scholarly journals Characterization of the DraT/DraG System for Posttranslational Regulation of Nitrogenase in the Endophytic Betaproteobacterium Azoarcus sp. Strain BH72

2009 ◽  
Vol 191 (11) ◽  
pp. 3726-3735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janina Oetjen ◽  
Barbara Reinhold-Hurek
Keyword(s):  
Blot Analysis ◽  
Protein Modification ◽  
Nitrogenase Activity ◽  
Posttranslational Regulation ◽  
Fe Protein ◽  
Grass Endophyte ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Microaerobic Conditions ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACT DraT/DraG-mediated posttranslational regulation of the nitrogenase Fe protein by ADP-ribosylation has been described for a few diazotrophic bacteria belonging to the class Alphaproteobacteria. Here we present for the first time the DraT/DraG system of a betaproteobacterium, Azoarcus sp. strain BH72, a diazotrophic grass endophyte. Its genome harbors one draT ortholog and two physically unlinked genes coding for ADP-ribosylhydrolases. Northern blot analysis revealed cotranscription of draT with two genes encoding hypothetical proteins. Furthermore, draT and draG2 were expressed under all studied conditions, whereas draG1 expression was nitrogen regulated. By using Western blot analysis of deletion mutants and nitrogenase assays in vivo, we demonstrated that DraT is required for the nitrogenase Fe protein modification but not for the physiological inactivation of nitrogenase activity. A second mechanism responsible for nitrogenase inactivation must operate in this bacterium, which is independent of DraT. Fe protein demodification was dependent mainly on DraG1, corroborating the assumption from phylogenetic analysis that DraG2 might be mostly involved in processes other than the posttranslational regulation of nitrogenase. Nitrogenase in vivo reactivation was impaired in a draG1 mutant and a mutant lacking both draG alleles after anaerobiosis shifts and subsequent adjustment to microaerobic conditions, suggesting that modified dinitrogenase reductase was inactive. Our results demonstrate that the DraT/DraG system, despite some differences, is functionally conserved in diazotrophic proteobacteria.

scholarly journals Adenine nucleotide levels in Rhodospirillum rubrum during switch-off of whole-cell nitrogenase activity

1984 ◽  
Vol 224 (3) ◽  
pp. 961-969 ◽  
Author(s):  
T D Paul ◽  
P W Ludden
Keyword(s):  
Protein Modification ◽  
Rhodospirillum Rubrum ◽  
Adenine Nucleotide ◽  
Nitrogenase Activity ◽  
Energy Charge ◽  
Whole Cell ◽  
Fe Protein ◽  
Nucleotide Pools ◽  
Phenazine Methosulphate

Adenine nucleotide pools were measured in Rhodospirillum rubrum cultures that contained nitrogenase. The average energy charge [([ATP] + 1/2[ADP])/([ATP] + [ADP] + [AMP])] was found to be 0.66 and 0.62 in glutamate-grown and N-limited cultures respectively. Treatment of glutamate-grown cells with darkness, ammonia, glutamine, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, or phenazine methosulphate resulted in perturbations in the adenine nucleotide pools, and led to loss of whole-cell nitrogenase activity and modification in vivo of the Fe protein. Treatment of N-limited cells resulted in similar changes in adenine nucleotide pools but not enzyme modification. No correlations were found between changes in adenine nucleotide pools or ratios of these pools and switch-off of nitrogenase activity by Fe protein modification in vivo. Phenazine methosulphate inhibited whole-cell activity at low concentrations. The effect on nitrogenase activity was apparently independent of Fe protein modification.

scholarly journals Designing P. aeruginosa synthetic phages with reduced genomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana P. Pires ◽  
Rodrigo Monteiro ◽  
Dalila Mil-Homens ◽  
Arsénio Fialho ◽  
Timothy K. Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Antibacterial Properties ◽  
Genetically Engineered ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Promising Therapeutic Approach ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
First Time

