@article {1586, title = {Identification of a glycolytic regulon in the archaea Pyrococcus and Thermococcus.}, journal = {FEMS Microbiology Letters}, volume = {260}, year = {2006}, month = {2006 Jul}, pages = {69-76}, abstract = {

The glycolytic pathway of the hyperthermophilic archaea that belong to the order Thermococcales (Pyrococcus, Thermococcus and Palaeococcus) differs significantly from the canonical Embden-Meyerhof pathway in bacteria and eukarya. This archaeal glycolysis variant consists of several novel enzymes, some of which catalyze unique conversions. Moreover, the enzymes appear not to be regulated allosterically, but rather at transcriptional level. To elucidate details of the gene expression control, the transcription initiation sites of the glycolytic genes in Pyrococcus furiosus have been mapped by primer extension analysis and the obtained promoter sequences have been compared with upstream regions of non-glycolytic genes. Apart from consensus sequences for the general transcription factors (TATA-box and BRE) this analysis revealed the presence of a potential transcription factor binding site (TATCAC-N(5)-GTGATA) in glycolytic and starch utilizing promoters of P. furiosus and several thermococcal species. The absence of this inverted repeat in Pyrococcus abyssi and Pyrococcus horikoshii probably reflects that their reduced catabolic capacity does not require this regulatory system. Moreover, this phyletic pattern revealed a TrmB-like regulator (PF0124 and TK1769) which may be involved in recognizing the repeat. This Thermococcales glycolytic regulon, with more than 20 genes, is the largest regulon that has yet been described for Archaea.

}, keywords = {Base Sequence, Binding Sites, Genetic, Glycolysis, Molecular Sequence Data, Promoter Regions, Pyrococcus, Regulon, Thermococcus, Transcription Initiation Site}, issn = {0378-1097}, doi = {10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00292.x}, author = {van de Werken, Harmen J G and Verhees, Corn{\'e} H and Akerboom, Jasper and de Vos, Willem M and van der Oost, John} } @article {1589, title = {Engineering a selectable marker for hyperthermophiles.}, journal = {The Journal of Biological Chemistry}, volume = {280}, year = {2005}, month = {2005 Mar 25}, pages = {11422-31}, abstract = {

Limited thermostability of antibiotic resistance markers has restricted genetic research in the field of extremely thermophilic Archaea and bacteria. In this study, we used directed evolution and selection in the thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus HB27 to find thermostable variants of a bleomycin-binding protein from the mesophilic bacterium Streptoalloteichus hindustanus. In a single selection round, we identified eight clones bearing five types of double mutated genes that provided T. thermophilus transformants with bleomycin resistance at 77 degrees C, while the wild-type gene could only do so up to 65 degrees C. Only six different amino acid positions were altered, three of which were glycine residues. All variant proteins were produced in Escherichia coli and analyzed biochemically for thermal stability and functionality at high temperature. A synthetic mutant resistance gene with low GC content was designed that combined four substitutions. The encoded protein showed up to 17 degrees C increased thermostability and unfolded at 85 degrees C in the absence of bleomycin, whereas in its presence the protein unfolded at 100 degrees C. Despite these highly thermophilic properties, this mutant was still able to function normally at mesophilic temperatures in vivo. The mutant protein was co-crystallized with bleomycin, and the structure of the binary complex was determined to a resolution of 1.5 A. Detailed structural analysis revealed possible molecular mechanisms of thermostabilization and enhanced antibiotic binding, which included the introduction of an intersubunit hydrogen bond network, improved hydrophobic packing of surface indentations, reduction of loop flexibility, and alpha-helix stabilization. The potential applicability of the thermostable selection marker is discussed.

}, keywords = {Amino Acid Sequence, Bacterial, Bacterial Proteins, Biological Markers, Bleomycin, Carrier Proteins, Drug Resistance, Genetic Engineering, Hydrogen Bonding, Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions, Molecular Sequence Data, Protein Folding, Protein Structure, Secondary, Temperature, Thermus thermophilus}, issn = {0021-9258}, doi = {10.1074/jbc.M413623200}, author = {Brouns, Stan J J and Wu, Hao and Akerboom, Jasper and Turnbull, Andrew P and de Vos, Willem M and van der Oost, John} } @article {1593, title = {Molecular and biochemical characterization of a distinct type of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase from Pyrococcus furiosus.}, journal = {Journal of Bacteriology}, volume = {184}, year = {2002}, month = {2002 Jun}, pages = {3401-5}, abstract = {

The Pyrococcus furiosus fbpA gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase produced was subsequently purified and characterized. The dimeric enzyme showed a preference for fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, with a K(m) of 0.32 mM and a V(max) of 12.2 U/mg. The P. furiosus fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase was strongly inhibited by Li(+) (50\% inhibitory concentration, 1 mM). Based on the presence of conserved sequence motifs and the substrate specificity of the P. furiosus fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, we propose that this enzyme belongs to a new family, class IV fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase.

}, keywords = {Amino Acid Sequence, Archaeal Proteins, Cloning, DNA, Fructose-Bisphosphatase, Molecular, Molecular Sequence Data, Pyrococcus furiosus, Sequence Analysis, Substrate Specificity, Temperature}, issn = {0021-9193}, author = {Verhees, Corn{\'e} H and Akerboom, Jasper and Schiltz, Emile and de Vos, Willem M and van der Oost, John} }