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Wallart L, Ben Mlouka MA, Saffiedine B, Coquet L, Le H, Hardouin J, Jouenne T, Phan G, Kiefer-Meyer MC, Girard E, Broutin I, Cosette P. BacA: a possible regulator that contributes to the biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1332448. [PMID: 38505547 PMCID: PMC10948618 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1332448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Previously, we pointed out in P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilm cells the accumulation of a hypothetical protein named PA3731 and showed that the deletion of the corresponding gene impacted its biofilm formation capacity. PA3731 belongs to a cluster of 4 genes (pa3732 to pa3729) that we named bac for "Biofilm Associated Cluster." The present study focuses on the PA14_16140 protein, i.e., the PA3732 (BacA) homolog in the PA14 strain. The role of BacA in rhamnolipid secretion, biofilm formation and virulence, was confirmed by phenotypic experiments with a bacA mutant. Additional investigations allow to advance that the bac system involves in fact 6 genes organized in operon, i.e., bacA to bacF. At a molecular level, quantitative proteomic studies revealed an accumulation of the BAC cognate partners by the bacA sessile mutant, suggesting a negative control of BacA toward the bac operon. Finally, a first crystallographic structure of BacA was obtained revealing a structure homologous to chaperones or/and regulatory proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Wallart
- Univ Rouen Normandie, INSA Rouen Normandie, CNRS, Normandie Univ, PBS UMR 6270, Rouen, France
| | - Mohamed Amine Ben Mlouka
- Univ Rouen Normandie, INSA Rouen Normandie, CNRS, Normandie Univ, PBS UMR 6270, Rouen, France
- Univ Rouen Normandy, INSERM US 51, CNRS UAR 2026, HeRacLeS PISSARO, Rouen, France
| | - Brahim Saffiedine
- Univ Rouen Normandie, INSA Rouen Normandie, CNRS, Normandie Univ, PBS UMR 6270, Rouen, France
| | - Laurent Coquet
- Univ Rouen Normandie, INSA Rouen Normandie, CNRS, Normandie Univ, PBS UMR 6270, Rouen, France
- Univ Rouen Normandy, INSERM US 51, CNRS UAR 2026, HeRacLeS PISSARO, Rouen, France
| | - Hung Le
- Univ Rouen Normandie, INSA Rouen Normandie, CNRS, Normandie Univ, PBS UMR 6270, Rouen, France
- Univ Rouen Normandy, INSERM US 51, CNRS UAR 2026, HeRacLeS PISSARO, Rouen, France
| | - Julie Hardouin
- Univ Rouen Normandie, INSA Rouen Normandie, CNRS, Normandie Univ, PBS UMR 6270, Rouen, France
- Univ Rouen Normandy, INSERM US 51, CNRS UAR 2026, HeRacLeS PISSARO, Rouen, France
| | - Thierry Jouenne
- Univ Rouen Normandie, INSA Rouen Normandie, CNRS, Normandie Univ, PBS UMR 6270, Rouen, France
| | - Gilles Phan
- Paris Cité University, CiTCoM, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Christine Kiefer-Meyer
- Univ Rouen Normandie, Normandie Univ, GlycoMEV UR 4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, RMT BESTIM, GDR Chemobiologie, IRIB, Rouen, France
| | - Eric Girard
- Grenoble Alpes University, CNRS, CEA, IBS, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Pascal Cosette
- Univ Rouen Normandie, INSA Rouen Normandie, CNRS, Normandie Univ, PBS UMR 6270, Rouen, France
- Univ Rouen Normandy, INSERM US 51, CNRS UAR 2026, HeRacLeS PISSARO, Rouen, France
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2
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Kordesedehi R, Shahpiri A, Asadollahi MA, Biria D, Nikel PI. Enhanced chaotrope tolerance and (S)-2-hydroxypropiophenone production by recombinant Pseudomonas putida engineered with Pprl from Deinococcus radiodurans. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14448. [PMID: 38498302 PMCID: PMC10946676 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas putida is a soil bacterium with multiple uses in fermentation and biotransformation processes. P. putida ATCC 12633 can biotransform benzaldehyde and other aldehydes into valuable α-hydroxyketones, such as (S)-2-hydroxypropiophenone. However, poor tolerance of this strain toward chaotropic aldehydes hampers efficient biotransformation processes. To circumvent this problem, we expressed the gene encoding the global regulator PprI from Deinococcus radiodurans, an inducer of pleiotropic proteins promoting DNA repair, in P. putida. Fine-tuned gene expression was achieved using an expression plasmid under the control of the LacIQ /Ptrc system, and the cross-protective role of PprI was assessed against multiple stress treatments. Moreover, the stress-tolerant P. putida strain was tested for 2-hydroxypropiophenone production using whole resting cells in the presence of relevant aldehyde substrates. P. putida cells harbouring the global transcriptional regulator exhibited high tolerance toward benzaldehyde, acetaldehyde, ethanol, butanol, NaCl, H2 O2 and thermal stress, thereby reflecting the multistress protection profile conferred by PprI. Additionally, the engineered cells converted aldehydes to 2-hydroxypropiophenone more efficiently than the parental P. putida strain. 2-Hydroxypropiophenone concentration reached 1.6 g L-1 upon a 3-h incubation under optimized conditions, at a cell concentration of 0.033 g wet cell weight mL-1 in the presence of 20 mM benzaldehyde and 600 mM acetaldehyde. Product yield and productivity were 0.74 g 2-HPP g-1 benzaldehyde and 0.089 g 2-HPP g cell dry weight-1 h-1 , respectively, 35% higher than the control experiments. Taken together, these results demonstrate that introducing PprI from D. radiodurans enhances chaotrope tolerance and 2-HPP production in P. putida ATCC 12633.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reihaneh Kordesedehi
