| 1. |
- Achcar, F., et al.
(författare)
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The Silicon Trypanosome: A Test Case of Iterative Model Extension in Systems Biology
- 2014
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Ingår i: Advances in Microbial Physiology. - : Elsevier. - 0065-2911. - 9780128001431 ; 64, s. 115-143
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The African trypanosome, Ttypanosoma brucei, is a unicellular parasite causing African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in animals). Due to some of its unique properties, it has emerged as a popular model organism in systems biology. A predictive quantitative model of glycolysis in the bloodstream form of the parasite has been constructed and updated several times. The Silicon Trypanosome is a project that brings together modellers and experimentalists to improve and extend this core model with new pathways and additional levels of regulation. These new extensions and analyses use computational methods that explicitly take different levels of uncertainty into account. During this project, numerous tools and techniques have been developed for this purpose, which can now be used for a wide range of different studies in systems biology.
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| 2. |
- Shameer, S., et al.
(författare)
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TrypanoCyc: a community-led biochemical pathways database for Trypanosoma brucei
- 2015
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Ingår i: Nucleic Acids Research. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0305-1048 .- 1362-4962. ; 43:D1, s. D637-D644
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The metabolic network of a cell represents thecatabolic and anabolic reactions that interconvertsmall molecules (metabolites) through the activity ofenzymes, transporters and non-catalyzed chemicalreactions. Our understanding of individual metabolicnetworks is increasing as we learn more aboutthe enzymes that are active in particular cells underparticular conditions and as technologies advanceto allow detailed measurements of the cellularmetabolome. Metabolic network databases areof increasing importance in allowing us to contextualisedata sets emerging from transcriptomic,proteomic and metabolomic experiments. Here wepresent a dynamic database, TrypanoCyc (http://www.metexplore.fr/trypanocyc/), which describesthe generic and condition-specific metabolic networkof Trypanosoma brucei, a parasitic protozoan responsiblefor human and animal African trypanosomiasis.In addition to enabling navigation through the BioCyc-based TrypanoCyc interface, we have alsoimplemented a network-based representation of theinformation through MetExplore, yielding a novel environmentin which to visualise the metabolism ofthis important parasite.
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| 3. |
- Creek, D. J., et al.
(författare)
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Probing the Metabolic Network in Bloodstream-Form Trypanosoma brucei Using Untargeted Metabolomics with Stable Isotope Labelled Glucose
- 2015
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Ingår i: PLoS Pathogens. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7366 .- 1553-7374. ; 11:3, s. 1-25
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Metabolomics coupled with heavy-atom isotope-labelled glucose has been used to probe the metabolic pathways active in cultured bloodstream form trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma brucei, a parasite responsible for human African trypanosomiasis. Glucose enters many branches of metabolism beyond glycolysis, which has been widely held to be the sole route of glucose metabolism. Whilst pyruvate is the major end-product of glucose catabolism, its transamination product, alanine, is also produced in significant quantities. The oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway is operative, although the non-oxidative branch is not. Ribose 5-phosphate generated through this pathway distributes widely into nucleotide synthesis and other branches of metabolism. Acetate, derived from glucose, is found associated with a range of acetylated amino acids and, to a lesser extent, fatty acids; while labelled glycerol is found in many glycerophospholipids. Glucose also enters inositol and several sugar nucleotides that serve as precursors to macromolecule biosynthesis. Although a Krebs cycle is not operative, malate, fumarate and succinate, primarily labelled in three carbons, were present, indicating an origin from phosphoenolpyruvate via oxaloacetate. Interestingly, the enzyme responsible for conversion of phosphoenolpyruvate to oxaloacetate, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, was shown to be essential to the bloodstream form trypanosomes, as demonstrated by the lethal phenotype induced by RNAi-mediated downregulation of its expression. In addition, glucose derivatives enter pyrimidine biosynthesis via oxaloacetate as a precursor to aspartate and orotate.
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| 4. |
- Kerkhoven, Eduard, 1985, et al.
