Molecular mechanisms regulating the catabolic and electrochemical activities of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsushi Kouzuma
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Shewanella Oneidensis ◽  
Extracellular Electron Transfer ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Regulatory Systems ◽  
Electrochemically Active ◽  
Recent Developments

Abstract Electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) interact electrochemically with electrodes via extracellular electron transfer (EET) pathways. These bacteria have attracted significant attention due to their utility in environment-friendly bioelectrochemical systems (BESs), e.g. microbial fuel cells and electrofermentation systems. The electrochemical activity of EAB is dependent on their carbon catabolism and respiration; thus, understanding how these processes are regulated will provide insights into the development of a more efficient BES. The process of biofilm formation by EAB on BES electrodes is also important for electric current generation, because it facilitates physical and electrochemical interactions between EAB cells and electrodes. This article summarizes the current knowledge on EET-related metabolic and cellular functions of a model EAB, Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, focusing specifically on regulatory systems for carbon catabolism, EET pathways, and biofilm formation. Based on recent developments, the author also discusses potential uses of engineered S. oneidensis strains for various biotechnological applications.

scholarly journals Identification of a Diguanylate Cyclase That Facilitates Biofilm Formation on Electrodes by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

2021 ◽  
Vol 87 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akiho Matsumoto ◽  
Ryota Koga ◽  
Robert A. Kanaly ◽  
Atsushi Kouzuma ◽  
Kazuya Watanabe
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Shewanella Oneidensis ◽  
Electric Energy ◽  
Diguanylate Cyclase ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Electrochemically Active ◽  
Medium Flow

ABSTRACT In many bacteria, cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP), synthesized by diguanylate cyclase (DGC), serves as a second messenger involved in the regulation of biofilm formation. Although studies have suggested that c-di-GMP also regulates the formation of electrochemically active biofilms (EABFs) by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, DGCs involved in this process remained to be identified. Here, we report that the SO_1646 gene, hereafter named dgcS, is upregulated under medium flow conditions in electrochemical flow cells (EFCs), and its product (DgcS) functions as a major DGC in MR-1. In vitro assays demonstrated that purified DgcS catalyzed the synthesis of c-di-GMP from GTP. Comparisons of intracellular c-di-GMP levels in the wild-type strain and a dgcS deletion mutant (ΔdgcS mutant) showed that production of c-di-GMP was markedly reduced in the ΔdgcS mutant when cells were grown in batch cultures and on electrodes in EFCs. Cultivation of the ΔdgcS mutant in EFCs also revealed that the loss of DgcS resulted in impaired biofilm formation and decreased current generation. These findings demonstrate that MR-1 uses DgcS to synthesize c-di-GMP under medium flow conditions, thereby activating biofilm formation on electrodes. IMPORTANCE Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) have attracted wide attention owing to their utility in sustainable biotechnology processes, such as microbial fuel cells and electrofermentation systems. In BESs, electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) form biofilms on electrode surfaces, thereby serving as effective catalysts for the interconversion between chemical and electric energy. It is therefore important to understand mechanisms for the formation of biofilm by EAB grown on electrodes. Here, we show that a model EAB, S. oneidensis MR-1, expresses DgcS as a major DGC, thereby activating the formation of biofilms on electrodes via c-di-GMP-dependent signal transduction cascades. The findings presented herein provide the molecular basis for improving electrochemical interactions between EAB and electrodes in BESs. The results also offer molecular insights into how Shewanella regulates biofilm formation on solid surfaces in the natural environment.

scholarly journals A novel growth and isolation medium for exoelectrogenic bacteria

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zumaira Nazeer ◽  
Eustace Fernando
Keyword(s):  
Growth Medium ◽  
Solid Medium ◽  
Shewanella Oneidensis ◽  
Extracellular Electron Transfer ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Isolation Medium ◽  
Biochemical Characterisation ◽  
Electrochemically Active ◽  
Colour Changes ◽  
Exoelectrogenic Bacteria

A microbiological isolation and growth medium that can effectively discriminate electrochemically active exoelectrogenic bacteria from other non-exoelectrogenic bacteria, is currently unavailable. In this study, we developed a novel chromogenic growth and isolation solid medium based on MnO2 that can selectively allow the growth of exoelectrogenic bacteria and change the medium colour in the process. Known exoelectrogenic bacteria such as Shewanella oneidensis MR1 and other such bacteria from functional microbial fuel cell (MFC) anodes were capable of growing and changing colour in the novel growth medium. On the contrary, non-exoelectrogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 were incapable of growing and inducing a colour changes in the novel medium. Further biochemical characterisation of these isolated exoelectrogenic bacteria by Raman micro-spectroscopy demonstrated that these bacteria over express cytochrome proteins that are vital in extracellular electron transfer events. This medium is a convenient method to isolate exoelectrogenic bacteria from complex environmental samples.

