1
|
Wu S, Zheng H, Wang Y, Wang L, Chen W. Cyanobacterial bioreporter of nitrate bioavailability in aquatic ecosystems. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 247:120749. [PMID: 37918203 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
The water eutrophication, resulting from the discharge of industrial and agricultural wastewater, leads to ecological degradation. However, to date, how to assess and manage the risks of water pollution, especially nitrogen pollution, remains a particularly noteworthy issue. Nitrate, the most important nitrogen compound, has become a bottleneck restricting total nitrogen management. The development of bioreporters monitoring nitrate pollution contributes to the estimation of water quality, especially the availability of nutrients. In this study, we obtained 9 bioreporters from 40 cyanobacterial derivatives which were constructed based on different hosts, copy numbers, and sensing elements and evaluated the performance of bioreporters. The results showed that single-celled Synechocystis was more sensitive to nitrate than filamentous Anabaena, that the reporter gene luxABCDE responded faster than sfgfp in most bioreporters, and that relatively medium-copy plasmid improved the performance of sensing elements. Nine bioreporters performed well in bioavailable nitrate detection, of which AD-AS-X and AR-NI-X, activated by nitrate repletion, had the shortest response time (2 h) and the widest response range (20-800 μM), respectively. Moreover, SR-GLN-SG, activated by nitrate deficiency, exhibited the best linear response (R2 = 0.998). After parameter optimization, exponential growth phase bioreporters, culture temperature of 30 °C, sample volume of 200 μL were determined as optimal monitoring conditions. We found that common water contaminants (copper, cadmium, and phosphorus) had no impact on the performance of bioreporters, indicating the stability of bioreporters. Six out of 9 bioreporters, especially the SR-NB-X, were highly effective in detecting the bioavailable nitrate in wastewater sample. This study provides valuable references for developing more cyanobacterial bioreporters and their practical application in nitrate detection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shanyu Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Hongyan Zheng
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Yuwei Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Li Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Wenli Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Park Y, Kim W, Kim M, Park W. The β-Lactamase Activity at the Community Level Confers β-Lactam Resistance to Bloom-Forming Microcystis aeruginosa Cells. J Microbiol 2023; 61:807-820. [PMID: 37851310 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-023-00082-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Many freshwater cyanobacteria, including Microcystis aeruginosa, lack several known antibiotic resistance genes; however, both axenic and xenic M. aeruginosa strains exhibited high antibiotic resistance against many antibiotics under our tested concentrations, including colistin, trimethoprim, and kanamycin. Interestingly, axenic PCC7806, although not the xenic NIBR18 and NIBR452 strains, displayed susceptibility to ampicillin and amoxicillin, indicating that the associated bacteria in the phycosphere could confer such antibiotic resistance to xenic strains. Fluorescence and scanning electron microscopic observations revealed their tight association, leading to possible community-level β-lactamase activity. Combinatory treatment of ampicillin with a β-lactamase inhibitor, sulbactam, abolished the ampicillin resistance in the xenic stains. The nitrocefin-based assay confirmed the presence of significant community-level β-lactamase activity. Our tested low ampicillin concentration and high β-lactamase activity could potentially balance the competitive advantage of these dominant species and provide opportunities for the less competitive species, thereby resulting in higher bacterial diversity under ampicillin treatment conditions. Non-PCR-based metagenome data from xenic NIBR18 cultures revealed the dominance of blaOXA-related antibiotic resistance genes followed by other class A β-lactamase genes (AST-1 and FAR-1). Alleviation of ampicillin toxicity could be observed only in axenic PCC7806, which had been cocultured with β-lactamase from other freshwater bacteria. Our study suggested M. aeruginosa develops resistance to old-class β-lactam antibiotics through altruism, where associated bacteria protect axenic M. aeruginosa cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yerim Park
- Laboratory of Molecular Environmental Microbiology, Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonjae Kim
- Laboratory of Molecular Environmental Microbiology, Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Minkyung Kim
- Laboratory of Molecular Environmental Microbiology, Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Woojun Park
- Laboratory of Molecular Environmental Microbiology, Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wang Y, Ge H, Xiao Z, Huang C, Wang G, Duan X, Zheng L, Dong J, Huang X, Zhang Y, An H, Xu W, Wang Y. Spatial Proteome Reorganization of a Photosynthetic Model Cyanobacterium in Response to Abiotic Stresses. J Proteome Res 2023; 22:1255-1269. [PMID: 36930737 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.2c00759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Spatial proteome reorganization in response to a changing environment represents a different layer of adaptation mechanism in addition to differential expression of a subset of stress responsive genes in photosynthetic organisms. Profiling such reorganization events is critically important to extend our understanding how photosynthetic organisms adapt to adverse environments. Thus, we treated a unicellular photosynthetic model cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (hereafter referred to as Synechocystis), with five different types of abiotic stresses including nitrogen starvation, iron deficiency, cold, heat, and darkness, and systematically identified proteins showing stress-induced differential expression and/or redistribution between the membrane and the soluble fractions using a quantitative proteomics approach. A number of proteins showing such a redistribution in response to a single or multiple types of abiotic stresses were identified. These include 12 ribosomal proteins displaying unanimous cold-induced redistribution to the membrane and the protein FurA, a master regulator of iron acquisition, displaying iron deficiency- and nitrogen starvation-induced redistribution to the membrane. Such findings shed light on a novel regulatory mechanism underlying the corresponding stress responses, and establish the results in the present study as an important resource for future studies intended to understand how photosynthetic organisms cope with adverse environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, CAS, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 West Beichen Road, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huairou District, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Haitao Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, CAS, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 West Beichen Road, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zhen Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, CAS, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 West Beichen Road, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huairou District, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Chengcheng Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, CAS, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 West Beichen Road, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huairou District, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Gaojie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, CAS, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 West Beichen Road, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huairou District, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, CAS, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 West Beichen Road, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huairou District, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Limin Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, CAS, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 West Beichen Road, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huairou District, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Jinghui Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, CAS, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 West Beichen Road, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huairou District, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Xiahe Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, CAS, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 West Beichen Road, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yuanya Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, CAS, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 West Beichen Road, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Hongyu An
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, CAS, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 West Beichen Road, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huairou District, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Wu Xu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana 70504, United States
| | - Yingchun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, CAS, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 West Beichen Road, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huairou District, Beijing 101408, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Maurya PK, Kumar V, Mondal S, Singh SP. Photoautotrophic black-colored cyanobacterial soil crust biosynthesizes photoprotective compounds and is capable of using blue, green, and red wavelengths of light for its growth. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:16756-16769. [PMID: 36576619 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24993-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Several cyanobacteria can adjust their light-harvesting machinery in response to existing light signals in a process called chromatic acclimation (CA) which permits the utilization of available light resources for photosynthesis. CA involves alteration in the pigment composition of a major light-harvesting complex called phycobilisome (PBS) and allows some cyanobacteria to utilize green light (GL) to drive photosynthesis. However, cyanobacteria, in contrast with eukaryotic algae and higher plants, can not utilize blue light (BL) for photosynthesis due to their dependency on PBS. Here, we studied a black-colored soil crust that was composed of a single cyanobacterium identified and named Oscillatoria sp. Malviya-1 after phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses. The black-colored crust can absorb light from almost all parts of photosynthetically active radiation (400-700 nm) and ultraviolet radiation (280-400 nm) due to the presence of photosynthetic pigments and microbial sunscreens such as chlorophyll ɑ, carotenoids, phycoerythrin, phycocyanin, allophycocyanin, mycosporine-like amino acids, and scytonemin. Unlike other cyanobacteria, Oscillatoria sp. Malviya-1 can grow using GL, BL, and red light (RL) in addition to white light (WL) which was accompanied by the different colors of the mat under different light conditions. The presence of CA and sunscreens compounds can maximize the fitness of soil crust under a dynamic light environment, UVR, and desiccation. Detailed study of Oscillatoria sp. Malviya-1 will provide information on the mechanism of CA in cyanobacterial soil crust and its unique ability to use both GL and BL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj K Maurya
- Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
- Institute of Forest Biodiversity (ICFRE), Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change, Hyderabad-500100, India
| | - Soumila Mondal
- Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Shailendra P Singh
- Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Mensi F, Ben Ghedifa A, Rajhi H. Effects of seawater sulfur starvation and enrichment on Gracilaria gracilis growth and biochemical composition. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11095. [PMID: 35773380 PMCID: PMC9247063 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15303-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Gracilaria, largest biomass producer in coastal regions, encompasses a wide range of species including Gracilaria gracilis. Nowadays, there is a spate of interest in its culture in lagoon where the water sulfate concentration is variable. A laboratory culture was carried out to determine the sulfate concentration effect on their growth as well as their biochemical composition, which were 2.5, 27 or 50 mM, referred to as SSS (sulfur starved seawater), SW (seawater) and SES (sulfur enriched seawater).We found that the sulfate content of the surrounding medium is a key parameter influencing both the alga growth and its composition. However, seawater proved to be the most suitable environment to sustain alga growth, proteins, R-phycoerythrin and agar yields, but sulfur enrichment and starvation affects them. The sulfate degree of agar and therefore its quality is related to the medium sulfate concentration. We conclude that sulfur starvation (2.5 mM) for three weeks, led to severe growth retardation, lower agar yield and quality and indicated the limit potential of G. gracilis for mariculture under these conditions. These results demonstrated that the success of G. gracilis culture in the lagoon is feasible if sulfate concentration is closer to that of seawater.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fethi Mensi
- Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer-Centre Kheiredine, 29 Rue Général Kheiredine, 2015, Le Kram, Tunisie.
