Enhanced Glutamate Synthesis and Export by the Thermotolerant Emerging Industrial Workhorse Bacillus methanolicus in Response to High Osmolarity

Metabolic rewiring enables ammonium assimilation via a non-canonical fumarate-based pathway

Glutamate serves as the major cellular amino group donor. In Bacillus subtilis, glutamate is synthesized by the combined action of the glutamine synthetase and the glutamate synthase (GOGAT). The glutamate dehydrogenases are devoted to glutamate degradation in vivo. To keep the cellular glutamate concentration high, the genes and the encoded enzymes involved in glutamate biosynthesis and degradation need to be tightly regulated depending on the available carbon and nitrogen sources. Serendipitously, we found that the inactivation of the ansR and citG genes encoding the repressor of the ansAB genes and the fumarase, respectively, enables the GOGAT-deficient B. subtilis mutant to synthesize glutamate via a non-canonical fumarate-based ammonium assimilation pathway. We also show that the de-repression of the ansAB genes is sufficient to restore aspartate prototrophy of an aspB aspartate transaminase mutant. Moreover, in the presence of arginine, B. subtilis mutants lacking fumarase activity show a growth defect that can be relieved by aspB overexpression, by reducing arginine uptake and by decreasing the metabolic flux through the TCA cycle.

Mechanisms of nucleic acid degradation and high hydrostatic pressure tolerance of a novel deep-sea wall-less bacterium

Wall-less bacteria are broadly distributed in diverse habitats. They evolved from a common ancestor within the Firmicutes phylum through reductive evolution. Here, we report the cultivation, characterization, and polyphasic taxonomic analysis of the novel free-living wall-less bacterium, Hujiaoplasma nucleasis zrk29. We demonstrated that strain zrk29 had a strong ability to degrade DNA and RNA both under laboratory conditions and in the deep sea. We found that nucleic acids induced strain zrk29 to release chronic bacteriophages which supported strain zrk29 and other marine bacteria to metabolize nucleic acids without lysing host cells. We also showed that strain zrk29 tolerated high hydrostatic pressure via two pathways: (i) by transporting cations into its cells to increase intracellular osmotic pressure and (ii) by adjusting the unsaturated fatty acid chain content in its cell membrane phospholipids to increase cell membrane fluidity. This study extends our understanding of free-living wall-less bacteria and provides a useful model to explore the unique adaptation mechanisms of deep-sea microbes. IMPORTANCE The unique physiology and survival strategies of the Tenericutes bacterium-a typical wall-less bacterium-have fascinated scientists and the public, especially in extreme deep-sea environments where there is high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and limited availability of nutrients. Here, we have isolated a novel free-living Tenericutes strain from deep-sea sediment and have found that it metabolizes nucleic acids with the support of chronic bacteriophages. This Tenericutes strain tolerates HHP stress by increasing intracellular osmotic pressure and the unsaturated fatty acid chain content of phospholipids in its cell membrane. Our results provide insights into the unique physiology of deep-sea free-living Tenericutes bacteria and highlight the significant role that chronic bacteriophages play in assisting wall-less bacteria to adapt to harsh conditions.

Insight into the potential role of ferroptosis in neurodegenerative diseases

Ferroptosis is a newly discovered way of programmed cell death, mainly caused by the accumulation of iron-dependent lipid peroxides in cells, which is morphologically, biochemically and genetically different from the previously reported apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy. Studies have found that ferroptosis plays a key role in the occurrence and development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and vascular dementia, which suggest that ferroptosis may be involved in regulating the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. At present, on the underlying mechanism of ferroptosis in neurodegenerative diseases is still unclear, and relevant research is urgently needed to clarify the regulatory mechanism and provide the possibility for the development of agents targeting ferroptosis. This review focused on the regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis and its various effects in neurodegenerative diseases, in order to provide reference for the research on ferroptosis in neurodegenerative diseases.

Efficient cell factories for the production of N-methylated amino acids and for methanol-based amino acid production

The growing world needs commodity amino acids such as L‐glutamate and L‐lysine for use as food and feed, and specialty amino acids for dedicated applications. To meet the supply a paradigm shift regarding their production is required. On the one hand, the use of sustainable and cheap raw materials is necessary to sustain low production cost and decrease detrimental effects of sugar‐based feedstock on soil health and food security caused by competing uses of crops in the feed and food industries. On the other hand, the biotechnological methods to produce functionalized amino acids need to be developed further, and titres enhanced to become competitive with chemical synthesis methods. In the current review, we present successful strain mutagenesis and rational metabolic engineering examples leading to the construction of recombinant bacterial strains for the production of amino acids such as L‐glutamate, L‐lysine, L‐threonine and their derivatives from methanol as sole carbon source. In addition, the fermentative routes for bioproduction of N‐methylated amino acids are highlighted, with focus on three strategies: partial transfer of methylamine catabolism, S‐adenosyl‐L‐methionine dependent alkylation and reductive methylamination of 2‐oxoacids.

Transcriptome Analysis of Halotolerant Staphylococcus saprophyticus Isolated from Korean Fermented Shrimp

Saeu-jeotgal, a Korean fermented shrimp food, is commonly used as an ingredient for making kimchi and other side dishes. The high salinity of the jeotgal contributes to its flavor and inhibits the growth of food spoilage microorganisms. Interestingly, Staphylococcus saprophyticus was discovered to be capable of growth even after treatment with 20% NaCl. To elucidate the tolerance mechanism, a genome-wide gene expression of S. saprophyticus against 0%, 10%, and 20% NaCl was investigated by RNA sequencing. A total of 831, 1314, and 1028 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the 0% vs. 10%, 0% vs. 20%, and 10% vs. 20% NaCl comparisons, respectively. The Clusters of Orthologous Groups analysis revealed that the DEGs were involved in amino acid transport and metabolism, transcription, and inorganic ion transport and metabolism. The functional enrichment analysis showed that the expression of the genes encoding mechanosensitive ion channels, sodium/proton antiporters, and betaine/carnitine/choline transporter family proteins was downregulated, whereas the expression of the genes encoding universal stress proteins and enzymes for glutamate, glycine, and alanine synthesis was upregulated. Therefore, these findings suggest that the S. saprophyticus isolated from the saeu-jeotgal utilizes different molecular strategies for halotolerance, with glutamate as the key molecule.