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Distribution of 16S rRNA introns among the family Thermoproteaceae and their evolutionary implications.

Novel 16S rRNA introns were detected in four new strains within the family Thermoproteaceae. Pyrobaculum oguniense TE7(T) and Thermoproteus sp. IC-062 housed introns of 32 and 665-668 bp after positions 1205 and 1213 ( Escherichia coli numbering system), respectively. Caldivirga maquilingensis IC-167(T) had two introns of 37 and 140 bp after positions 901 and 908, respectively. Vulcanisaeta distributa IC-065 had a 691-bp intron after position 1391. All the introns larger than 650 bp encoded the LAGLI-DADG type proteins. The intron-encoded proteins of P. oguniense TE7(T) and Thermoproteus sp. IC-062 are cognate with the proteins encoded by introns inserted at the same position in other Pyrobaculum/ Thermoproteus strains and phylotypes. The intron-encoded protein of V. distributa IC-065 is partially related to that of a Pyrobaculum phylotype. A large-scale deletion in the second intron of Caldivirga maquilingensis IC-167(T) is suspected. Based on these newly found introns and hitherto known 16S rRNA introns, the evolutionary movements of the 16S rRNA introns and the encoded LAGLI-DADG type proteins are discussed.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Thermocladium modestius gen. nov., sp. nov., a new genus of rod-shaped, extremely thermophilic crenarchaeote.

Three strains of novel, extremely thermophilic, rod-shaped crenarchaeotes were isolated from acidic hot spring areas in Japan. Cells of the three stains were straight or slightly curved rods and occasionally branched out singly or extensively, or had spherical bodies protruding at the ends of the cells. They were heterotrophs that grew anaerobically or microaerobically. The presence of CO2 in the gas phase, archaeal cell-extracts and a vitamin mixture stimulated growth of the strains. Growth occurred at 45-82 degrees C and pH 2.6-5.9 and was optimal around 75 degrees C and pH 4.0. The strains utilized glycogen, starch, gelatin and various proteinaceous complex compounds as carbon sources. They required sulfur, thiosulfate or L-cystine as possible electron acceptors. The lipids mainly consisted of various cyclic glycerol-bisdiphytanyl-glycerol tetraethers. The G+C contents of the genomic DNAs were 52 mol%. Comparison of the 16S rDNA sequences indicated that they belonged to a separate lineage in the family Thermoproteaceae. The three strains were included in a single species due to high levels of DNA-DNA hybridization values. Based upon these results, the new isolates were assigned to a new genus and species in the family Thermoproteaceae. Thermocladium modestius gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is Thermocladium modestius IC-125T (= JCM 10088T).

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Caldivirga maquilingensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new genus of rod-shaped crenarchaeote isolated from a hot spring in the Philippines.

Two novel hyperthermophilic, rod-shaped crenarchaeotes were isolated from an acidic hot spring in the Philippines. Cells were mostly straight or slightly curved rods 0.4-0.7 micron in width. Bent cells, branched cells, and cells bearing globular bodies were commonly observed. The isolates were heterotrophs and grew anaerobically and microaerobically. The addition of archaeal cell extract or a vitamin mixture to the medium significantly stimulated growth. The isolates grew over a temperature range of 60-92 degrees C, and optimally around 85 degrees C and grew over a pH range of 2.3-6.4, and optimally at pH 3.7-4.2. The isolates utilized glycogen, gelatin, beef extract, peptone, tryptone and yeast extract as carbon sources. They required sulfur, thiosulfate or sulfate as electron acceptors. The lipids mainly consisted of various cyclized glycerol-bisdiphytanyl-glycerol tetraethers. The G+C content of the genomic DNAs was 43 mol%. The 16S rDNA contained two small introns. The comparison of the 16S rDNA exon sequences revealed that they represented an independent lineage in the family Thermoproteaceae. The two strains were included in a single species because of high levels of DNA-DNA relatedness. From these results, Caldivirga maquilingensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed in the family Thermoproteaceae to accommodate these isolates. The type strain of C. maquilingensis is strain IC-167T (= JCM 10307T = MCC-UPLB 1200T = ANMR 0178T).

DNA, Archaeal↗

Vulcanisaeta distributa gen. nov., sp. nov., and Vulcanisaeta souniana sp. nov., novel hyperthermophilic, rod-shaped crenarchaeotes isolated from hot springs in Japan.

Seventeen strains of rod-shaped, heterotrophic, anaerobic, hyperthermophilic crenarchaeotes were isolated from several hot spring areas in eastern Japan, and eight representative strains were characterized further. Cells of these strains were straight to slightly curved rods, 0.4-0.6 microm in width. Occasionally, cells were branched or bore spherical bodies at the poles. They grew optimally at 85-90 degrees C and at pH 4.0-4.5. They utilized yeast extract, peptone, beef extract, Casamino acids, gelatin, starch, maltose and malate as carbon sources and sulfur and thiosulfate as possible electron acceptors. The DNA G+C contents of the novel isolates were 43.9-46.2 mol%. The lipids were mainly cyclic and acyclic tetraether core lipids. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences revealed that they represented an independent lineage in the family Thermoproteaceae. Moreover, comparison of the 16S rDNA sequences and a DNA-DNA hybridization study showed that they comprised two species, which could also be differentiated by the maximal growth temperature and degrees of NaCl tolerance. Therefore, a new genus, Vulcanisaeta gen. nov., in the family Thermoproteaceae is proposed to accommodate two novel species, Vulcanisaeta distributa sp. nov. and Vulcanisaeta souniana sp. nov. The type species is V. distributa and the type strains are V. distributa IC 017T (= JCM 11212T = DSM 14429T) and V. souniana IC-059T (= JCM 11219T = DSM 14430T).

Anaerobiosis↗

Design of 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes for detecting cultured and uncultured archaeal lineages in high-temperature environments.

In order to facilitate the evaluation of archaeal community diversity and distribution in high-temperature environments, 14 16S rRNA oligonucleotide probes were designed. Adequate hybridization and wash conditions of the probes encompassing most known hyperthermophilic Archaea, members of the orders Thermococcales, Desulfurococcales and Sulfolobales, of the families Methanocaldococcaceae, Pyrodictiaceae and Thermoproteaceae, of the genera Archaeoglobus, Methanopyrus and Ignicoccus, and of the as yet uncultured lineages Korarchaeota, Crenarchaeota marine group I, deep-sea hydrothermal vent euryarchaeotic group 2 (DHVE 2), and deep-sea hydrothermal vent euryarchaeotic group 8 (DHVE 8) were determined by dot-blot hybridization from target and non-target reference organisms and environmental clones. The oligonucleotide probes were also used to evaluate the archaeal community composition in nine deep-sea hydrothermal vent samples. All probes, except those targeting members of Sulfolobales, Thermoproteaceae, Pyrodictiaceae and Korarchaeota, gave positive hybridization signals when hybridized against 16S rDNA amplification products obtained from hydrothermal DNA extracts. The results confirmed the widespread occurrence of Thermococcales, Desulfurococcales, Methanocaldococcaceae and Archaeoglobus in deep-sea hydrothermal vents, and extended the known ecological habitats of uncultured lineages. Despite their wide coverage, the probes were unable to resolve the archaeal communities associated with hydrothermally influenced sediments, suggesting that these samples may contain novel lineages. This suite of oligonucleotide probes may represent an efficient tool for rapid qualitative and quantitative characterization of archaeal communities. Their application would help to provide new insights in the future into the composition, distribution and abundance of Archaea in high-temperature environments.

Archaea↗

Autotrophic CO2 fixation pathways in archaea (Crenarchaeota).

