylogenetic analysis of ribosomal proteins robustly indicates a monophyletic group independent of any previously known methanogenic order, which shares ancestry with the Marine Benthic Group D, the Marine Group II, the DHVE2 group, and the Thermoplasmatales. This phylogenetic position, along with the analysis of enzymes involved in core methanogenesis, strengthens a single ancient origin of methanogenesis in the Euryarchaeota and indicates further multiple independent losses of this metabolism in nonmethanogenic lineages than previously suggested. Genomic analysis revealed an unprecedented loss of the genes coding for the first six steps of methanogenesis from H2/CO2 and the oxidative part of methylotrophic methanogenesis, consistent with the fact that M. luminyensis and “Ca. M. alvus” are obligate H2-dependent methylotrophic methanogens. Genomic data also suggest that these methanogens may use a large panel of methylated compounds. Phylogenetic analysis including homologs retrieved from environmental samples indicates that methylotrophic methanogenesis (regardless of dependency on H2) is not restricted to gut representatives but may be an ancestral characteristic of the whole order, and possibly also of ancient origin in the Euryarchaeota. 16S rRNA and McrA trees show that this new order of methanogens is very diverse and occupies environments highly relevant for methane production, therefore representing a key lineage to fully understand the diversity and evolution of methanogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Borrel
- EA-4678 CIDAM, Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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Heyer R, Kohrs F, Benndorf D, Rapp E, Kausmann R, Heiermann M, Klocke M, Reichl U. Metaproteome analysis of the microbial communities in agricultural biogas plants. N Biotechnol 2013; 30:614-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2013.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2012] [Revised: 12/07/2012] [Accepted: 01/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Abstract
Besides acetogenic bacteria, only Desulfitobacterium has been described to utilize and cleave phenyl methyl ethers under anoxic conditions; however, no ether-cleaving O-demethylases from the latter organisms have been identified and investigated so far. In this study, genes of an operon encoding O-demethylase components of Desulfitobacterium hafniense strain DCB-2 were cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. Methyltransferases I and II were characterized. Methyltransferase I mediated the ether cleavage and the transfer of the methyl group to the superreduced corrinoid of a corrinoid protein. Desulfitobacterium methyltransferase I had 66% identity (80% similarity) to that of the vanillate-demethylating methyltransferase I (OdmB) of Acetobacterium dehalogenans. The substrate spectrum was also similar to that of the latter enzyme; however, Desulfitobacterium methyltransferase I showed a higher level of activity for guaiacol and used methyl chloride as a substrate. Methyltransferase II catalyzed the transfer of the methyl group from the methylated corrinoid protein to tetrahydrofolate. It also showed a high identity (∼70%) to methyltransferases II of A. dehalogenans. The corrinoid protein was produced in E. coli as cofactor-free apoprotein that could be reconstituted with hydroxocobalamin or methylcobalamin to function in the methyltransferase I and II assays. Six COG3894 proteins, which were assumed to function as activating enzymes mediating the reduction of the corrinoid protein after an inadvertent oxidation of the corrinoid cofactor, were studied with respect to their abilities to reduce the recombinant reconstituted corrinoid protein. Of these six proteins, only one was found to catalyze the reduction of the corrinoid protein.
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Selenocysteine, pyrrolysine, and the unique energy metabolism of methanogenic archaea. ARCHAEA-AN INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2010; 2010. [PMID: 20847933 PMCID: PMC2933860 DOI: 10.1155/2010/453642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2010] [Accepted: 07/13/2010] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Methanogenic archaea are a group of strictly anaerobic microorganisms characterized by their strict dependence on the process of methanogenesis for energy conservation. Among the archaea, they are also the only known group synthesizing proteins containing selenocysteine or pyrrolysine. All but one of the known archaeal pyrrolysine-containing and all but two of the confirmed archaeal selenocysteine-containing protein are involved in methanogenesis. Synthesis of these proteins proceeds through suppression of translational stop codons but otherwise the two systems are fundamentally different. This paper highlights these differences and summarizes the recent developments in selenocysteine- and pyrrolysine-related research on archaea and aims to put this knowledge into the context of their unique energy metabolism.
