Uranium extremophily is an adaptive, rather than intrinsic, feature for extremely thermoacidophilic Metallosphaera species
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ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Metallosphaera sedula DSM 5348 Metallosphaera prunae Metallosphaera sedula
PROVIDER: GSE40796 | GEO | 2012/09/25
SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA175003
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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Project description:Thermoacidophilic archaea are found in heavy metal-rich environments and, in some cases, these microorganisms are causative agents of metal mobilization through cellular processes related to their bioenergetics. Given the nature of their habitats, these microorganisms must deal with the potentially toxic effect of heavy metals. Here, we show that two thermoacidophilic Metallosphaera species with nearly identical (99.99%) genomes differed significantly in their sensitivity and reactivity to uranium. M. prunae, isolated from a smoldering heap on a uranium mine in Thuringen, Germany, could be viewed as a M-bM-^@M-^\spontaneous mutantM-bM-^@M-^] of M. sedula, an isolate from Pisciarelli solfatara near Naples, Italy. M. prunae tolerated U3O8 and U(VI) to a much greater extent than M. sedula. Within 15 minutes following exposure to M-bM-^@M-^\U(VI) shockM-bM-^@M-^], M. sedula, and not M. prunae, exhibited transcriptomic features associated with severe stress response. Furthermore, within 15 minutes post-U(VI) shock, M. prunae, and not M. sedula, showed evidence of substantial degradation of cellular RNA. This suggested that transcriptional and translational processes were aborted as a dynamic mechanism for resisting U toxicity; by 60 minutes post-U(VI) shock, RNA integrity in M. prunae recovered, and known modes for heavy metal resistance were activated. In addition, M. sedula rapidly oxidized solid U3O8 to soluble U(VI) for bioenergetic purposes, a chemolithoautotrophic feature not previously reported. M. prunae, however, did not solubilize solid U3O8 to any significant extent, thereby not exacerbating U(VI) toxicity. These results point to uranium extremophily as an adaptive, rather than intrinsic, feature for Metallosphaera species, driven by environmental factors. The study comprises 9 Samples, described in detail below. MprAU_MseAU: Transcriptional analysis of the response of Metallosphaera prunae (Mpr) and Metallosphaera sedula(Mse) to chemolithoautotrophic conditions (0.1 wt% Uranium octaoxide with CO2 supplementation in headspace). This experiment was done to identify the key terminal oxidases which responded to a Uranium oxide while doing inter-species comparison between Mpr and Mse. Transcriptional response of the terminal oxidase clusters proved that certain key genes play a role in the vastly different physiologies of these two species. MprN_MprU60: Transcriptional analysis of the response of Metallosphaera prunae (Mpr) to 60 min of Uranium shock. This experiment was done to analyze the differential transcription of Mpr cells challenged with 1 mM uranyl acetate shock (U shock) compared to normal growth. The Uranium cultures were harvested 60 min after the shock. MprN_MseN: Differential transcription of Metallosphaera species under normal growth conditions. This experiment was done to analyze the differential transcription of Mpr cells compared with Mse cells at mid log phase. MprN_MprU3h: Transcriptional response of Metallosphaera prunae (Mpr) to 3h of Uranium shock compared to normal growth. This experiment was done to analyze the differential transcription of Mpr cells challenged with 1 mM uranyl acetate shock (U shock) . The Uranium cultures were harvested 3 h after the shock. MseN_MseU15: Transcriptional response of Metallosphaera sedula (Mse) to 15 min of Uranium shock. This experiment was done to analyze the differential transcription of Mse cells challenged with 1 mM uranyl acetate shock (U shock) compared to normal growth. The Uranium cultures were harvested 15 min after the shock. MseN_MseU60: Transcriptional response of Metallosphaera sedula to 60 min of Uranium shock. Mse cells were grown upto mid log phase after which the cells were subjected to U shock and harvested 60 min later. Biological repeats were done for both experimental conditions. MseN_MseU3h: Transcriptional response of Metallosphaera sedula (Mse) to 3h of Uranium shock compared to normal growth. This experiment was done to analyze the differential transcription of Mse cells challenged with 1 mM uranyl acetate shock (U shock) . The Uranium cultures were harvested 3 h after the shock. MseU15_MseU60: Transcriptional response of Metallosphaera sedula to 15 min of Uranium shock compared with 60 min of Uranium shock. This experiment was done to analyze the differential transcription of Mse cells challenged with 1 mM uranyl acetate shock (U shock) . The Uranium cultures were harvested 15 min and 60 min after the shock. MprU3h_MseU3h: Differential transcription of Metallosphaera cells under Uranium shock. This experiment was done to analyze the differential transcription of Metallosphaera sedula (Mse) and Metallosphaera prunae (Mpr) challenged with 1 mM uranyl acetate.
