Amino acid and ammonium utilization by heterotrophic marine bacteria grown in enriched seawater

As the most abundant D-amino acid (DAA) in the ocean, D-alanine (D-Ala) is a key component of peptidoglycan in bacterial cell wall. However, the underlying mechanisms of bacterial metabolization of D-Ala through microbial food web remain largely unknown. In this study, the metabolism of D-Ala by marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. CF6-2 was investigated. Based on genomic, transcriptional and biochemical analyses combined with gene knockout, D-Ala aminotransferase was found to be indispensable for the catabolism of D-Ala in strain CF6-2. Investigation on other marine bacteria also showed that D-Ala aminotransferase gene is a reliable indicator for their ability to utilize D-Ala. Bioinformatic investigation revealed that D-Ala aminotransferase sequences are prevalent in genomes of marine bacteria and metagenomes, especially in seawater samples, and Gammaproteobacteria represents the predominant group containing D-Ala aminotransferase. Thus, Gammaproteobacteria is likely the dominant group to utilize D-Ala via D-Ala aminotransferase to drive the recycling and mineralization of D-Ala in the ocean. IMPORTANCE As the most abundant D-amino acid in the ocean, D-Ala is a component of marine DON (Dissolved organic nitrogen) pool. However, the underlying mechanism of bacterial metabolization of D-Ala to drive the recycling and mineralization of D-Ala in the ocean is still largely unknown. The results in this study showed that D-Ala aminotransferase is specific and indispensable for D-Ala catabolism in marine bacteria, and that marine bacteria containing D-Ala aminotransferase genes are predominantly Gammaproteobacteria widely distributed in global oceans. This study reveals marine D-Ala utilizing bacteria and the mechanism of their metabolization of D-Ala. The results shed light on the mechanisms of recycling and mineralization of D-Ala driven by bacteria in the ocean, which are helpful in understanding oceanic microbial-mediated nitrogen cycle.

Download Full-text

Detection of the Na+-translocating NADH-quinone reductase in marine bacteria using a PCR technique

Canadian Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1139/w00-006 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 46 (4) ◽

pp. 325-332 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Sanae Kato ◽

Isao Yumoto

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Amino Acid ◽

16S Rrna ◽

Marine Bacteria ◽

Genomic Dna ◽

Screening Method ◽

Quinone Reductase ◽

Amino Acid Sequences ◽

Homologous Sequences ◽

Simple Screening

To examine the distribution of the Na+-translocating NADH-quinone reductase (Na+-NQR) among marine bacteria, we developed a simple screening method for the detection of this enzyme. By reference to the homologous sequences of the Na+-NQR operons from Vibrio alginolyticus and Haemophilus influenzae, a pair of primers was designed for amplification of a part of the sixth ORF (nqr6) of the Na+-NQR operon. When PCR was performed using genomic DNA from 13 marine bacteria, a 0.9-kbp fragment corresponding to nqr6 was amplified in 10 strains. Although there were three PCR-negative strains phylogenetically, based on the sequence of the 16S rRNA, these were placed far from the PCR-positive strains. No product was observed in the case of nonmarine bacteria. The nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of nqr6 were highly conserved among the PCR-positive marine bacteria. A phylogenetic analysis of marine bacteria, based on nqr6 sequencing, was performed.Key words: Na+-translocating, NADH-quinone reductase, marine bacteria, PCR.

Download Full-text