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Comparison of denitrification by Pseudomonas stutzeri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Paracoccus denitrificans.

A comparison was made of denitrification by Pseudomonas stutzeri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Paracoccus denitrificans. Although all three organisms reduced nitrate to dinitrogen gas, they did so at different rates and accumulated different kinds and amounts of intermediates. Their rates of anaerobic growth on nitrate varied about 1.5-fold; concomitant gas production varied more than 8-fold. Cell yields from nitrate varied threefold. Rates of gas production by resting cells incubated with nitrate, nitrite, or nitrous oxide varied 2-, 6-, and 15-fold, respectively, among the three species. The composition of the gas produced also varied markedly: Pseudomonas stutzeri produced only dinitrogen; Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Paracoccus denitrificans produced nitrous oxide as well; and under certain conditions Pseudomonas aeruginosa produced even more nitrous oxide than dinitrogen. Pseudomonas stutzeri and Paracoccus denitrificans rapidly reduced nitrate, nitrite, and nitrous oxide and were able to grow anaerobically when any of these nitrogen oxides were present in the medium. Pseudomonas aeruginosa reduced these oxides slowly and was unable to grow anaerobically at the expense of nitrous oxide. Furthermore, nitric and nitrous oxide reduction by Pseudomonas aeruginosa were exceptionally sensitive to inhibition by nitrite. Thus, although it has been well studied physiologically and genetically, Pseudomonas aeruginosa may not be the best species for studying the later steps of the denitrification pathway.

Kinetics↗

Molecular genetics of the genus Paracoccus: metabolically versatile bacteria with bioenergetic flexibility.

Paracoccus denitrificans and its near relative Paracoccus versutus (formerly known as Thiobacilllus versutus) have been attracting increasing attention because the aerobic respiratory system of P. denitrificans has long been regarded as a model for that of the mitochondrion, with which there are many components (e.g., cytochrome aa3 oxidase) in common. Members of the genus exhibit a great range of metabolic flexibility, particularly with respect to processes involving respiration. Prominent examples of flexibility are the use in denitrification of nitrate, nitrite, nitrous oxide, and nitric oxide as alternative electron acceptors to oxygen and the ability to use C1 compounds (e.g., methanol and methylamine) as electron donors to the respiratory chains. The proteins required for these respiratory processes are not constitutive, and the underlying complex regulatory systems that regulate their expression are beginning to be unraveled. There has been uncertainty about whether transcription in a member of the alpha-3 Proteobacteria such as P. denitrificans involves a conventional sigma70-type RNA polymerase, especially since canonical -35 and -10 DNA binding sites have not been readily identified. In this review, we argue that many genes, in particular those encoding constitutive proteins, may be under the control of a sigma70 RNA polymerase very closely related to that of Rhodobacter capsulatus. While the main focus is on the structure and regulation of genes coding for products involved in respiratory processes in Paracoccus, the current state of knowledge of the components of such respiratory pathways, and their biogenesis, is also reviewed.

Base Sequence↗

Cloning, sequencing, and expression of the genes encoding subunits of Paracoccus denitrificans electron transfer flavoprotein.

The genes encoding the two subunits of Paracoccus denitrificans electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF) were identified by screening a genomic library constructed in pBluescript II SK+ with probes generated by amplification of genomic sequences by the polymerase chain reaction. Primers for the polymerase chain reaction were designed based on peptide sequences from purified Paracoccus ETF subunits. The genes are arranged in tandem in the genomic DNA with the deoxyadenylic acid residue in the TGA termination codon of the small subunit providing the deoxyadenylic acid residue for the ATG initiating codon of the large subunit. The deduced amino acid sequences of the ETF subunits exhibits extensive sequence identity with the human ETF subunits. The Paracoccus ETF is expressed from the pBluescript vector in Escherichia coli, yielding 30 mg of purified, catalytically active protein per liter of culture.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genomic DNA cloning of the region encoding nitric oxide reductase in Paracoccus halodenitrificans and a structure model relevant to cytochrome oxidase.

The structural genes for the NO reductase in Paracoccus halodenitrificans, norC, norB, and norQ were sequenced. The norC and norB encode the cytochrome c (NorC) and cytochrome b (NorB) subunits, respectively. The matured NorC (17,258 Da, 148 residues) has a binding motif (CXYCH) for heme c, which is axially coordinated by His65 and Met115. NorB (52,337 Da, 451 residues) has twelve putative transmembrane helices and the 19% sequence homology with the subunit I of cytochrome oxidase from Paracoccus denitrificans. Several histidine and glutamate residues were identified as the ligands for two hemes b and a non-heme iron in comparison with the sequence of cytochrome oxidase. The higher-order model structures constructed from the amino acid sequences of NorC and NorB showed the topology of the helical segments and the locations of the metal centers.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Characterization and sequence analysis of the replicator region of the novel plasmid pALC1 from Paracoccus alcaliphilus.