AbstractIn the era where antibiotic resistance is considered one of the major worldwide concerns, bacteriophages have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach to deal with this problem. Genetically engineered bacteriophages can enable enhanced anti-bacterial functionalities, but require cloning additional genes into the phage genomes, which might be challenging due to the DNA encapsulation capacity of a phage. To tackle this issue, we designed and assembled for the first time synthetic phages with smaller genomes by knocking out up to 48% of the genes encoding hypothetical proteins from the genome of the newly isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage vB_PaeP_PE3. The antibacterial efficacy of the wild-type and the synthetic phages was assessed in vitro as well as in vivo using a Galleria mellonella infection model. Overall, both in vitro and in vivo studies revealed that the knock-outs made in phage genome do not impair the antibacterial properties of the synthetic phages, indicating that this could be a good strategy to clear space from phage genomes in order to enable the introduction of other genes of interest that can potentiate the future treatment of P. aeruginosa infections.

scholarly journals Partial Sperm beta1 Integrin Subunit Deletion Proves Its Involvement in Mouse Gamete Adhesion/Fusion

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (22) ◽  
pp. 8494
Author(s):  
Virginie Barraud-Lange ◽  
Côme Ialy-Radio ◽  
Céline Chalas ◽  
Isabelle Holtzmann ◽  
Jean-Philippe Wolf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Blot ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Blot Analysis ◽  
Integrin Subunit ◽  
Perivitelline Space ◽  
Male Germ Cells ◽  
Beta1 Integrin ◽  
First Time

We have previously shown, using antibodies, that the sperm alpha6beta1 integrin is involved in mouse gamete fusion in vitro. Here we report the conditional knockdown of the sperm Itgb1 gene. It induced a drastic failure of sperm fusogenic ability with sperm accumulation in the perivitelline space of in vitro inseminated oocytes deleted or not for the Itgb1 gene. These data demonstrate that sperm, but not oocyte, beta1 integrin subunit is involved in gamete adhesion/fusion. Curiously, knockdown males were fertile in vivo probably because of the incomplete Cre-mediated deletion of the sperm Itgb1 floxed gene. Indeed, this was shown by Western blot analysis and confirmed by both the viability and litter size of pups obtained by mating partially sperm Itgb1 deleted males with females producing completely deleted Itgb1 oocytes. Because of the total peri-implantation lethality of Itgb1 deletion in mice, we assume that sperm that escaped the Itgb1 excision seemed to be preferentially used to fertilize in vivo. Here, we showed for the first time that the deletion, even partial, of the sperm Itgb1 gene makes the sperm unable to normally fertilize oocytes. However, to elucidate the question of the essentiality of its role during fertilization, further investigations using a mouse expressing a recombinase more effective in male germ cells are necessary.

scholarly journals Random Transposon Mutagenesis ofCampylobacter jejuni

2000 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 5450-5453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neal J. Golden ◽  
Andrew Camilli ◽  
David W. K. Acheson
Keyword(s):  
Southern Blot ◽  
Campylobacter Jejuni ◽  
Blot Analysis ◽  
Southern Blot Analysis ◽  
Transposon Mutagenesis ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Novel Technique ◽  
Ofcampylobacter Jejuni ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACT Genetic studies of Campylobacter jejuni have been limited due to the lack of a transposon mutagenesis method. Here, we describe a novel technique for random transposon mutagenesis using amariner-based transposon into C. jejuni strain 480. Insertions were random, as demonstrated by Southern blot analysis and insertional junction sequencing. We have demonstrated, for the first time, random in vivo transposon mutagenesis of C. jejuni.

scholarly journals Identification and Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus Components Expressed by a Model System of Growth in Serum

2001 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 5198-5202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Wiltshire ◽  
Simon J. Foster
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Model System ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Lysine Biosynthesis ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Peptide Biosynthesis ◽  
Microaerobic Conditions

