RESUMO
Siderophores are iron chelators and low-molecular-weight compounds secreted by various microorganisms under low-iron conditions. Many microorganisms produce siderophores in the natural environment as iron is an essential element for many of them. CAS assays are widely used to detect siderophores in cultures of various microorganisms; however, it is necessary to improve their sensitivity for the efficient application to fastidious microorganisms. We developed a simple, high-throughput CAS assay employing a buffer-free CAS reagent and diluted growth medium (10% dR2A) in a 96-well microplate. Using a diluted growth medium in agar plates suitable for iron-restricted conditions supported siderophore production by microorganisms from activated sludge. A buffer-free CAS reagent combined with a diluted growth medium revealed that these microorganisms tended to produce more siderophores or iron chelators than microorganisms under iron-rich conditions. Moreover, this buffer-free CAS assay easily and efficiently detected not only siderophore production but also the growth of fastidious microorganisms.
Assuntos
Ferro , Sideróforos , Sideróforos/química , Meios de Cultura/química , Transporte BiológicoRESUMO
Diurnal oscillations in the expression of several types of cell surface transporters have been demonstrated in the intestinal epithelial cells, which are mainly generated at transcriptional or degradation processes. Concentrative nucleoside transporter-2 (CNT2) is expressed at the apical site of intestinal epithelial cells and contributes to the uptake of nucleosides and their analogs from the intestinal lumen into the epithelial cells. In this study, we demonstrated that the localization of CNT2 protein in the plasma membrane of mouse intestinal epithelial cells exhibited a diurnal oscillation without changing its protein level in the whole cell. The scaffold protein PDZK1 interacted with CNT2 and stabilized its plasmalemmal localization. The expression of PDZK1 was under the control of molecular components of the circadian clock. Temporal accumulation of PDZK1 protein in intestinal epithelial cells enhanced the plasmalemmal localization of CNT2 at certain times of the day. The temporal increase in CNT2 protein levels at the plasma membrane also facilitated the uptake of adenosine into the intestinal epithelial cells. These results suggest a novel molecular mechanism for the diurnal localization of cell surface transporters and extend our understanding of the biological clock system that generates apparent physiological rhythms.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Transporte , Nucleosídeos , Animais , Camundongos , Transporte Biológico , Proteínas de Transporte/metabolismo , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Células Epiteliais/metabolismoRESUMO
Nitrifying chemoautotrophs support the growth of diverse concomitant heterotrophs in natural or engineered environments by supplying organic compounds. In this study, we aimed to investigate this microbial association, especially (i) to distinguish whether the relationship between nitrifying chemoautotrophs and heterotrophs is commensal or mutualistic, and (ii) to clarify how heterotrophs promote the growth of autotrophic nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (Nitrospira). Pure cultured Nitrospira (Nitrospira sp. ND1) was employed in this study. Heterotrophs growing with metabolic by-products of Nitrospira as a sole carbon source were isolated from several environmental samples and used to test the growth-promoting activity of Nitrospira. Furthermore, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis was conducted to evaluate how heterotrophs consumed chemical compounds produced by Nitrospira and newly produced during co-cultivation. Notably, Nitrospira growth was stimulated by co-cultivation with some heterotrophs and the addition of spent media of some strains, suggesting that not only heterotrophs but also Nitrospira received benefits from their mutual co-existence. Furthermore, the data suggested that some of the growth-promoting heterotrophs provided as-yet-unidentified growth-promoting factors to Nitrospira. Overall, Nitrospira and heterotrophs thus appear to exhibit a mutualistic relationship. Such mutualistic relationships between autotrophs and heterotrophs would contribute to the stability and diversity of microbial ecosystems.
Assuntos
Bactérias , Ecossistema , Processos Autotróficos , Nitrificação , Nitritos/metabolismo , Oxirredução , SimbioseRESUMO
25-Hydroxycholesterol (25OHC) induces anchorage-dependent programmed cell death, or anoikis, in colorectal cancer cells but the mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we found that 25OHC induced cofilin phosphorylation and promoted rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton in spheroids of the colorectal cancer cell lines, DLD1 and HT29/WiDr. Cell death induced by 25OHC was inhibited by the actin polymerization inhibitor, cytochalasin D, and BMS-3, an inhibitor of LIMK, which phosphorylates and inactivates cofilin. In addition, we showed that cofilin phosphorylation induced by 25OHC was associated with caspase-3 activation, which can activate ROCK. Rho GTPase was directly activated by 25OHC. These results indicate that 25OHC affects actin dynamics through activation of the Rho/ROCK/LIMK/cofilin axis, eventuating in the cell death of colorectal cancer cell spheroids.