The replicator region of a low-copy-number plasmid, pALC1, of Paracoccus alcaliphilus JCM 7364 was cloned in a form of the minireplicon pALC100 (3.6 kb). The host range of the minireplicon embraces several species of genus Paracoccus, as well as Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Rhizobium leguminosarum, and Rhodobacter sphaeroides (all belonging to alpha-Proteobacteria), but not Escherichia coli. The complete nucleotide sequence of the replicator region (2276 bp) revealed the presence of one complete open reading frame coding for the 28.4-kDa protein (RepA) with similarity to replication proteins of plasmid pSW500 of Erwinia stewartii and pVS1 of Pseudomonas fluorescens. The iteron-like region was identified upstream of the repA gene and consisted of two clusters of repeated sequences (17 bp long) separated by a putative DnaA box. Analysis of the predicted amino acid sequence of two adjacent incomplete ORFs suggests the localization of repA between genes involved in conjugation (traG) and partitioning (parA) within the pALC1 genome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Aerobic and anaerobic growth of Paracoccus denitrificans on methanol.

1. The dye-linked methanol dehydrogenase from Paracoccus denitrificans grown aerobically on methanol has been purified and its properties compared with similar enzymes from other bacteria. It was shown to be specific and to have high affinity for primary alcohols and formaldehyde as substrate, ammonia was the best activator and the enzyme could be linked to reduction of phenazine methosulphate. 2. Paracoccus denitrificans could be grown anaerobically on methanol, using nitrate or nitrite as electron acceptor. The methanol dehydrogenase synthesized under these conditions could not be differentiated from the aerobically-synthesized enzyme. 3. Activities of methanol dehydrogenase, formaldehyde dehydrogenase, formate dehydrogenase, nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase were measured under aerobic and anaerobic growth conditions. 4. Difference spectra of reduced and oxidized cytochromes in membrane and supernatant fractions of methanol-grown P. denitrificans were measured. 5. From the results of the spectral and enzymatic analyses it has been suggested that anaerobic growth on methanol/nitrate is made possible by reduction of nitrate to nitrite using electrons derived from the pyridine nucleotide-linked dehydrogenations of formaldehyde and formate, the nitrite so produced then functioning as electron acceptor for methanol dehydrogenase via cytochrome c and nitrite reductase.

Aerobiosis↗

Energy conservation during nitrate respiration in Paracoccus denitrificans.

P/2e ratios were calculated from anaerobic chemostat cultures of Paracoccus denitrificans with nitrogenous oxides as electron acceptor. P/2e ratios were calculated, using the YmaxATP values determined for aerobic cultures. When succinate was the carbon and energy source the average P/2e values of the sulphate- and succinate-limited cultures with nitrate as electron acceptor were 0.5 and 0.7, respectively, and of the nitrite-limited culture 0.9. With gluconate as carbon and energy source and average P/2e values of the gluconate-limited with nitrate as electron acceptor and nitrate limited cultures were 0.9 and 1.1, respectively. leads to H+/O ratios measured in cells obtained from sulphate-, succinate, nitrite-, gluconate- and nitrate-limited cultures yielded respective average values of 3.4, 4.5, 3.5, 4.8 and 6.2 for endogenous substrates. From our data we conclude that sulphate- and nitrite- limitation causes the loss of site I phosphorylation. Nitrite has no influence on the maximum growth yield on ATP. We propose that metabolism in heterotrophically grown cells of Paracoccus dentrificans is regulated on the level of phosphorylation in the site I region of the electron transport chain.

Anaerobiosis↗

Cytochrome c oxidase in Paracoccus denitrificans. Protein, chemical, structural, and evolutionary aspects.

Preparations and protein chemical characterizations performed with cytochrome c oxidase (E.C. 1.9.3.1) from the purple bacterium Paracoccus denitrificans are reviewed. The simplest catalytically competent complex of the enzyme consists of two subunits of 62012 and 2799 Da. The theoretical heme a/protein ratio of the purified enzyme is 22.0 nmol/mg. The amino acid sequences of both proteins are compared with examples of subunits I and II of mitochondrial terminal oxidases from the main kingdoms of eukaryotes. The significance of the emerging conserved features such as membrane penetration patterns, invariant residues, stoichiometry, and sites of prosthetic groups are discussed. The Paracoccus enzyme represents the only prokaryotic oxidase detailed so far, which is directly related to the mitochondrial oxidases by common ancestry in the growing O2 atmosphere.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genetic organization of the basic replicon of plasmid pMTH4 of a facultatively methylotrophic bacterium Paracoccus methylutens DM12.

