Identification of a member of the serralysin family isolated from a psychrotrophic bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens 114.

An extracellular metalloprotease named No. 114 protease is one of the major secretions of a psychrotrophic bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens 114, the cold-adaptation mechanism of which has not been identified. In this study, we purified and cloned No. 114 protease, which is a single polypeptide having a molecular mass of 47 kDa. This protease contains a zinc-binding motif (HEXXHXUGUXH: X, arbitrary amino acid; U, bulky hydrophobic amino acid), glycine-rich repeats (GGXGXD) and no cysteine residue, which are the features specifically found in serralysin subfamily. No. 114 protease has its maximum activity at the temperature of 35-40 degrees C, which is about 20 degrees C lower than that of a serralysin from a mesophilic bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All these results imply that No. 114 protease from this psychrophilic bacterium is a unique member of the serralysin group characterized by a low optimal temperature.     

Extracellular protease from Bacillus coagulans,a psychrotrophic,Antarctic bacterium

Bacillus coagulans, when grown on casein at 20°C, produced an inducible, metalloprotease of 28 kDa at 1.6 U/mg cell protein. (NH₄)₂SO₄ at 2 g/l decreased enzyme production irrespective of carbon source.The authors are with the Defence R & D Establishment, Tansen Road, Gwalior-474 002, India.     

The genome of Desulfotalea psychrophila, a sulfate-reducing bacterium from permanently cold Arctic sediments

Desulfotalea psychrophila is a marine sulfate-reducing delta-proteobacterium that is able to grow at in situ temperatures below 0 degrees C. As abundant members of the microbial community in permanently cold marine sediments, D. psychrophila-like bacteria contribute to the global cycles of carbon and sulfur. Here, we describe the genome sequence of D. psychrophila strain LSv54, which consists of a 3 523 383 bp circular chromosome with 3118 predicted genes and two plasmids of 121 586 bp and 14 663 bp. Analysis of the genome gave insight into the metabolic properties of the organism, e.g. the presence of TRAP-T systems as a major route for the uptake of C(4)-dicarboxylates, the unexpected presence of genes from the TCA cycle, a TAT secretion system, the lack of a beta-oxidation complex and typical Desulfovibrio cytochromes, such as c(553), c(3) and ncc. D. psychrophila encodes more than 30 two-component regulatory systems, including a new Ntr subcluster of hybrid kinases, nine putative cold shock proteins and nine potentially cold shock-inducible proteins. A comparison of D. psychrophila's genome features with those of the only other published genome from a sulfate reducer, the hyperthermophilic archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus, revealed many striking differences, but only a few shared features.     

Biodegradation and metabolic pathway of sulfamethoxazole by Pseudomonas psychrophila HA-4, a newly isolated cold-adapted sulfamethoxazole-degrading bacterium

Sulfamethoxazole is a common antibiotic that is frequently detected in wastewater and surface water. This study investigated the biodegradation and metabolic pathway of sulfamethoxazole by Pseudomonas psychrophila HA-4, a cold-adapted bacterium. Strain HA-4, which uses sulfamethoxazole as its sole source of carbon and energy, was isolated at a low temperature (10 °C) and identified as P. psychrophila by physico-biochemical characterization and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Strain HA-4 removed sulfamethoxazole at temperatures ranging from 5.0 °C to 30 °C, with the maximal removal rate at 10 °C. The maximal removal rate of sulfamethoxazole by strain HA-4 was 34.30 % after 192 h at 10 °C. The highest percentage of unsaturated fatty acid was determined to be 23.03 % at 10 °C, which adheres to the characteristic for cold-adapted psychrophiles and psychrotrophs. At low concentrations of sulfamethoxazole, the growth kinetics correlated well with the Haldane model. The single-substrate parameter values of sulfamethoxazole on cell growth were determined to be μ _max?=?0.01 h^?1, K _s?=?20.91 mg/l and K _i?=?170.60 mg/l. Additionally, the major intermediates from sulfamethoxazole biodegradation by strain HA-4, including aniline, 3-amino-5-methylisoxazole, 4-aminothiophenol and sulfanilamide, were identified by GC-MS and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) analysis. The results demonstrate that strain HA-4 has the potential to degrade sulfamethoxazole at low temperatures.     

