Deinococcus mumbaiensis sp. nov., a radiation-resistant pleomorphic bacterium isolated from Mumbai, India

A radiation-resistant, Gram-negative and pleomorphic bacterium (CON-1) was isolated from a contaminated tryptone glucose yeast extract agar plate in the laboratory. It was red pigmented, nonmotile, nonsporulating, and aerobic, and contained MK-8 as respiratory quinone. The cell wall of this bacterium contained ornithine. The major fatty acids were C16:0, C16:1, C17:0, C18:1 and iso C18:0. The DNA of CON-1 had a G+C content of 70 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that CON-1 exhibited a maximum similarity (94.72%) with Deinococcus grandis. Based on the genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, the bacterium CON-1 was identified as a new species of the genus Deinococcus, for which the name Deinococcus mumbaiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of D. mumbaiensis is CON-1 (MTCC 7297(T)=DSM 17424(T)).     

辐射过程中耐辐射奇球菌蛋白酶变化的检测与分析

采用明胶和酪蛋白底物酶谱法以及荧光酪蛋白底物对紫外线以及γ射线辐射后恢复期耐辐射奇球菌R1(Deinococcus radiodurans R1,DRR1)的蛋白酶变化进行了检测。结果发现,DRR1存在高活性大分子量组成性表达蛋白酶,与Karlin等［16］提出的DRR1蛋白酶为预测高表达蛋白(PHX)的设想一致。DRR1包含大量分子量大于140kD 的明胶降解酶和分子量大于120kD的酪蛋白降解酶,其中活性最高的174kD明胶酶在经SDS变性处理后仍有较高活性,该蛋白酶在DRR1受紫外线辐射和电离辐射后恢复期的表达模式存在差异,在γ射线电离辐射过程中以及电离辐射后恢复的晚期活性较高。此外,还发现一些蛋白酶特异性由辐射所诱导,表明这些蛋白酶可能参与细胞信号通路中蛋白的顺序降解,也提示DRR1损伤修复过程中细胞内存在一个精确的蛋白酶系统。这些蛋白酶的表达与细胞的营养状态相关。同时对一株由本实验室从北京地区土壤中分离到的杆状耐辐射菌RR533.2的明胶和酪蛋白蛋白酶谱进行了测定,结果发现其蛋白酶谱与DRR1相类似。     

Unique diversity of carotenoid-producing bacteria isolated from Misasa,a radioactive site in Japan

We obtained carotenoid-producing microorganisms at a high frequency from water samples collected at Misasa (Tottori, Japan), a region known for its high natural radioactivity content. A comprehensive 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 104 potential carotenoid producers isolated from Misasa could be classified into 38 different species belonging to seven bacterial classes (Flavobacteria, Sphingobacteria, alpha-Proteobacteria, gamma-Proteobacteria, Deinococci, Actinobacteria, and Bacilli). Of these 38 species, 14 showed sequence similarities less than 97% to their closest identified relatives, and 9 were related to genera that have not been described earlier in terms of carotenoid production. The red-pigmented isolates belonging to Deinococci showed marked resistance to gamma rays and UV irradiation, while those related to Sphingomonas showed weak resistance. The carotenoids produced by the isolates were zeaxanthin (6 strains), dihydroxyastaxanthin (24 strains), astaxanthin (27 strains), canthaxanthin (10 strains), and unidentified molecular species that were produced by the isolates related to Deinococcus, Exiguobacterium, and Flectobacillus. UV irradiation would be useful for the selective isolation of carotenoid-producing microorganisms, and that new microbial producers and other molecular species of carotenoids may potentially be identified from radioactive environments.     

Characterisation of a novel amylosucrase from Deinococcus radiodurans

The BLAST search for amylosucrases has yielded several gene sequences of putative amylosucrases, however, with various questionable annotations. The putative encoded proteins share 32-48% identity with Neisseria polysaccharea amylosucrase (AS) and contain several amino acid residues proposed to be involved in AS specificity. First, the B-domains of the putative proteins and AS are highly similar. In addition, they also reveal additional residues between putative beta-strand 7 and alpha-helix 7 which could correspond to the AS B'-domain, which turns the active site into a deep pocket. Finally, conserved Asp and Arg residues could form a salt bridge similar to that found in AS, which is responsible for the glucosyl unit transfer specificity. Among these found genes, locus NP_294657.1 (dras) identified in the Deinococcus radiodurans genome was initially annotated as an alpha-amylase encoding gene. The putative encoded protein (DRAS) shares 42% identity with N. polysaccharea AS. To investigate the activity of this protein, gene NP_294657.1 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. When acting on sucrose, the pure recombinant enzyme was shown to catalyse insoluble amylose polymer synthesis accompanied by side-reactions (sucrose hydrolysis, sucrose isomer and soluble maltooligosaccharide formation). Kinetic analyses further showed that DRAS follows a non-Michaelian behaviour toward sucrose substrate and is activated by glycogen, as is AS. This demonstrates that gene NP_294657.1 encodes an amylosucrase.     

