1
|
Pallen MJ. The dynamic history of prokaryotic phyla: discovery, diversity and division. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2024; 74. [PMID: 39250184 PMCID: PMC11382960 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.006508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Here, I review the dynamic history of prokaryotic phyla. Following leads set by Darwin, Haeckel and Woese, the concept of phylum has evolved from a group sharing common phenotypes to a set of organisms sharing a common ancestry, with modern taxonomy based on phylogenetic classifications drawn from macromolecular sequences. Phyla came as surprising latecomers to the formalities of prokaryotic nomenclature in 2021. Since then names have been validly published for 46 prokaryotic phyla, replacing some established names with neologisms, prompting criticism and debate within the scientific community. Molecular barcoding enabled phylogenetic analysis of microbial ecosystems without cultivation, leading to the identification of candidate divisions (or phyla) from diverse environments. The introduction of metagenome-assembled genomes marked a significant advance in identifying and classifying uncultured microbial phyla. The lumper-splitter dichotomy has led to disagreements, with experts cautioning against the pressure to create a profusion of new phyla and prominent databases adopting a conservative stance. The Candidatus designation has been widely used to provide provisional status to uncultured prokaryotic taxa, with phyla named under this convention now clearly surpassing those with validly published names. The Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB) has offered a stable, standardized prokaryotic taxonomy with normalized taxonomic ranks, which has led to both lumping and splitting of pre-existing phyla. The GTDB framework introduced unwieldy alphanumeric placeholder labels, prompting recent publication of over 100 user-friendly Latinate names for unnamed prokaryotic phyla. Most candidate phyla remain 'known unknowns', with limited knowledge of their genomic diversity, ecological roles, or environments. Whether phyla still reflect significant evolutionary and ecological partitions across prokaryotic life remains an area of active debate. However, phyla remain of practical importance for microbiome analyses, particularly in clinical research. Despite potential diminishing returns in discovery of biodiversity, prokaryotic phyla offer extensive research opportunities for microbiologists for the foreseeable future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Pallen
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Moody ERR, Álvarez-Carretero S, Mahendrarajah TA, Clark JW, Betts HC, Dombrowski N, Szánthó LL, Boyle RA, Daines S, Chen X, Lane N, Yang Z, Shields GA, Szöllősi GJ, Spang A, Pisani D, Williams TA, Lenton TM, Donoghue PCJ. The nature of the last universal common ancestor and its impact on the early Earth system. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:1654-1666. [PMID: 38997462 PMCID: PMC11383801 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02461-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
The nature of the last universal common ancestor (LUCA), its age and its impact on the Earth system have been the subject of vigorous debate across diverse disciplines, often based on disparate data and methods. Age estimates for LUCA are usually based on the fossil record, varying with every reinterpretation. The nature of LUCA's metabolism has proven equally contentious, with some attributing all core metabolisms to LUCA, whereas others reconstruct a simpler life form dependent on geochemistry. Here we infer that LUCA lived ~4.2 Ga (4.09-4.33 Ga) through divergence time analysis of pre-LUCA gene duplicates, calibrated using microbial fossils and isotope records under a new cross-bracing implementation. Phylogenetic reconciliation suggests that LUCA had a genome of at least 2.5 Mb (2.49-2.99 Mb), encoding around 2,600 proteins, comparable to modern prokaryotes. Our results suggest LUCA was a prokaryote-grade anaerobic acetogen that possessed an early immune system. Although LUCA is sometimes perceived as living in isolation, we infer LUCA to have been part of an established ecological system. The metabolism of LUCA would have provided a niche for other microbial community members and hydrogen recycling by atmospheric photochemistry could have supported a modestly productive early ecosystem.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edmund R R Moody
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | | | - Tara A Mahendrarajah
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, The Netherlands
| | - James W Clark
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Holly C Betts
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Nina Dombrowski
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, The Netherlands
| | - Lénárd L Szánthó
- Department of Biological Physics, Eötvös University, Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-ELTE 'Lendulet' Evolutionary Genomics Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Evolution, HUN-REN Center for Ecological Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Stuart Daines
- Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nick Lane
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ziheng Yang
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Graham A Shields
- Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gergely J Szöllősi
- MTA-ELTE 'Lendulet' Evolutionary Genomics Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Evolution, HUN-REN Center for Ecological Research, Budapest, Hungary
- Model-Based Evolutionary Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Anja Spang
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, The Netherlands
- Department of Evolutionary & Population Biology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Davide Pisani
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Tom A Williams
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | | | - Philip C J Donoghue
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Colman DR, Keller LM, Arteaga-Pozo E, Andrade-Barahona E, St Clair B, Shoemaker A, Cox A, Boyd ES. Covariation of hot spring geochemistry with microbial genomic diversity, function, and evolution. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7506. [PMID: 39209850 PMCID: PMC11362583 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51841-5] [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: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The geosphere and the microbial biosphere have co-evolved for ~3.8 Ga, with many lines of evidence suggesting a hydrothermal habitat for life's origin. However, the extent that contemporary thermophiles and their hydrothermal habitats reflect those that likely existed on early Earth remains unknown. To address this knowledge gap, 64 geochemical analytes were measured and 1022 metagenome-assembled-genomes (MAGs) were generated from 34 chemosynthetic high-temperature springs in Yellowstone National Park and analysed alongside 444 MAGs from 35 published metagenomes. We used these data to evaluate co-variation in MAG taxonomy, metabolism, and phylogeny as a function of hot spring geochemistry. We found that cohorts of MAGs and their functions are discretely distributed across pH gradients that reflect different geochemical provinces. Acidic or circumneutral/alkaline springs harbor MAGs that branched later and are enriched in sulfur- and arsenic-based O2-dependent metabolic pathways that are inconsistent with early Earth conditions. In contrast, moderately acidic springs sourced by volcanic gas harbor earlier-branching MAGs that are enriched in anaerobic, gas-dependent metabolisms (e.g. H2, CO2, CH4 metabolism) that have been hypothesized to support early microbial life. Our results provide insight into the influence of redox state in the eco-evolutionary feedbacks between thermophiles and their habitats and suggest moderately acidic springs as early Earth analogs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Colman
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
| | - Lisa M Keller
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Emilia Arteaga-Pozo
- Department of Chemistry and Geochemistry, Montana Technological University, Butte, MT, USA
| | - Eva Andrade-Barahona
- Department of Chemistry and Geochemistry, Montana Technological University, Butte, MT, USA
| | - Brian St Clair
- Department of Chemistry and Geochemistry, Montana Technological University, Butte, MT, USA
| | - Anna Shoemaker
- Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Alysia Cox
- Department of Chemistry and Geochemistry, Montana Technological University, Butte, MT, USA
| | - Eric S Boyd
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Beaud Benyahia B, Taib N, Beloin C, Gribaldo S. Terrabacteria: redefining bacterial envelope diversity, biogenesis and evolution. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024:10.1038/s41579-024-01088-0. [PMID: 39198708 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-024-01088-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
The bacterial envelope is one of the oldest and most essential cellular components and has been traditionally divided into Gram-positive (monoderm) and Gram-negative (diderm). Recent landmark studies have challenged a major paradigm in microbiology by inferring that the last bacterial common ancestor had a diderm envelope and that the outer membrane (OM) was lost repeatedly in evolution to give rise to monoderms. Intriguingly, OM losses appear to have occurred exclusively in the Terrabacteria, one of the two major clades of bacteria. In this Review, we present current knowledge about the Terrabacteria. We describe their diversity and phylogeny and then highlight the vast phenotypic diversity of the Terrabacteria cell envelopes, which display large deviations from the textbook examples of diderms and monoderms, challenging the classical Gram-positive-Gram-negative divide. We highlight the striking differences in the systems involved in OM biogenesis in Terrabacteria with respect to the classical diderm experimental models and how they provide novel insights into the diversity and biogenesis of the bacterial cell envelope. We also discuss the potential evolutionary steps that might have led to the multiple losses of the OM and speculate on how the very first OM might have emerged before the last bacterial common ancestor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Basile Beaud Benyahia
- Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Najwa Taib
- Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Christophe Beloin
- Genetics of Biofilms Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Simonetta Gribaldo
- Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Forterre P. The Last Universal Common Ancestor of Ribosome-Encoding Organisms: Portrait of LUCA. J Mol Evol 2024:10.1007/s00239-024-10186-9. [PMID: 39158619 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-024-10186-9] [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: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
The existence of LUCA in the distant past is the logical consequence of the binary mechanism of cell division. The biosphere in which LUCA and contemporaries were living was the product of a long cellular evolution from the origin of life to the second age of the RNA world. A parsimonious scenario suggests that the molecular fabric of LUCA was much simpler than those of modern organisms, explaining why the evolutionary tempo was faster at the time of LUCA than it was during the diversification of the three domains. Although LUCA was possibly equipped with a RNA genome and most likely lacked an ATP synthase, it was already able to perform basic metabolic functions and to produce efficient proteins. However, the proteome of LUCA and its inferred metabolism remains to be correctly explored by in-depth phylogenomic analyses and updated datasets. LUCA was probably a mesophile or a moderate thermophile since phylogenetic analyses indicate that it lacked reverse gyrase, an enzyme systematically present in all hyperthermophiles. The debate about the position of Eukarya in the tree of life, either sister group to Archaea or descendants of Archaea, has important implications to draw the portrait of LUCA. In the second alternative, one can a priori exclude the presence of specific eukaryotic features in LUCA. In contrast, if Archaea and Eukarya are sister group, some eukaryotic features, such as the spliceosome, might have been present in LUCA and later lost in Archaea and Bacteria. The nature of the LUCA virome is another matter of debate. I suggest here that DNA viruses only originated during the diversification of the three domains from an RNA-based LUCA to explain the odd distribution pattern of DNA viruses in the tree of life.
Collapse
|
6
|
Kailing F, Lieberman J, Wang J, Turner JL, Goldman AD. Evolution of Cellular Organization Along the First Branches of the Tree of Life. J Mol Evol 2024:10.1007/s00239-024-10188-7. [PMID: 39020132 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-024-10188-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Current evidence suggests that some form of cellular organization arose well before the time of the last universal common ancestor (LUCA). Standard phylogenetic analyses have shown that several protein families associated with membrane translocation, membrane transport, and membrane bioenergetics were very likely present in the proteome of the LUCA. Despite these cellular systems emerging prior to the LUCA, extant archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes have significant differences in cellular infrastructure and the molecular functions that support it, leading some researchers to argue that true cellularity did not evolve until after the LUCA. Here, we use recently reconstructed minimal proteomes of the LUCA as well as the last archaeal common ancestor (LACA) and the last bacterial common ancestor (LBCA) to characterize the evolution of cellular systems along the first branches of the tree of life. We find that a broad set of functions associated with cellular organization were already present by the time of the LUCA. The functional repertoires of the LACA and LBCA related to cellular organization nearly doubled along each branch following the divergence of the LUCA. These evolutionary trends created the foundation for similarities and differences in cellular organization between the taxonomic domains that are still observed today.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Freya Kailing
- Department of Biology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH, USA
| | | | - Joshua Wang
- Department of Biology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH, USA
| | | | - Aaron D Goldman
- Department of Biology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH, USA.