Growth and pigmentation in Sphingobacterium antarcticus,a psychrotrophic bacterium from Antarctica

Sphingobacterium antarcticus, a yellow pigmented psychrotrophic bacterium from Antarctica exhibited enhanced pigmentation with increasing temperatures of incubation. This behavior was opposite to mesophilic Sphingobacterium in which pigmentation was reduced upon raising temperatures. The UV-visible spectrum of the crude pigment was characteristic of carotenoids and the pigment gave negative tests for flexirubins. Diphenylamine (DPA), a standard biochemical blocker of carotenoid biosynthesis reduced the growth of broth cultures when grown at extremes of the optimum temperature. Mutants defective in pigmentation were capable of growing between 1–31°C suggesting that pigmentation does not play any role in adapting the bacterium to the psychrotrophic growth temperature. On the other hand, our results suggest that DPA, which is known to block desaturation reactions in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway may be affecting other desaturation reactions within the bacterium thereby causing reduced growth at extreme temperatures.     

Protein turnover in a psychrotrophic bacterium

Protein breakdown in pulse-labelled and longlabelled cells of Arthrobacter S ₁-55, a psychrotrophic bacterium, has been assessed at different temperatures. The temperature at which the cells were grown and labelled affected the breakdown of pulsed-labelled but not long-labelled proteins. Inhibitors of ATP synthesis inhibited proteolysis. Miscoding antibiotics stimulated the production of rapidly degradable proteins.     

D-乳酸生产菌菊糖芽孢乳杆菌来源的D-乳酸脱氢酶同工酶

【目的】菊糖芽孢乳杆菌(Sporolactobacillus inulinus)作为典型的同型发酵产D-乳酸的优势菌株,能够高效生产高纯度的D-乳酸。该菌株发酵受到多方面环境因素影响。糖代谢的关键酶例如葡萄糖激酶、磷酸果糖激酶、丙酮酸激酶以及乳酸脱氢酶均为由葡萄糖代谢成为乳酸的关键酶,该菌中相关代谢酶的研究是发酵调控至关重要的基础。分析S.inulinus的基因组表明有3个推测为D-乳酸脱氢酶的基因,其中已有报道研究了1个双功能蛋白[bifunctional protein(BP)]。本研究分别克隆并解析了另2个D-乳酸脱氢酶同工酶的性质。【方法】本研究以S.inulinus Y2-8基因组DNA为模板,克隆得到2个D-ldh基因(dldh、dhdh),经测序分别为D-乳酸脱氢酶[D-lactic acid dehydrogenase(DLDH)]和D-羟基酸脱氢酶[D-isomer specific 2-hydroxyacid dehydrogenase(DHDH)]的基因。构建的重组菌表达蛋白DLDH,DHDH均具有催化丙酮酸生成D-乳酸的功能。【结果】重组菌表达的蛋白经镍柱亲和层析达到电泳纯。SDS-PAGE分析表明DLDH的表观分子量为37 k Da,DHDH的表观分子量为39 k Da。此外,DLDH以丙酮酸为底物时Km值为(0.58±0.04)mmol/L,对底物有较高的亲和力,最适反应温度为35°C,最适p H为6.5;而DHDH以丙酮酸为底物时Km值为(1.70±0.08)mmol/L最适反应温度为30°C,最适p H为7.5。另有报道的BP以丙酮酸为底物时Km值为(3.40±0.02)mmol/L,最适反应温度为30°C,最适p H为5.5。【结论】根据对底物丙酮酸的亲和力,最适温度及最适p H,推测DLDH是乳酸发酵中产D-乳酸的主导催化剂。结合相关酶学性质的分析可为今后的发酵调控提供理论依据。     

Transformation of a psychrotrophic bacterium with a plasmid from a mesophile

The psychrotrophic bacteriumBacillus psychrophilus was transformed with the broadhost-range plasmid pC194. The ability of the transformant to express chloramphenicol (CAM) resistance and the possible effects of such expression on the physiology of the psychrotroph were examined. The transformant exhibited growth rates, filament formation at elevated temperatures, synthesis of cold shock proteins and cold acclimation proteins, similar to the parentalB. psychrophilus.     

Thermolabile alkaline phosphatase from Sphingobacterium antarcticus a psychrotrophic bacterium from Antarctica

Eight psychrotrophic strains belonging to four different genera were screened for the presence of cold-active alkaline phosphatase in sonicated cell homogenates. An approximately 1000-fold higher activity than E. coli was detected in two psychrotrophic strains of Sphingobacterium antarcticus and one mesophilic strain of Flavobacterium multivorum. The enzymes from the psychrotrophs showed maximum activity at 37°C and were also found to be active at 0°C. Alkaline phosphatase from one psychrotrophic Sphingobacterium lost 97% of its activity when it was heated for 10 min at 62°C. This enzyme was partially purified and characterised. The production of the enzyme was repressed when the organism was grown in the presence of phosphates and its activity was inhibited on preincubation with inorganic phosphates and ethylene diamine tetracetic acid. Potassium permanganate and potassium periodate did not inhibit the activity of the enzyme. The biotechnological importance of the enzyme is discussed.     

Characterization of NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase isozymes from a psychrophilic bacterium,Colwellia psychrerythraea strain 34H

NADP⁺-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) isozymes of a psychrophilic bacterium, Colwellia psychrerythraea strain 34H, were characterized. The coexistence of monomeric and homodimeric IDHs in this bacterium was confirmed by Western blot analysis, the genes encoding two monomeric (IDH-IIa and IDH-IIb) and one dimeric (IDH-I) IDHs were cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and the three IDH proteins were purified. Both of the purified IDH-IIa and IDH-IIb were found to be cold-adapted enzymes while the purified IDH-I showed mesophilic properties. However, the specific activities of IDH-IIa and IDH-IIb were lower even at low temperatures than that of IDH-I. Therefore, IDH-I was suggested to be important for the growth of this bacterium. The results of colony formation of E. coli transformants carrying the respective IDH genes and IDH activities in their crude extracts indicated that the expression of the IDH-IIa gene is cold-inducible in the E. coli cells.     

Gene cloning, overproduction, and characterization of thermolabile alkaline phosphatase from a psychrotrophic bacterium

The gene encoding alkaline phosphatase from the psychrotrophic bacterium Shewanella sp. SIB1 was cloned, sequenced, and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was purified and its enzymatic properties were compared with those of E. coli alkaline phosphatase (APase), which shows an amino acid sequence identity of 37%. The optimum temperature of SIB1 APase was 50 degrees C, lower than that of E. coli APase by 30 degrees C. The specific activity of SIB1 APase at 50 degrees C was 3.1 fold higher than that of E. coli APase at 80 degrees C. SIB1 APase lost activity with a half-life of 3.9 min at 70 degrees C, whereas E. coli APase lost activity with a half-life of >6 h even at 80 degrees C. Thus SIB1 APase is well adapted to low temperatures. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of SIB1 and E. coli APases suggests that decreases in electrostatic interactions and number of disulfide bonds are responsible for the cold-adaptation of SIB1 APase.     

一株产蛋白酶南极耐冷细菌的筛选及研究

从南极中山站地区分离到1株产胞外酸性蛋白酶的革兰氏阴性杆菌,该菌能在7度,20度及30度生长并产酶;其最适生长温度在20度左右,不耐盐。碳源物质中,葡萄糖对菌株的生长有利,但对蛋白酶的生成影响不大。氮源物质中,蛋白胨对菌株的生长及蛋白酶的生成效果最好,而（NH4）2SO4则是效果最好的无机氮源。该菌所产胞外蛋白酶占其蛋白酶总量的83．2％,蛋白酶反应的最适温度为40度,最适PH为5;酶活力在35度以下保持稳定,直接以酪蛋白液为培养基,在20度条件下对该菌进行摇瓶培养,6d后菌液浓度及产酶量皆到达高值并基本保持稳定,而以LB培养基（Luria-Bertani培养基）在相同条件下培养该菌,3d后菌液浓度即到达高值并基本保持稳定,酶活力则在2d后到达高值。     

Genome Sequence of a Cold-Adaptable Sulfamethoxazole-Degrading Bacterium,Pseudomonas psychrophila HA-4

Pseudomonas psychrophila HA-4 is a cold-adaptable, sulfamethoxazole-degrading bacterium. The genes related to its cold adaptation mechanism and sulfamethoxazole metabolism were unknown. We present the draft genome of strain HA-4. It could provide further insight into the sulfamethoxazole-degrading mechanism of strain HA-4.     

Structural and functional properties of isocitrate dehydrogenase from the psychrophilic bacterium Desulfotalea psychrophila reveal a cold-active enzyme with an unusual high thermal stability

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) has been studied extensively due to its central role in the Krebs cycle, catalyzing the oxidative NAD(P)(+)-dependent decarboxylation of isocitrate to alpha-ketoglutarate and CO(2). Here, we present the first crystal structure of IDH from a psychrophilic bacterium, Desulfotalea psychrophila (DpIDH). The structural information is combined with a detailed biochemical characterization and a comparative study with IDHs from the mesophilic bacterium Desulfitobacterium hafniense (DhIDH), porcine (PcIDH), human cytosolic (HcIDH) and the hyperthermophilic Thermotoga maritima (TmIDH). DpIDH was found to have a higher melting temperature (T(m)=66.9 degrees C) than its mesophilic homologues and a suboptimal catalytic efficiency at low temperatures. The thermodynamic activation parameters indicated a disordered active site, as seen also for the drastic increase in K(m) for isocitrate at elevated temperatures. A methionine cluster situated at the dimeric interface between the two active sites and a cluster of destabilizing charged amino acids in a region close to the active site might explain the poor isocitrate affinity. On the other hand, DpIDH was optimized for interacting with NADP(+) and the crystal structure revealed unique interactions with the cofactor. The highly acidic surface, destabilizing charged residues, fewer ion pairs and reduced size of ionic networks in DpIDH suggest a flexible global structure. However, strategic placement of ionic interactions stabilizing the N and C termini, and additional ionic interactions in the clasp domain as well as two enlarged aromatic clusters might counteract the destabilizing interactions and promote the increased thermal stability. The structure analysis of DpIDH illustrates how psychrophilic enzymes can adjust their flexibility in dynamic regions during their catalytic cycle without compromising the global stability of the protein.     

Mechanism of biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids in Pseudomonas sp. strain E-3, a psychrotrophic bacterium.

Biosynthesis of palmitic, palmitoleic, and cis-vaccenic acids in Pseudomonas sp. strain E-3 was investigated with in vitro and in vivo systems. [1-14C]palmitic acid was aerobically converted to palmitoleate and cis-vaccenate, and the radioactivities on their carboxyl carbons were 100 and 43%, respectively, of the total radioactivity in the fatty acids. Palmitoyl coenzyme A desaturase activity was found in the membrane fraction. [1-14C]stearic acid was converted to octadecenoate and C16 fatty acids. The octadecenoate contained oleate and cis-vaccenate, but only oleate was produced in the presence of cerulenin. [1-14C]lauric acid was aerobically converted to palmitate, palmitoleate, and cis-vaccenate. Under anaerobic conditions, palmitate (62%), palmitoleate (4%), and cis-vaccenate (34%) were produced from [1-14C]acetic acid, while they amounted to 48, 39, and 14%, respectively, under aerobic conditions. In these incorporation experiments, 3 to 19% of the added radioactivity was detected in released 14CO2, indicating that part of the added fatty acids were oxidatively decomposed. Partially purified fatty acid synthetase produced saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with chain lengths of C10 to C18. These results indicated that both aerobic and anaerobic mechanisms for the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acid are operating in this bacterium.