Evidence for Interspecies Gene Transfer in the Evolution of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Degraders

Small-subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) from 20 phenotypically distinct strains of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)-degrading bacteria was partially sequenced, yielding 18 unique strains belonging to members of the alpha, beta, and gamma subgroups of the class Proteobacteria. To understand the origin of 2,4-D degradation in this diverse collection, the first gene in the 2,4-D pathway, tfdA, was sequenced. The sequences fell into three unique classes found in various members of the beta and gamma subgroups of Proteobacteria. None of the α-Proteobacteria yielded tfdA PCR products. A comparison of the dendrogram of the tfdA genes with that of the SSU rDNA genes demonstrated incongruency in phylogenies, and hence 2,4-D degradation must have originated from gene transfer between species. Only those strains with tfdA sequences highly similar to the tfdA sequence of strain JMP134 (tfdA class I) transferred all the 2,4-D genes and conferred the 2,4-D degradation phenotype to a Burkholderia cepacia recipient.Bacteria capable of mineralizing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), a commonly used herbicide, are found in many different phylogenetic groups (2, 3, 7, 11, 22, 23). Evidence suggests that numerous variants of 2,4-D catabolic genes exist and that catabolic operons consist of a near-random mixing of these variants (7). Interspecies gene transfer is a well-documented phenomenon (13), and horizontal gene transfer of the 2,4-D-degrading plasmid pJP4 has been shown (3, 5). However, not all 2,4-D catabolic operons are found on plasmids (10, 11, 16, 20). The extent to which other 2,4-D genes have been exchanged in nature is unknown. The aim of this research was to assess the role of horizontal gene transfer in the evolution of 2,4-D-degrading strains. This article summarizes the results of two aspects of this work—the study of the transfer of the entire 2,4-D pathway by using standard mating experiments and a phylogenetic study of the tfdA gene. The tfdA gene codes for an α-ketoglutarate-dependent 2,4-D dioxygenase which converts 2,4-D into 2,4-dichlorophenol and glyoxylate (6). This 861-bp gene was first sequenced from Ralstonia eutropha JMP134 (19). Two more tfdA genes were cloned from chromosomal locations in Burkholderia strain RASC and Burkholderia strain TFD6 (16, 20). These proved to be identical to each other and 78.5% similar to the original. An alignment of the two variants allowed conserved areas to be identified and primers to be designed for the amplification of tfdA-like genes from other sources (24). Sequence analysis of putative tfdA fragments and the small-subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) of the strains carrying them allowed us to construct phylogenies of the genes and their hosts and to look for congruency between them.

Mating experiments.

A collection of 2,4-D degraders containing 15 unique strains as determined by genomic fingerprinting (7) was used as a source of donors in a series of mating experiments (Table ​(Table1).1). Burkholderia cepacia D5, lacking the ability to grow on 2,4-D and not hybridizing to any tfd genes, was used as a recipient in mating experiments. Strain D5 contains neomycin phosphotransferase genes (nptII) carried on transposon Tn5 and is resistant to 50 μg each of kanamycin, carbenicillin, and bacitracin per ml. All of the 2,4-D strains used were sensitive to these antibiotics. Filter matings were performed with a donor-to-recipient ratio of 1:10. Colonies which grew on selective medium (500 ppm of 2,4-D in mineral salts agar [MMO] [23] including 50 μg of kanamycin, carbenicillin, and bacitracin per ml) were subjected to further tests. Their ability to catabolize 2,4-D was tested in liquid medium (same composition as that described above).

TABLE 1

2,4-D-degrading strains, geographic origins, and GenBank accession numbers

Mode of Action of cGMP-dependent Protein Kinase-specific Inhibitors Probed by Photoaffinity Cross-linking Mass Spectrometry

