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Khakimzhan A, Izri Z, Thompson S, Dmytrenko O, Fischer P, Beisel C, Noireaux V. Cell-free expression with a quartz crystal microbalance enables rapid, dynamic, and label-free characterization of membrane-interacting proteins. Commun Biol 2024; 7:1005. [PMID: 39152195 PMCID: PMC11329788 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06690-9] [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: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Integral and interacting membrane proteins (IIMPs) constitute a vast family of biomolecules that perform essential functions in all forms of life. However, characterizing their interactions with lipid bilayers remains limited due to challenges in purifying and reconstituting IIMPs in vitro or labeling IIMPs without disrupting their function in vivo. Here, we report cell-free transcription-translation in a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (TXTL-QCMD) to dynamically characterize interactions between diverse IIMPs and membranes without protein purification or labeling. As part of TXTL-QCMD, IIMPs are synthesized using cell-free transcription-translation (TXTL), and their interactions with supported lipid bilayers are measured using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCMD). TXTL-QCMD reconstitutes known IIMP-membrane dependencies, including specific association with prokaryotic or eukaryotic membranes, and the multiple-IIMP dynamical pattern-forming association of the E. coli division-coordinating proteins MinCDE. Applying TXTL-QCMD to the recently discovered Zorya anti-phage system that is unamenable to labeling, we discovered that ZorA and ZorB integrate within the lipids found at the poles of bacteria while ZorE diffuses freely on the non-pole membrane. These efforts establish the potential of TXTL-QCMD to broadly characterize the large diversity of IIMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aset Khakimzhan
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Ziane Izri
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Seth Thompson
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Oleg Dmytrenko
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Fischer
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Chase Beisel
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080, Würzburg, Germany
- Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Vincent Noireaux
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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2
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Reyes JS, Cortés-Ríos J, Fuentes-Lemus E, Rodriguez-Fernandez M, Davies MJ, López-Alarcón C. Competitive oxidation of key pentose phosphate pathway enzymes modulates the fate of intermediates and NAPDH production. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 222:505-518. [PMID: 38848786 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.05.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
The oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) involving the enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), 6-phosphogluconolactonase (6PGL), and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH), is critical to NADPH generation within cells, with these enzymes catalyzing the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) into ribulose-5-phosphate (Ribu5-P). We have previously studied peroxyl radical (ROO•) mediated oxidative inactivation of E. coli G6PDH, 6PGL, and 6PGDH. However, these data were obtained from experiments where each enzyme was independently exposed to ROO•, a condition not reflecting biological reality. In this work we investigated how NADPH production is modulated when these enzymes are jointly exposed to ROO•. Enzyme mixtures (1:1:1 ratio) were exposed to ROO• produced from thermolysis of 100 mM 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH). NADPH was quantified at 340 nm, and protein oxidation analyzed by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS). The data obtained were rationalized using a mathematical model. The mixture of non-oxidized enzymes, G6P and NADP+ generated ∼175 μM NADPH. Computational simulations showed a constant decrease of G6P associated with NADPH formation, consistent with experimental data. When the enzyme mixture was exposed to AAPH (3 h, 37 °C), lower levels of NADPH were detected (∼100 μM) which also fitted with computational simulations. LC-MS analyses indicated modifications at Tyr, Trp, and Met residues but at lower concentrations than detected for the isolated enzymes. Quantification of NADPH generation showed that the pathway activity was not altered during the initial stages of the oxidations, consistent with a buffering role of G6PDH towards inactivation of the oxidative phase of the pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Sebastián Reyes
- Departamento de Química Física, Escuela de Química, Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
| | - Javiera Cortés-Ríos
- Instituto de Ingeniería Biológica y Médica, Facultades de Ingeniería, Medicina y Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
| | - Eduardo Fuentes-Lemus
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maria Rodriguez-Fernandez
- Instituto de Ingeniería Biológica y Médica, Facultades de Ingeniería, Medicina y Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
| | - Michael J Davies
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Camilo López-Alarcón
- Departamento de Química Física, Escuela de Química, Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile.
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3
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Valenzuela C, Saucedo S, Llano M. Schlafen14 Impairs HIV-1 Expression in a Codon Usage-Dependent Manner. Viruses 2024; 16:502. [PMID: 38675845 PMCID: PMC11054720 DOI: 10.3390/v16040502] [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: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Schlafen (SLFN) is a family of proteins upregulated by type I interferons with a regulatory role in translation. Intriguingly, SLFN14 associates with the ribosome and can degrade rRNA, tRNA, and mRNA in vitro, but a role in translation is still unknown. Ribosomes are important regulatory hubs during translation elongation of mRNAs rich in rare codons. Therefore, we evaluated the potential role of SLFN14 in the expression of mRNAs enriched in rare codons, using HIV-1 genes as a model. We found that, in a variety of cell types, including primary immune cells, SLFN14 regulates the expression of HIV-1 and non-viral genes based on their codon adaptation index, a measurement of the synonymous codon usage bias; consequently, SLFN14 inhibits the replication of HIV-1. The potent inhibitory effect of SLFN14 on the expression of the rare codon-rich transcript HIV-1 Gag was minimized by codon optimization. Mechanistically, we found that the endoribonuclease activity of SLFN14 is required, and that ribosomal RNA degradation is involved. Therefore, we propose that SLFN14 impairs the expression of HIV-1 transcripts rich in rare codons, in a catalytic-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Valenzuela
- Biological Sciences Department, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA;
| | - Sergio Saucedo
- Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79905, USA;
| | - Manuel Llano
- Biological Sciences Department, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA;
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4
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Aseev LV, Koledinskaya LS, Boni IV. Extraribosomal Functions of Bacterial Ribosomal Proteins-An Update, 2023. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2957. [PMID: 38474204 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Ribosomal proteins (r-proteins) are abundant, highly conserved, and multifaceted cellular proteins in all domains of life. Most r-proteins have RNA-binding properties and can form protein-protein contacts. Bacterial r-proteins govern the co-transcriptional rRNA folding during ribosome assembly and participate in the formation of the ribosome functional sites, such as the mRNA-binding site, tRNA-binding sites, the peptidyl transferase center, and the protein exit tunnel. In addition to their primary role in a cell as integral components of the protein synthesis machinery, many r-proteins can function beyond the ribosome (the phenomenon known as moonlighting), acting either as individual regulatory proteins or in complexes with various cellular components. The extraribosomal activities of r-proteins have been studied over the decades. In the past decade, our understanding of r-protein functions has advanced significantly due to intensive studies on ribosomes and gene expression mechanisms not only in model bacteria like Escherichia coli or Bacillus subtilis but also in little-explored bacterial species from various phyla. The aim of this review is to update information on the multiple functions of r-proteins in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonid V Aseev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Irina V Boni
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia
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5
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Masse M, Hutchinson RB, Morgan CE, Allaman HJ, Guan H, Yu EW, Cavagnero S. Mapping Protein-Protein Interactions at Birth: Single-Particle Cryo-EM Analysis of a Ribosome-Nascent Globin Complex. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2024; 10:385-401. [PMID: 38435509 PMCID: PMC10906257 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c00777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Interactions between ribosome-bound nascent chains (RNCs) and ribosomal components are critical to elucidate the mechanism of cotranslational protein folding. Nascent protein-ribosome contacts within the ribosomal exit tunnel were previously assessed mostly in the presence of C-terminal stalling sequences, yet little is known about contacts taking place in the absence of these strongly interacting motifs. Further, there is nearly no information about ribosomal proteins (r-proteins) interacting with nascent chains within the outer surface of the ribosome. Here, we combine chemical cross-linking, single-particle cryo-EM, and fluorescence anisotropy decays to determine the structural features of ribosome-bound apomyoglobin (apoMb). Within the ribosomal exit tunnel core, interactions are similar to those identified in previous reports. However, once the RNC enters the tunnel vestibule, it becomes more dynamic and interacts with ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and the L23 r-protein. Remarkably, on the outer surface of the ribosome, RNCs interact mainly with a highly conserved nonpolar patch of the L23 r-protein. RNCs also comprise a compact and dynamic N-terminal region lacking contact with the ribosome. In all, apoMb traverses the ribosome and interacts with it via its C-terminal region, while N-terminal residues sample conformational space and form a compact subdomain before the entire nascent protein sequence departs from the ribosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meranda
M. Masse
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Rachel B. Hutchinson
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Christopher E. Morgan
- Department
of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Heather J. Allaman
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Hongqing Guan
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Edward W. Yu
- Department
of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Silvia Cavagnero
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin−Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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6
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Fiedler SM, Graumann PL. B. subtilis Sec and Srp Systems Show Dynamic Adaptations to Different Conditions of Protein Secretion. Cells 2024; 13:377. [PMID: 38474341 DOI: 10.3390/cells13050377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
SecA is a widely conserved ATPase that drives the secretion of proteins across the cell membrane via the SecYEG translocon, while the SRP system is a key player in the insertion of membrane proteins via SecYEG. How SecA gains access to substrate proteins in Bacillus subtilis cells and copes with an increase in substrate availability during biotechnologically desired, high-level expression of secreted proteins is poorly understood. Using single molecule tracking, we found that SecA localization closely mimics that of ribosomes, and its molecule dynamics change similarly to those of ribosomes after inhibition of transcription or translation. These data suggest that B. subtilis SecA associates with signal peptides as they are synthesized at the ribosome, similar to the SRP system. In agreement with this, SecA is a largely mobile cytosolic protein; only a subset is statically associated with the cell membrane, i.e., likely with the Sec translocon. SecA dynamics were considerably different during the late exponential, transition, and stationary growth phases, revealing that single molecule dynamics considerably alter during different genetic programs in cells. During overproduction of a secretory protein, AmyE, SecA showed the strongest changes during the transition phase, i.e., where general protein secretion is high. To investigate whether the overproduction of AmyE also has an influence on other proteins that interact with SecYEG, we analyzed the dynamics of SecDF, YidC, and FtsY with and without AmyE overproduction. SecDF and YidC did not reveal considerable differences in single molecule dynamics during overexpression, while the SRP component FtsY changed markedly in its behavior and became more statically engaged. These findings indicate that the SRP pathway becomes involved in protein secretion upon an overload of proteins carrying a signal sequence. Thus, our data reveal high plasticity of the SecA and SRP systems in dealing with different needs for protein secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja M Fiedler
