1
|
Povolotsky TL, Levy Barazany H, Shacham Y, Kolodkin-Gal I. Bacterial epigenetics and its implication for agriculture, probiotics development, and biotechnology design. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 75:108414. [PMID: 39019123 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
In their natural habitats, organisms encounter numerous external stimuli and must be able to sense and adapt to those stimuli to survive. Unlike mutations, epigenetic changes do not alter the underlying DNA sequence. Instead, they create modifications that promote or silence gene expression. Bacillus subtilis has long been a model organism in studying genetics and development. It is beneficial for numerous biotechnological applications where it is included as a probiotic, in fermentation, or in bio-concrete design. This bacterium has also emerged recently as a model organism for studying bacterial epigenetic adaptation. In this review, we examine the evolving knowledge of epigenetic regulation (restriction-modification systems (RM), orphan methyltransferases, and chromosome condensation) in B. subtilis and related bacteria, and utilize it as a case study to test their potential roles and future applications in genetic engineering and microbial biotechnology. Finally, we suggest how the implementation of these fundamental findings promotes the design of synthetic epigenetic memory circuits and their future applications in agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana L Povolotsky
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstraße 23A, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hilit Levy Barazany
- Scojen Institute for Synthetic Biology, Reichman University, Hauniversita 8, Herzeliya, Israel
| | - Yosi Shacham
- Scojen Institute for Synthetic Biology, Reichman University, Hauniversita 8, Herzeliya, Israel
| | - Ilana Kolodkin-Gal
- Scojen Institute for Synthetic Biology, Reichman University, Hauniversita 8, Herzeliya, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhou L, Zhang R, Jiang B, Meng Q, Chen J, Liu X. Efficient Production of an Alginate Lyase in Bacillus subtilis with Combined Strategy: Vector and Host Selection, Promoter and Signal Peptide Screening, and Modification of a Translation Initiation Region. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 39180506 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c03532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Alginate lyases (ALys) whose degrading products, alginate oligosaccharides, exhibit various outstanding biochemical activities have aroused increasing interest of researchers in the marine bioresource field. However, their predominant sourcing from marine bacteria, with limited yields and unclear genetic backgrounds, presents a challenge for industrial production. In this study, ALys (Aly01) from Vibrio natriegens SK 42.001 was expressed in Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis), a nonpathogenic microorganism recognized as generally safe (GRAS). This accomplishment was realized through a comprehensive strategy involving vector and host selection, promoter and signal peptide screening, and engineering of the ribosome binding site (RBS) and the N-terminal coding sequence (NCS). The optimal combination was identified as the pP43NMK and B. subtilis WB600. Among the 19 reported strong promoters, PnprE exhibited the best performance, showing intracellular enzyme activities of 4.47 U/mL. Despite expectations, dual promoter construction did not yield a significant increase. Further, SPydhT demonstrated the highest extracellular activity (1.33 U/mL), which was further improved by RBS/NCS engineering, reaching 4.58 U/mL. Finally, after fed-batch fermentation, the extracellular activity reached 18.01 U/mL, which was the highest of ALys with a high molecular weight expressed in B. subtilis. These findings are expected to offer valuable insights into the heterologous expression of ALys in B. subtilis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Licheng Zhou
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- International Joint Laboratory on Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Ran Zhang
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- International Joint Laboratory on Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Bo Jiang
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- International Joint Laboratory on Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Qing Meng
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- International Joint Laboratory on Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Jingjing Chen
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- International Joint Laboratory on Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Xiaoyong Liu
- Shandong Haizhibao Ocean Technology Co., Ltd., Weihai 264333, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mao C, Zheng H, Chen Y, Yuan P, Sun D. Development of a Type I-E CRISPR-Based Programmable Repression System for Fine-Tuning Metabolic Flux toward D-Pantothenic Acid in Bacillus subtilis. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:2480-2491. [PMID: 39083228 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
The CRISPR-based regulation tools enable fine-tuning of gene transcription, showing potential in areas of biomanufacturing and live therapeutics. However, the cell toxicity and PAM specificity of existing CRISPR-based regulation systems limit their broad application. The development of new and less-toxic CRISPR-controlled expression systems remains highly desirable for expanding the application scope of CRISPR-based tools. Here, we reconstituted the type I CRISPR-Cas system from Escherichia coli to finely tune gene expression in Bacillus subtilis. Through engineering the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of mRNAs of cas genes, we remarkably improved the efficacy of the type I CRISPRi system. The improved type I CRISPRi system was applied in engineering the D-pantothenic acid (DPA)-producing B. subtilis, which was generated by strengthening the metabolic flux toward β-alanine and (R)-pantoate via enhancing expression of key enzymes at both transcriptional and translational levels. Through controlling the expression of pdhA with the CRISPRi system for fine-tuning the metabolic flux toward DPA and the TCA cycle, we elevated the DPA titer to 0.88 g/L in shake flasks and 12.81 g/L in fed-batch fermentations without the addition of the precursor β-alanine. The type I CRISPRi system and the strategy for fine-tuning metabolic flux reported here not only enrich the CRISPR toolbox in B. subtilis and facilitate DPA production through microbial fermentation but also provide a paradigm for programming important organisms to produce value-added chemicals with cheap raw materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chengyao Mao
