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Characterization of IS1474, an insertion sequence of the IS21 family isolated from Pseudomonas alcaligenes NCIB 9867.

A new insertion sequence (IS) designated IS1474 was isolated from Pseudomonas alcaligenes NCIB 9867 (P25X). IS1474 is a 2632 bp element which showed a characteristic IS structure with 12 bp inverted repeats (IRs) flanking a 2608 bp central region. IS1474 contained four open reading frames (ORF1-ORF4), two in each orientation. Similarities were detected between ORF1 and ORF2 and the putative transposases of the IS21 family. Sequences upstream from IS1474 were found to display up to 89% homology with IS53 from Pseudomonas syringae suggesting that IS1474 had inserted into another related IS element designated IS1475. An open reading frame, ORF5, located at the junction of IS1474 and IS1475, showed similarities with the IstB protein of IS21 and could possibly be the transposase subunit of IS1475. Transposition assays showed that IS1474 transposed at a relatively low frequency leading to cointegration with target plasmids. Hybridization studies showed that IS1474 is present in at least 13 copies in the chromosome of P25X and one copy on its endogenous plasmid.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sequence analysis of plasmid pRA2 from Pseudomonas alcaligenes NCIB 9867 (P25X) reveals a novel replication region.

The replication region of plasmid pRA2 from Pseudomonas alcaligenes NCIB 9867 (strain P25X) was localized within a 5.9-kbp DNA fragment and its sequence was determined. An interesting feature of the sequence is the presence of a 1.3-kbp region containing seven, highly conserved, direct repeats of 72 bp in length. The pRA2 replication region has two open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 appeared to be essential for replication and had the potential to encode a novel 30-kDa protein with a predicted helix-turn-helix motif located at the C-terminal end. ORF2 was not essential for replication and may encode for a 37-kDa protein which shares 41% and 27% amino acid sequence identity to the KfrA proteins from plasmids RK2 and R751, respectively. The essential region of replication was narrowed down to 2819 nucleotides and included four of the seven 72-bp direct repeats, a potential DnaA-binding site and ORF1.

Consensus Sequence↗

Tn5563, a transposon encoding putative mercuric ion transport proteins located on plasmid pRA2 of Pseudomonas alcaligenes.

Sequence analysis of pRA2, an endogenous 33-kb plasmid from Pseudomonas alcaligenes NCIB 9867 (strain P25X), revealed the presence of a 6256-bp transposon of the Tn3 family, designated Tn5563. Tn5563, which is flanked by two 39-bp inverted repeats, encodes a transposase, a resolvase, and two open reading frames which share amino acid sequence similarities with the mercuric ion transport proteins MerT and MerP encoded by several mer operons. However, no other mer operon genes were found on Tn5563. Sequencing of a RP4::XIn hybrid plasmid indicates possible interactions between pRA2 and the P25X chromosome mediated by Tn5563.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of amino acid residues essential for catalytic activity of gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas alcaligenes NCIB 9867.

Gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase (GDO, EC 1.13.11.4) is a ring cleavage enzyme that utilizes gentisate as a substrate yielding maleylpyruvate as the ring fission product. Mutant GDOs were generated by both random mutagenesis and site-directed mutagenesis of the gene cloned from Pseudomonas alcaligenes NCIB 9867. Alignment of known GDO sequences indicated the presence of a conserved central core region. Mutations generated within this central core resulted in the complete loss of enzyme activity whereas mutations in the flanking regions yielded GDOs with enzyme activities that were reduced by up to 78%. Site-directed mutagenesis was also performed on a pair of highly conserved HRH and HXH motifs found within this core region. Conversion of these His residues to Asp resulted in the complete loss of catalytic activity. Mutagenesis within the core region could have affected quaternary structure formation as well as cofactor binding. A mutant enzyme with increased catalytic activities was also characterized.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Infection of a total hip prosthesis in a dog caused by Achromobacter(Alcaligenes) xylosoxidans.

A four-year-old male, neutered Labrador retriever was presented with progressive left hindlimb lameness 10 months following total hip replacement. Radiography revealed changes consistent with infection and culture of joint fluid from the left coxofemoral joint revealed Achromobacter (Alcaligenes) xylosoxidans. The prosthesis was removed. Culture of the acetabular cup confirmed Achromobacter xylosoxidans. Achromobacter xylosoxidans is an uncommon but serious cause of nosocomial epidemics in hospitals for human beings. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of total hip prosthetic infection with Achromobacter xylosoxidans. Little is reported about its pathogenicity in human beings and the authors failed to retrieve any reports of its clinical significance in animals.

Achromobacter denitrificans↗

Adaptation of Alcaligenes eutrophus B9 and Pseudomonas sp. B13 to 2-Fluorobenzoate as Growth Substrate.

Alcaligenes eutrophus B9 and Pseudomonas sp. B13 could be adapted to 2-fluorobenzoate as the sole source of carbon and energy. The ability of the A. eutrophus B9 to use this new substrate is clearly based on the defective dihydrodihydroxybenzoate dehydrogenase. Nontoxic 6-fluoro-3,5-cyclohexadiene-1,2-diol-1-carboxylic acid is accumulated instead of 3-fluorocatechol. About 84% of the substrate is dioxygenated to catechol and utilized via the 3-oxoadipate pathway. During continuous adaptation of Pseudomonas sp. B13 regioselectivity of dioxygenation of 2-fluorobenzoate is drastically changed in favor of a 1,2-attack. Consequently, approximately 97% of the substrate is utilized via catechol. A three- to fourfold overproduction of key enzymes of the 3-oxoadipate pathway compensates for the slower turnover rates of the fluorinated substrates.

Journal Article↗

Nitrogen Redox Metabolism of a Heterotrophic, Nitrifying-Denitrifying Alcaligenes sp. from Soil.

Metabolic characteristics of a heterotrophic, nitrifier-denitrifier Alcaligenes sp. isolated from soil were further characterized. Pyruvic oxime and hydroxylamine were oxidized to nitrite aerobically by nitrification-adapted cells with specific activities (V(max)) of 0.066 and 0.003 mumol of N x min x mg of protein, respectively, at 22 degrees C. K(m) values were 15 and 42 muM for pyruvic oxime and hydroxylamine, respectively. The greater pyruvic oxime oxidation activity relative to hydroxylamine oxidation activity indicates that pyruvic oxime was a specific substrate and was not oxidized appreciably via its hydrolysis product, hydroxylamine. When grown as a denitrifier on nitrate, the bacterium could not aerobically oxidize pyruvic oxime or hydroxylamine to nitrite. However, hydroxylamine was converted to nearly equimolar amounts of ammonium ion and nitrous oxide, and the nature of this reaction is discussed. Cells grown as heterotrophic nitrifiers on pyruvic oxime contained two enzymes of denitrification, nitrate reductase and nitric oxide reductase. The nitrate reductase was the dissimilatory type, as evidenced by its extreme sensitivity to inhibition by azide and by its ability to be reversibly inhibited by oxygen. Cells grown aerobically on organic carbon sources other than pyruvic oxime contained none of the denitrifying enzymes surveyed but were able to oxidize pyruvic oxime to nitrite and reduce hydroxylamine to ammonium ion.

Journal Article↗

Production of d-Aminoacylase from Alcaligenes denitrificans subsp. xylosoxydans MI-4.

A bacterial strain that produces d-aminoacylase was isolated from soil and identified as Alcaligenes denitrificans subsp. xylosoxydans MI-4. l-Aminoacylase activity in this strain was only 1 to 2% of d-aminoacylase activity. d-Aminoacylase was inducibly produced. N-Acetyl-dl-leucine was the best inducer, and the d-isomer had the ability to induce the enzyme. Enzymatic resolution of N-acetyl-dl-methionine with the crude enzyme was carried out, and the d/l ratio in the resolved methionine was approximately 100/7, suggesting that resolution with crude enzymes may become possible by removing small amounts of the contaminated l-form with l-amino acid oxidase.

Journal Article↗

Production and Purification of d-Aminoacylase from Alcaligenes denitrificans and Taxonomic Study of the Strain.

