Project description:Lauric acid (C12) is a medium-chain fatty acid that inhibits growth and production of the greenhouse gas methane by rumen methanogens such as Methanobrevibacter ruminantium. To understand the inhibitory mechanism of C12, a transcriptome analysis was performed in M. ruminantium strain M1 (DSM 1093) using RNA-Seq.Pure cell cultures in the exponential growth phase were treated with 0.4 mg/ml C12, dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), for 1 h and transcriptomic changes were compared to DMSO-only treated cells (final DMSO concentration 0.2%). Exposure to C12 resulted in differential expression of 163 of the 2280 genes in the M1 genome (maximum log2-fold change 6.6). Remarkably, C12 hardly affected the expression of genes involved in methanogenesis. Instead, most affected genes encode cell-surface associated proteins (adhesion-like proteins, membrane-associated transporters and hydrogenases), and proteins involved in detoxification or DNA-repair processes. Enrichment analysis on the genes regulated in the C12-treated group showed a significant enrichment for categories 'cell surface' and 'mobile elements' (activated by C12), and for the categories 'regulation' and 'protein fate' (represssed). These results are useful to generate and test specific hypotheses on the mechanism how C12 affects rumen methanogens.
Project description:A proteome-wide protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of Methanobrevibacter ruminantium M1 (MRU), a predominant rumen methanogen, was constructed from its metabolic genes using a gene neighborhood algorithm and then compared with closely related rumen methanogens Using proteome-wide PPI approach, we constructed network encompassed 2194 edges and 637 nodes interacting with 634 genes. Network quality and robustness of functional modules were assessed with gene ontology terms. A structure-function-metabolism mapping for each protein has been carried out with efforts to extract experimental PPI concomitant information from the literature. The results of our study revealed that some topological properties of its network were robust for sharing homologous protein interactions across heterotrophic and hydrogenotrophic methanogens. MRU proteome has shown to establish many PPI sub-networks for associated metabolic subsystems required to survive in the rumen environment. MRU genome found to share interacting proteins from its PPI network involved in specific metabolic subsystems distinct to heterotrophic and hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Across these proteomes, the interacting proteins from differential PPI networks were shared in common for the biosynthesis of amino acids, nucleosides, and nucleotides and energy metabolism in which more fractions of protein pairs shared with Methanosarcina acetivorans. Our comparative study expedites our knowledge to understand a complex proteome network associated with typical metabolic subsystems of MRU and to improve its genome-scale reconstruction in the future.
Project description:Methanobrevibacter ruminantium M1 (MRU) is a rod-shaped rumen methanogen with the ability to use H2 and CO2, and formate as substrates for methane formation in the ruminants. Enteric methane emitted from this organism can also be influential to the loss of dietary energy in ruminants and humans. To date, there is no successful technology to reduce methane due to a lack of knowledge on its molecular machinery and 73% conserved hypothetical proteins (HPs; operome) whose functions are still not ascertained perceptively. To address this issue, we have predicted and assigned a precise function to HPs and categorize them as metabolic enzymes, binding proteins, and transport proteins using a combined bioinformatics approach. The results of our study show that 257 (34%) HPs have well-defined functions and contributed essential roles in its growth physiology and host adaptation. The genome-neighborhood analysis identified 6 operon-like clusters such as hsp, TRAM, dsr, cbs and cas, which are responsible for protein folding, sudden heat-shock, host defense, and protection against the toxicities in the rumen. The functions predicted from MRU operome comprised of 96 metabolic enzymes with 17 metabolic subsystems, 31 transcriptional regulators, 23 transport, and 11 binding proteins. Functional annotation of its operome is thus more imperative to unravel the molecular and cellular machinery at the systems-level. The functional assignment of its operome would advance strategies to develop new anti-methanogenic targets to mitigate methane production. Hence, our approach provides new insight into the understanding of its growth physiology and lifestyle in the ruminants and also to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
Project description:Medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) have been shown to inhibit methanogenesis, disrupt the cell envelope, and decrease survival of Methanobrevibacter ruminantium M1 in a dose-, time-, and protonation level dependent way. However, the exact mechanisms behind these observations are still unknown. Although the biochemistry of the metabolic processes of M. ruminantium has been well studied and its genome sequence is now available, little is known about the overall transcriptome regulation of M. ruminantium in response to inhibitors like MCFA. In the present study, we used RNA Sequencing to evaluate the effects of lauric acid (C12) on M. ruminantium. Pure M. ruminantium cell cultures in the mid-exponential growth phase were exposed to C12 in concentrations of 0.4 mg/mL, dissolved in DMSO for 1 h, and the transcriptomic changes compared to DMSO-only treated control samples (final DMSO concentration 0.2 %), were investigated. Gene expression changes upon exposure to C12 were not dramatic in magnitude (log2 fold change mostly below +/- 3) and in gene number (214 genes). However, the observed expression changes affected mostly genes which encoded cell-surface associated proteins (adhesion-like proteins, membrane-associated transporters and hydrogenases), or proteins, which were involved in detoxification or DNA repair processes. The transcriptional response of M. ruminantium M1 to C12 did not specifically inhibit methanogenesis. Instead, the data indicated a non-specific antimicrobial action by lauric acid, which involves destruction of the cell membrane and interferences with cellular energetics in M. ruminantium. To date, there has been no systematic characterization of a ruminal methanogen transcriptome by deep sequencing. Our results give first hints on the molecular inhibitory mechanism of C12 on M. ruminantium.