- Fachbereich Chemie und Zentrum für Synthetische Mikrobiologie, SYNMIKRO, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein Straße 4, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Peter L Graumann
- Fachbereich Chemie und Zentrum für Synthetische Mikrobiologie, SYNMIKRO, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein Straße 4, 35043 Marburg, Germany
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7
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Liang Y, Luo H, Lin Y, Gao F. Recent advances in the characterization of essential genes and development of a database of essential genes. IMETA 2024; 3:e157. [PMID: 38868518 PMCID: PMC10989110 DOI: 10.1002/imt2.157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Over the past few decades, there has been a significant interest in the study of essential genes, which are crucial for the survival of an organism under specific environmental conditions and thus have practical applications in the fields of synthetic biology and medicine. An increasing amount of experimental data on essential genes has been obtained with the continuous development of technological methods. Meanwhile, various computational prediction methods, related databases and web servers have emerged accordingly. To facilitate the study of essential genes, we have established a database of essential genes (DEG), which has become popular with continuous updates to facilitate essential gene feature analysis and prediction, drug and vaccine development, as well as artificial genome design and construction. In this article, we summarized the studies of essential genes, overviewed the relevant databases, and discussed their practical applications. Furthermore, we provided an overview of the main applications of DEG and conducted comprehensive analyses based on its latest version. However, it should be noted that the essential gene is a dynamic concept instead of a binary one, which presents both opportunities and challenges for their future development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hao Luo
- Department of PhysicsTianjin UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Yan Lin
- Department of PhysicsTianjin UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Feng Gao
- Department of PhysicsTianjin UniversityTianjinChina
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education)Tianjin UniversityTianjinChina
- SynBio Research PlatformCollaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin)TianjinChina
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8
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Zeng J, Song K, Wang J, Wen H, Zhou J, Ni T, Lu H, Yu Y. Characterization and optimization of 5´ untranslated region containing poly-adenine tracts in Kluyveromyces marxianus using machine-learning model. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:7. [PMID: 38172836 PMCID: PMC10763412 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02271-3] [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: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 5´ untranslated region (5´ UTR) plays a key role in regulating translation efficiency and mRNA stability, making it a favored target in genetic engineering and synthetic biology. A common feature found in the 5´ UTR is the poly-adenine (poly(A)) tract. However, the effect of 5´ UTR poly(A) on protein production remains controversial. Machine-learning models are powerful tools for explaining the complex contributions of features, but models incorporating features of 5´ UTR poly(A) are currently lacking. Thus, our goal is to construct such a model, using natural 5´ UTRs from Kluyveromyces marxianus, a promising cell factory for producing heterologous proteins. RESULTS We constructed a mini-library consisting of 207 5´ UTRs harboring poly(A) and 34 5´ UTRs without poly(A) from K. marxianus. The effects of each 5´ UTR on the production of a GFP reporter were evaluated individually in vivo, and the resulting protein abundance spanned an approximately 450-fold range throughout. The data were used to train a multi-layer perceptron neural network (MLP-NN) model that incorporated the length and position of poly(A) as features. The model exhibited good performance in predicting protein abundance (average R2 = 0.7290). The model suggests that the length of poly(A) is negatively correlated with protein production, whereas poly(A) located between 10 and 30 nt upstream of the start codon (AUG) exhibits a weak positive effect on protein abundance. Using the model as guidance, the deletion or reduction of poly(A) upstream of 30 nt preceding AUG tended to improve the production of GFP and a feruloyl esterase. Deletions of poly(A) showed inconsistent effects on mRNA levels, suggesting that poly(A) represses protein production either with or without reducing mRNA levels. CONCLUSION The effects of poly(A) on protein production depend on its length and position. Integrating poly(A) features into machine-learning models improves simulation accuracy. Deleting or reducing poly(A) upstream of 30 nt preceding AUG tends to enhance protein production. This optimization strategy can be applied to enhance the yield of K. marxianus and other microbial cell factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyuan Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Kunfeng Song
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Jingqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Haimei Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Jungang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Ting Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Hong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Yao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, Shanghai, 200438, China.
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9
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Shepherd MJ, Pierce AP, Taylor TB. Evolutionary innovation through transcription factor rewiring in microbes is shaped by levels of transcription factor activity, expression, and existing connectivity. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002348. [PMID: 37871011 PMCID: PMC10621929 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The survival of a population during environmental shifts depends on whether the rate of phenotypic adaptation keeps up with the rate of changing conditions. A common way to achieve this is via change to gene regulatory network (GRN) connections-known as rewiring-that facilitate novel interactions and innovation of transcription factors. To understand the success of rapidly adapting organisms, we therefore need to determine the rules that create and constrain opportunities for GRN rewiring. Here, using an experimental microbial model system with the soil bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens, we reveal a hierarchy among transcription factors that are rewired to rescue lost function, with alternative rewiring pathways only unmasked after the preferred pathway is eliminated. We identify 3 key properties-high activation, high expression, and preexisting low-level affinity for novel target genes-that facilitate transcription factor innovation. Ease of acquiring these properties is constrained by preexisting GRN architecture, which was overcome in our experimental system by both targeted and global network alterations. This work reveals the key properties that determine transcription factor evolvability, and as such, the evolution of GRNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Shepherd
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
- Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Aidan P. Pierce
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Tiffany B. Taylor
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
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10
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Ishihara JI, Mekubo T, Kusaka C, Kondo S, Oiko R, Igarashi K, Aiba H, Ishikawa S, Ogasawara N, Oshima T, Takahashi H. A critical role of the periplasm in copper homeostasis in Gram-negative bacteria. Biosystems 2023; 231:104980. [PMID: 37453610 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.104980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Copper is essential for life, but is toxic in excess. Copper homeostasis is achieved in the cytoplasm and the periplasm as a unique feature of Gram-negative bacteria. Especially, it has become clear the role of the periplasm and periplasmic proteins regarding whole-cell copper homeostasis. Here, we addressed the role of the periplasm and periplasmic proteins in copper homeostasis using a Systems Biology approach integrating experiments with models. Our analysis shows that most of the copper-bound molecules localize in the periplasm but not cytoplasm, suggesting that Escherichia coli utilizes the periplasm to sense the copper concentration in the medium and sequester copper ions. In particular, a periplasmic multi-copper oxidase CueO and copper-responsive transcriptional factor CusS contribute both to protection against Cu(I) toxicity and to incorporating copper into the periplasmic components/proteins. We propose that Gram-negative bacteria have evolved mechanisms to sense and store copper in the periplasm to expand their living niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Ichi Ishihara
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba City, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Mekubo
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Chikako Kusaka
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Suguru Kondo
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Ryotaro Oiko
- Graduate School of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu City, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan
| | - Kensuke Igarashi
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-17-2-1 Tsukisamu-Higashi, Toyohiraku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 062-8517, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Aiba
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya University, Pharmaceutical Sciences Building, Furocho, Chikusa-ku, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan
| | - Shu Ishikawa
- Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
| | - Naotake Ogasawara
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Taku Oshima
- Graduate School of Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu City, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan.
| | - Hiroki Takahashi
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba City, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan; Molecular Chirality Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan; Plant Molecular Science Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
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11
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Liu L, Li J, Gai Y, Tian Z, Wang Y, Wang T, Liu P, Yuan Q, Ma H, Lee SY, Zhang D. Protein engineering and iterative multimodule optimization for vitamin B 6 production in Escherichia coli. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5304. [PMID: 37652926 PMCID: PMC10471632 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40928-0] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Vitamin B6 is an essential nutrient with extensive applications in the medicine, food, animal feed, and cosmetics industries. Pyridoxine (PN), the most common commercial form of vitamin B6, is currently chemically synthesized using expensive and toxic chemicals. However, the low catalytic efficiencies of natural enzymes and the tight regulation of the metabolic pathway have hindered PN production by the microbial fermentation process. Here, we report an engineered Escherichia coli strain for PN production. Parallel pathway engineering is performed to decouple PN production and cell growth. Further, protein engineering is rationally designed including the inefficient enzymes PdxA, PdxJ, and the initial enzymes Epd and Dxs. By the iterative multimodule optimization strategy, the final strain produces 1.4 g/L of PN with productivity of 29.16 mg/L/h by fed-batch fermentation. The strategies reported here will be useful for developing microbial strains for the production of vitamins and other bioproducts having inherently low metabolic fluxes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linxia Liu
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Jinlong Li
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanming Gai
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhizhong Tian
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Yanyan Wang
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Tenghe Wang
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Pi Liu
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Qianqian Yuan
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Hongwu Ma
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Sang Yup Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four program), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dawei Zhang
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China.
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China.