| | - Aziz Ben Ghedifa
- Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer-Centre Kheiredine, 29 Rue Général Kheiredine, 2015, Le Kram, Tunisie
| | - Hayfa Rajhi
- Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer-Centre Kheiredine, 29 Rue Général Kheiredine, 2015, Le Kram, Tunisie
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hidalgo Martinez D, Betterle N, Melis A. Phycocyanin Fusion Constructs for Heterologous Protein Expression Accumulate as Functional Heterohexameric Complexes in Cyanobacteria. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:1152-1166. [PMID: 35257571 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression of heterologous proteins from plants, bacteria, and human as fusion constructs in cyanobacteria has been documented in the literature. Typically, the heterologous protein "P" of interest is expressed as a fusion with the abundant CpcB β-subunit of phycocyanin (PC), which was placed in the leader sequence position. The working hypothesis for such overexpressions is that CpcB*P fusion proteins somehow accumulate in a soluble and stable form in the cytosol of the cyanobacteria, retaining the activity of the trailing heterologous "P" protein of interest. The present work revealed a substantially different and previously unobvious picture, comprising the following properties of the above-mentioned CpcB*P fusion constructs: (i) the CpcB*P proteins assemble as functional (α,β*P)3CpcG heterohexameric discs, where α is the CpcA α-subunit of PC, β*P is the CpcB*P fusion protein, the asterisk denotes fusion, and CpcG is the 28.9 kDa PC disc linker polypeptide CpcG1. (ii) The (α,β*P)3CpcG1 complexes covalently bind one open tetrapyrrole bilin co-factor per α-subunit and two bilins per β-subunit. (iii) The (α,β*P)3CpcG1 heterohexameric discs are functionally attached to the Synechocystis allophycocyanin (AP) core cylinders and efficiently transfer excitation energy from the assembled (α,β*P)3CpcG1 heterohexamer to the PSII reaction center, enhancing the rate of photochemical charge separation and electron transfer activity in this photosystem. (iv) In addition to the human interferon α-2 and tetanus toxin fragment C tested in this work, we have shown that enzymes such as the plant-origin isoprene synthase, β-phellandrene synthase, geranyl diphosphate synthase, and geranyl linalool synthase are also overexpressed, while retaining their catalytic activity in the respective fusion construct configuration. (v) Folding models for the (α,β*P)3CpcG1 heterohexameric discs showed the recombinant proteins P to be radially oriented with respect to the (α,β)3 compact disc. Elucidation of the fusion construct configuration and function will pave the way for the rational design of fusion constructs harboring and overexpressing multiple proteins of scientific and commercial interest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diego Hidalgo Martinez
- Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-3102, United States
| | - Nico Betterle
- Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-3102, United States
| | - Anastasios Melis
- Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-3102, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bandyopadhyay A, Ye Z, Benedikty Z, Trtilek M, Pakrasi HB. Antenna Modification Leads to Enhanced Nitrogenase Activity in a High Light-Tolerant Cyanobacterium. mBio 2021; 12:e0340821. [PMID: 34933453 PMCID: PMC8689445 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03408-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological nitrogen fixation is an energy-intensive process that contributes significantly toward supporting life on this planet. Among nitrogen-fixing organisms, cyanobacteria remain unrivaled in their ability to fuel the energetically expensive nitrogenase reaction with photosynthetically harnessed solar energy. In heterocystous cyanobacteria, light-driven, photosystem I (PSI)-mediated ATP synthesis plays a key role in propelling the nitrogenase reaction. Efficient light transfer to the photosystems relies on phycobilisomes (PBS), the major antenna protein complexes. PBS undergo degradation as a natural response to nitrogen starvation. Upon nitrogen availability, these proteins are resynthesized back to normal levels in vegetative cells, but their occurrence and function in heterocysts remain inconclusive. Anabaena 33047 is a heterocystous cyanobacterium that thrives under high light, harbors larger amounts of PBS in its heterocysts, and fixes nitrogen at higher rates compared to other heterocystous cyanobacteria. To assess the relationship between PBS in heterocysts and nitrogenase function, we engineered a strain that retains large amounts of the antenna proteins in its heterocysts. Intriguingly, under high light intensities, the engineered strain exhibited unusually high rates of nitrogenase activity compared to the wild type. Spectroscopic analysis revealed altered PSI kinetics in the mutant with increased cyclic electron flow around PSI, a route that contributes to ATP generation and nitrogenase activity in heterocysts. Retaining higher levels of PBS in heterocysts appears to be an effective strategy to enhance nitrogenase function in cyanobacteria that are equipped with the machinery to operate under high light intensities. IMPORTANCE The function of phycobilisomes, the large antenna protein complexes in heterocysts has long been debated. This study provides direct evidence of the involvement of these proteins in supporting nitrogenase activity in Anabaena 33047, a heterocystous cyanobacterium that has an affinity for high light intensities. This strain was previously known to be recalcitrant to genetic manipulation and, hence, despite its many appealing traits, remained largely unexplored. We developed a genetic modification system for this strain and generated a ΔnblA mutant that exhibited resistance to phycobilisome degradation upon nitrogen starvation. Physiological characterization of the strain indicated that PBS degradation is not essential for acclimation to nitrogen deficiency and retention of PBS is advantageous for nitrogenase function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Zi Ye
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Protasova EA, Antal TK, Zlenko DV, Elanskaya IV, Lukashev EP, Friedrich T, Mironov KS, Sluchanko NN, Ge B, Qin S, Maksimov EG. State of the phycobilisome determines effective absorption cross-section of Photosystem II in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOENERGETICS 2021; 1862:148494. [PMID: 34534546 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2021.148494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Quenching of excess excitation energy is necessary for the photoprotection of light-harvesting complexes. In cyanobacteria, quenching of phycobilisome (PBS) excitation energy is induced by the Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP), which becomes photoactivated under high light conditions. A decrease in energy transfer efficiency from the PBSs to the reaction centers decreases photosystem II (PS II) activity. However, quantitative analysis of OCP-induced photoprotection in vivo is complicated by similar effects of both photochemical and non-photochemical quenching on the quantum yield of the PBS fluorescence overlapping with the emission of chlorophyll. In the present study, we have analyzed chlorophyll a fluorescence induction to estimate the effective cross-section of PS II and compared the effects of reversible OCP-dependent quenching of PBS fluorescence with reduction of PBS content upon nitrogen starvation or mutations of key PBS components. This approach allowed us to estimate the dependency of the rate constant of PS II primary electron acceptor reduction on the amount of PBSs in the cell. We found that OCP-dependent quenching triggered by blue light affects approximately half of PBSs coupled to PS II, indicating that under normal conditions, the concentration of OCP is not sufficient for quenching of all PBSs coupled to PS II.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena A Protasova
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia.
| | - Taras K Antal
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Dmitry V Zlenko
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Irina V Elanskaya
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Evgeny P Lukashev
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Thomas Friedrich
- Technical University of Berlin, Institute of Chemistry, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kirill S Mironov
- Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 127276, Russia
| | - Nikolai N Sluchanko
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Baosheng Ge
- China University of Petroleum (Huadong), College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao 266580, PR China
| | - Song Qin
- China University of Petroleum (Huadong), College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao 266580, PR China; Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China.
| | - Eugene G Maksimov
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Shabestary K, Hernández HP, Miao R, Ljungqvist E, Hallman O, Sporre E, Branco Dos Santos F, Hudson EP. Cycling between growth and production phases increases cyanobacteria bioproduction of lactate. Metab Eng 2021; 68:131-141. [PMID: 34601120 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2021.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Decoupling growth from product synthesis is a promising strategy to increase carbon partitioning and maximize productivity in cell factories. However, reduction in both substrate uptake rate and metabolic activity in the production phase are an underlying problem for upscaling. Here, we used CRISPR interference to repress growth in lactate-producing Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Carbon partitioning to lactate in the production phase exceeded 90%, but CO2 uptake was severely reduced compared to uptake during the growth phase. We characterized strains during the onset of growth arrest using transcriptomics and proteomics. Multiple genes involved in ATP homeostasis were regulated once growth was inhibited, which suggests an alteration of energy charge that may lead to reduced substrate uptake. In order to overcome the reduced metabolic activity and take advantage of increased carbon partitioning, we tested a novel production strategy that involved alternating growth arrest and recovery by periodic addition of an inducer molecule to activate CRISPRi. Using this strategy, we maintained lactate biosynthesis in Synechocystis for 30 days in a constant light turbidostat cultivation. Cumulative lactate titers were also increased by 100% compared to a constant growth-arrest regime, and reached 1 g/L. Further, the cultivation produced lactate for 30 days, compared to 20 days for the non-growth arrest cultivation. Periodic growth arrest could be applicable for other products, and in cyanobacteria, could be linked to internal circadian rhythms that persist in constant light.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kiyan Shabestary
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hugo Pineda Hernández
- Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam, 1098 XH, the Netherlands
| | - Rui Miao
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Emil Ljungqvist
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olivia Hallman
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Emil Sporre
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Filipe Branco Dos Santos
- Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam, 1098 XH, the Netherlands
| | - Elton P Hudson
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kharwar S, Bhattacharjee S, Chakraborty S, Mishra AK. Regulation of sulfur metabolism, homeostasis and adaptive responses to sulfur limitation in cyanobacteria. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00819-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
11
|
Madsen MA, Hamilton G, Herzyk P, Amtmann A. Environmental Regulation of PndbA600, an Auto-Inducible Promoter for Two-Stage Industrial Biotechnology in Cyanobacteria. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 8:619055. [PMID: 33542914 PMCID: PMC7853294 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.619055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotes being developed as sustainable platforms that use renewable resources (light, water, and air) for diverse applications in energy, food, environment, and medicine. Despite the attractive promise that cyanobacteria offer to industrial biotechnology, slow growth rates pose a major challenge in processes which typically require large amounts of biomass and are often toxic to the cells. Two-stage cultivation strategies are an attractive solution to prevent any undesired growth inhibition by de-coupling biomass accumulation (stage I) and the industrial process (stage II). In cyanobacteria, two-stage strategies involve costly transfer methods between stages I and II, and little work has been focussed on using the distinct growth and stationary phases of batch cultures to autoregulate stage transition. In the present study, we identified and characterised a growth phase-specific promoter, which can serve as an auto-inducible switch to regulate two-stage bioprocesses in cyanobacteria. First, growth phase-specific genes were identified from a new RNAseq dataset comparing two growth phases and six nutrient conditions in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, including two new transcriptomes for low Mg and low K. A type II NADH dehydrogenase (ndbA) showed robust induction when the cultures transitioned from exponential to stationary phase growth. Behaviour of a 600-bp promoter sequence (PndbA600) was then characterised in detail following the expression of PndbA600:GFP in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. Culture density and growth media analyses showed that PndbA600 activation was not dependent on increases in culture density per se but on N availability and on another activating factor present in the spent media of stationary phase cultures (Factor X). PndbA600 deactivation was dependent on the changes in culture density and in either N availability or Factor X. Electron transport inhibition studies revealed a photosynthesis-specific enhancement of active PndbA600 levels. Our findings are summarised in a model describing the environmental regulation of PndbA600, which can now inform the rational design of two-stage industrial processes in cyanobacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary Ann Madsen
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Graham Hamilton
- Glasgow Polyomics, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Pawel Herzyk
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.,Glasgow Polyomics, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Amtmann
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Fernández-Juárez V, Bennasar-Figueras A, Sureda-Gomila A, Ramis-Munar G, Agawin NSR. Differential Effects of Varying Concentrations of Phosphorus, Iron, and Nitrogen in N 2-Fixing Cyanobacteria. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:541558. [PMID: 33101223 PMCID: PMC7546424 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.541558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Diazotrophs or N2-fixers are one of the most ecologically significant groups in marine ecosystems (pelagic and benthic). Inorganic phosphorus (PO43–) and iron (Fe) can limit the growth and N2-fixing capacities of cyanobacteria. However, studies investigating co-limitation of these factors are lacking. Here, we added different concentrations of PO43– and Fe in two cyanobacterial species whose relatives can be found in seagrass habitats: the unicellular Halothece sp. (PCC 7418) and the filamentous Fischerella muscicola (PCC 73103), grown under different nitrate (NO3–) concentrations and under N2 as sole N source, respectively. Their growth, pigment content, N2-fixation rates, oxidative stress responses, and morphological and cellular changes were investigated. Our results show a serial limitation of NO3– and PO43– (with NO3– as the primary limiting nutrient) for Halothece sp. Simultaneous co-limitation of PO43– and Fe was found for both species tested, and high levels of Fe (especially when added with high PO43– levels) inhibited the growth of Halothece sp. Nutrient limitation (PO43–, Fe, and/or NO3–) enhanced oxidative stress responses, morphological changes, and apoptosis. Furthermore, an extensive bio-informatic analysis describing the predicted Pho, Fur, and NtcA regulons (involved in the survival of cells to P, Fe, and N limitation) was made using the complete genome of Halothece sp. as a model, showing the potential of this strain to adapt to different nutrient regimes (P, Fe, or N).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Fernández-Juárez
- Marine Ecology and Systematics (MarES), Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
| | | | - Antoni Sureda-Gomila
- Research Group on Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress, University of the Balearic Islands and CIBEROBN (Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición), Palma, Spain
| | - Guillem Ramis-Munar
- Cellomic Unit of University Institute of Research in Health Sciences of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
| | - Nona S R Agawin
- Marine Ecology and Systematics (MarES), Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ma R, Wang B, Chua ET, Zhao X, Lu K, Ho SH, Shi X, Liu L, Xie Y, Lu Y, Chen J. Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Microalgae for Enhanced Co-Production of Multiple Compounds. Mar Drugs 2020; 18:md18090467. [PMID: 32948074 PMCID: PMC7551828 DOI: 10.3390/md18090467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine microalgae are regarded as potential feedstock because of their multiple valuable compounds, including lipids, pigments, carbohydrates, and proteins. Some of these compounds exhibit attractive bioactivities, such as carotenoids, ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, polysaccharides, and peptides. However, the production cost of bioactive compounds is quite high, due to the low contents in marine microalgae. Comprehensive utilization of marine microalgae for multiple compounds production instead of the sole product can be an efficient way to increase the economic feasibility of bioactive compounds production and improve the production efficiency. This paper discusses the metabolic network of marine microalgal compounds, and indicates their interaction in biosynthesis pathways. Furthermore, potential applications of co-production of multiple compounds under various cultivation conditions by shifting metabolic flux are discussed, and cultivation strategies based on environmental and/or nutrient conditions are proposed to improve the co-production. Moreover, biorefinery techniques for the integral use of microalgal biomass are summarized. These techniques include the co-extraction of multiple bioactive compounds from marine microalgae by conventional methods, super/subcritical fluids, and ionic liquids, as well as direct utilization and biochemical or thermochemical conversion of microalgal residues. Overall, this review sheds light on the potential of the comprehensive utilization of marine microalgae for improving bioeconomy in practical industrial application.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruijuan Ma
- Technical Innovation Service Platform for High Value and High Quality Utilization of Marine Organism, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (R.M.); (K.L.); (S.-H.H.); (X.S.); (L.L.)
