Simultaneous presence of bacteriochlorophyll and xanthorhodopsin genes in a freshwater bacterium

0536958 - MBÚ 2021 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Kopejtka, Karel - Tomasch, J. - Zeng, Yonghui - Selyanin, Vadim - Dachev, Marko - Piwosz, Kasia - Tichý, Martin - Bína, David - Gardian, Zdenko - Bunk, B. - Brinkmann, H. - Geffers, R. - Sommaruga, R. - Koblížek, Michal
Simultaneous presence of bacteriochlorophyll and xanthorhodopsin genes in a freshwater bacterium.
mSystems. Roč. 5, č. 6 (2020), č. článku e01044-20. ISSN 2379-5077. E-ISSN 2379-5077
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GJ18-14095Y
Institutional support: RVO:61388971 ; RVO:60077344
Keywords : Aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria * Bacteriochlorophyll * Gene expression * Photosynthesis gene cluster * Rhodopsin
OECD category: Microbiology; Biochemistry and molecular biology (BC-A)
Impact factor: 6.496, year: 2020
Method of publishing: Open access
https://msystems.asm.org/content/5/6/e01044-20

Photoheterotrophic bacteria represent an important part of aquatic microbial communities. There exist two fundamentally different light-harvesting systems: bacteriochlorophyll-containing reaction centers or rhodopsins. Here, we report a photoheterotrophic Sphingomonas strain isolated from an oligotrophic lake, which contains complete sets of genes for both rhodopsin-based and bacteriochlorophyllbased phototrophy. Interestingly, the identified genes were not expressed when cultured in liquid organic media. Using reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), RNA sequencing, and bacteriochlorophyll a quantification, we document that bacteriochlorophyll synthesis was repressed by high concentrations of glucose or galactose in the medium. Coactivation of photosynthesis genes together with genes for TonBdependent transporters suggests the utilization of light energy for nutrient import. The photosynthetic units were formed by ring-shaped light-harvesting complex 1 and reaction centers with bacteriochlorophyll a and spirilloxanthin as the main lightharvesting pigments. The identified rhodopsin gene belonged to the xanthorhodopsin family, but it lacks salinixanthin antenna. In contrast to bacteriochlorophyll, the expression of xanthorhodopsin remained minimal under all experimental conditions tested. Since the gene was found in the same operon as a histidine kinase, we propose that it might serve as a light sensor. Our results document that photoheterotrophic Sphingomonas bacteria use the energy of light under carbon-limited conditions, while under carbon-replete conditions, they cover all their metabolic needs through oxidative phosphorylation. IMPORTANCE Phototrophic organisms are key components of many natural environments. There exist two main phototrophic groups: species that collect light energy using various kinds of (bacterio)chlorophylls and species that utilize rhodopsins
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0314709