Project description:Caulobacter crescentus is a model for the bacterial cell cycle which culminates in asymmetric cell division, yet little is known about the absolute levels of protein synthesis of the cellular parts needed to complete the cell cycle. Here we utilize ribosome profiling to provide absolute measurements of mRNA translation in C. crescentus, providing an important resource with quantitative genome-wide measurements of protein output across individual genes. Analysis of protein synthesis rates revealed ∼4.5% of cellular protein synthesis is for genes related to vitamin B12 import (btuB) and B12-independent methionine biosynthesis (metE) when grown in common growth media lacking B12 While its facultative B12 lifestyle provides a fitness advantage in the absence of B12, we find that it provides a fitness disadvantage of the cells in the presence of B12, potentially explaining why many Caulobacter species have lost the metE gene and become obligates for B12IMPORTANCECaulobacter crescentus is a model system of the bacterial cell cycle culminating in asymmetric cell division, with each daughter cell inheriting a distinct set of proteins. While a genetic network of master transcription factors coordinates the cell cycle timing of transcription for nearly 20% of Caulobacter genes, we lack knowledge of how many of each protein "part" encoded in the genome are synthesized. Therefore, to determine the absolute production rates across the genome, we performed ribosome profiling, providing, for the first time, a quantitative resource with measurements of each protein "part" needed to generate daughter cells. This resource furthers the goal of a systems-level understanding of the genetic network controlling asymmetric cell division. To highlight the utility of this data set, we probe the protein synthesis cost of a B12 utilization pathway and provide new insights into Caulobacter's adaptation to its natural environments.
Project description:Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is the most complex vitamin and essential for many human gut microbes. However, cobalamin is synthesized only by a limited number of bacteria, making many gut microbes dependent on scavenging to meet their cobalamin requirements. Since bacterial densities in the gut are extremely high, competition for cobalamin is severe, making it a keystone micronutrient that shapes human gut microbial communities. Contrasting with Enterobacteria like Escherichia coli which only have one outer membrane (OM) transporter dedicated to B12 uptake (BtuB), members of the dominant genus Bacteroides often encode several vitamin B12 OM transporters together with a conserved array of surface-exposed B12-binding lipoproteins. Here we show, via X-ray crystallography, cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, that the BtuB1 and BtuB2 transporters from the prominent human gut bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron form stable complexes with the surface-exposed lipoproteins BtuG1 and BtuG2. The lipoproteins cap the external surface of their cognate BtuB transporter and, when open, capture B12 via electrostatic attraction. After B12 capture, the BtuG lid closes, with concomitant transfer of the vitamin to the BtuB transporter and subsequent transport. We propose that TonB-dependent, lipoprotein-assisted small molecule uptake is a general feature of Bacteroides spp. that is important for the success of this genus in colonising the human gut.
Project description:Astrocytes express a vitamin B12 uptake receptor, CD320/TCblR, that is regulated by S1P1 signaling. In search of genes controlled under B12 deficiency in astrocytes, we employed RNA-seq using RNA of astrocytes cultured in normal or B12 deficient media.
Project description:Background: Chronic stress significantly contributes to mood- and anxiety disorders. Previous data suggest a correlative connection between vitamin B12 supplementation, depression, and stress resilience. However, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Methods: Using the chronic variable stress mouse model coupled with RNA-sequencing, we determined vitamin B12-induced transcriptional changes related to stress resilience. By viral-mediated gene transfer and in vivo epigenome editing, we reveal a functional pathway linking vitamin B12, DNA methylation, and depressive-like symptoms. Results: We identified Transthyretin (Ttr) as a sex-specific key target of vitamin B12 action in chronic stress. Accordingly, TTR expression was increased postmortem in the prefrontal cortex of male, but not female, depressed patients. Virally altered Ttr in the prefrontal cortex functionally contributed to stress- and depression-related behaviors, changes in dendritic spine morphology, and gene expression. In stressed mice, vitamin B12 reduced DNAme in the Ttr promoter region. Importantly, using in vivo epigenome editing to alter DNAme in the brains of living mice for the first time, we establish a direct causal link between DNAme on Ttr and stress-associated behaviors. Discussion: In summary, using state-of-the-art techniques, this study uncovers a mechanistic link between cobalamin supplementation, Ttr, and markers of chronic stress and depression, encouraging further studies into dietary interventions for mood disorders.
Project description:Recent functional genomics and genome-scale modeling approaches indicated that B12 production in Lactobacillus reuteri could be improved by medium optimization. Here we show that a series of systematic single amino acid omissions could significantly modulate the production of B12 from nearly undetectable levels (by isoleucine omission) to 20-fold higher than previously reported through omission of cysteine. We analyzed by cDNA microarray experiments the transcriptional response of L. reuteri to the medium lacking cysteine. These results supported the observed high B12 production and provided new avenues for future improvement of production of vitamin B12. Keywords: cell type comparison
Project description:Background: Chronic stress significantly contributes to mood- and anxiety disorders. Previous data suggest a correlative connection between vitamin B12 supplementation, depression, and stress resilience. However, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Methods: Using the chronic variable stress mouse model coupled with RNA-sequencing, we determined vitamin B12-induced transcriptional changes related to stress resilience. By viral-mediated gene transfer and in vivo epigenome editing, we reveal a functional pathway linking vitamin B12, DNA methylation, and depressive-like symptoms. Results: We identified Transthyretin (Ttr) as a sex-specific key target of vitamin B12 action in chronic stress. Accordingly, TTR expression was increased postmortem in the prefrontal cortex of male, but not female, depressed patients. Virally altered Ttr in the prefrontal cortex functionally contributed to stress- and depression-related behaviors, changes in dendritic spine morphology, and gene expression. In stressed mice, vitamin B12 reduced DNAme in the Ttr promoter region. Importantly, using in vivo epigenome editing to alter DNAme in the brains of living mice for the first time, we establish a direct causal link between DNAme on Ttr and stress-associated behaviors. Discussion: In summary, using state-of-the-art techniques, this study uncovers a mechanistic link between cobalamin supplementation, Ttr, and markers of chronic stress and depression, encouraging further studies into dietary interventions for mood disorders.
Project description:Recent functional genomics and genome-scale modeling approaches indicated that B12 production in Lactobacillus reuteri could be improved by medium optimization. Here we show that a series of systematic single amino acid omissions could significantly modulate the production of B12 from nearly undetectable levels (by isoleucine omission) to 20-fold higher than previously reported through omission of cysteine. We analyzed by cDNA microarray experiments the transcriptional response of L. reuteri to the medium lacking cysteine. These results supported the observed high B12 production and provided new avenues for future improvement of production of vitamin B12. Keywords: cell type comparison loop design