1
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Liu AK, Kaeser B, Chen L, West-Roberts J, Taylor-Kearney LJ, Lavy A, Günzing D, Li WJ, Hammel M, Nogales E, Banfield JF, Shih PM. Deep-branching evolutionary intermediates reveal structural origins of form I rubisco. Curr Biol 2023; 33:5316-5325.e3. [PMID: 37979578 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
The enzyme rubisco (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) catalyzes the majority of biological carbon fixation on Earth. Although the vast majority of rubiscos across the tree of life assemble as homo-oligomers, the globally predominant form I enzyme-found in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria-forms a unique hetero-oligomeric complex. The recent discovery of a homo-oligomeric sister group to form I rubisco (named form I') has filled a key gap in our understanding of the enigmatic origins of the form I clade. However, to elucidate the series of molecular events leading to the evolution of form I rubisco, we must examine more distantly related sibling clades to contextualize the molecular features distinguishing form I and form I' rubiscos. Here, we present a comparative structural study retracing the evolutionary history of rubisco that reveals a complex structural trajectory leading to the ultimate hetero-oligomerization of the form I clade. We structurally characterize the oligomeric states of deep-branching form Iα and I'' rubiscos recently discovered from metagenomes, which represent key evolutionary intermediates preceding the form I clade. We further solve the structure of form I'' rubisco, revealing the molecular determinants that likely primed the enzyme core for the transition from a homo-oligomer to a hetero-oligomer. Our findings yield new insight into the evolutionary trajectory underpinning the adoption and entrenchment of the prevalent assembly of form I rubisco, providing additional context when viewing the enzyme family through the broader lens of protein evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert K Liu
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA; Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Benjamin Kaeser
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - LinXing Chen
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jacob West-Roberts
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Leah J Taylor-Kearney
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Adi Lavy
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Damian Günzing
- Department of Physics, University of Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
| | - Wen-Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, P.R. China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, P.R. China
| | - Michal Hammel
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Eva Nogales
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Jillian F Banfield
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Patrick M Shih
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA; Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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2
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Zhong W, Li H, Wang Y. Design and Construction of Artificial Biological Systems for One-Carbon Utilization. BIODESIGN RESEARCH 2023; 5:0021. [PMID: 37915992 PMCID: PMC10616972 DOI: 10.34133/bdr.0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The third-generation (3G) biorefinery aims to use microbial cell factories or enzymatic systems to synthesize value-added chemicals from one-carbon (C1) sources, such as CO2, formate, and methanol, fueled by renewable energies like light and electricity. This promising technology represents an important step toward sustainable development, which can help address some of the most pressing environmental challenges faced by modern society. However, to establish processes competitive with the petroleum industry, it is crucial to determine the most viable pathways for C1 utilization and productivity and yield of the target products. In this review, we discuss the progresses that have been made in constructing artificial biological systems for 3G biorefineries in the last 10 years. Specifically, we highlight the representative works on the engineering of artificial autotrophic microorganisms, tandem enzymatic systems, and chemo-bio hybrid systems for C1 utilization. We also prospect the revolutionary impact of these developments on biotechnology. By harnessing the power of 3G biorefinery, scientists are establishing a new frontier that could potentially revolutionize our approach to industrial production and pave the way for a more sustainable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhong
- Westlake Center of Synthetic Biology and Integrated Bioengineering, School of Engineering,
Westlake University, Hangzhou 310000, PR China
| | - Hailong Li
- Westlake Center of Synthetic Biology and Integrated Bioengineering, School of Engineering,
Westlake University, Hangzhou 310000, PR China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering,
Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310000, PR China
| | - Yajie Wang
- Westlake Center of Synthetic Biology and Integrated Bioengineering, School of Engineering,
Westlake University, Hangzhou 310000, PR China
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3
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Liu AK, Pereira JH, Kehl AJ, Rosenberg DJ, Orr DJ, Chu SKS, Banda DM, Hammel M, Adams PD, Siegel JB, Shih PM. Structural plasticity enables evolution and innovation of RuBisCO assemblies. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadc9440. [PMID: 36026446 PMCID: PMC9417184 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adc9440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Oligomerization is a core structural feature that defines the form and function of many proteins. Most proteins form molecular complexes; however, there remains a dearth of diversity-driven structural studies investigating the evolutionary trajectory of these assemblies. Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (RuBisCO) is one such enzyme that adopts multiple assemblies, although the origins and distribution of its different oligomeric states remain cryptic. Here, we retrace the evolution of ancestral and extant form II RuBisCOs, revealing a complex and diverse history of oligomerization. We structurally characterize a newly discovered tetrameric RuBisCO, elucidating how solvent-exposed surfaces can readily adopt new interactions to interconvert or give rise to new oligomeric states. We further use these principles to engineer and demonstrate how changes in oligomerization can be mediated by relatively few mutations. Our findings yield insight into how structural plasticity may give rise to new oligomeric states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert K. Liu
