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.
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.
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 “spontaneous mutant” 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 “U(VI) shock”, 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.
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.
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).
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
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.
2016-05-14 | GSE81414 | GEO
Project description:extremely halophilic and metal tolerant community members from a sulfate-dominated metal-rich environment
Project description:This study provides novel insights into archaeal stress response. The effect of nutrient limitation on the thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius was monitored over time on transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolic level. To our knowledge, this linkage of transcriptome, proteome, metabolome analysis makes this study a pioneer study to elucidate cellular stress response triggered by nutrient limitation. We further connect previously identified pH and salt stress responsive genes (1) with genes regulated in starvation and suggest that they constitute the core of stress responsive genes active under multiple stress sources.