Genomic and biotechnological insights on stress-linked polyphosphate production induced by chromium(III) in Ochrobactrum anthropi DE2010

Abstract

The resistance of microorganisms to heavy metals in polluted environments is mediated by genetically determined mechanisms. One such mechanism includes the intracellular sequestration of heavy metals in polyphosphate (polyP) inclusions. In Cr(III) contaminated mediums, Ochrobactrum anthropi DE2010 is able to bind and sequester Cr(III) in polyP inclusions. In order to further study the relationship between Cr(III) tolerance and polyP production in O. anthropi DE2010, we carried out whole genomic sequencing, analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), polyP chemical quantification, and determination of the relative abundance and morphometry of polyP inclusions. In the O. anthropi DE2010 genome, six polyP and pyrophosphate (PPi) metabolic genes were found. Furthermore, genomic analysis via SNPs calling revealed that O. anthropi ATCC49188 and DE2010 strains had average variations of 1.51% in their whole genome sequences and 1.35% variation associated with the principal polyP metabolic gene cluster. In addition, the accumulation of polyP in the DE2010 strain and number of polyP inclusions found were directly correlated with the concentration of Cr(III) in contaminated cultures. The results presented in this study may enhance the understanding of polyP production in response to Cr(III) toxicity in the O. anthropi DE2010 strain. This knowledge may facilitate the successful removal of Cr(III) from the natural environment.

Effect of different phosphate sources on uranium biomineralization by the Microbacterium sp. Be9 strain: A multidisciplinary approach study

“…( Achbergerová and Nahálka, 2011 ). Previous studies have demonstrated the role of bacterial polyphosphates in the accumulation of heavy metals and radionuclides ( Brim et al, 2000 ; Acharya and Apte, 2013 ; Villagrasa et al, 2020 ). Be9 whole genome sequence analysis indicated the presence of genes codifying for enzymes involved in the synthesis (e.g., polyphosphate kinase) and degradation (e.g., exopolyphosphatase) of polyphosphates ( Martínez-Rodríguez et al, 2020 ).…”

Stress Resistance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strains Overexpressing Yeast Polyphosphatases

“…Cu 2+ resistance depends on polyP in many microbial species [13]. The increase in the number of polyP inclusions in the cells of Ochrobactrum anthropi directly correlate with the concentration of Cr(III) in culture medium [14]. The Mn-phosphate complex (Mn-Pi) plays a key role in cellular resistance to oxidative stress [15].…”

Sequestration and efflux largely account for cadmium and copper resistance in the deep‐sea Nitratiruptor sp. SB155‐2 (phylum Campylobacterota)

“…Additionally, sequestration of metals inside or outside the cell constitutes another major strategy. For this purpose, polyphosphate‐like granules (pPLGs), long‐chain anionic polymers of phosphate, constitute a non‐selective strategy employed by many bacteria (Keasling & Hupf, 1996 ; Villagrasa et al, 2020 ). Formation and hydrolysis of pPLGs are mainly due to the action of polyphosphate kinases (PPKs) and exopolyphosphatases (PPXs), respectively, and their activities can be modulated by metal concentrations in the cytosol, among other factors (Docampo, 2006 ).…”