Cloning and sequencing of the gene encoding the enzyme for the reductive cleavage of diaryl ether bonds of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in Geobacillus thermodenitrificans UZO 3.

We have previously reported that a cell-free extract prepared from Geobacillus thermodenitrificans UZO 3 reductively cleaves diaryl ether bonds of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD), a dioxin with the highest toxicity, in a sequential fashion producing 3',4',4,5-tetrachloro-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether (TCDE) as the intermediate, and 3,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) as the final reaction product. The detection of TCDE implicated the discovery of an unprecedented dioxin-degrading enzyme that reductively cleaves the diaryl ether bonds. In this study, we report the cloning and sequencing of the dioxin reductive etherase gene dreE which codes for the 2,3,7,8-TCDD-degrading enzyme. We showed that dreE was expressed in Escherichia coli and that the product of the expression could reductively cleave diaryl ether bonds of 2,3,7,8-TCDD to produce TCDE. Furthermore, we established that the amino acid sequence encoded by dreE was homologous to an enzyme with yet unknown function that is encoded by a gene located in the riboflavin (vitamin B2) biosynthesis operon in Bacillus subtilis. We also showed that the amino acid sequence possesses a coenzyme A (CoA) binding site that is conserved in the N-acyltransferase superfamily. For the first time, the degradation of 2,3,7,8-TCDD at the molecular level using a enzyme of bacterial origin has been demonstrated. A novel mechanism model for the reductive cleavage of diaryl ether bond of 2,3,7,8-TCDD was also proposed.

A Novel Benzoquinone Compound Isolated from Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vent Triggers Apoptosis of Tumor Cells.

Microorganisms are important sources for screening bioactive natural products. However, natural products from deep-sea microbes have not been extensively explored. In this study, the metabolites of bacteriophage GVE2 -infected (Geobacillus sp. E263 virus) thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus sp. E263, which was isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent, were characterized. A novel quinoid compound, which had anti-tumor activity, was isolated from the phage-challenged thermophile. The chemical structure analysis showed that this novel quinoid compound was 2-amino-6-hydroxy-[1,4]-benzoquinone. The results indicated that 2-amino-6-hydroxy-[1,4]-benzoquinone and its two derivatives could trigger apoptosis of gastric cancer cells and breast cancer cells by inducing the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Therefore, our study highlighted that the metabolites from the phage-challenged deep-sea microbes might be a kind of promising sources for anti-tumor drug discovery, because of the similarity of metabolic disorder between bacteriophage-infected microbes and tumor cells.

Direct observation of a deoxyadenosyl radical in an active enzyme environment.

5'-deoxyadenosyl radicals have been proposed as the first common intermediate in the molecular reaction mechanism of the family of radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) enzymes. However, this radical species has not yet been directly observed in a catalytically active enzyme environment. In a reduced and SAM-containing C140A mutant of the spore photoproduct lyase from Geobacillus thermodenitrificans, a mutant with altered catalytic activity, we were able to identify an organic radical with pronounced hyperfine structure using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Guided by quantum-chemical computations at the density functional theory level of theory, this radical could be tentatively assigned to a deoxyadenosyl radical, which provides first experimental evidence for this intermediate in the reaction mechanism of radical SAM enzymes.

Divergent assembly mechanisms of the manganese/iron cofactors in R2lox and R2c proteins.

A manganese/iron cofactor which performs multi-electron oxidative chemistry is found in two classes of ferritin-like proteins, the small subunit (R2) of class Ic ribonucleotide reductase (R2c) and the R2-like ligand-binding oxidase (R2lox). It is unclear how a heterodimeric Mn/Fe metallocofactor is assembled in these two related proteins as opposed to a homodimeric Fe/Fe cofactor, especially considering the structural similarity and proximity of the two metal-binding sites in both protein scaffolds and the similar first coordination sphere ligand preferences of MnII and FeII. Using EPR and Mössbauer spectroscopies as well as X-ray anomalous dispersion, we examined metal loading and cofactor activation of both proteins in vitro (in solution). We find divergent cofactor assembly mechanisms for the two systems. In both cases, excess MnII promotes heterobimetallic cofactor assembly. In the absence of FeII, R2c cooperatively binds MnII at both metal sites, whereas R2lox does not readily bind MnII at either site. Heterometallic cofactor assembly is favored at substoichiometric FeII concentrations in R2lox. FeII and MnII likely bind to the protein in a stepwise fashion, with FeII binding to site 2 initiating cofactor assembly. In R2c, however, heterometallic assembly is presumably achieved by the displacement of MnII by FeII at site 2. The divergent metal loading mechanisms are correlated with the putative in vivo functions of R2c and R2lox, and most likely with the intracellular MnII/FeII concentrations in the host organisms from which they were isolated.

