Complementation of a Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase regulatory mutant from a genomic library

Analysis of diversity among 3-chlorobenzoate-degrading strains of Rhodopseudomonas palustris

The phenotypic and genetic characteristics of 14 strains of the purple nonsulfur bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris were studied to assess diversity within this species. While all strains had certain phenotypic characteristics in common, including the ability to metabolize benzoate and degrade 2- and 3-chlorobenzoate, there were also significant differences among the strains such as the rate of growth in media containing benzoate as a carbon source. Genetic characterization of the strains revealed there were three divergent lineages in the species. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, the 14 strains could be grouped into three distinct clusters (A, B, and C), and this clustering was congruent with that based on gene sequences of form II ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO). Although BOX-PCR genomic DNA fingerprints of all 14 strains exhibited differences, analysis of the fingerprint images and UPGMA/product-moment analysis of similarities showed there were three groupings that were entirely consistent with clusters based on other characteristics of the strains. Thus, regardless of the method of analysis used, strains in groups A and B consistently clustered together and were separate from those of group C. These results suggest that strains in groups A-B and C represent phylogenetically related clones that have diverged from one another. This indicates that at least three lineages of Rhodopseudomonas palustris exist among the strains included in this study, and that each may be particularly well adapted to a distinct ecological niche.

Research on Carbon Dioxide Fixation in Photosynthetic Microorganisms (1971-present)

This paper presents my personal account of research on CO(2) fixation from when I began these studies as a postdoctoral student in the early 1970s. It traces interests in microbial ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and considers early breakthroughs on the isolation, characterization, and significance of this enzyme from nonsulfur purple photosynthetic bacteria and other phototrophic organisms. This article also develops a historical perspective as to how recent efforts may lead to an understanding of molecular mechanisms by which the synthesis of this enzyme and other proteins of the pathway are regulated at the molecular level. In addition, how these studies impinge on the interactive control of CO(2) fixation, along with nitrogen fixation and hydrogen metabolism, is also considered. Finally, CO(2)-fixation studies in green sulfur photosynthetic bacteria and the discovery of the rather surprising Rubisco-like protein are described.

A global signal transduction system regulates aerobic and anaerobic CO2 fixation in Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Complementation of a mutant of Rhodobacter sphaeroides defective in photosynthetic CO2 reduction led to the identification of a gene which encodes a protein that is related to a class of sensor kinases involved in bacterial signal transduction. The nucleotide sequence and deduced amino acid sequence led to the finding that the gene which complemented the mutant is the regB (prrB) gene, previously isolated from both R. sphaeroides and Rhodobacter capsulatus and shown to regulate the anaerobic expression of structural genes required for the synthesis of the reaction center and light-harvesting systems of these organisms. The current investigation indicates that in addition to its role in the regulation of photosystem biosynthesis, regB (prrB) of R. sphaeroides is intimately involved in the positive regulation of the cbbI and cbbII Calvin cycle CO2 fixation operons. In addition to regulating the expression of structural genes encoding enzymes of the primary pathway for CO2 fixation in R. sphaeroides, regB was also found to be required for the expression of a gene(s) important for the putative alternative CO2 fixation pathway(s) of this organism. A mutation in regB also blocked expression of structural genes of the cbb regulon in a strain of R. sphaeroides capable of aerobic CO2-dependent growth in the dark. It is thus apparent that regB is part of a two-component system and encodes a sensor kinase involved in the global regulation of both anoxygenic light-dependent- and oxygenic light-independent CO2 fixation as well as anoxygenic photosystem biosynthesis.

The Rubisco activase (rca) gene is located downstream from rbcS in Anabaena sp. strain CA and is detected in other Anabaena/Nostoc strains

A gene encoding ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activase (rca) was found downstream from the rbcLrbcS operon in the heterocystous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain CA. Two unknown open reading frames were shown to be located between rbcS and rca in strain CA and all the genes, rbcLrbcS, ORF1, ORF2, and rca were in the same transcriptional orientation. The deduced amino acid sequence of the Anabaena Rubisco activase showed both similarities and differences to the plant enzyme with considerable differences at the carboxy and amino termini. Proposed ATP-binding sites were conserved in the cyanobacterial protein. Recombinant cyanobacterial Rubisco activase, however, reacted with antisera to spinach Rubisco activase. Hybridization studies, using the Anabaena sp. strain CA rca gene as a heterologous probe, detected homologous sequences in heterocystous Anabaena/Nostoc strains but not in unicellular or nonheterocystous filamentous cyanobacteria, suggestive of a close evolutionary relationship of chloroplasts and heterocystous cyanobacteria.