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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12
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Falchi FA, Forti F, Carnelli C, Genco A, Pizzoccheri R, Manzari C, Pavesi G, Briani F. Human PNPase causes RNA stabilization and accumulation of R-loops in the Escherichia coli model system. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11771. [PMID: 37479726 PMCID: PMC10362022 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38924-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyribonucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) is a phosphorolytic RNA exonuclease highly conserved throughout evolution. In Escherichia coli, PNPase controls complex phenotypic traits like biofilm formation and growth at low temperature. In human cells, PNPase is located in mitochondria, where it is implicated in the RNA import from the cytoplasm, the mitochondrial RNA degradation and the processing of R-loops, namely stable RNA-DNA hybrids displacing a DNA strand. In this work, we show that the human PNPase (hPNPase) expressed in E. coli causes oxidative stress, SOS response activation and R-loops accumulation. Hundreds of E. coli RNAs are stabilized in presence of hPNPase, whereas only few transcripts are destabilized. Moreover, phenotypic traits typical of E. coli strains lacking PNPase are strengthened in presence of the human enzyme. We discuss the hypothesis that hPNPase expressed in E. coli may bind, but not degrade, the RNA, in agreement with previous in vitro data showing that phosphate concentrations in the range of those found in the bacterial cytoplasm and, more relevant, in the mitochondria, inhibit its activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica A Falchi
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Forti
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Carnelli
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Aurelia Genco
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Pizzoccheri
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Caterina Manzari
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Biotecnologie e Biofarmaceutica, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", 70121, Bari, Italy
| | - Giulio Pavesi
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Federica Briani
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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13
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Garces Daza F, Haitz F, Born A, Boles E. An optimized reverse β-oxidation pathway to produce selected medium-chain fatty acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2023; 16:71. [PMID: 37101299 PMCID: PMC10134560 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-023-02317-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medium-chain fatty acids are molecules with applications in different industries and with growing demand. However, the current methods for their extraction are not environmentally sustainable. The reverse β-oxidation pathway is an energy-efficient pathway that produces medium-chain fatty acids in microorganisms, and its use in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a broadly used industrial microorganism, is desired. However, the application of this pathway in this organism has so far either led to low titers or to the predominant production of short-chain fatty acids. RESULTS We genetically engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce the medium-chain fatty acids hexanoic and octanoic acid using novel variants of the reverse β-oxidation pathway. We first knocked out glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase GPD2 in an alcohol dehydrogenases knock-out strain (△adh1-5) to increase the NADH availability for the pathway, which significantly increased the production of butyric acid (78 mg/L) and hexanoic acid (2 mg/L) when the pathway was expressed from a plasmid with BktB as thiolase. Then, we tested different enzymes for the subsequent pathway reactions: the 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase PaaH1 increased hexanoic acid production to 33 mg/L, and the expression of enoyl-CoA hydratases Crt2 or Ech was critical to producing octanoic acid, reaching titers of 40 mg/L in both cases. In all cases, Ter from Treponema denticola was the preferred trans-enoyl-CoA reductase. The titers of hexanoic acid and octanoic acid were further increased to almost 75 mg/L and 60 mg/L, respectively, when the pathway expression cassette was integrated into the genome and the fermentation was performed in a highly buffered YPD medium. We also co-expressed a butyryl-CoA pathway variant to increase the butyryl-CoA pool and support the chain extension. However, this mainly increased the titers of butyric acid and only slightly increased that of hexanoic acid. Finally, we also tested the deletion of two potential medium-chain acyl-CoA depleting reactions catalyzed by the thioesterase Tes1 and the medium-chain fatty acyl CoA synthase Faa2. However, their deletion did not affect the production titers. CONCLUSIONS By engineering the NADH metabolism and testing different reverse β-oxidation pathway variants, we extended the product spectrum and obtained the highest titers of octanoic acid and hexanoic acid reported in S. cerevisiae. Product toxicity and enzyme specificity must be addressed for the industrial application of the pathway in this organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Garces Daza
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Molecular Bioscience, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Am Main, Max-von-Laue-Str.9, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Fabian Haitz
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Molecular Bioscience, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Am Main, Max-von-Laue-Str.9, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Alice Born
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Molecular Bioscience, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Am Main, Max-von-Laue-Str.9, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Eckhard Boles
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Molecular Bioscience, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Am Main, Max-von-Laue-Str.9, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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14
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Baquero F, Martínez JL, Sánchez A, Fernández-de-Bobadilla MD, San-Millán A, Rodríguez-Beltrán J. Bacterial Subcellular Architecture, Structural Epistasis, and Antibiotic Resistance. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12050640. [PMID: 37237454 DOI: 10.3390/biology12050640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Epistasis refers to the way in which genetic interactions between some genetic loci affect phenotypes and fitness. In this study, we propose the concept of "structural epistasis" to emphasize the role of the variable physical interactions between molecules located in particular spaces inside the bacterial cell in the emergence of novel phenotypes. The architecture of the bacterial cell (typically Gram-negative), which consists of concentrical layers of membranes, particles, and molecules with differing configurations and densities (from the outer membrane to the nucleoid) determines and is in turn determined by the cell shape and size, depending on the growth phases, exposure to toxic conditions, stress responses, and the bacterial environment. Antibiotics change the bacterial cell's internal molecular topology, producing unexpected interactions among molecules. In contrast, changes in shape and size may alter antibiotic action. The mechanisms of antibiotic resistance (and their vectors, as mobile genetic elements) also influence molecular connectivity in the bacterial cell and can produce unexpected phenotypes, influencing the action of other antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Baquero
- Department of Microbiology, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Ramón y Cajal Institute for Health Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Alvaro Sánchez
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel D Fernández-de-Bobadilla
- Department of Microbiology, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Ramón y Cajal Institute for Health Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER en Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFECT), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alvaro San-Millán
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER en Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFECT), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jerónimo Rodríguez-Beltrán
- Department of Microbiology, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, Ramón y Cajal Institute for Health Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER en Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFECT), 28034 Madrid, Spain
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15
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Gurdo N, Taylor Parkins SK, Fricano M, Wulff T, Nielsen LK, Nikel PI. Protocol for absolute quantification of proteins in Gram-negative bacteria based on QconCAT-based labeled peptides. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102060. [PMID: 36853682 PMCID: PMC9881405 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102060] [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: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mass-spectrometry-based absolute protein quantification uses labeled quantification concatamer (QconCAT) as internal standards (ISs). To calculate the amount of protein(s), the ion intensity ratio between the analyte and its cognate IS is compared in each biological sample. The present protocol describes a systematic workflow to design, produce, and purify QconCATs and to quantify soluble proteins in Pseudomonas putida KT2440. Our methodology enables the quantification of detectable peptide and serves as a versatile platform to produce ISs for different biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás Gurdo
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Martina Fricano
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Tune Wulff
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lars Keld Nielsen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark; Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Pablo Iván Nikel
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
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16
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Lander AJ, Jin Y, Luk LYP. D-Peptide and D-Protein Technology: Recent Advances, Challenges, and Opportunities. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202200537. [PMID: 36278392 PMCID: PMC10805118 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Total chemical protein synthesis provides access to entire D-protein enantiomers enabling unique applications in molecular biology, structural biology, and bioactive compound discovery. Key enzymes involved in the central dogma of molecular biology have been prepared in their D-enantiomeric forms facilitating the development of mirror-image life. Crystallization of a racemic mixture of L- and D-protein enantiomers provides access to high-resolution X-ray structures of polypeptides. Additionally, D-enantiomers of protein drug targets can be used in mirror-image phage display allowing discovery of non-proteolytic D-peptide ligands as lead candidates. This review discusses the unique applications of D-proteins including the synthetic challenges and opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J. Lander
- School of ChemistryCardiff UniversityMain Building, Park PlaceCardiffCF10 3ATUK
| | - Yi Jin
- Manchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of ManchesterManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | - Louis Y. P. Luk
- School of ChemistryCardiff UniversityMain Building, Park PlaceCardiffCF10 3ATUK
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17
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Ryzowicz C, Yildirim N. Differential roles of transcriptional and translational negative autoregulations in protein dynamics. Mol Omics 2023; 19:60-71. [PMID: 36399028 DOI: 10.1039/d2mo00222a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Cells continuously respond to stimuli to function properly by employing a wide variety of regulatory mechanisms that often involve protein up or down regulations. This study focuses on dynamics of a protein with negative autoregulations in E. coli, and assumes that the input signal up-regulates the protein, and then the protein down-regulates its own production via 2 distinct types of mechanisms. The mathematical models describe the dynamics of mRNA and protein for 3 scenarios: (i) a simplistic model with no regulation, (ii) a model with transcriptional negative autoregulation, and (iii) a model with translational negative autoregulation. Our analysis shows that the negative autoregulation models produce faster responses and quicker return times to the input signals compared to the model with no regulation, while the transcriptional autoregulation model is the only model capable of producing oscillatory dynamics. The stochastic simulations predict that the transcriptional autoregulation model is the noisiest followed by the simplistic model, and the translational autoregulation model has the least noise. The noise level depends on the strength of inhibition. Furthermore, the transcriptional autoregulation model filters out the noise in the input signal for longer periods of time, and this time increases as the strength of the feedback gets stronger.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Ryzowicz
- Division of Natural Sciences, New College of Florida, 5800 Bayshore Road, Sarasota, FL 34243, USA.
| | - Necmettin Yildirim
- Division of Natural Sciences, New College of Florida, 5800 Bayshore Road, Sarasota, FL 34243, USA.
