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PubMed2003

Insertion sequence-like elements associated with putative polyhydroxybutyrate regulatory genes in Azotobacter sp. FA8.

The genes phaR, phaP, and phaF, encoding putative regulatory proteins, were found in the poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) gene cluster of the free nitrogen-fixing bacteria Azotobacter sp. FA8. These genes were flanked by the insertion sequence ISAzsp1, belonging to the IS3 family, and a region highly homologous to insertion sequences of the IS630 family. These are the first site-specific recombination elements to be described in association with genes involved in the metabolism of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). A possible role for ISs in the assembly of pha genes is presented.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

PubMed1997

Hydrodynamic properties of nitrogenase--the MoFe protein from Azotobacter vinelandii studied by dynamic light scattering and hydrodynamic modelling.

Experimental results for the nitrogenase MoFe protein from Azotobacter vinelandii obtained by dynamic light scattering (DLS) are presented. The translational diffusion coefficient was determined to D = (4.0 +/- 0.2) x 10(-7) cm2/s. Complementary, we have performed hydrodynamic model calculations based on the X-ray crystallographic data of the MoFe protein. The calculated transport coefficient suggests that the size and shape of the protein in solution is consistent with that in the crystal structure.

Azotobacter vinelandii↗

PubMed1997

Azotobacter vinelandii glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase properties of NAD- and NADP-linked reactions.

Glucose 6-phosphate oxidation, catalyzed by purified Azotobacter vinelandii glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, was studied with respect to the selective utilization of NAD, NADP, thionicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or thionicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate as coenzyme. A sigmoidal relationship was observed for the effect of substrate concentration on initial velocities when either NAD, NADP or thionicotinamide adenine dinucleotide was used as coenzyme, with N values from the Hill equation equalling 2.0, 1.7, and 1.7, respectively. The thionicotinamide analogs of NAD and NADP both functioned as coenzyme-competitive inhibitors of the enzyme-catalyzed NAD- and NADP-linked reactions. A dual wavelength assay, using a combination of NADP and thio-NAD, was established and was used to demonstrate that increasing glucose 6-phosphate concentration did not change the enzyme preference for the coenzyme form used. Sigmoidal relationships were observed for reduction of both dinucleotides, and N values were the same as those observed when each dinucleotide was studied as the only coenzyme form present in reaction mixtures. Using the dual wavelength assay, inhibition by isocitrate, 6-phosphogluconate, ATP, and palmitoyl-CoA was shown to be equally effective in both NAD- and NADP-linked reactions. An enzyme activator, glucosamine 6-phosphate, altered the glucose 6-phosphate sigmoidicity through activation at low substrate concentrations.

Azotobacter vinelandii↗

PubMed1999

Thermodynamics of nucleotide interactions with the Azotobacter vinelandii nitrogenase iron protein.

The nitrogenase iron (Fe) protein binds two molecules of MgATP or MgADP, which results in protein conformational changes that are important for subsequent steps of the nitrogenase reaction mechanism. In the present work, isothermal titration calorimetry has been used to deconvolute the apparent binding constants (K'a1 and K'a2) and the thermodynamic terms (delta H' degree and delta S' degree) for each of the two binding events of MgATP or MgADP to either the reduced or oxidized states of the Fe protein from Azotobacter vinelandii. The Fe protein was found to bind two nucleotides with positive cooperativity and the oxidation state of the [4Fe-4S] cluster of the Fe protein was found to influence the affinity for binding nucleotides, with the oxidized ([4Fe-4S]2+) state having up to a 15-fold higher affinity for nucleotides when compared to the reduced ([4Fe-4S]1+) state. The first nucleotide binding reaction was found to be driven by a large favorable entropy change (delta S' degree = 10-21 cal mol-1 K-1), with a less favorable or unfavorable enthalpy change (delta H' degree = +1.5 to -3.3 kcal mol-1). In contrast, the second nucleotide binding reaction was found to be driven by a favorable change in enthalpy (delta H' degree = -3.1 to -13.0 kcal mol-1), with generally less favorable entropy changes. A plot of the associated enthalpy (-delta H' degree) and entropy terms (-T delta S' degree) for each nucleotide and protein binding reaction revealed a linear relationship with a slope of 1.12, consistent with strong enthalpy-entropy compensation. These results indicate that the binding of the first nucleotide to the nitrogenase Fe protein results in structural changes accompanied by the reorganization of bound water molecules, whereas the second nucleotide binding reaction appears to result in much smaller structural changes and is probably largely driven by bonding interactions. Evidence is presented that the total free energy change (delta G' degree) derived from the binding of two nucleotides to the Fe protein accounts for the total change in the midpoint potential of the [4Fe-4S] cluster.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

