Cloning of genes coding for the three subunits of thiocyanate hydrolase of Thiobacillus thioparus THI 115 and their evolutionary relationships to nitrile hydratase

Treatment of thiocyanate-containing wastewater: a critical review of thiocyanate destruction in industrial effluents

Thiocyanate is a common pollutant in gold mine, textile, printing, dyeing, coking and other industries. Therefore, thiocyanate in industrial wastewater is an urgent problem to be solved. This paper reviews the chemical properties, applications, sources and toxicity of thiocyanate, as well as the various treatment methods for thiocyanate in wastewater and their advantages and disadvantages. It is emphasized that biological systems, ranging from laboratory to full-scale, are able to successfully remove thiocyanate from factories. Thiocyanate-degrading microorganisms degrade thiocyanate in autotrophic manner for energy, while other biodegrading microorganisms use thiocyanate as a carbon or nitrogen source, and the biochemical pathways and enzymes involved in thiocyanate metabolism by different bacteria are discussed in detail. In the future, degradation mechanisms should be investigated at the molecular level, with further research aiming to improve the biochemical understanding of thiocyanate metabolism and scaling up thiocyanate degradation technologies from the laboratory to a full-scale.

Remediation of atmospheric sulfur and ammonia by wetland plants: development of a study method

In the context of S and N pollutant remediation, this study aimed to develop a methodology to test the ability of wetland plants to reduce atmospheric pollution by S and N. A methodology using ³⁴S and ¹⁵N-labeled Sinapsis alba compost and five species (trap plants) used to fix volatile compounds was developed. 18.66% of ³⁴S and 40.63% of ¹⁵N produced by Sinapsis alba compost, equivalent to 67 mg of S and 1611 mg of N, were recovered in trap plants, a negligible proportion of the labeling was found in the culture substrate. ³⁴S and ¹⁵N atom% excess were two to ten times higher in leaves than in roots. Agrostis stolonifera, Symphytum officinale, and Lythrum salicaria were more efficient to use atmospheric inorganic sources of S and N than Mentha aquatica and Carex riparia. A low concentration of sulfate in the leaf laminas, a high specific leaf area, and a low leaf dry mass content could represent trait patterns that explain higher abilities to fix pollutants. This study confirms that plants can be used to remediate inorganic atmospheric pollution and highlights the importance of plant screening for this environmental function.Novelty statementThe removal efficiency of botanical biofiltration is well-documented for Volatile Organic pollutants, but little is known concerning Volatile Inorganic pollutants, such as SO₂ and NH₃ which can also constitute plant nutrients.We developed a methodology based on the use of ³⁴S and ¹⁵N-labeled mustard compost to study the ability of wetland plant species to fix volatile N and S pollutants. This methodology was effective as 19% of ³⁴S and 41% of ¹⁵N lost by mustard compost were recovered in trap plants. Among the species used as "trap plants" Agrostis stolonifera, Symphytum officinale, and Lythrum salicaria appeared more efficient to use atmospheric inorganic sources of S and N than Mentha aquatica and Carex riparia.

Two pathways for thiosulfate oxidation in the alphaproteobacterial chemolithotroph Paracoccus thiocyanatus SST

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 (S₂O₃^2-) to sulfate (SO₄^2-) 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(S₄O₆^2-)-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.

Comparative Genomics of Thiohalobacter thiocyanaticus HRh1T and Guyparkeria sp. SCN-R1, Halophilic Chemolithoautotrophic Sulfur-Oxidizing Gammaproteobacteria Capable of Using Thiocyanate as Energy Source

The genomes of Thiohalobacter thiocyanaticus and Guyparkeria (formerly known as Halothiobacillus) sp. SCN-R1, two gammaproteobacterial halophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) capable of thiocyanate oxidation via the "cyanate pathway", have been analyzed with a particular focus on their thiocyanate-oxidizing potential and sulfur oxidation pathways. Both genomes encode homologs of the enzyme thiocyanate dehydrogenase (TcDH) that oxidizes thiocyanate via the "cyanate pathway" in members of the haloalkaliphilic SOB of the genus Thioalkalivibrio. However, despite the presence of conservative motives indicative of TcDH, the putative TcDH of the halophilic SOB have a low overall amino acid similarity to the Thioalkalivibrio enzyme, and also the surrounding genes in the TcDH locus were different. In particular, an alternative copper transport system Cus is present instead of Cop and a putative zero-valent sulfur acceptor protein gene appears just before TcDH. Moreover, in contrast to the thiocyanate-oxidizing Thioalkalivibrio species, both genomes of the halophilic SOB contained a gene encoding the enzyme cyanate hydratase. The sulfur-oxidizing pathway in the genome of Thiohalobacter includes a Fcc type of sulfide dehydrogenase, a rDsr complex/AprAB/Sat for oxidation of zero-valent sulfur to sulfate, and an incomplete Sox pathway, lacking SoxCD. The sulfur oxidation pathway reconstructed from the genome of Guyparkeria sp. SCN-R1 was more similar to that of members of the Thiomicrospira-Hydrogenovibrio group, including a Fcc type of sulfide dehydrogenase and a complete Sox complex. One of the outstanding properties of Thiohalobacter is the presence of a Na+-dependent ATP synthase, which is rarely found in aerobic Prokaryotes.Overall, the results showed that, despite an obvious difference in the general sulfur-oxidation pathways, halophilic and haloalkaliphilic SOB belonging to different genera within the Gammaproteobacteria developed a similar unique thiocyanate-degrading mechanism based on the direct oxidative attack on the sulfane atom of thiocyanate.

Diversity and Distribution of Sulfur Oxidation-Related Genes in Thioalkalivibrio, a Genus of Chemolithoautotrophic and Haloalkaliphilic Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacteria

Soda lakes are saline alkaline lakes characterized by high concentrations of sodium carbonate/bicarbonate which lead to a stable elevated pH (>9), and moderate to extremely high salinity. Despite this combination of extreme conditions, biodiversity in soda lakes is high, and the presence of diverse microbial communities provides a driving force for highly active biogeochemical cycles. The sulfur cycle is one of the most important of these and bacterial sulfur oxidation is dominated by members of the obligately chemolithoautotrophic genus Thioalkalivibrio. Currently, 10 species have been described in this genus, but over one hundred isolates have been obtained from soda lake samples. The genomes of 75 strains were sequenced and annotated previously, and used in this study to provide a comprehensive picture of the diversity and distribution of genes related to dissimilatory sulfur metabolism in Thioalkalivibrio. Initially, all annotated genes in 75 Thioalkalivibrio genomes were placed in ortholog groups and filtered by bi-directional best BLAST analysis. Investigation of the ortholog groups containing genes related to sulfur oxidation showed that flavocytochrome c (fcc), the truncated sox system, and sulfite:quinone oxidoreductase (soe) are present in all strains, whereas dissimilatory sulfite reductase (dsr; which catalyzes the oxidation of elemental sulfur) was found in only six strains. The heterodisulfide reductase system (hdr), which is proposed to oxidize sulfur to sulfite in strains lacking both dsr and soxCD, was detected in 73 genomes. Hierarchical clustering of strains based on sulfur gene repertoire correlated closely with previous phylogenomic analysis. The phylogenetic analysis of several sulfur oxidation genes showed a complex evolutionary history. All in all, this study presents a comprehensive investigation of sulfur metabolism-related genes in cultivated Thioalkalivibrio strains and provides several avenues for future research.