Cloning, purification and characterization of a thermostable amylosucrase from Deinococcus geothermalis

Amylosucrase is a transglucosidase that catalyses the synthesis of an amylose-type polymer from sucrose, an abundant agro-resource. Here we describe a novel thermostable amylosucrase from the moderate thermophile Deinococcus geothermalis (DGAS). The dgas gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli . The encoded enzyme was purified and characterized. DGAS displays a specific activity of 44 U mg⁻¹, an optimal temperature of 50 °C and a half-life of 26 h at 50 °C. Moreover, it produces an α-glucan at 50 °C, with an average degree of polymerization of 45 and a polymerization yield of 76%. DGAS is thus the most active and thermostable amylosucrase known to date.     

Deinococcus属细菌分类和应用的研究进展

Deinococcus属菌株是一类对引起细胞致死效应的辐射有极强抵抗能力的细菌。目前已有23个有效发表种,对Deinococcus属的应用研究也受到了广泛关注。对其分类和应用研究进行了综述。     

Crystal structure of a novel prolidase from Deinococcus radiodurans identifies new subfamily of bacterial prolidases

Xaa‐Pro peptidases (XPP) are dinuclear peptidases of MEROPS M24B family that hydrolyze Xaa‐Pro iminopeptide bond with a trans‐proline at the second position of the peptide substrate. XPPs specific towards dipeptides are called prolidases while those that prefer longer oligopeptides are called aminopeptidases P. Though XPPs are strictly conserved in bacterial and archaeal species, the structural and sequence features that distinguish between prolidases and aminopeptidases P are not always clear. Here, we report 1.4 Å resolution crystal structure of a novel XPP from Deinococcus radiodurans (XPPdr). XPPdr forms a novel dimeric structure via unique dimer stabilization loops of N‐terminal domains such that their C‐terminal domains are placed far apart from each other. This novel dimerization is also the consequence of a different orientation of N‐terminal domain in XPPdr monomer than those in other known prolidases. The enzymatic assays show that it is a prolidase with broad substrate specificity. Our structural, mutational, and molecular dynamics simulation analyses show that the conserved Arg46 of N‐terminal domain is important for the dipeptide selectivity. Our BLAST search found XPPdr orthologs with conserved sequence motifs which correspond to unique structural features of XPPdr, thus identify a new subfamily of bacterial prolidases.     

耐辐射球菌recQ双突变株的构建及逆境分析

RecQ解螺旋酶是生物有机体在进化中高度保守的SF1超级家族解螺旋酶的一个亚族,它对维持基因组的稳定性有重要的作用。耐辐射球菌野生型菌株R1有两个具有特殊结构的解螺旋酶DR1289和DR2444,运用PCR突变法克隆具有自身groEL启动子、KAT启动子与卡那霉素抗性基因、氯霉素抗性基因融合的DNA片段反向重组到基因组中,首次构建并鉴定了卡那霉素抗性完全突变株ΔDR1289,氯霉素抗性完全突变株ΔDR2444,双突变株ΔrecQ。辐射条件下和H2O2氧化压力下突变株生存率结果表明:ΔDR2444与R1存活率趋势线基本一致,而ΔDR1289和ΔrecQ双突变株较为敏感。根据上述结果推测,DR1289是一个对R1保持极端抗性的必须基因,而DR2444则是极端抗性的非必须基因。     

The crystal structure of the Dps2 from Deinococcus radiodurans reveals an unusual pore profile with a non-specific metal binding site

The crystal structure of recombinant Dps2 (DRB0092, DNA protecting protein under starved conditions) from the Gram-positive, radiation-resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans has been determined in its apo and iron loaded states. Like other members of the Dps family, the bacterial DrDps2 assembles as a spherical dodecamer with an outer shell diameter of 90 A and an interior diameter of 40 A. A total of five iron sites were located in the iron loaded structure, representing the first stages of iron biomineralisation. Each subunit contains a mononuclear iron ferroxidase centre coordinated by residues highly conserved amongst the Dps family of proteins. In the structures presented, a distinct iron site is observed 6.1 A from the ferroxidase centre with a unique ligand configuration of mono coordination by the protein and no bridging ligand to the ferroxidase centre. A non-specific metallic binding site, suspected to play a regulative role in iron uptake/release from the cage, was found in a pocket located near to the external edge of the C-terminal 3-fold channel.     