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Callan K, Prince CR, Feaga HA. RqcH supports survival in the absence of non-stop ribosome rescue factors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.12.603306. [PMID: 39026760 PMCID: PMC11257542 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.12.603306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Ribosomes frequently translate truncated or damaged mRNAs due to the extremely short half-life of mRNAs in bacteria. When ribosomes translate mRNA that lacks a stop codon (non-stop mRNA), specialized pathways are required to rescue the ribosome from the 3' end of the mRNA. The most highly conserved non-stop rescue pathway is trans-translation, which is found in greater than 95% of bacterial genomes. In all Proteobacteria that have been studied, the alternative non-stop ribosome rescue factors, ArfA and ArfB, are essential in the absence of trans-translation. Here, we investigate the interaction between non-stop rescue pathways and RqcH, a ribosome quality control factor that is broadly conserved outside of Proteobacteria. RqcH does not act directly on non-stop ribosomes but adds a degron tag to stalled peptides that obstruct the large ribosomal subunit, which allows the stalled peptide to be cleared from the ribosome by peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase (PTH). We show that Bacillus subtilis can survive without trans-translation and BrfA (Bacillus ArfA homolog), due to the presence of RqcH. We also show that expression of RqcH and its helper protein RqcP rescues the synthetic lethality of ΔssrAΔarfA in Escherichia coli. These results suggest that non-stop ribosome complexes can be disassembled and then cleared because of the tagging activity of RqcH, and that this process is essential in the absence of non-stop ribosome rescue pathways. Moreover, we surveyed the conservation of ribosome rescue pathways in >14,000 bacterial genomes. Our analysis reveals a broad distribution of non-stop rescue pathways, especially trans-translation and RqcH, and a strong co-occurrence between the ribosome splitting factor MutS2 and RqcH. Altogether, our results support a role for RqcH in non-stop ribosome rescue and provide a broad survey of ribosome rescue pathways in diverse bacterial species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katrina Callan
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | | | - Heather A. Feaga
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Cronan JE. Lipoic acid attachment to proteins: stimulating new developments. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0000524. [PMID: 38624243 PMCID: PMC11332335 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00005-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYLipoic acid-modified proteins are essential for central metabolism and pathogenesis. In recent years, the Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis lipoyl assembly pathways have been modified and extended to archaea and diverse eukaryotes including humans. These extensions include a new pathway to insert the key sulfur atoms of lipoate, several new pathways of lipoate salvage, and a novel use of lipoic acid in sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. Other advances are the modification of E. coli LplA for studies of protein localization and protein-protein interactions in cell biology and in enzymatic removal of lipoate from lipoyl proteins. Finally, scenarios have been put forth for the evolution of lipoate assembly in archaea.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John E. Cronan
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Fernando CM, Breaker RR. Bioinformatic prediction of proteins relevant to functions of the bacterial OLE ribonucleoprotein complex. mSphere 2024; 9:e0015924. [PMID: 38771028 PMCID: PMC11332333 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00159-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
OLE (ornate, large, extremophilic) RNAs are members of a noncoding RNA class present in many Gram-positive, extremophilic bacteria. The large size, complex structure, and extensive sequence conservation of OLE RNAs are characteristics consistent with the hypothesis that they likely function as ribozymes. The OLE RNA representative from Halalkalibacterium halodurans is known to localize to the phospholipid membrane and requires at least three essential protein partners: OapA, OapB, and OapC. However, the precise biochemical functions of this unusual ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex remain unknown. Genetic disruption of OLE RNA or its partners revealed that the complex is beneficial under diverse stress conditions. To search for additional links between OLE RNA and other cellular components, we used phylogenetic profiling to identify proteins that are either correlated or anticorrelated with the presence of OLE RNA in various bacterial species. This analysis revealed strong correlations between the essential protein-binding partners of OLE RNA and organisms that carry the ole gene. Similarly, proteins involved in sporulation are correlated, suggesting a potential role for the OLE RNP complex in spore formation. Intriguingly, the Mg2+ transporter MpfA is strongly anticorrelated with OLE RNA. Evidence indicates that MpfA is structurally related to OapA and therefore MpfA may serve as a functional replacement for some contributions otherwise performed by the OLE RNP complex in species that lack this device. Indeed, OLE RNAs might represent an ancient RNA class that enabled primitive organisms to sense and respond to major cellular stresses.IMPORTANCEOLE (ornate, large, extremophilic) RNAs were first reported nearly 20 years ago, and they represent one of the largest and most intricately folded noncoding RNA classes whose biochemical function remains to be established. Other RNAs with similar size, structural complexity, and extent of sequence conservation have proven to catalyze chemical transformations. Therefore, we speculate that OLE RNAs likewise operate as ribozymes and that they might catalyze a fundamental reaction that has persisted since the RNA World era-a time before the emergence of proteins in evolution. To seek additional clues regarding the function of OLE RNA, we undertook a computational effort to identify potential protein components of the OLE ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex or other proteins that have functional links to this device. This analysis revealed known protein partners and several additional proteins that might be physically or functionally linked to the OLE RNP complex. Finally, we identified a Mg2+ transporter protein, MpfA, that strongly anticorrelates with the OLE RNP complex. This latter result suggests that MpfA might perform at least some functions that are like those carried out by the OLE RNP complex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chrishan M. Fernando
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Ronald R. Breaker
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Nishihara A, Tsukatani Y, Azai C, Nobu MK. Illuminating the coevolution of photosynthesis and Bacteria. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2322120121. [PMID: 38875151 PMCID: PMC11194577 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2322120121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Life harnessing light energy transformed the relationship between biology and Earth-bringing a massive flux of organic carbon and oxidants to Earth's surface that gave way to today's organotrophy- and respiration-dominated biosphere. However, our understanding of how life drove this transition has largely relied on the geological record; much remains unresolved due to the complexity and paucity of the genetic record tied to photosynthesis. Here, through holistic phylogenetic comparison of the bacterial domain and all photosynthetic machinery (totally spanning >10,000 genomes), we identify evolutionary congruence between three independent biological systems-bacteria, (bacterio)chlorophyll-mediated light metabolism (chlorophototrophy), and carbon fixation-and uncover their intertwined history. Our analyses uniformly mapped progenitors of extant light-metabolizing machinery (reaction centers, [bacterio]chlorophyll synthases, and magnesium-chelatases) and enzymes facilitating the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle (form I RuBisCO and phosphoribulokinase) to the same ancient Terrabacteria organism near the base of the bacterial domain. These phylogenies consistently showed that extant phototrophs ultimately derived light metabolism from this bacterium, the last phototroph common ancestor (LPCA). LPCA was a non-oxygen-generating (anoxygenic) phototroph that already possessed carbon fixation and two reaction centers, a type I analogous to extant forms and a primitive type II. Analyses also indicate chlorophototrophy originated before LPCA. We further reconstructed evolution of chlorophototrophs/chlorophototrophy post-LPCA, including vertical inheritance in Terrabacteria, the rise of oxygen-generating chlorophototrophy in one descendant branch near the Great Oxidation Event, and subsequent emergence of Cyanobacteria. These collectively unveil a detailed view of the coevolution of light metabolism and Bacteria having clear congruence with the geological record.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arisa Nishihara
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Ibaraki305-0817, Japan
| | - Yusuke Tsukatani
- Biogeochemistry Research Center, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Kanagawa237-0061, Japan
- Institute for Extra-Cutting-Edge Science and Technology Avant-Garde Research (X-star), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Kanagawa237-0061, Japan
| | - Chihiro Azai
- College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga525-8577, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, Tokyo112-8551, Japan
| | - Masaru K. Nobu
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Ibaraki305-0817, Japan
- Institute for Extra-Cutting-Edge Science and Technology Avant-Garde Research (X-star), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Kanagawa237-0061, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Zhang P, Zhang B, Ji Y, Jiao J, Zhang Z, Tian C. Cofitness network connectivity determines a fuzzy essential zone in open bacterial pangenome. MLIFE 2024; 3:277-290. [PMID: 38948139 PMCID: PMC11211677 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Most in silico evolutionary studies commonly assumed that core genes are essential for cellular function, while accessory genes are dispensable, particularly in nutrient-rich environments. However, this assumption is seldom tested genetically within the pangenome context. In this study, we conducted a robust pangenomic Tn-seq analysis of fitness genes in a nutrient-rich medium for Sinorhizobium strains with a canonical open pangenome. To evaluate the robustness of fitness category assignment, Tn-seq data for three independent mutant libraries per strain were analyzed by three methods, which indicates that the Hidden Markov Model (HMM)-based method is most robust to variations between mutant libraries and not sensitive to data size, outperforming the Bayesian and Monte Carlo simulation-based methods. Consequently, the HMM method was used to classify the fitness category. Fitness genes, categorized as essential (ES), advantage (GA), and disadvantage (GD) genes for growth, are enriched in core genes, while nonessential genes (NE) are over-represented in accessory genes. Accessory ES/GA genes showed a lower fitness effect than core ES/GA genes. Connectivity degrees in the cofitness network decrease in the order of ES, GD, and GA/NE. In addition to accessory genes, 1599 out of 3284 core genes display differential essentiality across test strains. Within the pangenome core, both shared quasi-essential (ES and GA) and strain-dependent fitness genes are enriched in similar functional categories. Our analysis demonstrates a considerable fuzzy essential zone determined by cofitness connectivity degrees in Sinorhizobium pangenome and highlights the power of the cofitness network in understanding the genetic basis of ever-increasing prokaryotic pangenome data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, and College of Biological SciencesChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
- MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, and Rhizobium Research CenterChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
- Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhenChina
| | - Biliang Zhang
- MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, and Rhizobium Research CenterChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
- State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Biotechnology Breeding, and College of Biological SciencesChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yuan‐Yuan Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, and College of Biological SciencesChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
- MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, and Rhizobium Research CenterChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Jian Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, and College of Biological SciencesChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
- MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, and Rhizobium Research CenterChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Ziding Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Biotechnology Breeding, and College of Biological SciencesChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Chang‐Fu Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, and College of Biological SciencesChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