The inhibitor peptide DT-2 (YGRKKRRQRRRPPLRKKKKKH) is the most potent and selective inhibitor of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) known today. DT-2 is a construct of a PKG tight binding sequence (W45, LRKKKKKH, K_I = 0.8 μm) and a membrane translocating sequence (DT-6, YGRKKRRQRRRPP, K_I = 1.1 μm), that combined strongly inhibits PKG catalyzed phosphorylation (K_I = 12.5 nm) with ∼1000-fold selectivity toward PKG over protein kinase A, the closest relative of PKG. However, the molecular mechanism behind this inhibition is not entirely understood. Using a combination of photoaffinity labeling, stable isotope labeling, and mass spectrometry, we have located the binding sites of PKG-specific substrate and inhibitor peptides. Covalent linkage of a PKG-specific substrate analogue was localized in the catalytic core on residues 356–372, also known as the glycine-rich loop, essential for ATP binding. By analogy, the individual inhibitor peptides W45 and DT-6 were also found to cross-link near the glycine-rich loop, suggesting these are both substrate competitive inhibitors. A bifunctional photoreactive analogue of DT-2 was found to generate dimers of PKG. This cross-linking induced covalent PKG dimerization was not observed for an N-terminal deletion mutant of PKG, which lacks the dimerization domain. In addition, non-covalent mass spectrometry was used to determine binding stoichiometry and binding order of the inhibitor peptides. Dimeric PKG binds two W45 and DT-6 peptides, whereas only one DT-2 molecule was observed to bind to the dimeric PKG. Taken together, these findings imply that (i) the two individual components making up DT-2 are both targeted against the substrate-binding site and (ii) binding of a single DT-2 molecule inactivates both PKG monomers simultaneously, which is an indication that (iii) in cGMP-activated PKG the catalytic centers of both subunits may be in each other''s proximity.Among the superfamily of protein kinases the two cyclic nucleotide-regulated protein kinases, cAMP-dependent protein kinase and cGMP-dependent protein kinase, form a closely related subfamily of serine/threonine protein kinases (1–4). Both proteins share several structural elements, such as the N-terminal dimerization domain, an autoinhibition site, two in-tandem cyclic nucleotide-binding sites, and a highly conserved catalytic core (Fig. 1, A and B). Despite these similarities, these two enzymes display differences, which account for their unique properties. Whereas PKA² is nearly ubiquitous, PKG is primarily found in the lung, cerebellum, and smooth muscles (5, 6). From a structural point of view these cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases differ as well. The holoenzyme of PKA is a tetramer composed of two regulatory and two catalytic subunits. The catalytic subunits are non-covalently attached to the regulatory subunit dimer. Upon interaction with cAMP, the catalytic subunits dissociate from the holoenzyme and are free to catalyze heterophosphorylation (Fig. 1C). The mammalian type I PKGs are homodimeric cytosolic proteins containing two identical polypeptides of ∼76 kDa. Alternative mRNA splicing produces type Iα and type Iβ PKG, which are identical proteins apart from their first ∼100 N-terminal residues (7). Each PKG subunit is composed of a regulatory and a catalytic domain on a single polypeptide chain. Consequently, when cGMP activates PKG, the catalytic and regulatory components remain physically attached (Fig. 1D). Within the catalytic domain PKA and PKG share a strong primary sequence homology (8). Not surprisingly, these enzymes also exhibit overlapping substrate specificities, a feature that often interferes with efforts to elucidate their distinct biological pathways. Peptide substrates with a primary amino acid sequence motif RRX(S/T)X are in general recognized by both PKA and PKG (9). Besides this strong overlapping substrate specificity, several studies report on subtle differences in determinants that discriminate for PKA and PKG substrate specificity (10–16). To specifically discriminate between PKG and PKA activity in biological assays a highly specific PKG peptide inhibitor was developed (17). This peptide, YGRKKRRQRRRPPLRKKKKKH (DT-2), is the most potent and selective PKG inhibitor known today. Recently, the validity of DT-2 as a superior inhibitor of PKG in terms of potency, selectivity, and membrane permeability has been demonstrated (18–24). The inhibitor is a construct of a substrate competitive sequence, LRKKKKKH (W45), derived from a library screen that selected for tight PKG binding sequences, with a significant specificity toward PKG over PKA, and a membrane translocating signal peptide, YGRKKRRQRRRPP (DT-6). DT-2 strongly inhibits PKG-catalyzed phosphorylation (K_i = 12.5 nm), however, the molecular nature of DT-2 inhibition is not entirely understood (25). Because high resolution structural data are not available for PKG, one of our goals is to elucidate binding sites for PKG-specific substrates and inhibitors in more detail using a combination of mass spectrometric techniques and photoaffinity labeling. To further delineate the nature of inhibition we have developed photoaffinity analogues of DT-2 and related inhibitory peptides, as well as a high affinity peptide substrate. The method of photoaffinity labeling enables the direct probing of target proteins through a covalent bond, which is photochemically introduced between a ligand and its specific receptor (26). In combination with modern mass spectrometric techniques this is a powerful approach for the characterization of peptide-protein interactions (27). Substrate and inhibitor peptides containing photoactivatable analogues of phenylalanine, 4-benzoyl-l-phenylalanine (Phe(Bz)) or 4′-(3-(trifluoromethyl)-3H-diazirin-3-yl)-l-phenylalanine (Phe(Tmd)) were synthesized and used to locate their substrate/inhibitor-binding sites on PKG. These measurements indicate that the substrate peptide resides near the glycine-rich loop within the catalytic domain and that the inhibitor peptides are directed similarly toward this substrate-binding site, thereby acting as competitive inhibitors. In addition, nanoflow electrospray ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS) was performed to study the interaction between DT-2 and PKG in more detail. ESI-MS has proven to be a useful tool to analyze the non-covalent interaction of proteins with ligands, oligonucleotides, peptides, or other proteins (28–31). Using this technique, important information on conformational changes (32–35), measurement of relative dissociation constants (36, 37), and sequential binding order and cooperativity (38, 39) can be obtained. ESI-MS confirms that PKG is primarily a homodimer and is able to bind four cGMP molecules. Binding of DT-2 was strongly enhanced in the presence of cGMP. Surprising is the observation that only one DT-2 molecule binds to dimeric PKG. The information derived from these measurements allows for molecular modeling and structural refinements of the next generation of PKG-selective inhibitors.Open in a separate windowFIGURE 1.Linear arrangement of the functional domains of the regulatory and catalytic subunit of PKA (A) and PKG (B) type I and schematic representation of the current working models of the activation process of PKA (C) and PKG (D) type 1. Binding of cAMP to the PKA induces a conformational change that results in the dissociation of the catalytic subunits. Binding of cGMP to PKG also induces a conformational change, which exposes the catalytic domains, but both catalytic domains remain near each other via the N-terminal dimerization domain. (Images adapted from Scholten et al. (4).)

TABLE 1

Inhibition contants (K_I) of PKA- or PKG-specific peptide inhibitors and the PKA/PKG specificity index

Unsuitability of Quantitative Bacteroidales 16S rRNA Gene Assays for Discerning Fecal Contamination of Drinking Water

