Project description:Shewanella putrefaciens strain 200 respires anaerobically on a wide range of compounds as the sole terminal electron acceptor, including ferric iron [Fe(III)] and manganese oxide [Mn(IV)]. Previous studies demonstrated that a 23.3-kb S. putrefaciens wild-type DNA fragment conferred metal reduction capability to a set of respiratory mutants with impaired Fe(III) and Mn(IV) reduction activities (T. DiChristina and E. DeLong, J. Bacteriol. 176:1468-1474, 1994). In the present study, the smallest complementing fragment was found to contain one open reading frame (ORF) (ferE) whose translated product displayed 87% sequence similarity to Aeromonas hydrophila ExeE, a member of the PulE (GspE) family of proteins found in type II protein secretion systems. Insertional mutants E726 and E912, constructed by targeted replacement of wild-type ferE with an insertionally inactivated ferE construct, were unable to respire anaerobically on Fe(III) or Mn(IV) yet retained the ability to grow on all other terminal electron acceptors. Nucleotide sequence analysis of regions flanking ferE revealed the presence of one partial and two complete ORFs whose translated products displayed 55 to 70% sequence similarity to the PulD, -F, and -G homologs of type II secretion systems. A contiguous cluster of 12 type II secretion genes (pulC to -N homologs) was found in the unannotated genome sequence of Shewanella oneidensis (formerly S. putrefaciens) MR-1. A 91-kDa heme-containing protein involved in Fe(III) reduction was present in the peripheral proteins loosely attached to the outside face of the outer membrane of the wild-type and complemented (Fer+) B31 transconjugates yet was missing from this location in Fer mutants E912 and B31 and in uncomplemented (Fer-) B31 transconjugates. Membrane fractionation studies with the wild-type strain supported this finding: the 91-kDa heme-containing protein was detected with the outer membrane fraction and not with the inner membrane or soluble fraction. These findings provide the first genetic evidence linking dissimilatory metal reduction to type II protein secretion and provide additional biochemical evidence supporting outer membrane localization of S. putrefaciens proteins involved in anaerobic respiration on Fe(III) and Mn(IV).

Project description:At least five gene clusters in the Geobacter sulfurreducens genome encode putative "electron conduits" implicated in electron transfer across the outer membrane, each containing a periplasmic multiheme c-type cytochrome, integral outer membrane anchor, and outer membrane redox lipoprotein(s). Markerless single-gene-cluster deletions and all possible multiple-deletion combinations were constructed and grown with soluble Fe(III) citrate, Fe(III) and Mn(IV) oxides, and graphite electrodes poised at +0.24 V and -0.1 V versus the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE). Different gene clusters were necessary for reduction of each electron acceptor. During metal oxide reduction, deletion of the previously described omcBC cluster caused defects, but deletion of additional components in an ?omcBC background, such as extEFG, were needed to produce defects greater than 50% compared to findings with the wild type. Deletion of all five gene clusters abolished all metal reduction. During electrode reduction, only the ?extABCD mutant had a severe growth defect at both redox potentials, while this mutation did not affect Fe(III) oxide, Mn(IV) oxide, or Fe(III) citrate reduction. Some mutants containing only one cluster were able to reduce particular terminal electron acceptors better than the wild type, suggesting routes for improvement by targeting specific electron transfer pathways. Transcriptomic comparisons between fumarate and electrode-based growth conditions showed all of these ext clusters to be constitutive, and transcriptional analysis of the triple-deletion strain containing only extABCD detected no significant changes in expression of genes encoding known redox proteins or pilus components. These genetic experiments reveal new outer membrane conduit complexes necessary for growth of G. sulfurreducens, depending on the available extracellular electron acceptor.IMPORTANCE Gram-negative metal-reducing bacteria utilize electron conduits, chains of redox proteins spanning the outer membrane, to transfer electrons to the extracellular surface. Only one pathway for electron transfer across the outer membrane of Geobacter sulfurreducens has been linked to Fe(III) reduction. However, G. sulfurreducens is able to respire a wide array of extracellular substrates. Here we present the first combinatorial genetic analysis of five different electron conduits via creation of new markerless deletion strains and complementation vectors. Multiple conduit gene clusters appear to have overlapping roles, including two that have never been linked to metal reduction. Another recently described cluster (ExtABCD) was the only electron conduit essential during electrode reduction, a substrate of special importance to biotechnological applications of this organism.

