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Physiological responses to starvation in the marine oligotrophic ultramicrobacterium Sphingomonas sp. strain RB2256.

Sphingomonas sp. strain RB2256 is representative of the ultramicrobacteria that proliferate in oligotrophic marine waters. While this class of bacteria is well adapted for growth with low concentrations of nutrients, their ability to respond to complete nutrient deprivation has not previously been investigated. In this study, we examined two-dimensional protein profiles for logarithmic and stationary-phase cells and found that protein spot intensity was regulated by up to 70-fold. A total of 72 and 177 spots showed increased or decreased intensity, respectively, by at least twofold during starvation. The large number of protein spots (1,500) relative to the small genome size (ca. 1.5 Mb) indicates that gene expression may involve co- and posttranslational modifications of proteins. Rates of protein and RNA synthesis were examined throughout the growth phase and up to 7 days of starvation and revealed that synthesis was highly regulated. Rates of protein synthesis and cellular protein content were compared to ribosome content, demonstrating that ribosome synthesis was not directly linked to protein synthesis and that the function of ribosomes may not be limited to translation. By comparing the genetic capacity and physiological responses to starvation of RB2256 to those of the copiotrophic marine bacterium Vibrio angustum S14 (J. Ostling, L. Holmquist, and S. Kjelleberg, J. Bacteriol. 178:4901-4908, 1996), the characteristics of a distinct starvation response were defined for Sphingomonas strain RB2256. The capacity of this ultramicrobacterium to respond to starvation is discussed in terms of the ecological relevance of complete nutrient deprivation in an oligotrophic marine environment. These studies provide the first evidence that marine oligotrophic ultramicrobacteria may be expected to include a starvation response and the capacity for a high degree of gene regulation.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Polysome stability in relaxed and stringent strain of Escherichia coli during amino acid starvation.

The influence of amino acid starvation on polysome content was examined in relaxed and stringent strains of Escherichia coli which were isogenic for the RC locus. No difference was observed between the polysome profiles obtained from two different sets of stringent and relaxed strains starved for the same amino acid. In both relaxed and stringent strains, starvation for amino acids other than methionine resulted in only a slight breakdown of polysomes with a concomitant increase of 70S ribosomes. However, starvation for methionine in both RC stringent and relaxed strains of E. coli resulted in a more extensive degradation of polysomes and accumulation of 70S ribosomes. The 70S ribosomes obtained as a result of methionine starvation were more sensitive to degradation to 50 and 30S subunits in 10(-3)m Mg(2+) than 70S monomers obtained either by degradation of polysomes with ribonuclease or by starvation of cells for amino acids other than methionine. The 70S ribosomes from methionine starvation were similar (sensitivity to 10(-3)m Mg(2+)) to 70S ribosomes obtained from cells in which initiation of protein synthesis had been prevented by trimethoprim, an inhibitor of formylation. Since N-formyl-methionyl-transfer ribonucleic acid is required for initiation, the 70S ribosomes obtained in both methionine-starved and trimethoprim-treated cells must result from association of 50 and 30S subunits for reasons other than reinitiation. These results suggest that the level of ribonucleic acid synthesis does not influence the distribution of ribosomes in the polysome profile and vice versa.

Amino Acids↗

Viability and endogenous substrates used during starvation survival of Rhodospirillum rubrum.

Cells of Rhodospirillum rubrum were grown photoorganotrophically and chemoorganotrophically and then starved for organic carbon and combined nitrogen under four conditions: anaerobically in the light and dark and aerobically in the light and dark. Illumination prolonged viability and suppressed the net degradation of cell material of phototrophically grown cells, but had no effect on chemotrophically grown cells that did not contain bacteriochlorophyll. The half-life survival times of carbohydrate-rich phototrophically grown cells during starvation anaerobically or aerobically in the light were 17 and 14.5 days, respectively. The values for starvation aerobically and anaerobically in the dark were 3 and 0.5 days, respectively. Chemotrophically grown cells had half-life survival times of 3 and 4 days during starvation aerobically in the light and dark, respectively, and 0.8 day during starvation anaerobically in the light or dark. Of all cell constituents examined, carbohydrate was most extensively degraded during starvation, although the rate of degradation was slowest for phototrophically grown cells starved anaerobically in the light. Phototrophically grown cells containing poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate as carbon reserve were less able to survive starvation anaerobically in the light than were carbohydrate-rich cells starved under comparable conditions. Light intensity had a significant effect on viability of phototrophically grown cells starving anaerobically. At light intensities of 320 to 650 lx, the half-life survival times were 17 to 24 days. At 2,950 to 10,500 lx, the survival times decreased to 1.5 to 5.5 days. The kinetics of cell death correlated well with the rate of loss of cell mass of starving cells. However, the cause of death could not be attributed to degradation of any specific cell component.

Aerobiosis↗

Inititation and termination of chromosome replication in Escherichia coli subjected to amino acid starvation.

Initiation and termination of chromosome replication in an Escherichia coli auxotroph subjected to amino acid starvation were examined by following the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into the EcoRI restriction fragments of the chromosome. The pattern of incorporation observed upon restoration of the amino acid showed that starvation blocks the process of initiation prior to deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis within any significant portion of the EcoRI fragment which contains the origin of replication, oriC. In this experiment, no incorporation of [3H]thymidine into EcoRI fragments from the terminus of replication was observed, nor was it found when a dnaC initiation mutant was used to prevent incorporation at the origin which might have obscured labeling of terminus fragments. Thus amino acid starvation does not appear to block replication forks shortly before termination of replication. Attempted synchronization of replication initiation by including a period of thymine starvation subsequent to the amino acid starvation led to simultaneous incorporation of [3H]-thymidine into all EcoRI fragments within the 240-kilobase region that surrounds oriC. It is shown that the thymine starvation step allowed initiation and a variable, but limited, amount of replication to occur.

Amino Acids↗

Long-term nutrient starvation of continuously cultured (glucose-limited) Selenomonas ruminantium.

Selenomonas ruminantium, a strictly anaerobic ruminal bacterium, was grown at various dilution rates (D = 0.05, 0.25, and 0.35 h-1) under glucose-limited continuous culture conditions. Suspensions of washed cells prepared anaerobically in mineral buffer were subjected to nutrient starvation (24 to 36 h; 39 degrees C; N2 atmosphere). Regardless of growth rate, viability declined logarithmically, and within about 2.5 h, about 50% of the populations were nonviable. After 24 h of starvation, the numbers of viable cells appeared to be inversely related to growth rate, the highest levels occurring with the slowest grown population. Cell dry weight, carbohydrate, protein, ribonucleic acid (RNA), and deoxyribonucleic acid declined logarithmically during starvation, and the decline rates of each were generally greater with cells grown at higher D values. Both cellular carbohydrate and RNA declined substantially during the first 12 h of starvation. Most of the cellular RNA that disappeared was found in the suspending buffer as low-molecular-weight, orcinol-positive materials. During growth, S. ruminantium made a variety of fermentation acids from glucose, but during starvation, acetate was the only acid made from catabolism of cellular material. Addition of glucose or vitamins to starving cell suspensions did not decrease loss of viability, whereas a starvation in the spent culture medium resulted in a slight decrease in the rate of viability loss. Overall, the data indicate that S. ruminantium strain D has very little survival capacity under the conditions tested compared with other bacterial species that have been studied.

Acetates↗

Changes in cell dimensions during amino acid starvation of Escherichia coli.

Electron microscopic analysis was used to study cells of Escherichia coli B and K-12 during and after amino acid starvation. The results confirmed our previous conclusion that cell division and initiation of DNA replication occur at a smaller cell volume after amino acid starvation. Although during short starvation periods, the number of constricting cells decreased due to residual division, it appears that during prolonged starvation, cells of E. coli B and K-12 were capable of initiating new constrictions. During amino acid starvation, cell diameter decreased significantly. The decrease was reversed only after two generation times after the resumption of protein synthesis and was larger in magnitude than that previously observed before division (F. J. Trueba and C. L. Woldringh, J. Bacteriol. 142:869-878, 1980). This decrease in cell diameter correlates with synchronization of cell division which has been shown to occur after amino acid starvation.

