Rüdiger Bode

A metabolomics and proteomics study of the adaptation of Staphylococcus aureus to glucose starvation

As a versatile pathogen Staphylococcus aureus can cause various disease patterns, which are influenced by strain specific virulence factor repertoires but also by S. aureus physiological adaptation capacity. Here, we present metabolomic descriptions of S. aureus central metabolic pathways and demonstrate the potential for combined metabolomics- and proteomics-based approaches for the basic research of this important pathogen. This study provides a time-resolved picture of more than 500 proteins and 94 metabolites during the transition from exponential growth to glucose starvation. Under glucose excess, cells exhibited higher levels of proteins involved in glycolysis and protein-synthesis, whereas entry into the stationary phase triggered an increase of enzymes of TCC and gluconeogenesis. These alterations in levels of metabolic enzymes were paralleled by more pronounced changes in the concentrations of associated metabolites, in particular, intermediates of the glycolysis and several amino acids.

Transcriptome and Proteome Analysis of Bacillus subtilis Gene Expression Modulated by Amino Acid Availability

A comprehensive study of Bacillus subtilis gene expression patterns in response to amino acid availability was performed by means of proteomics and transcriptomics. The methods of two-dimensional protein gel electrophoresis and DNA macroarray technology were combined to analyze cells exponentially grown in minimal medium with and without 0.2% Casamino Acids (CAA). This approach revealed about 120 genes predominantly involved in amino acid biosynthesis, sporulation, and competence, which were downregulated in CAA-containing medium. Determination of sporulation frequencies confirmed the physiological relevance of the expression data.

Atan1p—an extracellular tannase from the dimorphic yeast Arxula adeninivorans: molecular cloning of the ATAN1 gene and characterization of the recombinant enzyme

The tannase‐encoding Arxula adeninivorans gene ATAN1 was isolated from genomic DNA by PCR, using as primers oligonucleotide sequences derived from peptides obtained after tryptic digestion of the purified tannase protein. The gene harbours an ORF of 1764 bp, encoding a 587‐amino acid protein, preceded by an N‐terminal secretion sequence comprising 28 residues. The deduced amino acid sequence was similar to those of tannases from Aspergillus oryzae (50% identity), A. niger (48%) and putative tannases from A. fumigatus (52%) and A. nidulans (50%). The sequence contains the consensus pentapeptide motif (–Gly–X–Ser–X–Gly–) which forms part of the catalytic centre of serine hydrolases. Expression of ATAN1 is regulated by the carbon source. Supplementation with tannic acid or gallic acid leads to induction of ATAN1, and accumulation of the native tannase enzyme in the medium. The enzymes recovered from both wild‐type and recombinant strains were essentially indistinguishable. A molecular mass of ∼320 kDa was determined, indicating that the native, glycosylated tannase consists of four identical subunits. The enzyme has a temperature optimum at 35–40 °C and a pH optimum at ∼6.0. The enzyme is able to remove gallic acid from both condensed and hydrolysable tannins. The wild‐type strain LS3 secreted amounts of tannase equivalent to 100 U/l under inducing conditions, while the transformant strain, which overexpresses the ATAN1 gene from the strong, constitutively active A. adeninivorans TEF1 promoter, produced levels of up to 400 U/l when grown in glucose medium in shake flasks. Copyright

The Yeast Genus Trichosporon spec. LS3; Molecular characterization of genomic complexity

The genomic structure of an industrial yeast strain Trichosporon spec. LS3 was compared with Trichosporon adeninovorans type strain CBS 8244. The cot values, the portion of single copy sequences (CBS 8244: 10.9 x 10(9) D, LS3: 10.6 x 10(9) D) as well as of repetitive sequences (CBS 8244: 6.0 x 10(9) D, LS3: 5.5 x 10(9) D) per haploid genome and genome complexity of these strains (CBS 2844: 16.9 x 10(9) D, LS3: 16.1 x 10(9) D) have been analysed. Both strains show a high genome complexity. The mitochondrial DNA content was measured and compared. No plasmidal DNA was identified for both strains. A survey of the data of genomic DNA made it possible to postulate for each of both strains a haploid set of chromosomes. The intraspecific reassoziation values of the nuclear DNA from the strain LS3 and CBS 8244 are interpreted to confirm classification of these strains based on physiological and genetical properties into one species Trichosporon adeninovorans.

A set of genetic markers for the chromosomes of the imperfect yeast Arxula adeninivorans.

The nuclear genome of the anamorphic yeast Arxula adeninivorans was analysed by benomyl‐induced haploidization of parasexual hybrids marked with 32 auxotrophic mutations and pulsed field gel electrophoresis followed by DNA hybridization. Twenty‐seven genes have been arranged into four linkage groups by haploidization, 15 genes belong to group 1, six to group 2, and three each to groups 3 and 4. Five genes could be localized by DNA hybridization on three out of four separated chromosomes. The gene LYS2 of the largest linkage group 1 and the 25S rDNA were identified on the largest chromosome, the GAA and the TEF1 gene on chromosome 2, and the ILV1 gene of linkage group 4 on the smallest chromosome.

