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Mao Z, Fleming JR, Mayans O, Frey J, Schleheck D, Schink B, Müller N. AMP-dependent phosphite dehydrogenase, a phosphorylating enzyme in dissimilatory phosphite oxidation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2309743120. [PMID: 37922328 PMCID: PMC10636320 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2309743120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidation of phosphite (HPO32-) to phosphate (HPO42-) releases electrons at a very low redox potential (E0'= -690 mV) which renders phosphite an excellent electron donor for microbial energy metabolism. To date, two pure cultures of strictly anaerobic bacteria have been isolated that run their energy metabolism on the basis of phosphite oxidation, the Gram-negative Desulfotignum phosphitoxidans (DSM 13687) and the Gram-positive Phosphitispora fastidiosa (DSM 112739). Here, we describe the key enzyme for dissimilatory phosphite oxidation in these bacteria. The enzyme catalyzed phosphite oxidation in the presence of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to form adenosine diphosphate (ADP), with concomitant reduction of oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) to reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). The enzyme of P. fastidiosa was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. It has a molecular mass of 35.2 kDa and a high affinity for phosphite and NAD+. Its activity was enhanced more than 100-fold by addition of ADP-consuming adenylate kinase (myokinase) to a maximal activity between 30 and 80 mU x mg protein-1. A similar NAD-dependent enzyme oxidizing phosphite to phosphate with concomitant phosphorylation of AMP to ADP is found in D. phosphitoxidans, but this enzyme could not be heterologously expressed. Based on sequence analysis, these phosphite-oxidizing enzymes are related to nucleotide-diphosphate-sugar epimerases and indeed represent AMP-dependent phosphite dehydrogenases (ApdA). A reaction mechanism is proposed for this unusual type of substrate-level phosphorylation reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuqing Mao
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance78457, Germany
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, Departments of Chemistry and Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance78457, Germany
| | - Jennifer R. Fleming
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance78457, Germany
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, Departments of Chemistry and Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance78457, Germany
| | - Olga Mayans
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance78457, Germany
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, Departments of Chemistry and Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance78457, Germany
| | - Jasmin Frey
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance78457, Germany
| | - David Schleheck
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance78457, Germany
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, Departments of Chemistry and Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance78457, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance78457, Germany
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, Departments of Chemistry and Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance78457, Germany
| | - Nicolai Müller
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance78457, Germany
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Mao Z, Müller N, Borusak S, Schleheck D, Schink B. Anaerobic dissimilatory phosphite oxidation, an extremely efficient concept of microbial electron economy. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:2068-2074. [PMID: 37525971 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Phosphite is a stable phosphorus compound that, together with phosphate, made up a substantial part of the total phosphorus content of the prebiotic Earth's crust. Oxidation of phosphite to phosphate releases electrons at an unusually low redox potential (-690 mV at pH 7.0). Numerous aerobic and anaerobic bacteria use phosphite as a phosphorus source and oxidise it to phosphate for synthesis of nucleotides and other phosphorus-containing cell constituents. Only two pure cultures of strictly anaerobic bacteria have been isolated so far that use phosphite as an electron donor in their energy metabolism, the Gram-positive Phosphitispora fastidiosa and the Gram-negative Desulfotignum phosphitoxidans. The key enzyme of this metabolism is an NAD+ -dependent phosphite dehydrogenase enzyme that phosphorylates AMP to ADP. These phosphorylating phosphite dehydrogenases were found to be related to nucleoside diphosphate sugar epimerases. The produced NADH is channelled into autotrophic CO2 fixation via the Wood-Ljungdahl (CO-DH) pathway, thus allowing for nearly complete assimilation of the substrate electrons into bacterial biomass. This extremely efficient type of electron flow connects energy and carbon metabolism directly through NADH and might have been important in the early evolution of life when phosphite was easily available on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuqing Mao
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - Nicolai Müller
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - Sabrina Borusak
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - David Schleheck
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
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3
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Junghare M, Frey J, Naji KM, Spiteller D, Vaaje-Kolstad G, Schink B. Isophthalate:coenzyme A ligase initiates anaerobic degradation of xenobiotic isophthalate. BMC Microbiol 2022; 22:227. [PMID: 36171563 PMCID: PMC9516798 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-022-02630-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Environmental contamination from synthetic plastics and their additives is a widespread problem. Phthalate esters are a class of refractory synthetic organic compounds which are widely used in plastics, coatings, and for several industrial applications such as packaging, pharmaceuticals, and/or paints. They are released into the environment during production, use and disposal, and some of them are potential mutagens and carcinogens. Isophthalate (1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid) is a synthetic chemical that is globally produced at a million-ton scale for industrial applications and is considered a priority pollutant. Here we describe the biochemical characterization of an enzyme involved in anaerobic degradation of isophthalate by the syntrophically fermenting bacterium Syntrophorhabdus aromaticivorans strain UI that activate isophthalate to isophthalyl-CoA followed by its decarboxylation to benzoyl-CoA. Results Isophthalate:Coenzyme A ligase (IPCL, AMP-forming) that activates isophthalate to isophthalyl-CoA was heterologously expressed in E. coli (49.6 kDa) for biochemical characterization. IPCL is homologous to phenylacetate-CoA ligase that belongs to the family of ligases that form carbon-sulfur bonds. In the presence of coenzyme A, Mg2+ and ATP, IPCL converts isophthalate to isophthalyl-CoA, AMP and pyrophosphate (PPi). The enzyme was specifically induced after anaerobic growth of S. aromaticivorans in a medium containing isophthalate as the sole carbon source. Therefore, IPCL exhibited high substrate specificity and affinity towards isophthalate. Only substrates that are structurally related to isophthalate, such as glutarate and 3-hydroxybenzoate, could be partially converted to the respective coenzyme A esters. Notably, no activity could be measured with substrates such as phthalate, terephthalate and benzoate. Acetyl-CoA or succinyl-CoA did not serve as CoA donors. The enzyme has a theoretical pI of 6.8 and exhibited optimal activity between pH 7.0 to 7.5. The optimal temperature was between 25 °C and 37 °C. Denaturation temperature (Tm) of IPCL was found to be at about 63 °C. The apparent KM values for isophthalate, CoA, and ATP were 409 μM, 642 μM, and 3580 μM, respectively. Although S. aromaticivorans is a strictly anaerobic bacterium, the enzyme was found to be oxygen-insensitive and catalysed isophthalyl-CoA formation under both anoxic and oxic conditions. Conclusion We have successfully cloned the ipcl gene, expressed and characterized the corresponding IPCL enzyme, which plays a key role in isophthalate activation that initiates its activation and further degradation by S. aromaticivorans. Its biochemical characterization represents an important step in the elucidation of the complete degradation pathway of isophthalate. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-022-02630-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madan Junghare
- General Microbiology and Microbial Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457, Constance, Germany. .,Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1430, Ås, Norway.
| | - Jasmin Frey
- General Microbiology and Microbial Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457, Constance, Germany
| | - Khalid M Naji
- Chemical Ecology and Biological Chemistry, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457, Constance, Germany
| | - Dieter Spiteller
- Chemical Ecology and Biological Chemistry, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457, Constance, Germany
| | - Gustav Vaaje-Kolstad
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1430, Ås, Norway
| | - Bernhard Schink
- General Microbiology and Microbial Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457, Constance, Germany
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Klotz F, Kitzinger K, Ngugi DK, Büsing P, Littmann S, Kuypers MMM, Schink B, Pester M. Quantification of archaea-driven freshwater nitrification from single cell to ecosystem levels. ISME J 2022; 16:1647-1656. [PMID: 35260828 PMCID: PMC9122916 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01216-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Deep oligotrophic lakes sustain large populations of the class Nitrososphaeria (Thaumarchaeota) in their hypolimnion. They are thought to be the key ammonia oxidizers in this habitat, but their impact on N-cycling in lakes has rarely been quantified. We followed this archaeal population in one of Europe's largest lakes, Lake Constance, for two consecutive years using metagenomics and metatranscriptomics combined with stable isotope-based activity measurements. An abundant (8-39% of picoplankton) and transcriptionally active archaeal ecotype dominated the nitrifying community. It represented a freshwater-specific species present in major inland water bodies, for which we propose the name "Candidatus Nitrosopumilus limneticus". Its biomass corresponded to 12% of carbon stored in phytoplankton over the year´s cycle. Ca. N. limneticus populations incorporated significantly more ammonium than most other microorganisms in the hypolimnion and were driving potential ammonia oxidation rates of 6.0 ± 0.9 nmol l‒1 d‒1, corresponding to potential cell-specific rates of 0.21 ± 0.11 fmol cell-1 d-1. At the ecosystem level, this translates to a maximum capacity of archaea-driven nitrification of 1.76 × 109 g N-ammonia per year or 11% of N-biomass produced annually by phytoplankton. We show that ammonia-oxidizing archaea play an equally important role in the nitrogen cycle of deep oligotrophic lakes as their counterparts in marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Klotz
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, Konstanz, D-78457, Germany
| | - Katharina Kitzinger
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, D-28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - David Kamanda Ngugi
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Inhoffenstr. 7B, D-38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Petra Büsing
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Inhoffenstr. 7B, D-38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Sten Littmann
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, D-28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Marcel M M Kuypers
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, D-28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, Konstanz, D-78457, Germany
| | - Michael Pester
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, Konstanz, D-78457, Germany.