Bacteroidales species were detected in (tap) water samples from treatment plants with three different PCR assays. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the sequences had an environmental rather than fecal origin. We conclude that assays for Bacteroidales 16S rRNA genes are not specific enough to discern fecal contamination of drinking water in the Netherlands.Drinking water in many countries is routinely monitored for recent fecal contamination by testing for fecal indicator organisms Escherichia coli, thermotolerant coliforms, and/or intestinal enterococci to demonstrate microbial safety (13, 21, 42). Although these indicator organisms have been used for many decades, they have some limitations: the number of E. coli/coliform/enterococcus bacteria in feces is relatively low (18, 38), and they sometimes might be able to grow in the environment (10, 11, 14, 27). Consequently, scientists have been searching for alternative indicator organisms to determine fecal contamination of water. In 1967, bacteria belonging to the genus Bacteroides were suggested as alternative indicator organisms (26). Bacteroides spp. might have some advantages over the traditional indicator organisms. The numbers of Bacteroides spp. in the intestinal tract of humans and animals are 10 to 100 times higher than the numbers of E. coli or intestinal enterococci (1, 2, 12, 26). However, the use of Bacteroides spp. as indicator organisms was hampered by the complex cultivation conditions required (1, 2). The introduction of molecular methods made it possible to detect bacterial species that belong to the order Bacteroidales, an order that includes the genus Bacteroides, without cultivation. As a result, real-time PCR methods were developed for the quantitative detection of Bacteroidales in surface and recreation water and the potential of Bacteroidales species as an indication of fecal contamination of recreational waters was demonstrated (6, 12, 16, 19, 20, 29). Bacteroidales species might be useful indicator organisms for fecal contamination of drinking water as well. However, methods to detect fecal contamination in drinking water should be more sensitive, because people ingest more drinking water and the quality assessments and standards for fecal contamination are stricter than for bathing water. Studies exploring real-time PCR for the detection of Bacteroidales genes in drinking water have not been published to our knowledge. The objective of our study was, therefore, to determine if assays for the detection of Bacteroidales 16S rRNA genes can be used to detect fecal contamination in drinking water.Unchlorinated tap water samples were obtained in November 2007 and February 2010 from one or more locations in the distribution systems of nine different drinking water treatment plants (plants A to I; Table ​Table1)1) that produced unchlorinated drinking water from confined (plants B, C, E, F, and G) and unconfined (plants A, D, H, and I) groundwater. The treatment plants are located in the central part of the Netherlands within 90 km of each other. In addition, untreated groundwater from extraction wells and/or untreated raw groundwater (mixture of groundwater from different extraction wells) was sampled in March 2008 (Table ​(Table1).1). Water samples (100 ml) were filtered over a 25-mm polycarbonate filter (0.22-μm pore size, type GTTP; Millipore, Netherlands) and a DNA fragment was added as internal control to determine the recovery efficiency of DNA isolation and PCR analysis (2a, 40). DNA was isolated using a FastDNA spin kit for soil (Qbiogene, United States) according to the supplier''s protocol. Primer sets AllBac 296f and AllBac 412r, resulting in a PCR product of 108 bp, were used in combination with TaqMan probe AllBac375Bhqr to quantitatively determine the number of Bacteroidales 16S rRNA gene copies in the water samples using a real-time PCR instrument (20). The PCR cycle after which the fluorescence signal of the amplified DNA was detected (threshold cycle [C_T]) was used to quantify the concentration of 16S rRNA gene copies. Quantification was based on comparison of the sample C_T value with the C_T values of a calibration curve graphed using known copy numbers of the Bacteroidales 16S rRNA gene, as previously described (12, 20). The correlation coefficient of the calibration curve was 0.99, and the efficiency of the PCR 95 to 105%. Finally, the Bacteroidales cell number was calculated by using the recovery rate of the internal standard and assuming five 16S rRNA gene copy numbers per cell (5). The detection limit of this gene assay was 50 Bacteroidales cells 100 ml⁻¹ (corresponding to 10 16S rRNA gene copies per reaction mixture). Furthermore, the 16S rRNA genes that were obtained from several water samples from treatment plant C with the AllBac and TotBac (12) primer sets were sequenced, and the nearest relatives were obtained from the GenBank database using BLAST searches.

TABLE 1.

Numbers of Bacteroidales cells in extraction wells, raw groundwater, and unchlorinated tap water of nine different groundwater plants in the Netherlands^a

Critical Factors Determining Dimerization of Human Antizyme Inhibitor

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is the first enzyme involved in polyamine biosynthesis, and it catalyzes the decarboxylation of ornithine to putrescine. ODC is a dimeric enzyme, whereas antizyme inhibitor (AZI), a positive regulator of ODC that is homologous to ODC, exists predominantly as a monomer and lacks decarboxylase activity. The goal of this paper was to identify the essential amino acid residues that determine the dimerization of AZI. The nonconserved amino acid residues in the putative dimer interface of AZI (Ser-277, Ser-331, Glu-332, and Asp-389) were substituted with the corresponding residues in the putative dimer interface of ODC (Arg-277, Tyr-331, Asp-332, and Tyr-389, respectively). Analytical ultracentrifugation analysis was used to determine the size distribution of these AZI mutants. The size-distribution analysis data suggest that residue 331 may play a major role in the dimerization of AZI. Mutating Ser-331 to Tyr in AZI (AZI-S331Y) caused a shift from a monomer configuration to a dimer. Furthermore, in comparison with the single mutant AZI-S331Y, the AZI-S331Y/D389Y double mutant displayed a further reduction in the monomer-dimer K_d, suggesting that residue 389 is also crucial for AZI dimerization. Analysis of the triple mutant AZI-S331Y/D389Y/S277R showed that it formed a stable dimer (K_d value = 1.3 μm). Finally, a quadruple mutant, S331Y/D389Y/S277R/E332D, behaved as a dimer with a K_d value of ∼0.1 μm, which is very close to that of the human ODC enzyme. The quadruple mutant, although forming a dimer, could still be disrupted by antizyme (AZ), further forming a heterodimer, and it could rescue the AZ-inhibited ODC activity, suggesting that the AZ-binding ability of the AZI dimer was retained.Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) have been shown to have both structural and regulatory roles in protein and nucleic acid biosynthesis and function (1–3). Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC,³ EC 4.1.1.17) is a central regulator of cellular polyamine synthesis (reviewed in Refs. 1, 4, 5). This enzyme catalyzes the pyridoxal 5-phosphate (PLP)-dependent decarboxylation of ornithine to putrescine, and it is the first and rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis (2, 3, 6, 7). ODC and polyamines play important roles in a number of biological functions, including embryonic development, cell cycle, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis (8–15). They also have been associated with human diseases and a variety of cancers (16–26). Because the regulation of ODC and polyamine content is critical to cell proliferation (11), as well as in the origin and progression of neoplastic diseases (23, 24), ODC has been identified as an oncogenic enzyme, and the inhibitors of ODC and the polyamine pathway are important targets for therapeutic intervention in many cancers (6, 11).ODC is ubiquitously found in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans. It contains 461 amino acid residues in each monomer and is a 106-kDa homodimer with molecular 2-fold symmetry (27, 28). Importantly, ODC activity requires the formation of a dimer (29–31). X-ray structures of the ODC enzyme reveal that this dimer contains two active sites, both of which are formed at the interface between the N-terminal domain of one monomer, which provides residues involved in PLP interactions, and the C-terminal domain of the other subunit, which provides the residues that interact with substrate (27, 32–41).ODC undergoes a unique ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation via a direct interaction with the regulatory protein antizyme (AZ). Binding of AZ promotes the dissociation of the ODC homodimers and targets ODC for degradation by the 26 S proteasome (42–46). Current models of antizyme function indicate that increased polyamine levels promote the fidelity of the AZ mRNA translational frameshift, leading to increased concentrations of AZ (47). The AZ monomer selectively binds to dimeric ODC, thereby inactivating ODC by forming inactive AZ-ODC heterodimers (44, 48–50). AZ acts as a regulator of polyamine metabolism that inhibits ODC activity and polyamine transport, thus restricting polyamine levels (4, 5, 51, 52). When antizymes are overexpressed, they inhibit ODC and promote ubiquitin-independent proteolytic degradation of ODC. Because elevated ODC activity is associated with most forms of human malignancies (1), it has been suggested that antizymes may function as tumor suppressors.In contrast to the extensive studies on the oncogene ODC, the endogenous antizyme inhibitor (AZI) is less well understood. AZI is homologous to the enzyme ODC. It is a 448-amino acid protein with a molecular mass of 50 kDa. However, despite the homology between these proteins, AZI does not possess any decarboxylase activity. It binds to antizyme more tightly than does ODC and releases ODC from the ODC-antizyme complex (53, 54). Both the AZI and AZ proteins display rapid ubiquitin-dependent turnover within a few minutes to 1 h in vivo (5). However, AZ binding actually stabilizes AZI by inhibiting its ubiquitination (55).AZI, which inactivates all members of the AZ family (53, 56), restores ODC activity (54), and prevents the proteolytic degradation of ODC, may play a role in tumor progression. It has been reported that down-regulation of AZI is associated with the inhibition of cell proliferation and reduced ODC activity, presumably through the modulation of AZ function (57). Moreover, overexpression of AZI has been shown to increase cell proliferation and promote cell transformation (58–60). Furthermore, AZI is capable of direct interaction with cyclin D1, preventing its degradation, and this effect is at least partially independent of AZ function (60, 61). These results demonstrate a role for AZI in the positive regulation of cell proliferation and tumorigenesis.It is now known that ODC exists as a dimer and that AZI may exist as a monomer physiologically (62). Fig. 1 shows the dimeric structures of ODC (Fig. 1A) and AZI (Fig. 1B). Although structural studies indicate that both ODC and AZI crystallize as dimers, the dimeric AZI structure has fewer interactions at the dimer interface, a smaller buried surface area, and a lack of symmetry of the interactions between residues from the two monomers, suggesting that the AZI dimer may be nonphysiological (62). In this study, we identify the critical amino acid residues governing the difference in dimer formation between ODC and AZI. Our preliminary studies using analytical ultracentrifugation indicated that ODC exists as a dimer, whereas AZI exists in a concentration-dependent monomer-dimer equilibrium. Multiple sequence alignments of ODC and AZI from various species have shown that residues 277, 331, 332, and 389 are not conserved between ODC and AZI (Open in a separate windowFIGURE 1.Crystal structure and the amino acid residues at the dimer interface of human ornithine decarboxylase (hODC) and mouse antizyme inhibitor (mAZI). A, homodimeric structure of human ODC with the cofactor PLP analog, LLP (Protein Data Bank code 1D7K). B, putative dimeric structure of mouse AZI (Protein Data Bank code 3BTN). The amino acid residues in the dimer interface are shown as a ball-and-stick model. The putative AZ-binding site is colored in cyan. This figure was generated using PyMOL (DeLano Scientific LLC, San Carlos, CA).