Rhizosphere Bacterial Communities Differ According to Fertilizer Regimes and Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) Harvest Time, but Not Aphid Herbivory

Rhizosphere microbial communities are known to be highly diverse and strongly dependent on various attributes of the host plant, such as species, nutritional status, and growth stage. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing has been used to characterize the rhizosphere bacterial community of many important crop species, but this is the first study to date to characterize the bacterial and archaeal community of Brassica oleracea var. capitata. The study also tested the response of the bacterial community to fertilizer type (organic or synthetic) and N dosage (high or low), in addition to plant age (9 or 12 weeks) and aphid (Myzus persicae) herbivory (present/absent). The impact of aboveground herbivory on belowground microbial communities has received little attention in the literature, and since the type (organic or mineral) and amount of fertilizer applications are known to affect M. percicae populations, these treatments were applied at agricultural rates to test for synergistic effects on the soil bacterial community. Fertilizer type and plant growth were found to result in significantly different rhizosphere bacterial communities, while there was no effect of aphid herbivory. Several operational taxonomic units were identified as varying significantly in abundance between the treatment groups and age cohorts. These included members of the S-oxidizing genus Thiobacillus, which was significantly more abundant in organically fertilized 12-week-old cabbages, and the N-fixing cyanobacteria Phormidium, which appeared to decline in synthetically fertilized soils relative to controls. These responses may be an effect of accumulating root-derived glucosinolates in the B. oleracea rhizosphere and increased N-availability, respectively.

Emerging Roles of Carbonyl Sulfide in Chemical Biology: Sulfide Transporter or Gasotransmitter?

SIGNIFICANCE

Carbonyl sulfide (COS) is the most prevalent sulfur-containing gas in the Earth's atmosphere, and it plays important roles in the global sulfur cycle. COS has been implicated in origin of life peptide ligation, is the primary energy source for certain bacteria, and has been detected in mammalian systems. Despite this long and intertwined history with terrestrial biology, limited attention has focused on potential roles of COS as a biological mediator. Recent Advances: Although bacterial COS production is well documented, definitive sources of mammalian COS production have not been confirmed. Enzymatic COS consumption in mammals, however, is well documented and occurs primarily by carbonic anhydrase (CA)-mediated conversion to hydrogen sulfide (H2S). COS has been detected in ex vivo mammalian tissue culture, as well as in exhaled breath as a potential biomarker for different disease pathologies, including cystic fibrosis and organ rejection. Recently, chemical tools for COS delivery have emerged and are poised to advance future investigations into the role of COS in different biological contexts.

CRITICAL ISSUES

Possible roles of COS as an important biomolecule, gasotransmitter, or sulfide transport intermediate remain to be determined. Key advances in both biological and chemical tools for COS research are needed to further investigate these questions.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Further evaluation of the biological roles of COS and disentangling the chemical biology of COS from that of H2S are needed to further elucidate these interactions. Chemical tools for COS delivery and modulation may provide a first avenue of investigative tools to answer many of these questions. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 28, 1516-1532.

Characteristics of microbial community functional structure of a biological coking wastewater treatment system

Nitrogenous heterocyclic compounds are key pollutants in coking wastewater; however, the functional potential of microbial communities for biodegradation of such contaminants during biological treatment is still elusive. Herein, a high throughput functional gene array (GeoChip 5.0) in combination with Illumina HiSeq2500 sequencing was used to compare and characterize the microbial community functional structure in a long run (500days) bench scale bioreactor treating coking wastewater, with a control system treating synthetic wastewater. Despite the inhibitory toxic pollutants, GeoChip 5.0 detected almost all key functional gene (average 61,940 genes) categories in the coking wastewater sludge. With higher abundance, aromatic ring cleavage dioxygenase genes including multi ring1,2diox; one ring2,3diox; catechol represented significant functional potential for degradation of aromatic pollutants which was further confirmed by Illumina HiSeq2500 analysis results. Response ratio analysis revealed that three nitrogenous compound degrading genes- nbzA (nitro-aromatics), tdnB (aniline), and scnABC (thiocyanate) were unique for coking wastewater treatment, which might be strong cause to increase ammonia level during the aerobic process. Additionally, HiSeq2500 elucidated carbozole and isoquinoline degradation genes in the system. These findings expanded our understanding on functional potential of microbial communities to remove organic nitrogenous pollutants; hence it will be useful in optimization strategies for biological treatment of coking wastewater.

Analysis of the Genes Involved in Thiocyanate Oxidation during Growth in Continuous Culture of the Haloalkaliphilic Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacterium Thioalkalivibrio thiocyanoxidans ARh 2T Using Transcriptomics

Thiocyanate is a moderately toxic and chemically stable sulfur compound that is produced by both natural and industrial processes. Despite its significance as a pollutant, knowledge of the microbial degradation of thiocyanate is very limited. Therefore, investigation of thiocyanate oxidation in haloalkaliphiles such as the genus Thioalkalivibrio may lead to improved biotechnological applications in wastewater remediation.

Thiocyanate (N=C−S⁻) is a moderately toxic, inorganic sulfur compound. It occurs naturally as a by-product of the degradation of glucosinolate-containing plants and is produced industrially in a number of mining processes. Currently, two pathways for the primary degradation of thiocyanate in bacteria are recognized, the carbonyl sulfide pathway and the cyanate pathway, of which only the former has been fully characterized. Use of the cyanate pathway has been shown in only 10 strains of Thioalkalivibrio, a genus of obligately haloalkaliphilic sulfur-oxidizing Gammaproteobacteria found in soda lakes. So far, only the key enzyme in this reaction, thiocyanate dehydrogenase (TcDH), has been purified and studied. To gain a better understanding of the other genes involved in the cyanate pathway, we conducted a transcriptomics experiment comparing gene expression during the growth of Thioalkalivibrio thiocyanoxidans ARh 2^T with thiosulfate with that during its growth with thiocyanate. Triplicate cultures were grown in continuous substrate-limited mode, followed by transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) of the total mRNA. Differential expression analysis showed that a cluster of genes surrounding the gene for TcDH were strongly upregulated during growth with thiocyanate. This cluster includes genes for putative copper uptake systems (copCD, ABC-type transporters), a putative electron acceptor (fccAB), and a two-component regulatory system (histidine kinase and a σ⁵⁴-responsive Fis family transcriptional regulator). Additionally, we observed the increased expression of RuBisCO and some carboxysome shell genes involved in inorganic carbon fixation, as well as of aprAB, genes involved in sulfite oxidation through the reverse sulfidogenesis pathway.