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Azar Shahpiri
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Asadollahi
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Davoud Biria
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Pablo Iván Nikel
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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3
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Rollo F, Martins GD, Gouveia AG, Ithurbide S, Servant P, Romão CV, Moe E. Insights into the role of three Endonuclease III enzymes for oxidative stress resistance in the extremely radiation resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1266785. [PMID: 37771704 PMCID: PMC10523315 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1266785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The extremely radiation and desiccation resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans possesses three genes encoding Endonuclease III-like enzymes (DrEndoIII1, DrEndoIII2, DrEndoIII3). In vitro enzymatic activity measurements revealed that DrEndoIII2 is the main Endonuclease III in this organism, while DrEndoIII1 and 3 possess unusual and, so far, no detectable EndoIII activity, respectively. In order to understand the role of these enzymes at a cellular level, DrEndoIII knockout mutants were constructed and subjected to various oxidative stress related conditions. The results showed that the mutants are as resistant to ionizing and UV-C radiation as well as H2O2 exposure as the wild type. However, upon exposure to oxidative stress induced by methyl viologen, the knockout strains were more resistant than the wild type. The difference in resistance may be attributed to the observed upregulation of the EndoIII homologs gene expression upon addition of methyl viologen. In conclusion, our data suggest that all three EndoIII homologs are crucial for cell survival in stress conditions, since the knockout of one of the genes tend to be compensated for by overexpression of the genes encoding the other two.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Rollo
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Guilherme D. Martins
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - André G. Gouveia
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Solenne Ithurbide
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Pascale Servant
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Célia V. Romão
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Elin Moe
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
- Department of Chemistry, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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4
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Apprehending the NAD+–ADPr-Dependent Systems in the Virus World. Viruses 2022; 14:v14091977. [PMID: 36146784 PMCID: PMC9503650 DOI: 10.3390/v14091977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
NAD+ and ADP-ribose (ADPr)-containing molecules are at the interface of virus–host conflicts across life encompassing RNA processing, restriction, lysogeny/dormancy and functional hijacking. We objectively defined the central components of the NAD+–ADPr networks involved in these conflicts and systematically surveyed 21,191 completely sequenced viral proteomes representative of all publicly available branches of the viral world to reconstruct a comprehensive picture of the viral NAD+–ADPr systems. These systems have been widely and repeatedly exploited by positive-strand RNA and DNA viruses, especially those with larger genomes and more intricate life-history strategies. We present evidence that ADP-ribosyltransferases (ARTs), ADPr-targeting Macro, NADAR and Nudix proteins are frequently packaged into virions, particularly in phages with contractile tails (Myoviruses), and deployed during infection to modify host macromolecules and counter NAD+-derived signals involved in viral restriction. Genes encoding NAD+–ADPr-utilizing domains were repeatedly exchanged between distantly related viruses, hosts and endo-parasites/symbionts, suggesting selection for them across the virus world. Contextual analysis indicates that the bacteriophage versions of ADPr-targeting domains are more likely to counter soluble ADPr derivatives, while the eukaryotic RNA viral versions might prefer macromolecular ADPr adducts. Finally, we also use comparative genomics to predict host systems involved in countering viral ADP ribosylation of host molecules.
