scholarly journals Methanosarcina acetivorans simultaneously produces molybdenum, vanadium, and iron-only nitrogenases in response to fixed nitrogen and molybdenum depletion

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Chanderban ◽  
Christopher A Hill ◽  
Ahmed E Dhamad ◽  
Daniel J Lessner
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Immunoblot Analysis ◽  
Cell Yield ◽  
Methanosarcina Acetivorans ◽  
Fixed Nitrogen ◽  
Qpcr Analysis ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Alternative Nitrogenase ◽  
Diazotrophic Growth

All nitrogen-fixing bacteria and archaea (diazotrophs) use molybdenum (Mo) nitrogenase to reduce dinitrogen (N2) to ammonia. Some diazotrophs also contain alternative nitrogenases that lack Mo: vanadium (V) and iron-only (Fe) nitrogenases. Among diazotrophs, the regulation and usage of the alternative nitrogenases in methanogens is largely unknown. Methanosarcina acetivorans contains nif, vnf, and anf gene clusters encoding putative Mo-, V-, and Fe-nitrogenases, respectively. This study investigated the effect of fixed nitrogen and Mo/V availability on nitrogenase expression and growth by M. acetivorans. The availability of Mo and V did not affect growth of M. acetivorans with fixed nitrogen but significantly affected growth with N2. M. acetivorans exhibited the fastest growth rate and highest cell yield during growth with N2 in medium containing Mo. Depletion of Mo (Fe-only condition) resulted in a significant decrease in growth rate and cell yield. The addition of V to Mo-depleted medium stimulated diazotrophic growth but was still less than growth in Mo-replete medium. qPCR analysis revealed transcription of the nif operon is only moderately affected by depletion of fixed nitrogen and Mo. However, vnf and anf transcription increased significantly when fixed nitrogen and Mo were depleted, with removal of Mo being the key factor. Immunoblot analysis revealed Mo-nitrogenase is produced when fixed nitrogen is depleted regardless of Mo availability, while V- and Fe-nitrogenases are produced only in the absence of fixed nitrogen and Mo. These results reveal that alternative nitrogenase production in M. acetivorans is tightly controlled and that all three nitrogenases can be simultaneously produced.

scholarly journals Biological scaling in green algae: the role of cell size and geometry

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Bestová ◽  
Jules Segrestin ◽  
Klaus von Schwartzenberg ◽  
Pavel Škaloud ◽  
Thomas Lenormand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Population Growth Rate ◽  
Internal Diffusion ◽  
Scaling Exponent ◽  
Power Scaling ◽  
Nutrient Distribution ◽  
Metabolic Scaling ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Size And Morphology

AbstractThe Metabolic Scaling Theory (MST), hypothesizes limitations of resource-transport networks in organisms and predicts their optimization into fractal-like structures. As a result, the relationship between population growth rate and body size should follow a cross-species universal quarter-power scaling. However, the universality of metabolic scaling has been challenged, particularly across transitions from bacteria to protists to multicellulars. The population growth rate of unicellulars should be constrained by external diffusion, ruling nutrient uptake, and internal diffusion, operating nutrient distribution. Both constraints intensify with increasing size possibly leading to shifting in the scaling exponent. We focused on unicellular algae Micrasterias. Large size and fractal-like morphology make this species a transitional group between unicellular and multicellular organisms in the evolution of allometry. We tested MST predictions using measurements of growth rate, size, and morphology-related traits. We showed that growth scaling of Micrasterias follows MST predictions, reflecting constraints by internal diffusion transport. Cell fractality and density decrease led to a proportional increase in surface area with body mass relaxing external constraints. Complex allometric optimization enables to maintain quarter-power scaling of population growth rate even with a large unicellular plan. Overall, our findings support fractality as a key factor in the evolution of biological scaling.

scholarly journals The Abundance of Microcystin-Producing Genotypes Correlates Positively with Colony Size in Microcystis sp. and Determines Its Microcystin Net Production in Lake Wannsee