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Han Zheng
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Yifeng Chen
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Panhong Yuan
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Dongchang Sun
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bourgeois JS, Hu LT. Hitchhiker's Guide to Borrelia burgdorferi. J Bacteriol 2024:e0011624. [PMID: 39140751 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00116-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Don't Panic. In the nearly 50 years since the discovery of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi has emerged as an unlikely workhorse of microbiology. Interest in studying host-pathogen interactions fueled significant progress in making the fastidious microbe approachable in laboratory settings, including the development of culture methods, animal models, and genetic tools. By developing these systems, insight has been gained into how the microbe is able to survive its enzootic cycle and cause human disease. Here, we discuss the discovery of B. burgdorferi and its development as a model organism before diving into the critical lessons we have learned about B. burgdorferi biology at pivotal stages of its lifecycle: gene expression changes during the tick blood meal, colonization of a new vertebrate host, and developing a long-lasting infection in that vertebrate until a new tick feeds. Our goal is to highlight the advancements that have facilitated B. burgdorferi research and identify gaps in our current understanding of the microbe.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey S Bourgeois
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University Lyme Disease Initiative, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Linden T Hu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University Lyme Disease Initiative, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Put H, Gerstmans H, Vande Capelle H, Fauvart M, Michiels J, Masschelein J. Bacillus subtilis as a host for natural product discovery and engineering of biosynthetic gene clusters. Nat Prod Rep 2024; 41:1113-1151. [PMID: 38465694 DOI: 10.1039/d3np00065f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Covering: up to October 2023Many bioactive natural products are synthesized by microorganisms that are either difficult or impossible to cultivate under laboratory conditions, or that produce only small amounts of the desired compound. By transferring biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) into alternative host organisms that are more easily cultured and engineered, larger quantities can be obtained and new analogues with potentially improved biological activity or other desirable properties can be generated. Moreover, expression of cryptic BGCs in a suitable host can facilitate the identification and characterization of novel natural products. Heterologous expression therefore represents a valuable tool for natural product discovery and engineering as it allows the study and manipulation of their biosynthetic pathways in a controlled setting, enabling innovative applications. Bacillus is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria that is widely used in industrial biotechnology as a host for the production of proteins from diverse origins, including enzymes and vaccines. However, despite numerous successful examples, Bacillus species remain underexploited as heterologous hosts for the expression of natural product BGCs. Here, we review important advantages that Bacillus species offer as expression hosts, such as high secretion capacity, natural competence for DNA uptake, and the increasing availability of a wide range of genetic tools for gene expression and strain engineering. We evaluate different strain optimization strategies and other critical factors that have improved the success and efficiency of heterologous natural product biosynthesis in B. subtilis. Finally, future perspectives for using B. subtilis as a heterologous host are discussed, identifying research gaps and promising areas that require further exploration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Put
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Hans Gerstmans
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Discovery & Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Biosensors Group, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hanne Vande Capelle
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Discovery & Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Fauvart
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
- imec, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Michiels
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Joleen Masschelein
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Discovery & Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chen B, Yang Y, Wang Z, Dai X, Cao Y, Zhang M, Zhang D, Ni X, Zeng Y, Pan K. Surface Display of Duck Hepatitis A Virus Type 1 VP1 Protein on Bacillus subtilis Spores Elicits Specific Systemic and Mucosal Immune Responses on Mice. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2024:10.1007/s12602-024-10323-2. [PMID: 39002060 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-024-10323-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Duck viral hepatitis, primarily caused by duck hepatitis A virus type 1 (DHAV-1), poses a significant threat to the global duck industry. Bacillus subtilis is commonly utilized as a safe probiotic in the development of mucosal vaccines. In this study, a recombinant strain of B. subtilis, designated as B. subtilis RV, was constructed to display the DHAV-1 capsid protein VP1 on its spore surface using the outer coat protein B as an anchoring agent. The immunogenicity of this recombinant strain was evaluated in a mouse model through mixed feeding immunization. The results indicated that B. subtilis RV could elicit specific systemic and mucosal immune responses in mice, as evidenced by the high levels of serum IgG, intestinal secretory IgA, and potent virus-neutralizing antibodies produced. Furthermore, the recombinant strain significantly upregulated the expression levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in the intestinal mucosa. Thus, the recombinant strain maintained the balance of the Th1/Th2 immune response and demonstrated an excellent mucosal immune adjuvant function. In summary, this study suggests that B. subtilis RV can be a novel alternative for effectively controlling DHAV-1 infection as a vaccine-based feed additive.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bin Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Yang Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Zhenhua Wang
- College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Chengdu Agricultural College, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Xixi Dai
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, China
- Chongqing Three Gorges Vocational College, Chongqing, 404155, China
| | - Yuheng Cao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Mengwei Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Xueqin Ni
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Yan Zeng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, China.
| | - Kangcheng Pan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Huimin Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611130, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dong W, Fu X, Zhou D, Teng J, Yang J, Zhen J, Zhao X, Liu Y, Zheng H, Bai W. Extracellular Overexpression of a Neutral Pullulanase in Bacillus subtilis through Multiple Copy Genome Integration and Atypical Secretion Pathway Enhancement. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:661. [PMID: 39061743 PMCID: PMC11273987 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11070661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neutral pullulanases, having a good application prospect in trehalose production, showed a limited expression level. In order to address this issue, two approaches were utilized to enhance the yield of a new neutral pullulanase variant (PulA3E) in B. subtilis. One involved using multiple copies of genome integration to increase its expression level and fermentation stability. The other focused on enhancing the PulA-type atypical secretion pathway to further improve the secretory expression of PulA3E. Several strains with different numbers of genome integrations, ranging from one to four copies, were constructed. The four-copy genome integration strain PD showed the highest extracellular pullulanase activity. Additionally, the integration sites ytxE, ytrF, and trpP were selected based on their ability to enhance the PulA-type atypical secretion pathway. Furthermore, overexpressing the predicated regulatory genes comEA and yvbW of the PulA-type atypical secretion pathway in PD further improved its extracellular expression. Three-liter fermenter scale-up production of PD and PD-ARY yielded extracellular pullulanase activity of 1767.1 U/mL at 54 h and 2465.1 U/mL at 78 h, respectively. Finally, supplementing PulA3E with 40 U/g maltodextrin in the multi-enzyme catalyzed system resulted in the highest trehalose production of 166 g/L and the substrate conversion rate of 83%, indicating its potential for industrial application.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenkang Dong
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China (Y.L.)
| | - Xiaoping Fu
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Dasen Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China (Y.L.)
| | - Jia Teng
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Jie Zhen
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Xingya Zhao
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Yihan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, The College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China (Y.L.)
| | - Hongchen Zheng
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Wenqin Bai
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zhang M, Zhen J, Teng J, Zhao X, Fu X, Song H, Zhang Y, Zheng H, Bai W. N-Terminal Sequences of Signal Peptides Assuming Critical Roles in Expression of Heterologous Proteins in Bacillus subtilis. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1275. [PMID: 39065044 PMCID: PMC11278945 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12071275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The N-terminal sequences of proteins and their corresponding encoding sequences may play crucial roles in the heterologous expression. In this study, the secretory expression of alkaline pectin lyase APL in B. subtilis was investigated to explore the effects of the N-terminal 5-7 amino acid sequences of different signal peptides on the protein expression and secretion. It was identified for the first time that the first five amino acid sequences of the N-terminal of the signal peptide (SP-LipA) from Bacillus subtilis lipase A play an important role in promoting the expression of APL. Furthermore, it was revealed that SP-LipA resulted in higher secretory expression compared to other signal peptides in this study primarily due to its encoding of N-terminal amino acids with relatively higher transcription levels and its efficient secretion capacity. Based on this foundation, the recombinant strain constructed in this work achieved a new record for the highest extracellular yields of APL in B. subtilis, reaching 12,295 U/mL, which was 1.9-times higher than that expressed in the recombinant Escherichia coli strain previously reported. The novel theories uncovered in this study are expected to play significant roles in enhancing the expression of foreign proteins both inside and outside of cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meijuan Zhang
- College of Life Science and Agriculture Forestry, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, China;
| | - Jie Zhen
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China; (J.Z.)
