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Rozova ON, Mustakhimov II, But SY, Reshetnikov AS, Khmelenina VN. Role of the malic enzyme in metabolism of the halotolerant methanotroph Methylotuvimicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225054. [PMID: 31738793 PMCID: PMC6860931 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacteria utilizing methane as a growth substrate (methanotrophs) are important constituents of the biosphere. Methanotrophs mitigate the emission of anthropogenic and natural greenhouse gas methane to the environment and are the promising agents for future biotechnologies. Many aspects of CH4 bioconversion by methanotrophs require further clarification. This study was aimed at characterizing the biochemical properties of the malic enzyme (Mae) from the halotolerant obligate methanotroph Methylotuvimicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z. The His6-tagged Mae was obtained by heterologous expression in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and purified by affinity metal chelating chromatography. As determined by gel filtration and non-denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis, the molecular mass of the native enzyme is 260 kDa. The homotetrameric Mae (65x4 kDa) catalyzed an irreversible NAD+-dependent reaction of L-malate decarboxylation into pyruvate with a specific activity of 32 ± 2 units mg-1 and Km value of 5.5 ± 0.8 mM for malate and 57 ± 5 μM for NAD+. The disruption of the mae gene by insertion mutagenesis resulted in a 20-fold increase in intracellular malate level in the mutant compared to the wild type strain. Based on both enzyme and mutant properties, we conclude that the malic enzyme is involved in the control of intracellular L-malate level in Mtm. alcaliphilum 20Z. Genomic analysis has revealed that Maes present in methanotrophs fall into two different clades in the amino acid-based phylogenetic tree, but no correlation of the division with taxonomic affiliations of the host bacteria was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga N. Rozova
- Federal Research Center “Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Ildar I. Mustakhimov
- Federal Research Center “Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Sergei Y. But
- Federal Research Center “Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Aleksandr S. Reshetnikov
- Federal Research Center “Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Valentina N. Khmelenina
- Federal Research Center “Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia
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Rozova ON, Khmelenina VN, Mustakhimov II, But SY, Trotsenko YA. Properties of Malic Enzyme from the Aerobic Methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2019; 84:390-397. [PMID: 31228930 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297919040060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant malic enzyme from the aerobic methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium was obtained by heterologous expression in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity metal-chelating chromatography. The homohexameric enzyme of 6×80 kDa catalyzed the reversible reaction of oxidative decarboxylation of malate to pyruvate in the presence of mono- and divalent cations and NADP+ as a cofactor. The kcat/Km ratio indicated much higher catalytic efficiency of the malate decarboxylation reaction as compared with the pyruvate carboxylation reaction. Analysis of the protein sequence revealed that the C-region of the enzyme contains a large domain homologous to phosphoacetyltransferase, but no phosphoacetyltransferase activity was detected either for a full chimeric malic enzyme or for the C-end fragment obtained as a separate protein. This C-end domain promoted activity of the malic enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- O N Rozova
- G. K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center "Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia
| | - V N Khmelenina
- G. K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center "Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia.
| | - I I Mustakhimov
- G. K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center "Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia
| | - S Y But
- G. K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center "Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia
| | - Yu A Trotsenko
- G. K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center "Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia
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Espariz M, Repizo G, Blancato V, Mortera P, Alarcón S, Magni C. Identification of malic and soluble oxaloacetate decarboxylase enzymes in Enterococcus faecalis. FEBS J 2011; 278:2140-51. [PMID: 21518252 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2011.08131.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Two paralogous genes, maeE and citM, that encode putative malic enzyme family members were identified in the Enterococcus faecalis genome. MaeE (41 kDa) and CitM (42 kDa) share a high degree of homology between them (47% identities and 68% conservative substitutions). However, the genetic context of each gene suggested that maeE is associated with malate utilization whereas citM is linked to the citrate fermentation pathway. In the present work, we focus on the biochemical characterization and physiological contribution of these enzymes in E. faecalis. With this aim, the recombinant versions of the two proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli, affinity purified and finally their kinetic parameters were determined. This approach allowed us to establish that MaeE is a malate oxidative decarboxylating enzyme and CitM is a soluble oxaloacetate decarboxylase. Moreover, our genetic studies in E. faecalis showed that the citrate fermentation phenotype is not affected by citM deletion. On the other hand, maeE gene disruption resulted in a malate fermentation deficient strain indicating that MaeE is responsible for malate metabolism in E. faecalis. Lastly, it was demonstrated that malate fermentation in E. faecalis is associated with cytoplasmic and extracellular alkalinization which clearly contributes to pH homeostasis in neutral or mild acidic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martín Espariz
