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Title: Periplasmic Cytophaga hutchinsonii Endoglucanases Are Required for Use of Crystalline Cellulose as the Sole Source of Carbon and Energy

Journal Article · · Applied and Environmental Microbiology
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.01298-16· OSTI ID:1438894

The soil bacterium Cytophaga hutchinsonii actively digests crystalline cellulose by a poorly understood mechanism. Genome analyses identified nine genes predicted to encode endoglucanases with roles in this process. We report no predicted cellobiohydrolases, which are usually involved in the utilization of crystalline cellulose, were identified. Chromosomal deletions were performed in eight of the endoglucanase-encoding genes: cel5A, cel5B, cel5C, cel9A, cel9B, cel9C, cel9E, and cel9F. Each mutant retained the ability to digest crystalline cellulose, although the deletion of cel9C caused a modest decrease in cellulose utilization. Strains with multiple deletions were constructed to identify the critical cellulases. Cells of a mutant lacking both cel5B and cel9C were completely deficient in growth on cellulose. Cell fractionation and biochemical analyses indicate that Cel5B and Cel9C are periplasmic nonprocessive endoglucanases. The requirement of periplasmic endoglucanases for cellulose utilization suggests that cellodextrins are transported across the outer membrane during this process. Bioinformatic analyses predict that Cel5A, Cel9A, Cel9B, Cel9D, and Cel9E are secreted across the outer membrane by the type IX secretion system, which has been linked to cellulose utilization. These secreted endoglucanases may perform the initial digestion within amorphous regions on the cellulose fibers, releasing oligomers that are transported into the periplasm for further digestion by Cel5B and Cel9C. The results suggest that both cell surface and periplasmic endoglucanases are required for the growth of C. hutchinsonii on cellulose and that novel cell surface proteins may solubilize and transport cellodextrins across the outer membrane.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Science Foundation (NSF); University of WI-Milwaukee Research Growth Initiative Grant; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
Grant/Contract Number:
MCB-1021721; MCB-1516990; MCB-1157392
OSTI ID:
1438894
Journal Information:
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 82, Issue 15; ISSN 0099-2240
Publisher:
American Society for MicrobiologyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 32 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (9)

“Candidatus Paraporphyromonas polyenzymogenes” encodes multi-modular cellulases linked to the type IX secretion system journal March 2018
Molecular Characterization of an Endo-β-1,4-Glucanase, CelAJ93, from the Recently Isolated Marine Bacterium, Cellulophaga sp. J9-3 journal September 2019
Function-driven single-cell genomics uncovers cellulose-degrading bacteria from the rare biosphere journal November 2019
Identification of a cell-surface protein involved in glucose assimilation and disruption of the crystalline region of cellulose by Cytophaga hutchinsonii journal July 2019
Type IX secretion: the generation of bacterial cell surface coatings involved in virulence, gliding motility and the degradation of complex biopolymers: The Type IX secretion system journal August 2017
Diverse C-Terminal Sequences Involved in Flavobacterium johnsoniae Protein Secretion journal April 2017
The unusual cellulose utilization system of the aerobic soil bacterium Cytophaga hutchinsonii journal August 2017
Functional Studies of β-Glucosidases of Cytophaga hutchinsonii and Their Effects on Cellulose Degradation journal February 2017
Genetic analyses unravel the crucial role of a horizontally acquired alginate lyase for brown algal biomass degradation by Z obellia galactanivorans journal March 2017