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Quehenberger J, Pittenauer E, Allmaier G, Spadiut O. The influence of the specific growth rate on the lipid composition of Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Extremophiles 2020; 24:413-420. [PMID: 32200441 PMCID: PMC7174258 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-020-01165-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Archaeal lipids are constituted of two isoprenoid chains connected via ether bonds to glycerol in the sn-2, 3 position. Due to these unique properties archaeal lipids are significantly more stable against high temperature, low pH, oxidation and enzymatic degradation than conventional lipids. Additionally, in members of the phylum Crenarchaeota condensation of two (monopolar) archaeal diether lipids to a single (bipolar) tetraether lipid as well as formation of cyclopentane rings in the isoprenoid core strongly reduce permeability of the crenarchaeal membranes. In this work we show that the Crenarchaeum Sulfolobus acidocaldarius changes its lipid composition as reaction to a shift in growth rate caused by nutrient limitation. We thereby identified a novel influencing factor for the lipid composition of S. acidocaldarius and were able to determine the effect of this factor on the lipid composition by using MALDI-MS for the semi-quantification of an archaeal lipidome: a shift in the specific growth rate during a controlled continuous cultivation of S. acidocaldarius from 0.011 to 0.035 h−1 led to a change in the ratio of diether to tetraether lipids from 1:3 to 1:5 and a decrease of the average number of cyclopentane rings from 5.1 to 4.6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Quehenberger
- Research Division Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ernst Pittenauer
- Research Group for Mass Spectrometric Bio and Polymer Analytics, Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Günter Allmaier
- Research Group for Mass Spectrometric Bio and Polymer Analytics, Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Oliver Spadiut
- Research Division Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.
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2
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Taubner RS, Baumann LMF, Bauersachs T, Clifford EL, Mähnert B, Reischl B, Seifert R, Peckmann J, Rittmann SKMR, Birgel D. Membrane Lipid Composition and Amino Acid Excretion Patterns of Methanothermococcus okinawensis Grown in the Presence of Inhibitors Detected in the Enceladian Plume. Life (Basel) 2019; 9:E85. [PMID: 31739502 PMCID: PMC6958431 DOI: 10.3390/life9040085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipids and amino acids are regarded as important biomarkers for the search for extraterrestrial life in the Solar System. Such biomarkers may be used to trace methanogenic life on other planets or moons in the Solar System, such as Saturn's icy moon Enceladus. However, little is known about the environmental conditions shaping the synthesis of lipids and amino acids. Here, we present the lipid production and amino acid excretion patterns of the methanogenic archaeon Methanothermococcus okinawensis after exposing it to different multivariate concentrations of the inhibitors ammonium, formaldehyde, and methanol present in the Enceladian plume. M. okinawensis shows different patterns of lipid and amino acids excretion, depending on the amount of these inhibitors in the growth medium. While methanol did not show a significant impact on growth, lipid or amino acid production rates, ammonium and formaldehyde strongly affected these parameters. These findings are important for understanding the eco-physiology of methanogens on Earth and have implications for the use of biomarkers as possible signs of extraterrestrial life for future space missions in the Solar System.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth-Sophie Taubner
- Archaea Physiology & Biotechnology Group, Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Division, Department of Ecogenomics and Systems Biology, Universität Wien, 1010 Vienna, Austria; (R.-S.T.); (B.R.); (S.K.-M.R.R.)
| | - Lydia M. F. Baumann
- Institute for Geology, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Universität Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany; (L.M.F.B.); (R.S.); (J.P.)
| | - Thorsten Bauersachs
- Institute of Geosciences, Department of Organic Geochemistry, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, 24118 Kiel, Germany;
| | - Elisabeth L. Clifford
- Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Universität Wien, 1010 Vienna, Austria; (E.L.C.); (B.M.)
| | - Barbara Mähnert
- Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Universität Wien, 1010 Vienna, Austria; (E.L.C.); (B.M.)
| | - Barbara Reischl
- Archaea Physiology & Biotechnology Group, Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Division, Department of Ecogenomics and Systems Biology, Universität Wien, 1010 Vienna, Austria; (R.-S.T.); (B.R.); (S.K.-M.R.R.)
| | - Richard Seifert
- Institute for Geology, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Universität Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany; (L.M.F.B.); (R.S.); (J.P.)
| | - Jörn Peckmann
- Institute for Geology, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Universität Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany; (L.M.F.B.); (R.S.); (J.P.)
| | - Simon K.-M. R. Rittmann
- Archaea Physiology & Biotechnology Group, Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Division, Department of Ecogenomics and Systems Biology, Universität Wien, 1010 Vienna, Austria; (R.-S.T.); (B.R.); (S.K.-M.R.R.)
| | - Daniel Birgel
- Institute for Geology, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Universität Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany; (L.M.F.B.); (R.S.); (J.P.)
