Phylogeny of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase genes in haloalkaliphilic obligately autotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria of the genus Thioalkalivibrio

Fragments of genes of the greenlike form I ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) of eight species of haloalkaliphilic obligately autotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria of the genus Thioalkalivibrio have been revealed and sequenced using previously developed oligonucleotide primers. The data obtained are used for the construction of phylogenetic trees on the basis of nucleotide sequences of RuBisCO genes and their conceptual translations into amino acid sequences. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA and RuBisCO gene trees reveals discrepancies between their topologies. According to a RuBisCO gene analysis, the genus Thioalkalivibrio is not monophyletic, and its inner divergence conforms to the significant morphological differences observed between the species. Presumably, horizontal (interspecies) gene transfer was involved in the evolution of the genus Thioalkalivibrio.     

Crystal structure of a RuBisCO-like protein from the green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium tepidum

Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) catalyzes the incorporation of atmospheric CO(2) into ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP). RuBisCOs are classified into four forms based on sequence similarity: forms I, II and III are bona fide RuBisCOs; form IV, also called the RuBisCO-like protein (RLP), lacks several of the substrate binding and catalytic residues and does not catalyze RuBP-dependent CO(2) fixation in vitro. To contribute to understanding the function of RLPs, we determined the crystal structure of the RLP from Chlorobium tepidum. The overall structure of the RLP is similar to the structures of the three other forms of RuBisCO; however, the active site is distinct from those of bona fide RuBisCOs and suggests that the RLP is possibly capable of catalyzing enolization but not carboxylation. Bioinformatic analysis of the protein functional linkages suggests that this RLP coevolved with enzymes of the bacteriochlorophyll biosynthesis pathway and may be involved in processes related to photosynthesis.     

Phylogeny of Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Genes in Haloalkaliphilic Obligately Autotrophic Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacteria of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thioalkalivibrio</Emphasis>

Fragments of genes of the “green-like” form I ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) of eight species of haloalkaliphilic obligately autotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria of the genus Thioalkalivibrio have been revealed and sequenced using previously developed oligonucleotide primers. The data obtained are used for the construction of phylogenetic trees on the basis of nucleotide sequences of RuBisCO genes and their conceptual translations into amino acid sequences. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA and RuBisCO gene trees reveals discrepancies between their topologies. According to a RuBisCO gene analysis, the genus Thioalkalivibrio is not monophyletic, and its inner divergence conforms to the significant morphological differences observed between the species. Presumably, horizontal (interspecies) gene transfer was involved in the evolution of the genus Thioalkalivibrio.__________Translated from Mikrobiologiya, Vol. 74, No. 3, 2005, pp. 378–386.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Tourova, Spiridonova, Berg, Kuznetsov, Sorokin.     

Application of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase genes as molecular markers for assessment of the diversity of autotrophic microbial communities inhabiting the upper sediment horizons of the saline and soda lakes of the Kulunda Steppe

The genes encoding the key metabolic reactions are often used as functional markers for phylogenetic analysis and microbial ecology studies. The composition and structure of the genes encoding ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBisCO) of various photoautotrophic bacteria, representatives of the order Chromatiales, including collection strains and the strains isolated from saline and soda lakes, were studied in detail. The green-like form I RuBisCO was detected in the majority of the studied strains. In some strains, the genes encoding both form I and form II RuBisCO were present, which has not been previously known for the representatives of this group of bacteria. Moreover, RuBisCO genes were used as functional markers to investigate the autotrophic microbial community inhabiting the upper horizons of bottom sediments of two saline soda lakes and two hypersaline neutral lakes of the Kulunda Steppe. In general, the diversity of autotrophic bacteria in the studied sediment horizons was low. In soda lakes, haloalkaliphilic cyanobacteria and sulfuroxidizing bacteria (SOB) of the genus Halorhodospira were predominant. In saline lakes, halophilic chemoautotrophic SOB Halothiobacillus and Thioalkalivibrio were found, as well as photoautotrophic bacteria of the genus Ectothiorhodosinus and cyanobacteria. Many phylotypes remained unidentified, which indicates the presence of groups of microorganisms with an unknown type of metabolism.     

