scholarly journals Designing metabolic division of labor in microbial communities

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan Thommes ◽  
Taiyao Wang ◽  
Qi Zhao ◽  
Ioannis Ch. Paschalidis ◽  
Daniel Segrè
Keyword(s):  
Division Of Labor ◽  
Tca Cycle ◽  
Mixed Integer ◽  
Large Space ◽  
Individual Organism ◽  
The Tca Cycle ◽  
Gedanken Experiment ◽  
Microbiome Research ◽  
Complex Landscape ◽  
Genome Scale

AbstractMicrobes face a tradeoff between being metabolically independent and relying on neighboring organisms for the supply of some essential metabolites. This balance of conflicting strategies affects microbial community structure and dynamics, with important implications for microbiome research and synthetic ecology. A “gedanken experiment” to investigate this tradeoff would involve monitoring the rise of mutual dependence as the number of metabolic reactions allowed in an organism is increasingly constrained. The expectation is that below a certain number of reactions, no individual organism would be able to grow in isolation, and cross-feeding partnerships and division of labor would emerge. We implemented this idealized experiment using in silico genome-scale models. In particular, we used mixed integer linear programming to identify tradeoff solutions in communities of Escherichia coli strains. The strategies we found reveal a large space of nuanced and nonintuitive metabolic division of labor opportunities, including, for example, splitting the TCA cycle into two separate halves. The systematic computation of possible division of labor solutions for 1-, 2-, and 3-strain consortia resulted in a rich and complex landscape. This landscape displays a nonlinear boundary, indicating that the loss of an intracellular reaction is not necessarily compensated by a single imported metabolite. Different regions in this landscape are associated with specific solutions and patterns of exchanged metabolites. Our approach also predicts the existence of regions in this landscape where independent bacteria are viable, but outcompeted by cross-feeding pairs, providing a possible incentive for the rise of division of labor.

scholarly journals Designing Metabolic Division of Labor in Microbial Communities

mSystems ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan Thommes ◽  
Taiyao Wang ◽  
Qi Zhao ◽  
Ioannis C. Paschalidis ◽  
Daniel Segrè
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Division Of Labor ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Computational Models ◽  
Thought Experiment ◽  
Mixed Integer ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Large Space ◽  
Individual Organism ◽  
Trade Off

ABSTRACTMicrobes face a trade-off between being metabolically independent and relying on neighboring organisms for the supply of some essential metabolites. This balance of conflicting strategies affects microbial community structure and dynamics, with important implications for microbiome research and synthetic ecology. A “gedanken” (thought) experiment to investigate this trade-off would involve monitoring the rise of mutual dependence as the number of metabolic reactions allowed in an organism is increasingly constrained. The expectation is that below a certain number of reactions, no individual organism would be able to grow in isolation and cross-feeding partnerships and division of labor would emerge. We implemented this idealized experiment usingin silicogenome-scale models. In particular, we used mixed-integer linear programming to identify trade-off solutions in communities ofEscherichia colistrains. The strategies that we found revealed a large space of opportunities in nuanced and nonintuitive metabolic division of labor, including, for example, splitting the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle into two separate halves. The systematic computation of possible solutions in division of labor for 1-, 2-, and 3-strain consortia resulted in a rich and complex landscape. This landscape displayed a nonlinear boundary, indicating that the loss of an intracellular reaction was not necessarily compensated for by a single imported metabolite. Different regions in this landscape were associated with specific solutions and patterns of exchanged metabolites. Our approach also predicts the existence of regions in this landscape where independent bacteria are viable but are outcompeted by cross-feeding pairs, providing a possible incentive for the rise of division of labor.IMPORTANCEUnderstanding how microbes assemble into communities is a fundamental open issue in biology, relevant to human health, metabolic engineering, and environmental sustainability. A possible mechanism for interactions of microbes is through cross-feeding, i.e., the exchange of small molecules. These metabolic exchanges may allow different microbes to specialize in distinct tasks and evolve division of labor. To systematically explore the space of possible strategies for division of labor, we applied advanced optimization algorithms to computational models of cellular metabolism. Specifically, we searched for communities able to survive under constraints (such as a limited number of reactions) that would not be sustainable by individual species. We found that predicted consortia partition metabolic pathways in ways that would be difficult to identify manually, possibly providing a competitive advantage over individual organisms. In addition to helping understand diversity in natural microbial communities, our approach could assist in the design of synthetic consortia.