TABLE 1

Amino acid residues at the dimer interface of human ODC and AZI

Temporal and Spatial Diversity of the Tap Water Microbiota in a Norwegian Hospital

We analyzed the temporal and spatial diversity of the microbiota in a low-usage and a high-usage hospital tap. We identified a tap-specific colonization pattern, with potential human pathogens being overrepresented in the low-usage tap. We propose that founder effects and local adaptation caused the tap-specific colonization patterns. Our conclusion is that tap-specific colonization represents a potential challenge for water safety.Humans are exposed to and consume large amounts of tap water in their everyday life, with the tap water microbiota representing a potent reservoir for pathogens (8). Despite the potential impact, our knowledge about the ecological diversification processes of the tap water microbiota is limited (4, 11).The aim of the present work was to determine the temporal and spatial distribution patterns of the planktonic tap water microbiota. We compared the summer and winter microbiota from two hospital taps supplied from the same water source. We analyzed 16S rRNA gene clone libraries by using a novel alignment-independent approach for operational taxonomic unit (OTU) designation (6), while established OTU diversity and richness estimators were used for the ecological interpretations.Tap water samples (1 liter) from a high-usage kitchen and a low-usage toilet cold-water tap in Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway, were collected in January and July 2006. The total DNA was isolated and the 16S rRNA gene PCR amplified and sequenced. Based on the sequences, we estimated the species richness and diversity, we calculated the distances between the communities, and trees were constructed to reflect the relatedness of the microbiota in the samples analyzed. Details about these analytical approaches are given in the materials and methods section in the supplemental material.Our initial analysis of species composition was done using the RDPII hierarchical classifier. We found that the majority of pathogen-related bacteria in our data set belonged to the class Gammaproteobacteria. The genera encompassed Legionella, Pseudomonas, and Vibrio (Table ​(Table1).1). We found a significant overrepresentation of pathogen-related bacteria in the toilet tap (P = 0.04), while there were no significant differences between summer and winter samples. Legionella showed the highest relative abundance for the pathogen-related bacteria. With respect to the total diversity, we found that Proteobacteria dominated the tap water microbiota (representing 86% of the taxa) (see Table S1 in the supplemental material). There was, however, a large portion (56%) of the taxa that could not be assigned to the genus level using this classifier.

TABLE 1.

