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Li XT, Liang ZL, Huang Y, Jiang Z, Yang ZN, Zhou N, Liu Y, Liu SJ, Jiang CY. Acidithiobacillus acidisediminis sp. nov., an acidophilic sulphur-oxidizing chemolithotroph isolated from acid mine drainage sediment. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2024; 74:005868. [PMID: 38805027 PMCID: PMC11165880 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.005868] [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: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Strain S30A2T, isolated from the acid mine drainage sediment of Mengzi Copper Mine, Yunnan, is proposed to represent a novel species of the sulphur-oxidizing genus Acidithiobacillus. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, non-endospore forming, highly motile with one or two monopolar flagella and rod-shaped. The strain was mesophilic, growing at 30-50 °C (optimum, 38 °C), acidophilic, growing at pH 2.0-4.5 (optimum, pH 2.5), and tolerant of 0-4 % (w/v; 684 mol l-1) NaCl. The 16S rRNA gene-based sequence analysis showed that strain S30A2T belongs to the genus Acidithiobacillus and shows the largest similarity of 96.6 % to the type strain Acidithiobacillus caldus KUT. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain S30A2T was 59.25 mol%. The average nucleotide identity ANIb and ANIm values between strain S30A2T and A. caldus KUT were 70.95 and 89.78 %, respectively and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization value was 24.9 %. Strain S30A2T was strictly aerobic and could utilize elementary sulphur and tetrathionate to support chemolithotrophic growth. The major cellular fatty acid of S30A2T was C19 : 1ω7c. The respiratory quinones were ubiquinone-8 and ubiquinone-7. Based upon its phylogenetic, genetic, phenotypic, physiologic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain S30A2T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Acidithiobacillus, for which the name Acidithiobacillus acidisediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S30A2T (=CGMCC 1.17059T=KCTC 72580T).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu-Tong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Zong-Lin Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Ye Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Zhen Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Zhen-Ni Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Nan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China
| | - Ying Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China
| | - Shuang-Jiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
- Innovation Academy for Green Manufacture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology, Shandong University, Tsingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Cheng-Ying Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
- Innovation Academy for Green Manufacture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
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Kanao T. Tetrathionate hydrolase from the acidophilic microorganisms. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1338669. [PMID: 38348185 PMCID: PMC10859504 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1338669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Tetrathionate hydrolase (TTH) is a unique enzyme found in acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms, such as bacteria and archaea. This enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of tetrathionate to thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, and sulfate. It is also involved in dissimilatory sulfur oxidation metabolism, the S4-intermediate pathway. TTHs have been purified and characterized from acidophilic autotrophic sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms. All purified TTHs show an optimum pH in the acidic range, suggesting that they are localized in the periplasmic space or outer membrane. In particular, the gene encoding TTH from Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (Af-tth) was identified and recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli cells. TTH activity could be recovered from the recombinant inclusion bodies by acid refolding treatment for crystallization. The mechanism of tetrathionate hydrolysis was then elucidated by X-ray crystal structure analysis. Af-tth is highly expressed in tetrathionate-grown cells but not in iron-grown cells. These unique structural properties, reaction mechanisms, gene expression, and regulatory mechanisms are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadayoshi Kanao
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Environment, Life, Natural Science, and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
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3
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Ibáñez A, Garrido-Chamorro S, Coque JJR, Barreiro C. From Genes to Bioleaching: Unraveling Sulfur Metabolism in Acidithiobacillus Genus. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1772. [PMID: 37761912 PMCID: PMC10531304 DOI: 10.3390/genes14091772] [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: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Sulfur oxidation stands as a pivotal process within the Earth's sulfur cycle, in which Acidithiobacillus species emerge as skillful sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. They are able to efficiently oxidize several reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (RISCs) under extreme conditions for their autotrophic growth. This unique characteristic has made these bacteria a useful tool in bioleaching and biological desulfurization applications. Extensive research has unraveled diverse sulfur metabolism pathways and their corresponding regulatory systems. The metabolic arsenal of the Acidithiobacillus genus includes oxidative enzymes such as: (i) elemental sulfur oxidation enzymes, like sulfur dioxygenase (SDO), sulfur oxygenase reductase (SOR), and heterodisulfide reductase (HDR-like system); (ii) enzymes involved in thiosulfate oxidation pathways, including the sulfur oxidation (Sox) system, tetrathionate hydrolase (TetH), and thiosulfate quinone oxidoreductase (TQO); (iii) sulfide oxidation enzymes, like sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR); and (iv) sulfite oxidation pathways, such as sulfite oxidase (SOX). This review summarizes the current state of the art of sulfur metabolic processes in Acidithiobacillus species, which are key players of industrial biomining processes. Furthermore, this manuscript highlights the existing challenges and barriers to further exploring the sulfur metabolism of this peculiar extremophilic genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ibáñez
- Instituto de Investigación de la Viña y el Vino, Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria, Universidad de León, 24009 León, Spain; (A.I.); (J.J.R.C.)
- Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León (ITACyL), Área de Investigación Agrícola, 47071 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Sonia Garrido-Chamorro
- Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de León, 24007 León, Spain;
| | - Juan J. R. Coque
- Instituto de Investigación de la Viña y el Vino, Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria, Universidad de León, 24009 León, Spain; (A.I.); (J.J.R.C.)
| | - Carlos Barreiro
- Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de León, 24007 León, Spain;
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Nosalova L, Piknova M, Kolesarova M, Pristas P. Cold Sulfur Springs-Neglected Niche for Autotrophic Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacteria. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1436. [PMID: 37374938 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the beginning of unicellular life, dissimilation reactions of autotrophic sulfur bacteria have been a crucial part of the biogeochemical sulfur cycle on Earth. A wide range of sulfur oxidation states is reflected in the diversity of metabolic pathways used by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. This metabolically and phylogenetically diverse group of microorganisms inhabits a variety of environments, including extreme environments. Although they have been of interest to microbiologists for more than 150 years, meso- and psychrophilic chemolithoautotrophic sulfur-oxidizing microbiota are less studied compared to the microbiota of hot springs. Several recent studies suggested that cold sulfur waters harbor unique, yet not described, bacterial taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Nosalova
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, 041 54 Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Maria Piknova
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, 041 54 Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Mariana Kolesarova
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, 041 54 Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Peter Pristas
- Centre of Biosciences, Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01 Kosice, Slovakia
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Kanao T, Kunihisa T, Ohgimoto S, Ito M, Murakami C, Nakayama H, Tamura T, Kamimura K. Recombinant expression using the tetrathionate hydrolase promoter in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. J Biosci Bioeng 2023; 135:176-181. [PMID: 36635106 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2022.12.005] [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: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
In the iron- and sulfur-oxidizing acidophilic chemolithoautotrophic bacterium, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, tetrathionate hydrolase gene (Af-tth) is highly expressed during tetrathionate growth. The expression levels of Af-tth were specifically determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and the expression ratios of S0/Fe2+ and S4O62-/Fe2+ were found to be 68 ± 21 and 181 ± 5, respectively. The transcriptional start site was identified by primer extension. Promoter regions of Af-tth were cloned into the expression shuttle vector pMPJC and GFP gene was under the direction of the regions. Green fluorescence was observed by UV irradiation in recombinant A. ferrooxidans harboring the plasmid colonies grown on tetrathionate. Furthermore, His-tagged Af-Tth was synthesized in the recombinant cells grown on tetrathionate. Recombinant, His-tagged Af-Tth in an active form, was rapidly purified through metal-affinity column chromatography, although recombinant Af-Tth was synthesized in the inclusion bodies of Escherichia coli and acid-refolding treatment was necessary to recover the activity. The specific activity of purified Af-Tth from recombinant A. ferrooxidans (2.2 ± 0.37 U mg-1) was similar to that of acid-refolded Af-Tth from recombinant E. coli (2.5 ± 0.18 U mg-1). This method can be applied not only to heterologous expression but also to homologous expression of target genes for modification or specific mutation in A. ferrooxidans cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadayoshi Kanao
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
| | - Tomoki Kunihisa
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Shuji Ohgimoto
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Megumi Ito
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Chisa Murakami
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Hisayuki Nakayama
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Takashi Tamura
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Kazuo Kamimura
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
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6
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The Essential Role of OmpR in Acidithiobacillus caldus Adapting to the High Osmolarity and Its Regulation on the Tetrathionate-Metabolic Pathway. Microorganisms 2022; 11:microorganisms11010035. [PMID: 36677326 PMCID: PMC9861516 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus spp. are prevalent in acid mine drainage, and they have been widely used in biomining for extracting nonferrous metals from ores. The osmotic stress generated by elevated concentrations of inorganic ions is a severe challenge for the growth of Acidithiobacillus spp. in the bioleaching process; however, the adaptation mechanism of these bacteria to high osmotic pressure remains unclear. In this study, bioinformatics analysis indicated that the osmotic stress response two-component system EnvZ-OmpR is widely distributed in Acidithiobacillus spp., while OmpRs from Acidithiobacillus spp. exhibited a far more evolutionary relationship with the well-studied OmpRs in E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The growth measurement of an Acidithiobacillus caldus (A. caldus) ompR-knockout strain demonstrated that OmpR is essential in the adaptation of this bacterium to high osmotic stress. The overall impact of OmpR on the various metabolic and regulatory systems of A. caldus was revealed by transcriptome analysis. The OmpR binding sequences of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were predicted, and the OmpR box motif in A. caldus was analysed. The direct and negative regulation of EnvZ-OmpR on the tetrathionate-metabolic (tetH) cluster in A. caldus was discovered for the first time, and a co-regulation mode mediated by EnvZ-OmpR and RsrS-RsrR for the tetrathionate intermediate thiosulfate-oxidizing (S4I) pathway in this microorganism was proposed. This study reveals that EnvZ-OmpR is an indispensable regulatory system for the ability of A. caldus to cope with high osmotic stress and the significance of EnvZ-OmpR on the regulation of sulfur metabolism in A. caldus adapting to the high-salt environment.
