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Warneke R, Herzberg C, Weiß M, Schramm T, Hertel D, Link H, Stülke J. DarA-the central processing unit for the integration of osmotic with potassium and amino acid homeostasis in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 2024; 206:e0019024. [PMID: 38832794 PMCID: PMC11270874 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00190-24] [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: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cyclic di-adenosine monophosphate (c-di-AMP) is a second messenger involved in diverse metabolic processes including osmolyte uptake, cell wall homeostasis, as well as antibiotic and heat resistance. This study investigates the role of the c-di-AMP receptor protein DarA in the osmotic stress response in Bacillus subtilis. Through a series of experiments, we demonstrate that DarA plays a central role in the cellular response to osmotic fluctuations. Our findings show that DarA becomes essential under extreme potassium limitation as well as upon salt stress, highlighting its significance in mediating osmotic stress adaptation. Suppressor screens with darA mutants reveal compensatory mechanisms involving the accumulation of osmoprotectants, particularly potassium and citrulline. Mutations affecting various metabolic pathways, including the citric acid cycle as well as glutamate and arginine biosynthesis, indicate a complex interplay between the osmotic stress response and metabolic regulation. In addition, the growth defects of the darA mutant during potassium starvation and salt stress in a strain lacking the high-affinity potassium uptake systems KimA and KtrAB can be rescued by increased affinity of the remaining potassium channel KtrCD or by increased expression of ktrD, thus resulting in increased potassium uptake. Finally, the darA mutant can respond to salt stress by the increased expression of MleN , which can export sodium ions.IMPORTANCEEnvironmental bacteria are exposed to rapidly changing osmotic conditions making an effective adaptation to these changes crucial for the survival of the cells. In Gram-positive bacteria, the second messenger cyclic di-AMP plays a key role in this adaptation by controlling (i) the influx of physiologically compatible organic osmolytes and (ii) the biosynthesis of such osmolytes. In several bacteria, cyclic di-adenosine monophosphate (c-di-AMP) can bind to a signal transduction protein, called DarA, in Bacillus subtilis. So far, no function for DarA has been discovered in any organism. We have identified osmotically challenging conditions that make DarA essential and have identified suppressor mutations that help the bacteria to adapt to those conditions. Our results indicate that DarA is a central component in the integration of osmotic stress with the synthesis of compatible amino acid osmolytes and with the homeostasis of potassium, the first response to osmotic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Warneke
- Department of General Microbiology, GZMB, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christina Herzberg
- Department of General Microbiology, GZMB, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Martin Weiß
- Department of General Microbiology, GZMB, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Thorben Schramm
- Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Dietrich Hertel
- Department of Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hannes Link
- Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Stülke
- Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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2
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Put H, Gerstmans H, Vande Capelle H, Fauvart M, Michiels J, Masschelein J. Bacillus subtilis as a host for natural product discovery and engineering of biosynthetic gene clusters. Nat Prod Rep 2024; 41:1113-1151. [PMID: 38465694 DOI: 10.1039/d3np00065f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Covering: up to October 2023Many bioactive natural products are synthesized by microorganisms that are either difficult or impossible to cultivate under laboratory conditions, or that produce only small amounts of the desired compound. By transferring biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) into alternative host organisms that are more easily cultured and engineered, larger quantities can be obtained and new analogues with potentially improved biological activity or other desirable properties can be generated. Moreover, expression of cryptic BGCs in a suitable host can facilitate the identification and characterization of novel natural products. Heterologous expression therefore represents a valuable tool for natural product discovery and engineering as it allows the study and manipulation of their biosynthetic pathways in a controlled setting, enabling innovative applications. Bacillus is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria that is widely used in industrial biotechnology as a host for the production of proteins from diverse origins, including enzymes and vaccines. However, despite numerous successful examples, Bacillus species remain underexploited as heterologous hosts for the expression of natural product BGCs. Here, we review important advantages that Bacillus species offer as expression hosts, such as high secretion capacity, natural competence for DNA uptake, and the increasing availability of a wide range of genetic tools for gene expression and strain engineering. We evaluate different strain optimization strategies and other critical factors that have improved the success and efficiency of heterologous natural product biosynthesis in B. subtilis. Finally, future perspectives for using B. subtilis as a heterologous host are discussed, identifying research gaps and promising areas that require further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Put
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Hans Gerstmans
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Discovery & Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Biosensors Group, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hanne Vande Capelle
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Discovery & Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Fauvart
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
- imec, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Michiels
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Joleen Masschelein
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Discovery & Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
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Chen N, Cai P, Zhang D, Zhang J, Zhong Z, Li YX. Metabolic engineering of "last-line antibiotic" colistin in Paenibacillus polymyxa. Metab Eng 2024; 85:35-45. [PMID: 39019251 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2024.07.005] [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: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Colistin, also known as polymyxin E, is a lipopeptide antibiotic used to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria. It is considered a "last-line antibiotic", but its clinical development is hindered by low titer and impurities resulting from the presence of diverse homologs in microbial fermentation. To ensure consistent pharmaceutical activity and kinetics, it is crucial to have high-purity colistin active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in the pharmaceutical industry. This study focused on the metabolic engineering of a natural colistin producer strain to produce colistin with a high titer and purity. Guided by genome mining, we identified Paenibacillus polymyxa ATCC 842 as a natural colistin producer capable of generating a high proportion of colistin A. By systematically inactivating seven non-essential biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) of peptide metabolites that might compete precursors with colistin or inhibit colistin production, we created an engineered strain, P14, which exhibited an 82% increase in colistin titer and effectively eliminated metabolite impurities such as tridecaptin, paenibacillin, and paenilan. Additionally, we engineered the L-2,4-diaminobutyric acid (L-2,4-DABA) pathway to further enhance colistin production, resulting in the engineered strain P19, which boosted a remarkable colistin titer of 649.3 mg/L - a 269% improvement compared to the original strain. By concurrently feeding L-isoleucine and L-leucine, we successfully produced high-purity colistin A, constituting 88% of the total colistin products. This study highlights the potential of metabolic engineering in improving the titer and purity of lipopeptide antibiotics in the non-model strain, making them more suitable for clinical use. These findings indicate that efficiently producing colistin API in high purity directly from fermentation can now be achieved in a straightforward manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanzhu Chen
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Peiyan Cai
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Dengwei Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Junliang Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zheng Zhong
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yong-Xin Li
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
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Liu L, Luo D, Zhang Y, Liu D, Yin K, Tang Q, Chou SH, He J. Characterization of the dual regulation by a c-di-GMP riboswitch Bc1 with a long expression platform from Bacillus thuringiensis. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0045024. [PMID: 38819160 PMCID: PMC11218506 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00450-24] [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: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
A riboswitch generally regulates the expression of its downstream genes through conformational change in its expression platform (EP) upon ligand binding. The cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) class I riboswitch Bc1 is widespread and conserved among Bacillus cereus group species. In this study, we revealed that Bc1 has a long EP with two typical ρ-independent terminator sequences 28 bp apart. The upstream terminator T1 is dominant in vitro, while downstream terminator T2 is more efficient in vivo. Through mutation analysis, we elucidated that Bc1 exerts a rare and incoherent "transcription-translation" dual regulation with T2 playing a crucial role. However, we found that Bc1 did not respond to c-di-GMP under in vitro transcription conditions, and the expressions of downstream genes did not change with fluctuation in intracellular c-di-GMP concentration. To explore this puzzle, we conducted SHAPE-MaP and confirmed the interaction of Bc1 with c-di-GMP. This shows that as c-di-GMP concentration increases, T1 unfolds but T2 remains almost intact and functional. The presence of T2 masks the effect of T1 unwinding, resulting in no response of Bc1 to c-di-GMP. The high Shannon entropy values of EP region imply the potential alternative structures of Bc1. We also found that zinc uptake regulator can specifically bind to the dual terminator coding sequence and slightly trigger the response of Bc1 to c-di-GMP. This work will shed light on the dual-regulation riboswitch and enrich our understanding of the RNA world.IMPORTANCEIn nature, riboswitches are involved in a variety of metabolic regulation, most of which preferentially regulate transcription termination or translation initiation of downstream genes in specific ways. Alternatively, the same or different riboswitches can exist in tandem to enhance regulatory effects or respond to multiple ligands. However, many putative conserved riboswitches have not yet been experimentally validated. Here, we found that the c-di-GMP riboswitch Bc1 with a long EP could form a dual terminator and exhibit non-canonical and incoherent "transcription-translation" dual regulation. Besides, zinc uptake regulator specifically bound to the coding sequence of the Bc1 EP and slightly mediated the action of Bc1. The application of SHAPE-MaP to the dual regulation mechanism of Bc1 may establish the foundation for future studies of such complex untranslated regions in other bacterial genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology & Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Dehua Luo
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology & Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yongji Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology & Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Dingqi Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology & Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kang Yin
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology & Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qing Tang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology & Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shan-Ho Chou
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology & Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jin He
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology & Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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5
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Higgins SA, Kara Murdoch F, Clifton JM, Brooks JH, Fillinger KL, Middleton JK, Heater BS. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated barcode insertion into Bacillus thuringiensis for surrogate tracking. Microbiol Spectr 2024:e0000324. [PMID: 38949306 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00003-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of surrogate organisms can enable researchers to safely conduct research on pathogens and in a broader set of conditions. Being able to differentiate between the surrogates used in the experiments and background contamination as well as between different experiments will further improve research efforts. One effective approach is to introduce unique genetic barcodes into the surrogate genome and track their presence using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). In this report, we utilized the CRISPR-Cas9 methodology, which employs a single plasmid and a transformation step to insert five distinct barcodes into Bacillus thuringiensis, a well-established surrogate for Bacillus anthracis when Risk Group 1 organisms are needed. We subsequently developed qPCR assays for barcode detection and successfully demonstrated the stability of the barcodes within the genome through five cycles of sporulation and germination. Additionally, we conducted whole-genome sequencing on these modified strains and analyzed 187 potential Cas9 off-target sites. We found no correlation between the mutations observed in the engineered strains and the predicted off-target sites, suggesting this genome engineering strategy did not directly result in off-target mutations in the genome. This simple approach has the potential to streamline the creation of barcoded B. thuringiensis strains for use in future studies on surrogate genomes. IMPORTANCE The use of Bacillus anthracis as a biothreat agent poses significant challenges for public health and national security. Bacillus anthracis surrogates, like Bacillus thuringiensis, are invaluable tools for safely understanding Bacillus anthracis properties without the safety concerns that would arise from using a virulent strain of Bacillus anthracis. We report a simple method for barcode insertion into Bacillus thuringiensis using the CRISPR-Cas9 methodology and subsequent tracking by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Moreover, whole-genome sequencing data and CRISPR-Cas9 off-target analyses in Bacillus thuringiensis suggest that this gene-editing method did not directly cause unwanted mutations in the genome. This study should assist in the facile development of barcoded Bacillus thuringiensis surrogate strains, among other biotechnological applications in Bacillus species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven A Higgins
- Applied Science and Technology, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Fadime Kara Murdoch
- Applied Science and Technology, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jonathon M Clifton
- Applied Science and Technology, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jennifer H Brooks
- Applied Science and Technology, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Keegan L Fillinger
- Applied Science and Technology, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jason K Middleton
- Applied Science and Technology, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Bradley S Heater
- Applied Science and Technology, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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6
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Ferrando J, Miñana-Galbis D, Picart P. The Construction of an Environmentally Friendly Super-Secreting Strain of Bacillus subtilis through Systematic Modulation of Its Secretory Pathway Using the CRISPR-Cas9 System. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6957. [PMID: 39000067 PMCID: PMC11240994 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25136957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Achieving commercially significant yields of recombinant proteins in Bacillus subtilis requires the optimization of its protein production pathway, including transcription, translation, folding, and secretion. Therefore, in this study, our aim was to maximize the secretion of a reporter α-amylase by overcoming potential bottlenecks within the secretion process one by one, using a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-Cas9 (CRISPR-Cas9) system. The strength of single and tandem promoters was evaluated by measuring the relative α-amylase activity of AmyQ integrated into the B. subtilis chromosome. Once a suitable promoter was selected, the expression levels of amyQ were upregulated through the iterative integration of up to six gene copies, thus boosting the α-amylase activity 20.9-fold in comparison with the strain harboring a single amyQ gene copy. Next, α-amylase secretion was further improved to a 26.4-fold increase through the overexpression of the extracellular chaperone PrsA and the signal peptide peptidase SppA. When the final expression strain was cultivated in a 3 L fermentor for 90 h, the AmyQ production was enhanced 57.9-fold. The proposed strategy allows for the development of robust marker-free plasmid-less super-secreting B. subtilis strains with industrial relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pere Picart
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science Technology, Department of Biology, Healthcare and the Environment, Microbiology Section, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (J.F.); (D.M.-G.)
