scholarly journals Discovery and characterization of a novel family of prokaryotic nanocompartments involved in sulfur metabolism

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J Nichols ◽  
Benjamin LaFrance ◽  
Naiya R Phillips ◽  
Devon R Radford ◽  
Luke M Oltrogge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Sulfur Metabolism ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Enzymatic Characterization ◽  
Cysteine Desulfurase ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Pcc 7942

Prokaryotic nanocompartments, also known as encapsulins, are a recently discovered proteinaceous organelle-like compartments in prokaryotes that compartmentalize cargo enzymes. While initial studies have begun to elucidate the structure and physiological roles of encapsulins, bioinformatic evidence suggests that a great diversity of encapsulin nanocompartments remains unexplored. Here, we describe a novel encapsulin in the freshwater cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. This nanocompartment is upregulated upon sulfate starvation and encapsulates a cysteine desulfurase enzyme via an N-terminal targeting sequence. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we have determined the structure of the nanocompartment complex to 2.2 Å resolution. Lastly, biochemical characterization of the complex demonstrated that the activity of the cysteine desulfurase is enhanced upon encapsulation. Taken together, our discovery, structural analysis, and enzymatic characterization of this prokaryotic nanocompartment provide a foundation for future studies seeking to understand the physiological role of this encapsulin in various bacteria.

scholarly journals Discovery and characterization of a novel family of prokaryotic nanocompartments involved in sulfur metabolism

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Nichols ◽  
Benjamin LaFrance ◽  
Naiya R. Phillips ◽  
Luke M. Oltrogge ◽  
Luis E. Valentin-Alvarado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Analysis ◽  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Sulfur Metabolism ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Enzymatic Characterization ◽  
Cysteine Desulfurase ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Pcc 7942

AbstractProkaryotic nanocompartments, also known as encapsulins, are a recently discovered proteinaceous organelle in prokaryotes that compartmentalize cargo enzymes. While initial studies have begun to elucidate the structure and physiological roles of encapsulins, bioinformatic evidence suggests that a great diversity of encapsulin nanocompartments remains unexplored. Here, we describe a novel encapsulin in the freshwater cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. This nanocompartment is upregulated upon sulfate starvation and encapsulates a cysteine desulfurase enzyme via an N-terminal targeting sequence. Using cryoelectron microscopy, we have determined the structure of the nanocompartment complex to 2.2 Å resolution. Lastly, biochemical characterization of the complex demonstrated that the activity of the cysteine desulfurase is enhanced upon encapsulation. Taken together, our discovery, structural analysis, and enzymatic characterization of this prokaryotic nanocompartment provide a foundation for future studies seeking to understand the physiological role of this encapsulin in various bacteria.

scholarly journals A distinct physiological role of MutY in mutation prevention in mycobacteria

Microbiology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 156 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna Kurthkoti ◽  
Thiruneelakantan Srinath ◽  
Pradeep Kumar ◽  
Vidyasagar S. Malshetty ◽  
Pau Biak Sang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Base Excision Repair ◽  
Mycobacterium Smegmatis ◽  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Excision Repair ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Repair Enzymes ◽  
Base Excision ◽  
Oxidative Damage To Dna

Oxidative damage to DNA results in the occurrence of 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) in the genome. In eubacteria, repair of such damage is initiated by two major base-excision repair enzymes, MutM and MutY. We generated a MutY-deficient strain of Mycobacterium smegmatis to investigate the role of this enzyme in DNA repair. The MutY deficiency in M. smegmatis did not result in either a noteworthy susceptibility to oxidative stress or an increase in the mutation rate. However, rifampicin-resistant isolates of the MutY-deficient strain showed distinct mutations in the rifampicin-resistance-determining region of rpoB. Besides the expected C to A (or G to T) mutations, an increase in A to C (or T to G) mutations was also observed. Biochemical characterization of mycobacterial MutY (M. smegmatis and M. tuberculosis) revealed an expected excision of A opposite 8-oxoG in DNA. Additionally, excision of G and T opposite 8-oxoG was detected. MutY formed complexes with DNA containing 8-oxoG : A, 8-oxoG : G or 8-oxoG : T but not 8-oxoG : C pairs. Primer extension reactions in cell-free extracts of M. smegmatis suggested error-prone incorporation of nucleotides into the DNA. Based on these observations, we discuss the physiological role of MutY in specific mutation prevention in mycobacteria.

scholarly journals Genetic and biochemical characterization of the Na + /H + antiporters of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Foreman ◽  
Kristina Ferrara ◽  
Teri Hreha ◽  
Ana Duran-Pinedo ◽  
Jorge Frias-Lopez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Glycerol Metabolism ◽  
Kinetic Properties ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Quadruple Mutant

