Classification of genus Pseudomonas by MALDI-TOF MS based on ribosomal protein coding in S10-spc-alpha operon at strain level

We have proposed a rapid phylogenetic classification at the strain level by MALDI-TOF MS using ribosomal protein matching profiling. In this study, the S10-spc-alpha operon, encoding half of the ribosomal subunit proteins and highly conserved in eubacterial genomes, was selected for construction of the ribosomal protein database as biomarkers for bacterial identification by MALDI-TOF MS analysis to establish a more reliable phylogenetic classification. Our method revealed that the 14 reliable and reproducible ribosomal subunit proteins with less than m/z 15,000, except for L14, coded in the S10-spc-alpha operon were significantly useful biomarkers for bacterial classification at species and strain levels by MALDI-TOF MS analysis of genus Pseudomonas strains. The obtained phylogenetic tree was consisted with that based on genetic sequence (gyrB). Since S10-spc-alpha operons of genus Pseudomonas strains were sequenced using specific primers designed based on nucleotide sequences of genome-sequenced strains, the ribosomal subunit proteins encoded in S10-spc-alpha operon were suitable biomarkers for construction and correction of the database. MALDI-TOF MS analysis using these 14 selected ribosomal proteins is a rapid, efficient, and versatile bacterial identification method with the validation procedure for the obtained results.     

Characterization of the Lactobacillus casei group based on the profiling of ribosomal proteins coded in S10-spc-alpha operons as observed by MALDI-TOF MS

The taxonomy of the members of the Lactobacillus casei group is complicated because of their phylogenetic similarity and controversial nomenclatural status. In this study, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) of ribosomal proteins coded in the S10-spc-alpha operon, termed S10-GERMS, was applied in order to classify 33 sample strains belonging to the L. casei group. A total of 14 types of ribosomal protein genes coded in the operon were first sequenced from four type strains of the L. casei group (L. casei JCM 1134^T, L. paracasei subsp. paracasei JCM 8130^T, L. paracasei subsp. tolerans JCM 1171^T, and L. rhamnosus JCM 1136^T) together with L. casei JCM 11302, which is the former type strain of ‘L. zeae’. The theoretical masses of the 14 types of ribosomal proteins used as biomarkers were classified into five types and compiled into a ribosomal protein database. The observed ribosomal proteins of each strain, identified by MALDI-TOF MS, were categorized into types based on their masses, summarized as ribosomal protein profiles, and they were used to construct a phylogenetic tree. The 33 sample strains, together with seven genome-sequenced strains, could be classified into four major clusters, which coincided precisely with the taxa of the (sub)species within the L. casei group. Three “ancient” strains, identified as L. acidophilus and L. casei, were correctly re-identified as L. paracasei subsp. paracasei by S10-GERMS. S10-GERMS would thus appear to be a powerful tool for phylogenetic characterization, with considerable potential for management of culture collections.     

Conservation of the S10-spc-alpha locus within otherwise highly plastic genomes provides phylogenetic insight into the genus Leptospira

S10-spc-alpha is a 17.5 kb cluster of 32 genes encoding ribosomal proteins. This locus has an unusual composition and organization in Leptospira interrogans. We demonstrate the highly conserved nature of this region among diverse Leptospira and show its utility as a phylogenetically informative region. Comparative analyses were performed by PCR using primer sets covering the whole locus. Correctly sized fragments were obtained by PCR from all L. interrogans strains tested for each primer set indicating that this locus is well conserved in this species. Few differences were detected in amplification profiles between different pathogenic species, indicating that the S10-spc-alpha locus is conserved among pathogenic Leptospira. In contrast, PCR analysis of this locus using DNA from saprophytic Leptospira species and species with an intermediate pathogenic capacity generated varied results. Sequence alignment of the S10-spc-alpha locus from two pathogenic species, L. interrogans and L. borgpetersenii, with the corresponding locus from the saprophyte L. biflexa serovar Patoc showed that genetic organization of this locus is well conserved within Leptospira. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of four conserved regions resulted in the construction of well-defined phylogenetic trees that help resolve questions about the interrelationships of pathogenic Leptospira. Based on the results of secY sequence analysis, we found that reliable species identification of pathogenic Leptospira is possible by comparative analysis of a 245 bp region commonly used as a target for diagnostic PCR for leptospirosis. Comparative analysis of Leptospira strains revealed that strain H6 previously classified as L. inadai actually belongs to the pathogenic species L. interrogans and that L. meyeri strain ICF phylogenetically co-localized with the pathogenic clusters. These findings demonstrate that the S10-spc-alpha locus is highly conserved throughout the genus and may be more useful in comparing evolution of the genus than loci studied previously.     

