scholarly journals Hydrogen isotope composition of Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum lipids: comparing wild type to a nfn- transhydrogenase mutant

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
William D. Leavitt ◽  
Sean Jean-Loup Murphy ◽  
Lee R. Lynd ◽  
Alexander S. Bradley

AbstractThe 2H/1H ratio in microbial fatty acids can record information about the energy metabolism of microbes and about the isotopic composition of environmental water. However, the mechanisms involved in the fractionation of hydrogen isotopes between water and lipid are not fully resolved. We provide data aimed at understanding this fractionation in the Gram-positive obligately thermophilic anaerobe, Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum, by comparing a wild-type strain to a deletion mutant in which the nfnAB genes encoding electron-bifurcating transhydrogenase have been removed. The wild-type strain showed faster growth rates and larger overall fractionation than the mutant strain . The overall trend in growth rate and fractionation, along with the isotopic ordering of individual lipids, is consistent with results reported for the Gram-negative sulfate reducer, Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
José Francisco Cruz-Pérez ◽  
Roxana Lara-Oueilhe ◽  
Cynthia Marcos-Jiménez ◽  
Ricardo Cuatlayotl-Olarte ◽  
María Luisa Xiqui-Vázquez ◽  
...  

AbstractThe plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense contains several genes encoding proteins involved in the biosynthesis and degradation of the second messenger cyclic-di-GMP, which may control key bacterial functions, such as biofilm formation and motility. Here, we analysed the function and expression of the cdgD gene, encoding a multidomain protein that includes GGDEF-EAL domains and CHASE and PAS domains. An insertional cdgD gene mutant was constructed, and analysis of biofilm and extracellular polymeric substance production, as well as the motility phenotype indicated that cdgD encoded a functional diguanylate protein. These results were correlated with a reduced overall cellular concentration of cyclic-di-GMP in the mutant over 48 h compared with that observed in the wild-type strain, which was recovered in the complemented strain. In addition, cdgD gene expression was measured in cells growing under planktonic or biofilm conditions, and differential expression was observed when KNO3 or NH4Cl was added to the minimal medium as a nitrogen source. The transcriptional fusion of the cdgD promoter with the gene encoding the autofluorescent mCherry protein indicated that the cdgD gene was expressed both under abiotic conditions and in association with wheat roots. Reduced colonization of wheat roots was observed for the mutant compared with the wild-type strain grown in the same soil conditions. The Azospirillum-plant association begins with the motility of the bacterium towards the plant rhizosphere followed by the adsorption and adherence of these bacteria to plant roots. Therefore, it is important to study the genes that contribute to this initial interaction of the bacterium with its host plant.


2013 ◽  
Vol 81 (9) ◽  
pp. 3472-3478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiqing Sheng ◽  
Y. N. Nguyen ◽  
Carolyn J. Hovde ◽  
Vanessa Sperandio

ABSTRACTEnterohemorrhagicEscherichia coli(EHEC) causes hemorrhagic colitis and life-threatening complications. The main reservoirs for EHEC are healthy ruminants. We reported that SdiA senses acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) in the bovine rumen to activate expression of the glutamate acid resistance (gad) genes priming EHEC's acid resistance before they pass into the acidic abomasum. Conversely, SdiA represses expression of the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) genes, whose expression is not required for bacterial survival in the rumen but is necessary for efficient colonization at the rectoanal junction (RAJ) mucosa. Our previous studies show that SdiA-dependent regulation was necessary for efficient EHEC colonization of cattle fed a grain diet. Here, we compared the SdiA role in EHEC colonization of cattle fed a forage hay diet. We detected AHLs in the rumen of cattle fed a hay diet, and these AHLs activatedgadgene expression in an SdiA-dependent manner. The rumen fluid and fecal samples from hay-fed cattle were near neutrality, while the same digesta samples from grain-fed animals were acidic. Cattle fed either grain or hay and challenged with EHEC orally carried the bacteria similarly. EHEC was cleared from the rumen within days and from the RAJ mucosa after approximately one month. In competition trials, where animals were challenged with both wild-type and SdiA deletion mutant bacteria, diet did not affect the outcome that the wild-type strain was better able to persist and colonize. However, the wild-type strain had a greater advantage over the SdiA deletion mutant at the RAJ mucosa among cattle fed the grain diet.


2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1287-1297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro D. Nusblat ◽  
Sebastián R. Najle ◽  
Mariela L. Tomazic ◽  
Antonio D. Uttaro ◽  
Clara B. Nudel