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Jia Teng
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China; (J.Z.)
- College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300392, China;
| | - Xingya Zhao
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China; (J.Z.)
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Xiaoping Fu
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China; (J.Z.)
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Hui Song
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China; (J.Z.)
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Yeni Zhang
- College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300392, China;
| | - Hongchen Zheng
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China; (J.Z.)
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Wenqin Bai
- Industrial Enzymes National Engineering Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China; (J.Z.)
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Akinsemolu AA, Onyeaka H, Odion S, Adebanjo I. Exploring Bacillus subtilis: Ecology, biotechnological applications, and future prospects. J Basic Microbiol 2024; 64:e2300614. [PMID: 38507723 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202300614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
From its early identification by Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg to its current prominence in scientific research, Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) has emerged as a foundational model organism in microbiology. This comprehensive review delves deep into its genetic, physiological, and biochemical intricacies, revealing a sophisticated cellular blueprint. With the incorporation of advanced techniques such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 and integrative computational methodologies, the potential applications of B. subtilis span diverse sectors. These encompass its significant contributions to biotechnology, agriculture, and medical fields and its potential for aiding environmental cleanup efforts. Yet, as we move forward, we must grapple with concerns related to safety, ethics, and the practical implementation of our lab findings in everyday scenarios. As our understanding of B. subtilis deepens, it is evident that its contributions will be central to pioneering sustainable solutions for global challenges in the years to come.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adenike A Akinsemolu
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- The Green Microbiology Lab, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Helen Onyeaka
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- The Green Microbiology Lab, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Samuel Odion
- The Green Microbiology Lab, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- The Green Institute, Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria
| | - Idris Adebanjo
- The Green Microbiology Lab, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Sit B, Lamason RL. Pathogenic Rickettsia spp. as emerging models for bacterial biology. J Bacteriol 2024; 206:e0040423. [PMID: 38315013 PMCID: PMC10883807 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00404-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of free-living bacterial models like Escherichia coli far outpaces that of obligate intracellular bacteria, which cannot be cultured axenically. All obligate intracellular bacteria are host-associated, and many cause serious human diseases. Their constant exposure to the distinct biochemical niche of the host has driven the evolution of numerous specialized bacteriological and genetic adaptations, as well as innovative molecular mechanisms of infection. Here, we review the history and use of pathogenic Rickettsia species, which cause an array of vector-borne vascular illnesses, as model systems to probe microbial biology. Although many challenges remain in our studies of these organisms, the rich pathogenic and biological diversity of Rickettsia spp. constitutes a unique backdrop to investigate how microbes survive and thrive in host and vector cells. We take a bacterial-focused perspective and highlight emerging insights that relate to new host-pathogen interactions, bacterial physiology, and evolution. The transformation of Rickettsia spp. from pathogens to models demonstrates how recalcitrant microbes may be leveraged in the lab to tap unmined bacterial diversity for new discoveries. Rickettsia spp. hold great promise as model systems not only to understand other obligate intracellular pathogens but also to discover new biology across and beyond bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Sit
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rebecca L. Lamason
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Wicke D, Neumann P, Gößringer M, Chernev A, Davydov S, Poehlein A, Daniel R, Urlaub H, Hartmann R, Ficner R, Stülke J. The previously uncharacterized RnpM (YlxR) protein modulates the activity of ribonuclease P in Bacillus subtilis in vitro. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:1404-1419. [PMID: 38050972 PMCID: PMC10853771 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Even though Bacillus subtilis is one of the most studied organisms, no function has been identified for about 20% of its proteins. Among these unknown proteins are several RNA- and ribosome-binding proteins suggesting that they exert functions in cellular information processing. In this work, we have investigated the RNA-binding protein YlxR. This protein is widely conserved in bacteria and strongly constitutively expressed in B. subtilis suggesting an important function. We have identified the RNA subunit of the essential RNase P as the binding partner of YlxR. The main activity of RNase P is the processing of 5' ends of pre-tRNAs. In vitro processing assays demonstrated that the presence of YlxR results in reduced RNase P activity. Chemical cross-linking studies followed by in silico docking analysis and experiments with site-directed mutant proteins suggest that YlxR binds to the region of the RNase P RNA that is important for binding and cleavage of the pre-tRNA substrate. We conclude that the YlxR protein is a novel interaction partner of the RNA subunit of RNase P that serves to finetune RNase P activity to ensure appropriate amounts of mature tRNAs for translation. We rename the YlxR protein RnpM for RNase P modulator.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Wicke