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Ujaoney AK, Padwal MK, Basu B. An in vivo Interaction Network of DNA-Repair Proteins: A Snapshot at Double Strand Break Repair in Deinococcus radiodurans. J Proteome Res 2021; 20:3242-3255. [PMID: 33929844 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
An extremophile Deinococcus radiodurans survives massive DNA damage by efficiently mending hundreds of double strand breaks through homology-dependent DNA repair pathways. Although DNA repair proteins that contribute to its impressive DNA repair capacity are fairly known, interactions among them or with proteins related to other relevant pathways remain unexplored. Here, we report in vivo cross-linking of the interactomes of key DNA repair proteins DdrA, DdrB, RecA, and Ssb (baits) in D. radiodurans cells recovering from gamma irradiation. The protein-protein interactions were systematically investigated through co-immunoprecipitation experiments coupled to mass spectrometry. From a total of 399 proteins co-eluted with the baits, we recovered interactions among diverse biological pathways such as DNA repair, transcription, translation, chromosome partitioning, cell division, antioxidation, protein folding/turnover, metabolism, cell wall architecture, membrane transporters, and uncharacterized proteins. Among these, about 80 proteins were relevant to the DNA damage resistance of the organism based on integration of data on inducible expression following DNA damage, radiation sensitive phenotype of deletion mutant, etc. Further, we cloned ORFs of 23 interactors in heterologous E. coli and expressed corresponding proteins with N-terminal His-tag, which were used for pull-down assays. A total of 95 interactions were assayed, in which we confirmed 25 previously unknown binary interactions between the proteins associated with radiation resistance, and 2 known interactions between DdrB and Ssb or DR_1245. Among these, five interactions were positive even under non-stress conditions. The confirmed interactions cover a wide range of biological processes such as DNA repair, negative regulation of cell division, chromosome partitioning, membrane anchorage, etc., and their functional relevance is discussed from the perspective of DNA repair. Overall, the study substantially advances our understanding on the cross-talk between different homology-dependent DNA repair pathways and other relevant biological processes that essentially contribute to the extraordinary DNA damage repair capability of D. radiodurans. The data sets generated and analyzed in this study have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange Consortium via the PRIDE partner repository with the data set identifier PXD021822.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aman Kumar Ujaoney
- Molecular Biology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India
| | - Mahesh Kumar Padwal
- Molecular Biology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India
| | - Bhakti Basu
- Molecular Biology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400094, India
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6
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Ithurbide S, Coste G, Lisboa J, Eugénie N, Bentchikou E, Bouthier de la Tour C, Liger D, Confalonieri F, Sommer S, Quevillon-Cheruel S, Servant P. Natural Transformation in Deinococcus radiodurans: A Genetic Analysis Reveals the Major Roles of DprA, DdrB, RecA, RecF, and RecO Proteins. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1253. [PMID: 32625182 PMCID: PMC7314969 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer is a major driver of bacterial evolution and adaptation to environmental stresses, occurring notably via transformation of naturally competent organisms. The Deinococcus radiodurans bacterium, characterized by its extreme radioresistance, is also naturally competent. Here, we investigated the role of D. radiodurans players involved in different steps of natural transformation. First, we identified the factors (PilQ, PilD, type IV pilins, PilB, PilT, ComEC-ComEA, and ComF) involved in DNA uptake and DNA translocation across the external and cytoplasmic membranes and showed that the DNA-uptake machinery is similar to that described in the Gram negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Then, we studied the involvement of recombination and DNA repair proteins, RecA, RecF, RecO, DprA, and DdrB into the DNA processing steps of D. radiodurans transformation by plasmid and genomic DNA. The transformation frequency of the cells devoid of DprA, a highly conserved protein among competent species, strongly decreased but was not completely abolished whereas it was completely abolished in ΔdprA ΔrecF, ΔdprA ΔrecO, and ΔdprA ΔddrB double mutants. We propose that RecF and RecO, belonging to the recombination mediator complex, and DdrB, a specific deinococcal DNA binding protein, can replace a function played by DprA, or alternatively, act at a different step of recombination with DprA. We also demonstrated that a ΔdprA mutant is as resistant as wild type to various doses of γ-irradiation, suggesting that DprA, and potentially transformation, do not play a major role in D. radiodurans radioresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solenne Ithurbide
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Geneviève Coste
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Johnny Lisboa
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Nicolas Eugénie
