scholarly journals The Acidic Repetitive Domain of the Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MamJ Protein Displays Hypervariability but Is Not Required for Magnetosome Chain Assembly

2007 ◽  
Vol 189 (17) ◽  
pp. 6437-6446 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Scheffel ◽  
Dirk Schüler
Keyword(s):  
Electron Tomography ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Magnetotactic Bacteria ◽  
Central Domain ◽  
Magnetospirillum Gryphiswaldense ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Cytoskeletal Filament ◽  
Distinct Sequence ◽  
Specific Proteins ◽  
Two Hybrid

ABSTRACT Magnetotactic bacteria navigate along the earth's magnetic field using chains of magnetosomes, which are intracellular organelles comprising membrane-enclosed magnetite crystals. The assembly of highly ordered magnetosome chains is under genetic control and involves several specific proteins. Based on genetic and cryo-electron tomography studies, a model was recently proposed in which the acidic MamJ magnetosome protein attaches magnetosome vesicles to the actin-like cytoskeletal filament formed by MamK, thereby preventing magnetosome chains from collapsing. However, the exact functions as well as the mode of interaction between MamK and MamJ are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that several functional MamJ variants from Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense and other magnetotactic bacteria share an acidic and repetitive central domain, which displays an unusual intra- and interspecies sequence polymorphism, probably caused by homologous recombination between identical copies of Glu- and Pro-rich repeats. Surprisingly, mamJ mutant alleles in which the central domain was deleted retained their potential to restore chain formation in a ΔmamJ mutant, suggesting that the acidic domain is not essential for MamJ's function. Results of two-hybrid experiments indicate that MamJ physically interacts with MamK, and two distinct sequence regions within MamJ were shown to be involved in binding to MamK. Mutant variants of MamJ lacking either of the binding domains were unable to functionally complement the ΔmamJ mutant. In addition, two-hybrid experiments suggest both MamK-binding domains of MamJ confer oligomerization of MamJ. In summary, our data reveal domains required for the functions of the MamJ protein in chain assembly and maintenance and provide the first experimental indications for a direct interaction between MamJ and the cytoskeletal filament protein MamK.

scholarly journals The Major Magnetosome Proteins MamGFDC Are Not Essential for Magnetite Biomineralization in Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense but Regulate the Size of Magnetosome Crystals

2007 ◽  
Vol 190 (1) ◽  
pp. 377-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Scheffel ◽  
Astrid Gärdes ◽  
Karen Grünberg ◽  
Gerhard Wanner ◽  
Dirk Schüler
Keyword(s):  
Magnetotactic Bacteria ◽  
Crystal Formation ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Unknown Mechanism ◽  
Magnetospirillum Gryphiswaldense ◽  
Type Size ◽  
Specific Proteins ◽  
Magnetite Biomineralization ◽  
Redundant Functions ◽  
Small Hydrophobic

ABSTRACT Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense and related magnetotactic bacteria form magnetosomes, which are membrane-enclosed organelles containing crystals of magnetite (Fe3O4) that cause the cells to orient in magnetic fields. The characteristic sizes, morphologies, and patterns of alignment of magnetite crystals are controlled by vesicles formed of the magnetosome membrane (MM), which contains a number of specific proteins whose precise roles in magnetosome formation have remained largely elusive. Here, we report on a functional analysis of the small hydrophobic MamGFDC proteins, which altogether account for nearly 35% of all proteins associated with the MM. Although their high levels of abundance and conservation among magnetotactic bacteria had suggested a major role in magnetosome formation, we found that the MamGFDC proteins are not essential for biomineralization, as the deletion of neither mamC, encoding the most abundant magnetosome protein, nor the entire mamGFDC operon abolished the formation of magnetite crystals. However, cells lacking mamGFDC produced crystals that were only 75% of the wild-type size and were less regular than wild-type crystals with respect to morphology and chain-like organization. The inhibition of crystal formation could not be eliminated by increased iron concentrations. The growth of mutant crystals apparently was not spatially constrained by the sizes of MM vesicles, as cells lacking mamGFDC formed vesicles with sizes and shapes nearly identical to those formed by wild-type cells. However, the formation of wild-type-size magnetite crystals could be gradually restored by in-trans complementation with one, two, and three genes of the mamGFDC operon, regardless of the combination, whereas the expression of all four genes resulted in crystals exceeding the wild-type size. Our data suggest that the MamGFDC proteins have partially redundant functions and, in a cumulative manner, control the growth of magnetite crystals by an as-yet-unknown mechanism.