PubMed2002

Effects of culture conditions on the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates by Azotobacter chroococcum H23 in media containing a high concentration of alpechín (wastewater from olive oil mills) as primary carbon source.

Large amounts of homopolymers containing beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and copolymers containing beta-hydroxyvalerate (P[HB-co-HV]) are produced by Azotobacter chroococcum strain H23 when growing in culture media amended with alpechín (wastewater from olive oil mills) as the sole carbon source. Copolymer was formed when valerate (pentanoate) was added as a precursor to the alpechín medium, but it was not formed with the addition of propionate as a precursor. A. chroococcum formed homo- and copolymers of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) up to 80% of the cell dry weight, when grown on NH(4)(+)-medium supplemented with 60% (v/v) alpechín, after 48 h of incubation at 100 rev min(-1) and 30 degrees C. Production of PHAs by strain H23 using alpechín looks promising, as the use of a cheap substrate for the production of these materials is essential if bioplastics are to become competitive products.

Acetates↗

PubMed2003

Reproducing shake flasks performance in stirred fermentors: production of alginates by Azotobacter vinelandii.

Keeping equal the initial power drawn (0.27 W l(-1)) in shake flasks and in a stirred fermentor did not reproduce the behaviour of alginate production by Azotobacter vinelandii. A lower mean molecular weight (1.1x10(6) Da) of the polymer was obtained in the bioreactor as compared to that obtained in shake flasks (1.9x10(6) Da). The reasons for this can reside in the fact that the evolution of the power drawn in the shake flasks could be considerably different to that observed in the stirred bioreactor. A drastic drop in the specific power drawn is expected in the shake flasks as a consequence of the increased viscosity, which caused the liquid not following the movement of the shaker. This was supported by the fact that cultures developed in the fermentor at lower initial power drawn (as low as 0.027-0.056 W l(-1)) or in a culture in which the power drawn was deliberately reduced along cultivation, produced alginates with similar molecular characteristics as that obtained in shake flasks.

Alginates↗

PubMed1978

The hydrogen cycle in nitrogen-fixing Azotobacter chroococcum.

H2 will support nitrogenase activity (C2H2 reduction) in Azotobacter chroococcum with or without added carbon substrate. Results show that H2 is metabolised to transfer electrons to nitrogenase and to the respiratory chain to produce ATP. H2-supported nitrogenase activity is most significant at low carbon substrate concentrations, but also occurs at saturating concentration. Continuous cultures of N2-fixing A. chroococcum evolved H2 from nitrogenase under O2-N2- and C-limited conditions. This H2 represented a significant proportion of nitrogenase activity. Hydrogenase activity was consistently high under C-limited conditions, but low or undetectable under O2- and N2-limitations. Pre-treatment with 40 per cent C2H2 inhibited hydrogenase activity in C-limited cultures, and H2 evolution increased under air and under Ar:O2 (4:1) mixtures. We deduce that hydrogenase : I, recycles H2 produced by nitrogenase to provide electrons and energy for N2 reduction: II, supports respiratory protection for nitrogenase under C-limited conditions, and III, does not act to prevent any inhibition of N2 reduction by H2 produced by nitrogenase. A scheme for the H2 cycle in N2-fixing A. chroococcum is proposed.

Azotobacter↗

PubMed1986

Purification to homogeneity of Azotobacter vinelandii hydrogenase: a nickel and iron containing alpha beta dimer.