Two functional regions within the basic replicon of plasmid pMTH4 of Paracoccus methylutens DM12 have been distinguished that are responsible for the replication of the plasmid (REP) and its stabilization (STA). In the REP region, a gene encoding the putative replication initiation protein RepA has been identified, with the highest similarity to the replication protein of plasmid pALC1 (Paracoccus alcaliphilus). The potential origin of replication (oriV), consisting of five long repeated sequences (iterons) as well as putative DnaA and IHF boxes, has been localized in the promoter region of the gene repA. The STA region was found to ensure stability for heterogeneous plasmid pABW3 that is unstable itself in paracocci. The mini-STA region (850 bp) contains two short open reading frames, one of which shows similarity to the RelB protein of Escherichia coli. Our investigations suggest that the stabilizing system of pMTH4 is based on the toxin and antidote principle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification and characterization of NADH dehydrogenase complex from Paracoccus denitrificans.

An NADH dehydrogenase complex was isolated from the plasma membranes of aerobically grown Paracoccus denitrificans cells by extraction with NaBr and purification on an NAD-agarose column. The NADH-ubiquinone-1 reductase activity of the isolated NADH dehydrogenase complex was about 10 times higher than that of the NaBr extract. The preparation was composed of 10 (6 major and 4 minor) unlike polypeptides, and lacked identifiable components and activities characteristic of other enzyme complexes of the oxidative phosphorylation system. The purified enzyme contained noncovalently bound FMN, nonheme iron, and acid-labile sulfide. The ratio of FMN to nonheme iron to acid-labile sulfide was 1:13 approximately 14:11 approximately 12, suggestive of the presence of multiple iron-sulfur clusters. The isolated NADH dehydrogenase complex cross-reacted with antisera to beef heart mitochondrial complex I and protein fraction derived therefrom, indicating the presence in the Paracoccus enzyme of antigenic sites similar to those in the intact complex I and its iron-sulfur protein and possibly hydrophobic protein fractions.

Flavin Mononucleotide↗

Sulphur metabolism in Paracoccus denitrificans. Purification, properties and regulation of serine transacetylase, O-acetylserine sulphydrylase and beta-cystathionase.

1. Serine transacetylase, O-acetylserine sulphydrylase and beta-cystathionase were purified from Paracoccus denitrificans strain 8944. 2. Serin transacetylase was purified 150-fold. The enzyme has a pH optimum between 7.5 and 8.0, is specific for L-serine and is inhibited by sulphydryl-group reagents. The apparent Km values for serine and acetyl-CoA are 4.0 - 10(-4) and 1.0 - 10(-4) M, respectively. Serine transacetylase is strongly inhibited by cysteine. 3. O-Acetylserine sulphydrylase was purified 450-fold. The enzymes has a sharp pH optimum at pH 7.5. In addition to catalysing the synthesis of cysteine, O-acetylserine sulphydrylase catalyses the synthesis of selenocysteine from O-acetylserine and selenide. The Km values for sulphide and O-acetylserine are 2.7 - 10(-3) and 1.25 - 10(-3) M, respectively. The enzyme was stimulated by pyridoxal phosphate and was inhibited by cystathionine, homocysteine and methionine. 4. beta-Cystathionase was purified approx. 50-fold. beta-Cystathionase has a pH optimum between pH 9.0 and 9.5, is sensitive to sulphydryl-group reagents, required pyridoxal phosphate for maximum activity and has an apparent Km for cystathionine of 4.2 - 10 (-3) M. beta-Cystathionase also catalyses the release of keto acid from lanthionine, djenkolic acid and cystine. Cysteine, O-acetylserine, homocysteine and glutathione strongly inhibit beta-cystathionase activity and homocysteine and methionine represses enzyme activity. 5. O-Acetylserine lyase was identified in crude extracts of Paracoccus denitrificans. The enzyme is specific for O-acetyl-L-serine, requires pyridoxal phosphate and is inhibied by KCN and hydroxylamine. The enzyme has a high Km value for O-acetylserine (50--100 mM).

Acetyl Coenzyme A↗

Sequence homology of bacterial and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidases. Partial sequence data of cytochrome c oxidase from Paracoccus denitrificans.

The aerobic electron transport chain of Paracoccus denitrificans is very similar to that of mitochondria. It has therefore been suggested that this bacterium might be evolutionarily related to mitochondria. The two subunits (Mr 45.000 and 28.000) of the Paracoccus cytochrome c oxidase were isolated and partially sequenced. The sequences were found to be surprisingly homologous to sequences of the subunits I and II of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidases. The data provide a molecular basis for the symbiotic origin of mitochondria and strongly support the notion that in eucaryotic oxidases subunits I and/or II carry the redox centers, heme and copper.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A gene in Paracoccus for subunit III of cytochrome oxidase.