- MOA Key Laboratory of Soil Microbiology, and Rhizobium Research CenterChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Zhang S, Sun A, Qian JM, Lin S, Xing W, Yang Y, Zhu HZ, Zhou XY, Guo YS, Liu Y, Meng Y, Jin SL, Song W, Li CP, Li Z, Jin S, Wang JH, Dong MQ, Gao C, Chen C, Bai Y, Liu JJG. Pro-CRISPR PcrIIC1-associated Cas9 system for enhanced bacterial immunity. Nature 2024; 630:484-492. [PMID: 38811729 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07486-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
The CRISPR system is an adaptive immune system found in prokaryotes that defends host cells against the invasion of foreign DNA1. As part of the ongoing struggle between phages and the bacterial immune system, the CRISPR system has evolved into various types, each with distinct functionalities2. Type II Cas9 is the most extensively studied of these systems and has diverse subtypes. It remains uncertain whether members of this family can evolve additional mechanisms to counter viral invasions3,4. Here we identify 2,062 complete Cas9 loci, predict the structures of their associated proteins and reveal three structural growth trajectories for type II-C Cas9. We found that novel associated genes (NAGs) tended to be present within the loci of larger II-C Cas9s. Further investigation revealed that CbCas9 from Chryseobacterium species contains a novel β-REC2 domain, and forms a heterotetrameric complex with an NAG-encoded CRISPR-Cas-system-promoting (pro-CRISPR) protein of II-C Cas9 (PcrIIC1). The CbCas9-PcrIIC1 complex exhibits enhanced DNA binding and cleavage activity, broader compatibility for protospacer adjacent motif sequences, increased tolerance for mismatches and improved anti-phage immunity, compared with stand-alone CbCas9. Overall, our work sheds light on the diversity and 'growth evolutionary' trajectories of II-C Cas9 proteins at the structural level, and identifies many NAGs-such as PcrIIC1, which serves as a pro-CRISPR factor to enhance CRISPR-mediated immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shouyue Zhang
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Ao Sun
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing-Mei Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, CAS-JIC Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Sciences, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuo Lin
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjing Xing
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yun Yang
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Han-Zhou Zhu
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xin-Yi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, CAS-JIC Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Sciences, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan-Shuo Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, CAS-JIC Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Sciences, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yun Liu
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Meng
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Shu-Lin Jin
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenhao Song
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng-Ping Li
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaofu Li
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Jin
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Center for Genome Editing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jian-Hua Wang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Meng-Qiu Dong
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Caixia Gao
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Center for Genome Editing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chunlai Chen
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Yang Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, CAS-JIC Centre of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Sciences, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Jun-Jie Gogo Liu
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Stockbridge RB, Wackett LP. The link between ancient microbial fluoride resistance mechanisms and bioengineering organofluorine degradation or synthesis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4593. [PMID: 38816380 PMCID: PMC11139923 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49018-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Fluorinated organic chemicals, such as per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) and fluorinated pesticides, are both broadly useful and unusually long-lived. To combat problems related to the accumulation of these compounds, microbial PFAS and organofluorine degradation and biosynthesis of less-fluorinated replacement chemicals are under intense study. Both efforts are undermined by the substantial toxicity of fluoride, an anion that powerfully inhibits metabolism. Microorganisms have contended with environmental mineral fluoride over evolutionary time, evolving a suite of detoxification mechanisms. In this perspective, we synthesize emerging ideas on microbial defluorination/fluorination and fluoride resistance mechanisms and identify best approaches for bioengineering new approaches for degrading and making organofluorine compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Randy B Stockbridge
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Lawrence P Wackett
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Liao T, Wang S, Zhang H, Stüeken EE, Luo H. Dating Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria with Abundant Eukaryotic Fossils. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae096. [PMID: 38776415 PMCID: PMC11135946 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Evolution of a complete nitrogen (N) cycle relies on the onset of ammonia oxidation, which aerobically converts ammonia to nitrogen oxides. However, accurate estimation of the antiquity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) remains challenging because AOB-specific fossils are absent and bacterial fossils amenable to calibrate molecular clocks are rare. Leveraging the ancient endosymbiosis of mitochondria and plastid, as well as using state-of-the-art Bayesian sequential dating approach, we obtained a timeline of AOB evolution calibrated largely by eukaryotic fossils. We show that the first AOB evolved in marine Gammaproteobacteria (Gamma-AOB) and emerged between 2.1 and 1.9 billion years ago (Ga), thus postdating the Great Oxidation Event (GOE; 2.4 to 2.32 Ga). To reconcile the sedimentary N isotopic signatures of ammonia oxidation occurring near the GOE, we propose that ammonia oxidation likely occurred at the common ancestor of Gamma-AOB and Gammaproteobacterial methanotrophs, or the actinobacterial/verrucomicrobial methanotrophs which are known to have ammonia oxidation activities. It is also likely that nitrite was transported from the terrestrial habitats where ammonia oxidation by archaea took place. Further, we show that the Gamma-AOB predated the anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria, implying that the emergence of anammox was constrained by the availability of dedicated ammonia oxidizers which produce nitrite to fuel anammox. Our work supports a new hypothesis that N redox cycle involving nitrogen oxides evolved rather late in the ocean.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianhua Liao
- Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Sishuo Wang
- Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Hao Zhang
- Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Eva E Stüeken
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Centre for Exoplanet Science, University of St Andrews, Queen's Terrace, KY16 9TS, UK
| | - Haiwei Luo
- Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Programme, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
- Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Boden JS, Zhong J, Anderson RE, Stüeken EE. Timing the evolution of phosphorus-cycling enzymes through geological time using phylogenomics. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3703. [PMID: 38697988 PMCID: PMC11066067 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47914-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Phosphorus plays a crucial role in controlling biological productivity, but geological estimates of phosphate concentrations in the Precambrian ocean, during life's origin and early evolution, vary over several orders of magnitude. While reduced phosphorus species may have served as alternative substrates to phosphate, their bioavailability on the early Earth remains unknown. Here, we reconstruct the phylogenomic record of life on Earth and find that phosphate transporting genes (pnas) evolved in the Paleoarchean (ca. 3.6-3.2 Ga) and are consistent with phosphate concentrations above modern levels ( > 3 µM). The first gene optimized for low phosphate levels (pstS; <1 µM) appeared around the same time or in the Mesoarchean depending on the reconstruction method. Most enzymatic pathways for metabolising reduced phosphorus emerged and expanded across the tree of life later. This includes phosphonate-catabolising CP-lyases, phosphite-oxidising pathways and hypophosphite-oxidising pathways. CP-lyases are particularly abundant in dissolved phosphate concentrations below 0.1 µM. Our results thus indicate at least local regions of declining phosphate levels through the Archean, possibly linked to phosphate-scavenging Fe(III), which may have limited productivity. However, reduced phosphorus species did not become widely used until after the Paleoproterozoic Great Oxidation Event (2.3 Ga), possibly linked to expansion of the biosphere at that time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joanne S Boden
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of St. Andrews, Bute Building, Queen's terrace, St. Andrews, Fife, United Kingdom.
| | - Juntao Zhong
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Rika E Anderson
- Department of Biology, Carleton College, Northfield, MN, USA
| | - Eva E Stüeken
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of St. Andrews, Bute Building, Queen's terrace, St. Andrews, Fife, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Balaban M, Jiang Y, Zhu Q, McDonald D, Knight R, Mirarab S. Generation of accurate, expandable phylogenomic trees with uDance. Nat Biotechnol 2024; 42:768-777. [PMID: 37500914 PMCID: PMC10818028 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-01868-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Phylogenetic trees provide a framework for organizing evolutionary histories across the tree of life and aid downstream comparative analyses such as metagenomic identification. Methods that rely on single-marker genes such as 16S rRNA have produced trees of limited accuracy with hundreds of thousands of organisms, whereas methods that use genome-wide data are not scalable to large numbers of genomes. We introduce updating trees using divide-and-conquer (uDance), a method that enables updatable genome-wide inference using a divide-and-conquer strategy that refines different parts of the tree independently and can build off of existing trees, with high accuracy and scalability. With uDance, we infer a species tree of roughly 200,000 genomes using 387 marker genes, totaling 42.5 billion amino acid residues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Metin Balaban
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yueyu Jiang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Qiyun Zhu
- Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Daniel McDonald
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rob Knight
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Siavash Mirarab
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Goldford JE, Smith HB, Longo LM, Wing BA, McGlynn SE. Primitive purine biosynthesis connects ancient geochemistry to modern metabolism. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:999-1009. [PMID: 38519634 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02361-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
An unresolved question in the origin and evolution of life is whether a continuous path from geochemical precursors to the majority of molecules in the biosphere can be reconstructed from modern-day biochemistry. Here we identified a feasible path by simulating the evolution of biosphere-scale metabolism, using only known biochemical reactions and models of primitive coenzymes. We find that purine synthesis constitutes a bottleneck for metabolic expansion, which can be alleviated by non-autocatalytic phosphoryl coupling agents. Early phases of the expansion are enriched with enzymes that are metal dependent and structurally symmetric, supporting models of early biochemical evolution. This expansion trajectory suggests distinct hypotheses regarding the tempo, mode and timing of metabolic pathway evolution, including a late appearance of methane metabolisms and oxygenic photosynthesis consistent with the geochemical record. The concordance between biological and geological analyses suggests that this trajectory provides a plausible evolutionary history for the vast majority of core biochemistry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua E Goldford
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
- Physics of Living Systems, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Harrison B Smith
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA, USA
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Liam M Longo
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA, USA
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Boswell A Wing
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Shawn Erin McGlynn
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan.