Cloned sequences related to human pathogens^a

Plastid Genotyping Reveals the Uniformity of Cytoplasmic Male Sterile-T Maize Cytoplasms

Cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) lines in maize (Zea mays) have been classified by their response to specific restorer genes into three categories: cms-C, cms-S, and cms-T. A mitochondrial genome representing each of the CMS cytotypes has been sequenced, and male sterility in the cms-S and cms-T cytotypes is linked to chimeric mitochondrial genes. To identify markers for plastid genotyping, we sequenced the plastid genomes of three fertile maize lines (B37, B73, and A188) and the B37 cms-C, cms-S, and cms-T cytoplasmic substitution lines. We found that the plastid genomes of B37 and B73 lines are identical. Furthermore, the fertile and CMS plastid genomes are conserved, differing only by zero to three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in coding regions and by eight to 22 SNPs and 10 to 21 short insertions/deletions in noncoding regions. To gain insight into the origin and transmission of the cms-T trait, we identified three SNPs unique to the cms-T plastids and tested the three diagnostic SNPs in 27 cms-T lines, representing the HA, I, Q, RS, and T male-sterile cytoplasms. We report that each of the tested 27 cms-T group accessions have the same three diagnostic plastid SNPs, indicating a single origin and maternal cotransmission of the cms-T mitochondria and plastids to the seed progeny. Our data exclude exceptional pollen transmission of organelles or multiple horizontal gene transfer events as the source of the mitochondrial urf13-T (unidentified reading frame encoding 13-kD cms-T protein) gene in the cms-T cytoplasms. Plastid genotyping enables a reassessment of the evolutionary relationships of cytoplasms in cultivated maize.Cytoplasmic male sterility has been described in many flowering plant species and is linked to mitochondrial genes encoding toxic proteins. Cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) proteins are typically encoded by a chimeric mitochondrial gene assembled from rearranged mitochondrial DNA sequences and contain a hydrophobic, membrane-spanning domain (Hanson and Bentolila, 2004; Chase, 2007; Carlsson et al., 2008; Kubo and Newton, 2008; Chen and Liu, 2014). CMS cytoplasms in maize (Zea mays) are well characterized. Thirty-eight sources of cytoplasmic male sterility have been examined for fertility restoration in 28 inbred backgrounds and classified by their response to specific restorer genes into the cms-C, cms-S, and cms-T groups. The cms-T group is composed of the earlier identified HA, I, Q, RS, and T cytoplasms, which all respond to the same Restorers of fertility nuclear genes Rf1 and Rf2. Plants with the cms-T cytotype are susceptible to Bipolaris (Helminthosporium) maydis race T, a fungal pathogen that causes southern corn leaf blight (Beckett, 1971; Gracen and Grogan, 1974). A distinct mitochondrial genome representing each of the CMS cytotypes has been sequenced (Allen et al., 2007), with male sterility linked to the urf13-T (unidentified reading frame encoding 13-kD cms-T protein) gene in cms-T (Dewey et al., 1987) and the cotranscribed open reading frames (ORFs) orf355/orf77 in cms-S (Zabala et al., 1997). The 13-kD maize mitochondrial protein encoded by the urf13-T gene was shown to confer sensitivity to the T-toxin produced by B. maydis in Escherichia coli, firmly establishing the linkage between the T-type cytoplasmic male sterility and T-toxin sensitivity (Dewey et al., 1988). A collection of CMS lines is searchable at the Maize Genetics and Genomics Database (MaizeGDB) Web site (Sen et al., 2009), and seed may be obtained upon request. We used this resource to learn whether the independently isolated cms-T cytoplasms in cultivated maize are related. In maize, plastids and mitochondria are transmitted to the seed progeny from the maternal parent (Conde et al., 1979). However, maize yields hybrids with relatively distant wild relatives such as Zea luxurians, Zea diploperennis, and Zea perennis (Allen, 2005), and when doing so, it is possible that the mode of organelle inheritance may change to biparental with an increased frequency of organelle leakage via pollen. In an extreme case of an interspecies hybrid, a shift from maternal to paternal inheritance was documented (Hansen et al., 2007). Lineages arising outside a strict maternal mode of organelle inheritance in the cms-T cytoplasm can be reconstructed by analyzing plastid types in the cms-T collection. This necessitated a search for plastid markers.Earlier work yielded very few markers that would be useful for plastid genotyping in cultivated maize (Pring and Levings, 1978). Complete plastid genome sequences are convenient sources of plastid DNA (ptDNA) markers. Prior to our study, the only annotated maize ptDNA sequence in GenBank ({"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"NC_001666","term_id":"11994090","term_text":"NC_001666"}}NC_001666; Maier et al., 1995) was assembled from sequencing clones of two maize hybrids (see “Discussion”). To provide markers specific to the lines used in this study, we sequenced the plastid genomes of three fertile lines: A188 representing cytotype NA and B37 representing cytotype NB (Clifton et al., 2004; Allen et al., 2007). The third fertile line, B73, was chosen because its nuclear genome has been sequenced (Schnable et al., 2009). We also sequenced the plastid genome of cms-C, cms-S, and cms-T lines in the B37 nuclear background (B37C, B37S, and B37T lines), in which the mitochondrial genome sequence has been determined (Clifton et al., 2004; Allen et al., 2007). The maize lines with sequenced plastid and mitochondrial genomes are listed in