scholarly journals New Phenotype and Mineralization of Biogenic Iron Oxide in Magnetotactic Bacteria

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3189
Author(s):  
Walid Baaziz ◽  
Corneliu Ghica ◽  
Jefferson Cypriano ◽  
Fernanda Abreu ◽  
Karine Anselme ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iron Oxide ◽  
Cytoplasmic Membrane ◽  
Electron Tomography ◽  
Magnetotactic Bacteria ◽  
Linear Chains ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Diffraction Structure ◽  
Specific Proteins ◽  
Oxide Crystals ◽  
Biogenic Iron

Many magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) biomineralize magnetite crystals that nucleate and grow inside intracellular membranous vesicles originating from invaginations of the cytoplasmic membrane. The crystals together with their surrounding membranes are referred to as magnetosomes. Magnetosome magnetite crystals nucleate and grow using iron transported inside the vesicle by specific proteins. Here, we tackle the question of the organization of magnetosomes, which are always described as constituted by linear chains of nanocrystals. In addition, it is commonly accepted that the iron oxide nanocrystals are in the magnetite-based phase. We show, in the case of a wild species of coccus-type bacterium, that there is a double organization of the magnetosomes, relatively perpendicular to each other, and that the nanocrystals are in fact maghemite. These findings were obtained, respectively, by using electron tomography of whole mounts of cells directly from the environment and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and diffraction. Structure simulations were performed with the MacTempas software. This study opens new perspectives on the diversity of phenotypes within MTBs and allows to envisage other mechanisms of nucleation and formation of biogenic iron oxide crystals.

scholarly journals Multifunktionale bakterielle Nanomagnete für Biotechnologie und Medizin

BIOspektrum ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 442-444
Author(s):  
Frank Mickoleit ◽  
Sabine Rosenfeldt ◽  
Anna S. Schenk ◽  
Dirk Schüler ◽  
René Uebe
Keyword(s):  
Particle Production ◽  
Magnetotactic Bacteria ◽  
Magnetic Core ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Core Shell ◽  
Shell Nanoparticles ◽  
Magnetospirillum Gryphiswaldense ◽  
Core Shell Nanoparticles ◽  
Genetic Toolkit ◽  
The Way

AbstractBacterial magnetosomes represent magnetic core-shell nanoparticles biomineralized by magnetotactic bacteria like Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense. The establishment of fermentation regimes for high-yield particle production, standardized isolation procedures as well as the development of a genetic toolkit for the generation of “tailored” particles might soon pave the way for the application of engineered magnetosomes in the biomedical and biotechnological field.

scholarly journals SpoVID Guides SafA to the Spore Coat inBacillus subtilis

2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (10) ◽  
pp. 3041-3049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda J. Ozin ◽  
Craig S. Samford ◽  
Adriano O. Henriques ◽  
Charles P. Moran
Keyword(s):  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Spore Coat ◽  
Coat Proteins ◽  
Yeast Two Hybrid System ◽  
Spore Coat Proteins ◽  
Basement Layer ◽  
Two Hybrid ◽  
Spore Coat Protein

ABSTRACT Bacteria assemble complex structures by targeting proteins to specific subcellular locations. The protein coat that encasesBacillus subtilis spores is an example of a structure that requires coordinated targeting and assembly of more than 24 polypeptides. The earliest stages of coat assembly require the action of three morphogenetic proteins: SpoIVA, CotE, and SpoVID. In the first steps, a basement layer of SpoIVA forms around the surface of the forespore, guiding the subsequent positioning of a ring of CotE protein about 75 nm from the forespore surface. SpoVID localizes near the forespore membrane where it functions to maintain the integrity of the CotE ring and to anchor the nascent coat to the underlying spore structures. However, it is not known which spore coat proteins interact directly with SpoVID. In this study we examined the interaction between SpoVID and another spore coat protein, SafA, in vivo using the yeast two-hybrid system and in vitro. We found evidence that SpoVID and SafA directly interact and that SafA interacts with itself. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that SafA localized around the forespore early during coat assembly and that this localization of SafA was dependent on SpoVID. Moreover, targeting of SafA to the forespore was also dependent on SpoIVA, as was targeting of SpoVID to the forespore. We suggest that the localization of SafA to the spore coat requires direct interaction with SpoVID.