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7
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Scharf A, La-Rostami F, Illarionov BA, Nemes V, Feldmann AM, Höft LS, Lösel H, Bacher A, Fischer M. Systematic Analysis of the Effect of Genomic Knock-Out of Non-Essential Promiscuous HAD-Like Phosphatases YcsE, YitU and YwtE on Flavin and Adenylate Content in Bacillus Subtilis. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400165. [PMID: 38616163 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400165] [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: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Studying the metabolic role of non-essential promiscuous enzymes is a challenging task, as genetic manipulations usually do not reveal at which point(s) of the metabolic network the enzymatic activity of such protein is beneficial for the organism. Each of the HAD-like phosphatases YcsE, YitU and YwtE of Bacillus subtilis catalyzes the dephosphorylation of 5-amino-6-ribitylamino-uracil 5'-phosphate, which is essential in the biosynthesis of riboflavin. Using CRISPR technology, we have found that the deletion of these genes, individually or in all possible combinations failed to cause riboflavin auxotrophy and did not result in significant growth changes. Analysis of flavin and adenylate content in B. subtilis knockout mutants showed that (i) there must be one or several still unidentified phosphatases that can replace the deleted proteins; (ii) such replacements, however, cannot fully restore the intracellular content of any of three flavins studied (riboflavin, FMN, FAD); (iii) whereas bacterial fitness was not significantly compromised by mutations, the intracellular balance of flavins and adenylates did show some significant changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Scharf
- Hamburg School of Food Science, Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Farshad La-Rostami
- Hamburg School of Food Science, Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Boris A Illarionov
- Hamburg School of Food Science, Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Vivien Nemes
- Hamburg School of Food Science, Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anna M Feldmann
- Hamburg School of Food Science, Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lars S Höft
- Hamburg School of Food Science, Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Henri Lösel
- Hamburg School of Food Science, Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Adelbert Bacher
- TUM School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Markus Fischer
- Hamburg School of Food Science, Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
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8
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Du F, Li Z, Li X, Zhang D, Zhang F, Zhang Z, Xu Y, Tang J, Li Y, Huang X, Gu Y, Sun X, Huang H. Optimizing multicopy chromosomal integration for stable high-performing strains. Nat Chem Biol 2024:10.1038/s41589-024-01650-0. [PMID: 38858530 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-024-01650-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
The copy number of genes in chromosomes can be modified by chromosomal integration to construct efficient microbial cell factories but the resulting genetic systems are prone to failure or instability from triggering homologous recombination in repetitive DNA sequences. Finding the optimal copy number of each gene in a pathway is also time and labor intensive. To overcome these challenges, we applied a multiple nonrepetitive coding sequence calculator that generates sets of coding DNA sequence (CDS) variants. A machine learning method was developed to calculate the optimal copy number combination of genes in a pathway. We obtained an engineered Yarrowia lipolytica strain for eicosapentaenoic acid biosynthesis in 6 months, producing the highest titer of 27.5 g l-1 in a 50-liter bioreactor. Moreover, the lycopene production in Escherichia coli was also greatly improved. Importantly, all engineered strains of Y. lipolytica, E. coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae constructed with nonrepetitive CDSs maintained genetic stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Du
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zijia Li
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Li
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Duoduo Zhang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zixu Zhang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yingshuang Xu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jin Tang
- Research Institute of Intelligent Computing, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yongqian Li
- Research Institute of Intelligent Computing, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xingxu Huang
- Research Institute of Intelligent Computing, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Gu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoman Sun
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China.
| | - He Huang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China.
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9
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Wang M, Zheng J, Sun S, Wu Z, Shao Y, Xiang J, Yin C, Sedjoah RCAA, Xin Z. An Integrated Pipeline and Overexpression of a Novel Efflux Transporter, YoeA, Significantly Increases Plipastatin Production in Bacillus subtilis. Foods 2024; 13:1785. [PMID: 38891014 PMCID: PMC11171584 DOI: 10.3390/foods13111785] [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: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Plipastatin, an antimicrobial peptide produced by Bacillus subtilis, exhibits remarkable antimicrobial activity against a diverse range of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. However, the practical application of plipastatin has been significantly hampered by its low yield in wild Bacillus species. Here, the native promoters of both the plipastatin operon and the sfp gene in the mono-producing strain M-24 were replaced by the constitutive promoter P43, resulting in plipastatin titers being increased by 27% (607 mg/mL) and 50% (717 mg/mL), respectively. Overexpression of long chain fatty acid coenzyme A ligase (LCFA) increased the yield of plipastatin by 105% (980 mg/mL). A new efflux transporter, YoeA, was identified as a MATE (multidrug and toxic compound extrusion) family member, overexpression of yoeA enhanced plipastatin production to 1233 mg/mL, an increase of 157%, and knockout of yoeA decreased plipastatin production by 70%; in contrast, overexpression or knockout of yoeA in mono-producing surfactin and iturin engineered strains only slightly affected their production, demonstrating that YoeA acts as the major exporter for plipastatin. Co-overexpression of lcfA and yoeA improved plipastatin production to 1890 mg/mL, which was further elevated to 2060 mg/mL after abrB gene deletion. Lastly, the use of optimized culture medium achieved 2514 mg/mL plipastatin production, which was 5.26-fold higher than that of the initial strain. These results suggest that multiple strain engineering is an effective strategy for increasing lipopeptide production, and identification of the novel transport efflux protein YoeA provides new insights into the regulation and industrial application of plipastatin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Zhihong Xin
- Key Laboratory of Food Processing and Quality Control, College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (M.W.); (J.Z.); (S.S.); (Z.W.); (Y.S.); (J.X.); (C.Y.); (R.C.A.A.S.)
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10
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Maxson T, Overholt WA, Chivukula V, Caban-Figueroa V, Kongphet-Tran T, Medina Cordoba LK, Cherney B, Rishishwar L, Conley A, Sue D. Genetic basis of clarithromycin resistance in Bacillus anthracis. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0418023. [PMID: 38666793 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04180-23] [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: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The high-consequence pathogen Bacillus anthracis causes human anthrax and often results in lethal infections without the rapid administration of effective antimicrobial treatment. Antimicrobial resistance profiling is therefore critical to inform post-exposure prophylaxis and treatment decisions, especially during emergencies such as outbreaks or where intentional release is suspected. Whole-genome sequencing using a rapid long-read sequencer can uncover antimicrobial resistance patterns if genetic markers of resistance are known. To identify genomic markers associated with antimicrobial resistance, we isolated B. anthracis derived from the avirulent Sterne strain with elevated minimal inhibitory concentrations to clarithromycin. Mutants were characterized both phenotypically through broth microdilution susceptibility testing and observations during culturing, as well as genotypically with whole-genome sequencing. We identified two different in-frame insertions in the L22 ribosomal protein-encoding gene rplV, which were subsequently confirmed to be involved in clarithromycin resistance through the reversion of the mutant gene to the parent (drug-susceptible) sequence. Detection of the rplV insertions was possible with rapid long-read sequencing, with a time-to-answer within 3 h. The mutations associated with clarithromycin resistance described here will be used in conjunction with known genetic markers of resistance for other antimicrobials to strengthen the prediction of antimicrobial resistance in B. anthracis.IMPORTANCEThe disease anthrax, caused by the pathogen Bacillus anthracis, is extremely deadly if not treated quickly and appropriately. Clarithromycin is an antibiotic recommended for the treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis of anthrax by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; however, little is known about the ability of B. anthracis to develop resistance to clarithromycin or the mechanism of that resistance. The characterization of clarithromycin-resistant isolates presented here provides valuable information for researchers and clinicians in the event of a release of the resistant strain. Additionally, knowledge of the genetic basis of resistance provides a foundation for susceptibility prediction through rapid genome sequencing to inform timely treatment decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tucker Maxson
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Will A Overholt
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratory (ASRT, Inc.; IHRC, Inc.), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Vasanta Chivukula
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratory (ASRT, Inc.; IHRC, Inc.), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Thiphasone Kongphet-Tran
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Luz K Medina Cordoba
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Blake Cherney
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Lavanya Rishishwar
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratory (ASRT, Inc.; IHRC, Inc.), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Andrew Conley
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratory (ASRT, Inc.; IHRC, Inc.), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - David Sue
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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11
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Jiang C, Zhao G, Wang H, Zheng W, Zhang R, Wang L, Zheng Z. Comparative genomics analysis and transposon mutagenesis provides new insights into high menaquinone-7 biosynthetic potential of Bacillus subtilis natto. Gene 2024; 907:148264. [PMID: 38346457 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148264] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
This research combined Whole-Genome sequencing, intraspecific comparative genomics and transposon mutagenesis to investigate the menaquinone-7 (MK-7) synthesis potential in Bacillus subtilis natto. First, Whole-Genome sequencing showed that Bacillus subtilis natto BN-P15-11-1 contains one single circular chromosome in size of 3,982,436 bp with a GC content of 43.85 %, harboring 4,053 predicted coding genes. Next, the comparative genomics analysis among strain BN-P15-11-1 with model Bacillus subtilis 168 and four typical Bacillus subtilis natto strains proves that the closer evolutionary relationship Bacillus subtilis natto BN-P15-11-1 and Bacillus subtilis 168 both exhibit strong biosynthetic potential. To further dig for MK-7 biosynthesis latent capacity of BN-P15-11-1, we constructed a mutant library using transposons and a high throughput screening method using microplates. We obtained a YqgQ deficient high MK-7 yield strain F4 with a yield 3.02 times that of the parent strain. Experiments also showed that the high yield mutants had defects in different transcription and translation regulatory factor genes, indicating that regulatory factor defects may affect the biosynthesis and accumulation of MK-7 by altering the overall metabolic level. The findings of this study will provide more novel insights on the precise identification and rational utilization of the Bacillus subtilis subspecies for biosynthesis latent capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunxu Jiang
- Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, PR China; University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - Genhai Zhao
- Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - Han Wang
- Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - Wenqian Zheng
- Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, PR China; University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - Li Wang
- Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, PR China.
| | - Zhiming Zheng
- Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, PR China.
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12
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Sun HZ, Li Q, Shang W, Qiao B, Xu QM, Cheng JS. Combinatorial metabolic engineering of Bacillus subtilis for de novo production of polymyxin B. Metab Eng 2024; 83:123-136. [PMID: 38582143 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2024.04.001] [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] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Polymyxin is a lipopeptide antibiotic that is effective against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. However, its clinical development is limited due to low titer and the presence of homologs. To address this, the polymyxin gene cluster was integrated into Bacillus subtilis, and sfp from Paenibacillus polymyxa was expressed heterologously, enabling recombinant B. subtilis to synthesize polymyxin B. Regulating NRPS domain inhibited formation of polymyxin B2 and B3. The production of polymyxin B increased to 329.7 mg/L by replacing the native promoters of pmxA, pmxB, and pmxE with PfusA, C2up, and PfusA, respectively. Further enhancement in this production, up to 616.1 mg/L, was achieved by improving the synthesis ability of 6-methyloctanoic acid compared to the original strain expressing polymyxin heterologously. Additionally, incorporating an anikasin-derived domain into the hybrid nonribosomal peptide synthase of polymyxin increased the B1 ratio in polymyxin B from 57.5% to 62.2%. Through optimization of peptone supply in the fermentation medium and fermentation in a 5.0-L bioreactor, the final polymyxin B titer reached 962.1 mg/L, with a yield of 19.24 mg/g maltodextrin and a productivity of 10.02 mg/(L·h). This study demonstrates a successful approach for enhancing polymyxin B production and increasing the B1 ratio through combinatorial metabolic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Zhong Sun
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Qing Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Wei Shang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Bin Qiao
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Qiu-Man Xu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Science, Tianjin Normal University, Binshuixi Road 393, Xiqing District, Tianjin 300387, China.
| | - Jing-Sheng Cheng
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, China.
