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Title: Metatranscriptomic insights on gene expression and regulatory controls in Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis

Journal Article · · The ISME Journal

© 2016 International Society for Microbial Ecology All rights reserved. Previous studies on enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) have focused on reconstructing genomic blueprints for the model polyphosphate-accumulating organism Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis. Here, a time series metatranscriptome generated from enrichment cultures of Accumulibacter was used to gain insight into anerobic/aerobic metabolism and regulatory mechanisms within an EBPR cycle. Co-expressed gene clusters were identified displaying ecologically relevant trends consistent with batch cycle phases. Transcripts displaying increased abundance during anerobic acetate contact were functionally enriched in energy production and conversion, including upregulation of both cytoplasmic and membrane-bound hydrogenases demonstrating the importance of transcriptional regulation to manage energy and electron flux during anerobic acetate contact. We hypothesized and demonstrated hydrogen production after anerobic acetate contact, a previously unknown strategy for Accumulibacter to maintain redox balance. Genes involved in anerobic glycine utilization were identified and phosphorus release after anerobic glycine contact demonstrated, suggesting that Accumulibacter routes diverse carbon sources to acetyl-CoA formation via previously unrecognized pathways. A comparative genomics analysis of sequences upstream of co-expressed genes identified two statistically significant putative regulatory motifs. One palindromic motif was identified upstream of genes involved in PHA synthesis and acetate activation and is hypothesized to be a phaR binding site, hence representing a hypothetical PHA modulon. A second motif was identified ~35 base pairs (bp) upstream of a large and diverse array of genes and hence may represent a sigma factor bind ing site. This analysis provides a basis and framework for further investigations into Accumulibacter metabolism and the reconstruction of regulatory networks in uncultured organisms.

Research Organization:
USDOE Joint Genome Institute (JGI), Berkeley, CA (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1346927
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1379256
Journal Information:
The ISME Journal, Vol. 10, Issue 4; ISSN 1751-7362
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 64 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Revealing metabolic flexibility of Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis through redox cofactor analysis and metabolic network modeling posted_content March 2019
Genomic and in Situ Analyses Reveal the Micropruina spp. as Abundant Fermentative Glycogen Accumulating Organisms in Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal Systems journal May 2018
Integrated Omic Analyses Provide Evidence that a “Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis” Strain Performs Denitrification under Microaerobic Conditions journal January 2019
Spatiotemporal heterogeneity of core functional bacteria and their synergetic and competitive interactions in denitrifying sulfur conversion-assisted enhanced biological phosphorus removal journal September 2017
Archaeal communities in sponge, sediment and water from marine lakes and open water habitats journal March 2019
A Critical Assessment of the Microorganisms Proposed to be Important to Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal in Full-Scale Wastewater Treatment Systems journal April 2017
“Candidatus Propionivibrio aalborgensis”: A Novel Glycogen Accumulating Organism Abundant in Full-Scale Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal Plants journal July 2016
Mining traits for the enrichment and isolation of not-yet-cultured populations journal June 2019
Resolving the individual contribution of key microbial populations to enhanced biological phosphorus removal with Raman–FISH journal March 2019
The environment selects: Modeling energy allocation in microbial communities under dynamic environments preprint July 2019
Integrated omics analyses reveal differential gene expression and potential for cooperation between denitrifying polyphosphate and glycogen accumulating organisms journal May 2021
Bacterial microcompartment-directed polyphosphate kinase promotes stable polyphosphate accumulation in E. coli journal February 2017
Compositional analysis of archaeal communities in high and low microbial abundance sponges in the Misool coral reef system, Indonesia journal July 2018
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