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Inhoffenstr. 7B, D-38124, Braunschweig, Germany.
- Technical University of Braunschweig, Institute for Microbiology, Spielmannstrasse 7, D-38106, Braunschweig, Germany.
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Peschel A, Diepold A, Fuchs TM, Ast J, Lemoine M, Schink B, Turgay K, Stecher B, Thormann K, Colin R, Sander J, Neumann-Staubitz P, Aichane K, Kruck D. Journal Club. Biospektrum 2022; 28:50-57. [PMID: 35194334 PMCID: PMC8853319 DOI: 10.1007/s12268-022-1708-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Mao Z, Gräßle F, Frey J, Franchini P, Schleheck D, Müller N, Schink B. Phosphitispora fastidiosa gen. nov. sp. nov., a new dissimilatory phosphite-oxidizing anaerobic bacterium isolated from anaerobic sewage sludge. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2021; 71. [PMID: 34878375 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.005142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A new strictly anaerobic bacterium, strain DYL19T, was enriched and isolated with phosphite as the sole electron donor and CO2 as a single carbon source and electron acceptor from anaerobic sewage sludge sampled at a sewage treatment plant in Constance, Germany. It is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, slightly curved, rod-shaped bacterium which oxidizes phosphite to phosphate while reducing CO2 to biomass and small amounts of acetate. Optimal growth is observed at 30 °C, pH 7.2, with a doubling time of 3 days. Beyond phosphite, no further inorganic or organic electron donor can be used, and no other electron acceptor than CO2 is reduced. Sulphate inhibits growth with phosphite and CO2. The G+C content is 45.95 mol%, and dimethylmenaquinone-7 is the only quinone detectable in the cells. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and other chemotaxonomic properties, strain DYL19T is described as the type strain of a new genus and species, Phosphitispora fastidiosa gen. nov., sp. nov.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuqing Mao
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany.,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - Fabian Gräßle
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - Jasmin Frey
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - Paolo Franchini
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - David Schleheck
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany.,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - Nicolai Müller
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany.,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
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Gräßle F, Plugge C, Franchini P, Schink B, Schleheck D, Müller N. Pelorhabdus rhamnosifermentans gen. nov., sp. nov., a strictly anaerobic rhamnose degrader from freshwater lake sediment. Syst Appl Microbiol 2021; 44:126225. [PMID: 34198168 DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
A rhamnose-degrading bacterium, strain BoRhaAT, was isolated from profundal sediment of Lake Constance in agar dilution series with l-rhamnose as substrate and with a background lawn of Methanospirillum hungatei. The isolated strain was a motile rod that stained Gram positive. Growth was observed within a pH range of 4.0-7.5 and a temperature range of 15-30°C. Fermentation products of rhamnose or glucose were acetate, propionate, ethanol, butyrate, and 1-propanol. The G+C content was 40.6% G+C. The dominant fatty acids are C16:1ω9c, i-C13:03OH, C16:0 and C17:1ω8c with 8-21% relative abundance. Polar lipids were glycolipids, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphoaminolipid and other lipids, of which phosphatidylethanolamine was most abundant. The sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of the new isolate matches the sequence of its closest relative Anaerosporomusa subterranea to 92.4%. A comparison of the genome with this strain showed 60.2% genome-wide average amino acid identity (AAI), comparisons with other type strains showed a maximum of 62.7% AAI. Thus, the definition of a new genus is justified for which we propose the name Pelorhabdus. For strain BoRhaAT, we propose the name Pelorhabdus rhamnosifermentans gen. nov., sp. nov., with strain BoRhaAT (DSM 111565T = JCM 39158T) as the type strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Gräßle
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany; Research Training Group R3 - Resilience of Lake Ecosystems, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Caroline Plugge
- Research Training Group R3 - Resilience of Lake Ecosystems, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany; Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Paolo Franchini
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany; Research Training Group R3 - Resilience of Lake Ecosystems, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - David Schleheck
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany; Research Training Group R3 - Resilience of Lake Ecosystems, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Nicolai Müller
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany; Research Training Group R3 - Resilience of Lake Ecosystems, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.
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Frey J, Kaßner S, Spiteller D, Mergelsberg M, Boll M, Schleheck D, Schink B. Activation of short-chain ketones and isopropanol in sulfate-reducing bacteria. BMC Microbiol 2021; 21:50. [PMID: 33593288 PMCID: PMC7888143 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-021-02112-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Degradation of acetone by aerobic and nitrate-reducing bacteria can proceed via carboxylation to acetoacetate and subsequent thiolytic cleavage to two acetyl residues. A different strategy was identified in the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfococcus biacutus that involves formylation of acetone to 2-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA. RESULTS Utilization of short-chain ketones (acetone, butanone, 2-pentanone and 3-pentanone) and isopropanol by the sulfate reducer Desulfosarcina cetonica was investigated by differential proteome analyses and enzyme assays. Two-dimensional protein gel electrophoresis indicated that D. cetonica during growth with acetone expresses enzymes homologous to those described for Desulfococcus biacutus: a thiamine diphosphate (TDP)-requiring enzyme, two subunits of a B12-dependent mutase, and a NAD+-dependent dehydrogenase. Total proteomics of cell-free extracts confirmed these results and identified several additional ketone-inducible proteins. Acetone is activated, most likely mediated by the TDP-dependent enzyme, to a branched-chain CoA-ester, 2-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA. This compound is linearized to 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA by a coenzyme B12-dependent mutase followed by oxidation to acetoacetyl-CoA by a dehydrogenase. Proteomic analysis of isopropanol- and butanone-grown cells revealed the expression of a set of enzymes identical to that expressed during growth with acetone. Enzyme assays with cell-free extract of isopropanol- and butanone-grown cells support a B12-dependent isomerization. After growth with 2-pentanone or 3-pentanone, similar protein patterns were observed in cell-free extracts as those found after growth with acetone. CONCLUSIONS According to these results, butanone and isopropanol, as well as the two pentanone isomers, are degraded by the same enzymes that are used also in acetone degradation. Our results indicate that the degradation of several short-chain ketones appears to be initiated by TDP-dependent formylation in sulfate-reducing bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Frey
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Constance, Germany
| | - Sophie Kaßner
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Constance, Germany
| | - Dieter Spiteller
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Constance, Germany
| | - Mario Mergelsberg
- Institute of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Boll
- Institute of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - David Schleheck
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Constance, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Constance, Germany.