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18
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Battellino T, Ogata K, Spicer V, Ishihama Y, Krokhin O. Acetic Acid Ion Pairing Additive for Reversed-Phase HPLC Improves Detection Sensitivity in Bottom-up Proteomics Compared to Formic Acid. J Proteome Res 2023; 22:272-278. [PMID: 36480176 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.2c00388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Despite the general acceptance of formic acid as the additive of choice for peptide reversed-phase LC-MS/MS applications, some still argue that the selection of acetic acid represents a better option. To settle this debate, we investigated both the difference in MS sensitivity and chromatographic behavior of peptides between these two systems. This interlaboratory study was performed using different MS setups and C18 separation media employing both 0.1% formic and 0.5% acetic acid as ion pairing modifiers. Relative to formic acid, we find an overall ∼2.2-2.5× increase in MS signal and a slight decrease in RP LC retention (-0.7% acetonitrile on average) for acetic acid conditions. While these two features have opposing effects on peptide detectability, we find that acetic acid produces up to 60% higher peptide ID output depending on the type of sample. The drop in RPLC retention increases with peptide net charge at acidic pH. MS signal is dependent on the difference between the charge of the precursor ion and the charge of the peptide in solution, favoring species with a low pI. Lower peptide retention under acetic acid conditions demonstrates its higher hydrophilicity and, as expected, leads to composition and sequence-dependent character of the observed retention shift.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Battellino
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Kosuke Ogata
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Victor Spicer
- Manitoba Centre for Proteomics and Systems Biology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P4, Canada
| | - Yasushi Ishihama
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Oleg Krokhin
- Manitoba Centre for Proteomics and Systems Biology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P4, Canada.,University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P4, Canada
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19
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Church G. Picogram-Scale Interstellar Probes via Bioinspired Engineering. ASTROBIOLOGY 2022; 22:1452-1458. [PMID: 36475966 PMCID: PMC9784576 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2022.0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
For exploring nearby stars, let us consider the challenges of a picogram- to nanogram-scale probe to land, replicate, and produce a communications module based on biominerals at the destination. A billion such probes could be launched for similar cost as a single gram-scale probe. One design is a highly reflective light sail, traveling a long straight line toward the gravitational well of a destination star, and then photo-deflected to the closest nonluminous mass-ideally a planet or moon with exposed liquid water.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Church
- Wyss Institute, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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20
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Csibra E, Stan GB. Absolute protein quantification using fluorescence measurements with FPCountR. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6600. [PMID: 36329019 PMCID: PMC9633595 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34232-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper presents a generalisable method for the calibration of fluorescence readings on microplate readers, in order to convert arbitrary fluorescence units into absolute units. FPCountR relies on the generation of bespoke fluorescent protein (FP) calibrants, assays to determine protein concentration and activity, and a corresponding analytical workflow. We systematically characterise the assay protocols for accuracy, sensitivity and simplicity, and describe an 'ECmax' assay that outperforms the others and even enables accurate calibration without requiring the purification of FPs. To obtain cellular protein concentrations, we consider methods for the conversion of optical density to either cell counts or alternatively to cell volumes, as well as examining how cells can interfere with protein counting via fluorescence quenching, which we quantify and correct for the first time. Calibration across different instruments, disparate filter sets and mismatched gains is demonstrated to yield equivalent results. It also reveals that mCherry absorption at 600 nm does not confound cell density measurements unless expressed to over 100,000 proteins per cell. FPCountR is presented as pair of open access tools (protocol and R package) to enable the community to use this method, and ultimately to facilitate the quantitative characterisation of synthetic microbial circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eszter Csibra
- grid.7445.20000 0001 2113 8111Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology (IC-CSynB), Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AY UK
| | - Guy-Bart Stan
- grid.7445.20000 0001 2113 8111Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology (IC-CSynB), Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AY UK
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21
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Novel antimicrobial activity of protein produced by Streptomyces lividans TK24 against the phytopathogen Clavibacter michiganensis. Arch Microbiol 2022; 204:687. [DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-03290-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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22
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Tramonti A, Ghatge MS, Babor JT, Musayev FN, di Salvo ML, Barile A, Colotti G, Giorgi A, Paredes SD, Donkor AK, Al Mughram MH, de Crécy‐Lagard V, Safo MK, Contestabile R. Characterization of the Escherichia coli pyridoxal 5'-phosphate homeostasis protein (YggS): Role of lysine residues in PLP binding and protein stability. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4471. [PMID: 36218140 PMCID: PMC9601805 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) homeostasis protein (PLPHP) is a ubiquitous member of the COG0325 family with apparently no catalytic activity. Although the actual cellular role of this protein is unknown, it has been observed that mutations of the PLPHP encoding gene affect the activity of PLP-dependent enzymes, B6 vitamers and amino acid levels. Here we report a detailed characterization of the Escherichia coli ortholog of PLPHP (YggS) with respect to its PLP binding and transfer properties, stability, and structure. YggS binds PLP very tightly and is able to slowly transfer it to a model PLP-dependent enzyme, serine hydroxymethyltransferase. PLP binding to YggS elicits a conformational/flexibility change in the protein structure that is detectable in solution but not in crystals. We serendipitously discovered that the K36A variant of YggS, affecting the lysine residue that binds PLP at the active site, is able to bind PLP covalently. This observation led us to recognize that a number of lysine residues, located at the entrance of the active site, can replace Lys36 in its PLP binding role. These lysines form a cluster of charged residues that affect protein stability and conformation, playing an important role in PLP binding and possibly in YggS function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Tramonti
- Istituto di Biologia e Patologia MolecolariConsiglio Nazionale delle RicercheRomeItaly
- Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti and Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche “A. Rossi Fanelli”Sapienza Università di RomaRomeItaly
| | - Mohini S. Ghatge
- Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, Department of Medicinal ChemistryVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVirginiaUSA
| | - Jill T. Babor
- Department of Microbiology and Cell ScienceUniversity of FloridaGainsvilleFloridaUSA
| | - Faik N. Musayev
- Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, Department of Medicinal ChemistryVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVirginiaUSA
| | - Martino Luigi di Salvo
- Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti and Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche “A. Rossi Fanelli”Sapienza Università di RomaRomeItaly
| | - Anna Barile
- Istituto di Biologia e Patologia MolecolariConsiglio Nazionale delle RicercheRomeItaly
- Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti and Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche “A. Rossi Fanelli”Sapienza Università di RomaRomeItaly
| | - Gianni Colotti
- Istituto di Biologia e Patologia MolecolariConsiglio Nazionale delle RicercheRomeItaly
| | - Alessandra Giorgi
- Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti and Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche “A. Rossi Fanelli”Sapienza Università di RomaRomeItaly
| | - Steven D. Paredes
- Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, Department of Medicinal ChemistryVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVirginiaUSA
| | - Akua K. Donkor
- Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, Department of Medicinal ChemistryVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVirginiaUSA
| | - Mohammed H. Al Mughram
- Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, Department of Medicinal ChemistryVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVirginiaUSA
| | - Valérie de Crécy‐Lagard
- Department of Microbiology and Cell ScienceUniversity of FloridaGainsvilleFloridaUSA
- Genetics InstituteUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFloridaUSA
| | - Martin K. Safo
- Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, Department of Medicinal ChemistryVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVirginiaUSA
| | - Roberto Contestabile
- Istituto Pasteur Italia‐Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti and Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche “A. Rossi Fanelli”Sapienza Università di RomaRomeItaly
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23
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Hör J, Jung J, Ðurica-Mitić S, Barquist L, Vogel J. INRI-seq enables global cell-free analysis of translation initiation and off-target effects of antisense inhibitors. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:e128. [PMID: 36229039 PMCID: PMC9825163 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Ribosome profiling (Ribo-seq) is a powerful method for the transcriptome-wide assessment of protein synthesis rates and the study of translational control mechanisms. Yet, Ribo-seq also has limitations. These include difficulties with the analysis of translation-modulating molecules such as antibiotics, which are often toxic or challenging to deliver into living cells. Here, we have developed in vitro Ribo-seq (INRI-seq), a cell-free method to analyze the translational landscape of a fully customizable synthetic transcriptome. Using Escherichia coli as an example, we show how INRI-seq can be used to analyze the translation initiation sites of a transcriptome of interest. We also study the global impact of direct translation inhibition by antisense peptide nucleic acid (PNA) to analyze PNA off-target effects. Overall, INRI-seq presents a scalable, sensitive method to study translation initiation in a transcriptome-wide manner without the potentially confounding effects of extracting ribosomes from living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Hör
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jakob Jung
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Svetlana Ðurica-Mitić
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lars Barquist
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI), D-97080 Würzburg, Germany,Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +49 931 3182576;
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24
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Marciano S, Dey D, Listov D, Fleishman SJ, Sonn-Segev A, Mertens H, Busch F, Kim Y, Harvey SR, Wysocki VH, Schreiber G. Protein quaternary structures in solution are a mixture of multiple forms. Chem Sci 2022; 13:11680-11695. [PMID: 36320402 PMCID: PMC9555727 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc02794a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Over half the proteins in the E. coli cytoplasm form homo or hetero-oligomeric structures. Experimentally determined structures are often considered in determining a protein's oligomeric state, but static structures miss the dynamic equilibrium between different quaternary forms. The problem is exacerbated in homo-oligomers, where the oligomeric states are challenging to characterize. Here, we re-evaluated the oligomeric state of 17 different bacterial proteins across a broad range of protein concentrations and solutions by native mass spectrometry (MS), mass photometry (MP), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), finding that most exhibit several oligomeric states. Surprisingly, some proteins did not show mass-action driven equilibrium between the oligomeric states. For approximately half the proteins, the predicted oligomeric forms described in publicly available databases underestimated the complexity of protein quaternary structures in solution. Conversely, AlphaFold multimer provided an accurate description of the potential multimeric states for most proteins, suggesting that it could help resolve uncertainties on the solution state of many proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shir Marciano