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Jose H. Pereira
- Technology Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Alexander J. Kehl
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Daniel J. Rosenberg
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Graduate Group in Biophysics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Douglas J. Orr
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Simon K. S. Chu
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Douglas M. Banda
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Michal Hammel
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Paul D. Adams
- Technology Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Justin B. Siegel
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Chemistry Department, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA 95616, USA
| | - Patrick M. Shih
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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4
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Böhnke S, Perner M. Approaches to Unmask Functioning of the Uncultured Microbial Majority From Extreme Habitats on the Seafloor. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:845562. [PMID: 35422772 PMCID: PMC9002263 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.845562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Researchers have recognized the potential of enzymes and metabolic pathways hidden among the unseen majority of Earth’s microorganisms for decades now. Most of the microbes expected to colonize the seafloor and its subsurface are currently uncultured. Thus, their ability and contribution to element cycling remain enigmatic. Given that the seafloor covers ∼70% of our planet, this amounts to an uncalled potential of unrecognized metabolic properties and interconnections catalyzed by this microbial dark matter. Consequently, a tremendous black box awaits discovery of novel enzymes, catalytic abilities, and metabolic properties in one of the largest habitats on Earth. This mini review summarizes the current knowledge of cultivation-dependent and -independent techniques applied to seafloor habitats to unravel the role of the microbial dark matter. It highlights the great potential that combining microbiological and biogeochemical data from in situ experiments with molecular tools has for providing a holistic understanding of bio-geo-coupling in seafloor habitats and uses hydrothermal vent systems as a case example.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Böhnke
- Geomicrobiology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Mirjam Perner
- Geomicrobiology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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5
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Zhang J, Liu G, Carvajal AI, Wilson RH, Cai Z, Li Y. Discovery of a readily heterologously expressed Rubisco from the deep sea with potential for CO 2 capture. BIORESOUR BIOPROCESS 2021; 8:86. [PMID: 38650243 PMCID: PMC10992382 DOI: 10.1186/s40643-021-00439-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), the key CO2-fixing enzyme in photosynthesis, is notorious for its low carboxylation. We report a highly active and assembly-competent Form II Rubisco from the endosymbiont of a deep-sea tubeworm Riftia pachyptila (RPE Rubisco), which shows a 50.5% higher carboxylation efficiency than that of a high functioning Rubisco from Synechococcus sp. PCC7002 (7002 Rubisco). It is a simpler hexamer with three pairs of large subunit homodimers around a central threefold symmetry axis. Compared with 7002 Rubisco, it showed a 3.6-fold higher carbon capture efficiency in vivo using a designed CO2 capture model. The simple structure, high carboxylation efficiency, easy heterologous soluble expression/assembly make RPE Rubisco a ready-to-deploy enzyme for CO2 capture that does not require complex co-expression of chaperones. The chemosynthetic CO2 fixation machinery of chemolithoautotrophs, CO2-fixing endosymbionts, may be more efficient than previously realized with great potential for next-generation microbial CO2 sequestration platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junli Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guoxia Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Alonso I Carvajal
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Robert H Wilson
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
| | - Zhen Cai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Yin Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
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6