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina
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Mitsch MJ, Cowie A, Finan TM. Malic enzyme cofactor and domain requirements for symbiotic N2 fixation by Sinorhizobium meliloti. J Bacteriol 2006; 189:160-8. [PMID: 17071765 PMCID: PMC1797227 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01425-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The NAD(+)-dependent malic enzyme (DME) and the NADP(+)-dependent malic enzyme (TME) of Sinorhizobium meliloti are representatives of a distinct class of malic enzymes that contain a 440-amino-acid N-terminal region homologous to other malic enzymes and a 330-amino-acid C-terminal region with similarity to phosphotransacetylase enzymes (PTA). We have shown previously that dme mutants of S. meliloti fail to fix N(2) (Fix(-)) in alfalfa root nodules, whereas tme mutants are unimpaired in their N(2)-fixing ability (Fix(+)). Here we report that the amount of DME protein in bacteroids is 10 times greater than that of TME. We therefore investigated whether increased TME activity in nodules would allow TME to function in place of DME. The tme gene was placed under the control of the dme promoter, and despite elevated levels of TME within bacteroids, no symbiotic nitrogen fixation occurred in dme mutant strains. Conversely, expression of dme from the tme promoter resulted in a large reduction in DME activity and symbiotic N(2) fixation. Hence, TME cannot replace the symbiotic requirement for DME. In further experiments we investigated the DME PTA-like domain and showed that it is not required for N(2) fixation. Thus, expression of a DME C-terminal deletion derivative or the Escherichia coli NAD(+)-dependent malic enzyme (sfcA), both of which lack the PTA-like region, restored wild-type N(2) fixation to a dme mutant. Our results have defined the symbiotic requirements for malic enzyme and raise the possibility that a constant high ratio of NADPH + H(+) to NADP in nitrogen-fixing bacteroids prevents TME from functioning in N(2)-fixing bacteroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Mitsch
- Center for Environmental Genomics, Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Tabrett CA, Copeland L. Enzymes of malate metabolism in Mesorhizobium ciceri CC 1192. Can J Microbiol 2002; 48:279-84. [PMID: 12030699 DOI: 10.1139/w02-021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Electrophoretic studies were performed on enzymes concerned with the oxidation of malate in free-living and bacteroid cells of Mesorhizobium ciceri CC 1192, which forms nitrogen-fixing symbioses with chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) plants. Two malate dehydrogenases were detected in extracts from both types of cells in native polyacrylamide electrophoresis gels that were stained for enzyme activity. One band of malate dehydrogenase activity was stained only in the presence of NADP+, whereas the other band was revealed with NAD+ but not NADP+. Further evidence for the occurrence of separate NAD- and NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenases was obtained from preliminary enzyme kinetic studies with crude extracts from free-living M. ciceri CC 1192 cells. Activity staining of electrophoretic gels also indicated the presence of two malic enzymes in free-living and bacteroid cells of M. ciceri CC 1192. One malic enzyme was active with both NAD+ and NADP+, whereas the other was specific for NADP+. Possible roles of the multiple forms of malate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme in nitrogen-fixing symbioses are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Ann Tabrett
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Abstract
One of the paradigms of symbiotic nitrogen fixation has been that bacteroids reduce N2 to ammonium and secrete it without assimilation into amino acids. This has recently been challenged by work with soybeans showing that only alanine is excreted in 15N2 labelling experiments. Work with peas shows that the bacteroid nitrogen secretion products during in vitro experiments depend on the experimental conditions. There is a mixed secretion of both ammonium and alanine depending critically on the concentration of bacteroids and ammonium concentration. The pathway of alanine synthesis has been shown to be via alanine dehydrogenase, and mutation of this enzyme indicates that in planta there is likely to be mixed secretion of ammonium and alanine. Alanine synthesis directly links carbon catabolism and nitrogen assimilation in the bacteroid. There is now overwhelming evidence that the principal carbon sources of bacteroids are the C4-dicarboxylic acids. This is based on labelling and bacteroid respiration data, and mutation of both the dicarboxylic acid transport system (dct) and malic enzyme. L-malate is at a key bifurcation point in bacteroid metabolism, being oxidized to oxaloacetate and oxidatively decarboxylated to pyruvate. Pyruvate can be aminated to alanine or converted to acetyl-CoA where it either enters the TCA cycle by condensation with oxaloacetate or forms polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). Thus regulation of carbon and nitrogen metabolism are strongly connected. Efficient catabolism of C4-dicarboxylates requires the balanced input and removal of intermediates from the TCA cycle. The TCA cycle in bacteroids may be limited by the redox state of NADH/NAD+ at the 2-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, and a number of pathways may be involved in bypassing this block. These pathways include PHB synthesis, glutamate synthesis, glycogen synthesis, GABA shunt and glutamine cycling. Their operation may be critical in maintaining the optimum redox poise and carbon balance of the TCA cycle. They can also be considered to be overflow pathways since they act to remove or add electrons and carbon into the TCA cycle. Optimum operation of the TCA cycle has a major impact on nitrogen fixation.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Poole