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9
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Schink
- Fachbereich Biologie, Universität Konstanz, Universitätsstr. 10, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
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10
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Xie X, Spiteller D, Huhn T, Schink B, Müller N. Desulfatiglans anilini Initiates Degradation of Aniline With the Production of Phenylphosphoamidate and 4-Aminobenzoate as Intermediates Through Synthases and Carboxylases From Different Gene Clusters. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:2064. [PMID: 33013754 PMCID: PMC7500099 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.02064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The anaerobic degradation of aniline was studied in the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfatiglans anilini. Our aim was to identify the genes and their proteins that are required for the initial activation of aniline as well as to characterize intermediates of this reaction. Aniline-induced genes were revealed by comparison of the proteomes of D. anilini grown with different substrates (aniline, 4-aminobenzoate, phenol, and benzoate). Most genes encoding proteins that were highly abundant in aniline- or 4-aminobenzoate-grown D. anilini cells but not in phenol- or benzoate-grown cells were located in the putative gene clusters ani (aniline degradation), hcr (4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA reductase) and phe (phenol degradation). Of these putative gene clusters, only the phe gene cluster has been studied previously. Based on the differential proteome analysis, four candidate genes coding for kinase subunits and carboxylase subunits were suspected to be responsible for the initial conversion of aniline to 4-aminobenzoate. These genes were cloned and overproduced in E. coli. The recombinant proteins were obtained in inclusion bodies but could be refolded successfully. Two subunits of phenylphosphoamidate synthase and two carboxylase subunits converted aniline to 4-aminobenzoate with phenylphosphoamidate as intermediate under consumption of ATP. Only when both carboxylase subunits, one from gene cluster ani and the other from gene cluster phe, were combined, phenylphosphoamidate was converted to 4-aminobenzoate in vitro, with Mn2+, K+, and FMN as co-factors. Thus, aniline is degraded by the anaerobic bacterium D. anilini only by recruiting genes for the enzymatic machinery from different gene clusters. We conclude, that D. anilini carboxylates aniline to 4-aminobenzoate via phenylphosphoamidate as an energy rich intermediate analogous to the degradation of phenol to 4-hydroxybenzoate via phenylphosphate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoman Xie
- Department of Biology, Universität Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Dieter Spiteller
- Department of Biology, Universität Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Thomas Huhn
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, Konstanz, Germany.,Department of Chemistry, Universität Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, Universität Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Nicolai Müller
- Department of Biology, Universität Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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11
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Darley PI, Hellstern J, Schink B, Philipp B. Resorcinol Hydroxylase of Azoarcus anaerobius: Molybdenum Dependence, Activity, and Heterologous Expression. Curr Microbiol 2020; 77:3385-3396. [PMID: 32915288 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-020-02186-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The obligately anaerobic, denitrifying bacterium Azoarcus anaerobius strain LuFRes1 grows with resorcinol (1,3-dihydroxybenzene) as sole carbon and energy source. Resorcinol is oxidized to hydroxyhydroquinone (1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene) by resorcinol hydroxylase (RH), an inducible membrane-bound enzyme. Sequence comparison places resorcinol hydroxylase into the group of anaerobic molybdopterin oxidoreductases and dimethyl sulfoxide reductase-like enzymes. In the large subunit, a molybdopterin-binding domain was predicted, and the small subunit most likely contains two [4Fe-4S] centers. Growth of molybdate-starved cells was inhibited by tungstate, and in vitro resorcinol hydroxylase activity was inhibited by arsenite and selenite that are known to inhibit molybdenum-containing enzymes. The two genes encoding resorcinol hydroxylase could be expressed in Escherichia coli but the products remained in inclusion bodies. All attempts to purify RH from A. anaerobius or to produce soluble, active RH in E. coli failed. Nevertheless, RH was produced as a C-terminally Strep-tagged protein from plasmid pSKM1 in Thauera aromatica AR1 transconjugants carrying a transposon insertion in the coding gene for the large (ΔrhL) or the small subunit (ΔrhS) of RH from cosmid R+. RH in the membrane fraction of wild-type transconjugant T. aromatica AR1/R+ showed a specific activity of 80 mU mg-1, and the specific activity of RH in the membranes of the complemented mutants was in the same range (80-95 mU mg-1). We conclude that RH of A. anaerobius is a membrane-bound molybdoenzyme consisting of two subunits which might require a further loosely bound subunit as membrane anchor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula I Darley
- University of Konstanz, Fachbereich Biologie, 78457, Constance, Germany.,Cambivac Ltd, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Jutta Hellstern
- University of Konstanz, Fachbereich Biologie, 78457, Constance, Germany.,Novartis Pharma AG, Lichtstrasse 35, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Bernhard Schink
- University of Konstanz, Fachbereich Biologie, 78457, Constance, Germany
| | - Bodo Philipp
- University of Konstanz, Fachbereich Biologie, 78457, Constance, Germany. .,Institute for Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, Corrensstr. 3, 48149, Münster, Germany.
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12
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Thiel J, Spring S, Tindall BJ, Spröer C, Bunk B, Koeksoy E, Ngugi DK, Schink B, Pester M. Desulfolutivibrio sulfoxidireducens gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a pyrite-forming enrichment culture and reclassification of Desulfovibrio sulfodismutans as Desulfolutivibrio sulfodismutans comb. nov. Syst Appl Microbiol 2020; 43:126105. [DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2020.126105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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13
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Oren A, Schink B. Further guidelines for the formation of compound specific and subspecific epithets. A proposal to emend Appendix 9 of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2020; 70:3561-3562. [PMID: 32392120 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.004208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We propose emending section A(1)(b) of Appendix 9 of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes with further guidelines for the formation of compound specific or subspecific epithets based on localities and epithets based on binomial names of plants or animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aharon Oren
- The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, 9190401 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
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14
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Oren A, Schink B. Use of Greek in the prokaryotic nomenclature: proposal to change Principle 3, Recommendation 6, Rule 7, Rule 65 and Appendix 9 of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2020; 70:3559-3560. [PMID: 32375977 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.004142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Principle 3 of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) states that the scientific names of all taxa are Latin or latinized words treated as Latin regardless of their origin. They are usually taken from Latin or Greek. Recently we encountered cases where newly proposed names were based on words from Modern Greek that are not derived from words found in the dictionaries of Classical Greek. In our opinion, there is no special reason why Modern Greek words not found in the classical language should have a special status in the ICNP. We therefore propose modifying Principle 3, Recommendation 6, Rule 7, Rule 65 and Appendix 9 of the ICNP to specify the special status of Classical Greek besides Latin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aharon Oren
- The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, 9190401 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
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15
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Abstract
In subseafloor sediment, microbial cell densities exponentially decrease with depth into the fermentation zone. Here, we address the classical question of 'why are cells dying faster than they are growing?' from the standpoint of physiology. The stoichiometries of fermentative ATP production and consumption in the fermentation zone place bounds on the conversion of old cell biomass into new. Most fermentable organic matter in deep subseafloor sediment is amino acids from dead cells because cells are mostly protein by weight. Conversion of carbon from fermented dead cell protein into methanogen protein via hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenesis occurs at ratios of ∼200:1 and 100:1, respectively, while fermenters can reach conversion ratios approaching 6:1. Amino acid fermentations become thermodynamically more efficient at lower substrate and product concentrations, but the conversion of carbon from dead cell protein into fermenter protein is low because of the high energetic cost of translation. Low carbon conversion factors within subseafloor anaerobic feeding chains account for exponential declines in cellular biomass in the fermentation zone of anoxic sediments. Our analysis points to the existence of a life-death transition zone in which the last biologically catalyzed life processes are replaced with purely chemical reactions no longer coupled to life.
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Affiliation(s)
- William D Orsi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Paleontology and Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80333 Munich, Germany
- GeoBio-Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80333 Munich, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457 Constance, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Buckel
- Department of Biology, Philipps-Universität, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - William F Martin
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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16
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Boll M, Geiger R, Junghare M, Schink B. Microbial degradation of phthalates: biochemistry and environmental implications. Environ Microbiol Rep 2020; 12:3-15. [PMID: 31364812 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The environmentally relevant xenobiotic esters of phthalic acid (PA), isophthalic acid (IPA) and terephthalic acid (TPA) are produced on a million ton scale annually and are predominantly used as plastic polymers or plasticizers. Degradation by microorganisms is considered as the most effective means of their elimination from the environment and proceeds via hydrolysis to the corresponding PA isomers and alcohols under oxic and anoxic conditions. Further degradation of PA, IPA and TPA differs fundamentally between anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms. The latter introduce hydroxyl functionalities by dioxygenases to facilitate subsequent decarboxylation by either aromatizing dehydrogenases or cofactor-free decarboxylases. In contrast, anaerobic bacteria activate the PA isomers to the respective thioesters using CoA ligases or CoA transferases followed by decarboxylation to the central intermediate benzoyl-CoA. Decarboxylases acting on the three PA CoA thioesters belong to the UbiD enzyme family that harbour a prenylated flavin mononucleotide (FMN) cofactor to achieve the mechanistically challenging decarboxylation. Capture of the extremely instable PA-CoA intermediate is accomplished by a massive overproduction of phthaloyl-CoA decarboxylase and a balanced production of PA-CoA forming/decarboxylating enzymes. The strategy of anaerobic phthalate degradation probably represents a snapshot of an ongoing evolution of a xenobiotic degradation pathway via a short-lived reaction intermediate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Boll
