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Mutants of Escherichia coli K12 unable to use fumarate as an anaerobic electron acceptor.

Mutants of Escherichia coli K12 strain WGAS-GF+/LF+ were selected for their inability to use fumarate as terminal electron acceptor for supporting growth on glycerol or lactate in an atmosphere of H2 plus 5% CO2. Eighty-three mutants were grouped into seven different categories according to their ability to grow on different media and their ability to produce gas during glucose fermentation. Enzymological and genetic studies indicated that the major class (type I), representing nearly 70% of the isolates, lacked fumarate reductase and corresponded to the frdA mutants studied previously (Spencer & Guest, 1973, 1974). Members of a second class (type II) were phenotypically similar to men mutants, blocked in menaquinone biosynthesis. They differed from menA mutants in having lesions in the 44 to 51 min region of the chromosome rather than at 87 min. It was concluded that fumarate reductase and menaquinone are essential for anaerobic growth when fumarate serves as electron acceptor but not when nitrate performs this function. Fumarate reductase and menaquinone are also essential for H2-dependent growth on fumarate. Type III mutants, originally frdB, were designated fnr because they were defective in fumarate and nitrate reduction and impaired in their ability to produce gas. The fnr gene was located at 28-5 min by its cotransducibility with pyrF (5-7 to 9-2%) and trpA (2-7 to 5-7%) and the gene order fnr-qmeA-pyrF-trpA was established. It was not possible to assign specific metabolic lesions to the fnr mutants nor to the remaining classes, which all exhibited pleiotropic phenotypes. Nevertheless, the results demonstrate that functional or organizational relationships exist between the fumarate reductase system, nitrate reduction and hydrogen production.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases

Hydrogenase activity and the H2-fumarate electron transport system in Bacteroides fragilis.

Hydrogenase activity and the H(2)-fumarate electron transport system in a carbohydrate-fermenting obligate anaerobe, Bacteroides fragilis, were investigated. In both whole cells and cell extracts, hydrogenase activity was demonstrated with methylene blue, benzyl viologen, flavin mononucleotide, or flavin adenine dinucleotide as the electron acceptor. A catalytic quantity of benzyl viologen or ferredoxin from Clostridium pasteurianum was required to reduce nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate with H(2). Much of the hydrogenase activity appeared to be associated with the soluble fraction of the cell. Fumarate reduction to succinate by H(2) was demonstrable in cell extracts only in the presence of a catalytic quantity of benzyl viologen, flavin mononucleotide, flavin adenine dinucleotide, or ferredoxin from C. pasteurianum. Sulfhydryl compounds were not required for fumarate reduction by H(2), but mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol appeared to stimulate this activity by 59 and 61%, respectively. Inhibition of fumarate reduction by acriflavin, rotenone, 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide, and antimycin A suggest the involvement of a flavoprotein, a quinone, and cytochrome b in the reduction of fumarate to succinate. The involvement of a quinone in fumarate reduction is also apparent from the inhibition of fumarate reduction by H(2) when cell extracts were irradiated with ultraviolet light. Based on the evidence obtained, a possible scheme for the flow of electrons from H(2) to fumarate in B. fragilis is proposed.

Acriflavine

[In vitro incubation of lenses. Model for testing substrate utilization of substances of the energy metabolism, demonstrated with bencyclane-hydrogen-fumarate (author's transl)].

When bovine lens homogenate was treated with bencyclane-hydrogen-fumarate, the carbohydrate metabolism was activated. This may chiefly be due to the fumarate part of the substance. A 24 H In vitro incubation of whole bovine lenses in TC-199 with and without bencyclane-hydrogen-fumarate did not show the above effect. On the model of former investigations by J.E. Harris et al. we modified the test procedure by selecting the medium and the time of incubation so that the endogenous carbohydrates of the lens were consumed, thus creating new metabolic balances. This metabolic condition allows investigations intended to activate metabolic processes and to restore the steady state of metabolic parameters. We investigated the effect of bencyclane-hydrogen-fumarate using the same method and found that given certain conditions the lens recovers when incubated for 2 h in TC-199 (containing 1 g glucose/1) with addition of a 10(-4) M solution of bencyclane-hydrogen-fumarate. The ATP-content of these lenses in particular gives proof of this result. As already observed in former investigations on homogenates, this effect is probably due to metabolization of the fumarate part of the bencyclane-hydrogen-fumarate by the citric acid cycle. The method used explains the differences observed when using lens homogenates or whole lenses under the same experimental conditions.