Carbon dioxide fixation in 'Archaeoglobus lithotrophicus': are there multiple autotrophic pathways?

Several representatives of the euryarchaeal class Archaeoglobi are able to grow facultative autotrophically using the reductive acetyl-CoA pathway, with 'Archaeoglobus lithotrophicus' being an obligate autotroph. However, genome sequencing revealed that some species harbor genes for key enzymes of other autotrophic pathways, i.e. 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase of the dicarboxylate/hydroxybutyrate cycle and the hydroxypropionate/hydroxybutyrate cycle and ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) of the Calvin-Benson cycle. This raised the question of whether only one or multiple autotrophic pathways are operating in these species. We searched for the presence of enzyme activities specific for the dicarboxylate/hydroxybutyrate or the hydroxypropionate/hydroxybutyrate cycles in 'A. lithotrophicus', but such enzymes could not be detected. Low Rubisco activity was detected that could not account for the carbon dioxide (CO(2)) fixation rate; in addition, phosphoribulokinase activity was not found. The generation of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate from 5-phospho-D-ribose 1-pyrophosphate was observed, but not from AMP; these sources for ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate have been proposed before. Our data indicate that the reductive acetyl-CoA pathway is the only functioning CO(2) fixation pathway in 'A. lithotrophicus'.     

Methylammonium as a substrate for autotrophic growth by wild type Thiobacillus versutus, and mutant strains with lesions in chemolithotrophic metabolism.

Methylammonium consumption and ribulose 1-5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBisCO) activity were monitored in cultures of wild type Thiobacillus versutus and mutants deficient in autotrophic metabolism grown under various growth conditions. Only mutants 22, 72, 73 (deficient in ability to oxidize thiosulphate) could grow and develop RuBisCO activity on methylammonium, and assimilate 14CO2 generated as a result of methylammonium metabolism. Mutants 40 and 76, deficient in autotrophic CO2 fixation, showed no 14C methylammonium assimilation and did not oxidize it as a sole substrate within normal incubation periods. Relations of substrate metabolism and RuBisCO regulation in cultures grown on mixtures of thiosulphate or sucrose and methylammonium are described. Further genetic analysis of mutants with defects in autotrophic metabolism may allow localisation of genes responsible for the metabolic effects described.     

Phylogenetic position of an obligately chemoautotrophic, marine hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium, Hydrogenovibrio marinus, on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences and two form I RuBisCO gene sequences

Two form ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) genes from the obligately autotrophic, marine hydrogen oxidizer Hydrogenovibrio marinus were sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequences of both RuBisCOs revealed that they are similar to those of sulfur oxidizers (Thiobacillus) and a purple sulfur bacterium (Chromatium vinosum). According to the 16S rRNA gene sequences, H. marinus is also affiliated with these microorganisms, members of Thiomicrospira being the closest relatives. Sequence similarities of the 16S rRNA genes and of the RuBisCO genes among these γ-Proteobacteria suggest a common autotrophic ancestry. An ancestor of purple sulfur bacteria might be a common root of H. marinus and related sulfur oxidizers. Received: 17 June 1997 / Accepted: 14 November 1997     

Loose association of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase with chloroplast thylakoid membranes

The intra-chloroplastic distribution of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) between thylakoid membranes and stroma was studied by determining the enzyme activities in the two fractions, obtained by the rapid centrifugation of hypotonically disrupted chloroplast preparations of spinach and pea leaf tissues. The membrane-associated form of RuBisCO was found to increase in proportion to the concentration of MgCl₂ in the disrupting medium; with 20 mM MgCl₂ approximately 20% of the total RuBisCO of spinach chloroplasts and 10% of that of pea chloroplasts became associated with thylakoid membranes. Once released from membranes in the absence of MgCl₂, addition of MgCl₂ did not cause reassociation of the enzyme. The inclusion of KCl in the hypotonic disruption buffer also caused the association of RuBisCO with membranes; however, up to 30 mM KCl, only minimal enzyme activities could be detected in the membranes, whereas above 40 mM KCl there was a sharp increase in the membrane-associated form of the enzyme.Higher concentrations of chloroplasts during the hypotonic disruption, as well as addition of purified preparations of RuBisCO to the hypotonic buffer, resulted in an increase of membrane-associated activity. Therefore, the association of the enzyme with thylakoid membranes appears to be dependent on the concentration of RuBisCO. P-glycerate kinase and aldolase also associated to the thylakoid membranes but NADP-linked glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase did not. The optimal conditions for enzyme association with the thylakoid membranes were examined; maximal association occurred at pH 8.0. The association was temperature-insensitive in the range of 4° to 25° C. RuBisCO associated with the thylakoid membranes could be gradually liberated to the soluble form upon shaking in a Vortex mixer at maximal speed, indicating that the association is loose.Abbreviations DTT dithiothreitol - RuBP ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate - RuBisCO ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase - MES 2-(N-morpholino) ethane sulfonic acid     