scholarly journals Towards a Better Understanding of the Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Sunlight-Induced Melanoma

2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mandy Williams ◽  
Allal Ouhtit
Keyword(s):  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Uv Radiation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Environmental Carcinogen ◽  
Biological Studies ◽  
Significant Gene ◽  
Recent Developments

Although much less prevalent than its nonmelanoma skin cancer counterparts, cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) is the most lethal human skin cancer. Epidemiological and biological studies have established a strong link between lifetime exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, particularly sunburn in childhood, and the development of melanoma. However, the specific molecular targets of this environmental carcinogen are not known. Data obtained from genetic and molecular studies over the last few years have identified the INK4a/ARF locus as the “gatekeeper” melanoma suppressor, encoding two tumour suppressor proteins in human, p16INK4aand p14ARF. Recent developments in molecular biotechnology and research using laboratory animals have made a significant gene breakthrough identifying the components of the p16p16INK4a/Rb pathway as the principal and rate-limiting targets of UV radiation actions in melanoma formation. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in melanoma development and its relationship to sunlight UV radiation.

Increased biofilm in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 leads to higher current generation in METs

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana V. Silva ◽  
Miriam Edel ◽  
Johannes Gescher ◽  
Catarina M. Paquete
Keyword(s):  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Shewanella Oneidensis ◽  
Extracellular Electron Transfer ◽  
Central Process ◽  
Current Generation ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Over Expression ◽  
Current Production ◽  
Low Levels

<p>Biofilm formation is a central process in the function of Microbial Electrochemical Technologies (METs). These technologies have emerged in recent years as a promising alternative green source of energy, in which microbes consume organic matter to produce energy or valuable by-products. It is the ability of performing extracellular electron transfer that allows these microbes, called electroactive organisms, to exchange electrons with an electrode in these systems. The low levels of current achieved have been the set-back for the large-scale application of METs. <em>Shewanella oneidensis</em> MR-1 is one of the most studied electroactive organisms, and it has been demonstrated that its increased biofilm formation can lead to higher current generation. The <em>bolA</em> gene has been identified as a central player in biofilm formation in different organisms, with its overexpression leading to increased biofilm production. In this work, we explored the effect of this gene in biofilm formation and current production by <em>S. oneidensis</em> MR-1. Our results demonstrate that this gene is involved in the biofilm formation by this organism, with its over expression leading to an increased biofilm formation. We could also show that this increase in biofilm formation lead to a consequent higher current generation. This information is a relevant step for the optimization of electroactive organisms towards their practical application in METs.</p>

scholarly journals Taxonomic and functional metagenomic analysis of anodic communities in two pilot-scale microbial fuel cells treating different industrial wastewaters

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larisa Kiseleva ◽  
Sofya K. Garushyants ◽  
Hongwu Ma ◽  
David J.W. Simpson ◽  
Viatcheslav Fedorovich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Transfer ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Metagenomic Analysis ◽  
Anode Surface ◽  
Extracellular Electron Transfer ◽  
Climatic Zones ◽  
Electrochemically Active

Summary The combined processes of microbial biodegradation accompanied by extracellular electron transfer make microbial fuel cells (MFCs) a promising new technology for cost-effective and sustainable wastewater treatment. Although a number of microbial species that build biofilms on the anode surfaces of operating MFCs have been identified, studies on the metagenomics of entire electrogenic communities are limited. Here we present the results of wholegenome metagenomic analysis of electrochemically active robust anodic microbial communities, and their anaerobic digester (AD) sludge inocula, from two pilot-scale MFC bioreactors fed with different distillery wastewaters operated under ambient conditions in distinct climatic zones. Taxonomic analysis showed that Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were abundant in AD sludge from distinct climatic zones, and constituted the dominant core of the MFC microbiomes. Functional analysis revealed species involved in degradation of organic compounds commonly present in food industry wastewaters. Also, accumulation of methanogenic Archaea was observed in the electrogenic biofilms, suggesting a possibility for simultaneous electricity and biogas recovery from one integrated wastewater treatment system. Finally, we found a range of species within the anode communities possessing the capacity for extracellular electron transfer, both via direct contact and electron shuttles, and show differential distribution of bacterial groups on the carbon cloth and activated carbon granules of the anode surface. Overall, this study provides insights into structural shifts that occur in the transition from an AD sludge to an MFC microbial community and the metabolic potential of electrochemically active microbial populations with wastewater-treating MFCs.