IMPORTANCE Thiocyanate is a moderately toxic and chemically stable sulfur compound that is produced by both natural and industrial processes. Despite its significance as a pollutant, knowledge of the microbial degradation of thiocyanate is very limited. Therefore, investigation of thiocyanate oxidation in haloalkaliphiles such as the genus Thioalkalivibrio may lead to improved biotechnological applications in wastewater remediation.

In Situ Stimulation of Thiocyanate Biodegradation through Phosphate Amendment in Gold Mine Tailings Water

Thiocyanate (SCN^-) is a contaminant requiring remediation in gold mine tailings and wastewaters globally. Seepage of SCN^--contaminated waters into aquifers can occur from unlined or structurally compromised mine tailings storage facilities. A wide variety of microorganisms are known to be capable of biodegrading SCN^-; however, little is known regarding the potential of native microbes for in situ SCN^- biodegradation, a remediation option that is less costly than engineered approaches. Here we experimentally characterize the principal biogeochemical barrier to SCN^- biodegradation for an autotrophic microbial consortium enriched from mine tailings, to arrive at an environmentally realistic assessment of in situ SCN^- biodegradation potential. Upon amendment with phosphate, the consortium completely degraded up to ∼10 mM SCN^- to ammonium and sulfate, with some evidence of nitrification of the ammonium to nitrate. Although similarly enriched in known SCN^--degrading strains of thiobacilli, this consortium differed in its source (mine tailings) and metabolism (autotrophy) from those of previous studies. Our results provide a proof of concept that phosphate limitation may be the principal barrier to in situ SCN^- biodegradation in mine tailing waters and also yield new insights into the microbial ecology of in situ SCN^- bioremediation involving autotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.

Genome-Resolved Meta-Omics Ties Microbial Dynamics to Process Performance in Biotechnology for Thiocyanate Degradation

Remediation of industrial wastewater is important for preventing environmental contamination and enabling water reuse. Biological treatment for one industrial contaminant, thiocyanate (SCN^-), relies upon microbial hydrolysis, but this process is sensitive to high loadings. To examine the activity and stability of a microbial community over increasing SCN^- loadings, we established and operated a continuous-flow bioreactor fed increasing loadings of SCN^-. A second reactor was fed ammonium sulfate to mimic breakdown products of SCN^-. Biomass was sampled from both reactors for metagenomics and metaproteomics, yielding a set of genomes for 144 bacteria and one rotifer that constituted the abundant community in both reactors. We analyzed the metabolic potential and temporal dynamics of these organisms across the increasing loadings. In the SCN^- reactor, Thiobacillus strains capable of SCN^- degradation were highly abundant, whereas the ammonium sulfate reactor contained nitrifiers and heterotrophs capable of nitrate reduction. Key organisms in the SCN^- reactor expressed proteins involved in SCN^- degradation, sulfur oxidation, carbon fixation, and nitrogen removal. Lower performance at higher loadings was linked to changes in microbial community composition. This work provides an example of how meta-omics can increase our understanding of industrial wastewater treatment and inform iterative process design and development.

Comparative Genome Analysis of Three Thiocyanate Oxidizing Thioalkalivibrio Species Isolated from Soda Lakes

Thiocyanate is a C1 compound containing carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur. It is a (by)product in a number of natural and industrial processes. Because thiocyanate is toxic to many organisms, including humans, its removal from industrial waste streams is an important problem. Although a number of bacteria can use thiocyanate as a nitrogen source, only a few can use it as an electron donor. There are two distinct pathways to use thiocyanate: (i) the “carbonyl sulfide pathway,” which has been extensively studied, and (ii) the “cyanate pathway,” whose key enzyme, thiocyanate dehydrogenase, was recently purified and studied. Three species of Thioalkalivibrio, a group of haloalkaliphilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria isolated from soda lakes, have been described as thiocyanate oxidizers: (i) Thioalkalivibrio paradoxus (“cyanate pathway”), (ii) Thioalkalivibrio thiocyanoxidans (“cyanate pathway”) and (iii) Thioalkalivibrio thiocyanodenitrificans (“carbonyl sulfide pathway”). In this study we provide a comparative genome analysis of these described thiocyanate oxidizers, with genomes ranging in size from 2.5 to 3.8 million base pairs. While focusing on thiocyanate degradation, we also analyzed the differences in sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen metabolism. We found that the thiocyanate dehydrogenase gene is present in 10 different Thioalkalivibrio strains, in two distinct genomic contexts/genotypes. The first genotype is defined by having genes for flavocytochrome c sulfide dehydrogenase upstream from the thiocyanate dehydrogenase operon (present in two strains including the type strain of Tv. paradoxus), whereas in the second genotype these genes are located downstream, together with two additional genes of unknown function (present in eight strains, including the type strains of Tv. thiocyanoxidans). Additionally, we found differences in the presence/absence of genes for various sulfur oxidation pathways, such as sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase, dissimilatory sulfite reductase, and sulfite dehydrogenase. One strain (Tv. thiocyanodenitrificans) lacks genes encoding a carbon concentrating mechanism and none of the investigated genomes were shown to contain known bicarbonate transporters. This study gives insight into the genomic variation of thiocyanate oxidizing bacteria and may lead to improvements in the application of these organisms in the bioremediation of industrial waste streams.

Genome-resolved metagenomics of a bioremediation system for degradation of thiocyanate in mine water containing suspended solid tailings

Thiocyanate (SCN⁻) is a toxic compound that forms when cyanide (CN⁻), used to recover gold, reacts with sulfur species. SCN⁻‐degrading microbial communities have been studied, using bioreactors fed synthetic wastewater. The inclusion of suspended solids in the form of mineral tailings, during the development of the acclimatized microbial consortium, led to the selection of an active planktonic microbial community. Preliminary analysis of the community composition revealed reduced microbial diversity relative to the laboratory‐based reactors operated without suspended solids. Despite minor upsets during the acclimation period, the SCN⁻ degradation performance was largely unchanged under stable operating conditions. Here, we characterized the microbial community in the SCN⁻ degrading bioreactor that included solid particulate tailings and determined how it differed from the biofilm‐based communities in solids‐free reactor systems inoculated from the same source. Genome‐based analysis revealed that the presence of solids decreased microbial diversity, selected for different strains, suppressed growth of thiobacilli inferred to be primarily responsible for SCN⁻ degradation, and promoted growth of Trupera, an organism not detected in the reactors without solids. In the solids reactor community, heterotrophy and aerobic respiration represent the dominant metabolisms. Many organisms have genes for denitrification and sulfur oxidation, but only one Thiobacillus sp. in the solids reactor has SCN⁻ degradation genes. The presence of the solids prevented floc and biofilm formation, leading to the observed reduced microbial diversity. Collectively the presence of the solids and lack of biofilm community may result in a process with reduced resilience to process perturbations, including fluctuations in the influent composition and pH. The results from this investigation have provided novel insights into the community composition of this industrially relevant community, giving potential for improved process control and operation through ongoing process monitoring.

