| 1. |
- Berggren, Gustav, et al.
(author)
-
Semiquinone-induced Maturation of Bacillus anthracis Ribonucleotide Reductase by a Superoxide Intermediate
- 2014
-
In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - 0021-9258 .- 1083-351X. ; 289:46, s. 31940-31949
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Activation of ribonucleotide reductase Ib depends on the flavodoxin-like maturase NrdI.Results: The redox properties of Bacillus anthracis NrdI allow isolation of the semiquinone state, NrdI(sq), which can catalyze formation of the manganese-tyrosyl radical cofactor.Conclusion: The maturation capacity of NrdI(sq) provides evidence that Mn-NrdF is activated via a superoxide radical.Significance: Novel antibiotics may be designed to selectively target the maturation mechanism.
|
|
| 2. |
- Berner, Boel, 1945-, et al.
(author)
-
Social Science Research 2004-2010 : Themes, results and reflections (on nuclear waste issues)
- 2011
-
Book (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Denna skrift är upplagd på följande sätt. Efter detta introduktionskapitel ger vi i kapitel 2 en presentation av de viktigaste resultaten inom de fyra områdena: Socioekonomisk påverkan – samhällsekonomiska effekter, Beslutsprocesser – governance, Opinioner och attityder – psykosociala effekter samt Omvärldsförändringar. Vi sammanfattar här de olika projektens bidrag (för presentationer av respektive projekt, se bilaga 2). För originalarbeten, rapporter och andra publikationer inom programmet se litteraturlistan i bilaga 7 eller SKB:s webbplats.I kapitel 3 för vi sedan ett mer diskuterande resonemang kring några centrala teman av betydelse för förståelsen av kärnavfallsfrågans sociala och samhälleliga konsekvenser. Det är teman som aktualiserats av och även belysts i de olika projekten. Vi har valt att fokusera på frågor om samhälleliga förändringsmönster, om olika bilder av nyttan av ett slutförvar för använt kärnbränsle och risker i lokalsamhället och nationellt, på opinioner och attityder på olika nivåer, samt på slutförvarets långsiktiga betydelse. Vi tar upp dessa frågor som just frågor, för fortsatt forskning och diskussion. I kapitel 4 ges slutligen en sammanfattande värdering av samhällsprogrammets verksamhet och behoven av framtida forskning.I bilagorna 4–6 ges en bild av situationen i världen beträffande kärnkraft och avfallshantering.
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
- Crona, Mikael, et al.
(author)
-
A Rare Combination of Ribonucleotide Reductases in the Social Amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum
- 2013
-
In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - 0021-9258 .- 1083-351X. ; 288:12, s. 8198-8208
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) catalyze the only pathway for de novo synthesis of deoxyribonucleotides needed for DNA replication and repair. The vast majority of eukaryotes encodes only a class I RNR, but interestingly some eukaryotes, including the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum, encode both a class I and a class II RNR. The amino acid sequence of the D. discoideum class I RNR is similar to other eukaryotic RNRs, whereas that of its class II RNR is most similar to the monomeric class II RNRs found in Lactobacillus spp. and a few other bacteria. Here we report the first study of RNRs in a eukaryotic organism that encodes class I and class II RNRs. Both classes of RNR genes were expressed in D. discoideum cells, although the class I transcripts were more abundant and strongly enriched during mid-development compared with the class II transcript. The quaternary structure, allosteric regulation, and properties of the diiron-oxo/radical cofactor of D. discoideum class I RNR are similar to those of the mammalian RNRs. Inhibition of D. discoideum class I RNR by hydroxyurea resulted in a 90% reduction in spore formation and decreased the germination viability of the surviving spores by 75%. Class II RNR could not compensate for class I inhibition during development, and an excess of vitamin B12 coenzyme, which is essential for class II activity, did not improve spore formation. We suggest that class I is the principal RNR during D. discoideum development and growth and is important for spore formation, possibly by providing dNTPs for mitochondrial replication.
|
|
| 5. |
- Crona, Mikael, 1981-, et al.