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Esma Bentchikou
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Claire Bouthier de la Tour
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Dominique Liger
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Fabrice Confalonieri
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Suzanne Sommer
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Sophie Quevillon-Cheruel
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Pascale Servant
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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7
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Devigne A, Meyer L, de la Tour CB, Eugénie N, Sommer S, Servant P. The absence of the RecN protein suppresses the cellular defects of Deinococcus radiodurans irradiated cells devoid of the PprA protein by limiting recombinational repair of DNA lesions. DNA Repair (Amst) 2019; 73:144-154. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2018.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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DdrI, a cAMP Receptor Protein Family Member, Acts as a Major Regulator for Adaptation of Deinococcus radiodurans to Various Stresses. J Bacteriol 2018; 200:JB.00129-18. [PMID: 29686138 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00129-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The DNA damage response ddrI gene encodes a transcription regulator belonging to the cAMP receptor protein (CRP) family. Cells devoid of the DdrI protein exhibit a pleiotropic phenotype, including growth defects and sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents and to oxidative stress. Here, we show that the absence of the DdrI protein also confers sensitivity to heat shock treatment, and several genes involved in heat shock response were shown to be upregulated in a DdrI-dependent manner. Interestingly, expression of the Escherichia coli CRP partially compensates for the absence of the DdrI protein. Microscopic observations of ΔddrI mutant cells revealed an increased proportion of two-tetrad and anucleated cells in the population compared to the wild-type strain, indicating that DdrI is crucial for the completion of cell division and/or chromosome segregation. We show that DdrI is also involved in the megaplasmid MP1 stability and in efficient plasmid transformation by facilitating the maintenance of the incoming plasmid in the cell. The in silico prediction of putative DdrI binding sites in the D. radiodurans genome suggests that hundreds of genes, belonging to several functional groups, may be regulated by DdrI. In addition, the DdrI protein absolutely requires cAMP for in vitro binding to specific target sequences, and it acts as a dimer. All these data underline the major role of DdrI in D. radiodurans physiology under normal and stress conditions by regulating, both directly and indirectly, a cohort of genes involved in various cellular processes, including central metabolism and specific responses to diverse harmful environments.IMPORTANCEDeinococcus radiodurans has been extensively studied to elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for its exceptional ability to withstand lethal effects of various DNA-damaging agents. A complex network, including efficient DNA repair, protein protection against oxidation, and diverse metabolic pathways, plays a crucial role for its radioresistance. The regulatory networks orchestrating these various pathways are still missing. Our data provide new insights into the crucial contribution of the transcription factor DdrI for the D. radiodurans ability to withstand harmful conditions, including UV radiation, mitomycin C treatment, heat shock, and oxidative stress. Finally, we highlight that DdrI is also required for accurate cell division, for maintenance of plasmid replicons, and for central metabolism processes responsible for the overall cell physiology.
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Bartho JD, Bellini D, Wuerges J, Demitri N, Toccafondi M, Schmitt AO, Zhao Y, Walsh MA, Benini S. The crystal structure of Erwinia amylovora AmyR, a member of the YbjN protein family, shows similarity to type III secretion chaperones but suggests different cellular functions. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0176049. [PMID: 28426806 PMCID: PMC5398634 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
AmyR is a stress and virulence associated protein from the plant pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae species Erwinia amylovora, and is a functionally conserved ortholog of YbjN from Escherichia coli. The crystal structure of E. amylovora AmyR reveals a class I type III secretion chaperone-like fold, despite the lack of sequence similarity between these two classes of protein and lacking any evidence of a secretion-associated role. The results indicate that AmyR, and YbjN proteins in general, function through protein-protein interactions without any enzymatic action. The YbjN proteins of Enterobacteriaceae show remarkably low sequence similarity with other members of the YbjN protein family in Eubacteria, yet a high level of structural conservation is observed. Across the YbjN protein family sequence conservation is limited to residues stabilising the protein core and dimerization interface, while interacting regions are only conserved between closely related species. This study presents the first structure of a YbjN protein from Enterobacteriaceae, the most highly divergent and well-studied subgroup of YbjN proteins, and an in-depth sequence and structural analysis of this important but poorly understood protein family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D. Bartho
- Bioorganic Chemistry and Bio-Crystallography laboratory (B2Cl), Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Dom Bellini
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, United Kingdom
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Jochen Wuerges
- Bioorganic Chemistry and Bio-Crystallography laboratory (B2Cl), Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Nicola Demitri
- Elettra–Sincrotrone Trieste, S.S 14 km 163.5 in Area Science Park, Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
| | - Mirco Toccafondi
- Bioorganic Chemistry and Bio-Crystallography laboratory (B2Cl), Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Armin O. Schmitt
- Bioorganic Chemistry and Bio-Crystallography laboratory (B2Cl), Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, Italy
- Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Dept. Nutztierwissenschaften, Breeding informatics, Margarethe von Wrangell-Weg 7, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Youfu Zhao
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, 1201 W. Gregory Dr., Urbana, IL, United States of America
| | - Martin A. Walsh
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, United Kingdom
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano Benini
- Bioorganic Chemistry and Bio-Crystallography laboratory (B2Cl), Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, Italy
- * E-mail:
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10
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PprA Protein Is Involved in Chromosome Segregation via Its Physical and Functional Interaction with DNA Gyrase in Irradiated Deinococcus radiodurans Bacteria. mSphere 2016; 1:mSphere00036-15. [PMID: 27303692 PMCID: PMC4863600 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00036-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
D. radiodurans is one of the most radiation-resistant organisms known. This bacterium is able to cope with high levels of DNA lesions generated by exposure to extreme doses of ionizing radiation and to reconstruct a functional genome from hundreds of radiation-induced chromosomal fragments. Here, we identified partners of PprA, a radiation-induced Deinococcus-specific protein, previously shown to be required for radioresistance. Our study leads to three main findings: (i) PprA interacts with DNA gyrase after irradiation, (ii) treatment of cells with novobiocin results in defects in chromosome segregation that are aggravated by the absence of PprA, and (iii) PprA stimulates the decatenation activity of DNA gyrase. Our results extend the knowledge of how D. radiodurans cells survive exposure to extreme doses of gamma irradiation and point out the link between DNA repair, chromosome segregation, and DNA gyrase activities in the radioresistant D. radiodurans bacterium. PprA, a radiation-induced Deinococcus-specific protein, was previously shown to be required for cell survival and accurate chromosome segregation after exposure to ionizing radiation. Here, we used an in vivo approach to determine, by shotgun proteomics, putative PprA partners coimmunoprecipitating with PprA when cells were exposed to gamma rays. Among them, we found the two subunits of DNA gyrase and, thus, chose to focus our work on characterizing the activities of the deinococcal DNA gyrase in the presence or absence of PprA. Loss of PprA rendered cells hypersensitive to novobiocin, an inhibitor of the B subunit of DNA gyrase. We showed that treatment of bacteria with novobiocin resulted in induction of the radiation desiccation response (RDR) regulon and in defects in chromosome segregation that were aggravated by the absence of PprA. In vitro, the deinococcal DNA gyrase, like other bacterial DNA gyrases, possesses DNA negative supercoiling and decatenation activities. These two activities are inhibited in vitro by novobiocin and nalidixic acid, whereas PprA specifically stimulates the decatenation activity of DNA gyrase. Together, these results suggest that PprA plays a major role in chromosome decatenation via its interaction with the deinococcal DNA gyrase when D. radiodurans cells are recovering from exposure to ionizing radiation. IMPORTANCED. radiodurans is one of the most radiation-resistant organisms known. This bacterium is able to cope with high levels of DNA lesions generated by exposure to extreme doses of ionizing radiation and to reconstruct a functional genome from hundreds of radiation-induced chromosomal fragments. Here, we identified partners of PprA, a radiation-induced Deinococcus-specific protein, previously shown to be required for radioresistance. Our study leads to three main findings: (i) PprA interacts with DNA gyrase after irradiation, (ii) treatment of cells with novobiocin results in defects in chromosome segregation that are aggravated by the absence of PprA, and (iii) PprA stimulates the decatenation activity of DNA gyrase. Our results extend the knowledge of how D. radiodurans cells survive exposure to extreme doses of gamma irradiation and point out the link between DNA repair, chromosome segregation, and DNA gyrase activities in the radioresistant D. radiodurans bacterium.
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11
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Bouthier de la Tour C, Blanchard L, Dulermo R, Ludanyi M, Devigne A, Armengaud J, Sommer S, de Groot A. The abundant and essential HU proteins in Deinococcus deserti and Deinococcus radiodurans are translated from leaderless mRNA. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2015; 161:2410-22. [PMID: 26385459 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
HU proteins have an important architectural role in nucleoid organization in bacteria. Compared with HU of many bacteria, HU proteins from Deinococcus species possess an N-terminal lysine-rich extension similar to the eukaryotic histone H1 C-terminal domain involved in DNA compaction. The single HU gene in Deinococcus radiodurans, encoding DrHU, is required for nucleoid compaction and cell viability. Deinococcus deserti contains three expressed HU genes, encoding DdHU1, DdHU2 and DdHU3. Here, we show that either DdHU1 or DdHU2 is essential in D. deserti. DdHU1 and DdHU2, but not DdHU3, can substitute for DrHU in D. radiodurans, indicating that DdHU3 may have a non-essential function different from DdHU1, DdHU2 and DrHU. Interestingly, the highly abundant DrHU and DdHU1 proteins, and also the less expressed DdHU2, are translated in Deinococcus from leaderless mRNAs, which lack a 5'-untranslated region and, hence, the Shine-Dalgarno sequence. Unexpectedly, cloning the DrHU or DdHU1 gene under control of a strong promoter in an expression plasmid, which results in leadered transcripts, strongly reduced the DrHU and DdHU1 protein level in D. radiodurans compared with that obtained from the natural leaderless gene. We also show that the start codon position for DrHU and DdHU1 should be reannotated, resulting in proteins that are 15 and 4 aa residues shorter than initially reported. The expression level and start codon correction were crucial for functional characterization of HU in Deinococcus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Bouthier de la Tour
- 1Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Bâtiment 409, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Laurence Blanchard
- 2CEA, DSV, IBEB, Lab Bioenerget Cellulaire, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France 3CNRS, UMR 7265 Biol Veget & Microbiol Environ, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France 4Aix-Marseille Université, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Rémi Dulermo
- 1Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Bâtiment 409, F-91405 Orsay, France 3CNRS, UMR 7265 Biol Veget & Microbiol Environ, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France 4Aix-Marseille Université, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France 5CEA, DSV, IBEB, Lab Ecol Microb Rhizosphere & Environ Extrem, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Monika Ludanyi
- 2CEA, DSV, IBEB, Lab Bioenerget Cellulaire, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France 3CNRS, UMR 7265 Biol Veget & Microbiol Environ, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France 4Aix-Marseille Université, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
| | - Alice Devigne
- 1Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Bâtiment 409, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Jean Armengaud
- 6CEA-Marcoule, DSV/IBITEC-S/SPI/Li2D, Laboratory 'Innovative technologies for Detection and Diagnostic', BP 17171, F-30207 Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
| | - Suzanne Sommer
- 1Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Bâtiment 409, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Arjan de Groot
- 3CNRS, UMR 7265 Biol Veget & Microbiol Environ, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France 2CEA, DSV, IBEB, Lab Bioenerget Cellulaire, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France 4Aix-Marseille Université, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France
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12
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Recent progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of radioresistance in Deinococcus bacteria. Extremophiles 2015; 19:707-19. [DOI: 10.1007/s00792-015-0759-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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13
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Dulermo R, Onodera T, Coste G, Passot F, Dutertre M, Porteron M, Confalonieri F, Sommer S, Pasternak C. Identification of new genes contributing to the extreme radioresistance of Deinococcus radiodurans using a Tn5-based transposon mutant library. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124358. [PMID: 25884619 PMCID: PMC4401554 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we have developed an extremely efficient in vivo Tn5-based mutagenesis procedure to construct a Deinococcus radiodurans insertion mutant library subsequently screened for sensitivity to genotoxic agents such as γ and UV radiations or mitomycin C. The genes inactivated in radiosensitive mutants belong to various functional categories, including DNA repair functions, stress responses, signal transduction, membrane transport, several metabolic pathways, and genes of unknown function. Interestingly, preliminary characterization of previously undescribed radiosensitive mutants suggests the contribution of cyclic di-AMP signaling in the recovery of D. radiodurans cells from genotoxic stresses, probably by modulating several pathways involved in the overall cell response. Our analyses also point out a new transcriptional regulator belonging to the GntR family, encoded by DR0265, and a predicted RNase belonging to the newly described Y family, both contributing to the extreme radioresistance of D. radiodurans. Altogether, this work has revealed new cell responses involved either directly or indirectly in repair of various cell damage and confirmed that D. radiodurans extreme radiation resistance is determined by a multiplicity of pathways acting as a complex network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rémi Dulermo
- Univ. Paris-Sud, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Orsay, France
| | - Takefumi Onodera
- Univ. Paris-Sud, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Orsay, France
| | - Geneviève Coste
- Univ. Paris-Sud, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Orsay, France
| | - Fanny Passot
- Univ. Paris-Sud, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Orsay, France
| | - Murielle Dutertre
- Univ. Paris-Sud, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Orsay, France
| | - Martine Porteron
- Univ. Paris-Sud, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Orsay, France
| | - Fabrice Confalonieri
- Univ. Paris-Sud, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Orsay, France
| | - Suzanne Sommer
- Univ. Paris-Sud, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Orsay, France
| | - Cécile Pasternak
- Univ. Paris-Sud, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Orsay, France
- * E-mail:
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14
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Devigne A, Ithurbide S, Bouthier de la Tour C, Passot F, Mathieu M, Sommer S, Servant P. DdrO is an essential protein that regulates the radiation desiccation response and the apoptotic-like cell death in the radioresistant Deinococcus radiodurans bacterium. Mol Microbiol 2015; 96:1069-84. [PMID: 25754115 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Deinococcus radiodurans is known for its extreme radioresistance. Comparative genomics identified a radiation-desiccation response (RDR) regulon comprising genes that are highly induced after DNA damage and containing a conserved motif (RDRM) upstream of their coding region. We demonstrated that the RDRM sequence is involved in cis-regulation of the RDR gene ddrB in vivo. Using a transposon mutagenesis approach, we showed that, in addition to ddrO encoding a predicted RDR repressor and irrE encoding a positive regulator recently shown to cleave DdrO in Deinococcus deserti, two genes encoding α-keto-glutarate dehydrogenase subunits are involved in ddrB regulation. In wild-type cells, the DdrO cell concentration decreased transiently in an IrrE-dependent manner at early times after irradiation. Using a conditional gene inactivation system, we showed that DdrO depletion enhanced expression of three RDR proteins, consistent with the hypothesis that DdrO acts as a repressor of the RDR regulon. DdrO-depleted cells loose viability and showed morphological changes evocative of an apoptotic-like response, including membrane blebbing, defects in cell division and DNA fragmentation. We propose that DNA repair and apoptotic-like death might be two responses mediated by the same regulators, IrrE and DdrO, but differently activated depending on the persistence of IrrE-dependent DdrO cleavage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Devigne
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Bâtiment 409, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Solenne Ithurbide
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Bâtiment 409, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Claire Bouthier de la Tour
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Bâtiment 409, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Fanny Passot
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Bâtiment 409, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Martine Mathieu
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Bâtiment 409, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Suzanne Sommer
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Bâtiment 409, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Pascale Servant
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Bâtiment 409, 91405, Orsay, France
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15
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Escherichia coli genes and pathways involved in surviving extreme exposure to ionizing radiation. J Bacteriol 2014; 196:3534-45. [PMID: 25049088 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01589-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
To further an improved understanding of the mechanisms used by bacterial cells to survive extreme exposure to ionizing radiation (IR), we broadly screened nonessential Escherichia coli genes for those involved in IR resistance by using transposon-directed insertion sequencing (TraDIS). Forty-six genes were identified, most of which become essential upon heavy IR exposure. Most of these were subjected to direct validation. The results reinforced the notion that survival after high doses of ionizing radiation does not depend on a single mechanism or process, but instead is multifaceted. Many identified genes affect either DNA repair or the cellular response to oxidative damage. However, contributions by genes involved in cell wall structure/function, cell division, and intermediary metabolism were also evident. About half of the identified genes have not previously been associated with IR resistance or recovery from IR exposure, including eight genes of unknown function.