Crystal structures and ligand binding of PurM proteins from Thermus thermophilus and Geobacillus kaustophilus.

Crystal structures of 5-aminoimidazole ribonucleotide (AIR) synthetase, also known as PurM, from Thermus thermophilus (Tt) and Geobacillus kaustophilus (Gk) were determined. For TtPurM, the maximum resolution was 2.2 Å and the space group was P21212 with four dimers in an asymmetric unit. For GkPurM, the maximum resolution was 2.2 Å and the space group was P21212 with one monomer in asymmetric unit. The biological unit is dimer for both TtPurM and GkPurM and the dimer structures were similar to previously determined structures of PurM in general. For TtPurM, ∼50 residues at the amino terminal were disordered in the crystal structure whereas, for GkPurM, the corresponding region covered the ATP-binding site forming an α helix in part, suggesting that the N-terminal region of PurM changes its conformation upon binding of ligands. FGAM binding site was predicted by the docking simulation followed by the MD simulation based on the SO4 (2-) binding site found in the crystal structure of TtPurM.

Gene Cloning and Characterization of the Geobacillus thermoleovorans CCR11 Carboxylesterase CaesCCR11, a New Member of Family XV.

A gene encoding a carboxylesterase produced by Geobacillus thermoleovoras CCR11 was cloned in the pET-3b cloning vector, sequenced and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). Gene sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 750 bp that encodes a polypeptide of 250 amino acid residues (27.3 kDa) named CaesCCR11. The enzyme showed its maximum activity at 50 °C and pH 5-8, with preference for C4 substrates, confirming its esterase nature. It displayed good resistance to temperature, pH, and the presence of organic solvents and detergents, that makes this enzyme biotechnologically applicable in the industries such as fine and oleo-chemicals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, organic synthesis, biodiesel production, detergents, and food industries. A 3D model of CaesCCR11 was predicted using the Bacillus sp. monoacyl glycerol lipase bMGL H-257 structure as template (PBD code 3RM3, 99 % residue identity with CaesCCR11). Based on its canonical α/ß hydrolase fold composed of 7 ß-strands and 6 α-helices, the α/ß architecture of the cap domain, the GLSTG pentapeptide, and the formation of distinctive salt bridges, we are proposing CaesCCR11 as a new member of family XV of lipolytic enzymes.

Structures of Large RNAs and RNA-Protein Complexes: Toward Structure Determination of Riboswitches.

Riboswitches are widespread and important regulatory elements. They are typically present in the mRNA of the gene under their regulation, where they form complex three-dimensional structures that can bind an effector and regulate either transcription or translation of the mRNA. Structural biology has been essential to our understanding of their ligand recognition and conformational switching mechanisms, but riboswitch determination presents several important complications. Overcoming these challenges requires a synergistic approach using rational design of the constructs and supporting methods to biochemically validate the designs and resulting structures.

Crystal structure of ATP-binding subunit of an ABC transporter from Geobacillus kaustophilus.

The ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters, represent one of the largest superfamilies of primary transporters, which are very essential for various biological functions. The crystal structure of ATP-binding subunit of an ABC transporter from Geobacillus kaustophilus has been determined at 1.77 Å resolution. The crystal structure revealed that the protomer has two thick arms, (arm I and II), which resemble 'L' shape. The ATP-binding pocket is located close to the end of arm I. ATP molecule is docked into the active site of the protein. The dimeric crystal structure of ATP-binding subunit of ABC transporter from G. kaustophilus has been compared with the previously reported crystal structure of ATP-binding subunit of ABC transporter from Salmonella typhimurium.

Solution structure of the PAS domain of a thermophilic YybT protein homolog reveals a potential ligand-binding site.