Chimeric Nitrogenase-like Enzymes of (Bacterio)chlorophyll Biosynthesis

Nitrogenase-like light-independent protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (DPOR) is involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis. Bacteriochlorophyll formation additionally requires the structurally related chlorophyllide oxidoreductase (COR). During catalysis, homodimeric subunit BchL₂ or ChlL₂ of DPOR transfers electrons to the corresponding heterotetrameric catalytic subunit, (BchNB)₂ or (ChlNB)₂. Analogously, subunit BchX₂ of the COR enzymes delivers electrons to subunit (BchYZ)₂. Various chimeric DPOR enzymes formed between recombinant subunits (BchNB)₂ and BchL₂ from Chlorobaculum tepidum or (ChlNB)₂ and ChlL₂ from Prochlorococcus marinus and Thermosynechococcus elongatus were found to be enzymatically active, indicating a conserved docking surface for the interaction of both DPOR protein subunits. Biotin label transfer experiments revealed the interaction of P. marinus ChlL₂ with both subunits, ChlN and ChlB, of the (ChlNB)₂ tetramer. Based on these findings and on structural information from the homologous nitrogenase system, a site-directed mutagenesis approach yielded 10 DPOR mutants for the characterization of amino acid residues involved in protein-protein interaction. Surface-exposed residues Tyr¹²⁷ of subunit ChlL, Leu⁷⁰ and Val¹⁰⁷ of subunit ChlN, and Gly⁶⁶ of subunit ChlB were found essential for P. marinus DPOR activity. Next, the BchL₂ or ChlL₂ part of DPOR was exchanged with electron-transferring BchX₂ subunits of COR and NifH₂ of nitrogenase. Active chimeric DPOR was generated via a combination of BchX₂ from C. tepidum or Roseobacter denitrificans with (BchNB)₂ from C. tepidum. No DPOR activity was observed for the chimeric enzyme consisting of NifH₂ from Azotobacter vinelandii in combination with (BchNB)₂ from C. tepidum or (ChlNB)₂ from P. marinus and T. elongatus, respectively.Chlorophyll and bacteriochlorophyll biosynthesis, as well as nitrogen fixation, are essential biochemical processes developed early in the evolution of life (1). During biological fixation of nitrogen, nitrogenase catalyzes the reduction of atmospheric dinitrogen to ammonia (2). Enzyme systems homologous to nitrogenase play a crucial role in the formation of the chlorin and bacteriochlorin ring system of chlorophylls (Chl)2 and bacteriochlorophylls (Bchl) (3, 4) (Fig. 1a). For the synthesis of both Chl and Bchl, the stereospecific reduction of the C-17-C-18 double bond of ring D of protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) catalyzed by the nitrogenase-like enzyme light-independent (dark-operative) protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (DPOR) results in the formation of chlorophyllide (Chlide) (Fig. 1a, left) (5, 6). DPOR enzymes consist of three protein subunits which are designated BchN, BchB and BchL in Bchl-synthesizing organisms and ChlN, ChlB and ChlL in Chl-synthesizing organisms. A second reduction step at ring B (C-7-C-8) unique to the synthesis of Bchl converts the chlorin Chlide into a bacteriochlorin ring structure to form bacteriochlorophyllide (Bchlide) (Fig. 1a, right, Bchlide). This reaction is catalyzed by another nitrogenase-like enzyme, termed chlorophyllide oxidoreductase (COR) (7). COR enzymes are composed of subunits BchY, BchZ, and BchX.Open in a separate windowFIGURE 1.Comparison of the three subunit enzymes DPOR, COR, and nitrogenase. a, during Chl and Bchl biosynthesis, ring D is stereospecifically reduced by the nitrogenase-like enzyme DPOR (subunit composition BchL₂/(BchNB)₂ or ChlL₂/(ChlNB)₂) leading to the chlorin Chlide. Subunits N, B, and L are named ChlN, ChlB, and ChlL in Chl-synthesizing organisms and BchN, BchB, and BchL in Bchl-synthesizing organisms. The synthesis of Bchl additionally requires the stereospecific B ring reduction by a second nitrogenase-like enzyme called COR, with the subunit composition BchX₂/(BchYZ)₂. COR catalyzes the formation of the bacteriochlorin Bchlide. Subunits Y, Z, and X of the COR enzyme are named BchY, BchZ, and BchX. b, the homologous nitrogenase complex has the subunit composition NifH₂/(NifD/NifK)₂. Rings A–E and the carbon atoms are designated according to IUPAC nomenclature (41). R is either a vinyl or an ethyl moiety. The position marked by an asterisk indicates either a vinyl or a hydroxyethyl moiety (42).All subunits share significant amino acid sequence homology to the corresponding subunits of nitrogenase, which are designated NifD, NifK, and NifH, respectively (1) (compare Fig. 1, a and b). Whereas subunits BchL or ChlL, BchX and NifH exhibit a sequence identity at the amino acid level of ∼33%, subunits BchN or ChlN, BchY, NifD, and BchB or ChlB, BchZ, and NifK, respectively, show lower sequence identities of ∼15% (1). For all enzymes a common oligomeric protein architecture has been proposed consisting of the heterotetrameric complexes (BchNB)₂ or (ChlNB)₂, (BchYZ)₂, and (NifD/NifK)₂, which are completed by a homodimeric protein subunit BchL₂ or ChlL₂, BchX₂, and NifH₂, respectively (compare Fig. 1, a and b) (3, 7, 8).Nitrogenase is a well characterized protein complex that catalyzes the reduction of nitrogen to ammonia in a reaction that requires at least 16 molecules of MgATP (2, 9, 10). During nitrogenase catalysis, subunit NifH₂ (Fe protein) associates with and dissociates from the (NifD/NifK)₂ complex (MoFe protein). Binding, hydrolysis of MgATP and structural rearrangements are coupled to sequential intersubunit electron transfer. For this purpose, NifH₂ contains an ATP-binding motif and an intersubunit [4Fe-4S] cluster coordinated by two cysteine residues from each NifH monomer (1, 11). Electrons from this [4Fe-4S] cluster are transferred via a [8Fe-7S] cluster (P-cluster) onto the [1Mo-7Fe-9S-X-homocitrate] cluster (MoFe cofactor). Both of the latter clusters are located on (NifD/NifK)₂, where dinitrogen is reduced to ammonia (10). Three-dimensional structures of NifH₂ in complex with (NifD/NifK)₂ revealed a detailed picture of the dynamic interaction of both subcomplexes (8, 12).Based on biochemical and bioinformatic approaches, it has been proposed that the initial steps of DPOR reaction strongly resemble nitrogenase catalysis. Key amino acid residues essential for DPOR function have been identified by mutagenesis of the enzyme from Chlorobaculum tepidum (formerly denoted as Chlorobium tepidum) (3). The catalytic mechanism of DPOR includes the electron transfer from a “plant-type” [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin onto the dimeric DPOR subunit, BchL₂, carrying an intersubunit [4Fe-4S] redox center coordinated by Cys⁹⁷ and Cys¹³¹ in C. tepidum. Analogous to nitrogenase, Lys¹⁰ in the phosphate-binding loop (P-loop) and Leu¹²⁶ in the switch II region of DPOR were found essential for DPOR catalysis. Moreover, it was shown that the BchL₂ protein from C. tepidum does not form a stable complex with the catalytic (BchNB)₂ subcomplex. Therefore, a transient interaction responsible for the electron transfer onto protein subunit (BchNB)₂ has been proposed (3).The subsequent [Fe-S] cluster-dependent catalysis and the specific substrate recognition at the active site located on subunit (BchNB)₂ are unrelated to nitrogenase. The (BchNB)₂ subcomplex was shown to carry a second [4Fe-4S] cluster, which was proposed to be ligated by Cys²¹, Cys⁴⁶, and Cys¹⁰³ of the BchN subunit and Cys⁹⁴ of subunit BchB (C. tepidum numbering) (3). No evidence for any type of additional cofactor was obtained from biochemical and EPR spectroscopic analyses (5, 13). Thus, despite the same common oligomeric architecture, the catalytic subunits (BchNB)₂ and (ChlNB)₂ clearly differ from the corresponding nitrogenase complex, as no molybdenum-containing cofactor or P-cluster equivalent is employed (5, 14). From these results it was concluded that electrons from the [4Fe-4S] cluster of (BchNB)₂ or (ChlNB)₂ are transferred directly onto the Pchlide substrate at the active site of DPOR.The second nitrogenase-like enzyme, COR, catalyzes the reduction of ring B of Chlide during the biosynthesis of Bchl (7). Therefore, an accurate discrimination of the ring systems of the individual substrates is required. COR subunits share an overall amino acid sequence identity of 15–22% for BchY and BchZ and 31–35% for subunit BchX when compared with the corresponding DPOR subunits (supplemental Figures S2–S4). In amino acid sequence alignments of BchX proteins with the closely related BchL or ChlL subunits of DPOR, both cysteinyl ligands responsible for [4Fe-4S] cluster formation and residues for ATP binding are conserved (1). Furthermore, all cysteinyl residues characterized as ligands for a catalytic [4Fe-4S] cluster in (BchNB)₂ or (ChlNB)₂ are conserved in the sequences of subunits BchY and BchZ of COR (7). These findings correspond to a recent EPR study in which a characteristic signal for a [4Fe-4S] cluster was obtained for the COR subunit BchX₂ as well as for subunit (BchYZ)₂ (15). These results indicate that the catalytic mechanism of COR strongly resembles DPOR catalysis. In vitro assays for nitrogenase as well as for DPOR and COR make use of the artificial electron donor dithionite in the presence of high concentrations of ATP (7, 16, 17).

