scholarly journals Purification of a Crenarchaeal ATP Synthase in the Light of the Unique Bioenergetics ofIgnicoccusSpecies

2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia J. Kreuter ◽  
Andrea Weinfurtner ◽  
Alexander Ziegler ◽  
Julia Weigl ◽  
Jan Hoffmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atp Synthase ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Gel Filtration ◽  
Cellular Membrane ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Native Electrophoresis ◽  
Molecular Masses ◽  
The Pacific Ocean

ABSTRACTIn this study, the ATP synthase ofIgnicoccus hospitaliswas purified, characterized, and structurally compared to the respective enzymes of the otherIgnicoccusspecies, to shed light on energy conservation in this unique group of archaea. The crenarchaeal genusIgnicoccuscomprises three described species, i.e.,I. hospitalisandIgnicoccus islandicusfrom hot marine sediments near Iceland andIgnicoccus pacificusfrom a hydrothermal vent system in the Pacific Ocean. This genus is unique among all archaea due to the unusual cell envelope, consisting of two membranes that enclose a large intermembrane compartment (IMC).I. hospitalisis the best studied member of this genus, mainly because it is the only known host for the potentially parasitic archaeonNanoarchaeum equitans.I. hospitalisgrows chemolithoautotrophically, and its sole energy-yielding reaction is the reduction of elemental sulfur with molecular hydrogen, forming large amounts of hydrogen sulfide. This reaction generates an electrochemical gradient, which is used by the ATP synthase, located in the outer cellular membrane, to generate ATP inside the IMC. The genome ofI. hospitalisencodes nine subunits of an A-type ATP synthase, which we could identify in the purified complex. Although the maximalin vitroactivity of theI. hospitalisenzyme was measured around pH 6, the optimal stability of the A1AOcomplex seemed to be at pH 9. Interestingly, the soluble A1subcomplexes of the differentIgnicoccusspecies exhibited significant differences in their apparent molecular masses in native electrophoresis, although their behaviors in gel filtration and chromatography-mass spectrometry were very similar.IMPORTANCETheCrenarchaeotarepresent one of the major phyla within theArchaeadomain. This study describes the successful purification of a crenarchaeal ATP synthase. To date, all information about A-type ATP synthases is from euryarchaeal enzymes. The fact that it has not been possible to purify this enzyme complex from a member of theCrenarchaeotauntil now points to significant differences in stability, possibly caused by structural alterations. Furthermore, the study subjectI. hospitalishas a particular importance among crenarchaeotes, since it is the only known host ofN. equitans. The energy metabolism in this system is still poorly understood, and our results can help elucidate the unique relationship between these two microbes.

scholarly journals Structural features of the exocellular polysaccharides of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

1994 ◽  
Vol 297 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Lemassu ◽  
M Daffé
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Molecular Mimicry ◽  
Degradation Products ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Gel Filtration ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Phagocytic Cells ◽  
Molecular Masses ◽  
Branched Structure

The cell envelope which surrounds pathogenic mycobacteria is postulated to be a defence barrier against phagocytic cells and its outermost constituents have a tendency to accumulate in the culture medium. The present work demonstrates that the exocellular material of Mycobacterium tuberculosis contains large amounts of polysaccharides with only traces, if any at all, of lipids. Three types of polysaccharides were purified by anion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography; all were found to be neutral compounds devoid of acyl substituents. They consisted of D-glucan, D-arabino-D-mannan and D-mannan, which were eluted from gel-filtration columns in positions corresponding to molecular masses of 123, 13 and 4 kDa respectively. Their predominant structural features were determined by the characterization of the per-O-methyl derivatives of enzymic, acetolysis and Smith-degradation products and by 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy of the purified polysaccharides, using mono- and two-dimensional homonuclear chemical-shift correlated spectroscopy and two-dimensional heteronuclear (1H/13C) spectroscopy. The glucan which represented up to 90% of the polysaccharides was composed of repeating units of five or six-->4-alpha-D-Glcp-1--> residues and a -->4-alpha-D-Glcp substituted at position 6 with an alpha-D-Glcp, indicating a glycogen-like highly branched structure not related to the so-called polysaccharide-II previously identified in tuberculin. The arabinomannan consisted of a mannan segment composed of a -->6-alpha-D-Man-1--> core substituted at some positions 2 with an alpha-D-Manp. The arabinan termini of the arabinomannan were found to be extensively capped with mannosyl residues. The possibility that these polysaccharides contribute to the persistence of the tubercle bacillus in the macrophage by molecular mimicry is discussed.

