General nitrogen regulation of nitrate assimilation regulatory gene nasR expression in Klebsiella oxytoca M5al

A Nitrate-Sensing Domain-Containing Chemoreceptor Is Required for Successful Entry and Virulence of Dickeya dadantii 3937 in Potato Plants

Nitrate metabolism plays an important role in bacterial physiology. During the interaction of plant-pathogenic bacteria with their hosts, bacteria face variable conditions with respect to nitrate availability. Perception mechanisms through the chemosensory pathway drive the entry and control the colonization of the plant host in phytopathogenic bacteria. In this work, the identification and characterization of the nitrate- and nitrite-sensing (NIT) domain-containing chemoreceptor of Dickeya dadantii 3937 (Dd3937) allowed us to unveil the key role of nitrate sensing not only for the entry into the plant apoplast through wounds but also for infection success. We determined the specificity of this chemoreceptor to bind nitrate and nitrite, with a slight ligand preference for nitrate. Gene expression analysis showed that nitrate perception controls not only the expression of nitrate reductase genes involved in respiratory and assimilatory metabolic processes but also the expression of gyrA, hrpN, and bgxA, three well-known virulence determinants in Dd3937.

Genomic adaptation of the picoeukaryote Pelagomonas calceolata to iron-poor oceans revealed by a chromosome-scale genome sequence

The smallest phytoplankton species are key actors in oceans biogeochemical cycling and their abundance and distribution are affected with global environmental changes. Among them, algae of the Pelagophyceae class encompass coastal species causative of harmful algal blooms while others are cosmopolitan and abundant. The lack of genomic reference in this lineage is a main limitation to study its ecological importance. Here, we analysed Pelagomonas calceolata relative abundance, ecological niche and potential for the adaptation in all oceans using a complete chromosome-scale assembled genome sequence. Our results show that P. calceolata is one of the most abundant eukaryotic species in the oceans with a relative abundance favoured by high temperature, low-light and iron-poor conditions. Climate change projections based on its relative abundance suggest an extension of the P. calceolata habitat toward the poles at the end of this century. Finally, we observed a specific gene repertoire and expression level variations potentially explaining its ecological success in low-iron and low-nitrate environments. Collectively, these findings reveal the ecological importance of P. calceolata and lay the foundation for a global scale analysis of the adaptation and acclimation strategies of this small phytoplankton in a changing environment.

A CAZyme-Rich Genome of a Taxonomically Novel Rhodophyte-Associated Carrageenolytic Marine Bacterium

Carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) have significant biotechnological potential as agents for degradation or modification of polysaccharides/glycans. As marine macroalgae are known to be rich in various types of polysaccharides, seaweed-associated bacteria are likely to be a good source of these CAZymes. A genomics approach can be used to explore CAZyme abundance and diversity, but it can also provide deep insights into the biology of CAZyme producers and, in particular, into molecular mechanisms that mediate their interaction with their hosts. In this study, a Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, carrageenolytic, and culturable marine bacterium designated as AOL6 was isolated from a diseased thallus of a carrageenan-producing farmed rhodophyte, Kappaphycus alvarezii (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta). The whole genome of this bacterium was sequenced and characterized. Sequence reads were assembled producing a high-quality genome assembly. The estimated genome size of the bacterium is 4.4 Mb and a G+C content of 52%. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on a complete sequence of 16S rRNA, rpoB, and a set of 38 single-copy genes suggests that the bacterium is an unknown species and represents a novel genus in the family Cellvibrionaceae that is most closely related to the genera Teredinibacter and Saccharophagus. Genome comparison with T. turnerae T7901 and S. degradans 2-40 reveals several features shared by the three species, including a large number of CAZymes that comprised > 5% of the total number of protein-coding genes. The high proportion of CAZymes found in the AOL6 genome exceeds that of other known carbohydrate degraders, suggesting a significant capacity to degrade a range of polysaccharides including κ-carrageenan; 34% of these CAZymes have signal peptide sequences for secretion. Three putative κ-carrageenase-encoding genes were identified from the genome of the bacterium via in silico analysis, consistent with the results of the zymography assay (with κ-carrageenan as substrate). Genome analysis also indicated that AOL6 relies exclusively on type 2 secretion system (T2SS) for secreting proteins (possibly including glycoside hydrolases). In relation to T2SS, the product of the pilZ gene was predicted to be highly expressed, suggesting specialization for cell adhesion and secretion of virulence factors. The assignment of proteins to clusters of orthologous groups (COGs) revealed a pattern characteristic of r-strategists. Majority of two-component system proteins identified in the AOL6 genome were also predicted to be involved in chemotaxis and surface colonization. These genomic features suggest that AOL6 is an opportunistic pathogen, adapted to colonizing polysaccharide-rich hosts, including carrageenophytes.