TABLE 1

Amino acid sequence identities of the individual subunits of DPOR, COR, and nitrogenaseAmino acid sequences of the individual subunits of DPOR, COR, and nitrogenase employed in the present study (compareFig. 3A) were aligned by using the ClustalW method in MegAlign (DNASTAR), and sequence identities were calculated.

Peptidoglycan Fine Structure of the Radiotolerant Bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans Sark

Peptidoglycan from Deinococcus radiodurans was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The monomeric subunit was: N-acetylglucosamine–N-acetylmuramic acid–l-Ala–d-Glu-(γ)–l-Orn-[(δ)Gly-Gly]–d-Ala–d-Ala. Cross-linkage was mediated by (Gly)₂ bridges, and glycan strands were terminated in (1→6)anhydro-muramic acid residues. Structural relations with the phylogenetically close Thermus thermophilus are discussed.The gram-positive bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans is remarkable because of its extreme resistance to ionizing radiation (14). Phylogenetically the closest relatives of Deinococcus are the extreme thermophiles of the genus Thermus (4, 11). In 16S rRNA phylogenetic trees, the genera Thermus and Deinococcus group together as one of the older branches in bacterial evolution (11). Both microorganisms have complex cell envelopes with outer membranes, S-layers, and ornithine-Gly-containing mureins (7, 12, 19, 20, 22, 23). However, Deinococcus and Thermus differ in their response to the Gram reaction, having positive and negative reactions, respectively (4, 14). The murein structure for Thermus thermophilus HB8 has been recently elucidated (19). Here we report the murein structure of Deinococcus radiodurans with similar detail.D. radiodurans Sark (23) was used in the present study. Cultures were grown in Luria-Bertani medium (13) at 30°C with aeration. Murein was purified and subjected to amino acid and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses as previously described (6, 9, 10, 19). For further analysis muropeptides were purified, lyophilized, and desalted as reported elsewhere (6, 19). Purified muropeptides were subjected to plasma desorption linear time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PDMS) as described previously (1, 5, 16, 19). Positive and negative ion mass spectra were obtained on a short linear ²⁵²californium time-of-flight instrument (BioIon AB, Uppsala, Sweden). The acceleration voltage was between 17 and 19 kV, and spectra were accumulated for 1 to 10 million fission events. Calibration of the mass spectra was done in the positive ion mode with H⁺ and Na⁺ ions and in the negative ion mode with H⁻ and CN⁻ ions. Calculated m/z values are based on average masses.Amino acid analysis of muramidase (Cellosyl; Hoechst, Frankfurt am Main, Germany)-digested sacculi (50 μg) revealed Glu, Orn, Ala, and Gly as the only amino acids in the muramidase-solubilized material. Less than 3% of the total Orn remained in the muramidase-insoluble fraction, indicating an essentially complete solubilization of murein.Muramidase-digested murein samples (200 μg) were analyzed by HPLC as described in reference 19. The muropeptide pattern (Fig. ​(Fig.1)1) was relatively simple, with five dominating components (DR5 and DR10 to DR13 [Fig. 1]). The muropeptides resolved by HPLC were collected, desalted, and subjected to PDMS. The results are presented in Table ​Table11 compared with the m/z values calculated for best-matching muropeptides made up of N-acetylglucosamine (GlucNAc), N-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc), and the amino acids detected in the murein. The more likely structures are shown in Fig. ​Fig.1.1. According to the m/z values, muropeptides DR1 to DR7 and DR9 were monomers; DR8, DR10, and DR11 were dimers; and DR12 and DR13 were trimers. The best-fitting structures for DR3 to DR8, DR11, and DR13 coincided with muropeptides previously characterized in T. thermophilus HB8 (19) and had identical retention times in comparative HPLC runs. The minor muropeptide DR7 (Fig. ​(Fig.1)1) was the only one detected with a d-Ala–d-Ala dipeptide and most likely represents the basic monomeric subunit. The composition of the major cross-linked species DR11 and DR13 confirmed that cross-linking is mediated by (Gly)₂ bridges, as proposed previously (20). Open in a separate windowFIG. 1HPLC muropeptide elution patterns of murein purified from D. radiodurans. Muramidase-digested murein samples were subjected to HPLC analysis, and the A₂₀₄ of the eluate was recorded. The most likely structures for each muroeptide as deduced by PDMS are shown. The position of residues in brackets is the most likely one as deduced from the structures of other muropeptides but could not be formally demonstrated. R = GlucNac–MurNac–l-Ala–d-Glu-(γ)→.