Pseudomonas aeruginosa has four Na + /H + antiporters that interconvert and balance Na + and H + gradients across the membrane. These gradients are important for bioenergetics and ionic homeostasis. To understand these transporters, we have constructed four strains, each of which has only one antiporter: NhaB, NhaP, NhaP2, and Mrp. We also constructed a quadruple deletion mutant that has no Na + /H + antiporters. Although the antiporters of P. aeruginosa have previously been studied, the strains constructed here present the opportunity to characterize their kinetic properties in their native membranes and their roles in the physiology of P. aeruginosa . The strains expressing only NhaB or Mrp, the two electrogenic antiporters, are able to grow essentially as the wild type across a range of [Na + ] and pH. Strains with only NhaP or NhaP2, which are electroneutral, grow more poorly at increasing [Na + ], especially at high pH, with NhaP the most sensitive. The strain with no Na + /H + antiporters is extremely sensitive to [Na + ] and shows essentially no Na + (Li + )/H + antiporter activity but retains most K + /H + antiporter activity of the wild type at pH 7.5 and approximately half at pH 8.5. We also used the four strains that each express one of the four antiporters to characterize the kinetic properties of each transporter. RNA-seq analysis of the quadruple deletion strain showed widespread changes, including pyocyanin synthesis, biofilm formation, and nitrate and glycerol metabolism. Thus, the strains constructed for this study will open a new door to understanding the physiological role of these proteins and their activities in P. aeruginosa . Importance Pseudomonas aeruginosa has four Na + /H + antiporters that connect and interconvert its Na + and H + gradients. We have constructed four deletion mutants, each of which has only one of the four Na + /H + antiporters. These strains made it possible to study the properties and physiological roles of each antiporter independently in its native membrane. Mrp and NhaB are each able to sustain growth over a wide range of pH and [Na + ], whereas the two electroneutral antiporters, NhaP and NhaP2, are most effective at low pH. We also constructed a quadruple mutant, lacking all four antiporters in which the H + and Na + gradients are disconnected. This will make it possible to study the role of the two gradients independently.

scholarly journals Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of α-Glucosidase and α-Mannosidase and Their Clustered Genes from the Thermoacidophilic Archaeon Picrophilus torridus

2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (20) ◽  
pp. 7123-7131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel Angelov ◽  
Mateusz Putyrski ◽  
Wolfgang Liebl
Keyword(s):  
Northern Blot Analysis ◽  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Biochemical Properties ◽  
Recombinant Enzymes ◽  
Site Mapping ◽  
Picrophilus Torridus ◽  
Genes Encoding

ABSTRACT The genes encoding a putative α-glucosidase (aglA) and an α-mannosidase (manA) appear to be physically clustered in the genome of the extreme acidophile Picrophilus torridus, a situation not found previously in any other organism possessing aglA or manA homologs. While archaeal α-glucosidases have been described, no α-mannosidase enzymes from the archaeal kingdom have been reported previously. Transcription start site mapping and Northern blot analysis revealed that despite their colinear orientation and the small intergenic space, the genes are independently transcribed, both producing leaderless mRNA. aglA and manA were cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and the purified recombinant enzymes were characterized with respect to their physicochemical and biochemical properties. AglA displayed strict substrate specificity and hydrolyzed maltose, as well as longer α-1,4-linked maltooligosaccharides. ManA, on the other hand, hydrolyzed all possible linkage types of α-glycosidically linked mannose disaccharides and was able to hydrolyze α3,α6-mannopentaose, which represents the core structure of many triantennary N-linked carbohydrates in glycoproteins. The probable physiological role of the two enzymes in the utilization of exogenous glycoproteins and/or in the turnover of the organism's own glycoproteins is discussed.

scholarly journals Characterization of four new monoclonal antibodies against the distal N-terminal region of PrPc

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Didonna ◽  
Anja Colja Venturini ◽  
Katrina Hartman ◽  
Tanja Vranac ◽  
Vladka Curin Serbec ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Prion Protein ◽  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Prion Diseases ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Prion Infection ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
N Terminus

Prion diseases are a group of fatal neurodegenerative disorders that affect humans and animals. They are characterized by the accumulation in the central nervous system of a pathological form of the host-encoded prion protein (PrPC). The prion protein is a membrane glycoprotein that consists of two domains: a globular, structured C-terminus and an unstructured N-terminus. The N-terminal part of the protein is involved in different functions in both health and disease. In the present work we discuss the production and biochemical characterization of a panel of four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the distal N-terminus of PrPC using a well-established methodology based on the immunization of Prnp0/0 mice. Additionally, we show their ability to block prion (PrPSc) replication at nanomolar concentrations in a cell culture model of prion infection. These mAbs represent a promising tool for prion diagnostics and for studying the physiological role of the N-terminal domain of PrPC.

scholarly journals Structural and Kinetic Characterization of Hyperthermophilic NADH-Dependent Persulfide Reductase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus

Archaea ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Sherwin Shabdar ◽  
Bukuru Anaclet ◽  
Ana Garcia Castineiras ◽  
Neyissa Desir ◽  
Nicholas Choe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nadh Oxidase ◽  
Reductase Activity ◽  
Sulfur Metabolism ◽  
Archaeoglobus Fulgidus ◽  
Bacterial Enzymes ◽  
Detectable Activity ◽  
Metabolic Role ◽  
Nadh Oxidase Activity