- Fujian Engineering and Technology Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Products Waste, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Fuzhou Industrial Technology Innovation Center for High Value Utilization of Marine Products, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Baobei Wang
- College of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou 362000, China;
| | - Elvis T. Chua
- Algae Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Xurui Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China; (X.Z.); (Y.L.)
| | - Kongyong Lu
- Technical Innovation Service Platform for High Value and High Quality Utilization of Marine Organism, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (R.M.); (K.L.); (S.-H.H.); (X.S.); (L.L.)
- Fujian Engineering and Technology Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Products Waste, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Fuzhou Industrial Technology Innovation Center for High Value Utilization of Marine Products, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Shih-Hsin Ho
- Technical Innovation Service Platform for High Value and High Quality Utilization of Marine Organism, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (R.M.); (K.L.); (S.-H.H.); (X.S.); (L.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Xinguo Shi
- Technical Innovation Service Platform for High Value and High Quality Utilization of Marine Organism, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (R.M.); (K.L.); (S.-H.H.); (X.S.); (L.L.)
- Fujian Engineering and Technology Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Products Waste, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Fuzhou Industrial Technology Innovation Center for High Value Utilization of Marine Products, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Lemian Liu
- Technical Innovation Service Platform for High Value and High Quality Utilization of Marine Organism, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (R.M.); (K.L.); (S.-H.H.); (X.S.); (L.L.)
- Fujian Engineering and Technology Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Products Waste, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Fuzhou Industrial Technology Innovation Center for High Value Utilization of Marine Products, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Youping Xie
- Technical Innovation Service Platform for High Value and High Quality Utilization of Marine Organism, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (R.M.); (K.L.); (S.-H.H.); (X.S.); (L.L.)
- Fujian Engineering and Technology Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Products Waste, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Fuzhou Industrial Technology Innovation Center for High Value Utilization of Marine Products, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Correspondence: (Y.X.); (J.C.); Tel.: +86-591-22866373 (Y.X. & J.C.)
| | - Yinghua Lu
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China; (X.Z.); (Y.L.)
| | - Jianfeng Chen
- Technical Innovation Service Platform for High Value and High Quality Utilization of Marine Organism, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (R.M.); (K.L.); (S.-H.H.); (X.S.); (L.L.)
- Fujian Engineering and Technology Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Products Waste, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Fuzhou Industrial Technology Innovation Center for High Value Utilization of Marine Products, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Correspondence: (Y.X.); (J.C.); Tel.: +86-591-22866373 (Y.X. & J.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Assessment of Protein Content and Phosphorylation Level in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 under Various Growth Conditions Using Quantitative Phosphoproteomic Analysis. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25163582. [PMID: 32781706 PMCID: PMC7466104 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25163582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The photosynthetic apparatus and metabolic enzymes of cyanobacteria are subject to various controls, such as transcriptional regulation and post-translational modifications, to ensure that the entire cellular system functions optimally. In particular, phosphorylation plays key roles in many cellular controls such as enzyme activity, signal transduction, and photosynthetic apparatus restructuring. Therefore, elucidating the governing functions of phosphorylation is crucial to understanding the regulatory mechanisms underlying metabolism and photosynthesis. In this study, we determined protein content and phosphorylation levels to reveal the regulation of intracellular metabolism and photosynthesis in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803; for this, we obtained quantitative data of proteins and their phosphorylated forms involved in photosynthesis and metabolism under various growth conditions (photoautotrophic, mixotrophic, heterotrophic, dark, and nitrogen-deprived conditions) using targeted proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses with nano-liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The results indicated that in addition to the regulation of protein expression, the regulation of phosphorylation levels of cyanobacterial photosynthetic apparatus and metabolic enzymes was pivotal for adapting to changing environmental conditions. Furthermore, reduced protein levels of CpcC and altered phosphorylation levels of CpcB, ApcA, OCP, and PsbV contributed to the cellular response of the photosynthesis apparatus to nitrogen deficiency.
Collapse
|
15
|
Hu PP, Hou JY, Xu YL, Niu NN, Zhao C, Lu L, Zhou M, Scheer H, Zhao KH. The role of lyases, NblA and NblB proteins and bilin chromophore transfer in restructuring the cyanobacterial light-harvesting complex ‡. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 102:529-540. [PMID: 31820831 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Phycobilisomes are large light-harvesting complexes attached to the stromal side of thylakoids in cyanobacteria and red algae. They can be remodeled or degraded in response to changing light and nutritional status. Both the core and the peripheral rods of phycobilisomes contain biliproteins. During biliprotein biosynthesis, open-chain tetrapyrrole chromophores are attached covalently to the apoproteins by dedicated lyases. Another set of non-bleaching (Nb) proteins has been implicated in phycobilisome degradation, among them NblA and NblB. We report in vitro experiments with lyases, biliproteins and NblA/B which imply that the situation is more complex than currently discussed: lyases can also detach the chromophores and NblA and NblB can modulate lyase-catalyzed binding and detachment of chromophores in a complex fashion. We show: (i) NblA and NblB can interfere with chromophorylation as well as chromophore detachment of phycobiliprotein, they are generally inhibitors but in some cases enhance the reaction; (ii) NblA and NblB promote dissociation of whole phycobilisomes, cores and, in particular, allophycocyanin trimers; (iii) while NblA and NblB do not interact with each other, both interact with lyases, apo- and holo-biliproteins; (iv) they promote synergistically the lyase-catalyzed chromophorylation of the β-subunit of the major rod component, CPC; and (v) they modulate lyase-catalyzed and lyase-independent chromophore transfers among biliproteins, with the core protein, ApcF, the rod protein, CpcA, and sensory biliproteins (phytochromes, cyanobacteriochromes) acting as potential traps. The results indicate that NblA/B can cooperate with lyases in remodeling the phycobilisomes to balance the metabolic requirements of acclimating their light-harvesting capacity without straining the overall metabolic economy of the cell.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ping-Ping Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070, Wuhan, China
| | - Jian-Yun Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070, Wuhan, China
| | - Ya-Li Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070, Wuhan, China
| | - Nan-Nan Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070, Wuhan, China
| | - Cheng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070, Wuhan, China
| | - Lu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070, Wuhan, China
| | - Ming Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070, Wuhan, China
| | - Hugo Scheer
- Department Biologie I, Universität München, Menzinger Str. 67, D-80638, München, Germany
| | - Kai-Hong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Tanniche I, Collakova E, Denbow C, Senger RS. Characterizing metabolic stress-induced phenotypes of Synechocystis PCC6803 with Raman spectroscopy. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8535. [PMID: 32266110 PMCID: PMC7115747 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During their long evolution, Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 developed a remarkable capacity to acclimate to diverse environmental conditions. In this study, Raman spectroscopy and Raman chemometrics tools (RametrixTM) were employed to investigate the phenotypic changes in response to external stressors and correlate specific Raman bands with their corresponding biomolecules determined with widely used analytical methods. METHODS Synechocystis cells were grown in the presence of (i) acetate (7.5-30 mM), (ii) NaCl (50-150 mM) and (iii) limiting levels of MgSO4 (0-62.5 mM) in BG-11 media. Principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis of PCs (DAPC) were performed with the RametrixTM LITE Toolbox for MATLABⓇ. Next, validation of these models was realized via RametrixTM PRO Toolbox where prediction of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for an unknown Raman spectrum was calculated. These analyses were coupled with statistical tests (ANOVA and pairwise comparison) to determine statistically significant changes in the phenotypic responses. Finally, amino acid and fatty acid levels were measured with well-established analytical methods. The obtained data were correlated with previously established Raman bands assigned to these biomolecules. RESULTS Distinguishable clusters representative of phenotypic responses were observed based on the external stimuli (i.e., acetate, NaCl, MgSO4, and controls grown on BG-11 medium) or its concentration when analyzing separately. For all these cases, RametrixTM PRO was able to predict efficiently the corresponding concentration in the culture media for an unknown Raman spectra with accuracy, sensitivity and specificity exceeding random chance. Finally, correlations (R > 0.7) were observed for all amino acids and fatty acids between well-established analytical methods and Raman bands.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Imen Tanniche
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America
| | - Eva Collakova
- School of Plant & Environmental Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America
| | - Cynthia Denbow
- School of Plant & Environmental Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America
| | - Ryan S. Senger
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Mechanical regulation of photosynthesis in cyanobacteria. Nat Microbiol 2020; 5:757-767. [PMID: 32203409 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-020-0684-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Photosynthetic organisms regulate their responses to many diverse stimuli in an effort to balance light harvesting with utilizable light energy for carbon fixation and growth (source-sink regulation). This balance is critical to prevent the formation of reactive oxygen species that can lead to cell death. However, investigating the molecular mechanisms that underlie the regulation of photosynthesis in cyanobacteria using ensemble-based measurements remains a challenge due to population heterogeneity. Here, to address this problem, we used long-term quantitative time-lapse fluorescence microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, mathematical modelling and genetic manipulation to visualize and analyse the growth and subcellular dynamics of individual wild-type and mutant cyanobacterial cells over multiple generations. We reveal that mechanical confinement of actively growing Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 cells leads to the physical disassociation of phycobilisomes and energetic decoupling from the photosynthetic reaction centres. We suggest that the mechanical regulation of photosynthesis is a critical failsafe that prevents cell expansion when light and nutrients are plentiful, but when space is limiting. These results imply that cyanobacteria must convert a fraction of the available light energy into mechanical energy to overcome frictional forces in the environment, providing insight into the regulation of photosynthesis and how microorganisms navigate their physical environment.
