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Arisan D, Moya-Beltrán A, Rojas-Villalobos C, Issotta F, Castro M, Ulloa R, Chiacchiarini PA, Díez B, Martín AJM, Ñancucheo I, Giaveno A, Johnson DB, Quatrini R. Acidithiobacillia class members originating at sites within the Pacific Ring of Fire and other tectonically active locations and description of the novel genus ' Igneacidithiobacillus'. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1360268. [PMID: 38633703 PMCID: PMC11021618 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1360268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have expanded the genomic contours of the Acidithiobacillia, highlighting important lacunae in our comprehension of the phylogenetic space occupied by certain lineages of the class. One such lineage is 'Igneacidithiobacillus', a novel genus-level taxon, represented by 'Igneacidithiobacillus copahuensis' VAN18-1T as its type species, along with two other uncultivated metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) originating from geothermally active sites across the Pacific Ring of Fire. In this study, we investigate the genetic and genomic diversity, and the distribution patterns of several uncharacterized Acidithiobacillia class strains and sequence clones, which are ascribed to the same 16S rRNA gene sequence clade. By digging deeper into this data and contributing to novel MAGs emerging from environmental studies in tectonically active locations, the description of this novel genus has been consolidated. Using state-of-the-art genomic taxonomy methods, we added to already recognized taxa, an additional four novel Candidate (Ca.) species, including 'Ca. Igneacidithiobacillus chanchocoensis' (mCHCt20-1TS), 'Igneacidithiobacillus siniensis' (S30A2T), 'Ca. Igneacidithiobacillus taupoensis' (TVZ-G3 TS), and 'Ca. Igneacidithiobacillus waiarikiensis' (TVZ-G4 TS). Analysis of published data on the isolation, enrichment, cultivation, and preliminary microbiological characterization of several of these unassigned or misassigned strains, along with the type species of the genus, plus the recoverable environmental data from metagenomic studies, allowed us to identify habitat preferences of these taxa. Commonalities and lineage-specific adaptations of the seven species of the genus were derived from pangenome analysis and comparative genomic metabolic reconstruction. The findings emerging from this study lay the groundwork for further research on the ecology, evolution, and biotechnological potential of the novel genus 'Igneacidithiobacillus'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilanaz Arisan
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ana Moya-Beltrán
- Departamento de Informática y Computación, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camila Rojas-Villalobos
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Issotta
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Biological Sciences Faculty, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation (CGR), Santiago, Chile
| | - Matías Castro
- Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía (IMO), Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Ricardo Ulloa
- PROBIEN (CCT Patagonia Confluencia-CONICET, UNCo), Facultad de Ingeniería, Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Neuquén, Argentina
| | - Patricia A. Chiacchiarini
- PROBIEN (CCT Patagonia Confluencia-CONICET, UNCo), Facultad de Ingeniería, Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Neuquén, Argentina
| | - Beatriz Díez
- Biological Sciences Faculty, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation (CGR), Santiago, Chile
- Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR), Santiago, Chile
| | - Alberto J. M. Martín
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Iván Ñancucheo
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur, Concepción, Chile
| | - Alejandra Giaveno
- PROBIEN (CCT Patagonia Confluencia-CONICET, UNCo), Facultad de Ingeniería, Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Neuquén, Argentina
| | - D. Barrie Johnson
- College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - Raquel Quatrini
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
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Sepúlveda-Rebolledo P, González-Rosales C, Dopson M, Pérez-Rueda E, Holmes DS, Valdés JH. Comparative genomics sheds light on transcription factor-mediated regulation in the extreme acidophilic Acidithiobacillia representatives. Res Microbiol 2024; 175:104135. [PMID: 37678513 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2023.104135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Extreme acidophiles thrive in acidic environments, confront a multitude of challenges, and demonstrate remarkable adaptability in their metabolism to cope with the ever-changing environmental fluctuations, which encompass variations in temperature, pH levels, and the availability of electron acceptors and donors. The survival and proliferation of members within the Acidithiobacillia class rely on the deployment of transcriptional regulatory systems linked to essential physiological traits. The study of these transcriptional regulatory systems provides valuable insights into critical processes, such as energy metabolism and nutrient assimilation, and how they integrate into major genetic-metabolic circuits. In this study, we examined the transcriptional regulatory repertoires and potential interactions of forty-three Acidithiobacillia complete and draft genomes, encompassing nine species. To investigate the function and diversity of Transcription Factors (TFs) and their DNA Binding Sites (DBSs), we conducted a genome-wide comparative analysis, which allowed us to identify these regulatory elements in representatives of Acidithiobacillia. We classified TFs into gene families and compared their occurrence among all representatives, revealing conservation patterns across the class. The results identified conserved regulators for several pathways, including iron and sulfur oxidation, the main pathways for energy acquisition, providing new evidence for viable regulatory interactions and branch-specific conservation in Acidithiobacillia. The identification of TFs and DBSs not only corroborates existing experimental information for selected species, but also introduces novel candidates for experimental validation. Moreover, these promising candidates have the potential for further extension to new representatives within the class.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Sepúlveda-Rebolledo
- Centro de Genómica y Bioinformática and PhD. Program on Integrative Genomics, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago (8580745), Chile.