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Huang K, Li Q, Sun H, Zhang XX, Ren H, Ye L. Metagenomic analysis revealed the sulfur- and iron- oxidation capabilities of heterotrophic denitrifying sludge. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2021; 30:1399-1407. [PMID: 33210230 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-020-02307-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Heterotrophic denitrification is widely applied in wastewater treatment processes to remove nitrate. However, the ability of the heterotrophic denitrifying sludge to use inorganic matter as electron donors to perform autotrophic denitrification has rarely been investigated. In this study, we enriched heterotrophic denitrifying sludge and demonstrated its sulfur- and iron- oxidizing abilities and denitrification performance with batch experiments. Based on high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes, high diversity and abundance of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) (e.g., Sulfuritalea, Thiobacillus, and Thiothrix) and iron (II)-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) (e.g., Azospira and Thiobacillus) were observed. Metagenomic sequencing and genome binning results further suggested that the SOB in the heterotrophic denitrifying sludge were mainly Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria instead of Gammaproteobacteria and Epsilonproteobacteria. The similarities of potential iron-oxidizing genes with known sequences were very low (32-51%), indicating potentially novel FeOB species in this system. The findings of this study suggested that the heterotrophic denitrifying sludge harbors diverse mixotrophic denitrifying bacterial species, and based on this finding, we proposed that organic carbon and inorganic electron donors (e.g., sulfur, thiosulfate, and iron) could be jointly used in engineering practices according to the quality and quantity of wastewater to balance the cost and efficiency of the denitrification process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kailong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 210023, Nanjing, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, 210044, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiaoling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Haohao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Xu-Xiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongqiang Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Lin Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 210023, Nanjing, China.
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7
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Synthetic Biology Approaches To Enhance Microalgal Productivity. Trends Biotechnol 2021; 39:1019-1036. [PMID: 33541719 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The major bottleneck in commercializing biofuels and other commodities produced by microalgae is the high cost associated with phototrophic cultivation. Improving microalgal productivities could be a solution to this problem. Synthetic biology methods have recently been used to engineer the downstream production pathways in several microalgal strains. However, engineering upstream photosynthetic and carbon fixation metabolism to enhance growth, productivity, and yield has barely been explored in microalgae. We describe strategies to improve the generation of reducing power from light, as well as to improve the assimilation of CO2 by either the native Calvin cycle or synthetic alternatives. Overall, we are optimistic that recent technological advances will prompt long-awaited breakthroughs in microalgal research.
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8
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Liu Z, Wang K, Chen Y, Tan T, Nielsen J. Third-generation biorefineries as the means to produce fuels and chemicals from CO2. Nat Catal 2020. [DOI: 10.1038/s41929-019-0421-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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9
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Selection of Cyanobacterial ( Synechococcus sp. Strain PCC 6301) RubisCO Variants with Improved Functional Properties That Confer Enhanced CO 2-Dependent Growth of Rhodobacter capsulatus, a Photosynthetic Bacterium. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.01537-19. [PMID: 31337726 PMCID: PMC6650557 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01537-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
RubisCO catalysis has a significant impact on mitigating greenhouse gas accumulation and CO2 conversion to food, fuel, and other organic compounds required to sustain life. Because RubisCO-dependent CO2 fixation is severely compromised by oxygen inhibition and other physiological constraints, improving RubisCO’s kinetic properties to enhance growth in the presence of atmospheric O2 levels has been a longstanding goal. In this study, RubisCO variants with superior structure-functional properties were selected which resulted in enhanced growth of an autotrophic host organism (R. capsulatus), indicating that RubisCO function was indeed growth limiting. It is evident from these results that genetically engineered RubisCO with kinetically enhanced properties can positively impact growth rates in primary producers. Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) is a ubiquitous enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of atmospheric CO2 into organic carbon in primary producers. All naturally occurring RubisCOs have low catalytic turnover rates and are inhibited by oxygen. Evolutionary adaptations of the enzyme and its host organisms to changing atmospheric oxygen concentrations provide an impetus to artificially evolve RubisCO variants under unnatural selective conditions. A RubisCO deletion strain of the nonsulfur purple photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus was previously used as a heterologous host for directed evolution and suppressor selection studies that led to the identification of a conserved hydrophobic region near the active site where amino acid substitutions selectively impacted the enzyme’s sensitivity to O2. In this study, structural alignments, mutagenesis, suppressor selection, and growth complementation with R. capsulatus under anoxic or oxygenic conditions were used to analyze the importance of semiconserved residues in this region of Synechococcus RubisCO. RubisCO mutant substitutions were identified that provided superior CO2-dependent growth capabilities relative to the wild-type enzyme. Kinetic analyses of the mutant enzymes indicated that enhanced growth performance was traceable to differential interactions of the enzymes with CO2 and O2. Effective residue substitutions also appeared to be localized to two other conserved hydrophobic regions of the holoenzyme. Structural comparisons and similarities indicated that regions identified in this study may be targeted for improvement in RubisCOs from other sources, including crop plants.