Collapse
|
18
|
Hirai K, Nojo M, Sato Y, Tsuzuki M, Sato N. Contribution of protein synthesis depression to poly-β-hydroxybutyrate accumulation in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 under nutrient-starved conditions. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19944. [PMID: 31882765 PMCID: PMC6934822 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56520-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) in cyanobacteria, which accumulates as energy and carbon sources through the action of photosynthesis, is expected to substitute for petroleum-based plastics. This study first demonstrated that PHB accumulation was induced, with the appearance of lipid droplets, in sulfur (S)-starved cells of a cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, however, to a lower level than in nitrogen (N)- or phosphorus (P)-starved cells. Concomitantly found was repression of the accumulation of total cellular proteins in the S-starved cells to a similar level to that in N-starved cells, and a severer level than in P-starved cells. Intriguingly, PHB accumulation was induced in Synechocystis even under nutrient-replete conditions, upon repression of the accumulation of total cellular proteins through treatment of the wild type cells with a protein synthesis inhibitor, chloramphenicol, or through disruption of the argD gene for Arg synthesis. Meanwhile, the expression of the genes for PHB synthesis was hardly induced in S-starved cells, in contrast to their definite up-regulation in N- or P-starved cells. It therefore seemed that PHB accumulation in S-starved cells is achieved through severe repression of protein synthesis, but is smaller than in N- or P-starved cells, owing to little induction of the expression of PHB synthesis genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kazuho Hirai
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan
| | - Miki Nojo
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan
| | - Yosuke Sato
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan
| | - Mikio Tsuzuki
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan
| | - Norihiro Sato
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0392, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Nagarajan A, Zhou M, Nguyen AY, Liberton M, Kedia K, Shi T, Piehowski P, Shukla A, Fillmore TL, Nicora C, Smith RD, Koppenaal DW, Jacobs JM, Pakrasi HB. Proteomic Insights into Phycobilisome Degradation, A Selective and Tightly Controlled Process in The Fast-Growing Cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9080374. [PMID: 31426316 PMCID: PMC6722726 DOI: 10.3390/biom9080374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Phycobilisomes (PBSs) are large (3-5 megadalton) pigment-protein complexes in cyanobacteria that associate with thylakoid membranes and harvest light primarily for photosystem II. PBSs consist of highly ordered assemblies of pigmented phycobiliproteins (PBPs) and linker proteins that can account for up to half of the soluble protein in cells. Cyanobacteria adjust to changing environmental conditions by modulating PBS size and number. In response to nutrient depletion such as nitrogen (N) deprivation, PBSs are degraded in an extensive, tightly controlled, and reversible process. In Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973, a fast-growing cyanobacterium with a doubling time of two hours, the process of PBS degradation is very rapid, with 80% of PBSs per cell degraded in six hours under optimal light and CO2 conditions. Proteomic analysis during PBS degradation and re-synthesis revealed multiple proteoforms of PBPs with partially degraded phycocyanobilin (PCB) pigments. NblA, a small proteolysis adaptor essential for PBS degradation, was characterized and validated with targeted mass spectrometry. NblA levels rose from essentially 0 to 25,000 copies per cell within 30 min of N depletion, and correlated with the rate of decrease in phycocyanin (PC). Implications of this correlation on the overall mechanism of PBS degradation during N deprivation are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aparna Nagarajan
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Mowei Zhou
- Environmental and Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
| | - Amelia Y Nguyen
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Michelle Liberton
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Komal Kedia
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
| | - Tujin Shi
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
| | - Paul Piehowski
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
| | - Anil Shukla
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
| | - Thomas L Fillmore
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
| | - Carrie Nicora
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
| | - Richard D Smith
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
| | - David W Koppenaal
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
| | - Jon M Jacobs
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
| | - Himadri B Pakrasi
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Forchhammer K, Schwarz R. Nitrogen chlorosis in unicellular cyanobacteria – a developmental program for surviving nitrogen deprivation. Environ Microbiol 2018; 21:1173-1184. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karl Forchhammer
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University Tübingen Auf der Morgenstelle 28, 72076 Tübingen Germany
| | - Rakefet Schwarz
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life SciencesBar‐Ilan University Ramat‐Gan 5290002 Israel
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Radioprotective role of cyanobacterial phycobilisomes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 2018; 1860:121-128. [PMID: 30465750 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2018.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are thought to be responsible for pioneering dioxygen production and the so-called "Great Oxygenation Event" that determined the formation of the ozone layer and the ionosphere restricting ionizing radiation levels reaching our planet, which increased biological diversity but also abolished the necessity of radioprotection. We speculated that ancient protection mechanisms could still be present in cyanobacteria and studied the effect of ionizing radiation and space flight during the Foton-M4 mission on Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. Spectral and functional characteristics of photosynthetic membranes revealed numerous similarities of the effects of α-particles and space flight, which both interrupted excitation energy transfer from phycobilisomes to the photosystems and significantly reduced the concentration of phycobiliproteins. Although photosynthetic activity was severely suppressed, the effect was reversible, and the cells could rapidly recover from the stress. We suggest that the actual existence and the uncoupling of phycobilisomes may play a specific role not only in photo-, but also in radioprotection, which could be crucial for the early evolution of Life on Earth.
Collapse
|
22
|
Sengupta A, Sunder AV, Sohoni SV, Wangikar PP. The effect of CO 2 in enhancing photosynthetic cofactor recycling for alcohol dehydrogenase mediated chiral synthesis in cyanobacteria. J Biotechnol 2018; 289:1-6. [PMID: 30412731 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2018.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The light harvesting photosystem in cyanobacteria offers a potential pathway for the regeneration of the nicotinamide cofactor NADPH, thereby facilitating the application of cyanobacteria as excellent whole cell biocatalysts in oxidoreductase-mediated biotransformation. The use of cyanobacterial metabolism for cofactor recycling improves the atom economy of the process compared to the commonly employed enzyme-coupled cofactor recycling using enzymes such as glucose dehydrogenase. Here we report the asymmetric conversion of acetophenone to chiral 1-phenylethanol by recombinant Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 whole cell biocatalyst that expresses the NADPH dependent L. kefir alcohol dehydrogenase. Besides light, it was observed that carbon dioxide levels play a critical role in improving the bioconversion efficiency possibly due to the enhanced growth rate and improved cofactor availability at elevated CO2 levels. Complete reduction of acetophenone to optically pure (R)-1-phenylethanol at 99% enantiomeric excess was achieved within 6 h with a relatively low cell density of 0.66 g/l by coupling optimum light and CO2 levels and without the need for a co-substrate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annesha Sengupta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076 India
| | - Avinash Vellore Sunder
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076 India
| | - Sujata V Sohoni
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076 India
| | - Pramod P Wangikar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076 India; DBT-Pan IIT Centre for Bioenergy, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076 India; Wadhwani Research Centre for Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076 India.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Velmurugan R, Incharoensakdi A. Disruption of Polyhydroxybutyrate Synthesis Redirects Carbon Flow towards Glycogen Synthesis in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 Overexpressing glgC/glgA. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 59:2020-2029. [PMID: 29931091 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcy121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The photoautotrophic Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (hereafter Synechocystis) is known for its α-polyglucan (glycogen) synthesis to serve as a carbon storage compound. In this study, the glgC- and glgA-overexpressing Synechocystis strain with the disruption of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthesis (▴GCAX-ΔBK) showed an increased glycogen production. This engineered strain had a high glycogen content of 38.3% (g g-1 dry cell weight) as compared with 27.4% in the phaA knockout strain (ΔBK) and 34.8% in the glgC/glgA-overexpressing strain (▴GCAX) after 20 d growth. Under nitrogen-deprived growth conditions for 3 d, the ▴GCAX-ΔBK strain showed a further increase in glycogen content from 27.0% to 36.0%. Furthermore, the engineered strains grown under ionic, osmotic or oxidative stress conditions had an increase of glycogen accumulation, whereas no increase was observed in the wild type. The maximum glycogen content was 54.0% in the ▴GCAX-ΔBK strain treated with 3 mM H2O2. The overall results indicated that in the absence of PHB synthesis, Synechocystis cells redirected the carbon flow towards the synthesis of glycogen as an alternative physiological responsive compound especially under stress conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rajendran Velmurugan
- Department of Biochemistry, Cyanobacterial Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Aran Incharoensakdi
- Department of Biochemistry, Cyanobacterial Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Comparative Targeted Proteomics of the Central Metabolism and Photosystems in SigE Mutant Strains of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23051051. [PMID: 29723969 PMCID: PMC6102573 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23051051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A targeted proteome analysis was conducted to investigate the SigE dependent-regulation of central metabolism in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 by directly comparing the protein abundance profiles among the wild type, a sigE deletion mutant (ΔsigE), and a sigE over-expression (sigEox) strains. Expression levels of 112 target proteins, including the central metabolism related-enzymes and the subunits of the photosystems, were determined by quantifying the tryptic peptides in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode of liquid-chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Comparison with gene-expression data showed that although the abundance of Gnd protein was closely correlated with that of gnd mRNA, there were poor correlations for GdhA/gdhA and glycogen degradation-related genes such as GlgX/glgX and GlgP/glgP pairs. These results suggested that the regulation of protein translation and degradation played a role in regulating protein abundance. The protein abundance profile suggested that SigE overexpression reduced the proteins involved in photosynthesis and increased GdhA abundance, which is involved in the nitrogen assimilation pathway using NADPH. The results obtained in this study successfully demonstrated that targeted proteome analysis enables direct comparison of the abundance of central metabolism- and photosystem-related proteins.