scholarly journals Solimonas marina sp. nov., isolated from deep seawater of the Pacific Ocean

2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiupian Liu ◽  
Qiliang Lai ◽  
Fengqin Sun ◽  
Yaping Du ◽  
Yingbao Gai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Chromosomal Dna ◽  
Deep Seawater ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Link Type ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Pacific Ocean

A taxonomic study was carried out on strain C16B3T, which was isolated from deep seawater of the Pacific Ocean. The bacterium was Gram-stain-negative, oxidase- and catalase- positive and rod-shaped. Growth was observed at salinities of 0–8.0 % and at temperatures of 10–45 °C. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain C16B3T belonged to the genus Solimonas , with the highest sequence similarity to Solimonas terrae KIS83-12T (97.2 %), followed by Solimonas variicoloris MN28T (97.0 %) and the other four species of the genus Solimonas (94.5 –96.8 %). The average nucleotide identity and estimated DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain C16B3T and the type strains of the genus Solimonas were 74.05−79.48 % and 19.5–22.5 %, respectively. The principal fatty acids (>5 %) were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1  ω7c/C18 : 1  ω6c; 20.9 %), iso-C16 : 0 (14.6 %), C16 : 1  ω5c (9.4 %), iso-C12 : 0 (8.4 %), summed feature 2 (C14 : 0 3-OH/iso I-C16 : 1 and C12 : 0 aldehyde; 6.8 %) and C16 : 0 (5.5 %). The G+C content of the chromosomal DNA was 65.37 mol%. The respiratory quinone was determined to be Q-8 (100 %). The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, four unidentified aminolipids, six unidentified phospholipids and one unidentified polar lipid. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data show that strain C16B3T represents a novel species within the genus Solimonas , for which the name Solimonas marina sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain C16B3T (=MCCC 1A04678T=KCTC 52314T).

scholarly journals BrucellaPeriplasmic Protein EipB Is a Molecular Determinant of Cell Envelope Integrity and Virulence

2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Herrou ◽  
Jonathan W. Willett ◽  
Aretha Fiebig ◽  
Daniel M. Czyż ◽  
Jason X. Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Mammalian Host ◽  
Periplasmic Protein ◽  
Periplasmic Space ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Tetratricopeptide Repeats ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Family Protein ◽  
Synthetically Lethal