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13
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Qian Z, Yang H, Li J, Peng T, Huang T, Hu Z. The unique biodegradation pathway of benzo[a]pyrene in moderately halophilic Pontibacillus chungwhensis HN14. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 354:141705. [PMID: 38494000 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141705] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), as the typical representative of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), is a serious hazard to human health and natural environments. Though the study of microbial degradation of PAHs has persisted for decades, the degradation pathway of BaP is still unclear. Previously, Pontibacillus chungwhensis HN14 was isolated from high salinity environment exhibiting a high BaP degradation ability. Here, based on the intermediates identified, BaP was found to be transformed to 4,5-epoxide-BaP, BaP-trans-4,5-dihydrodiol, 1,2-dihydroxy-phenanthrene, 2-carboxy-1-naphthol, and 4,5-dimethoxybenzo[a]pyrene by the strain HN14. Furthermore, functional genes involved in degradation of BaP were identified using genome and transcriptome data. Heterogeneous co-expression of monooxygenase CYP102(HN14) and epoxide hydrolase EH(HN14) suggested that CYP102(HN14) could transform BaP to 4,5-epoxide-BaP, which was further transformed to BaP-trans-4,5-dihydrodiol by EH(HN14). Moreover, gene cyp102(HN14) knockout was performed using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system which confirmed that CYP102(HN14) play a key role in the initial conversion of BaP. Finally, a novel BaP degradation pathway was constructed in bacteria, which showed BaP could be converted into chrysene, phenanthrene, naphthalene pathways for the first time. These findings enhanced our understanding of microbial degradation process for BaP and suggested the potential of using P. chungwhensis HN14 for bioremediation in PAH-contaminated environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Qian
- Department of Biology, School of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, 515000, China.
| | - Haichen Yang
- Department of Biology, School of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, 515000, China.
| | - Jin Li
- Department of Biology, School of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, 515000, China; College of Life Sciences, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, 637002, China
| | - Tao Peng
- Department of Biology, School of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, 515000, China
| | - Tongwang Huang
- Department of Biology, School of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, 515000, China.
| | - Zhong Hu
- Department of Biology, School of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, 515000, China; Guangdong Research Center of Offshore Environmental Pollution Control Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, 515063, China.
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14
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Xia L, Hou Z, Zhu F, Wen J. Enhancing surfactin production in Bacillus subtilis: Insights from proteomic analysis of nitrate-induced overproduction and strategies for combinatorial metabolic engineering. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 397:130499. [PMID: 38417461 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Surfactin biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis is intricately regulated by environmental conditions. In the present study, addition of nitrate, a nitrogen source, increased the production of surfactin in B. subtilis ATCC 21332, whereas its absence resulted in minimal or no surfactin production. Proteomics revealed the mechanism underlying nitrate-induced surfactin overproduction, identifying three key differential proteins (preprotein translocase subunit SecA, signal recognition particle receptor FtsY, and cell division adenosine triphosphate-binding protein FtsE) relevant to surfactin transport and regulation. Combinatorial metabolic engineering strategies (enhanced nitrate reduction, fatty acid hydroxylation, rational transporter engineering, and feeding) led to a 41.4-fold increase in surfactin production compared with the initial production in the wild-type strain. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanism of nitrate-induced surfactin overproduction and strategies to enhance the performance of surfactin-producing strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Xia
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, PR China; Frontier Science Center of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Center for Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, 300350, PR China
| | - Zhengjie Hou
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, PR China; Frontier Science Center of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Fuzhou Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, PR China; Frontier Science Center of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Center for Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, 300350, PR China
| | - Jianping Wen
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, PR China; Frontier Science Center of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Center for Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, 300350, PR China.
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15
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Li T, Li H, Zhong L, Qin Y, Guo G, Liu Z, Hao N, Ouyang P. Analysis of heterologous expression of phaCBA promotes the acetoin stress response mechanism in Bacillus subtilis using transcriptomics and metabolomics approaches. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:58. [PMID: 38383407 PMCID: PMC10880289 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02334-z] [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: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Acetoin, a versatile platform chemical and popular food additive, poses a challenge to the biosafety strain Bacillus subtilis when produced in high concentrations due to its intrinsic toxicity. Incorporating the PHB synthesis pathway into Bacillus subtilis 168 has been shown to significantly enhance the strain's acetoin tolerance. This study aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the response of B. subtilis 168-phaCBA to acetoin stress, employing transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. Acetoin stress induces fatty acid degradation and disrupts amino acid synthesis. In response, B. subtilis 168-phaCBA down-regulates genes associated with flagellum assembly and bacterial chemotaxis, while up-regulating genes related to the ABC transport system encoding amino acid transport proteins. Notably, genes coding for cysteine and D-methionine transport proteins (tcyB, tcyC and metQ) and the biotin transporter protein bioY, are up-regulated, enhancing cellular tolerance. Our findings highlight that the expression of phaCBA significantly increases the ratio of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids and modulates intracellular concentrations of amino acids, including L-tryptophan, L-tyrosine, L-leucine, L-threonine, L-methionine, L-glutamic acid, L-proline, D-phenylalanine, L-arginine, and membrane fatty acids, thereby imparting acetoin tolerance. Furthermore, the supplementation with specific exogenous amino acids (L-alanine, L-proline, L-cysteine, L-arginine, L-glutamic acid, and L-isoleucine) alleviates acetoin's detrimental effects on the bacterium. Simultaneously, the introduction of phaCBA into the acetoin-producing strain BS03 addressed the issue of insufficient intracellular cofactors in the fermentation strain, resulting in the successful production of 70.14 g/L of acetoin through fed-batch fermentation. This study enhances our understanding of Bacillus's cellular response to acetoin-induced stress and provides valuable insights for the development of acetoin-resistant Bacillus strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Li
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Haixiang Li
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Lei Zhong
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Yufei Qin
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Gege Guo
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Zhaoxing Liu
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Ning Hao
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China.
| | - Pingkai Ouyang
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, China
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16
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Medeiros L, Dall'Agno L, Riet J, Nornberg B, Azevedo R, Cardoso A, da Silva JLS, de Sousa OV, Rosas VT, Tesser MB, Pedrosa VF, Romano LA, Wasielesky W, Marins LF. A native strain of Bacillus subtilis increases lipid accumulation and modulates expression of genes related to digestion and amino acid metabolism in Litopenaeus vannamei. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 270:110924. [PMID: 37995828 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2023.110924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
In the field of shrimp aquaculture, the utilization of probiotics represents a promising avenue, due to the well-documented benefits conferred by these microorganisms. In the current study, a Bacillus subtilis strain, referred to as strain E, was isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and subsequently identified via molecular methods and phylogeny. The probiotic potential of strain E was characterized, and its application as a feed shrimp additive was evaluated in a 45-day experiment. Several parameters were assessed, including zootechnical performance, muscle tissue proximate composition, hepatopancreas lipid concentration, and the expression of genes associated with digestion, amino acid metabolism, and antioxidant defense mechanisms in various shrimp tissues. Although no significant impact on zootechnical performance was observed, supplementation with strain E led to an increase in lipid concentration within both muscle and hepatopancreas tissues. Furthermore, a marked decrease in the expression of genes linked to digestion and amino acid metabolism was noted. These findings suggest that the addition of the B. subtilis strain E to shrimp feed may enhance nutrient absorption and modulate the expression of genes related to digestion and amino acid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiza Medeiros
- LEGENE - Research Group in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil. https://twitter.com/Luf07709017
| | - Laura Dall'Agno
- LEGENE - Research Group in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Jade Riet
- LEGENE - Research Group in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Bruna Nornberg
- LEGENE - Research Group in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Raíza Azevedo
- LEGENE - Research Group in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Arthur Cardoso
- LEGENE - Research Group in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Oscarina Viana de Sousa
- Environmental and Fish Microbiology Laboratory, Marine Sciences Institute, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo Borges Tesser
- Laboratory of Nutrition of Aquatic Organisms, Institute of Oceanography, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Virgínia F Pedrosa
- Laboratory of Immunology and Pathology of Aquatic Organisms, Institute of Oceanography, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Luis A Romano
- Laboratory of Immunology and Pathology of Aquatic Organisms, Institute of Oceanography, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Wilson Wasielesky
- Laboratory of Shrimp Culture, Institute of Oceanography, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Luis F Marins
- LEGENE - Research Group in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
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17
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Vojnovic S, Aleksic I, Ilic-Tomic T, Stevanovic M, Nikodinovic-Runic J. Bacillus and Streptomyces spp. as hosts for production of industrially relevant enzymes. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:185. [PMID: 38289383 PMCID: PMC10827964 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12900-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The application of enzymes is expanding across diverse industries due to their nontoxic and biodegradable characteristics. Another advantage is their cost-effectiveness, reflected in reduced processing time, water, and energy consumption. Although Gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus, and Streptomyces spp. are successfully used for production of industrially relevant enzymes, they still lag far behind Escherichia coli as hosts for recombinant protein production. Generally, proteins secreted by Bacillus and Streptomyces hosts are released into the culture medium; their native conformation is preserved and easier recovery process enabled. Given the resilience of both hosts in harsh environmental conditions and their spore-forming capability, a deeper understanding and broader use of Bacillus and Streptomyces as expression hosts could significantly enhance the robustness of industrial bioprocesses. This mini-review aims to compare two expression hosts, emphasizing their specific advantages in industrial surroundings such are chemical, detergent, textile, food, animal feed, leather, and paper industries. The homologous sources, heterologous hosts, and molecular tools used for the production of recombinant proteins in these hosts are discussed. The potential to use both hosts as biocatalysts is also evaluated. Undoubtedly, Bacillus and Streptomyces spp. as production hosts possess the potential to take on a more substantial role, providing superior (bio-based) process robustness and flexibility. KEY POINTS: • Bacillus and Streptomyces spp. as robust hosts for enzyme production. • Industrially relevant enzyme groups for production in alternative hosts highlighted. • Molecular biology techniques are enabling easier utilization of both hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Vojnovic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042, Belgrade 152, Serbia.
| | - Ivana Aleksic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042, Belgrade 152, Serbia
| | - Tatjana Ilic-Tomic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042, Belgrade 152, Serbia
| | - Milena Stevanovic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042, Belgrade 152, Serbia
| | - Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042, Belgrade 152, Serbia.
