Christopher J. Reuter

Differential Regulation of the PanA and PanB Proteasome-Activating Nucleotidase and 20S Proteasomal Proteins of the Haloarchaeon Haloferax volcanii

The halophilic archaeon Haloferax volcanii produces three different proteins (alpha1, alpha2, and beta) that assemble into at least two 20S proteasome isoforms. This work reports the cloning and sequencing of two H. volcanii proteasome-activating nucleotidase (PAN) genes (panA and panB). The deduced PAN proteins were 60% identical with Walker A and B motifs and a second region of homology typical of AAA ATPases. The most significant region of divergence was the N terminus predicted to adopt a coiled-coil conformation involved in substrate recognition. Of the five proteasomal proteins, the alpha1, beta, and PanA proteins were the most abundant. Differential regulation of all five genes was observed, with a four- to eightfold increase in mRNA levels as cells entered stationary phase. In parallel with this mRNA increase, the protein levels of PanB and alpha2 increased severalfold during the transition from exponential growth to stationary phase, suggesting that these protein levels are regulated at least in part by mechanisms that control transcript levels. In contrast, the beta and PanA protein levels remained relatively constant, while the alpha1 protein levels exhibited only a modest increase. This lack of correlation between the mRNA and protein levels for alpha1, beta, and PanA suggests posttranscriptional mechanisms are involved in regulating the levels of these major proteasomal proteins. Together these results support a model in which the cell regulates the ratio of the different 20S proteasome and PAN proteins to modulate the structure and ultimately the function of this central energy-dependent proteolytic system.

Analysis of Proteasome-Dependent Proteolysis in Haloferax volcanii Cells, Using Short-Lived Green Fluorescent Proteins

ABSTRACT Proteasomes are energy-dependent proteases that are central to the quality control and regulated turnover of proteins in eukaryotic cells. Dissection of this proteolytic pathway in archaea, however, has been hampered by the lack of substrates that are easily detected in whole cells. In the present study, we developed a convenient reporter system by functional expression of a green fluorescent protein variant with C-terminal fusions in the haloarchaeon Haloferax volcanii. The levels of this reporter protein correlated with whole-cell fluorescence that was readily detected in culture. Accumulation of the reporter protein was dependent on the sequence of the C-terminal amino acid fusion, as well as the presence of an irreversible, proteasome-specific inhibitor (clasto-lactacystin β-lactone). This inhibitor was highly specific for H. volcanii 20S proteasomes, with a Ki of ∼40 nM. In contrast, phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride did not influence the levels of fluorescent reporter protein or inhibit 20S proteasomes. Together, these findings provide a powerful tool for the elucidation of protein substrate recognition motifs and the identification of new genes which may be involved in the proteasome pathway of archaea.

Proteasomes from Structure to Function: Perspectives from Archaea

Insight into the world of proteolysis has expanded considerably over the past decade. Energy-dependent proteases, such as the proteasome, are no longer viewed as nonspecific degradative enzymes associated solely with protein catabolism but are intimately involved in controlling biological processes that span life to death. The proteasome maintains this exquisite control by catalyzing the precisely timed and rapid turnover of key regulatory proteins. Proteasomes also interplay with chaperones to ensure protein quality and to readjust the composition of the proteome following stress. Archaea encode proteasomes that are highly related to those of eukaryotes in basic structure and function. Investigations of archaeal proteasomes coupled with those of eukaryotes has greatly facilitated our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern regulated protein degradation by this elaborate nanocompartmentalized machine.

Proteasomes: perspectives from the Archaea.

The development of whole systems approaches to microbiology (e.g. genomics and proteomics) has facilitated a global view of archaeal physiology. Surprisingly, as archaea respond to environmental signals, the majority of protein concentration changes that occur are not reflected at the mRNA level. This incongruity highlights the importance of post-transcription control mechanisms in these organisms. One of the central players in proteolysis is the proteasome, a multicatalytic energy-dependent protease. Proteasomes serve both proteolytic and non-proteolytic roles in protein quality control and in the regulation of cell function. The proteolytic active sites of these enzymes are housed within a central chamber of an elaborate nanocompartment termed the 20S proteasome or core particle. Axial gates, positioned at each end of this particle, restrict the type of substrate that can access the proteolytic active sites. Assortments of regulatory AAA complexes are predicted to recognize/bind and unfold substrate proteins, open the axial gates, and translocate substrate into the 20S core particle.