ABSTRACTThe Gram-negative cell envelope is a remarkable structure with core components that include an inner membrane, an outer membrane, and a peptidoglycan layer in the periplasmic space between. Multiple molecular systems function to maintain integrity of this essential barrier between the interior of the cell and its surrounding environment. We show that a conserved DUF1849 family protein, EipB, is secreted to the periplasmic space ofBrucellaspecies, a monophyletic group of intracellular pathogens. In the periplasm, EipB folds into an unusual 14-stranded β-spiral structure that resembles the LolA and LolB lipoprotein delivery system, though the overall fold of EipB is distinct from LolA/LolB. Deletion ofeipBresults in defects inBrucellacell envelope integrityin vitroand in maintenance of spleen colonization in a mouse model ofBrucella abortusinfection. Transposon disruption ofttpA, which encodes a periplasmic protein containing tetratricopeptide repeats, is synthetically lethal witheipBdeletion.ttpAis a reported virulence determinant inBrucella, and our studies ofttpAdeletion and overexpression strains provide evidence that this gene also contributes to cell envelope function. We conclude thateipBandttpAfunction in theBrucellaperiplasmic space to maintain cell envelope integrity, which facilitates survival in a mammalian host.IMPORTANCEBrucellaspecies cause brucellosis, a global zoonosis. A gene encoding a conserved DUF1849-family protein, which we have named EipB, is present in all sequencedBrucellaand several other genera in the classAlphaproteobacteria. The manuscript provides the first functional and structural characterization of a DUF1849 protein. We show that EipB is secreted to the periplasm where it forms a spiral-shaped antiparallel β protein that is a determinant of cell envelope integrityin vitroand virulence in an animal model of disease.eipBgenetically interacts withttpA, which also encodes a periplasmic protein. We propose that EipB and TtpA function as part of a system required for cell envelope homeostasis in selectAlphaproteobacteria.

scholarly journals RNA G-Quadruplex Structures Mediate Gene Regulation in Bacteria

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolong Shao ◽  
Weitong Zhang ◽  
Mubarak Ishaq Umar ◽  
Hei Yuen Wong ◽  
Zijing Seng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Regulation ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Virulence Gene ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
G Quadruplex ◽  
Eukaryotic Organisms

ABSTRACT Guanine (G)-rich sequences in RNA can fold into diverse RNA G-quadruplex (rG4) structures to mediate various biological functions and cellular processes in eukaryotic organisms. However, the presence, locations, and functions of rG4s in prokaryotes are still elusive. We used QUMA-1, an rG4-specific fluorescent probe, to detect rG4 structures in a wide range of bacterial species both in vitro and in live cells and found rG4 to be an abundant RNA secondary structure across those species. Subsequently, to identify bacterial rG4 sites in the transcriptome, the model Escherichia coli strain and a major human pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were subjected to recently developed high-throughput rG4 structure sequencing (rG4-seq). In total, 168 and 161 in vitro rG4 sites were found in E. coli and P. aeruginosa, respectively. Genes carrying these rG4 sites were found to be involved in virulence, gene regulation, cell envelope synthesis, and metabolism. More importantly, biophysical assays revealed the formation of a group of rG4 sites in mRNAs (such as hemL and bswR), and they were functionally validated in cells by genetic (point mutation and lux reporter assays) and phenotypic experiments, providing substantial evidence for the formation and function of rG4s in bacteria. Overall, our study uncovers important regulatory functions of rG4s in bacterial pathogenicity and metabolic pathways and strongly suggests that rG4s exist and can be detected in a wide range of bacterial species. IMPORTANCE G-quadruplex in RNA (rG4) mediates various biological functions and cellular processes in eukaryotic organisms. However, the presence, locations, and functions of rG4 are still elusive in prokaryotes. Here, we found that rG4 is an abundant RNA secondary structure across a wide range of bacterial species. Subsequently, the transcriptome-wide rG4 structure sequencing (rG4-seq) revealed that the model E. coli strain and a major human pathogen, P. aeruginosa, have 168 and 161 in vitro rG4 sites, respectively, involved in virulence, gene regulation, cell envelope, and metabolism. We further verified the regulatory functions of two rG4 sites in bacteria (hemL and bswR). Overall, this finding strongly suggests that rG4s play key regulatory roles in a wide range of bacterial species.

scholarly journals Complete Genome Sequence of the Pyrene-Degrading Bacterium Cycloclasticus sp. Strain P1

2012 ◽  
Vol 194 (23) ◽  
pp. 6677-6677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiliang Lai ◽  
Weiwei Li ◽  
Baojiang Wang ◽  
Zhiwei Yu ◽  
Zongze Shao
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbon ◽  
Complete Genome Sequence ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Complete Genome ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Degrading Bacterium ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
The Pacific Ocean

ABSTRACTCycloclasticussp. strain P1 was isolated from deep-sea sediments of the Pacific Ocean and characterized as a unique bacterium in the degradation of pyrene, a four-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Here we report the complete genome of P1 and genes associated with PAH degradation.

