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Hemmann JL, Brühwiler MR, Bortfeld-Miller M, Vorholt JA. Structural diversity of the coenzyme methylofuran and identification of enzymes for the biosynthesis of its polyglutamate side chain. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100682. [PMID: 33894199 PMCID: PMC8141765 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylofuran (MYFR) is a formyl-carrying coenzyme essential for the oxidation of formaldehyde in most methylotrophic bacteria. In Methylorubrum extorquens, MYFR contains a large and branched polyglutamate side chain of up to 24 glutamates. These glutamates play an essential role in interfacing the coenzyme with the formyltransferase/hydrolase complex, an enzyme that generates formate. To date, MYFR has not been identified in other methylotrophs, and it is unknown whether its structural features are conserved. Here, we examined nine bacterial strains for the presence and structure of MYFR using high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Two of the strains produced MYFR as present in M. extorquens, while a modified MYFR containing tyramine instead of tyrosine in its core structure was detected in six strains. When M. extorquens was grown in the presence of tyramine, the compound was readily incorporated into MYFR, indicating that the biosynthetic enzymes are unable to discriminate tyrosine from tyramine. Using gene deletions in combination with LC-MS analyses, we identified three genes, orf5, orfY, and orf17 that are essential for MYFR biosynthesis. Notably, the orfY and orf5 mutants accumulated short MYFR intermediates with only one and two glutamates, respectively, suggesting that these enzymes catalyze glutamate addition. Upon homologous overexpression of orf5, a drastic increase in the number of glutamates in MYFR was observed (up to 40 glutamates), further corroborating the function of Orf5 as a glutamate ligase. We thus renamed OrfY and Orf5 to MyfA and MyfB to highlight that these enzymes are specifically involved in MYFR biosynthesis.
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Shao Y, Wang Y, Zhao R, Chen J, Zhang F, Linhardt RJ, Zhong W. Biotechnology progress for removal of indoor gaseous formaldehyde. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:3715-3727. [PMID: 32172323 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10514-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Formaldehyde is a ubiquitous carcinogenic indoor pollutant. The treatment of formaldehyde has attracted increasing social attention. Over the past few decades, an increasing number of publications have reported approaches for removing indoor formaldehyde. These potential strategies include physical adsorption, chemical catalysis, and biodegradation. Although physical adsorption is widely used, it does not really remove pollution. Chemical catalysis is very efficient but adds the risk of introducing secondary pollutants. Biological removal strategies have attracted more research attention than the first two methods, because it is more efficient, clean, and economical. Plants and bacteria are the common organisms used in formaldehyde removal. However, both have limitations and shortcomings when used alone. This review discusses the mechanisms, applications, and improvements of existing biological methods for the removal of indoor gaseous formaldehyde. A combination strategy relying on plants, bacteria, and physical adsorbents exhibits best ability to remove formaldehyde efficiently, economically, and safely. When this combination system is integrated with a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and cooling (HVAC) system, a practical combined system can be established in formaldehyde removal. Multivariate interactions of biological and non-biological factors are needed for the future development of indoor formaldehyde removal. KEY POINTS: • Indoor gaseous formaldehyde removal is necessary especially for new residence. • Biological removal strategies have attracted increasing research attentions. • Combined system of plants, bacteria, and physical adsorbents exhibits best efficiency. • Integrated device of biological and non-biological factors will be potential practical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhai Shao
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanxin Wang
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Zhao
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianmen Chen
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuming Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Robert J Linhardt
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Weihong Zhong
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, People's Republic of China.