- Department of General Microbiology, GZMB, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Piotr Neumann
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, GZMB, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Gößringer
- Institute for the Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Aleksandar Chernev
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Swetlana Davydov
- Institute for the Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Anja Poehlein
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology & Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, GZMB, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rolf Daniel
- Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology & Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, GZMB, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Henning Urlaub
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, GZMB, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells” (MBExC), Georg-August-University Göttingen, Germany
| | - Roland K Hartmann
- Institute for the Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Ficner
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, GZMB, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Stülke
- Department of General Microbiology, GZMB, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Immanuel A, Yennamalli RM, Ulaganathan V. Targeting the Bottlenecks in Levan Biosynthesis Pathway in Bacillus subtilis and Strain Optimization by Computational Modeling and Omics Integration. OMICS : A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2024; 28:49-58. [PMID: 38315781 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2023.0277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Levan is a fructan polymer with many industrial applications such as the formulation of hydrogels, drug delivery, and wound healing, among others. To this end, metabolic systems engineering is a valuable method to improve the yield of a specific metabolite in a wide range of bacterial and eukaryotic organisms. In this study, we report a systems biology approach integrating genomics data for the Bacillus subtilis model, wherein the metabolic pathway for levan biosynthesis is unpacked. We analyzed a revised genome-scale enzyme-constrained metabolic model (ecGEM) and performed simulations to increase levan biopolymer production capacity in B. subtilis. We used the model ec_iYO844_lvn to (1) identify the essential genes and bottlenecks in levan production, and (2) specifically design an engineered B. subtilis strain capable of producing higher levan yields. The FBA and FVA analysis showed the maximal growth rate of the organism up to 0.624 hr-1 at 20 mmol gDw-1 hr-1 of sucrose intake. Gene knockout analyses were performed to identify gene knockout targets to increase the levan flux in B. subtilis. Importantly, we found that the pgk and ctaD genes are the two target genes for the knockout. The perturbation of these two genes has flux gains for levan production reactions with 1.3- and 1.4-fold the relative flux span in the mutant strains, respectively, compared to the wild type. In all, this work identifies the bottlenecks in the production of levan and possible ways to overcome them. Our results provide deeper insights on the bacterium's physiology and new avenues for strain engineering.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aruldoss Immanuel
- Molecular Motors Lab, Department of Biotechnology, School of Chemical & Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Ragothaman M Yennamalli
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Chemical & Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Venkatasubramanian Ulaganathan
- Molecular Motors Lab, Department of Biotechnology, School of Chemical & Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Chemical & Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Planchais C, Molinos-Albert LM, Rosenbaum P, Hieu T, Kanyavuz A, Clermont D, Prazuck T, Lefrou L, Dimitrov JD, Hüe S, Hocqueloux L, Mouquet H. HIV-1 treatment timing shapes the human intestinal memory B-cell repertoire to commensal bacteria. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6326. [PMID: 37816704 PMCID: PMC10564866 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42027-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 infection causes severe alterations of gut mucosa, microbiota and immune system, which can be curbed by early antiretroviral therapy. Here, we investigate how treatment timing affects intestinal memory B-cell and plasmablast repertoires of HIV-1-infected humans. We show that only class-switched memory B cells markedly differ between subjects treated during the acute and chronic phases of infection. Intestinal memory B-cell monoclonal antibodies show more prevalent polyreactive and commensal bacteria-reactive clones in late- compared to early-treated individuals. Mirroring this, serum IgA polyreactivity and commensal-reactivity are strongly increased in late-treated individuals and correlate with intestinal permeability and systemic inflammatory markers. Polyreactive blood IgA memory B cells, many of which egressed from the gut, are also substantially enriched in late-treated individuals. Our data establish gut and systemic B-cell polyreactivity to commensal bacteria as hallmarks of chronic HIV-1 infection and suggest that initiating treatment early may limit intestinal B-cell abnormalities compromising HIV-1 humoral response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Planchais