Project description:BackgroundShewanella oneidensis MR-1 uses several electron acceptors to support anaerobic respiration including insoluble species such as iron(III) and manganese(IV) oxides, and soluble species such as nitrate, fumarate, dimethylsulfoxide and many others. MR-1 has complex branched electron transport chains that include components in the cytoplasmic membrane, periplasm, and outer membrane (OM). Previous studies have implicated a role for anaerobically upregulated OM electron transport components in the use of insoluble electron acceptors, and have suggested that other OM components may also contribute to insoluble electron acceptor use. In this study, the role for an anaerobically upregulated 35-kDa OM protein (Omp35) in the use of anaerobic electron acceptors was explored.ResultsOmp35 was purified from the OM of anaerobically grown cells, the gene encoding Omp35 was identified, and an omp35 null mutant (OMP35-1) was isolated and characterized. Although OMP35-1 grew on all electron acceptors tested, a significant lag was seen when grown on fumarate, nitrate, and Fe(III). Complementation studies confirmed that the phenotype of OMP35-1 was due to the loss of Omp35. Despite its requirement for wild-type rates of electron acceptor use, analysis of Omp35 protein and predicted sequence did not identify any electron transport moieties or predicted motifs. OMP35-1 had normal levels and distribution of known electron transport components including quinones, cytochromes, and fumarate reductase. Omp35 is related to putative porins from MR-1 and S. frigidimarina as well as to the PorA porin from Neisseria meningitidis. Subcellular fraction analysis confirmed that Omp35 is an OM protein. The seven-fold anaerobic upregulation of Omp35 is mediated post-transcriptionally.ConclusionOmp35 is a putative porin in the OM of MR-1 that is markedly upregulated anaerobically by a post-transcriptional mechanism. Omp35 is required for normal rates of growth on Fe(III), fumarate, and nitrate, but its absence has no effect on the use of other electron acceptors. Omp35 does not contain obvious electron transport moieties, and its absence does not alter the amounts or distribution of other known electron transport components including quinones and cytochromes. The effects of Omp35 on anaerobic electron acceptor use are therefore likely indirect. The results demonstrate the ability of non-electron transport proteins to influence anaerobic respiratory phenotypes.

Project description:The ability of Geobacter species to readily donate electrons to extracellular electron acceptors makes the study of their physiology not only important for the understanding of environmental processes, but also for industrial applications such as bioelectronics and electrosynthesis. Studies in G. sulfurreducens have shown that outer surface components, such as c-type cytochromes and conductive type IV pili play an important role in direct electron transfer to extracellular electron acceptors such as Fe(III) oxides and electrodes. However, many of these thoroughly studied outer surface components, including c-type cytochromes, are not well conserved among Geobacter species. In order to better understand which components are involved in extracellular electron transfer in Geobacter species other than G. sulfurreducens, studies were conducted with its close relative G. metallireducens. Whole-genome microarray analysis revealed that 23 of the 91 putative c-type cytochromes encoded in the G. metallireducens genome were upregulated at least 2-fold in cells grown with Fe(III) oxide compared to cells in which Fe(III) citrate was provided as the terminal electron acceptor. Protein identification with liquid-chromatography/mass spectrometry detected 6 c-type cytochromes that were more abundant in the outer surface cell fraction of cells that were grown with Fe(III) oxide as the terminal electron acceptor compared to cells grown on Fe(III) citrate. 22 genes encoding c-type cytochromes were chosen for gene deletion. Deletion of 6 genes encoding for c-type cytochromes, a gene encoding for a lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis-associated protein, and a gene encoding for a NHL- repeat containing protein inhibited growth when Fe(III) oxide was provided as the electron acceptor. This study suggests that there are different roads for extracellular electron transfer in Geobacteraceae since homologous c-type cytochromes have different functions from one species to the other, and novel components not previously found to be essential for extracellular electron transfer were identified.