耐辐射奇球菌超氧化物歧化酶基因的克隆与序列分析

By using a 453 bp length gene fragment of superoxide dismutase(SOD)as a probe,which was firstly amplified from Deinococcus radiodurans genomic DNA by PCR with degenerate oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the conservative regions of known SODs,a putative SOD gene was identified from the database of D.radiodurans whole genome.Its 636 bp length open reading frame and 5′ and 3′ flanking sequence was determined.The conventional E.coli ribosomal and RNA polymerase binding sites were found upstream from SOD encoding region and an inverted repeat sequence downstream of the termination codon.The deduced 211 amino acid sequence of the structural gene showed a high similarity to other manganese and iron containing SODs in normally conserve regions.     

耐辐射奇球菌dps突变株的构建和蛋白功能初步研究

Dps(DNAprotection during starvation)蛋白是原核生物中特有的一类具有铁离子结合和抗氧化损伤功能的重要蛋白。利用体外PCR扩增技术和体内同源重组方法,获得了耐辐射奇球菌(Deinococcus radiodurans)dps全基因(DRB0092)缺失突变株。对突变株和野生型分别进行不同浓度过氧化氢(H2O2)处理,结果表明:与野生型菌株R1相比,dps突变株在低浓度H2O2(≤10mmol/L)条件下存活率急剧下降,而高浓度(≥30mmol/L)下则完全致死。Native-PAGE活性染色结果显示,稳定生长期dps突变株体内两种过氧化氢酶(KatA和KatB)的活性较野生型R1分别上调2.3倍和2.6倍。通过质粒构建和大肠杆菌诱导表达,获得可溶性Dps蛋白。体外结合和DNA保护实验结果显示:Dps具有明显的DNA结合功能,并能保护质粒DNA免受羟自由基攻击。本研究证明,Dps蛋白在耐辐射奇球菌抗氧化体系中发挥重要作用,可能对该菌极端抗性机制有重要贡献。     

耐辐射奇球菌crtI基因缺失突变株的构建及其功能研究

利用PCR方法和体内同源重组技术,对耐辐射奇球菌(Deinococcus radiodurans)中控制色素合成的关键基因———crtI进行缺失突变,成功获得红色色素缺失突变株M61。对突变株分别进行不同剂量电离辐射(IR)和不同浓度过氧化氢(H2O2)处理,结果表明:与野生型菌株R1相比,突变株M61对电离辐射的抗性降低;对过氧化氢的敏感性明显上升,在高浓度H2O2条件下表现异常敏感。HPLC分析结果显示,crtI基因的完全缺失对色素合成途径产生重要影响,导致番茄红素和其他红色类胡萝卜素的合成被抑制。证明crtI基因是耐辐射奇球菌中控制红色类胡萝卜素合成的一个关键基因。为阐明耐辐射奇球菌中类胡萝卜素参与的抗辐射和抗氧化机制奠定了一定基础,为进一步研究类胡萝卜素在耐辐射奇球菌中的合成途径及功能提供了思路。     

Crystal structure of DFA0005 complexed with alpha-ketoglutarate: a novel member of the ICL/PEPM superfamily from alkali-tolerant Deinococcus ficus

The crystal structure of the DFA0005 protein complexed with alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) from an alkali-tolerant bacterium Deinococcus ficus has been determined to a resolution of 1.62 A. The monomer forms an incomplete alpha7/beta8 barrel with a protruding alpha8 helix that interacts extensively with another subunit to form a stable dimer of two complete alpha8/beta8 barrels. The dimer is further stabilized by four glycerol molecules situated at the interface. One unique AKG ligand binding pocket per subunit is detected. Fold match using the DALI and SSE servers identifies DFA0005 as belonging to the isocitrate lyase/phosphoenolpyruvate mutase (ICL/PEPM) superfamily. However, further detailed structural and sequence comparison with other members in this superfamily and with other families containing AKG ligand indicate that DFA0005 protein exhibits considerable distinguishing features of its own and can be considered a novel member in this ICL/PEPM superfamily.     