Unbalanced ribosomal protein synthesis in a strain of Escherichia coli containing a cloned, truncated 16-S ribosomal RNA gene

An Escherichia coli K12 strain, carrying the promotor and proximal portion of the 16-S rRNA gene from rrnB cloned in the high-copy-number plasmid psF2124, has been examined for abnormalities in ribosome biogenesis. Both ribosomal RNA accumulation and ribosome content are depressed in this strain as compared to the control strain carrying the plasmid vector alone. The rate of total protein synthesis, however, appears to be normal. In contrast, the rate of ribosomal protein synthesis, relative to total protein synthesis, is elevated. The rates of synthesis of individual ribosomal proteins were determined and found to vary greatly, ranging from severe under-synthesis (displayed especially by proteins L7/L12) to massive over-synthesis (displayed particularly in the case of protein S7). Analysis of the rates of synthesis of other proteins coded for by the S12 operon revealed that protein S12 was moderately over-produced, but elongation factors EF-G and EF-Tu appear to be synthesized at the same rate as EF-Ts, all three being moderately under-synthesized relative to total soluble proteins.     

A simple intact protein analysis by MALDI-MS for characterization of ribosomal proteins of two genome-sequenced lactic acid bacteria and verification of their amino acid sequences

Rapid identification of bacteria by a bioinformatics-based approach, which processes the mass spectra observed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), relies on the calculated masses of ribosomal subunit proteins as biomarkers predicted from amino acid sequences found in protein sequence databases. To verify the actual state of the registered sequence information, a simple intact protein analysis by MALDI-MS using cell lysates as samples was applied to the characterization of ribosomal proteins from genome-sequenced Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strains. This method avoided the risk of loss of some subunit proteins and the formation of disulfide bonds during the purification of ribosomal proteins. By comparing this with the MALDI mass spectra of different strains and carrying out manual inspection of sequence information, a total of five errors in N-terminal amino acid sequences were identified. After sequence correction, approximately 40 out of 53 subunit proteins could be assigned, considering N-terminal methionine loss only as a post-translational modification. These show promise for use as practical biomarkers for the rapid identification of S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus. After verification of these amino acid sequences, mass differences relative to those of genome-sequenced strains have the potential for distinguishing bacteria at the strain level.     

Sub-speciating Campylobacter jejuni by proteomic analysis of its protein biomarkers and their post-translational modifications