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18
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Zeng M, Sarker B, Howitz N, Shah I, Andrews LB. Synthetic Homoserine Lactone Sensors for Gram-Positive Bacillus subtilis Using LuxR-Type Regulators. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:282-299. [PMID: 38079538 PMCID: PMC10805106 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00504] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
A universal biochemical signal for bacterial cell-cell communication could facilitate programming dynamic responses in diverse bacterial consortia. However, the classical quorum sensing paradigm is that Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria generally communicate via homoserine lactones (HSLs) or oligopeptide molecular signals, respectively, to elicit population responses. Here, we create synthetic HSL sensors for Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis 168 using allosteric LuxR-type regulators (RpaR, LuxR, RhlR, and CinR) and synthetic promoters. Promoters were combinatorially designed from different sequence elements (-35, -16, -10, and transcriptional start regions). We quantified the effects of these combinatorial promoters on sensor activity and determined how regulator expression affects its activation, achieving up to 293-fold activation. Using the statistical design of experiments, we identified significant effects of promoter regions and pairwise interactions on sensor activity, which helped to understand the sequence-function relationships for synthetic promoter design. We present the first known set of functional HSL sensors (≥20-fold dynamic range) in B. subtilis for four different HSL chemical signals: p-coumaroyl-HSL, 3-oxohexanoyl-HSL, n-butyryl-HSL, and n-(3-hydroxytetradecanoyl)-HSL. This set of synthetic HSL sensors for a Gram-positive bacterium can pave the way for designable interspecies communication within microbial consortia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zeng
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts
Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Biprodev Sarker
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts
Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Nathaniel Howitz
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts
Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Ishita Shah
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts
Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Lauren B. Andrews
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts
Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- Molecular
and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University
of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- Biotechnology
Training Program, University of Massachusetts
Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
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19
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Yin Y, Wang P, Wang X, Wen J. Construction of Bacillus subtilis for efficient production of fengycin from xylose through CRISPR-Cas9. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1342199. [PMID: 38249479 PMCID: PMC10797001 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1342199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Fengycin is a multifunctional peptide antibiotic produced mainly by Bacillus species and the purpose of this research was to construct a Bacillus subtilis strain that can produce fengycin with the xylose as the substrate with CRSIPR-Cas9. Hence, at the beginning of this study, functional sfp and degQ were expressed in B. subtilis 168 strain to give the strain the ability to produce the fengycin with the titer of 71.21 mg/L. Subsequently, the native promoter PppsA of the cluster responsible for the fengycin synthesis was replaced by the Pveg promoter, resulting in a further 5.22-fold increase in fengycin titer. To confer xylose utilization capacity to B. subtilis, deletion of araR and constitutive overexpression of araE were performed, and the xylose consumption rate of the engineered strain BSUY06 reached 0.29 g/L/h, which is about 6.25-fold higher than that of the parent strain BSUY04-1. In the final phase of this study, the fermentation characteristics were observed and the initial xylose concentration was optimized. In this study, 40 g/L xylose was proved to be the most suitable initial concentration for growth and fengycin fermentation, which leading to a fengycin titer of 430.86 mg/L. This study demonstrated that lignocellulose, the clean and sustainable substrate with xylose as the second largest sugar, is a potential substrate for the production of fengycin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yin
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Pan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jianping Wen
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
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Herrmann LW, Letti LAJ, Penha RDO, Soccol VT, Rodrigues C, Soccol CR. Bacillus genus industrial applications and innovation: First steps towards a circular bioeconomy. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 70:108300. [PMID: 38101553 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108300] [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: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, environmental concerns have directed several policies, investments, and production processes. The search for sustainable and eco-friendly strategies is constantly increasing to reduce petrochemical product utilization, fossil fuel pollution, waste generation, and other major ecological impacts. The concepts of circular economy, bioeconomy, and biorefinery are increasingly being applied to solve or reduce those problems, directing us towards a greener future. Within the biotechnology field, the Bacillus genus of bacteria presents extremely versatile microorganisms capable of producing a great variety of products with little to no dependency on petrochemicals. They are able to grow in different agro-industrial wastes and extreme conditions, resulting in healthy and environmentally friendly products, such as foods, feeds, probiotics, plant growth promoters, biocides, enzymes, and bioactive compounds. The objective of this review was to compile the variety of products that can be produced with Bacillus cells, using the concepts of biorefinery and circular economy as the scope to search for greener alternatives to each production method and providing market and bioeconomy ideas of global production. Although the genus is extensively used in industry, little information is available on its large-scale production, and there is little current data regarding bioeconomy and circular economy parameters for the bacteria. Therefore, as this work gathers several products' economic, production, and environmentally friendly use information, it can be addressed as one of the first steps towards those sustainable strategies. Additionally, an extensive patent search was conducted, focusing on products that contain or are produced by the Bacillus genus, providing an indication of global technology development and direction of the bacteria products. The Bacillus global market represented at least $18 billion in 2020, taking into account only the products addressed in this article, and at least 650 patent documents submitted per year since 2017, indicating this market's extreme importance. The data we provide in this article can be used as a base for further studies in bioeconomy and circular economy and show the genus is a promising candidate for a greener and more sustainable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Wedderhoff Herrmann
- Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology Department, Federal University of Paraná, Francisco H. dos Santos Street, CP 19011, Centro Politécnico, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-980, Brazil.
| | - Luiz Alberto Junior Letti
- Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology Department, Federal University of Paraná, Francisco H. dos Santos Street, CP 19011, Centro Politécnico, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Rafaela de Oliveira Penha
- Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology Department, Federal University of Paraná, Francisco H. dos Santos Street, CP 19011, Centro Politécnico, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Vanete Thomaz Soccol
- Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology Department, Federal University of Paraná, Francisco H. dos Santos Street, CP 19011, Centro Politécnico, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Cristine Rodrigues
- Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology Department, Federal University of Paraná, Francisco H. dos Santos Street, CP 19011, Centro Politécnico, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Carlos Ricardo Soccol
- Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology Department, Federal University of Paraná, Francisco H. dos Santos Street, CP 19011, Centro Politécnico, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-980, Brazil
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21
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Rudakova NL, Sabirova AR, Khasanov DI, Danilova IV, Sharipova MR. Regulating Pathways of Bacillus pumilus Adamalysin-like Metalloendopeptidase Expression. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:62. [PMID: 38203233 PMCID: PMC10779165 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010062] [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: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The minor secreted proteinase of B. pumilus 3-19 MprBp classified as the unique bacillary adamalysin-like enzyme of the metzincin clan. The functional role of this metalloproteinase in the bacilli cells is not clear. Analysis of the regulatory region of the mprBp gene showed the presence of potential binding sites to the transcription regulatory factors Spo0A (sporulation) and DegU (biodegradation). The study of mprBp activity in mutant strains of B. subtilis defective in regulatory proteins of the Spo- and Deg-systems showed that the mprBp gene is partially controlled by the Deg-system of signal transduction and independent from the Spo-system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Margarita R. Sharipova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine, Kazan Federal University, Kremlevskaya St. 18, 420008 Kazan, Russia; (N.L.R.); (D.I.K.); (I.V.D.)
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22
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Dergham Y, Le Coq D, Bridier A, Sanchez-Vizuete P, Jbara H, Deschamps J, Hamze K, Yoshida KI, Noirot-Gros MF, Briandet R. Bacillus subtilis NDmed, a model strain for biofilm genetic studies. Biofilm 2023; 6:100152. [PMID: 37694162 PMCID: PMC10485040 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2023.100152] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The Bacillus subtilis strain NDmed was isolated from an endoscope washer-disinfector in a medical environment. NDmed can form complex macrocolonies with highly wrinkled architectural structures on solid medium. In static liquid culture, it produces thick pellicles at the interface with air as well as remarkable highly protruding ''beanstalk-like'' submerged biofilm structures at the solid surface. Since these mucoid submerged structures are hyper-resistant to biocides, NDmed has the ability to protect pathogens embedded in mixed-species biofilms by sheltering them from the action of these agents. Additionally, this non-domesticated and highly biofilm forming strain has the propensity of being genetically manipulated. Due to all these properties, the NDmed strain becomes a valuable model for the study of B. subtilis biofilms. This review focuses on several studies performed with NDmed that have highlighted the sophisticated genetic dynamics at play during B. subtilis biofilm formation. Further studies in project using modern molecular tools of advanced technologies with this strain, will allow to deepen our knowledge on the emerging properties of multicellular bacterial life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmine Dergham
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Lebanese University, Faculty of Science, 1003 Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Dominique Le Coq
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Arnaud Bridier
- Fougères Laboratory, Antibiotics, Biocides, Residues and Resistance Unit, Anses, 35300, Fougères, France
| | - Pilar Sanchez-Vizuete
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Hadi Jbara
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Julien Deschamps
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Kassem Hamze
- Lebanese University, Faculty of Science, 1003 Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ken-ichi Yoshida
- Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
| | | | - Romain Briandet
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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23
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Lv X, Li Y, Xiu X, Liao C, Xu Y, Liu Y, Li J, Du G, Liu L. CRISPR genetic toolkits of classical food microorganisms: Current state and future prospects. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 69:108261. [PMID: 37741424 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Production of food-related products using microorganisms in an environmentally friendly manner is a crucial solution to global food safety and environmental pollution issues. Traditional microbial modification methods rely on artificial selection or natural mutations, which require time for repeated screening and reproduction, leading to unstable results. Therefore, it is imperative to develop rapid, efficient, and precise microbial modification technologies. This review summarizes recent advances in the construction of gene editing and metabolic regulation toolkits based on the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR-Cas) systems and their applications in reconstructing food microorganism metabolic networks. The development and application of gene editing toolkits from single-site gene editing to multi-site and genome-scale gene editing was also introduced. Moreover, it presented a detailed introduction to CRISPR interference, CRISPR activation, and logic circuit toolkits for metabolic network regulation. Moreover, the current challenges and future prospects for developing CRISPR genetic toolkits were also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqin Lv
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Yang Li
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xiang Xiu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Chao Liao
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Yameng Xu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Yanfeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Jianghua Li
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Guocheng Du
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Long Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
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Yu C, Qiao J, Ali Q, Jiang Q, Song Y, Zhu L, Gu Q, Borriss R, Dong S, Gao X, Wu H. degQ associated with the degS/degU two-component system regulates biofilm formation, antimicrobial metabolite production, and biocontrol activity in Bacillus velezensis DMW1. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2023; 24:1510-1521. [PMID: 37731193 PMCID: PMC10632791 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13389] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
The gram-positive bacterium Bacillus velezensis strain DMW1 produces a high level of antimicrobial metabolites that can suppress the growth of phytopathogens. We investigated the mechanism used by degQ and the degS/degU two-component system to regulate the biocontrol characteristics of DMW1. When degQ and degU were deleted, the biofilm formation, cell motility, colonization activities, and antifungal abilities of ΔdegQ and ΔdegU were significantly reduced compared to wild-type DMW1. The expression levels of biofilm-related genes (epsA, epsB, epsC, and tasA) and swarming-related genes (swrA and swrB) were all down-regulated. We also evaluated the impact on secondary metabolites of these two genes. The degQ and degU genes reduced surfactin and macrolactin production and up-regulated the production of fengycin, iturin, bacillaene, and difficidin metabolites. The reverse transcription-quantitative PCR results were consistent with these observations. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and microscale thermophoresis revealed that DegU can bind to the promoter regions of these six antimicrobial metabolite genes and regulate their synthesis. In conclusion, we provided systematic evidence to demonstrate that the degQ and degU genes are important regulators of multicellular behaviour and antimicrobial metabolic processes in B. velezensis DMW1 and suggested novel amenable strains to be used for the industrial production of antimicrobial metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenjie Yu
- College of Plant Protection, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Junqing Qiao
- Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural SciencesInstitute of Plant ProtectionNanjingChina
| | - Qurban Ali
- College of Plant Protection, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Qifan Jiang
- College of Plant Protection, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yan Song
- College of Plant Protection, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Linli Zhu
- College of Plant Protection, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Qin Gu
- College of Plant Protection, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Rainer Borriss
- Institut für BiologieHumboldt University BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Suomeng Dong
- College of Plant Protection, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Xuewen Gao
- College of Plant Protection, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Huijun Wu
- College of Plant Protection, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
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Liu Y, Wang J, Huang JB, Li XF, Chen Y, Liu K, Zhao M, Huang XL, Gao XL, Luo YN, Tao W, Wu J, Xue ZL. Advances in regulating vitamin K 2 production through metabolic engineering strategies. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 40:8. [PMID: 37938463 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03828-5] [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: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Vitamin K2 (menaquinone, VK2, MK) is an essential lipid-soluble vitamin that plays critical roles in inhibiting cell ferroptosis, improving blood clotting, and preventing osteoporosis. The increased global demand for VK2 has inspired interest in novel production strategies. In this review, various novel metabolic regulation strategies, including static and dynamic metabolic regulation, are summarized and discussed. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages of both strategies are analyzed in-depth to highlight the bottlenecks facing microbial VK2 production on an industrial scale. Finally, advanced metabolic engineering biotechnology for future microbial VK2 production will also be discussed. In summary, this review provides in-depth information and offers an outlook on metabolic engineering strategies for VK2 production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liu
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000, Wuhu, China.