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Engineering unnatural methylotrophic cell factories for methanol-based biomanufacturing: Challenges and opportunities. Biotechnol Adv 2020; 39:107467. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2019.107467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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4
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Adam PS, Borrel G, Gribaldo S. An archaeal origin of the Wood–Ljungdahl H4MPT branch and the emergence of bacterial methylotrophy. Nat Microbiol 2019; 4:2155-2163. [DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0534-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Burton M, Abanobi C, Wang KTC, Ma Y, Rasche ME. Substrate Specificity Analysis of Dihydrofolate/Dihydromethanopterin Reductase Homologs in Methylotrophic α-Proteobacteria. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2439. [PMID: 30364315 PMCID: PMC6193120 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Methane-producing archaea and methylotrophic bacteria use tetrahydromethanopterin (H4MPT) and/or tetrahydrofolate (H4F) as coenzymes in one-carbon (C1) transfer pathways. The α-proteobacterium Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 contains a dihydromethanopterin reductase (DmrA) and two annotated dihydrofolate reductases (DfrA and DfrB). DmrA has been shown to catalyze the final step of H4MPT biosynthesis; however, the functions of DfrA and DfrB have not been examined biochemically. Moreover, sequence alignment (BLAST) searches have recognized scores of proteins that share up to 99% identity with DmrA but are annotated as diacylglycerol kinases (DAGK). In this work, we used bioinformatics and enzyme assays to provide insight into the phylogeny and substrate specificity of selected Dfr and DmrA homologs. In a phylogenetic tree, DmrA and homologs annotated as DAGKs grouped together in one clade. Purified histidine-tagged versions of the annotated DAGKs from Hyphomicrobium nitrativorans and M. nodulans (respectively, sharing 69 and 84% identity with DmrA) showed only low activity in phosphorylating 1,2-dihexanoyl-sn-glycerol when compared with a commercial DAGK from Escherichia coli. However, the annotated DAGKs successfully reduced a dihydromethanopterin analog (dihydrosarcinapterin, H2SPT) with kinetic values similar to those determined for M. extorquens AM1 DmrA. DfrA and DfrB showed little or no ability to reduce H2SPT under the conditions studied; however, both catalyzed the NADPH-dependent reduction of dihydrofolate. These results provide the first evidence that DfrA and DfrB function as authentic dihydrofolate reductases, while DAGKs with greater than 69% identity to DmrA may be misannotated and are likely to function in H4MPT biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Burton
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Applied Biotechnology Studies, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, United States
| | - Chidinma Abanobi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Applied Biotechnology Studies, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, United States
| | - Kate Tzu-Chi Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Applied Biotechnology Studies, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, United States
| | - Yihua Ma
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Applied Biotechnology Studies, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, United States
| | - Madeline E Rasche
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Applied Biotechnology Studies, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, United States
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6
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Ochsner AM, Sonntag F, Buchhaupt M, Schrader J, Vorholt JA. Methylobacterium extorquens: methylotrophy and biotechnological applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 99:517-34. [PMID: 25432674 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-6240-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Revised: 11/14/2014] [Accepted: 11/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Methylotrophy is the ability to use reduced one-carbon compounds, such as methanol, as a single source of carbon and energy. Methanol is, due to its availability and potential for production from renewable resources, a valuable feedstock for biotechnology. Nature offers a variety of methylotrophic microorganisms that differ in their metabolism and represent resources for engineering of value-added products from methanol. The most extensively studied methylotroph is the Alphaproteobacterium Methylobacterium extorquens. Over the past five decades, the metabolism of M. extorquens has been investigated physiologically, biochemically, and more recently, using complementary omics technologies such as transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and fluxomics. These approaches, together with a genome-scale metabolic model, facilitate system-wide studies and the development of rational strategies for the successful generation of desired products from methanol. This review summarizes the knowledge of methylotrophy in M. extorquens, as well as the available tools and biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M Ochsner
- Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
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7
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Bobik TA, Morales EJ, Shin A, Cascio D, Sawaya MR, Arbing M, Yeates TO, Rasche ME. Structure of the methanofuran/methanopterin-biosynthetic enzyme MJ1099 from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2014; 70:1472-9. [PMID: 25372812 PMCID: PMC4231847 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x1402130x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Prior studies have indicated that MJ1099 from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii has roles in the biosynthesis of tetrahydromethanopterin and methanofuran, two key cofactors of one-carbon (C1) metabolism in diverse organisms including the methanogenic archaea. Here, the structure of MJ1099 has been solved to 1.7 Å resolution using anomalous scattering methods. The results indicate that MJ1099 is a member of the TIM-barrel superfamily and that it is a homohexamer. Bioinformatic analyses identified a potential active site that is highly conserved among MJ1099 homologs and the key amino acids involved were identified. The results presented here should guide further studies of MJ1099 including mechanistic studies and possibly the development of inhibitors that target the methanogenic archaea in the digestive tracts of humans and that are a source of the greenhouse gas methane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A. Bobik
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Erick J. Morales
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92834, USA
| | - Annie Shin
- Department of Energy Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Duilio Cascio
- Department of Energy Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Michael R. Sawaya
- Department of Energy Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Mark Arbing
- Department of Energy Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Todd O. Yeates
- Department of Energy Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Madeline E. Rasche
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92834, USA
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Oka N, Kajino R, Takeuchi K, Nagakawa H, Ando K. α-Selective Ribofuranosylation of Alcohols with Ribofuranosyl Iodides and Triphenylphosphine Oxide. J Org Chem 2014; 79:7656-64. [DOI: 10.1021/jo500632h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Natsuhisa Oka