Collapse
|
25
|
Sato N, Kamimura R, Kaneta K, Yoshikawa M, Tsuzuki M. Species-specific roles of sulfolipid metabolism in acclimation of photosynthetic microbes to sulfur-starvation stress. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186154. [PMID: 29023570 PMCID: PMC5638391 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Photosynthetic organisms utilize sulfate for the synthesis of sulfur-compounds including proteins and a sulfolipid, sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol. Upon ambient deficiency in sulfate, cells of a green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, degrade the chloroplast membrane sulfolipid to ensure an intracellular-sulfur source for necessary protein synthesis. Here, the effects of sulfate-starvation on the sulfolipid stability were investigated in another green alga, Chlorella kessleri, and two cyanobacteria, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. The results showed that sulfolipid degradation was induced only in C. kessleri, raising the possibility that this degradation ability was obtained not by cyanobacteria, but by eukaryotic algae during the evolution of photosynthetic organisms. Meanwhile, Synechococcus disruptants concerning sqdB and sqdX genes, which are involved in successive reactions in the sulfolipid synthesis pathway, were respectively characterized in cellular response to sulfate-starvation. Phycobilisome degradation intrinsic to Synechococcus, but not to Synechocystis, and cell growth under sulfate-starved conditions were repressed in the sqdB and sqdX disruptants, respectively, relative to in the wild type. Their distinct phenotypes, despite the common loss of the sulfolipid, inferred specific roles of sqdB and sqdX. This study demonstrated that sulfolipid metabolism might have been developed to enable species- or cyanobacterial-strain dependent processes for acclimation to sulfate-starvation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Norihiro Sato
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
- JST, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Ryohei Kamimura
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kodai Kaneta
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Misato Yoshikawa
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mikio Tsuzuki
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
- JST, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Chaurasia N, Mishra Y, Chatterjee A, Rai R, Yadav S, Rai LC. Overexpression of phytochelatin synthase (pcs) enhances abiotic stress tolerance by altering the proteome of transformed Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. PROTOPLASMA 2017; 254:1715-1724. [PMID: 28000119 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-016-1059-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The present study provides data on the insertion of an extra copy of phytochelatin synthase (alr0975) in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. The recombinant strain (AnFPN-pcs) compared to wild type showed approximately 22.3% increase in growth rate under UV-B, NaCl, heat, CuCl2, carbofuran, and CdCl2. It also registered 2.25-fold enhanced nitrogenase activity and 5-fold higher phytochelatin production. A comparison of the protein profile of wild type with the recombinant strain revealed that recombinant strain accumulated proteins belonging to the following categories: (i) detoxification (nutrient stress induced DNA binding protein, Mn-SOD, Alr0946 (CalA)), (ii) protein folding and modification (molecular chaperone DnaK, FKBP-type peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase), (iii) nucleotide and amino acid biosynthesis (dihydroorotase and Ketol-acid reductoisomerase), (iv) photosynthesis and respiration (coproporphyrinogen III oxidase, phycocyanin alpha chain, ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase), and (v) transport (sugar transport ATP-binding protein). Thus, it can be concluded that, above category proteins with their respective role in scavenging reactive oxygen species, proper folding of unfolded proteins, and protection of protein from degradation, sustained carbon fixation and energy pool and active transport of sugar together conceivably help the recombinant cyanobacterium (AnFPN-pcs) to cope with abiotic stress employed in the present study. Such recombinant strains have potential for future use as biofertilizer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neha Chaurasia
- Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Algal Biology, Center of Advanced Study in Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, 793022, India
| | - Yogesh Mishra
- Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Algal Biology, Center of Advanced Study in Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Antra Chatterjee
- Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Algal Biology, Center of Advanced Study in Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Ruchi Rai
- Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Algal Biology, Center of Advanced Study in Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Shivam Yadav
- Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Algal Biology, Center of Advanced Study in Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - L C Rai
- Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Algal Biology, Center of Advanced Study in Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Nikolova D, Weber D, Scholz M, Bald T, Scharsack JP, Hippler M. Temperature-Induced Remodeling of the Photosynthetic Machinery Tunes Photosynthesis in the Thermophilic Alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2017; 174:35-46. [PMID: 28270628 PMCID: PMC5411153 DOI: 10.1104/pp.17.00110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 03/04/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The thermophilic alga C. merolae thrives in extreme environments (low pH and temperature between 40°C and 56°C). In this study, we investigated the acclimation process of the alga to a colder temperature (25°C). A long-term cell growth experiment revealed an extensive remodeling of the photosynthetic apparatus in the first 250 h of acclimation, which was followed by cell growth to an even higher density than the control (grown at 42°C) cell density. Once the cells were shifted to the lower temperature, the proteins of the light-harvesting antenna were greatly down-regulated and the phycobilisome composition was altered. The amount of PSI and PSII subunits was also decreased, but the chlorophyll to photosystems ratio remained unchanged. The 25°C cells possessed a less efficient photon-to-oxygen conversion rate and require a 2.5 times higher light intensity to reach maximum photosynthetic efficiency. With respect to chlorophyll, however, the photosynthetic oxygen evolution rate of the 25°C culture was 2 times higher than the control. Quantitative proteomics revealed that acclimation requires, besides remodeling of the photosynthetic apparatus, also adjustment of the machinery for protein folding, degradation, and homeostasis. In summary, these remodeling processes tuned photosynthesis according to the demands placed on the system and revealed the capability of C. merolae to grow under a broad range of temperatures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denitsa Nikolova
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (D.N., D.W., M.S., T.B., M.H.), Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity (J.P.S.), University of Münster, 48143 Münster, Germany
| | - Dieter Weber
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (D.N., D.W., M.S., T.B., M.H.), Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity (J.P.S.), University of Münster, 48143 Münster, Germany
| | - Martin Scholz
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (D.N., D.W., M.S., T.B., M.H.), Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity (J.P.S.), University of Münster, 48143 Münster, Germany
| | - Till Bald
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (D.N., D.W., M.S., T.B., M.H.), Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity (J.P.S.), University of Münster, 48143 Münster, Germany
| | - Jörn Peter Scharsack
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (D.N., D.W., M.S., T.B., M.H.), Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity (J.P.S.), University of Münster, 48143 Münster, Germany
| | - Michael Hippler
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (D.N., D.W., M.S., T.B., M.H.), Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity (J.P.S.), University of Münster, 48143 Münster, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Rai V, Muthuraj M, Gandhi MN, Das D, Srivastava S. Real-time iTRAQ-based proteome profiling revealed the central metabolism involved in nitrogen starvation induced lipid accumulation in microalgae. Sci Rep 2017; 7:45732. [PMID: 28378827 PMCID: PMC5381106 DOI: 10.1038/srep45732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
To understand the post-transcriptional molecular mechanisms attributing to oleaginousness in microalgae challenged with nitrogen starvation (N-starvation), the longitudinal proteome dynamics of Chlorella sp. FC2 IITG was investigated using multipronged quantitative proteomics and multiple reaction monitoring assays. Physiological data suggested a remarkably enhanced lipid accumulation with concomitant reduction in carbon flux towards carbohydrate, protein and chlorophyll biosynthesis. The proteomics-based investigations identified the down-regulation of enzymes involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis (porphobilinogen deaminase) and photosynthetic carbon fixation (sedoheptulose-1,7 bisphosphate and phosphoribulokinase). Profound up-regulation of hydroxyacyl-ACP dehydrogenase and enoyl-ACP reductase ascertained lipid accumulation. The carbon skeletons to be integrated into lipid precursors were regenerated by glycolysis, β-oxidation and TCA cycle. The enhanced expression of glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway enzymes indicates heightened energy needs of FC2 cells for the sustenance of N-starvation. FC2 cells strategically reserved nitrogen by incorporating it into the TCA-cycle intermediates to form amino acids; particularly the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of glutamate, aspartate and arginine were up-regulated. Regulation of arginine, superoxide dismutase, thioredoxin-peroxiredoxin, lipocalin, serine-hydroxymethyltransferase, cysteine synthase, and octanoyltransferase play a critical role in maintaining cellular homeostasis during N-starvation. These findings may provide a rationale for genetic engineering of microalgae, which may enable synchronized biomass and lipid synthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vineeta Rai
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Wadhwani Research Center for Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, Maharashtra, India
| | - Muthusivaramapandian Muthuraj
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Centre for Energy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Mayuri N. Gandhi
- Centre for Research in Nanotechnology & Science, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India
| | - Debasish Das
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Centre for Energy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
- DBT PAN IIT Centre for Bioenergy, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Powai - 400067, India
| | - Sanjeeva Srivastava
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Wadhwani Research Center for Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, Maharashtra, India
- DBT PAN IIT Centre for Bioenergy, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Powai - 400067, India
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Nguyen AY, Bricker WP, Zhang H, Weisz DA, Gross ML, Pakrasi HB. The proteolysis adaptor, NblA, binds to the N-terminus of β-phycocyanin: Implications for the mechanism of phycobilisome degradation. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2017; 132:95-106. [PMID: 28078551 PMCID: PMC5576716 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-016-0334-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Phycobilisome (PBS) complexes are massive light-harvesting apparati in cyanobacteria that capture and funnel light energy to the photosystem. PBS complexes are dynamically degraded during nutrient deprivation, which causes severe chlorosis, and resynthesized during nutrient repletion. PBS degradation occurs rapidly after nutrient step down, and is specifically triggered by non-bleaching protein A (NblA), a small proteolysis adaptor that facilitates interactions between a Clp chaperone and phycobiliproteins. Little is known about the mode of action of NblA during PBS degradation. In this study, we used chemical cross-linking coupled with LC-MS/MS to investigate the interactions between NblA and phycobiliproteins. An isotopically coded BS3 cross-linker captured a protein interaction between NblA and β-phycocyanin (PC). LC-MS/MS analysis identified the amino acid residues participating in the binding reaction, and demonstrated that K52 in NblA is cross-linked to T2 in β-PC. These results were modeled onto the existing crystal structures of NblA and PC by protein docking simulations. Our data indicate that the C-terminus of NblA fits in an open groove of β-PC, a region located inside the central hollow cavity of a PC rod. NblA may mediate PBS degradation by disrupting the structural integrity of the PC rod from within the rod. In addition, M1-K44 and M1-K52 cross-links between the N-terminus of NblA and the C-terminus of NblA are consistent with the NblA crystal structure, confirming that the purified NblA is structurally and biologically relevant. These findings provide direct evidence that NblA physically interacts with β-PC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amelia Y Nguyen
- Department of Biology, Washington University, Campus Box 1095, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130-4899, USA
- US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW (MC-7403M), Washington, DC, 20460, USA
| | - William P Bricker
- Laboratory for Computational Biology & Biophysics, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Daniel A Weisz
- Department of Biology, Washington University, Campus Box 1095, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130-4899, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Michael L Gross
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Himadri B Pakrasi
- Department of Biology, Washington University, Campus Box 1095, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130-4899, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Vajravel S, Kovács L, Kis M, Rehman AU, Vass I, Gombos Z, Toth TN. β-Carotene influences the phycobilisome antenna of cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2016; 130:403-415. [PMID: 27165097 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-016-0273-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the relation between the carotenoid composition and the structure of phycobilisome (PBS) antenna of cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. PBS is a large soluble protein complex enhances the light harvesting efficiency of the cells. It is composed of a central allophycocyanin core and radial phycocyanin rods, but it does not contain carotenoids. However, the absence or low level of carotenoids were previously shown to lead the co-existence of unconnected rod units and assembled PBS with shorter peripheral rods. Here we show that the lack of β-carotene, but not of xanthophylls or the distortion of photosystem structure, evoked unconnected rods. Thus, these essential β-carotene molecules are not bound by Photosystem I or Photosystem II. Our results do not show correlation between the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and PBS distortion despite the higher singlet oxygen producing capacity and light sensitivity of the mutant cells. Reduced cellular level of those linker proteins attaching the rod units together was also observed, but the direct damage of the linkers by ROS are not supported by our data. Enzymatic PBS proteolysis induced by nitrogen starvation in carotenoid mutant cells revealed a retarded degradation of the unconnected rod units.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sindhujaa Vajravel
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 521, Szeged, 6701, Hungary
| | - László Kovács
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 521, Szeged, 6701, Hungary
| | - Mihály Kis
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 521, Szeged, 6701, Hungary
| | - Ateeq Ur Rehman
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 521, Szeged, 6701, Hungary
| | - Imre Vass
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 521, Szeged, 6701, Hungary
| | - Zoltan Gombos
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 521, Szeged, 6701, Hungary
| | - Tunde N Toth
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 521, Szeged, 6701, Hungary.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Al-Haj L, Lui YT, Abed RMM, Gomaa MA, Purton S. Cyanobacteria as Chassis for Industrial Biotechnology: Progress and Prospects. Life (Basel) 2016; 6:life6040042. [PMID: 27916886 PMCID: PMC5198077 DOI: 10.3390/life6040042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Revised: 11/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria hold significant potential as industrial biotechnology (IB) platforms for the production of a wide variety of bio-products ranging from biofuels such as hydrogen, alcohols and isoprenoids, to high-value bioactive and recombinant proteins. Underpinning this technology, are the recent advances in cyanobacterial “omics” research, the development of improved genetic engineering tools for key species, and the emerging field of cyanobacterial synthetic biology. These approaches enabled the development of elaborate metabolic engineering programs aimed at creating designer strains tailored for different IB applications. In this review, we provide an overview of the current status of the fields of cyanobacterial omics and genetic engineering with specific focus on the current molecular tools and technologies that have been developed in the past five years. The paper concludes by giving insights on future commercial applications of cyanobacteria and highlights the challenges that need to be addressed in order to make cyanobacterial industrial biotechnology more feasible in the near future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lamya Al-Haj
- Biology Department, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khoud, P.O. Box 36, Muscat 123, Oman.