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Microbiology Molecular Breeding, 241000, Wuhu, China.
| | - Jian Wang
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000, Wuhu, China
| | - Jun-Bao Huang
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000, Wuhu, China
| | - Xiang-Fei Li
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000, Wuhu, China
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Microbiology Molecular Breeding, 241000, Wuhu, China
| | - Yu Chen
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000, Wuhu, China
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Microbiology Molecular Breeding, 241000, Wuhu, China
| | - Kun Liu
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000, Wuhu, China
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Microbiology Molecular Breeding, 241000, Wuhu, China
| | - Ming Zhao
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000, Wuhu, China.
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Microbiology Molecular Breeding, 241000, Wuhu, China.
| | - Xi-Lin Huang
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000, Wuhu, China
| | - Xu-Li Gao
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000, Wuhu, China
| | - Ya-Ni Luo
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000, Wuhu, China
| | - Wei Tao
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000, Wuhu, China
| | - Jing Wu
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000, Wuhu, China
| | - Zheng-Lian Xue
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000, Wuhu, China
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Microbiology Molecular Breeding, 241000, Wuhu, China
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26
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Lenz P, Bakkes PJ, Müller C, Malek M, Freudl R, Oldiges M, Drepper T, Jaeger KE, Knapp A. Analysis of protein secretion in Bacillus subtilis by combining a secretion stress biosensor strain with an in vivo split GFP assay. Microb Cell Fact 2023; 22:203. [PMID: 37805580 PMCID: PMC10559633 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02199-8] [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] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacillus subtilis is one of the workhorses in industrial biotechnology and well known for its secretion potential. Efficient secretion of recombinant proteins still requires extensive optimization campaigns and screening with activity-based methods. However, not every protein can be detected by activity-based screening. We therefore developed a combined online monitoring system, consisting of an in vivo split GFP assay for activity-independent target detection and an mCherry-based secretion stress biosensor. The split GFP assay is based on the fusion of a target protein to the eleventh β-sheet of sfGFP, which can complement a truncated sfGFP that lacks this β-sheet named GFP1-10. The secretion stress biosensor makes use of the CssRS two component quality control system, which upregulates expression of mCherry in the htrA locus thereby allowing a fluorescence readout of secretion stress. RESULTS The biosensor strain B. subtilis PAL5 was successfully constructed by exchanging the protease encoding gene htrA with mCherry via CRISPR/Cas9. The Fusarium solani pisi cutinase Cut fused to the GFP11 tag (Cut11) was used as a model enzyme to determine the stress response upon secretion mediated by signal peptides SPPel, SPEpr and SPBsn obtained from naturally secreted proteins of B. subtilis. An in vivo split GFP assay was developed, where purified GFP1-10 is added to the culture broth. By combining both methods, an activity-independent high-throughput method was created, that allowed optimization of Cut11 secretion. Using the split GFP-based detection assay, we demonstrated a good correlation between the amount of secreted cutinase and the enzymatic activity. Additionally, we screened a signal peptide library and identified new signal peptide variants that led to improved secretion while maintaining low stress levels. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that the combination of a split GFP-based detection assay for secreted proteins with a secretion stress biosensor strain enables both, online detection of extracellular target proteins and identification of bottlenecks during protein secretion in B. subtilis. In general, the system described here will also enable to monitor the secretion stress response provoked by using inducible promoters governing the expression of different enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Lenz
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Patrick J Bakkes
- Institute of Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geoscience IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Carolin Müller
- Institute of Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geoscience IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Marzena Malek
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Roland Freudl
- Institute of Bio- and Geoscience IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Marco Oldiges
- Institute of Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geoscience IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Thomas Drepper
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Karl-Erich Jaeger
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Andreas Knapp
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
- Castrol Germany GmbH, 41179, Mönchengladbach, Germany.
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27
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Kohm K, Jalomo-Khayrova E, Krüger A, Basu S, Steinchen W, Bange G, Frunzke J, Hertel R, Commichau F, Czech L. Structural and functional characterization of MrpR, the master repressor of the Bacillus subtilis prophage SPβ. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:9452-9474. [PMID: 37602373 PMCID: PMC10516654 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Prophages control their lifestyle to either be maintained within the host genome or enter the lytic cycle. Bacillus subtilis contains the SPβ prophage whose lysogenic state depends on the MrpR (YopR) protein, a key component of the lysis-lysogeny decision system. Using a historic B. subtilis strain harboring the heat-sensitive SPβ c2 mutant, we demonstrate that the lytic cycle of SPβ c2 can be induced by heat due to a single nucleotide exchange in the mrpR gene, rendering the encoded MrpRG136E protein temperature-sensitive. Structural characterization revealed that MrpR is a DNA-binding protein resembling the overall fold of tyrosine recombinases. MrpR has lost its recombinase function and the G136E exchange impairs its higher-order structure and DNA binding activity. Genome-wide profiling of MrpR binding revealed its association with the previously identified SPbeta repeated element (SPBRE) in the SPβ genome. MrpR functions as a master repressor of SPβ that binds to this conserved element to maintain lysogeny. The heat-inducible excision of the SPβ c2 mutant remains reliant on the serine recombinase SprA. A suppressor mutant analysis identified a previously unknown component of the lysis-lysogeny management system that is crucial for the induction of the lytic cycle of SPβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Kohm
- FG Synthetic Microbiology, Institute for Biotechnology, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, Germany
- FG Molecular Microbiology, Institute for Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Ekaterina Jalomo-Khayrova
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO) and Department of Chemistry, Phillips-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Aileen Krüger
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, iBG-1: Biotechnology, FZ Jülich, Germany
| | - Syamantak Basu
- FG Synthetic Microbiology, Institute for Biotechnology, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, Germany
| | - Wieland Steinchen
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO) and Department of Chemistry, Phillips-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Gert Bange
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO) and Department of Chemistry, Phillips-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Max-Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Julia Frunzke
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, iBG-1: Biotechnology, FZ Jülich, Germany
| | - Robert Hertel
- FG Synthetic Microbiology, Institute for Biotechnology, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, Germany
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Fabian M Commichau
- FG Synthetic Microbiology, Institute for Biotechnology, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, Germany
- FG Molecular Microbiology, Institute for Biology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Laura Czech
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO) and Department of Chemistry, Phillips-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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He TT, Xu YF, Li X, Wang X, Li JY, Ou-Yang D, Cheng HS, Li HY, Qin J, Huang Y, Wang HY. A linear and circular dual-conformation noncoding RNA involved in oxidative stress tolerance in Bacillus altitudinis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5722. [PMID: 37714854 PMCID: PMC10504365 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41491-4] [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: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs have been extensively studied in eukaryotes, but their presence and/or biological functionality in bacteria are unclear. Here, we show that a regulatory noncoding RNA (DucS) exists in both linear and circular conformation in Bacillus altitudinis. The linear forms promote B. altitudinis tolerance to H2O2 stress, partly through increased translation of a stress-responsive gene, htrA. The 3' end sequences of the linear forms are crucial for RNA circularization, and formation of circular forms can decrease the levels of the regulatory linear cognates. Bioinformatic analysis of available RNA-seq datasets from 30 bacterial species revealed multiple circular RNA candidates, distinct from DucS, for all the examined species. Experiments testing for the presence of selected circular RNA candidates in four species successfully validated 7 out of 9 candidates from B. altitudinis and 4 out of 5 candidates from Bacillus paralicheniformis; However, none of the candidates tested for Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli were detected. Our work identifies a dual-conformation regulatory RNA in B. altitutidinis, and indicates that circular RNAs exist in diverse bacteria. However, circularization of specific RNAs does not seem to be conserved across species, and the circularization mechanisms and biological functionality of the circular forms remain unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Ting He
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yun-Fan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jie-Yu Li
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Dan Ou-Yang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Han-Sen Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hao-Yang Li
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jia Qin
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hai-Yan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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Danevčič T, Spacapan M, Dragoš A, Kovács ÁT, Mandic-Mulec I. DegQ is an important policing link between quorum sensing and regulated adaptative traits in Bacillus subtilis. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0090823. [PMID: 37676037 PMCID: PMC10581247 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00908-23] [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: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) is a widespread bacterial communication system that controls important adaptive traits in a cell density-dependent manner. However, mechanisms by which QS-regulated traits are linked within the cell and mechanisms by which these links affect adaptation are not well understood. In this study, Bacillus subtilis was used as a model bacterium to investigate the link between the ComQXPA QS system, DegQ, surfactin and protease production in planktonic and biofilm cultures. The work tests two alternative hypotheses predicting that hypersensitivity of the QS signal-deficient mutant (comQ::kan) to exogenously added ComX, resulting in increased surfactin production, is linked to an additional genetic locus, or alternatively, to overexpression of the ComX receptor ComP. Results are in agreement with the first hypothesis and show that the P srfAA hypersensitivity of the comQ::kan mutant is linked to a 168 strain-specific mutation in the P degQ region. Hence, the markerless ΔcomQ mutant lacking this mutation is not overresponsive to ComX. Such hyper-responsiveness is specific for the P srfAA and not detected in another ComX-regulated promoter, the P aprE , which is under the positive control by DegQ. Our results suggest that DegQ by exerting differential effect on P srfAA and P aprE acts as a policing mechanism and the intracellular link, which guards the cell from an overinvestment into surfactin production. IMPORTANCE DegQ levels are known to regulate surfactin synthesis and extracellular protease production, and DegQ is under the control of the ComX-dependent QS. DegQ also serves as an important policing link between these QS-regulated processes, preventing overinvestment in these costly processes. This work highlights the importance of DegQ, which acts as the intracellular link between ComX production and the response by regulating extracellular degradative enzyme synthesis and surfactin production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tjaša Danevčič
- Department of Microbiology, Chair of microbial ecology and physiology, University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mihael Spacapan
- Department of Microbiology, Chair of microbial ecology and physiology, University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anna Dragoš
- Department of Microbiology, Chair of microbial ecology and physiology, University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ákos T. Kovács
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Bacterial Interactions and Evolution Group, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ines Mandic-Mulec
- Department of Microbiology, Chair of microbial ecology and physiology, University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Xie CY, Li WJ, Feng H. Tuning transcription factor DegU for developing extracellular protease overproducer in Bacillus pumilus. Microb Cell Fact 2023; 22:163. [PMID: 37635205 PMCID: PMC10464342 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02177-0] [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: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Global transcription machinery engineering (gTME) is an effective approach employed in strain engineering to rewire gene expression and reshape cellular metabolic fluxes at the transcriptional level. RESULTS In this study, we utilized gTME to engineer the positive transcription factor, DegU, in the regulation network of major alkaline protease, AprE, in Bacillus pumilus. To validate its functionality when incorporated into the chromosome, we performed several experiments. First, three negative transcription factors, SinR, Hpr, and AbrB, were deleted to promote AprE synthesis. Second, several hyper-active DegU mutants, designated as DegU(hy), were selected using the fluorescence colorimetric method with the host of the Bacillus subtilis ΔdegSU mutant. Third, we integrated a screened degU(L113F) sequence into the chromosome of the Δhpr mutant of B. pumilus SCU11 to replace the original degU gene using a CRISPR/Cas9 system. Finally, based on transcriptomic and molecular dynamic analysis, we interpreted the possible mechanism of high-yielding and found that the strain produced alkaline proteases 2.7 times higher than that of the control strain (B. pumilus SCU11) in LB medium. CONCLUSION Our findings serve as a proof-of-concept that tuning the global regulator is feasible and crucial for improving the production performance of B. pumilus. Additionally, our study established a paradigm for gene function research in strains that are difficult to handle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Ying Xie
- Key Laboratory for Bio-resources and Eco-Environment of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Jin Li
- Key Laboratory for Bio-resources and Eco-Environment of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Feng
- Key Laboratory for Bio-resources and Eco-Environment of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, People's Republic of China.