Azotobacter vinelandii hydrogenase has been purified to homogeneity from membranes. The enzyme was solubilized with Triton X-100 followed by ammonium sulfate-hexane extractions to remove lipids and detergent. The enzyme was then purified by carboxymethyl-Sepharose and octyl-Sepharose column chromatography. All purification steps were performed under anaerobic conditions in the presence of dithionite and dithiothreitol. The enzyme was purified 143-fold from membranes to a specific activity of 124 mumol of H2 uptake . min-1 . mg protein-1. Nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the hydrogenase revealed a single band which stained for both activity and protein. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed two bands corresponding to peptides of 67,000 and 31,000 daltons. Densitometric scans of the SDS-gel indicated a molar ratio of the two bands of 1.07 +/- 0.05. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was determined by three different methods. While gel permeation gave a molecular weight of 53,000, sucrose density gradient centrifugation and native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gave molecular weights of 98,600 +/- 10,000 and 98,600 +/- 2,000, respectively. We conclude that the A. vinelandii hydrogenase is an alpha beta dimer (98,000 daltons) with subunits of 67,000 and 31,000 daltons. Analyses for nickel and iron indicated 0.68 +/- 0.01 mol Ni/mol hydrogenase and 6.6 +/- 0.5 mol Fe/mol hydrogenase. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was 6.1 +/- 0.01. In addition, several catalytic properties of the enzyme have been examined. The Km for H2 was 0.86 microM, and H2 evolution was observed in the presence of reduced methyl viologen. The pH profile of enzyme activity with methylene blue as the electron acceptor has been determined, along with the Km and Vmax for various electron acceptors.

Azotobacter↗

PubMed1999

Studies on the heme and H2-uptake reaction from Azotobacter vinelandii bacterial ferritin.

Bacterial ferritin of Azotobacter vinelandii (AvBF) is directly able to pick electrons up for iron release from or transfer them for storage to a platinum electrode in the absence of mediator or other reducer. The ferritin containing the structure of heme-Co2+ in part shows weakened activity to electrode and decreases the rate of iron release greatly. A reversible reduction process of the ferritin is observed by the spectral change regularly ranging from 310 to 260 nm under mixed gases containing 98% H2 and 2% to O2. The activity of nitrogen fixation from the whole cell of A. vinelandii increases greatly by H2 reduction with potentials ranging from -397 to -425 mV vs. NHE, indicating two important roles of H2-uptake reaction of the ferritin in increasing activity of nitrogen fixation and in supplying iron to synthesize nitrogenase.

Azotobacter vinelandii↗

PubMed2002

Time-resolved 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy for detailed analyses of the Azotobacter vinelandii mannuronan C-5 epimerase reaction.

AlgE2, AlgE4, and AlgE6 are members of a family of mannuronan C-5 epimerases encoded by Azotobacter vinelandii, and are active in the biosynthesis of alginate, where they catalyze the post-polymerization conversion of beta-D-mannuronic acid residues into alpha-L-guluronic acid residues. To study the kinetics and mode of action of these enzymes, homopolymeric mannuronan and other alginate samples with various composition were epimerized by letting the enzymatic reaction take place in an NMR tube. Series of 1H NMR spectra were recorded to obtain a time-resolved picture of the epimerization progress and the formation of specific monomer sequences. Starting from mannuronan, guluronic acid contents of up to 82% were introduced by the enzymes, and the product specificity, substrate selectivity, and reaction rates have been investigated. To obtain direct information of the GulA-block formation, similar experiments were performed using a 13C-1-enriched mannuronan as substrate. The NMR results were found to be in good agreement with data obtained by a radioisotope assay based on 3H-5-labeled substrates.

Alginates↗

PubMed1979

Nitrogen-fixing capacity of Azotobacter as affected by the type and depth of substrate.