Project description:The ability of Geobacter species to readily donate electrons to extracellular electron acceptors makes the study of their physiology not only important for the understanding of environmental processes, but also for industrial applications such as bioelectronics and electrosynthesis. Studies in G. sulfurreducens have shown that outer surface components, such as c-type cytochromes and conductive type IV pili play an important role in direct electron transfer to extracellular electron acceptors such as Fe(III) oxides and electrodes. However, many of these thoroughly studied outer surface components, including c-type cytochromes, are not well conserved among Geobacter species. In order to better understand which components are involved in extracellular electron transfer in Geobacter species other than G. sulfurreducens, studies were conducted with its close relative G. metallireducens. Whole-genome microarray analysis revealed that 23 of the 91 putative c-type cytochromes encoded in the G. metallireducens genome were upregulated at least 2-fold in cells grown with Fe(III) oxide compared to cells in which Fe(III) citrate was provided as the terminal electron acceptor. Protein identification with liquid-chromatography/mass spectrometry detected 6 c-type cytochromes that were more abundant in the outer surface cell fraction of cells that were grown with Fe(III) oxide as the terminal electron acceptor compared to cells grown on Fe(III) citrate. 22 genes encoding c-type cytochromes were chosen for gene deletion. Deletion of 6 genes encoding for c-type cytochromes, a gene encoding for a lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis-associated protein, and a gene encoding for a NHL- repeat containing protein inhibited growth when Fe(III) oxide was provided as the electron acceptor. This study suggests that there are different roads for extracellular electron transfer in Geobacteraceae since homologous c-type cytochromes have different functions from one species to the other, and novel components not previously found to be essential for extracellular electron transfer were identified. An eight-chip study using total RNA recovered from four separate cultures of Geobacter metallireducens GS-15 grown with acetate (10mM)-Fe(III) oxide (100 mmol l-1) (experimental condition) or with acetate (10 mM)-Fe(III) citrate (55mM) (control condition) during exponential growth. Each chip measures the expression level of 3,627 genes from Geobacter metallireducens GS-15 with nine 45-60-mer probe pairs (PM/MM) per gene, with three-fold technical redundancy.

Project description:In the absence of O(2) and other electron acceptors, the Gram-negative bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 can use ferric [Fe(III)] (oxy)(hydr)oxide minerals as the terminal electron acceptors for anaerobic respiration. At circumneutral pH and in the absence of strong complexing ligands, Fe(III) oxides are relatively insoluble and thus are external to the bacterial cells. S. oneidensis MR-1 and related strains of metal-reducing Shewanella have evolved machinery (i.e., metal-reducing or Mtr pathway) for transferring electrons from the inner-membrane, through the periplasm and across the outer-membrane to the surface of extracellular Fe(III) oxides. The protein components identified to date for the Mtr pathway include CymA, MtrA, MtrB, MtrC, and OmcA. CymA is an inner-membrane tetraheme c-type cytochrome (c-Cyt) that belongs to the NapC/NrfH family of quinol dehydrogenases. It is proposed that CymA oxidizes the quinol in the inner-membrane and transfers the released electrons to MtrA either directly or indirectly through other periplasmic proteins. A decaheme c-Cyt, MtrA is thought to be embedded in the trans outer-membrane and porin-like protein MtrB. Together, MtrAB deliver the electrons through the outer-membrane to the MtrC and OmcA on the outmost bacterial surface. MtrC and OmcA are the outer-membrane decaheme c-Cyts that are translocated across the outer-membrane by the bacterial type II secretion system. Functioning as terminal reductases, MtrC and OmcA can bind the surface of Fe(III) oxides and transfer electrons directly to these minerals via their solvent-exposed hemes. To increase their reaction rates, MtrC and OmcA can use the flavins secreted by S. oneidensis MR-1 cells as diffusible co-factors for reduction of Fe(III) oxides. Because of their extracellular location and broad redox potentials, MtrC and OmcA can also serve as the terminal reductases for soluble forms of Fe(III). In addition to Fe(III) oxides, Mtr pathway is also involved in reduction of manganese oxides and other metals. Although our understanding of the Mtr pathway is still far from complete, it is the best characterized microbial pathway used for extracellular electron exchange. Characterizations of the Mtr pathway have made significant contributions to the molecular understanding of microbial reduction of Fe(III) oxides.

Dataset Information

Shewanella putrefaciens mtrB encodes an outer membrane protein required for Fe(III) and Mn(IV) reduction.

Publications

Shewanella putrefaciens mtrB encodes an outer membrane protein required for Fe(III) and Mn(IV) reduction.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets