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Simonetta Bartolucci

Publications and source records attributed to Simonetta Bartolucci.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Characterization of a multifunctional protein disulfide oxidoreductase from Sulfolobus solfataricus.

A potential role in disulfide bond formation in the intracellular proteins of thermophilic organisms has recently been ascribed to a new family of protein disulfide oxidoreductases (PDOs). We report on the characterization of SsPDO, isolated from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus. SsPDO was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. We revealed that SsPDO is the substrate of a thioredoxin reductase in S. solfataricus (K(M) 0.3 microm) and not thioredoxins (TrxA1 and TrxA2). SsPDO/S. solfataricus thioredoxin reductase constitute a new thioredoxin system in aerobic thermophilic archaea. While redox (reductase, oxidative and isomerase) activities of SsPDO point to its central role in the biochemistry of cytoplasmic disulfide bonds, chaperone activities also on an endogenous substrate suggest a potential role in the stabilization of intracellular proteins. Northern and western analysis have been performed in order to analyze the response to the oxidative stress.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Characterization of the Sulfolobus host-SSV2 virus interaction.

The Sulfolobus spindle virus, SSV2, encodes a tyrosine integrase which furthers provirus formation in host chromosomes. Consistently with the prediction made during sequence analysis, integration was found to occur in the downstream half of the tRNA(Gly) (CCC) gene. In this paper we report the findings of a comparative study of SSV2 physiology in the natural host, Sulfolobus islandicus REY15/4, versus the foreign host, Sulfolobus solfataricus, and provide evidence of differently regulated SSV2 life cycles in the two hosts. In fact, whereas a significant induction of SSV2 replication takes place during the growth of the natural host REY15/4, the cellular content of SSV2 DNA remains fairly low throughout the incubation of the foreign host. The accumulation of episomal DNA in the former case cannot be traced to decreased packaging activity because of a simultaneous increase in the virus titre in the medium. In addition, the interaction between SSV2 and its natural host is characterized by the concurrence of host growth inhibition and the induction of viral DNA replication. When this virus-host interaction was investigated using S. islandicus REY15A, a strain which is closely related to the natural host, it was found that the SSV2 replication process was induced in the same way as in the natural host REY15/4.

Archaeal Viruses↗
PubMed2006

A novel member of the protein disulfide oxidoreductase family from Aeropyrum pernix K1: structure, function and electrostatics.

The formation of disulfide bonds between cysteine residues is a rate-limiting step in protein folding. To control this oxidative process, different organisms have developed different systems. In bacteria, disulfide bond formation is assisted by the Dsb protein family; in eukarya, disulfide bond formation and rearrangement are catalyzed by PDI. In thermophilic organisms, a potential key role in disulfide bond formation has recently been ascribed to a new cytosolic Protein Disulphide Oxidoreductase family whose members have a molecular mass of about 26 kDa and are characterized by two thioredoxin folds comprising a CXXC active site motif each. Here we report on the functional and structural characterization of ApPDO, a new member of this family, which was isolated from the archaeon Aeropyrum pernix K1. Functional studies have revealed that ApPDO can catalyze the reduction, oxidation and isomerization of disulfide bridges. Structural studies have shown that this protein has two CXXC active sites with fairly similar geometrical parameters typical of a stable conformation. Finally, a theoretical calculation of the cysteine pK(a) values has suggested that the two active sites have similar functional properties and each of them can impart activity to the enzyme. Our results are evidence of functional similarity between the members of the Protein Disulphide Oxidoreductase family and the eukaryotic enzyme PDI. However, as the different three-dimensional features of these two biological systems strongly suggest significantly different mechanisms of action, further experimental studies will be needed to make clear how different three-dimensional structures can result in systems with similar functional behavior.

Aeropyrum↗
PubMed2006

pIT3, a cryptic plasmid isolated from the hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus IT3.

The plasmid pIT3 (4,967 bp) was isolated from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus, strain IT3. The completely sequenced plasmid contains six open reading frames (ORFs), the largest (ORF915) spanning more than half of the plasmid and encoding a putative protein with significant similarity to the helicase domain of viral and plasmid primase proteins, as well as to the newly described archaeal primase-polymerase domain. A small ORF, (ORF80), located upstream of this putative polymerase, encodes a putative copy number control protein. Specific transcripts corresponding to the ORF80 and ORF915, were detected by Northern blot analyses, and their transcriptional start sites were determined by primer extension. Moreover, the transfer and the maintenance of the plasmid in other Sulfolobus strains were demonstrated to be effective and stable.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Identification and characterization of 1-Cys peroxiredoxin from Sulfolobus solfataricus and its involvement in the response to oxidative stress.

Bcp2 was identified as a putative peroxiredoxin (Prx) in the genome database of the aerobic hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus. Its role in oxidative stress was investigated by transcriptional analysis of RNA isolated from cultures that had been stressed with various oxidant agents. Its specific involvement was confirmed by a considerable increase in the bcp2 transcript following induction with H2O2. The 5' end of the transcript was mapped by primer extension analysis and the promoter region was characterized. bcp2 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, the recombinant enzyme was purified and the predicted molecular mass was confirmed. Using dithiothreitol as an electron donor, this enzyme acts as a catalyst in H2O2 reduction and protects plasmid DNA from nicking by the metal-catalysed oxidation system. Western blot analysis revealed that the Bpc2 expression was induced as a cellular adaptation in response to the addition of exogenous stressors. The results obtained indicate that Bcp2 plays an important role in the peroxide-scavaging system in S. solfataricus. Mutagenesis studies have shown that the only cysteine, Cys49, present in the Bcp2 sequence, is involved in the catalysis. Lastly, the presence of this Cys in the sequence confirms that Bcp2 is the first archaeal 1-Cysteine peroxiredoxin (1-Cys Prx) so far identified.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Insights on a new PDI-like family: structural and functional analysis of a protein disulfide oxidoreductase from the bacterium Aquifex aeolicus.

A potential role in disulfide bond formation in the intracellular proteins of thermophilic organisms has recently been attributed to a new family of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI)-like proteins. Members of this family are characterized by a molecular mass of about 26kDa and by two Trx folds, each comprising a CXXC active site motif. We report on the functional and structural characterization of a new member of this family, which was isolated from the thermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus (AaPDO). Functional studies have revealed the high catalytic efficiency of this enzyme in reducing, oxidizing and isomerizing disulfide bridges. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments have suggested that its two active sites have similar functional properties, i.e. that each of them imparts partial activity to the enzyme. This similarity was confirmed by the analysis of the enzyme crystal structure, which points to similar geometrical parameters and solvent accessibilities for the two active sites. The results demonstrated that AaPDO is the most PDI-like of all prokaryotic proteins so far known. Thus, further experimental studies on this enzyme are likely to provide important information on the eukaryotic homologue.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of a protein disulfide oxidoreductase from Aeropyrum pernix K1.

A protein disulfide oxidoreductase from the archaeon Aeropyrum pernix K1 has been overexpressed in Escherichia coli and crystallized at 298 K using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. Crystals belong to the space group I222 or I2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 90.59, b = 102.43, c = 128.96 A. A complete data set has been collected at the Elettra synchrotron source in Trieste to 1.93 A resolution using a single frozen crystal.

Aeropyrum↗
PubMed2004

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of a protein disulfide oxidoreductase from Aquifex aeolicus.

A protein disulfide oxidoreductase from the thermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus has been overexpressed in Escherichia coli and crystallized at 298 K using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. Crystals belong to space group R32, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 161.1, c = 153.1 A. A complete data set has been collected to 2.4 A using synchrotron radiation. Packing-density considerations agree with the presence of 2-4 monomers in the asymmetric unit, with a corresponding solvent content of 66-32%.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2004

Sensing and adapting to environmental stress: the archaeal tactic.

Archaea occupy a considerable diversity of niches encompassing extreme environments with extreme of pH, salinity and temperature that cannot be tolerated by other forms of life. Survival and colonisation requires the capacity to sense, and adapt to environmental change. In this review we consider the issues of adaptation to environmental stresses, in particular the mechanisms that might be employed by different Archaea to respond to the specific challenges of their particular niche. We lay emphasis on the strategies adopted to respond to oxidative and chemical stress. In particular, this paper reviews major key points in the generation of reactive oxygen species in Archaea, defense mechanisms and genetic responses to oxidative stress. Finally, we discuss complex biological response mechanisms to chemical damage with particular attention to detoxification from metals and drugs.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2004

Identification and autonomous replication capability of a chromosomal replication origin from the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus.

Here, we describe the identification of a chromosomal DNA replication origin (oriC) from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus (subdomain of Crenarchaeota). By means of a cumulative GC-skew analysis of the Sulfolobus genome sequence, a candidate oriC was mapped within a 1.12-kb region located between the two divergently transcribed MCM- and cdc6-like genes. We demonstrated that plasmids containing the Sulfolobus oriC sequence and a hygromycin-resistance selectable marker were maintained in an episomal state in transformed S. solfataricus cells under selective pressure. The proposed location of the origin was confirmed by 2-D gel electrophoresis experiments. This is the first report on the functional cloning of a chromosomal oriC from an archaeon and represents an important step toward the reconstitution of an archaeal in vitro DNA replication system.

Archaea↗
PubMed2004

Solution structure and backbone dynamics of the K18G/R82E Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius thioredoxin mutant: a molecular analysis of its reduced thermal stability.

No general strategy for thermostability has been yet established, because the extra stability of thermophiles appears to be the sum of different cumulative stabilizing interactions. In addition, the increase of conformational rigidity observed in many thermophilic proteins, which in some cases disappears when mesophilic and thermophilic proteins are compared at their respective physiological temperatures, suggests that evolutionary adaptation tends to maintain corresponding states with respect to conformational flexibility. In this study, we accomplished a structural analysis of the K18G/R82E Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius thioredoxin (BacTrx) mutant, which has reduced heat resistance with respect to the thermostable wild-type. Furthermore, we have also achieved a detailed study, carried out at 25, 45, and 65 degrees C, of the backbone dynamics of both the BacTrx and its K18G/R82E mutant. Our findings clearly indicate that the insertion of the two mutations causes a loss of energetically favorable long-range interactions and renders the secondary structure elements of the double mutants more similar to those of the mesophilic Escherichia coli thioredoxin. Moreover, protein dynamics analysis shows that at room temperature the BacTrx, as well as the double mutant, are globally as rigid as the mesophilic thioredoxins; differently, at 65 degrees C, which is in the optimal growth temperature range of A. acidocaldarius, the wild-type retains its rigidity while the double mutant is characterized by a large increase of the amplitude of the internal motions. Finally, our research interestingly shows that fast motions on the pico- to nanosecond time scale are not detrimental to protein stability and provide an entropic stabilization of the native state. This study further confirms that protein thermostability is reached through diverse stabilizing interactions, which have the key role to maintain the structural folding stable and functional at the working temperature.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed2004

Identification of a GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase gene from Sulfolobus solfataricus.

An open reading frame (ORF) encoding a putative GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase (SsoGMPP) was identified on the genome sequence of Sulfolobus solfataricus P2, the predicted gene product showing high amino acid sequence homology to several archaeal, bacterial, and eukaryal GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylases such as guanidine diphosphomannose pyrophosphorylases (GMPPs) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Arabidopsis thaliana. The sequence was PCR amplified from genomic DNA of S. solfataricus P2 and heterologous gene expression obtained as a fusion to glutathione S-transferase in Escherichia coli, under conditions suitable to reduce the formation of inclusion bodies. Specific assays performed at 60 degrees C revealed the presence of the archaeal synthesizing GDP-mannose enzyme activity in the cell extracts of the transformed E. coli. As a positive control, the same assays were performed at the mesophilic enzyme optimum temperature on the already characterized yeast recombinant GMPP. The recombinant protein was purified to homogeneity by glutathione sepharose affinity chromatography and its thermophilic nature could be verified. The enzyme was definitively identified by demonstrating its capability to catalyze also the reverse reaction of pyrophosphorolysis and, most interestingly, its high specificity for synthesizing GDP-mannose.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Functional properties of the protein disulfide oxidoreductase from the archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus: a member of a novel protein family related to protein disulfide-isomerase.

Protein disulfide oxidoreductases are ubiquitous redox enzymes that catalyse dithiol-disulfide exchange reactions with a CXXC sequence motif at their active site. A disulfide oxidoreductase, a highly thermostable protein, was isolated from Pyrococcus furiosus (PfPDO), which is characterized by two redox sites (CXXC) and an unusual molecular mass. Its 3D structure at high resolution suggests that it may be related to the multidomain protein disulfide-isomerase (PDI), which is currently known only in eukaryotes. This work focuses on the functional characterization of PfPDO as well as its relation to the eukaryotic PDIs. Assays of oxidative, reductive, and isomerase activities of PfPDO were performed, which revealed that the archaeal protein not only has oxidative and reductive activity, but also isomerase activity. On the basis of structural data, two single mutants (C35S and C146S) and a double mutant (C35S/C146S) of PfPDO were constructed and analyzed to elucidate the specific roles of the two redox sites. The results indicate that the CPYC site in the C-terminal half of the protein is fundamental to reductive/oxidative activity, whereas isomerase activity requires both active sites. In comparison with PDI, the ATPase activity was tested for PfPDO, which was found to be cation-dependent with a basic pH optimum and an optimum temperature of 90 degrees C. These results and an investigation on genomic sequence databases indicate that PfPDO may be an ancestor of the eukaryotic PDI and belongs to a novel protein disulfide oxidoreductase family.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed2003

Structural and thermal stability analysis of Escherichia coli and Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius thioredoxin revealed a molten globule-like state in thermal denaturation pathway of the proteins: an infrared spectroscopic study.

The structure of thioredoxin from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius (previously named Bacillus acidocaldarius ) (BacTrx) and from Escherichia coli ( E. coli Trx) was studied by Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy. Two mutants of BacTrx [Lys(18)-->Gly (K18G) and Arg(82)-->Glu (R82E)] were also analysed. The data revealed similar secondary structures in all proteins, but BacTrx and its mutants showed a more compact structure than E. coli Trx. In BacTrx and its mutants, the compactness was p(2)H-dependent. All proteins revealed the existence of a molten globule-like state. At p(2)H 5.8, the temperature at which this state was detected was higher in BacTrx and decreased in the different proteins in the following order: BacTrx>R82E>K18G> E. coli Trx. At neutral or basic p(2)H, the molten globule-like state was detected at the same temperature in both BacTrx and R82E, whereas it was found at the same temperature in all p(2)Hs tested for E. coli Trx. The thermal stability of the proteins was in the following order at all p(2)Hs tested: BacTrx>R82E>K18G> E. coli Trx, and was lower for each protein at p(2)H 8.4 than at neutral or acidic p(2)Hs. The formation of protein aggregates, brought about by thermal denaturation, were observed for BacTrx and K18G at all p(2)Hs tested, whereas they were present in R82E and E. coli Trx samples only at p(2)H 5.8. The results indicated that a single mutation might affect the structural properties of a protein, including its propensity to aggregate at high temperatures. The data also indicated a possible application of Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy for assessing molten globule-like states in small proteins.

Enzyme Stability↗
PubMed2003

High-level expression of Aliciclobacillus acidocaldarius thioredoxin in Pichia pastoris and Bacillus subtilis.

Thioredoxins are ubiquitous proteins which catalyze the reduction of disulfide bridges on target proteins and are involved in many cellular reactions. In a previous work, a thioredoxin from the thermophilic organism Aliciclobacillus acidocaldarius (Alitrx) was purified, characterized, and its gene expressed in Escherichia coli. In order to produce larger quantities of Alitrx, the protein has been expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris and in the gram positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis. The growth conditions of strains showing high-level expression of Alitrx were optimized for both systems in shake-flask cultures. Active proteins were secreted in the culture media at a level of approximately 0.9 and 0.5 g/l, respectively, for P. pastoris and B. subtilis. The proteins were purified almost to homogeneity by a thermal precipitation procedure, with a 90-fold and 50-fold higher total yield with respect to that obtained with the same protein expressed in E. coli. The results indicate that either of these two systems could be utilized as a host for large-scale production of recombinant Alitrx.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed2003

Transcriptional regulation of the gene encoding an alcohol dehydrogenase in the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus involves multiple factors and control elements.

A transcriptionally active region has been identified in the 5' flanking region of the alcohol dehydrogenase gene of the crenarchaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus through the evaluation of the activity of putative transcriptional regulators and the role of the region upstream of the gene under specific metabolic circumstances. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with crude extracts revealed protein complexes that most likely contain TATA box-associated factors. When the TATA element was deleted from the region, binding sites for both DNA binding proteins, such as the small chromatin structure-modeling Sso7d and Sso10b (Alba), and transcription factors, such as the repressor Lrs14, were revealed. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the substrate-induced expression of the adh gene, the promoter was analyzed for the presence of cis-acting elements recognized by specific transcription factors upon exposure of the cell to benzaldehyde. Progressive dissection of the identified promoter region restricted the analysis to a minimal responsive element (PAL) located immediately upstream of the transcription factor B-responsive element-TATA element, resembling typical bacterial regulatory sequences. A benzaldehyde-activated transcription factor (Bald) that specifically binds to the PAL cis-acting element was also identified. This protein was purified from heparin-fractionated extracts of benzaldehyde-induced cells and was shown to have a molecular mass of approximately 16 kDa. The correlation between S. solfataricus adh gene activation and benzaldehyde-inducible occupation of a specific DNA sequence in its promoter suggests that a molecular signaling mechanism is responsible for the switch of the aromatic aldehyde metabolism as a response to environmental changes.

5' Flanking Region↗
PubMed2003

Characterization and functional complementation of a nonlethal deletion in the chromosome of a beta-glycosidase mutant of Sulfolobus solfataricus.

LacS(-) mutants of Sulfolobus solfataricus defective in beta-glycosidase activity were isolated in order to explore genomic instability and exploit novel strategies for transformation and complementation. One of the mutants showed a stable phenotype with no reversion; analysis of its chromosome revealed the total absence of the beta-glycosidase gene (lacS). Fine mapping performed in comparison to the genomic sequence of S. solfataricus P2 indicated an extended deletion of approximately 13 kb. The sequence analysis also revealed that this chromosomal rearrangement was a nonconservative transposition event driven by the mobile insertion sequence element ISC1058. In order to complement the LacS(-) phenotype, an expression vector was constructed by inserting the lacS coding sequence with its 5' and 3' flanking regions into the pEXSs plasmid. Since no transformant could be recovered by selection on lactose as the sole nutrient, another plasmid construct containing a larger genomic fragment was tested for complementation; this region also comprised the lacTr (lactose transporter) gene encoding a putative membrane protein homologous to the major facilitator superfamily. Cells transformed with both genes were able to form colonies on lactose plates and to be stained with the beta-glycosidase chromogenic substrate X-Gal (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside).

Base Sequence↗