scholarly journals Lattice Boltzmann Method in Modeling Biofilm Formation, Growth and Detachment

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7968
Author(s):  
Mojtaba Aghajani Delavar ◽  
Junye Wang
Keyword(s):  
Lattice Boltzmann Method ◽  
Lattice Boltzmann ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Metal Removal ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Heavy Metal Removal ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Boltzmann Method

Biofilms are a complex and heterogeneous aggregation of multiple populations of microorganisms linked together by their excretion of extracellular polymer substances (EPS). Biofilms can cause many serious problems, such as chronic infections, food contamination and equipment corrosion, although they can be useful for constructive purposes, such as in wastewater treatment, heavy metal removal from hazardous waste sites, biofuel production, power generation through microbial fuel cells and microbially enhanced oil recovery; however, biofilm formation and growth are complex due to interactions among physicochemical and biological processes under operational and environmental conditions. Advanced numerical modeling techniques using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) are enabling the prediction of biofilm formation and growth and microbial community structures. This study is the first attempt to perform a general review on major contributions to LBM-based biofilm models, ranging from pioneering efforts to more recent progress. We present our understanding of the modeling of biofilm formation, growth and detachment using LBM-based models and present the fundamental aspects of various LBM-based biofilm models. We describe how the LBM couples with cellular automata (CA) and individual-based model (IbM) approaches and discuss their applications in assessing the spatiotemporal distribution of biofilms and their associated parameters and evaluating bioconversion efficiency. Finally, we discuss the main features and drawbacks of LBM-based biofilm models from ecological and biotechnological perspectives and identify current knowledge gaps and future research priorities.

scholarly journals An Electrochemical Investigation of Interfacial Electron Uptake by the Sulfur Oxidizing Bacterium Thioclava electrotropha ElOx9

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amruta Karbelkar ◽  
Annette R Rowe ◽  
Moh El-Naggar
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Sulfur Oxidation ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Extracellular Electron Transfer ◽  
Solid State Electron ◽  
Marine Microbe ◽  
Sulfur Oxidizing

Extracellular electron transfer (EET) allows microbes to acquire energy from solid state electron acceptors and donors, such as environmental minerals. This process can also be harnessed at electrode interfaces in bioelectrochemical technologies including microbial fuel cells, microbial electrosynthesis, bioremediation, and wastewater treatment. Improving the performance of these technologies will benefit from a better fundamental understanding of EET in diverse microbial systems. While the mechanisms of outward (i.e. microbe-to-anode) EET is relatively well characterized, specifically in a few metal-reducing bacteria, the reverse process of inward EET from redox-active minerals or cathodes to bacteria remains poorly understood. This knowledge gap stems, at least partly, from the lack of well-established model organisms and general difficulties associated with laboratory studies in existing model systems. Recently, a sulfur oxidizing marine microbe, <i>Thioclava electrotropha</i> ElOx9, was demonstrated to perform electron uptake from cathodes. However, a detailed analysis of the electron uptake pathways has yet to be established, and electrochemical characterization has been limited to aerobic conditions. Here, we report a detailed amperometric and voltammetric characterization of ElOx9 cells coupling cathodic electron uptake to reduction of nitrate as the sole electron acceptor. We demonstrate that this inward EET by ElOx9 is facilitated by a direct-contact mechanism through a redox center with a formal potential of -94 mV vs SHE, rather than soluble intermediate electron carriers. In addition to the implications for understanding microbial sulfur oxidation in marine environments, this study highlights the potential for ElOx9 to serve as a convenient and readily culturable model organism for understanding the molecular mechanisms of inward EET.

scholarly journals Pathophysiological Role of K2P Channels in Human Diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (S3) ◽  
pp. 65-86
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Human Diseases ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
K2p Channels ◽  
And Function

The family of two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channels is critically involved in central cellular functions such as ion homeostasis, cell development, and excitability. K2P channels are widely expressed in different human cell types and organs. It is therefore not surprising that aberrant expression and function of K2P channels are related to a spectrum of human diseases, including cancer, autoimmune, CNS, cardiovascular, and urinary tract disorders. Despite homologies in structure, expression, and stimulus, the functional diversity of K2P channels leads to heterogeneous influences on human diseases. The role of individual K2P channels in different disorders depends on expression patterns and modulation in cellular functions. However, an imbalance of potassium homeostasis and action potentials contributes to most disease pathologies. In this review, we provide an overview of current knowledge on the role of K2P channels in human diseases. We look at altered channel expression and function, the potential underlying molecular mechanisms, and prospective research directions in the field of K2P channels.

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