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Computational and Structural... 2018Bioluminescence refers to the production of light by living organisms. Bioluminescent bacteria with a variety of bioluminescence emission characteristics have been... (Review)
Review
Bioluminescence refers to the production of light by living organisms. Bioluminescent bacteria with a variety of bioluminescence emission characteristics have been identified in , and . Bioluminescent bacteria are mainly found in marine habitats and they are either free-floating, sessile or have specialized to live in symbiosis with other marine organisms. On the molecular level, bioluminescence is enabled by a cascade of chemical reactions catalyzed by enzymes encoded by the operon with the gene order . The and genes encode the α- and β- subunits, respectively, of the enzyme luciferase producing the light emitting species. , and constitute the fatty acid reductase complex, responsible for the synthesis of the long-chain aldehyde substrate and encodes a flavin reductase. In bacteria, the heterodimeric luciferase catalyzes the monooxygenation of long-chain aliphatic aldehydes to the corresponding acids utilizing reduced FMN and molecular oxygen. The energy released as a photon results from an excited state flavin-4a-hydroxide, emitting light centered around 490 nm. Advances in the mechanistic understanding of bacterial bioluminescence have been spurred by the structural characterization of protein encoded by the operon. However, the number of available crystal structures is limited to LuxAB (), LuxD () and LuxF (). Based on the crystal structure of LuxD and homology models of LuxC and LuxE, we provide a hypothetical model of the overall structure of the LuxCDE fatty acid reductase complex that is in line with biochemical observations.
PubMed: 30546856
DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2018.11.003 -
Journal of the American Chemical Society Mar 2019The first bacterial α2-6-sialyltransferase cloned from Photobacterium damselae (Pd2,6ST) has been widely applied for the synthesis of various α2-6-linked sialosides....
The first bacterial α2-6-sialyltransferase cloned from Photobacterium damselae (Pd2,6ST) has been widely applied for the synthesis of various α2-6-linked sialosides. However, the extreme substrate flexibility of Pd2,6ST makes it unsuitable for site-specific α2-6-sialylation of complex substrates containing multiple galactose and/or N-acetylgalactosamine units. To tackle this problem, a general redox-controlled site-specific sialylation strategy using Pd2,6ST is described. This approach features site-specific enzymatic oxidation of galactose units to mask the unwanted sialylation sites and precisely controlling the site-specific α2-6-sialylation at intact galactose or N-acetylgalactosamine units.
Topics: Acetylgalactosamine; Binding Sites; Galactose; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; Oxidation-Reduction; Sialyltransferases; Substrate Specificity
PubMed: 30843692
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b00044 -
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Jun 2017Photobacterium species are Gram-negative coccobacilli which are distributed in marine habitats worldwide. Some species are unique because of their capability to produce... (Review)
Review
Photobacterium species are Gram-negative coccobacilli which are distributed in marine habitats worldwide. Some species are unique because of their capability to produce luminescence. Taxonomically, about 23 species and 2 subspecies are validated to date. Genomes from a few Photobacterium spp. have been sequenced and studied. They are considered a special group of bacteria because some species are capable of producing essential polyunsaturated fatty acids, antibacterial compounds, lipases, esterases and asparaginases. They are also used as biosensors in food and environmental monitoring and detectors of drown victim, as well as an important symbiont.
Topics: Bacterial Proteins; Biosensing Techniques; DNA, Bacterial; Ecosystem; Genome, Bacterial; Luminescence; Photobacterium; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Symbiosis
PubMed: 28497204
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8300-y -
International Microbiology : the... Mar 2017The genus Photobacterium, one of the eight genera included in the family Vibrionaceae, contains 27 species with valid names and it has received attention because of the... (Review)
Review
The genus Photobacterium, one of the eight genera included in the family Vibrionaceae, contains 27 species with valid names and it has received attention because of the bioluminescence and pathogenesis mechanisms that some of its species exhibit. However, the taxonomy and phylogeny of this genus are not completely elucidated; for example, P. logei and P. fischeri are now considered members of the genus Aliivibrio, and previously were included in the genus Vibrio. In addition, P. damselae subsp. piscicida was formed as a new combination for former Vibrio damsela and Pasteurella piscicida. Moreover, P. damselae subsp. damselae is an earlier heterotypic synonym of P. histaminum. To avoid these incovenences draft and complete genomic sequences of members of Photobacterium are increasingly becoming available and their use is now routine for many research laboratories to address diverse goals: species delineation with overall genomic indexes, phylogenetic analyses, comparative genomics, and phenotypic inference. The habitats and isolation source of the Photobacterium species include seawater, sea sediments, saline lake waters, and a variety of marine organisms with which the photobacteria establish different relationships, from symbiosis to pathogenic interactions. Several species of this genus contain bioluminescent strains in symbiosis with marine fish and cephalopods; in addition, other species enhance its growth at pressures above 1 atmosphere, by means of several high-pressure adaptation mechanisms and for this, they may be considered as piezophilic (former barophilic) bacteria. Until now, only P. jeanii, P. rosenbergii, P. sanctipauli, and the two subspecies of P. damselae have been reported as responsible agents of several pathologies on animal hosts, such as corals, sponges, fish and homeothermic animals. In this review we have revised and updated the taxonomy, ecology and pathogenicity of several members of this genus. [Int Microbiol 20(1): 1-10 (2017)].