A d-aminoacylase-producing microorganism, strain DA181, isolated from soil was identified as Alcaligenes denitrificans subsp. denitrificans. This strain produced about 29,300 units (micromoles of product formed per hour) of d-aminoacylase and 2,300 units of l-aminoacylase per gram of cells (wet weight) when cultivated in a medium containing 1% N-acetyl-dl-leucine as the carbon source. The d-aminoacylase was purified 345-fold. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 108,600 units per mg of protein when N-acetyl-d-methionine was used as a substrate. The apparent molecular weight was 58,000, as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. N-Acetyl-d-methionine was the favored substrate, followed by N-acetyl-d-phenylalanine. This enzyme had a high stereospecificity, and its hydrolysis of N-acetyl-l-amino acids was almost negligible.

Journal Article↗

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) and Polyphosphate Metabolism in Alcaligenes eutrophus.

The metabolic pathways of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and polyphosphate in the microorganism Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 were studied by H, C, and P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and by conventional analytical techniques. A. eutrophus cells accumulated two storage polymers of PHB and polyphosphate in the presence of carbon and phosphate sources under aerobic conditions after exhaustion of nitrogen sources. The solid-state cross-polarization/magic-angle spinning C NMR spectroscopy was used to study the biosynthetic pathways of PHB and other cellular biomass components from C-labeled acetate. The solid-state C NMR analysis of lyophilized intact cells grown on [1-C]acetate indicated that the carbonyl carbon of acetate was selectively incorporated both into the carbonyl and methine carbons of PHB and into the carbonyl carbons of proteins. The P NMR analysis of A. eutrophus cells in suspension showed that the synthesis of intracellular polyphosphate was closely related to the synthesis of PHB. The roles of PHB and polyphosphate in the cells were studied under conditions of carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen source starvation. Under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions PHB was degraded, whereas little polyphosphate was degraded. The rate of PHB degradation under anaerobic conditions was faster than that under aerobic conditions. Under anaerobic conditions, acetate and 3-hydroxybutyrate were produced as the major extracellular metabolites. The implications of this observation are discussed in connection with the regulation of PHB and polyphosphate metabolism in A. eutrophus.

Journal Article↗

Purification and Characterization of d-Aminoacylase from Alcaligenes faecalis DA1.

A d-aminoacylase from Alcaligenes faecalis DA1 has been purified to homogeneity by a simple purification procedure with two columns, Fractogel DEAE-650 and HW-50. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was found to be 580 U/mg of protein with N-acetyl-dl-methionine as the reaction substrate. The apparent molecular weight and isoelectric point of this enzyme were determined to be 55,000 and 5.4, respectively.

Journal Article↗

Influence of Ammonium Salts and Cane Molasses on Growth of Alcaligenes eutrophus and Production of Polyhydroxybutyrate.

The production of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) by Alcaligenes eutrophus DSM 545 was studied in a synthetic medium with 3% glucose at pH 7.0 supplemented with several ammonium substrates and cane molasses. Growth was measured by dry cell weight, and the PHB content was measured by gas chromatography. The effects of ammonium sources such as sulfate, nitrate, phosphate, and chloride salts and those of different ammonium sulfate concentrations were evaluated. The best growth and PHB production were obtained with ammonium sulfate; however, NH(inf4)(sup+) concentrations between 0.5 and 1.5 g/liter showed no significant difference. Ammonium sulfate was therefore used as the sole source of NH(inf4)(sup+) for experiments with cane molasses as the growth activator. Optimal growth and PHB production were obtained with 0.3% molasses. However, the yields of biomass (39 to 48%) and PHB (17 to 26%) varied significantly among the different ammonium substrates and cane molasses concentrations.

Journal Article↗

Purification and characterization of dimethylsulfoniopropionate lyase from an alcaligenes-like dimethyl sulfide-producing marine isolate.

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is quantitatively the most important biogenic sulfur compound emitted from oceans and salt marshes. It is formed primarily by the action of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) lyase which cleaves DMSP, an algal osmolyte, to equimolar amounts of DMS and acrylate. This report is the first to describe the isolation and purification of DMSP lyase. The soluble enzyme was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from a facultatively anaerobic gram-negative rod-shaped marine bacterium identified as an Alcaligenes species by the Vitek gram-negative identification method. The key to successful purification of the enzyme was its binding to, and hydrophobic chromatography on, a phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B column. DMSP lyase biosynthesis was induced by its substrate, DMSP; its product, acrylate; and also by acrylamide. The relative effectivenesses of the inducers were 100, 90, and 204%, respectively. DMSP lyase is a 48-kDa monomer with a Michaelis-Menten constant (K(infm)) for DMSP of 1.4 mM and a V(infmax) of 408 (mu)mol/min/mg of protein. It converted DMSP to DMS and acrylate stoichiometrically. The similar K(infm) values measured for pure DMSP lyase and the axenic culture, seawater, and surface marsh sediment suggest that the microbes in these ecosystems must have enzymes similar to the one purified from our marine isolate. Anoxic sediment populations, however, have a 40-fold-lower K(infm) for this enzyme (30 (mu)M), possibly giving them the capability to metabolize much lower levels of DMSP than the aerobes.