- Division of Microbiology, School of Animal and Microbial Sciences, University of Reading, UK
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Gourdon P, Baucher MF, Lindley ND, Guyonvarch A. Cloning of the malic enzyme gene from Corynebacterium glutamicum and role of the enzyme in lactate metabolism. Appl Environ Microbiol 2000; 66:2981-7. [PMID: 10877795 PMCID: PMC92100 DOI: 10.1128/aem.66.7.2981-2987.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2000] [Accepted: 05/12/2000] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Malic enzyme is one of at least five enzymes, known to be present in Corynebacterium glutamicum, capable of carboxylation and decarboxylation reactions coupling glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. To date, no information is available concerning the physiological role of the malic enzyme in this bacterium. The malE gene from C. glutamicum has been cloned and sequenced. The protein encoded by this gene has been purified to homogeneity, and the biochemical properties have been established. Biochemical characteristics indicate a decarboxylation role linked to NADPH generation. Strains of C. glutamicum in which the malE gene had been disrupted or overexpressed showed no detectable phenotype during growth on either acetate or glucose, but showed a significant modification of growth behavior during lactate metabolism. The wild type showed a characteristic brief period of exponential growth on lactate followed by a linear growth period. This growth pattern was further accentuated in a malE-disrupted strain (Delta malE). However, the strain overexpressing malE maintained exponential growth until all lactate had been consumed. This strain accumulated significantly larger amounts of pyruvate in the medium than the other strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Gourdon
- Laboratoire de Biotechnologie-Bioprocédés, UMR INSA/CNRS 5504 and UMR INRA 792, Centre de Bioingénierie Gilbert Durand, Institut National des Sciences Appliqueés, 31077 Toulouse Cedex, France
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Chen F, Okabe Y, Osano K, Tajima S. Purification and characterization of an NAD-malic enzyme from Bradyrhizobium japonicum A1017. Appl Environ Microbiol 1998; 64:4073-5. [PMID: 9758846 PMCID: PMC106605 DOI: 10.1128/aem.64.10.4073-4075.1998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
An NAD-malic enzyme was purified to homogeneity from Bradyrhizobium japonicum A1017, and its molecular characteristics were surveyed. The enzyme exhibited native and subunit molecular masses of 388 and 85 kDa, respectively, suggesting that it exists as a homotetramer, and was activated by metabolic intermediates in glycolysis. The role of the enzyme in bacteroids' carbon metabolism is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Chen
- Department of Bioresource Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Ikenobe 2393, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-07, Japan
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Abstract
Rhizobia are a diverse group of Gram-negative bacteria comprised of the genera Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Sinorhizobium and Azorhizobium. A unifying characteristic of the rhizobia is their capacity to reduce (fix) atmospheric nitrogen in symbiotic association with a compatible plant host. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation requires a substantial input of energy from the rhizobial symbiont. This review focuses on recent studies of rhizobial carbon metabolism which have demonstrated the importance of a functional tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in allowing rhizobia to efficiently colonize the plant host and/or develop an effective nitrogen fixing symbiosis. Several anaplerotic pathways have also been shown to maintain TCA cycle activity under specific conditions. Biochemical and physiological characterization of carbon metabolic mutants, along with the analysis of cloned genes and their corresponding gene products, have greatly advanced our understanding of the function of enzymes such as citrate synthase, oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, pyruvate carboxylase and malic enzymes. However, much remains to be learned about the control and function of these and other key metabolic enzymes in rhizobia.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Dunn
- Departamento de Ecología Molecular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
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Mitsch MJ, Voegele RT, Cowie A, Osteras M, Finan TM. Chimeric structure of the NAD(P)+- and NADP+-dependent malic enzymes of Rhizobium (Sinorhizobium) meliloti. J Biol Chem 1998; 273:9330-6. [PMID: 9535928 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.273.15.9330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Malic enzymes catalyze the oxidative decarboxylation of malate to pyruvate in conjunction with the reduction of a nicotinamide cofactor. We determined the DNA sequence and transcriptional start sites of the genes encoding the diphosphopyridine nucleotide-dependent malic enzyme (DME, EC 1.1.1.39) and the triphosphopyridine nucleotide-dependent malic enzyme (TME, EC 1.1.1. 40) of Rhizobium (Sinorhizobium) meliloti. The predicted DME and TME proteins contain 770 and 764 amino acids, respectively, and are approximately 320 amino acids larger than previously characterized prokaryotic malic enzymes. The increased size of DME and TME resides in the C-terminal extensions which are similar in sequence to phosphotransacetylase enzymes (EC 2.3.1.8). Modified DME and TME proteins which lack this C-terminal region retain malic enzyme activity but are unable to oligomerize into the native state. Data base searches have revealed that similar chimeric malic enzymes were uniquely present in Gram-negative bacteria. Thus DME and TME appear to be members of a new class of malic enzyme characterized by the presence of a phosphotransacetylase-like domain at the C terminus of the protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Mitsch
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada
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