2003 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 787-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rainer Kurmayer ◽  
Guntram Christiansen ◽  
Ingrid Chorus
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Colony Size ◽  
Population Growth Rate ◽  
Size Class ◽  
Net Production ◽  
Cell Numbers ◽  
Size Classes ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Genotype Composition ◽  
Working Hypotheses

ABSTRACT The working hypotheses tested on a natural population of Microcystis sp. in Lake Wannsee (Berlin, Germany) were that (i) the varying abundance of microcystin-producing genotypes versus non-microcystin-producing genotypes is a key factor for microcystin net production and (ii) the occurrence of a gene for microcystin net production is related to colony morphology, particularly colony size. To test these hypotheses, samples were fractionated by colony size with a sieving procedure during the summer of 2000. Each colony size class was analyzed for cell numbers, the proportion of microcystin-producing genotypes, and microcystin concentrations. The smallest size class of Microcystis colonies (<50 μm) showed the lowest proportion of microcystin-producing genotypes, the highest proportion of non-microcystin-producing cells, and the lowest microcystin cell quotas (sum of microcystins RR, YR, LR, and WR). In contrast, the larger size classes of Microcystis colonies (>100 μm) showed the highest proportion of microcystin-producing genotypes, the lowest proportion of non-microcystin-producing cells, and the highest microcystin cell quotas. The microcystin net production rate was nearly one to one positively related to the population growth rate for the larger colony size classes (>100 μm); however, no relationship could be found for the smaller size classes. It was concluded that the variations found in microcystin net production between colony size classes are chiefly due to differences in genotype composition and that the microcystin net production in the lake is mainly influenced by the abundance of the larger (>100-μm) microcystin-producing colonies.

scholarly journals Methanosarcina acetivorans contains a functional ISC system for iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Deere ◽  
Divya Prakash ◽  
Faith H. Lessner ◽  
Evert C. Duin ◽  
Daniel J. Lessner
Keyword(s):  
Parent Strain ◽  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Sulfur Metabolism ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Sulfur Source ◽  
Methanosarcina Acetivorans ◽  
Cysteine Desulfurase ◽  
The Core ◽  
Iron Sulfur ◽  
Core Components

Abstract Background The production of methane by methanogens is dependent on numerous iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster proteins; yet, the machinery involved in Fe-S cluster biogenesis in methanogens remains largely unknown. Methanogen genomes encode uncharacterized homologs of the core components of the ISC (IscS and IscU) and SUF (SufBC) Fe-S cluster biogenesis systems found in bacteria and eukaryotes. Methanosarcina acetivorans contains three iscSU and two sufCB gene clusters. Here, we report genetic and biochemical characterization of M. acetivorans iscSU2. Results Purified IscS2 exhibited pyridoxal 5′- phosphate-dependent release of sulfur from L-cysteine. Incubation of purified IscU2 with IscS2, cysteine, and iron (Fe2+) resulted in the formation of [4Fe-4S] clusters in IscU2. IscU2 transferred a [4Fe-4S] cluster to purified M. acetivorans apo-aconitase. IscU2 also restored the aconitase activity in air-exposed M. acetivorans cell lysate. These biochemical results demonstrate that IscS2 is a cysteine desulfurase and that IscU2 is a Fe-S cluster scaffold. M. acetivorans strain DJL60 deleted of iscSU2 was generated to ascertain the in vivo importance of IscSU2. Strain DJL60 had Fe-S cluster content and growth similar to the parent strain but lower cysteine desulfurase activity. Strain DJL60 also had lower intracellular persulfide content compared to the parent strain when cysteine was an exogenous sulfur source, linking IscSU2 to sulfur metabolism. Conclusions This study establishes that M. acetivorans contains functional IscS and IscU, the core components of the ISC Fe-S cluster biogenesis system and provides the first evidence that ISC operates in methanogens.