Representative autotrophic and thermophilic archaeal species of different families of Crenarchaeota were examined for key enzymes of the known autotrophic CO(2) fixation pathways. Pyrobaculum islandicum ( Thermoproteaceae) contained key enzymes of the reductive citric acid cycle. This finding is consistent with the operation of this pathway in the related Thermoproteus neutrophilus. Pyrodictium abyssi and Pyrodictium occultum ( Pyrodictiaceae) contained ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, which was active in boiling water. Yet, phosphoribulokinase activity was not detectable. Operation of the Calvin cycle remains to be demonstrated. Ignicoccus islandicus and Ignicoccus pacificus ( Desulfurococcaceae) contained pyruvate oxidoreductase as potential carboxylating enzyme, but apparently lacked key enzymes of known pathways; their mode of autotrophic CO(2) fixation is at issue. Metallosphaera sedula, Acidianus ambivalens and Sulfolobus sp. strain VE6 ( Sulfolobaceae) contained key enzymes of a 3-hydroxypropionate cycle. This finding is in line with the demonstration of acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) and propionyl-CoA carboxylase activities in the related Acidianus brierleyi and Sulfolobus metallicus. Enzymes of central carbon metabolism in Metallosphaera sedula were studied in more detail. Enzyme activities of the 3-hydroxypropionate cycle were strongly up-regulated during autotrophic growth, supporting their role in CO(2) fixation. However, formation of acetyl-CoA from succinyl-CoA could not be demonstrated, suggesting a modified pathway of acetyl-CoA regeneration. We conclude that Crenarchaeota exhibit a mosaic of three or possibly four autotrophic pathways. The distribution of the pathways so far correlates with the 16S-rRNA-based taxa of the Crenarchaeota.

Carbon Dioxide↗

Reclassification of the crenarchael orders and families in accordance with 16S rRNA sequence data.

A phylogenetic analysis of all validly published members of the Crenarchaeota, including several new isolates from our laboratory, suggests three orders within this archaeal kingdom. The Thermoproteales consist of both the rod-shaped, hyperthermophilic, neutrophilic representatives of the Thermoproteaceae and the members of the new family Thermofilaceae. The Sulfolobales harbor all thermoacidophilic, coccoid organisms. The neutrophilic, hyperthermophilic cocci are members of a new order tentatively named "Igneococcales." This order comprises two families, the Desulfurococcaceae, characterized by maximal growth temperature of up to 100 degrees C, and the new family Pyrodictiaceae, for which optimal growth occurs at temperatures above 100 degrees C.

Archaea↗

Polyamines of the hyperthermophilic archaebacteria belonging to the genera Thermococcus and Methanothermus and two new genera Caldivirga and Palaeococcus.

Cellular polyamines of eight new thermophilic archaebacteria were investigated to determine the chemotaxonomic significance of polyamine distribution profiles. Hyperthermoacidophilic Caldivirga maquilingensis belonging to the family Thermoproteaceae of the Crenarchaeota have a unique polyamine profile comprising spermidine, norspermidine and norspermine as the major polyamines. Within the order Thermococcales of the Euryarchaeota, the major polyamines of an extremely thermophilic terrestrial species of Thermococcus, T. zilligii, were spermidine and agmatine, whereas hyperthermophilic submarine species of Thermococcus and hyperthermophilic submarine Palaeococcus ferrophilus contained a quaternary branched penta-amine, N4-bis(aminopropyl)spermidine, as a major polyamine. A hyperthermophilic methanogen, Methanothermus sociabilis, belonging to Euryarchaeota, contained spermidine and spermine as the major polyamine.

Polyamines↗

The crystal structure of adenylosuccinate lyase from Pyrobaculum aerophilum reveals an intracellular protein with three disulfide bonds.

Adenylosuccinate lyase catalyzes two separate reactions in the de novo purine biosynthetic pathway. Through its dual action in this pathway, adenylosuccinate lyase plays an integral part in cellular replication and metabolism. Mutations in the human enzyme can result in severe neurological disorders, including mental retardation with autistic features. The crystal structure of adenylosuccinate lyase from the hyperthermophilic archaebacterium Pyrobaculum aerophilum has been determined to 2.1 A resolution. Although both the fold of the monomer and the architecture of the tetrameric assembly are similar to adenylosuccinate lyase from the thermophilic eubacterium Thermotoga maritima, the archaebacterial lyase contains unique features. Surprisingly, the structure of adenylosuccinate lyase from P. aerophilum reveals that this intracellular protein contains three disulfide bonds that contribute significantly to its stability against thermal and chemical denaturation. The observation of multiple disulfide bonds in the recombinant form of the enzyme suggests the need for further investigations into whether the intracellular environment of P. aerophilum, and possibly other hyperthermophiles, may be compatible with protein disulfide bond formation. In addition, the protein is shorter in P. aerophilum than it is in other organisms. This abbreviation results from an internal excision of a cluster of helices that may be involved in protein-protein interactions in other organisms and may relate to the observed clinical effects of human mutations in that region.

Adenylosuccinate Lyase↗

Leaderless transcripts of the crenarchaeal hyperthermophile Pyrobaculum aerophilum.