Degradation and emission of carbonyl sulfide, an atmospheric trace gas, by fungi isolated from forest soil

Soil is thought to be important both as a source and a sink of carbonyl sulfide (COS) in the troposphere, but the mechanism affecting COS uptake, especially for fungi, remains uncertain. Fungal isolates that were collected randomly from forest soil showed COS-degrading ability at high frequencies: 38 out of 43 isolates grown on potato dextrose agar showed degradation of 30 ppmv COS within 24 h. Of these isolates, eight degraded 30 ppmv of COS to below the detection limit within 2 h. These isolates also showed an ability to degrade COS included in ambient air (around 500 pptv) and highly concentrated (12 500 ppmv) level, even though the latter is higher than the lethal level for mammals. COS-degrading activity was estimated by using ergosterol as a biomass index for fungi. Trichoderma sp. THIF08 had the highest COS-degrading activity of all the isolates. Interestingly, Umbelopsis/Mortierella spp. THIF09 and THIF13 were unable to degrade 30 ppmv COS within 24 h, and actually emitted COS during the cultivation in ambient air. These results indicate a fungal contribution to the flux of COS between the terrestrial and atmospheric environments.

Cloning and expression of a gene encoding a novel thermostable thiocyanate-degrading enzyme from a mesophilic alphaproteobacteria strain THI201

Strain THI201, a member of the alphaproteobacteria, is a novel thiocyanate (SCN(-))-degrading bacterium isolated from lake water enriched with potassium thiocyanate (KSCN). This bacterium carries the enzyme thiocyanate hydrolase (SCNase) that hydrolyses thiocyanate to carbonyl sulfide and ammonia. Characterization of both native and recombinant SCNase revealed properties different from known SCNases regarding subunit structure and thermostability: SCNase of strain THI201 was composed of a single protein and thermostable. We cloned and sequenced the corresponding gene and determined a protein of 457 amino acids of molecular mass 50 267 Da. Presence of a twin-arginine (Tat) signal sequence of 32 amino acids was found upstream of SCNase. The deduced amino acid sequence of SCNase showed 83% identity to that of a putative uncharacterized protein of Thiobacillus denitrificans ATCC 25259, but no significant identity to those of three subunits of SCNase from Thiobacillus thioparus strain THI115. The specific activities of native and recombinant enzyme were 0.32 and 4-15 µmol min(-1) (mg protein)(-1), respectively. The maximum activity of SCNase was found in the temperature range 30-70 °C. The thiocyanate-hydrolysing activity in both enzymes was decreased by freeze-thawing, although 25-100% of the activity of recombinant protein could be retrieved by treating the enzyme at 60 °C for 15 min. Furthermore, both native and recombinant enzymes retained the activity after pre-treatment of the protein solution at temperatures up to 70 °C.

The microbial sulfur cycle at extremely haloalkaline conditions of soda lakes

Soda lakes represent a unique ecosystem with extremely high pH (up to 11) and salinity (up to saturation) due to the presence of high concentrations of sodium carbonate in brines. Despite these double extreme conditions, most of the lakes are highly productive and contain a fully functional microbial system. The microbial sulfur cycle is among the most active in soda lakes. One of the explanations for that is high-energy efficiency of dissimilatory conversions of inorganic sulfur compounds, both oxidative and reductive, sufficient to cope with costly life at double extreme conditions. The oxidative part of the sulfur cycle is driven by chemolithoautotrophic haloalkaliphilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB), which are unique for soda lakes. The haloalkaliphilic SOB are present in the surface sediment layer of various soda lakes at high numbers of up to 10(6) viable cells/cm(3). The culturable forms are so far represented by four novel genera within the Gammaproteobacteria, including the genera Thioalkalivibrio, Thioalkalimicrobium, Thioalkalispira, and Thioalkalibacter. The latter two were only found occasionally and each includes a single species, while the former two are widely distributed in various soda lakes over the world. The genus Thioalkalivibrio is the most physiologically diverse and covers the whole spectrum of salt/pH conditions present in soda lakes. Most importantly, the dominant subgroup of this genus is able to grow in saturated soda brines containing 4 M total Na(+) - a so far unique property for any known aerobic chemolithoautotroph. Furthermore, some species can use thiocyanate as a sole energy source and three out of nine species can grow anaerobically with nitrogen oxides as electron acceptor. The reductive part of the sulfur cycle is active in the anoxic layers of the sediments of soda lakes. The in situ measurements of sulfate reduction rates and laboratory experiments with sediment slurries using sulfate, thiosulfate, or elemental sulfur as electron acceptors demonstrated relatively high sulfate reduction rates only hampered by salt-saturated conditions. However, the highest rates of sulfidogenesis were observed not with sulfate, but with elemental sulfur followed by thiosulfate. Formate, but not hydrogen, was the most efficient electron donor with all three sulfur electron acceptors, while acetate was only utilized as an electron donor under sulfur-reducing conditions. The native sulfidogenic populations of soda lakes showed a typical obligately alkaliphilic pH response, which corresponded well to the in situ pH conditions. Microbiological analysis indicated a domination of three groups of haloalkaliphilic autotrophic sulfate-reducing bacteria belonging to the order Desulfovibrionales (genera Desulfonatronovibrio, Desulfonatronum, and Desulfonatronospira) with a clear tendency to grow by thiosulfate disproportionation in the absence of external electron donor even at salt-saturating conditions. Few novel representatives of the order Desulfobacterales capable of heterotrophic growth with volatile fatty acids and alcohols at high pH and moderate salinity have also been found, while acetate oxidation was a function of a specialized group of haloalkaliphilic sulfur-reducing bacteria, which belong to the phylum Chrysiogenetes.