Assuntos
Morte Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Neoplasias Colorretais/patologia , Hidroxicolesteróis/farmacologia , Fatores de Despolimerização de Actina/metabolismo , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Morte Celular/genética , Neoplasias Colorretais/genética , Neoplasias Colorretais/metabolismo , Células HT29 , Humanos , Quinases Lim/metabolismo , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/farmacologia , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , Transdução de Sinais/genética , Esferoides Celulares/efeitos dos fármacos , Esferoides Celulares/metabolismo , Esferoides Celulares/patologia , Células Tumorais Cultivadas , Quinases Associadas a rho/metabolismoRESUMO
Siderophores are low molecular weight organic compounds produced by various microorganisms, especially pathogenic bacteria including rhizobacteria, and have a high affinity for iron. Although most microorganisms are thought to secrete siderophores under iron-depleted conditions, it is unclear how many microorganisms produce siderophores in the natural environment. Also, the chrome azurol sulfonate (CAS) assay, which is widely used for the detection of siderophores, needs to be improved for wider applicability. We developed a simple, high-throughput CAS assay in a 96-well microplate with a concentrated CAS reagent and commonly used diluted growth media in the absence of artificial iron depletion. The improved microplate CAS shuttle assay revealed that it could easily detect siderophores released from Pseudomonas (P.) fluorescence, P. putida, Burlkholderia stabilis, and Ottowia oryzae, as models of siderophore-producing bacteria. This CAS shuttle assay employed along with diluted growth media is a promising tool to screen new siderophore-producing bacteria.
Assuntos
Bactérias/metabolismo , Meios de Cultura/química , Ensaios de Triagem em Larga Escala/métodos , Hidroxibenzoatos/química , Sideróforos/biossíntese , Bactérias/efeitos dos fármacos , Bactérias/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Fluorescência , Hidroxibenzoatos/farmacologia , Ferro/metabolismoRESUMO
To understand the pressure-adaptation mechanism of deep-sea enzymes, we studied the effects of pressure on the enzyme activity and structural stability of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) of the deep-sea bacterium Moritella profunda (mpDHFR) in comparison with those of Escherichia coli (ecDHFR). mpDHFR exhibited optimal enzyme activity at 50MPa whereas ecDHFR was monotonically inactivated by pressure, suggesting inherent pressure-adaptation mechanisms in mpDHFR. The secondary structure of apo-mpDHFR was stable up to 80°C, as revealed by circular dichroism spectra. The free energy changes due to pressure and urea unfolding of apo-mpDHFR, determined by fluorescence spectroscopy, were smaller than those of ecDHFR, indicating the unstable structure of mpDHFR against pressure and urea despite the three-dimensional crystal structures of both DHFRs being almost the same. The respective volume changes due to pressure and urea unfolding were -45 and -53ml/mol at 25°C for mpDHFR, which were smaller (less negative) than the corresponding values of -77 and -85ml/mol for ecDHFR. These volume changes can be ascribed to the difference in internal cavity and surface hydration of each DHFR. From these results, we assume that the native structure of mpDHFR is loosely packed and highly hydrated compared with that of ecDHFR in solution.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/química , Escherichia coli/química , Moritella/química , Tetra-Hidrofolato Desidrogenase/química , Água/química , Dicroísmo Circular , Cristalografia por Raios X , Estabilidade Enzimática , Escherichia coli/enzimologia , Pressão Hidrostática , Cinética , Moritella/enzimologia , Oceanos e Mares , Estrutura Secundária de Proteína , Desdobramento de Proteína , Proteínas Recombinantes/química , Espectrometria de Fluorescência , Temperatura , Termodinâmica , Ureia/químicaRESUMO
To examine whether dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from deep-sea bacteria has undergone molecular evolution to adapt to high-pressure environments, we cloned eight DHFRs from Shewanella species living in deep-sea and ambient atmospheric-pressure environments, and subsequently purified six proteins to compare their structures, stabilities, and functions. The DHFRs showed 74-90% identity in primary structure to DHFR from S. violacea, but only 55% identity to DHFR from Escherichia coli (ecDHFR). Far-ultraviolet circular dichroism and fluorescence spectra suggested that the secondary and tertiary structures of these DHFRs were similar. In addition, no significant differences were found in structural stability as monitored by urea-induced unfolding and the kinetic parameters, K(m) and k(cat); although the DHFRs from Shewanella species were less stable and more active (2- to 4-fold increases in k(cat)/K(m)) than ecDHFR. Interestingly, the pressure effects on enzyme activity revealed that DHFRs from ambient-atmospheric species are not necessarily incompatible with high pressure, and DHFRs from deep-sea species are not necessarily tolerant of high pressure. These results suggest that the DHFR molecule itself has not evolved to adapt to high-pressure environments, but rather, those Shewanella species with enzymes capable of retaining functional activity under high pressure migrated into the deep-sea.