Dissecting the role of NtrC and RpoN in the expression of assimilatory nitrate and nitrite reductases in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens

Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, a nitrogen-fixing endosymbiont of soybeans, is a model strain for studying rhizobial denitrification. This bacterium can also use nitrate as the sole nitrogen (N) source during aerobic growth by inducing an assimilatory nitrate reductase encoded by nasC located within the narK-bjgb-flp-nasC operon along with a nitrite reductase encoded by nirA at a different chromosomal locus. The global nitrogen two-component regulatory system NtrBC has been reported to coordinate the expression of key enzymes in nitrogen metabolism in several bacteria. In this study, we demonstrate that disruption of ntrC caused a growth defect in B. diazoefficiens cells in the presence of nitrate or nitrite as the sole N source and a decreased activity of the nitrate and nitrite reductase enzymes. Furthermore, the expression of narK-lacZ or nirA-lacZ transcriptional fusions was significantly reduced in the ntrC mutant after incubation under nitrate assimilation conditions. A B. diazoefficiens rpoN 1/2 mutant, lacking both copies of the gene encoding the alternative sigma factor σ54, was also defective in aerobic growth with nitrate as the N source as well as in nitrate and nitrite reductase expression. These results demonstrate that the NtrC regulator is required for expression of the B. diazoefficiens nasC and nirA genes and that the sigma factor RpoN is also involved in this regulation.

Identification and characterization of the nitrate assimilation genes in the isolate of Streptomyces griseorubens JSD-1

Background

Streptomyces griseorubens JSD-1 is a novel actinomycete isolated from soil that can utilize nitrate as its sole nitrogen source for growth and these nitrate assimilation genes active in this biotransformation are expected to be crucial. However, little is known about its genomic or genetic background related to nitrogen metabolism in this isolate. Thus, this study concentrates on identification and characterization of genes involved in nitrate assimilation.

Results

To investigate the molecular mechanism of nitrate metabolism, genome sequencing was performed by Illumina Miseq platform. Then the draft genome of a single linear chromosome with 8,463,223 bp and an average G+C content of 72.42% was obtained, which has been deposited at GenBank under the accession number JJMG00000000. Sequences of nitrate assimilation proteins such as nitrate reductase (EC 1.7.99.4), nitrite reductase (EC 1.7.1.4), glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2), glutamate synthase (EC 1.4.1.13) and glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.2) were acquired. All proteins were predicted to be intracellular enzymes and their sequences were highly identical to those from their similar species owing to the conservative character. Putative 3D structures of these proteins were also modeled based on the templates with the most identities in the PDB database. Through KEGG annotated map, these proteins proved to be located on the key positions of nitrogen metabolic signaling pathway. Finally, quantitative RT-PCR indicated that expression responses of all genes were up-regulated generally and significantly when stimulated with nitrate.

Conclusion

In this manuscript, we describe the genome features of an isolate of S. griseorubens JSD-1 following with identification and characterization of these nitrate assimilation proteins such as nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, glutamine synthetase, glutamate synthase and glutamate dehydrogenase accounts for the ability to utilize nitrate as its sole nitrogen source for growth through cellular localization, multiple sequence alignment, putative 3D modeling and quantitative RT-PCR. In summary, our findings provide the genomic and genetic background of utilizing nitrate of this strain.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12934-014-0174-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Nitrate assimilation contributes to Ralstonia solanacearum root attachment, stem colonization, and virulence