Thiohalobacter thiocyanaticus gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately halophilic, sulfur-oxidizing gammaproteobacterium from hypersaline lakes, that utilizes thiocyanate

A moderately halophilic, obligately chemolithoautotrophic, sulfur-oxidizing bacterium, designated strain HRh1T, was obtained from mixed sediment samples from hypersaline chloride–sulfate lakes in the Kulunda Steppe, in south-western Siberia (Russia), using aerobic enrichment culture at 1 M NaCl with thiocyanate as substrate. Cells of the isolate were short, non-motile rods with a Gram-negative type of cell wall. The bacterium was an obligate aerobe capable of chemolithoautotrophic growth with thiocyanate and thiosulfate. With thiosulfate, it grew at NaCl concentrations of 0.2–3.0 M (optimum 0.5 M) and at pH 6.3–8.0 (optimum pH 7.3–7.5). During growth on thiocyanate, cyanate was identified as an intermediate. The dominant cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0 and C18 : 1 ω7. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing placed the isolate in the class Gammaproteobacteria as an independent lineage, with an unclassified marine sulfur-oxidizing bacterium as the closest culturable relative (93 % sequence similarity). A single cbbL gene (coding for the key enzyme of the Calvin–Benson cycle of autotrophic CO2 assimilation) with relatively low similarity to any homologous genes found in chemolithoautotrophs was detected in strain HRh1T. On the basis of our phenotypic and phylogenetic analysis, the halophilic isolate is proposed to represent a new genus and novel species, Thiohalobacter thiocyanaticus gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Thiohalobacter thiocyanaticus is HRh1T (=DSM 21152T =UNIQEM U249T).

Structural basis for catalytic activation of thiocyanate hydrolase involving metal-ligated cysteine modification

Thiocyanate hydrolase (SCNase) is a member of a family of nitrile hydratase proteins, each of which contains a unique noncorrin cobalt center with two post-translationally modified cysteine ligands, cysteine-sulfenic acid or -sulfenate (Cys-SO(H)), and cysteine-sulfininate (Cys-SO(2)(-)), respectively. We have found that a partially matured recombinant SCNase was activated during storage. The crystal structures of SCNase before and after storage demonstrated that Cys-SO(2)(-) modification of gammaCys131 proceeded to completion prior to storage, while Cys-SO(H) modification of gammaCys133 occurred during storage. SCNase activity was suppressed when gammaCys133 was further oxidized to Cys-SO(2)(-). The correlation between the catalytic activity and the extent of the gammaCys133 modification indicates that the cysteine sulfenic acid modification of gammaCys133 is of primary importance in determining the activity of SCNase.

Biochemistry and molecular biology of lithotrophic sulfur oxidation by taxonomically and ecologically diverse bacteria and archaea

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.

Deciphering deazapurine biosynthesis: pathway for pyrrolopyrimidine nucleosides toyocamycin and sangivamycin

Pyrrolopyrimidine nucleosides analogs, collectively referred to as deazapurines, are an important class of structurally diverse compounds found in a wide variety of biological niches. In this report, a cluster of genes from Streptomyces rimosus (ATCC 14673) involved in production of the deazapurine antibiotics sangivamycin and toyocamycin was identified. The cluster includes toyocamycin nitrile hydratase, an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of toyocamycin to sangivamycin. In addition to this rare nitrile hydratase, the cluster encodes a GTP cyclohydrolase I, linking the biosynthesis of deazapurines to folate biosynthesis, and a set of purine salvage/biosynthesis genes, which presumably convert the guanine moiety from GTP to the adenine-like deazapurine base found in toyocamycin and sangivamycin. The gene cluster presented here could potentially serve as a model to allow identification of deazapurine biosynthetic pathways in other bacterial species.

Thiocyanate hydrolase, the primary enzyme initiating thiocyanate degradation in the novel obligately chemolithoautotrophic halophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacterium Thiohalophilus thiocyanoxidans

Thiohalophilus thiocyanoxidans is a first halophilic sulfur-oxidizing chemolithoautotrophic bacterium capable of growth with thiocyanate as an electron donor at salinity up to 4 M NaCl. The cells, grown with thiocyanate, but not with thiosulfate, contained an enzyme complex hydrolyzing thiocyanate to sulfide and ammonia under anaerobic conditions with carbonyl sulfide as an intermediate. Despite the fact of utilization of the <<COS pathway>>, high cyanase activity was also detected in thiocyanate-induced cells. Three-stage column chromotography resulted in a highly purified thiocyanate-hydrolyzing protein with an apparent molecular mass of 140 kDa that consists of three subunits with masses 17, 19 and 29 kDa. The enzyme is a Co,Fe-containing protein resembling on its function and subunit composition the enzyme thiocyanate hydrolase from the Betaproteobacterium Thiobacillus thioparus. Cyanase, copurified with thiocyanate hydrolase, is a bisubstrate multisubunit enzyme with an apparent subunit molecular mass of 14 kDa. A possible role of cyanase in thiocyanate degradation by T. thiocyanoxidans is discussed.

Structure of Thiocyanate Hydrolase: A New Nitrile Hydratase Family Protein with a Novel Five-coordinate Cobalt(III) Center

Thiocyanate hydrolase (SCNase) of Thiobacillus thioparus THI115 is a cobalt(III)-containing enzyme catalyzing the degradation of thiocyanate to carbonyl sulfide and ammonia. We determined the crystal structures of the apo- and native SCNases at a resolution of 2.0 A. SCNases in both forms had a conserved hetero-dodecameric structure, (alphabetagamma)(4). Four alphabetagamma hetero-trimers were structurally equivalent. One alphabetagamma hetero-trimer was composed of the core domain and the betaN domain, which was located at the center of the molecule and linked the hetero-trimers with novel quaternary interfaces. In both the apo- and native SCNases, the core domain was structurally conserved between those of iron and cobalt-types of nitrile hydratase (NHase). Native SCNase possessed the post-translationally modified cysteine ligands, gammaCys131-SO(2)H and gammaCys133-SOH like NHases. However, the low-spin cobalt(III) was found to be in the distorted square-pyramidal geometry, which had not been reported before in any protein. The size as well as the electrostatic properties of the substrate-binding pocket was totally different from NHases with respect to the charge distribution and the substrate accessibility, which rationally explains the differences in the substrate preference between SCNase and NHase.

Denitrification in a binary culture and thiocyanate metabolism in Thiohalophilus thiocyanoxidans gen. nov. sp. nov. – a moderately halophilic chemolithoautotrophic sulfur-oxidizing Gammaproteobacterium from hypersaline lakes

Anaerobic enrichment culture with thiocyanate as electron donor and nitrate as electron acceptor at 2 M NaCl inoculated with a mixture of sediments from hypersaline lakes in Kulunda Steppe (Altai, Russia) resulted in a selection of a binary consortium of moderately halophilic, obligately chemolithoautotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) capable of complete denitrification of nitrate with thiosulfate as the electron donor. One consortium member, strain HRhD 3sp, was isolated into pure culture with nitrate and thiosulfate using a density gradient. This strain was responsible for the reduction of nitrate to nitrite in the consortium, while a second strain, HRhD 2, isolated under microoxic conditions with thiosulfate as substrate, was capable of anaerobic growth with nitrite and thiosulfate. Nitrite, either as substrate or as product, was already toxic at very low concentrations for both strains. As a result, optimal growth under anaerobic conditions could only be achieved within the consortium. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, both organisms were identified as new lineages within the Gammaproteobacteria. As well as thiosulfate, strain HRhD 2 can also use thiocyanate as electron donor, representing a first halophilic SOB capable of growth with thiocyanate at 2-4 M NaCl. Product and enzymatic analysis identified the "carbonyl sulfide (COS) pathway" of primary thiocyanate degradation in this new species. On the basis of phenotypic and genetic analysis, strain HRhD 2 is proposed to be assigned to a new genus and species Thiohalophilus thiocyanoxidans.