Isolation and characterization of Deinococcus geothermalis T27, a slightly thermophilic and organic solvent-tolerant bacterium able to survive in the presence of high concentrations of ethyl acetate

A solvent-tolerant, slightly thermophilic bacterium was isolated at 45 degrees C in the presence of toluene vapor provided as the sole carbon source. Strain T27 was identified as Deinococcus geothermalis T27. It could tolerate high concentrations of solvent provided as a nonaqueous layer (5% and 20%, v/v) to a cell suspension and had a remarkable ability to tolerate a broad range of solvents having log P(ow) values ranging from 5.6 of n-decane to as low as 0.7 of ethyl acetate. It was also able to utilize some of the solvents tested as a growth substrate at 45 degrees C. The addition of Ca(2+) ion, glucose and fructose partially promoted solvent tolerance. Cells exposed to ethyl acetate appeared to have a smaller size; however, the cell structure was not altered and was apparently well defined even after solvent shock. The tolerance of D. geothermalis T27 in the presence of high levels of toxic solvent stress at a comparatively high temperature indicated its potential use in biotechnological applications as well as bioremediation of xenobiotics.     

The crystal structure of Deinococcus radiodurans Dps protein (DR2263) reveals the presence of a novel metal centre in the N terminus

The crystal structure of a DNA-binding protein from starved cells (Dps) (DR2263) from Deinococcus radiodurans was determined in two states: a native form, to 1.1-Å resolution, and one soaked in an iron solution, to 1.6-Å resolution. In comparison with other Dps proteins, DR2263 has an extended N-terminal extension, in both structures presented here, a novel metal binding site was identified in this N-terminal extension and was assigned to bound zinc. The zinc is tetrahedrally coordinated and the ligands, that belong to the N-terminal extension, are two histidines, one glutamate and one aspartate residue, which are unique to this protein within the Dps family. In the iron-soaked crystal structure, a total of three iron sites per monomer were found: one site corresponds to the ferroxidase centre with structural similarities to those found in other Dps family members; the two other sites are located on the two different threefold axes corresponding to small pores in the Dps sphere, which may possibly form the entrance and exit channels for iron storage.     

Structural studies of the Nudix hydrolase DR1025 from Deinococcus radiodurans and its ligand complexes

We have determined the crystal structure, at 1.4A, of the Nudix hydrolase DR1025 from the extremely radiation resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans. The protein forms an intertwined homodimer by exchanging N-terminal segments between chains. We have identified additional conserved elements of the Nudix fold, including the metal-binding motif, a kinked beta-strand characterized by a proline two positions upstream of the Nudix consensus sequence, and participation of the N-terminal extension in the formation of the substrate-binding pocket. Crystal structures were also solved of DR1025 crystallized in the presence of magnesium and either a GTP analog or Ap(4)A (both at 1.6A resolution). In the Ap(4)A co-crystal, the electron density indicated that the product of asymmetric hydrolysis, ATP, was bound to the enzyme. The GTP analog bound structure showed that GTP was bound almost identically as ATP. Neither nucleoside triphosphate was further cleaved.     

耐辐射球菌基因DRB0099缺失突变株的构建及逆境分析

耐辐射球菌(Deinococcus radiodurans R1)有着极强的辐射抗性.研究其抗辐射的机理对于处理放射性废料有着潜在的应用价值.在耐辐射球菌的基因组中,许多序列的功能未知.其中DRB0099尤为引人注意.将DRB0099缺失突变构建该基因的突变株.对野生型和突变体进行比较后发现,在正常生长条件下的前期阶段(0～16 h),突变体生长速度比野生型慢.16 h以后,野生型逐渐进入稳定生长期.这时,突变株的生长速度高于野生型.但是,野生型的浓度一直高于突变株.表明在DRB0099被删除后,耐辐射球菌的生长可能受到了阻滞.在紫外线照射的条件下,尽管野生型随着照射剂量的增加,存活率越来越低,但是要比突变体高许多.野生型具有比突变体更强的修复DNA双链断裂的能力.DRB0099可能直接参与了对DNA的修复.突变体对H2O2的敏感程度高于野生型,表明野生型耐辐射球菌在对抗活性氧保护其蛋白质、DNA或者DNA修复方面具有比突变体更强的功能.在低浓度H2O2处理条件下,尽管野生型和突变体的存活率都出现下降趋势,但二者的差值并不大.随着H2O2剂量的增加,二者的差值越来越大.表明随着活性氧浓度的增加,蛋白质和DNA损伤的数量增加,失去DRB0099基因功能的突变体比野生型更容易受到损伤.在紫外线照射处理或者H2O2处理条件下,DRB0099能够保护蛋白质和DNA.     

Genome sequence of a novel member of the genus Psychrobacter isolated from Antarctic soil

Psychrobacter spp. have shown characteristics indicating remarkable capabilities at subzero temperatures that identify them as potential model organisms for the study of low-temperature adaptations. Here we present the draft genome sequence of Psychrobacter sp. PAMC 21119, which was isolated from permafrost soil of Antarctica; this information could provide insight into adaptation and evolution strategies under extreme environmental conditions.