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At least 289 records · Page 16

Genome sequence and functional genomic analysis of the oil-degrading bacterium Oleispira antarctica

Ubiquitous bacteria from the genus Oleispira drive oil degradation in the largest environment on Earth, the cold and deep sea. Here we report the genome sequence of Oleispira antarctica and show that compared with Alcanivorax borkumensis—the paradigm of mesophilic hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria—O. antarctica has a larger genome that has witnessed massive gene-transfer events. We identify an array of alkane monooxygenases, osmoprotectants, siderophores and micronutrient-scavenging pathways. We also show that at low temperatures, the main protein-folding machine Cpn60 functions as a single heptameric barrel that uses larger proteins as substrates compared with the classical double-barrel structure observed at higher temperatures. With 11 protein crystal structures, we further report the largest set of structures from one psychrotolerant organism. The most common structural feature is an increased content of surface-exposed negatively charged residues compared to their mesophilic counterparts. Our findings are relevant in the context of microbial cold-adaptation mechanisms and the development of strategies for oil-spill mitigation in cold environments.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Complete genome sequence and integrated protein localization and interaction map for alfalfa dwarf virus, which combines properties of both cytoplasmic and nuclear plant rhabdoviruses

Summary: We have determined the full-length 14,491-nucleotide genome sequence of a new plant rhabdovirus, alfalfa dwarf virus (ADV). Seven open reading frames (ORFs) were identified in the antigenomic orientation of the negative-sense, single-stranded viral RNA, in the order 3′-N-P-P3-M-G-P6-L-5′. The ORFs are separated by conserved intergenic regions and the genome coding region is flanked by complementary 3′ leader and 5′ trailer sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleoprotein amino acid sequence indicated that this alfalfa-infecting rhabdovirus is related to viruses in the genus Cytorhabdovirus. When transiently expressed as GFP fusions in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves, most ADV proteins accumulated in the cell periphery, but unexpectedly P protein was localized exclusively in the nucleus. ADV P protein was shown to have a homotypic, and heterotypic nuclear interactions with N, P3 and M proteins by bimolecular fluorescence complementation. ADV appears unique in that it combines properties of both cytoplasmic and nuclear plant rhabdoviruses. - Highlights: • The complete genome of alfalfa dwarf virus is obtained. • An integrated localization and interaction map for ADV is determined. • ADV has a genome sequence similarity and evolutionary links with cytorhabdoviruses. • ADV protein localization and interaction data show an association with the nucleus. • ADV combines properties of both cytoplasmic and nuclear plant rhabdoviruses.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Reconstructed Ancestral Myo -Inositol-3-Phosphate Synthases Indicate That Ancestors of the Thermococcales and Thermotoga Species Were More Thermophilic than Their Descendants

The bacterial genomes of Thermotoga species show evidence of significant interdomain horizontal gene transfer from the Archaea. Members of this genus acquired many genes from the Thermococcales, which grow at higher temperatures than Thermotoga species. In order to study the functional history of an interdomain horizontally acquired gene we used ancestral sequence reconstruction to examine the thermal characteristics of reconstructed ancestral proteins of the Thermotoga lineage and its archaeal donors. Several ancestral sequence reconstruction methods were used to determine the possible sequences of the ancestral Thermotoga and Archaea myo-inositol-3-phosphate synthase (MIPS). These sequences were predicted to be more thermostable than the extant proteins using an established sequence composition method. We verified these computational predictions by measuring the activities and thermostabilities of purified proteins from the Thermotoga and the Thermococcales species, and eight ancestral reconstructed proteins. We found that the ancestral proteins from both the archaeal donor and the Thermotoga most recent common ancestor recipient were more thermostable than their descendants. We show that there is a correlation between the thermostability of MIPS protein and the optimal growth temperature (OGT) of its host, which suggests that the OGT of the ancestors of these species of Archaea and the Thermotoga grew at higher OGTs than their descendants.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Next-generation sequencing-based miRNA expression analysis in Parp1-deficient embryonic stem cell-derived exosomes