Ralstonia solanacearum, an economically important plant pathogen, must attach, grow, and produce virulence factors to colonize plant xylem vessels and cause disease. Little is known about the bacterial metabolism that drives these processes. Nitrate is present in both tomato xylem fluid and agricultural soils, and the bacterium's gene expression profile suggests that it assimilates nitrate during pathogenesis. A nasA mutant, which lacks the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of R. solanacearum's sole assimilatory nitrate reductase, did not grow on nitrate as a sole nitrogen source. This nasA mutant exhibited reduced virulence and delayed stem colonization after soil soak inoculation of tomato plants. The nasA virulence defect was more severe following a period of soil survival between hosts. Unexpectedly, once bacteria reached xylem tissue, nitrate assimilation was dispensable for growth, virulence, and competitive fitness. However, nasA-dependent nitrate assimilation was required for normal production of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS), a major virulence factor. Quantitative analyses revealed that EPS production was significantly influenced by nitrate assimilation when nitrate was not required for growth. The plant colonization delay of the nasA mutant was externally complemented by coinoculation with wild-type bacteria but not by coinoculation with an EPS-deficient epsB mutant. The nasA mutant and epsB mutant did not attach to tomato roots as well as wild-type strain UW551. However, adding either wild-type cells or cell-free EPS improved the root attachment of these mutants. These data collectively suggest that nitrate assimilation promotes R. solanacearum virulence by enhancing root attachment, the initial stage of infection, possibly by modulating EPS production.

Nitrogen oxyanion-dependent dissociation of a two-component complex that regulates bacterial nitrate assimilation

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for growth and is readily available to microbes in many environments in the form of ammonium and nitrate. Both ions are of environmental significance due to sustained use of inorganic fertilizers on agricultural soils. Diverse species of bacteria that have an assimilatory nitrate/nitrite reductase system (NAS) can use nitrate or nitrite as the sole nitrogen source for growth when ammonium is limited. In Paracoccus denitrificans, the pathway-specific two-component regulator for NAS expression is encoded by the nasT and nasS genes. Here, we show that the putative RNA-binding protein NasT is a positive regulator essential for expression of the nas gene cluster (i.e. nasABGHC). By contrast, a nitrogen oxyanion-binding sensor (NasS) is required for nitrate/nitrite-responsive control of nas gene expression. The NasS and NasT proteins co-purify as a stable heterotetrameric regulatory complex, NasS-NasT. This protein-protein interaction is sensitive to nitrate and nitrite, which cause dissociation of the NasS-NasT complex into monomeric NasS and an oligomeric form of NasT. NasT has been shown to bind the leader RNA for nasA. Thus, upon liberation from the complex, the positive regulator NasT is free to up-regulate nas gene expression.

Three of four GlnR binding sites are essential for GlnR-mediated activation of transcription of the Amycolatopsis mediterranei nas operon

In Amycolatopsis mediterranei U32, genes responsible for nitrate assimilation formed one operon, nasACKBDEF, whose transcription is induced by the addition of nitrate. Here, we characterized GlnR as a direct transcriptional activator for the nas operon. The GlnR-protected DNA sequences in the promoter region of the nas operon were characterized by DNase I footprinting assay, the previously deduced Streptomyces coelicolor double 22-bp GlnR binding consensus sequences comprising a1, b1, a2, and b2 sites were identified, and the sites were then mutated individually to test their roles in both the binding of GlnR in vitro and the GlnR-mediated transcriptional activation in vivo. The results clearly showed that only three GlnR binding sites (a1, b1, and b2 sites) were required by GlnR for its specific binding to the nas promoter region and efficient activation of the transcription of the nas operon in U32, while the a2 site seemed unnecessary.

Transcriptional organization and regulatory elements of a Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP operon encoding a LysR-type regulator and a putative solute transport system

The atzS-atzT-atzU-atzV-atzW gene cluster of the Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP atrazine-degradative plasmid pADP-1, which carries genes for an outer membrane protein and the components of a putative ABC-type solute transporter, is located downstream from atzR, which encodes the LysR-type transcriptional regulator of the cyanuric acid-degradative operon atzDEF. Here we describe the transcriptional organization of these genes. Our results show that all six genes are cotranscribed from the PatzR promoter to form the atzRSTUVW operon. A second, stronger promoter, PatzT, is found within atzS and directs transcription of the four distal genes. PatzT is σ(N) dependent, activated by NtrC in response to nitrogen limitation with the aid of IHF, and repressed by AtzR. A combination of in vivo mutational analysis and primer extension allowed us to locate the PatzT promoter and map the transcriptional start site. Similarly, we used deletion and point mutation analyses, along with in vivo expression studies and in vitro binding assays, to locate the NtrC, IHF, and AtzR binding sites and address their functionality. Our results suggest a regulatory model in which NtrC activates PatzT transcription via DNA looping, while AtzR acts as an antiactivator that diminishes expression by interfering with the activation process.