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Haas CE, Rodionov DA, Kropat J, Malasarn D, Merchant SS, de Crécy-Lagard V. A subset of the diverse COG0523 family of putative metal chaperones is linked to zinc homeostasis in all kingdoms of life. BMC Genomics 2009; 10:470. [PMID: 19822009 PMCID: PMC2770081 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-10-470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2009] [Accepted: 10/12/2009] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background COG0523 proteins are, like the nickel chaperones of the UreG family, part of the G3E family of GTPases linking them to metallocenter biosynthesis. Even though the first COG0523-encoding gene, cobW, was identified almost 20 years ago, little is known concerning the function of other members belonging to this ubiquitous family. Results Based on a combination of comparative genomics, literature and phylogenetic analyses and experimental validations, the COG0523 family can be separated into at least fifteen subgroups. The CobW subgroup involved in cobalamin synthesis represents only one small sub-fraction of the family. Another, larger subgroup, is suggested to play a predominant role in the response to zinc limitation based on the presence of the corresponding COG0523-encoding genes downstream from putative Zur binding sites in many bacterial genomes. Zur binding sites in these genomes are also associated with candidate zinc-independent paralogs of zinc-dependent enzymes. Finally, the potential role of COG0523 in zinc homeostasis is not limited to Bacteria. We have predicted a link between COG0523 and regulation by zinc in Archaea and show that two COG0523 genes are induced upon zinc depletion in a eukaryotic reference organism, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Conclusion This work lays the foundation for the pursuit by experimental methods of the specific role of COG0523 members in metal trafficking. Based on phylogeny and comparative genomics, both the metal specificity and the protein target(s) might vary from one COG0523 subgroup to another. Additionally, Zur-dependent expression of COG0523 and putative paralogs of zinc-dependent proteins may represent a mechanism for hierarchal zinc distribution and zinc sparing in the face of inadequate zinc nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crysten E Haas
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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Physiology and posttranscriptional regulation of methanol:coenzyme M methyltransferase isozymes in Methanosarcina acetivorans C2A. J Bacteriol 2009; 191:6928-35. [PMID: 19767431 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00947-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Methanosarcina species possess three operons (mtaCB1, mtaCB2, and mtaCB3) encoding methanol-specific methyltransferase 1 (MT1) isozymes and two genes (mtaA1 and mtaA2) with the potential to encode a methanol-specific methyltransferase 2 (MT2). Previous genetic studies showed that these genes are differentially regulated and encode enzymes with distinct levels of methyltransferase activity. Here, the effects of promoter strength on growth and on the rate of methane production were examined by constructing strains in which the mtaCB promoters were exchanged. When expressed from the strong PmtaC1 or PmtaC2 promoter, each of the MtaC and MtaB proteins supported growth and methane production at wild-type levels. In contrast, all mtaCB operons exhibited poorer growth and lower rates of methane production when PmtaC3 controlled their expression. Thus, previously observed phenotypic differences can be attributed largely to differences in promoter activity. Strains carrying various combinations of mtaC, mtaB, and mtaA expressed from the strong, tetracycline-regulated PmcrB(tetO1) promoter exhibited similar growth characteristics on methanol, showing that all combinations of MtaC, MtaB, and MtaA can form functional MT1/MT2 complexes. However, an in vitro assay of coupled MT1/MT2 activity showed significant variation between the strains. Surprisingly, these variations in activity correlated with differences in protein abundance, despite the fact that all the encoding genes were expressed from the same promoter. Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR and reporter gene fusion data suggest that the mtaCBA transcripts show different stabilities, which are strongly influenced by the growth substrate.