(författare)
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Handling Uncertainty in Dynamic Models: The Pentose Phosphate Pathway in Trypanosoma brucei
- 2013
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Ingår i: PLoS Computational Biology. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-734X .- 1553-7358. ; 9:12, s. Art. no. e1003371-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dynamic models of metabolism can be useful in identifying potential drug targets, especially in unicellular organisms. A model of glycolysis in the causative agent of human African trypanosomiasis, Trypanosoma brucei, has already shown the utility of this approach. Here we add the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) of T. brucei to the glycolytic model. The PPP is localized to both the cytosol and the glycosome and adding it to the glycolytic model without further adjustments leads to a draining of the essential bound-phosphate moiety within the glycosome. This phosphate “leak” must be resolved for the model to be a reasonable representation of parasite physiology. Two main types of theoretical solution to the problem could be identified: (i) including additional enzymatic reactions in the glycosome, or (ii) adding a mechanism to transfer bound phosphates between cytosol and glycosome. One example of the first type of solution would be the presence of a glycosomal ribokinase to regenerate ATP from ribose 5-phosphate and ADP. Experimental characterization of ribokinase in T. brucei showed that very low enzyme levels are sufficient for parasite survival, indicating that other mechanisms are required in controlling the phosphate leak. Examples of the second type would involve the presence of an ATP:ADP exchanger or recently described permeability pores in the glycosomal membrane, although the current absence of identified genes encoding such molecules impedes experimental testing by genetic manipulation. Confronted with this uncertainty, we present a modeling strategy that identifies robust predictions in the context of incomplete system characterization. We illustrate this strategy by exploring the mechanism underlying the essential function of one of the PPP enzymes, and validate it by confirming the model predictions experimentally.
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| 5. |
- Bredeweg, Erin L., et al.
(författare)
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A molecular genetic toolbox for Yarrowia lipolytica
- 2017
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Ingår i: Biotechnology for Biofuels. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1754-6834 .- 1754-6834. ; 10:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Yarrowia lipolytica is an ascomycete yeast used in biotechnological research for its abilities to secrete high concentrations of proteins and accumulate lipids. Genetic tools have been made in a variety of backgrounds with varying similarity to a comprehensively sequenced strain. Results: We have developed a set of genetic and molecular tools in order to expand capabilities of Y. lipolytica for both biological research and industrial bioengineering applications. In this work, we generated a set of isogenic auxotrophic strains with decreased non-homologous end joining for targeted DNA incorporation. Genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation of this genetic background uncovers previously unidentified genes in Y. lipolytica. To complement these strains, we constructed plasmids with Y. lipolytica-optimized superfolder GFP for targeted overexpression and fluorescent tagging. We used these tools to build the "Yarrowia lipolytica Cell Atlas," a collection of strains with endogenous fluorescently tagged organelles in the same genetic background, in order to define organelle morphology in live cells. Conclusions: These molecular and isogenetic tools are useful for live assessment of organelle-specific protein expression, and for localization of lipid biosynthetic enzymes or other proteins in Y. lipolytica. This work provides the Yarrowia community with tools for cell biology and metabolism research in Y. lipolytica for further development of biofuels and natural products.
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| 6. |
- Han, Yichao, et al.
(författare)
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Advances in genome-scale metabolic models of industrially important fungi
- 2023
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Ingår i: Current Opinion in Biotechnology. - 0958-1669 .- 1879-0429. ; 84
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many fungal species have been used industrially for production of biofuels and bioproducts. Developing strains with better performance in biomanufacturing contexts requires a systematic understanding of cellular metabolism. Genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) offer a comprehensive view of interconnected pathways and a mathematical framework for downstream analysis. Recently, GEMs have been developed or updated for several industrially important fungi. Some of them incorporate enzyme constraints, enabling improved predictions of cell states and proteome allocation. Here, we provide an overview of these newly developed GEMs and computational methods that facilitate construction of enzyme-constrained GEMs and utilize flux predictions from GEMs. Furthermore, we highlight the pivotal roles of these GEMs in iterative design–build–test–learn cycles, ultimately advancing the field of fungal biomanufacturing.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Johnston, Katharina, et al.