Evolutionary trends in RuBisCO kinetics and their co‐evolution with CO2 concentrating mechanisms

RuBisCO‐catalyzed CO₂ fixation is the main source of organic carbon in the biosphere. This enzyme is present in all domains of life in different forms (III, II, and I) and its origin goes back to 3500 Mya, when the atmosphere was anoxygenic. However, the RuBisCO active site also catalyzes oxygenation of ribulose 1,5‐bisphosphate, therefore, the development of oxygenic photosynthesis and the subsequent oxygen‐rich atmosphere promoted the appearance of CO₂ concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) and/or the evolution of a more CO₂‐specific RuBisCO enzyme. The wide variability in RuBisCO kinetic traits of extant organisms reveals a history of adaptation to the prevailing CO₂/O₂ concentrations and the thermal environment throughout evolution. Notable differences in the kinetic parameters are found among the different forms of RuBisCO, but the differences are also associated with the presence and type of CCMs within each form, indicative of co‐evolution of RuBisCO and CCMs. Trade‐offs between RuBisCO kinetic traits vary among the RuBisCO forms and also among phylogenetic groups within the same form. These results suggest that different biochemical and structural constraints have operated on each type of RuBisCO during evolution, probably reflecting different environmental selective pressures. In a similar way, variations in carbon isotopic fractionation of the enzyme point to significant differences in its relationship to the CO₂ specificity among different RuBisCO forms. A deeper knowledge of the natural variability of RuBisCO catalytic traits and the chemical mechanism of RuBisCO carboxylation and oxygenation reactions raises the possibility of finding unrevealed landscapes in RuBisCO evolution.     

RuBisCO-like proteins as the enolase enzyme in the methionine salvage pathway: functional and evolutionary relationships between RuBisCO-like proteins and photosynthetic RuBisCO

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) is the key enzyme in the fixation of CO(2) in the Calvin cycle of plants. Many genome projects have revealed that bacteria, including Bacillus subtilis, possess genes for proteins that are similar to the large subunit of RuBisCO. These RuBisCO homologues are called RuBisCO-like proteins (RLPs) because they are not able to catalyse the carboxylase or the oxygenase reactions that are catalysed by photosynthetic RuBisCO. It has been demonstrated that B. subtilis RLP catalyses the 2,3-diketo-5-methylthiopentyl-1-phosphate (DK-MTP-1-P) enolase reaction in the methionine salvage pathway. The structure of DK-MTP-1-P is very similar to that of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) and the enolase reaction is a part of the reaction catalysed by photosynthetic RuBisCO. In this review, functional and evolutionary relationships between B. subtilis RLP of the methionine salvage pathway, other RLPs, and photosynthetic RuBisCO are discussed. In addition, the fundamental question, 'How has RuBisCO evolved?' is also considered, and evidence is presented that RuBisCOs evolved from RLPs.     

In situ assay of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase in Thiobacillus neapolitanus.

Cells permeabilized with chloroform yielded ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) activities nearly equal to those of cell extracts, thus indicating that both cytoplasmic and carboxysomal RuBisCO are functional in situ. The carboxysomal and cytoplasmic RuBisCO both form the CO2-Mg2(+)-enzyme ternary complex, as evidenced by stabilization with 2-C-carboxy-D-arabinitol-1,5-bisphosphate (CABP), a potent competitive inhibitor of RuBisCO. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that the carboxysome is functional in carbon dioxide fixation.     