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot Israel
| | - Debabrata Dey
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot Israel
| | - Dina Listov
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot Israel
| | - Sarel J Fleishman
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot Israel
| | - Adar Sonn-Segev
- Refeyn Ltd 1 Electric Avenue, Ferry Hinksey Road Oxford OX2 0BY UK
| | - Haydyn Mertens
- Hamburg Outstation, European Molecular Biology Laboratory Notkestrasse 85 Hamburg 22607 Germany
| | - Florian Busch
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Resource for Native Mass Spectrometry Guided Structural Biology, The Ohio State University Columbus OH 43210 USA
| | - Yongseok Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Resource for Native Mass Spectrometry Guided Structural Biology, The Ohio State University Columbus OH 43210 USA
| | - Sophie R Harvey
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Resource for Native Mass Spectrometry Guided Structural Biology, The Ohio State University Columbus OH 43210 USA
| | - Vicki H Wysocki
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Resource for Native Mass Spectrometry Guided Structural Biology, The Ohio State University Columbus OH 43210 USA
| | - Gideon Schreiber
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot Israel
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25
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Korenskaia AE, Matushkin YG, Lashin SA, Klimenko AI. Bioinformatic Assessment of Factors Affecting the Correlation between Protein Abundance and Elongation Efficiency in Prokaryotes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911996. [PMID: 36233299 PMCID: PMC9570070 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911996] [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: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein abundance is crucial for the majority of genetically regulated cell functions to act properly in prokaryotic organisms. Therefore, developing bioinformatic methods for assessing the efficiency of different stages of gene expression is of great importance for predicting the actual protein abundance. One of these steps is the evaluation of translation elongation efficiency based on mRNA sequence features, such as codon usage bias and mRNA secondary structure properties. In this study, we have evaluated correlation coefficients between experimentally measured protein abundance and predicted elongation efficiency characteristics for 26 prokaryotes, including non-model organisms, belonging to diverse taxonomic groups The algorithm for assessing elongation efficiency takes into account not only codon bias, but also number and energy of secondary structures in mRNA if those demonstrate an impact on predicted elongation efficiency of the ribosomal protein genes. The results show that, for a number of organisms, secondary structures are a better predictor of protein abundance than codon usage bias. The bioinformatic analysis has revealed several factors associated with the value of the correlation coefficient. The first factor is the elongation efficiency optimization type-the organisms whose genomes are optimized for codon usage only have significantly higher correlation coefficients. The second factor is taxonomical identity-bacteria that belong to the class Bacilli tend to have higher correlation coefficients among the analyzed set. The third is growth rate, which is shown to be higher for the organisms with higher correlation coefficients between protein abundance and predicted translation elongation efficiency. The obtained results can be useful for further improvement of methods for protein abundance prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra E. Korenskaia
- Kurchatov Genomics Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Lavrentiev Avenue 10, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Lavrentiev Avenue 10, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk National Research State University, Pirogova St. 1, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-999-467-7118
| | - Yury G. Matushkin
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Lavrentiev Avenue 10, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk National Research State University, Pirogova St. 1, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Sergey A. Lashin
- Kurchatov Genomics Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Lavrentiev Avenue 10, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Lavrentiev Avenue 10, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk National Research State University, Pirogova St. 1, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexandra I. Klimenko
- Kurchatov Genomics Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Lavrentiev Avenue 10, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Lavrentiev Avenue 10, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
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26
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Aziz S, Rasheed F, Akhter TS, Zahra R, König S. Microbial Proteins in Stomach Biopsies Associated with Gastritis, Ulcer, and Gastric Cancer. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27175410. [PMID: 36080177 PMCID: PMC9458002 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Helicobacter pylori infection is a major risk factor, but other microbial species may also be involved. In the context of an earlier proteomics study of serum and biopsies of patients with gastroduodenal diseases, we explored here a simplified microbiome in these biopsies (H. pylori, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Bacteroides fragilis) on the protein level. (2) Methods: A cohort of 75 patients was divided into groups with respect to the findings of the normal gastric mucosa (NGM) and gastroduodenal disorders such as gastritis, ulcer, and gastric cancer (GC). The H. pylori infection status was determined. The protein expression analysis of the biopsy samples was carried out using high-definition mass spectrometry of the tryptic digest (label-free data-independent quantification and statistical analysis). (3) Results: The total of 304 bacterial protein matches were detected based on two or more peptide hits. Significantly regulated microbial proteins like virulence factor type IV secretion system protein CagE from H. pylori were found with more abundance in gastritis than in GC or NGM. This finding could reflect the increased microbial involvement in mucosa inflammation in line with current hypotheses. Abundant proteins across species were heat shock proteins and elongation factors. (4) Conclusions: Next to the bulk of human proteins, a number of species-specific bacterial proteins were detected in stomach biopsies of patients with gastroduodenal diseases, some of which, like those expressed by the cag pathogenicity island, may provide gateways to disease prevention without antibacterial intervention in order to reduce antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahid Aziz
- Patients Diagnostic Lab, Isotope Application Division, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
- IZKF Core Unit Proteomics, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Correspondence: or
| | - Faisal Rasheed
- Patients Diagnostic Lab, Isotope Application Division, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Tayyab Saeed Akhter
- The Centre for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan
| | - Rabaab Zahra
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Simone König
- IZKF Core Unit Proteomics, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
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27
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Transient Complexity of E. coli Lipidome Is Explained by Fatty Acyl Synthesis and Cyclopropanation. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12090784. [PMID: 36144187 PMCID: PMC9500627 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12090784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In the case of many bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, the composition of lipid molecules, termed the lipidome, temporally adapts to different environmental conditions and thus modifies membrane properties to permit growth and survival. Details of the relationship between the environment and lipidome composition are lacking, particularly for growing cultures under either favourable or under stress conditions. Here, we highlight compositional lipidome changes by describing the dynamics of molecular species throughout culture-growth phases. We show a steady cyclopropanation of fatty acyl chains, which acts as a driver for lipid diversity. There is a bias for the cyclopropanation of shorter fatty acyl chains (FA 16:1) over longer ones (FA 18:1), which likely reflects a thermodynamic phenomenon. Additionally, we observe a nearly two-fold increase in saturated fatty acyl chains in response to the presence of ampicillin and chloramphenicol, with consequences for membrane fluidity and elasticity, and ultimately bacterial stress tolerance. Our study provides the detailed quantitative lipidome composition of three E. coli strains across culture-growth phases and at the level of the fatty acyl chains and provides a general reference for phospholipid composition changes in response to perturbations. Thus, lipidome diversity is largely transient and the consequence of lipid synthesis and cyclopropanation.
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28
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Sen P, Kurmi A, Ray SK, Satapathy SS. Machine learning approach identifies prominent codons from different degenerate groups influencing gene expression in bacteria. Genes Cells 2022; 27:591-601. [DOI: 10.1111/gtc.12977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Piyali Sen
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering Tezpur University, Napaam Tezpur Assam India
| | - Annushree Kurmi
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering Tezpur University, Napaam Tezpur Assam India
| | - Suvendra Kumar Ray
- Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Tezpur University, Napaam Tezpur Assam India
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29
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FLASHIda enables intelligent data acquisition for top-down proteomics to boost proteoform identification counts. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4407. [PMID: 35906205 PMCID: PMC9338294 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31922-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The detailed analysis and structural characterization of proteoforms by top-down proteomics (TDP) has gained a lot of interest in biomedical research. Data-dependent acquisition (DDA) of intact proteins is non-trivial due to the diversity and complexity of proteoforms. Dedicated acquisition methods thus have the potential to greatly improve TDP. Here, we present FLASHIda, an intelligent online data acquisition algorithm for TDP that ensures the real-time selection of high-quality precursors of diverse proteoforms. FLASHIda combines fast charge deconvolution algorithms and machine learning-based quality assessment for optimal precursor selection. In an analysis of E. coli lysate, FLASHIda increases the number of unique proteoform level identifications from 800 to 1500 or generates a near-identical number of identifications in one third of the instrument time when compared to standard DDA mode. Furthermore, FLASHIda enables sensitive mapping of post-translational modifications and detection of chemical adducts. As a software extension module to the instrument, FLASHIda can be readily adopted for TDP studies of complex samples to enhance proteoform identification rates. Data acquisition suitable for top-down proteomics (TDP) has the potential to significantly improve proteoform analysis. Here, the authors present FLASHIda, an intelligent online data acquisition algorithm for TDP that nearly doubles the number of proteoform-level identifications in complex samples.
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30
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Protein folding in vitro and in the cell: From a solitary journey to a team effort. Biophys Chem 2022; 287:106821. [PMID: 35667131 PMCID: PMC9636488 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2022.106821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Correct protein folding is essential for the health and function of living organisms. Yet, it is not well understood how unfolded proteins reach their native state and avoid aggregation, especially within the cellular milieu. Some proteins, especially small, single-domain and apparent two-state folders, successfully attain their native state upon dilution from denaturant. Yet, many more proteins undergo misfolding and aggregation during this process, in a concentration-dependent fashion. Once formed, native and aggregated states are often kinetically trapped relative to each other. Hence, the early stages of protein life are absolutely critical for proper kinetic channeling to the folded state and for long-term solubility and function. This review summarizes current knowledge on protein folding/aggregation mechanisms in buffered solution and within the bacterial cell, highlighting early stages. Remarkably, teamwork between nascent chain, ribosome, trigger factor and Hsp70 molecular chaperones enables all proteins to overcome aggregation propensities and reach a long-lived bioactive state.