ABSTRACT The gene coding for a C-5(6) sterol desaturase in Tetrahymena thermophila, DES5A, has been identified by the knockout of the TTHERM_01194720 sequence. Macronucleus transformation was achieved by biolistic bombardment and gene replacement through phenotypic assortment, using paromomycin as the selective agent. A knockout cell line (KO270) showed a phenotype consistent with that of the DES5A deletion mutant. KO270 converted only 6% of the added sterol into the C-5 unsaturated derivative, while the wild type accumulated 10-fold larger amounts under similar conditions. The decreased desaturation activity is specific for the C-5(6) position of lathosterol and cholestanol; other desaturations, namely C-7(8) and C-22(23), were not affected. Analysis by reverse transcription-PCR reveals that DES5A is transcribed both in the presence and absence of cholestanol in wild-type cells, whereas the transcribed gene was not detected in KO270. The growth of KO270 was undistinguishable from that of the wild-type strain. Des5Ap resembles known C-5(6) sterol desaturases, displaying the three typical histidine motifs, four hydrophobic transmembrane regions, and two other highly conserved domains of unknown function. A phylogenetic analysis placed T. thermophila's enzyme and Paramecium orthologues in a cluster together with functionally characterized C-5 sterol desaturases from vertebrates, fungi, and plants, although in a different branch.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riho Teras ◽  
Hanna Ainelo ◽  
Marge Puhm

<p>Pseudomonas putida rapidly forms a biofilm, after which its biomass usually disperses to half its initial amount. We have observed different biofilm dynamics of P. putida in a complex medium LB and a minimal medium M9+glc+CAA and inquired about the importance of extracellular factors for the formation of P. putida biofilm.</p> <p>The proteinaceous component of LB increases the biomass of P. putida biofilm. Supplementation of M9 with tryptone but not CAA increased the biofilm biomass. Proteinase K treatment of LB medium reduced the biomass of P. putida biofilm. At the same time, growth rate or maximum OD of planktic bacteria in used media did not correlate with biofilm biomass of the same media. Thus, peptides appeared to have a positive effect on the biofilm as an extracellular factor and not as a source of C and N.</p> <p>We replaced tryptone in M9 medium with positively charged poly-L-lysine (MW. 1000-5000 Da), negatively charged poly-L-glutaminic acid (MW. 1500-5500 Da) or neutral poly-LD-alanine (MW. 3000-7000). Poly-lysine and poly-glutamic acid had a slight positive effect on the biomass of P. putida wild type strain PSm biofilm and poly-alanine did not affect the biofilm.</p> <p>We have previously shown that overexpression of fis in P. putida strain F15 increases biofilm biomass by increasing the lapA expression, the main adhesin gene of biofilm. Using media similar to that used for the wild-type strain for strain F15, we ascertained that only poly-lysine out of these three polypeptides restored the positive effect of fis-overexpression on the biofilm biomass. At the same time, the positive impact of fis-overexpression was absent in lapA deletion mutant strain, but not in lapF deletion mutant strain.</p> <p>In conclusion, the formation of P. putida biofilm depends on polypeptides in the environment. The enhancing effect of positively charged polypeptides appears to be evident in the presence of LapA, a key factor for P. putida biofilm.</p>


2004 ◽  
Vol 379 (3) ◽  
pp. 609-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel CLARK ◽  
Roger S. ROWLETT ◽  
John R. COLEMAN ◽  
Daniel F. KLESSIG

In recent years, members of the β class of CAs (carbonic anhydrases) have been shown to complement ΔNCE103, a yeast strain unable to grow under aerobic conditions. The activity required for complementation of ΔNCE103 by tobacco chloroplast CA was studied by site-directed mutagenesis. E196A (Glu196→Ala), a mutated tobacco CA with low levels of CA activity, complemented ΔNCE103. To determine whether restoration of ΔNCE103 was due to residual levels of CA activity or whether it was related to previously proposed antioxidant activity of CAs [Götz, Gnann and Zimmermann (1999) Yeast 15, 855–864], additional complementation analysis was performed using human CAII, an α CA structurally unrelated to the β class of CAs to which the tobacco protein belongs. Human CAII complemented ΔNCE103, strongly arguing that CA activity is responsible for the complementation of ΔNCE103. Consistent with this conclusion, recombinant NCE103 synthesized in Escherichia coli shows CA activity, and ΔNCE103 expressing the tobacco chloroplast CA exhibits the same sensitivity to H2O2 as the wild-type strain.


Microbiology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 157 (4) ◽  
pp. 1196-1204 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Pérez-Pascual ◽  
Esther Gómez ◽  
Beatriz Álvarez ◽  
Jessica Méndez ◽  
Pilar Reimundo ◽  
...  

Flavobacterium psychrophilum is a very significant fish pathogen that secretes two biochemically characterized extracellular proteolytic enzymes, Fpp1 and Fpp2. The genes encoding these enzymes are organized as an fpp2–fpp1 tandem in the genome of strain F. psychrophilum THC02/90. Analysis of the corresponding encoded proteins showed that they belong to two different protease families. For gene function analysis, new genetic tools were developed in F. psychrophilum by constructing stable isogenic fpp1 and fpp2 mutants via single-crossover homologous recombination. RT-PCR analysis of wild-type and mutant strains suggested that both genes are transcribed as a single mRNA from the promoter located upstream of the fpp2 gene. Phenotypic characterization of the fpp2 mutant showed lack of caseinolytic activity and higher colony spreading compared with the wild-type strain. Both characteristics were recovered in the complemented strain. One objective of this work was to assess the contribution to virulence of these proteolytic enzymes. LD50 experiments using the wild-type strain and mutants showed no significant differences in virulence in a rainbow trout challenge model, suggesting instead a possible nutritional role. The gene disruption procedure developed in this work, together with the knowledge of the complete genome sequence of F. psychrophilum, open new perspectives for the study of gene function in this bacterium.