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10
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Abstract
Photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation became evolutionarily immutable as “frozen metabolic accidents” because multiple interactions between the proteins and protein complexes involved led to their co-evolution in modules. This has impeded their adaptation to an oxidizing atmosphere, and reconfiguration now requires modification or replacement of whole modules, using either natural modules from exotic species or non-natural proteins with similar interaction potential. Ultimately, the relevant complexes might be reconstructed (almost) from scratch, starting either from appropriate precursor processes or by designing alternative pathways. These approaches will require advances in synthetic biology, laboratory evolution, and a better understanding of module functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Leister
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
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11
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Časaitė V, Sadauskas M, Vaitekūnas J, Gasparavičiūtė R, Meškienė R, Skikaitė I, Sakalauskas M, Jakubovska J, Tauraitė D, Meškys R. Engineering of a chromogenic enzyme screening system based on an auxiliary indole-3-carboxylic acid monooxygenase. Microbiologyopen 2019; 8:e00795. [PMID: 30666828 PMCID: PMC6692525 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we present a proof‐of‐principle for a new high‐throughput functional screening of metagenomic libraries for the selection of enzymes with different activities, predetermined by the substrate being used. By this approach, a total of 21 enzyme‐coding genes were selected, including members of xanthine dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and amidohydrolase families. The screening system is based on a pro‐chromogenic substrate, which is transformed by the target enzyme to indole‐3‐carboxylic acid. The later compound is converted to indoxyl by a newly identified indole‐3‐carboxylate monooxygenase (Icm). Due to the spontaneous oxidation of indoxyl to indigo, the target enzyme‐producing colonies turn blue. Two types of pro‐chromogenic substrates have been tested. Indole‐3‐carboxaldehydes and the amides of indole‐3‐carboxylic acid have been applied as substrates for screening of the ALDHs and amidohydrolases, respectively. Both plate assays described here are rapid, convenient, easy to perform, and adaptable for the screening of a large number of samples both in Escherichia coli and Rhodococcus sp. In addition, the fine‐tuning of the pro‐chromogenic substrate allows screening enzymes with the desired substrate specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vida Časaitė
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Mikas Sadauskas
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Justas Vaitekūnas
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Renata Gasparavičiūtė
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Rita Meškienė
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Izabelė Skikaitė
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Mantas Sakalauskas
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Jevgenija Jakubovska
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Daiva Tauraitė
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Rolandas Meškys
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
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12
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The evolving interface between synthetic biology and functional metagenomics. Nat Chem Biol 2018; 14:752-759. [DOI: 10.1038/s41589-018-0100-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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13
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Oremland RS, Saltikov CW, Stolz JF, Hollibaugh JT. Autotrophic microbial arsenotrophy in arsenic-rich soda lakes. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2018; 364:3940223. [PMID: 28859313 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnx146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A number of prokaryotes are capable of employing arsenic oxy-anions as either electron acceptors [arsenate; As(V)] or electron donors [arsenite; As(III)] to sustain arsenic-dependent growth ('arsenotrophy'). A subset of these microorganisms function as either chemoautotrophs or photoautotrophs, whereby they gain sufficient energy from their redox metabolism of arsenic to completely satisfy their carbon needs for growth by autotrophy, that is the fixation of inorganic carbon (e.g. HCO3-) into their biomass. Here we review what has been learned of these processes by investigations we have undertaken in three soda lakes of the western USA and from the physiological characterizations of the relevant bacteria, which include the critical genes involved, such as respiratory arsenate reductase (arrA) and the discovery of its arsenite-oxidizing counterpart (arxA). When possible, we refer to instances of similar process occurring in other, less extreme ecosystems and by microbes other than haloalkaliphiles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chad W Saltikov
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - John F Stolz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
| | - James T Hollibaugh
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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14