Adenine Nucleotides

Regulation of airway fumarate by host and pathogen promotes S. aureus pneumonia.

Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of healthcare-associated pneumonia, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality worldwide. As a ubiquitous colonizer of the upper respiratory tract, S. aureus must undergo substantial metabolic adaptation to achieve persistent infection in the distinctive microenvironment of the lung. We observed that fumC, which encodes the enzyme that converts fumarate to malate, is highly conserved with low mutation rates in S. aureus isolates from chronic lung infections. Fumarate, a pro-inflammatory metabolite produced by macrophages during infection, is regulated by the host fumarate hydratase (FH) to limit inflammation. Here, we demonstrate that fumarate, which accumulates in the chronically infected lung, is detrimental to S. aureus, blocking primary metabolic pathways such as glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). This creates a metabolic bottleneck that drives staphylococcal FH (FumC) activity for airway adaptation. FumC not only degrades fumarate but also directs its utilization into critical pathways including the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, gluconeogenesis and hexosamine synthesis to maintain metabolic fitness and form a protective biofilm. Itaconate, another abundant immunometabolite in the infected airway enhances FumC activity, in synergy with fumarate. In a mouse model of pneumonia, a ΔfumC mutant displays significant attenuation compared to its parent and complemented strains, particularly in fumarate- and itaconate-replete conditions. Our findings underscore the pivotal role of immunometabolites in promoting S. aureus pulmonary adaptation.

Journal Article

Fumarate reductase of Clostridium formicoaceticum. A peripheral membrane protein.

When Clostridium formicoaceticum was grown on fumarate or L-malate crude cell extracts contained a high fumarate reductase activity. Using reduced methyl viologen as electron donor the specific activity amounted to 2-3.5 U per mg of protein. Reduced benzyl viologen, FMNH2 and NADH could also serve as electron donors but the specific activities were much lower. The NADH-dependent activity was strictly membrane-bound and rather labile. Its specific activity did not exceed 0.08 U per mg of particle protein. Fumarate reductase activity was also found in cells of C. formicoaceticum grown on fructose, gluconate, glutamate and some other substrates. The methyl viologen-dependent fumarate reductase activity could almost completely be measured with intact cells whereas only about 25% of the cytoplasmic acetate kinase activity was detected with cell suspensions. The preparation of spheroplasts from cells of C. formicoaceticum in 20 mM HEPES-KOH buffer containing 0.6 M sucrose and 1 mM dithioerythritol resulted in the specific release of 88% of the fumarate reductase activity into the spheroplast medium. Only small amounts of the cytoplasmic proteins malic enzyme and acetate kinase were released during this procedure. There results indicate a peripheral location of the fumarate reductase of C. formicoaceticum on the membrane.

Acetate Kinase

Anaerobic transport of amino acids coupled to the glycerol-3-phosphate-fumarate oxidoreductase system in a cytochrome-deficient mutant of Escherichia coli.