(author)
-
Assembly of a fragmented ribonucleotide reductase by protein interaction domains derived from a mobile genetic element
- 2011
-
In: Nucleic Acids Research. - : Oxford University Press. - 0305-1048 .- 1362-4962. ; 39:4, s. 1381-1389
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) is a critical enzyme of nucleotide metabolism, synthesizing precursors for DNA replication and repair. In prokaryotic genomes, RNR genes are commonly targeted by mobile genetic elements, including free standing and intron-encoded homing endonucleases and inteins. Here, we describe a unique molecular solution to assemble a functional product from the RNR large subunit gene, nrdA that has been fragmented into two smaller genes by the insertion of mobE, a mobile endonuclease. We show that unique sequences that originated during the mobE insertion and that are present as C- and N-terminal tails on the split NrdA-a and NrdA-b polypeptides, are absolutely essential for enzymatic activity. Our data are consistent with the tails functioning as protein interaction domains to assemble the tetrameric (NrdA-a/NrdA-b)2 large subunit necessary for a functional RNR holoenzyme. The tails represent a solution distinct from RNA and protein splicing or programmed DNA rearrangements to restore function from a fragmented coding region and may represent a general mechanism to neutralize fragmentation of essential genes by mobile genetic elements.
|
|
| 6. |
- Crona, Mikael, et al.
(author)
-
NrdH-Redoxin Protein Mediates High Enzyme Activity in Manganese-reconstituted Ribonucleotide Reductase from Bacillus anthracis
- 2011
-
In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - Bethesda, Md. : American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. - 0021-9258 .- 1083-351X. ; 286:38, s. 33053-33060
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Bacillus anthracis is a severe mammalian pathogen encoding a class Ib ribonucleotide reductase (RNR). RNR is a universal enzyme that provides the four essential deoxyribonucleotides needed for DNA replication and repair. Almost all Bacillus spp. encode both class Ib and class III RNR operons, but the B. anthracis class III operon was reported to encode a pseudogene, and conceivably class Ib RNR is necessary for spore germination and proliferation of B. anthracis upon infection. The class Ib RNR operon in B. anthracis encodes genes for the catalytic NrdE protein, the tyrosyl radical metalloprotein NrdF, and the flavodoxin protein NrdI. The tyrosyl radical in NrdF is stabilized by an adjacent Mn(2)(III) site (Mn-NrdF) formed by the action of the NrdI protein or by a Fe(2)(III) site (Fe-NrdF) formed spontaneously from Fe(2+) and O(2). In this study, we show that the properties of B. anthracis Mn-NrdF and Fe-NrdF are in general similar for interaction with NrdE and NrdI. Intriguingly, the enzyme activity of Mn-NrdF was approximately an order of magnitude higher than that of Fe-NrdF in the presence of the class Ib-specific physiological reductant NrdH, strongly suggesting that the Mn-NrdF form is important in the life cycle of B. anthracis. Whether the Fe-NrdF form only exists in vitro or whether the NrdF protein in B. anthracis is a true cambialistic enzyme that can work with either manganese or iron remains to be established.
|
|
| 7. |
- Crona, Mikael, 1981-
(author)
-
Quaternary structure and interaction approaches to allosteric regulation of class I ribonucleotide reductases
- 2010
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) chains in which our genetic blueprint is stored are built from four DNA precursors by DNA polymerases. The enzyme ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) provides the only de novo synthesis pathway of deoxyribonucleotides from ribonucleotides and is essential for nearly all organisms. All four ribonucleotides are substrates for RNR and key to this flexibility is a sophisticated allosteric regulation. Nucleotide effectors (ATP, dATP, dTTP or dGTP) binding to the allosteric specificity site determines substrate specificity for the active site. When present at high concentrations, dATP binds to the allosteric overall activity site and inhibits activity by an unknown mechanism. Three approaches, RNR activity measurements, subunit interaction studies and quaternary structure studies were applied to four different class I RNRs to address the allosteric overall regulation. We found that allosteric overall inhibition was closely linked to formation of tight and large RNR protein complexes; α4β4 complex for the Escherichia coli class Ia RNR and α6β2 for the Dictyostelium discoideum class Ia RNR with functional allosteric inhibitions. The Aeh1 phage class Ia RNR with a non-functional dATP inhibition showed weak remnant inhibition features, while the Bacillus anthracis class Ib RNR without the allosteric overall regulation domain lacked these features. In addition, we presented the first biochemical characterization of a mechanism to restore protein function after gene fragmentation, we showed that the B. anthracis class Ib RNR was most active when reconstituted with manganese and in the presence of a physiological redoxin protein and we found that the class Ia RNR is the principal RNR in D. discoideum, although the coexisting class II RNR could partly compensate class I RNR inhibition during axenic growth. Finally, our improved method for studying RNR interactions has potential for RNR inhibitor screening.