Liquid-liquid extraction of succinate using a dicopper cryptate

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Mobili ◽  
Sonia La Cognata ◽  
Francesca Merlo ◽  
Andrea Speltini ◽  
Massimo Boiocchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Phase ◽  
Visible Spectrum ◽  
Tca Cycle ◽  
Residual Concentration ◽  
Waste Products ◽  
Liquid Liquid Extraction ◽  
The Tca Cycle ◽  
Quantitative Extraction ◽  
Uv Visible

<div> <p>The extraction of the succinate dianion from a neutral aqueous solution into dichloromethane is obtained using a lipophilic cage-like dicopper(II) complex as the extractant. The quantitative extraction exploits the high affinity of the succinate anion for the cavity of the azacryptate. The anion is effectively transferred from the aqueous phase, buffered at pH 7 with HEPES, into dichloromethane. A 1:1 extractant:anion adduct is obtained. Extraction can be easily monitored by following changes in the UV-visible spectrum of the dicopper complex in dichloromethane, and by measuring the residual concentration of succinate in the aqueous phase by HPLC−UV. Considering i) the relevance of polycarboxylates in biochemistry, as e.g. normal intermediates of the TCA cycle, ii) the relevance of dicarboxylates in the environmental field, as e.g. waste products of industrial processes, and iii) the recently discovered role of succinate and other dicarboxylates in pathophysiological processes including cancer, our results open new perspectives for research in all contexts where selective recognition, trapping and extraction of polycarboxylates is required. </p> </div>

scholarly journals Mitochondrial Mistranslation in Brain Provokes a Metabolic Response Which Mitigates the Age-Associated Decline in Mitochondrial Gene Expression

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2746
Author(s):  
Dimitri Shcherbakov ◽  
Reda Juskeviciene ◽  
Adrián Cortés Sanchón ◽  
Margarita Brilkova ◽  
Hubert Rehrauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Metabolic Response ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Tca Cycle ◽  
Brain Mitochondria ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene Expression ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
The Tca Cycle ◽  
Neurological Phenotype

Mitochondrial misreading, conferred by mutation V338Y in mitoribosomal protein Mrps5, in-vivo is associated with a subtle neurological phenotype. Brain mitochondria of homozygous knock-in mutant Mrps5V338Y/V338Y mice show decreased oxygen consumption and reduced ATP levels. Using a combination of unbiased RNA-Seq with untargeted metabolomics, we here demonstrate a concerted response, which alleviates the impaired functionality of OXPHOS complexes in Mrps5 mutant mice. This concerted response mitigates the age-associated decline in mitochondrial gene expression and compensates for impaired respiration by transcriptional upregulation of OXPHOS components together with anaplerotic replenishment of the TCA cycle (pyruvate, 2-ketoglutarate).

scholarly journals Metabolomics of aging in primary fibroblasts from small and large breed dogs

GeroScience ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul S. Brookes ◽  
Ana Gabriela Jimenez
Keyword(s):  
Aging Process ◽  
Tca Cycle ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Targeted Metabolomics ◽  
The Tca Cycle ◽  
Age Dependent ◽  
Primary Fibroblasts ◽  
Aging Rates ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Coenzyme A Biosynthesis