Sixty isolates, representing the different types of azotobacters in Egyptian soils, were studied for their N2-fixing capacity. When A. chroococcum and A. vinelandii were grown in shallow layers of N-deficient liquid medium, nitrogen gains ranged from 48 to 92 and from 20 to 120 ppm with efficiencies of N2-fixation from 15.8 to 50.0 and from 16.6 to 21.2 mg N fixed/g C oxidized, respectively. Culturing in deep layers generally lowered the nitrogen gains and the oxidation of carbon, but at different rates, resulting in the increase of the efficiency of N2-fixation by 2--78%, indicating that the depth of the liquid medium has a definite effect on the outcome of N2-fixation. In another experiment, A. vinelandii was grown in increasing depths of liquid or solid substrates and consequently at variable ratios of surface area: depth. In liquid medium, maximum counts, sugar consumption, and nitrogen gains were detected in the widest surface area: depth ratio, but the efficiency of N2-fixation increased with the narrowing of the ratio. In sand cultures an opposite trend was observed.

Aerobiosis↗

PubMed2003

Heterologous gene expression in Lactococcus lactis; expression of the Azotobacter vinelandii algE6 gene product displaying mannuronan C-5 epimerase activity.

The Azotobacter vinelandii mannuronan C-5 epimerases AlgE1-7 can be used to improve the properties of the commercially important polysaccharide alginate that is widely used in a variety of products, such as food and pharmaceuticals. Since lactic acid bacteria are generally regarded as safe, they are attractive candidates for production of the epimerases. A. vinelandii genes are GC-rich, in contrast to those of lactic acid bacteria, but we show here that significant expression levels of the epimerase AlgE6 can be obtained in Lactococcus lactis using the nisin-controlled expression system. A 1200-fold induction ratio was obtained resulting in an epimerase activity of 23900 dpm mg(-1) h(-1), using a tritiated alginate substrate. The epimerase was detected by Western blotting and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis of its reaction product showed that the enzyme displayed catalytic properties similar to those produced in Escherichia coli.

Alginates↗

PubMed2003

The csbX gene of Azotobacter vinelandii encodes an MFS efflux pump required for catecholate siderophore export.

The csbX gene of Azotobacter vinelandii was regulated in an iron-repressible manner from a divergent promoter upstream of the catecholate siderophore biosynthesis (csb) operon and was predicted to encode an efflux pump of the major facilitator superfamily. Other proteins that were most similar to CsbX were encoded by genes found in the catecholate siderophore biosynthesis operons of Aeromonas hydrophila and Stigmatella aurantiaca. Inactivation of csbX resulted in 57-100% decrease in the amount of catecholates released when compared to the wild-type in iron-limited medium. CsbX was most important for the export of the high affinity chelator protochelin with the majority of the catecholates released by csbX mutants being the protochelin intermediates azotochelin and aminochelin.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

PubMed2001

Analysis of the pobA and pobR genes controlling expression of p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase in Azotobacter chroococcum.

We report the cloning and analysis of a gene and its cognate regulatory element from a member of the Azotobacteriaceae which are involved in the breakdown of an aromatic compound. The genes from Azotobacter chroococcum encoding p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (pobA) and its regulatory protein (pobR) were cloned from a genomic library and sequenced. Sequence analysis of pobA revealed homology with other bacterial p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase enzymes. Residues essential to the structure and function of the enzyme have been conserved. The pobR gene encodes a DNA binding regulatory protein with similarity to proteins from the AraC/XylS family of transcriptional activators. A fragment containing both pobA and pobR was cloned into pUC19 and p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase activity was induced in Escherichia coli by the addition of p-hydroxybenzoate. A frame-shift mutation introduced into the pobR gene prevented expression of p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase, indicating that PobR is the protein required for transcription of pobA. Interestingly, A. chroococcum PobR has no homology to the PobR protein that is the transcriptional activator of pobA in Acinetobacter strain ADP1, a protein that is homologous to the IclR family of transcriptional regulators. However, PobR from A. chroococcum is homologous to several other proteins, suggesting that these proteins will also function as transcriptional activators of pobA.

4-Hydroxybenzoate-3-Monooxygenase↗

PubMed1997

Cloning and expression of the gene for a protein disulfide oxidoreductase from Azotobacter vinelandii: complementation of an Escherichia coli dsbA mutant strain.