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7
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Nguyen PM, Do PT, Pham YB, Doan TO, Nguyen XC, Lee WK, Nguyen DD, Vadiveloo A, Um MJ, Ngo HH. Roles, mechanism of action, and potential applications of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria for environmental bioremediation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 852:158203. [PMID: 36044953 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Sulfur (S) is a crucial component in the environment and living organisms. This work is the first attempt to provide an overview and critical discussion on the roles, mechanisms, and environmental applications of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB). The findings reveal that key enzymes of SOB embarked on oxidation of sulfide, sulfite, thiosulfate, and elemental S. Conversion of reduced S compounds was oxidatively catalyzed by various enzymes (e.g. sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase, flavocytochrome c-sulfide dehydrogenase, dissimilatory sulfite reductase, heterodisulfide reductase-like proteins). Environmental applications of SOB discussed include detoxifying hydrogen sulfide, soil bioremediation, and wastewater treatment. SOB producing S0 engaged in biological S soil amendments (e.g. saline-alkali soil remediation, the oxidation of sulfide-bearing minerals). Biotreatment of H2S using SOB occurred under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Sulfide, nitrate, and sulfamethoxazole were removed through SOB suspension cultures and S0-based carriers. Finally, this work presented future perspectives on SOB development, including S0 recovery, SOB enrichment, field measurement and identification of sulfur compounds, and the development of mathematical simulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong Minh Nguyen
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Phuc Thi Do
- Faculty of Biology, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam; Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Protein Technology (KLEPT), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Yen Bao Pham
- Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Protein Technology (KLEPT), University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Thi Oanh Doan
- Faculty of Environment, Ha Noi University of Natural Resources and Environment, No 41A, Phu Dien Street, Bac Tu Liem, Ha Noi, Vietnam
| | - Xuan Cuong Nguyen
- Center for Advanced Chemistry, Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam; Faculty of Environmental Chemical Engineering, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam.
| | - Woo Kul Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Dankook University, 152 Jukjeonro, Yongin 16890, South Korea
| | - D Duc Nguyen
- Faculty of Environmental and Food Engineering, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, 300A Nguyen Tat Thanh, District 4, HCM City, 755414, Vietnam; Department of Environmental Energy Engineering, Kyonggi University, Suwon 16227, South Korea
| | - Ashiwin Vadiveloo
- Algae R & D Centre, Environmental and Conservation Sciences, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Myoung-Jin Um
- Department of Civil Engineering, Kyonggi University, Suwon 16227, South Korea
| | - Huu Hao Ngo
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NWS 2007, Australia.
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Cortez D, Neira G, González C, Vergara E, Holmes DS. A Large-Scale Genome-Based Survey of Acidophilic Bacteria Suggests That Genome Streamlining Is an Adaption for Life at Low pH. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:803241. [PMID: 35387071 PMCID: PMC8978632 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.803241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The genome streamlining theory suggests that reduction of microbial genome size optimizes energy utilization in stressful environments. Although this hypothesis has been explored in several cases of low-nutrient (oligotrophic) and high-temperature environments, little work has been carried out on microorganisms from low-pH environments, and what has been reported is inconclusive. In this study, we performed a large-scale comparative genomics investigation of more than 260 bacterial high-quality genome sequences of acidophiles, together with genomes of their closest phylogenetic relatives that live at circum-neutral pH. A statistically supported correlation is reported between reduction of genome size and decreasing pH that we demonstrate is due to gene loss and reduced gene sizes. This trend is independent from other genome size constraints such as temperature and G + C content. Genome streamlining in the evolution of acidophilic bacteria is thus supported by our results. The analyses of predicted Clusters of Orthologous Genes (COG) categories and subcellular location predictions indicate that acidophiles have a lower representation of genes encoding extracellular proteins, signal transduction mechanisms, and proteins with unknown function but are enriched in inner membrane proteins, chaperones, basic metabolism, and core cellular functions. Contrary to other reports for genome streamlining, there was no significant change in paralog frequencies across pH. However, a detailed analysis of COG categories revealed a higher proportion of genes in acidophiles in the following categories: "replication and repair," "amino acid transport," and "intracellular trafficking". This study brings increasing clarity regarding the genomic adaptations of acidophiles to life at low pH while putting elements, such as the reduction of average gene size, under the spotlight of streamlining theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Cortez
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Centro Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gonzalo Neira
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Centro Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carolina González
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Centro Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Eva Vergara
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Centro Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - David S. Holmes
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Centro Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastian, Santiago, Chile
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Kanao T, Hase N, Nakayama H, Yoshida K, Nishiura K, Kosaka M, Kamimura K, Hirano Y, Tamada T. Reaction mechanism of tetrathionate hydrolysis based on the crystal structure of tetrathionate hydrolase from Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Protein Sci 2021; 30:328-338. [PMID: 33103311 PMCID: PMC7784748 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Tetrathionate hydrolase (4THase) plays an important role in dissimilatory sulfur oxidation in the acidophilic iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. The structure of recombinant 4THase from A. ferrooxidans (Af-Tth) was determined by X-ray crystallography to a resolution of 1.95 Å. Af-Tth is a homodimer, and its monomer structure exhibits an eight-bladed β-propeller motif. Two insertion loops participate in dimerization, and one loop forms a cavity with the β-propeller region. We observed unexplained electron densities in this cavity of the substrate-soaked structure. The anomalous difference map generated using diffraction data collected at a wavelength of 1.9 Å indicated the presence of polymerized sulfur atoms. Asp325, a highly conserved residue among 4THases, was located near the polymerized sulfur atoms. 4THase activity was completely abolished in the site-specific Af-Tth D325N variant, suggesting that Asp325 plays a crucial role in the first step of tetrathionate hydrolysis. Considering that the Af-Tth reaction occurs only under acidic pH, Asp325 acts as an acid for the tetrathionate hydrolysis reaction. The polymerized sulfur atoms in the active site cavity may represent the intermediate product in the subsequent step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadayoshi Kanao
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life ScienceOkayama UniversityOkayamaJapan
| | - Naruki Hase
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life ScienceOkayama UniversityOkayamaJapan
| | - Hisayuki Nakayama
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life ScienceOkayama UniversityOkayamaJapan
| | - Kyoya Yoshida
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life ScienceOkayama UniversityOkayamaJapan
| | - Kazumi Nishiura
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life ScienceOkayama UniversityOkayamaJapan
| | - Megumi Kosaka
- Department of Instrumental Analysis, Advanced Science Research CenterOkayama UniversityOkayamaJapan
| | - Kazuo Kamimura
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life ScienceOkayama UniversityOkayamaJapan
| | - Yu Hirano
- Institute for Quantum Life ScienceNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyTokaiJapan
| | - Taro Tamada
- Institute for Quantum Life ScienceNational Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and TechnologyTokaiJapan
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10
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Camacho D, Frazao R, Fouillen A, Nanci A, Lang BF, Apte SC, Baron C, Warren LA. New Insights Into Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans Sulfur Metabolism Through Coupled Gene Expression, Solution Chemistry, Microscopy, and Spectroscopy Analyses. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:411. [PMID: 32231653 PMCID: PMC7082400 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we experimentally expand understanding of the reactions and enzymes involved in Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans ATCC 19377 S0 andS 2 O 3 2 - metabolism by developing models that integrate gene expression analyzed by RNA-Seq, solution sulfur speciation, electron microscopy and spectroscopy. The A. thiooxidansS 2 O 3 2 - metabolism model involves the conversion ofS 2 O 3 2 - to SO 4 2 - , S0 andS 4 O 6 2 - , mediated by the sulfur oxidase complex (Sox), tetrathionate hydrolase (TetH), sulfide quinone reductase (Sqr), and heterodisulfate reductase (Hdr) proteins. These same proteins, with the addition of rhodanese (Rhd), were identified to convert S0 to SO 3 2 - ,S 2 O 3 2 - and polythionates in the A. thiooxidans S0 metabolism model. Our combined results shed light onto the important role specifically of TetH inS 2 O 3 2 - metabolism. Also, we show that activity of Hdr proteins rather than Sdo are likely associated with S0 oxidation. Finally, our data suggest that formation of intracellularS 2 O 3 2 - is a critical step in S0 metabolism, and that recycling of internally generated SO 3 2 - occurs, through comproportionating reactions that result inS 2 O 3 2 - . Electron microscopy and spectroscopy confirmed intracellular production and storage of S0 during growth on both S0 andS 2 O 3 2 - substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Camacho