scholarly journals Rapid Estrogen-Induced Phosphorylation of the SRC-3 Coactivator Occurs in an Extranuclear Complex Containing Estrogen Receptor

2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (18) ◽  
pp. 8273-8284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fuzhong F. Zheng ◽  
Ray-Chang Wu ◽  
Carolyn L. Smith ◽  
Bert W. O'Malley
Keyword(s):  
Estrogen Receptor ◽  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Activation Function ◽  
Estrogen Receptor Α ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Phosphorylation Sites ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Nongenomic Action ◽  
Binding Groove

ABSTRACT SRC-3/AIB1/ACTR/pCIP/RAC3/TRAM1 is a primary transcriptional coregulator for estrogen receptor (ER). Six SRC-3 phosphorylation sites have been identified, and these can be induced by steroids, cytokines, and growth factors, involving multiple kinase signaling pathways. Using phosphospecific antibodies for six phosphorylation sites, we investigated the mechanisms involved in estradiol (E2)-induced SRC-3 phosphorylation and found that this occurs only when either activated estrogen receptor α (ERα) or activated ERβ is present. Both the activation function 1 and the ligand binding domains of ERα are required for maximal induction. Mutations in the coactivator binding groove of the ERα ligand binding domain inhibit E2-stimulated SRC-3 phosphorylation, as do mutations in the nuclear receptor-interacting domain of SRC-3, suggesting that ERα must directly contact SRC-3 for this posttranslational modification to take place. A transcriptionally inactive ERα mutant which localizes to the cytoplasm supports E2-induced SRC-3 phosphorylation. Mutations of the ERα DNA binding domain did not block this rapid E2-dependent SRC-3 phosphorylation. Together these data demonstrate that E2-induced SRC-3 phosphorylation is dependent on a direct interaction between SRC-3 and ERα and can occur outside of the nucleus. Our results provide evidence for an early nongenomic action of ER on SRC-3 that supports the well-established downstream genomic roles of estrogen and coactivators.

scholarly journals Probing the stability and magnetic properties of magnetosome chains in freeze-dried magnetotactic bacteria

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1115-1121
Author(s):  
Philipp Bender ◽  
Lourdes Marcano ◽  
Iñaki Orue ◽  
Diego Alba Venero ◽  
Dirk Honecker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Properties ◽  
Magnetite Nanoparticles ◽  
Magnetotactic Bacteria ◽  
Magnetic Compass ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Magnetospirillum Gryphiswaldense ◽  
Freeze Dried ◽  
A Chain ◽  
The Stability

Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense biosynthesize high quality magnetite nanoparticles, called magnetosomes, and arrange them into a chain that behaves like a magnetic compass.

scholarly journals Genome-Wide Identification of Essential and Auxiliary Gene Sets for Magnetosome Biosynthesis in Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense

mSystems ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen T. Silva ◽  
Margarete Schüler ◽  
Frank Mickoleit ◽  
Theresa Zwiener ◽  
Frank D. Müller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Intracellular Localization ◽  
Anaerobic Respiration ◽  
Magnetotactic Bacteria ◽  
Transposon Mutagenesis ◽  
Forward Genetics ◽  
Genetic Determinants ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Magnetospirillum Gryphiswaldense ◽  
Genome Wide

