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Environmental Microbiology Apr 2022Light-induced carotenogenesis in Myxococcus xanthus is controlled by the B -based CarH repressor and photoreceptor, and by a separate intricate pathway involving singlet...
Light-induced carotenogenesis in Myxococcus xanthus is controlled by the B -based CarH repressor and photoreceptor, and by a separate intricate pathway involving singlet oxygen, the B -independent CarH paralogue CarA and various other proteins, some eukaryotic-like. Whether other myxobacteria conserve these pathways and undergo photoregulated carotenogenesis is unknown. Here, comparative analyses across 27 Myxococcales genomes identified carotenogenic genes, albeit arranged differently, with carH often in their genomic vicinity, in all three Myxococcales suborders. However, CarA and its associated factors were found exclusively in suborder Cystobacterineae, with carA-carH invariably in tandem in a syntenic carotenogenic operon, except for Cystobacter/Melittangium, which lack CarA but retain all other factors. We experimentally show B -mediated photoregulated carotenogenesis in representative myxobacteria, and a remarkably plastic CarH operator design and DNA binding across Myxococcales. Unlike the two characterized CarH from other phyla, which are tetrameric, Cystobacter CarH (the first myxobacterial homologue amenable to analysis in vitro) is a dimer that combines direct CarH-like B -based photoregulation with CarA-like DNA binding and inhibition by an antirepressor. This study provides new molecular insights into B -dependent photoreceptors. It further establishes the B -dependent pathway for photoregulated carotenogenesis as broadly prevalent across myxobacteria and its evolution, exclusively in one suborder, into a parallel complex B -independent circuit.
Topics: Bacterial Proteins; DNA; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Myxococcales; Phosphothreonine; Repressor Proteins
PubMed: 35005822
DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15895 -
Molecular Biology and Evolution Feb 2011Genetic programs underlying multicellular morphogenesis and cellular differentiation are most often associated with eukaryotic organisms, but examples also exist in... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Genetic programs underlying multicellular morphogenesis and cellular differentiation are most often associated with eukaryotic organisms, but examples also exist in bacteria such as the formation of multicellular, spore-filled fruiting bodies in the order Myxococcales. Most members of the Myxococcales undergo a multicellular developmental program culminating in the formation of spore-filled fruiting bodies in response to starvation. To gain insight into the evolutionary history of fruiting body formation in Myxococcales, we performed a comparative analysis of the genomes and transcriptomes of five Myxococcales species, four of these undergo fruiting body formation (Myxococcus xanthus, Stigmatella aurantiaca, Sorangium cellulosum, and Haliangium ochraceum) and one does not (Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans). Our analyses show that a set of 95 known M. xanthus development-specific genes--although suffering from a sampling bias--are overrepresented and occur more frequently than an average M. xanthus gene in S. aurantiaca, whereas they occur at the same frequency as an average M. xanthus gene in S. cellulosum and in H. ochraceum and are underrepresented in A. dehalogenans. Moreover, genes for entire signal transduction pathways important for fruiting body formation in M. xanthus are conserved in S. aurantiaca, whereas only a minority of these genes are conserved in A. dehalogenans, S. cellulosum, and H. ochraceum. Likewise, global gene expression profiling of developmentally regulated genes showed that genes that upregulated during development in M. xanthus are overrepresented in S. aurantiaca and slightly underrepresented in A. dehalogenans, S. cellulosum, and H. ochraceum. These comparative analyses strongly indicate that the genetic programs for fruiting body formation in M. xanthus and S. aurantiaca are highly similar and significantly different from the genetic program directing fruiting body formation in S. cellulosum and H. ochraceum. Thus, our analyses reveal an unexpected level of plasticity in the genetic programs for fruiting body formation in the Myxococcales and strongly suggest that the genetic program underlying fruiting body formation in different Myxococcales is not conserved. The evolutionary implications of this finding are discussed.
Topics: Gene Expression Profiling; Genome, Bacterial; Myxococcales; Proteobacteria; Spores, Bacterial
PubMed: 21037205
DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msq292 -
Natural Product Reports Jul 2014Covering: up to the end of 2013. Myxobacteria produce a vast range of structurally diverse natural products with prominent biological activities. Here, we provide a... (Review)
Review
Covering: up to the end of 2013. Myxobacteria produce a vast range of structurally diverse natural products with prominent biological activities. Here, we provide a detailed description and judge the potential of all antibiotically active myxobacterial compounds as lead structures, pointing out their particularities and, if known, their mode of action. Thus, the review provides an overview of the potential of specific compounds, suitable for future investigations and possible clinical applications.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Humans; Mice; Molecular Structure; Myxococcales; Rats
PubMed: 24841474
DOI: 10.1039/c4np00011k -
Journal of Molecular Biology Nov 2015Prokaryotes often reside in groups where a high degree of relatedness has allowed the evolution of cooperative behaviors. However, very few bacteria or archaea have made... (Review)
Review
Prokaryotes often reside in groups where a high degree of relatedness has allowed the evolution of cooperative behaviors. However, very few bacteria or archaea have made the successful transition from unicellular to obligate multicellular life. A notable exception is the myxobacteria, in which cells cooperate to perform group functions highlighted by fruiting body development, an obligate multicellular function. Like all multicellular organisms, myxobacteria face challenges in how to organize and maintain multicellularity. These challenges include maintaining population homeostasis, carrying out tissue repair and regulating the behavior of non-cooperators. Here, we describe the major cooperative behaviors that myxobacteria use: motility, predation and development. In addition, this review emphasizes recent discoveries in the social behavior of outer membrane exchange, wherein kin share outer membrane contents. Finally, we review evidence that outer membrane exchange may be involved in regulating population homeostasis, thus serving as a social tool for myxobacteria to make the cyclic transitions from unicellular to multicellular states.