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Bose A, Kulkarni G, Metcalf WW. Regulation of putative methyl-sulphide methyltransferases in Methanosarcina acetivorans C2A. Mol Microbiol 2009; 74:227-238. [PMID: 19732345 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2009.06864.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The regulation of the Methanosarcina acetivorans mtsD, mtsF and mtsH genes, which encode putative corrinoid/methyltransferase isozymes involved in methylsulphide metabolism, was examined by a variety of methods, suggesting that their expression is regulated at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Transcripts of all three genes, measured by quantitative reverse transcription PCR, were shown to be most abundant during growth on methanol with dimethylsulphide (DMS). Transcript levels were also high in media with CO or methylamines, but much lower with methanol. In contrast, translational fusions to mtsD showed high expression levels on CO or methanol with DMS, while the mtsF translational fusion showed highest reporter gene activity on methylamines with much lower expression on CO or methanol with DMS. The activity of mtsD and mtsF fusions was very low when the strains were grown in methanol or acetate. Expression of the mtsH fusion was not detected on any substrate, despite the presence of an mRNA transcript. The transcription start sites of all three genes were determined by 5'-RACE revealing large leader sequences for each transcript. Characterization of deletion mutants lacking putative regulatory genes suggests that MA0862 (msrF), MA4383 (msrC) and MA4560 (msrG) act as transcriptional activators of mtsD, mtsF and mtsH respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpita Bose
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B103 CLSL, 601 S. Goodwin, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Gargi Kulkarni
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B103 CLSL, 601 S. Goodwin, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - William W Metcalf
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B103 CLSL, 601 S. Goodwin, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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Transcriptional profiling of methyltransferase genes during growth of Methanosarcina mazei on trimethylamine. J Bacteriol 2009; 191:5108-15. [PMID: 19525341 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00420-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The genomic expression patterns of Methanosarcina mazei growing with trimethylamine were measured in comparison to those of cells grown with methanol. We identified a total of 72 genes with either an increased level (49 genes) or a decreased level (23 genes) of mRNA during growth on trimethylamine with methanol-grown cells as the control. Major differences in transcript levels were observed for the mta, mtb, mtt, and mtm genes, which encode enzymes involved in methane formation from methanol and trimethylamine, respectively. Other differences in mRNA abundance were found for genes encoding enzymes involved in isopentenyl pyrophosphate synthesis and in the formation of aromatic amino acids, as well as a number of proteins with unknown functions. The results were verified by in-depth analysis of methyltransferase genes using specific primers for real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). The monitored transcript levels of genes encoding corrinoid proteins involved in methyl group transfer from methylated C(1) compounds (mtaC, mtbC, mttC, and mtmC) indicated increased amounts of mRNA from the mtaBC1, mtaBC2, and mtaBC3 operons in methanol-grown cells, whereas mRNA of the mtb1-mtt1 operon was found in high concentrations during trimethylamine consumption. The genes of the mtb1-mtt1 operon encode methyltransferases that are responsible for sequential demethylation of trimethylamine. The analysis of product formation of trimethylamine-grown cells at different optical densities revealed that large amounts of dimethylamine and monomethylamine were excreted into the medium. The intermediate compounds were consumed only in the very late exponential growth phase. RT-PCR analysis of key genes involved in methanogenesis led to the conclusion that M. mazei is able to adapt to changing trimethylamine concentrations and the consumption of intermediate compounds. Hence, we assume that the organism possesses a regulatory network for optimal substrate utilization.