Phosphorylation and Methylation of Proteasomal Proteins of the Haloarcheon Haloferax volcanii

Proteasomes are composed of 20S core particles (CPs) of α- and β-type subunits that associate with regulatory particle AAA ATPases such as the proteasome-activating nucleotidase (PAN) complexes of archaea. In this study, the roles and additional sites of post-translational modification of proteasomes were investigated using the archaeon Haloferax volcanii as a model. Indicative of phosphorylation, phosphatase-sensitive isoforms of α1 and α2 were detected by 2-DE immunoblot. To map these and other potential sites of post-translational modification, proteasomes were purified and analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Using this approach, several phosphosites were mapped including α1 Thr147, α2 Thr13/Ser14 and PAN-A Ser340. Multiple methylation sites were also mapped to α1, thus, revealing a new type of proteasomal modification. Probing the biological role of α1 and PAN-A phosphorylation by site-directed mutagenesis revealed dominant negative phenotypes for cell viability and/or pigmentation for α1 variants including Thr147Ala, Thr158Ala and Ser58Ala. An H. volcanii Rio1p Ser/Thr kinase homolog was purified and shown to catalyze autophosphorylation and phosphotransfer to α1. The α1 variants in Thr and Ser residues that displayed dominant negative phenotypes were significantly reduced in their ability to accept phosphoryl groups from Rio1p, thus, providing an important link between cell physiology and proteasomal phosphorylation.

Recombinant production of Zymomonas mobilis pyruvate decarboxylase in the haloarchaeon Haloferax volcanii

The unusual physiological properties of archaea (e.g., growth in extreme salt concentration, temperature and pH) make them ideal platforms for metabolic engineering. Towards the ultimate goal of modifying an archaeon to produce bioethanol or other useful products, the pyruvate decarboxylase gene of Zymomonas mobilis (Zm pdc) was expressed in Haloferax volcanii. This gene has been used successfully to channel pyruvate to ethanol in various Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli. Although the ionic strength of the H. volcanii cytosol differs over 15-fold from that of E. coli, gel filtration and circular dichroism revealed no difference in secondary structure between the ZmPDC protein isolated from either of these hosts. Like the E. coli purified enzyme, ZmPDC from H. volcanii catalyzed the nonoxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate. A decrease in the amount of soluble ZmPDC protein was detected as H. volcanii transitioned from log phase to late stationary phase that was inversely proportional to the amount of pdc-specific mRNA. Based on these results, proteins from non-halophilic organisms can be actively synthesized in haloarchaea; however, post-transcriptional mechanisms present in stationary phase appear to limit the amount of recombinant protein expressed.

Archaeal proteasomes: potential in metabolic engineering.

Archaea are a valuable source of enzymes for industrial and scientific applications because of their ability to survive extreme conditions including high salt and temperature. Thanks to advances in molecular biology and genetics, archaea are also attractive hosts for metabolic engineering. Understanding how energy-dependent proteases and chaperones function to maintain protein quality control is key to high-level synthesis of recombinant products. In archaea, proteasomes are central players in energy-dependent proteolysis and form elaborate nanocompartments that degrade proteins into oligopeptides by processive hydrolysis. The catalytic core responsible for this proteolytic activity is the 20S proteasome, a barrel-shaped particle with a central channel and axial gates on each end that limit substrate access to a central proteolytic chamber. AAA proteins (ATPases associated with various cellular activities) are likely to play several roles in mediating energy-dependent proteolysis by the proteasome. These include ATP binding/hydrolysis, substrate binding/unfolding, opening of the axial gates, and translocation of substrate into the proteolytic chamber.

Hydrophobic carboxy-terminal residues dramatically reduce protein levels in the haloarchaeon Haloferax volcanii.

Proteolysis is important not only to cell physiology but also to the successful development of biocatalysts. While a wide-variety of signals are known to trigger protein degradation in bacteria and eukaryotes, these mechanisms are poorly understood in archaea, known for their ability to withstand harsh conditions. Here we present a systematic study in which single C-terminal amino acid residues were added to a reporter protein and shown to influence its levels in an archaeal cell. All 20 amino acid residues were examined for their impact on protein levels, using the reporter protein soluble modified red-shifted GFP (smRS-GFP) expressed in the haloarchaeon Haloferax volcanii as a model system. Addition of hydrophobic residues, including Leu, Cys, Met, Phe, Ala, Tyr, Ile and Val, gave the most pronounced reduction in smRS-GFP levels compared with the addition of either neutral or charged hydrophilic residues. In contrast to the altered protein levels, the C-terminal alterations had no influence on smRS-GFP-specific transcript levels, thus revealing that the effect is post-transcriptional.

Proteasomes and Other Nanocompartmentalized Proteases of Archaea

A growing number of proteases and peptidases have been identified that form large nanocompartmentalizedstructures in the cytosol, membrane, and extramembrane of cells. In archaea, these include the intracellularenergy-dependent proteasomes and the membrane-associated Lon protease as well as the intracellular energy-independenttetrahedral aminopeptidase (TET), tricorn peptidase (TRI), and PfpI-like proteases. Homologs of HtrA proteinsare also distributed in some archaea and may form nanocompartments that switch function from chaperone toprotease with increasing temperature. The location of these latter homologs remains to be determined.