| | - Carolina González-Rosales
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago (8580638), Chile; Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, SE-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden.
| | - Mark Dopson
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, SE-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden.
| | - Ernesto Pérez-Rueda
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad Académica del Estado de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico.
| | - David S Holmes
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago (8580638), Chile; Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago (7510156), Chile.
| | - Jorge H Valdés
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago (8370146), Chile.
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3
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Ibáñez A, Barreiro C, Diez-Galán A, Cobos R, Calvo-Peña C, Coque JJR. Molecular Identification and Acid Stress Response of an Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans Strain Isolated from Rio Tinto (Spain). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13391. [PMID: 37686204 PMCID: PMC10487802 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans is of paramount importance in the development of biomining technologies. Being widely recognized as an extreme acidophile, extensive research has been dedicated to understanding its significant role in the extraction of several ores in recent years. However, there still exist significant molecular uncertainties surrounding this species. This study focuses on developing a taxonomic assignment method based on the sequencing of the 16S-5S rRNA cluster, along with a qPCR-based technology enabling precise growth determination. Additionally, an approach to understanding its response to acid stress is explored through RT-PCR and MALDI-TOF analysis. Our findings indicate that when subjected to pH levels below 1, the cell inhibits central (carbon fixation and metabolism) and energy (sulfur metabolism) metabolism, as well as chaperone synthesis, suggesting a potential cellular collapse. Nevertheless, the secretion of ammonia is enhanced to raise the environmental pH, while fatty acid synthesis is upregulated to reinforce the cell membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ibáñez
- Instituto de Investigación de la Viña y el Vino, Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria, Universidad de León, 24009 León, Spain; (A.I.); (A.D.-G.); (R.C.); (C.C.-P.)
- Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León (ITACYL), 47071 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Carlos Barreiro
- Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Alba Diez-Galán
- Instituto de Investigación de la Viña y el Vino, Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria, Universidad de León, 24009 León, Spain; (A.I.); (A.D.-G.); (R.C.); (C.C.-P.)
| | - Rebeca Cobos
- Instituto de Investigación de la Viña y el Vino, Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria, Universidad de León, 24009 León, Spain; (A.I.); (A.D.-G.); (R.C.); (C.C.-P.)
| | - Carla Calvo-Peña
- Instituto de Investigación de la Viña y el Vino, Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria, Universidad de León, 24009 León, Spain; (A.I.); (A.D.-G.); (R.C.); (C.C.-P.)
| | - Juan José R. Coque
- Instituto de Investigación de la Viña y el Vino, Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria, Universidad de León, 24009 León, Spain; (A.I.); (A.D.-G.); (R.C.); (C.C.-P.)
