Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase, ZwfA, a Dual Cofactor-Specific Isozyme Is Predominantly Involved in the Glucose Metabolism of Pseudomonas bharatica CSV86T

Metabolic engineering of Pseudomonas bharatica CSV86T to degrade Carbaryl (1-naphthyl-N-methylcarbamate) via the salicylate-catechol route

Pseudomonas bharatica CSV86T displays the unique property of preferential utilization of aromatic compounds over simple carbon sources like glucose and glycerol and their co-metabolism with organic acids. Well-characterized growth conditions, aromatic compound metabolic pathways and their regulation, genome sequence, and advantageous eco-physiological traits (indole acetic acid production, alginate production, fusaric acid resistance, organic sulfur utilization, and siderophore production) make it an ideal host for metabolic engineering. Strain CSV86T was engineered for Carbaryl (1-naphthyl-N-methylcarbamate) degradation via salicylate-catechol route by expression of a Carbaryl hydrolase (CH) and a 1-naphthol 2-hydroxylase (1NH). Additionally, the engineered strain exhibited faster growth on Carbaryl upon expression of the McbT protein (encoded by the mcbT gene, a part of Carbaryl degradation upper operon of Pseudomonas sp. C5pp). Bioinformatic analyses predict McbT to be an outer membrane protein, and Carbaryl-dependent expression suggests its probable role in Carbaryl uptake. Enzyme activity and protein analyses suggested periplasmic localization of CH (carrying transmembrane domain plus signal peptide sequence at the N-terminus) and 1NH, enabling compartmentalization of the pathway. Enzyme activity, whole-cell oxygen uptake, spent media analyses, and qPCR results suggest that the engineered strain preferentially utilizes Carbaryl over glucose. The plasmid-encoded degradation property was stable for 75-90 generations even in the absence of selection pressure (kanamycin or Carbaryl). These results indicate the utility of P. bharatica CSV86T as a potential host for engineering various aromatic compound degradation pathways.IMPORTANCEThe current study describes engineering of Carbaryl metabolic pathway in Pseudomonas bharatica CSV86T. Carbaryl, a naphthalene-derived carbamate pesticide, is known to act as an endocrine disruptor, mutagen, cytotoxin, and carcinogen. Removal of xenobiotics from the environment using bioremediation faces challenges, such as slow degradation rates, instability of the degradation phenotype, and presence of simple carbon sources in the environment. The engineered CSV86-MEC2 overcomes these disadvantages as Carbaryl was degraded preferentially over glucose. Furthermore, the plasmid-borne degradation phenotype is stable, and presence of glucose and organic acids does not repress Carbaryl metabolism in the strain. The study suggests the role of outer membrane protein McbT in Carbaryl transport. This work highlights the suitability of P. bharatica CSV86T as an ideal host for engineering aromatic pollutant degradation pathways.

Whole genome analysis of Pseudomonas mandelii SW-3 and the insights into low-temperature adaptation

Pseudomonas mandelii SW-3, isolated from the Napahai plateau wetland, can survive in cold environments. The mechanisms underlying the survival of bacteria in low temperatures and high altitudes are not yet fully understood. In this study, the whole genome of SW-3 was sequenced to identify the genomic features that may contribute to survival in cold environments. The results showed that the genome size of strain SW-3 was 6,538,059 bp with a GC content of 59%. A total of 67 tRNAs, a 34,110 bp prophage sequence, and a large number of metabolic genes were found. Based on 16S rRNA gene phylogeny and average nucleotide identity analysis among P. mandelii, SW-3 was identified as a strain belonging to P. mandelii. In addition, we clarified the mechanisms by which SW-3 survived in a cold environment, providing a basis for further investigation of host-phage interaction. P. mandelii SW-3 showed stress resistance mechanisms, including glycogen and trehalose metabolic pathways, and antisense transcriptional silencing. Furthermore, cold shock proteins and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase may play pivotal roles in facilitating adaptation to cold environmental conditions. The genome-wide analysis provided us with a deeper understanding of the cold-adapted bacterium.