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Combining transcriptomics with functional phylogenomics elucidates the ecophysiology of sulfatases in marine bacteria

ABSTRACT: We present a study combining gene expression analyses and bioinformatic assessment. 1120 sequences annotated as sulfatase encoding from eight Rhodopirellula strains were clustered into 173 groups of orthologous and paralogous genes. A selection of 709 sulfatase gene strains were aligned to 66 sulfatase genes of known function to check for their respective substrate specificity. Thereby, 22 major phylogenetic clusters were observed with just five being mixed clusters between Rhodopirellula and reference sequences. This indicates a huge diversity on the substrate recognition level, unexpected from conventional annotations in public databases. Exemplarily, Rhodopirellula baltica SH1T was grown on different sulfated polysaccharides. Subsequent gene expression analyses using whole genome microarrays revealed distinct sulfatase expression profiles based on substrates tested. Expression profiles strongly point towards a functional link between sulfated polysaccharides and sulfatases. Moreover, further potential functions can be deduced from the expression profiles. In silico assessment backed up in vivo findings and raised the question, whether related strains and species are even more adapted to utilizing sulfated polysaccharides present in marine environments.

ORGANISM(S): Rhodopirellula baltica SH 1 Rhodopirellula baltica

PROVIDER: GSE35832 | GEO | 2012/04/01

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA151899

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:The large-scale application of genomic and metagenomic sequencing technologies has yielded a number of insights about the metabolic potential of symbiotic human gut microbes. Bacteria that colonize the mucosal layer that overlies the gut epithelium have access to highly-sulfated polysaccharides (i.e., mucin oligosaccharides and glycosaminoglycans), which they could potentially forage as nutrient sources. To be active, sulfatases must undergo a critical post-translational modification catalyzed in anaerobic bacteria by the AdoMet enzyme anSME (anaerobic Sulfatase-Maturating Enzyme). In the present study, we have tested the role of this pathway in the prominent gut symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, which possesses more predicted sulfatases (28) than in the human genome and a single predicted anSME. In vitro studies revealed that deletion of its anSME (BT0238) results in loss of sulfatase activity and impaired ability to use sulfated polysaccharides as carbon sources. Co-colonization of germ-free animals with both isogenic strains, or invasion experiments involving the introduction of one then the other strain, established that anSME activity and the sulfatases that are activated via this pathway, are important fitness factors for B. thetaiotaomicron, especially when mice are fed a simple sugar diet that requires this saccharolytic bacterium to adaptively forage on host glycans as nutrients. Whole genome transcriptional profiling of wild-type and the anSME mutant in vivo revealed that loss of this enzyme alters expression of genes involved in mucin utilization and that this disrupted ability to access mucosal glycans likely underlies the observed dramatic colonization defect. Comparative genomic analysis reveals that 100% of 46 fully sequenced human gut Bacteroidetes contain homologs of BT0238 and genes encoding sulfatases, suggesting that this is an important and evolutionarily conserved feature. Three replicate samples from 4 different biological treatment groups: 1. Wild-type B. thetaiotaomicron from the cecum of gnotobiotic mice fed a simple-sugar diet; 2. chuR mutant B. thetaiotaomicron from the cecum of gnotobiotic mice fed a simple-sugar diet; 3. Wild-type B. thetaiotaomicron from the cecum of gnotobiotic mice fed a plant-rich diet; 4. chuR mutant B. thetaiotaomicron from the cecum of gnotobiotic mice fed a plant-rich diet.

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Combining transcriptomics with functional phylogenomics elucidates the ecophysiology of sulfatases in marine bacteria

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