The uptake of proline and glutamine by cytochrome-deficient cells of Escherichia coli SASX76 grown aerobically on glucose or anaerobically on pyruvate was stimulated by these two substrates. Pyruvate could not stimulate transport in the glucose-grown cells. Uptake of these amino acids energized by glucose was inhibited by inhibitors of the Ca2+, Mg2+-stimulated ATPase such as DCCD, pyrophosphate, and azide, and by the uncouplers CCCP and 2,4-dinitrophenol. Glycerol (or glycerol 3-phosphate) in the presence of fumarate stimulated the transport of proline and glutamine under anaerobic conditions in cytochrome-deficient cells but not in membrane vesicles prepared from these cells although glycerol 3-phosphate-fumarate oxidoreductase activity could be demonstrated in the vesicle preparation. In contrast, in vesicles prepared from cytochrome-containing cells of E. coli SASX76 amino acid transport was energized under anaerobic conditions by this system. Inhibitors of the Ca2+, Mg2+-activated ATPase and uncoupling agents inhibited the uptake of proline and glutamine in cytochrome-deficient cells dependent on the glycerol-fumarate oxidoreductase system. Ferricyanide could replace fumarate as an electron acceptor to permit transport of phenylalanine in cytochrome-deficient or cytochrome-containing cells under anaerobic conditions. It is concluded that in cytochrome-deficient cells using glucose, pyruvate, or glycerol in the presence of fumarate, transport of both proline and glutamine under under anaerobic conditions is energized by ATP through the Ca2+, Mg2+-activated ATPase. In cytochrome-containing cells under anaerobic conditions electron transfer between glycerol and fumarate can also drive transport of these amino acids.

Adenosine Triphosphatases

Electron transport phosphorylation coupled to fumarate reduction by H2- and Mg2+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase activity in extracts of the rumen anaerobe Vibrio succinogenes.

Vibrio succinogenes, an anaerobic bacterium, obtains its energy for growth from H2 or formate oxidation coupled to the reduction of fumarate to succinate. Membrane preparations have been obtained from this organism that catalyze the synthesis of ATP during H2 oxidation coupled to fumarate reduction. Esterification of orthophosphate is dependent on electron transfer, as evidenced by the requirement for both H2 and fumarate. Phosphorylation is also dependent on ADP and is destroyed by boiling the membrane preparations. H2 utilized for fumarate reduction and succinate formed are stoichiometric. The phosphorylation is markedly uncoupled by pentachlorophenol and gramicidin, but to a lesser extent by dinitrophenol and methyl viologen. 2-n-Heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide causes severe inhibition of H2 oxidation as well as phosphorylation, but oligomycin or antimycin A has no demonstrable effect. Among several electron acceptors tested, significant phosphorylation is observed only with fumarate. A Mg2+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase activity is present in both the membrane and soluble protein fractions. Highest activity is obtained with ATP as the substrate, and considerably less activity is obtained with other nucleoside triphosphates. The possibility that phosphorylation during "fumarate respiration" may play an important physiological role in the growth of many anaerobic and facultatively anaerobic bacteria is discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphatases

Double-blind, controlled study of clemastine fumarate, chlorpheniramine and placebo in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

A whole body plethysmograph (body box) equipped with a flow meter (see Figure 1) was used for objective quantification of the effects of single doses of clemastine fumarate 2.68 mg, chlorpheniramine 4 mg and placebo in a double-blind study of 48 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. This technique offers an objective means of assessing drug effects on nasal congestion and obstruction. Before the development of whole body plethysmography, only subjective assessments of antihistamines' effects on nasal blockage or congestion were available. These subjective reports usually noted that nasal blockage or congestion was refractory to antihistamines or minimally relieved by them. However, in this study, nasal and oral airway resistances, each measured by whole body plethysmography, were lowered by clemastine fumarate and chlorpheniramine. These results were corroborated by the patients' and physician's assessments of changes in symptom severity and the physician's evaluation of intranasal photographs taken for each patient. Oral airway resistance of patients treated with clemastine fumarate was improved to a significantly greater extent than in patients receiving placebo. At two hours post-drug, patients receiving clemastine fumarate usually showed a greater response in most assessments than those receiving chlorpheniramine, and the trend of most comparisons was clearly in favor of clemastine fumarate. Patients in all three treatment groups experienced drowsiness but both incidence and severity were lower with clemastine fumarate.

Airway Resistance

ATP formation associated with fumarate and nitrate reduction in growing cultures of Veillonella alcalescens.