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31
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Duan D, Hanson M, Holland DO, Johnson ME. Integrating protein copy numbers with interaction networks to quantify stoichiometry in clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5413. [PMID: 35354856 PMCID: PMC8967901 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09259-w] [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: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteins that drive processes like clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) are expressed at copy numbers within a cell and across cell types varying from hundreds (e.g. auxilin) to millions (e.g. clathrin). These variations contain important information about function, but without integration with the interaction network, they cannot capture how supply and demand for each protein depends on binding to shared and distinct partners. Here we construct the interface-resolved network of 82 proteins involved in CME and establish a metric, a stoichiometric balance ratio (SBR), that quantifies whether each protein in the network has an abundance that is sub- or super-stoichiometric dependent on the global competition for binding. We find that highly abundant proteins (like clathrin) are super-stoichiometric, but that not all super-stoichiometric proteins are highly abundant, across three cell populations (HeLa, fibroblast, and neuronal synaptosomes). Most strikingly, within all cells there is significant competition to bind shared sites on clathrin and the central AP-2 adaptor by other adaptor proteins, resulting in most being in excess supply. Our network and systematic analysis, including response to perturbations of network components, show how competition for shared binding sites results in functionally similar proteins having widely varying stoichiometries, due to variations in both abundance and their unique network of binding partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisy Duan
- TC Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Meretta Hanson
- TC Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | | | - Margaret E Johnson
- TC Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
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32
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Lee YJ, Lim HJ, Kim DM. Quantitative Analysis of γ-Aminobutyric Acid by Combined Cell-Free Protein Synthesis and Transamination Reactions. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:1208-1212. [PMID: 35191303 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00501] [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: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The synthetic power of cells can be harnessed for assaying important analytes, as well as for producing biomolecules. In particular, cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) can be implemented as a signal amplification module for bioassays, while avoiding many problems associated with whole cell-based microbial biosensors. Here, we developed a method for analyzing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) by combining the enzymatic conversion of GABA and amino-acid-dependent CFPS. In this method, GABA molecules in the assay sample are used to generate alanine, which is incorporated into signal-generating proteins in the subsequent cell-free synthesis reaction. The activity of cell-free synthesized proteins was successfully used to estimate the GABA concentration in the assay sample. In principle, the developed method could be extended for the analyses of other important bioactive compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Jin Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Hye Jin Lim
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Dong-Myung Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea
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33
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Palenchar PM. The Influence of Codon Usage, Protein Abundance, and Protein Stability on Protein Evolution Vary by Evolutionary Distance and the Type of Protein. Protein J 2022; 41:216-229. [PMID: 35147896 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-022-10045-w] [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] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
In general, the evolutionary rate of proteins is not primarily related to protein and amino acid functions, and factors such as protein abundance, codon usage, and the protein's TM are more important. To better understand the factors that affect protein evolution, E. coli MG1655 orthologs were compared to those in closely related bacteria and to more distantly related prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and archaea. Also, the evolution of different types of proteins was studied. The analyses indicate that the amino acid conservation of enzymes that do not use macromolecules (e.g. DNA, RNA, and proteins) as substrates and that carry out metabolic processes involving small molecules (i.e. small molecule enzymes) is different than other enzymes. For example, the small molecule enzymes have a lower percent identity than other enzymes when sequences from closely related bacteria are compared. Analyses indicate the lower percent identity is not a result of the amino acid or codon usage of the small molecule enzymes. The small molecule enzymes also don't have a significantly lower protein abundance indicating that is also not likely an important factor driving differences in amino acid conservation. Analyses indicate different methods to measure the TM of proteins have different relationships between amino acid conservation over different evolutionary distances. In totality, the results demonstrate that the relationship between the factors thought to affect protein evolution (protein abundance, codon usage, and proteins TMs) and protein evolution are complex and depend on the factor, the organisms, and the type of proteins being analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Palenchar
- Department of Chemistry, Villanova University, 800 E. Lancaster Ave, Villanova, PA, 19805, USA.
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34
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Abstract
Detailed studies of the Gram-negative model bacterium, Escherichia coli, have demonstrated that post-transcriptional events exert important and possibly greater control over gene regulation than transcription initiation or effective translation. Thus, over the past 30 years, considerable effort has been invested in understanding the pathways of mRNA turnover in E. coli. Although it is assumed that most of the ribonucleases and accessory proteins involved in mRNA decay have been identified, our understanding of the regulation of mRNA decay is still incomplete. Furthermore, the vast majority of the studies on mRNA decay have been conducted on exponentially growing cells. Thus, the mechanism of mRNA decay as currently outlined may not accurately reflect what happens when cells find themselves under a variety of stress conditions, such as, nutrient starvation, changes in pH and temperature, as well as a host of others. While the cellular machinery for degradation is relatively constant over a wide range of conditions, intracellular levels of specific ribonucleases can vary depending on the growth conditions. Substrate competition will also modulate ribonucleolytic activity. Post-transcriptional modifications of transcripts by polyadenylating enzymes may favor a specific ribonuclease activity. Interactions with small regulatory RNAs and RNA binding proteins add additional complexities to mRNA functionality and stability. Since many of the ribonucleases are found at the inner membrane, the physical location of a transcript may help determine its half-life. Here we discuss the properties and role of the enzymes involved in mRNA decay as well as the multiple factors that may affect mRNA decay under various in vivo conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sidney R. Kushner
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens GA 30602,Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens GA 30602,To whom correspondence should be addressed:
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35
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Gao B, Zheng YT, Su AM, Sun B, Xi XG, Hou XM. Remodeling the conformational dynamics of I-motif DNA by helicases in ATP-independent mode at acidic environment. iScience 2022; 25:103575. [PMID: 34988409 PMCID: PMC8704484 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
I-motifs are noncanonical four-stranded DNA structures formed by C-rich sequences at acidic environment with critical biofunctions. The particular pH sensitivity has inspired the development of i-motifs as pH sensors and DNA motors in nanotechnology. However, the folding and regulation mechanisms of i-motifs remain elusive. Here, using single-molecule FRET, we first show that i-motifs are more dynamic than G4s. Impressively, i-motifs display a high diversity of six folding species with slow interconversion. Further results indicate that i-motifs can be linearized by Replication protein A. More importantly, we identified a number of helicases with high specificity to i-motifs at low pH. All these helicases directly act on and efficiently resolve i-motifs into intermediates independent of ATP, although they poorly unwind G4 or duplex at low pH. Owing to the extreme sensitivity to helicases and no need for ATP, i-motif may be applied as a probe for helicase sensing both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Ya-Ting Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Ai-Min Su
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Bo Sun
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xu-Guang Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
- LBPA, Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Xi-Miao Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
- Corresponding author
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36
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Huang Y, Wurihan W, Lu B, Zou Y, Wang Y, Weldon K, Fondell JD, Lai Z, Wu X, Fan H. Robust Heat Shock Response in Chlamydia Lacking a Typical Heat Shock Sigma Factor. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:812448. [PMID: 35046926 PMCID: PMC8762339 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.812448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells reprogram their transcriptome in response to stress, such as heat shock. In free-living bacteria, the transcriptomic reprogramming is mediated by increased DNA-binding activity of heat shock sigma factors and activation of genes normally repressed by heat-induced transcription factors. In this study, we performed transcriptomic analyses to investigate heat shock response in the obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, whose genome encodes only three sigma factors and a single heat-induced transcription factor. Nearly one-third of C. trachomatis genes showed statistically significant (≥1.5-fold) expression changes 30 min after shifting from 37 to 45°C. Notably, chromosomal genes encoding chaperones, energy metabolism enzymes, type III secretion proteins, as well as most plasmid-encoded genes, were differentially upregulated. In contrast, genes with functions in protein synthesis were disproportionately downregulated. These findings suggest that facilitating protein folding, increasing energy production, manipulating host activities, upregulating plasmid-encoded gene expression, and decreasing general protein synthesis helps facilitate C. trachomatis survival under stress. In addition to relieving negative regulation by the heat-inducible transcriptional repressor HrcA, heat shock upregulated the chlamydial primary sigma factor σ66 and an alternative sigma factor σ28. Interestingly, we show for the first time that heat shock downregulates the other alternative sigma factor σ54 in a bacterium. Downregulation of σ54 was accompanied by increased expression of the σ54 RNA polymerase activator AtoC, thus suggesting a unique regulatory mechanism for reestablishing normal expression of select σ54 target genes. Taken together, our findings reveal that C. trachomatis utilizes multiple novel survival strategies to cope with environmental stress and even to replicate. Future strategies that can specifically target and disrupt Chlamydia’s heat shock response will likely be of therapeutic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yehong Huang
- Department of Parasitology, Xiangya School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Pharmacology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Wurihan Wurihan
- Department of Pharmacology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Bin Lu
- Department of Parasitology, Xiangya School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Pharmacology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Yi Zou
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Yuxuan Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Korri Weldon
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Joseph D Fondell
- Department of Pharmacology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Zhao Lai
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Xiang Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Xiangya School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Huizhou Fan
- Department of Pharmacology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States
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37
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McDonald AG, Tipton KF. Parameter Reliability and Understanding Enzyme Function. Molecules 2022; 27:263. [PMID: 35011495 PMCID: PMC8746786 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27010263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of the Michaelis-Menten parameters and their meaning in different circumstances is an essential prerequisite to understanding enzyme function and behaviour. The published literature contains an abundance of values reported for many enzymes. The problem concerns assessing the appropriateness and validity of such material for the purpose to which it is to be applied. This review considers the evaluation of such data with particular emphasis on the assessment of its fitness for purpose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G. McDonald
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland;