- Biofunctional Catalyst Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
van der Gulik PTS, Hoff WD, Speijer D. The contours of evolution: In defence of Darwin's tree of life paradigm. Bioessays 2024; 46:e2400012. [PMID: 38436469 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Both the concept of a Darwinian tree of life (TOL) and the possibility of its accurate reconstruction have been much criticized. Criticisms mostly revolve around the extensive occurrence of lateral gene transfer (LGT), instances of uptake of complete organisms to become organelles (with the associated subsequent gene transfer to the nucleus), as well as the implications of more subtle aspects of the biological species concept. Here we argue that none of these criticisms are sufficient to abandon the valuable TOL concept and the biological realities it captures. Especially important is the need to conceptually distinguish between organismal trees and gene trees, which necessitates incorporating insights of widely occurring LGT into modern evolutionary theory. We demonstrate that all criticisms, while based on important new findings, do not invalidate the TOL. After considering the implications of these new insights, we find that the contours of evolution are best represented by a TOL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Wouter D Hoff
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Dave Speijer
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Jones BS, Ross CM, Foley G, Pozhydaieva N, Sharratt JW, Kress N, Seibt LS, Thomson RES, Gumulya Y, Hayes MA, Gillam EMJ, Flitsch SL. Engineering Biocatalysts for the C-H Activation of Fatty Acids by Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202314869. [PMID: 38163289 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202314869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Selective, one-step C-H activation of fatty acids from biomass is an attractive concept in sustainable chemistry. Biocatalysis has shown promise for generating high-value hydroxy acids, but to date enzyme discovery has relied on laborious screening and produced limited hits, which predominantly oxidise the subterminal positions of fatty acids. Herein we show that ancestral sequence reconstruction (ASR) is an effective tool to explore the sequence-activity landscape of a family of multidomain, self-sufficient P450 monooxygenases. We resurrected 11 catalytically active CYP116B ancestors, each with a unique regioselectivity fingerprint that varied from subterminal in the older ancestors to mid-chain in the lineage leading to the extant, P450-TT. In lineages leading to extant enzymes in thermophiles, thermostability increased from ancestral to extant forms, as expected if thermophily had arisen de novo. Our studies show that ASR can be applied to multidomain enzymes to develop active, self-sufficient monooxygenases as regioselective biocatalysts for fatty acid hydroxylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bethan S Jones
- School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - Connie M Ross
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
| | - Gabriel Foley
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
| | - Nadiia Pozhydaieva
- School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - Joseph W Sharratt
- School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - Nico Kress
- School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - Lisa S Seibt
- School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - Raine E S Thomson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
| | - Yosephine Gumulya
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
| | - Martin A Hayes
- Compound Synthesis and Management, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, SE
| | - Elizabeth M J Gillam
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4072, Australia
| | - Sabine L Flitsch
- School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Zhu Y, Ponath F, Cosi V, Vogel J. A global survey of small RNA interactors identifies KhpA and KhpB as major RNA-binding proteins in Fusobacterium nucleatum. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:3950-3970. [PMID: 38281181 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The common oral microbe Fusobacterium nucleatum has recently drawn attention after it was found to colonize tumors throughout the human body. Fusobacteria are also interesting study systems for bacterial RNA biology as these early-branching species encode many small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) but lack homologs of the common RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) CsrA, Hfq and ProQ. To search for alternate sRNA-associated RBPs in F. nucleatum, we performed a systematic mass spectrometry analysis of proteins that co-purified with 19 different sRNAs. This approach revealed strong enrichment of the KH domain proteins KhpA and KhpB with nearly all tested sRNAs, including the σE-dependent sRNA FoxI, a regulator of several envelope proteins. KhpA/B act as a dimer to bind sRNAs with low micromolar affinity and influence the stability of several of their target transcripts. Transcriptome studies combined with biochemical and genetic analyses suggest that KhpA/B have several physiological functions, including being required for ethanolamine utilization. Our RBP search and the discovery of KhpA/B as major RBPs in F. nucleatum are important first steps in identifying key players of post-transcriptional control at the root of the bacterial phylogenetic tree.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhu
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg D-97080, Germany
| | - Falk Ponath
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg D-97080, Germany
| | - Valentina Cosi
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg D-97080, Germany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg D-97080, Germany
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Ponath F, Zhu Y, Vogel J. Transcriptome fine-mapping in Fusobacterium nucleatum reveals FoxJ, a new σ E-dependent small RNA with unusual mRNA activation activity. mBio 2024; 15:e0353623. [PMID: 38436569 PMCID: PMC11005410 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03536-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The oral commensal Fusobacterium nucleatum can spread to extra-oral sites, where it is associated with diverse pathologies, including pre-term birth and cancer. Due to the evolutionary distance of F. nucleatum to other model bacteria, we lack a deeper understanding of the RNA regulatory networks that allow this bacterium to adapt to its various niches. As a first step in that direction, we recently showed that F. nucleatum harbors a global stress response governed by the extracytoplasmic function sigma factor, σE, which displays a striking functional conservation with Proteobacteria and includes a noncoding arm in the form of a regulatory small RNA (sRNA), FoxI. To search for putative additional σE-dependent sRNAs, we comprehensively mapped the 5' and 3' ends of transcripts in the model strain ATCC 23726. This enabled the discovery of FoxJ, a ~156-nucleotide sRNA previously misannotated as the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of ylmH. FoxJ is tightly controlled by σE and activated by the same stress conditions as is FoxI. Both sRNAs act as mRNA repressors of the abundant porin FomA, but FoxJ also regulates genes that are distinct from the target suite of FoxI. Moreover, FoxJ differs from other σE-dependent sRNAs in that it also positively regulates genes at the post-transcriptional level. We provide preliminary evidence for a new mode of sRNA-mediated mRNA activation, which involves the targeting of intra-operonic terminators. Overall, our study provides an important resource through the comprehensive annotation of 5' and 3' UTRs in F. nucleatum and expands our understanding of the σE response in this evolutionarily distant bacterium.IMPORTANCEThe oral microbe Fusobacterium nucleatum can colonize secondary sites, including cancer tissue, and likely deploys complex regulatory systems to adapt to these new environments. These systems are largely unknown, partly due to the phylogenetic distance of F. nucleatum to other model organisms. Previously, we identified a global stress response mediated by σE that displays functional conservation with the envelope stress response in Proteobacteria, comprising a coding and noncoding regulatory arm. Through global identification of transcriptional start and stop sites, we uncovered the small RNA (sRNA) FoxJ as a novel component of the noncoding arm of the σE response in F. nucleatum. Together with its companion sRNA FoxI, FoxJ post-transcriptionally modulates the synthesis of envelope proteins, revealing a conserved function for σE-dependent sRNAs between Fusobacteriota and Proteobacteria. Moreover, FoxJ activates the gene expression for several targets, which is a mode of regulation previously unseen in the noncoding arm of the σE response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Falk Ponath
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Yan Zhu
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
- RNA Biology Group, Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Felipe Benites L, Stephens TG, Van Etten J, James T, Christian WC, Barry K, Grigoriev IV, McDermott TR, Bhattacharya D. Hot springs viruses at Yellowstone National Park have ancient origins and are adapted to thermophilic hosts. Commun Biol 2024; 7:312. [PMID: 38594478 PMCID: PMC11003980 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05931-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Geothermal springs house unicellular red algae in the class Cyanidiophyceae that dominate the microbial biomass at these sites. Little is known about host-virus interactions in these environments. We analyzed the virus community associated with red algal mats in three neighboring habitats (creek, endolithic, soil) at Lemonade Creek, Yellowstone National Park (YNP), USA. We find that despite proximity, each habitat houses a unique collection of viruses, with the giant viruses, Megaviricetes, dominant in all three. The early branching phylogenetic position of genes encoded on metagenome assembled virus genomes (vMAGs) suggests that the YNP lineages are of ancient origin and not due to multiple invasions from mesophilic habitats. The existence of genomic footprints of adaptation to thermophily in the vMAGs is consistent with this idea. The Cyanidiophyceae at geothermal sites originated ca. 1.5 Bya and are therefore relevant to understanding biotic interactions on the early Earth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Felipe Benites
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Timothy G Stephens
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Julia Van Etten
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Timeeka James
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - William C Christian
- Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Kerrie Barry
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Igor V Grigoriev
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Timothy R McDermott
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Debashish Bhattacharya
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Eme L, Tamarit D. Microbial Diversity and Open Questions about the Deep Tree of Life. Genome Biol Evol 2024; 16:evae053. [PMID: 38620144 PMCID: PMC11018274 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
In this perspective, we explore the transformative impact and inherent limitations of metagenomics and single-cell genomics on our understanding of microbial diversity and their integration into the Tree of Life. We delve into the key challenges associated with incorporating new microbial lineages into the Tree of Life through advanced phylogenomic approaches. Additionally, we shed light on enduring debates surrounding various aspects of the microbial Tree of Life, focusing on recent advances in some of its deepest nodes, such as the roots of bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes. We also bring forth current limitations in genome recovery and phylogenomic methodology, as well as new avenues of research to uncover additional key microbial lineages and resolve the shape of the Tree of Life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Eme
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, AgroParisTech, Gif sur-Yvette, France
| | - Daniel Tamarit
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584CH, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Ali F. Patterns of Change in Nucleotide Diversity Over Gene Length. Genome Biol Evol 2024; 16:evae078. [PMID: 38608148 PMCID: PMC11040516 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Nucleotide diversity at a site is influenced by the relative strengths of neutral and selective population genetic processes. Therefore, attempts to estimate Effective population size based on the diversity of synonymous sites demand a better understanding of their selective constraints. The nucleotide diversity of a gene was previously found to correlate with its length. In this work, I measure nucleotide diversity at synonymous sites and uncover a pattern of low diversity towards the translation initiation site of a gene. The degree of reduction in diversity at the translation initiation site and the length of this region of reduced diversity can be quantified as "Effect Size" and "Effect Length" respectively, using parameters of an asymptotic regression model. Estimates of Effect Length across bacteria covaried with recombination rates as well as with a multitude of translation-associated traits such as the avoidance of mRNA secondary structure around translation initiation site, the number of rRNAs, and relative codon usage of ribosomal genes. Evolutionary simulations under purifying selection reproduce the observed patterns and diversity-length correlation and highlight that selective constraints on the 5'-region of a gene may be more extensive than previously believed. These results have implications for the estimation of effective population size, and relative mutation rates, and for genome scans of genes under positive selection based on "silent-site" diversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farhan Ali
- Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Peñalver M, Paradela A, Palacios-Cuéllar C, Pucciarelli MG, García-Del Portillo F. Experimental evidence of d-glutamate racemase activity in the uncultivated bacterium Candidatus Saccharimonas aalborgensis. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16621. [PMID: 38558504 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) encompasses widespread uncultivated bacteria with reduced genomes and limited metabolic capacities. Most CPR bacteria lack the minimal set of enzymes required for peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis, leaving it unclear how these bacteria produce this essential envelope component. In this study, we analysed the distribution of d-amino acid racemases that produce the universal PG components d-glutamate (d-Glu) or d-alanine (d-Ala). We also examined moonlighting enzymes that synthesize d-Glu or d-Ala. Unlike other phyla in the domain Bacteria, CPR bacteria do not exhibit these moonlighting activities and have, at most, one gene encoding either a Glu or Ala racemase. One of these 'orphan' racemases is a predicted Glu racemase (MurICPR) from the CPR bacterium Candidatus Saccharimonas aalborgenesis. The expression of MurICPR restores the growth of a Salmonella d-Glu auxotroph lacking its endogenous racemase and results in the substitution of l-Ala by serine as the first residue in a fraction of the PG stem peptides. In vitro, MurICPR exclusively racemizes Glu as a substrate. Therefore, Ca. Saccharimonas aalborgensis may couple Glu racemization to serine and d-Glu incorporation into the stem peptide. Our findings provide the first insights into the synthesis of PG by an uncultivated environmental bacterium and illustrate how to experimentally test enzymatic activities from CPR bacteria related to PG metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Peñalver
- Laboratory of Intracellular Bacterial Pathogens, National Centre for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Molecular Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biologia Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBM), CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Paradela
- Proteomics Facility, National Centre for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - César Palacios-Cuéllar
- Laboratory of Intracellular Bacterial Pathogens, National Centre for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - M Graciela Pucciarelli
- Laboratory of Intracellular Bacterial Pathogens, National Centre for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Molecular Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biologia Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBM), CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Zhu P, Hou J, Xiong Y, Xie R, Wang Y, Wang F. Expanded Archaeal Genomes Shed New Light on the Evolution of Isoprenoid Biosynthesis. Microorganisms 2024; 12:707. [PMID: 38674651 PMCID: PMC11052028 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Isoprenoids and their derivatives, essential for all cellular life on Earth, are particularly crucial in archaeal membrane lipids, suggesting that their biosynthesis pathways have ancient origins and play pivotal roles in the evolution of early life. Despite all eukaryotes, archaea, and a few bacterial lineages being known to exclusively use the mevalonate (MVA) pathway to synthesize isoprenoids, the origin and evolutionary trajectory of the MVA pathway remain controversial. Here, we conducted a thorough comparison and phylogenetic analysis of key enzymes across the four types of MVA pathway, with the particular inclusion of metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) from uncultivated archaea. Our findings support an archaeal origin of the MVA pathway, likely postdating the divergence of Bacteria and Archaea from the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA), thus implying the LUCA's enzymatic inability for isoprenoid biosynthesis. Notably, the Asgard archaea are implicated in playing central roles in the evolution of the MVA pathway, serving not only as putative ancestors of the eukaryote- and Thermoplasma-type routes, but also as crucial mediators in the gene transfer to eukaryotes, possibly during eukaryogenesis. Overall, this study advances our understanding of the origin and evolutionary history of the MVA pathway, providing unique insights into the lipid divide and the evolution of early life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Polar Ecosystem and Climate Change, Ministry of Education, School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; (P.Z.); (J.H.); (Y.X.); (R.X.)
| | - Jialin Hou
- Key Laboratory of Polar Ecosystem and Climate Change, Ministry of Education, School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; (P.Z.); (J.H.); (Y.X.); (R.X.)
| | - Yixuan Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Polar Ecosystem and Climate Change, Ministry of Education, School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; (P.Z.); (J.H.); (Y.X.); (R.X.)
| | - Ruize Xie
- Key Laboratory of Polar Ecosystem and Climate Change, Ministry of Education, School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; (P.Z.); (J.H.); (Y.X.); (R.X.)
| | - Yinzhao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China;
| | - Fengping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Polar Ecosystem and Climate Change, Ministry of Education, School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; (P.Z.); (J.H.); (Y.X.); (R.X.)