Isolation and characterization of the nifUSVW-rpoN gene cluster from Rhodobacter sphaeroides

The rpoN gene from Rhodobacter sphaeroides was isolated from a genomic library via complementation of a Rhodobacter capsulatus rpoN mutant. The rpoN gene was located on a 7.5-kb HindIII-EcoRI fragment. A Tn5 insertion analysis of this DNA fragment showed that a minimal DNA fragment of 5.3 kb was required for complementation. Nucleotide sequencing of the complementing region revealed the presence of nifUSVW genes upstream from rpoN. The rpoN gene was mutagenized via insertion of a gene encoding kanamycin resistance. The resulting rpoN mutant was not impaired in diazotrophic growth and was in all respects indistinguishable from the wild-type strain. Southern hybridizations using the cloned rpoN gene as a probe indicated the presence of a second rpoN gene. Deletion of the nifUS genes resulted in strongly reduced diazotrophic growth. Two conserved regions were identified in a NifV LeuA amino acid sequence alignment. Similar regions were found in pyruvate carboxylase and oxaloacetate decarboxylase. It is proposed that these conserved regions represent keto acid-binding sites.

Molecular and cellular regulation of autotrophic carbon dioxide fixation in microorganisms

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Molecular genetics of photosynthetic membrane biosynthesis in Rhodobacter sphaeroides

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Transposon mutagenesis and physiological analysis of strains containing inactivated form I and form II ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase genes in Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Strains of Rhodobacter sphaeroides (Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides) were constructed such that either the gene encoding form I ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPC-O) or the gene encoding form II RuBPC-O was inactivated. Both strains were capable of photoheterotrophic growth with malate as the electron donor, with only slight differences in growth rate and overall carboxylase specific activity compared with the wild-type strain. Photolithotrophic growth with 1.5% CO2 in hydrogen was also possible for R. sphaeroides strains containing only one of the two RuBPC-O enzyme forms, although the differences in growth rates between wild-type and carboxylase mutant strains were greater under these conditions. These results indicate that the two forms of RuBPC-O are independently regulated. In addition, the regulatory system governing RuBPC-O synthesis may, in some cases, compensate for the lack of the missing enzyme.

Organization of phosphoribulokinase and ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase genes in Rhodopseudomonas (Rhodobacter) sphaeroides

A heterologous phosphoribulokinase (PRK) gene probe was used to analyze two recombinant plasmids isolated from a Rhodopseudomonas (Rhodobacter) sphaeroides gene library. These plasmids were previously shown to carry the genes for form I and form II ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPC/O). Southern blot hybridization analysis indicated that there were two PRK genes linked to the RuBPC/O coding sequences. Restriction mapping showed the arrangement of the duplicate sets of PRK and RuBPC/O to be distinct. Subcloning of the hybridizing PRK sequences downstream of the lac promoter of pUC8 allowed expression of the two PRK enzymes in Escherichia coli. Analysis of the purified proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate-slab gel electrophoresis revealed polypeptides with molecular weights of 32,000 and 34,000 corresponding to the form I and form II PRKs, respectively. Preliminary experiments on sensitivity to NADH regulation suggested that the two PRK enzymes differ in catalytic properties.

The molecular genetics of C1 utilizing microorganisms. An overview

The availability of recombinant DNA techniques has enabled the successful genetic analysis and manipulation of a range of C1 utilizing microorganisms. It has resulted in the identification of genes of interest on both plasmids and the chromosome; enabled the linkage of chromosomal genes to be determined; established the function and regulatory patterns of genes essential for utilization of C1 compounds and provided information on the evolution of methanogenic bacteria.

Isolation of the Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides form I ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large and small subunit genes and expression of the active hexadecameric enzyme in Escherichia coli

A library of cloned Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides DNA was screened by colony hybridization for form I ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPC/O) sequences using heterologous RuBPC/O probes. A recombinant plasmid was identified that hybridized to both the Anacystis nidulans and the R. sphaeroides form II RuBPC/O genes. Subcloning of a hybridizing 4-kb SmaI fragment allowed expression of active enzyme in Escherichia coli that was identical to form I RuBPC/O based on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western immunoblot analysis.