Systems analysis in Cellvibrio japonicus resolves predicted redundancy of β-glucosidases and determines essential physiological functions: Functional analysis of C. japonicus β-glucosidases
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland - Baltimore County, Baltimore Maryland USA
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne UK
- Molecular Characterization and Analysis Complex, University of Maryland - Baltimore County, Maryland USA
Degradation of polysaccharides forms an essential arc in the carbon cycle, provides a percentage of our daily caloric intake, and is a major driver in the renewable chemical industry. Microorganisms proficient at degrading insoluble polysaccharides possess large numbers of carbohydrate active enzymes, many of which have been categorized as functionally redundant. Here we present data that suggests that carbohydrate active enzymes that have overlapping enzymatic activities can have unique, non-overlapping biological functions in the cell. Our comprehensive study to understand cellodextrin utilization in the soil saprophyte Cellvibrio japonicus found that only one of four predicted β-glucosidases is required in a physiological context. Gene deletion analysis indicated that only the cel3B gene product is essential for efficient cellodextrin utilization in C. japonicus and is constitutively expressed at high levels. Interestingly, expression of individual β-glucosidases in Escherichia coli K-12 enabled this non-cellulolytic bacterium to be fully capable of using cellobiose as a sole carbon source. Furthermore, enzyme kinetic studies indicated that the Cel3A enzyme is significantly more active than the Cel3B enzyme on the oligosaccharides but not disaccharides. Finally, our approach for parsing related carbohydrate active enzymes to determine actual physiological roles in the cell can be applied to other polysaccharide-degradation systems.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Maryland - Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0014183
- OSTI ID:
- 1341428
- Journal Information:
- Molecular Microbiology, Vol. 104, Issue 2; ISSN 0950-382X
- Publisher:
- WileyCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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