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Jensen SM, Neesgaard VL, Skjoldbjerg SLN, Brandl M, Ejsing CS, Treusch AH. The Effects of Temperature and Growth Phase on the Lipidomes of Sulfolobus islandicus and Sulfolobus tokodaii. Life (Basel) 2015; 5:1539-66. [PMID: 26308060 PMCID: PMC4598652 DOI: 10.3390/life5031539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Revised: 08/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The functionality of the plasma membrane is essential for all organisms. Adaption to high growth temperatures imposes challenges and Bacteria, Eukarya, and Archaea have developed several mechanisms to cope with these. Hyperthermophilic archaea have earlier been shown to synthesize tetraether membrane lipids with an increased number of cyclopentane moieties at higher growth temperatures. Here we used shotgun lipidomics to study this effect as well as the influence of growth phase on the lipidomes of Sulfolobus islandicus and Sulfolobus tokodaii for the first time. Both species were cultivated at three different temperatures, with samples withdrawn during lag, exponential, and stationary phases. Three abundant tetraether lipid classes and one diether lipid class were monitored. Beside the expected increase in the number of cyclopentane moieties with higher temperature in both archaea, we observed previously unreported changes in the average cyclization of the membrane lipids throughout growth. The average number of cyclopentane moieties showed a significant dip in exponential phase, an observation that might help to resolve the currently debated biosynthesis pathway of tetraether lipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Munk Jensen
- Department of Biology and Nordic Center for Earth Evolution, University of Southern Denmark, Odense 5230, Denmark.
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense 5230, Denmark.
| | - Vinnie Lund Neesgaard
- Department of Biology and Nordic Center for Earth Evolution, University of Southern Denmark, Odense 5230, Denmark.
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense 5230, Denmark.
| | - Sandra Landbo Nedergaard Skjoldbjerg
- Department of Biology and Nordic Center for Earth Evolution, University of Southern Denmark, Odense 5230, Denmark.
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense 5230, Denmark.
| | - Martin Brandl
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense 5230, Denmark.
| | - Christer S Ejsing
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, VILLUM Center for Bioanalytical Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense 5230, Denmark.
| | - Alexander H Treusch
- Department of Biology and Nordic Center for Earth Evolution, University of Southern Denmark, Odense 5230, Denmark.
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Yoshinaga MY, Gagen EJ, Wörmer L, Broda NK, Meador TB, Wendt J, Thomm M, Hinrichs KU. Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus modulates its membrane lipids in response to hydrogen and nutrient availability. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:5. [PMID: 25657645 PMCID: PMC4302986 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2014] [Accepted: 01/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus strain ΔH is a model hydrogenotrophic methanogen, for which extensive biochemical information, including the complete genome sequence, is available. Nevertheless, at the cell membrane lipid level, little is known about the responses of this archaeon to environmental stimuli. In this study, the lipid composition of M. thermautotrophicus was characterized to verify how this archaeon modulates its cell membrane components during growth phases and in response to hydrogen depletion and nutrient limitation (potassium and phosphate). As opposed to the higher abundance of phospholipids in the stationary phase of control experiments, cell membranes under nutrient, and energy stress were dominated by glycolipids that likely provided a more effective barrier against ion leakage. We also identified particular lipid regulatory mechanisms in M. thermautotrophicus, which included the accumulation of polyprenols under hydrogen-limited conditions and an increased content of sodiated adducts of lipids in nutrient-limited cells. These findings suggest that M. thermautotrophicus intensely modulates its cell membrane lipid composition to cope with energy and nutrient availability in dynamic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Y Yoshinaga
- Organic Geochemistry Group, MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen Bremen, Germany
| | - Emma J Gagen
- Department of Microbiology and Archaea Center, University of Regensburg Regensburg, Germany
| | - Lars Wörmer
- Organic Geochemistry Group, MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen Bremen, Germany
| | - Nadine K Broda
- Organic Geochemistry Group, MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen Bremen, Germany
| | - Travis B Meador
- Organic Geochemistry Group, MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen Bremen, Germany
| | - Jenny Wendt
- Organic Geochemistry Group, MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen Bremen, Germany
| | - Michael Thomm
- Department of Microbiology and Archaea Center, University of Regensburg Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kai-Uwe Hinrichs
- Organic Geochemistry Group, MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen Bremen, Germany
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5
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Koga Y, Morii H. Special methods for the analysis of ether lipid structure and metabolism in archaea. Anal Biochem 2006; 348:1-14. [PMID: 15993370 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2005.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2005] [Revised: 04/08/2005] [Accepted: 04/08/2005] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Koga
- Department of Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
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Fujiwara S, Yamanaka A, Hirooka K, Kobayashi A, Imanaka T, Fukusaki EI. Temperature-dependent modulation of farnesyl diphosphate/geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase from hyperthermophilic archaea. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2005; 325:1066-74. [PMID: 15541397 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.10.129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2004] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Enzyme characteristics of trans-prenyl diphosphate synthase (Tk-IdsA) from Thermococcus kodakaraensis, which catalyzes the consecutive trans-condensation of isopentenyl diphosphate (C(5)) units with allylic diphosphate, were examined. Product analysis revealed that Tk-IdsA is a bifunctional enzyme, farnesyl diphosphate (FPP, C(15))/geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP, C(20)) synthase, and mainly yields both C(15) and C(20). The FPP/GGPP product ratio increases with the rise of the reaction temperature. The kinetic parameters obtained at 70 and 90 degrees C demonstrated that the rise of the temperature elevates the k(0) value for the C(10) allylic substrate to more than those for the C(5) and C(15) allylic substrates. These data suggest that Tk-IdsA contributes to adjust the membrane composition to the cell growth temperature by modulating its substrate and product specificities. Mutation study indicated that the aromatic side chain of Tyr-81 acts as a steric hindrance to terminate the chain elongation and defines the final product length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinsuke Fujiwara
- Department of Bioscience, Nanobiotechnology Research Center, School of Science and Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University, 2-1 Gakuen Sanda, Hyogo 669-1337, Japan.
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7
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Morii H, Koga Y. Tetraether type polar lipids increase after logarithmic growth phase of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum in compensation for the decrease of diether lipids. FEMS Microbiol Lett 1993. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1993.tb06182.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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