Highlights: • This is the first report for the extracellular role of Parp1 via exosomal miRNAs. • Parp1{sup −/−} embryonic stem cell-derived exosomes were examined for miRNA regulation. • Next-generation sequencing revealed upregulated and downregulated miRNAs. • Upregulated miRNAs were associated with five signaling pathways. • Gene ontology annotation for growth/stress-related signaling and cell communication. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase family, member 1 (Parp1) has pleiotropic and disparate functions in multiple cellular signaling pathways through post-translational protein modification. It contributes to the regulation of various cellular processes, including DNA damage repair, cell death, and cell differentiation, genetically or epigenetically. Meanwhile, the functions of Parp1 in intercellular signaling remain to be established. To examine the functions of Parp1 in intercellular signaling, we examined microRNA (miRNA) regulation in exosomes derived from Parp1-deficient (Parp1{sup −/−}) embryonic stem (ES) cells. The percentages of miRNAs among total RNAs, including small RNAs such as miRNAs, snRNAs, snoRNAs, tRNAs, exonic RNAs, and intronic RNAs, in Parp1{sup +/+} and Parp1{sup −/−} ES cell-derived exosomes were 8.2% and 3.5%, respectively. Overall, 329 distinct miRNAs exhibited ≥2-fold changes (118 upregulated; 211 downregulated). The upregulated miRNAs targeted 810 candidate genes, and the downregulated miRNAs targeted 716 candidate genes. Pathway analyses revealed that the upregulated miRNAs were significantly associated with five pathways including MAPK signaling cascades (p Parp1{sup −/−} ES cells. In quantitative analyses of miRNA expression, miR365-3p, let-7a-5p, miR196b-5p, miR203-3p, miR98-5p, and miR146a-5p were increased by ≥ 2-fold in Parp1{sup −/−} ES cell-derived exosomes. Gene ontology enrichment analyses revealed that the upregulated miRNAs were significantly annotated for growth and stress-related cell signaling and cell communication (p Parp1 deficiency in ES cells led to inhibition of cell–cell communication, possibly by intercellular signal transduction, suggesting that Parp1 functions extracellularly by regulating exosomal miRNAs.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Benchmarking second and third-generation sequencing platforms for microbial metagenomics

Shotgun metagenomic sequencing is a common approach for studying the taxonomic diversity and metabolic potential of complex microbial communities. Current methods primarily use second generation short read sequencing, yet advances in third generation long read technologies provide opportunities to overcome some of the limitations of short read sequencing. Here, we compared seven platforms, encompassing second generation sequencers (Illumina HiSeq 300, MGI DNBSEQ-G400 and DNBSEQ-T7, ThermoFisher Ion GeneStudio S5 and Ion Proton P1) and third generation sequencers (Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION R9 and Pacific Biosciences Sequel II). We constructed three uneven synthetic microbial communities composed of up to 87 genomic microbial strains DNAs per mock, spanning 29 bacterial and archaeal phyla, and representing the most complex and diverse synthetic communities used for sequencing technology comparisons. Our results demonstrate that third generation sequencing have advantages over second generation platforms in analyzing complex microbial communities, but require careful sequencing library preparation for optimal quantitative metagenomic analysis. Our sequencing data also provides a valuable resource for testing and benchmarking bioinformatics software for metagenomics.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

LABEL: Fast and Accurate Lineage Assignment with Assessment of H5N1 and H9N2 Influenza A Hemagglutinins

The evolutionary classification of influenza genes into lineages is a first step in understanding their molecular epidemiology and can inform the subsequent implementation of control measures. We introduce a novel approach called Lineage Assignment By Extended Learning (LABEL) to rapidly determine cladistic information for any number of genes without the need for time-consuming sequence alignment, phylogenetic tree construction, or manual annotation. Instead, LABEL relies on hidden Markov model profiles and support vector machine training to hierarchically classify gene sequences by their similarity to pre-defined lineages. We assessed LABEL by analyzing the annotated hemagglutinin genes of highly pathogenic (H5N1) and low pathogenicity (H9N2) avian influenza A viruses. Using the WHO/FAO/OIE H5N1 evolution working group nomenclature, the LABEL pipeline quickly and accurately identified the H5 lineages of uncharacterized sequences. Moreover, we developed an updated clade nomenclature for the H9 hemagglutinin gene and show a similarly fast and reliable phylogenetic assessment with LABEL. While this study was focused on hemagglutinin sequences, LABEL could be applied to the analysis of any gene and shows great potential to guide molecular epidemiology activities, accelerate database annotation, and provide a data sorting tool for other large-scale bioinformatic studies.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Genome annotation provides insight into carbon monoxide and hydrogen metabolism in Rubrivivax gelatinosus