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China;
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering, Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519080, China
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Leigh RJ, Corrigan A, Murphy RA, Taylor-Pickard J, Moran CA, Walsh F. Yeast mannan rich fraction positively influences microbiome uniformity, productivity associated taxa, and lay performance. Anim Microbiome 2024; 6:9. [PMID: 38438939 PMCID: PMC10913240 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-024-00295-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alternatives to antibiotic as growth promoters in agriculture, such as supplemental prebiotics, are required to maintain healthy and high performing animals without directly contributing to antimicrobial resistance bioburden. While the gut microbiota of broiler hens has been well established and successfully correlated to performance, to our knowledge, a study has yet to be completed on the effect of prebiotic supplementation on correlating the mature laying hen productivity and microbiota. This study focused on establishing the impact of a yeast derived prebiotic, mannan rich fraction (MRF), on the cecal microbiota of late laying hens. This study benefitted from large sample sizes so intra- and intergroup variation effects could be statistically accounted for. RESULTS Taxonomic richness was significantly greater at all taxonomic ranks and taxonomic evenness was significantly lower for all taxonomic ranks in MRF-supplemented birds (P < 0.005). Use of principal coordinate analyses and principal component analyses found significant variation between treatment groups. When assessed for compositional uniformity (an indicator of flock health), microbiota in MRF-supplemented birds was more uniform than control birds at the species level. From a food safety and animal welfare perspective, Campylobacter jejuni was significantly lower in abundance in MRF-supplemented birds. In this study, species associated with high weight gain (an anticorrelator of performance in laying hens) were significantly lower in abundance in laying hens while health-correlated butyrate and propionate producing species were significantly greater in abundance in MRF-supplemented birds. CONCLUSIONS The use of prebiotics may be a key factor in controlling the microbiota balance limiting agri-food chain pathogen persistence and in promoting uniformity. In previous studies, increased α- and β-diversity indices were determinants of pathogen mitigation and performance. MRF-supplemented birds in this study established greater α- and β-diversity indices in post-peak laying hens, greater compositional uniformity across samples, a lower pathogenic bioburden and a greater abundance of correlators of performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Leigh
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
| | | | | | | | - Colm A Moran
- Alltech SARL, Rue Charles Amand, 14500, Vire, France
| | - Fiona Walsh
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Li X, Han J, Yang J, Zhang H. The structural biology of type III CRISPR-Cas systems. J Struct Biol 2024; 216:108070. [PMID: 38395113 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2024.108070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas system is an RNA-guided adaptive immune system widespread in bacteria and archaea. Among them, type III CRISPR-Cas systems are the most ancient throughout the CRISPR-Cas family, proving anti-phage defense through a crRNA-guided RNA targeting manner and possessing multiple enzymatic activities. Type III CRISPR-Cas systems comprise four typical members (type III-A to III-D) and two atypical members (type III-E and type III-F), providing immune defense through distinct mechanisms. Here, we delve into structural studies conducted on three well-characterized members: the type III-A, III-B, and III-E systems, provide an overview of the structural insights into the crRNA-guided target RNA cleavage, self/non-self discrimination, and the target RNA-dependent regulation of enzymatic subunits in the effector complex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuzichao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Jie Han
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Jie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Heng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Tang M, Chen Q, Zhong H, Liu S, Sun W. CPR bacteria and DPANN archaea play pivotal roles in response of microbial community to antibiotic stress in groundwater. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 251:121137. [PMID: 38246077 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The accumulation of antibiotics in the natural environment can disrupt microbial population dynamics. However, our understanding of how microbial communities adapt to the antibiotic stress in groundwater ecosystems remains limited. By recovering 2675 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from 66 groundwater samples, we explored the effect of antibiotics on bacterial, archaeal, and fungal communities, and revealed the pivotal microbes and their mechanisms in coping with antibiotic stress. The results indicated that antibiotics had the most significant influence on bacterial and archaeal communities, while the impact on the fungal community was minimal. Analysis of co-occurrence networks between antibiotics and microbes revealed the critical roles of Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) bacteria and DPANN archaea, two representative microbial groups in groundwater ecosystem, in coping with antibiotic resistance and enhancing network connectivity and complexity. Further genomic analysis demonstrated that CPR bacteria carried approximately 6 % of the identified antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), indicating their potential to withstand antibiotics on their own. Meanwhile, the genomes of CPR bacteria and DPANN archaea were found to encode diverse biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) responsible for producing antimicrobial metabolites, which could not only assist CPR and DPANN organisms but also benefit the surrounding microbes in combating antibiotic stress. These findings underscore the significant impact of antibiotics on prokaryotic microbial communities in groundwater, and highlight the importance of CPR bacteria and DPANN archaea in enhancing the overall resilience and functionality of the microbial community in the face of antibiotic stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Moran Tang
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, Beijing 100871, China.
| | - Haohui Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Shufeng Liu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Weiling Sun
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, Beijing 100871, China.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Sarasa-Buisan C, Ochoa de Alda JAG, Velázquez-Suárez C, Rubio MÁ, Gómez-Baena G, Fillat MF, Luque I. An ancient bacterial zinc acquisition system identified from a cyanobacterial exoproteome. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002546. [PMID: 38466754 PMCID: PMC10957091 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria have developed fine-tuned responses to cope with potential zinc limitation. The Zur protein is a key player in coordinating this response in most species. Comparative proteomics conducted on the cyanobacterium Anabaena highlighted the more abundant proteins in a zur mutant compared to the wild type. Experimental evidence showed that the exoprotein ZepA mediates zinc uptake. Genomic context of the zepA gene and protein structure prediction provided additional insights on the regulation and putative function of ZepA homologs. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that ZepA represents a primordial system for zinc acquisition that has been conserved for billions of years in a handful of species from distant bacterial lineages. Furthermore, these results show that Zur may have been one of the first regulators of the FUR family to evolve, consistent with the scarcity of zinc in the ecosystems of the Archean eon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Sarasa-Buisan
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular e Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (Bifi), Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Jesús A. G. Ochoa de Alda
- Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales y la Matemáticas, Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | | | - Miguel Ángel Rubio
- Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, CSIC and Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Guadalupe Gómez-Baena
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - María F. Fillat
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular e Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (Bifi), Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ignacio Luque
- Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, CSIC and Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Williams TA, Davin AA, Szánthó LL, Stamatakis A, Wahl NA, Woodcroft BJ, Soo RM, Eme L, Sheridan PO, Gubry-Rangin C, Spang A, Hugenholtz P, Szöllősi GJ. Phylogenetic reconciliation: making the most of genomes to understand microbial ecology and evolution. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae129. [PMID: 39001714 PMCID: PMC11293204 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, phylogenetic reconciliation has emerged as a promising approach for studying microbial ecology and evolution. The core idea is to model how gene trees evolve along a species tree and to explain differences between them via evolutionary events including gene duplications, transfers, and losses. Here, we describe how phylogenetic reconciliation provides a natural framework for studying genome evolution and highlight recent applications including ancestral gene content inference, the rooting of species trees, and the insights into metabolic evolution and ecological transitions they yield. Reconciliation analyses have elucidated the evolution of diverse microbial lineages, from Chlamydiae to Asgard archaea, shedding light on ecological adaptation, host-microbe interactions, and symbiotic relationships. However, there are many opportunities for broader application of the approach in microbiology. Continuing improvements to make reconciliation models more realistic and scalable, and integration of ecological metadata such as habitat, pH, temperature, and oxygen use offer enormous potential for understanding the rich tapestry of microbial life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tom A Williams
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS81TQ, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian A Davin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 113-0033 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Lénárd L Szánthó
- MTA-ELTE “Lendület” Evolutionary Genomics Research Group, Eötvös University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
- Model-Based Evolutionary Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 904-0495 Okinawa, Japan
| | - Alexandros Stamatakis
- Biodiversity Computing Group, Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
- Computational Molecular Evolution Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Theoretical Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Noah A Wahl
- Biodiversity Computing Group, Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Ben J Woodcroft
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Rochelle M Soo
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Laura Eme
- Unité d’Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Paul O Sheridan
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland
| | - Cecile Gubry-Rangin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, United Kingdom
| | - Anja Spang
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, The Netherlands
- Department of Evolutionary & Population Biology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Philip Hugenholtz
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Gergely J Szöllősi
- MTA-ELTE “Lendület” Evolutionary Genomics Research Group, Eötvös University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
- Model-Based Evolutionary Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 904-0495 Okinawa, Japan
- Institute of Evolution, HUN REN Centre for Ecological Research, 1121 Budapest, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Oh GS, An S, Kim S. Harnessing CRISPR-Cas adaptation for RNA recording and beyond. BMB Rep 2024; 57:40-49. [PMID: 38053290 PMCID: PMC10828431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Prokaryotes encode clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) arrays and CRISPR-associated (Cas) genes as an adaptive immune machinery. CRISPR-Cas systems effectively protect hosts from the invasion of foreign enemies, such as bacteriophages and plasmids. During a process called 'adaptation', non-self-nucleic acid fragments are acquired as spacers between repeats in the host CRISPR array, to establish immunological memory. The highly conserved Cas1-Cas2 complexes function as molecular recorders to integrate spacers in a time course manner, which can subsequently be expressed as crRNAs complexed with Cas effector proteins for the RNAguided interference pathways. In some of the RNA-targeting type III systems, Cas1 proteins are fused with reverse transcriptase (RT), indicating that RT-Cas1-Cas2 complexes can acquire RNA transcripts for spacer acquisition. In this review, we summarize current studies that focus on the molecular structure and function of the RT-fused Cas1-Cas2 integrase, and its potential applications as a directional RNA-recording tool in cells. Furthermore, we highlight outstanding questions for RT-Cas1-Cas2 studies and future directions for RNA-recording CRISPR technologies. [BMB Reports 2024; 57(1): 40-49].