Topics: Animals; Fish Diseases; Fishes; Photobacterium; Phylogeny; Symbiosis
PubMed: 28581017
DOI: 10.2436/20.1501.01.280 -
Molekuliarnaia Biologiia 2018The origin of bioluminescence in living organisms was first mentioned by Charles Darwin (1859) and remains obscure despite significant success achieved over the past... (Review)
Review
The origin of bioluminescence in living organisms was first mentioned by Charles Darwin (1859) and remains obscure despite significant success achieved over the past decades. Here we discuss the mechanisms of bacterial bioluminescence. We have the main results from structural and functional analysis of the genes of lux operons, enzymes (luciferase), and mechanisms of bioluminescence in several species of marine bacteria, which belong to three genera, Vibrio, Aliivibrio, and Photobacterium (A. fischeri, V. harveyi, P. leiognathi, and P. phosphoreum), and in terrestrial bacteria of the genus Photorhabdus (Ph. luminescens). The structure and mechanisms for the regulation of the expression of the lux operons are discussed. The fundamental characteristics of luciferase and luciferase-catalyzed reactions (stages of FMNH2 and tetradecanal oxidation, dimensional structure, as well as folding and refolding of the macromolecule) are described. We also discuss the main concepts of the origin of bacterial bioluminescence and its role in the ecology of modern marine fauna, including its involvement in the processes of detoxification of the reactive oxygen species and DNA repair, as well as the bait hypothesis.
Topics: Aliivibrio; Bacterial Proteins; DNA, Bacterial; Genes, Bacterial; Luciferases; Luminescence; Operon; Photobacterium; Vibrio
PubMed: 30633237
DOI: 10.1134/S0026898418060186 -
Microbiology Spectrum Oct 2015Similar to other genera and species of bacteria, whole genomic sequencing has revolutionized how we think about and address questions of basic Vibrio biology. In this... (Review)
Review
Similar to other genera and species of bacteria, whole genomic sequencing has revolutionized how we think about and address questions of basic Vibrio biology. In this review we examined 36 completely sequenced and annotated members of the Vibrionaceae family, encompassing 12 different species of the genera Vibrio, Aliivibrio, and Photobacterium. We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships among representatives of this group of bacteria by using three housekeeping genes and 16S rRNA sequences. With an evolutionary framework in place, we describe the occurrence and distribution of primary and alternative sigma factors, global regulators present in all bacteria. Among Vibrio we show that the number and function of many of these sigma factors differs from species to species. We also describe the role of the Vibrio-specific regulator ToxRS in fitness and survival. Examination of the biochemical capabilities was and still is the foundation of classifying and identifying new Vibrio species. Using comparative genomics, we examine the distribution of carbon utilization patterns among Vibrio species as a possible marker for understanding bacteria-host interactions. Finally, we discuss the significant role that horizontal gene transfer, specifically, the distribution and structure of integrons, has played in Vibrio evolution.
Topics: Aliivibrio; Animals; Bacterial Typing Techniques; DNA, Bacterial; DNA, Ribosomal; Evolution, Molecular; Gene Transfer, Horizontal; Genes, Essential; Genes, Regulator; Genetic Variation; Genome, Bacterial; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Photobacterium; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sigma Factor; Vibrio
PubMed: 26542048
DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.VE-0009-2014 -
Biochemistry. Biokhimiia Jun 2015The scientific basis for producing luminescent biosensors containing free and immobilized luminescent bacteria is discussed. Modern technologies for engineering target... (Review)
Review
The scientific basis for producing luminescent biosensors containing free and immobilized luminescent bacteria is discussed. Modern technologies for engineering target objects, procedures used to immobilize bacteria in different carriers, as well as procedures for integral and specific biodetection of toxins are presented. Data regarding generation and application of biomonitoring for ecotoxicants derived from natural and genetically engineered photobacterial strains are analyzed. Special attention is given to immobilization of photobacteria in polyvinyl alcohol-containing cryogel. The main physicochemical, biochemical, and technological parameters for stabilizing luminescence in immobilized bacteria are described. Results of the application of immobilized photobacterial preparations both during discrete and continuous biomonitoring for different classes of ecotoxicants are presented.