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Deng Y, Li B, Zhang T. Bacteria That Make a Meal of Sulfonamide Antibiotics: Blind Spots and Emerging Opportunities. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:3854-3868. [PMID: 29498514 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b06026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The release of sulfonamide antibiotics into the environment is alarming because the existence of these antibiotics in the environment may promote resistance in clinically relevant microorganisms, which is a potential threat to the effectiveness of antibiotic therapies. Controllable biodegradation processes are of particular significance for the inexpensive yet effective restoration of sulfonamide-contaminated environments. Cultivation-based techniques have already made great strides in successfully isolating bacteria with promising sulfonamide degradation abilities, but the implementation of these isolates in bioremediation has been limited by unknown microbial diversity, vast population responsiveness, and the impact of perturbations from open and complex environments. Advances in DNA sequencing technologies and metagenomic analyses are being used to complement the information derived from cultivation-based procedures. In this Review, we provide an overview of the growing understanding of isolated sulfonamide degraders and identify shortcomings of the prevalent literature in this field. In addition, we propose a technical paradigm that integrates experimental testing with metagenomic analysis to pave the way for improved understanding and exploitation of these ecologically important isolates. Overall, this Review aims to outline how metagenomic studies of isolated sulfonamide degraders are being applied for the advancement of bioremediation strategies for sulfonamide contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Deng
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering , The University of Hong Kong , Pokfulam Road , Hong Kong , PR China
| | - Bing Li
- Division of Energy & Environment, Graduate School at Shenzhen , Tsinghua University , Shenzhen 518055 , PR China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering , The University of Hong Kong , Pokfulam Road , Hong Kong , PR China
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Liu D, Ramya RCS, Mueller-Cajar O. Surveying the expanding prokaryotic Rubisco multiverse. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2018; 364:3983162. [PMID: 28854711 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnx156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The universal, but catalytically modest, CO2-fixing enzyme Rubisco is currently experiencing intense interest by researchers aiming to enhance crop photosynthesis. These efforts are mostly focused on the highly conserved hexadecameric enzyme found in land plants. In comparison, prokaryotic organisms harbor a far greater diversity in Rubisco forms. Recent work towards improving our appreciation of microbial Rubisco properties and harnessing their potential is surveyed. New structural models are providing informative glimpses into catalytic subtleties and diverse oligomeric states. Ongoing characterization is informing us about the conservation of constraints, such as sugar phosphate inhibition and the associated dependence on Rubisco activase helper proteins. Prokaryotic Rubiscos operate under a far wider range of metabolic contexts than the photosynthetic function of higher plant enzymes. Relaxed selection pressures may have resulted in the exploration of a larger volume of sequence space than permitted in organisms performing oxygenic photosynthesis. To tap into the potential of microbial Rubiscos, in vivo selection systems are being used to discover functional metagenomic Rubiscos. Various directed evolution systems to optimize their function have been developed. It is anticipated that this approach will provide access to biotechnologically valuable enzymes that cannot be encountered in the higher plant Rubisco space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Liu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | | | - Oliver Mueller-Cajar
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
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Antonovsky N, Gleizer S, Milo R. Engineering carbon fixation in E. coli : from heterologous RuBisCO expression to the Calvin–Benson–Bassham cycle. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2017; 47:83-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2017.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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17
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Böhnke S, Perner M. Unraveling RubisCO Form I and Form II Regulation in an Uncultured Organism from a Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vent via Metagenomic and Mutagenesis Studies. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1303. [PMID: 28747908 PMCID: PMC5506194 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) catalyzes the first major step of carbon fixation in the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle. This autotrophic CO2 fixation cycle accounts for almost all the assimilated carbon on Earth. Due to the primary role that RubisCO plays in autotrophic carbon fixation, it is important to understand how its gene expression is regulated and the enzyme is activated. Since the majority of all microorganisms are currently not culturable, we used a metagenomic approach to identify genes and enzymes associated with RubisCO expression. The investigated metagenomic DNA fragment originates from the deep-sea hydrothermal vent field Nibelungen at 8°18′ S along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It is 13,046 bp and resembles genes from Thiomicrospira crunogena. The fragment encodes nine open reading frames (ORFs) which include two types of RubisCO, form I (CbbL/S) and form II (CbbM), two LysR transcriptional regulators (LysR1 and LysR2), two von Willebrand factor type A (CbbO-m and CbbO-1), and two AAA+ ATPases (CbbQ-m and CbbQ-1), expected to function as RubisCO activating enzymes. In silico analyses uncovered several putative LysR binding sites and promoter structures. Functions of some of these DNA motifs were experimentally confirmed. For example, according to mobility shift assays LysR1’s binding ability to the intergenic region of lysR1 and cbbL appears to be intensified when CbbL or LysR2 are present. Binding of LysR2 upstream of cbbM appears to be intensified if CbbM is present. Our study suggests that CbbQ-m and CbbO-m activate CbbL and that LysR1 and LysR2 proteins promote CbbQ-m/CbbO-m expression. CbbO-1 seems to activate CbbM and CbbM itself appears to contribute to intensifying LysR’s binding ability and thus its own transcriptional regulation. CbbM furthermore appears to impair cbbL expression. A model summarizes the findings and predicts putative interactions of the different proteins influencing RubisCO gene regulation and expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Böhnke
- Molecular Biology of Microbial Consortia, Biocenter Klein Flottbek, University of HamburgHamburg, Germany
| | - Mirjam Perner
- Molecular Biology of Microbial Consortia, Biocenter Klein Flottbek, University of HamburgHamburg, Germany
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Mueller-Cajar O. The Diverse AAA+ Machines that Repair Inhibited Rubisco Active Sites. Front Mol Biosci 2017; 4:31. [PMID: 28580359 PMCID: PMC5437159 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2017.00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gaseous carbon dioxide enters the biosphere almost exclusively via the active site of the enzyme ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco). This highly conserved catalyst has an almost universal propensity to non-productively interact with its substrate ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate, leading to the formation of dead-end inhibited complexes. In diverse autotrophic organisms this tendency has been counteracted by the recruitment of dedicated AAA+ (ATPases associated with various cellular activities) proteins that all use the energy of ATP hydrolysis to remodel inhibited Rubisco active sites leading to release of the inhibitor. Three evolutionarily distinct classes of these Rubisco activases (Rcas) have been discovered so far. Green and red-type Rca are mostly found in photosynthetic eukaryotes of the green and red plastid lineage respectively, whereas CbbQO is associated with chemoautotrophic bacteria. Ongoing mechanistic studies are elucidating how the various motors are utilizing both similar and contrasting strategies to ultimately perform their common function of cracking the inhibited Rubisco active site. The best studied mechanism utilized by red-type Rca appears to involve transient threading of the Rubisco large subunit C-terminal peptide, reminiscent of the action performed by Clp proteases. As well as providing a fascinating example of convergent molecular evolution, Rca proteins can be considered promising crop-improvement targets. Approaches aiming to replace Rubisco in plants with improved enzymes will need to ensure the presence of a compatible Rca protein. The thermolability of the Rca protein found in crop plants provides an opportunity to fortify photosynthesis against high temperature stress. Photosynthesis also appears to be limited by Rca when light conditions are fluctuating. Synthetic biology strategies aiming to enhance the autotrophic CO2 fixation machinery will need to take into consideration the requirement for Rubisco activases as well as their properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Mueller-Cajar
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological UniversitySingapore, Singapore
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Pan S, Nikolakakis K, Adamczyk PA, Pan M, Ruby EG, Reed JL. Model-enabled gene search (MEGS) allows fast and direct discovery of enzymatic and transport gene functions in the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:10250-10261. [PMID: 28446608 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.763193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Revised: 04/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Whereas genomes can be rapidly sequenced, the functions of many genes are incompletely or erroneously annotated because of a lack of experimental evidence or prior functional knowledge in sequence databases. To address this weakness, we describe here a model-enabled gene search (MEGS) approach that (i) identifies metabolic functions either missing from an organism's genome annotation or incorrectly assigned to an ORF by using discrepancies between metabolic model predictions and experimental culturing data; (ii) designs functional selection experiments for these specific metabolic functions; and (iii) selects a candidate gene(s) responsible for these functions from a genomic library and directly interrogates this gene's function experimentally. To discover gene functions, MEGS uses genomic functional selections instead of relying on correlations across large experimental datasets or sequence similarity as do other approaches. When applied to the bioluminescent marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri, MEGS successfully identified five genes that are responsible for four metabolic and transport reactions whose absence from a draft metabolic model of V. fischeri caused inaccurate modeling of high-throughput experimental data. This work demonstrates that MEGS provides a rapid and efficient integrated computational and experimental approach for annotating metabolic genes, including those that have previously been uncharacterized or misannotated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Pan