| | - Yuen Tin Lui
- Institute of Structural & Molecular Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - Raeid M M Abed
- Biology Department, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khoud, P.O. Box 36, Muscat 123, Oman.
| | - Mohamed A Gomaa
- Biology Department, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khoud, P.O. Box 36, Muscat 123, Oman.
| | - Saul Purton
- Institute of Structural & Molecular Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Klotz A, Georg J, Bučinská L, Watanabe S, Reimann V, Januszewski W, Sobotka R, Jendrossek D, Hess W, Forchhammer K. Awakening of a Dormant Cyanobacterium from Nitrogen Chlorosis Reveals a Genetically Determined Program. Curr Biol 2016; 26:2862-2872. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.08.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
|
33
|
Namakoshi K, Nakajima T, Yoshikawa K, Toya Y, Shimizu H. Combinatorial deletions of glgC and phaCE enhance ethanol production in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. J Biotechnol 2016; 239:13-19. [PMID: 27693092 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Revised: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is an attractive host for bio-ethanol production. In the present study, a nitrogen starvation approach was applied on an ethanol producing strain for inhibiting the growth, since ethanol production competes with the cell growth. The effect of gene deletions in the glycogen and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthesis pathways was investigated. Measurements of intracellular glycogen and PHB revealed that the glycogen was accumulated under the nitrogen starvation condition and the gene deletion of glycogen synthesis pathway caused the accumulation of PHB. The ethanol producing strain harboring deletions for both the glycogen and the PHB synthesis pathways (ΔglgCΔphaCE/EtOH) produced ethanol at the specific rate of 240mgg (dry cell weight)-1 day-1 under the nitrogen starvation condition. In a high cell density culture (OD730=50) using this ΔglgCΔphaCE/EtOH strain, the ethanol production rates were 1.08 and 2.01gL-1 day-1 under light conditions of 40 and 80μmolm-2s-1, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katsunori Namakoshi
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, 1-5 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tubasa Nakajima
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, 1-5 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Katsunori Yoshikawa
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, 1-5 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Toya
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, 1-5 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Shimizu
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, 1-5 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Wang J, Chen L, Chen Z, Zhang W. RNA-seq based transcriptomic analysis of single bacterial cells. Integr Biol (Camb) 2016; 7:1466-76. [PMID: 26331465 DOI: 10.1039/c5ib00191a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Gene-expression heterogeneity among individual cells determines the fate of a bacterial population. Here we report the first bacterial single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), BaSiC RNA-seq, a method integrating RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis and amplification, and RNA-seq analysis of the whole transcriptome of single cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 cells which typically contain approximately 5-7 femtogram total RNA per cell. We applied the method to 3 Synechocystis single cells at 24 h and 3 single cells at 72 h after nitrogen-starvation stress treatment, as well as their bulk-cell controls under the same conditions, to determine the heterogeneity upon environmental stress. With 82-98% and 31-48% of all putative Synechocystis genes identified in single cells of 24 and 72 h, respectively, the results demonstrated that the method could achieve good identification of the transcripts in single bacterial cells. In addition, the preliminary results from nitrogen-starved cells also showed a possible increasing gene-expression heterogeneity from 24 h to 72 h after nitrogen starvation stress. Moreover, preliminary analysis of single-cell transcriptomic datasets revealed that genes from the "Mobile elements" functional category have the most significant increase of gene-expression heterogeneity upon stress, which was further confirmed by single-cell RT-qPCR analysis of gene expression in 24 randomly selected cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiangxin Wang
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China. and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China
| | - Lei Chen
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China. and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China
| | - Zixi Chen
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China. and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China
| | - Weiwen Zhang
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China. and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Zhao LS, Su HN, Li K, Xie BB, Liu LN, Zhang XY, Chen XL, Huang F, Zhou BC, Zhang YZ. Supramolecular architecture of photosynthetic membrane in red algae in response to nitrogen starvation. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 2016; 1857:1751-1758. [PMID: 27528560 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2016.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 08/06/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The availability of nitrogen is one of the most important determinants that can limit the growth of photosynthetic organisms including plants and algae; however, direct observations on the supramolecular architecture of photosynthetic membranes in response to nitrogen stress are still lacking. Red algae are an important evolutionary group of algae which contain phycobilisomes (PBSs) on their thylakoid membranes, as do cyanobacteria. PBSs function not only as light-harvesting antennae but also as nitrogen storage. In this report, alterations of the supramolecular architecture of thylakoid membranes from red alga Porphyridium cruentum during nitrogen starvation were characterized. The morphology of the intact thylakoid membrane was observed to be round vesicles. Thylakoid membranes were reduced in content and PBSs were degraded during nitrogen starvation. The size and density of PBSs were both found to be reduced. PBS size decreased by less than one-half after 20days of nitrogen starvation, but their hemispherical morphology was retained. The density of PBSs on thylakoid membranes was more seriously affected as time proceeded. Upon re-addition of nitrogen led to increasing of PBSs on thylakoid membranes. This work reports the first direct observation on alterations in the supramolecular architecture of thylakoid membranes from a photosynthetic organism in response to nitrogen stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Long-Sheng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Hai-Nan Su
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.
| | - Kang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Bin-Bin Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Lu-Ning Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Xi-Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Xiu-Lan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Feng Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Bai-Cheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Yu-Zhong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Antal T, Kurkela J, Parikainen M, Kårlund A, Hakkila K, Tyystjärvi E, Tyystjärvi T. Roles of Group 2 Sigma Factors in Acclimation of the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to Nitrogen Deficiency. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 57:1309-1318. [PMID: 27095737 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcw079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Acclimation of cyanobacteria to environmental conditions is mainly controlled at the transcriptional level, and σ factors of the RNA polymerase have a central role in this process. The model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 has four non-essential group 2 σ factors (SigB, SigC, SigD and SigE) that regulate global metabolic responses to various adverse environmental conditions. Here we show that although none of the group 2 σ factors is essential for the major metabolic realignments induced by a short period of nitrogen starvation, the quadruple mutant without any group 2 σ factors and triple mutants missing both SigB and SigD grow slowly in BG-11 medium containing only 5% of the nitrate present in standard BG-11. These ΔsigBCDE, ΔsigBCD and ΔsigBDE strains lost PSII activity rapidly in low nitrogen and accumulated less glycogen than the control strain. An abnormally high glycogen content was detected in ΔsigBCE (SigD is active), while the carotenoid content became high in ΔsigCDE (SigB is active), indicating that SigB and SigD regulate the partitioning of carbon skeletons in low nitrogen. Long-term survival and recovery of the cells after nitrogen deficiency was strongly dependent on group 2 σ factors. The quadruple mutant and the ΔsigBDE strain (only SigC is active) recovered more slowly from nitrogen deficiency than the control strain, and ΔsigBCDE in particular lost viability during nitrogen starvation. Nitrogen deficiency-induced changes in the pigment content of the control strain recovered essentially in 1 d in nitrogen-replete medium, but little recovery occurred in ΔsigBCDE and ΔsigBDE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taras Antal
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Vorobyevi Gory 119992, Moscow, Russia
| | - Juha Kurkela
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
| | | | - Anna Kårlund
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Kaisa Hakkila
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Esa Tyystjärvi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Taina Tyystjärvi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Expanding the Role of FurA as Essential Global Regulator in Cyanobacteria. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151384. [PMID: 26967347 PMCID: PMC4788461 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In the nitrogen-fixing heterocyst-forming cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120, the ferric uptake regulator FurA plays a global regulatory role. Failures to eliminate wild-type copies of furA gene from the polyploid genome suggest essential functions. In the present study, we developed a selectively regulated furA expression system by the replacement of furA promoter in the Anabaena sp. chromosomes with the Co2+/Zn2+ inducible coaT promoter from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. By removing Co2+ and Zn2+ from the medium and shutting off furA expression, we showed that FurA was absolutely required for cyanobacterial growth. RNA-seq based comparative transcriptome analyses of the furA-turning off strain and its parental wild-type in conjunction with subsequent electrophoretic mobility shift assays and semi-quantitative RT-PCR were carried out in order to identify direct transcriptional targets and unravel new biological roles of FurA. The results of such approaches led us to identify 15 novel direct iron-dependent transcriptional targets belonging to different functional categories including detoxification and defences against oxidative stress, phycobilisome degradation, chlorophyll catabolism and programmed cell death, light sensing and response, heterocyst differentiation, exopolysaccharide biosynthesis, among others. Our analyses evidence novel interactions in the complex regulatory network orchestrated by FurA in cyanobacteria.