AbstractAmong several animal groups (eutherian mammals, birds, reptiles), lifespan positively correlates with body mass over several orders of magnitude. Contradicting this pattern are domesticated dogs, with small dog breeds exhibiting significantly longer lifespans than large dog breeds. The underlying mechanisms of differing aging rates across body masses are unclear, but it is generally agreed that metabolism is a significant regulator of the aging process. Herein, we performed a targeted metabolomics analysis on primary fibroblasts isolated from small and large breed young and old dogs. Regardless of size, older dogs exhibited lower glutathione and ATP, consistent with a role for oxidative stress and bioenergetic decline in aging. Furthermore, several size-specific metabolic patterns were observed with aging, including the following: (i) An apparent defect in the lower half of glycolysis in large old dogs at the level of pyruvate kinase. (ii) Increased glutamine anaplerosis into the TCA cycle in large old dogs. (iii) A potential defect in coenzyme A biosynthesis in large old dogs. (iv) Low nucleotide levels in small young dogs that corrected with age. (v) An age-dependent increase in carnitine in small dogs that was absent in large dogs. Overall, these data support the hypothesis that alterations in metabolism may underlie the different lifespans of small vs. large breed dogs, and further work in this area may afford potential therapeutic strategies to improve the lifespan of large dogs.

scholarly journals The Metabolic Fates of Pyruvate in Normal and Neoplastic Cells

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 762
Author(s):  
Edward V. Prochownik ◽  
Huabo Wang
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Redox State ◽  
Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex ◽  
Tca Cycle ◽  
Vascular Supply ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
The Tca Cycle ◽  
Initial Substrate ◽  
Numerous Cell ◽  
Bio Synthesis

Pyruvate occupies a central metabolic node by virtue of its position at the crossroads of glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and its production and fate being governed by numerous cell-intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The former includes the cell’s type, redox state, ATP content, metabolic requirements and the activities of other metabolic pathways. The latter include the extracellular oxygen concentration, pH and nutrient levels, which are in turn governed by the vascular supply. Within this context, we discuss the six pathways that influence pyruvate content and utilization: 1. The lactate dehydrogenase pathway that either converts excess pyruvate to lactate or that regenerates pyruvate from lactate for use as a fuel or biosynthetic substrate; 2. The alanine pathway that generates alanine and other amino acids; 3. The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex pathway that provides acetyl-CoA, the TCA cycle’s initial substrate; 4. The pyruvate carboxylase reaction that anaplerotically supplies oxaloacetate; 5. The malic enzyme pathway that also links glycolysis and the TCA cycle and generates NADPH to support lipid bio-synthesis; and 6. The acetate bio-synthetic pathway that converts pyruvate directly to acetate. The review discusses the mechanisms controlling these pathways, how they cross-talk and how they cooperate and are regulated to maximize growth and achieve metabolic and energetic harmony.

scholarly journals Comprehensive Plasma Metabolomic Profile of Patients with Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs). Diagnostic and Biological Relevance

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2634
Author(s):  
Beatriz Soldevilla ◽  
Angeles López-López ◽  
Alberto Lens-Pardo ◽  
Carlos Carretero-Puche ◽  
Angeles Lopez-Gonzalvez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Metabolic Networks ◽  
Tca Cycle ◽  
Metabolomic Profile ◽  
Diagnostic Potential ◽  
The Tca Cycle ◽  
Novel Biomarkers ◽  
Potential Methods ◽  
Clinical Potential ◽  
First Time