The gene for a disulfide oxidoreductase was cloned and sequenced from Azotobacter vinelandii and termed the dsbA locus. The deduced amino acid sequence contains 214 residues with a potential 17-residue signaling sequence on the N-terminal end. This gives the mature protein a calculated molecular mass of 21 799 Da. The A. vinelandii DsbA protein contains the well-conserved motif of C-P-H-C, which is found in the catalytic site of other bacterial DsbA enzymes. The A. vinelandii dsbA gene was expressed in Escherichia coli and was found to be able to complement an E. coli dsbA mutant strain by restoring flagellar and alkaline phosphatase activities. A. vinelandii dsbA mutant strains were impossible to characterize because of the extreme deleterious effect of the mutation. Therefore, the in vivo role of A. vinelandii DsbA is unknown, but it may function to form disulfide bonds and/or be involved in cytochrome biogenesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Transcriptional organization of the Azotobacter vinelandii algGXLVIFA genes: characterization of algF mutants.

Azotobacter vinelandii forms desiccation-resistant cysts which contain a high proportion of the exopolysaccharide alginate in their envelope. We have previously shown that the A. vinelandii alginate biosynthetic genes algA and algL are transcribed from a promoter located somewhere upstream of algL. In this study we sequenced the A. vinelandii algX, algL, algV, algI and algF genes located between algG and algA. We carried out primer extension analysis of the algG, algX and algL genes and detected transcription start sites upstream algG but not upstream algX or algL, implying that algG and algX form part of the previously identified algL-A operon. A promoter upstream algA was also detected; however, transcription of algA exclusively from this promoter is not sufficient for the AlgA levels required for alginate production. An algF mutant (AJ34) was constructed by insertion of the Omega-tetracycline cassette in the non-polar orientation. As expected, AJ34 produced unacetylated alginate. Viability of 35day old cysts formed by strain AJ34, but not of those formed by the wild type, was reduced, indicating that acetylation of alginate plays a role in cyst resistance to desiccation.

Alginates↗

PubMed1998

Ligand size is a major determinant of specificity in periplasmic oxyanion-binding proteins: the 1.2 A resolution crystal structure of Azotobacter vinelandii ModA.

BACKGROUND: . Periplasmic receptors constitute a diverse class of binding proteins that differ widely in size, sequence and ligand specificity. Nevertheless, almost all of them display a common beta/alpha folding motif and have similar tertiary structures consisting of two globular domains. The ligand is bound at the bottom of a deep cleft, which lies at the interface between these two domains. The oxyanion-binding proteins are notable in that they can discriminate between very similar ligands. RESULTS: . Azotobacter vinelandii is unusual in that it possesses two periplasmic molybdate-binding proteins. The crystal structure of one of these with bound ligand has been determined at 1.2 A resolution. It superficially resembles the structure of sulphate-binding protein (SBP) from Salmonella typhimurium and uses a similar constellation of hydrogen-bonding interactions to bind its ligand. However, the detailed interactions are distinct from those of SBP and the more closely related molybdate-binding protein of Escherichia coli. CONCLUSIONS: . Despite differences in the residues involved in binding, the volumes of the binding pockets in the A. vinelandii and E. coli molybdate-binding proteins are similar and are significantly larger than that of SBP. We conclude that the discrimination between molybdate and sulphate shown by these binding proteins is largely dependent upon small differences in the sizes of these two oxyanions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Azotobacter vinelandii citrate synthase.

We have purified the citrate synthase from Azotobacter vinelandii and have determined that the size of the subunit is 48,000 Da and the structure of the holoenzyme is a hexamer. This contrasts with earlier estimates that indicate a 58,000 Da subunit and a tetrameric structure. In addition, the enzyme is allosteric with a Hill coefficient of 1.5 and is inhibited by NADH. The Hill coefficient is changed to about 1 by high ionic strength and AMP. The enzyme is thus similar to the citrate synthases of many other Gram-negative, facultative, anaerobic organisms. In addition, the amino acid sequence of about 100 residues has been determined and found to be highly similar to the sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa citrate synthase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