Collapse
|
38
|
Kuwahara A, Arisaka S, Takeya M, Iijima H, Hirai MY, Osanai T. Modification of photosynthetic electron transport and amino acid levels by overexpression of a circadian-related histidine kinase hik8 in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1150. [PMID: 26539179 PMCID: PMC4611142 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria perform oxygenic photosynthesis, and the maintenance of photosynthetic electron transport chains is indispensable to their survival in various environmental conditions. Photosynthetic electron transport in cyanobacteria can be studied through genetic analysis because of the natural competence of cyanobacteria. We here show that a strain overexpressing hik8, a histidine kinase gene related to the circadian clock, exhibits an altered photosynthetic electron transport chain in the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Respiratory activity was down-regulated under nitrogen-replete conditions. Photosynthetic activity was slightly lower in the hik8-overexpressing strain than in the wild-type after nitrogen depletion, and the values of photosynthetic parameters were altered by hik8 overexpression under nitrogen-replete and nitrogen-depleted conditions. Transcripts of genes encoding Photosystem I and II were increased by hik8 overexpression under nitrogen-replete conditions. Nitrogen starvation triggers increase in amino acids but the magnitude of the increase in several amino acids was diminished by hik8 overexpression. These genetic data indicate that Hik8 regulates the photosynthetic electron transport, which in turn alters primary metabolism during nitrogen starvation in this cyanobacterium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ayuko Kuwahara
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource ScienceYokohama, Japan
| | - Satomi Arisaka
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, School of Agriculture, Meiji UniversityKawasaki, Japan
| | - Masahiro Takeya
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, School of Agriculture, Meiji UniversityKawasaki, Japan
| | - Hiroko Iijima
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, School of Agriculture, Meiji UniversityKawasaki, Japan
| | | | - Takashi Osanai
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource ScienceYokohama, Japan
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, School of Agriculture, Meiji UniversityKawasaki, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Sendersky E, Kozer N, Levi M, Moizik M, Garini Y, Shav-Tal Y, Schwarz R. The proteolysis adaptor, NblA, is essential for degradation of the core pigment of the cyanobacterial light-harvesting complex. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 83:845-852. [PMID: 26173720 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Revised: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The cyanobacterial light-harvesting complex, the phycobilisome, is degraded under nutrient limitation, allowing the cell to adjust light absorbance to its metabolic capacity. This large light-harvesting antenna comprises a core complex of the pigment allophycocyanin, and rod-shaped pigment assemblies emanating from the core. NblA, a low-molecular-weight protein, is essential for degradation of the phycobilisome. NblA mutants exhibit high absorbance of rod pigments under conditions that generally elicit phycobilisome degradation, implicating NblA in degradation of these pigments. However, the vast abundance of rod pigments and the substantial overlap between the absorbance spectra of rod and core pigments has made it difficult to directly associate NblA with proteolysis of the phycobilisome core. Furthermore, lack of allophycocyanin degradation in an NblA mutant may reflect a requirement for rod degradation preceding core degradation, and does not prove direct involvement of NblA in proteolysis of the core pigment. Therefore, in this study, we used a mutant lacking phycocyanin, the rod pigment of Synechococcus elongatusPCC7942, to examine whether NblA is required for allophycocyanin degradation. We demonstrate that NblA is essential for degradation of the core complex of the phycobilisome. Furthermore, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy provided in situ evidence for the interaction of NblA with allophycocyanin, and indicated that NblA interacts with allophycocyanin complexes that are associated with the photosynthetic membranes. Based on these data, as well as previous observations indicating interaction of NblA with phycobilisomes attached to the photosynthetic membranes, we suggest a model for sequential phycobilisome disassembly by NblA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Sendersky
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Noga Kozer
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Mali Levi
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Michael Moizik
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Yuval Garini
- Physics Department, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Yaron Shav-Tal
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Rakefet Schwarz
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Badri H, Monsieurs P, Coninx I, Nauts R, Wattiez R, Leys N. Temporal Gene Expression of the Cyanobacterium Arthrospira in Response to Gamma Rays. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135565. [PMID: 26308624 PMCID: PMC4550399 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The edible cyanobacterium Arthrospira is resistant to ionising radiation. The cellular mechanisms underlying this radiation resistance are, however, still largely unknown. Therefore, additional molecular analysis was performed to investigate how these cells can escape from, protect against, or repair the radiation damage. Arthrospira cells were shortly exposed to different doses of 60Co gamma rays and the dynamic response was investigated by monitoring its gene expression and cell physiology at different time points after irradiation. The results revealed a fast switch from an active growth state to a kind of 'survival modus' during which the cells put photosynthesis, carbon and nitrogen assimilation on hold and activate pathways for cellular protection, detoxification, and repair. The higher the radiation dose, the more pronounced this global emergency response is expressed. Genes repressed during early response, suggested a reduction of photosystem II and I activity and reduced tricarboxylic acid (TCA) and Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycles, combined with an activation of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). For reactive oxygen species detoxification and restoration of the redox balance in Arthrospira cells, the results suggested a powerful contribution of the antioxidant molecule glutathione. The repair mechanisms of Arthrospira cells that were immediately switched on, involve mainly proteases for damaged protein removal, single strand DNA repair and restriction modification systems, while recA was not induced. Additionally, the exposed cells showed significant increased expression of arh genes, coding for a novel group of protein of unknown function, also seen in our previous irradiation studies. This observation confirms our hypothesis that arh genes are key elements in radiation resistance of Arthrospira, requiring further investigation. This study provides new insights into phasic response and the cellular pathways involved in the radiation resistance of microbial cells, in particularly for photosynthetic organisms as the cyanobacterium Arthrospira.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanène Badri
- Expert Groups for Molecular and Cellular Biology and Biosphere Impact Studies, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK•CEN, Mol, Belgium
- Proteomics and Microbiology Group, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Pieter Monsieurs
- Expert Groups for Molecular and Cellular Biology and Biosphere Impact Studies, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK•CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Ilse Coninx
- Expert Groups for Molecular and Cellular Biology and Biosphere Impact Studies, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK•CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Robin Nauts
- Expert Groups for Molecular and Cellular Biology and Biosphere Impact Studies, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK•CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - Ruddy Wattiez
- Proteomics and Microbiology Group, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Natalie Leys
- Expert Groups for Molecular and Cellular Biology and Biosphere Impact Studies, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK•CEN, Mol, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Work VH, Melnicki MR, Hill EA, Davies FK, Kucek LA, Beliaev AS, Posewitz MC. Lauric Acid Production in a Glycogen-Less Strain of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2015; 3:48. [PMID: 25964950 PMCID: PMC4408914 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2015.00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2014] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. Pasteur culture collection 7002 was genetically engineered to synthesize biofuel-compatible medium-chain fatty acids (FAs) during photoautotrophic growth. Expression of a heterologous lauroyl-acyl carrier protein (C12:0-ACP) thioesterase with concurrent deletion of the endogenous putative acyl-ACP synthetase led to secretion of transesterifiable C12:0 FA in CO2-supplemented batch cultures. When grown at steady state over a range of light intensities in a light-emitting diode turbidostat photobioreactor, the C12-secreting mutant exhibited a modest reduction in growth rate and increased O2 evolution relative to the wild-type (WT). Inhibition of (i) glycogen synthesis by deletion of the glgC-encoded ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) and (ii) protein synthesis by nitrogen deprivation were investigated as potential mechanisms for metabolite redistribution to increase FA synthesis. Deletion of AGPase led to a 10-fold decrease in reducing carbohydrates and secretion of organic acids during nitrogen deprivation consistent with an energy spilling phenotype. When the carbohydrate-deficient background (ΔglgC) was modified for C12 secretion, no increase in C12 was achieved during nutrient replete growth, and no C12 was recovered from any strain upon nitrogen deprivation under the conditions used. At steady state, the growth rate of the ΔglgC strain saturated at a lower light intensity than the WT, but O2 evolution was not compromised and became increasingly decoupled from growth rate with rising irradiance. Photophysiological properties of the ΔglgC strain suggest energy dissipation from photosystem II and reconfiguration of electron flow at the level of the plastoquinone pool.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria H. Work
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Division, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
| | - Matthew R. Melnicki
- Microbiology Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Eric A. Hill
- Microbiology Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Fiona K. Davies
- Department of Chemistry and Geochemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
| | - Leo A. Kucek
- Microbiology Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | | | - Matthew C. Posewitz
- Department of Chemistry and Geochemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Sendersky E, Kozer N, Levi M, Garini Y, Shav-Tal Y, Schwarz R. The proteolysis adaptor, NblA, initiates protein pigment degradation by interacting with the cyanobacterial light-harvesting complexes. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2014; 79:118-126. [PMID: 24798071 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2014] [Revised: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/25/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Degradation of the cyanobacterial protein pigment complexes, the phycobilisomes, is a central acclimation response that controls light energy capture. The small protein, NblA, is essential for proteolysis of these large complexes, which may reach a molecular mass of up to 4 MDa. Interactions of NblA in vitro supported the suggestion that NblA is a proteolysis adaptor that labels the pigment proteins for degradation. The mode of operation of NblA in situ, however, remained unresolved. Particularly, it was unclear whether NblA interacts with phycobilisome proteins while part of the large complex, or alternatively interaction with NblA, necessitates dissociation of pigment subunits from the assembly. Fluorescence intensity profiles demonstrated the preferential presence of NblA::GFP (green fluorescent protein) at the photosynthetic membranes, indicating co-localization with phycobilisomes. Furthermore, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy provided in situ evidence for interaction of NblA with phycobilisome protein pigments. Additionally, we demonstrated the role of NblA in vivo as a proteolysis tag based on the rapid degradation of the fusion protein NblA::GFP compared with free GFP. Taken together, these observations demonstrated in vivo the role of NblA as a proteolysis adaptor. Additionally, the interaction of NblA with phycobilisomes indicates that the dissociation of protein pigment subunits from the large complex is not a prerequisite for interaction with this adaptor and, furthermore, implicates NblA in the disassembly of the protein pigment complex. Thus, we suggest that, in the case of proteolysis of the phycobilisome, the adaptor serves a dual function: undermining the complex stability and designating the dissociated pigments for degradation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Sendersky
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Kiyota H, Hirai MY, Ikeuchi M. NblA1/A2-Dependent Homeostasis of Amino Acid Pools during Nitrogen Starvation in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Metabolites 2014; 4:517-31. [PMID: 24983765 PMCID: PMC4192677 DOI: 10.3390/metabo4030517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2014] [Revised: 06/14/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Nutrient balance is important for photosynthetic growth and biomass production in microalgae. Here, we investigated and compared metabolic responses of amino acid pools to nitrogen and sulfur starvation in a unicellular model cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, and its mutant nblA1/A2. It is known that NblA1/A2-dependent and -independent breakdown of abundant photosynthetic phycobiliproteins and other cellular proteins supply nutrients to the organism. However, the contribution of the NblA1/A2-dependent nutrient supply to amino acid pool homeostasis has not been studied. Our study demonstrates that changes in the pool size of many amino acids during nitrogen starvation can be categorized as NblA1/A2-dependent (Gln, Glu, glutathione, Gly, Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Tyr and Val) and NblA1/A2-independent (Ala, Asn, Lys, and Trp). We also report unique changes in amino acid pool sizes during sulfur starvation in wild type and the mutant and found a generally marked increase in the Lys pool in cyanobacteria during nutrient starvation. In conclusion, the NblA1/A2-dependent protein turnover contributes to the maintenance of many amino acid pools during nitrogen starvation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kiyota
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Masami Yokota Hirai
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan.
