Isolation and characterization of the cytosolic and chloroplast forms of spinach leaf fructose diphosphate aldolase

Two different isoenzymes of fructose-P2 aldolase can be resolved by chromatography of crude spinach leaf extracts on DEAE-cellulose columns. The acidic isoenzyme comprises about 85% of the total leaf aldolase activity. The two forms differ in primary structure as judged by their distinctive amino acid compositions, tryptic peptide patterns, and immunological properties. Only the acidic isoenzyme was detected in extracts of isolated chloroplasts, suggesting that this molecule represents the chloroplast form of spinach leaf aldolase while the basic isoenzyme is of cytosolic origin. The cytosolic (basic) isoenzyme and chicken aldolase A4 are similar in the following respects. 1) They have similar specific catalytic activity (10-15 units/mg); 2) they are both highly sensitive to inactivation by very limited digestion with bovine pancreatic carboxypeptidase A; 3) they both have subunit molecular weights of 40,000; 4) they both have derivatized (blocked) NH2-terminal structures; 5) they are both resistant to thermal denaturation at 50 degrees C; and 6) they both regain catalytic activity following reversible denaturation at pH 2.3 or in 5.8 M urea. Also, the cytosolic aldolase cross-reacted immunologically with the single aldolases present in spinach seeds and in wheat germ. Further, this isoenzyme readily "hybridized" with chicken aldolase A4 in vitro. These observations demonstrate the close homology between the cytosolic aldolases derived from plant and animal origins. The chloroplast aldolase had a specific catalytic activity of about 8 units/mg and, like its cytosolic counterpart, was severely inactivated by limited digestion with carboxypeptidase A. However, this isoenzyme was distinct from the cytosolic aldolase in the following characteristics: 1) its "small" subunit size (Mr congruent to 38,000); 2) its underivatized NH2-terminal structure; 3) its high sensitivity to thermal denaturation at 50 degrees C; and 4) its inability to refold into an enzymatically active conformation following denaturation at pH 2.3 or in 5.8 M urea. The distinctive properties of the chloroplast aldolase may be expected for an enzyme which is synthesized as a higher molecular weight precursor on cytosolic polysomes and is then proteolytically processed to the "mature" form during its migration into the chloroplast organelle.     

Sulfonates: novel electron acceptors in anaerobic respiration

The enrichment and isolation in pure culture of a bacterium, identified as a strain of Desulfovibrio, able to release and reduce the sulfur of isethionate (2-hydroxyethanesulfonate) and other sulfonates to support anaerobic respiratory growth, is described. The sulfonate moiety was the source of sulfur that served as the terminal electron acceptor, while the carbon skeleton of isethionate functioned as an accessory electron donor for the reduction of sulfite. Cysteate (alanine-3-sulfonate) and sulfoacetaldehyde (acetaldehyde-2-sulfonate) could also be used for anaerobic respiration, but many other sulfonates could not. A survey of known sulfate-reducing bacteria revealed that some, but not all, strains tested could utilize the sulfur of some sulfonates as terminal electron acceptor. Isethionate-grown cells of Desulfovibrio strain IC1 reduced sulfonate-sulfur in preference to that of sulfate; however, sulfate-grown cells reduced sulfate-sulfur in preference to that of sulfonate. Received: 2 May 1996 / Accepted: 8 June 1996     

Defects in gliding motility in mutants of Cytophaga johnsonae lacking a high-molecular-weight cell surface polysaccharide.

We previously observed (W. Godchaux, L. Gorski, and E.R. Leadbetter, J. Bacteriol. 172:1250-1255, 1990) that two mutants (strains 21 and NS-1) of the gliding bacterium Cytophaga johnsonae that were totally deficient in motility-dependent colony spreading, movement of rafts (groups) of cells as observed with a microscope, and movement of polystyrene-latex spheres that attached to the cell surface (observed in wet mounts) were also deficient in a high-molecular-weight cell surface polysaccharide (HMPS) and suggested a role for that substance in gliding motility. Antisera have been prepared against the purified HMPS, and these were used to select mutants specifically and highly deficient in the polysaccharide. All five such mutants had rates of colony spreading and raft movement that were much lower than those of the parent strain, but the rate of increase in colony diameter was higher than that found for strains NS-1 and 21 (which do not undergo raft movement at all). Unlike these latter two strains, the HMPS mutants retained the ability to move polystyrene-latex spheres over their surfaces. Hence, HMPS deficiency results in defective motility but not nonmotility, and the HMPS deficiency cannot fully explain the phenotype of mutants 21 and NS-1; in these strains, gliding must be affected by additional biochemical lesions. The HMPS may, nonetheless, be advantageous in that it supports greater gliding speeds.     

Capnocytophaga: New genus of Gram-negative gliding bacteria. II. Morphology and ultrastructure

Gram-negative, anaerobic gliding bacteria were isolated from normal supragingival plaque and from periodontal lesions. Isolates could be divided into two size classes: small 2.4–4.2 m×0.38–0.5 m and large 4.8–5.8 m×0.42–0.6 m cells. The outer membrane was either loose-fitting and wavy, or taut, and of variable thickness. An electron-dense fuzz was discernible on several of the isolates. The periplasmic region was of variable electron-density. The genus Capnocytophaga has been proposed for these organisms based on morphological and cultural characteristics.     