Journal Article↗

Uptake of Benzoic Acid and Chloro-Substituted Benzoic Acids by Alcaligenes denitrificans BRI 3010 and BRI 6011.

The mechanism of uptake of benzoic and 2,4-dichlorobenzoic acid (2,4-DCBA) by Alcaligenes denitrificans BRI 3010 and BRI 6011 and Pseudomonas sp. strain B13, three organisms capable of degrading various isomers of chlorinated benzoic acids, was investigated. In all three organisms, uptake of benzoic acid was inducible. For benzoic acid uptake into BRI 3010, monophasic saturation kinetics with apparent K(infm) and V(infmax) values of 1.4 (mu)M and 3.2 nmol/min/mg of cell dry weight, respectively, were obtained. For BRI 6011, biphasic saturation kinetics were observed, suggesting the presence of two uptake systems for benzoic acid with distinct K(infm) (0.72 and 5.3 (mu)M) and V(infmax) (3.3 and 4.6 nmol/min/mg of cell dry weight) values. BRI 3010 and BRI 6011 accumulated benzoic acid against a concentration gradient by a factor of 8 and 10, respectively. A wide range of structural analogs, at 50-fold excess concentrations, inhibited benzoic acid uptake by BRI 3010 and BRI 6011, whereas with B13, only 3-chlorobenzoic acid was an effective inhibitor. For BRI 3010 and BRI 6011, the inhibition by the structural analogs was not of a competitive nature. Uptake of benzoic acid by BRI 3010 and BRI 6011 was inhibited by KCN, by the protonophore 3,5,3(prm1), 4(prm1)-tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCS), and, for BRI 6011, by anaerobiosis unless nitrate was present, thus indicating that energy was required for the uptake process. Uptake of 2,4-DCBA by BRI 6011 was constitutive and saturation uptake kinetics were not observed. Uptake of 2,4-DCBA by BRI 6011 was inhibited by KCN, TCS, and anaerobiosis even if nitrate was present, but the compound was not accumulated intracellularly against a concentration gradient. Uptake of 2,4-DCBA by BRI 6011 appears to occur by passive diffusion into the cell down its concentration gradient, which is maintained by the intracellular metabolism of the compound. This process could play an important role in the degradation of xenobiotic compounds by microorganisms.

Journal Article↗

Formation of Dimethylmuconolactones from Dimethylphenols by Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP 134.

2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, 3,4-, and 3,5-dimethylphenols were cometabolized by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate-grown Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP 134 or the constitutive derivative JMP 134-1 via the ortho pathway into dimethylmuconolactones as dead-end products. Formation of two distinct lactones from 3,4-dimethylphenol is indicative of 2- as well as 6-hydroxylation. Induction of the meta-cleavage pathway by 2,3- and 3,4-dimethylphenols resulted in growth and no accumulation of products. In contrast, 3,5-dimethylphenol is not metabolized by the meta-cleavage pathway.

Journal Article↗

Measurement of Growth at Very Low Rates ((mu) >= 0), an Approach To Study the Energy Requirement for the Survival of Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP 134.

Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP 134 was grown in a recycling-mode fermenter with 100% biomass retention on 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), phenol, and fructose. The growth pattern obtained given a constant supply of substrates exhibited three phases of linear growth on all three substrates. The transition from phase 1 to phase 2, considered to correspond to the onset of stringent (growth) control as indicated by a significant increase in guanosine 5(prm1)-bisphosphate 3(prm1)-bisphosphate (ppGpp), took place at 0.016 h(sup-1) with 2,4-D and at about 0.02 h(sup-1) with phenol and fructose. In the final phase, phase 4, which was achieved after the growth rate on the respective substrates fell below 0.003 to 0.001 h(sup-1), a constant level of biomass was obtained irrespective of further feeding of substrate at the same rate. The yield coefficients decreased by 70 to 80% from phase 1 to phase 3 and were 0 in phase 4. The stationary substrate concentrations s(infmin) in phase 4, calculated from the kinetic constants of the strain, were 1.23, 0.34, and 0.23 (mu)M for 2,4-D, phenol, and fructose, respectively. These figures characterize the minimum stationary substrate concentrations required in a dynamic system to keep A. eutrophus alive. This is caused by a substrate flux which enables growth at a rate >=0 due to the provision of energy to an extent at least satisfying maintenance requirements. According to the constant feed rates of the substrates and the final and stable biomass concentrations, this maintenance energy amounts to 14.4, 4.0, and 2.4 (mu)mol of ATP (middot) mg of dry mass(sup-1) h(sup-1) for 2,4-D, phenol, and fructose, respectively, after correction for the fraction of living cells. The increased energy expenditure in the case of 2,4-D is discussed with respect to uncoupling.

Journal Article↗

Biosynthesis of Poly(3-Hydroxyalkanoic Acid) Copolymer from CO(inf2) in Pseudomonas acidophila through Introduction of the DNA Fragment Responsible for Chemolithoautotrophic Growth of Alcaligenes hydrogenophilus.

Pseudomonas acidophila is a bacterial strain producing a poly(3-hydroxyalkanoic acid) (PHA) copolymer from low-molecular-weight organic compounds such as formate and acetate. The genes responsible for PHA production were cloned in cosmid pIK7 containing a 14.8-kb HindIII fragment of P. acidophila DNA. With the aim of developing a means of producing a PHA copolymer from CO(inf2), cosmid pIK7 was introduced into a polymer-negative mutant of the chemolithoautotrophic bacterium Alcaligenes eutrophus PHB(sup-)4. However, the recombinant strain produced a homopolymer of 3-hydroxybutyric acid (polyhydroxybutyric acid) from CO(inf2). Since it was thought that the composition of the accumulated polymer might depend not on the PHA biosynthetic genes but on the metabolism of the host strain, a recombinant plasmid, pFUS, containing the genes for chemolithoautotrophic growth of the hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium A. hydrogenophilus was introduced into P. acidophila by conjugation. The recombinant plasmid pFUS was stably maintained in P. acidophila in the absence of chemolithoautotrophic or antibiotic selection. This pFUS-harboring strain possessed the ability to grow under a gas mixture of H(inf2), O(inf2), and CO(inf2) in a mineral salts medium, and PHA copolymer accumulation was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectral analysis. A gas chromatogram obtained by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed the composition of the polymer to be 52.8% 3-hydroxybutyrate, 41.1% 3-hydroxyoctanoate, and 6.1% 3-hydroxydecanoate. This is the first report of the production of a PHA copolymer from CO(inf2) as sole carbon source.

Journal Article↗

Degradation of Chlorophenols by Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP134(pJP4) in Bleached Kraft Mill Effluent.

The ability of Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP134(pJP4) to degrade 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, and other chlorophenols in a bleached kraft mill effluent was studied. The efficiency of degradation and the survival of strain JMP134 and indigenous microorganisms in short-term batch or long-term semicontinuous incubations performed in microcosms were assessed. After 6 days of incubation, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (400 ppm) or 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (40 to 100 ppm) were extensively degraded (70 to 100%). In short-term batch incubations, indigenous microorganisms were unable to degrade such of compounds. Degradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol by strain JMP134 was significantly lower at 200 to 400 ppm of compound. This strain was also able to degrade 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol, and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol when bleached Kraft mill effluent was amended with mixtures of these compounds. On the other hand, the chlorophenol concentration and the indigenous microorganisms inhibited the growth and survival of the strain in short-term incubations. In long-term (>1-month) incubations, strain JMP134 was unable to maintain a large, stable population, although extensive 2,4,6-trichlorophenol degradation was still observed. The latter is probably due to acclimation of the indigenous microorganisms to degrade 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. Acclimation was observed only in long-term, semicontinuous microcosms.

Journal Article↗