An extracellular lipase from the dimorphic yeast Arxula adeninivorans: molecular cloning of the ALIP1 gene and characterization of the purified recombinant enzyme

The lipase‐encoding Arxula adeninivorans ALIP1 gene was isolated using fragments of lipase isolates obtained by trypsin digestion for the definition of oligonucleotide primers in a PCR screening approach. The gene harbours an ORF of 1347 bp encoding a 420 amino acid protein of some 50 kDa preceded by an N‐terminal 28 prepro‐secretion sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence was found to be similar to the lipases from Candida albicans and C. parapsilosis (34–38% identity) and more distantly related to other lipases. The sequence contains the consensus pentapeptide motif (–Gly–X–Ser–X–Gly–) that forms a part of the interfacial lipid recognition site in lipases. The expression of the gene is regulated by carbon source. In media supplemented with Tween 20, induction of the ALIP1 gene and accumulation of the encoded lipase in the medium is observed, thus demonstrating gene regulation by lipophilic compounds. The enzyme characteristics are analysed from isolates of native strains as well as from those of recombinant strains expressing the ALIP1 gene under control of the strong A. adeninivorans‐derived TEF1 promoter. For both proteins a molecular mass of 100 kDa was determined, indicating a dimeric structure, a pH optimum at pH 7.5 and a temperature optimum at 30 °C. The enzyme hydrolyses all ester bonds in all triglyceride substrates tested. Middle‐sized chain fatty acids are more efficiently hydrolysed than short‐ and long‐chain fatty acids, with the highest activity on C8/C10 fatty acid esters pNP‐caprylate, pNP‐caprate and tricaprylin. Copyright

Characterization of the AINV gene and the encoded invertase from the dimorphic yeast Arxula adeninivorans

The invertase-encoding of AINV gene Arxula adeninivorans was isolated and characterized. The gene includes a coding sequence of 2700 bp encoding a putative 899 amino acid protein of 101.7 kDa. The identity of the gene was confirmed by a high degree of homology of the derived amino acid sequence to that of α-glucosidases from different sources. The gene activity is regulated by carbon source. In media supplemented with sucrose induction of the AINV gene and accumulation of the encoded invertase in the medium was observed. In addition the extracellular enzyme level is influenced by the morphological status of the organism, with mycelia secreting the enzyme in titres higher than those observed in budding yeasts. The enzyme characteristics were analysed from isolates of native strains as well as from those of recombinant strains expressing the AINV gene under control of the strong A. adeninivorans-derived TEF1 promoter. For both proteins a molecular mass of 600 kDa was determined, a pH optimum at pH 4.5 and a temperature optimum at 55 °C. The preferred substrates for the enzyme included the ß-D-fructofuranosides sucrose, inulin and raffinose. Only a weak enzyme activity was observed for the α-D-glucopyranosides maltotriose, maltose and isomaltose. Thus the invertase primarily is a ß-fructosidase and not an α-glucosidase as suggested by the homology to such enzymes.

Mode of action of glyphosate in Candida maltosa

The broad-spectrum herbicide glyphosate inhibits the growth of Candida maltosa and causes the accumulation of shikimic acid and shikimate-3-phosphate. Glyphosate is a potent inhibitor of three enzymes of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in this yeast. In relation to tyrosine-sensitive 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase and dehydroquinate synthase, the inhibitory effect appears at concentrations in the mM range, but 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase is inhibited by micromolar concentrations of glyphosate. Inhibition of partially purified EPSP synthase reaction by glyphosate is competitive with respect to phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) with a Ki-value of 12 μM. The app. Km for PEP is about 5-fold higher and was 62 μM. Furthermore, the presence of glyphosate leads to derepression of many amino acid biosynthetic enzymes.

Identification of a lys2 mutant of Candida maltosa by means of transformation

SummaryWe have isolated five mutants of Candida maltos, which lack the 2-aminoadipate reductase activity, an enzyme involved in the lysine biosynthesis. By means of complementation analysis using protoplast fusion, the isolated mutants were divided into two complementation groups. Thereof the C. maltosa strain G457 could be transformed by the plasmids pDP12 and pDP13, which contain the L YS2-coding gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. On the basis of our presented results obtained by studies on hybridization, stability, and recovery of plasmids from C. maltosa transformants, we suggest that transformation does proceed integratively.

AILV1 Gene from the Yeast Arxula adeninivorans LS3—a New Selective Transformation Marker

The ILV1 gene of the yeast Arxula adeninivorans LS3 (AILV1) has been cloned from a genomic library, characterized and used as an auxotrophic selection marker for transformation of plasmids into this yeast. One copy of the gene is present in the Arxula genome, comprising 1653 bp and encoding 550 amino acids of the threonine deaminase. The protein sequence is similar (60·55%) to that of the threonine deaminase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae encoded by the gene ILV1. The protein is enzymatically active during the whole period of cultivation, up to 70 h. Maximal activities, as well as protein concentrations of this enzyme, were achieved after cultivation times of 20–36 h.