We mapped transcription start sites for ten unrelated protein-encoding Pyrobaculum aerophilum genes by primer extension and S(1) nuclease mapping. All of the mapped transcripts start at the computationally predicted translation start codons, two of which were supported by N-terminal protein sequencing. A whole genome computational analysis of the regions from -50 to +50 nt around the predicted translation starts codons revealed a clear upstream pattern matching the consensus sequence of the archaeal TATA box located unusually close to the translation starts. For genes with the TATA boxes that best matched the consensus sequence, the distance between the TATA box and the translation start codon appears to be shorter than 30 nt. Two other promoter elements distinguished were also found unusually close to the translation start codons: a transcription initiator element with significant elevation of C and T frequencies at the -1 position and a BRE element with more frequent A bases at position -29 to -32 (counting from the translation start site). We also show that one of the mapped genes is transcribed as the first gene of an operon. For a set of genes likely to be internal in operons the upstream signal extracted by computer analysis was a Shine-Dalgarno pattern matching the complementary sequence of P. aerophilum 16 S rRNA. Together these results suggest that the translation of proteins encoded by single genes or genes that are first in operons in the hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon P. aerophilum proceeds mostly, if not exclusively, through leaderless transcripts. Internal genes in operons are likely to undergo translation via a mechanism that is facilitated by ribosome binding to the Shine-Dalgarno sequence.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Occurrence of introns in the 16S rRNA genes of members of the genus Thermoproteus.

Multiple introns were detected in the 16S rRNA gene of newly isolated Thermoproteus species strains IC-033 and IC-061 and Thermoproteus neutrophilus JCM 9278. In the 16S rRNA gene of strain IC-033, five introns of 627, 762, 636, 33, and 682 bp existed after positions 548, 781, 1092, 1205, and 1213 (according to the Escherichia coli numbering system), respectively. Likewise, strain IC-061 possessed 764-, 32-, and 688-bp introns after positions 781, 1205, and 1213, respectively; and T. neutrophilus JCM 9278 had 34- and 663-bp introns after positions 1205 and 1213, respectively. All the introns carried the putative intron core structures consisting of a bulge-helix-bulge motif and a long stable stem. The large introns carried open reading frames containing the LAGLI-DADG-like motifs in their terminal inserts; however, three out of four large introns of strain IC-033 seemed to incur frameshift mutations. Occurrence of introns at the same insertion sites in the three strains would allow tracing of the evolutionary movements of these introns.

Evolution, Molecular↗

A fosmid-based genomic map and identification of 474 genes of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrobaculum aerophilum.

We have constructed a physical map of the approximately 1.7-Mb genome of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrobaculum aerophilum. Derived from a 12x coverage genomic fosmid library with an average insert size of 36 Kb, the map consists of a single circular contig of 96 overlapping fosmid clones with 211 markers ordered along them. One hundred of the sequence markers have strong similarities to known genes. Many overlaps were also checked using restriction fingerprint analysis. This map is an important step in the elucidation of the sequence of the entire genome of Pyrobaculum aerophilum. To this end we have determined more than 95% of the genome with 15,000 random sequences. Each sequence has been screened against the public sequence databases to identify similarities to known genes. We report here a list of the 474 putative genes we have identified.

Animals↗

Role of two different glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases in controlling the reversible Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway in Thermoproteus tenax: regulation on protein and transcript level.

The hyperthermophilic archaeum Thermoproteus tenax uses a variant of the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas (EMP) pathway as the main route for carbohydrate metabolism. This variant is characterized by a reversible nonallosteric PPi-dependent phosphofructokinase and two glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases differing in cosubstrate specificity, phosphate dependence, and allosteric behavior. Although the nonphosphorylating NAD+-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPN; E.C. 1.2.1.8) fulfills exclusively catabolic purposes, the phosphorylating NADP+-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (NADP+-GAPDH; E.C. 1.2.1.13) exhibits anabolic features. The gene encoding the NADP+-GAPDH was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The deduced protein sequence displayed 47%-53% sequence identity to archaeal phosphorylating GAPDHs. The kinetic parameters of the NADP+-GAPDH showed a clear preference for the reductive reaction with a 5-fold-higher specific activity in the reductive reaction as compared to the oxidative reaction and a 20-fold-lower Km for 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate as compared to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. Contrary to GAPN, the enzyme is not allosterically regulated. The coding gene overlaps by 1 bp with a preceding open reading frame coding for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK; E.C. 2.7.2.3). Northern analyses identified mono- and bicistronic messages of both genes in an equimolar ratio. Transcript levels and specific activity of NADP+-GAPDH and PGK were 3- to 4-fold higher under autotrophic conditions as compared to heterotrophic conditions, whereas transcript abundance and specific activity of GAPN remained constant in autotrophically and heterotrophically grown cells. The different regulation of the two counteracting glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases is discussed with respect to the flux control of the T. tenax-specific EMP variant.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Electron tomography of ice-embedded prokaryotic cells.