- Faculty of Biology, Microbiology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Robin Geiger
- Faculty of Biology, Microbiology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Madan Junghare
- Department of Biology and Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology and Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
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17
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Keller A, Schink B, Müller N. Energy-Conserving Enzyme Systems Active During Syntrophic Acetate Oxidation in the Thermophilic Bacterium Thermacetogenium phaeum. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2785. [PMID: 31849917 PMCID: PMC6895022 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The thermophilic acetogen Thermacetogenium phaeum uses the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway (WLP) in both directions, either for the production of acetate from various compounds or for the oxidation of acetate in syntrophic cooperation with methanogens. In this study, energy-conserving enzyme systems in T. phaeum were investigated in both metabolic directions. A gene cluster containing a membrane-bound periplasmically oriented formate dehydrogenase directly adjacent to putative menaquinone synthesis genes was identified in the genome. The protein products of these genes were identified by total proteome analysis, and menaquinone MK-7 had been found earlier as the dominant quinone in the membrane. Enzyme assays with membrane preparations and anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate as electron acceptor verified the presence of a quinone-dependent formate dehydrogenase. A quinone-dependent methylene-THF reductase is active in the soluble fraction and in the membrane fraction. From these results we conclude a reversed electron transport system from methyl-THF oxidation to CO2 reduction yielding formate as reduced product which is transferred to the methanogenic partner. The redox potential difference between methyl-THF (Eo' = -200 mV) and formate (Eo' = -432 mV) does not allow electron transfer through syntrophic formate removal alone. We postulate that part of the ATP conserved by substrate-level phosphorylation has to be invested into the generation of a transmembrane proton gradient by ATPase. This proton gradient could drive the endergonic oxidation of methyl-THF in an enzyme reaction similar to the membrane-bound reversed electron transport system previously observed in the syntrophically butyrate-oxidizing bacterium Syntrophomonas wolfei. To balance the overall ATP budget in acetate oxidation, we postulate that acetate is activated through an ATP-independent path via aldehyde:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (AOR) and subsequent oxidation of acetaldehyde to acetyl-CoA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Keller
- Department of Biology, Universität Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, Universität Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Nicolai Müller
- Department of Biology, Universität Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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18
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, Universitaetsstr. 10, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jan C Semenza
- Scientific Assessment Section, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Gustav III:s boulevard 40, 169 73 Solna, Sweden
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19
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Geiger RA, Junghare M, Mergelsberg M, Ebenau‐Jehle C, Jesenofsky VJ, Jehmlich N, von Bergen M, Schink B, Boll M. Enzymes involved in phthalate degradation in sulphate‐reducing bacteria. Environ Microbiol 2019; 21:3601-3612. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Madan Junghare
- Department of Biology, Microbial EcologyUniversity of Konstanz, 78457 Constance Germany
| | - Mario Mergelsberg
- Faculty of Biology–MicrobiologyUniversity of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | | | | | - Nico Jehmlich
- Department of Molecular Systems BiologyHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research UFZ 04318 Leipzig Germany
| | - Martin von Bergen
- Department of Molecular Systems BiologyHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research UFZ 04318 Leipzig Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life SciencesUniversity of Leipzig Brüderstr. 34, 04103 Leipzig Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, Microbial EcologyUniversity of Konstanz, 78457 Constance Germany
| | - Matthias Boll
- Faculty of Biology–MicrobiologyUniversity of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg Germany
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20
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Oren A, Chuvochina M, Schink B. The use of Greek and Latin prepositions and prefixes in compound names: proposed emendation of Appendix 9 of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2019; 69:1831-1832. [PMID: 30950785 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.003389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Part A of Appendix 9 - Orthography of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes regulates the formation of compound generic names and specific epithets derived by combining two or more words or word elements of Latin and/or Greek origin, using the word stems and connecting vowels (-o- or -i-) following word elements derived from Greek and Latin, respectively. The rules given and the exceptions listed are suitable for substantives (nouns) and adjectives used as word elements, but not for prepositions and prefixes. Therefore, we propose a non-retroactive modification of Appendix 9 so that the guidelines given in Part A apply only to compound names that include a noun or an adjective in a non-final position. We also propose guidelines for the proper use of Greek and Latin prepositions, prefixes and adverbs in compound names in which the following word element starts with a vowel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aharon Oren
- 1The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, 9190401 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Maria Chuvochina
- 2Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, University of Queensland, St. Lucia QLD 4072, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Bernhard Schink
- 3Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Constance, Germany
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21
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Keller A, Schink B, Müller N. Alternative Pathways of Acetogenic Ethanol and Methanol Degradation in the Thermophilic Anaerobe Thermacetogenium phaeum. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:423. [PMID: 30949135 PMCID: PMC6436200 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Growth of the anaerobic thermophile Thermacetogenium phaeum with methanol, ethanol, ethanolamine, and acetate was investigated in axenic cultures and in syntrophic cultures with Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus. Microcompartment genes were identified in the T. phaeum genome, and presence of microcompartments was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and proteome analysis. These genes were expressed only during growth with ethanolamine. Proteome data were compared after growth with all four substrates, and activities of key enzymes of the Wood–Ljungdahl pathway and of enzyme systems leading to production or degradation of acetaldehyde such as alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, acetate kinase, and phosphate acetyltransferase were measured in cytoplasmic fractions. Accounting of fermentation stoichiometries and growth yields with all four substrates showed that ethanol and methanol oxidation follow the same stoichiometries as in Acetobacterium woodii. On the other hand, the pathways of ethanol and methanol degradations vary between both organisms. Growth yields of T. phaeum were substantially lower than reported for A. woodii. Since T. phaeum has no Rnf complex encoded in its genome, the mechanisms of ATP synthesis have to be different from those of A. woodii. In addition to the central degradation pathways also found in A. woodii, T. phaeum maintains enzyme systems that compensate for the absence of an Rnf-complex but which on the other hand cause a loss of energy. On the basis of our data, pathways of methanol and ethanol degradation in T. phaeum are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Keller
- Department of Biology, Universität Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, Universität Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Nicolai Müller
- Department of Biology, Universität Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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22
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Abstract
Recently a proposal was published to unify Rules 7, 8 and 9 of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Based on this proposal, all names of taxa above the rank of genus must be in the feminine gender, the plural number. For the rank of class, this proposal contravenes Principle 3 of the Code, which states that the scientific names of all taxa are treated as Latin. The -ia ending of most names of classes belongs to nominative plural nouns of the neuter gender.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aharon Oren
- 1The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, 9190401 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Maria Chuvochina
- 2Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, University of Queensland, St. Lucia QLD 4072, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Bernhard Schink
- 3Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Constance, Germany
| | - Stefano Ventura
- 4Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council of Italy 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy, and The Italian Embassy in Israel, 6812508 Tel Aviv, Israel
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23
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Junghare M, Spiteller D, Schink B. Anaerobic degradation of xenobiotic isophthalate by the fermenting bacterium Syntrophorhabdus aromaticivorans. ISME J 2019; 13:1252-1268. [PMID: 30647456 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-019-0348-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Syntrophorhabdus aromaticivorans is a syntrophically fermenting bacterium that can degrade isophthalate (3-carboxybenzoate). It is a xenobiotic compound which has accumulated in the environment for more than 50 years due to its global industrial usage and can cause negative effects on the environment. Isophthalate degradation by the strictly anaerobic S. aromaticivorans was investigated to advance our understanding of the degradation of xenobiotics introduced into nature, and to identify enzymes that might have ecological significance for bioremediation. Differential proteome analysis of isophthalate- vs benzoate-grown cells revealed over 400 differentially expressed proteins of which only four were unique to isophthalate-grown cells. The isophthalate-induced proteins include a phenylacetate:CoA ligase, a UbiD-like decarboxylase, a UbiX-like flavin prenyltransferase, and a hypothetical protein. These proteins are encoded by genes forming a single gene cluster that putatively codes for anaerobic conversion of isophthalate to benzoyl-CoA. Subsequently, benzoyl-CoA is metabolized by the enzymes of the anaerobic benzoate degradation pathway that were identified in the proteomic analysis. In vitro enzyme assays with cell-free extracts of isophthalate-grown cells indicated that isophthalate is activated to isophthalyl-CoA by an ATP-dependent isophthalate:CoA ligase (IPCL), and subsequently decarboxylated to benzoyl-CoA by a UbiD family isophthalyl-CoA decarboxylase (IPCD) that requires a prenylated flavin mononucleotide (prFMN) cofactor supplied by UbiX to effect decarboxylation. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that IPCD is a novel member of the functionally diverse UbiD family (de)carboxylases. Homologs of the IPCD encoding genes are found in several other bacteria, such as aromatic compound-degrading denitrifiers, marine sulfate-reducers, and methanogenic communities in a terephthalate-degrading reactor. These results suggest that metabolic strategies adapted for degradation of isophthalate and other phthalate are conserved between microorganisms that are involved in the anaerobic degradation of environmentally relevant aromatic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madan Junghare
- Microbial Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.