Functional expression of thiocyanate hydrolase is promoted by its activator protein, P15K

Thiocyanate hydrolase (SCNase) is a cobalt-containing enzyme with a post-translationally modified cysteine ligand, gammaCys131-SO(2)H. When the SCNase alpha, beta and gamma subunits were expressed in Escherichia coli, the subunits assembled to form a hetero-dodecamer, (alphabetagamma)(4), like native SCNase but exhibited no catalytic activity. Metal analysis indicated that SCNase was expressed as an apo-form irrespective of the presence of cobalt in the medium. On the contrary, SCNase co-expressed with P15K, encoded just downstream of SCNase genes, in cobalt-enriched medium under the optimized condition (SCNase((+P15K))) possessed 0.86 Co atom/alphabetagamma trimer and exhibited 78% of the activity of native SCNase. SCNase((+P15K)) showed a UV-Vis absorption peak characteristic of the SCNase cobalt center. About 70% of SCNase((+P15K)) had the gammaCys131-SO(2)H modification. These results indicate that SCNase((+P15K)) is the active holo-SCNase. P15K is likely to promote the functional expression of SCNase probably by assisting the incorporation of cobalt ion.

Thiocyanate Hydrolase Is a Cobalt-Containing Metalloenzyme with a Cysteine-Sulfinic Acid Ligand

Thiocyanate hydrolase (SCNase) purified from Thiobacillus thioparus THI115 hydrolyzes thiocyanate to carbonyl sulfide and ammonia. DNA sequences of the cloned genes revealed the close relation of SCNase to nitrile hydratase (NHase). The consensus sequences for coordination of the metal ion found in NHases were also conserved in the gamma subunit of SCNase. Here, we showed that the SCNase contained one cobalt atom per alphabetagamma heterotrimer. UV-vis absorption spectrum suggested that the cobalt exists as a non-corrin ion. Reduced SCNase showed an ESR signal characteristic of low-spin Co2+, which closely resembled that of the Co-type NHases. Mass spectrometry for the peptide fragment containing the metal-binding motif of the SCNase gamma subunit indicated that the cysteine residue at position 131 was post-translationally oxidized to a cysteine-sulfinic acid. From these results, we concluded that SCNases and NHases form a novel non-corrin and/or non-heme protein family having post-translationally modified cysteine ligands.

Anaerobic growth of the haloalkaliphilic denitrifying sulfur-oxidizing bacterium Thialkalivibrio thiocyanodenitrificans sp. nov. with thiocyanate

Two strains of obligate chemolithoautotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were isolated from soda-lake sediments by enrichment culture with thiocyanate and nitrate at pH 9.9. The isolates were capable of growth with thiocyanate or thiosulfate as electron donor, either aerobically or anaerobically, and with nitrate or nitrite as electron acceptor. Cyanate was identified as an intermediate of thiocyanate oxidation, while sulfate, ammonia and dinitrogen gas were the final products. The anaerobic growth on thiocyanate plus nitrate was much slower (mu(max)=0.006 h(-1)) than on thiosulfate plus nitrate (mu(max)=0.02 h(-1)), while growth yields were similar (4.8 and 5.1 g protein mol(-1), respectively). On the basis of their phenotypic and genetic properties, strains ARhD 1(T) and ARhD 2 are described as a novel species of the genus Thialkalivibrio, with the highest similarity to Thialkalivibrio denitrificans. The name Thialkalivibrio thiocyanodenitrificans sp. nov. is proposed for this novel species.

Diversity of nitrile hydratase and amidase enzyme genes in Rhodococcus erythropolis recovered from geographically distinct habitats

A molecular screening approach was developed in order to amplify the genomic region that codes for the alpha- and beta-subunits of the nitrile hydratase (NHase) enzyme in rhodococci. Specific PCR primers were designed for the NHase genes from a collection of nitrile-degrading actinomycetes, but amplification was successful only with strains identified as Rhodococcus erythropolis. A hydratase PCR product was also obtained from R. erythropolis DSM 43066(T), which did not grow on nitriles. Southern hybridization of other members of the nitrile-degrading bacterial collection resulted in no positive signals other than those for the R. erythropolis strains used as positive controls. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism-single-strand conformational polymorphism (PRS) analysis of the hydratases in the R. erythropolis strains revealed unique patterns that mostly correlated with distinct geographical sites of origin. Representative NHases were sequenced, and they exhibited more than 92.4% similarity to previously described NHases. The phylogenetic analysis and deduced amino acid sequences suggested that the novel R. erythropolis enzymes belonged to the iron-type NHase family. Some different residues in the translated sequences were located near the residues involved in the stabilization of the NHase active site, suggesting that the substitutions could be responsible for the different enzyme activities and substrate specificities observed previously in this group of actinomycetes. A similar molecular screening analysis of the amidase gene was performed, and a correlation between the PRS patterns and the geographical origins identical to the correlation found for the NHase gene was obtained, suggesting that there was coevolution of the two enzymes in R. erythropolis. Our findings indicate that the NHase and amidase genes present in geographically distinct R. erythropolis strains are not globally mixed.

A novel inhibitor for Fe-type nitrile hydratase: 2-cyano-2-propyl hydroperoxide

Nitrile hydratase (NHase) is a non-heme iron or non-corrin cobalt enzyme having two post-translationally modified ligand residues, cysteine-sulfinic acid (alphaCys112-SO(2)H) and -sulfenic acid (alphaCys114-SOH). We studied the interaction between Fe-type NHase and isobutyronitrile (iso-BN) which had been reported as a competitive inhibitor with a K(i) value of 5 microM. From detailed kinetic studies of the inhibitory effect of iso-BN on Fe-type NHase, we found that authentic iso-BN was hydrated normally and that the impurity present in commercially available iso-BN inhibited NHase activity strongly. The inhibitory compound induced significant changes in the UV-vis absorption spectrum of NHase, suggesting its interaction with the iron center. This compound was purified by using reversed-phase HPLC and identified as 2-cyano-2-propyl hydroperoxide (Cpx) by (1)H and PFG-HMBC NMR spectroscopy. Upon addition of a stoichiometric amount of Cpx, NHase was irreversibly inactivated, probably by the oxidation of alphaCys114-SOH to Cys-SO(2)H. This result suggests that the -SOH structure of alphaCys114 is essential for the catalytic activity. The oxygen atom in Cys-SO(2)H is confirmed to come from the solvent H(2)O. The oxidized NHase was found to induce the UV-vis absorption spectral changes by addition of Cpx, suggesting that Cpx strongly interacted with iron(III) in the oxidized NHase to form a stable complex. Thus, Cpx functions as a novel irreversible inhibitor for NHase.