Topics: Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; Myxococcales
PubMed: 26254571
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2015.07.022 -
MBio Feb 2019Self-recognition underlies sociality in many group-living organisms. In bacteria, cells use various strategies to recognize kin to form social groups and, in some cases,...
Self-recognition underlies sociality in many group-living organisms. In bacteria, cells use various strategies to recognize kin to form social groups and, in some cases, to transition into multicellular life. One strategy relies on a single genetic locus that encodes a variable phenotypic tag ("greenbeard") for recognizing other tag bearers. Previously, we discovered a polymorphic cell surface receptor called TraA that directs self-identification through homotypic interactions in the social bacterium Recognition by TraA leads to cellular resource sharing in a process called outer membrane exchange (OME). A second gene in the operon, , is also required for OME but is not involved in recognition. Our prior studies of TraA identified only six recognition groups among closely related isolates. Here we hypothesize that the number of polymorphisms and, consequently, the diversity of recognition in wild isolates are much greater. To test this hypothesis, we expand the scope of TraA characterization to the order From genomic sequences within the three suborders of , we identified 90 orthologs. Sequence analyses and functional characterization of loci suggest that OME is well maintained among diverse myxobacterial taxonomic groups. Importantly, TraA orthologs are highly polymorphic within their variable domain, the region that confers selectivity in self-recognition. We experimentally defined 10 distinct recognition groups and, based on phylogenetic and experimental analyses, predicted >60 recognition groups among the 90 alleles. Taken together, our findings revealed a widespread greenbeard locus that mediates the diversity of self-recognition across the order Many biological species distinguish self from nonself by using different mechanisms. Higher animals recognize close kin via complex processes that often involve the five senses, cognition, and learning, whereas some microbes achieve self-recognition simply through the activity of a single genetic locus. Here we describe a single locus, , in myxobacteria that governs cell-cell recognition within natural populations. We found that is widespread across the order TraA is highly polymorphic among diverse myxobacterial isolates, and such polymorphisms determine selectivity in self-recognition. Through bioinformatic and experimental analyses, we showed that governs many distinct recognition groups within This report provides an example in which a single locus influences social recognition across a wide phylogenetic range of natural populations.
Topics: Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; Computational Biology; Data Mining; Genome, Bacterial; Microbial Interactions; Myxococcales; Polymorphism, Genetic; Sequence Homology
PubMed: 30755513
DOI: 10.1128/mBio.02751-18 -
Research in Microbiology 2023Myxobacteria are Gram-negative eubacteria and they thrive in a variety of habitats including soil rich in organic matter, rotting wood, animal dung and marine... (Review)
Review
Myxobacteria are Gram-negative eubacteria and they thrive in a variety of habitats including soil rich in organic matter, rotting wood, animal dung and marine environment. Myxobacteria are a promising source of new compounds associated with diverse bioactive spectrum and unique mode of action. The genome information of myxobacteria has revealed many orphan biosynthetic pathways indicating that these bacteria can be the source of several novel natural products. In this review, we highlight the biology of myxobacteria with emphasis on their habitat, life cycle, isolation methods and enlist all the bioactive secondary metabolites purified till date and their mode of action.
Topics: Animals; Myxococcales; Bacteria; Biology; Biological Products
PubMed: 37169232
DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2023.104079 -
Marine Drugs Jun 2018Currently considered an excellent candidate source of novel chemical diversity, the existence of marine myxobacteria was in question less than 20 years ago. This review... (Review)
Review
Currently considered an excellent candidate source of novel chemical diversity, the existence of marine myxobacteria was in question less than 20 years ago. This review aims to serve as a roll call for marine myxobacteria and to summarize their unique features when compared to better-known terrestrial myxobacteria. Characteristics for discrimination between obligate halophilic, marine myxobacteria and halotolerant, terrestrial myxobacteria are discussed. The review concludes by highlighting the need for continued discovery and exploration of marine myxobacteria as producers of novel natural products.
Topics: Biological Products; Molecular Structure; Myxococcales; Phylogeny; Salt Tolerance; Seawater
PubMed: 29899205
DOI: 10.3390/md16060209 -
Microbial Cell Factories Apr 2012Myxobacteria are amongst the top producers of natural products. The diversity and unique structural properties of their secondary metabolites is what make these social...
Myxobacteria are amongst the top producers of natural products. The diversity and unique structural properties of their secondary metabolites is what make these social microbes highly attractive for drug discovery. Screening of products derived from these bacteria has revealed a puzzling amount of hits against infectious and non-infectious human diseases. Preying mainly on other bacteria and fungi, why would these ancient hunters manufacture compounds beneficial for us? The answer may be the targeting of shared processes and structural features conserved throughout evolution.
Topics: Biological Products; Drug Discovery; Myxococcales; Spores, Bacterial
PubMed: 22545867
DOI: 10.1186/1475-2859-11-52 -
Annual Review of Microbiology 1973
Review
Topics: Bacteria; Bacteriological Techniques; Cytophaga; Myxococcales; Spirochaetales; Terminology as Topic
PubMed: 4206273
DOI: 10.1146/annurev.mi.27.100173.001103 -
Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry Feb 2023This review details the biological activity, biosynthesis and synthesis of isochromanone metabolites isolated from myxobacteria. Strategies towards the synthesis of the... (Review)
Review
This review details the biological activity, biosynthesis and synthesis of isochromanone metabolites isolated from myxobacteria. Strategies towards the synthesis of the isochomanone and oxazole fragments of these natural products are highlighted.
Topics: Myxococcales; Biological Products; Oxazoles
PubMed: 36655696
DOI: 10.1039/d2ob01926d