| | - Dieter Spiteller
- Chemical Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Microbial Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
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24
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Montag D, Schink B. Formate and Hydrogen as Electron Shuttles in Terminal Fermentations in an Oligotrophic Freshwater Lake Sediment. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:e01572-18. [PMID: 30097443 PMCID: PMC6182907 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01572-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The energetic situation of terminal fermentations in methanogenesis was analyzed by pool size determinations in sediment cores taken in the oligotrophic Lake Constance, Germany. Distribution profiles of fermentation intermediates and products were measured at three different water depths (2, 10, and 80 m). Methane concentrations were constant below 10 cm of sediment depth. Within the methanogenic zone, concentrations of formate, acetate, propionate, and butyrate varied between 1 and 40 μM, and hydrogen was between 0.5 and 5 Pa. From the distribution profiles of the fermentation intermediates, Gibbs free energy changes for their interconversion were calculated. Pool sizes of formate and hydrogen were energetically nearly equivalent, with -5 ± 5 kJ per mol difference of free energy change (ΔG) for a hypothetical conversion of formate to hydrogen plus CO2 The ΔG values for conversion of fatty acids to methanogenic substrates and their further conversion to methane and CO2 were calculated with hydrogen and with formate as intermediates. Syntrophic propionate oxidation reached energetic equilibrium with formate as the sole electron carrier but was sufficiently exergonic if at least some of the electrons were transferred via hydrogen. The energetic consequences of formate versus hydrogen transfer in secondary and methanogenic fermentations indicate that both carrier systems are probably used simultaneously to optimize the energy yields for the partners involved.IMPORTANCE In the terminal steps of methane formation in freshwater lake sediments, fermenting bacteria cooperate syntrophically with methanogens and homoacetogens at minimum energy increments via interspecies electron transfer. The energy yields of the partner organisms in these cooperations have so far been calculated based mainly on in situ hydrogen partial pressures. In the present study, we also analyzed pools of formate as an alternative electron carrier in sediment cores of an oligotrophic lake. The formate and hydrogen pools appeared to be energetically nearly equivalent and are likely to be used simultaneously for interspecies electron transfer. Calculations of reaction energies of the partners involved suggest that propionate degradation may also proceed through the Smithella pathway, which converts propionate via butyrate and acetate to three acetate residues, thus circumventing one energetically difficult fatty acid oxidation step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Montag
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
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25
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Whitman WB, Oren A, Chuvochina M, da Costa MS, Garrity GM, Rainey FA, Rossello-Mora R, Schink B, Sutcliffe I, Trujillo ME, Ventura S. Proposal of the suffix -ota to denote phyla. Addendum to 'Proposal to include the rank of phylum in the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes'. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2018; 68:967-969. [PMID: 29458499 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.002593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
As an addendum to the earlier proposal to include the rank of phylum in the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (Oren et al., Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2015;65:4284-4287) we propose the suffix -ota to denote phyla, replacing the somewhat awkward -aeota. We therefore present a new draft modified version of Rule 8 of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes and a corrected list of names of phyla to be considered for validation after approval of the proposal to include the rank of phylum in the Code.
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Affiliation(s)
- William B Whitman
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-2605, USA
| | - Aharon Oren
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Maria Chuvochina
- Australian Centre for Ergogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Milton S da Costa
- Microbiology Unit, BIOCANT Biotechnological Park, Cantanhede 3060-197, Portugal
| | - George M Garrity
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Biomedical Physical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-4320, USA
| | - Fred A Rainey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
| | - Ramon Rossello-Mora
- Department of Ecology and Marine Resources, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA UIB-CSIC), Esporles 07190, Spain
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz D-78457, Germany
| | - Iain Sutcliffe
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Martha E Trujillo
- Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca 37007, Spain
| | - Stefano Ventura
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Ecosystem Study, Sesto Fiorentino I-50019, Italy
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27
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Abstract
Hydrogen and formate are important electron carriers in methanogenic degradation in anoxic environments such as sediments, sewage sludge digestors and biogas reactors. Especially in the terminal steps of methanogenesis, they determine the energy budgets of secondary (syntrophically) fermenting bacteria and their methanogenic partners. The literature provides considerable data on hydrogen pool sizes in such habitats, but little data exist for formate concentrations due to technical difficulties in formate determination at low concentration. Recent evidence from biochemical and molecular biological studies indicates that several secondary fermenters can use both hydrogen and formate for electron release, and may do so even simultaneously. Numerous strictly anaerobic bacteria contain enzymes which equilibrate hydrogen and formate pools to energetically equal values, and recent measurements in sewage digestors and biogas reactors indicate that - beyond occasional fluctuations - the pool sizes of hydrogen and formate are indeed energetically nearly equivalent. Nonetheless, a thermophilic archaeon from a submarine hydrothermal vent, Thermococcus onnurineus, can obtain ATP from the conversion of formate to hydrogen plus bicarbonate at 80°C, indicating that at least in this extreme environment the pools of formate and hydrogen are likely to be sufficiently different to support such an unusual type of energy conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, D-78457, Germany
| | - Dominik Montag
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, D-78457, Germany
| | - Anja Keller
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, D-78457, Germany
| | - Nicolai Müller
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, D-78457, Germany
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28
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Patil Y, Müller N, Schink B, Whitman WB, Huntemann M, Clum A, Pillay M, Palaniappan K, Varghese N, Mikhailova N, Stamatis D, Reddy TBK, Daum C, Shapiro N, Ivanova N, Kyrpides N, Woyke T, Junghare M. High-quality-draft genome sequence of the fermenting bacterium Anaerobium acetethylicum type strain GluBS11 T (DSM 29698). Stand Genomic Sci 2017; 12:24. [PMID: 28250895 PMCID: PMC5322786 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-017-0236-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaerobium acetethylicum strain GluBS11T belongs to the family Lachnospiraceae within the order Clostridiales. It is a Gram-positive, non-motile and strictly anaerobic bacterium isolated from biogas slurry that was originally enriched with gluconate as carbon source (Patil, et al., Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 65:3289-3296, 2015). Here we describe the draft genome sequence of strain GluBS11T and provide a detailed insight into its physiological and metabolic features. The draft genome sequence generated 4,609,043 bp, distributed among 105 scaffolds assembled using the SPAdes genome assembler method. It comprises in total 4,132 genes, of which 4,008 were predicted to be protein coding genes, 124 RNA genes and 867 pseudogenes. The G + C content was 43.51 mol %. The annotated genome of strain GluBS11T contains putative genes coding for the pentose phosphate pathway, the Embden-Meyerhoff-Parnas pathway, the Entner-Doudoroff pathway and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The genome revealed the presence of most of the necessary genes required for the fermentation of glucose and gluconate to acetate, ethanol, and hydrogen gas. However, a candidate gene for production of formate was not identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogita Patil
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Nicolai Müller
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | | | | | - Alicia Clum
- DOE-Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA USA
| | - Manoj Pillay
- DOE-Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA USA
| | | | | | | | | | - T B K Reddy
- DOE-Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA USA
| | - Chris Daum
- DOE-Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA USA
| | | | | | | | - Tanja Woyke
- DOE-Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA USA
| | - Madan Junghare
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany.,Konstanz Research School of Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
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Oren A, Garrity GM, Schink B, Ventura S. 'Localimania' revisited: guidelines for the formation of specific epithets for names of prokaryotes based on names of institutions or their acronyms. A proposal for emendation of Appendix 9 to the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2017; 67:1618-1619. [PMID: 28113051 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.001816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We here present a survey of the increasing use of the -ensis (-ense) ending for the formation of specific epithets that do not refer to geographical locations but to names of research institutes or their acronyms. To our opinion the use of the -ensis (-ense) ending must be discouraged for such purposes, the formation of nouns in the genitive case being preferred for the formation of such arbitrary epithets. Emendation of Appendix 9 - Orthography to the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes is proposed with guidelines for the formation of such names.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aharon Oren
- The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, 91904 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - George M Garrity
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Biomedical Physical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-4320, USA
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Fachbereich Biologie, Universität Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Stefano Ventura
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Ecosystem Study, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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Frey J, Rusche H, Schink B, Schleheck D. Cloning, functional expression and characterization of a bifunctional 3-hydroxybutanal dehydrogenase /reductase involved in acetone metabolism by Desulfococcus biacutus. BMC Microbiol 2016; 16:280. [PMID: 27884109 PMCID: PMC5123277 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-016-0899-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The strictly anaerobic, sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfococcus biacutus can utilize acetone as sole carbon and energy source for growth. Whereas in aerobic and nitrate-reducing bacteria acetone is activated by carboxylation with CO2 to acetoacetate, D. biacutus involves CO as a cosubstrate for acetone activation through a different, so far unknown pathway. Proteomic studies indicated that, among others, a predicted medium-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (MDR) superfamily, zinc-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (locus tag DebiaDRAFT_04514) is specifically and highly produced during growth with acetone. Results The MDR gene DebiaDRAFT_04514 was cloned and overexpressed in E. coli. The purified recombinant protein required zinc as cofactor, and accepted NADH/NAD+ but not NADPH/NADP+ as electron donor/acceptor. The pH optimum was at pH 8, and the temperature optimum at 45 °C. Highest specific activities were observed for reduction of C3 - C5-aldehydes with NADH, such as propanal to propanol (380 ± 15 mU mg−1 protein), butanal to butanol (300 ± 24 mU mg−1), and 3-hydroxybutanal to 1,3-butanediol (248 ± 60 mU mg−1), however, the enzyme also oxidized 3-hydroxybutanal with NAD+ to acetoacetaldehyde (83 ± 18 mU mg−1). Conclusion The enzyme might play a key role in acetone degradation by D. biacutus, for example as a bifunctional 3-hydroxybutanal dehydrogenase/reductase. Its recombinant production may represent an important step in the elucidation of the complete degradation pathway. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-016-0899-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Frey
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Postbox 649, D-78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Hendrik Rusche
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Postbox 649, D-78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Postbox 649, D-78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - David Schleheck
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Postbox 649, D-78457, Konstanz, Germany.