Amino Acids↗

Identification and characterization of a relA-dependent starvation-inducible locus (sin) in Salmonella typhimurium.

By use of Mu cts d1(Ap lac) phage, a strain of Salmonella typhimurium was isolated containing a Mu d insertion in a locus (sinA) which is induced during nicotinate, thiamine, purine, amino acid, phosphate, and carbon starvation conditions. Depending on the starvation condition, a 2- to 10-fold increase in beta-galactosidase activity was demonstrated. The sinA locus, which mapped at 32 U, became induced after a decline in growth rate due to starvation. The introduction of relA into the sinA-lac strain prevented induction by nicotinate starvation and partially prevented induction by phosphate starvation. The data suggest that sinA responds to changes in growth rate due to various nutrient starvation conditions and probably responds in part to changes in guanosine tetraphosphate levels.

Amino Acids↗

Characterization of the starvation-survival response of Staphylococcus aureus.

The starvation-survival response of Staphylococcus aureus as a result of glucose, amino acid, phosphate, or multiple-nutrient limitation was investigated. Glucose and multiple-nutrient limitation resulted in the loss of viability of about 99 to 99.9% of the population within 2 days. The remaining surviving cells developed increased survival potential, remaining viable for months. Amino acid or phosphate limitation did not lead to the development of a stable starvation-survival state, and cells became nonculturable within 7 days. For multiple-nutrient limitation, the development of the starvation-survival state was cell density dependent. Starvation survival was associated with a decrease in cell size and increase in resistance to acid shock and oxidative stress. There was no evidence for the formation of a viable but nonculturable state during starvation as demonstrated by flow cytometry. Long-term survival of cells was dependent on cell wall and protein biosynthesis. Analysis of [35S]methionine incorporation and labelled proteins demonstrated that differential protein synthesis occurred deep into starvation.

Bacterial Proteins↗

relA-Independent amino acid starvation response network of Streptococcus pyogenes.

Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus [GAS]), a multiple-amino-acid-auxotrophic human pathogen, may face starvation for essential amino acids during various stages of the infection process. Since the response of GAS to such conditions is likely to influence pathogenetic processes, we set out to identify by transcriptional analyses genes and operons that are responsive to amino acid starvation and examined whether functionally meaningful response patterns can be ascertained. We discovered that GAS are capable of mounting a relA-independent amino acid starvation response that involves transcriptional modulation of a wide array of housekeeping genes as well as accessory and dedicated virulence genes. Housekeeping genes that were upregulated during starvation of both wild-type and relA mutant strains included the newly identified T-box members of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase genes, the genes for components of the tmRNA-mediated peptide tagging and proteolysis system for abnormal proteins (ssrA, smpB, clpP, and clpC), and the operons for the dnaK and groE groups of molecular chaperones. In addition to upregulation of the genes for oligopeptide permease (opp), intracellular peptidase (pepB), and the two-component regulator covRS reported previously (K. Steiner and H. Malke, Mol. Microbiol. 38:1004-1016, 2000), amino acid starvation stimulated the transcription of the growth phase-associated, virulence-regulatory fas operon, the streptolysin S operon (sag), and the gene for autoinducer-2 production protein (luxS). A prominent feature of operons exhibiting internal transcriptional termination (opp, fas, and sag) was starvation-promoted full-length transcription, a mechanism that improves the efficacy of these systems by increasing the level of coordinate transcription of functionally related genes. Based on these results, a regulatory network with feedback mechanisms is proposed that counteracts the stringent response, links the levels of key rate-limiting enzymes to virulence gene expression, and enables the organism in a dynamic way to take advantage of protein-rich environments provided by its human host. As several of the affected target genes are controlled by more than one regulator, fine modulation may result in accordance with the demands imposed by ecologically different colonization sites upon the adaptive capacity of the pathogen.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Magnesium starvation of Aerobacter aerogenes. II. Rates of nucleic acid synthesis and methods for their measurement.

The rates of synthesis of Aerobacter aerogenes nucleic acids were estimated during incubation of the bacteria in a Mg(++)-free medium. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesized during Mg(++) starvation, or in the preceding exponential growth, remained acid-precipitable for 2.5 hr before breaking down to acid-soluble products during a period of many hours. Rates of DNA synthesis were calculated by correcting the net amounts of DNA per milliliter to values that would have appeared had there been no decay. After the first few hours, this rate was constant, the amount of DNA present at the start of Mg(++) starvation being synthesized every 130 min. Rates of synthesis of total ribonucleic acid (RNA) were established in two ways: (i) by measurements of the incorporation of exogeneous uracil and glucose carbon into RNA, and (ii) by the accumulation of transfer RNA (tRNA), since this component is stable during Mg(++) starvation. After the first few hours, this rate was constant, the amount of RNA present at the start of Mg(++) starvation being synthesized about every 120 min. Fractionation by gradient centrifugation revealed that at all times of starvation the ratio of newly synthesized tRNA-rRNA was the same as it was during exponential growth. Furthermore, newly synthesized ribosomal RNA (rRNA) became a part of polysomal structures. Thus, in the absence of Mg(++), DNA, tRNA, and rRNA were synthesized in the same relative proportions as during exponential growth, at rates close to one-half the instantaneous rates of synthesis in the bacteria growing exponentially at the start of starvation.

Carbon Isotopes↗

Markers of cell polarity during and after nitrogen starvation in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, nitrogen starvation induces transient acceleration of cell division and reduction in cell size with a final arrest in G1. The division size control appears to be impaired by mutations in cdr1/nim1 and cdr2, genes that encode protein kinases mediating nutritional control over the mitotic cycle. cdr- cells arrest after fewer rounds of division and are larger than the wild type. Recent work suggests that long-term nitrogen starvation causes S. pombe wild-type cells to become spherical, which suggests loss of cell polarity. cdr mutants retain the elongated shape, indicating a potential difference in cell polarity control relative to the wild type. We examined several markers related to maintenance of cell polarity in S. pombe following nitrogen starvation including cell division scar pattern and actin and microtubule cytoskeleton. Wild-type cells as well as cdr mutants maintained a normal cell division scar pattern throughout nitrogen starvation but cells dividing under these conditions developed a wall malformation in the center of the septum. In cells arrested by nitrogen starvation, actin patches, normally associated with sites of cell wall deposition, were larger and distributed randomly along the cell surface. Cytoplasmic arrays of microtubules, which are thought to be involved in control of the polarity signal, were not visibly affected. The effects were similar in wild-type cells and in cdr- mutants. Upon refeeding, the new growth always reoccurred at the tip zones and there were only small deviations of its direction from the original axis. The results indicate that cell polarity is preserved both in wild-type cells, which arrest in G1 and appear spherical, and in cdr1/nim1 and cdr2 mutants, which arrest in G2 and appear polarized throughout the starvation period.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Effects of brief starvation on muscle amino acid metabolism in nonobese man.

A reduction in the release of substrate amino acids from skeletal muscle largely explains the decrease in gluconeogenesis characterizing prolonged starvation. Brief starvation is associated with an increase in gluconeogenesis, suggesting increased release of amino acids from muscle. In the present studies, accelerated amino acid release from skeletal muscle induced by brief starvation was sought to account for the accompanying augmentation of gluconeogenesis. To do this amino acid balance across forearm muscles was quantified in 15 postabsorptive (overnight fasted) subjects and in 7 subjects fasted for 60 h. Fasting significantly reduced basal insulin (11.3-7.5 muU/ml) and increased glucagon (116-134 pg/ml). Muscle release of the principal glycogenic amino acids increased. Alanine release increased 59.4%. The increase in release for all amino acids averaged 69.4% and was statistically significant for threonine, serine, glycine, alanine, alpha-aminobutyrate, methionine, tyrosine, and lysine. Thus, with brief starvation, muscle release of glycogenic amino acids increases strikingly. This contrasts with the reduction of amino acid release characterizing prolonged starvation. The adaptation of peripheral tissue metabolism to brief starvation is best explained by the decrease in insulin.

Adult↗

Long-term starvation and ageing induce AGE-1/PI 3-kinase-dependent translocation of DAF-16/FOXO to the cytoplasm.

BACKGROUND: The provision of stress resistance diverts resources from development and reproduction and must therefore be tightly regulated. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the switch to increased stress resistance to promote survival through periods of starvation is regulated by the DAF-16/FOXO transcription factor. Reduction-of-function mutations in AGE-1, the C. elegans Class IA phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), increase lifespan and stress resistance in a daf-16 dependent manner. Class IA PI3Ks downregulate FOXOs by inducing their translocation to the cytoplasm. However, the circumstances under which AGE-1 is normally activated are unclear. To address this question we used C. elegans first stage larvae (L1s), which when starved enter a developmentally-arrested diapause stage until food is encountered. RESULTS: We find that in L1s both starvation and daf-16 are necessary to confer resistance to oxidative stress in the form of hydrogen peroxide. Accordingly, DAF-16 is localised to cell nuclei after short-term starvation. However, after long-term starvation, DAF-16 unexpectedly translocates to the cytoplasm. This translocation requires functional age-1. H2O2 treatment can replicate the translocation and induce generation of the AGE-1 product PIP3. Because feeding reduces to zero in ageing adult C. elegans, these animals may also undergo long-term starvation. Consistent with our observation in L1s, DAF-16 also translocates to the cytoplasm in old adult worms in an age-1-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: DAF-16 is activated in the starved L1 diapause. The translocation of DAF-16 to the cytoplasm after long-term starvation may be a feedback mechanism that prevents excessive expenditure on stress resistance. H2O2 is a candidate second messenger in this feedback mechanism. The lack of this response in age-1(hx546) mutants suggests a novel mechanism by which this mutation increases longevity.

Aging↗

Rapid adaptations of serum thyrotrophin, triiodothyronine and reverse triiodothyronine levels to short-term starvation and refeeding.

Nutrition influences thyroid function at the level of TSH secretion, at the level of monodeiodination, and possibly elsewhere. In order to study the effect of starvation on TSH secretion, 8 healthy male volunteers fasted for 30 h and were then refed with 800 kcal. Refeeding was performed at 19.00 h and blood was sampled at 20 min intervals until midnight. Control experiments were performed in the same subjects both when they were normally fed and when the starvation period was prolonged a further 5 h until midnight. Starvation decreased serum TSH levels to below 1 mU/1, and without refeeding the nocturnal peak of the TSH nycthemeral rhythm was abolished. With refeeding serum TSH tended to increase towards midnight and was significantly higher than during starvation. However, the serum TSH levels remained significantly below those at the same time of the day in the absence of a preceding starvation period. Serum T3 levels were significantly lower than in the fed state. The mean values were 1.84 +/- 0.03 vs 2.30 +/- 0.06 nmol/l (120 +/- 2 vs 150 +/- 4 ng/100 ml, mean +/- SEM P less than 0.01). Refeeding did not result in a measurable change in serum T3 concentration (1.80 +/- 0.05 nmol/l; 120 +/- 3 ng/100 ml, mean +/- SEM, n.s.). The contrary was true for rT3 levels which increased in starvation and tended to fall with refeeding, but this decrease was not significant. As glucocorticoids have been implicated in the control of monodeiodination and TSH secretion, serum cortisol levels were also measured. They did not differ during the 3 experimental periods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation is required for up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor by serum starvation in human colon carcinoma cells.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor important for colon cancer neovascularization. In previous studies, serum starvation led to induction of VEGF in human colon carcinoma cells. We investigated the possible participation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in serum starvation induction of VEGF in the HT29 human colon carcinoma cell line. The extracellular signal-regulated kinases (Erks) 1 and 2 were activated after 3-6 h of serum starvation. Using transient transfection of VEGF promoter-reporter constructs, serum starvation led to an increase in VEGF promoter activity. An inhibitor of phosphorylation of Erk-1/2 blocked the increase of VEGF expression and promoter activity induced by serum starvation. Serum starvation activates several mitogen-activated protein kinases, but activation of Erk-1/2 is critical for the up-regulation of VEGF mRNA in colon carcinoma cells.

