The hoxZ gene of the Azotobacter vinelandii hydrogenase operon is required for activation of hydrogenase

Two-Stage Continuous Conversion of Carbon Monoxide to Ethylene by Whole Cells of Azotobacter vinelandii

Azotobacter vinelandii is an obligate aerobic diazotroph with a verified transient ability to reduce carbon monoxide to ethylene by its vanadium nitrogenase. In this study, we implemented an industrially relevant continuous two-stage stirred-tank system for in vivo biotransformation of a controlled supply of air enriched with 5% carbon monoxide to 302 μg ethylene g^-1 glucose consumed. To attain this value, the process required overcoming critical oxygen limitations during cell proliferation while simultaneously avoiding the A. vinelandii respiratory protection mechanism that negatively impacts in vivo nitrogenase activity. Additionally, process conditions allowed the demonstration of carbon monoxide's solubility as a reaction-limiting factor and a competitor with dinitrogen for the vanadium nitrogenase active site, implying that excess intracellular carbon monoxide could lead to a cessation of cell proliferation and ethylene formation as shown genetically using a new strain of A. vinelandii deficient in carbon monoxide dehydrogenase.IMPORTANCE Ethylene is an essential commodity feedstock used for the generation of a variety of consumer products, but its generation demands energy-intensive processes and is dependent on nonrenewable substrates. This work describes a continuous biological method for investigating the nitrogenase-mediated carbon monoxide reductive coupling involved in ethylene production using whole cells of Azotobacter vinelandii If eventually adopted by industry, this technology has the potential to significantly reduce the total energy input required and the ethylene recovery costs, as well as decreasing greenhouse gas emissions associated with current production strategies.

Azotobacter vinelandii Nitrogenase Activity, Hydrogen Production, and Response to Oxygen Exposure

Azotobacter vinelandii selectively utilizes three types of nitrogenase (molybdenum, vanadium, and iron only) to fix N₂, with their expression regulated by the presence or absence of different metal cofactors in its environment. Each alternative nitrogenase isoenzyme is predicted to have different electron flux requirements based on in vitro measurements, with the molybdenum nitrogenase requiring the lowest flux and the iron-only nitrogenase requiring the highest. Here, prior characterized strains, derepressed in nitrogenase synthesis and also deficient in uptake hydrogenase, were further modified to generate new mutants lacking the ability to produce poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB). PHB is a storage polymer generated under oxygen-limiting conditions and can represent up to 70% of the cells' dry weight. The absence of such granules facilitated the study of relationships between catalytic biomass and product molar yields across different adaptive respiration conditions. The released hydrogen gas observed during growth, due to the inability of the mutants to recapture hydrogen, allowed for direct monitoring of in vivo nitrogenase activity for each isoenzyme. The data presented here show that increasing oxygen exposure limits equally the in vivo activities of all nitrogenase isoenzymes, while under comparative conditions, the Mo nitrogenase enzyme evolves more hydrogen per unit of biomass than the alternative isoenzymes.IMPORTANCEA. vinelandii has been a focus of intense research for over 100 years. It has been investigated for a variety of functions, including agricultural fertilization and hydrogen production. All of these endeavors are centered around A. vinelandii's ability to fix nitrogen aerobically using three nitrogenase isoenzymes. The majority of research up to this point has targeted in vitro measurements of the molybdenum nitrogenase, and robust data contrasting how oxygen impacts the in vivo activity of each nitrogenase isoenzyme are lacking. This article aims to provide in vivo nitrogenase activity data using a real-time evaluation of hydrogen gas released by derepressed nitrogenase mutants lacking an uptake hydrogenase and PHB accumulation.

Azotobacter vinelandii: the source of 100 years of discoveries and many more to come

Azotobacter vinelandii has been studied for over 100 years since its discovery as an aerobic nitrogen-fixing organism. This species has proved useful for the study of many different biological systems, including enzyme kinetics and the genetic code. It has been especially useful in working out the structures and mechanisms of different nitrogenase enzymes, how they can function in oxic environments and the interactions of nitrogen fixation with other aspects of metabolism. Interest in studying A. vinelandii has waned in recent decades, but this bacterium still possesses great potential for new discoveries in many fields and commercial applications. The species is of interest for research because of its genetic pliability and natural competence. Its features of particular interest to industry are its ability to produce multiple valuable polymers - bioplastic and alginate in particular; its nitrogen-fixing prowess, which could reduce the need for synthetic fertilizer in agriculture and industrial fermentations, via coculture; its production of potentially useful enzymes and metabolic pathways; and even its biofuel production abilities. This review summarizes the history and potential for future research using this versatile microbe.