2012-09-25 | E-GEOD-40796 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Thermomacidophilic archaea, such as Metallosphaera sedula, are lithoautotrophs that occupy metal-rich environments. In previous studies, a M. sedula mutant lacking the primary copper efflux transporter, CopA, became copper sensitive. In contrast, the basis for supra-normal copper resistance remained unclear in the spontaneous M. sedula mutant, CuR1. Here, transcriptomic analysis of copper-shocked cultures indicated that CuR1 had a unique regulatory response to metal challenge corresponding to up-regulation of 55 genes. Genome re-sequencing identified 17 confirmed mutations unique to CuR1 that were likely to change gene function. Of these, 12 mapped to genes with annotated function associated with transcription, metabolism or transport. These mutations included 7 non-synonymous substitutions, 4 insertions and 1 deletion. One of the insertion mutations mapped to pseudogene, Msed_1517, and extended its reading frame an additional 209 amino acids. The extended mutant allele was identified as a homolog of Pho4, a family of phosphate symporters that include the bacterial PitA proteins. Orthologs of this allele were apparent in related extremely thermoacidophilic species, suggesting M. sedula was naturally lacking this gene. Phosphate transport studies combined with physiologic analysis demonstrated M. sedula PitA was a low affinity high velocity secondary transporter implicated in copper resistance and arsenate sensitivity. Genetic analysis demonstrated spontaneous arsenate resistant mutants derived from CuR1 all underwent mutation in pitA and non-selectively became copper resistant. Taken together, these results point to archaeal PitA as a key requirement for the increased metal resistance of strain CuR1 and its accelerated capacity for copper bioleaching. The study comprises 5 samples, described in detail below. WT_CuR1: Differential transcriptional response of Metallosphaera sedula DSM 5348, WT, to the supra-normal copper resistant spontaneous Metallosphaera sedula mutant, CuR1 under normal growth conditions. This experiment was done to analyze the differential transcription of WT cells compared with CuR1 cells at mid log phase. WT-15_CuR1-15: Differential transcription of Metallosphaera cells under sub-inhibitory copper challenge (2.0 mM). This experiment was done to analyze the differential transcription of Metallosphaera sedula WT and CuR1 15 minutes post copper challenge. The copper cultures were harvested 15 minutes after the shock. WT-60_CuR1-60: Differential transcription of Metallosphaera cells under sub-inhibitory copper challenge (2.0 mM). This experiment was done to analyze the differential transcription of Metallosphaera sedula WT and CuR1 60 minutes post copper challenge. The copper cultures were harvested 60 minutes after the shock. WT-15_WT-60: Differential transcription of Metallosphaera cells under sub-inhibitory copper challenge (2.0 mM). This experiment was done to analyze the differential transcription of Metallosphaera sedula WT 15 and 60 minutes post copper challenge. The copper cultures were harvested 15 and 60 minutes after the shock, respectively. CuR1-15_CuR1-60: Differential transcription of Metallosphaera cells under sub-inhibitory copper challenge (2.0 mM). This experiment was done to analyze the differential transcription of Metallosphaera sedula CuR1 15 and 60 minutes post copper challenge. The copper cultures were harvested 15 and 60 minutes after the shock, respectively.