The structure of the NasR transcription antiterminator reveals a one-component system with a NIT nitrate receptor coupled to an ANTAR RNA-binding effector

The nitrate- and nitrite-sensing NIT domain is present in diverse signal-transduction proteins across a wide range of bacterial species. NIT domain function was established through analysis of the Klebsiella oxytoca NasR protein, which controls expression of the nasF operon encoding enzymes for nitrite and nitrate assimilation. In the presence of nitrate or nitrite, the NasR protein inhibits transcription termination at the factor-independent terminator site in the nasF operon transcribed leader region. We present here the crystal structure of the intact NasR protein in the apo state. The dimeric all-helical protein contains a large amino-terminal NIT domain that associates two four-helix bundles, and a carboxyl-terminal ANTAR (AmiR and NasR transcription antitermination regulator) domain. The analysis reveals unexpectedly that the NIT domain is structurally similar to the periplasmic input domain of the NarX two-component sensor that regulates nitrate and nitrite respiration. This similarity suggests that the NIT domain binds nitrate and nitrite between two invariant arginyl residues located on adjacent alpha helices, and results from site-specific mutagenesis showed that these residues are critical for NasR function. The resulting structural movements in the NIT domain would provoke an active configuration of the ANTAR domains necessary for specific leader mRNA binding.

Bacterial nitrate assimilation: gene distribution and regulation

In the context of the global nitrogen cycle, the importance of inorganic nitrate for the nutrition and growth of marine and freshwater autotrophic phytoplankton has long been recognized. In contrast, the utilization of nitrate by heterotrophic bacteria has historically received less attention because the primary role of these organisms has classically been considered to be the decomposition and mineralization of dissolved and particulate organic nitrogen. In the pre-genome sequence era, it was known that some, but not all, heterotrophic bacteria were capable of growth on nitrate as a sole nitrogen source. However, examination of currently available prokaryotic genome sequences suggests that assimilatory nitrate reductase (Nas) systems are widespread phylogenetically in bacterial and archaeal heterotrophs. Until now, regulation of nitrate assimilation has been mainly studied in cyanobacteria. In contrast, in heterotrophic bacterial strains, the study of nitrate assimilation regulation has been limited to Rhodobacter capsulatus, Klebsiella oxytoca, Azotobacter vinelandii and Bacillus subtilis. In Gram-negative bacteria, the nas genes are subjected to dual control: ammonia repression by the general nitrogen regulatory (Ntr) system and specific nitrate or nitrite induction. The Ntr system is widely distributed in bacteria, whereas the nitrate/nitrite-specific control is variable depending on the organism.

Improved expression systems for regulated expression in Salmonella infecting eukaryotic cells

In this work we describe a series of improvements to the Salmonella-based salicylate-inducible cascade expression system comprised of a plasmid-borne expression module, where target gene expression is driven by the P(m) promoter governed by the XylS2 regulator, and a genome-integrated regulatory module controlled by the nahR/P(sal) system. We have constructed a set of high and low-copy number plasmids bearing modified versions of the expression module with a more versatile multiple cloning site and different combinations of the following elements: (i) the nasF transcriptional attenuator, which reduces basal expression levels, (ii) a strong ribosome binding site, and (iii) the Type III Secretion System (TTSS) signal peptide from the effector protein SspH2 to deliver proteins directly to the eukaryotic cytosol following bacterial infection of animal cells. We show that different expression module versions can be used to direct a broad range of protein production levels. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the efficient reduction of basal expression by the nasF attenuator allows the cloning of genes encoding highly cytotoxic proteins such as colicin E3 even in the absence of its immunity protein. Additionally, we show that the Salmonella TTSS is able to translocate most of the protein produced by this regulatory cascade to the cytoplasm of infected HeLa cells. Our results indicate that these vectors represent useful tools for the regulated overproduction of heterologous proteins in bacterial culture or in animal cells, for the cloning and expression of genes encoding toxic proteins and for pathogenesis studies.

Regulation of the atrazine-degradative genes in Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP

The Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP is the best-characterized organism able to mineralize the s-triazine herbicide atrazine. This organism has been the subject of extensive biochemical and genetic characterization that has led to its use in bioremediation programs aimed at the decontamination of atrazine-polluted sites. Here, we focus on the recent advances in the understanding of the mechanisms of genetic regulation operating on the atrazine-degradative genes. The Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP atrazine-degradation pathway is encoded by two sets of genes: the constitutively expressed atzA, atzB and atzC, and the strongly regulated atzDEF operon. A complex cascade-like circuit is responsible for the integrated regulation of atzDEF expression in response to nitrogen availability and cyanuric acid. Mechanistic studies have revealed several unusual traits, such as the upstream activating sequence-independent regulation and repression by competition with sigma(54)-RNA polymerase for DNA binding occurring at the sigma(54)-dependent PatzR promoter, and the dual mechanism of transcriptional regulation of the PatzDEF promoter by the LysR-type regulator AtzR in response to two dissimilar signals. These findings have provided new insights into the regulation of the atrazine-biodegradative pathway that are also relevant to widespread bacterial regulatory phenomena, such as global nitrogen control and transcriptional activation by LysR-type transcriptional regulators.

Activation and repression of a sigmaN-dependent promoter naturally lacking upstream activation sequences

The Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP protein AtzR is a LysR-type transcriptional regulator required for activation of the atzDEF operon in response to nitrogen limitation and cyanuric acid. Transcription of atzR is directed by the sigma(N)-dependent promoter PatzR, activated by NtrC and repressed by AtzR. Here we use in vivo and in vitro approaches to address the mechanisms of PatzR activation and repression. Activation by NtrC did not require any promoter sequences other than the sigma(N) recognition motif both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that NtrC activates PatzR in an upstream activation sequences-independent fashion. Regarding AtzR-dependent autorepression, our in vitro transcription experiments show that the concentration of AtzR required for repression of the PatzR promoter in vitro correlates with AtzR affinity for its binding site. In addition, AtzR prevents transcription from PatzR when added to a preformed E-sigma(N)-PatzR closed complex, but isomerization to an open complex prevents repression. Gel mobility shift and DNase I footprint assays indicate that DNA-bound AtzR and E-sigma(N) are mutually exclusive. Taken together, these results strongly support the notion that AtzR represses transcription from PatzR by competing with E-sigma(N) for their overlapping binding sites. There are no previous reports of a similar mechanism for repression of sigma(N)-dependent transcription.

Purine utilization by Klebsiella oxytoca M5al: genes for ring-oxidizing and -opening enzymes

The enterobacterium Klebsiella oxytoca uses a variety of inorganic and organic nitrogen sources, including purines, nitrogen-rich compounds that are widespread in the biosphere. We have identified a 23-gene cluster that encodes the enzymes for utilizing purines as the sole nitrogen source. Growth and complementation tests with insertion mutants, combined with sequence comparisons, reveal functions for the products of these genes. Here, we report our characterization of 12 genes, one encoding guanine deaminase and the others encoding enzymes for converting (hypo)xanthine to allantoate. Conventionally, xanthine dehydrogenase, a broadly distributed molybdoflavoenzyme, catalyzes sequential hydroxylation reactions to convert hypoxanthine via xanthine to urate. Our results show that these reactions in K. oxytoca are catalyzed by a two-component oxygenase (HpxE-HpxD enzyme) homologous to Rieske nonheme iron aromatic-ring-hydroxylating systems, such as phthalate dioxygenase. Our results also reveal previously undescribed enzymes involved in urate oxidation to allantoin, catalyzed by a flavoprotein monooxygenase (HpxO enzyme), and in allantoin conversion to allantoate, which involves allantoin racemase (HpxA enzyme). The pathway also includes the recently described PuuE allantoinase (HpxB enzyme). The HpxE-HpxD and HpxO enzymes were discovered independently by de la Riva et al. (L. de la Riva, J. Badia, J. Aguilar, R. A. Bender, and L. Baldoma, J. Bacteriol. 190:7892-7903, 2008). Thus, several enzymes in this K. oxytoca purine utilization pathway differ from those in other microorganisms. Isofunctional homologs of these enzymes apparently are encoded by other species, including Acinetobacter, Burkholderia, Pseudomonas, Saccharomyces, and Xanthomonas.

Nitrate reductases: structure, functions, and effect of stress factors

Structural and functional peculiarities of four types of nitrate reductases are considered: assimilatory nitrate reductase of eukaryotes, as well as cytoplasmic assimilatory, membrane-bound respiratory, and periplasmic dissimilatory bacterial nitrate reductases. Arguments are presented showing that eukaryotic organisms are capable of nitrate dissimilation. Data concerning new classes of extremophil nitrate reductases, whose active center does not contain molybdocofactor, are summarized.

The LysR-type regulator AtzR binding site: DNA sequences involved in activation, repression and cyanuric acid-dependent repositioning

The LysR-type transcriptional regulator (LTTR) AtzR of Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP activates the cyanuric acid-utilization atzDEF operon in response to low nitrogen availability and the presence of cyanuric acid. AtzR also represses expression of its own gene, atzR, transcribed divergently from atzDEF. Here we identify and functionally characterize the cis-acting sequences at the atzR-atzDEF divergent promoter region required for AtzR-dependent regulation. AtzR binds a single site overlapping both the PatzR and PatzDEF promoters and induces a DNA bend immediately upstream from PatzDEF. Interaction of AtzR with the inducer cyanuric acid shortens the protein-DNA interaction region and relaxes the DNA bend. The AtzR binding site contains a strong binding determinant, the repression binding site (RBS), centred at position -65 relative to the atzDEF transcriptional start, containing the LTTR binding consensus motif. Integrity of the RBS is essential for high-affinity AtzR binding, activation and autorepression. A second, weaker binding determinant, the activation binding site (ABS), is present between the RBS and PatzDEF. Deletion of the ABS only provokes a modest decrease in AtzR affinity for the promoter region in vitro, but abolishes repression of PatzR in vivo. Involvement of the ABS in autorepression has not been previously reported.

Complex regulation of urease formation from the two promoters of the ure operon of Klebsiella pneumoniae

Klebsiella pneumoniae can use urea as the sole source of nitrogen, thanks to a urease encoded by the ureDABCEFG operon. Expression of this operon is independent of urea and is regulated by the supply of nitrogen in the growth medium. When cells were growth rate limited for nitrogen, the specific activity of urease was about 70 times higher than that in cells grown under conditions of excess nitrogen. Much of this nitrogen regulation of urease formation depended on the nitrogen regulatory system acting through the nitrogen assimilation control protein, NAC. In a strain deleted for the nac gene, nitrogen limitation resulted in only a 7-fold increase in the specific activity of urease, in contrast to the 70-fold increase seen in that of the wild type. The ure operon was transcribed from two promoters. The proximal promoter (P1) had an absolute requirement for NAC; little or no transcription was seen in the absence of NAC. The distal promoter (P2) was independent of NAC, but its activity increased about threefold when the growth rate of the cells was limited by the nitrogen source. Transcriptional regulation of P1 and P2 accounted for most of the changes in urease activity seen under various nitrogen conditions. However, when transcription of ureDABCEFG was less than 20% of its maximum, the amount of active urease formed per transcript of ure decreased almost linearly with decreasing transcription. This may reflect a defect in the assembly of active urease and accounted for as much as a threefold activity difference under the conditions tested here. Thus, the ure operon was transcribed from a NAC-independent promoter (P2) and the most strongly NAC-dependent promoter known (P1). Most of the regulation of urease formation was transcriptional, but when ure transcription was low, assembly of active urease also was defective.

Improved system for construction and analysis of single-copy beta-galactosidase operon fusions in Yersinia enterocolitica

We report a significantly improved system for studying single-copy lacZ operon fusions in Yersinia enterocolitica: a simple procedure for the stable integration of lacZ operon fusions into the ara locus and a strain with a deletion mutation that abolishes the low level of endogenous beta-galactosidase activity.

A new generation of vectors with increased induction ratios by overimposing a second regulatory level by attenuation

A major drawback of regulated gene expression from vectors bearing strong promoters is the associated high basal expression level. Simple regulatory systems have an intrinsic limitation in the range of induction, and attempts to mutate promoters to reduce basal expression usually result in concomitant reduction of induced levels. We have explored the possibility of reducing basal levels of gene expression while keeping induced levels intact by incorporating an additional regulatory circuit controlling a different step of the expression process. We have integrated the nasFEDCBA transcriptional attenuation system of Klebsiella oxytoca into a cascade expression circuit based on different regulatory elements of Pseudomonas putida, and also into a system based on the tac promoter, to expand their regulatory capacity. Basal expression from the promoters of these circuits was reduced by more than 10-fold by the nasF attenuator sequence while keeping the induced levels intact in the presence of the antiterminator protein, thus increasing the induction ratio by up to 1700-fold. In addition, using different combinations of regulatory elements and inducing conditions, we were able to obtain a broad range of expression levels. These vectors and the concept of their design will be very useful in regulating overproduction of heterologous proteins both at laboratory and industrial scales.

Hierarchical control of anaerobic gene expression in Escherichia coli K-12: the nitrate-responsive NarX-NarL regulatory system represses synthesis of the fumarate-responsive DcuS-DcuR regulatory system

Hierarchical control ensures that facultative bacteria preferentially use the available respiratory electron acceptor with the most positive standard redox potential. Thus, nitrate is used before other electron acceptors such as fumarate for anaerobic respiration. Nitrate regulation is mediated by the NarX-NarL two-component system, which activates the transcription of operons encoding nitrate respiration enzymes and represses the transcription of operons for other anaerobic respiratory enzymes, including enzymes involved in fumarate respiration. These are fumarate reductase (encoded by the frdABCD operon), fumarase B, which generates fumarate from malate, and the DcuB permease for fumarate, malate, and aspartate. The transcription of the corresponding structural genes is activated by the DcuS-DcuR two-component system in response to fumarate or its dicarboxylate precursors. We report results from preliminary transcription microarray experiments that revealed two previously unknown members of the NarL regulon: the aspA gene encoding aspartate-ammonia lyase, which generates fumarate; and the dcuSR operon encoding the dicarboxylate-responsive regulatory system. We measured beta-galactosidase expression from monocopy aspA-lacZ, frdA-lacZ, and dcuS-lacZ operon fusions in response to added nitrate and fumarate and with respect to the dcuR and narL genotypes. Nitrate, acting through the NarX-NarL regulatory system, repressed the transcription of all three operons. Only frdA-lacZ expression, however, was responsive to added fumarate or a dcuR(+) genotype. Phospho-NarL protein protected operator sites in the aspA and dcuS promoter regions from DNase I cleavage in vitro. The overall results are consistent with the hypothesis that nitrate represses frdA operon transcription not only directly, by repressing frdA promoter activity, but also indirectly, by repressing dcuS promoter activity.

Regulation of the Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP cyanuric acid degradation operon

Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP is the model strain for studying bacterial degradation of the s-triazine herbicide atrazine. In this work, we focused on the expression of the atzDEF operon, involved in mineralization of the central intermediate of the pathway, cyanuric acid. Expression analysis of atzD-lacZ fusions in Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP and Pseudomonas putida showed that atzDEF is subjected to dual regulation in response to nitrogen limitation and cyanuric acid. The gene adjacent to atzD, orf99 (renamed here atzR), encoding a LysR-like regulator, was found to be required for both responses. Expression of atzR-lacZ was induced by nitrogen limitation and repressed by AtzR. Nitrogen regulation of atzD-lacZ and atzR-lacZ expression was dependent on the alternative sigma factor sigmaN and NtrC, suggesting that the cyanuric acid degradation operon may be subject to general nitrogen control. However, while atzR is transcribed from a sigmaN-dependent promoter, atzDEF transcription appears to be driven from a sigma70-type promoter. Expression of atzR from a heterologous promoter revealed that although NtrC regulation of atzD-lacZ requires the AtzR protein, it is not the indirect result of NtrC-activated AtzR synthesis. We propose that expression of the cyanuric acid degradation operon atzDEF is controlled by means of a complex regulatory circuit in which AtzR is the main activator. AtzR activity is in turn modulated by the presence of cyanuric acid and by a nitrogen limitation signal transduced by the Ntr system.