Hydrogenases and H(+)-reduction in primary energy conservation

Hydrogenases are metalloenzymes subdivided into two classes that contain iron-sulfur clusters and catalyze the reversible oxidation of hydrogen gas (H(2)[Symbol: see text]left arrow over right arrow[Symbol: see text]2H(+)[Symbol: see text]+[Symbol: see text]2e(-)). Two metal atoms are present at their active center: either a Ni and an Fe atom in the [NiFe]hydrogenases, or two Fe atoms in the [FeFe]hydrogenases. They are phylogenetically distinct classes of proteins. The catalytic core of [NiFe]hydrogenases is a heterodimeric protein associated with additional subunits in many of these enzymes. The catalytic core of [FeFe]hydrogenases is a domain of about 350 residues that accommodates the active site (H cluster). Many [FeFe]hydrogenases are monomeric but possess additional domains that contain redox centers, mostly Fe-S clusters. A third class of hydrogenase, characterized by a specific iron-containing cofactor and by the absence of Fe-S cluster, is found in some methanogenic archaea; this Hmd hydrogenase has catalytic properties different from those of [NiFe]- and [FeFe]hydrogenases. The [NiFe]hydrogenases can be subdivided into four subgroups: (1) the H(2) uptake [NiFe]hydrogenases (group 1); (2) the cyanobacterial uptake hydrogenases and the cytoplasmic H(2) sensors (group 2); (3) the bidirectional cytoplasmic hydrogenases able to bind soluble cofactors (group 3); and (4) the membrane-associated, energy-converting, H(2) evolving hydrogenases (group 4). Unlike the [NiFe]hydrogenases, the [FeFe]hydrogenases form a homogeneous group and are primarily involved in H(2) evolution. This review recapitulates the classification of hydrogenases based on phylogenetic analysis and the correlation with hydrogenase function of the different phylogenetic groupings, discusses the possible role of the [FeFe]hydrogenases in the genesis of the eukaryotic cell, and emphasizes the structural and functional relationships of hydrogenase subunits with those of complex I of the respiratory electron transport chain.

The hydrogenases of Geobacter sulfurreducens: a comparative genomic perspective

The hydrogenase content of the genome of Geobacter sulfurreducens, a member of the family Geobacteraceae within the delta-subdivision of the Proteobacteria, was examined and found to be distinct from that of Desulfovibrio species, another family of delta-Proteobacteria on which extensive research concerning hydrogen metabolism has been conducted. Four [NiFe]-hydrogenases are encoded in the G. sulfurreducens genome: two periplasmically oriented, membrane-bound hydrogenases, Hya and Hyb, and two cytoplasmic hydrogenases, Mvh and Hox. None of these [NiFe]-hydrogenases has a counterpart in Desulfovibrio species. Furthermore, the large and small subunits of Mvh and Hox appear to be related to archaeal and cyanobacterial hydrogenases, respectively. Clusters encoding [Fe]-hydrogenases and periplasmic [NiFeSe]-hydrogenases, which are commonly found in the genomes of Desulfovibrio species, are not present in the genome of G. sulfurreducens. Hydrogen-evolving Ech hydrogenases, which are present in the genomes of at least two Desulfovibrio species, were also absent from the G. sulfurreducens genome, despite the fact that G. sulfurreducens is capable of hydrogen production. Instead, the G. sulfurreducens genome contained a cluster encoding a multimeric Ech hydrogenase related (Ehr) complex that was similar in content to operons encoding Ech hydrogenases, but did not appear to encode a hydrogenase. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the G. sulfurreducens ehr cluster is part of a family of related clusters found in both the Archaea and Bacteria.