Customized media based on miniaturized screening improve growth rate and cell yield of methane-oxidizing bacteria of the genus Methylomonas

2013 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven Hoefman ◽  
David van der Ha ◽  
Nico Boon ◽  
Peter Vandamme ◽  
Paul De Vos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Cell Yield ◽  
Methane Oxidizing Bacteria

Selenium as a nutrient for freshwater bacterioplankton and its interactions with phosphorus

1990 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 475-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia Eriksson ◽  
Carlos Pedrós-Alió
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Specific Growth Rate ◽  
Bacterial Growth ◽  
Specific Growth ◽  
Organic Phosphorus ◽  
Eutrophic Lake ◽  
Inorganic Phosphorus ◽  
Cell Yield ◽  
Lag Phase ◽  
Negative Effect

The influence of selenite on the growth of bacterioplankton present in samples of three lakes was analyzed; these samples were collected in sulfate-rich, oligotrophic Lake Banyoles, moderately eutrophic Lake Erken, and hypereutrophic Lake Vallentunasjön. Experiments were set up in a completely randomized factorial design to analyze the effect of selenite alone and, in the same experiment, the effect of selenite in the presence of phosphate. Cultures of bacterioplankton, free of algae and zooplankton, diluted with filtered natural water, were used in the bioassays. The addition of 100 μg P∙L−1 to samples from Lake Banyoles, collected during the winter, enhanced cell yield 2.7 times; the addition of 10 μg P∙L−1 to samples from Lake Erken, collected during the spring, doubled the yield. Strong effects of phosphate on growth rates were found in samples from lakes Banyoles and Vallentunasjön. When bacteria from Lake Banyoles were exposed to 100 μg P∙L−1, the specific growth rate was 0.08 h−1 (log units), compared with 0.03 h−1 in the control. In spring, Lake Vallentunasjôn contained water with a considerable amount of dissolved organic phosphorus (18 μg P∙L−1); the addition of 100 μg P∙L−1, in the form of phosphate, resulted in a shorter lag phase of at least 48 h and reduced the specific growth rate to about half that in the control. Selenite had a significant positive effect on cell yield in samples from lakes Banyoles (p = 0.0001) and Vallentunasjön (p = 0.020), whereas the effect on cell yield in samples from Lake Erken was slightly negative (p = 0.110). The addition of selenite alone (550 ng Se∙L−1) to samples from Lake Banyoles, collected during the summer, doubled the biovolume of bacterioplankton within 37 h. Among winter bacteria from Lake Banyoles, selenite, at concentrations of 55 and 550 ng Se∙L−1, increased the number of bacteria twofold and threefold, respectively, but only when the phosphate level was high (100 μg P∙L−1). A high inorganic phosphorus level of 100 μg P∙L−1 was also necessary to stimulate the effect of selenite on bacterial growth in samples from Lake Vallentunasjön; 550 ng Se∙L−1 enhanced cell yield 24%. The negative effect of selenite on samples from Lake Erken was most obvious when phosphate (10 or 100 μg P∙L−1) had been added simultaneously (p = 0.030 for selenium and phosphorus interaction). Cell yields were always greater at the highest temperature. With samples from Lake Vallentunasjön, selenite stimulated bacterial growth at 25 °C but had no effect at 10 °C. With samples from Lake Banyoles, the simultaneous addition of phosphate and selenite increased cell yield threefold at 15 °C and only twofold at 30 °C. Key words: phosphorus, sulfate, Lake Erken, Lake Vallentunasjön, Lake Banyoles.

scholarly journals GPX4 and GPX7 over-expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma tissues

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Guerriero ◽  
F. Capone ◽  
M. Accardo ◽  
A. Sorice ◽  
M. Costantini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Biological Function ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Common Type ◽  
Over Expression ◽  
Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽  
Glutathione Peroxidases ◽  
Qpcr Analysis ◽  
Tumor Tissues ◽  
Key Factor