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Mayo-Pérez S, Gama-Martínez Y, Dávila S, Rivera N, Hernández-Lucas I. LysR-type transcriptional regulators: state of the art. Crit Rev Microbiol 2023:1-33. [PMID: 37635411 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2023.2247477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
The LysR-type transcriptional regulators (LTTRs) are DNA-binding proteins present in bacteria, archaea, and in algae. Knowledge about their distribution, abundance, evolution, structural organization, transcriptional regulation, fundamental roles in free life, pathogenesis, and bacteria-plant interaction has been generated. This review focuses on these aspects and provides a current picture of LTTR biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mayo-Pérez
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Y Gama-Martínez
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - S Dávila
- Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - N Rivera
- IPN: CICATA, Unidad Morelos del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Atlacholoaya, Mexico
| | - I Hernández-Lucas
- Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico
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Sutter M, Kerfeld CA, Scott KM. Atypical Carboxysome Loci: JEEPs or Junk? Front Microbiol 2022; 13:872708. [PMID: 35668770 PMCID: PMC9164163 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.872708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Carboxysomes, responsible for a substantial fraction of CO2 fixation on Earth, are proteinaceous microcompartments found in many autotrophic members of domain Bacteria, primarily from the phyla Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria. Carboxysomes facilitate CO2 fixation by the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle, particularly under conditions where the CO2 concentration is variable or low, or O2 is abundant. These microcompartments are composed of an icosahedral shell containing the enzymes ribulose 1,5-carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) and carbonic anhydrase. They function as part of a CO2 concentrating mechanism, in which cells accumulate HCO3 - in the cytoplasm via active transport, HCO3 - enters the carboxysomes through pores in the carboxysomal shell proteins, and carboxysomal carbonic anhydrase facilitates the conversion of HCO3 - to CO2, which RubisCO fixes. Two forms of carboxysomes have been described: α-carboxysomes and β-carboxysomes, which arose independently from ancestral microcompartments. The α-carboxysomes present in Proteobacteria and some Cyanobacteria have shells comprised of four types of proteins [CsoS1 hexamers, CsoS4 pentamers, CsoS2 assembly proteins, and α-carboxysomal carbonic anhydrase (CsoSCA)], and contain form IA RubisCO (CbbL and CbbS). In the majority of cases, these components are encoded in the genome near each other in a gene locus, and transcribed together as an operon. Interestingly, genome sequencing has revealed some α-carboxysome loci that are missing genes encoding one or more of these components. Some loci lack the genes encoding RubisCO, others lack a gene encoding carbonic anhydrase, some loci are missing shell protein genes, and in some organisms, genes homologous to those encoding the carboxysome-associated carbonic anhydrase are the only carboxysome-related genes present in the genome. Given that RubisCO, assembly factors, carbonic anhydrase, and shell proteins are all essential for carboxysome function, these absences are quite intriguing. In this review, we provide an overview of the most recent studies of the structural components of carboxysomes, describe the genomic context and taxonomic distribution of atypical carboxysome loci, and propose functions for these variants. We suggest that these atypical loci are JEEPs, which have modified functions based on the presence of Just Enough Essential Parts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Markus Sutter
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology and Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Divisions, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Cheryl A. Kerfeld
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology and Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Divisions, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Kathleen M. Scott
- Integrative Biology Department, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
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Rivera-Araya J, Heine T, Chávez R, Schlömann M, Levicán G. Transcriptomic analysis of chloride tolerance in Leptospirillum ferriphilum DSM 14647 adapted to NaCl. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267316. [PMID: 35486621 PMCID: PMC9053815 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Chloride ions are toxic for most acidophilic microorganisms. In this study, the chloride tolerance mechanisms in the acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacterium Leptospirillum ferriphilum DSM 14647 adapted to 180 mM NaCl were investigated by a transcriptomic approach. Results showed that 99 genes were differentially expressed in the adapted versus the non-adapted cultures, of which 69 and 30 were significantly up-regulated or down-regulated, respectively. Genes that were up-regulated include carbonic anhydrase, cytochrome c oxidase (ccoN) and sulfide:quinone reductase (sqr), likely involved in intracellular pH regulation. Towards the same end, the cation/proton antiporter CzcA (czcA) was down-regulated. Adapted cells showed a higher oxygen consumption rate (2.2 x 10−9 ppm O2 s-1cell-1) than non-adapted cells (1.2 x 10−9 ppm O2 s-1cell-1). Genes coding for the antioxidants flavohemoprotein and cytochrome c peroxidase were also up-regulated. Measurements of the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level revealed that adapted cells had a lower level than non-adapted cells, suggesting that detoxification of ROS could be an important strategy to withstand NaCl. In addition, data analysis revealed the up-regulation of genes for Fe-S cluster biosynthesis (iscR), metal reduction (merA) and activation of a cellular response mediated by diffusible signal factors (DSFs) and the second messenger c-di-GMP. Several genes related to the synthesis of lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan were consistently down-regulated. Unexpectedly, the genes ectB, ectC and ectD involved in the biosynthesis of the compatible solutes (hydroxy)ectoine were also down-regulated. In line with these findings, although hydroxyectoine reached 20 nmol mg-1 of wet biomass in non-adapted cells, it was not detected in L. ferriphilum adapted to NaCl, suggesting that this canonical osmotic stress response was dispensable for salt adaptation. Differentially expressed transcripts and experimental validations suggest that adaptation to chloride in acidophilic microorganisms involves a multifactorial response that is different from the response in other bacteria studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Rivera-Araya