- School of Geography and Earth Science, Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Rodolfo Frazao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Aurélien Fouillen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Laboratory for the Study of Calcified Tissues and Biomaterials, Faculty of Dentistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Antonio Nanci
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Laboratory for the Study of Calcified Tissues and Biomaterials, Faculty of Dentistry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - B. Franz Lang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Simon C. Apte
- CSIRO, Land and Water, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Christian Baron
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Lesley A. Warren
- School of Geography and Earth Science, Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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11
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Mandal S, Rameez MJ, Chatterjee S, Sarkar J, Pyne P, Bhattacharya S, Shaw R, Ghosh W. Molecular mechanism of sulfur chemolithotrophy in the betaproteobacterium Pusillimonas ginsengisoli SBSA. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2020; 166:386-397. [PMID: 31999239 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Chemolithotrophic sulfur oxidation represents a significant part of the biogeochemical cycling of this element. Due to its long evolutionary history, this ancient metabolism is well known for its extensive mechanistic and phylogenetic diversification across a diverse taxonomic spectrum. Here we carried out whole-genome sequencing and analysis of a new betaproteobacterial isolate, Pusillimonas ginsengisoli SBSA, which is found to oxidize thiosulfate via the formation of tetrathionate as an intermediate. The 4.7 Mb SBSA genome was found to encompass a soxCDYZAXOB operon, plus single thiosulfate dehydrogenase (tsdA) and sulfite : acceptor oxidoreductase (sorAB) genes. Recombination-based knockout of tsdA revealed that the entire thiosulfate is first converted to tetrathionate by the activity of thiosulfate dehydrogenase (TsdA) and the Sox pathway is not functional in this bacterium despite the presence of all necessary sox genes. The ∆soxYZ and ∆soxXA knockout mutants exhibited a wild-type-like phenotype for thiosulfate/tetrathionate oxidation, whereas ∆soxB, ∆soxCD and soxO::KanR mutants only oxidized thiosulfate up to tetrathionate intermediate and had complete impairment in tetrathionate oxidation. The substrate-dependent O2 consumption rate of whole cells and the sulfur-oxidizing enzyme activities of cell-free extracts, measured in the presence/absence of thiol inhibitors/glutathione, indicated that glutathione plays a key role in SBSA tetrathionate oxidation. The present findings collectively indicate that the potential glutathione : tetrathionate coupling in P. ginsengisoli involves a novel enzymatic component, which is different from the dual-functional thiol dehydrotransferase (ThdT), while subsequent oxidation of the sulfur intermediates produced (e.g. glutathione : sulfodisulfane molecules) may proceed via the iterative action of soxBCD .
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhrangshu Mandal
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM, Kolkata-700054, India
| | - Moidu Jameela Rameez
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM, Kolkata-700054, India
| | - Sumit Chatterjee
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM, Kolkata-700054, India
| | - Jagannath Sarkar
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM, Kolkata-700054, India
| | - Prosenjit Pyne
- Present address: National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), P- C.I.T. Scheme XM, Beleghata, 33, CIT Rd, Beleghata, Kolkata - 700054, India.,Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM, Kolkata-700054, India
| | | | - Rahul Shaw
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM, Kolkata-700054, India
| | - Wriddhiman Ghosh
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM, Kolkata-700054, India
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Yin Z, Feng S, Tong Y, Yang H. Adaptive mechanism of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans CCTCC M 2012104 under stress during bioleaching of low-grade chalcopyrite based on physiological and comparative transcriptomic analysis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 46:1643-1656. [DOI: 10.1007/s10295-019-02224-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans (A. thiooxidans) is often used for sulfur-bearing ores bioleaching, but its adaptive mechanism to harsh environments remains unclear. Here, we explored the adaptive mechanism of A. thiooxidans in the process of low-grade chalcopyrite bioleaching based on the physiology and comparative transcriptome analysis. It was indicated that A. thiooxidans maintains intracellular pH homeostasis by regulating unsaturated fatty acids, especially cyclopropane fatty acids, intracellular ATP, amino acid metabolism, and antioxidant factors. Comparative transcriptome analysis indicated that the key genes involved in sulfur oxidation, sor and soxABXYZ, were significantly up-regulated, generating more energy to resist extreme environmental stress by more active sulfur metabolism. Confocal laser scanning microscope analysis found that down-regulation of flagellar-related genes was likely to promote the biofilm formation. System-level understanding of leaching microorganisms under extreme stress can contribute to the evolution of these extremophiles via genetic engineering modification work, which further improves bioleaching in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongwei Yin
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology Ministry of Education Wuxi People’s Republic of China
- grid.258151.a 0000 0001 0708 1323 School of Biotechnology Jiangnan University 1800 Lihu Road Wuxi People’s Republic of China
- grid.258151.a 0000 0001 0708 1323 Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology (Jiangnan University) Ministry of Education Wuxi People’s Republic of China
| | - Shoushuai Feng
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology Ministry of Education Wuxi People’s Republic of China
- grid.258151.a 0000 0001 0708 1323 School of Biotechnology Jiangnan University 1800 Lihu Road Wuxi People’s Republic of China
- grid.258151.a 0000 0001 0708 1323 Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology (Jiangnan University) Ministry of Education Wuxi People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanjun Tong
- grid.258151.a 0000 0001 0708 1323 State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology Jiangnan University Wuxi People’s Republic of China
- grid.258151.a 0000 0001 0708 1323 School of Food Science and Technology Jiangnan University 1800 Lihu Road Wuxi People’s Republic of China
| | - Hailin Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology Ministry of Education Wuxi People’s Republic of China
- grid.258151.a 0000 0001 0708 1323 School of Biotechnology Jiangnan University 1800 Lihu Road Wuxi People’s Republic of China
- grid.258151.a 0000 0001 0708 1323 Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology (Jiangnan University) Ministry of Education Wuxi People’s Republic of China
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13
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Rameez MJ, Pyne P, Mandal S, Chatterjee S, Alam M, Bhattacharya S, Mondal N, Sarkar J, Ghosh W. Two pathways for thiosulfate oxidation in the alphaproteobacterial chemolithotroph Paracoccus thiocyanatus SST. Microbiol Res 2019; 230:126345. [PMID: 31585234 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2019.126345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Chemolithotrophic bacteria oxidize various sulfur species for energy and electrons, thereby operationalizing biogeochemical sulfur cycles in nature. The best-studied pathway of bacterial sulfur-chemolithotrophy involves direct oxidation of thiosulfate (S2O32-) to sulfate (SO42-) without any free intermediate. This pathway mediated by SoxXAYZBCD is apparently the exclusive mechanism of thiosulfate oxidation in facultatively chemolithotrophic alphaproteobacteria. Here we explore the molecular mechanisms of sulfur oxidation in the thiosulfate- and tetrathionate(S4O62-)-oxidizing alphaproteobacterium Paracoccus thiocyanatus SST, and compare them with the prototypical Sox process of Paracoccus pantotrophus. Our results reveal a unique case where an alphaproteobacterium has Sox as its secondary pathway of thiosulfate oxidation converting ∼10% of the thiosulfate supplied, whilst ∼90% of the substrate is oxidized via a pathway that produces tetrathionate as an intermediate. Sulfur oxidation kinetics of a deletion mutant showed that thiosulfate-to-tetrathionate conversion, in SST, is catalyzed by a thiosulfate dehydrogenase (TsdA) homolog that has far-higher substrate-affinity than the Sox system of this bacterium, which in turn is also less efficient than the P. pantotrophus Sox. Deletion of soxB abolished sulfate-formation from thiosulfate/tetrathionate, while thiosulfate-to-tetrathionate conversion remained unperturbed. Physiological studies revealed the involvement of glutathione in SST tetrathionate oxidation. However, zero impact of the insertional mutation of a thiol dehydrotransferase (thdT) homolog, together with the absence of sulfite as an intermediate, indicated that SST tetrathionate oxidation is mechanistically novel, and distinct from its betaproteobacterial counterpart mediated by glutathione, ThdT, SoxBCD and sulfite:acceptor oxidoreductase. The present findings highlight extensive functional diversification of sulfur-oxidizing enzymes across phylogenetically close, as well as distant, bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moidu Jameela Rameez
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Prosenjit Pyne
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Subhrangshu Mandal
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Sumit Chatterjee
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Masrure Alam
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | | | - Nibendu Mondal
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Jagannath Sarkar
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Wriddhiman Ghosh
- Department of Microbiology, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM, Kolkata, 700054, India.