<p>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer and is still one of the most fatal cancers. Hence, it needs to identify always new putative markers to improve its diagnosis and prognosis. The selenium is an essential trace mineral implicated as a key factor in the early stage of cancer and exerts its biological function through the selenoproteins. In the last years our group has been studying the involvement of some selenoproteins in HCC. However, no many data are reported in literature about the correlation between HCC and the glutathione peroxidases (GPXs), both selenium and non selenium-containing GPXs. In this paper we have evaluated the <em>GPX4</em> and <em>GPX7</em> expression in some paraffin-embedded tissues from liver biopsy of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis and HCC by immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR analysis. Our results evidenced that i) <em>GPX4</em> and <em>GPX7</em> had a statistically significant over-expression in HCC tissues compared to cirrhotic counterparts used as non tumor tissues, and ii) their expression was higher in grade III HCC tissues with respect to grade I-II samples. Therefore, we propose to use <em>GPX4</em> and <em>GPX7</em> as possible markers for improving HCC diagnosis/prognosis.</p>

scholarly journals The htrA Gene Plays an Important role During Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis Growth at High Temperature

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Escobar Garduño ◽  
Lucia Soto Urzua ◽  
Rogelio Rodriguez Sotres ◽  
Luis Javier Martinez Morales
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Mutant Strain ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis ◽  
Wild Strain ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Data Bank ◽  
Immunoblot Analysis ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Bacteria Growth

Abstract htrA is a gene coding for the stress inducible HtrA protein, identified as a temperature stress response protein in several Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Growth rates at several temperatures (30ºC, 37ºC and 42ºC) were compared for Yersinia pseudotuberculosis YPIII wild strain and the isogenic mutant 1YPIII (htrA::Km), which was obtained by insertion of a kanamycin resistance cassette into the htrA gene.Y. pseudotuberculosis 1YPIII growth rates did not differ from the Y. pseudotuberculosis wild strain growth rates when cultivated at 30°C, which is consistent with a non-essential role for the HtrA protein at this temperature. However, 1YPIII mutant strain growth rate decreased by 18.73% at 37°C, and by 60.14% at 42°C, as compared to the Y. pseudotuberculosis YPIII wild strain growth rate. HtrA complementation in the strain 1YPIII/pAHTRA46 suppressed the differences in growth rates. Immunoblot analysis confirmed the absence of the HtrA protein in the 1YPIII mutant strain at any of the growth temperatures under analysis. In silico predictions were obtained for the three-dimensional structure of amino acid sequence belonging to HtrA from Y. pseudotuberculosis YPIII, Yersinia pestis CO92, using the protein data bank structure 1KY9:B from Escherichia coli, as template. The model's quality was found to be acceptable. Southern blot analysis shows a single htrA gene signal. These data indicate that the unique htrA gene in Y. pseudotuberculosis YPIII is required for the adaptive response of this species to high temperatures and although it is not a pathogenicity factor, it can be targeted by antibiotics.

scholarly journals COVID-19 lockdown NO<sub>x</sub> emission reductions can explain most of the coincident increase in global atmospheric methane

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Stevenson ◽  
Richard Derwent ◽  
Oliver Wild ◽  
William Collins
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Chemical System ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Atmospheric Methane ◽  
Emission Reductions ◽  
Great Utility ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Global Growth

Abstract. Compared to 2019, the global growth rate of atmospheric methane rose by about 50 % in 2020, reaching 15 ppb/yr. Models of global atmospheric chemistry show that reductions in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions reduce levels of the hydroxyl radical, and lengthen the methane lifetime. Using estimates of NOx emission reductions associated with COVID-19 lockdowns around the world in 2020, together with model-derived regional and sectoral sensitivities of methane to NOx emissions, we find that NOx emissions reductions can fully explain the observed surge in the global methane growth rate. Whilst changes in NOx emissions are probably not the only important factor that has influenced methane since the beginning of 2020, it is clear that they are a key factor that will need to be included within any attribution study, and that they may well be the dominant driver of these recent methane changes. The major global scale changes in composition of the Earth’s atmosphere measured during lockdown provide unprecedented constraints on the sensitivity of the atmospheric chemical system to changes in emissions, and are of great utility for evaluating policy-relevant models.

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