- Biology Department, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile
| | - Thomas Heine
- Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Renato Chávez
- Biology Department, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile
| | - Michael Schlömann
- Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Gloria Levicán
- Biology Department, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago, Chile
- * E-mail:
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González-Rosales C, Vergara E, Dopson M, Valdés JH, Holmes DS. Integrative Genomics Sheds Light on Evolutionary Forces Shaping the Acidithiobacillia Class Acidophilic Lifestyle. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:822229. [PMID: 35242113 PMCID: PMC8886135 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.822229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Extreme acidophiles thrive in environments rich in protons (pH values <3) and often high levels of dissolved heavy metals. They are distributed across the three domains of the Tree of Life including members of the Proteobacteria. The Acidithiobacillia class is formed by the neutrophilic genus Thermithiobacillus along with the extremely acidophilic genera Fervidacidithiobacillus, Igneacidithiobacillus, Ambacidithiobacillus, and Acidithiobacillus. Phylogenomic reconstruction revealed a division in the Acidithiobacillia class correlating with the different pH optima that suggested that the acidophilic genera evolved from an ancestral neutrophile within the Acidithiobacillia. Genes and mechanisms denominated as "first line of defense" were key to explaining the Acidithiobacillia acidophilic lifestyle including preventing proton influx that allows the cell to maintain a near-neutral cytoplasmic pH and differ from the neutrophilic Acidithiobacillia ancestors that lacked these systems. Additional differences between the neutrophilic and acidophilic Acidithiobacillia included the higher number of gene copies in the acidophilic genera coding for "second line of defense" systems that neutralize and/or expel protons from cell. Gain of genes such as hopanoid biosynthesis involved in membrane stabilization at low pH and the functional redundancy for generating an internal positive membrane potential revealed the transition from neutrophilic properties to a new acidophilic lifestyle by shaping the Acidithiobacillaceae genomic structure. The presence of a pool of accessory genes with functional redundancy provides the opportunity to "hedge bet" in rapidly changing acidic environments. Although a core of mechanisms for acid resistance was inherited vertically from an inferred neutrophilic ancestor, the majority of mechanisms, especially those potentially involved in resistance to extremely low pH, were obtained from other extreme acidophiles by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina González-Rosales
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Centro Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile.,Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - Eva Vergara
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Centro Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mark Dopson
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Jorge H Valdés
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - David S Holmes
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Centro Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
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Kajla S, Kumari R, Nagi GK. Microbial CO2 fixation and biotechnology in reducing industrial CO2 emissions. Arch Microbiol 2022; 204:149. [DOI: 10.1007/s00203-021-02677-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Tsai YC, Liew L, Guo Z, Liu D, Mueller-Cajar O. The CbbQO-type rubisco activases encoded in carboxysome gene clusters can activate carboxysomal form IA rubiscos. J Biol Chem 2021; 298:101476. [PMID: 34890642 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The CO2-fixing enzyme rubisco is responsible for almost all carbon fixation. This process frequently requires rubisco activase (Rca) machinery, which couples ATP hydrolysis to the removal of inhibitory sugar phosphates, including the rubisco substrate ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP). Rubisco is sometimes compartmentalized in carboxysomes, bacterial microcompartments that enable a carbon dioxide concentrating mechanism (CCM). Characterized carboxysomal rubiscos, however, are not prone to inhibition, and often no activase machinery is associated with these enzymes. Here, we characterize two carboxysomal rubiscos of the form IAC clade that are associated with CbbQO-type Rcas. These enzymes release RuBP at a much lower rate than the canonical carboxysomal rubisco from Synechococcus PCC6301. We found that CbbQO-type Rcas encoded in carboxysome gene clusters can remove RuBP and the tight-binding transition state analog carboxy-arabinitol 1,5-bisphosphate from cognate rubiscos. The Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans genome encodes two form IA rubiscos associated with two sets of cbbQ and cbbO genes. We show that the two CbbQO activase systems display specificity for the rubisco enzyme encoded in the same gene cluster, and this property can be switched by substituting the C-terminal three residues of the large subunit. Our findings indicate that the kinetic and inhibitory properties of proteobacterial form IA rubiscos are diverse and predict that Rcas may be necessary for some α-carboxysomal CCMs. These findings will have implications for efforts aiming to introduce biophysical CCMs into plants and other hosts for improvement of carbon fixation of crops.