Characterization of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from Euglena gracilis Z

An improved method was devised to purify ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) with high specific activity (2.1 mumol of CO2 fixed/mg protein/min) from Euglena gracilis Z. The purified enzyme stored at -80 degrees C required treatment with dithiothreitol for full activity. The dithiothreitol-treated RuBisCO was activated by 12 mM NaHCO3 and 20 mM MgCl2, and the activated state was stable at least for 60 min in the presence of 4 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetate. The form of inorganic carbon fixed by the Euglena enzyme was CO2, as for the plant enzymes. The carboxylase reaction proceeded linearly with time for at least 8 min. The optimum pH for this reaction was 7.8 to 8.0. The carboxylase activity increased with increasing temperature up to 50 degrees C. The activation energy for the carboxylation reaction was 10.0 kcal/mol. The Michaelis constants of Euglena RuBisCO were 30.9 microM for CO2, 560 microM for O2, and 10.5 microM for ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate. Mathematical comparison between the photosynthesis rate predicted from these enzymatic properties and the observed rate suggested that there is no CO2-concentrating mechanism in E. gracilis.     

Phylogeny and functional expression of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from the autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacterium Nitrosospira sp. isolate 40KI.

The autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), which play an important role in the global nitrogen cycle, assimilate CO(2) by using ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO). Here we describe the first detailed study of RubisCO (cbb) genes and proteins from the AOB. The cbbLS genes from Nitrosospira sp. isolate 40KI were cloned and sequenced. Partial sequences of the RubisCO large subunit (CbbL) from 13 other AOB belonging to the beta and gamma subgroups of the class Proteobacteria are also presented. All except one of the beta-subgroup AOB possessed a red-like type I RubisCO with high sequence similarity to the Ralstonia eutropha enzyme. All of these new red-like RubisCOs had a unique six-amino-acid insert in CbbL. Two of the AOB, Nitrosococcus halophilus Nc4 and Nitrosomonas europaea Nm50, had a green-like RubisCO. With one exception, the phylogeny of the AOB CbbL was very similar to that of the 16S rRNA gene. The presence of a green-like RubisCO in N. europaea was surprising, as all of the other beta-subgroup AOB had red-like RubisCOs. The green-like enzyme of N. europaea Nm50 was probably acquired by horizontal gene transfer. Functional expression of Nitrosospira sp. isolate 40KI RubisCO in the chemoautotrophic host R. eutropha was demonstrated. Use of an expression vector harboring the R. eutropha cbb control region allowed regulated expression of Nitrosospira sp. isolate 40KI RubisCO in an R. eutropha cbb deletion strain. The Nitrosospira RubisCO supported autotrophic growth of R. eutropha with a doubling time of 4.6 h. This expression system may allow further functional analysis of AOB cbb genes.     

Structure of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase gene cluster from a thermophilic hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium, Hydrogenophilus thermoluteolus, and phylogeny of the fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase encoded by cbbA in the cluster

Four genes, cbbO, cbbY, cbbA, and the pyruvate kinase gene (pyk), were found downstream of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) genes, cbbLS, from a thermophilic hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium, Hydrogenophilus thermoluteolus (formerly Pseudomonas hydrogenothermophila). cbbO was similar to norD in the denitrification gene cluster, and cbbY was similar to cbbY from other autotrophic bacteria. cbbA encoded fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBP aldolase); however, CbbA was little similar to other CbbA proteins. When CbbA was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, overproduction of CbbA was detected by SDS-PAGE. However, the cell extract had slightly higher activity than a cell extract of E. coli without cbbA. Phylogenetic analysis showed class II FBP aldolase divided into classes IIA and IIB, and that CbbA from H. thermoluteolus was in class IIA. Activities of RubisCO and FBP aldolase were examined under autotrophic, mixotrophic, and heterotrophic conditions. The activities of the two enzymes were regulated independently.     