- From the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Kiel Nikolakakis
- From the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Paul A Adamczyk
- From the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Min Pan
- the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China, and
| | - Edward G Ruby
- the Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Hawaii 96813
| | - Jennifer L Reed
- From the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706,
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Starke R, Müller M, Gaspar M, Marz M, Küsel K, Totsche KU, von Bergen M, Jehmlich N. Candidate Brocadiales dominates C, N and S cycling in anoxic groundwater of a pristine limestone-fracture aquifer. J Proteomics 2017; 152:153-160. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2016.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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21
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Claassens NJ, Sousa DZ, dos Santos VAPM, de Vos WM, van der Oost J. Harnessing the power of microbial autotrophy. Nat Rev Microbiol 2016; 14:692-706. [DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro.2016.130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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22
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Erb TJ, Zarzycki J. Biochemical and synthetic biology approaches to improve photosynthetic CO 2-fixation. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2016; 34:72-79. [PMID: 27400232 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2016.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Revised: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to improve agricultural productivity to secure future food and biofuel supply. Here, we summarize current approaches that aim at improving photosynthetic CO2-fixation. We critically review, compare and comment on the four major lines of research towards this aim, which focus on (i) improving RubisCO, the CO2-fixing enzyme in photosynthesis, (ii) implementing CO2-concentrating mechanisms, (iii) establishing synthetic photorespiration bypasses, and (iv) engineering synthetic CO2-fixation pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias J Erb
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Biochemistry & Synthetic Biology of Microbial Metabolism Group, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany; LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps University Marburg, 35043 Marburg, Germany.
| | - Jan Zarzycki
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Biochemistry & Synthetic Biology of Microbial Metabolism Group, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany
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Satagopan S, Tabita FR. RubisCO selection using the vigorously aerobic and metabolically versatile bacterium Ralstonia eutropha. FEBS J 2016; 283:2869-80. [PMID: 27261087 DOI: 10.1111/febs.13774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Revised: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Recapturing atmospheric CO2 is key to reducing global warming and increasing biological carbon availability. Ralstonia eutropha is a biotechnologically useful aerobic bacterium that uses the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle and the enzyme ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) for CO2 utilization, suggesting that it may be a useful host to bioselect RubisCO molecules with improved CO2 -capture capabilities. A host strain of R. eutropha was constructed for this purpose after deleting endogenous genes encoding two related RubisCOs. This strain could be complemented for CO2 -dependent growth by introducing native or heterologous RubisCO genes. Mutagenesis and suppressor selection identified amino acid substitutions in a hydrophobic region that specifically influences RubisCO's interaction with its substrates, particularly O2 , which competes with CO2 at the active site. Unlike most RubisCOs, the R. eutropha enzyme has evolved to retain optimal CO2 -fixation rates in a fast-growing host, despite the presence of high levels of competing O2 . Yet its structure-function properties resemble those of several commonly found RubisCOs, including the higher plant enzymes, allowing strategies to engineer analogous enzymes. Because R. eutropha can be cultured rapidly under harsh environmental conditions (e.g., with toxic industrial flue gas), in the presence of near saturation levels of oxygen, artificial selection and directed evolution studies in this organism could potentially impact efforts toward improving RubisCO-dependent biological CO2 utilization in aerobic environments. ENZYMES d-ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, EC 4.1.1.39; phosphoribulokinase, EC 2.7.1.19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sriram Satagopan
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - F Robert Tabita
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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