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Inaba Y, Kernan T, West AC, Banta S. Dispersion of sulfur creates a valuable new growth medium formulation that enables earlier sulfur oxidation in relation to iron oxidation in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans cultures. Biotechnol Bioeng 2021; 118:3225-3238. [PMID: 34086346 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is an acidophilic chemolithoautotroph that is commonly reported to exhibit diauxic population growth behavior where ferrous iron is oxidized before elemental sulfur when both are available, despite the higher energy content of sulfur. We have discovered sulfur dispersion formulations that enables sulfur oxidation before ferrous iron oxidation. The oxidation of dispersed sulfur can lower the culture pH within days below the range where aerobic ferrous iron oxidation can occur. Thus, ferric iron reduction can be observed quickly which had previously been reported over extended incubation periods with untreated sulfur. Therefore, we demonstrate that this substrate utilization pattern is strongly dependent on the cell loading in relation to sulfur concentration, sulfur surface hydrophobicity, and the pH of the culture. Our dispersed sulfur formulation, lig-sulfur, can be used to support the rapid antibiotic selection of plasmid-transformed cells, which is not possible in liquid cultures where ferrous iron is the main source of energy for these acidophiles. Furthermore, we find that media containing lig-sulfur supports higher production of green fluorescent protein compared to media containing ferrous iron. The use of dispersed sulfur is a valuable new tool for the development of engineered A. ferrooxidans strains and it provides a new method to control iron and sulfur oxidation behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Inaba
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Timothy Kernan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Alan C West
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Scott Banta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, USA
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Scott KM, Harmer TL, Gemmell BJ, Kramer AM, Sutter M, Kerfeld CA, Barber KS, Bari S, Boling JW, Campbell CP, Gallard-Gongora JF, Jackson JK, Lobos A, Mounger JM, Radulovic PW, Sanson JM, Schmid S, Takieddine C, Warlick KF, Whittaker R. Ubiquity and functional uniformity in CO2 concentrating mechanisms in multiple phyla of Bacteria is suggested by a diversity and prevalence of genes encoding candidate dissolved inorganic carbon transporters. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2021; 367:5863185. [PMID: 32589217 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnaa106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Autotrophic microorganisms catalyze the entry of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC; = CO2 + HCO3- + CO32-) into the biological component of the global carbon cycle, despite dramatic differences in DIC abundance and composition in their sometimes extreme environments. "Cyanobacteria" are known to have CO2 concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) to facilitate growth under low CO2 conditions. These CCMs consist of carboxysomes, containing enzymes ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate oxygenase and carbonic anhydrase, partnered to DIC transporters. CCMs and their DIC transporters have been studied in a handful of other prokaryotes, but it was not known how common CCMs were beyond "Cyanobacteria". Since it had previously been noted that genes encoding potential transporters were found neighboring carboxysome loci, α-carboxysome loci were gathered from bacterial genomes, and potential transporter genes neighboring these loci are described here. Members of transporter families whose members all transport DIC (CHC, MDT and Sbt) were common in these neighborhoods, as were members of the SulP transporter family, many of which transport DIC. 109 of 115 taxa with carboxysome loci have some form of DIC transporter encoded in their genomes, suggesting that CCMs consisting of carboxysomes and DIC transporters are widespread not only among "Cyanobacteria", but also among members of "Proteobacteria" and "Actinobacteria".