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Torricella F, Bonucci A, Polykretis P, Cencetti F, Banci L. Rapid protein delivery to living cells for biomolecular investigation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 570:82-88. [PMID: 34274850 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The lack of a simple, fast and efficient method for protein delivery is limiting the widespread application of in-cell experiments, which are crucial for understanding the cellular function. We present here an innovative strategy to deliver proteins into both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, exploiting thermal vesiculation. This method allows to internalize substantial amounts of proteins, with different molecular weight and conformation, without compromising the structural properties and cell viability. Characterizing proteins in a physiological environment is essential as the environment can dramatically affect the conformation and dynamics of biomolecules as shown by in-cell EPR spectra vs those acquired in buffer solution. Considering its versatility, this method opens the possibility to scientists to study proteins directly in living cells through a wide range of techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Torricella
- Magnetic Resonance Center - CERM, University of Florence, via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessio Bonucci
- Aix Marseille, Univ, CNRS, BIP, Laboratoire de Bioénergétique et Ingégnerie des protéines, Marseille, France
| | - Panagis Polykretis
- Interuniversity Consortium for Magnetic Resonance of Metallo Proteins (CIRMMP), via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Cencetti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, v.le GB Morgagni 50, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Lucia Banci
- Magnetic Resonance Center - CERM, University of Florence, via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy; Interuniversity Consortium for Magnetic Resonance of Metallo Proteins (CIRMMP), via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy; Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
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Kaur B, Naveen Kumar BT, Tyagi A, Admane Holeyappa S, Singh NK. Identification of novel vaccine candidates in the whole-cell Aeromonas hydrophila biofilm vaccine through reverse vaccinology approach. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 114:132-141. [PMID: 33932598 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2021.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Biofilm vaccine has been recognised as one of the successful strategy to reduce the Aeromonas hydrophila infection in fish. But, the vaccine contains the protective and non-protective proteins, which may lead to show altered heterologous adaptive immunity response. Moreover, cross protection and effectiveness of previously developed biofilm vaccine was not tested against different geographical A. hydrophila isolates. Therefore, in the present study, whole-cell A. hydrophila biofilm vaccine was evaluated in rohu, vaccinated group showed increased antibody titer and protection against the different geographical A. hydrophila isolates namely KAH1 and AAH2 with 78.9% and 84.2% relative percentage survival, respectively. In addition, by using the immune sera of biofilm vaccinated group, a total of six protective proteins were detected using western blot assay. Further, the same proteins were identified by nano LC-MS/MS method, a total of fourteen candidate proteins showing the immunogenic property including highly expressed OMP's tolC, bamA, lamb, AH4AK4_2542, AHGSH82_029580 were identified as potential vaccine candidates. The STRING analysis revealed that, top candidate proteins identified may potentially interact with other intracellular proteins; involved in ribosomal and (tricarboxylic acid) TCA pathway. Importantly, all the selected vaccine candidate proteins contain the B-cell epitope region. Finally, the present study concludes that, whole-cell A. hydrophila biofilm vaccine able to protect the fish against the different geographical A. hydrophila isolates. Further, through reverse vaccinology approach, a total of fourteen proteins were identified as potential vaccine candidates against A. hydrophila pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basmeet Kaur
- College of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - B T Naveen Kumar
- College of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
| | - Anuj Tyagi
- College of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | | | - Niraj Kumar Singh
- College of Animal Biotechnology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
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Schnabel T, Sattely E. Engineering Posttranslational Regulation of Glutamine Synthetase for Controllable Ammonia Production in the Plant Symbiont Azospirillum brasilense. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:e0058221. [PMID: 33962983 PMCID: PMC8231714 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00582-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen requirements for modern agriculture far exceed the levels of bioavailable nitrogen in most arable soils. As a result, the addition of nitrogen fertilizer is necessary to sustain productivity and yields, especially for cereal crops, the planet's major calorie suppliers. Given the unsustainability of industrial fertilizer production and application, engineering biological nitrogen fixation directly at the roots of plants has been a grand challenge for biotechnology. Here, we designed and tested a potentially broadly applicable metabolic engineering strategy for the overproduction of ammonia in the diazotrophic symbiont Azospirillum brasilense. Our approach is based on an engineered unidirectional adenylyltransferase (uAT) that posttranslationally modifies and deactivates glutamine synthetase (GS), a key regulator of nitrogen metabolism in the cell. We show that this circuit can be controlled inducibly, and we leveraged the inherent self-contained nature of our posttranslational approach to demonstrate that multicopy redundancy can improve strain evolutionary stability. uAT-engineered Azospirillum is capable of producing ammonia at rates of up to 500 μM h-1 unit of OD600 (optical density at 600 nm)-1. We demonstrated that when grown in coculture with the model monocot Setaria viridis, these strains increase the biomass and chlorophyll content of plants up to 54% and 71%, respectively, relative to the wild type (WT). Furthermore, we rigorously demonstrated direct transfer of atmospheric nitrogen to extracellular ammonia and then plant biomass using isotopic labeling: after 14 days of cocultivation with engineered uAT strains, 9% of chlorophyll nitrogen in Setaria seedlings was derived from diazotrophically fixed dinitrogen, whereas no nitrogen was incorporated in plants cocultivated with WT controls. This rational design for tunable ammonia overproduction is modular and flexible, and we envision that it could be deployable in a consortium of nitrogen-fixing symbiotic diazotrophs for plant fertilization. IMPORTANCE Nitrogen is the most limiting nutrient in modern agriculture. Free-living diazotrophs, such as Azospirillum, are common colonizers of cereal grasses and have the ability to fix nitrogen but natively do not release excess ammonia. Here, we used a rational engineering approach to generate ammonia-excreting strains of Azospirillum. Our design features posttranslational control of highly conserved central metabolism, enabling tunability and flexibility of circuit placement. We found that our strains promote the growth and health of the model grass S. viridis and rigorously demonstrated that in comparison to WT controls, our engineered strains can transfer nitrogen from 15N2 gas to plant biomass. Unlike previously reported ammonia-producing mutants, our rationally designed approach easily lends itself to further engineering opportunities and has the potential to be broadly deployable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Schnabel
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth Sattely
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University and HHMI, Stanford, California, USA
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Paiva P, Medina FE, Viegas M, Ferreira P, Neves RPP, Sousa JPM, Ramos MJ, Fernandes PA. Animal Fatty Acid Synthase: A Chemical Nanofactory. Chem Rev 2021; 121:9502-9553. [PMID: 34156235 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fatty acids are crucial molecules for most living beings, very well spread and conserved across species. These molecules play a role in energy storage, cell membrane architecture, and cell signaling, the latter through their derivative metabolites. De novo synthesis of fatty acids is a complex chemical process that can be achieved either by a metabolic pathway built by a sequence of individual enzymes, such as in most bacteria, or by a single, large multi-enzyme, which incorporates all the chemical capabilities of the metabolic pathway, such as in animals and fungi, and in some bacteria. Here we focus on the multi-enzymes, specifically in the animal fatty acid synthase (FAS). We start by providing a historical overview of this vast field of research. We follow by describing the extraordinary architecture of animal FAS, a homodimeric multi-enzyme with seven different active sites per dimer, including a carrier protein that carries the intermediates from one active site to the next. We then delve into this multi-enzyme's detailed chemistry and critically discuss the current knowledge on the chemical mechanism of each of the steps necessary to synthesize a single fatty acid molecule with atomic detail. In line with this, we discuss the potential and achieved FAS applications in biotechnology, as biosynthetic machines, and compare them with their homologous polyketide synthases, which are also finding wide applications in the same field. Finally, we discuss some open questions on the architecture of FAS, such as their peculiar substrate-shuttling arm, and describe possible reasons for the emergence of large megasynthases during evolution, questions that have fascinated biochemists from long ago but are still far from answered and understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Paiva
- LAQV, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Fabiola E Medina
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Andres Bello, Autopista Concepción-Talcahuano, 7100 Talcahuano, Chile
| | - Matilde Viegas
- LAQV, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Ferreira
- LAQV, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui P P Neves
- LAQV, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - João P M Sousa
- LAQV, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria J Ramos
- LAQV, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro A Fernandes
- LAQV, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
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Lee JH, Jomaa A, Chung S, Hwang Fu YH, Qian R, Sun X, Hsieh HH, Chandrasekar S, Bi X, Mattei S, Boehringer D, Weiss S, Ban N, Shan SO. Receptor compaction and GTPase rearrangement drive SRP-mediated cotranslational protein translocation into the ER. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabg0942. [PMID: 34020957 PMCID: PMC8139590 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg0942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The conserved signal recognition particle (SRP) cotranslationally delivers ~30% of the proteome to the eukaryotic endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The molecular mechanism by which eukaryotic SRP transitions from cargo recognition in the cytosol to protein translocation at the ER is not understood. Here, structural, biochemical, and single-molecule studies show that this transition requires multiple sequential conformational rearrangements in the targeting complex initiated by guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase)-driven compaction of the SRP receptor (SR). Disruption of these rearrangements, particularly in mutant SRP54G226E linked to severe congenital neutropenia, uncouples the SRP/SR GTPase cycle from protein translocation. Structures of targeting intermediates reveal the molecular basis of early SRP-SR recognition and emphasize the role of eukaryote-specific elements in regulating targeting. Our results provide a molecular model for the structural and functional transitions of SRP throughout the targeting cycle and show that these transitions provide important points for biological regulation that can be perturbed in genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Ho Lee
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Ahmad Jomaa
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - SangYoon Chung
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Yu-Hsien Hwang Fu
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Ruilin Qian
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Xuemeng Sun
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Hao-Hsuan Hsieh
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Sowmya Chandrasekar
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Xiaotian Bi
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Simone Mattei
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Boehringer
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
- Cryo-EM Knowledge Hub, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Shimon Weiss
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Physics, Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, 52900 Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Nenad Ban
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Shu-Ou Shan
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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Morita R, Shigeta Y, Harada R. Comprehensive predictions of secondary structures for comparative analysis in different species. J Struct Biol 2021; 213:107735. [PMID: 33831508 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2021.107735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Protein structures are directly linked to biological functions. However, there is a gap of knowledge between the decoded genome and the structure. To bridge the gap, we focused on the secondary structure (SS). From a comprehensive analysis of predicted SS of proteins in different types of organisms, we have arrived at the following findings: The proportions of SS in genomes were different among phylogenic domains. The distributions of strand lengths indicated structural limitations in all of the species. Different from bacteria and archaea, eukaryotes have an abundance of α-helical and random coil proteins. Interestingly, there was a relationship between SS and post-translational modifications. By calculating hydrophobicity moments of helices and strands, highly amphipathic fragments of SS were found, which might be related to the biological functions. In conclusion, comprehensive predictions of SS will provide valuable perspectives to understand the entire protein structures in genomes and will help one to discover or design functional proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rikuri Morita
- Center for Computational Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki. Japan.
| | - Yasuteru Shigeta
- Center for Computational Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki. Japan
| | - Ryuhei Harada
- Center for Computational Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki. Japan.