We have identified several protein biomarkers of three Campylobacter jejuni strains (RM1221, RM1859, and RM3782) by proteomic techniques. The protein biomarkers identified are prominently observed in the time-of-flight mass spectra (TOF MS) of bacterial cell lysate supernatants ionized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). The protein biomarkers identified were: DNA-binding protein HU, translation initiation factor IF-1, cytochrome c553, a transthyretin-like periplasmic protein, chaperonin GroES, thioredoxin Trx, and ribosomal proteins: L7/L12 (50S), L24 (50S), S16 (30S), L29 (50S), and S15 (30S), and conserved proteins similar to strain NCTC 11168 proteins Cj1164 and Cj1225. The protein biomarkers identified appear to represent high copy, intact proteins. The significant findings are as follows: (1) Biomarker mass shifts between these strains were due to amino acid substitutions of the primary polypeptide sequence and not due to changes in post-translational modifications (PTMs). (2) If present, a PTM of a protein biomarker appeared consistently for all three strains, which supported that the biomarker mass shifts observed between strains were not due to PTM variability. (3) The PTMs observed included N-terminal methionine (N-Met) cleavage as well as a number of other PTMs. (4) It was discovered that protein biomarkers of C. jejuni (as well as other thermophilic Campylobacters) appear to violate the N-Met cleavage rule of bacterial proteins, which predicts N-Met cleavage if the penultimate residue is threonine. Two protein biomarkers (HU and 30S ribosomal protein S16) that have a penultimate threonine residue do not show N-Met cleavage. In all other cases, the rule correctly predicted N-Met cleavage among the biomarkers analyzed. This exception to the N-Met cleavage rule has implications for the development of bioinformatics algorithms for protein/pathogen identification. (5) There were fewer biomarker mass shifts between strains RM1221 and RM1859 compared to strain RM3782. As the mass shifts were due to the frequency of amino acid substitutions (and thus underlying genetic variations), this suggested that strains RM1221 and RM1859 were phylogenetically closer to one another than to strain RM3782 (in addition, a protein biomarker prominent in the spectra of RM1221 and RM1859 was absent from the RM3782 spectrum due to a nonsense mutation in the gene of the biomarker). These observations were confirmed by a nitrate reduction test, which showed that RM1221 and RM1859 were C. jejuni subsp. jejuni whereas RM3782 was C. jejuni subsp. doylei. This result suggests that detection/identification of protein biomarkers by pattern recognition and/or bioinformatics algorithms may easily subspeciate bacterial microorganisms. (6) Finally, the number and variation of PTMs detected in this relatively small number of protein biomarkers suggest that bioinformatics algorithms for pathogen identification may need to incorporate many more possible PTMs than suggested previously in the literature.     

Organisation of the S10, spc and alpha ribosomal protein gene clusters in prokaryotic genomes

Although it is well known that there is no long range colinearity in gene order in bacterial genomes, it is thought that there are several regions that are under strong structural constraints during evolution, in which gene order is extremely conserved. One such region is the str locus, containing the S10-spc-alpha operons. These operons contain genes coding for ribosomal proteins and for a number of housekeeping genes. We compared the organisation of these gene clusters in 111 sequenced prokaryotic genomes (99 bacterial and 12 archaeal genomes). We also compared the organisation to the phylogeny based on 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences and the sequences of the ribosomal proteins L22, L16 and S14. Our data indicate that there is much variation in gene order and content in these gene clusters, both in bacterial as well as in archaeal genomes. Our data indicate that differential gene loss has occurred on multiple occasions during evolution. We also noted several discrepancies between phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and sequences of ribosomal proteins L16, L22 and S14, suggesting that horizontal gene transfer did play a significant role in the evolution of the S10-spc-alpha gene clusters.     

The structure and evolution of the ribosomal proteins encoded in the spc operon of the archaeon (Crenarchaeota) Sulfolobus acidocaldarius.

The genes for nine ribosomal proteins, L24, L5, S14, S8, L6, L18, S5, L30, and L15, have been isolated and sequenced from the spc operon in the archaeon (Crenarchaeota) Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, and the putative amino acid sequence of the proteins coded by these genes has been determined. In addition, three other genes in the spc operon, coding for ribosomal proteins S4E, L32E, and L19E (equivalent to rat ribosomal proteins S4, L32, and L19), were sequenced and the structure of the putative proteins was determined. The order of the ribosomal protein genes in the spc operon of the Crenarchaeota kingdom of Archaea is identical to that present in the Euryarchaeota kingdom of Archaea and also identical to that found in bacteria, except for the genes for r-proteins S4E, L32E, and L19E, which are absent in bacteria. Although AUG is the initiation codon in most of the spc genes, GUG (val) and UUG (leu) are also used as initiation codons in S. acidocaldarius. Over 70% of the codons in the Sulfolobus spc operon have A or U in the third position, reflecting the low GC content of Sulfolobus DNA. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the archaeal r-proteins are a sister group of their eucaryotic counterparts but did not resolve the question of whether the Archaea is monophyletic, as suggested by the L6P, L15P, and L18P trees, or the question of whether the Crenarchaeota is separate from the Euryarchaeota and closer to the Eucarya, as suggested by the S8P, S5P, and L24P trees. In the case of the three Sulfolobus r-proteins that do not have a counterpart in the bacterial ribosome (S4E, L32E, and L19E), the archaeal r-proteins showed substantial identity to their eucaryotic equivalents, but in all cases the archaeal proteins formed a separate group from the eucaryotic proteins.     