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gyeong-Seok Oh
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Seongjin An
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Sungchul Kim
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul 08826, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Göker M, Oren A. Valid publication of names of two domains and seven kingdoms of prokaryotes. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2024; 74. [PMID: 38252124 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.006242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) now includes the categories domain and kingdom. For the purpose of the valid publication of their names under the ICNP, we consider here the two known domains, 'Bacteria' and 'Archaea', as well as a number of taxa suitable for the rank of kingdom, based on previous phylogenetic and taxonomic studies. It is proposed to subdivide the domain Bacteria into the kingdoms Bacillati, Fusobacteriati, Pseudomonadati and Thermotogati. This arrangement reflects contemporary phylogenetic hypotheses as well as previous taxonomic proposals based on cell wall structure, including 'diderms' vs. 'monoderms', Gracilicutes vs. Firmicutes, 'Negibacteria' vs. 'Unibacteria', 'Hydrobacteria' vs. 'Terrabacteria', and 'Hydrobacterida' vs. 'Terrabacterida'. The domain Archaea is proposed to include the kingdoms Methanobacteriati, Nanobdellati and Thermoproteati, reflecting the previous division into 'Euryarchaeota', 'DPANN superphylum' and 'TACK superphylum'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Göker
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstrasse 7B, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Aharon Oren
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Institute of Life Sciences, Edmond J. Safra Campus - Givat Ram, 9190401 Jerusalem, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Koedooder C, Zhang F, Wang S, Basu S, Haley ST, Tolic N, Nicora CD, Glavina del Rio T, Dyhrman ST, Gledhill M, Boiteau RM, Rubin-Blum M, Shaked Y. Taxonomic distribution of metabolic functions in bacteria associated with Trichodesmium consortia. mSystems 2023; 8:e0074223. [PMID: 37916816 PMCID: PMC10734445 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00742-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Colonies of the cyanobacteria Trichodesmium act as a biological hotspot for the usage and recycling of key resources such as C, N, P, and Fe within an otherwise oligotrophic environment. While Trichodesmium colonies are known to interact and support a unique community of algae and particle-associated microbes, our understanding of the taxa that populate these colonies and the gene functions they encode is still limited. Characterizing the taxa and adaptive strategies that influence consortium physiology and its concomitant biogeochemistry is critical in a future ocean predicted to have increasingly resource-depleted regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Coco Koedooder
- The Fredy and Nadine Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat, Eilat, Israel
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Haifa, Israel
| | - Futing Zhang
- The Fredy and Nadine Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat, Eilat, Israel
| | - Siyuan Wang
- The Fredy and Nadine Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat, Eilat, Israel
| | - Subhajit Basu
- The Fredy and Nadine Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat, Eilat, Israel
- Microsensor Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Sheean T. Haley
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Nikola Tolic
- Earth and Biological Sciences, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Carrie D. Nicora
- Earth and Biological Sciences, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Tijana Glavina del Rio
- Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Sonya T. Dyhrman
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, New York, USA
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | | | - Rene M. Boiteau
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
- College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Yeala Shaked
- The Fredy and Nadine Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat, Eilat, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Kimura ZI, Kuriyama H, Iwasaki Y. Exploring Acetogenesis in Firmicutes: From Phylogenetic Analysis to Solid Medium Cultivation with Solid-Phase Electrochemical Isolation Equipments. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2976. [PMID: 38138120 PMCID: PMC10746088 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
This study introduces a groundbreaking approach for the exploration and utilization of electrotrophic acetogens, essential for advancing microbial electrosynthesis systems (MES). Our initial focus was the development of Solid-Phase Electrochemical Isolation Equipment (SPECIEs), a novel cultivation method for isolating electrotrophic acetogens directly from environmental samples on a solid medium. SPECIEs uses electrotrophy as a selection pressure, successfully overcoming the traditional cultivation method limitations and enabling the cultivation of diverse microbial communities with enhanced specificity towards acetogens. Following the establishment of SPECIEs, we conducted a genome-based phylogenetic analysis using the Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB) to identify potential electrotrophic acetogens within the Firmicutes phylum and its related lineages. Subsequently, we validated the electrotrophic capabilities of selected strains under electrode-oxidizing conditions in a liquid medium. This sequential approach, integrating innovative cultivation techniques with detailed phylogenetic analysis, paves the way for further advances in microbial cultivation and the identification of new biocatalysts for sustainable energy applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zen-ichiro Kimura
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Kure College, 2-2-11 Aga-minami, Kure, Hiroshima 737-8506, Japan; (H.K.); (Y.I.)
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Martinez-Gutierrez CA, Uyeda JC, Aylward FO. A timeline of bacterial and archaeal diversification in the ocean. eLife 2023; 12:RP88268. [PMID: 38059790 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial plankton play a central role in marine biogeochemical cycles, but the timing in which abundant lineages diversified into ocean environments remains unclear. Here, we reconstructed the timeline in which major clades of bacteria and archaea colonized the ocean using a high-resolution benchmarked phylogenetic tree that allows for simultaneous and direct comparison of the ages of multiple divergent lineages. Our findings show that the diversification of the most prevalent marine clades spans throughout a period of 2.2 Ga, with most clades colonizing the ocean during the last 800 million years. The oldest clades - SAR202, SAR324, Ca. Marinimicrobia, and Marine Group II - diversified around the time of the Great Oxidation Event, during which oxygen concentration increased but remained at microaerophilic levels throughout the Mid-Proterozoic, consistent with the prevalence of some clades within these groups in oxygen minimum zones today. We found the diversification of the prevalent heterotrophic marine clades SAR11, SAR116, SAR92, SAR86, and Roseobacter as well as the Marine Group I to occur near to the Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Event (0.8-0.4 Ga). The diversification of these clades is concomitant with an overall increase of oxygen and nutrients in the ocean at this time, as well as the diversification of eukaryotic algae, consistent with the previous hypothesis that the diversification of heterotrophic bacteria is linked to the emergence of large eukaryotic phytoplankton. The youngest clades correspond to the widespread phototrophic clades Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus, and Crocosphaera, whose diversification happened after the Phanerozoic Oxidation Event (0.45-0.4 Ga), in which oxygen concentrations had already reached their modern levels in the atmosphere and the ocean. Our work clarifies the timing at which abundant lineages of bacteria and archaea colonized the ocean, thereby providing key insights into the evolutionary history of lineages that comprise the majority of prokaryotic biomass in the modern ocean.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Josef C Uyeda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, United States
| | - Frank O Aylward
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, United States
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, United States
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Gondhalekar R, Kempes CP, McGlynn SE. Scaling of Protein Function across the Tree of Life. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:evad214. [PMID: 38007693 PMCID: PMC10715193 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Scaling laws are a powerful way to compare genomes because they put all organisms onto a single curve and reveal nontrivial generalities as genomes change in size. The abundance of functional categories across genomes has previously been found to show power law scaling with respect to the total number of functional categories, suggesting that universal constraints shape genomic category abundance. Here, we look across the tree of life to understand how genome evolution may be related to functional scaling. We revisit previous observations of functional genome scaling with an expanded taxonomy by analyzing 3,726 bacterial, 220 archaeal, and 79 unicellular eukaryotic genomes. We find that for some functional classes, scaling is best described by multiple exponents, revealing previously unobserved shifts in scaling as genome-encoded protein annotations increase or decrease. Furthermore, we find that scaling varies between phyletic groups at both the domain and phyla levels and is less universal than previously thought. This variability in functional scaling is not related to taxonomic phylogeny resolved at the phyla level, suggesting that differences in cell plan or physiology outweigh broad patterns of taxonomic evolution. Since genomes are maintained and replicated by the functional proteins encoded by them, these results point to functional degeneracy between taxonomic groups and unique evolutionary trajectories toward these. We also find that individual phyla frequently span scaling exponents of functional classes, revealing that individual clades can move across scaling exponents. Together, our results reveal unique shifts in functions across the tree of life and highlight that as genomes grow or shrink, proteins of various functions may be added or lost.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Riddhi Gondhalekar
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Shawn Erin McGlynn
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, Saitama, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Grasekamp KP, Beaud Benyahia B, Taib N, Audrain B, Bardiaux B, Rossez Y, Izadi-Pruneyre N, Lejeune M, Trivelli X, Chouit Z, Guerardel Y, Ghigo JM, Gribaldo S, Beloin C. The Mla system of diderm Firmicute Veillonella parvula reveals an ancestral transenvelope bridge for phospholipid trafficking. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7642. [PMID: 37993432 PMCID: PMC10665443 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43411-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
E. coli and most other diderm bacteria (those with two membranes) have an inner membrane enriched in glycerophospholipids (GPLs) and an asymmetric outer membrane (OM) containing GPLs in its inner leaflet and primarily lipopolysaccharides in its outer leaflet. In E. coli, this lipid asymmetry is maintained by the Mla system which consists of six proteins: the OM lipoprotein MlaA extracts GPLs from the outer leaflet, and the periplasmic chaperone MlaC transfers them across the periplasm to the inner membrane complex MlaBDEF. However, GPL trafficking still remains poorly understood, and has only been studied in a handful of model species. Here, we investigate GPL trafficking in Veillonella parvula, a diderm Firmicute with an Mla system that lacks MlaA and MlaC, but contains an elongated MlaD. V. parvula mla mutants display phenotypes characteristic of disrupted lipid asymmetry which can be suppressed by mutations in tamB, supporting that these two systems have opposite GPL trafficking functions across diverse bacterial lineages. Structural modelling and subcellular localisation assays suggest that V. parvula MlaD forms a transenvelope bridge, comprising a typical inner membrane-localised MCE domain and, in addition, an outer membrane ß-barrel. Phylogenomic analyses indicate that this elongated MlaD type is widely distributed across diderm bacteria and likely forms part of the ancestral functional core of the Mla system, which would be composed of MlaEFD only.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyrie P Grasekamp
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Genetics of Biofilms Laboratory, Paris, France
| | - Basile Beaud Benyahia
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell Laboratory, Paris, France
| | - Najwa Taib
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell Laboratory, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Bianca Audrain
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Genetics of Biofilms Laboratory, Paris, France
| | - Benjamin Bardiaux
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Structural Bioinformatics Unit, CNRS UMR 3528, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bacterial Transmembrane Systems Unit, CNRS UMR 3528, Paris, France
| | - Yannick Rossez
- Université de Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576 - UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, Lille, France
| | - Nadia Izadi-Pruneyre
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Structural Bioinformatics Unit, CNRS UMR 3528, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bacterial Transmembrane Systems Unit, CNRS UMR 3528, Paris, France
| | - Maylis Lejeune
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Structural Bioinformatics Unit, CNRS UMR 3528, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Bacterial Transmembrane Systems Unit, CNRS UMR 3528, Paris, France
| | - Xavier Trivelli
- Université de Lille, CNRS, INRAE, Centrale Lille, Université d'Artois, FR 2638 - IMEC - Institut Michel-Eugène Chevreul, Lille, 59000, France
| | - Zina Chouit
- Université de Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576 - UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, Lille, France
| | - Yann Guerardel
- Université de Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576 - UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, Lille, France
- Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE), Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Jean-Marc Ghigo
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Genetics of Biofilms Laboratory, Paris, France
| | - Simonetta Gribaldo
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell Laboratory, Paris, France.