The hydrogenase cytochrome b heme ligands of Azotobacter vinelandii are required for full H(2) oxidation capability

The hydrogenase in Azotobacter vinelandii, like other membrane-bound [NiFe] hydrogenases, consists of a catalytic heterodimer and an integral membrane cytochrome b. The histidines ligating the hemes in this cytochrome b were identified by H(2) oxidation properties of altered proteins produced by site-directed mutagenesis. Four fully conserved and four partially conserved histidines in HoxZ were substituted with alanine or tyrosine. The roles of these histidines in HoxZ heme binding and hydrogenase were characterized by O(2)-dependent H(2) oxidation and H(2)-dependent methylene blue reduction in vivo. Mutants H33A/Y (H33 replaced by A or Y), H74A/Y, H194A, H208A/Y, and H194,208A lost O(2)-dependent H(2) oxidation activity, H194Y and H136A had partial activity, and H97Y,H98A and H191A had full activity. These results suggest that the fully conserved histidines 33, 74, 194, and 208 are ligands to the hemes, tyrosine can serve as an alternate ligand in position 194, and H136 plays a role in H(2) oxidation. In mutant H194A/Y, imidazole (Imd) rescued H(2) oxidation activity in intact cells, which suggests that Imd acts as an exogenous ligand. The heterodimer activity, quantitatively determined as H(2)-dependent methylene blue reduction, indicated that the heterodimers of all mutants were catalytically active. H33A/Y had wild-type levels of methylene blue reduction, but the other HoxZ ligand mutants had significantly less than wild-type levels. Imd reconstituted full methylene blue reduction activity in mutants H194A/Y and H208A/Y and partial activity in H194,208A. These results indicate that structural and functional integrity of HoxZ is required for physiologically relevant H(2) oxidation, and structural integrity of HoxZ is necessary for full heterodimer-catalyzed H(2) oxidation.

Functional and structural role of the cytochrome b subunit of the membrane-bound hydrogenase complex of Alcaligenes eutrophus H16

This study shows that the product of the hoxZ gene of Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 is a b-type cytochrome (cytochrome b(z)), which is essential for anchoring the membrane-bound hydrogenase (MBH) complex to the periplasmic side of the membrane and for H2-coupled respiration. The hoxZ product is not required for MBH translocation and H2-dependent reduction of the redox dye, 2,3,5-triphenyl-2-tetrazolium chloride. The lack of cytochrome b(z) does not affect the electron-transport activities linked to oxidation of succinate and NADH, although it enhances the electron-flow rate through the cytochrome-c oxidase pathway in hoxZdelta membranes. We show that the hoxZ product is a dihaem cytochrome b (haems with E(m7.0) of +10 mV and +166 mV) involved in H2-dependent electron transfer. We conclude that cytochrome b(z) of the A. eutrophus MBH complex is the link necessary for transfer of electrons from H2 to the ubiquinone pool and that it is required for attachment of MBH to the membrane.

The hupC gene product is a component of the electron transport system for hydrogen oxidation in Pseudomonas hydrogenovora

The hydrogenase gene cluster containing nine genes (hupSLCDFGHIJ) was identified by sequencing of an 8.8-kb DNA region from Pseudomonas hydrogenovora. To investigate the function of the hupC gene product, we isolated a hupC-null mutant (HID3) of P. hydrogenovora by introducing an in-frame deletion into the hupC. The mutant, HID3, could not grow autotrophically but retained half the level of hydrogenase activity of the wild-type strain. Results of the oxygen consumption test and Western blot analysis revealed that the hupC gene product is a b-type cytochrome but not involved in the hydrogenase maturation process.

The Alcaligenes eutrophus membrane-bound hydrogenase gene locus encodes functions involved in maturation and electron transport coupling

Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 produces two [NiFe] hydrogenases which catalyze the oxidation of hydrogen and enable the organism to utilize H2 as the sole energy source. The genes (hoxK and hoxG) for the heterodimeric, membrane-bound hydrogenase (MBH) are located adjacent to a series of eight accessory genes (hoxZ, hoxM, hoxL, hoxO, hoxQ, hoxR, hoxT, and hoxV). In the present study, we generated a set of isogenic mutants with in-frame deletions in the two structural genes and in each of the eight accessory genes. The resulting mutants can be grouped into two classes on the basis of the H2-oxidizing activity of the MBH. Class I mutants (hoxKdelta, hoxGdelta, hoxMdelta, hoxOdelta, and hoxQdelta) were totally devoid of MBH-mediated, H2-oxidizing activity. The hoxM deletion strain was the only mutant in our collection which was completely blocked in carboxy-terminal processing of large subunit HoxG, indicating that hoxM encodes a specific protease. Class II mutants (hoxZdelta, hoxLdelta, hoxRdelta, hoxTdelta, and hoxVdelta) contained residual amounts of MBH activity in the membrane fraction of the extracts. Immunochemical analysis and 63Ni incorporation experiments revealed that the mutations affect various steps in MBH maturation. A lesion in hoxZ led to the production of a soluble MBH which was highly active with redox dye.