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Nevers A, Kranzler M, Perchat S, Gohar M, Sorokin A, Lereclus D, Ehling-Schulz M, Sanchis-Borja V. Plasmid - Chromosome interplay in natural and non-natural hosts: global transcription study of three Bacillus cereus group strains carrying pCER270 plasmid. Res Microbiol 2023; 174:104074. [PMID: 37149076 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2023.104074] [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: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The Bacillus cereus group comprises genetically related Gram-positive spore-forming bacteria that colonize a wide range of ecological niches and hosts. Despite their high degree of genome conservation, extrachromosomal genetic material diverges between these species. The discriminating properties of the B. cereus group strains are mainly due to plasmid-borne toxins, reflecting the importance of horizontal gene transfers in bacterial evolution and species definition. To investigate how a newly acquired megaplasmid can impact the transcriptome of its host, we transferred the pCER270 from the emetic B. cereus strains to phylogenetically distant B. cereus group strains. RNA-sequencing experiments allowed us to determine the transcriptional influence of the plasmid on host gene expression and the impact of the host genomic background on the pCER270 gene expression. Our results show a transcriptional cross-regulation between the megaplasmid and the host genome. pCER270 impacted carbohydrate metabolism and sporulation genes expression, with a higher effect in the natural host of the plasmid, suggesting a role of the plasmid in the adaptation of the carrying strain to its environment. In addition, the host genomes also modulated the expression of pCER270 genes. Altogether, these results provide an example of the involvement of megaplasmids in the emergence of new pathogenic strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Nevers
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Markus Kranzler
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna; Vienna, Austria
| | - Stéphane Perchat
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Michel Gohar
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Alexei Sorokin
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Didier Lereclus
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Monika Ehling-Schulz
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna; Vienna, Austria.
| | - Vincent Sanchis-Borja
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
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Liu Y, Cheng H, Li H, Zhang Y, Wang M. A Programmable CRISPR/Cas9 Toolkit Improves Lycopene Production in Bacillus subtilis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0023023. [PMID: 37272803 PMCID: PMC10305015 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00230-23] [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: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis has been widely used and generally recognized as a safe host for the production of recombinant proteins, high-value chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Thus, its metabolic engineering attracts significant attention. Nevertheless, the limited availability of selective markers makes this process difficult and time-consuming, especially in the case of multistep biosynthetic pathways. Here, we employ CRISPR/Cas9 technology to build an easy cloning toolkit that addresses commonly encountered obstacles in the metabolic engineering of B. subtilis, including the chromosomal integration locus, promoter, terminator, and guide RNA (gRNA) target. Six promoters were characterized, and the promoter strengths ranged from 0.9- to 23-fold that of the commonly used strong promoter P43. We characterized seven terminators in B. subtilis, and the termination efficiencies (TEs) of the seven terminators are all more than 90%. Six gRNA targets were designed upstream of the promoter and downstream of the terminator. Using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter, we confirmed integration efficiency with the single-locus integration site is up to 100%. We demonstrated the applicability of this toolkit by optimizing the expression of a challenging but industrially important product, lycopene. By heterologous expression of the essential genes for lycopene synthesis on the B. subtilis genome, a total of 13 key genes involved in the lycopene biosynthetic pathway were manipulated. Moreover, our findings showed that the gene cluster ispG-idi-dxs-ispD could positively affect the production of lycopene, while the cluster dxr-ispE-ispF-ispH had a negative effect on lycopene production. Hence, our multilocus integration strategy can facilitate the pathway assembly for production of complex chemicals and pharmaceuticals in B. subtilis. IMPORTANCE We present a toolkit that allows for rapid cloning procedures and one-step subcloning to move from plasmid-based expression to stable chromosome integration and expression in a production strain in less than a week. The utility of the customized tool was demonstrated by integrating the MEP (2C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate) pathway, part of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), and the hetero-lycopene biosynthesis genes by stable expression in the genome. The tool could be useful to engineer B. subtilis strains through diverse recombination events and ultimately improve its potential and scope of industrial application as biological chassis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Haijiao Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Haoni Li
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Yingzhe Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
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Junaid M, Thirapanmethee K, Khuntayaporn P, Chomnawang MT. CRISPR-Based Gene Editing in Acinetobacter baumannii to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:920. [PMID: 37513832 PMCID: PMC10384873 DOI: 10.3390/ph16070920] [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: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to the health, social, environment, and economic sectors on a global scale and requires serious attention to addressing this issue. Acinetobacter baumannii was given top priority among infectious bacteria because of its extensive resistance to nearly all antibiotic classes and treatment options. Carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii is classified as one of the critical-priority pathogens on the World Health Organization (WHO) priority list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria for effective drug development. Although available genetic manipulation approaches are successful in A. baumannii laboratory strains, they are limited when employed on newly acquired clinical strains since such strains have higher levels of AMR than those used to select them for genetic manipulation. Recently, the CRISPR-Cas (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein) system has emerged as one of the most effective, efficient, and precise methods of genome editing and offers target-specific gene editing of AMR genes in a specific bacterial strain. CRISPR-based genome editing has been successfully applied in various bacterial strains to combat AMR; however, this strategy has not yet been extensively explored in A. baumannii. This review provides detailed insight into the progress, current scenario, and future potential of CRISPR-Cas usage for AMR-related gene manipulation in A. baumannii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Junaid
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Antimicrobial Resistance Interdisciplinary Group (AmRIG), Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Krit Thirapanmethee
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Antimicrobial Resistance Interdisciplinary Group (AmRIG), Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Piyatip Khuntayaporn
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Antimicrobial Resistance Interdisciplinary Group (AmRIG), Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Mullika Traidej Chomnawang
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Antimicrobial Resistance Interdisciplinary Group (AmRIG), Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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Gopalakrishna KP, Hillebrand GH, Bhavana VH, Elder JL, D'Mello A, Tettelin H, Hooven TA. Group B Streptococcus Cas9 variants provide insight into programmable gene repression and CRISPR-Cas transcriptional effects. Commun Biol 2023; 6:620. [PMID: 37296208 PMCID: PMC10256743 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04994-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: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS; S. agalactiae) causes chorioamnionitis, neonatal sepsis, and can also cause disease in healthy or immunocompromised adults. GBS possesses a type II-A CRISPR-Cas9 system, which defends against foreign DNA within the bacterial cell. Several recent publications have shown that GBS Cas9 influences genome-wide transcription through a mechanism uncoupled from its function as a specific, RNA-programmable endonuclease. We examine GBS Cas9 effects on genome-wide transcription through generation of several isogenic variants with specific functional defects. We compare whole-genome RNA-seq from Δcas9 GBS with a full-length Cas9 gene deletion; dcas9 defective in its ability to cleave DNA but still able to bind to frequently occurring protospacer adjacent motifs; and scas9 that retains its catalytic domains but is unable to bind protospacer adjacent motifs. Comparing scas9 GBS to the other variants, we identify nonspecific protospacer adjacent motif binding as a driver of genome-wide, Cas9 transcriptional effects in GBS. We also show that Cas9 transcriptional effects from nonspecific scanning tend to influence genes involved in bacterial defense and nucleotide or carbohydrate transport and metabolism. While genome-wide transcription effects are detectable by analysis of next-generation sequencing, they do not result in virulence changes in a mouse model of sepsis. We also demonstrate that catalytically inactive dCas9 expressed from the GBS chromosome can be used with a straightforward, plasmid-based, single guide RNA expression system to suppress transcription of specific GBS genes without potentially confounding off-target effects. We anticipate that this system will be useful for study of nonessential and essential gene roles in GBS physiology and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gideon H Hillebrand
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Program in Microbiology and Immunology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Venkata H Bhavana
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jordan L Elder
- The Cleveland Clinic, Clinical Laboratory Services, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Adonis D'Mello
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hervé Tettelin
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Thomas A Hooven
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Richard King Mellon Institute for Pediatric Research, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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35
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Danilova IV, Vasileva IA, Gilmutdinova AI, Dyadkina IV, Khusnullina LK, Khasanov DI, Rudakova NL, Sharipova MR. Characterization of Bacillus pumilus Strains with Targeted Gene Editing for Antimicrobial Peptides and Sporulation Factor. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1508. [PMID: 37375011 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061508] [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: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to their capacity to produce antimicrobial peptides that can prevent the growth of diseases, many Bacillus spp. are beneficial to plants. In this study, we looked into the antagonistic activity of the B. pumilus 3-19 strain and its derivatives following targeted genome editing. Two peptide genes with antibacterial action, bacilysin (bac) and bacteriocin (bact), and the sigF gene, which encodes the sigma factor of sporulation, were specifically inactivated using the CRISPR-Cas9 system in the genome of B. pumilus 3-19. Antibacterial activity against B. cereus and Pantoea brenneri decreased as a result of the inactivation of target genes in the B. pumilus 3-19 genome, with a noticeable effect against bacilysin. The growth dynamics of the culture changed when the bac, bact, and sigF genes were inactivated, and the altered strains had less proteolytic activity. An asporogenic mutant of B. pumilus 3-19 was obtained by inactivating the sigF gene. It has been proven that bacilysin plays a unique part in the development of B. pumilus 3-19's antagonistic action against soil microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iuliia V Danilova
- Research Laboratory "Agrobioengineering", Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Iuliia A Vasileva
- Research Laboratory "Agrobioengineering", Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Ajgul I Gilmutdinova
- Research Laboratory "Agrobioengineering", Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Ilona V Dyadkina
- Research Laboratory "Agrobioengineering", Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Liya K Khusnullina
- Research Laboratory "Agrobioengineering", Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Damir I Khasanov
- Research Laboratory "Agrobioengineering", Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Natalia L Rudakova
- Research Laboratory "Agrobioengineering", Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Margarita R Sharipova
- Research Laboratory "Agrobioengineering", Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
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36
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Lučanský V, Holubeková V, Kolková Z, Halašová E, Samec M, Golubnitschaja O. Multi-faceted CRISPR/Cas technological innovation aspects in the framework of 3P medicine. EPMA J 2023; 14:201-217. [PMID: 37275547 PMCID: PMC10201107 DOI: 10.1007/s13167-023-00324-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Since 2009, the European Association for Predictive, Preventive and Personalised Medicine (EPMA, Brussels) promotes the paradigm change from reactive approach to predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM/3PM) to protect individuals in sub-optimal health conditions from the health-to-disease transition, to increase life-quality of the affected patient cohorts improving, therefore, ethical standards and cost-efficacy of healthcare to great benefits of the society at large. The gene-editing technology utilizing CRISPR/Cas gene-editing approach has demonstrated its enormous value as a powerful tool in a broad spectrum of bio/medical research areas. Further, CRISPR/Cas gene-editing system is considered applicable to primary and secondary healthcare, in order to prevent disease spread and to treat clinically manifested disorders, involving diagnostics of SARS-Cov-2 infection and experimental treatment of COVID-19. Although the principle of the proposed gene editing is simple and elegant, there are a lot of technological challenges and ethical considerations to be solved prior to its broadly scaled clinical implementation. This article highlights technological innovation beyond the state of the art, exemplifies current achievements, discusses unsolved technological and ethical problems, and provides clinically relevant outlook in the framework of 3PM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Lučanský
- Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin (JFMED CU), Biomedical Center, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Veronika Holubeková
- Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin (JFMED CU), Biomedical Center, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Kolková
- Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin (JFMED CU), Biomedical Center, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Erika Halašová
- Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin (JFMED CU), Biomedical Center, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Marek Samec
- Department of Pathophysiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Olga Golubnitschaja
- Predictive, Preventive, Personalised (3P) Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
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Driessen JL, Johnsen J, Pogrebnyakov I, Mohamed ET, Mussatto SI, Feist AM, Jensen SI, Nielsen AT. Adaptive laboratory evolution of Bacillus subtilis to overcome toxicity of lignocellulosic hydrolysate derived from Distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Metab Eng Commun 2023; 16:e00223. [PMID: 37234932 PMCID: PMC10206485 DOI: 10.1016/j.mec.2023.e00223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial tolerance to toxic compounds formed during biomass pretreatment is a significant challenge to produce bio-based products from lignocellulose cost effectively. Rational engineering can be problematic due to insufficient prerequisite knowledge of tolerance mechanisms. Therefore, adaptive laboratory evolution was applied to obtain 20 tolerant lineages of Bacillus subtilis strains able to utilize Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles-derived (DDGS) hydrolysate. Evolved strains showed both improved growth performance and retained heterologous enzyme production using 100% hydrolysate-based medium, whereas growth of the starting strains was essentially absent. Whole-genome resequencing revealed that evolved isolates acquired mutations in the global regulator codY in 15 of the 19 sequenced isolates. Furthermore, mutations in genes related to oxidative stress (katA, perR) and flagella function appeared in both tolerance and control evolution experiments without toxic compounds. Overall, tolerance adaptive laboratory evolution yielded strains able to utilize DDGS-hydrolysate to produce enzymes and hence proved to be a valuable tool for the valorization of lignocellulose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper L.S.P. Driessen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 220, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Josefin Johnsen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 220, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ivan Pogrebnyakov
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 220, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Elsayed T.T. Mohamed
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 220, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Solange I. Mussatto
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads 223, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Adam M. Feist
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 220, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0412, USA
| | - Sheila I. Jensen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 220, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Alex T. Nielsen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 220, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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Stülke J, Grüppen A, Bramkamp M, Pelzer S. Bacillus subtilis, a Swiss Army Knife in Science and Biotechnology. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0010223. [PMID: 37140386 PMCID: PMC10210981 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00102-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Next to Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis is the most studied and best understood organism that also serves as a model for many important pathogens. Due to its ability to form heat-resistant spores that can germinate even after very long periods of time, B. subtilis has attracted much scientific interest. Another feature of B. subtilis is its genetic competence, a developmental state in which B. subtilis actively takes up exogenous DNA. This makes B. subtilis amenable to genetic manipulation and investigation. The bacterium was one of the first with a fully sequenced genome, and it has been subject to a wide variety of genome- and proteome-wide studies that give important insights into many aspects of the biology of B. subtilis. Due to its ability to secrete large amounts of proteins and to produce a wide range of commercially interesting compounds, B. subtilis has become a major workhorse in biotechnology. Here, we review the development of important aspects of the research on B. subtilis with a specific focus on its cell biology and biotechnological and practical applications from vitamin production to concrete healing. The intriguing complexity of the developmental programs of B. subtilis, paired with the availability of sophisticated tools for genetic manipulation, positions it at the leading edge for discovering new biological concepts and deepening our understanding of the organization of bacterial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörg Stülke
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Marc Bramkamp
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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Gao GR, Wei SY, Ding MZ, Hou ZJ, Wang DJ, Xu QM, Cheng JS, Yuan YJ. Enhancing fengycin production in the co-culture of Bacillus subtilis and Corynebacterium glutamicum by engineering proline transporter. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023:129229. [PMID: 37244302 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Fengycin possesses antifungal activity but has limited application due to its low yields. Amino acid precursors play a crucial role in fengycin synthesis. Herein, the overexpression of alanine, isoleucine, and threonine transporter-related genes in Bacillus subtilis increased fengycin production by 34.06%, 46.66%, and 7.83%, respectively. Particularly, fengycin production in B. subtilis reached 871.86 mg/L with the addition of 8.0 g/L exogenous proline after enhancing the expression of the proline transport-related gene opuE. To overcome the metabolic burden caused by excessive enhancement of gene expression for supplying precursors, B. subtilis and Corynebacterium glutamicum which produced proline, were co-cultured, which further improved fengycin production. Fengycin production in the co-culture of B. subtilis and C. glutamicum in shake flasks reached 1554.74 mg/L after optimizing the inoculation time and ratio. The fengycin level in the fed-batch co-culture was 2309.96 mg/L in a 5.0-L bioreactor. These findings provide a new strategy for improving fengycin production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geng-Rong Gao
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, PR China; Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, PR China
| | - Si-Yu Wei
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, PR China; Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, PR China
| | - Ming-Zhu Ding
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, PR China; Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, PR China
| | - Zheng-Jie Hou
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, PR China; Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, PR China
| | - Dun-Ju Wang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, PR China; Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, PR China
| | - Qiu-Man Xu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Science, Tianjin Normal University, Binshuixi Road 393, Xiqing District, Tianjin 300387, PR China
| | - Jing-Sheng Cheng
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, PR China; Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, PR China.
| | - Ying-Jin Yuan
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, PR China; Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin, 300350, PR China
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40
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Gopalakrishna KP, Hillebrand GH, Bhavana VH, Elder JL, D'Mello A, Tettelin H, Hooven TA. Group B Streptococcus Cas9 variants provide insight into programmable gene repression and CRISPR-Cas transcriptional effects. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.24.542094. [PMID: 37292749 PMCID: PMC10245859 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.24.542094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS; S. agalactiae ) causes chorioamnionitis, neonatal sepsis, and can also cause disease in healthy or immunocompromised adults. GBS possesses a type II-A CRISPR-Cas9 system, which defends against foreign DNA within the bacterial cell. Several recent publications have shown that GBS Cas9 influences genome-wide transcription through a mechanism uncoupled from its function as a specific, RNA-programmable endonuclease. We examine GBS Cas9 effects on genome-wide transcription through generation of several isogenic variants with specific functional defects. We compare whole-genome RNA-seq from Δ cas9 GBS with a full-length Cas9 gene deletion; dcas9 defective in its ability to cleave DNA but still able to bind to frequently occurring protospacer adjacent motifs; and scas9 that retains its catalytic domains but is unable to bind protospacer adjacent motifs. Comparing scas9 GBS to the other variants, we identify nonspecific protospacer adjacent motif binding as a driver of genome-wide, Cas9 transcriptional effects in GBS. We also show that Cas9 transcriptional effects from nonspecific scanning tend to influence genes involved in bacterial defense and nucleotide or carbohydrate transport and metabolism. While genome-wide transcription effects are detectable by analysis of next-generation sequencing, they do not result in virulence changes in a mouse model of sepsis. We also demonstrate that catalytically inactive dCas9 expressed from the GBS chromosome can be used with a straightforward, plasmid-based, single guide RNA expression system to suppress transcription of specific GBS genes without potentially confounding off-target effects. We anticipate that this system will be useful for study of nonessential and essential gene roles in GBS physiology and pathogenesis.
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Winterhalter C, Pelliciari S, Stevens D, Fenyk S, Marchand E, Cronin N, Soultanas P, Costa TD, Ilangovan A, Murray H. The DNA replication initiation protein DnaD recognises a specific strand of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome origin. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:4322-4340. [PMID: 37093985 PMCID: PMC10201434 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad277] [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: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome replication is a fundamental biological activity shared by all organisms. Chromosomal replication proceeds bidirectionally from origins, requiring the loading of two helicases, one for each replisome. However, the molecular mechanisms underpinning helicase loading at bacterial chromosome origins (oriC) are unclear. Here we investigated the essential DNA replication initiation protein DnaD in the model organism Bacillus subtilis. A set of DnaD residues required for ssDNA binding was identified, and photo-crosslinking revealed that this ssDNA binding region interacts preferentially with one strand of oriC. Biochemical and genetic data support the model that DnaD recognizes a new single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) motif located in oriC, the DnaD Recognition Element (DRE). Considered with single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) imaging of DnaD, we propose that the location of the DRE within oriC orchestrates strand-specific recruitment of helicase during DNA replication initiation. These findings significantly advance our mechanistic understanding of bidirectional replication from a bacterial chromosome origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Winterhalter
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UK
| | - Simone Pelliciari
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UK
| | - Daniel Stevens
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UK
| | - Stepan Fenyk
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UK
| | - Elie Marchand
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UK
| | - Nora B Cronin
- LonCEM, London Consortium for Cryo-EM, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Panos Soultanas
- Biodiscovery Institute, School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Tiago R D Costa
- Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Aravindan Ilangovan
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Heath Murray
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UK
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42
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Filluelo O, Ferrando J, Picart P. Metabolic engineering of Bacillus subtilis toward the efficient and stable production of C 30-carotenoids. AMB Express 2023; 13:38. [PMID: 37119332 PMCID: PMC10148934 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-023-01542-x] [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: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Commercial carotenoid production is dominated by chemical synthesis and plant extraction, both of which are unsustainable and can be detrimental to the environment. A promising alternative for the mass production of carotenoids from both an ecological and commercial perspective is microbial synthesis. To date, C30 carotenoid production in Bacillus subtilis has been achieved using plasmid systems for the overexpression of biosynthetic enzymes. In the present study, we employed a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-Cas9 (CRISPR-Cas9) system to develop an efficient, safe, and stable C30 carotenoid-producing B. subtilis strain, devoid of plasmids and antibiotic selection markers. To this end, the expression levels of crtM (dehydrosqualene synthase) and crtN (dehydrosqualene desaturase) genes from Staphylococcus aureus were upregulated by the insertion of three gene copies into the chromosome of B. subtilis. Subsequently, the supply of the C30 carotenoid precursor farnesyl diphosphate (FPP), which is the substrate for CrtMN enzymes, was enhanced by expressing chromosomally integrated Bacillus megaterium-derived farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS), a key enzyme in the FPP pathway, and abolishing the expression of farnesyl diphosphate phosphatase (YisP), an enzyme responsible for the undesired conversion of FPP to farnesol. The consecutive combination of these features resulted in a stepwise increased production of C30 carotenoids. For the first time, a B. subtilis strain that can endogenously produce C30 carotenoids has been constructed, which we anticipate will serve as a chassis for further metabolic engineering and fermentation optimization aimed at developing a commercial scale bioproduction process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oriana Filluelo
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science Technology, Department of Biology, Healthcare and the Environment, Microbiology Section, University of Barcelona, Avinguda Joan XXIII, 27-31, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Jordi Ferrando
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science Technology, Department of Biology, Healthcare and the Environment, Microbiology Section, University of Barcelona, Avinguda Joan XXIII, 27-31, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Pere Picart
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science Technology, Department of Biology, Healthcare and the Environment, Microbiology Section, University of Barcelona, Avinguda Joan XXIII, 27-31, Barcelona, 08028, Spain.