ABSTRACT Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) stand out by their ability to manufacture membrane-enclosed magnetic organelles, so-called magnetosomes. Previously, it has been assumed that a genomic region of approximately 100 kbp, the magnetosome island (MAI), harbors all genetic determinants required for this intricate biosynthesis process. Recent evidence, however, argues for the involvement of additional auxiliary genes that have not been identified yet. In the present study, we set out to delineate the full gene complement required for magnetosome production in the alphaproteobacterium Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense using a systematic genome-wide transposon mutagenesis approach. By an optimized procedure, a Tn5 insertion library of 80,000 clones was generated and screened, yielding close to 200 insertants with mild to severe impairment of magnetosome biosynthesis. Approximately 50% of all Tn5 insertion sites mapped within the MAI, mostly leading to a nonmagnetic phenotype. In contrast, in the majority of weakly magnetic Tn5 insertion mutants, genes outside the MAI were affected, which typically caused lower numbers of magnetite crystals with partly aberrant morphology, occasionally combined with deviant intracellular localization. While some of the Tn5-struck genes outside the MAI belong to pathways that have been linked to magnetosome formation before (e.g., aerobic and anaerobic respiration), the majority of affected genes are involved in so far unsuspected cellular processes, such as sulfate assimilation, oxidative protein folding, and cytochrome c maturation, or are altogether of unknown function. We also found that signal transduction and redox functions are enriched in the set of Tn5 hits outside the MAI, suggesting that such processes are particularly important in support of magnetosome biosynthesis. IMPORTANCE Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense is one of the few tractable model magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) for studying magnetosome biomineralization. So far, knowledge on the genetic determinants of this complex process has been mainly gathered using reverse genetics and candidate approaches. In contrast, nontargeted forward genetics studies are lacking, since application of such techniques in MTB has been complicated for a number of technical reasons. Here, we report on the first comprehensive transposon mutagenesis study in MTB, aiming at systematic identification of auxiliary genes necessary to support magnetosome formation in addition to key genes harbored in the magnetosome island (MAI). Our work considerably extends the candidate set of novel subsidiary determinants and shows that the full gene complement underlying magnetosome biosynthesis is larger than assumed. In particular, we were able to define certain cellular pathways as specifically important for magnetosome formation that have not been implicated in this process so far.

Biologic significance of GATA-1 activities in Ras-mediated megakaryocytic differentiation of hematopoietic cell lines

Blood ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 96 (7) ◽  
pp. 2440-2450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Itaru Matsumura ◽  
Akira Kawasaki ◽  
Hirokazu Tanaka ◽  
Junko Sonoyama ◽  
Sachiko Ezoe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Myeloid Cell ◽  
Megakaryocytic Differentiation ◽  
Dna Binding Domains ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Endogenous Expression ◽  
Ras Activation

Abstract Lineage-specific transcription factors play crucial roles in the development of hematopoietic cells. In a previous study, it was demonstrated that Ras activation was involved in thrombopoietin-induced megakaryocytic differentiation. In this study, constitutive Ras activation by H-rasG12V evoked megakaryocytic maturation of erythroleukemia cell lines F-36P and K562, but not of myeloid cell line 32D cl3 that lacks GATA-1. However, the introduction of GATA-1 led to reprogramming of 32D cl3 toward erythrocytic/megakaryocytic lineage and enabled it to undergo megakaryocytic differentiation in response to H-rasG12V. In contrast, the overexpression of PU.1 and c-Myb changed the phenotype of K562 from erythroid to myeloid/monocytic lineage and rendered K562 to differentiate into granulocytes and macrophages in response to H-rasG12V, respectively. In GATA-1–transfected 32D cl3, the endogenous expression of PU.1 and c-Myb was easily detectable, but their activities were reduced severely. Endogenous GATA-1 activities were markedly suppressed in PU.1-transfected and c-myb–transfected K562. As for the mechanisms of these reciprocal inhibitions, GATA-1 and PU.1 were found to associate through their DNA-binding domains and to inhibit the respective DNA-binding activities of each other. In addition, c-Myb bound to GATA-1 and inhibited its DNA-binding activities. Mutant GATA-1 and PU.1 that retained their own transcriptional activities but could not inhibit the reciprocal partner were less effective in changing the lineage phenotype of 32D cl3 and K562. These results suggested that GATA-1 activities may be crucial for Ras-mediated megakaryocytic differentiation and that its activities may be regulated by the direct interaction with other lineage-specific transcription factors such as PU.1 and c-Myb.