Hydrogenase does not confer significant benefits to Azotobacter vinelandii growing diazotrophically under conditions of glucose limitation

The presumed beneficial effect of hydrogenase on growth of diazotrophic bacteria was reinvestigated with carbon-limited chemostat cultures of the hydrogenase-deficient mutant hoxKG of Azotobacter vinelandii and its parent. The results revealed that hydrogen recycling was too low to benefit the cellular energy metabolism or activities of nitrogenase and respiration.

Analysis of a gene region required for dihydrogen oxidation in Azotobacter vinelandii

The putative products of six Azotobacter vinelandii chromosomal open reading frames (ORFs) were suggested to be involved in dihydrogen (H2) metabolism [Chen and Mortenson (1992) Biochim Biophys Acta 1131, 199-202]. A promoterless lacZ-containing cassette was used to disrupt the ORFs. Qualitative analysis revealed that the lacZ genes were expressed only in those mutants where the directions of the inserted lacZ were identical to those of the ORFs, showing that the six ORFs were transcribed as predicted. Unlike wildtype (w.t.), none of the mutants could perform dioxygen (O2)-dependent H2-oxidation, even though Western immunoanalyses showed that the hydrogenase large subunit was present although in amounts less than in w.t. Only one of the mutants (a hypB mutant), grown in nickel-enriched media, showed meaningful restoration of the H2-oxidizing ability. From the above observations it is concluded that (a) the six-ORF region is transcriptionally active and involved in H2-oxidation, (b) the product of hypB is needed for nickel activation of hydrogenase, and (c) the six ORFs (genes) belong to two or more operons. Possible roles of the gene products for the assembly, modification, and processing of hydrogenase from its apoproteins and metal centers are discussed.

Sequences, organization and analysis of the hupZMNOQRTV genes from the Azotobacter chroococcum hydrogenase gene cluster

Hydrogen-uptake (Hup) activity in Azotobacter chroococcum depends upon a cluster of genes spread over 13,687 bp of the chromosome. Six accessory genes of the cluster, hupABYCDE, begin 4.8 kb downstream of the structural genes, hupSL, and are required for the formation of a functional [NiFe] hydrogenase. The sequencing of the intervening 4.8 kb of hup-specific DNA has now been completed. This revealed eight additional closely linked ORFs, which we designated hupZ, hupM, hupN, hupO, hupQ, hupR, hupT and hupV. These genes potentially encode polypeptides with predicted masses of 27.7, 22.3, 11.4, 16.2, 31.3, 8.1, 16.2 and 36.7 kDa, respectively. All eight genes are transcribed from the same strand as hupSL and hupABYCDE. A chroococcum, therefore, has a total of 16 contiguous genes affecting hydrogenase activity beginning with hupS and ending with hupE. The amino acid sequence deduced from hupZ has the characteristics of a b-type cytochrome. Insertion mutagenesis of hupZ resulted in a mutant incapable of supporting O2-dependent H2 oxidation. The deduced amino acid sequence of hupR shares high homology with bacterial rubredoxins. HupZ and HupR may both be involved in transferring electrons from hydrogenase to the electron transport chain. A mutation in hupV knocked out hydrogenase activity entirely; this gene may be involved in processing the large subunit of hydrogenase. It is now clear that the genes controlling [NiFe] hydrogenase activity in many bacteria including Azotobacter chroococcum, Alcaligenes eutrophus, Rhizobium leguminosarum, Rhodobacter capsulatus and Escherichia coli are highly conserved, organized in much the same manner, and likely derived from a common ancestor.