Project description:In silico prediction of epitopes is a potentially time-saving alternative to experimental epitope identification but is often subject to misidentification of epitopes and may not be useful for proteins from archaeal microorganisms. In this study, we mapped B- and T-cell epitopes of a model antigen from the methanogen Methanobrevibacter ruminantium M1, the Big_1 domain (AdLP-D1, amino acids 19-198) of an adhesin-like protein. A series of 17 overlapping 20-mer peptides was selected to cover the Big_1 domain. Peptide-specific antibodies were produced in mice and measured by ELISA, while an in vitro splenocyte re-stimulation assay determined specific T-cell responses. Overall, five peptides of the 17 peptides were shown to be major immunogenic epitopes of AdLP-D1. These immunogenic regions were examined for their localization in a homology-based model of AdLP-D1. Validated epitopes were found in the outside region of the protein, with loop like secondary structures reflecting their flexibility. The empirical data were compared with epitope predictions made by programmes based on a range of algorithms. In general, the epitopes identified by in silico predictions were not comparable to those determined empirically.
Project description:Medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) have been shown to inhibit methanogenesis, disrupt the cell envelope, and decrease survival of Methanobrevibacter ruminantium M1 in a dose-, time-, and protonation level dependent way. However, the exact mechanisms behind these observations are still unknown. Although the biochemistry of the metabolic processes of M. ruminantium has been well studied and its genome sequence is now available, little is known about the overall transcriptome regulation of M. ruminantium in response to inhibitors like MCFA. In the present study, we used RNA Sequencing to evaluate the effects of lauric acid (C12) on M. ruminantium. Pure M. ruminantium cell cultures in the mid-exponential growth phase were exposed to C12 in concentrations of 0.4 mg/mL, dissolved in DMSO for 1 h, and the transcriptomic changes compared to DMSO-only treated control samples (final DMSO concentration 0.2 %), were investigated. Gene expression changes upon exposure to C12 were not dramatic in magnitude (log2 fold change mostly below +/- 3) and in gene number (214 genes). However, the observed expression changes affected mostly genes which encoded cell-surface associated proteins (adhesion-like proteins, membrane-associated transporters and hydrogenases), or proteins, which were involved in detoxification or DNA repair processes. The transcriptional response of M. ruminantium M1 to C12 did not specifically inhibit methanogenesis. Instead, the data indicated a non-specific antimicrobial action by lauric acid, which involves destruction of the cell membrane and interferences with cellular energetics in M. ruminantium. To date, there has been no systematic characterization of a ruminal methanogen transcriptome by deep sequencing. Our results give first hints on the molecular inhibitory mechanism of C12 on M. ruminantium. RNA profiles of M. ruminantium treated in vitro (lauric acid disolved in DMSO), non-treated=controls (DMSO supplementation) and non-treated=blanks (no supplementation) were generated by deep sequencing, in triplicates, by using Illumina HiSeq2500
Project description:This study aimed to investigate the effects of cofD gene knock-out on the synthesis of coenzyme F420 and production of methane in Methanobrevibacter ruminantium (M. ruminantium). The experiment successfully constructed a cofD gene knock-out M. ruminantium via homologous recombination technology. The results showed that the logarithmic phase of mutant M. ruminantium (12 h) was lower than the wild-type (24 h). The maximum biomass and specific growth rate of mutant M. ruminantium were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of wild-type, and the maximum biomass of mutant M. ruminantium was approximately half of the wild-type; meanwhile, the proliferation was reduced. The synthesis amount of coenzyme F420 of M. ruminantium was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) after the cofD gene knock-out. Moreover, the maximum amount of H2 consumed and CH4 produced by mutant were 14 and 2% of wild-type M. ruminantium respectively. In conclusion, cofD gene knock-out induced the decreased growth rate and reproductive ability of M. ruminantium. Subsequently, the synthesis of coenzyme F420 was decreased. Ultimately, the production capacity of CH4 in M. ruminantium was reduced. Our research provides evidence that cofD gene plays an indispensable role in the regulation of coenzyme F420 synthesis and CH4 production in M. ruminantium.