Heterologous hybridization of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) restores the enzyme activities

The catalytic core (A8) and small subunit (B) of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) were isolated from two species of cyanobacteria (Aphanothece halophytica and Synechococcus ACMM 323) as well as from the photosynthetic purple sulfur bacterium, Chromatium vinosum. The subunit B is essential for the activity of all three enzymes. The heterologous hybridization of RuBisCO molecules from the three organisms was attempted and the reconstitution of the catalytically active hybrid was achieved between A8 derived from either Aphanothece or Synechococcus and subunit B from Aphanothece, Synechococcus or Chromatium. However, reconstitution of the enzymically active hybrid between A8 from Chromatium and B subunits from the cyanobacteria could not be achieved. Experiments by using high performance liquid column chromatography also showed the formation of a heterologous hybrid possessing RuBP carboxylase activity.     

Affinity chromatography reveals RuBisCO as an ecdysteroid-binding protein

The aim of this work was to isolate plant ecdysteroid-binding proteins using affinity chromatography. Ecdysteroids as insect hormones have been investigated thoroughly but their function and the mechanism of action in plants and other organisms is still unknown although ecdysteroids occur in some plants in a relatively large amount. Therefore, 20-hydroxyecdysone was immobilized on a polymeric carrier as a ligand for affinity chromatography in order to isolate plant ecdysteroid-binding proteins from the cytosolic extract of New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonoides). Non-specifically bound proteins were eluted with a rising gradient of concentration of sodium chloride, and 3% (v/v) acetic acid was used for the elution of the specifically bound proteins. Using this method, ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) was isolated. The influence of ecdysteroids on RuBisCO was further studied. Our results show that ecdysteroids are able to increase the yield of RuBisCO-mediated reaction in which CO(2) is fixed into organic matter by more than 10%.     

Construction of a gene bank and identification of the ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase genes from the nutritionally versatile cyanobacterium Chlorogloeopsis fritschii

A gene bank of the nutritionally versatile, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Chlorogloeopsis fritschii was constructed in Charon 4A. 2,800 recombinants containing 10–20 kbp C. fritschii DNA fragments were screened by Southern hybridization using probes containing the genes for the large (LSU) and small (SSU) subunits of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) from Anacystis nidulans. A single recombinant plaque (CDG1) containing a 10.9 kbp EcoR1 fragment from C. fritschii hybridized to both the LSU and SSU probes, indicating a possible linkage of these RuBisCO genes in C. fritschii. RuBisCO activity and protein were detected in CDG1 lysates of Escherichia coli. Hybridization was also obtained between C. fritschii DNA and the LSU probe from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, although no homology was detected using the LSU probe from maize or the SSU probe from pea.Abbreviations RuBisCO d-ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase - RuBP d-ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate - LSU large subunit of RuBisCO - SSU small subunit of RuBisCO - SDS sodium dodecyl sulphate - DOC deoxycholate     

Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase. I. Structural, immunochemical and catalytic properties

Some structural, immunochemical and catalytic properties are examined for ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase from various cellular organisms including bacteria, cyanobacteria, algae and higher plants. The native enzyme molecular masses and the subunit polypeptide compositions vary according to enzyme sources. The molecular masses of the large and small subunits from different cellular organisms, on the other hand, show a relatively high homology due to their well-conserved primary amino acid sequence, especially that of the large subunit. In higher plants, the native enzyme and the large subunit are recognized by the antibodies raised against either the native or large subunit, whereas the small subunit apparently cross-reacts only with the antibodies directed against itself. A wide diversity exists, however, in the serological response of the native enzyme and its subunits with antibodies directed against the native enzyme or its subunits from different cellular organisms. According to numerous kinetic studies, the carboxylase and oxygenase reactions of the enzyme with ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate and carbon dioxide or oxygen require activation by carbon dioxide and magnesium prior to catalysis with ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate and carbon dioxide or oxygen. The activation and catalysis are also under the regulation of other metal ions and a number of chloroplastic metabolites. Recent double-labeling experiments using radioactive ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate and 14CO2 have elucidated the carboxylase/oxygenase ratios of the enzymes from different organisms. Another approach, i.e., genetic experiments, has also been used to examine the modification of the carboxylase/oxygenase ratio.