(författare)
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Mapping the metabolism of five amino acids in bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei using U- 13C-labelled substrates and LC–MS
- 2019
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Ingår i: Bioscience Reports. - 0144-8463 .- 1573-4935. ; 39:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The metabolism of the parasite Trypanosoma brucei has been the focus of numerous studies since the 1940s. Recently it was shown, using metabolomics coupled with heavy-atom isotope labelled glucose, that the metabolism of the bloodstream form parasite is more complex than previously thought. The present study also raised a number of questions regarding the origin of several metabolites, for example succinate, only a proportion of which derives from glucose. In order to answer some of these questions and explore the metabolism of bloodstream form T. brucei in more depth we followed the fate of five heavy labelled amino acids – glutamine, proline, methionine, cysteine and arginine – using an LC–MS based metabolomics approach. We found that some of these amino acids have roles beyond those previously thought and we have tentatively identified some unexpected metabolites which need to be confirmed and their function determined.
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| 9. |
- Kerkhoven, Eduard, 1985, et al.
(författare)
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Leucine Biosynthesis Is Involved in Regulating High Lipid Accumulation in Yarrowia lipolytica
- 2017
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Ingår i: mBio. - 2150-7511 .- 2161-2129. ; 8:3, s. Article no. e00857-17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The yeast Yarrowia lipolytica is a potent accumulator of lipids, and lipogenesis in this organism can be influenced by a variety of factors, such as genetics and environmental conditions. Using a multifactorial study, we elucidated the effects of both genetic and environmental factors on regulation of lipogenesis in Y. lipolytica and identified how two opposite regulatory states both result in lipid accumulation. This study involved comparison of a strain overexpressing diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGA1) with a control strain grown under either nitrogen or carbon limitation conditions. A strong correlation was observed between the responses on the transcript and protein levels. Combination of DGA1 overexpression with nitrogen limitation resulted in a high level of lipid accumulation accompanied by downregulation of several amino acid biosynthetic pathways, including that of leucine in particular, and these changes were further correlated with a decrease in metabolic fluxes. This downregulation was supported by the measured decrease in the level of 2-isopropylmalate, an intermediate of leucine biosynthesis. Combining the multi-omics data with putative transcription factor binding motifs uncovered a contradictory role for TORC1 in controlling lipid accumulation, likely mediated through 2-isopropylmalate and a Leu3-like transcription factor. IMPORTANCE The ubiquitous metabolism of lipids involves refined regulation, and an enriched understanding of this regulation would have wide implications. Various factors can influence lipid metabolism, including the environment and genetics. We demonstrated, using a multi-omics and multifactorial experimental setup, that multiple factors affect lipid accumulation in the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. Using integrative analysis, we identified novel interactions between nutrient restriction and genetic factors involving regulators that are highly conserved among eukaryotes. Given that lipid metabolism is involved in many diseases but is also vital to the development of microbial cell factories that can provide us with sustainable fuels and oleochemicals, we envision that our report introduces foundational work to further unravel the regulation of lipid accumulation in eukaryal cells.
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| 10. |
- Kerkhoven, Eduard, 1985, et al.
(författare)
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Regulation of amino-acid metabolism controls flux to lipid accumulation in yarrowia lipolytica
- 2016
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Ingår i: npj Systems Biology and Applications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2056-7189. ; 2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Yarrowia lipolytica is a promising microbial cell factory for the production of lipids to be used as fuels and chemicals, but there are few studies on regulation of its metabolism. Here we performed the first integrated data analysis of Y. lipolytica grown in carbon and nitrogen limited chemostat cultures. We first reconstructed a genome-scale metabolic model and used this for integrative analysis of multilevel omics data. Metabolite profiling and lipidomics was used to quantify the cellular physiology, while regulatory changes were measured using RNAseq. Analysis of the data showed that lipid accumulation in Y. lipolytica does not involve transcriptional regulation of lipid metabolism but is associated with regulation of amino-acid biosynthesis, resulting in redirection of carbon flux during nitrogen limitation from amino acids to lipids. Lipid accumulation in Y. lipolytica at nitrogen limitation is similar to the overflow metabolism observed in many other microorganisms, e.g. ethanol production by Sacchromyces cerevisiae at nitrogen limitation.
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| 11. |
- Ledesma-Amaro, R., et al.
(författare)
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Genome Scale Metabolic Modeling of the Riboflavin Overproducer Ashbya gossypii
- 2014
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Ingår i: Biotechnology and Bioengineering. - : Wiley. - 0006-3592 .- 1097-0290. ; 111:6, s. 1191-1199
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ashbya gossypii is a filamentous fungus that naturally overproduces riboflavin, or vitamin B2. Advances in genetic and metabolic engineering of A. gossypii have permitted the switch from industrial chemical synthesis to the current biotechnological production of this vitamin. Additionally, A. gossypii is a model organism with one of the smallest eukaryote genomes being phylogenetically close to Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It has therefore been used to study evolutionary aspects of bakers' yeast. We here reconstructed the first genome scale metabolic model of A. gossypii, iRL766. The model was validated by biomass growth, riboflavin production and substrate utilization predictions. Gene essentiality analysis of the A. gossypii model in comparison with the S. cerevisiae model demonstrated how the whole-genome duplication event that separates the two species has led to an even spread of paralogs among all metabolic pathways. Additionally, iRL766 was used to integrate transcriptomics data from two different growth stages of A. gossypii, comparing exponential growth to riboflavin production stages. Both reporter metabolite analysis and in silico identification of transcriptionally regulated enzymes demonstrated the important involvement of beta-oxidation and the glyoxylate cycle in riboflavin production. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 1191-1199.
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| 12. |
- Pomraning, Kyle R., et al.
(författare)
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Regulation of yeast-to-hyphae transition in Yarrowia lipolytica
- 2018
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Ingår i: mSphere. - 2379-5042. ; 3:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The yeast Yarrowia lipolytica undergoes a morphological transition from yeast-to-hyphal growth in response to environmental conditions. A forward genetic screen was used to identify mutants that reliably remain in the yeast phase, which were then assessed by whole-genome sequencing. All the smooth mutants identified, so named because of their colony morphology, exhibit independent loss of DNA at a repetitive locus made up of interspersed ribosomal DNA and short 10- to 40-mer telomere-like repeats. The loss of repetitive DNA is associated with downregulation of genes with stress response elements (5'-CCCCT-3') and upregulation of genes with cell cycle box (5'-ACGCG-3') motifs in their promoter region. The stress response element is bound by the transcription factor Msn2p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We confirmed that the Y. lipolytica msn2 (Ylmsn2) ortholog is required for hyphal growth and found that overexpression of Ylmsn2 enables hyphal growth in smooth strains. The cell cycle box is bound by the Mbp1p/Swi6p complex in S. cerevisiae to regulate G1-to-S phase progression. We found that overexpression of either the Ylmbp1 or Ylswi6 homologs decreased hyphal growth and that deletion of either Ylmbp1 or Ylswi6 promotes hyphal growth in smooth strains. A second forward genetic screen for reversion to hyphal growth was performed with the smooth-33 mutant to identify additional genetic factors regulating hyphal growth in Y. lipolytica. Thirteen of the mutants sequenced from this screen had coding mutations in five kinases, including the histidine kinases Ylchk1 and Ylnik1 and kinases of the high-osmolarity glycerol response (HOG) mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade Ylssk2, Ylpbs2, and Ylhog1. Together, these results demonstrate that Y. lipolytica transitions to hyphal growth in response to stress through multiple signaling pathways.
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| 13. |
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| 14. |
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