Discrimination of Escherichia coli O157, O26 and O111 from Other Serovars by MALDI-TOF MS Based on the S10-GERMS Method

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), causes a potentially life-threatening infection in humans worldwide. Serovar O157:H7, and to a lesser extent serovars O26 and O111, are the most commonly reported EHEC serovars responsible for a large number of outbreaks. We have established a rapid discrimination method for E. coli serovars O157, O26 and O111 from other E. coli serovars, based on the pattern matching of mass spectrometry (MS) differences and the presence/absence of biomarker proteins detected in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight MS (MALDI-TOF MS). Three biomarkers, ribosomal proteins S15 and L25, and acid stress chaperone HdeB, with MS m/z peaks at 10138.6/10166.6, 10676.4/10694.4 and 9066.2, respectively, were identified as effective biomarkers for O157 discrimination. To distinguish serovars O26 and O111 from the others, DNA-binding protein H-NS, with an MS peak at m/z 15409.4/15425.4 was identified. Sequence analysis of the O157 biomarkers revealed that amino acid changes: Q80R in S15, M50I in L25 and one mutation within the start codon ATG to ATA in the encoded HdeB protein, contributed to the specific peak pattern in O157. We demonstrated semi-automated pattern matching using these biomarkers and successfully discriminated total 57 O157 strains, 20 O26 strains and 6 O111 strains with 100% reliability by conventional MALDI-TOF MS analysis, regardless of the sample conditions. Our simple strategy, based on the S10-spc-alpha operon gene-encoded ribosomal protein mass spectrum (S10-GERMS) method, therefore allows for the rapid and reliable detection of this pathogen and may prove to be an invaluable tool both clinically and in the food industry.     

E. coli ribosomal protein L4 is a feedback regulatory protein

We studied the synthesis of ribosomal proteins encoded by the S10 operon, an eleven gene operon from the str-spc region of the E. coli chromosome, using a λfus3 DNA-directed, in vitro protein synthesizing system. Addition of ribosomal protein L4 (1 μM) to in vitro protein synthesis reactions caused selective inhibition of synthesis of the promoter-proximal proteins of the S10 operon, S10, L3, L4, L23 and possibly L2. Proteins of the S10 operon other than L4 did not cause selective inhibition of protein synthesis. Autoregulatory ribosomal proteins previously identified from other operons, L1, S4 and S8, did not inhibit protein synthesis from the S10 operon; nor did L4 cause significant inhibition of protein synthesis from operons other than the S10 operon. As with L1, S4 and S8, L4 inhibits gene expression at the level of translation.     

Ribosomal proteins as biomarkers for bacterial identification by mass spectrometry in the clinical microbiology laboratory

Whole-cell matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a rapid method for identification of microorganisms that is increasingly used in microbiology laboratories. This identification is based on the comparison of the tested isolate mass spectrum with reference databases. Using Neisseria meningitidis as a model organism, we showed that in one of the available databases, the Andromas database, 10 of the 13 species-specific biomarkers correspond to ribosomal proteins. Remarkably, one biomarker, ribosomal protein L32, was subject to inter-strain variability. The analysis of the ribosomal protein patterns of 100 isolates for which whole genome sequences were available, confirmed the presence of inter-strain variability in the molecular weight of 29 ribosomal proteins, thus establishing a correlation between the sequence type (ST) and/or clonal complex (CC) of each strain and its ribosomal protein pattern. Since the molecular weight of three of the variable ribosomal proteins (L30, L31 and L32) was included in the spectral window observed by MALDI-TOF MS in clinical microbiology, i.e., 3640–12000 m/z, we were able by analyzing the molecular weight of these three ribosomal proteins to classify each strain in one of six subgroups, each of these subgroups corresponding to specific STs and/or CCs. Their detection by MALDI-TOF allows therefore a quick typing of N. meningitidis isolates.     