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Liu R, Chen J, Zhou W, Cheng H, Zhou H. Insight to the early-stage adsorption mechanism of moderately thermophilic consortia and intensified bioleaching of chalcopyrite. Biochem Eng J 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2019.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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15
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Wang R, Lin JQ, Liu XM, Pang X, Zhang CJ, Yang CL, Gao XY, Lin CM, Li YQ, Li Y, Lin JQ, Chen LX. Sulfur Oxidation in the Acidophilic Autotrophic Acidithiobacillus spp. Front Microbiol 2019; 9:3290. [PMID: 30687275 PMCID: PMC6335251 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.03290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sulfur oxidation is an essential component of the earth's sulfur cycle. Acidithiobacillus spp. can oxidize various reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (RISCs) with high efficiency to obtain electrons for their autotrophic growth. Strains in this genus have been widely applied in bioleaching and biological desulfurization. Diverse sulfur-metabolic pathways and corresponding regulatory systems have been discovered in these acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. The sulfur-metabolic enzymes in Acidithiobacillus spp. can be categorized as elemental sulfur oxidation enzymes (sulfur dioxygenase, sulfur oxygenase reductase, and Hdr-like complex), enzymes in thiosulfate oxidation pathways (tetrathionate intermediate thiosulfate oxidation (S4I) pathway, the sulfur oxidizing enzyme (Sox) system and thiosulfate dehydrogenase), sulfide oxidation enzymes (sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase) and sulfite oxidation pathways/enzymes. The two-component systems (TCSs) are the typical regulation elements for periplasmic thiosulfate metabolism in these autotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. Examples are RsrS/RsrR responsible for S4I pathway regulation and TspS/TspR for Sox system regulation. The proposal of sulfur metabolic and regulatory models provide new insights and overall understanding of the sulfur-metabolic processes in Acidithiobacillus spp. The future research directions and existing barriers in the bacterial sulfur metabolism are also emphasized here and the breakthroughs in these areas will accelerate the research on the sulfur oxidation in Acidithiobacillus spp. and other sulfur oxidizers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jian-Qun Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lin-Xu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
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16
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Pyne P, Alam M, Rameez MJ, Mandal S, Sar A, Mondal N, Debnath U, Mathew B, Misra AK, Mandal AK, Ghosh W. Homologs from sulfur oxidation (Sox) and methanol dehydrogenation (Xox) enzyme systems collaborate to give rise to a novel pathway of chemolithotrophic tetrathionate oxidation. Mol Microbiol 2018; 109:169-191. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Prosenjit Pyne
- Department of Microbiology; Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM; Kolkata 700054 India
| | - Masrure Alam
- Department of Microbiology; Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM; Kolkata 700054 India
| | - Moidu Jameela Rameez
- Department of Microbiology; Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM; Kolkata 700054 India
| | - Subhrangshu Mandal
- Department of Microbiology; Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM; Kolkata 700054 India
| | - Abhijit Sar
- Department of Microbiology; Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM; Kolkata 700054 India
| | - Nibendu Mondal
- Department of Microbiology; Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM; Kolkata 700054 India
| | - Utsab Debnath
- Division of Molecular Medicine; Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM; Kolkata 700054 India
| | - Boby Mathew
- Clinical Proteomics Unit, Division of Molecular Medicine; St. John's Research Institute St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, 100ft Road; Koramangala 560034 Bangalore India
| | - Anup Kumar Misra
- Division of Molecular Medicine; Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM; Kolkata 700054 India
| | - Amit Kumar Mandal
- Clinical Proteomics Unit, Division of Molecular Medicine; St. John's Research Institute St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, 100ft Road; Koramangala 560034 Bangalore India
| | - Wriddhiman Ghosh
- Department of Microbiology; Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VIIM; Kolkata 700054 India
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17
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Kanao T, Onishi M, Kajitani Y, Hashimoto Y, Toge T, Kikukawa H, Kamimura K. Characterization of tetrathionate hydrolase from the marine acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacterium, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans strain SH. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2018; 82:152-160. [PMID: 29303046 DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2017.1415128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Tetrathionate hydrolase (4THase), a key enzyme of the S4-intermediate (S4I) pathway, was partially purified from marine acidophilic bacterium, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans strain SH, and the gene encoding this enzyme (SH-tth) was identified. SH-Tth is a homodimer with a molecular mass of 97 ± 3 kDa, and contains a subunit 52 kDa in size. Enzyme activity was stimulated in the presence of 1 M NaCl, and showed the maximum at pH 3.0. Although 4THases from A. thiooxidans and the closely related Acidithiobacillus caldus strain have been reported to be periplasmic enzymes, SH-Tth seems to be localized on the outer membrane of the cell, and acts as a peripheral protein. Furthermore, both 4THase activity and SH-Tth proteins were detected in sulfur-grown cells of strain SH. These results suggested that SH-Tth is involved in elemental sulfur-oxidation, which is distinct from sulfur-oxidation in other sulfur-oxidizing strains such as A. thiooxidans and A. caldus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadayoshi Kanao
- a Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science , Okayama University , Okayama , Japan
| | - Moe Onishi
- b Faculty of Agriculture , Okayama University , Okayama , Japan
| | | | - Yuki Hashimoto
- b Faculty of Agriculture , Okayama University , Okayama , Japan
| | - Tatsuya Toge
- b Faculty of Agriculture , Okayama University , Okayama , Japan
| | | | - Kazuo Kamimura
- a Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science , Okayama University , Okayama , Japan
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18
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A novel soxO gene, encoding a glutathione disulfide reductase, is essential for tetrathionate oxidation in Advenella kashmirensis. Microbiol Res 2017; 205:1-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Revised: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 08/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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19
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Li LF, Fu LJ, Lin JQ, Pang X, Liu XM, Wang R, Wang ZB, Lin JQ, Chen LX. The σ54-dependent two-component system regulating sulfur oxidization (Sox) system in Acidithiobacillus caldus and some chemolithotrophic bacteria. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 101:2079-2092. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-8026-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 11/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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20
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Wang ZB, Li YQ, Lin JQ, Pang X, Liu XM, Liu BQ, Wang R, Zhang CJ, Wu Y, Lin JQ, Chen LX. The Two-Component System RsrS-RsrR Regulates the Tetrathionate Intermediate Pathway for Thiosulfate Oxidation in Acidithiobacillus caldus. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:1755. [PMID: 27857710 PMCID: PMC5093147 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus caldus (A. caldus) is a common bioleaching bacterium that possesses a sophisticated and highly efficient inorganic sulfur compound metabolism network. Thiosulfate, a central intermediate in the sulfur metabolism network of A. caldus and other sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms, can be metabolized via the tetrathionate intermediate (S4I) pathway catalyzed by thiosulfate:quinol oxidoreductase (Tqo or DoxDA) and tetrathionate hydrolase (TetH). In A. caldus, there is an additional two-component system called RsrS-RsrR. Since rsrS and rsrR are arranged as an operon with doxDA and tetH in the genome, we suggest that the regulation of the S4I pathway may occur via the RsrS-RsrR system. To examine the regulatory role of the two-component system RsrS-RsrR on the S4I pathway, ΔrsrR and ΔrsrS strains were constructed in A. caldus using a newly developed markerless gene knockout method. Transcriptional analysis of the tetH cluster in the wild type and mutant strains revealed positive regulation of the S4I pathway by the RsrS-RsrR system. A 19 bp inverted repeat sequence (IRS, AACACCTGTTACACCTGTT) located upstream of the tetH promoter was identified as the binding site for RsrR by using electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) in vitro and promoter-probe vectors in vivo. In addition, ΔrsrR, and ΔrsrS strains cultivated in K2S4O6-medium exhibited significant growth differences when compared with the wild type. Transcriptional analysis indicated that the absence of rsrS or rsrR had different effects on the expression of genes involved in sulfur metabolism and signaling systems. Finally, a model of tetrathionate sensing by RsrS, signal transduction via RsrR, and transcriptional activation of tetH-doxDA was proposed to provide insights toward the understanding of sulfur metabolism in A. caldus. This study also provided a powerful genetic tool for studies in A. caldus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Bao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University Jinan, China
| | - Ya-Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University Jinan, China
| | - Jian-Qun Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University Jinan, China
| | - Xin Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University Jinan, China
| | - Xiang-Mei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University Jinan, China
| | | | - Rui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University Jinan, China
| | - Cheng-Jia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University Jinan, China
| | - Yan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University Jinan, China
| | - Jian-Qiang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University Jinan, China
| | - Lin-Xu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University Jinan, China
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Kanao T, Nakayama H, Kato M, Kamimura K. The sole cysteine residue (Cys301) of tetrathionate hydrolase from Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans does not play a role in enzyme activity. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2014; 78:2030-5. [PMID: 25144400 DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2014.948374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Cysteine residues are absolutely indispensable for the reactions of almost all enzymes involved in the dissimilatory oxidation pathways of reduced inorganic sulfur compounds. Tetrathionate hydrolase from the acidophilic iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (Af-Tth) catalyzes tetrathionate hydrolysis to generate elemental sulfur, thiosulfate, and sulfate. Af-Tth is a key enzyme in the dissimilatory sulfur oxidation pathway in this bacterium. Only one cysteine residue (Cys301) has been identified in the deduced amino acid sequence of the Af-Tth gene. In order to clarify the role of the sole cysteine residue, a site-specific mutant enzyme (C301A) was generated. No difference was observed in the retention volumes of the wild-type and mutant Af-Tth enzymes by gel-filtration column chromatography, and surprisingly the enzyme activities measured in the cysteine-deficient and wild-type enzymes were the same. These results suggest that the sole cysteine residue (Cys301) in Af-Tth is involved in neither the tetrathionate hydrolysis reaction nor the subunit assembly. Af-Tth may thus have a novel cysteine-independent reaction mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadayoshi Kanao
- a Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science , Okayama University , Okayama , Japan
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22
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Yin H, Zhang X, Li X, He Z, Liang Y, Guo X, Hu Q, Xiao Y, Cong J, Ma L, Niu J, Liu X. Whole-genome sequencing reveals novel insights into sulfur oxidation in the extremophile Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans. BMC Microbiol 2014; 14:179. [PMID: 24993543 PMCID: PMC4109375 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-14-179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans (A. thiooxidans), a chemolithoautotrophic extremophile, is widely used in the industrial recovery of copper (bioleaching or biomining). The organism grows and survives by autotrophically utilizing energy derived from the oxidation of elemental sulfur and reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (RISCs). However, the lack of genetic manipulation systems has restricted our exploration of its physiology. With the development of high-throughput sequencing technology, the whole genome sequence analysis of A. thiooxidans has allowed preliminary models to be built for genes/enzymes involved in key energy pathways like sulfur oxidation. RESULTS The genome of A. thiooxidans A01 was sequenced and annotated. It contains key sulfur oxidation enzymes involved in the oxidation of elemental sulfur and RISCs, such as sulfur dioxygenase (SDO), sulfide quinone reductase (SQR), thiosulfate:quinone oxidoreductase (TQO), tetrathionate hydrolase (TetH), sulfur oxidizing protein (Sox) system and their associated electron transport components. Also, the sulfur oxygenase reductase (SOR) gene was detected in the draft genome sequence of A. thiooxidans A01, and multiple sequence alignment was performed to explore the function of groups of related protein sequences. In addition, another putative pathway was found in the cytoplasm of A. thiooxidans, which catalyzes sulfite to sulfate as the final product by phosphoadenosine phosphosulfate (PAPS) reductase and adenylylsulfate (APS) kinase. This differs from its closest relative Acidithiobacillus caldus, which is performed by sulfate adenylyltransferase (SAT). Furthermore, real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that most of sulfur oxidation genes were more strongly expressed in the S0 medium than that in the Na2S2O3 medium at the mid-log phase. CONCLUSION Sulfur oxidation model of A. thiooxidans A01 has been constructed based on previous studies from other sulfur oxidizing strains and its genome sequence analyses, providing insights into our understanding of its physiology and further analysis of potential functions of key sulfur oxidation genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaqun Yin
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xian Zhang
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoqi Li
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhili He
- Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Yili Liang
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xue Guo
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qi Hu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yunhua Xiao
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jing Cong
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Liyuan Ma
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiaojiao Niu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xueduan Liu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Yu Y, Liu X, Wang H, Li X, Lin J. Construction and characterization of tetH overexpression and knockout strains of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. J Bacteriol 2014; 196:2255-64. [PMID: 24727223 PMCID: PMC4054192 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01472-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is a major participant in consortia of microorganisms used for bioleaching. It can obtain energy from the oxidation of Fe(2+), H2, S(0), and various reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (RISCs). Tetrathionate is a key intermediate during RISC oxidation, hydrolyzed by tetrathionate hydrolase (TetH), and used as sole energy source. In this study, a tetH knockout (ΔtetH) mutant and a tetH overexpression strain were constructed and characterized. The tetH overexpression strain grew better on sulfur and tetrathionate and possessed a higher rate of tetrathionate utilization and TetH activity than the wild type. However, its cell yields on tetrathionate were much lower than those on sulfur. The ΔtetH mutant could not grow on tetrathionate but could proliferate on sulfur with a lower cell yield than the wild type's, which indicated that tetrathionate hydrolysis is mediated only by TetH, encoded by tetH. The ΔtetH mutant could survive in ferrous medium with an Fe(2+) oxidation rate similar to that of the wild type. For the tetH overexpression strain, the rate was relatively higher than that of the wild type. The reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) results showed that tetH and doxD2 acted synergistically, and doxD2 was considered important in thiosulfate metabolism. Of the two sqr genes, AFE_0267 seemed to play as important a role in sulfide oxidation as AFE_1792. This study not only provides a substantial basis for studying the function of the tetH gene but also may serve as a model to clarify other candidate genes involved in sulfur oxidation in this organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangmei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Huiyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianqun Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
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24
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Community dynamics and function variation of a defined mixed bioleaching acidophilic bacterial consortium in the presence of fluoride. ANN MICROBIOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s13213-014-0843-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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Construction and application of an expression vector from the new plasmid pLAtc1 of Acidithiobacillus caldus. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 98:4083-94. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-5507-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2013] [Revised: 12/27/2013] [Accepted: 12/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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26
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Acuña LG, Cárdenas JP, Covarrubias PC, Haristoy JJ, Flores R, Nuñez H, Riadi G, Shmaryahu A, Valdés J, Dopson M, Rawlings DE, Banfield JF, Holmes DS, Quatrini R. Architecture and gene repertoire of the flexible genome of the extreme acidophile Acidithiobacillus caldus. PLoS One 2013; 8:e78237. [PMID: 24250794 PMCID: PMC3826726 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2013] [Accepted: 09/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acidithiobacillus caldus is a sulfur oxidizing extreme acidophile and the only known mesothermophile within the Acidithiobacillales. As such, it is one of the preferred microbes for mineral bioprocessing at moderately high temperatures. In this study, we explore the genomic diversity of A. caldus strains using a combination of bioinformatic and experimental techniques, thus contributing first insights into the elucidation of the species pangenome. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Comparative sequence analysis of A. caldus ATCC 51756 and SM-1 indicate that, despite sharing a conserved and highly syntenic genomic core, both strains have unique gene complements encompassing nearly 20% of their respective genomes. The differential gene complement of each strain is distributed between the chromosomal compartment, one megaplasmid and a variable number of smaller plasmids, and is directly associated to a diverse pool of mobile genetic elements (MGE). These include integrative conjugative and mobilizable elements, genomic islands and insertion sequences. Some of the accessory functions associated to these MGEs have been linked previously to the flexible gene pool in microorganisms inhabiting completely different econiches. Yet, others had not been unambiguously mapped to the flexible gene pool prior to this report and clearly reflect strain-specific adaption to local environmental conditions. SIGNIFICANCE For many years, and because of DNA instability at low pH and recurrent failure to genetically transform acidophilic bacteria, gene transfer in acidic environments was considered negligible. Findings presented herein imply that a more or less conserved pool of actively excising MGEs occurs in the A. caldus population and point to a greater frequency of gene exchange in this econiche than previously recognized. Also, the data suggest that these elements endow the species with capacities to withstand the diverse abiotic and biotic stresses of natural environments, in particular those associated with its extreme econiche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lillian G. Acuña
- Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Pablo Cárdenas
- Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paulo C. Covarrubias
- Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | | | - Gonzalo Riadi
- Centro de Bioinformática y Simulación Molecular, Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
| | | | - Jorge Valdés
- Center for Systems Biotechnology, Fraunhofer Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mark Dopson
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Douglas E. Rawlings
- Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Jillian F. Banfield
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - David S. Holmes
- Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Raquel Quatrini
- Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
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Kanao T, Kosaka M, Yoshida K, Nakayama H, Tamada T, Kuroki R, Yamada H, Takada J, Kamimura K. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of tetrathionate hydrolase from Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2013; 69:692-4. [PMID: 23722856 PMCID: PMC3668597 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309113013419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2013] [Accepted: 05/15/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Tetrathionate hydrolase (4THase) from the iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans catalyses the disproportionate hydrolysis of tetrathionate to elemental sulfur, thiosulfate and sulfate. The gene encoding 4THase (Af-tth) was expressed as inclusion bodies in recombinant Escherichia coli. Recombinant Af-Tth was activated by refolding under acidic conditions and was then purified to homogeneity. The recombinant protein was crystallized in 20 mM glycine buffer pH 10 containing 50 mM sodium chloride and 33%(v/v) PEG 1000 using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystal was a hexagonal cylinder with dimensions of 0.2 × 0.05 × 0.05 mm. X-ray crystallographic analysis showed that the crystal diffracted to 2.15 Å resolution and belongs to space group P3(1) or P3(2), with unit-cell parameters a = b = 92.1, c = 232.6 Å.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadayoshi Kanao
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, 3-1-1, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Megumi Kosaka
- Department of Instrumental Analysis, Advanced Science Research Center, Okayama University, 3-1-1, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Kyoya Yoshida
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, 3-1-1, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Hisayuki Nakayama
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, 3-1-1, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Taro Tamada
- Molecular Biology Research Division, Quantum Beam Science Directorate, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 2-4, Shirakata-Shirane, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1195, Japan
| | - Ryota Kuroki
- Molecular Biology Research Division, Quantum Beam Science Directorate, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 2-4, Shirakata-Shirane, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1195, Japan
| | - Hidenori Yamada
- Department of Instrumental Analysis, Advanced Science Research Center, Okayama University, 3-1-1, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Jun Takada
- Department of Material Chemistry, Division of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 3-1-1, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Kazuo Kamimura
- Department of Biofunctional Chemistry, Division of Agricultural and Life Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, 3-1-1, Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
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Jiménez DJ, Andreote FD, Chaves D, Montaña JS, Osorio-Forero C, Junca H, Zambrano MM, Baena S. Structural and functional insights from the metagenome of an acidic hot spring microbial planktonic community in the Colombian Andes. PLoS One 2012; 7:e52069. [PMID: 23251687 PMCID: PMC3522619 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2012] [Accepted: 11/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A taxonomic and annotated functional description of microbial life was deduced from 53 Mb of metagenomic sequence retrieved from a planktonic fraction of the Neotropical high Andean (3,973 meters above sea level) acidic hot spring El Coquito (EC). A classification of unassembled metagenomic reads using different databases showed a high proportion of Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria (in total read affiliation), and through taxonomic affiliation of 16S rRNA gene fragments we observed the presence of Proteobacteria, micro-algae chloroplast and Firmicutes. Reads mapped against the genomes Acidiphilium cryptum JF-5, Legionella pneumophila str. Corby and Acidithiobacillus caldus revealed the presence of transposase-like sequences, potentially involved in horizontal gene transfer. Functional annotation and hierarchical comparison with different datasets obtained by pyrosequencing in different ecosystems showed that the microbial community also contained extensive DNA repair systems, possibly to cope with ultraviolet radiation at such high altitudes. Analysis of genes involved in the nitrogen cycle indicated the presence of dissimilatory nitrate reduction to N2 (narGHI, nirS, norBCDQ and nosZ), associated with Proteobacteria-like sequences. Genes involved in the sulfur cycle (cysDN, cysNC and aprA) indicated adenylsulfate and sulfite production that were affiliated to several bacterial species. In summary, metagenomic sequence data provided insight regarding the structure and possible functions of this hot spring microbial community, describing some groups potentially involved in the nitrogen and sulfur cycling in this environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Javier Jiménez
- Colombian Center for Genomic and Bioinformatics from Extreme Environments (GeBiX), Bogotá, Colombia.
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29
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Gene identification and substrate regulation provide insights into sulfur accumulation during bioleaching with the psychrotolerant acidophile Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans. Appl Environ Microbiol 2012. [PMID: 23183980 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02989-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The psychrotolerant acidophile Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans has been identified from cold environments and has been shown to use ferrous iron and inorganic sulfur compounds as its energy sources. A bioinformatic evaluation presented in this study suggested that Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans utilized a ferrous iron oxidation pathway similar to that of the related species Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. However, the inorganic sulfur oxidation pathway was less clear, since the Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans genome contained genes from both Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus caldus encoding enzymes whose assigned functions are redundant. Transcriptional analysis revealed that the petA1 and petB1 genes (implicated in ferrous iron oxidation) were downregulated upon growth on the inorganic sulfur compound tetrathionate but were on average 10.5-fold upregulated in the presence of ferrous iron. In contrast, expression of cyoB1 (involved in inorganic sulfur compound oxidation) was decreased 6.6-fold upon growth on ferrous iron alone. Competition assays between ferrous iron and tetrathionate with Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans SS3 precultured on chalcopyrite mineral showed a preference for ferrous iron oxidation over tetrathionate oxidation. Also, pure and mixed cultures of psychrotolerant acidophiles were utilized for the bioleaching of metal sulfide minerals in stirred tank reactors at 5 and 25°C in order to investigate the fate of ferrous iron and inorganic sulfur compounds. Solid sulfur accumulated in bioleaching cultures growing on a chalcopyrite concentrate. Sulfur accumulation halted mineral solubilization, but sulfur was oxidized after metal release had ceased. The data indicated that ferrous iron was preferentially oxidized during growth on chalcopyrite, a finding with important implications for biomining in cold environments.
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Dopson M, Johnson DB. Biodiversity, metabolism and applications of acidophilic sulfur-metabolizing microorganisms. Environ Microbiol 2012; 14:2620-31. [PMID: 22510111 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02749.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Extremely acidic, sulfur-rich environments can be natural, such as solfatara fields in geothermal and volcanic areas, or anthropogenic, such as acid mine drainage waters. Many species of acidophilic bacteria and archaea are known to be involved in redox transformations of sulfur, using elemental sulfur and inorganic sulfur compounds as electron donors or acceptors in reactions involving between one and eight electrons. This minireview describes the nature and origins of acidic, sulfur-rich environments, the biodiversity of sulfur-metabolizing acidophiles, and how sulfur is metabolized and assimilated by acidophiles under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Finally, existing and developing technologies that harness the abilities of sulfur-oxidizing and sulfate-reducing acidophiles to extract and capture metals, and to remediate sulfur-polluted waste waters are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Dopson
- School of Natural Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
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31
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Valdes J, Ossandon F, Quatrini R, Dopson M, Holmes DS. Draft genome sequence of the extremely acidophilic biomining bacterium Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans ATCC 19377 provides insights into the evolution of the Acidithiobacillus genus. J Bacteriol 2011; 193:7003-4. [PMID: 22123759 PMCID: PMC3232857 DOI: 10.1128/jb.06281-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2011] [Accepted: 10/03/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans is a mesophilic, extremely acidophilic, chemolithoautotrophic gammaproteobacterium that derives energy from the oxidation of sulfur and inorganic sulfur compounds. Here we present the draft genome sequence of A. thiooxidans ATCC 19377, which has allowed the identification of genes for survival and colonization of extremely acidic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Valdes
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia & Vida and Depto. de Ciencias Biologicas, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Ossandon
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia & Vida and Depto. de Ciencias Biologicas, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Raquel Quatrini
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia & Vida and Depto. de Ciencias Biologicas, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mark Dopson
- School of Natural Sciences, Linnaeus University, SE-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden
| | - David S. Holmes
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia & Vida and Depto. de Ciencias Biologicas, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
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32
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Liu Y, Yin H, Liang Y, Shen L, Liu Y, Fu X, Baba N, Zeng W, Qiu G, Liu X. Changes in the composition of an acid mine drainage microbial community upon successive transfers in medium containing low-grade copper sulfide. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2011; 102:9388-9394. [PMID: 21862325 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.05.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2011] [Revised: 05/14/2011] [Accepted: 05/31/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
A consortium of microorganisms from acid mine drainage samples was cultured in modified 9 K medium containing low-grade copper sulfide. The culture was maintained for sixty days and then transferred to fresh medium. This process was repeated three more times and a final consortium exhibiting a copper extraction rate of 89.3% was obtained. RFLP and microarrays analysis of 16S rRNA sequences retrieved from the consortia showed that Acidithiobacilluscaldus, Leptospirillumferriphilum, Sulfobacillus sp., Acidiphilium sp., and Sulfolobus spp. were represented in higher numbers in the consortia obtained in the copper-containing medium than in the original consortium. In contrast, a decrease in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Alicyclobacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans was observed. The abundance of genes related to sulfur metabolism from At. caldus and Sulfolobus spp., iron oxidation from Leptospirillum sp. and metal resistance from most of the detected microorganisms increased as the consortium was successively transferred into fresh medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Liu
- School of Minerals Processesing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
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33
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Liu Y, Yin H, Zeng W, Liang Y, Liu Y, Baba N, Qiu G, Shen L, Fu X, Liu X. The effect of the introduction of exogenous strain Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans A01 on functional gene expression, structure and function of indigenous consortium during pyrite bioleaching. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2011; 102:8092-8098. [PMID: 21705214 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2011] [Revised: 05/26/2011] [Accepted: 06/03/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans A01 was added to a consortium of bioleaching bacteria including Acidithiobacilluscaldus, Leptospirillumferriphilum, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans, Acidiphilium spp., and Ferroplasma thermophilum cultured in modified 9 K medium containing 0.5% (w/v) pyrite, and 10.7% increase of bioleaching rate was observed. Changes in community structure and gene expression were monitored with real-time PCR and functional gene arrays (FGAs). Real-time PCR showed that addition of At. thiooxidans caused increased numbers of all consortium members except At. caldus, and At. caldus, L. ferriphilum, and F. thermophilum remained dominant in this community. FGAs results showed that after addition of At. thiooxidans, most genes involved in iron, sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen metabolisms, metal resistance, electron transport, and extracellular polymeric substances of L. ferriphilum, F. thermophilum, and Acidiphilium spp., were up-regulated while most of these genes were down-regulated at 70-78 h in At. caldus and up-regulated in At. ferrooxidans, then down-regulated at 82-86 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Liu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
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34
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You XY, Guo X, Zheng HJ, Zhang MJ, Liu LJ, Zhu YQ, Zhu B, Wang SY, Zhao GP, Poetsch A, Jiang CY, Liu SJ. Unraveling the Acidithiobacillus caldus complete genome and its central metabolisms for carbon assimilation. J Genet Genomics 2011; 38:243-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2011.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2011] [Revised: 04/14/2011] [Accepted: 04/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Protze J, Müller F, Lauber K, Naß B, Mentele R, Lottspeich F, Kletzin A. An Extracellular Tetrathionate Hydrolase from the Thermoacidophilic Archaeon Acidianus Ambivalens with an Activity Optimum at pH 1. Front Microbiol 2011; 2:68. [PMID: 21747790 PMCID: PMC3128947 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2011.00068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2011] [Accepted: 03/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The thermoacidophilic and chemolithotrophic archaeon Acidianus ambivalens is routinely grown with sulfur and CO(2)-enriched air. We had described a membrane-bound, tetrathionate (TT) forming thiosulfate:quinone oxidoreductase. Here we describe the first TT hydrolase (TTH) from Archaea. RESULTS A. ambivalens cells grown aerobically with TT as sole sulfur source showed doubling times of 9 h and final cell densities of up to 8 × 10(8)/ml. TTH activity (≈0.28 U/mg protein) was found in cell-free extracts of TT-grown but not of sulfur-grown cells. Differential fractionation of freshly harvested cells involving a pH shock showed that about 92% of the TTH activity was located in the pseudo-periplasmic fraction associated with the surface layer, while 7.3% and 0.3% were present in the soluble and membrane fractions, respectively. The enzyme was enriched 54-fold from the cytoplasmic fraction and 2.1-fold from the pseudo-periplasmic fraction. The molecular mass of the single subunit was 54 kDa. The optimal activity was at or above 95°C at pH 1. Neither PQQ nor divalent cations had a significant effect on activity. The gene (tth1) was identified following N-terminal sequencing of the protein. Northern hybridization showed that tth1 was transcribed in TT-grown cells in contrast to a second paralogous tth2 gene. The deduced amino acid sequences showed similarity to the TTH from Acidithiobacillus and other proteins from the PQQ dehydrogenase superfamily. It displayed a β-propeller structure when being modeled, however, important residues from the PQQ-binding site were absent. CONCLUSION The soluble, extracellular, and acidophilic TTH identified in TT-grown A. ambivalens cells is essential for TT metabolism during growth but not for the downstream processing of the TQO reaction products in S°-grown cells. The liberation of TTH by pH shock from otherwise intact cells strongly supports the pseudo-periplasm hypothesis of the S-layer of Archaea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Protze
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Technische Universität DarmstadtDarmstadt, Germany
| | - Fabian Müller
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Technische Universität DarmstadtDarmstadt, Germany
| | - Karin Lauber
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Technische Universität DarmstadtDarmstadt, Germany
| | - Bastian Naß
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Technische Universität DarmstadtDarmstadt, Germany
| | | | | | - Arnulf Kletzin
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Technische Universität DarmstadtDarmstadt, Germany
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Mangold S, Valdés J, Holmes DS, Dopson M. Sulfur metabolism in the extreme acidophile acidithiobacillus caldus. Front Microbiol 2011; 2:17. [PMID: 21687411 PMCID: PMC3109338 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2011.00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2010] [Accepted: 01/25/2011] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the challenges to life at low pH, an analysis of inorganic sulfur compound (ISC) oxidation was initiated in the chemolithoautotrophic extremophile Acidithiobacillus caldus. A. caldus is able to metabolize elemental sulfur and a broad range of ISCs. It has been implicated in the production of environmentally damaging acidic solutions as well as participating in industrial bioleaching operations where it forms part of microbial consortia used for the recovery of metal ions. Based upon the recently published A. caldus type strain genome sequence, a bioinformatic reconstruction of elemental sulfur and ISC metabolism predicted genes included: sulfide-quinone reductase (sqr), tetrathionate hydrolase (tth), two sox gene clusters potentially involved in thiosulfate oxidation (soxABXYZ), sulfur oxygenase reductase (sor), and various electron transport components. RNA transcript profiles by semi quantitative reverse transcription PCR suggested up-regulation of sox genes in the presence of tetrathionate. Extensive gel based proteomic comparisons of total soluble and membrane enriched protein fractions during growth on elemental sulfur and tetrathionate identified differential protein levels from the two Sox clusters as well as several chaperone and stress proteins up-regulated in the presence of elemental sulfur. Proteomics results also suggested the involvement of heterodisulfide reductase (HdrABC) in A. caldus ISC metabolism. A putative new function of Hdr in acidophiles is discussed. Additional proteomic analysis evaluated protein expression differences between cells grown attached to solid, elemental sulfur versus planktonic cells. This study has provided insights into sulfur metabolism of this acidophilic chemolithotroph and gene expression during attachment to solid elemental sulfur.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jorge Valdés
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia para VidaSantiago, Chile
| | - David S. Holmes
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia para VidaSantiago, Chile
- Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Andrés Bello UniversitySantiago, Chile
| | - Mark Dopson
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia para VidaSantiago, Chile
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37
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Kanao T, Matsumoto C, Shiraga K, Yoshida K, Takada J, Kamimura K. Recombinant tetrathionate hydrolase from Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans requires exposure to acidic conditions for proper folding. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2010; 309:43-7. [PMID: 20546308 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2010.02019.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Tetrathionate hydrolase (4THase) plays an important role in dissimilatory sulfur metabolism in the acidophilic chemolithoautotrophic iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. We have already identified the gene encoding 4THase (Af-tth) in this bacterium. The heterologous expression of Af-tth in Escherichia coli resulted in the formation of inclusion bodies of the protein in an inactive form. The recombinant protein (Af-Tth) was successfully activated after an in vitro refolding treatment. The specific activity of the refolded Af-Tth obtained was 21.0+/-9.4 U mg(-1) when the protein solubilized from inclusion bodies by 6 M guanidine hydrochloride solution was refolded in a buffer containing 10 mM beta-alanine, 2 mM dithiothreitol, 0.4 M ammonium sulfate, and 30% v/v glycerol with the pH adjusted to 4.0 by sulfuric acid for 14 h at 4 degrees C. The in vitro refolding experiments revealed that Af-Tth required exposure to an acidic environment during protein folding for activation. This property reflects a physiological characteristic of the Af-Tth localized in the outer membrane of the acidophilic A. ferrooxidans. No cofactor such as pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) was required during the refolding process in spite of the similarity in the primary structure of Af-Tth to the PQQ family of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadayoshi Kanao
- Department of Instrumental Analysis, Advanced Science Research Center, Okayama University, Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan.
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Shouldice SR, Cho SH, Boyd D, Heras B, Eser M, Beckwith J, Riggs P, Martin JL, Berkmen M. In vivooxidative protein folding can be facilitated by oxidationâreduction cycling. Mol Microbiol 2010; 75:13-28. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2009.06952.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Draft genome sequence of the extremely acidophilic bacterium Acidithiobacillus caldus ATCC 51756 reveals metabolic versatility in the genus Acidithiobacillus. J Bacteriol 2009; 191:5877-8. [PMID: 19617360 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00843-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus caldus is an extremely acidophilic, moderately thermophilic, chemolithoautotrophic gammaproteobacterium that derives energy from the oxidation of sulfur and reduced inorganic sulfur compounds. Here we present the draft genome sequence of Acidithiobacillus caldus ATCC 51756 (the type strain of the species), which has permitted the prediction of genes for survival in extremely acidic environments, including genes for sulfur oxidation and nutrient assimilation.