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Abstract
Vitamin B6 is an ensemble of six interconvertible vitamers: pyridoxine (PN), pyridoxamine (PM), pyridoxal (PL), and their 5'-phosphate derivatives, PNP, PMP, and PLP. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate is a coenzyme in a variety of enzyme reactions concerning transformations of amino and amino acid compounds. This review summarizes all known and putative PLP-binding proteins found in the Escherichia coli MG1655 proteome. PLP can have toxic effects since it contains a very reactive aldehyde group at its 4' position that easily forms aldimines with primary and secondary amines and reacts with thiols. Most PLP is bound either to the enzymes that use it as a cofactor or to PLP carrier proteins, protected from the cellular environment but at the same time readily transferable to PLP-dependent apoenzymes. E. coli and its relatives synthesize PLP through the seven-step deoxyxylulose-5-phosphate (DXP)-dependent pathway. Other bacteria synthesize PLP in a single step, through a so-called DXP-independent pathway. Although the DXP-dependent pathway was the first to be revealed, the discovery of the widespread DXP-independent pathway determined a decline of interest in E. coli vitamin B6 metabolism. In E. coli, as in most organisms, PLP can also be obtained from PL, PN, and PM, imported from the environment or recycled from protein turnover, via a salvage pathway. Our review deals with all aspects of vitamin B6 metabolism in E. coli, from transcriptional to posttranslational regulation. A critical interpretation of results is presented, in particular, concerning the most obscure aspects of PLP homeostasis and delivery to PLP-dependent enzymes.
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Dailey KM, Jacobson RI, Johnson PR, Woolery TJ, Kim J, Jansen RJ, Mallik S, Brooks AE. Methods and Techniques to Facilitate the Development of Clostridium novyi NT as an Effective, Therapeutic Oncolytic Bacteria. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:624618. [PMID: 33854487 PMCID: PMC8039391 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.624618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment is characterized by anomalous vascularization, hypoxia, and acidity at the core of solid tumors that culminates in concentrated necrosis and immune system dysregulation among other effects. While this environment presents several challenges for the development of oncotherapeutics that deliver their activity via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect of the leaky blood vessels around a tumor, oncolytic bacteria, or a class of bacteria with a noted capacity to lyse solid tumors, are attracted to the very environment found at the center of solid tumors that confounds other therapeutics. It is this capacity that allows for a potent, active penetration from the tumor margins into the core, and subsequent colonization to facilitate lysis and immune reactivation. Clostridium novyi in particular has recently shown great promise in preclinical and clinical trials when administered directly to the tumor. These studies indicate that C. novyi is uniquely poised to effectively accomplish the long sought after "holy grail" of oncotherapeutics: selective tumor localization via intravenous delivery. This study reports the development of efficient methods that facilitate experimental work and therapeutic translation of C. novyi including the ability to work with this obligate micro-anaerobe on the benchtop. Additionally, this study seeks to utilize this newfound experimental flexibility to address several gaps in the current knowledge regarding the efficacy of CRIPSR/Cas9-mediated gene insertion in this species to further develop this oncolytic bacteria and the genetic customization of bacteria in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin M Dailey
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, United States
| | - Reed I Jacobson
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, United States
| | - Paige R Johnson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, United States
| | - Taylor J Woolery
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, United States
| | - Jiha Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, United States
| | - Rick J Jansen
- Department of Public Health, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, United States.,Genomics and Bioinformatics Program, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, United States
| | - Sanku Mallik
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, United States
| | - Amanda E Brooks
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, United States.,Office of Research and Scholarly Activity, Rocky Vista University, Ivins, UT, United States
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(p)ppGpp-Dependent Regulation of the Nucleotide Hydrolase PpnN Confers Complement Resistance in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium. Infect Immun 2021; 89:IAI.00639-20. [PMID: 33139383 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00639-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The stringent response is an essential mechanism of metabolic reprogramming during environmental stress that is mediated by the nucleotide alarmones guanosine tetraphosphate and pentaphosphate [(p)ppGpp]. In addition to physiological adaptations, (p)ppGpp also regulates virulence programs in pathogenic bacteria, including Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. S Typhimurium is a common cause of acute gastroenteritis, but it may also spread to systemic tissues, resulting in severe clinical outcomes. During infection, S Typhimurium encounters a broad repertoire of immune defenses that it must evade for successful host infection. Here, we examined the role of the stringent response in S Typhimurium resistance to complement-mediated killing and found that the (p)ppGpp synthetase-hydrolase, SpoT, is required for bacterial survival in human serum. We identified the nucleotide hydrolase, PpnN, as a target of the stringent response that is required to promote bacterial fitness in serum. Using chromatography and mass spectrometry, we show that PpnN hydrolyzes purine and pyrimidine monophosphates to generate free nucleobases and ribose 5'-phosphate, and that this metabolic activity is required for conferring resistance to complement killing. In addition to PpnN, we show that (p)ppGpp is required for the biosynthesis of the very long and long O-antigen in the outer membrane, known to be important for complement resistance. Our results provide new insights into the role of the stringent response in mediating evasion of the innate immune system by pathogenic bacteria.
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Seinen AB, Spakman D, van Oijen AM, Driessen AJM. Cellular dynamics of the SecA ATPase at the single molecule level. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1433. [PMID: 33446830 PMCID: PMC7809386 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81081-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In bacteria, the SecA ATPase provides the driving force for protein secretion via the SecYEG translocon. While the dynamic interplay between SecA and SecYEG in translocation is widely appreciated, it is not clear how SecA associates with the translocon in the crowded cellular environment. We use super-resolution microscopy to directly visualize the dynamics of SecA in Escherichia coli at the single-molecule level. We find that SecA is predominantly associated with and evenly distributed along the cytoplasmic membrane as a homodimer, with only a minor cytosolic fraction. SecA moves along the cell membrane as three distinct but interconvertible diffusional populations: (1) A state loosely associated with the membrane, (2) an integral membrane form, and (3) a temporarily immobile form. Disruption of the proton-motive-force, which is essential for protein secretion, re-localizes a significant portion of SecA to the cytoplasm and results in the transient location of SecA at specific locations at the membrane. The data support a model in which SecA diffuses along the membrane surface to gain access to the SecYEG translocon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Bart Seinen
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, and the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dian Spakman
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, and the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Arnold J M Driessen
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, and the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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48
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Electrokinetic sandwich assay and DNA mediated charge amplification for enhanced sensitivity and specificity. Biosens Bioelectron 2020; 176:112917. [PMID: 33421763 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2020.112917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
An electrical immuno-sandwich assay utilizing an electrokinetic-based streaming current method for signal transduction is proposed. The method records the changes in streaming current, first when a target molecule binds to the capture probes immobilized on the inner surface of a silica micro-capillary, and then when the detection probes interact with the bound target molecules on the surface. The difference in signals in these two steps constitute the response of the assay, which offers better target selectivity and a linear concentration dependent response for a target concentration within the range 0.2-100 nM. The proof of concept is demonstrated by detecting different concentrations of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) in both phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and spiked in E. coli cell lysate. A superior target specificity for the sandwich assay compared to the corresponding direct assay is demonstrated along with a limit of detection of 90 pM in PBS. The prospect of improving the detection sensitivity was theoretically analysed, which indicated that the charge contrast between the target and the detection probe plays a crucial role in determining the signal. This aspect was then experimentally validated by modulating the zeta potential of the detection probe by conjugating negatively charged DNA oligonucleotides. The length of the conjugated DNA was varied from 5 to 30 nucleotides, altering the zeta potential of the detection probe from -9.3 ± 0.8 mV to -20.1 ± 0.9 mV. The measurements showed a clear and consistent enhancement of detection signal as a function of DNA lengths. The results presented here conclusively demonstrate the role of electric charge in detection sensitivity as well as the prospect for further improvement. The study therefore is a step forward in developing highly selective and sensitive electrokinetic assays for possible application in clinical investigations.
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49
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Cronan JE. The Escherichia coli FadR transcription factor: Too much of a good thing? Mol Microbiol 2020; 115:1080-1085. [PMID: 33283913 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Escherichia coli FadR is a transcription factor regulated by acyl-CoA thioester binding that optimizes fatty acid (FA) metabolism in response to environmental FAs. FadR represses the fad genes of FA degradation (β-oxidation) and activates the fab genes of FA synthesis thereby allowing E. coli to have its cake (acyl chains for phospholipid synthesis) and eat it (degrade acyl chains to acetyl-CoA). Acyl-CoA binding of FadR derepresses the transcription of the fad genes and cancels fab gene transcriptional activation. Activation of fab genes was thought restricted to the fabA and fabB genes of unsaturated FA synthesis, but FadR overproduction markedly increases yields of all FA acyl chains. Subsequently, almost all of the remaining fab genes were shown to be transcriptionally activated by FadR binding, but binding was very weak. Why are the low-affinity sites retained? What effects on cell physiology would result from their conversion to high-affinity sites (thereby mimicking FadR overproduction)? Investigations of E. coli cell size determinants showed that FA synthesis primarily determines E. coli cell size. Upon modest induction of FadR, cell size increases, but at the cost of growth rate and accumulation of intracellular membranes. Greater induction resulted in further growth rate decreases and abnormal cells. Hence, too much FadR is bad. FadR is extraordinarily conserved in γ-proteobacteria but has migrated. Mycobacterium tuberculosis encodes FadR orthologs one of which is functional in E. coli. Strikingly, the FadR theme of acyl-CoA-dependent transcriptional regulation is found in a different transcription factor family where two Bacillus species plus bacterial and archaeal thermophiles contain related proteins of similar function.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E Cronan
- Departments of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
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Deshmukh S, Saini S. Phenotypic Heterogeneity in Tumor Progression, and Its Possible Role in the Onset of Cancer. Front Genet 2020; 11:604528. [PMID: 33329751 PMCID: PMC7734151 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.604528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneity among isogenic cells/individuals has been known for at least 150 years. Even Mendel, working on pea plants, realized that not all tall plants were identical. However, Mendel was more interested in the discontinuous variation between genetically distinct individuals. The concept of environment dictating distinct phenotypes among isogenic individuals has since been shown to impact the evolution of populations in numerous examples at different scales of life. In this review, we discuss how phenotypic heterogeneity and its evolutionary implications exist at all levels of life, from viruses to mammals. In particular, we discuss how a particular disease condition (cancer) is impacted by heterogeneity among isogenic cells, and propose a potential role that phenotypic heterogeneity might play toward the onset of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saniya Deshmukh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
| | - Supreet Saini
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
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