Purpose: High-throughput “-omic” technologies have enabled the detailed analysis of metabolic networks in several cancers, but NETs have not been explored to date. We aim to assess the metabolomic profile of NET patients to understand metabolic deregulation in these tumors and identify novel biomarkers with clinical potential. Methods: Plasma samples from 77 NETs and 68 controls were profiled by GC−MS, CE−MS and LC−MS untargeted metabolomics. OPLS-DA was performed to evaluate metabolomic differences. Related pathways were explored using Metaboanalyst 4.0. Finally, ROC and OPLS-DA analyses were performed to select metabolites with biomarker potential. Results: We identified 155 differential compounds between NETs and controls. We have detected an increase of bile acids, sugars, oxidized lipids and oxidized products from arachidonic acid and a decrease of carnitine levels in NETs. MPA/MSEA identified 32 enriched metabolic pathways in NETs related with the TCA cycle and amino acid metabolism. Finally, OPLS-DA and ROC analysis revealed 48 metabolites with diagnostic potential. Conclusions: This study provides, for the first time, a comprehensive metabolic profile of NET patients and identifies a distinctive metabolic signature in plasma of potential clinical use. A reduced set of metabolites of high diagnostic accuracy has been identified. Additionally, new enriched metabolic pathways annotated may open innovative avenues of clinical research.

scholarly journals Effects of corn steep liquor on β-poly(l-malic acid) production in Aureobasidium melanogenum

AMB Express ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Genan Wang ◽  
Bingyi Shi ◽  
Pan Zhang ◽  
Tingbin Zhao ◽  
Haisong Yin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Malic Acid ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Corn Steep Liquor ◽  
Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Tca Cycle ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
The Tca Cycle ◽  
Steep Liquor ◽  
Aureobasidium Melanogenum

Abstractβ-poly(l-malic acid) (PMLA) is a water-soluble biopolymer used in medicine, food, and other industries. However, the low level of PMLA biosynthesis in microorganisms limits its further application in the biotechnological industry. In this study, corn steep liquor (CSL), which processes high nutritional value and low-cost characteristics, was selected as a growth factor to increase the PMLA production in strain, Aureobasidium melanogenum, and its metabolomics change under the CSL addition was investigated. The results indicated that, with 3 g/L CSL, PMLA production, cell growth, and yield (Yp/x) were increased by 32.76%, 41.82%, and 47.43%, respectively. The intracellular metabolites of A. melanogenum, such as amino acids, organic acids, and key intermediates in the TCA cycle, increased after the addition of CSL, and the enrichment analysis showed that tyrosine may play a major role in the PMLA biosynthesis. The results presented in this study demonstrated that the addition of CSL would be an efficient approach to improve PMLA production.

scholarly journals Intracellular Fate of Universally Labelled 13C Isotopic Tracers of Glucose and Xylose in Central Metabolic Pathways of Xanthomonas oryzae

Metabolites ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manu Shree ◽  
Shyam K. Masakapalli
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Metabolic Networks ◽  
Tca Cycle ◽  
Xanthomonas Oryzae ◽  
Flux Analysis ◽  
Isotopic Tracers ◽  
Feeding Experiments ◽  
The Tca Cycle ◽  
Metabolic Route

The goal of this study is to map the metabolic pathways of poorly understood bacterial phytopathogen, Xanthomonas oryzae (Xoo) BXO43 fed with plant mimicking media XOM2 containing glutamate, methionine and either 40% [13C5] xylose or 40% [13C6] glucose. The metabolic networks mapped using the KEGG mapper and the mass isotopomer fragments of proteinogenic amino acids derived from GC-MS provided insights into the activities of Xoo central metabolic pathways. The average 13C in histidine, aspartate and other amino acids confirmed the activities of PPP, the TCA cycle and amino acid biosynthetic routes, respectively. The similar labelling patterns of amino acids (His, Ala, Ser, Val and Gly) from glucose and xylose feeding experiments suggests that PPP would be the main metabolic route in Xoo. Owing to the lack of annotated gene phosphoglucoisomerase in BXO43, the 13C incorporation in alanine could not be attributed to the competing pathways and hence warrants additional positional labelling experiments. The negligible presence of 13C incorporation in methionine brings into question its potential role in metabolism and pathogenicity. The extent of the average 13C labelling in several amino acids highlighted the contribution of pre-existing pools that need to be accounted for in 13C-flux analysis studies. This study provided the first qualitative insights into central carbon metabolic pathway activities in Xoo.

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