2014-07-10 | E-GEOD-59253 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:(from abstract): Iron oxidation is a desirable trait of biomining microorganisms, although the mechanism is not well-understood in extreme thermoacidophiles. The complete genome sequence of the extremely thermoacidophilic archaeon Metallosphaera sedula DSM 5348 (2.2 Mb, ~2300 ORFs) provides insights into biologically catalyzed metal sulfide oxidation. Comparative genomics was used to identify pathways and proteins (in)directly involved with bioleaching. As expected, the M. sedula genome encodes genes related to autotrophic carbon fixation, metal tolerance, and adhesion. Also, terminal oxidase cluster organization indicates the presence of hybrid quinol-cytochrome oxidase complexes. Comparisons with the mesophilic biomining bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 indicate that the M. sedula genome encodes at least one putative rusticyanin, involved in iron oxidation. The fox gene cluster, involved in iron oxidation in the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus metallicus, could also be identified. These iron-oxidizing components are missing from genomes of non-leaching Sulfolobales like Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius DSM 639. Whole genome transcriptional response analysis showed that 88 ORFs were up-regulated 2-fold or more in M. sedula upon addition of ferrous sulfate to yeast extract-based medium; these included components of terminal oxidase clusters predicted to be involved with iron oxidation, as well as genes predicted to be involved with sulfur metabolism. Many hypothetical proteins were also differentially transcribed, indicating that aspects of the iron and sulfur metabolism of M. sedula remain to be identified and characterized. Keywords: substrate response
2008-05-02 | GSE11296 | GEO
Project description:(from abstract): Iron oxidation is a desirable trait of biomining microorganisms, although the mechanism is not well-understood in extreme thermoacidophiles. The complete genome sequence of the extremely thermoacidophilic archaeon Metallosphaera sedula DSM 5348 (2.2 Mb, ~2300 ORFs) provides insights into biologically catalyzed metal sulfide oxidation. Comparative genomics was used to identify pathways and proteins (in)directly involved with bioleaching. As expected, the M. sedula genome encodes genes related to autotrophic carbon fixation, metal tolerance, and adhesion. Also, terminal oxidase cluster organization indicates the presence of hybrid quinol-cytochrome oxidase complexes. Comparisons with the mesophilic biomining bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 indicate that the M. sedula genome encodes at least one putative rusticyanin, involved in iron oxidation. The fox gene cluster, involved in iron oxidation in the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus metallicus, could also be identified. These iron-oxidizing components are missing from genomes of non-leaching Sulfolobales like Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius DSM 639. Whole genome transcriptional response analysis showed that 88 ORFs were up-regulated 2-fold or more in M. sedula upon addition of ferrous sulfate to yeast extract-based medium; these included components of terminal oxidase clusters predicted to be involved with iron oxidation, as well as genes predicted to be involved with sulfur metabolism. Many hypothetical proteins were also differentially transcribed, indicating that aspects of the iron and sulfur metabolism of M. sedula remain to be identified and characterized. Dye flip of Mse cells includes two samples, yeast exact (YE) and yeast extract + ferrous sulfate (YEF). The first slide, Y3F5, has YE RNA labeled with cy3 and YEF RNA labeled with cy5, while the second slide, F3Y5, has YEF RNA labeled with cy3 and YE RNA labeled with cy5. YE serves as the reference condition, with the expectation that ORFs involved with Fe2+ oxidation (and SO4 metabolism) will be upregulated on YEF (log2 fold change of YE-YEF < -1).
2008-05-02 | E-GEOD-11296 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Hydrogen served as a competitive inorganic energy source, impacting the CuFeS2 bioleaching efficiency of the extremely thermoacidophilic archaeon Metallosphaera sedula. Open reading frames encoding key terminal oxidase and electron transport chain components were triggered by CuFeS2. Evidence of heterotrophic metabolism was noted after extended periods of bioleaching, presumably related to cell lysis.
2010-03-15 | GSE20554 | GEO
Project description:Thermomacidophilic archaea, such as Metallosphaera sedula, are lithoautotrophs that occupy metal-rich environments. In previous studies, a M. sedula mutant lacking the primary copper efflux transporter, CopA, became copper sensitive. In contrast, the basis for supra-normal copper resistance remained unclear in the spontaneous M. sedula mutant, CuR1. Here, transcriptomic analysis of copper-shocked cultures indicated that CuR1 had a unique regulatory response to metal challenge corresponding to up-regulation of 55 genes. Genome re-sequencing identified 17 confirmed mutations unique to CuR1 that were likely to change gene function. Of these, 12 mapped to genes with annotated function associated with transcription, metabolism or transport. These mutations included 7 non-synonymous substitutions, 4 insertions and 1 deletion. One of the insertion mutations mapped to pseudogene, Msed_1517, and extended its reading frame an additional 209 amino acids. The extended mutant allele was identified as a homolog of Pho4, a family of phosphate symporters that include the bacterial PitA proteins. Orthologs of this allele were apparent in related extremely thermoacidophilic species, suggesting M. sedula was naturally lacking this gene. Phosphate transport studies combined with physiologic analysis demonstrated M. sedula PitA was a low affinity high velocity secondary transporter implicated in copper resistance and arsenate sensitivity. Genetic analysis demonstrated spontaneous arsenate resistant mutants derived from CuR1 all underwent mutation in pitA and non-selectively became copper resistant. Taken together, these results point to archaeal PitA as a key requirement for the increased metal resistance of strain CuR1 and its accelerated capacity for copper bioleaching.
