10 years of the nisin-controlled gene expression system (NICE) in Lactococcus lactis

Lactococcus lactis is a Gram-positive lactic acid bacterium that, in addition to its traditional use in food fermentations, is increasingly used in modern biotechnological applications. In the last 25 years great progress has been made in the development of genetic engineering tools and the molecular characterization of this species. A new versatile and tightly controlled gene expression system, based on the auto-regulation mechanism of the bacteriocin nisin, was developed 10 years ago—the NIsin Controlled gene Expression system, called NICE. This system has become one of the most successful and widely used tools for regulated gene expression in Gram-positive bacteria. The review describes, after a brief introduction of the host bacterium L. lactis, the fundaments, components and function of the NICE system. Furthermore, an extensive overview is provided of the different applications in lactococci and other Gram-positive bacteria: (1) over-expression of homologous and heterologous genes for functional studies and to obtain large quantities of specific gene products, (2) metabolic engineering, (3) expression of prokaryotic and eukaryotic membrane proteins, (4) protein secretion and anchoring in the cell envelope, (5) expression of genes with toxic products and analysis of essential genes and (6) large-scale applications. Finally, an overview is given of growth and induction conditions for lab-scale and industrial-scale applications.     

Expression of holo-proteorhodopsin in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

Retinal-based photosynthesis may contribute to the free energy conversion needed for growth of an organism carrying out oxygenic photosynthesis, like a cyanobacterium. After optimization, this may even enhance the overall efficiency of phototrophic growth of such organisms in sustainability applications. As a first step towards this, we here report on functional expression of the archetype proteorhodopsin in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Upon use of the moderate-strength psbA2 promoter, holo-proteorhodopsin is expressed in this cyanobacterium, at a level of up to 10⁵ molecules per cell, presumably in a hexameric quaternary structure, and with approximately equal distribution (on a protein-content basis) over the thylakoid and the cytoplasmic membrane fraction. These results also demonstrate that Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 has the capacity to synthesize all-trans-retinal. Expressing a substantial amount of a heterologous opsin membrane protein causes a substantial growth retardation Synechocystis, as is clear from a strain expressing PROPS, a non-pumping mutant derivative of proteorhodopsin. Relative to this latter strain, proteorhodopsin expression, however, measurably stimulates its growth.     

集胞藻PCC6803铜离子诱导表达平台的构建

在集胞藻PCC6803中,基因敲除是研究基因功能的最直接有效的方法,但是对于某些生存必需的基因则无法通过这种方法获得突变株。为研究集胞藻PCC6803中此类基因的功能,在其基因组中构建了一个petE基因启动子（PpetE）控制的铜离子诱导表达的平台。将集胞藻PpetE装配在lacZ报告基因的上游,通过同源双交换整合到这种蓝藻的基因组中。通过调节培养基中铜离子的浓度发现,lacZ的表达能够人为控制。特别是当铜离子浓度在6－400nmoL／L范围时,LacZ活力随铜离子浓度增加呈S型增长关系。利用这个铜离子诱导表达平台,可以控制某些必需基因的表达：提供铜离子维持细胞生存;而撤去铜离子时则关闭基因的表达,可以观察其对生命活动的影响。     

PII-regulated arginine synthesis controls accumulation of cyanophycin in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803

Cyanophycin (multi-L-arginyl-poly-L-aspartic acid) is a nitrogen storage polymer found in most cyanobacteria and some heterotrophic bacteria. The cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 accumulates cyanophycin following a transition from nitrogen-limited to nitrogen-excess conditions. Here we show that the accumulation of cyanophycin depends on the activation of the key enzyme of arginine biosynthesis, N-acetyl-L-glutamate kinase, by signal transduction protein PII.     

Molecular characterization of the cyanophycin synthetase from Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6308

A 3878-bp genomic region from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6308, amplified by inverse PCR, harbored the structural genes cphA (2625 bp) and cphB (819 bp) encoding cyanophycin synthetase and cyanophycinase, respectively. Both primary structures exhibited a high degree of similarity to the corresponding translational products from other cyanobacteria. Five regions were localized in the cyanophycin synthetase consensus sequence by their resemblance to conserved sites of ATP-dependent carboxylate-amine/thiol ligases and three substrate ligases. The functionality of cphA was proven by heterologous expression of active enzyme and synthesis of cyanophycin in Escherichia coli, which led to a maximum cyanophycin content of 26.6% (w/w) of cell dry mass. Furthermore, a modified radiometric enzyme assay for a more reliable and feasible measurement of cyanophycin synthetase activity was developed and applied to reveal the substrate specificity of the enzyme.     