ABSTRACT A model system mimicking Staphylococcus aureusbacteremia was developed by growth in serum under microaerobic conditions. Eight genes induced by growth in serum were identified, including an antimicrobial peptide biosynthesis locus, amino acid biosynthetic loci, and genes encoding putative surface proteins. Nine independent insertions were found in the major lysine biosynthesis operon, which encodes eight genes, is repressed by lysine in vitro, and is expressed in vivo.

scholarly journals AmtB Is Necessary for NH4+-Induced Nitrogenase Switch-Off and ADP-Ribosylation in Rhodobacter capsulatus

2002 ◽  
Vol 184 (15) ◽  
pp. 4081-4088 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander F. Yakunin ◽  
Patrick C. Hallenbeck
Keyword(s):  
Rhodobacter Capsulatus ◽  
Nitrogenase Activity ◽  
Growth Defect ◽  
Synthetase Activity ◽  
Glutamine Synthetase Activity ◽  
Adp Ribosylation ◽  
Fe Protein ◽  
Knockout Mutants

ABSTRACT Rhodobacter capsulatus possesses two genes potentially coding for ammonia transporters, amtB and amtY. In order to better understand their role in the physiology of this bacterium and their possible significance in nitrogen fixation, we created single-knockout mutants. Strains mutated in either amtB or amtY did not show a growth defect under any condition tested and were still capable of taking up ammonia at nearly wild-type rates, but an amtB mutant was no longer capable of transporting methylamine. The amtB strain but not the amtY strain was also totally defective in carrying out ADP-ribosylation of Fe-protein or the switch-off of in vivo nitrogenase activity in response to NH4 + addition. ADP-ribosylation in response to darkness was unaffected in amtB and amtBY strains, and glutamine synthetase activity was normally regulated in these strains in response to ammonium addition, suggesting that one role of AmtB is to function as an ammonia sensor for the processes that regulate nitrogenase activity.

scholarly journals Effect of Perturbation of ATP Level on the Activity and Regulation of Nitrogenase in Rhodospirillum rubrum

2009 ◽  
Vol 191 (17) ◽  
pp. 5526-5537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaoping Zhang ◽  
Edward L. Pohlmann ◽  
Gary P. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Rhodospirillum Rubrum ◽  
Nitrogenase Activity ◽  
Posttranslational Regulation ◽  
Modification System ◽  
Atp Level ◽  
In Vivo Test ◽  
Intracellular Atp ◽  
Atp Levels

ABSTRACT Nitrogenase activity in Rhodospirillum rubrum and in some other photosynthetic bacteria is regulated in part by the availability of light. This regulation is through a posttranslational modification system that is itself regulated by PII homologs in the cell. PII is one of the most broadly distributed regulatory proteins in nature and directly or indirectly senses nitrogen and carbon signals in the cell. However, its possible role in responding to light availability remains unclear. Because PII binds ATP, we tested the hypothesis that removal of light would affect PII by changing intracellular ATP levels, and this in turn would affect the regulation of nitrogenase activity. This in vivo test involved a variety of different methods for the measurement of ATP, as well as the deliberate perturbation of intracellular ATP levels by chemical and genetic means. To our surprise, we found fairly normal levels of nitrogenase activity and posttranslational regulation of nitrogenase even under conditions of drastically reduced ATP levels. This indicates that low ATP levels have no more than a modest impact on the PII-mediated regulation of NifA activity and on the posttranslational regulation of nitrogenase activity. The relatively high nitrogenase activity also shows that the ATP-dependent electron flux from dinitrogenase reductase to dinitrogenase is also surprisingly insensitive to a depleted ATP level. These in vivo results disprove the simple model of ATP as the key energy signal to PII under these conditions. We currently suppose that the ratio of ADP/ATP might be the relevant signal, as suggested by a number of recent in vitro analyses.

scholarly journals Characteristics of N2 fixation in Mo-limited batch and continuous cultures of Azotobacter vinelandii