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Oelgeschläger E, Rother M. In vivo role of three fused corrinoid/methyl transfer proteins in Methanosarcina acetivorans. Mol Microbiol 2009; 72:1260-72. [PMID: 19432805 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2009.06723.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Methanosarcina acetivorans is able to use carbon monoxide (CO) as the sole source of energy for growth. Its carboxidotrophic growth is peculiar as it involves formation of acetate, formate and methylated thiols, besides methane. Under this condition three proteins homologous to both corrinoid proteins and methyltransferases (MA0859, MA4384 and MA4558) are highly abundant. To address their role in M. acetivorans, a set of single and double mutants, and the triple mutant, was constructed by deletion/disruption of the encoding genes. Phenotypic analysis of the mutants rules out an important role of the methyltransferase homologues in the CO(2) reduction pathway of methanogenesis. Instead, the single and double mutants were affected to various degrees in their capacity to generate dimethylsulphide (DMS) from CO and to form methane from DMS. The triple mutant was unable to produce or metabolize DMS, and could not grow with DMS as the sole energy source, which demonstrates that MA0859, MA4384 and MA4558 are involved in, and required for, methylsulphide metabolism of M. acetivorans. Based on these findings we propose to designate MA0859, MA4384 and MA4558 as methyltransferases specific for methylsulphides, MtsD, MtsF and MtsH respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Oelgeschläger
- Molekulare Mikrobiologie und Bioenergetik, Institut für Molekulare Biowissenschaften, Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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New methods for tightly regulated gene expression and highly efficient chromosomal integration of cloned genes for Methanosarcina species. ARCHAEA-AN INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2009; 2:193-203. [PMID: 19054746 DOI: 10.1155/2008/534081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A highly efficient method for chromosomal integration of cloned DNA into Methanosarcina spp. was developed utilizing the site-specific recombination system from the Streptomyces phage phiC31. Host strains expressing the phiC31 integrase gene and carrying an appropriate recombination site can be transformed with non-replicating plasmids carrying the complementary recombination site at efficiencies similar to those obtained with self-replicating vectors. We have also constructed a series of hybrid promoters that combine the highly expressed M. barkeri PmcrB promoter with binding sites for the tetracycline-responsive, bacterial TetR protein. These promoters are tightly regulated by the presence or absence of tetracycline in strains that express the tetR gene. The hybrid promoters can be used in genetic experiments to test gene essentiality by placing a gene of interest under their control. Thus, growth of strains with tetR-regulated essential genes becomes tetracycline-dependent. A series of plasmid vectors that utilize the site-specific recombination system for construction of reporter gene fusions and for tetracycline regulated expression of cloned genes are reported. These vectors were used to test the efficiency of translation at a variety of start codons. Fusions using an ATG start site were the most active, whereas those using GTG and TTG were approximately one half or one fourth as active, respectively. The CTG fusion was 95% less active than the ATG fusion.
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Abstract
This chapter reviews the literature on cobalamin- and corrinoid-containing enzymes. These enzymes fall into two broad classes, those using methylcobalamin or related methylcorrinoids as prosthetic groups and catalyzing methyl transfer reactions, and those using adenosylcobalamin as the prosthetic group and catalyzing the generation of substrate radicals that in turn undergo rearrangements and/or eliminations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowena G Matthews
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI 48109-2216, USA
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Ferguson T, Soares JA, Lienard T, Gottschalk G, Krzycki JA. RamA, a protein required for reductive activation of corrinoid-dependent methylamine methyltransferase reactions in methanogenic archaea. J Biol Chem 2008; 284:2285-95. [PMID: 19043046 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m807392200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Archaeal methane formation from methylamines is initiated by distinct methyltransferases with specificity for monomethylamine, dimethylamine, or trimethylamine. Each methylamine methyltransferase methylates a cognate corrinoid protein, which is subsequently demethylated by a second methyltransferase to form methyl-coenzyme M, the direct methane precursor. Methylation of the corrinoid protein requires