- Department of Chemistry and
Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University, 1-1
Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
| | - Rin Kajino
- Department of Chemistry and
Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University, 1-1
Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
| | - Kaoru Takeuchi
- Department of Chemistry and
Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University, 1-1
Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
| | - Haruna Nagakawa
- Department of Chemistry and
Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University, 1-1
Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
| | - Kaori Ando
- Department of Chemistry and
Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University, 1-1
Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
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9
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Discovery and characterization of the first archaeal dihydromethanopterin reductase, an iron-sulfur flavoprotein from Methanosarcina mazei. J Bacteriol 2013; 196:203-9. [PMID: 23995635 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00457-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The microbial production of methane by methanogenic archaea is dependent on the synthesis of the pterin-containing cofactor tetrahydromethanopterin (H4MPT). The enzyme catalyzing the last step of H4MPT biosynthesis (dihydromethanopterin reductase) has not previously been identified in methane-producing microorganisms. Previous complementation studies with the methylotrophic bacterium Methylobacterium extorquens have indicated that an uncharacterized archaeal-flavoprotein-like flavoprotein (AfpA) from Methylobacillus flagellatus or Burkholderia xenovorans can replace the activity of a phylogenetically unrelated bacterial dihydromethanopterin reductase (DmrA). We propose that MM1854, a homolog of AfpA from Methanosarcina mazei, catalyzes the last step of H4MPT biosynthesis in methane-producing microorganisms. To test this hypothesis, a six-histidine (His6)-tagged version of MM1854 was produced. Bioinformatic analysis revealed the presence of one flavin mononucleotide (FMN)-binding site and two iron-sulfur cluster sites, consistent with an oxidoreductase enzyme. Purified His6-MM1854 occurred as a homodimer of 29-kDa subunits, and the UV-visible spectrum of the purified protein showed absorbance peaks at 380 and 460 nm, characteristic of oxidized FMN. NAD(P)H was incapable of directly reducing the flavin cofactor, but dithionite eliminated the FMN peaks, indicating successful electron transfer to MM1854. An electron transfer system of NADPH, spinach NADPH-ferredoxin oxidoreductase, and ferredoxin could also reduce the FMN peaks. A newly developed assay indicated that dithiothreitol-reduced MM1854 could transfer electrons to dihydromethanopterin. This assay was also effective with a heat-stable DmrX analog from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (MJ0208). These results provide the first biochemical evidence that MM1854 and MJ0208 function as archaeal dihydromethanopterin reductases (DmrX) and that ferredoxin may serve as an electron donor.
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Matsen JB, Yang S, Stein LY, Beck D, Kalyuzhnaya MG. Global Molecular Analyses of Methane Metabolism in Methanotrophic Alphaproteobacterium, Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. Part I: Transcriptomic Study. Front Microbiol 2013; 4:40. [PMID: 23565111 PMCID: PMC3615186 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2013] [Accepted: 02/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Methane utilizing bacteria (methanotrophs) are important in both environmental and biotechnological applications, due to their ability to convert methane to multicarbon compounds. However, systems-level studies of methane metabolism have not been carried out in methanotrophs. In this work we have integrated genomic and transcriptomic information to provide an overview of central metabolic pathways for methane utilization in Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, a model alphaproteobacterial methanotroph. Particulate methane monooxygenase, PQQ-dependent methanol dehydrogenase, the H4MPT-pathway, and NAD-dependent formate dehydrogenase are involved in methane oxidation to CO2. All genes essential for operation of the serine cycle, the ethylmalonyl-CoA (EMC) pathway, and the citric acid (TCA) cycle were expressed. PEP-pyruvate-oxaloacetate interconversions may have a function in regulation and balancing carbon between the serine cycle and the EMC pathway. A set of transaminases may contribute to carbon partitioning between the pathways. Metabolic pathways for acquisition and/or assimilation of nitrogen and iron are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet B Matsen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington Seattle, WA, USA
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11
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12
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Fosmids of novel marine Planctomycetes from the Namibian and Oregon coast upwelling systems and their cross-comparison with planctomycete genomes. ISME JOURNAL 2007; 1:419-35. [DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2007.63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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13
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Testani JM, Dabelic R, Rasche ME. Chemical reduction of pterins to dihydropterins as substrates for enzymatic reactions. Anal Biochem 2006; 358:20-4. [PMID: 16962549 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2006.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2006] [Revised: 07/18/2006] [Accepted: 08/01/2006] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Dihydropterins are important intermediates in various metabolic pathways, including the biosynthesis of tetrahydrofolate and tetrahydromethanopterin, a key coenzyme in the one-carbon metabolism of methanogenic Archaea. Some procedures for the reduction of pterins to dihydropterins may produce undesirable tetrahydropterin contaminants. This work describes a procedure for the rapid reduction of pterins to dihydropterins while minimizing tetrahydropterin production that may be particularly useful in producing substrates for enzyme reactions when the dihydropterin substrate cannot be purchased commercially.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Testani
- University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Kalyuzhnaya MG, Chistoserdova L. Community-level analysis: genes encoding methanopterin-dependent enzymes. Methods Enzymol 2005; 397:443-54. [PMID: 16260308 DOI: 10.1016/s0076-6879(05)97027-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
This chapter describes a set of novel tools for the environmental detection of C1 transfer functions linked to the cofactor methanopterin. These tools include degenerate environmental primers targeting four of the most conserved genes in the methanopterin-linked C1 transfer pathway in bacteria, fae, mtdB, mch, and fhcD, and extensive databases of the respective genes. The tools described are suitable for detecting methanopterin-linked formaldehyde-oxidizing capacity in natural microbial communities and for determining the phylogenetic affiliations of major phyla involved in single-carbon cycling in the environment. The range of detection includes a variety of methano- and methylotrophic groups, other proteobacterial species capable of methanopterin-mediated reactions, and a variety of planctomycetes, as well as groups of microbes with currently unknown phylogenetic affiliations.