| | - Masahiko Ikeuchi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Deschoenmaeker F, Facchini R, Leroy B, Badri H, Zhang CC, Wattiez R. Proteomic and cellular views of Arthrospira sp. PCC 8005 adaptation to nitrogen depletion. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2014; 160:1224-1236. [PMID: 24648480 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.074641-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotes that play a crucial role in the Earth's nitrogen and carbon cycles. Nitrogen availability is one of the most important factors in cyanobacterial growth. Interestingly, filamentous non-diazotrophic cyanobacteria, such as Arthrospira sp. PCC 8005, have developed survival strategies that enable them to adapt to nitrogen deprivation. Metabolic studies recently demonstrated a substantial synthesis and accumulation of glycogen derived from amino acids during nitrogen starvation. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanism of this adaptation is poorly understood. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first proteomic and cellular analysis of Arthrospira sp. PCC 8005 under nitrogen depletion. Label-free differential proteomic analysis indicated the global carbon and nitrogen reprogramming of the cells during nitrogen depletion as characterized by an upregulation of glycogen synthesis and the use of endogenous nitrogen sources. The degradation of proteins and cyanophycin provided endogenous nitrogen when exogenous nitrogen was limited. Moreover, formamides, cyanates and urea were also potential endogenous nitrogen sources. The transporters of some amino acids and alternative nitrogen sources such as ammonium permease 1 were induced under nitrogen depletion. Intriguingly, although Arthrospira is a non-diazotrophic cyanobacterium, we observed the upregulation of HetR and HglK proteins, which are involved in heterocyst differentiation. Moreover, after a long period without nitrate, only a few highly fluorescent cells in each trichome were observed, and they might be involved in the long-term survival mechanism of this non-diazotrophic cyanobacterium under nitrogen deprivation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Deschoenmaeker
- Department of Proteomics and Microbiology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Raphaël Facchini
- Department of Proteomics and Microbiology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Baptiste Leroy
- Department of Proteomics and Microbiology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Hanène Badri
- Expert Group for Molecular and Cellular Biology MCB, Belgian Nuclear Research Center SCK.CEN, B-2400 Mol, Belgium.,Department of Proteomics and Microbiology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - C-C Zhang
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, CNRS-UMR 7283, Aix-Marseille Université, 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France
| | - Ruddy Wattiez
- Department of Proteomics and Microbiology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Rajeev L, da Rocha UN, Klitgord N, Luning EG, Fortney J, Axen SD, Shih PM, Bouskill NJ, Bowen BP, Kerfeld CA, Garcia-Pichel F, Brodie EL, Northen TR, Mukhopadhyay A. Dynamic cyanobacterial response to hydration and dehydration in a desert biological soil crust. ISME JOURNAL 2013; 7:2178-91. [PMID: 23739051 PMCID: PMC3806265 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2013.83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2013] [Accepted: 04/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Biological soil crusts (BSCs) cover extensive portions of the earth's deserts. In order to survive desiccation cycles and utilize short periods of activity during infrequent precipitation, crust microorganisms must rely on the unique capabilities of vegetative cells to enter a dormant state and be poised for rapid resuscitation upon wetting. To elucidate the key events involved in the exit from dormancy, we performed a wetting experiment of a BSC and followed the response of the dominant cyanobacterium, Microcoleus vaginatus, in situ using a whole-genome transcriptional time course that included two diel cycles. Immediate, but transient, induction of DNA repair and regulatory genes signaled the hydration event. Recovery of photosynthesis occurred within 1 h, accompanied by upregulation of anabolic pathways. Onset of desiccation was characterized by the induction of genes for oxidative and photo-oxidative stress responses, osmotic stress response and the synthesis of C and N storage polymers. Early expression of genes for the production of exopolysaccharides, additional storage molecules and genes for membrane unsaturation occurred before drying and hints at preparedness for desiccation. We also observed signatures of preparation for future precipitation, notably the expression of genes for anaplerotic reactions in drying crusts, and the stable maintenance of mRNA through dormancy. These data shed light on possible synchronization between this cyanobacterium and its environment, and provides key mechanistic insights into its metabolism in situ that may be used to predict its response to climate, and or, land-use driven perturbations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lara Rajeev
- Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Yoshida-Takashima Y, Yoshida M, Ogata H, Nagasaki K, Hiroishi S, Yoshida T. Cyanophage infection in the bloom-forming cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa in surface freshwater. Microbes Environ 2012; 27:350-5. [PMID: 23047146 PMCID: PMC4103541 DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.me12037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Host-like genes are often found in viral genomes. To date, multiple host-like genes involved in photosynthesis and the pentose phosphate pathway have been found in phages of marine cyanobacteria Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus. These gene products are predicted to redirect host metabolism to deoxynucleotide biosynthesis for phage replication while maintaining photosynthesis. A cyanophage, Ma-LMM01, infecting the toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa, was isolated from a eutrophic freshwater lake and assigned as a member of a new lineage of the Myoviridae family. The genome encodes a host-like NblA. Cyanobacterial NblA is known to be involved in the degradation of the major light harvesting complex, the phycobilisomes. Ma-LMM01 nblA gene showed an early expression pattern and was highly transcribed during phage infection. We speculate that the co-option of nblA into Microcystis phages provides a significant fitness advantage to phages by preventing photoinhibition during infection and possibly represents an important part of the co-evolutionary interactions between cyanobacteria and their phages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yukari Yoshida-Takashima
- Subsurface Geobiology Advanced Research Team, Extremobiosphere Research Program, Institute of Biogeosciences, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, 2–15 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237–0061, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Ludwig M, Bryant DA. Acclimation of the Global Transcriptome of the Cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. Strain PCC 7002 to Nutrient Limitations and Different Nitrogen Sources. Front Microbiol 2012; 3:145. [PMID: 22514553 PMCID: PMC3323872 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2012] [Accepted: 03/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The unicellular, euryhaline cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002 is a model organism for laboratory-based studies of cyanobacterial metabolism and is a potential platform for biotechnological applications. Two of its most notable properties are its exceptional tolerance of high-light intensity and very rapid growth under optimal conditions. In this study, transcription profiling by RNAseq has been used to perform an integrated study of global changes in transcript levels in cells subjected to limitation for the major nutrients CO2, nitrogen, sulfate, phosphate, and iron. Transcriptional patterns for cells grown on nitrate, ammonia, and urea were also studied. Nutrient limitation caused strong decreases of transcript levels of the genes encoding major metabolic pathways, especially for components of the photosynthetic apparatus, CO2 fixation, and protein biosynthesis. Uptake mechanisms for the respective nutrients were strongly up-regulated. The transcription data further suggest that major changes in the composition of the NADH dehydrogenase complex occur upon nutrient limitation. Transcripts for flavoproteins increased strongly when CO2 was limiting. Genes involved in protection from oxidative stress generally showed high, constitutive transcript levels, which possibly explains the high-light tolerance of this organism. The transcriptomes of cells grown with ammonia or urea as nitrogen source showed increased transcript levels for components of the CO2 fixation machinery compared to cells grown with nitrate, but in general transcription differences in cells grown on different N-sources exhibited surprisingly minor differences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Ludwig
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Chen Y, Holtman CK, Taton A, Golden SS. Functional Analysis of the Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 Genome. FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS AND EVOLUTION OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC SYSTEMS 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-1533-2_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
49
|
Shi X, Lin LI, Chen SY, Chao SH, Zhang W, Meldrum DR. Real-time PCR of single bacterial cells on an array of adhering droplets. LAB ON A CHIP 2011; 11:2276-2281. [PMID: 21607246 DOI: 10.1039/c1lc20207c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Real-time PCR at the single bacterial cell level is an indispensable tool to quantitatively reveal the heterogeneity of isogenetic cells. Conventional PCR platforms that utilize microtiter plates or PCR tubes have been widely used, but their large reaction volumes are not suited for sensitive single-cell analysis. Microfluidic devices provide high density, low volume PCR chambers, but they are usually expensive and require dedicated equipment to manipulate liquid and perform detection. To address these limitations, we developed an inexpensive chip-level device that is compatible with a commercial real-time PCR thermal cycler to perform quantitative PCR for single bacterial cells. The chip contains twelve surface-adhering droplets, defined by hydrophilic patterning, that serve as real-time PCR reaction chambers when they are immersed in oil. A one-step process that premixed reagents with cell medium before loading was applied, so no on-chip liquid manipulation and DNA purification were needed. To validate its application for genetic analysis, Synechocystis PCC 6803 cells were loaded on the chip from 1000 cells to one cell per droplet, and their 16S rRNA gene (two copies per cell) was analyzed on a commercially available ABI StepOne real-time PCR thermal cycler. The result showed that the device is capable of genetic analysis at single bacterial cell level with C(q) standard deviation less than 1.05 cycles. The successful rate of this chip-based operation is more than 85% at the single bacterial cell level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xu Shi
- Center for Biosignatures Discovery Automation, Arizona State University, PO Box 876501. Tempe, AZ, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Sulfate-driven elemental sparing is regulated at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels in a filamentous cyanobacterium. J Bacteriol 2011; 193:1449-60. [PMID: 21239582 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00885-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sulfur is an essential nutrient that can exist at growth-limiting concentrations in freshwater environments. The freshwater cyanobacterium Fremyella diplosiphon (also known as Tolypothrix sp. PCC 7601) is capable of remodeling the composition of its light-harvesting antennae, or phycobilisomes, in response to changes in the sulfur levels in its environment. Depletion of sulfur causes these cells to cease the accumulation of two forms of a major phycobilisome protein called phycocyanin and initiate the production of a third form of phycocyanin, which possesses a minimal number of sulfur-containing amino acids. Since phycobilisomes make up approximately 50% of the total protein in these cells, this elemental sparing response has the potential to significantly influence the fitness of this species under low-sulfur conditions. This response is specific for sulfate and occurs over the physiological range of sulfate concentrations likely to be encountered by this organism in its natural environment. F. diplosiphon has two separate sulfur deprivation responses, with low sulfate levels activating the phycobilisome remodeling response and low sulfur levels activating the chlorosis or bleaching response. The phycobilisome remodeling response results from changes in RNA abundance that are regulated at both the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. The potential of this response, and the more general bleaching response of cyanobacteria, to provide sulfur-containing amino acids during periods of sulfur deprivation is examined.
Collapse
|