Acetate-grown Methanosarcina Thermophila Research Articles

Genomic and proteomic analyses reveal multiple homologs of genes encoding enzymes of the methanol:coenzyme M methyltransferase system that are differentially expressed in methanol- and acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila

Each of the genomic sequences of Methanosarcina acetivorans, Methanosarcina mazei, and Methanosarcina thermophila revealed two homologs of mtaA, three homologs of mtaB, and three homologs of mtaC encoding enzymes specific for methanogenesis from methanol. Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analyses of polypeptides from M. thermophila established that methanol induces the expression of mtaA-1, mtaB-1, mtaB-2, mtaB-3, mtaC-1, mtaC-2, and mtaC-3 whereas mtaB-3 and mtaC-3 are constitutively expressed in acetate-grown cells. The gene product of one of three mttC homologs, encoding trimethylamine-specific methyltransferase I, was detected in methanol- but not acetate-grown M. thermophila. A postulated role for the multiple homologs is discussed.

O-Acetylserine sulfhydrylase from Methanosarcina thermophila.

Cysteine is the major source of fixed sulfur for the synthesis of sulfur-containing compounds in organisms of the Bacteria and Eucarya domains. Though pathways for cysteine biosynthesis have been established for both of these domains, it is unknown how the Archaea fix sulfur or synthesize cysteine. None of the four archaeal genomes sequenced to date contain open reading frames with identities to either O-acetyl-L-serine sulfhydrylase (OASS) or homocysteine synthase, the only sulfur-fixing enzymes known in nature. We report the purification and characterization of OASS from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila, a moderately thermophilic methanoarchaeon. The purified OASS contained pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and catalyzed the formation of L-cysteine and acetate from O-acetyl-L-serine and sulfide. The N-terminal amino acid sequence has high sequence similarity with other known OASS enzymes from the Eucarya and Bacteria domains. The purified OASS had a specific activity of 129 micromol of cysteine/min/mg, with a K(m) of 500 +/- 80 microM for sulfide, and exhibited positive cooperativity and substrate inhibition with O-acetyl-L-serine. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a single band at 36 kDa, and native gel filtration chromatography indicated a molecular mass of 93 kDa, suggesting that the purified OASS is either a homodimer or a homotrimer. The optimum temperature for activity was between 40 and 60 degrees C, consistent with the optimum growth temperature for M. thermophila. The results of this study provide the first evidence for a sulfur-fixing enzyme in the Archaea domain. The results also provide the first biochemical evidence for an enzyme with the potential for involvement in cysteine biosynthesis in the Archaea.

Characterization of a CO: heterodisulfide oxidoreductase system from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila

During the methanogenic fermentation of acetate by Methanosarcina thermophila, the CO dehydrogenase complex cleaves acetyl coenzyme A and oxidizes the carbonyl group (or CO) to CO2, followed by electron transfer to coenzyme M (CoM)-S-S-coenzyme B (CoB) and reduction of this heterodisulfide to HS-CoM and HS-CoB (A. P. Clements, R. H. White, and J. G. Ferry, Arch. Microbiol. 159:296-300, 1993). The majority of heterodisulfide reductase activity was present in the soluble protein fraction after French pressure cell lysis. A CO:CoM-S-S-CoB oxidoreductase system from acetate-grown cells was reconstituted with purified CO dehydrogenase enzyme complex, ferredoxin, membranes, and partially purified heterodisulfide reductase. Coenzyme F420 (F420) was not required, and CO:F420 oxidoreductase activity was not detected in cell extracts. The membranes contained cytochrome b that was reduced with CO and oxidized with CoM-S-S-CoB. The results suggest that a novel CoM-S-S-CoB reducing system operates during acetate conversion to CH4 and CO2. In this system, ferredoxin transfers electrons from the CO dehydrogenase complex to membrane-bound electron carriers, including cytochrome b, that are required for electron transfer to the heterodisulfide reductase. The cytochrome b was purified from solubilized membrane proteins in a complex with six other polypeptides. The cytochrome was not reduced when the complex was incubated with H2 or CO, and H2 uptake hydrogenase activity was not detected; however, the addition of CO dehydrogenase enzyme complex and ferredoxin enabled the CO-dependent reduction of cytochrome b.

A carbonic anhydrase from the archaeon Methanosarcina thermophila.