- Humoral Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM U1222, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Luis M Molinos-Albert
- Humoral Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM U1222, F-75015, Paris, France
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pierre Rosenbaum
- Humoral Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM U1222, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Thierry Hieu
- Humoral Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM U1222, F-75015, Paris, France
| | - Alexia Kanyavuz
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Dominique Clermont
- Collection of the Institut Pasteur, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Thierry Prazuck
- Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, CHR d'Orléans-La Source, 45067, Orléans, France
| | - Laurent Lefrou
- Service d'Hépato-Gastro-Entérologie, CHR d'Orléans-La Source, 45067, Orléans, France
| | - Jordan D Dimitrov
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Hüe
- INSERM U955-Équipe 16, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Faculté de Médecine, 94000, Créteil, France
| | - Laurent Hocqueloux
- Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, CHR d'Orléans-La Source, 45067, Orléans, France
| | - Hugo Mouquet
- Humoral Immunology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM U1222, F-75015, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lenz P, Bakkes PJ, Müller C, Malek M, Freudl R, Oldiges M, Drepper T, Jaeger KE, Knapp A. Analysis of protein secretion in Bacillus subtilis by combining a secretion stress biosensor strain with an in vivo split GFP assay. Microb Cell Fact 2023; 22:203. [PMID: 37805580 PMCID: PMC10559633 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02199-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacillus subtilis is one of the workhorses in industrial biotechnology and well known for its secretion potential. Efficient secretion of recombinant proteins still requires extensive optimization campaigns and screening with activity-based methods. However, not every protein can be detected by activity-based screening. We therefore developed a combined online monitoring system, consisting of an in vivo split GFP assay for activity-independent target detection and an mCherry-based secretion stress biosensor. The split GFP assay is based on the fusion of a target protein to the eleventh β-sheet of sfGFP, which can complement a truncated sfGFP that lacks this β-sheet named GFP1-10. The secretion stress biosensor makes use of the CssRS two component quality control system, which upregulates expression of mCherry in the htrA locus thereby allowing a fluorescence readout of secretion stress. RESULTS The biosensor strain B. subtilis PAL5 was successfully constructed by exchanging the protease encoding gene htrA with mCherry via CRISPR/Cas9. The Fusarium solani pisi cutinase Cut fused to the GFP11 tag (Cut11) was used as a model enzyme to determine the stress response upon secretion mediated by signal peptides SPPel, SPEpr and SPBsn obtained from naturally secreted proteins of B. subtilis. An in vivo split GFP assay was developed, where purified GFP1-10 is added to the culture broth. By combining both methods, an activity-independent high-throughput method was created, that allowed optimization of Cut11 secretion. Using the split GFP-based detection assay, we demonstrated a good correlation between the amount of secreted cutinase and the enzymatic activity. Additionally, we screened a signal peptide library and identified new signal peptide variants that led to improved secretion while maintaining low stress levels. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that the combination of a split GFP-based detection assay for secreted proteins with a secretion stress biosensor strain enables both, online detection of extracellular target proteins and identification of bottlenecks during protein secretion in B. subtilis. In general, the system described here will also enable to monitor the secretion stress response provoked by using inducible promoters governing the expression of different enzymes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Lenz
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Patrick J Bakkes
- Institute of Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geoscience IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Carolin Müller
- Institute of Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geoscience IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Marzena Malek
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Roland Freudl
- Institute of Bio- and Geoscience IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Marco Oldiges
- Institute of Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geoscience IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Thomas Drepper
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Karl-Erich Jaeger
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Andreas Knapp
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
- Castrol Germany GmbH, 41179, Mönchengladbach, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|