The region of Paracoccus denitrificans chromosome where the genes coding for cytochrome oxidase (cytochrome aa3) subunits are located has been cloned. DNA sequencing revealed an open reading frame that codes for a protein homologous to the subunit III of the eukaryotic, mitochondrial enzyme. This subunit is absent from the isolated Paracoccus oxidase. It now seems that it is part of the native enzyme in the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane. This may explain the observed discrepancies in the function of the isolated enzyme.

Base Sequence↗

Cytochrome o (bo) is a proton pump in Paracoccus denitrificans and Escherichia coli.

Spheroplasts from aerobically grown wild-type Paracoccus denitrificans cells respire with succinate despite specific inhibition of the cytochrome bc1 complex by myxothiazol. Coupled to this activity, which involves only b-type cytochromes, there is translocation of 1.5-1.9 h+/e- across the cytoplasmic membrane. Similar H+ translocation ratios are observed during oxidation of ubiquinol in spheroplasts from aerobically grown mutants of Paracoccus lacking cytochrome c oxidase, or deficient in cytochrome c, as well as in a strain of E. coli from which cytochrome d was deleted. These observations show that the cytochrome o complex is a proton pump much like cytochrome aa3 to which it is structurally related.

Cytochrome b Group↗

Radiorespirometry evidence for the discrimination between 13C-enriched glucose and unlabelled glucose molecules by Paracoccus denitrificans.

Paracoccus denitrificans was grown on either unlabelled glucose, [1-13C]glucose or [6-13C]glucose as the sole carbon source for growth. The cells were then incubated with a range of 14C-glucose substrates to compare the 14CO2-evolution rates between cells grown on the glucose and the 13C-labelled glucose. Cells grown on 13C-glucose had significantly faster rates of 14CO2-evolution than those grown on unlabelled glucose. The % yields of 14CO2, per [1-14C]-, [6-14C]- and [U-14C]glucose supplied were also substantially greater than those measured for cells grown on unlabelled glucose. The data indicated that growth of Paracoccus on 13C-enriched glucose substrates resulted in cells with notably different 14C-glucose oxidation metabolism compared to that observed in cells grown on unlabelled glucose.

Amino Acids↗

Comparison of energy-transducing capabilities of the two- and three-subunit cytochromes aa3 from Paracoccus denitrificans and the 13-subunit beef heart enzyme.

In the accompanying paper, we have shown that the two-subunit cytochrome aa3 isolated from Paracoccus denitrificans displays the same kind of complex and interactive redox behavior as the 13-subunit cytochrome aa3 from beef heart. Therefore, the redox characteristics are not dependent on the additional 11 subunits. In the current work, we have examined the energy-transducing capabilities of both the two- and three-subunit enzymes obtained from Paracoccus denitrificans in relation to that of the 13-unit mammalian enzyme. We have found that in all of the tested functions, which included the development of delta psi and delta pH, and the pumping of protons, that the two-subunit enzyme is at least as efficient as the structurally more complex mammalian enzyme. There is thus a correlation between the complex redox behavior and energy transducing capabilities of the two enzymes. There was also no difference in energy-transducing capabilities between the two- and three-subunit forms of the bacterial enzyme. It seems that only 2 subunits are required for an efficient energy-transducing cytochrome aa3. The most likely role of the additional subunits in the mammalian enzyme, therefore, seems to be in regulation.

Animals↗

The structure of porin from Paracoccus denitrificans at 3.1 A resolution.

The crystal structure of a non-specific porin from Paracoccus denitrificans at 3.1 A resolution has been solved by molecular replacement using the porin from Rhodopseudomonas blastica as the search model. Paracoccus porin is very similar to other non-specific porins of known structure: a trimer of 16 stranded beta-barrels each with a central pore constricted by a long extracellular loop folding back against the barrel wall. The distinctive distribution of charged residues of this non-specific porin contributes to understanding the relation between structure and ion selectivity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of plastocyanin and cytochrome f of the cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosum in Escherichia coli and Paracoccus denitrificans and the role of leader peptides.

The gene for plastocyanin from the cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosum was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli. Expression of the gene for cytochrome f resulted in the production of holocytochrome f in the periplasmic space of E. coli, but the yield was low. Expression in Paracoccus denitrificans yielded no holoprotein. When the region encoding the cytochrome f leader sequence was replaced with more typical bacterial leader sequences (those from the P. laminosum plastocyanin gene and the Paracoccus versutus cytochrome c-550 gene), much higher yields were consistently obtained in both species. Overexpressed proteins were compared to those isolated from P. laminosum and found to be identical in mass, isoelectric point, redox midpoint potential and (for plastocyanin) 1H-NMR spectrum.

Algal Proteins↗