In this article, we report here the sequencing and analysis of the genome of the purple non-sulfur photosynthetic bacterium Rubrivivax gelatinosus CBS. This microbe is a model for studies of its carboxydotrophic life style under anaerobic condition, based on its ability to utilize carbon monoxide (CO) as the sole carbon substrate and water as the electron acceptor, yielding CO 2 and H 2 as the end products. The CO-oxidation reaction is known to be catalyzed by two enzyme complexes, the CO dehydrogenase and hydrogenase. As expected, analysis of the genome of Rx. gelatinosus CBS reveals the presence of genes encoding both enzyme complexes. The CO-oxidation reaction is CO-inducible, which is consistent with the presence of two putative CO-sensing transcription factors in its genome. Genome analysis also reveals the presence of two additional hydrogenases, an uptake hydrogenase that liberates the electrons in H 2 in support of cell growth, and a regulatory hydrogenase that senses H 2 and relays the signal to a two-component system that ultimately controls synthesis of the uptake hydrogenase. The genome also contains two sets of hydrogenase maturation genes which are known to assemble the catalytic metallocluster of the hydrogenase NiFe active site. Finally and collectively, the genome sequence and analysis information reveals the blueprint of an intricate network of signal transduction pathways and its underlying regulation that enables Rx. gelatinosus CBS to thrive on CO or H 2 in support of cell growth.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Genomics-Guided Analysis of NAD Recycling Yields Functional Elucidation of COG1058 as a New Family of Pyrophosphatases

We have recently identified the enzyme NMN deamidase (PncC), which plays a key role in the regeneration of NAD in bacteria by recycling back to the coenzyme the pyridine by-products of its non redox consumption. In several bacterial species, PncC is fused to a COG1058 domain of unknown function, highly conserved and widely distributed in all living organisms. Here, we demonstrate that the PncC-fused domain is endowed with a novel Co +2 - and K + -dependent ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase activity, and discuss the functional connection of such an activity with NAD recycling. An in-depth phylogenetic analysis of the COG1058 domain evidenced that in most bacterial species it is fused to PncC, while in α- and some δ-proteobacteria, as well as in archaea and fungi, it occurs as a stand-alone protein. Notably, in mammals and plants it is fused to FAD synthase. We extended the enzymatic characterization to a representative bacterial single-domain protein, which resulted to be a more versatile ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase, active also towards diadenosine 5'-diphosphate and FAD. Multiple sequence alignment analysis, and superposition of the available three-dimensional structure of an archaeal COG1058 member with the structure of the enzyme MoeA of the molybdenum cofactor biosynthesis, allowed identification of residues likely involved in catalysis. Their role has been confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Identification of a new circulating recombinant form of human immunodeficiency virus type 1, CRF124_cpx involving subtypes A, G, H, and CRF27_cpx in Angola

Angola, located in Central Africa, has around 320,000 (270,000–380,000) people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS, equivalent to 1% of the country’s population at the end of 2021. A previous study conducted in 2012, using Angolan samples collected between 2008 and 2010 revealed a high prevalence of HIV-1 recombinants, around 42% of sequences, with 21% showing the same UH profile in partial pol region which were grouped into a monophyletic cluster with high bootstrap support. Thus, the objective of the present work was to obtain complete genomes of those sequences and characterize them, aiming at a description of a new circulating recombinant form (CRF). Whole blood from nine HIV-1 UH pol -infected individuals had their genomic DNA extracted, and nested PCR was used to amplify seven overlapping fragments targeting the full-length HIV-1 genome. The final classification was based on maximum likelihood trees, and recombination analyses were performed using a bootscan from the Simplot program. BLAST and Los Alamos Database inspections were used to search other similar H-like pol sequences. Complete genome amplification was possible for three samples, partial genomes were obtained for the other three, and only pol was available for the remaining three sequences. Bootscan analysis of the two whole-genome and three partial genome sequences retrieved from people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIVA) without epidemiological linkage showed the same complex recombination profile involving HIV-1 subtypes A/G/H/CRF27_cpx, with a total of six recombinant breakpoints, aiming to classify a new HIV-1 CRF124_cpx. We found no other full-length HIV-1 genomes with the same mosaic profile; however, we identified 33 partial pol sequences, mainly sampled from Angola between 2001 to 2019, with the same H-like profile. Bayesian analysis of H and H-like pol sequences indicates that CRF124_cpx probably originated in Angola at mid-1970s, indicating that this CRF has been circulating in the country for a long time. In summary, our study describes a new CRF circulating principally in Angola and highlights the importance of continuing molecular surveillance studies, especially in countries with high molecular diversity of HIV.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Comprehensive High Throughput One‐Pot Analysis of Glycoproteins through Tool for Rapid Analysis of Glycopeptide by Permethylation (TRAP) Method.