Topics: Biosensing Techniques; Luminescent Measurements; Luminescent Proteins; Photobacterium
PubMed: 26531018
DOI: 10.1134/S0006297915060085 -
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Dec 2016The tetrodecamycins are a group of secondary metabolites that are characterized by the presence of a tetronate ring in their structure. Originally discovered for their... (Review)
Review
The tetrodecamycins are a group of secondary metabolites that are characterized by the presence of a tetronate ring in their structure. Originally discovered for their antibiotic activity against Photobacterium damselae ssp. piscicida, the causative agent of pseudotuberculosis in fish, this family of molecules has also been shown to have potent antibiotic activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Due to their small size and highly cyclized nature, they represent an unusual member of the much larger group of bioactive molecules called the tetronates. Herein, we review what is known about the mechanism of action of these molecules and also present a hypothesis for their biosynthesis. A deeper understanding of the tetrodecamycins will provide a more holistic view of the tetronate-family, provide new chemical probes of bacterial biology, and may provide therapeutic lead molecules.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Furans; Molecular Structure; Photobacterium; Structure-Activity Relationship
PubMed: 27246856
DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2016.05.028 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Jan 2016Scombrotoxin fish poisoning (SFP) remains the main contributor of fish poisoning incidents in the United States, despite efforts to control its spread. Psychrotrophic...
Scombrotoxin fish poisoning (SFP) remains the main contributor of fish poisoning incidents in the United States, despite efforts to control its spread. Psychrotrophic histamine-producing bacteria (HPB) indigenous to scombrotoxin-forming fish may contribute to the incidence of SFP. We examined the gills, skin, and anal vents of yellowfin (n = 3), skipjack (n = 1), and albacore (n = 6) tuna for the presence of indigenous HPB. Thirteen HPB strains were isolated from the anal vent samples from albacore (n = 3) and yellowfin (n = 2) tuna. Four of these isolates were identified as Photobacterium kishitanii and nine isolates as Photobacterium angustum; these isolates produced 560 to 603 and 1,582 to 2,338 ppm histamine in marine broth containing 1% histidine (25°C for 48 h), respectively. The optimum growth temperatures and salt concentrations were 26 to 27°C and 1% salt for P. kishitanii and 30 to 32°C and 2% salt for P. angustum in Luria 70% seawater (LSW-70). The optimum activity of the HDC enzyme was at 15 to 30°C for both species. At 5°C, P. kishitanii and P. angustum had growth rates of 0.1 and 0.2 h(-1), respectively, and the activities of histidine decarboxylase (HDC) enzymes were 71% and 63%, respectively. These results show that indigenous HPB in tuna are capable of growing at elevated and refrigeration temperatures. These findings demonstrate the need to examine the relationships between the rate of histamine production at refrigeration temperatures, seafood shelf life, and regulatory limits.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Food Contamination; Foodborne Diseases; Histamine; Histidine Decarboxylase; Marine Toxins; Photobacterium; Phylogeny; Seafood; Tuna
PubMed: 26826233
DOI: 10.1128/AEM.02833-15 -
Detection, Identification, and Inactivation of Histamine-forming Bacteria in Seafood: A Mini-review.Journal of Food Protection Mar 2023Seafood is one of the essential sources of nutrients for the human diet. However, they can be subject to contamination and can cause foodborne illnesses, including... (Review)
Review
Seafood is one of the essential sources of nutrients for the human diet. However, they can be subject to contamination and can cause foodborne illnesses, including scombroid fish poisoning caused by histamine. Many microorganisms can produce enzymes that eventually decompose endogenous histidine to histamine in postmortem fish muscles and tissues. One of these is histamine-forming bacteria (HFB), primarily found in the gills, gut, and skin of fishes. Previous studies linked a plethora of Gram-negative HFB including Morganella spp. and Photobacterium spp. to scombroid fish poisoning from many types of seafood, especially the Scombridae family. These bacteria possess the hdc gene to produce histidine decarboxylase enzyme. It was reported that Gram-negative HFB produced 6345 ppm in tuna and 1223 ppm in Spanish mackerel. Interestingly, Gram-positive HFB have been isolated in the seafood samples with lower histamine levels. It suggests that Gram-negative HFB are the major contributor to the accumulation of histamine in seafood. Several analytical methods are available to detect and identify HFB and their histamine metabolites from seafood substrates. Rapid test kits can be used in food production settings for early detection of histamine to avoid food intoxication. Furthermore, high hydrostatic pressure and irradiation treatment could prevent the proliferation of HFB and inactivate the existing histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity. As demonstrated in different seafood model systems, the HDC activity was deactivated at a maximum high hydrostatic pressure level of 400 MPa. The complete inactivation of HFB was achieved by gamma irradiation at a dose of 4.0 kGy. Other postharvest treatments, like enzymatic degradation and electrolyzed oxidizing water, were studied as sustainable methods for bacterial growth prevention and enzyme inactivation. However, other HFB react differently to these treatment conditions, and further studies are recommended.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Histamine; Histidine Decarboxylase; Bacteria; Seafood; Tuna; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Fishes; Foodborne Diseases
PubMed: 36916556
DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2023.100049