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Oren A, da Costa MS, Garrity GM, Rainey FA, Rosselló-Móra R, Schink B, Sutcliffe I, Trujillo ME, Whitman WB. Proposal to include the rank of phylum in the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2016; 65:4284-4287. [PMID: 26654112 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.000664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes covers the nomenclature of prokaryotes up to the rank of class. We propose here modifying the Code to include the rank of phylum so that names of phyla that fulfil the rules of the Code will obtain standing in the nomenclature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aharon Oren
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, 91904 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Milton S da Costa
- Microbiology Unit, BIOCANT Biotechnological Park, 3060-197 Cantanhede, Portugal
| | - George M Garrity
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Biomedical Physical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-4320, USA
| | - Fred A Rainey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage, AK 99508, USA
| | - Ramon Rosselló-Móra
- Department of Ecology and Marine Resources, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA UIB-CSIC), 07190 Esporles, Spain
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Iain Sutcliffe
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Martha E Trujillo
- Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - William B Whitman
- Department of Microbiology, 527 Biological Sciences Building, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-2605, USA
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Junghare M, Spiteller D, Schink B. Enzymes involved in the anaerobic degradation of ortho-phthalate by the nitrate-reducing bacterium Azoarcus sp. strain PA01. Environ Microbiol 2016; 18:3175-88. [PMID: 27387486 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The pathway of anaerobic degradation of o-phthalate was studied in the nitrate-reducing bacterium Azoarcus sp. strain PA01. Differential two-dimensional protein gel profiling allowed the identification of specifically induced proteins in o-phthalate-grown compared to benzoate-grown cells. The genes encoding o-phthalate-induced proteins were found in a 9.9 kb gene cluster in the genome of Azoarcus sp. strain PA01. The o-phthalate-induced gene cluster codes for proteins homologous to a dicarboxylic acid transporter, putative CoA-transferases and a UbiD-like decarboxylase that were assigned to be specifically involved in the initial steps of anaerobic o-phthalate degradation. We propose that o-phthalate is first activated to o-phthalyl-CoA by a putative succinyl-CoA-dependent succinyl-CoA:o-phthalate CoA-transferase, and o-phthalyl-CoA is subsequently decarboxylated to benzoyl-CoA by a putative o-phthalyl-CoA decarboxylase. Results from in vitro enzyme assays with cell-free extracts of o-phthalate-grown cells demonstrated the formation of o-phthalyl-CoA from o-phthalate and succinyl-CoA as CoA donor, and its subsequent decarboxylation to benzoyl-CoA. The putative succinyl-CoA:o-phthalate CoA-transferase showed high substrate specificity for o-phthalate and did not accept isophthalate, terephthalate or 3-fluoro-o-phthalate whereas the putative o-phthalyl-CoA decarboxylase converted fluoro-o-phthalyl-CoA to fluoro-benzoyl-CoA. No decarboxylase activity was observed with isophthalyl-CoA or terephthalyl-CoA. Both enzyme activities were oxygen-insensitive and inducible only after growth with o-phthalate. Further degradation of benzoyl-CoA proceeds analogous to the well-established anaerobic benzoyl-CoA degradation pathway of nitrate-reducing bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madan Junghare
- Konstanz Research School of Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, D-78457, Germany. .,Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, D-78457, Germany.
| | - Dieter Spiteller
- Konstanz Research School of Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, D-78457, Germany.,Department of Biology, Chemical Ecology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, D-78457, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Konstanz Research School of Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, D-78457, Germany.,Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, D-78457, Germany
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Oren A, Schink B. Formation of names of genera of prokaryotes that end on -oides or -opsis. A proposal for addenda to Rule 65(2) and Appendix 9 of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2016; 66:2452-2453. [DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.001031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Aharon Oren
- Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jersualem, Jersualem, Israel
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Fachbereich Biologie, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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Bornemann M, Bussmann I, Tichy L, Deutzmann J, Schink B, Pester M. Methane release from sediment seeps to the atmosphere is counteracted by highly active Methylococcaceae in the water column of deep oligotrophic Lake Constance. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2016; 92:fiw123. [PMID: 27267930 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiw123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Methane emissions from freshwater environments contribute substantially to global warming but are under strong control of aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria. Recently discovered methane seeps (pockmarks) in freshwater lake sediments have the potential to bypass this control by their strong outgassing activity. Whether this is counteracted by pelagic methanotrophs is not well understood yet. We used a (3)H-CH4-radiotracer technique and pmoA-based molecular approaches to assess the activity, abundance and community structure of pelagic methanotrophs above active pockmarks in deep oligotrophic Lake Constance. Above profundal pockmarks, methane oxidation rates (up to 458 nmol CH4 l(-1) d(-1)) exceeded those of the surrounding water column by two orders of magnitude and coincided with maximum methanotroph abundances of 0.6% of the microbial community. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a dominance of members of the Methylococcaceae in the water column of both, pockmark and reference sites, with most of the retrieved sequences being associated with a water-column specific clade. Communities at pockmark and reference locations also differed in parts, which was likely caused by entrainment of sediment-hosted methanotrophs at pockmark sites. Our results show that the release of seep-derived methane to the atmosphere is counteracted by a distinct methanotrophic community with a pronounced activity throughout bottom waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maren Bornemann
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Ingeborg Bussmann
- Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Meeresstation Helgoland, Kurpromenade 201, D-27498 Helgoland, Germany
| | - Lucas Tichy
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jörg Deutzmann
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, 318 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Michael Pester
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
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35
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Schink
- Fachbereich Biologie, Universitaet Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Universitaetsstr. 10
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36
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Abstract
This paper provides a survey of the ways in which Greek words and word roots have been used in the nomenclature of prokaryotes and explores the extent to which the different uses agree with the wording of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. We here give recommendations on how to use Greek words and word roots in new genus names and specific epithets so that the resulting names are in agreement both with the rules of Greek grammar and with Principle 3 of the Code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aharon Oren
- The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, 91904 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Peter Vandamme
- Vakgroep Biochemie en Microbiologie, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Fachbereich Biologie, Universität Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
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Abstract
Acetone and other ketones are activated for subsequent degradation through carboxylation by many nitrate-reducing, phototrophic, and obligately aerobic bacteria. Acetone carboxylation leads to acetoacetate, which is subsequently activated to a thioester and degraded via thiolysis. Two different types of acetone carboxylases have been described, which require either 2 or 4 ATP equivalents as an energy supply for the carboxylation reaction. Both enzymes appear to combine acetone enolphosphate with carbonic phosphate to form acetoacetate. A similar but more complex enzyme is known to carboxylate the aromatic ketone acetophenone, a metabolic intermediate in anaerobic ethylbenzene metabolism in denitrifying bacteria, with simultaneous hydrolysis of 2 ATP to 2 ADP. Obligately anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria activate acetone to a four-carbon compound as well, but via a different process than bicarbonate- or CO2-dependent carboxylation. The present evidence indicates that either carbon monoxide or a formyl residue is used as a cosubstrate, and that the overall ATP expenditure of this pathway is substantially lower than in the known acetone carboxylase reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johann Heider
- Laboratory of Microbiology, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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Rabus R, Boll M, Heider J, Meckenstock RU, Buckel W, Einsle O, Ermler U, Golding BT, Gunsalus RP, Kroneck PMH, Krüger M, Lueders T, Martins BM, Musat F, Richnow HH, Schink B, Seifert J, Szaleniec M, Treude T, Ullmann GM, Vogt C, von Bergen M, Wilkes H. Anaerobic Microbial Degradation of Hydrocarbons: From Enzymatic Reactions to the Environment. J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 26:5-28. [PMID: 26960061 DOI: 10.1159/000443997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrocarbons are abundant in anoxic environments and pose biochemical challenges to their anaerobic degradation by microorganisms. Within the framework of the Priority Program 1319, investigations funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft on the anaerobic microbial degradation of hydrocarbons ranged from isolation and enrichment of hitherto unknown hydrocarbon-degrading anaerobic microorganisms, discovery of novel reactions, detailed studies of enzyme mechanisms and structures to process-oriented in situ studies. Selected highlights from this program are collected in this synopsis, with more detailed information provided by theme-focused reviews of the special topic issue on 'Anaerobic biodegradation of hydrocarbons' [this issue, pp. 1-244]. The interdisciplinary character of the program, involving microbiologists, biochemists, organic chemists and environmental scientists, is best exemplified by the studies on alkyl-/arylalkylsuccinate synthases. Here, research topics ranged from in-depth mechanistic studies of archetypical toluene-activating benzylsuccinate synthase, substrate-specific phylogenetic clustering of alkyl-/arylalkylsuccinate synthases (toluene plus xylenes, p-cymene, p-cresol, 2-methylnaphthalene, n-alkanes), stereochemical and co-metabolic insights into n-alkane-activating (methylalkyl)succinate synthases to the discovery of bacterial groups previously unknown to possess alkyl-/arylalkylsuccinate synthases by means of functional gene markers and in situ field studies enabled by state-of-the-art stable isotope probing and fractionation approaches. Other topics are Mo-cofactor-dependent dehydrogenases performing O2-independent hydroxylation of hydrocarbons and alkyl side chains (ethylbenzene, p-cymene, cholesterol, n-hexadecane), degradation of p-alkylated benzoates and toluenes, glycyl radical-bearing 4-hydroxyphenylacetate decarboxylase, novel types of carboxylation reactions (for acetophenone, acetone, and potentially also benzene and naphthalene), W-cofactor-containing enzymes for reductive dearomatization of benzoyl-CoA (class II benzoyl-CoA reductase) in obligate anaerobes and addition of water to acetylene, fermentative formation of cyclohexanecarboxylate from benzoate, and methanogenic degradation of hydrocarbons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Rabus