Prospects for agriculture in 2017

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Ocean ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Weather Phenomenon ◽  
Global Agriculture ◽  
The Pacific Ocean

Subject Prospects for agriculture in 2017. Significance The El Nino weather phenomenon, the heating of the Pacific Ocean, experienced through 2015 and 2016 was one of the strongest recorded, causing extreme weather events and decreasing global agriculture production. Next year promises a departure.

scholarly journals Therv1184cLocus Encodes Chp2, an Acyltransferase in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Polyacyltrehalose Lipid Biosynthesis

2014 ◽  
Vol 197 (1) ◽  
pp. 201-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan H. Touchette ◽  
Cynthia M. Holsclaw ◽  
Mary L. Previti ◽  
Viven C. Solomon ◽  
Julie A. Leary ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Selective Inhibition ◽  
Serine Hydrolase ◽  
Acyltransferase Activity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Regulatory Interactions ◽  
Similar Phenotype ◽  
Lipid Transporter

Trehalose glycolipids are found in many bacteria in the suborderCorynebacterineae, but methyl-branched acyltrehaloses are exclusive to virulent species such as the human pathogenMycobacterium tuberculosis. InM. tuberculosis, the acyltransferase PapA3 catalyzes the formation of diacyltrehalose (DAT), but the enzymes responsible for downstream reactions leading to the final product, polyacyltrehalose (PAT), have not been identified. The PAT biosynthetic gene locus is similar to that of another trehalose glycolipid, sulfolipid 1. Recently, Chp1 was characterized as the terminal acyltransferase in sulfolipid 1 biosynthesis. Here we provide evidence that the homologue Chp2 (Rv1184c) is essential for the final steps of PAT biosynthesis. Disruption ofchp2led to the loss of PAT and a novel tetraacyltrehalose species, TetraAT, as well as the accumulation of DAT, implicating Chp2 as an acyltransferase downstream of PapA3. Disruption of the putative lipid transporter MmpL10 resulted in a similar phenotype. Chp2 activity thus appears to be regulated by MmpL10 in a relationship similar to that between Chp1 and MmpL8 in sulfolipid 1 biosynthesis. Chp2 is localized to the cell envelope fraction, consistent with its role in DAT modification and possible regulatory interactions with MmpL10. Labeling of purified Chp2 by an activity-based probe was dependent on the presence of the predicted catalytic residue Ser141 and was inhibited by the lipase inhibitor tetrahydrolipstatin (THL). THL treatment ofM. tuberculosisresulted in selective inhibition of Chp2 over PapA3, confirming Chp2 as a member of the serine hydrolase superfamily. Efforts to producein vitroreconstitution of acyltransferase activity using straight-chain analogues were unsuccessful, suggesting that Chp2 has specificity for native methyl-branched substrates.

scholarly journals Defining Daptomycin Resistance Prevention Exposures in Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium and E. faecalis

2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 5253-5261 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Werth ◽  
M. E. Steed ◽  
C. E. Ireland ◽  
T. T. Tran ◽  
P. Nonejuie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enterococcus Faecium ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Fatty Acid Synthetase ◽  
Phospholipid Metabolism ◽  
Cyclopropane Fatty Acid ◽  
Time Curve ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Enterococcal Infections