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16
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MORTAZAVI SA, KHADEMI F, MOTAMEDIFAR M, HAGHANI M, MORTAZAVI SMJ. Human-Induced Radioresistance as a Possible Mechanism for Producing Biological Weapons: A Feasible Bridge between Radiore-sistance and Resistance to Antibiotics and Genotoxic Agents. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH 2014; 43:247-8. [PMID: 26060750 PMCID: PMC4450694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2013] [Accepted: 12/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Alireza MORTAZAVI
- 1. Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Faroogh KHADEMI
- 1. Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad MOTAMEDIFAR
- 2. Dept. of Bacteriology & Virology, School of Medicine, HIV/AIDS Research Center (SHARC), Shiraz, University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Masoud HAGHANI
- 3. The Center for Research in Radiological Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohammad Javad MORTAZAVI
- 3. The Center for Research in Radiological Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran,4. Medical Physics and Medical Engineering Department, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran,* Corresponding Author:
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17
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Lockhart JS, DeVeaux LC. The essential role of the Deinococcus radiodurans ssb gene in cell survival and radiation tolerance. PLoS One 2013; 8:e71651. [PMID: 23951213 PMCID: PMC3739723 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Accepted: 07/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence has implicated single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) expression level as an important factor in microbial radiation resistance. The genome of the extremely radiation resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans contains genes for two SSB homologs: the homodimeric, canonical Ssb, encoded by the gene ssb, and a novel pentameric protein encoded by the gene ddrB. ddrB is highly induced upon exposure to radiation, and deletions result in decreased radiation-resistance, suggesting an integral role of the protein in the extreme resistance exhibited by this organism. Although expression of ssb is also induced after irradiation, Ssb is thought to be involved primarily in replication. In this study, we demonstrate that Ssb in D. radiodurans is essential for cell survival. The lethality of an ssb deletion cannot be complemented by providing ddrB in trans. In addition, the radiation-sensitive phenotype conferred by a ddrB deletion is not alleviated by providing ssb in trans. By altering expression of the ssb gene, we also show that lower levels of transcription are required for optimal growth than are necessary for high radiation resistance. When expression is reduced to that of E. coli, ionizing radiation resistance is similarly reduced. UV resistance is also decreased under low ssb transcript levels where growth is unimpaired. These results indicate that the expression of ssb is a key component of both normal cellular metabolism as well as pathways responsible for the high radiation tolerance of D. radiodurans.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Scott Lockhart
- Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho, United States of America
| | - Linda C. DeVeaux
- Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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18
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Tirumalai MR, Rastogi R, Zamani N, O’Bryant Williams E, Allen S, Diouf F, Kwende S, Weinstock GM, Venkateswaran KJ, Fox GE. Candidate genes that may be responsible for the unusual resistances exhibited by Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032 spores. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66012. [PMID: 23799069 PMCID: PMC3682946 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2013] [Accepted: 04/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The spores of several Bacillus species, including Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032 and B. safensis FO-36b, which were isolated from the spacecraft assembly facility at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, are unusually resistant to UV radiation and hydrogen peroxide. In order to identify candidate genes that might be associated with these resistances, the whole genome of B. pumilus SAFR-032, and the draft genome of B. safensis FO-36b were compared in detail with the very closely related type strain B. pumilus ATCC7061(T). 170 genes are considered characteristic of SAFR-032, because they are absent from both FO-36b and ATCC7061(T). Forty of these SAFR-032 characteristic genes are entirely unique open reading frames. In addition, four genes are unique to the genomes of the resistant SAFR-032 and FO-36b. Fifty three genes involved in spore coat formation, regulation and germination, DNA repair, and peroxide resistance, are missing from all three genomes. The vast majority of these are cleanly deleted from their usual genomic context without any obvious replacement. Several DNA repair and peroxide resistance genes earlier reported to be unique to SAFR-032 are in fact shared with ATCC7061(T) and no longer considered to be promising candidates for association with the elevated resistances. Instead, several SAFR-032 characteristic genes were identified, which along with one or more of the unique SAFR-032 genes may be responsible for the elevated resistances. These new candidates include five genes associated with DNA repair, namely, BPUM_0608 a helicase, BPUM_0652 an ATP binding protein, BPUM_0653 an endonuclease, BPUM_0656 a DNA cytosine-5- methyltransferase, and BPUM_3674 a DNA helicase. Three of these candidate genes are in immediate proximity of two conserved hypothetical proteins, BPUM_0654 and BPUM_0655 that are also absent from both FO-36b and ATCC7061(T). This cluster of five genes is considered to be an especially promising target for future experimental work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhan R. Tirumalai
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Rajat Rastogi
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nader Zamani
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Elisha O’Bryant Williams
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Shamail Allen
- Department of Biology, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Fatma Diouf
- Department of Biology, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sharon Kwende
- Department of Biology, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - George M. Weinstock
- The Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Kasthuri J. Venkateswaran
- Biotechnology & Planetary Protection Group, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratories, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - George E. Fox
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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