Assuntos
Shewanella/genética , Tetra-Hidrofolato Desidrogenase/genética , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Atmosfera , Dicroísmo Circular , Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Genes Bacterianos , Cinética , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Pressão , Homologia de Sequência de Aminoácidos , Shewanella/enzimologia , Especificidade da Espécie , Espectrometria de Fluorescência , Termodinâmica , Microbiologia da ÁguaRESUMO
Enzymes from organisms living in deep-sea are thought to have characteristic pressure-adaptation mechanisms in structure and function. To better understand these mechanisms in dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), an essential enzyme in living cells, we cloned, overexpressed and purified four new DHFRs from the deep-sea bacteria Shewanella violacea (svDHFR), Photobacterium profundum (ppDHFR), Moritella yayanosii (myDHFR) and Moritella japonica (mjDHFR), and compared their structure and function with those of Escherichia coli DHFR (ecDHFR). These deep-sea DHFRs showed 33-56% primary structure identity to ecDHFR while far-ultraviolet circular dichroism and fluorescence spectra suggested that their secondary and tertiary structures were not largely different. The optimal temperature and pH for deep-sea DHFRs activity were lower than those of ecDHFR and different from each other. Deep-sea DHFRs kinetic parameters K(m) and k(cat) were larger than those of ecDHFR, resulting in 1.5-2.8-fold increase of k(cat)/K(m) except for mjDHFR which had a 28-fold decrease. The enzyme activity of ppDHFR and mjDHFR (moderate piezophilic bacteria) as well as ecDHFR decreased as pressure increased, while svDHFR and myDHFR (piezophilic bacteria) showed a significant tolerance to pressure. These results suggest that DHFRs from deep-sea bacteria possess specific enzymatic properties adapted to their life under high pressure.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/química , Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Bacilos Gram-Negativos Anaeróbios Facultativos/enzimologia , Bacilos Gram-Negativos Anaeróbios Facultativos/genética , Água do Mar/microbiologia , Tetra-Hidrofolato Desidrogenase/química , Tetra-Hidrofolato Desidrogenase/metabolismo , Adaptação Biológica , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Pressão Atmosférica , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Proteínas de Bactérias/isolamento & purificação , Clonagem Molecular , Escherichia coli/enzimologia , Escherichia coli/genética , Genes Bacterianos , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Cinética , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Moritella/enzimologia , Moritella/genética , Oceanos e Mares , Photobacterium/enzimologia , Photobacterium/genética , Conformação Proteica , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/química , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/isolamento & purificação , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/metabolismo , Alinhamento de Sequência , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Homologia de Sequência de Aminoácidos , Shewanella/enzimologia , Shewanella/genética , Temperatura , Tetra-Hidrofolato Desidrogenase/genética , Tetra-Hidrofolato Desidrogenase/isolamento & purificaçãoRESUMO
Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is a major protein in the endoplasmic reticulum, operating as an essential folding catalyst and molecular chaperone for disulfide-containing proteins by catalyzing the formation, rearrangement, and breakage of their disulfide bridges. This enzyme has a modular structure with four thioredoxin-like domains, a, b, b', and a', along with a C-terminal extension. The homologous a and a' domains contain one cysteine pair in their active site directly involved in thiol-disulfide exchange reactions, while the b' domain putatively provides a primary binding site for unstructured regions of the substrate polypeptides. Here, we report a redox-dependent intramolecular rearrangement of the b' and a' domains of PDI from Humicola insolens, a thermophilic fungus, elucidated by combined use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) methods. Our NMR data showed that the substrates bound to a hydrophobic surface spanning these two domains, which became more exposed to the solvent upon oxidation of the active site of the a' domain. The hydrogen-deuterium exchange and relaxation data indicated that the redox state of the a' domain influences the dynamic properties of the b' domain. Moreover, the SAXS profiles revealed that oxidation of the a' active site causes segregation of the two domains. On the basis of these data, we propose a mechanistic model of PDI action; the a' domain transfers its own disulfide bond into the unfolded protein accommodated on the hydrophobic surface of the substrate-binding region, which consequently changes into a "closed" form releasing the oxidized substrate.