Sequence and characterization of three genes within the hydrogenase gene cluster of Bradyrhizobium japonicum

A 2.0-kb DNA fragment downstream from the hydrogenase-encoding structural genes within the hydrogenase gene cluster of Bradyrhizobium japonicum was sequenced. Analysis of the nucleotide (nt) sequence revealed three open reading frames (ORFs), designated hupC, hupD and hupF, which encode polypeptides of 28, 21 and 10.7 kDa, respectively. Based on analysis of the nt sequence and physiological studies, hupSL (hydrogenase structural genes) and hupCDF are organized as a single transcriptional unit. Plasmid pRY12 carrying hupSL genes did not complement (restore) hydrogenase activity of the hupSL deletion mutant strain (JHCS2), whereas the activity of the mutant was considerably restored by pLD22 harboring the entire hydrogenase operon (hupSLCDF genes). Western blots revealed a very low level of hydrogenase protein in JHCS2 containing pRY12. The results suggest that the products of the hupCDF genes may be involved in either stabilizing the hydrogenase peptides (i.e., from degradation) or in post-translational regulation of hydrogenase production. The products of hupC and hupD were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli by a phage T7 promoter system, although the apparent sizes of the gene products were slightly larger than those calculated from the deduced amino-acid sequences.

Hydrogen-ubiquinone oxidoreductase activity by the Bradyrhizobium japonicum membrane-bound hydrogenase

The Bradyrhizobium japonicum heterodimeric nickel-iron hydrogenase efficiently catalyzed H2-ubiquinone-1 oxidoreductase activity at rates up to 47% of the maximal rates obtained using the artificial electron acceptor methylene blue. Gel filtration chromatography and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis experiments demonstrated that the purified enzyme was a heterodimer containing only the 65 kDa and 33 kDa subunits. Reduced minus oxidized absorption difference spectra demonstrated the absence of detectable cytochromes. The H2-ubiquinone-1 oxidoreductase activity of both the purified heterodimeric hydrogenase and membranes was significantly inhibited by 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide and antimycin A, inhibitors known to act in the quinone region of electron transport chains. Our results are the first report of H2-ubiquinone oxidoreductase activity by a purified hydrogenase.

In Azotobacter vinelandii hydrogenase, substitution of serine for the cysteine residues at positions 62, 65, 294, and 297 in the small (HoxK) subunit affects H2 oxidation [corrected]

The essential role of the small (HoxK) subunit of hydrogenase of Azotobacter vinelandii in H2 oxidation was established. This was achieved by modification of the two Cys-X2-Cys amino acid motifs at the N and C termini of the HoxK subunit (Cys-62, -65, -294, and -297). The Cys codons were individually mutated to Ser codons. Modifications in these two motifs resulted in loss of hydrogenase activity. At the N terminus, the mutations of the codons for the motif Cys-62-Thr-Cys-64-Cys-65 decreased the activity of hydrogenase to levels no higher than 30% of those of the parental strain. H2 oxidation with the alternate electron acceptors methylene blue and benzyl viologen was decreased. H2 evolution and exchange activities were also affected. Cys-64 possibly substitutes for either Cys-62 or Cys-65, allowing for partial activity. Mutation of the codons for Cys-294 and Cys-297 to Ser codons resulted in no hydrogenase activity. The results are consistent with alterations of the ligands of FeS clusters in the HoxK subunit of hydrogenase [corrected].

Isolation, characterization and N-terminal amino acid sequence of hydrogenase from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Hydrogenase from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was purified to homogeneity by five column-chromatography steps under strict anaerobic conditions. The cells were disrupted by mild treatment with detergent. The enzyme was purified 6100-fold, resulting in a specific activity for H2 evolution of 935 mumol.min-1.mg protein-1 at 25 degrees C, using reduced methyl viologen as electron donor. The optimal temperature for hydrogen evolution is 60 degrees C, the optimal pH value is 6.9. The Km value for methyl viologen is 0.83 mM, for ferredoxin, 35 microM. From SDS/PAGE gels, the protein was judged to be pure. On non-denaturing gels, run under nitrogen, a single band was detected after activity staining. This band corresponded to the single band observed on denaturing SDS gels, which had an apparent molecular mass of 48 kDa. If the band was cut out of the native gel and incubated with reduced methyl viologen, hydrogen evolution could be measured. The purified enzyme contains 4 Fe atoms/mol. The amino acid composition and the N-terminal amino acid sequence (24 residues) of the protein were determined. No significant amino acid sequence homologies could be found to any sequences from prokaryotic hydrogenases.

