scholarly journals A new insight into role of phosphoketolase pathway in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anushree Bachhar ◽  
Jiri Jablonsky

AbstractPhosphoketolase (PKET) pathway is predominant in cyanobacteria (around 98%) but current opinion is that it is virtually inactive under autotrophic ambient CO2 condition (AC-auto). This creates an evolutionary paradox due to the existence of PKET pathway in obligatory photoautotrophs. We aim to answer the paradox with the aid of bioinformatic analysis along with metabolic, transcriptomic, fluxomic and mutant data integrated into a multi-level kinetic model. We discussed the problems linked to neglected isozyme, pket2 (sll0529) and inconsistencies towards the explanation of residual flux via PKET pathway in the case of silenced pket1 (slr0453) in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Our in silico analysis showed: (1) 17% flux reduction via RuBisCO for Δpket1 under AC-auto, (2) 11.2–14.3% growth decrease for Δpket2 in turbulent AC-auto, and (3) flux via PKET pathway reaching up to 252% of the flux via phosphoglycerate mutase under AC-auto. All results imply that PKET pathway plays a crucial role under AC-auto by mitigating the decarboxylation occurring in OPP pathway and conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA linked to EMP glycolysis under the carbon scarce environment. Finally, our model predicted that PKETs have low affinity to S7P as a substrate.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5645
Author(s):  
Stefano Morotti ◽  
Haibo Ni ◽  
Colin H. Peters ◽  
Christian Rickert ◽  
Ameneh Asgari-Targhi ◽  
...  

Background: The mechanisms underlying dysfunction in the sinoatrial node (SAN), the heart’s primary pacemaker, are incompletely understood. Electrical and Ca2+-handling remodeling have been implicated in SAN dysfunction associated with heart failure, aging, and diabetes. Cardiomyocyte [Na+]i is also elevated in these diseases, where it contributes to arrhythmogenesis. Here, we sought to investigate the largely unexplored role of Na+ homeostasis in SAN pacemaking and test whether [Na+]i dysregulation may contribute to SAN dysfunction. Methods: We developed a dataset-specific computational model of the murine SAN myocyte and simulated alterations in the major processes of Na+ entry (Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, NCX) and removal (Na+/K+ ATPase, NKA). Results: We found that changes in intracellular Na+ homeostatic processes dynamically regulate SAN electrophysiology. Mild reductions in NKA and NCX function increase myocyte firing rate, whereas a stronger reduction causes bursting activity and loss of automaticity. These pathologic phenotypes mimic those observed experimentally in NCX- and ankyrin-B-deficient mice due to altered feedback between the Ca2+ and membrane potential clocks underlying SAN firing. Conclusions: Our study generates new testable predictions and insight linking Na+ homeostasis to Ca2+ handling and membrane potential dynamics in SAN myocytes that may advance our understanding of SAN (dys)function.


Metallomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi-Yong Zhu ◽  
Li-Li Liu ◽  
Yue-Qiang Huang ◽  
Xiao-Wei Li ◽  
Milton Talukder ◽  
...  

Abstract Selenoprotein N (SEPN1) is critical to the normal muscular physiology. Mutation of SEPN1 can raise congenital muscular disorder in human. It is also central to maturation and structure of skeletal muscle in chicken. However, human SEPN1 contained an EF-hand motif, which was not found in chicken. And the biochemical and molecular characterization of chicken SEPN1 remains unclear. Hence, protein domains, transcription factors, and interactions of Ca2+ in SEPN1 were analyzed in silico to provide the divergence and homology between chicken and human in this work. The results showed that vertebrates’ SEPN1 evolved from a common ancestor. Human and chicken's SEPN1 shared a conserved CUGS-helix domain with function in antioxidant protection. SEPN1 might be a downstream target of JNK pathway, and it could respond to multiple stresses. Human's SEPN1 might not combine with Ca2+ with a single EF-hand motif in calcium homeostasis, and chicken SEPN1 did not have the EF-hand motif in the prediction, indicating the EF-hand motif malfunctioned in chicken SEPN1.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 723
Author(s):  
Guillermo Blanco ◽  
Lorena Ruiz ◽  
Hector Tamés ◽  
Patricia Ruas-Madiedo ◽  
Florentino Fdez-Riverola ◽  
...  

Bifidobacteria are among the most abundant microorganisms inhabiting the intestine of humans and many animals. Within the genus Bifidobacterium, several beneficial effects have been attributed to strains belonging to the subspecies Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, which are often found in infants and adults. The increasing numbers of sequenced genomes belonging to these two subspecies, and the availability of novel computational tools focused on predicting glycolytic abilities, with the aim of understanding the capabilities of degrading specific carbohydrates, allowed us to depict the potential glycoside hydrolases (GH) of these bacteria, with a focus on those GH profiles that differ in the two subspecies. We performed an in silico examination of 188 sequenced B. longum genomes and depicted the commonly present and strain-specific GHs and GH families among representatives of this species. Additionally, GH profiling, genome-based and 16S rRNA-based clustering analyses showed that the subspecies assignment of some strains does not properly match with their genetic background. Furthermore, the analysis of the potential GH component allowed the distinction of clear GH patterns. Some of the GH activities, and their link with the two subspecies under study, are further discussed. Overall, our in silico analysis poses some questions about the suitability of considering the GH activities of B. longum subsp. longum and B. longum subsp. infantis to gain insight into the characterization and classification of these two subspecies with probiotic interest.


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