Utilization of Acyl-Homoserine Lactone Quorum Signals for Growth by a Soil Pseudomonad and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

Acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) are employed by several Proteobacteria as quorum-sensing signals. Past studies have established that these compounds are subject to biochemical decay and can be used as growth nutrients. Here we describe the isolation of a soil bacterium, Pseudomonas strain PAI-A, that degrades 3-oxododecanoyl-homoserine lactone (3OC12HSL) and other long-acyl, but not short-acyl, AHLs as sole energy sources for growth. The small-subunit rRNA gene from strain PAI-A was 98.4% identical to that of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but the soil isolate did not produce obvious pigments or AHLs or grow under denitrifying conditions or at 42°C. The quorum-sensing bacterium P. aeruginosa, which produces both 3OC12HSL and C4HSL, was examined for the ability to utilize AHLs for growth. It did so with a specificity similar to that of strain PAI-A, i.e., degrading long-acyl but not short-acyl AHLs. In contrast to the growth observed with strain PAI-A, P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 growth on AHLs commenced only after extremely long lag phases. Liquid-chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry analyses indicate that strain PAO1 degrades long-acyl AHLs via an AHL acylase and a homoserine-generating HSL lactonase. A P. aeruginosa gene, pvdQ (PA2385), has previously been identified as being a homologue of the AHL acylase described as occurring in a Ralstonia species. Escherichia coli expressing pvdQ catalyzed the rapid inactivation of long-acyl AHLs and the release of HSL. P. aeruginosa engineered to constitutively express pvdQ did not accumulate its 3OC12HSL quorum signal when grown in rich media. However, pvdQ knockout mutants of P. aeruginosa were still able to grow by utilizing 3OC12HSL. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the degradation of AHLs by pseudomonads or other γ-Proteobacteria, of AHL acylase activity in a quorum-sensing bacterium, of HSL lactonase activity in any bacterium, and of AHL degradation with specificity only towards AHLs with long side chains.     

Utilization of acyl-homoserine lactone quorum signals for growth by a soil pseudomonad and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

Acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) are employed by several Proteobacteria as quorum-sensing signals. Past studies have established that these compounds are subject to biochemical decay and can be used as growth nutrients. Here we describe the isolation of a soil bacterium, Pseudomonas strain PAI-A, that degrades 3-oxododecanoyl-homoserine lactone (3OC12HSL) and other long-acyl, but not short-acyl, AHLs as sole energy sources for growth. The small-subunit rRNA gene from strain PAI-A was 98.4% identical to that of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but the soil isolate did not produce obvious pigments or AHLs or grow under denitrifying conditions or at 42 degrees C. The quorum-sensing bacterium P. aeruginosa, which produces both 3OC12HSL and C4HSL, was examined for the ability to utilize AHLs for growth. It did so with a specificity similar to that of strain PAI-A, i.e., degrading long-acyl but not short-acyl AHLs. In contrast to the growth observed with strain PAI-A, P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 growth on AHLs commenced only after extremely long lag phases. Liquid-chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry analyses indicate that strain PAO1 degrades long-acyl AHLs via an AHL acylase and a homoserine-generating HSL lactonase. A P. aeruginosa gene, pvdQ (PA2385), has previously been identified as being a homologue of the AHL acylase described as occurring in a Ralstonia species. Escherichia coli expressing pvdQ catalyzed the rapid inactivation of long-acyl AHLs and the release of HSL. P. aeruginosa engineered to constitutively express pvdQ did not accumulate its 3OC12HSL quorum signal when grown in rich media. However, pvdQ knockout mutants of P. aeruginosa were still able to grow by utilizing 3OC12HSL. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the degradation of AHLs by pseudomonads or other gamma-Proteobacteria, of AHL acylase activity in a quorum-sensing bacterium, of HSL lactonase activity in any bacterium, and of AHL degradation with specificity only towards AHLs with long side chains.     

Metabolism of acyl-homoserine lactone quorum-sensing signals by Variovorax paradoxus

Acyl-homoserine lactones (acyl-HSLs) serve as dedicated cell-to-cell signaling molecules in many species of the class Proteobacteria. We have addressed the question of whether these compounds can be degraded biologically. A motile, rod-shaped bacterium was isolated from soil based upon its ability to utilize N-(3-oxohexanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone as the sole source of energy and nitrogen. The bacterium was classified as a strain of Variovorax paradoxus. The V. paradoxus isolate was capable of growth on all of the acyl-HSLs tested. The molar growth yields correlated with the length of the acyl group. HSL, a product of acyl-HSL metabolism, was used as a nitrogen source, but not as an energy source. Cleavage and partial mineralization of the HSL ring were demonstrated by using radiolabeled substrate. This study indicates that some strains of V. paradoxus degrade and grow on acyl-HSL signals as the sole energy and nitrogen sources. This study provides clues about the metabolic pathway of acyl-HSL degradation by V. paradoxus.