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila was purified > 10,000-fold (22% recovery) to apparent homogeneity with a specific activity of 4872 units/mg. The estimated native molecular mass of the enzyme is 84 kDa based on gel filtration chromatography. SDS/PAGE revealed one protein band with an apparent molecular mass of 40 kDa. The M. thermophila CA is less sensitive than human CA isozyme II toward inhibition by sulfonamides and monovalent ions. The gene encoding this CA was cloned into pUC18 and sequenced. Escherichia coli harboring the recombinant plasmid expresses CA activity (2.3 units/mg of cell extract protein). Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence with the N-terminal sequence of the purified protein shows that the gene encodes an additional 34 N-terminal residues with properties characteristic of signal peptides in secretory proteins. The calculated molecular mass (22.9 kDa) and pI (4.0) suggest that SDS/PAGE overestimates the subunit size and that the native enzyme is a tetramer. To our knowledge, the deduced amino acid sequence has no significant identity to any known CA but has 35% sequence identity to the first 197 deduced N-terminal amino acids of a proposed CO2-concentrating-mechanism protein from Synechococcus PCC7942 and 28% sequence identity to the deduced sequence of ferripyochelin binding protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Thus, our results indicate that this archaeal CA represents a distinct class of CAs and provide a basis to determine physiological roles for CA in acetotrophic anaerobes.

Characterization of the iron-sulfur clusters in ferredoxin from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila.

Ferredoxin from Methanosarcina thermophila is an electron acceptor for the CO dehydrogenase complex which decarbonylates acetyl-coenzyme A and oxidizes the carbonyl group to carbon dioxide in the pathway for conversion of the methyl group of acetate to methane (K. C. Terlesky and J. G. Ferry, J. Biol. Chem. 263:4080-4082, 1988). Resonance Raman spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroelectrochemistry indicated that the ferredoxin contained two [4Fe-4S] clusters per monomer of 6,790 Da, each with a midpoint potential of -407 mV. A [3Fe-4S] species, with a midpoint potential of +103 mV, was also detected in the protein at high redox potentials. Quantitation of the [3Fe-4S] and [4Fe-4S] centers revealed 0.4 and 2.1 spins per monomer, respectively. The iron-sulfur clusters were unstable in the presence of air, and the rate of cluster loss increased with increasing temperature. A ferredoxin preparation, with a low spin quantitation of [4Fe-4S] centers, was treated with Fe2+ and S2-, which resulted in an increase in [4Fe-4S] and a decrease in [3Fe-4S] clusters. The results of these studies suggest the [3Fe-4S] species may be an artifact formed from degradation of [4Fe-4S] clusters.

Resolution of component proteins in an enzyme complex from Methanosarcina thermophila catalyzing the synthesis or cleavage of acetyl-CoA.

An enzyme complex was isolated from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila that oxidized CO and catalyzed the synthesis or cleavage of acetyl-CoA. The complex consisted of five subunits (alpha1beta1gamma1delta1epsilon1) of 89, 71, 60, 58, and 19 kDa. The complex contained nickel, iron, acid-labile sulfide, and cobalt in a corrinoid cofactor. Two components were resolved by anion-exchange chromatography of the complex in the presence of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide and Triton X-100: a 200-kDa nickel/iron-sulfur protein with the 89- and 19-kDa (alpha2epsilonx) subunits and a 100-kDa corrinoid/iron-sulfur protein with the 60- and 58-kDa subunits (gamma1delta1). The nickel/iron-sulfur component contained 0.21 Ni, 2.7 Zn, 7.7 Fe, and 13.2 acid-labile sulfide (per alpha1epsilon1). The corrinoid/iron-sulfur component contained 0.7 Co, 0.7 factor III [Coalpha-[alpha-(5-hydroxybenzimidazolyl)]-Cobeta-cyanocobamide], 3.0 Fe, and 2.9 acid-labile sulfide (gamma1delta1). Both components contained iron-sulfur centers. The nickel/iron-sulfur component oxidized CO and reduced methyl viologen or a ferredoxin isolated from M. thermophila. The nickel/iron-sulfur component also oxidized CO and transferred electrons to the corrinoid/iron-sulfur component, reducing the iron-sulfur and Co centers. UV-visible spectroscopy indicated that the reduced corrinoid/iron-sulfur component could be methylated with CH3I. The results suggest that the enzyme complex from M. thermophila contained at least two enzyme components, each with a specific function. The properties of the component enzymes support a mechanism proposed for acetyl-CoA synthesis (or cleavage) by the enzyme complex.

Purification and properties of methyl coenzyme M methylreductase from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila

Methyl coenzyme M methylreductase from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila TM-1 was purified 16-fold from a cell extract to apparent homogeneity as determined by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Ninety-four percent of the methylreductase activity was recovered in the soluble fraction of cell extracts. The estimated native molecular weight of the enzyme was between 132,000 (standard deviation [SD], 1,200) and 141,000 (SD, 1,200). Denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed three protein bands corresponding to molecular weights of 69,000 (SD, 1,200), 42,000 (SD, 1,200), and 33,000 (SD, 1,200) and indicated a subunit configuration of alpha 1 beta 1 gamma 1. As isolated, the enzyme was inactive but could be reductively reactivated with titanium (III) citrate or reduced ferredoxin. ATP stimulated enzyme reactivation and was postulated to be involved in a conformational change of the inactive enzyme from an unready state to a ready state that could be reductively reactivated. The temperature and pH optima for enzyme activity were 60 degrees C and between 6.5 and 7.0, respectively. The active enzyme contained 1 mol of coenzyme F430 per mol of enzyme (Mr, 144,000). The Kms for 2-(methylthio)ethane-sulfonate and 7-mercaptoheptanoylthreonine phosphate were 3.3 mM and 59 microM, respectively.

