Title: Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Biological Processes and Responses of the Bacterium Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ND132 upon Deletion of Its Mercury Methylation Genes

Abstract

Abstract Recent studies of microbial mercury (Hg) methylation revealed a key gene pair, hgcAB , which is essential for methylmercury (MeHg) production in the environment. However, many aspects of the mechanism and biological processes underlying Hg methylation, as well as any additional physiological functions of the hgcAB genes, remain unknown. Here, quantitative proteomics are used to identify changes in potential functional processes related to hgcAB gene deletion in the Hg‐methylating bacterium Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ND132. Global proteomics analyses indicate that the wild type and Δ hgcAB strains are similar with respect to the whole proteome and the identified number of proteins, but differ significantly in the abundance of specific proteins. The authors observe changes in the abundance of proteins related to the glycolysis pathway and one‐carbon metabolism, suggesting that the hgcAB gene pair is linked to carbon metabolism. Unexpectedly, the authors find that the deletion of hgcAB significantly impacts a range of metal transport proteins, specifically membrane efflux pumps such as those associated with heavy metal copper (Cu) export, leading to decreased Cu uptake in the ΔhgcAB mutant. This observation indicates possible linkages between this set of proteins and metal homeostasis in the cell. However, hgcAB gene expression is not inducedmore » by Hg, as evidenced by similarly low abundance of HgcA and HgcB proteins in the absence or presence of Hg (500 n m ). Taken together, these results suggest an apparent link between HgcAB, one‐carbon metabolism, and metal homeostasis, thereby providing insights for further exploration of biochemical mechanisms and biological functions of microbial Hg methylation.« less

Authors:

Qian, Chen ^[1]; Chen, Hongmei  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Chen, Hongmei"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-2460-838X"

Johs, Alexander  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Johs, Alexander"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-0098-2254"

Lu, Xia  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Lu, Xia"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-2150-7575"

An, Jing ^[2]; Pierce, Eric M.  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Pierce, Eric M."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-4951-1931"

Parks, Jerry M.  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Parks, Jerry M."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-3103-9333"

Elias, Dwayne A.  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Elias, Dwayne A."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-4469-6391"

Hettich, Robert L.  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Hettich, Robert L."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-7708-786X"

Gu, Baohua  ^[2]

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Gu, Baohua"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-7299-2956"

---

+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Publication Date:

Thu Aug 16 00:00:00 EDT 2018

Research Org.:

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

OSTI Identifier:

1468234

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1464844

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC05-00OR22725

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Proteomics

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 18; Journal Issue: 17; Journal ID: ISSN 1615-9853

Publisher:

Wiley

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; hgcAB genes; metabolic pathways; metal transporters; methylmercury; sulfate-reducing bacteria