TABLE 1

Calculated and measured m/z values for the molecular ions of the major muropeptides from D. radiodurans

Disease Mutations in the Human Mitochondrial DNA Polymerase Thumb Subdomain Impart Severe Defects in Mitochondrial DNA Replication

Forty-five different point mutations in POLG, the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of the human mitochondrial DNA polymerase (pol γ), cause the early onset mitochondrial DNA depletion disorder, Alpers syndrome. Sequence analysis of the C-terminal polymerase region of pol γ revealed a cluster of four Alpers mutations at highly conserved residues in the thumb subdomain (G848S, c.2542g→a; T851A, c.2551a→g; R852C, c.2554c→t; R853Q, c.2558g→a) and two Alpers mutations at less conserved positions in the adjacent palm subdomain (Q879H, c.2637g→t and T885S, c.2653a→t). Biochemical characterization of purified, recombinant forms of pol γ revealed that Alpers mutations in the thumb subdomain reduced polymerase activity more than 99% relative to the wild-type enzyme, whereas the palm subdomain mutations retained 50–70% wild-type polymerase activity. All six mutant enzymes retained physical and functional interaction with the pol γ accessory subunit (p55), and none of the six mutants exhibited defects in misinsertion fidelity in vitro. However, differential DNA binding by these mutants suggests a possible orientation of the DNA with respect to the polymerase during catalysis. To our knowledge this study represents the first structure-function analysis of the thumb subdomain in pol γ and examines the consequences of mitochondrial disease mutations in this region.As the only DNA polymerase found in animal cell mitochondria, DNA polymerase γ (pol γ)³ bears sole responsibility for DNA synthesis in all replication and repair transactions involving mitochondrial DNA (1, 2). Mammalian cell pol γ is a heterotrimeric complex composed of one catalytic subunit of 140 kDa (p140) and two 55-kDa accessory subunits (p55) that form a dimer (3). The catalytic subunit contains an N-terminal exonuclease domain connected by a linker region to a C-terminal polymerase domain. Whereas the exonuclease domain contains essential motifs I, II, and III for its activity, the polymerase domain comprising the thumb, palm, and finger subdomains contains motifs A, B, and C that are crucial for polymerase activity. The catalytic subunit is a family A DNA polymerase that includes bacterial pol I and T7 DNA polymerase and possesses DNA polymerase, 3′ → 5′ exonuclease, and 5′-deoxyribose phosphate lyase activities (for review, see Refs. 1 and 2). The 55-kDa accessory subunit (p55) confers processive DNA synthesis and tight binding of the pol γ complex to DNA (4, 5).Depletion of mtDNA as well as the accumulation of deletions and point mutations in mtDNA have been observed in several mitochondrial disorders (for review, see Ref. 6). mtDNA depletion syndromes are caused by defects in nuclear genes responsible for replication and maintenance of the mitochondrial genome (7). Mutation of POLG, the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of pol γ, is frequently involved in disorders linked to mutagenesis of mtDNA (8, 9). Presently, more than 150 point mutations in POLG are linked with a wide variety of mitochondrial diseases, including the autosomal dominant (ad) and recessive forms of progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO), Alpers syndrome, parkinsonism, ataxia-neuropathy syndromes, and male infertility (tools.niehs.nih.gov/polg) (9).Alpers syndrome, a hepatocerebral mtDNA depletion disorder, and myocerebrohepatopathy are rare heritable autosomal recessive diseases primarily affecting young children (10–12). These diseases generally manifest during the first few weeks to years of life, and symptoms gradually develop in a stepwise manner eventually leading to death. Alpers syndrome is characterized by refractory seizures, psychomotor regression, and hepatic failure (11, 12). Mutation of POLG was first linked to Alpers syndrome in 2004 (13), and to date 45 different point mutations in POLG (18 localized to the polymerase domain) are associated with Alpers syndrome (9, 14, 15). However, only two Alpers mutations (A467T and W748S, both in the linker region) have been biochemically characterized (16, 17).During the initial cloning and sequencing of the human, Drosophila, and chicken pol γ genes, we noted a highly conserved region N-terminal to motif A in the polymerase domain that was specific to pol γ (18). This region corresponds to part of the thumb subdomain that tracks DNA into the active site of both Escherichia coli pol I and T7 DNA polymerase (19–21). A high concentration of disease mutations, many associated with Alpers syndrome, is found in the thumb subdomain.Here we investigated six mitochondrial disease mutations clustered in the N-terminal portion of the polymerase domain of the enzyme (Fig. 1A). Four mutations (G848S, c.2542g→a; T851A, c.2551a→g; R852C, c.2554c→t; R853Q, c.2558g→a) reside in the thumb subdomain and two (Q879H, c.2637g→t and T885S, c.2653a→t) are located in the palm subdomain. These mutations are associated with Alpers, PEO, mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), ataxia-neuropathy syndrome, Leigh syndrome, and myocerebrohepatopathy (POLG mutationDiseaseGeneticsReferenceG848SAlpers syndromeIn trans with A467T, Q497H, T251I-P587L, or W748S-E1143G in Alpers syndrome15, 35, 43–50Leigh syndromeIn trans with R232H in Leigh syndrome49MELASIn trans with R627Q in MELAS38PEO with ataxia-neuropathyIn trans with G746S and E1143G in PEO with ataxia50PEOIn trans with T251I and P587L in PEO51, 52T851AAlpers syndromeIn trans with R1047W48, 53In trans with H277CR852CAlpers syndromeIn trans with A467T14, 48, 50In cis with G11D and in trans with W748S-E1143G or A467TAtaxia-neuropathyIn trans with G11D-R627Q15R853QMyocerebrohepatopathyIn trans with T251I-P587L15Q879HAlpers syndrome with valproate-induced hepatic failureIn cis with E1143G and in trans with A467T-T885S35, 54T885SAlpers syndrome with valproate-induced hepatic failureIn cis with A467T and in trans with Q879H-E1143G35, 54Open in a separate windowOpen in a separate windowFIGURE 1.POLG mutations characterized in this study. A, the location of the six mutations characterized is shown in red in the primary sequence of pol γ. Four mutations, the G848S, T851A, R852C, and R853Q, are located in the thumb domain, whereas two mutations, the Q879H and T885S, are in the palm domain of the polymerase region. B, sequence alignment of pol γ from yeast to humans. The amino acids characterized in this study are shown in red. Yellow-highlighted amino acids are highly conserved, and blue-highlighted amino acids are moderately conserved.