Post-translational modification of Rhodococcus R312 and Comamonas NI1 nitrile hydratases

Nitrile hydratases (NHases) are industrially significant iron- and cobalt-containing enzymes used in the large-scale synthesis of acrylamide. Previous reports have shown that the active site peptides of NHases are post-translationally modified by oxidation of cysteine residues, and that these modifications are essential for catalysis. We report mass spectrometric evidence of the oxidation states of the active site cysteines in the iron coordination spheres of two iron-containing nitrile hydratases, namely R312 NHase from Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain R312 and NI1 NHase from Comamonas testosteroni. At least one of these cysteines is oxidised to a sulfinic acid (SO(2)H) and there is also evidence suggesting an additional oxidation to a sulfenic acid (SOH). This is the first evidence for the presence of these oxidation states for full-length NHases and for Fe-NHases from different microorganisms. The presence of these covalent modifications was confirmed by performing mass spectrometry on the active site peptide of R312 NHase, under native, reduced and carboxymethylated conditions. We also show the nitrosylation of the iron by mass spectrometry, as well as the release of NO by photoirradiation.

Hydratases involved in nitrile conversion: screening, characterization and application

The discovery of new enzymes with greater activity and specificity opens new, simple routes for synthetic processes, and consequently, new methods to solve environmental problems. A number of nitrile-related enzymes have been screened over the past few years for use in developing synthetic applications. Microbial nitrile hydratase (NHase) has great potential as a catalyst in organic chemical processing because the enzyme can convert nitriles to the corresponding higher value amides under mild conditions, and has now been applied to the industrial productions of acrylamide and nicotinamide. Particularly, the former production is the first successful example of a bioconversion process for the manufacture of a commodity chemical. The characterization of the enzyme at the molecular level has provided new insights into how the molecular structure determines the enzyme function, and how the regulatory system controls the expression of the enzyme genes to improve the enzyme and the NHase-dependent process.

Site-directed mutagenesis for cysteine residues of cobalt-containing nitrile hydratase

Three cysteine residues, which are completely conserved among alpha-subunits in all nitrile hydratases, are thought to be the ligands of a metal ion in the catalytic center of this enzyme. These cysteine residues (i.e. alpha C102, alpha C105 and alpha C107) in the high-molecular-mass nitrile hydratase (H-NHase) of Rhodococcus rhodochrous J1 were replaced with alanine by site-directed mutagenesis using the R. rhodochrous ATCC12674 host-vector system, and the resultant transformants were investigated. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) for the cell-free extracts of each mutant transformant revealed that four mutant transformants (i.e. alpha C105A, alpha C107A, alpha C102A/C105A and alpha C105A/C107A) showed predominant alpha- and beta-subunit protein bands with a mobility identical to those of the native H-NHase, while three mutant transformants (i.e. alpha C102A, alpha C102A/C107A and alpha C102A/C105A/C107A) did not produce the corresponding proteins. The purified former four mutant enzymes showed neither enzymatic activity nor the maximum absorption at 410 nm which was detected in the wild type H-NHase. They also did not contain cobalt ions. Based upon these findings, these three cysteine residues were found to be essential for the active expression of H-NHase.

Genetic and immunochemical characterization of thiocyanate-degrading bacteria in lake water

Natural aquatic and soil samples were screened for the presence of thiocyanate-degrading bacteria. Using thiocyanate supplementation, we established an enrichment culture containing such bacteria from lake water. The dominant bacteria had the scnC-LS5 gene encoding thiocyanate hydrolase, which was closely related to the enzyme found previously in Thiobacillus thioparus THI115 isolated from activated sludge.

Selenium assimilation and volatilization from selenocyanate-treated Indian mustard and muskgrass

Selenocyanate (SeCN(-)) is a major contaminant in the effluents from some oil refineries, power plants, and in mine drainage water. In this study, we determined the potential of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) and muskgrass (a macroalga, Chara canescens) for SeCN(-) phytoremediation in upland and wetland situations, respectively. The tolerance of Indian mustard to toxic levels of SeCN(-) was similar to or higher than other toxic forms of Se. Indian mustard treated with 20 microM SeCN(-) removed 30% (w/v) of the Se supplied in 5 d, accumulating 554 and 86 microg of Se g(-1) dry weight in roots and shoots, respectively. Under similar conditions, muskgrass removed approximately 9% (w/v) of the Se supplied as SeCN(-) and accumulated 27 microg of Se g(-1) dry weight. A biochemical pathway for SeCN(-) degradation was proposed for Indian mustard. Indian mustard and muskgrass efficiently degraded SeCN(-) as none of the Se accumulated by either organism remained in this form. Indian mustard accumulated predominantly organic Se, whereas muskgrass contained Se mainly as selenite and organic Se forms. Indian mustard produced volatile Se from SeCN(-) in the form of less toxic dimethylselenide. Se volatilization by Indian mustard accounted for only 0.7% (w/v) of the SeCN(-) removed, likely because the biochemical steps in the production of dimethylselenide from organic Se were rate limiting. Indian mustard is promising for the phytoremediation of SeCN(-) -contaminated soil and water because of its remarkable abilities to phytoextract SeCN(-) and degrade all the accumulated SeCN(-) to other Se forms.

Rapid and specific identification of nitrile hydratase (NHase)-encoding genes in soil samples by polymerase chain reaction

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol was developed for the specific detection of genes coding nitrile hydratase (NHase). Primer design was based on the highly conserved sequences found in the coding region of the alpha-subunit gene corresponding to the metal-binding site. Purified genomic DNA from bacterial strains or directly from soil can serve as the target for the PCR, thus affording a simple and rapid method for screening NHase genes. The primer pairs, NHCo1/NHCo2 and NHFe1/NHFe2 yield PCR products corresponding to a partial coding sequence of cobalt and iron NHase genes, respectively. Using the PCR method, both types of iron- and cobalt-NHase-encoding genes were detected in DNA from pure cultures and soil samples. Furthermore consensus primers allowed rapid cloning and expression of novel NHases in Escherichia coli.