Molar growth yields, fermentation balances and enzyme activities were measured in Veillonella alcalescens grown anaerobically with different substrates in the absence or presence of fumarate or nitrate. The molar growth yields on malate (14.3 g dry wt bacteria/mole substrate) and citrate (19.3) were higher than that on lactate (8.6). The molar growth yield on lactate was increased to 15.5 or 19.8 by the addition of fumarate or nitrate, respectively, to the growth medium, and the molar growth yield on citrate was increased to 25.3 by addition of nitrate. Active growth on pyruvate was only observed in the presence of nitrate, and the molar growth yield was 25.5. From fermentation balances and fermentation systems similar YATP values (g dry wt bacteria/mole ATP) were calculated for all substrates or mixtures of substrates assuming that one mole of ATP is generated at the electron transport from pyruvate, NADH and NADPH to nitrate or fumarate whereas ATP is not produced in the electron transport from lactate to fumarate or nitrate, and, therefore, this assumption was considered to reflect the actual situation. The mean YATP value at a doubling time of 1 h was 16.5 g dry wt bacteria/mole ATP for growth without an added hydrogen acceptor, 14.4 for growth with fumarate, and 14.2 for growth with nitrate.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Fumarate reduction in Proteus mirabilis.

1. Proteus mirabilis formed fumarate reductase under anaerobic growth conditions. The formation of this reductase was repressed under conditions of growth during which electron transport to oxygen or to nitrate is possible. In two of three tested chlorate-resistant mutant strains of the wild type, fumarate reductase appeared to be affected. 2. Cytoplasmic membrane suspensions isolated from anaerobically grown P. mirabilis oxidized formate and NADH with oxygen and with fumarate, too. 3. Spectral investigation of the cytoplasmic membrane preparation revealed the presence of (probably at least two types of) cytochrome b, cytochrome a1 and cytochrome d. Cytochrome b was reduced by NADH as well as by formate to approximately 80%. 4. 2-n-Heptyl-4-hydroxyquinilone-N-oxide and antimycin A inhibited oxidation of both formate and NADH by oxygen and fumarate. Both inhibitors increased the level of the formate/oxygen steady state and the formate/fumarate steady state. 5. The site of inhibition of the respiratory activity by both HQNO and antimycin A was located at the oxidation side of cytochrome b. 6. The effect of ultraviolet-irradiation of cytoplasmic membrane suspensions on oxidation/reduction phenomena suggested that the role of menaquinone is more exclusive in the formate/fumarate pathway than in the electron transport route to oxygen. 7. Finally, the conclusion has been drawn that the preferential route for electron transport from formate and from NADH to fumarate (and to oxygen) includes cytochrome b as a directly involved carrier. A hypothetical scheme for the electron transport in anaerobically grown P. mirabilis is presented.

Anaerobiosis

Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dependent reduction of fumarate coupled to membrane energization in a cytochrome deficient mutant of Escherichia coli K12.

Escherichia coli SASX76 does not form cytochromes unless supplemented with 5-aminolevulinic acid. It can grow anaerobically on glycerol and DL-glycerol 3-phosphate in the absence of 5-aminolevulinic acid with fumarate but not with nitrate as the terminal electron acceptor. Cytochrome-independent NADH oxidase, glycerol 3-phosphate- and NADH-fumarate oxidoreductase activities are induced by anaerobic growth on a glycerol-fumarate medium. The pathway of electrons from substrate to fumarate involves menaquinone. The NADH-fumarate oxidoreductase and cytochrome-independent NADH oxidase systems are inhibited by piericidin A, 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide, and iron chelating agents. Both systems can energize the membrane particles as indicated by quenching of atebrin fluorescence.

Aminolevulinic Acid

Production of a soluble form of fumarate reductase by multiple gene duplication in Escherichia coli K12.

1. Ampicillin-hyperresistant mutants of Escherichia coli K12 bearing multiple gene duplications in the ampC (beta-lactamase) gene region of the chromosome overproduced at least six proteins with molecular weights 97,000, 80,000, 72,000, 49,000, 33,000 and 26,500 during anaerobic growth. All but two of the proteins (80,000-Mr and 49,000-Mr) were also overproduced during aerobic growth. The distribution of the proteins in soluble and particulate cell fractions was investigated. 2. The 33,000-Mr and 72,000-Mr components were identified as beta-lactamase and the amp-linked frdA gene product, fumarate reductase, respectively. Co-sedimentation of the 26,500-Mr component with the fumarate reductase suggested that the smaller protein could be functionally related to the reductase. The lack of correspondence between the amplified proteins and the products of other amp-linked genes, aspA and mop(groE), indicated that these genes are not included in the repetitive sequence. 3. Fumarate reductase activities were amplified up to 32-fold by the multiple gene duplications. Two forms of fumarate reductase were produced: particulate (membrane-bound) and soluble (cytoplasmic). Production of the soluble form occurred when the binding capacity of the membrane was saturated. Both forms of fumarate reductase were enzymically active but the soluble form was readily inactivated under assay conditions.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient

Evidence for cytochrome involvement in fumarate reduction and adenosine 5'-triphosphate synthesis by Bacteroides fragilis grown in the presence of hemin.

Growth of Bacteroides fragilis subsp. fragilis on glucose was very much stimulated by the addition of hemin (2 mg/liter) to the medium. The generation time decreased from 8 to 2 h, and the molar growth yield increased from YM = 17.9 to YM = 47 g (dry weight) of cells per mol of glucose. In the absence of hemin, glucose was fermented to fumarate, lactate, and acetate. The cells did not contain detectable amounts of cytochromes or fumarate reductase. In the presence of hemin, the major products of fermentation were succinate, propionate, and acetate. A b-type cytochrome, possibly a c-type cytochrome, and a very active fumarate reductase were present in the cells. It is concluded from these results that hemin is required by B. fragilis to synthesize a functional fumarate reductase and that the hemin-dependent, enormous increase of the growth yield may be due to adenosine 5'-triphosphate production during reduction of fumarate to succinate.

Acetates

Fermentation of fumarate and L-malate by Clostridium formicoaceticum.

The fermentation of fumarate and L-malate by Clostridium formicoaceticum was investigated. Growing and nongrowing cells degraded fumarate by dismutation to succinate, acetate, and CO2; on the other hand, only small amounts of succinate were detected when the organism was grown on L-malate. This dicarboxylic acid was mainly converted to acetate and CO2. The fermentation balances were modified if bicarbonate or formate were present in the medium. When C. formicoaceticum was grown in the presence of both dicarboxylic acids, fumarate was consumed before L-malate. The latter was mainly converted to acetate, whereas fumarate was fermented to acetate and succinate. Molar growth yields were determined to be 6 g of dry weight per mol of fumarate and 8 g of dry weight per mol of L-malate fermented.

Acetates

Cell yields of Escherichia coli during anaerobic growth on fumarate and molecular hydrogen.

Escherichia coli was grown anaerobically on sodium fumarate and molecular hydrogen or sodium formate in continuous culture. The maximal growth yield and the maintenance coefficient were determined. In a mineral medium a Ymax(fum) value of 6.6 g dry weight per mol fumarate was found. This value increased to 7;5 when casamino acids were present in the medium. From these data and the corresponding Ymax(ATP) values it could be calculated that per mol of fumarate reduced, 0;4 mol of ATP became available for growth. In batch culture a Yfum value of 4.8 g dry weight per mol fumarate was determined.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Nitrate, fumarate, and oxygen as electron acceptors for a late step in microbial heme synthesis.