Glycoproteins plays key roles in various cellular functions such as protein folding, protein targeting, receptor function, cell–cell recognition, protein stability, signaling, and other cellular functions. Currently a comprehensive and universal tool for the automated analysis of glycopeptides through their tandem mass spectrometry and data processing is a tedious process. We recently developed a method, Tool for Rapid Analysis of glycopeptide by Permethylation (TRAP), that simplifies glycoprotein analysis by integrating glycan sequencing and glycopeptide analysis in a single experiment. We employed this approach for the detailed analysis of glycosidic linkages, composition, glycan sequencing, glycosylation site mapping and sequencing of peptide moiety of glycopeptides of glycoproteins from both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Here we are presenting an easy to use, robust, suitable for large as well as small sample sets and also cost‐effective glycoprotein analysis tool through TRAP approach. A permethylation protocol which can be automated and suitable for reliable permethylation of glycopeptides from the protease digest of glycoproteins was developed. Initial studies on glycopeptides from a model glycoprotein bovine RNAse B indicates that improved sensitivity and throughput of permethylation reactions can be achieved in conducting the reaction in microscale. This approach would enable convenient, rapid, and reliable high‐throughput screening of protein glycosylation and can be employed as a cost‐effective kit for glycosylated biomarker discoveries. In order to improvise the comprehensive glycosylation analysis and throughput, we have also developed an LC‐MS/MS platform for the analysis of glycopeptides processed through TRAP. We have conducted the analysis of standard glycoproteins such as bovine RNase B, human transferrin, and bovine fetuin and our preliminary results indicate that TRAP hyphened with LC‐MS/MS enables characterization of isomers of each glycoform at each glycosylation sites of complex glycoprotein mixtures. Support or Funding Information This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded research, Grant R21GM122633; resource for biomedical glycomics, Grant P41GM103490; instrument grant, Grant S10OD018530; and U.S. Department of Energy grant, Grant DE‐SC0015662, to the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center. This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .

Shajahan, Asif↗

The structure of PccH from Geobactersulfurreducens-a novel low reduction potential monoheme cytochrome essential for accepting electrons from an electrode

The structure of cytochrome c (GSU3274) designated as PccH from Geobactersulfurreducens was determined at a resolution of 2.0 angstrom. PccH is a small (15kDa) cytochrome containing one c-type heme, found to be essential for the growth of G.sulfurreducens with respect to accepting electrons from graphite electrodes poised at -300mV versus standard hydrogen electrode. with fumarate as the terminal electron acceptor. The structure of PccH is unique among the monoheme cytochromes described to date. The structural fold of PccH can be described as forming two lobes with the heme sandwiched in a cleft between the two lobes. In addition, PccH has a low reduction potential of -24mV at pH7, which is unusual for monoheme cytochromes. Based on difference in structure, together with sequence phylogenetic analysis, we propose that PccH can be regarded as a first characterized example of a new subclass of class I monoheme cytochromes. The low reduction potential of PccH may enable the protein to be redox active at the typically negative potential ranges encountered by G. sulfurreducens. Because PccH is predicted to be located in the periplasm of this bacterium, it could not be involved in the first step of accepting electrons from the electrode but is very likely involved in the downstream electron transport events in the periplasm.