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Willdigg JR, Patel Y, Helmann JD. A Decrease in Fatty Acid Synthesis Rescues Cells with Limited Peptidoglycan Synthesis Capacity. mBio 2023; 14:e0047523. [PMID: 37017514 PMCID: PMC10128001 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00475-23] [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: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Proper synthesis and maintenance of a multilayered cell envelope are critical for bacterial fitness. However, whether mechanisms exist to coordinate synthesis of the membrane and peptidoglycan layers is unclear. In Bacillus subtilis, synthesis of peptidoglycan (PG) during cell elongation is mediated by an elongasome complex acting in concert with class A penicillin-binding proteins (aPBPs). We previously described mutant strains limited in their capacity for PG synthesis due to a loss of aPBPs and an inability to compensate by upregulation of elongasome function. Growth of these PG-limited cells can be restored by suppressor mutations predicted to decrease membrane synthesis. One suppressor mutation leads to an altered function repressor, FapR*, that functions as a super-repressor and leads to decreased transcription of fatty acid synthesis (FAS) genes. Consistent with fatty acid limitation mitigating cell wall synthesis defects, inhibition of FAS by cerulenin also restored growth of PG-limited cells. Moreover, cerulenin can counteract the inhibitory effect of β-lactams in some strains. These results imply that limiting PG synthesis results in impaired growth, in part, due to an imbalance of PG and cell membrane synthesis and that B. subtilis lacks a robust physiological mechanism to reduce membrane synthesis when PG synthesis is impaired. IMPORTANCE Understanding how a bacterium coordinates cell envelope synthesis is essential to fully appreciate how bacteria grow, divide, and resist cell envelope stresses, such as β-lactam antibiotics. Balanced synthesis of the peptidoglycan cell wall and the cell membrane is critical for cells to maintain shape and turgor pressure and to resist external cell envelope threats. Using Bacillus subtilis, we show that cells deficient in peptidoglycan synthesis can be rescued by compensatory mutations that decrease the synthesis of fatty acids. Further, we show that inhibiting fatty acid synthesis with cerulenin is sufficient to restore growth of cells deficient in peptidoglycan synthesis. Understanding the coordination of cell wall and membrane synthesis may provide insights relevant to antimicrobial treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yesha Patel
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - John D. Helmann
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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Yuan L, Wang D, Chen J, Lyu Y, Feng E, Zhang Y, Liu X, Wang H. Genome Sequence and Phenotypic Analysis of a Protein Lysis-Negative, Attenuated Anthrax Vaccine Strain. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12050645. [PMID: 37237459 DOI: 10.3390/biology12050645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus anthracis is a Gram-positive bacterium that causes the zoonotic disease anthrax. Here, we studied the characteristic phenotype and virulence attenuation of the putative No. II vaccine strain, PNO2, which was reportedly introduced from the Pasteur Institute in 1934. Characterization of the strain showed that, compared with the control strain, A16Q1, the attenuated PNO2 (PNO2D1) was phospholipase-positive, with impaired protein hydrolysis and significantly reduced sporulation. Additionally, PNO2D1 significantly extended the survival times of anthrax-challenged mice. An evolutionary tree analysis revealed that PNO2D1 was not a Pasteur strain but was more closely related to a Tsiankovskii strain. A database comparison revealed a seven-base insertion mutation in the nprR gene. Although it did not block nprR transcription, the insertion mutation resulted in the premature termination of protein translation. nprR deletion of A16Q1 resulted in a nonproteolytic phenotype that could not sporulate. The database comparison revealed that the abs gene is also prone to mutation, and the abs promoter activity was much lower in PNO2D1 than in A16Q1. Low abs expression may be an important reason for the decreased virulence of PNO2D1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Yuan
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, 999 Hucheng Huan Road, Nanhui New City, Shanghai 201306, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Dongshu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Jie Chen
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, 999 Hucheng Huan Road, Nanhui New City, Shanghai 201306, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Yufei Lyu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Erling Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, 999 Hucheng Huan Road, Nanhui New City, Shanghai 201306, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Xiankai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
- Laboratory of Advanced Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Hengliang Wang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, 999 Hucheng Huan Road, Nanhui New City, Shanghai 201306, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogens and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, 20 Dongdajie Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, China
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Wang G, Zheng P, Wu D, Chen P. High-Yield Natural Vanillin Production by Amycolatopsis sp. after CRISPR-Cas12a-Mediated Gene Deletion. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:14113-14121. [PMID: 37091397 PMCID: PMC10116632 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c00790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Vanillin is an aromatic compound, which is widely used in food flavoring, beverages, perfumes, and pharmaceuticals. Amycolatopsis sp. is considered a good strain for the production of vanillin from ferulic acid by fermentation; however, its high genomic guanine-cytosine (GC) content (>70%) and low transformation and recombination efficiency limit its genetic modification potential to improve vanillin production. Efficient genome editing of Amycolatopsis sp. has been challenging, but this study developed a CRISPR-Cas12a system for efficient, markerless, and scarless genome editing of Amycolatopsis sp. CCTCC NO: M2011265. A mutant, ΔvdhΔphdB, was obtained by the deletion of two genes coding byproduct enzymes from the vanillin biosynthetic pathway. The gene deletion increased vanillin production from 10.60 g/L (wild-type) to 20.44 g/L and reduced byproduct vanillic acid from 2.45 to 0.15 g/L in a 3 L fed-batch fermentation, markedly enhancing vanillin production and reducing byproduct formation; the mutant has great potential for industrial application.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pu Zheng
- . Phone and Fax: 86-510-85918156
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Phillips EK, Cannon JA, Zhou Y, Bonifer KS, Reynolds TB. Conjugation-Mediated Plasmid Transfer Enables Genetic Modification of Diverse Bacillus Species. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0370022. [PMID: 36975796 PMCID: PMC10101014 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03700-22] [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: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Performing genetic manipulations in Bacillus strains is often hindered by difficulty in identifying conditions appropriate for DNA uptake. This shortcoming limits our understanding of the functional diversity within this genus and the practical application of new strains. We have developed a simple method for increasing the genetic tractability of Bacillus spp. through conjugation-mediated plasmid transfer via a diaminopimelic acid (DAP) auxotrophic Escherichia coli donor strain. We observe transfer into representatives of the Bacillus clades subtilis, cereus, galactosidilyticus, and Priestia megaterium and successfully applied this protocol to 9 out of 12 strains attempted. We utilized the BioBrick 2.0 plasmids pECE743 and pECE750, as well as the CRISPR plasmid pJOE9734.1, to generate a xylose-inducible green-fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing conjugal vector, pEP011. The use of xylose-inducible GFP ensures ease of confirming transconjugants, which enables users to quickly rule out false positives. Additionally, our plasmid backbone offers the flexibility to be used in other contexts, including transcriptional fusions and overexpression, with only a few modifications. IMPORTANCE Bacillus species are widely used to produce proteins and to understand microbial differentiation. Unfortunately, outside a few lab strains, genetic manipulation is difficult and can prevent thorough dissection of useful phenotypes. We developed a protocol that utilizes conjugation (plasmids that initiate their own transfer) to introduce plasmids into a diverse range of Bacillus spp. This will facilitate a deeper study of wild isolates for both industrial and pure research uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise K. Phillips
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jordan A. Cannon
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Yue Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Kyle S. Bonifer
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Todd B. Reynolds
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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Chai R, Zhang Q, Wu J, Shi Z, Li Y, Gao Y, Qi Y, Qiu L. Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Proteins Mediate DSB Repair and Effectively Improve CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11040850. [PMID: 37110272 PMCID: PMC10143710 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11040850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SSBs) are essential for all living organisms. Whether SSBs can repair DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and improve the efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing has not been determined. Here, based on a pCas/pTargetF system, we constructed pCas-SSB and pCas-T4L by replacing the λ-Red recombinases with Escherichia coli SSB and phage T4 DNA ligase in pCas, respectively. Inactivation of the E. coli lacZ gene with homologous donor dsDNA increased the gene editing efficiency of pCas-SSB/pTargetF by 21.4% compared to pCas/pTargetF. Inactivation of the E. coli lacZ gene via NHEJ increased the gene editing efficiency of pCas-SSB/pTargetF by 33.2% compared to pCas-T4L/pTargetF. Furthermore, the gene-editing efficiency of pCas-SSB/pTargetF in E. coli (ΔrecA, ΔrecBCD, ΔSSB) with or without donor dsDNA did not differ. Additionally, pCas-SSB/pTargetF with donor dsDNA successfully deleted the wp116 gene in Pseudomonas sp. UW4. These results demonstrate that E. coli SSB repairs DSBs caused by CRISPR/Cas9 and effectively improves CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in E. coli and Pseudomonas.
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Zhang Y, Geng Y, Li S, Shi T, Ma X, Hua R, Fang L. Efficient Knocking Out of the Organophosphorus Insecticides Degradation Gene opdB in Cupriavidus nantongensis X1 T via CRISPR/ Cas9 with Red System. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24066003. [PMID: 36983076 PMCID: PMC10056268 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24066003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cupriavidus nantongensis X1T is a type strain of the genus Cupriavidus, that can degrade eight kinds of organophosphorus insecticides (OPs). Conventional genetic manipulations in Cupriavidus species are time-consuming, difficult, and hard to control. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/associated protein 9 (Cas9) system has emerged as a powerful tool for genome editing applied in prokaryotes and eukaryotes due to its simplicity, efficiency, and accuracy. Here, we combined CRISPR/Cas9 with the Red system to perform seamless genetic manipulation in the X1T strain. Two plasmids, pACasN and pDCRH were constructed. The pACasN plasmid contained Cas9 nuclease and Red recombinase, and the pDCRH plasmid contained the dual single-guide RNA (sgRNA) of organophosphorus hydrolase (OpdB) in the X1T strain. For gene editing, two plasmids were transferred to the X1T strain and a mutant strain in which genetic recombination had taken place, resulting in the targeted deletion of opdB. The incidence of homologous recombination was over 30%. Biodegradation experiments suggested that the opdB gene was responsible for the catabolism of organophosphorus insecticides. This study was the first to use the CRISPR/Cas9 system for gene targeting in the genus Cupriavidus, and it furthered our understanding of the process of degradation of organophosphorus insecticides in the X1T strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufei Zhang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agri-Products, School of Resource & Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Yuehan Geng
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agri-Products, School of Resource & Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Shengyang Li
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agri-Products, School of Resource & Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Taozhong Shi
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agri-Products, School of Resource & Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Xin Ma
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agri-Products, School of Resource & Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Rimao Hua
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agri-Products, School of Resource & Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
- Institute for Green Development, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Liancheng Fang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agri-Products, School of Resource & Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
- Institute for Green Development, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
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49
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Ghataora JS, Gebhard S, Reeksting BJ. Chimeric MerR-Family Regulators and Logic Elements for the Design of Metal Sensitive Genetic Circuits in Bacillus subtilis. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:735-749. [PMID: 36629785 PMCID: PMC10028694 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00545] [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: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Whole-cell biosensors are emerging as promising tools for monitoring environmental pollutants such as heavy metals. These sensors constitute a genetic circuit comprising a sensing module and an output module, such that a detectable signal is produced in the presence of the desired analyte. The MerR family of metal-responsive regulators offers great potential for the construction of metal sensing circuits, due to their high sensitivity, tight transcription control, and large diversity in metal-specificity. However, the sensing diversity is broadest in Gram-negative systems, while chassis organisms are often selected from Gram-positive species, particularly sporulating bacilli. This can be problematic, because Gram-negative biological parts, such as promoters, are frequently observed to be nonfunctional in Gram-positive hosts. Herein, we combined construction of synthetic genetic circuits and chimeric MerR regulators, supported by structure-guided design, to generate metal-sensitive biosensor modules that are functional in the biotechnological work-horse species Bacillus subtilis. These chimeras consist of a constant Gram-positive derived DNA-binding domain fused to variable metal binding domains of Gram-negative origins. To improve the specificity of the whole-cell biosensor, we developed a modular "AND gate" logic system based on the B. subtilis two-subunit σ-factor, SigO-RsoA, designed to maximize future use for synthetic biology applications in B. subtilis. This work provides insights into the use of modular regulators, such as the MerR family, in the design of synthetic circuits for the detection of heavy metals, with potentially wider applicability of the approach to other systems and genetic backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasdeep S Ghataora
- Life Sciences Department, Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
| | - Susanne Gebhard
- Life Sciences Department, Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
| | - Bianca J Reeksting
- Life Sciences Department, Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
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50
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Wu Y, Li Y, Jin K, Zhang L, Li J, Liu Y, Du G, Lv X, Chen J, Ledesma-Amaro R, Liu L. CRISPR-dCas12a-mediated genetic circuit cascades for multiplexed pathway optimization. Nat Chem Biol 2023; 19:367-377. [PMID: 36646959 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-022-01230-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The production efficiency of microbial cell factories is sometimes limited by the lack of effective methods to regulate multiple targets in a coordinated manner. Here taking the biosynthesis of glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN6P) in Bacillus subtilis as an example, a 'design-build-test-learn' framework was proposed to achieve efficient multiplexed optimization of metabolic pathways. A platform strain was built to carry biosensor signal-amplifying circuits and two genetic regulation circuits. Then, a synthetic CRISPR RNA array blend for boosting and leading (ScrABBLE) device was integrated into the platform strain, which generated 5,184 combinatorial assemblies targeting three genes. The best GlcN6P producer was screened and engineered for the synthesis of valuable pharmaceuticals N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmannosamine. The N-acetylglucosamine titer reached 183.9 g liter-1 in a 15-liter bioreactor. In addition, the potential generic application of the ScrABBLE device was also verified using three fluorescent proteins as a case study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaokang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yang Li
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Ke Jin
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Linpei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jianghua Li
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yanfeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Guocheng Du
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Xueqin Lv
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro
- Department of Bioengineering and Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Long Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
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