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15
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Vorholt JA, Kalyuzhnaya MG, Hagemeier CH, Lidstrom ME, Chistoserdova L. MtdC, a novel class of methylene tetrahydromethanopterin dehydrogenases. J Bacteriol 2005; 187:6069-74. [PMID: 16109948 PMCID: PMC1196156 DOI: 10.1128/jb.187.17.6069-6074.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel methylene tetrahydromethanopterin (H4MPT) dehydrogenase enzymes, named MtdC, were purified after expressing in Escherichia coli genes from, respectively, Gemmata sp. strain Wa1-1 and environmental DNA originating from unidentified microbial species. The MtdC enzymes were shown to possess high affinities for methylene-H4MPT and NADP but low affinities for methylene tetrahydrofolate or NAD. The substrate range and the kinetic properties revealed by MtdC enzymes distinguish them from the previously characterized bacterial methylene-H4MPT dehydrogenases, MtdA and MtdB. While revealing higher sequence similarity to MtdA enzymes, MtdC enzymes appear to fulfill a function homologous to the function of MtdB, as part of the H4MPT-linked pathway for formaldehyde oxidation/detoxification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia A Vorholt
- Laboratorie des Interactions Plantes-Microorganismes, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
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16
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Kalyuzhnaya MG, Korotkova N, Crowther G, Marx CJ, Lidstrom ME, Chistoserdova L. Analysis of gene islands involved in methanopterin-linked C1 transfer reactions reveals new functions and provides evolutionary insights. J Bacteriol 2005; 187:4607-14. [PMID: 15968072 PMCID: PMC1151760 DOI: 10.1128/jb.187.13.4607-4614.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, the occurrence and chromosomal clustering of genes encoding C(1) transfer reactions linked to tetrahydromethanopterin (H(4)MPT) were analyzed in a variety of proteobacteria and in representatives of the Planctomycetes via genomic analysis or via partial sequencing by cosmid walking. Although a tendency for clustering was found common for the genes of interest, significant variations in gene order and the degree of clustering were uncovered both between and within different groups of Proteobacteria and between Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that the evolution of genes encoding H(4)MPT-linked reactions in Proteobacteria involved lateral transfers within Proteobacteria and possibly between Proteobacteria and other phyla. Gene cluster comparisons revealed a number of novel genes potentially involved in the C(1) transfer reactions, and these were analyzed by mutation and expression analyses. Four genes, a homolog of pabB, and three genes conserved between methanogenic Archaea and Bacteria possessing H(4)MPT-linked functions, orfY, orf1, and afpA were shown to be involved in formaldehyde oxidation/detoxification, as judged by specific mutant phenotypes. In particular, pabB contributes to the biosynthesis of para-aminobenzoic acid, a precursor of both tetrahydrofolate and H(4)MPT, and afpA apparently encodes a novel dihydromethanopterin reductase, based on mutant complementation experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina G Kalyuzhnaya
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
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Kalyuzhnaya MG, Nercessian O, Lapidus A, Chistoserdova L. Fishing for biodiversity: novel methanopterin-linked C1 transfer genes deduced from the Sargasso Sea metagenome. Environ Microbiol 2005; 7:1909-16. [PMID: 16309389 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2005.00798.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The recently generated database of microbial genes from an oligotrophic environment populated by a calculated 1800 major phylotypes (the Sargasso Sea metagenome-SSM) presents a great source for expanding local databases of genes indicative of a specific function. In this article we analyse the SSM for the presence of methanopterin-linked C1 transfer genes that are signature for methylotrophy. We conclude that more than 10 phylotypes possessing genes of interest are present in this environment. The sequences representative of these major phylotypes do not appear to belong to any known microbial group capable of methanopterin-linked C1 transfer. Instead, these sequences separate from all known sequences on phylogenetic trees, pointing toward their affiliation with novel microbial phyla. These data imply a broader distribution of methanopterin-linked functions in the microbial world than has been previously known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina G Kalyuzhnaya
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195, USA
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