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M Scott
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 USA
| | - Tara L Harmer
- Biology Program, Stockton University, Galloway, NJ, USA
| | - Bradford J Gemmell
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 USA
| | - Andrew M Kramer
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 USA
| | - Markus Sutter
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology and Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Divisions, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Cheryl A Kerfeld
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.,Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology and Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Divisions, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kourtney S Barber
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 USA
| | - Saaurav Bari
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 USA
| | - Joshua W Boling
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 USA
| | - Cassandra P Campbell
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 USA
| | | | - Jessica K Jackson
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 USA
| | - Aldo Lobos
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 USA
| | - Jeannie M Mounger
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 USA
| | - Peter W Radulovic
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 USA
| | - Jacqueline M Sanson
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 USA
| | - Sarah Schmid
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 USA
| | - Candice Takieddine
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 USA
| | - Kiley F Warlick
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 USA
| | - Robert Whittaker
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620 USA
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12
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Marín S, Cortés M, Acosta M, Delgado K, Escuti C, Ayma D, Demergasso C. From Laboratory towards Industrial Operation: Biomarkers for Acidophilic Metabolic Activity in Bioleaching Systems. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12040474. [PMID: 33806162 PMCID: PMC8065656 DOI: 10.3390/genes12040474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In the actual mining scenario, copper bioleaching, mainly raw mined material known as run-of-mine (ROM) copper bioleaching, is the best alternative for the treatment of marginal resources that are not currently considered part of the profitable reserves because of the cost associated with leading technologies in copper extraction. It is foreseen that bioleaching will play a complementary role in either concentration-as it does in Minera Escondida Ltd. (MEL)-or chloride main leaching plants. In that way, it will be possible to maximize mines with installed solvent-extraction and electrowinning capacities that have not been operative since the depletion of their oxide ores. One of the main obstacles for widening bioleaching technology applications is the lack of knowledge about the key events and the attributes of the technology's critical events at the industrial level and mainly in ROM copper bioleaching industrial operations. It is relevant to assess the bed environment where the bacteria-mineral interaction occurs to learn about the limiting factors determining the leaching rate. Thus, due to inability to accurately determine in-situ key variables, their indirect assessment was evaluated by quantifying microbial metabolic-associated responses. Several candidate marker genes were selected to represent the predominant components of the microbial community inhabiting the industrial heap and the metabolisms involved in microbial responses to changes in the heap environment that affect the process performance. The microbial community's predominant components were Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, At. thiooxidans, Leptospirillum ferriphilum, and Sulfobacillus sp. Oxygen reduction, CO2 and N2 fixation/uptake, iron and sulfur oxidation, and response to osmotic stress were the metabolisms selected regarding research results previously reported in the system. After that, qPCR primers for each candidate gene were designed and validated. The expression profile of the selected genes vs. environmental key variables in pure cultures, column-leaching tests, and the industrial bioleaching heap was defined. We presented the results obtained from the industrial validation of the marker genes selected for assessing CO2 and N2 availability, osmotic stress response, as well as ferrous iron and sulfur oxidation activity in the bioleaching heap process of MEL. We demonstrated that molecular markers are useful for assessing limiting factors like nutrients and air supply, and the impact of the quality of recycled solutions. We also learned about the attributes of variables like CO2, ammonium, and sulfate levels that affect the industrial ROM-scale operation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Marín
- Centro de Biotecnología, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta 1240000, Chile
| | - Mayra Cortés
- Centro de Biotecnología, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta 1240000, Chile
| | - Mauricio Acosta
- Centro de Biotecnología, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta 1240000, Chile
| | - Karla Delgado
- Centro de Biotecnología, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta 1240000, Chile
| | - Camila Escuti
- Centro de Biotecnología, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta 1240000, Chile
| | - Diego Ayma
- Departamento de Matemáticas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta 1240000, Chile
| | - Cecilia Demergasso
- Centro de Biotecnología, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta 1240000, Chile