2002 ◽  
Vol 184 (3) ◽  
pp. 679-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brant K. J. Pohorelic ◽  
Johanna K. Voordouw ◽  
Elisabeth Lojou ◽  
Alain Dolla ◽  
Jens Harder ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The physiological properties of a hyd mutant of Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, lacking periplasmic Fe-only hydrogenase, have been compared with those of the wild-type strain. Fe-only hydrogenase is the main hydrogenase of D. vulgaris Hildenborough, which also has periplasmic NiFe- and NiFeSe-hydrogenases. The hyd mutant grew less well than the wild-type strain in media with sulfate as the electron acceptor and H2 as the sole electron donor, especially at a high sulfate concentration. Although the hyd mutation had little effect on growth with lactate as the electron donor for sulfate reduction when H2 was also present, growth in lactate- and sulfate-containing media lacking H2 was less efficient. The hyd mutant produced, transiently, significant amounts of H2 under these conditions, which were eventually all used for sulfate reduction. The results do not confirm the essential role proposed elsewhere for Fe-only hydrogenase as a hydrogen-producing enzyme in lactate metabolism (W. A. M. van den Berg, W. M. A. M. van Dongen, and C. Veeger, J. Bacteriol. 173:3688–3694, 1991). This role is more likely played by a membrane-bound, cytoplasmic Ech-hydrogenase homolog, which is indicated by the D. vulgaris genome sequence. The physiological role of periplasmic Fe-only hydrogenase is hydrogen uptake, both when hydrogen is and when lactate is the electron donor for sulfate reduction.


2000 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 3608-3619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen M. Fernandez-Prada ◽  
David L. Hoover ◽  
Ben D. Tall ◽  
Antoinette B. Hartman ◽  
June Kopelowitz ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The behavior of Shigella flexneri ipaH mutants was studied in human monocyte-derived macrophages (HMDM), in 1-day-old human monocytes, and in J774 mouse macrophage cell line. In HMDM, strain pWR700, an ipaH 7.8 deletion mutant ofS. flexneri 2a strain 2457T, behaved like the wild-type strain 2457T. This strain caused rapid host cell death by oncosis, and few bacterial CFU were recovered after incubation in the presence of gentamicin as previously described for 2457T-infected HMDM. However, analysis of bacterial compartmentalization within endocytic vacuoles with gentamicin and chloroquine indicated that more pWR700 than 2457T was present within the endocytic vacuoles of HMDM, suggesting thatipaH 7.8 deletion mutant transited more slowly from the vacuoles to the cytoplasm. In contrast to findings with HMDM, CFU recovered from pWR700-infected mouse J774 cells were 2 to 3 logs higher than CFU from 2457T-infected J774 cells. These values exceeded CFU recovered after infection of J774 cells with plasmid-cured avirulent strain M4243A1. Incubation with gentamicin and chloroquine clearly showed that pWR700 within J774 cells was mostly present within the endocytic vacuoles. This distribution pattern was similar to that seen with M4243A1 and contrasted with the pattern seen with 2457T. Complementation of pWR700 with a recombinant clone expressingipaH 7.8 restored the intracellular distribution of bacteria to that seen with the wild-type strain. Strains with deletions in ipaH 4.5 oripaH 9.8, however, behaved like 2457T in both HMDM and J774 cells. The distribution profile of pWR700 in 1-day-old monocytes was similar to that seen in J774 cells. Like infected J774 cells, 1-day-old human monocytes demonstrated apoptosis upon infection with virulent Shigella. These results suggest that a role of the ipaH 7.8 gene product is to facilitate the escape of the virulent bacteria from the phagocytic vacuole of monocytes and macrophages.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meg Walsh ◽  
William Casey ◽  
Shane T. Kenny ◽  
Tanja Narancic ◽  
Lars M. Blank ◽  
...  

AbstractPseudomonas putidaKT2440 is known to metabolise glycerol via glycerol-3-phosphate using glycerol kinase an enzyme previously described as critical for glycerol metabolism (1). However, when glycerol kinase was knocked out inP. putidaKT2440 it retained the ability to use glycerol as the sole carbon source, albeit with a much-extended lag period and 2 fold lower final biomass compared to the wild type strain. A metabolomic study identified glycerate as a major and the most abundant intermediate in glycerol metabolism in this mutated strain with levels 21-fold higher than wild type. Erythrose-4-phosphate was detected in the mutant strain, but not in the wild type strain. Glyceraldehyde and glycraldehyde-3-phosphate were detected at similar levels in the mutant strain and the wild type. Transcriptomic studies identified 191 genes that were more than 2-fold upregulated in the mutant compared to the wild type and 175 that were down regulated. The genes involved in short chain length fatty acid metabolism were highly upregulated in the mutant strain. The genes encoding 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase were 5.8-fold upregulated and thus the gene was cloned, expressed and purified to reveal it can act on glyceraldehyde but not glycerol as a substrate.


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