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Sauvé V, Roversi P, Leath KJ, Garman EF, Antrobus R, Lea SM, Berks BC. Mechanism for the hydrolysis of a sulfur-sulfur bond based on the crystal structure of the thiosulfohydrolase SoxB. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:21707-18. [PMID: 19535341 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.002709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
SoxB is an essential component of the bacterial Sox sulfur oxidation pathway. SoxB contains a di-manganese(II) site and is proposed to catalyze the release of sulfate from a protein-bound cysteine S-thiosulfonate. A direct assay for SoxB activity is described. The structure of recombinant Thermus thermophilus SoxB was determined by x-ray crystallography to a resolution of 1.5 A. Structures were also determined for SoxB in complex with the substrate analogue thiosulfate and in complex with the product sulfate. A mechanistic model for SoxB is proposed based on these structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Véronique Sauvé
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
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Ghosh W, Dam B. Biochemistry and molecular biology of lithotrophic sulfur oxidation by taxonomically and ecologically diverse bacteria and archaea. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2009; 33:999-1043. [PMID: 19645821 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2009.00187.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 288] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Lithotrophic sulfur oxidation is an ancient metabolic process. Ecologically and taxonomically diverged prokaryotes have differential abilities to utilize different reduced sulfur compounds as lithotrophic substrates. Different phototrophic or chemotrophic species use different enzymes, pathways and mechanisms of electron transport and energy conservation for the oxidation of any given substrate. While the mechanisms of sulfur oxidation in obligately chemolithotrophic bacteria, predominantly belonging to Beta- (e.g. Thiobacillus) and Gammaproteobacteria (e.g. Thiomicrospira), are not well established, the Sox system is the central pathway in the facultative bacteria from Alphaproteobacteria (e.g. Paracoccus). Interestingly, photolithotrophs such as Rhodovulum belonging to Alphaproteobacteria also use the Sox system, whereas those from Chromatiaceae and Chlorobi use a truncated Sox complex alongside reverse-acting sulfate-reducing systems. Certain chemotrophic magnetotactic Alphaproteobacteria allegedly utilize such a combined mechanism. Sulfur-chemolithotrophic metabolism in Archaea, largely restricted to Sulfolobales, is distinct from those in Bacteria. Phylogenetic and biomolecular fossil data suggest that the ubiquity of sox genes could be due to horizontal transfer, and coupled sulfate reduction/sulfide oxidation pathways, originating in planktonic ancestors of Chromatiaceae or Chlorobi, could be ancestral to all sulfur-lithotrophic processes. However, the possibility that chemolithotrophy, originating in deep sea, is the actual ancestral form of sulfur oxidation cannot be ruled out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wriddhiman Ghosh
- Department of Microbiology, University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India.
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He Z, Gao F, Zhong H, Hu Y. Effects of L-cysteine on Ni-Cu sulfide and marmatite bioleaching by Acidithiobacillus caldus. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2009; 100:1383-1387. [PMID: 18829304 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2008.08.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2008] [Revised: 08/13/2008] [Accepted: 08/14/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The effect of L-cysteine in different concentrations on the bioleaching of Ni-Cu sulfide and marmatite were studied with a moderately thermophilic, sulfur-oxidizing bacterium, strain of Acidithiobacillus caldus. X-ray diffraction (XRD) observations showed the change of bioleached solid residues and the effect of L-cysteine on the surface charges of minerals. It was found that adding certain amounts of L-cysteine to the leaching system of Ni-Cu sulfide largely enhanced the leaching rate, while L-cysteine inhibited the bioleaching of marmatite by A. caldus. The mechanism of L-cysteine interaction with mineral surfaces was studied by means of zeta potential determination and IR spectra.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiguo He
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Key Laboratory for Biometallurgy of Chinese Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Identification of components of electron transport chains in the extremely thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon Metallosphaera sedula through iron and sulfur compound oxidation transcriptomes. Appl Environ Microbiol 2008; 74:7723-32. [PMID: 18931292 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01545-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The crenarchaeal order Sulfolobales collectively contain at least five major terminal oxidase complexes. Based on genome sequence information, all five complexes are found only in Metallosphaera sedula and Sulfolobus tokodaii, the two sequenced Sulfolobales capable of iron oxidization. While specific respiratory complexes in certain Sulfolobales have been characterized previously as proton pumps for maintaining intracellular pH and generating proton motive force, their contribution to sulfur and iron biooxidation has not been considered. For M. sedula growing in the presence of ferrous iron and reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (RISCs), global transcriptional analysis was used to track the response of specific genes associated with these complexes, as well as other known and putative respiratory electron transport chain elements. Open reading frames from all five terminal oxidase or bc(1)-like complexes were stimulated on one or more conditions tested. Components of the fox (Msed0467 to Msed0489) and soxNL-cbsABA (Msed0500 to Msed0505) terminal/quinol oxidase clusters were triggered by ferrous iron, while the soxABCDD' terminal oxidase cluster (Msed0285 to Msed0291) were induced by tetrathionate and S(0). Chemolithotrophic electron transport elements, including a putative tetrathionate hydrolase (Msed0804), a novel polysulfide/sulfur/dimethyl sulfoxide reductase-like complex (Msed0812 to Msed0818), and a novel heterodisulfide reductase-like complex (Msed1542 to Msed1550), were also stimulated by RISCs. Furthermore, several hypothetical proteins were found to have strong responses to ferrous iron or RISCs, suggesting additional candidates in iron or sulfur oxidation-related pathways. From this analysis, a comprehensive model for electron transport in M. sedula could be proposed as the basis for examining specific details of iron and sulfur oxidation in this bioleaching archaeon.
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Construction of arsB and tetH mutants of the sulfur-oxidizing bacterium Acidithiobacillus caldus by marker exchange. Appl Environ Microbiol 2008; 74:5686-94. [PMID: 18658286 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01235-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus caldus is a moderately thermophilic, acidophilic bacterium that has been reported to be the dominant sulfur oxidizer in stirred-tank processes used to treat gold-bearing arsenopyrite ores. It is also widely distributed in heap reactors used for the extraction of metals from ores. Not only are these bacteria commercially important, they have an interesting physiology, the study of which has been restricted by the nonavailability of defined mutants. A recently reported conjugation system based on the broad-host-range IncW plasmids pSa and R388 was used to transfer mobilizable narrow-host-range suicide plasmid vectors containing inactivated and partially deleted chromosomal genes from Escherichia coli to A. caldus. Through the dual use of a selectable kanamycin resistance gene and a hybridization probe made from a deleted portion of the target chromosomal gene, single- and double-recombinant mutants of A. caldus were isolated. The functionality of the gene inactivation system was shown by the construction of A. caldus arsB and tetH mutants, and the effects of these mutations on cell growth in the presence of arsenic and by means of tetrathionate oxidation were demonstrated.
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Barrie Johnson D, Hallberg KB. Carbon, Iron and Sulfur Metabolism in Acidophilic Micro-Organisms. Adv Microb Physiol 2008; 54:201-55. [DOI: 10.1016/s0065-2911(08)00003-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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The genome sequence of the metal-mobilizing, extremely thermoacidophilic archaeon Metallosphaera sedula provides insights into bioleaching-associated metabolism. Appl Environ Microbiol 2007; 74:682-92. [PMID: 18083856 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02019-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite their taxonomic description, not all members of the order Sulfolobales are capable of oxidizing reduced sulfur species, which, in addition to iron oxidation, is a desirable trait of biomining microorganisms. However, the complete genome sequence of the extremely thermoacidophilic archaeon Metallosphaera sedula DSM 5348 (2.2 Mb, approximately 2,300 open reading frames [ORFs]) provides insights into biologically catalyzed metal sulfide oxidation. Comparative genomics was used to identify pathways and proteins involved (directly or indirectly) with bioleaching. As expected, the M. sedula genome contains genes related to autotrophic carbon fixation, metal tolerance, and adhesion. Also, terminal oxidase cluster organization indicates the presence of hybrid quinol-cytochrome oxidase complexes. Comparisons with the mesophilic biomining bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 indicate that the M. sedula genome encodes at least one putative rusticyanin, involved in iron oxidation, and a putative tetrathionate hydrolase, implicated in sulfur oxidation. The fox gene cluster, involved in iron oxidation in the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus metallicus, was also identified. These iron- and sulfur-oxidizing components are missing from genomes of nonleaching members of the Sulfolobales, such as Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius DSM 639. Whole-genome transcriptional response analysis showed that 88 ORFs were up-regulated twofold or more in M. sedula upon addition of ferrous sulfate to yeast extract-based medium; these included genes for components of terminal oxidase clusters predicted to be involved with iron oxidation, as well as genes predicted to be involved with sulfur metabolism. Many hypothetical proteins were also differentially transcribed, indicating that aspects of the iron and sulfur metabolism of M. sedula remain to be identified and characterized.
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