Demonstration of carbon-carbon bond cleavage of acetyl coenzyme A by using isotopic exchange catalyzed by the CO dehydrogenase complex from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila

The purified nickel-containing CO dehydrogenase complex isolated from methanogenic Methanosarcina thermophila grown on acetate is able to catalyze the exchange of [1-14C] acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) (carbonyl group) with 12CO as well as the exchange of [3'-32P]CoA with acetyl-CoA. Kinetic parameters for the carbonyl exchange have been determined: Km (acetyl-CoA) = 200 microM, Vmax = 15 min-1. CoA is a potent inhibitor of this exchange (Ki = 25 microM) and is formed under the assay conditions because of a slow but detectable acetyl-CoA hydrolase activity of the enzyme. Kinetic parameters for both exchanges are compared with those previously determined for the acetyl-CoA synthase/CO dehydrogenase from the acetogenic Clostridium thermoaceticum. Collectively, these results provide evidence for the postulated role of CO dehydrogenase as the key enzyme for acetyl-CoA degradation in acetotrophic bacteria.

Synthesis of acetyl coenzyme A by carbon monoxide dehydrogenase complex from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila

The carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH) complex from Methanosarcina thermophila catalyzed the synthesis of acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) from CH3I, CO, and coenzyme A (CoA) at a rate of 65 nmol/min/mg at 55 degrees C. The reaction ended after 5 min with the synthesis of 52 nmol of acetyl-CoA per nmol of CODH complex. The optimum temperature for acetyl-CoA synthesis in the assay was between 55 and 60 degrees C; the rate of synthesis at 55 degrees C was not significantly different between pHs 5.5 and 8.0. The rate of acetyl-CoA synthesis was independent of CoA concentrations between 20 microM and 1 mM; however, activity was inhibited 50% with 5 mM CoA. Methylcobalamin did not substitute for CH3I in acetyl-CoA synthesis; no acetyl-CoA or propionyl coenzyme A was detected when sodium acetate or CH3CH2I replaced CH3I in the assay mixture. CO could be replaced with CO2 and titanium(III) citrate. When CO2 and 14CO were present in the assay, the specific activity of the acetyl-CoA synthesized was 87% of the specific activity of 14CO, indicating that CO was preferentially incorporated into acetyl-CoA without prior oxidation to free CO2. Greater than 100 microM potassium cyanide was required to significantly inhibit acetyl-CoA synthesis, and 500 microM was required for 50% inhibition; in contrast, oxidation of CO by the CODH complex was inhibited 50% by approximately 10 microM potassium cyanide.

Protein content and enzyme activities in methanol- and acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila

The cell extract protein content of acetate- and methanol-grown Methanosarcina thermophila TM-1 was examined by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. More than 100 mutually exclusive spots were present in acetate- and methanol-grown cells. Spots corresponding to acetate kinase, phosphotransacetylase, and the five subunits of the carbon monoxide dehydrogenase complex were identified in acetate-grown cells. Activities of formylmethanofuran dehydrogenase, formylmethanofuran:tetrahydromethanopterin formyltransferase, 5,10-methenyltetrahydromethanopterin cyclohydrolase, methylene tetrahydromethanopterin:coenzyme F420 oxidoreductase, formate dehydrogenase, and carbonic anhydrase were examined in acetate- and methanol-grown Methanosarcina thermophila. Levels of formyltransferase in either acetate- or methanol-grown Methanosarcina thermophila were approximately half the levels detected in H2-CO2-grown Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum. All other enzyme activities were significantly lower in acetate- and methanol-grown Methanosarcina thermophila.

Purification and characterization of acetate kinase from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila. Evidence for regulation of synthesis.

Acetate kinase was purified 102-fold to a specific activity of 656 mumol of ADP formed/min/mg of protein from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila. The enzyme was not intrinsically membrane bound. The native enzyme (Mr 94,000) was an alpha 2 homodimer with a subunit Mr of 53,000. The activity was optimum between pH 7.0 and 7.4. A pI of 4.7 was determined. The enzyme was stable to O2 and stable to heating at 70 degrees C for 15 min but was rapidly inactivated at higher temperatures. The apparent Km for acetate was 22 mM and for ATP was 2.8 mM. The enzyme phosphorylated propionate at 60% of the rate with acetate but was unable to use formate. TTP, ITP, UTP, GTP, and CTP replaced ATP as the phosphoryl donor to acetate. The enzyme required one of several divalent cations for activity; the maximum rate was obtained with Mn2+. Western blots of cell extract proteins showed that acetate grown cells synthesized higher quantities of the acetate kinase than did methanol grown cells.