Whole cells of archaea were embedded in vitreous ice by plunge freezing and investigated by automated energy-filtered electron tomography at 120 kV. The embedded cells were between 300 and 750 nm thick, and their structures were reconstructed to a resolution of 20-40 nm from tilt series comprising 50-140 images. The dose was kept within tolerable limits. A resolution of 20 nm allowed visualization of the individual stalks of the S-layer of Pyrobaculum aerophilum cells, which had undergone partial lysis, in three dimensions. The attainable resolution for low-dose electron tomography under different experimental conditions was theoretically investigated in terms of the specimen thickness. To obtain 2-nm resolution at 120 kV (300 kV), the specimen must not be thicker than 100 nm (150 nm). For a resolution of 10 nm, the maximum thickness is 450 nm (700 nm). An accelerating voltage of 300 kV is advantageous, mainly for specimens thicker than 100 nm. Experimental investigations so far have resulted in a resolution that is worse by a factor of 2-5 as compared to theory.

Automation↗

A thermostable vacuolar-type membrane pyrophosphatase from the archaeon Pyrobaculum aerophilum: implications for the origins of pyrophosphate-energized pumps.

Vacuolar-type H(+)-translocating pyrophosphatases (V-PPases) have been considered to be restricted to plants, a few species of phototrophic proteobacteria and protists. Here, we describe PVP, a thermostable, sequence-divergent V-PPase from the facultatively aerobic hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrobaculum aerophilum. PVP shares only 38% sequence identity with both the prototypical V-PPase from Arabidopsis thaliana and the H(+)-PPi synthase from Rhodospirillum rubrum, yet possesses most of the structural features characteristic of V-PPases. Heterologous expression of PVP in Saccharomyces cerevisiae yields a M(r) 64¿ omitted¿000 membrane polypeptide that specifically catalyzes Mg(2+)-dependent PPi hydrolysis. The existence of PVP implies that PPi-energized H(+)-translocation is phylogenetically more deeply rooted than previously thought.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure and function of an archaeal homolog of survival protein E (SurEalpha): an acid phosphatase with purine nucleotide specificity.

The survival protein E (SurE) family was discovered by its correlation to stationary phase survival of Escherichia coli and various repair proteins involved in sustaining this and other stress-response phenotypes. In order to better understand this ancient and well-conserved protein family, we have determined the 2.0A resolution crystal structure of SurEalpha from the hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon Pyrobaculum aerophilum (Pae). This first structure of an archaeal SurE reveals significant similarities to and differences from the only other known SurE structure, that from the eubacterium Thermatoga maritima (Tma). Both SurE monomers adopt similar folds; however, unlike the Tma SurE dimer, crystalline Pae SurEalpha is predominantly non-domain swapped. Comparative structural analyses of Tma and Pae SurE suggest conformationally variant regions, such as a hinge loop that may be involved in domain swapping. The putative SurE active site is highly conserved, and implies a model for SurE bound to a potential substrate, guanosine-5'-monophosphate (GMP). Pae SurEalpha has optimal acid phosphatase activity at temperatures above 90 degrees C, and is less specific than Tma SurE in terms of metal ion requirements. Substrate specificity also differs between Pae and Tma SurE, with a more specific recognition of purine nucleotides by the archaeal enzyme. Analyses of the sequences, phylogenetic distribution, and genomic organization of the SurE family reveal examples of genomes encoding multiple surE genes, and suggest that SurE homologs constitute a broad family of enzymes with phosphatase-like activities.

Acid Phosphatase↗