| | - Christophe Beloin
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Genetics of Biofilms Laboratory, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Mahendrarajah TA, Moody ERR, Schrempf D, Szánthó LL, Dombrowski N, Davín AA, Pisani D, Donoghue PCJ, Szöllősi GJ, Williams TA, Spang A. ATP synthase evolution on a cross-braced dated tree of life. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7456. [PMID: 37978174 PMCID: PMC10656485 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42924-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The timing of early cellular evolution, from the divergence of Archaea and Bacteria to the origin of eukaryotes, is poorly constrained. The ATP synthase complex is thought to have originated prior to the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) and analyses of ATP synthase genes, together with ribosomes, have played a key role in inferring and rooting the tree of life. We reconstruct the evolutionary history of ATP synthases using an expanded taxon sampling set and develop a phylogenetic cross-bracing approach, constraining equivalent speciation nodes to be contemporaneous, based on the phylogenetic imprint of endosymbioses and ancient gene duplications. This approach results in a highly resolved, dated species tree and establishes an absolute timeline for ATP synthase evolution. Our analyses show that the divergence of ATP synthase into F- and A/V-type lineages was a very early event in cellular evolution dating back to more than 4 Ga, potentially predating the diversification of Archaea and Bacteria. Our cross-braced, dated tree of life also provides insight into more recent evolutionary transitions including eukaryogenesis, showing that the eukaryotic nuclear and mitochondrial lineages diverged from their closest archaeal (2.67-2.19 Ga) and bacterial (2.58-2.12 Ga) relatives at approximately the same time, with a slightly longer nuclear stem-lineage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tara A Mahendrarajah
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, AB Den Burg, The Netherlands
| | - Edmund R R Moody
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TQ, Bristol, UK
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TQ, Bristol, UK
| | - Dominik Schrempf
- Department Biological Physics, Eötvös University, Pázmány P. stny. 1A., H-1117, Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-ELTE "Lendulet" Evolutionary Genomics Research Group, Pázmány P. stny. 1A., H-1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Lénárd L Szánthó
- Department Biological Physics, Eötvös University, Pázmány P. stny. 1A., H-1117, Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-ELTE "Lendulet" Evolutionary Genomics Research Group, Pázmány P. stny. 1A., H-1117, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Evolution, Centre for Ecological Research, Karolina ut 29, H-1113, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nina Dombrowski
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, AB Den Burg, The Netherlands
| | - Adrián A Davín
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Davide Pisani
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TQ, Bristol, UK
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TQ, Bristol, UK
| | - Philip C J Donoghue
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TQ, Bristol, UK
| | - Gergely J Szöllősi
- Department Biological Physics, Eötvös University, Pázmány P. stny. 1A., H-1117, Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-ELTE "Lendulet" Evolutionary Genomics Research Group, Pázmány P. stny. 1A., H-1117, Budapest, Hungary
- Model-Based Evolutionary Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Tom A Williams
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, BS8 1TQ, Bristol, UK.
| | - Anja Spang
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, AB Den Burg, The Netherlands.
- Department of Evolutionary & Population Biology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Hijikata A, Oshima T, Yura K, Bessho Y. ThermusQ: Toward the cell simulation platform for Thermus thermophilus. J GEN APPL MICROBIOL 2023; 69:59-67. [PMID: 37460312 DOI: 10.2323/jgam.2023.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
ThermusQ is a website (https://www.thermusq.net/) that aims to gather all the molecular information on Thermus thermophilus and to provide a platform to easily access the whole view of the bacterium. ThermusQ comprises the genome sequences of 22 strains from T. thermophilus and T. oshimai strains, plus the sequences of known Thermus phages. ThermusQ also contains information and map diagrams of pathways unique to Thermus strains. The website provides tools to retrieve sequence data in different ways. By gathering the whole data of T. thermophilus strains, the strainspecific characteristics was found. This bird's-eye view of the whole data will lead the research community to identify missing important data and the integration will provide a platform to conduct future biochemical simulations of the bacterium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Hijikata
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences
| | - Tairo Oshima
- Institute of Environmental Microbiology, Kyowa Kako Co., Ltd
| | - Kei Yura
- Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University
- Center for Interdisciplinary AI and Data Science, Ochanomizu University
- Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University
| | - Yoshitaka Bessho
- Center for Interdisciplinary AI and Data Science, Ochanomizu University
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Harima Institute
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Wang Y, Gallagher LA, Andrade PA, Liu A, Humphreys IR, Turkarslan S, Cutler KJ, Arrieta-Ortiz ML, Li Y, Radey MC, McLean JS, Cong Q, Baker D, Baliga NS, Peterson SB, Mougous JD. Genetic manipulation of Patescibacteria provides mechanistic insights into microbial dark matter and the epibiotic lifestyle. Cell 2023; 186:4803-4817.e13. [PMID: 37683634 PMCID: PMC10633639 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Patescibacteria, also known as the candidate phyla radiation (CPR), are a diverse group of bacteria that constitute a disproportionately large fraction of microbial dark matter. Its few cultivated members, belonging mostly to Saccharibacteria, grow as epibionts on host Actinobacteria. Due to a lack of suitable tools, the genetic basis of this lifestyle and other unique features of Patescibacteira remain unexplored. Here, we show that Saccharibacteria exhibit natural competence, and we exploit this property for their genetic manipulation. Imaging of fluorescent protein-labeled Saccharibacteria provides high spatiotemporal resolution of phenomena accompanying epibiotic growth, and a transposon-insertion sequencing (Tn-seq) genome-wide screen reveals the contribution of enigmatic Saccharibacterial genes to growth on their hosts. Finally, we leverage metagenomic data to provide cutting-edge protein structure-based bioinformatic resources that support the strain Southlakia epibionticum and its corresponding host, Actinomyces israelii, as a model system for unlocking the molecular underpinnings of the epibiotic lifestyle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaxi Wang
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Larry A Gallagher
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Pia A Andrade
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Andi Liu
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Ian R Humphreys
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | - Kevin J Cutler
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | - Yaqiao Li
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Matthew C Radey
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Jeffrey S McLean
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Periodontics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Qian Cong
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - David Baker
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | - S Brook Peterson
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Joseph D Mougous
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Microbial Interactions and Microbiome Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Teullet S, Tilak MK, Magdeleine A, Schaub R, Weyer NM, Panaino W, Fuller A, Loughry WJ, Avenant NL, de Thoisy B, Borrel G, Delsuc F. Metagenomics uncovers dietary adaptations for chitin digestion in the gut microbiota of convergent myrmecophagous mammals. mSystems 2023; 8:e0038823. [PMID: 37650612 PMCID: PMC10654083 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00388-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Myrmecophagous mammals are specialized in the consumption of ants and/or termites. They do not share a direct common ancestor and evolved convergently in five distinct placental orders raising questions about the underlying adaptive mechanisms involved and the relative contribution of natural selection and phylogenetic constraints. Understanding how these species digest their prey can help answer these questions. More specifically, the role of their gut microbial symbionts in the digestion of the insect chitinous exoskeleton has not been investigated in all myrmecophagous orders. We generated 29 new gut metagenomes from nine myrmecophagous species to reconstruct more than 300 bacterial genomes in which we identified chitin-degrading enzymes. Studying the distribution of these chitinolytic bacteria among hosts revealed both shared and specific bacteria between ant-eating species. Overall, our results highlight the potential role of gut symbionts in the convergent dietary adaptation of myrmecophagous mammals and the evolutionary mechanisms shaping their gut microbiota.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Teullet
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Marie-Ka Tilak
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Amandine Magdeleine
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Roxane Schaub
- CIC AG/Inserm 1424, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne Andrée Rosemon, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
- Tropical Biome and immunopathology, Université de Guyane, Labex CEBA, DFR Santé, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Nora M. Weyer
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Wendy Panaino
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Centre for African Ecology, School of Animals, Plant, and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Andrea Fuller
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - W. J. Loughry
- Department of Biology, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nico L. Avenant
- National Museum and Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Benoit de Thoisy
- Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
- Kwata NGO, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Guillaume Borrel
- Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Delsuc
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Wiegand S, Sobol M, Schnepp-Pesch LK, Yan G, Iqbal S, Vollmers J, Müller JA, Kaster AK. Taxonomic Re-Classification and Expansion of the Phylum Chloroflexota Based on over 5000 Genomes and Metagenome-Assembled Genomes. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2612. [PMID: 37894270 PMCID: PMC10608941 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The phylum Chloroflexota (formerly Chloroflexi) encompasses metabolically diverse bacteria that often have high prevalence in terrestrial and aquatic habitats, some even with biotechnological application. However, there is substantial disagreement in public databases which lineage should be considered a member of the phylum and at what taxonomic level. Here, we addressed these issues through extensive phylogenomic analyses. The analyses were based on a collection of >5000 Chloroflexota genomes and metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from public databases, novel environmental sites, as well as newly generated MAGs from publicly available sequence reads via an improved binning approach incorporating covariance information. Based on calculated relative evolutionary divergence, we propose that Candidatus Dormibacterota should be listed as a class (i.e., Ca. Dormibacteria) within Chloroflexota together with the classes Anaerolineae, Chloroflexia, Dehalococcoidia, Ktedonobacteria, Ca. Limnocylindria, Thermomicrobia, and two other classes containing only uncultured members. All other Chloroflexota lineages previously listed at the class rank appear to be rather orders or families in the Anaerolineae and Dehalococcoidia, which contain the vast majority of genomes and exhibited the strongest phylogenetic radiation within the phylum. Furthermore, the study suggests that a common ecophysiological capability of members of the phylum is to successfully cope with low energy fluxes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Anne-Kristin Kaster
- Institute for Biological Interfaces (IBG 5), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany; (S.W.); (M.S.); (L.K.S.-P.); (G.Y.); (S.I.); (J.V.); (J.A.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Rangel LT, Fournier GP. Fast-Evolving Alignment Sites Are Highly Informative for Reconstructions of Deep Tree of Life Phylogenies. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2499. [PMID: 37894157 PMCID: PMC10609509 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The trimming of fast-evolving sites, often known as "slow-fast" analysis, is broadly used in microbial phylogenetic reconstruction under the assumption that fast-evolving sites do not retain an accurate phylogenetic signal due to substitution saturation. Therefore, removing sites that have experienced multiple substitutions would improve the signal-to-noise ratio in phylogenetic analyses, with the remaining slower-evolving sites preserving a more reliable record of evolutionary relationships. Here, we show that, contrary to this assumption, even the fastest-evolving sites present in the conserved proteins often used in Tree of Life studies contain reliable and valuable phylogenetic information, and that the trimming of such sites can negatively impact the accuracy of phylogenetic reconstruction. Simulated alignments modeled after ribosomal protein datasets used in Tree of Life studies consistently show that slow-evolving sites are less likely to recover true bipartitions than even the fastest-evolving sites. Furthermore, site-specific substitution rates are positively correlated with the frequency of accurately recovered short-branched bipartitions, as slowly evolving sites are less likely to have experienced substitutions along these intervals. Using published Tree of Life sequence alignment datasets, we also show that both slow- and fast-evolving sites contain similarly inconsistent phylogenetic signals, and that, for fast-evolving sites, this inconsistency can be attributed to poor alignment quality. Furthermore, trimming fast sites, slow sites, or both is shown to have a substantial impact on phylogenetic reconstruction across multiple evolutionary models. This is perhaps most evident in the resulting placements of the Eukarya and Asgardarchaeota groups, which are especially sensitive to the implementation of different trimming schemes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L. Thibério Rangel