reduction of the central cobalt to the highly reducing and nucleophilic Co(I) state. RamA, a 60-kDa monomeric iron-sulfur protein, was isolated from Methanosarcina barkeri and is required for in vitro ATP-dependent reductive activation of methylamine:CoM methyl transfer from all three methylamines. In the absence of the methyltransferases, highly purified RamA was shown to mediate the ATP-dependent reductive activation of Co(II) corrinoid to the Co(I) state for the monomethylamine corrinoid protein, MtmC. The ramA gene is located near a cluster of genes required for monomethylamine methyltransferase activity, including MtbA, the methylamine-specific CoM methylase and the pyl operon required for co-translational insertion of pyrrolysine into the active site of methylamine methyltransferases. RamA possesses a C-terminal ferredoxin-like domain capable of binding two tetranuclear iron-sulfur proteins. Mutliple ramA homologs were identified in genomes of methanogenic Archaea, often encoded near methyltrophic methyltransferase genes. RamA homologs are also encoded in a diverse selection of bacterial genomes, often located near genes for corrinoid-dependent methyltransferases. These results suggest that RamA mediates reductive activation of corrinoid proteins and that it is the first functional archetype of COG3894, a family of redox proteins of unknown function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuneo Ferguson
- Department of Microbiology and The Ohio State Biochemistry Program, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
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41
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The ether-cleaving methyltransferase system of the strict anaerobe Acetobacterium dehalogenans: analysis and expression of the encoding genes. J Bacteriol 2008; 191:588-99. [PMID: 19011025 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01104-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaerobic O-demethylases are inducible multicomponent enzymes which mediate the cleavage of the ether bond of phenyl methyl ethers and the transfer of the methyl group to tetrahydrofolate. The genes of all components (methyltransferases I and II, CP, and activating enzyme [AE]) of the vanillate- and veratrol-O-demethylases of Acetobacterium dehalogenans were sequenced and analyzed. In A. dehalogenans, the genes for methyltransferase I, CP, and methyltransferase II of both O-demethylases are clustered. The single-copy gene for AE is not included in the O-demethylase gene clusters. It was found that AE grouped with COG3894 proteins, the function of which was unknown so far. Genes encoding COG3894 proteins with 20 to 41% amino acid sequence identity with AE are present in numerous genomes of anaerobic microorganisms. Inspection of the domain structure and genetic context of these orthologs predicts that these are also reductive activases for corrinoid enzymes (RACEs), such as carbon monoxide dehydrogenase/acetyl coenzyme A synthases or anaerobic methyltransferases. The genes encoding the O-demethylase components were heterologously expressed with a C-terminal Strep-tag in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant proteins methyltransferase I, CP, and AE were characterized. Gel shift experiments showed that the AE comigrated with the CP. The formation of other protein complexes with the O-demethylase components was not observed under the conditions used. The results point to a strong interaction of the AE with the CP. This is the first report on the functional heterologous expression of acetogenic phenyl methyl ether-cleaving O-demethylases.
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Liu Y, Whitman WB. Metabolic, phylogenetic, and ecological diversity of the methanogenic archaea. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2008; 1125:171-89. [PMID: 18378594 DOI: 10.1196/annals.1419.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 626] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Although of limited metabolic diversity, methanogenic archaea or methanogens possess great phylogenetic and ecological diversity. Only three types of methanogenic pathways are known: CO(2)-reduction, methyl-group reduction, and the aceticlastic reaction. Cultured methanogens are grouped into five orders based upon their phylogeny and phenotypic properties. In addition, uncultured methanogens that may represent new orders are present in many environments. The ecology of methanogens highlights their complex interactions with other anaerobes and the physical and chemical factors controlling their function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Liu
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, 541 Biological Sciences Building, Athens, GA 30605, USA
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43