1984 ◽  
Vol 224 (3) ◽  
pp. 853-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
R R Eady ◽  
R L Robson
Keyword(s):  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Azotobacter Vinelandii ◽  
Nitrogenase Activity ◽  
Defined Medium ◽  
Pulse Labelling ◽  
Mofe Protein ◽  
Fe Protein ◽  
Limiting Nutrient ◽  
Mo Content

Steady-state chemostat cultures of Azotobacter vinelandii were established in a simple defined medium that had been chemically purified to minimize Mo and that contained no utilizable combined N source. Growth was dependent on N2 fixation, the limiting nutrient being the Mo contaminating the system. The Mo content of the organisms was at least 100-fold lower than that of Mo-sufficient cultures, and they lacked the characteristic g = 3.7 e.p.r. feature of the MoFe-protein of nitrogenase. A characteristic of nitrogenase activity in vivo in Mo-limited populations was a disproportionately low activity for acetylene reduction, which was 0.3 to 0.1 of that expected from the rate of N2 reduction. Acetylene was also a poor substrate in comparison with protons as a substrate for nitrogenase, and did not markedly inhibit H2 evolution, in contrast with Mo-sufficient populations. In batch cultures in similar medium or ‘spent’ chemostat medium inoculated with Mo-limited organisms, the addition of Mo elicited a biphasic increased growth response at concentrations as low as 2.5 nM, provided that sufficient Fe was supplied. In this system V did not substitute for Mo, and Mo-deficient cultures ceased growth at a 25-fold lower population density compared with cultures supplemented with Mo. Nitrogenase component proteins could not be unequivocally detected by visual inspection of fractionated crude extracts of Mo-limited organisms. 35SO42-pulse-labelling studies also showed that the rate of synthesis of the MoFe-protein component of nitrogenase was too low to be quantified. However, the Fe-protein of nitrogenase was apparently synthesized at high rates. The discussion includes an evaluation of the possibility that A. vinelandii possesses an Mo-independent N2-fixation system.

Regulation of nitrogenase in the photosynthetic bacteriumRhodobacter sphaeroidescontainingdraTGandnifHDKgenes fromRhodobacter capsulatus

2001 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 206-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander F Yakunin ◽  
Alexander S Fedorov ◽  
Tatyana V Laurinavichene ◽  
Vadim M Glaser ◽  
Nikolay S Egorov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Photosynthetic Bacteria ◽  
Rhodospirillum Rubrum ◽  
Rhodobacter Capsulatus ◽  
Nitrogenase Activity ◽  
Photosynthetic Bacterium ◽  
Adp Ribosylation ◽  
Fe Protein ◽  
Dinitrogenase Reductase ◽  
Different Strains

The photosynthetic bacteria Rhodobacter capsulatus and Rhodospirillum rubrum regulate their nitrogenase activity by the reversible ADP-ribosylation of nitrogenase Fe-protein in response to ammonium addition or darkness. This regulation is mediated by two enzymes, dinitrogenase reductase ADP-ribosyl transferase (DRAT) and dinitrogenase reductase activating glycohydrolase (DRAG). Recently, we demonstrated that another photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodobacter sphaeroides, appears to have no draTG genes, and no evidence of Fe-protein ADP-ribosylation was found in this bacterium under a variety of growth and incubation conditions. Here we show that four different strains of Rba. sphaeroides are incapable of modifying Fe-protein, whereas four out of five Rba. capsulatus strains possess this ability. Introduction of Rba. capsulatus draTG and nifHDK (structural genes for nitrogenase proteins) into Rba. sphaeroides had no effect on in vivo nitrogenase activity and on nitrogenase switch-off by ammonium. However, transfer of draTG from Rba. capsulatus was sufficient to confer on Rba. sphaeroides the ability to reversibly modify the nitrogenase Fe-protein in response to either ammonium addition or darkness. These data suggest that Rba. sphaeroides, which lacks DRAT and DRAG, possesses all the elements necessary for the transduction of signals generated by ammonium or darkness to these proteins.Key words: nitrogenase regulation, nitrogenase modification, photosynthetic bacteria.

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