scholarly journals The Bacteriophage T4 Inhibitor and Coactivator AsiA Inhibits Escherichia coli RNA Polymerase More Rapidly in the Absence of σ70 Region 1.1: Evidence that Region 1.1 Stabilizes the Interaction between σ70 and Core

2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (4) ◽  
pp. 1279-1285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah M. Hinton ◽  
Srilatha Vuthoori ◽  
Rebecca Mulamba
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Dynamic Equilibrium ◽  
Bacteriophage T4 ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Binding Properties ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Dna Binding Properties ◽  
Two Hybrid

ABSTRACT The N-terminal region (region 1.1) of σ70, the primary σ subunit of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase, is a negatively charged domain that affects the DNA binding properties of σ70 regions 2 and 4. Region 1.1 prevents the interaction of free σ70 with DNA and modulates the formation of stable (open) polymerase/promoter complexes at certain promoters. The bacteriophage T4 AsiA protein is an inhibitor of σ70-dependent transcription from promoters that require an interaction between σ70 region 4 and the −35 DNA element and is the coactivator of transcription at T4 MotA-dependent promoters. Like AsiA, the T4 activator MotA also interacts with σ70 region 4. We have investigated the effect of region 1.1 on AsiA inhibition and MotA/AsiA activation. We show that σ70 region 1.1 is not required for MotA/AsiA activation at the T4 middle promoter P uvsX . However, the rate of AsiA inhibition and of MotA/AsiA activation of polymerase is significantly increased when region 1.1 is missing. We also find that RNA polymerase reconstituted with σ70 that lacks region 1.1 is less stable than polymerase with full-length σ70. Our previous work has demonstrated that the AsiA-inhibited polymerase is formed when AsiA binds to region 4 of free σ70 and then the AsiA/σ70 complex binds to core. Our results suggest that in the absence of region 1.1, there is a shift in the dynamic equilibrium between polymerase holoenzyme and free σ70 plus core, yielding more free σ70 at any given time. Thus, the rate of AsiA inhibition and AsiA/MotA activation increases when RNA polymerase lacks region 1.1 because of the increased availability of free σ70. Previous work has argued both for and against a direct interaction between regions 1.1 and 4. Using an E. coli two-hybrid assay, we do not detect an interaction between these regions. This result supports the idea that the ability of region 1.1 to prevent DNA binding by free σ70 arises through an indirect effect.

scholarly journals BldG and SCO3548 Interact Antagonistically To Control Key Developmental Processes in Streptomyces coelicolor

2009 ◽  
Vol 191 (8) ◽  
pp. 2541-2550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Archana Parashar ◽  
Kimberley R. Colvin ◽  
Dawn R. D. Bignell ◽  
Brenda K. Leskiw
Keyword(s):  
Sigma Factor ◽  
Antibiotic Production ◽  
Streptomyces Coelicolor ◽  
Affinity Purification ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Morphological Differentiation ◽  
Sigma Factors ◽  
Developmental Processes ◽  
Two Hybrid

ABSTRACT The similarity of BldG and the downstream coexpressed protein SCO3548 to anti-anti-sigma and anti-sigma factors, respectively, together with the phenotype of a bldG mutant, suggests that BldG and SCO3548 interact as part of a regulatory system to control both antibiotic production and morphological differentiation in Streptomyces coelicolor. A combination of bacterial two-hybrid, affinity purification, and far-Western analyses demonstrated that there was self-interaction of both BldG and SCO3548, as well as a direct interaction between the two proteins. Furthermore, a genetic complementation experiment demonstrated that SCO3548 antagonizes the function of BldG, similar to other anti-anti-sigma/anti-sigma factor pairs. It is therefore proposed that BldG and SCO3548 form a partner-switching pair that regulates the function of one or more sigma factors in S. coelicolor. The conservation of bldG and sco3548 in other streptomycetes demonstrates that this system is likely a key regulatory switch controlling developmental processes throughout the genus Streptomyces.

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