Molecular analysis of a microaerobically induced operon required for hydrogenase synthesis in Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae

The nucleotide sequence (6138 bp) of a microaerobically inducible region (hupV/VI) from the Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae hydrogenase gene cluster has been determined. Six genes, arranged as a single operon, were identified, and designated hypA, B, F, C, D and E based on the sequence similarities of all of them, except hypF, to genes from the hydrogenase pleiotropic operon (hyp) from Escherichia coli. The gene products from hypBFCDE were identified by in vivo expression analysis in E. coli, and their molecular sizes were consistent with those predicted from the nucleotide sequence. Transposon Tn5 insertions into hypB, hypF, hypD and hypE resulted in R. leguminosarum mutants that lacked any hydrogenase activity in symbiosis with peas, but still were able to synthesize the polypeptide for the hydrogenase large subunit. The gene products HypA, HypB, HypF and HypD contained CX2C motifs characteristic of metal-binding proteins. In addition, HypB bore a long histidine-rich stretch of amino acids near the N-terminus, suggesting a possible role in nickel binding for this protein. The gene product HypF, which was translationally coupled to HypB, presented two cysteine motifs (CX2CX18CX2C) with a capacity to form zinc finger-like structures in the N-terminal third of the protein. A role in nickel metabolism in relation to hydrogenase synthesis is postulated for proteins HypB and HypF.

Organization of the genes necessary for hydrogenase expression in Rhodobacter capsulatus. Sequence analysis and identification of two hyp regulatory mutants

A 25 kbp DNA fragment from the chromosome of Rhodobacter capsulatus B10 carrying hydrogenase (hup) determinants was completely sequenced. Coding regions corresponding to 20 open reading frames were identified. The R. capsulatus hydrogenase-specific gene (hup and hyp) products bear significant structural identity to hydrogenase gene products from Escherichia coli (13), from Rhizobium leguminosarum (16), from Azotobacter vinelandii (10) and from Alcaligenes eutrophus (11). The sequential arrangement of the R. capsulatus genes is: hupR2-hupU-hypF-hupS-hupL-hupM-hu pD-hupF-hupG-hupH-hupJ-hupK-hypA- hypB-hupR1- hypC-hypD-hypE-ORF19-ORF20, all contiguous and transcribed from the same DNA strand. The last two potential genes do not encode products that are related to identified hydrogenase-specific gene products in other species. The sequence of the 12 R. capsulatus genes underlined above is presented. The mutation site in two of the Hup- mutants used in this study, RS13 and RCC12, was identified in the hypF gene (deletion of one G) and in the hypD gene (deletion of 54 bp), respectively. The hypF gene product shares 45% identity with the product of hydA from E. coli and the product of hypF from R. leguminosarum. Those products present at their N-terminus a Cys arrangement typical of zinc-finger proteins. The G deletion in the C-terminal region of hypF in the RS13 mutant prevented the expression of a hupS::lacZ translational fusion from being stimulated by H2 as it is observed in the wild-type strain B10. It is inferred that the HypF protein is a factor involved in H2 stimulation of hydrogenase expression.

A genetic region downstream of the hydrogenase structural genes of Bradyrhizobium japonicum that is required for hydrogenase processing

Deletion of a 2.9-kb chromosomal EcoRI fragment of DNA located 2.2 kb downstream from the end of the hydrogenase structural genes resulted in the complete loss of hydrogenase activity. The normal 65- and 35-kDa hydrogenase subunits were absent in the deletion mutants. Instead, two peptides of 66.5 and 41 kDa were identified in the mutants by use of anti-hydrogenase subunit-specific antibody. A hydrogenase structural gene mutant did not synthesize either the normal hydrogenase subunits or the larger peptides. Hydrogenase activity in the deletion mutants was complemented to near wild-type levels by plasmid pCF1, containing a 6.5-kb BglII fragment, and the 65- and 35-kDa hydrogenase subunits were also recovered in the mutants containing pCF1.