利用基因组学和MALDI-TOF MS技术鉴定放线菌纲细菌的核糖体蛋白质标志物

【目的】基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF MS)法基于微生物的特征蛋白指纹图谱鉴定菌种,本研究利用基因组学和MALDI-TOFMS技术鉴定放线菌纲细菌的核糖体蛋白质标志物。【方法】从MALDI-TOF MS图谱数据库选取放线菌纲代表菌种,在基因组数据库检索目标菌种,获取目标菌株或其参比菌株的核糖体蛋白质序列,计算获得分子质量理论值,用于注释目标菌株MALDI-TOFMS指纹图谱中的核糖体蛋白质信号。【结果】从8目,24科,53属,114种,142株放线菌的MALDI-TOFMS图谱中总共注释出31种核糖体蛋白质。各菌株的指纹图谱中核糖体蛋白质信号数量差异显著。各种核糖体蛋白质信号的注释次数差异显著。总共15种核糖体蛋白质在超过半数图谱中得到注释,注释次数最高的是核糖体大亚基蛋白质L36。【结论】本研究找到了放线菌纲细菌MALDI-TOF MS图谱中常见的15种核糖体蛋白质信号,可为通过识别核糖体蛋白质的质谱特征峰鉴定放线菌的方法建立提供依据。     

Autogenous control is not sufficient to ensure steady-state growth rate-dependent regulation of the S10 ribosomal protein operon of Escherichia coli.

The regulation of the S10 ribosomal protein operon of Escherichia coli was studied by using a lambda prophage containing the beginning of the S10 operon (including the promoter, leader, and first one and one-half structural genes) fused to lacZ. The synthesis of the lacZ fusion protein encoded by the phage showed the expected inhibition during oversynthesis of ribosomal protein L4, the autogenous regulatory protein of the S10 operon. Moreover, the fusion gene responded to a nutritional shift-up in the same way that genuine ribosomal protein genes did. However, the gene did not exhibit the expected growth rate-dependent regulation during steady-state growth. Thus, the genetic information carried on the prophage is sufficient for L4-mediated autogenous control and a normal nutritional shift-up response but is not sufficient for steady-state growth rate-dependent control. These results suggest that, at least for the 11-gene S10 ribosomal protein operon, additional regulatory processes are required to coordinate the synthesis of ribosomal proteins with cell growth rate and, furthermore, that sequences downstream of the proximal one and one-half genes of the operon are involved in this control.     

Cloning and analysis of the spc ribosomal protein operon of Bacillus subtilis: comparison with the spc operon of Escherichia coli.

A segment of Bacillus subtilis chromosomal DNA homologous to the Escherichia coli spc ribosomal protein operon was isolated using cloned E. coli rplE (L5) DNA as a hybridization probe. DNA sequence analysis of the B. subtilis cloned DNA indicated a high degree of conservation of spc operon ribosomal protein genes between B. subtilis and E. coli. This fragment contains DNA homologous to the promoter-proximal region of the spc operon, including coding sequences for ribosomal proteins L14, L24, L5, S14, and part of S8; the organization of B. subtilis genes in this region is identical to that found in E. coli. A region homologous to the E. coli L16, L29 and S17 genes, the last genes of the S10 operon, was located upstream from the gene for L14, the first gene in the spc operon. Although the ribosomal protein coding sequences showed 40-60% amino acid identity with E. coli sequences, we failed to find sequences which would form a structure resembling the E. coli target site for the S8 translational repressor, located near the beginning of the L5 coding region in E. coli, in this region or elsewhere in the B. subtilis spc DNA.     

Gene clusters for ribosomal proteins in the mitochondrial genome of a liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha.

We detected 16 genes for ribosomal proteins in the complete sequence of the mitochondrial DNA from a liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha. The genes formed two major clusters, rps12-rps7 and rps10-rpl2-rps19-rps3-rpl16-rpl5- rps14-rps8- rpl6-rps13-rps11-rps1, very similar in organization to Escherichia coli ribosomal protein operons (str and S10-spc-alpha operons, respectively). In contrast, rps2 and rps4 genes were located separately in the liverwort mitochondrial genome (the latter was part of the alpha operon in E. coli). Furthermore, several ribosomal proteins encoded by the liverwort mitochondrial genome differed substantially in size from their counterparts in E. coli and liverwort chloroplast.