Dual overlapping promoters control napF (periplasmic nitrate reductase) operon expression in Escherichia coli K-12

Escherichia coli elaborates a flexible respiratory metabolism, involving differential synthesis of isoenzymes for many oxidation and reduction reactions. Periplasmic nitrate reductase, encoded by the napFDAGHBC operon, functions with concentrations of nitrate that are too low to support respiration by membrane-bound nitrate reductase. The napF operon control region exhibits unusual organization of DNA binding sites for the transcription regulators Fnr and NarP, which activate transcription in response to anaerobiosis and nitrate, respectively. Previous studies have shown that the napF operon control region directs synthesis of two transcripts whose 5' ends differ by about 3 nucleotides. We constructed mutant control regions in which either of the two promoter -10 regions is inactivated. Results indicate that the downstream promoter (P1) was responsible for Fnr- and NarP-regulated napF operon expression, whereas transcription from the upstream promoter (P2) was activated only weakly by the Fnr protein and was inhibited by phospho-NarP and -NarL proteins. The physiological function of promoter P2 is unknown. These results establish the unconventional napF operon control region architecture, in which the major promoter P1 is activated by the Fnr protein bound to a site centered at -64.5 with respect to the transcription initiation site, working in conjunction with the phospho-NarP protein bound to a site centered at -44.5.

Nitrate reduction in the periplasm of gram-negative bacteria

In contrast to the bacterial assimilatory and membrane-associated, respiratory nitrate reductases that have been studied for many years, it is only recently that periplasmic nitrate reductases have attracted growing interest. Recent research has shown that these soluble proteins are widely distributed, but vary greatly between species. All of those so far studied include four essential components: the periplasmic molybdoprotein, NapA, which is associated with a small, di-haem cytochrome, NapB; a putative quinol oxidase, NapC; and a possible pathway-specific chaperone, NapD. At least five other components have been found in different species. Other variations between species include the location of the nap genes on chromosomal or extrachromosomal DNA, and the environmental factors that regulate their expression. Despite the relatively small number of bacteria so far screened, striking correlations are beginning to emerge between the organization of the nap genes, the physiology of the host, the conditions under which the nap genes are expressed, and even the fate of nitrite, the product of Nap activity. Evidence is emerging that Nap fulfills a novel role in nitrate scavenging by some pathogenic bacteria.

Metabolic context and possible physiological themes of sigma(54)-dependent genes in Escherichia coli

Sigma(54) has several features that distinguish it from other sigma factors in Escherichia coli: it is not homologous to other sigma subunits, sigma(54)-dependent expression absolutely requires an activator, and the activator binding sites can be far from the transcription start site. A rationale for these properties has not been readily apparent, in part because of an inability to assign a common physiological function for sigma(54)-dependent genes. Surveys of sigma(54)-dependent genes from a variety of organisms suggest that the products of these genes are often involved in nitrogen assimilation; however, many are not. Such broad surveys inevitably remove the sigma(54)-dependent genes from a potentially coherent metabolic context. To address this concern, we consider the function and metabolic context of sigma(54)-dependent genes primarily from a single organism, Escherichia coli, in which a reasonably complete list of sigma(54)-dependent genes has been identified by computer analysis combined with a DNA microarray analysis of nitrogen limitation-induced genes. E. coli appears to have approximately 30 sigma(54)-dependent operons, and about half are involved in nitrogen assimilation and metabolism. A possible physiological relationship between sigma(54)-dependent genes may be based on the fact that nitrogen assimilation consumes energy and intermediates of central metabolism. The products of the sigma(54)-dependent genes that are not involved in nitrogen metabolism may prevent depletion of metabolites and energy resources in certain environments or partially neutralize adverse conditions. Such a relationship may limit the number of physiological themes of sigma(54)-dependent genes within a single organism and may partially account for the unique features of sigma(54) and sigma(54)-dependent gene expression.

P(II) signal transduction proteins, pivotal players in microbial nitrogen control

The P(II) family of signal transduction proteins are among the most widely distributed signal proteins in the bacterial world. First identified in 1969 as a component of the glutamine synthetase regulatory apparatus, P(II) proteins have since been recognized as playing a pivotal role in control of prokaryotic nitrogen metabolism. More recently, members of the family have been found in higher plants, where they also potentially play a role in nitrogen control. The P(II) proteins can function in the regulation of both gene transcription, by modulating the activity of regulatory proteins, and the catalytic activity of enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism. There is also emerging evidence that they may regulate the activity of proteins required for transport of nitrogen compounds into the cell. In this review we discuss the history of the P(II) proteins, their structures and biochemistry, and their distribution and functions in prokaryotes. We survey data emerging from bacterial genome sequences and consider other likely or potential targets for control by P(II) proteins.