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Hou S, Makarova KS, Saw JHW, Senin P, Ly BV, Zhou Z, Ren Y, Wang J, Galperin MY, Omelchenko MV, Wolf YI, Yutin N, Koonin EV, Stott MB, Mountain BW, Crowe MA, Smirnova AV, Dunfield PF, Feng L, Wang L, Alam M. Complete genome sequence of the extremely acidophilic methanotroph isolate V4, Methylacidiphilum infernorum, a representative of the bacterial phylum Verrucomicrobia. Biol Direct 2008; 3:26. [PMID: 18593465 PMCID: PMC2474590 DOI: 10.1186/1745-6150-3-26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2008] [Accepted: 07/01/2008] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The phylum Verrucomicrobia is a widespread but poorly characterized bacterial clade. Although cultivation-independent approaches detect representatives of this phylum in a wide range of environments, including soils, seawater, hot springs and human gastrointestinal tract, only few have been isolated in pure culture. We have recently reported cultivation and initial characterization of an extremely acidophilic methanotrophic member of the Verrucomicrobia, strain V4, isolated from the Hell's Gate geothermal area in New Zealand. Similar organisms were independently isolated from geothermal systems in Italy and Russia. Results We report the complete genome sequence of strain V4, the first one from a representative of the Verrucomicrobia. Isolate V4, initially named "Methylokorus infernorum" (and recently renamed Methylacidiphilum infernorum) is an autotrophic bacterium with a streamlined genome of ~2.3 Mbp that encodes simple signal transduction pathways and has a limited potential for regulation of gene expression. Central metabolism of M. infernorum was reconstructed almost completely and revealed highly interconnected pathways of autotrophic central metabolism and modifications of C1-utilization pathways compared to other known methylotrophs. The M. infernorum genome does not encode tubulin, which was previously discovered in bacteria of the genus Prosthecobacter, or close homologs of any other signature eukaryotic proteins. Phylogenetic analysis of ribosomal proteins and RNA polymerase subunits unequivocally supports grouping Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia and Chlamydiae into a single clade, the PVC superphylum, despite dramatically different gene content in members of these three groups. Comparative-genomic analysis suggests that evolution of the M. infernorum lineage involved extensive horizontal gene exchange with a variety of bacteria. The genome of M. infernorum shows apparent adaptations for existence under extremely acidic conditions including a major upward shift in the isoelectric points of proteins. Conclusion The results of genome analysis of M. infernorum support the monophyly of the PVC superphylum. M. infernorum possesses a streamlined genome but seems to have acquired numerous genes including those for enzymes of methylotrophic pathways via horizontal gene transfer, in particular, from Proteobacteria. Reviewers This article was reviewed by John A. Fuerst, Ludmila Chistoserdova, and Radhey S. Gupta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaobin Hou
- Advance Studies in Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics, College of Natural Sciences, University of Hawaii, Keller Hall #319, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96822, USA.
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44
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Genetic analysis of the methanol- and methylamine-specific methyltransferase 2 genes of Methanosarcina acetivorans C2A. J Bacteriol 2008; 190:4017-26. [PMID: 18375552 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00117-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The entry of methanol into the methylotrophic pathway of methanogenesis is mediated by the concerted effort of two methyltransferases, namely, methyltransferase 1 (MT1) and methyltransferase 2 (MT2). The mtaA1, mtaA2, and mtbA genes of Methanosarcina acetivorans C2A encode putative methanol- or methylamine-specific MT2 enzymes. To address the in vivo roles of these genes in growth and methanogenesis from known substrates, we constructed and characterized mutants with deletions of each of these genes. The mtaA1 gene is required for growth on methanol, whereas mtaA2 was dispensable. However, the mtaA2 mutant had a reduced rate of methane production from methanol. Surprisingly, deletion of mtaA1 in combination with deletions of the genes encoding three methanol-specific MT1 isozymes led to lack of growth on acetate, suggesting that MT1 and MT2 enzymes might play an important role during growth on this substrate. The mtbA gene was required for dimethylamine and monomethylamine (MMA) utilization and was important, but not required, for trimethylamine utilization. Analysis of reporter gene fusions revealed that both mtaA1 and mtbA were expressed on all methanogenic substrates tested. However, mtaA1 expression was induced on methanol, while mtbA expression was down-regulated on MMA and acetate. mtaA2 was expressed at very low levels on all substrates. The mtaA1 transcript had a large 5' untranslated region (UTR) (275 bp), while the 5' UTR of the mtbA transcript was only 28 bp long.