2014-07-10 | GSE59253 | GEO
Project description:Hydrogen served as a competitive inorganic energy source, impacting the CuFeS2 bioleaching efficiency of the extremely thermoacidophilic archaeon Metallosphaera sedula. Open reading frames encoding key terminal oxidase and electron transport chain components were triggered by CuFeS2. Evidence of heterotrophic metabolism was noted after extended periods of bioleaching, presumably related to cell lysis. One 3 slide loop for Mse cells includes 3 conditions: M. sedula inoculum prior to introduction to chalcopyrite (d0~day 0), M. sedula after 3 days on chalcopyrite (d3~day 3), and M. sedula after 9 days on chalcopyrite (d9~day 9). Half of an RNA sample for one condition (consisting of pools of RNA from multiple cultures) was labeled with Cy3 while the other half was labeled with Cy5. The two differently labeled samples were run on different slides. Each probe is spotted on each slide 5 times (5 spots/slide x 2 slides = 10 technical replicates per condition; spot intensities for all replicates on slide provided in associated raw data file).
2010-05-05 | E-GEOD-20554 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Metallosphaera sedula is an extremely thermoacidophilic archaeon that grows heterotrophically on peptides, and chemolithoautotrophically on hydrogen, sulfur, or reduced metals as energy sources. During autotrophic growth, carbon dioxide is incorporated into cellular carbon via the 3-hydroxypropionate /4-hydroxybutyrate cycle (3HP/4HB). To date, all of the steps in the pathway have been connected to enzymes encoded in specific ORFs, except for the one responsible for ligation of coenzyme A (CoA) to 4-hydroxybutyrate (4HB). While several candidates for this step have been identified through bioinformatic analysis of the M. sedula genome, none have been shown to catalyze this biotransformation. Transcriptomic analysis of cells grown under strict H2-CO2 autotrophy was used elucidate additional candidate genes involved in carbon fixation and identify the genes which encode for 4HB-CoA synthetase.
2013-03-05 | GSE39944 | GEO
Project description:Extremely thermoacidophilic members of the Archaea such as the lithoautotroph, Metallosphaera sedula, are among the most acid resistant forms of life and are of great relevance in bioleaching. Here, adaptive laboratory evolution was used to enhance the acid resistance of this organism while genomics and transcriptomics were used in an effort to understand the molecular basis for this trait. Unlike the parental strain, the evolved derivative, M. sedula SARC-M1, grew well at pH of 0.90. Enargite (Cu3AsS4) bioleaching conducted at pH 1.20 demonstrated SARC-M1 leached 23.78% more copper relative to the parental strain. Genome re-sequencing identified two mutations in SARC-M1 including a nonsynonymous mutation in Msed_0408 (an amino acid permease) and a deletion in pseudogene Msed_1517. Transcriptomic studies by RNA-seq of wild type and evolved strains at various low pH values demonstrated there was enhanced expression of genes in M. sedula SARC-M1 encoding membrane complexes and enzymes that extrude protons or that catalyze proton-consuming reactions. In addition, M. sedula SARC-M1 exhibited reduced expression of genes encoding enzymes that catalyze proton-generating reactions. These unique genomic and transcriptomic features of M. sedula SARC-M1 support a model for increased acid resistance arising from enhanced control over cytoplasmic pH. 3 samples were analyzed: 1 control and 2 experimental samples
2016-05-14 | E-GEOD-81414 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Desulfotomaculum reducens is the first Gram-positive sulfate- and metal- reducing bacterium for which the transcriptomic response to uranium exposure has been evaluated. The genes upregulated during fermentative growth in the presence of U(VI) as compared to its absence included those encoding for proteins involved in respiration such as NADH quinone oxidoreductase and heterodisulfide reductase. This finding suggested that electrons were shuttled to the electron transport chain during fermentation which points to the reduction of U(VI) as a metabolic process. While U(IV) is typically insoluble and readily removable by filtration, U(IV) produced during active growth was not retained by a 0.2 µm pore size filter and filtration was not sufficient to differentiate between U(VI) and U(IV). In addition, genes involved in iron homeostasis were upregulated in the presence of uranium, which was consistent with the upregulation of genes involved in c-type cytochrome biogenesis. Despite the upregulation of cytochrome biosynthesis genes, the sole c-type cytochrome encoded in the genome was not differentially expressed. Finally, genes encoding metal efflux pumps were also upregulated indicating the toxic nature of uranium. Analysis of the time-dependent gene expression showed that sporulation was the dominant process at the early stationary phase and that the presence of U at that stage did not impact expression. This data set is a time course comparing sulfate and uranium reduction with fermentative growth.
2010-07-15 | E-GEOD-22944 | biostudies-arrayexpress