Engineering of a green‐light inducible gene expression system in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803

In order to construct a green‐light‐regulated gene expression system for cyanobacteria, we characterized a green‐light sensing system derived from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, consisting of the green‐light sensing histidine kinase CcaS, the cognate response regulator CcaR, and the promoter of cpcG2 (P_cpcG2). CcaS and CcaR act as a genetic controller and activate gene expression from P_cpcG2 with green‐light illumination. The green‐light induction level of the native P_cpcG2 was investigated using GFPuv as a reporter gene inserted in a broad‐host‐range vector. A clear induction of protein expression from native P_cpcG2 under green‐light illumination was observed; however, the expression level was very low compared with P_trc, which was reported to act as a constitutive promoter in cyanobacteria. Therefore, a Shine‐Dalgarno‐like sequence derived from the cpcB gene was inserted in the 5′ untranslated region of the cpcG2 gene, and the expression level of CcaR was increased. Thus, constructed engineered green‐light sensing system resulted in about 40‐fold higher protein expression than with the wild‐type promoter with a high ON/OFF ratio under green‐light illumination. The engineered green‐light gene expression system would be a useful genetic tool for controlling gene expression in the emergent cyanobacterial bioprocesses.     

增强型绿色荧光蛋白在集胞藻6803中的表达

利用聚球藻7942热休克基因groESL的启动子和报告基因egfp,构建了表达载体pUC-Tegfp并转化集胞藻6803,并通过所制备抗体对转基因藻进行蛋白免疫印迹检测.结果发现,在转基因藻株T-egfp的细胞粗提液中含有能与eGFP抗体特异结合的蛋白质,表明外源增强型绿色荧光蛋白基因(egfp)在集胞藻6803中成功表达.     

ADP-ribosylation of glutamine synthetase in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803.

Glutamine synthetase (GS) inactivation was observed in crude cell extracts and in the high-speed supernatant fraction from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 following the addition of ammonium ions, glutamine, or glutamate. Dialysis of the high-speed supernatant resulted in loss of inactivation activity, but this could be restored by the addition of NADH, NADPH, or NADP+ and, to a lesser extent, NAD+, suggesting that inactivation of GS involved ADP-ribosylation. This form of modification was confirmed both by labelling experiments using [32P]NAD+ and by chemical analysis of the hydrolyzed enzyme. Three different forms of GS, exhibiting no activity, biosynthetic activity only, or transferase activity only, could be resolved by chromatography, and the differences in activity were correlated with the extent of the modification. Both biosynthetic and transferase activities were restored to the completely inactive form of GS by treatment with phosphodiesterase.     

集胞藻PCC6803高效基因表达平台的构建与评价

针对蓝细菌代谢工程改造的需求,成功构建了可以在模式蓝细菌菌株集胞藻PCC6803中高效表达外源基因的3个基因组整合表达平台,以及1个可以在多株蓝细菌中表达的广宿主穿梭表达平台。该表达平台通过选用集胞藻PCC6803中1,5-二磷酸核酮糖缩化酶/氧化酶的启动子驱动外源基因的表达,应用“SD-AUG”翻译融合的策略提高外源蛋白翻译效率,以及加入终止子序列Trbc以提高转录终止效率,实现了对外源基因的高效表达。利用lacZ作为报告基因,检测了所构建表达平台pFQ20在集胞藻中的基因表达效率,结果显示β-半乳糖苷酶的活性为109 Miller。同时,基于pFQ20表达平台在集胞藻PCC6803中表达了来自大肠杆菌的硫酯酶基因tesA’,蛋白印迹实验结果显示了硫酯酶的成功表达。该表达平台为在蓝细菌中开展遗传研究及基因工程改造提供了有用的遗传工具,其构建策略为在蓝细菌中构建高效稳定的外源基因表达元件提供了借鉴。     

Circadian expression of the dnaK gene in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803.

The expression of the dnaK gene in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 was continuously monitored as bioluminescence by an automated monitoring system, using the bacterial luciferase genes (luxAB) of Vibrio harveyi as a reporter of promoter activity. A dnaK-reporting bioluminescent Synechocystis strain was constructed by fusing a promoterless segment of the luxAB gene set downstream of the promoter region of the Synechocystis dnaK gene and introduction of this gene fusion into a BglII site downstream of the ndhB gene in the Synechocystis chromosome. Bioluminescence from this strain was continuously monitored and oscillated with a period of about 22 h for at least 5 days in continuous light. The phase of the rhythm was reset by the timing of the 12-h dark period administered prior to the continuous light. The period of the rhythm was temperature compensated between 25 and 35 degrees C. Thus, the bioluminescence rhythm satisfied the three criteria of circadian rhythms. Furthermore, the abundance of dnaK mRNA also oscillated with a period of about 1 day for at least 2 days in continuous light conditions, indicating circadian control of dnaK gene expression in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803.     

Interrelation between cyanophycin synthesis, L-arginine catabolism and photosynthesis in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803

Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical investigations gave evidence that cyanophycin (multi-L-arginyl-poly-L-aspartate) granules accumulate in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 under nutrient deficient growth conditions, especially under phosphate limitation. Besides nutrient deficiency, growth of Synechocystis PCC 6803 on L-arginine or L-asparagine as sole N-source also led to high increase of cyanophycin synthesis, while growth on the combination of L-arginine or L-asparagine with nitrate only caused minor cyanophycin accumulation. Growth of Synechocystis PCC 6803 on L-arginine as sole N-source caused substantial morphological and physiological changes, such as severe thylakoid membrane degradation with partial loss of pigments and photosynthetic activity leading to a phenotype almost like that seen under nutrient deficiency. In contrast to the wild type, the PsbO-free Synechocystis PCC 6803 mutant could grow on L-arginine as sole N-source with only minor morphological and physiological changes. Due to its fairly balanced growth, the mutant accumulated only few cyanophycin granules. L-arginine degrading activity (measured as ornithine and ammonium formation) was high in the PsbO-free mutant but not in the wild type when cells were grown on L-arginine as sole N-source. In both cells types the L-arginine degrading activity was high (although in the PsbO-free mutant about twice as high as in wild type), when cells were grown on L-arginine in combination with nitrate, and as expected very low when cells were grown on nitrate as sole N-source. Thus, net cyanophycin accumulation in Synechocystis PCC 6803 is regulated by the relative concentration of L-arginine to the total nitrogen pool, and the intracellular L-arginine concentration is greatly influenced by the activity of the L-arginine degrading enzyme system which in part is regulated by the activity status of photosystem II. These results suggest a complex interrelation between cyanophycin synthesis, L-arginine catabolism, and in addition photosynthesis in Synechocystis PCC 6803.     

Molecular characterization of a novel gene from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

A novel gene slr2049 was identified in Synechococcus sp. PCC7002 by homologous alignment. The features and possible functions of slr2049 gene were predicted by bioinformatics analysis. The function of slr2049 was analyzed in vitro with a heterologous Escherichia coli system with plasmids conferring biosynthesis of phycocyanobilin (PCB) and of the acceptor proteins, β-phycocyanin (CpcB). The resulting products were evaluated with SDS-PAGE and absorption spectra. The function of slr2049 was further analyzed via site-directed mutations. Two mutants, slr2049 (W14L) and slr2049 (Y132S) were generated. The results showed that Slr2049 could catalyze the chromophorylation of CpcB. Compared to wild type, mutant Slr2049 (W14L) had red-shifted absorbance maxima and was not highly fluorescent as the wild-type. However, mutant Slr2049 (Y132S) was almost the same as the wild-type. In conclusion, our study suggests that we have cloned a novel gene and this gene may play an important role in attachment of the chromophores to the apo-proteins.     

In vitro reactivation of in vivo ammonium-inactivated glutamine synthetase from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

Glutamine synthetase from Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 is inactivated by ammonium addition to cells growing with nitrate as the nitrogen source. The enzyme can be reactivated in vitro by different methods such as alkaline phosphatase treatment, but not phosphodiesterase, by raising the pH of the crude extract to values higher than 8, by increasing the ionic strength of the cell-free extract, or by preincubation with organic solvents, such as 2-propanol and ethanol. These results suggest that the loss of glutamine synthetase activity promoted by ammonium involves the non-covalent binding of a phosphorylated compound to the enzyme and support previous results that rule out the existence of an adenylylation/deadenylylation system functioning in the regulation of cyanobacterial glutamine synthetase.     

Characterisation of acyltransferases from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803

As phylogenetic ancestors of plant chloroplasts cyanobacteria resemble plastids with respect to lipid and fatty acid composition. These membrane lipids show the typical prokaryotic fatty acid pattern in which the sn-2 position is exclusively esterified by C(16) acyl groups. In the course of de novo glycerolipid biosynthesis this prokaryotic fatty acid pattern is established by the sequential acylation of glycerol-3-phosphate with acyl-ACPs by the activity of different acyltransferases. In silico approaches allowed the identification of putative Synechocystis acyltransferases involved in glycerolipid metabolism. Functional expression studies in Escherichia coli showed that sll1848 codes for a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase with a high specificity for 16:0-ACP, whereas slr2060 encodes a lysophospholipid acyltransferase, with a broad acyl-ACP specificity but a strong preference for lysophosphatidyglycerol especially its sn-2 acyl isomer as acyl-acceptor. The generation and analysis of the corresponding Synechocystis knockout mutants revealed that lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase unlike the lysophospholipid acyltransferase is essential for the vital functions of the cells.     

Inactivation of the geranylgeranyl reductase (ChlP) gene in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

Geranylgeranyl reductase catalyses the reduction of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate to phytyl pyrophosphate required for synthesis of chlorophylls, phylloquinone and tocopherols. The gene chlP (ORF sll1091) encoding the enzyme has been inactivated in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The resulting DeltachlP mutant accumulates exclusively geranylgeranylated chlorophyll a instead of its phytylated analogue as well as low amounts of alpha-tocotrienol instead of alpha-tocopherol. Whereas the contents of chlorophyll and total carotenoids are decreased, abundance of phycobilisomes is increased in DeltachlP cells. The mutant assembles functional photosystems I and II as judged from 77 K fluorescence and electron transport measurements. However, the mutant is unable to grow photoautotrophically due to instability and rapid degradation of the photosystems in the absence of added glucose. We suggest that instability of the photosystems in DeltachlP is directly related to accumulation of geranylgeranylated chlorophyll a. Increased rigidity of the chlorophyll isoprenoid tail moiety due to three additional CC bonds is the likely cause of photooxidative stress and reduced stability of photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes assembled with geranylgeranylated chlorophyll a in the DeltachlP mutant.