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13
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Kucera J, Lochman J, Bouchal P, Pakostova E, Mikulasek K, Hedrich S, Janiczek O, Mandl M, Johnson DB. A Model of Aerobic and Anaerobic Metabolism of Hydrogen in the Extremophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:610836. [PMID: 33329503 PMCID: PMC7735108 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.610836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen can serve as an electron donor for chemolithotrophic acidophiles, especially in the deep terrestrial subsurface and geothermal ecosystems. Nevertheless, the current knowledge of hydrogen utilization by mesophilic acidophiles is minimal. A multi-omics analysis was applied on Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans growing on hydrogen, and a respiratory model was proposed. In the model, [NiFe] hydrogenases oxidize hydrogen to two protons and two electrons. The electrons are used to reduce membrane-soluble ubiquinone to ubiquinol. Genetically associated iron-sulfur proteins mediate electron relay from the hydrogenases to the ubiquinone pool. Under aerobic conditions, reduced ubiquinol transfers electrons to either cytochrome aa 3 oxidase via cytochrome bc 1 complex and cytochrome c 4 or the alternate directly to cytochrome bd oxidase, resulting in proton efflux and reduction of oxygen. Under anaerobic conditions, reduced ubiquinol transfers electrons to outer membrane cytochrome c (ferrireductase) via cytochrome bc 1 complex and a cascade of electron transporters (cytochrome c 4, cytochrome c 552, rusticyanin, and high potential iron-sulfur protein), resulting in proton efflux and reduction of ferric iron. The proton gradient generated by hydrogen oxidation maintains the membrane potential and allows the generation of ATP and NADH. These results further clarify the role of extremophiles in biogeochemical processes and their impact on the composition of the deep terrestrial subsurface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiri Kucera
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jan Lochman
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Pavel Bouchal
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Eva Pakostova
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - Kamil Mikulasek
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno, Czechia
| | - Sabrina Hedrich
- Institute of Biosciences, Technische Universität (TU) Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Oldrich Janiczek
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Martin Mandl
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - D Barrie Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
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14
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Vargas-Straube MJ, Beard S, Norambuena R, Paradela A, Vera M, Jerez CA. High copper concentration reduces biofilm formation in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans by decreasing production of extracellular polymeric substances and its adherence to elemental sulfur. J Proteomics 2020; 225:103874. [PMID: 32569817 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2020.103874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is an acidophilic bacterium able to grow in environments with high concentrations of metals. It is a chemolithoautotroph able to form biofilms on the surface of solid minerals to obtain its energy. The response of both planktonic and sessile cells of A. ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 grown in elemental sulfur and adapted to high copper concentration was analyzed by quantitative proteomics. It was found that 137 proteins varied their abundance when comparing both lifestyles. Copper effllux proteins, some subunits of the ATP synthase complex, porins, and proteins involved in cell wall modification increased their abundance in copper-adapted sessile lifestyle cells. On the other hand, planktonic copper-adapted cells showed increased levels of proteins such as: cupreredoxins involved in copper cell sequestration, some proteins related to sulfur metabolism, those involved in biosynthesis and transport of lipopolysaccharides, and in assembly of type IV pili. During copper adaptation a decreased formation of biofilms was measured as determined by epifluorescence microscopy. This was apparently due not only to a diminished number of sessile cells but also to their exopolysaccharides production. This is the first study showing that copper, a prevalent metal in biomining environments causes dispersion of A. ferrooxidans biofilms. SIGNIFICANCE: Copper is a metal frequently found in high concentrations at mining environments inhabitated by acidophilic microorganisms. Copper resistance determinants of A. ferrooxidans have been previously studied in planktonic cells. Although biofilms are recurrent in these types of environments, the effect of copper on their formation has not been studied so far. The results obtained indicate that high concentrations of copper reduce the capacity of A. ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 to form biofilms on sulfur. These findings may be relevant to consider for a bacterium widely used in copper bioleaching processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Vargas-Straube
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - S Beard
- Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - R Norambuena
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - A Paradela
- Proteomics Laboratory, National Biotechnology Center, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - M Vera
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.; Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - C A Jerez
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile..
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