The Bacillus subtilis protein YybT (or GdpP) and its homologs were recently established as stress signaling proteins that exert their biological effect by degrading the bacterial messenger cyclic di-AMP. YybT homologs contain a small Per-ARNT-Sim (PAS) domain (~80 amino acids) that can bind b-type heme with 1:1 stoichiometry despite the small size of the domain and the lack of a conserved heme iron-coordinating residue. We determined the solution structure of the PAS domain of GtYybT from Geobacillus thermodenitrificans by NMR spectroscopy to further probe its function. The solution structure confirms that PASGtYybT adopts the characteristic PAS fold composed of a five-stranded antiparallel ß sheet and a few short α-helices. One α-helix and three central ß-strands of PASGtYybT are noticeably shorter than those of the typical PAS domains. Despite the small size of the protein domain, a hydrophobic pocket is formed by the side chains of nonpolar residues stemming from the ß-strands and α-helices. A set of residues in the vicinity of the pocket and in the C-terminal region at the dimeric interface exhibits perturbed NMR parameters in the presence of heme or zinc protoporphyrin. Together, the results unveil a compact PAS domain with a potential ligand-binding pocket and reinforce the view that the PASYybT domains function as regulatory domains in the modulation of cellular cyclic di-AMP concentration.

Novel coenzyme B12-dependent interconversion of isovaleryl-CoA and pivalyl-CoA.

5'-Deoxyadenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl)-dependent isomerases catalyze carbon skeleton rearrangements using radical chemistry. We have recently characterized a fusion protein that comprises the two subunits of the AdoCbl-dependent isobutyryl-CoA mutase flanking a G-protein chaperone and named it isobutyryl-CoA mutase fused (IcmF). IcmF catalyzes the interconversion of isobutyryl-CoA and n-butyryl-CoA, whereas GTPase activity is associated with its G-protein domain. In this study, we report a novel activity associated with IcmF, i.e. the interconversion of isovaleryl-CoA and pivalyl-CoA. Kinetic characterization of IcmF yielded the following values: a K(m) for isovaleryl-CoA of 62 ± 8 µM and V(max) of 0.021 ± 0.004 µmol min(-1) mg(-1) at 37 °C. Biochemical experiments show that an IcmF in which the base specificity loop motif NKXD is modified to NKXE catalyzes the hydrolysis of both GTP and ATP. IcmF is susceptible to rapid inactivation during turnover, and GTP conferred modest protection during utilization of isovaleryl-CoA as substrate. Interestingly, there was no protection from inactivation when either isobutyryl-CoA or n-butyryl-CoA was used as substrate. Detailed kinetic analysis indicated that inactivation is associated with loss of the 5'-deoxyadenosine moiety from the active site, precluding reformation of AdoCbl at the end of the turnover cycle. Under aerobic conditions, oxidation of the cob(II)alamin radical in the inactive enzyme results in accumulation of aquacobalamin. Because pivalic acid found in sludge can be used as a carbon source by some bacteria and isovaleryl-CoA is an intermediate in leucine catabolism, our discovery of a new isomerase activity associated with IcmF expands its metabolic potential.

In vitro evaluation of antioxidant and radioprotective properties of a novel extremophile from mud volcano: implications for management of radiation emergencies.

A thermophilic bacterium, designated as RH 127, was isolated from mud volcano (Baratang Islands) of Andaman region, India (12°07'N 92°47'E/12.117°N 92.783°E) for the first time. Biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicate that it belongs to the genus Geobacillus. The strain showed 98% confirmed 16S rRNA gene sequence homology with Geobacillus toebii. The bacteria was extracted in various solvent systems and three different fractions prepared. In the present study, antioxidant and radioprotective activity of extracts (INM-7860, INM-7861, and INM-7862) of bacterium G. toebii (strain RH 127) were evaluated. The fractions were evaluated for their introspective comparison of the relative antioxidant efficiency. The antioxidative activities, DPPH radical scavenging effects, hydroxyl radical scavenging effects, membrane protection, antihemolytic activity, and linoleic acid degradation efficacies were assayed. INM-7861 and INM-7862 activated NF-κB expression, as evidenced by reporter assay studies, and thereby contributed to overall radioprotective effect. INM-7862 exhibited best results. This study explicitly shows that the extracts of G. toebii have immense potential as a radiation countermeasure agent.