Ferredoxin requirement for electron transport from the carbon monoxide dehydrogenase complex to a membrane-bound hydrogenase in acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila.

Cell extracts from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila contained CO-oxidizing:H2-evolving activity 16-fold greater than extracts from methanol-grown cells. Following fractionation of cell extracts into soluble and membrane components, CO-dependent H2 evolution and CO-dependent methyl-coenzyme M methylreductase activities were only present in the soluble fraction, but addition of the membrane fraction enhanced both activities. A b-type cytochrome(s), present in the membrane fraction, was linked to a membrane-bound hydrogenase. CO-oxidizing:H2-evolving activity was reconstituted with: (i) CO dehydrogenase complex, (ii) a ferredoxin, and (iii) purified membranes with associated hydrogenase. The ferredoxin was a direct electron acceptor for the CO dehydrogenase complex. The ferredoxin also coupled CO oxidation by CO dehydrogenase complex to metronidazole reduction.

Purification and characterization of a ferredoxin from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila.

A ferredoxin, which functions as an electron acceptor for the CO dehydrogenase complex from Methanosarcina thermophila, was purified from acetate-grown cells. It was isolated as a trimer having a native molecular weight of approximately 16,400 and monomer molecular weight of 4,888 calculated from the amino acid composition. The ferredoxin contained 2.80 +/- 0.56 Fe atoms and 1.98 +/- 0.12 acid-labile sulfide. UV-visible absorption maxima were 395 and 295 nm with monomeric extinction coefficients of epsilon 395 = 12,800 M-1 cm-1 and epsilon 295 = 14,460 M-1 cm-1. The A395/A295 ratio ranged from 0.80 to 0.88. There were 5 cysteines per monomer but no methionine, histidine, arginine, or aromatic amino acids. The N-terminal amino acid sequence showed a 4-cysteine cluster with potential to coordinate a Fe:S center. The protein was stable for 30 min at 70 degrees C, but denatured during incubation at 85 degrees C.

EPR properties of the Ni-Fe-C center in an enzyme complex with carbon monoxide dehydrogenase activity from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila. Evidence that acetyl-CoA is a physiological substrate.

The carbon monoxide dehydrogenase complex from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila was further studied by EPR spectroscopy. The as purified enzyme exhibited no paramagnetic species at 113 K; however, enzyme reduced with CO exhibited a complex EPR spectrum comprised of two paramagnetic species with g values of g1 = 2.089, g2 = 2.078, and g3 = 2.030 (signal I) and g1 = 2.057, g2 = 2.049, and g3 = 2.027 (signal II). Isotopic substitution with 61Ni, 57Fe, or 13CO resulted in broadening of the EPR spectra indicating a Ni-Fe-C spin-coupled complex. Pure signal II was obtained following treatment of the CO-reduced enzyme with acetyl-CoA but not by addition of acetyl phosphate or CoASH. Acetate-grown cells were highly enriched in acetate kinase (EC 2.7.2.1) and CoASH-dependent phosphotransacetylase (EC 2.3.1.8) activities. These results suggest acetyl-CoA is a physiological substrate for the carbon monoxide dehydrogenase complex synthesized in acetate-grown cells of M. thermophila.

Isolation of an enzyme complex with carbon monoxide dehydrogenase activity containing corrinoid and nickel from acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila.

Fast protein liquid chromatography of cell extract from methanol- or acetate-grown Methanosarcina thermophila resolved two peaks of CO dehydrogenase activity. The activity of one of the CO dehydrogenases was sixfold greater in acetate-grown compared with methanol-grown cells. This CO dehydrogenase was purified to apparent homogeneity (70 mumol of methyl viologen reduced per min per mg of protein) and made up greater than 10% of the cellular protein of acetate-grown cells. The native enzyme (Mr 250,000) formed aggregates with an Mr of approximately 1,000,000. The enzyme contained five subunits (Mrs 89,000, 71,000, 60,000, 58,000, and 19,000), suggesting a multifunctional enzyme complex. Nickel, iron, cobalt, zinc, inorganic sulfide, and a corrinoid were present in the complex. The UV-visible spectrum suggested the presence of iron-sulfur centers. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum contained g values of 2.073, 2.049, and 2.028; these features were broadened in enzyme that was purified from cells grown in the presence of medium enriched with 61Ni, indicating the involvement of this metal in the spectrum. The pattern of potassium cyanide inhibition indicated that cyanide binds at or near the CO binding site. The properties of the enzyme imply an involvement in the dissimilation of acetate to methane, possibly by cleavage of acetate or activated acetate.