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45
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Bose A, Metcalf WW. Distinct regulators control the expression of methanol methyltransferase isozymes inMethanosarcina acetivoransC2A. Mol Microbiol 2008; 67:649-61. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2007.06075.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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46
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Hagemeier CH, Kr̈er M, Thauer RK, Warkentin E, Ermler U. Insight into the mechanism of biological methanol activation based on the crystal structure of the methanol-cobalamin methyltransferase complex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2006; 103:18917-22. [PMID: 17142327 PMCID: PMC1748152 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0603650103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2006] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Some methanogenic and acetogenic microorganisms have the catalytic capability to cleave heterolytically the C O bond of methanol. To obtain insight into the elusive enzymatic mechanism of this challenging chemical reaction we have investigated the methanol-activating MtaBC complex from Methanosarcina barkeri composed of the zinc-containing MtaB and the 5-hydroxybenzimidazolylcobamide-carrying MtaC subunits. Here we report the 2.5-A crystal structure of this complex organized as a (MtaBC)(2) heterotetramer. MtaB folds as a TIM barrel and contains a novel zinc-binding motif. Zinc(II) lies at the bottom of a funnel formed at the C-terminal beta-barrel end and ligates to two cysteinyl sulfurs (Cys-220 and Cys-269) and one carboxylate oxygen (Glu-164). MtaC is structurally related to the cobalamin-binding domain of methionine synthase. Its corrinoid cofactor at the top of the Rossmann domain reaches deeply into the funnel of MtaB, defining a region between zinc(II) and the corrinoid cobalt that must be the binding site for methanol. The active site geometry supports a S(N)2 reaction mechanism, in which the C O bond in methanol is activated by the strong electrophile zinc(II) and cleaved because of an attack of the supernucleophile cob(I)amide. The environment of zinc(II) is characterized by an acidic cluster that increases the charge density on the zinc(II), polarizes methanol, and disfavors deprotonation of the methanol hydroxyl group. Implications of the MtaBC structure for the second step of the reaction, in which the methyl group is transferred to coenzyme M, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph H. Hagemeier
- *Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse, D-35043 Marburg, Germany; and
| | - Markus Kr̈er
- *Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse, D-35043 Marburg, Germany; and
| | - Rudolf K. Thauer
- *Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse, D-35043 Marburg, Germany; and
| | - Eberhard Warkentin
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 3, D-60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ulrich Ermler
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 3, D-60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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47
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Bose A, Pritchett MA, Rother M, Metcalf WW. Differential regulation of the three methanol methyltransferase isozymes in Methanosarcina acetivorans C2A. J Bacteriol 2006; 188:7274-83. [PMID: 17015666 PMCID: PMC1636223 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00535-06] [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
Genetic analysis of the three methanol-specific methyltransferase 1 operons (mtaCB1, mtaCB2, and mtaCB3) in Methanosarcina acetivorans led to the suggestion that each of them has a discrete function during growth on methanol, which might be reflected in differential gene regulation (Pritchett and Metcalf, Mol. Microbiol. 56:1183-1194, 2005). To test this suggestion, reporter gene fusions were constructed for each of the three operons, and their expression was examined under various growth conditions. Expression of the mtaCB1 and mtaCB2 fusions was 100-fold and 575-fold higher, respectively, in methanol-grown cells than in trimethylamine (TMA)-grown cells. The mtaCB3 fusion was expressed at low levels on methanol, TMA, and dimethylamine but was significantly upregulated on monomethylamine and acetate. When TMA- or acetate-grown cultures were shifted to methanol, the mtaCB1 fusion was expressed most highly during exponential phase, whereas the mtaCB2 fusion, although strongly induced prior to mtaCB1 expression, did not reach full expression levels until stationary phase. The mtaCB3 fusion was transiently expressed prior to entry into exponential phase during a TMA-to-methanol substrate shift experiment. When acetate-grown cells were shifted to medium containing both TMA and methanol, TMA utilization commenced prior to utilization of methanol; however, these two substrates were consumed simultaneously later in growth. Under these conditions expression of the mtaCB2 and mtaCB3 fusions was delayed, suggesting that methylamines may repress their expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpita Bose
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 601 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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48