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric, & Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA;
| | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Gruffaz C, Smirnov A. GTPase Era at the heart of ribosome assembly. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1263433. [PMID: 37860580 PMCID: PMC10582724 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1263433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Ribosome biogenesis is a key process in all organisms. It relies on coordinated work of multiple proteins and RNAs, including an array of assembly factors. Among them, the GTPase Era stands out as an especially deeply conserved protein, critically required for the assembly of bacterial-type ribosomes from Escherichia coli to humans. In this review, we bring together and critically analyze a wealth of phylogenetic, biochemical, structural, genetic and physiological data about this extensively studied but still insufficiently understood factor. We do so using a comparative and, wherever possible, synthetic approach, by confronting observations from diverse groups of bacteria and eukaryotic organelles (mitochondria and chloroplasts). The emerging consensus posits that Era intervenes relatively early in the small subunit biogenesis and is essential for the proper shaping of the platform which, in its turn, is a prerequisite for efficient translation. The timing of Era action on the ribosome is defined by its interactions with guanosine nucleotides [GTP, GDP, (p)ppGpp], ribosomal RNA, and likely other factors that trigger or delay its GTPase activity. As a critical nexus of the small subunit biogenesis, Era is subject to sophisticated regulatory mechanisms at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational levels. Failure of these mechanisms or a deficiency in Era function entail dramatic generalized consequences for the protein synthesis and far-reaching, pleiotropic effects on the organism physiology, such as the Perrault syndrome in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christelle Gruffaz
- UMR7156- Génétique Moléculaire, Génomique, Microbiologie (GMGM), University of Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Strasbourg, France
| | - Alexandre Smirnov
- UMR7156- Génétique Moléculaire, Génomique, Microbiologie (GMGM), University of Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Strasbourg, France
- University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Study (USIAS), Strasbourg, France
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Schwander L, Brabender M, Mrnjavac N, Wimmer JLE, Preiner M, Martin WF. Serpentinization as the source of energy, electrons, organics, catalysts, nutrients and pH gradients for the origin of LUCA and life. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1257597. [PMID: 37854333 PMCID: PMC10581274 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1257597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Serpentinization in hydrothermal vents is central to some autotrophic theories for the origin of life because it generates compartments, reductants, catalysts and gradients. During the process of serpentinization, water circulates through hydrothermal systems in the crust where it oxidizes Fe (II) in ultramafic minerals to generate Fe (III) minerals and H2. Molecular hydrogen can, in turn, serve as a freely diffusible source of electrons for the reduction of CO2 to organic compounds, provided that suitable catalysts are present. Using catalysts that are naturally synthesized in hydrothermal vents during serpentinization H2 reduces CO2 to formate, acetate, pyruvate, and methane. These compounds represent the backbone of microbial carbon and energy metabolism in acetogens and methanogens, strictly anaerobic chemolithoautotrophs that use the acetyl-CoA pathway of CO2 fixation and that inhabit serpentinizing environments today. Serpentinization generates reduced carbon, nitrogen and - as newer findings suggest - reduced phosphorous compounds that were likely conducive to the origins process. In addition, it gives rise to inorganic microcompartments and proton gradients of the right polarity and of sufficient magnitude to support chemiosmotic ATP synthesis by the rotor-stator ATP synthase. This would help to explain why the principle of chemiosmotic energy harnessing is more conserved (older) than the machinery to generate ion gradients via pumping coupled to exergonic chemical reactions, which in the case of acetogens and methanogens involve H2-dependent CO2 reduction. Serpentinizing systems exist in terrestrial and deep ocean environments. On the early Earth they were probably more abundant than today. There is evidence that serpentinization once occurred on Mars and is likely still occurring on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus, providing a perspective on serpentinization as a source of reductants, catalysts and chemical disequilibrium for life on other worlds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Loraine Schwander
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Biology Department, Math. -Nat. Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Max Brabender
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Biology Department, Math. -Nat. Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Natalia Mrnjavac
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Biology Department, Math. -Nat. Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jessica L. E. Wimmer
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Biology Department, Math. -Nat. Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Martina Preiner
- Microcosm Earth Center, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology and Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany
| | - William F. Martin
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, Biology Department, Math. -Nat. Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Gulay A, Fournier G, Smets BF, Girguis PR. Proterozoic Acquisition of Archaeal Genes for Extracellular Electron Transfer: A Metabolic Adaptation of Aerobic Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria to Oxygen Limitation. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad161. [PMID: 37440531 PMCID: PMC10415592 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Many aerobic microbes can utilize alternative electron acceptors under oxygen-limited conditions. In some cases, this is mediated by extracellular electron transfer (or EET), wherein electrons are transferred to extracellular oxidants such as iron oxide and manganese oxide minerals. Here, we show that an ammonia-oxidizer previously known to be strictly aerobic, Nitrosomonas communis, may have been able to utilize a poised electrode to maintain metabolic activity in anoxic conditions. The presence and activity of multiheme cytochromes in N. communis further suggest a capacity for EET. Molecular clock analysis shows that the ancestors of β-proteobacterial ammonia oxidizers appeared after Earth's atmospheric oxygenation when the oxygen levels were >10-4pO2 (present atmospheric level [PAL]), consistent with aerobic origins. Equally important, phylogenetic reconciliations of gene and species trees show that the multiheme c-type EET proteins in Nitrosomonas and Nitrosospira lineages were likely acquired by gene transfer from γ-proteobacteria when the oxygen levels were between 0.1 and 1 pO2 (PAL). These results suggest that β-proteobacterial EET evolved during the Proterozoic when oxygen limitation was widespread, but oxidized minerals were abundant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arda Gulay
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Greg Fournier
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Barth F Smets
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter R Girguis
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Nicholls JWF, Chin JP, Williams TA, Lenton TM, O’Flaherty V, McGrath JW. On the potential roles of phosphorus in the early evolution of energy metabolism. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1239189. [PMID: 37601379 PMCID: PMC10433651 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1239189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Energy metabolism in extant life is centered around phosphate and the energy-dense phosphoanhydride bonds of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a deeply conserved and ancient bioenergetic system. Yet, ATP synthesis relies on numerous complex enzymes and has an autocatalytic requirement for ATP itself. This implies the existence of evolutionarily simpler bioenergetic pathways and potentially primordial alternatives to ATP. The centrality of phosphate in modern bioenergetics, coupled with the energetic properties of phosphorylated compounds, may suggest that primordial precursors to ATP also utilized phosphate in compounds such as pyrophosphate, acetyl phosphate and polyphosphate. However, bioavailable phosphate may have been notably scarce on the early Earth, raising doubts about the roles that phosphorylated molecules might have played in the early evolution of life. A largely overlooked phosphorus redox cycle on the ancient Earth might have provided phosphorus and energy, with reduced phosphorus compounds potentially playing a key role in the early evolution of energy metabolism. Here, we speculate on the biological phosphorus compounds that may have acted as primordial energy currencies, sources of environmental energy, or sources of phosphorus for the synthesis of phosphorylated energy currencies. This review encompasses discussions on the evolutionary history of modern bioenergetics, and specifically those pathways with primordial relevance, and the geochemistry of bioavailable phosphorus on the ancient Earth. We highlight the importance of phosphorus, not only in the form of phosphate, to early biology and suggest future directions of study that may improve our understanding of the early evolution of bioenergetics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jack W. F. Nicholls
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Jason P. Chin
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Tom A. Williams
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy M. Lenton
- Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | | | - John W. McGrath
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Leng H, Wang Y, Zhao W, Sievert SM, Xiao X. Identification of a deep-branching thermophilic clade sheds light on early bacterial evolution. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4354. [PMID: 37468486 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39960-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been proposed that early bacteria, or even the last universal common ancestor of all cells, were thermophilic. However, research on the origin and evolution of thermophily is hampered by the difficulties associated with the isolation of deep-branching thermophilic microorganisms in pure culture. Here, we isolate a deep-branching thermophilic bacterium from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent, using a two-step cultivation strategy ("Subtraction-Suboptimal", StS) designed to isolate rare organisms. The bacterium, which we name Zhurongbacter thermophilus 3DAC, is a sulfur-reducing heterotroph that is phylogenetically related to Coprothermobacterota and other thermophilic bacterial groups, forming a clade that seems to represent a major, early-diverging bacterial lineage. The ancestor of this clade might be a thermophilic, strictly anaerobic, motile, hydrogen-dependent, and mixotrophic bacterium. Thus, our study provides insights into the early evolution of thermophilic bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Leng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- International Center for Deep Life Investigation (IC-DLI), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yinzhao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- International Center for Deep Life Investigation (IC-DLI), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weishu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- International Center for Deep Life Investigation (IC-DLI), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Stefan M Sievert
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Xiang Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
- International Center for Deep Life Investigation (IC-DLI), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Ali F. Patterns of change in nucleotide diversity over gene length. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.13.548940. [PMID: 37503020 PMCID: PMC10369989 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.13.548940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Nucleotide diversity at a site is influenced by the relative strengths of neutral and selective population genetic processes. Therefore, attempts to identify sites under positive selection require an understanding of the expected diversity in its absence. The nucleotide diversity of a gene was previously found to correlate with its length. In this work, I measure nucleotide diversity at synonymous sites and uncover a pattern of low diversity towards the translation initiation site (TIS) of a gene. The degree of reduction in diversity at the TIS and the length of this region of reduced diversity can be quantified as "Effect Size" and "Effect Length" respectively, using parameters of an asymptotic regression model. Estimates of Effect Length across bacteria covaried with recombination rates as well as with a multitude of fast-growth adaptations such as the avoidance of mRNA secondary structure around TIS, the number of rRNAs, and relative codon usage of ribosomal genes. Thus, the dependence of nucleotide diversity on gene length is governed by a combination of selective and non-selective processes. These results have implications for the estimation of effective population size and relative mutation rates based on "silent-site" diversity, and for pN/pS-based prediction of genes under selection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farhan Ali
- Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| |
Collapse
|