Nitrate can serve as anaerobic electron acceptor for the oxidation of protoporphyrinogen to protoporphyrin in cell-free extracts of Escherichia coli grown anaerobically in the presence of nitrate. Two kinds of experiments indicated this: anaerobic protoporphyrin formation from protoporphyrinogen, followed spectrophotometrically, was markedly stimulated by addition of nitrate; and anaerobic protoheme formation from protoporphyrinogen, determined by extraction procedures, was markedly stimulated by addition of nitrate. In contrast, anaerobic protoheme formation from protoporphyrin was not dependent upon addition of nitrate. This was the first demonstration of the ability of nitrate to serve as electron acceptor for this late step of heme synthesis. Previous studies with mammalian and yeast mitochondria had indicated an obligatory requirement for molecular oxygen at this step. In confirmation of our previous preliminary report, fumarate was also shown to be an electron acceptor for anaerobic protoporphyrinogen oxidation in extracts of E. coli grown anaerobically on fumarate. For the first time, anaerobic protoheme formation from protoporphyrinogen, but not from protoporphyrin, was shown to be dependent upon the addition of fumarate. The importance of these findings is 2-fold. First, they establish that enzymatic protoporphyrinogen oxidation can occur in the absence of molecular oxygen, in contrast to previous observations using mammalian and yeast mitochondria. Secondly, these findings help explain the ability of some facultative and anaerobic bacteria to form very large amounts of heme compounds, such as cytochrome pigments, when grown anaerobically in the presence of nitrate or fumarate. In fact, denitrifying bacteria are known to form more cytochromes when grown anaerobically than during aerobic growth. An unexpected finding was that extracts of another bacterium, Staphylococcus epidermidis, exhibited very little ability to oxidize protoporphyrinogen to protoporphyrin as compared to E. coli extracts. This finding suggests some fundamental differences in these two organisms in this key step in heme synthesis. It is known that these two facultative organisms also differ in that E. coli synthesizes cytochrome during both aerobic and anaerobic growth, while Staphylococcus only synthesizes cytochromes when grown aerobically.

Cell-Free System

Anaerobic growth of Escherichia coli K12 with fumarate as terminal electron acceptor. Genetic studies with menaquinone and fluoroacetate-resistant mutants.

Fifteen independent menaquinone biosynthesis mutants (men) of Escherichia coli K12, selected for their inability to use fumarate as terminal electron acceptor, were investigated. Two nutritionally distinct groups were detected. The major group (13 mutants) responded to 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoate (DHN), 2-succinylbenzoate (SB) and its dilactone, whereas the minor group (2 mutants) only responded to DHN. DHN was at least five times more effective than SB but it inhibited growth at concentrations greater than 10 microM. For anaerobic growth on glucose minimal medium the auxotrophs responded to much lower concentrations of DHN and SB and these intermediates could be replaced by uracil. Anaerobic growth tests showed that glycerol, formate and H2 are good substrates for E. coli when fumarate is the ultimate electron acceptor but growth with lactate or with fumarate alone is poor. All 15 men mutations were located between glpT and purF at approximately 49 min in the E. coli linkage map. Cotransduction frequencies with relevant markers were: nalA (21%), glpT (35%) and purF (15%). The presence of at least three genetically distinct classes (menC and menD, SB-requirers; menB, DHN-requirers) was indicated using abortive transduction as a complementation test and three-factor genetic analysis. The relative orientation nalA...menC-(D,B)...purF was indicated. Fluoroacetate-resistant mutants were isolated and four different classes were identified: ack, lacking acetate kinase; pta, lacking phosphotransacetylase; facA, lacking both of these activities; and facB, which retained both of these enzyme activities. Some of the pta mutants and all of the facA mutants failed to grow on media containing fumarate as terminal electron acceptor or anaerobically on glucose minimal medium. All four types had genetic lesions clustered between the men and purF sites. Average cotransduction frequencies with relevant markers were: nalA (4%), men (27 to 35%) and purF (71 to 80%).

Anaerobiosis

Anaerobic energy-yielding reaction associated with transhydrogenation from glycerol 3-phosphate to fumarate by an Escherichia coli system.

A particulate subcellular fraction from Escherichia coli K-12 induced in anaerobic sn-glycerol 3-phosphate (G3P) dehydrogenase and fumarate reductase can catalyze under anaerobic conditions the transfer of hydrogens from G3P to fumarate, with attendant generation of high-energy phosphate. The phsophorylation process is more sensitive than the transhydrogenation process to inhibition by the detergent Triton X-100. The same is true with respect to sensitivity to sodium azide, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Such a preparation derived from cells with beta-galactoside permease can accumulate thiomethyl beta-D-galactoside anaerobically, and the accumulation can be stimulated twofold by adding G3P and fumarate. Mutants lacking the membrane-associated Mg2+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase cannot grow anaerobically on glycerol with fumarate as the hydrogen acceptor, although they can grow aerobically on glycerol alone.

Adenosine Triphosphatases