ABSTRACTDaptomycin is used off-label for enterococcal infections; however, dosing targets for resistance prevention remain undefined. Doses of 4 to 6 mg/kg of body weight/day approved for staphylococci are likely inadequate against enterococci due to reduced susceptibility. We modeled daptomycin regimensin vitroto determine the minimum exposure to prevent daptomycin resistance (Dapr) in enterococci. Daptomycin simulations of 4 to 12 mg/kg/day (maximum concentration of drug in serum [Cmax] of 57.8, 93.9, 123.3, 141.1, and 183.7 mg/liter; half-life [t1/2] of 8 h) were tested against oneEnterococcus faeciumstrain (S447) and oneEnterococcus faecalisstrain (S613) in a simulated endocardial vegetation pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model over 14 days. Samples were plated on media containing 3× the MIC of daptomycin to detect Dapr. Mutations in genes encoding proteins associated with cell envelope homeostasis (yycFGandliaFSR) and phospholipid metabolism (cardiolipin synthase [cls] and cyclopropane fatty acid synthetase [cfa]) were investigated in Daprderivatives. Daprderivatives were assessed for changes in susceptibility, surface charge, membrane depolarization, cell wall thickness (CWT), and growth rate. Strains S447 and S613 developed Daprafter simulations of 4 to 8 mg/kg/day but not 10 to 12 mg/kg/day. MICs for Daprstrains ranged from 8 to 256 mg/liter. Some S613 derivatives developed mutations inliaForcls. S447 derivatives lacked mutations in these genes. Daprderivatives from both strains exhibited lowered growth rates, up to a 72% reduction in daptomycin-induced depolarization and up to 6-nm increases in CWT (P< 0.01). Peak/MIC and AUC0–24/MIC ratios (AUC0–24is the area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h) associated with Daprprevention were 72.1 and 780 for S447 and 144 and 1561 for S613, respectively. Daptomycin doses of 10 mg/kg/day may be required to prevent Daprin serious enterococcal infections.

scholarly journals YraP Contributes to Cell Envelope Integrity and Virulence ofSalmonella entericaSerovar Typhimurium

2018 ◽  
Vol 86 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faye C. Morris ◽  
Timothy J. Wells ◽  
Jack A. Bryant ◽  
Anna E. Schager ◽  
Yanina R. Sevastsyanovich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Cell Envelope ◽  
Systemic Infection ◽  
Eukaryotic Cell ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
K 12

ABSTRACTMutations in σE-regulated lipoproteins have previously been shown to impact bacterial viability under conditions of stress and duringin vivoinfection. YraP is conserved across a number of Gram-negative pathogens, includingNeisseria meningitidis, where the homolog is a component of the Bexsero meningococcal group B vaccine. Investigations using laboratory-adaptedEscherichia coliK-12 have shown thatyraPmutants have elevated sensitivity to a range of compounds, including detergents and normally ineffective antibiotics. In this study, we investigate the role of the outer membrane lipoprotein YraP in the pathogenesis ofSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium. We show that mutations inS. TyphimuriumyraPresult in a defective outer membrane barrier with elevated sensitivity to a range of compounds. This defect is associated with attenuated virulence in an oral infection model and during the early stages of systemic infection. We show that this attenuation is not a result of defects in lipopolysaccharide and O-antigen synthesis, changes in outer membrane protein levels, or the ability to adhere to and invade eukaryotic cell linesin vitro.

Taipei seeks new partners in post-TPP world

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Trade Policy ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Bilateral Trade ◽  
Trade Agreement ◽  
The United States ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bilateral Trade Agreement ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Pacific Ocean

Subject Taiwan's trade policy. Significance Washington's abandonment of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a comprehensive free trade agreement between economies on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, is prompting Taiwan to seek a new direction in trade policy. Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, is seeking to increase trade and investment with partners other than China -- particularly with India and South-east Asia -- and pursue a bilateral trade agreement with the United States. Tsai's Presidential Office has already established a special office to promote trade links with India and South-east Asia. Impacts Taiwan will be subject to intense China-US rivalry, with both seeking to draw the island away from the other. Beijing will put pressure on Taipei to resume cross-Strait economic expansion efforts. Trade with India will expand, but will still be dwarfed by exports to China. Tsai's 'New Southbound Policy' initiative is unlikely to reduce Taiwan’s reliance on the China market significantly.

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