- General and Molecular Microbiology, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
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Oren A, Schink B, Garrity GM. Wanted: microbiologists with basic knowledge of Latin and Greek to join our ‘nomenclature quality control’ team. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2015; 65:3761-3762. [DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.000663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Aharon Oren
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, 91904 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Fachbereich Biologie, Universität Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - George M. Garrity
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Biomedical Physical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-4320, USA
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Junghare M, Patil Y, Schink B. Draft genome sequence of a nitrate-reducing, o-phthalate degrading bacterium, Azoarcus sp. strain PA01(T). Stand Genomic Sci 2015; 10:90. [PMID: 26516406 PMCID: PMC4625480 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-015-0079-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Azoarcus sp. strain PA01(T) belongs to the genus Azoarcus, of the family Rhodocyclaceae within the class Betaproteobacteria. It is a facultatively anaerobic, mesophilic, non-motile, Gram-stain negative, non-spore-forming, short rod-shaped bacterium that was isolated from a wastewater treatment plant in Constance, Germany. It is of interest because of its ability to degrade o-phthalate and a wide variety of aromatic compounds with nitrate as an electron acceptor. Elucidation of the o-phthalate degradation pathway may help to improve the treatment of phthalate-containing wastes in the future. Here, we describe the features of this organism, together with the draft genome sequence information and annotation. The draft genome consists of 4 contigs with 3,908,301 bp and an overall G + C content of 66.08 %. Out of 3,712 total genes predicted, 3,625 genes code for proteins and 87 genes for RNAs. The majority of the protein-encoding genes (83.51 %) were assigned a putative function while those remaining were annotated as hypothetical proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madan Junghare
- Konstanz Research School of Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, D-78457 Germany ; Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, Constance, D-78457 Germany
| | - Yogita Patil
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, Constance, D-78457 Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, Constance, D-78457 Germany
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Montag D, Schink B. Biogas process parameters--energetics and kinetics of secondary fermentations in methanogenic biomass degradation. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 100:1019-26. [PMID: 26515561 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-7069-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Revised: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Pool sizes of short-chain fatty acids (formate, acetate, propionate, and butyrate), hydrogen, and carbon monoxide were assayed in digesting sludge from four different methanogenic reactors degrading either sewage sludge or agricultural products and wastes at pH 8.0 and 40 or 47 °C. Free reaction energies were calculated for the respective degradation reactions involved, indicating that acetate, propionate, and butyrate degradation all supplied sufficient energy (-10 to -30 kJ per mol reaction) to sustain the microbial communities involved in the respective processes. Pools of formate and hydrogen were energetically equivalent as electron carriers. In the sewage sludge reactor, homoacetogenic acetate formation from H2 and CO2 was energetically feasible whereas syntrophic acetate oxidation appeared to be possible in two biogas reactors, one operating at enhanced ammonia content (4.5 g NH4 (+)-N per l) and the other one at enhanced temperature (47 °C). Maximum capacities for production of methanogenic substrates did not exceed the consumption capacities by hydrogenotrophic and aceticlastic methanogens. Nonetheless, the capacity for acetate degradation appeared to be a limiting factor especially in the reactor operating at enhanced ammonia concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Montag
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.
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Oren A, Garrity GM, Schink B. Proposal to change Recommendation 12c of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2015; 65:4288. [PMID: 26475582 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.000690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We propose changing Recommendation 12c of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes to clarify the ways species and subspecies can be named to honour persons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aharon Oren
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, 91904 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - George M Garrity
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Biomedical Physical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-4320, USA
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Fachbereich Biologie, Universität Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
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Patil Y, Junghare M, Pester M, Müller N, Schink B. Anaerobium acetethylicum gen. nov., sp. nov., a strictly anaerobic, gluconate-fermenting bacterium isolated from a methanogenic bioreactor. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2015; 65:3289-3296. [PMID: 26297346 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.000410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel strictly anaerobic, mesophilic bacterium was enriched and isolated with gluconate as sole substrate from a methanogenic sludge collected from a biogas reactor. Cells of strain GluBS11T stained Gram-positive and were non-motile, straight rods, measuring 3.0-4.5 × 0.8-1.2 μm. The temperature range for growth was 15-37 °C, with optimal growth at 30 °C, the pH range was 6.5-8.5, with optimal growth at pH 7, and the generation time under optimal conditions was 60 min. API Rapid 32A reactions were positive for α-galactosidase, α-glucosidase and β-glucosidase and negative for catalase and oxidase. A broad variety of substrates was utilized, including gluconate, glucose, fructose, maltose, sucrose, lactose, galactose, melezitose, melibiose, mannitol, erythritol, glycerol and aesculin. Products of gluconate fermentation were ethanol, acetate, formate, H2 and CO2. Neither sulfate nor nitrate served as an electron acceptor. Predominant cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were C14 : 0, C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c/iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and C18 : 1ω7c. The DNA G+C content of strain GluBS11T was 44.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence data revealed that strain GluBS11T is a member of subcluster XIVa within the order Clostridiales. The closest cultured relatives are Clostridium herbivorans (93.1 % similarity to the type strain), Clostridium populeti (93.3 %), Eubacterium uniforme (92.4 %) and Clostridium polysaccharolyticum (91.5 %). Based on this 16S rRNA gene sequence divergence (>6.5 %) as well as on chemotaxonomic and phenotypic differences from these taxa, strain GluBS11T is considered to represent a novel genus and species, for which the name Anaerobium acetethylicum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Anaerobium acetethylicum is GluBS11T ( = LMG 28619T = KCTC 15450T = DSM 29698T).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogita Patil
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Madan Junghare
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany.,Konstanz Research School of Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Michael Pester
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Nicolai Müller
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
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Lever MA, Rogers KL, Lloyd KG, Overmann J, Schink B, Thauer RK, Hoehler TM, Jørgensen BB. Life under extreme energy limitation: a synthesis of laboratory- and field-based investigations. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2015; 39:688-728. [PMID: 25994609 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuv020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of microorganisms to withstand long periods with extremely low energy input has gained increasing scientific attention in recent years. Starvation experiments in the laboratory have shown that a phylogenetically wide range of microorganisms evolve fitness-enhancing genetic traits within weeks of incubation under low-energy stress. Studies on natural environments that are cut off from new energy supplies over geologic time scales, such as deeply buried sediments, suggest that similar adaptations might mediate survival under energy limitation in the environment. Yet, the extent to which laboratory-based evidence of starvation survival in pure or mixed cultures can be extrapolated to sustained microbial ecosystems in nature remains unclear. In this review, we discuss past investigations on microbial energy requirements and adaptations to energy limitation, identify gaps in our current knowledge, and outline possible future foci of research on life under extreme energy limitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Lever
- Center for Geomicrobiology, Institute of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Karyn L Rogers
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Jonsson-Rowland Science Center, 1W19, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY 12180, USA
| | - Karen G Lloyd
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, M409 Walters Life Sciences, Knoxville, TN 37996-0845, USA
| | - Jörg Overmann
- Leibniz-Institut DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH, Inhoffenstraße 7B, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Microbial Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, P.O. Box 55 60, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Rudolf K Thauer
- Max Planck Institut für terrestrische Mikrobiologie, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Tori M Hoehler
- NASA Ames Research Center, Mail Stop 239-4, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000, USA
| | - Bo Barker Jørgensen