Cell Line↗

Suppression of serum starvation-induced apoptosis by hepatitis C virus core protein.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein either enhances or inhibits apoptosis depending on the apoptosis-inducing stimuli and cell conditions. In this paper we studied possible effect of HCV core protein on apoptosis induced by serum starvation. NIH3T3 cells stably expressing HCV core protein were more resistant to serum starvation-induced apoptosis than were the non-expressing control. Neither p53, p21Waf1 nor Bax was detectably induced after serum starvation, irrespective of HCV core protein expression, suggesting that the observed apoptosis is p53-independent. Serum starvation-induced apoptosis was partially inhibited by SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, in the non-expressing control, but not in HCV core protein-expressing cells. Moreover, activation of p38 MAP kinase after serum starvation, as measured by the amount of its phosphorylated form, was inhibited in HCV core protein-expressing cells. Our results suggest that HCV core protein inhibits serum starvation-induced apoptosis through inhibition of p38 MAP kinase activation.

3T3 Cells↗

[Juvenile hormone controls egg laying and fertility in Drosophila virilis during starvation].

Degradation of juvenile hormone and reproductive function during starvation and experimental increase of the juvenile hormone titer were studied in wild type and mutant D. virilis females incapable to respond to heat stress by changes in juvenile hormone metabolism and fertility. After 24-hour starvation, the females of both lines were characterized by a decreased level of juvenile hormone degradation, 24-hour delay of egg laying, increased egg laying within 3 h after the termination of starvation, and decreased fertility within three days. Application of exogenous juvenile hormone also led to a decreased level of its degradation and 24-hour arrest of egg laying. Experimental increase of the juvenile hormone titer before the beginning of starvation led to a sharply increased fertility (number of laid eggs and number of progenies) within the first 24 h after the termination of starvation. The dynamics of juvenile hormone degradation and of fertility were similar after starvation and upon application of the exogenous hormone. The role of juvenile hormone in the control of egg maturation and laying under stress conditions has been discussed.

Animals↗

REGULATION OF ASCORBIC ACID AND OF XYLULOSE SYNTHESIS IN RAT-LIVER EXTRACTS. THE EFFECT OF STARVATION ON THE ENZYMES OF THE GLUCURONIC ACID PATHWAY.

1. The synthesis of ascorbic acid in rat-liver extracts is impaired during starvation, and more from glucuronolactone and glucuronate than from gulonate and gulonolactone. 2. The formation of xylulose from gulonate and from gulonolactone is greatly enhanced during starvation, whereas it is decreased from glucuronolactone and from glucuronate. 3. The activity of the enzymes of the glucuronic acid pathway during starvation has been determined in rat-liver preparations. Gulonolactone oxidase is decreased, NAD-linked gulonate dehydrogenase is enhanced, and uronolactonase, aldonolactonase and NADP-linked hexonate dehydrogenase are unchanged. 4. The impairment of ascorbic acid synthesis from gulonate observed during starvation can be accounted for by the depressed activity of gulonolactone oxidase. 5. The cause of the enhanced formation of xylulose has been located in the sedimentable fraction of liver homogenate. 6. The hypothesis is formulated of an increased utilization of the glucuronic acid pathway during starvation.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