Dantas, Joana↗

Analysis of Stomach and Gut Microbiomes of the Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) from Coastal Louisiana, USA

In this paper, we used high throughput pyrosequencing to characterize stomach and gut content microbiomes of Crassostrea virginica, the Easter oyster, obtained from two sites, one in Barataria Bay (Hackberry Bay) and the other in Terrebonne Bay (Lake Caillou), Louisiana, USA. Stomach microbiomes in oysters from Hackberry Bay were overwhelmingly dominated by Mollicutes most closely related to Mycoplasma; a more rich community dominated by Planctomyctes occurred in Lake Caillou oyster stomachs. Gut communities for oysters from both sites differed from stomach communities, and harbored a relatively diverse assemblage of phylotypes. Phylotypes most closely related to Shewanella and a Chloroflexi strain dominated the Lake Caillou and Hackberry Bay gut microbiota, respectively. While many members of the stomach and gut microbiomes appeared to be transients or opportunists, a putative core microbiome was identified based on phylotypes that occurred in all stomach or gut samples only. The putative core stomach microbiome comprised 5 OTUs in 3 phyla, while the putative core gut microbiome contained 44 OTUs in 12 phyla. These results collectively revealed novel microbial communities within the oyster digestive system, the functions of the oyster microbiome are largely unknown. Finally, a comparison of microbiomes from Louisiana oysters with bacterial communities reported for other marine invertebrates and fish indicated that molluscan microbiomes were more similar to each other than to microbiomes of polychaetes, decapods and fish.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Diverse tumour susceptibility in Collaborative Cross mice: identification of a new mouse model for human gastric tumourigenesis

Objective: The Collaborative Cross (CC) is a mouse population model with diverse and reproducible genetic backgrounds used to identify novel disease models and genes that contribute to human disease. Since spontaneous tumour susceptibility in CC mice remains unexplored, we assessed tumour incidence and spectrum. Design: We monitored 293 mice from 18 CC strains for tumour development. Genetic association analysis and RNA sequencing were used to identify susceptibility loci and candidate genes. We analysed genomes of patients with gastric cancer to evaluate the relevance of genes identified in the CC mouse model and measured the expression levels of ISG15 by immunohistochemical staining using a gastric adenocarcinoma tissue microarray. Association of gene expression with overall survival (OS) was assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results: CC mice displayed a wide range in the incidence and types of spontaneous tumours. More than 40% of CC036 mice developed gastric tumours within 1 year. Genetic association analysis identified Nfκb1 as a candidate susceptibility gene, while RNA sequencing analysis of non-tumour gastric tissues from CC036 mice showed significantly higher expression of inflammatory response genes. In human gastric cancers, the majority of human orthologues of the 166 mouse genes were preferentially altered by amplification or deletion and were significantly associated with OS. Higher expression of the CC036 inflammatory response gene signature is associated with poor OS. Finally, ISG15 protein is elevated in gastric adenocarcinomas and correlated with shortened patient OS. Conclusions: CC strains exhibit tremendous variation in tumour susceptibility, and we present CC036 as a spontaneous laboratory mouse model for studying human gastric tumourigenesis.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

CisSERS: Customizable In Silico Sequence Evaluation for Restriction Sites

High-throughput sequencing continues to produce an immense volume of information that is processed and assembled into mature sequence data. Here, data analysis tools are urgently needed that leverage the embedded DNA sequence polymorphisms and consequent changes to restriction sites or sequence motifs in a high-throughput manner to enable biological experimentation. Cis SERS was developed as a standalone open source tool to analyze sequence datasets and provide biologists with individual or comparative genome organization information in terms of presence and frequency of patterns or motifs such as restriction enzymes. Predicted agarose gel visualization of the custom analyses results was also integrated to enhance the usefulness of the software. Cis SERS offers several novel functionalities, such as handling of large and multiple datasets in parallel, multiple restriction enzyme site detection and custom motif detection features, which are seamlessly integrated with real time agarose gel visualization. Using a simple fasta-formatted file as input, Cis SERS utilizes the REBASE enzyme database. Results from Cis SERSenable the user to make decisions for designing genotyping by sequencing experiments, reduced representation sequencing, 3’UTR sequencing, and cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) molecular markers for large sample sets. Cis SERS is a java based graphical user interface built around a perl backbone. Several of the applications of Cis SERS including CAPS molecular marker development were successfully validated using wet-lab experimentation. Here, we present the tool Cis SERSand results from in-silico and corresponding wet-lab analyses demonstrating that Cis SERS is a technology platform solution that facilitates efficient data utilization in genomics and genetics studies.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