Microbial thiocyanate utilization under highly alkaline conditions

Three kinds of alkaliphilic bacteria able to utilize thiocyanate (CNS-) at pH 10 were found in highly alkaline soda lake sediments and soda soils. The first group included obligate heterotrophs that utilized thiocyanate as a nitrogen source while growing at pH 10 with acetate as carbon and energy sources. Most of the heterotrophic strains were able to oxidize sulfide and thiosulfate to tetrathionate. The second group included obligately autotrophic sulfur-oxidizing alkaliphiles which utilized thiocyanate nitrogen during growth with thiosulfate as the energy source. Genetic analysis demonstrated that both the heterotrophic and autotrophic alkaliphiles that utilized thiocyanate as a nitrogen source were related to the previously described sulfur-oxidizing alkaliphiles belonging to the gamma subdivision of the division Proteobacteria (the Halomonas group for the heterotrophs and the genus Thioalkalivibrio for autotrophs). The third group included obligately autotrophic sulfur-oxidizing alkaliphilic bacteria able to utilize thiocyanate as a sole source of energy. These bacteria could be enriched on mineral medium with thiocyanate at pH 10. Growth with thiocyanate was usually much slower than growth with thiosulfate, although the biomass yield on thiocyanate was higher. Of the four strains isolated, the three vibrio-shaped strains were genetically closely related to the previously described sulfur-oxidizing alkaliphiles belonging to the genus Thioalkalivibrio. The rod-shaped isolate differed from the other isolates by its ability to accumulate large amounts of elemental sulfur inside its cells and by its ability to oxidize carbon disulfide. Despite its low DNA homology with and substantial phenotypic differences from the vibrio-shaped strains, this isolate also belonged to the genus Thioalkalivibrio according to a phylogenetic analysis. The heterotrophic and autotrophic alkaliphiles that grew with thiocyanate as an N source possessed a relatively high level of cyanase activity which converted cyanate (CNO-) to ammonia and CO2. On the other hand, cyanase activity either was absent or was present at very low levels in the autotrophic strains grown on thiocyanate as the sole energy and N source. As a result, large amounts of cyanate were found to accumulate in the media during utilization of thiocyanate at pH 10 in batch and thiocyanate-limited continuous cultures. This is a first direct proof of a "cyanate pathway" in pure cultures of thiocyanate-degrading bacteria. Since it is relatively stable under alkaline conditions, cyanate is likely to play a role as an N buffer that keeps the alkaliphilic bacteria safe from inhibition by free ammonia, which otherwise would reach toxic levels during dissimilatory degradation of thiocyanate.

Fe-type nitrile hydratase

The characteristic features of Fe-type nitrile hydratase (NHase) from Rhodococcus sp. N-771 are described. Through the biochemical analyses, we have found that nitric oxide (NO) regulates the photoreactivity of this enzyme by association with the non-heme iron center and photoinduced dissociation from it. The regulation is realized by a unique structure of the catalytic non-heme iron center composed of post-translationally modified cysteine-sulfinic (Cys-SO2H) and -sulfenic acids (Cys-SOH). To understand the biogenic mechanism and the functional role of these modifications, we constructed an over-expression system of whole NHase and individual subunits in Escherichia coli. The results of the studies on several recombinant NHases have shown that the Cys-SO2H oxidation of alphaC112 is indispensable for the catalytic activity of Fe-type NHase.

Arginine 56 mutation in the beta subunit of nitrile hydratase: importance of hydrogen bonding to the non-heme iron center

Arginine 56 in the beta subunit (betaArg56) of the iron-containing nitrile hydratase (NHase), one of the strongly conserved residues within the NHase family, is known to form hydrogen bonds to the sulfinyl (-SO2H) and sulfenyl (-SOH) groups of the post-translationally modified cysteine residues in the catalytic center. BetaArg56 was substituted by tyrosine, glutamate or lysine, respectively, and the respective mutant enzymes generated by reconstitution were characterized. The betaR56K mutant complex exhibited about 1% of the enzymatic activity of native NHase, while the others were totally inactive. The kinetic analysis of the betaR56K mutant complex exhibited a drastic decrease in turnover number and decreases in kinetic constants for substrate and inhibitors as compared to the native NHase. Changes in UV-visible absorption and light-induced Fourier transform infrared difference spectra suggest that betaArg56 is involved in the positioning of the -SO2H and -SOH groups of the modified Cys residues in the catalytic center so as to fine tune the electronic state of the iron center suitable for catalysis. Thus, betaArg56 is essential for catalysis.

Post-translational modification is essential for catalytic activity of nitrile hydratase

Nitrile hydratase from Rhodococcus sp. N-771 is an alphabeta heterodimer with a nonheme ferric iron in the catalytic center. In the catalytic center, alphaCys112 and alphaCys114 are modified to a cysteine sulfinic acid (Cys-SO2H) and a cysteine sulfenic acid (Cys-SOH), respectively. To understand the function and the biogenic mechanism of these modified residues, we reconstituted the nitrile hydratase from recombinant unmodified subunits. The alphabeta complex reconstituted under argon exhibited no activity. However, it gradually gained the enzymatic activity through aerobic incubation. ESI-LC/MS analysis showed that the anaerobically reconstituted alphabeta complex did not have the modification of alphaCys112-SO2H and aerobic incubation induced the modification. The activity of the reconstituted alphabeta complex correlated with the amount of alphaCys112-SO2H. Furthermore, ESI-LC/MS analyses of the tryptic digest of the reconstituted complex, removed of ferric iron at low pH and carboxamidomethylated without reduction, suggested that alphaCys114 is modified to Cys-SOH together with the sulfinic acid modification of alphaCys112. These results suggest that alphaCys112 and alphaCys114 are spontaneously oxidized to Cys-SO2H and Cys-SOH, respectively, and alphaCys112-SO2H is responsible for the catalytic activity solely or in combination with alphaCys114-SOH.

Nitrile hydrolases

A number of nitrile-related enzymes have been screened over the past year for use in synthetic applications. There have also been significant advances in our understanding of the structures and modes of regulation of metal-containing nitrile hydratases. Enzyme structural characterization has provided new insights into how the molecular structure determines the enzyme function and how an enzyme can be endowed with new properties. This information has important implications for potential future applications other than the present industrial production of acrylamide and nicotinamide.

Cobalt-substituted Fe-type nitrile hydratase of Rhodococcus sp. N-771

When the genes encoding alpha and beta subunits of Fe-type nitrile hydratase (NHase) from Rhodococcus sp. N-771 were expressed in Escherichia coli in Co-supplemented medium without co-expression of the NHase activator, the NHase specifically incorporated not Fe but Co ion into the catalytic center. The produced Co-substituted enzyme exhibited rather weak NHase activity, initially. However, the activity gradually increased by the incubation with an oxidizing agent, potassium hexacyanoferrate. The oxidizing agent is likely to activate the Co-substituent by oxidizing the Co atom to a low-spin Co(3+) state and/or modification of alphaCys-112 to a cysteine-sulfinic acid. It is suggested that the NHase activator not only supports the insertion of an Fe ion into the NHase protein but also activates the enzyme via the oxidation of its iron center.