Using BEAN-counter to quantify genetic interactions from multiplexed barcode sequencing experiments.

The construction of genome-wide mutant collections has enabled high-throughput, high-dimensional quantitative characterization of gene and chemical function, particularly via genetic and chemical-genetic interaction experiments. As the throughput of such experiments increases with improvements in sequencing technology and sample multiplexing, appropriate tools must be developed to handle the large volume of data produced. Here, we describe how to apply our approach to high-throughput, fitness-based profiling of pooled mutant yeast collections using the BEAN-counter software pipeline (Barcoded Experiment Analysis for Next-generation sequencing) for analysis. The software has also successfully processed data from Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Escherichia coli, and Zymomonas mobilis mutant collections. We provide general recommendations for the design of large-scale, multiplexed barcode sequencing experiments. The procedure outlined here was used to score interactions for ~4 million chemical-by-mutant combinations in our recently published chemical-genetic interaction screen of nearly 14,000 chemical compounds across seven diverse compound collections. Here we selected a representative subset of these data on which to demonstrate our analysis pipeline. BEAN-counter is open source, written in Python, and freely available for academic use. Users should be proficient at the command line; advanced users who wish to analyze larger datasets with hundreds or more conditions should also be familiar with concepts in analysis of high-throughput biological data. BEAN-counter encapsulates the knowledge we have accumulated from, and successfully applied to, our multiplexed, pooled barcode sequencing experiments. This protocol will be useful to those interested in generating their own high-dimensional, quantitative characterizations of gene or chemical function in a high-throughput manner.

Genome comparison of different Zymomonas mobilis strains provides insights on conservation of the evolution.

Zymomonas mobilis has the special Entner-Doudoroff (ED) pathway and it has excellent industrial characteristics, including low cell mass formation, high-specific productivity,ethanol yield, notable ethanol tolerance and wide pH range, a relatively small genome size. In this study, the genome sequences of NRRL B-14023 and NRRL B-12526 were sequenced and compared with other strains to explore their evolutionary relationships and the genetic basis of Z. mobilis. The comparative genomic analyses revealed that the 8 strains share a conserved core chromosomal backbone. ZM4, NRRL B-12526, NRRL B-14023, NCIMB 11163 and NRRL B-1960 share 98% sequence identity across the whole genome sequences. Highly similar plasmids and CRISPR repeats were detected in these strains. A whole-genome phylogenetic tree of the 8 strains indicated that NRRL B-12526, NRRL B-14023 and ATCC 10988 had a close evolutionary relationship with the strain ZM4. Furthermore, strains ATCC29191 and ATCC29192 had distinctive CRISPR with a far distant relationship. The size of the pan-genome was 1945 genes, including 1428 core genes and 517 accessory genes. The genomes of Z. mobilis were highly conserved; particularly strains ZM4, NRRL B-12526, NRRL B-14023, NCIMB 11163 and NRRL B-1960 had a close genomic relationship. This comparative study of Z. mobilis presents a foundation for future functional analyses and applications.

Molecular identification and physiological characterization of Zymomonas mobilis strains from fuel-ethanol production plants in north-east Brazil.

Zymomonas mobilis has long attracted attention owing to its capacity to ferment hexose to ethanol. From a taxonomic viewpoint, Z. mobilis is a unique species of the genus Zymomonas, separated into three subspecies, Z. mobilis subsp. mobilis, Z. mobilis subsp. pomaceae and Z. mobilis subsp. francensis on the basis of physiological tests, which are often unreliable owing to the genetic proximity among these species. Currently, the use of molecular techniques is more appropriate for identification of these bacterial subspecies. In this study, the 32 strains of Z. mobilis present in the UFPEDA bacterial collection were characterized using molecular techniques, such as sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene and its theoretical restriction profile, classifying them as members of the subspecies, Z. mobilis subsp. mobilis. In addition, anaerobic cultivations were performed, which showed the biological diversity of the strains in terms of growth, sugar consumption and ethanol production. From these results, it was possible to identify the strain Z-2-80 as a promising bacterium for use in the fermentation process. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Zymomonas mobilis is a bacterium of great relevance to biotechnology, owing to its capacity to ferment hexose to ethanol. On a molecular basis, 32 isolates were identified as Z. mobilis subsp. mobilis. However, intraspecific diversity was identified when these were grown under strictly anaerobic conditions. The results obtained from this study suggest a strain of Z. mobilis as an alternative for use in the fermentation process.

Combining ancestral sequence reconstruction with protein design to identify an interface hotspot in a key metabolic enzyme complex.

It is important to identify hotspot residues that determine protein-protein interactions in interfaces of macromolecular complexes. We have applied a combination of ancestral sequence reconstruction and protein design to identify hotspots within imidazole glycerol phosphate synthase (ImGPS). ImGPS is a key metabolic enzyme complex, which links histidine and de novo purine biosynthesis and consists of the cyclase subunit HisF and the glutaminase subunit HisH. Initial fluorescence titration experiments showed that HisH from Zymomonas mobilis (zmHisH) binds with high affinity to the reconstructed HisF from the last universal common ancestor (LUCA-HisF) but not to HisF from Pyrobaculum arsenaticum (paHisF), which differ by 103 residues. Subsequent titration experiments with a reconstructed evolutionary intermediate linking LUCA-HisF and paHisF and inspection of the subunit interface of a contemporary ImGPS allowed us to narrow down the differences crucial for zmHisH binding to nine amino acids of HisF. Homology modeling and in silico mutagenesis studies suggested that at most two of these nine HisF residues are crucial for zmHisH binding. These computational results were verified by experimental site-directed mutagenesis, which finally enabled us to pinpoint a single amino acid residue in HisF that is decisive for high-affinity binding of zmHisH. Our work shows that the identification of protein interface hotspots can be very efficient when reconstructed proteins with different binding properties are included in the analysis. Proteins 2017; 85:312-321. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effect of ADH II deficiency on the intracellular redox homeostasis in Zymomonas mobilis.

Mutant strain of the facultatively anaerobic, ethanol-producing bacterium Zymomonas mobilis, deficient in the Fe-containing alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzyme (ADH II), showed impaired homeostasis of the intracellular NAD(P)H during transition from anaerobic to aerobic conditions, and also in steady-state continuous cultures at various oxygen supplies. At the same time, ADH II deficiency in aerobically grown cells was accompanied by a threefold increase of catalase activity and by about 50% increase of hydrogen peroxide excretion. It is concluded that ADH II under aerobic conditions functions to maintain intracellular redox homeostasis and to protect the cells from endogenous hydrogen peroxide.

Identification of yeast and bacteria involved in the mezcal fermentation of Agave salmiana.

AIMS: To identify the yeast and bacteria present in the mezcal fermentation from Agave salmiana. METHODS AND RESULTS: The restriction and sequence analysis of the amplified region, between 18S and 28S rDNA and 16S rDNA genes, were used for the identification of yeast and bacteria, respectively. Eleven different micro-organisms were identified in the mezcal fermentation. Three of them were the following yeast: Clavispora lusitaniae, Pichia fermentans and Kluyveromyces marxianus. The bacteria found were Zymomonas mobilis subsp. mobilis and Zymomonas mobilis subsp. pomaceae, Weissella cibaria, Weissella paramesenteroides, Lactobacillus pontis, Lactobacillus kefiri, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus farraginis. CONCLUSIONS: The phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA and ITS sequences showed that microbial diversity present in mezcal is dominated by bacteria, mainly lactic acid bacteria species and Zymomonas mobilis. Pichia fermentans and K. marxianus could be micro-organisms with high potential for the production of some volatile compounds in mezcal. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: We identified the community of bacteria and yeast present in mezcal fermentation from Agave salmiana.

Measurement and analysis of intracellular ATP levels in metabolically engineered Zymomonas mobilis fermenting glucose and xylose mixtures.

Intracellular adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) levels were measured in a metabolically engineered Zymomonas mobilis over the course of batch fermentations of glucose and xylose mixtures. Fermentations were conducted over a range of pH (5-6) in the presence of varying initial amounts of acetic acid (0-8 g/L) using a 10% (w/v) total sugar concentration (glucose only, xylose only, or 5% glucose/5% xylose mixture). Over the design space investigated, ethanol process yields varied between 56.6% and 92.3% +/- 1.3% of theoretical, depending upon the test conditions. The large variation in process yields reflects the strong effect pH plays in modulating the inhibitory effect of acetic acid on fermentation performance. A corresponding effect was observed on maximum cellular specific growth rates, with the rates varying between a low of 0.15 h(-1) observed at pH 5 in the presence of 8 g/L acetic acid to a high of 0.32 +/- 0.02 h(-1) obtained at pH 5 or 6 when no acetic acid was initially present. While substantial differences were observed in intracellular specific ATP concentration profiles depending upon fermentation conditions, maximum intracellular ATP accumulation levels varied within a relatively narrow range (1.5-3.8 mg ATP/g dry cell mass). Xylose fermentations produced and accumulated ATP at much slower rates than mixed sugar fermentations (5% glucose, 5% xylose), and the ATP production and accumulation rates in the mixed sugar fermentations were slightly slower than in glucose fermentations. Results demonstrate that higher levels of acetic acid delay the onset and influence the extent of intracellular ATP accumulation. ATP production and accumulation rates were most sensitive to acetic acid at lower values of pH.

Polyphasic study of Zymomonas mobilis strains revealing the existence of a novel subspecies Z. mobilis subsp. francensis subsp. nov., isolated from French cider.

Zymomonas mobilis strains recently isolated from French 'framboisé' ciders were compared with collection strains of the two defined subspecies, Z. mobilis subsp. mobilis and Z. mobilis subsp. pomaceae, using a polyphasic approach. Six strains isolated from six different regions of France were compared with three strains of Z. mobilis subsp. mobilis, including the type strain LMG 404T, and four strains of Z. mobilis subsp. pomaceae, including the type strain LMG 448T, using phenotypic and genotypic methods. For phenotypic characterization, both physiological tests and SDS-PAGE protein profiles revealed significant differences between the two known subspecies and the French isolates; three distinct groups were observed. These findings were further confirmed by random amplified polymorphic DNA and repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR genotyping methods in which the French isolates were clearly distinguished from the other two subspecies. Sequence analysis of a fragment ranging from 604 to 617 nucleotides corresponding to the 16S-23S rRNA gene intergenic spacer region (ISR), a 592 nucleotide HSP60 gene fragment and a 1044 nucleotide gyrB gene fragment confirmed the presence of three distinct groups. The French strains exhibited almost 94 % similarity to the ISR, 90 % to HSP60 and 86 % to gyrB sequences of the three collection strains of Z. mobilis subsp. mobilis and 87, 84 and 80 % sequence similarity, respectively, was observed with the four Z. mobilis subsp. pomaceae strains. Based on both the phenotypic and genotypic results, the French strains are proposed to represent a novel subspecies, Zymomonas mobilis subsp. francensis subsp. nov. Strain AN0101T (= LMG 22974T = CIP 108684T) was designated as the type strain.

Zymomonas mobilis subspecies identification by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis.

AIMS: To identify strains of Zymomonas mobilis at the subspecies level by a fast and reliable technique. METHODS AND RESULTS: Amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) was used to identify strains of Z. mobilis at the subspecies level using the restriction enzyme StuI. This technique allowed for easy and quick differentiation between Z. mobilis subsp. mobilis and Z. mobilis subsp. pomaceae. By using other enzymes, the presence of two ARDRA profiles within the subspecies Z. mobilis subsp. pomaceae was observed, one profile corresponded to collection strains (British origin) while the other corresponded to wild type strains isolated from 'framboise' ciders in France. CONCLUSIONS: A rapid method for identification of strains of Z. mobilis at the subspecies level was developed and shown to be more reliable and faster than the conventional method based on physiological tests. Furthermore, consistent differences in the 16S rDNA sequences between collection and wild type strains of Z. mobilis subsp. pomaceae were observed suggesting that the French isolates correspond to a new genomovar within this subspecies. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first description of a molecular method for the identification of Z. mobilis strains at the subspecies level. It will certainly prove to be useful in identifying this beer and cider spoiling micro-organism.

Zymobacter palmae gen. nov., sp. nov., a new ethanol-fermenting peritrichous bacterium isolated from palm sap.

Zymobacter palmae gen. nov., sp. nov. was proposed for a new ethanol-fermenting bacterium that was isolated from palm sap in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The bacterium is gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, nonsporeforming and peritrichously flagellated. It requires nicotinic acid for growth. It ferments hexoses, alpha-linked di- and tri-saccharides, and sugar alcohols (fructose, galactose, glucose, mannose, maltose, melibiose, saccharose, raffinose, mannitol and sorbitol). Fifteen percent of maltose in broth medium is effectively fermented, whereas glucose with a concentration higher than 10% delayed growth initiation and decreased growth rates. Maltose is fermented to produce ethanol and CO2 with a trace amount of acids. Approximately 2 mol of ethanol are produced from 1 mol moiety of hexose of maltose. The organism possesses ubiquinone-9. The G + C content of the DNA is 55.8 +/- 0.4 mol%. Major cellular fatty acids were palmitic and oleic acids and cyclopropanic acid of C19:0. Characteristic hydroxylated acid was 3-hydroxy dodecanoic acid. The bacterium is distinct from other ethanol-fermenting bacteria belonging to the genera Zymomonas Kluyver and van Niel 1936 and Saccharobacter Yaping et al. 1990 with respect to chemotaxonomic and other phenotypic characters to warrant to compose a new genus and a new species. The type strain is strain T109 (= IAM 14233).