NADH-dependent persulfide reductase (Npsr) has been proposed to facilitate dissimilatory sulfur respiration by reducing persulfide or sulfane sulfur-containing substrates to H2S. The presence of this gene in the sulfate and thiosulfate-reducing Archaeoglobus fulgidus DSM 4304 and other hyperthermophilic Archaeoglobales appears anomalous, as A. fulgidus is unable to respire S0 and grow in the presence of elemental sulfur. To assess the role of Npsr in the sulfur metabolism of A. fulgidus DSM 4304, the Npsr from A. fulgidus was characterized. AfNpsr is specific for persulfide and polysulfide as substrates in the oxidative half-reaction, exhibiting k cat / K m on the order of 104 M-1 s-1, which is similar to the kinetic parameters observed for hyperthermophilic CoA persulfide reductases. In contrast to the bacterial Npsr, AfNpsr exhibits low disulfide reductase activity with DTNB; however, similar to the bacterial enzymes, it does not show detectable activity with CoA-disulfide, oxidized glutathione, or cystine. The 3.1 Å X-ray structure of AfNpsr reveals access to the tightly bound catalytic CoA, and the active site Cys 42 is restricted by a flexible loop (residues 60-66) that is not seen in the bacterial homologs from Shewanella loihica PV-4 and Bacillus anthracis. Unlike the bacterial enzymes, AfNpsr exhibits NADH oxidase activity and also shows no detectable activity with NADPH. Models suggest steric and electrostatic repulsions of the NADPH 2 ′ -phosphate account for the strong preference for NADH. The presence of Npsr in the nonsulfur-reducing A. fulgidus suggests that the enzyme may offer some protection against S0 or serve in another metabolic role that has yet to be identified.

scholarly journals Structural and biochemical characterization of the environmental MBLs MYO-1, ECV-1 and SHD-1

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. 2554-2563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Fröhlich ◽  
Vidar Sørum ◽  
Sandra Huber ◽  
Ørjan Samuelsen ◽  
Fanny Berglund ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Homology Modelling ◽  
Catalytic Efficiency ◽  
Hydrolytic Activity ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
E Coli ◽  
X Ray Crystallography ◽  
Environmental Reservoir

Abstract Background MBLs form a large and heterogeneous group of bacterial enzymes conferring resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, including carbapenems. A large environmental reservoir of MBLs has been identified, which can act as a source for transfer into human pathogens. Therefore, structural investigation of environmental and clinically rare MBLs can give new insights into structure–activity relationships to explore the role of catalytic and second shell residues, which are under selective pressure. Objectives To investigate the structure and activity of the environmental subclass B1 MBLs MYO-1, SHD-1 and ECV-1. Methods The respective genes of these MBLs were cloned into vectors and expressed in Escherichia coli. Purified enzymes were characterized with respect to their catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km). The enzymatic activities and MICs were determined for a panel of different β-lactams, including penicillins, cephalosporins and carbapenems. Thermostability was measured and structures were solved using X-ray crystallography (MYO-1 and ECV-1) or generated by homology modelling (SHD-1). Results Expression of the environmental MBLs in E. coli resulted in the characteristic MBL profile, not affecting aztreonam susceptibility and decreasing susceptibility to carbapenems, cephalosporins and penicillins. The purified enzymes showed variable catalytic activity in the order of <5% to ∼70% compared with the clinically widespread NDM-1. The thermostability of ECV-1 and SHD-1 was up to 8°C higher than that of MYO-1 and NDM-1. Using solved structures and molecular modelling, we identified differences in their second shell composition, possibly responsible for their relatively low hydrolytic activity. Conclusions These results show the importance of environmental species acting as reservoirs for MBL-encoding genes.

scholarly journals Insight into Biochemical Characterization of Plant Sesquiterpene Synthases

2016 ◽  
Vol 11s1 ◽  
pp. ACI.S40292
Author(s):  
Tom Manczak ◽  
Henrik Toft Simonsen
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Parameters ◽  
Biochemical Characterization ◽  
Radioactive Isotopes ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Enzymatic Characterization ◽  
Turnover Number ◽  
Terpene Synthases ◽  
Thapsia Garganica ◽  
Insight Into

A fast and reproducible protocol was established for enzymatic characterization of plant sesquiterpene synthases that can incorporate radioactivity in their products. The method utilizes the 96-well format in conjunction with cluster tubes and enables processing of >200 samples a day. Along with reduced reagent usage, it allows further reduction in the use of radioactive isotopes and flammable organic solvents. The sesquiterpene synthases previously characterized were expressed in yeast, and the plant-derived Thapsia garganica kunzeaol synthase TgTPS2 was tested in this method. KM for TgTPS2 was found to be 0.55 μM; the turnover number, kcat, was found to be 0.29 s−1, kcat for TgTPS2 is in agreement with that of terpene synthases of other plants, and kcat/ KM was found to be 0.53 s−1 μM−1 for TgTPS2. The kinetic parameters were in agreement with previously published data.

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