- Center for Geomicrobiology, Institute of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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Schmidt A, Frensch M, Schleheck D, Schink B, Müller N. Degradation of acetaldehyde and its precursors by Pelobacter carbinolicus and P. acetylenicus. PLoS One 2014; 9:e115902. [PMID: 25536080 PMCID: PMC4275255 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 11/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Pelobacter carbinolicus and P. acetylenicus oxidize ethanol in syntrophic cooperation with methanogens. Cocultures with Methanospirillum hungatei served as model systems for the elucidation of syntrophic ethanol oxidation previously done with the lost “Methanobacillus omelianskii” coculture. During growth on ethanol, both Pelobacter species exhibited NAD+-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase activity. Two different acetaldehyde-oxidizing activities were found: a benzyl viologen-reducing enzyme forming acetate, and a NAD+-reducing enzyme forming acetyl-CoA. Both species synthesized ATP from acetyl-CoA via acetyl phosphate. Comparative 2D-PAGE of ethanol-grown P. carbinolicus revealed enhanced expression of tungsten-dependent acetaldehyde: ferredoxin oxidoreductases and formate dehydrogenase. Tungsten limitation resulted in slower growth and the expression of a molybdenum-dependent isoenzyme. Putative comproportionating hydrogenases and formate dehydrogenase were expressed constitutively and are probably involved in interspecies electron transfer. In ethanol-grown cocultures, the maximum hydrogen partial pressure was about 1,000 Pa (1 mM) while 2 mM formate was produced. The redox potentials of hydrogen and formate released during ethanol oxidation were calculated to be EH2 = -358±12 mV and EHCOOH = -366±19 mV, respectively. Hydrogen and formate formation and degradation further proved that both carriers contributed to interspecies electron transfer. The maximum Gibbs free energy that the Pelobacter species could exploit during growth on ethanol was −35 to −28 kJ per mol ethanol. Both species could be cultivated axenically on acetaldehyde, yielding energy from its disproportionation to ethanol and acetate. Syntrophic cocultures grown on acetoin revealed a two-phase degradation: first acetoin degradation to acetate and ethanol without involvement of the methanogenic partner, and subsequent syntrophic ethanol oxidation. Protein expression and activity patterns of both Pelobacter spp. grown with the named substrates were highly similar suggesting that both share the same steps in ethanol and acetalydehyde metabolism. The early assumption that acetaldehyde is a central intermediate in Pelobacter metabolism was now proven biochemically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Schmidt
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Marco Frensch
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - David Schleheck
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Nicolai Müller
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457, Konstanz, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Junghare M, Schink B. Desulfoprunum benzoelyticum gen. nov., sp. nov., a Gram-stain-negative, benzoate-degrading, sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from a wastewater treatment plant. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2014; 65:77-84. [PMID: 25278560 DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.066761-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A strictly anaerobic, mesophilic, sulfate-reducing bacterium, strain KoBa311(T), isolated from the wastewater treatment plant at Konstanz, Germany, was characterized phenotypically and phylogenetically. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, oval to short rods, 3-5 µm long and 0.8-1.0 µm wide with rounded ends, dividing by binary fission and occurring singly or in pairs. The strain grew optimally in freshwater medium and the optimum temperature was 30 °C. Strain KoBa311(T) showed optimum growth at pH 7.3-7.6. Organic electron donors were oxidized completely to carbon dioxide concomitant with sulfate reduction to sulfide. At excess substrate supply, substrates were oxidized incompletely and acetate (mainly) and/or propionate accumulated. The strain utilized short-chain fatty acids, alcohols (except methanol) and benzoate. Sulfate and DMSO were used as terminal electron acceptors for growth. The genomic DNA G+C content was 52.3 mol% and the respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-5 (V-H2). The major fatty acids were C16:0, C16:1ω7c/ω6c and C18:1ω7c. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences placed strain KoBa311(T) within the family Desulfobulbaceae in the class Deltaproteobacteria. Its closest related bacterial species on the basis of the distance matrix were Desulfobacterium catecholicum DSM 3882(T) (93.0% similarity), Desulfocapsa thiozymogenes (93.1%), Desulforhopalus singaporensis (92.9%), Desulfopila aestuarii (92.4%), Desulfopila inferna JS_SRB250Lac(T) (92.3%) and Desulfofustis glycolicus (92.3%). On the basis of phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain KoBa311(T) was distinct from any related type species. Therefore, strain KoBa311(T) is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Desulfoprunum benzoelyticum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Desulfoprunum benzoelyticum is KoBa311(T) ( =DSM 28570(T) =KCTC 15441(T)).
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Affiliation(s)
- Madan Junghare
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz D-78457, Germany.,Konstanz Research School of Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz D-78457, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz D-78457, Germany
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Schink
- Fachbereich Biologie, Universitaet Konstanz, Universitaetsstr. 10, D-78457, Konstanz, Germany
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Gutiérrez Acosta OB, Schleheck D, Schink B. Acetone utilization by sulfate-reducing bacteria: draft genome sequence of Desulfococcus biacutus and a proteomic survey of acetone-inducible proteins. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:584. [PMID: 25012398 PMCID: PMC4103992 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfococcus biacutus is able to utilize acetone for growth by an inducible degradation pathway that involves a novel activation reaction for acetone with CO as a co-substrate. The mechanism, enzyme(s) and gene(s) involved in this acetone activation reaction are of great interest because they represent a novel and yet undefined type of activation reaction under strictly anoxic conditions. Results In this study, a draft genome sequence of D. biacutus was established. Sequencing, assembly and annotation resulted in 159 contigs with 5,242,029 base pairs and 4773 predicted genes; 4708 were predicted protein-encoding genes, and 3520 of these had a functional prediction. Proteins and genes were identified that are specifically induced during growth with acetone. A thiamine diphosphate-requiring enzyme appeared to be highly induced during growth with acetone and is probably involved in the activation reaction. Moreover, a coenzyme B12- dependent enzyme and proteins that are involved in redox reactions were also induced during growth with acetone. Conclusions We present for the first time the genome of a sulfate reducer that is able to grow with acetone. The genome information of this organism represents an important tool for the elucidation of a novel reaction mechanism that is employed by a sulfate reducer in acetone activation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-584) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology and Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany.
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Gutiérrez Acosta OB, Hardt N, Hacker SM, Strittmatter T, Schink B, Marx A. Thiamine pyrophosphate stimulates acetone activation by Desulfococcus biacutus as monitored by a fluorogenic ATP analogue. ACS Chem Biol 2014; 9:1263-6. [PMID: 24779857 DOI: 10.1021/cb500152y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Acetone can be degraded by aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. Studies with the strictly anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfococcus biacutus indicate that acetone degradation by these bacteria starts with an ATP-dependent carbonylation reaction leading to acetoacetaldehyde as the first reaction product. The reaction represents the second example of a carbonylation reaction in the biochemistry of strictly anaerobic bacteria, but the exact mechanism and dependence on cofactors are still unclear. Here, we use a novel fluorogenic ATP analogue to investigate its mechanism. We find that thiamine pyrophosphate is a cofactor of this ATP-dependent reaction. The products of ATP cleavage are AMP and pyrophosphate, providing first insights into the reaction mechanism by indicating that the reaction proceeds without intermediate formation of acetone enol phosphate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga B. Gutiérrez Acosta
- Department of Biology and ‡Department of Chemistry, Konstanz Research
School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstr. 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Norman Hardt
- Department of Biology and ‡Department of Chemistry, Konstanz Research
School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstr. 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Stephan M. Hacker
- Department of Biology and ‡Department of Chemistry, Konstanz Research
School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstr. 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Tobias Strittmatter
- Department of Biology and ‡Department of Chemistry, Konstanz Research
School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstr. 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology and ‡Department of Chemistry, Konstanz Research
School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstr. 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Andreas Marx
- Department of Biology and ‡Department of Chemistry, Konstanz Research
School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstr. 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
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Oren A, Garrity GM, Schink B. Proposal to modify Rule 6, Rule 10a, and Rule 12c of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2014; 64:1452-1453. [PMID: 24706715 DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.063461-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
According to the current versions of Rule 10a and Rule 12c of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes, names of a genus or subgenus and specific epithets may be taken from any source and may even be composed in an arbitrary manner. Based on these rules, names may be composed of any word or any combination of elements derived from any language with a Latin ending. We propose modifying these rules by adding the text, currently part of Recommendation 6, according to which words from languages other than Latin or Greek should be avoided as long as equivalents exist in Latin or Greek or can be constructed by combining word elements from these two languages. We also propose modification of Rule 6 by adopting some of the current paragraphs of Recommendation 6 to become part of the Rule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aharon Oren
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, 91904 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - George M Garrity
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Biomedical Physical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-4320, USA
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Fachbereich Biologie, Universität Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
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