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Mahapatra A, Patel A, Soares JA, Larue RC, Zhang JK, Metcalf WW, Krzycki JA. Characterization of a Methanosarcina acetivorans mutant unable to translate UAG as pyrrolysine. Mol Microbiol 2006; 59:56-66. [PMID: 16359318 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2005.04927.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The methyltransferases initiating methanogenesis from trimethylamine, dimethylamine and monomethylamine possess a novel residue, pyrrolysine. Pyrrolysine is the 22nd amino acid, because it is encoded by a single amber (UAG) codon in methylamine methyltransferase transcripts. A dedicated tRNA(CUA) for pyrrolysine, tRNA(Pyl), is charged by a pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase with pyrrolysine. As the first step towards the genetic analysis of UAG translation as pyrrolysine, a 761 base-pair genomic segment in Methanosarcina acetivorans containing the pylT gene (encoding tRNA(Pyl)) was deleted and replaced by a puromycin resistance cassette. The DeltappylT mutant lacks detectable tRNA(Pyl), but grows as wild-type on methanol or acetate. Unlike wild-type, the DeltappylT strain cannot grow on any methylamine, nor use monomethylamine as sole nitrogen source. Wild-type cells, but not DeltappylT, have monomethylamine methyltransferase activity during growth on methanol. Immunoblot analysis indicated monomethylamine methyltransferase was absent in DeltappylT. The phenotype of DeltappylT reveals the deficiency in methylamine metabolism expected of a Methanosarcina species unable to decode UAG codons as pyrrolysine, but also that loss of pylT does not compromise growth on other substrates. These results indicate that in-depth genetic analysis of UAG translation as pyrrolysine is feasible, as deletion of pylT is conditionally lethal depending on growth substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirban Mahapatra
- Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, 484 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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49
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Warner KL, Larkin MJ, Harper DB, Murrell JC, McDonald IR. Analysis of genes involved in methyl halide degradation in Aminobacter lissarensis CC495. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2006; 251:45-51. [PMID: 16102909 DOI: 10.1016/j.femsle.2005.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2005] [Revised: 07/17/2005] [Accepted: 07/19/2005] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminobacter lissarensis CC495 is an aerobic facultative methylotroph capable of growth on glucose, glycerol, pyruvate and methylamine as well as the methyl halides methyl chloride and methyl bromide. Previously, cells grown on methyl chloride have been shown to express two polypeptides with apparent molecular masses of 67 and 29 kDa. The 67 kDa protein was purified and identified as a halomethane:bisulfide/halide ion methyltransferase. This study describes a single gene cluster in A. lissarensis CC495 containing the methyl halide utilisation genes cmuB, cmuA, cmuC, orf 188, paaE and hutI. The genes correspond to the same order and have a high similarity to a gene cluster found in Aminobacter ciceronei IMB-1 and Hyphomicrobium chloromethanicum strain CM2 indicating that genes encoding methyl halide degradation are highly conserved in these strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L Warner
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
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50
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Siebert A, Schubert T, Engelmann T, Studenik S, Diekert G. Veratrol-O-demethylase of Acetobacterium dehalogenans: ATP-dependent reduction of the corrinoid protein. Arch Microbiol 2005; 183:378-84. [PMID: 15968525 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-005-0001-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2004] [Revised: 03/31/2005] [Accepted: 05/04/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The anaerobic veratrol O-demethylase mediates the transfer of the methyl group of the phenyl methyl ether veratrol to tetrahydrofolate. The primary methyl group acceptor is the cobalt of a corrinoid protein, which has to be in the +1 oxidation state to bind the methyl group. Due to the negative redox potential of the cob(II)/cob(I)alamin couple, autoxidation of the cobalt may accidentally occur. In this study, the reduction of the corrinoid to the superreduced [Co(I)] state was investigated. The ATP-dependent reduction of the corrinoid protein of the veratrol O-demethylase was shown to be dependent on titanium(III) citrate as electron donor and on an activating enzyme. In the presence of ATP, activating enzyme, and Ti(III), the redox potential versus the standard hydrogen electrode (E (SHE)) of the cob(II)alamin/cob(I)alamin couple in the corrinoid protein was determined to be -290 mV (pH 7.5), whereas E (SHE) at pH 7.5 was lower than -450 mV in the absence of either activating enzyme or ATP. ADP, AMP, or GTP could not replace ATP in the activation reaction. The ATP analogue adenosine-5'-(beta,gamma-imido)triphosphate (AMP-PNP, 2-4 mM) completely inhibited the corrinoid reduction in the presence of ATP (2 mM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Siebert
- Institut für Mikrobiologie, FSU Jena, Lehrstuhl für Angewandte und Okologische Mikrobiologie, Philosophenweg 12, 07743 Jena, Germany
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