|
|
| 8. |
- Crona, Mikael, 1981-, et al.
(author)
-
Subunit and small-molecule interaction of ribonucleotide reductases via surface plasmon resonance biosensor analyses
- 2010
-
In: Protein Engineering Design & Selection. - : Oxford University Press. - 1741-0126 .- 1741-0134. ; 23:8, s. 633-641
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) synthesizes deoxyribonucleotides for DNA replication and repair and is controlled by sophisticated allosteric regulation involving differential affinity of nucleotides for regulatory sites. We have developed a robust and sensitive method for coupling biotinylated RNRs to surface plasmon resonance streptavidin biosensor chips via a 30.5 Å linker. In comprehensive studies on three RNRs effector nucleotides strengthened holoenzyme interactions, whereas substrate had no effect on subunit interactions. The RNRs differed in their response to the negative allosteric effector dATP that binds to an ATP-cone domain. A tight RNR complex was formed in Escherichia coli class Ia RNR with a functional ATP cone. No strengthening of subunit interactions was observed in the class Ib RNR from the human pathogen Bacillus anthracis that lacks the ATP cone. A moderate strengthening was seen in the atypical Aeromonas hydrophila phage 1 class Ia RNR that has a split catalytic subunit and a non-functional ATP cone with remnant dATP-mediated regulatory features. We also successfully immobilized a functional catalytic NrdA subunit of the E.coli enzyme, facilitating study of nucleotide interactions. Our surface plasmon resonance methodology has the potential to provide biological insight into nucleotide-mediated regulation of any RNR, and can be used for high-throughput screening of potential RNR inhibitors
|
|
| 9. |
- Gustafsson, Tomas N., et al.
(author)
-
Bacillus anthracis Thioredoxin Systems, Characterization and Role as Electron Donors for Ribonucleotide Reductase
- 2012
-
In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - 0021-9258 .- 1083-351X. ; 287:47
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax, which is associated with a high mortality rate. Like several medically important bacteria, B. anthracis lacks glutathione but encodes many genes annotated as thioredoxins, thioredoxin reductases, and glutaredoxin-like proteins. We have cloned, expressed, and characterized three potential thioredoxins, two potential thioredoxin reductases, and three glutaredoxin-like proteins. Of these, thioredoxin 1 (Trx1) and NrdH reduced insulin, 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), and the manganese-containing type Ib ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) from B. anthracis in the presence of NADPH and thioredoxin reductase 1 (TR1), whereas thioredoxin 2 (Trx2) could only reduce DTNB. Potential TR2 was verified as an FAD-containing protein reducible by dithiothreitol but not by NAD(P)H. The recently discovered monothiol bacillithiol did not work as a reductant for RNR, either directly or via any of the redoxins. The catalytic efficiency of Trx1 was 3 and 20 times higher than that of Trx2 and NrdH, respectively, as substrates for TR1. Additionally, the catalytic efficiency of Trx1 as an electron donor for RNR was 7-fold higher than that of NrdH. In extracts of B. anthracis, Trx1 was responsible for almost all of the disulfide reductase activity, whereas Western blots showed that the level of Trx1 was 15 and 60 times higher than that of Trx2 and NrdH, respectively. Our findings demonstrate that the most important general disulfide reductase system in B. anthracis is TR1/Trx1 and that Trx1 is the physiologically relevant electron donor for RNR. This information may provide a basis for the development of novel antimicrobial therapies targeting this severe pathogen.
|
|
| 10. |
- Hoeppner, Marc Patrick, 1980-
(author)
-
The deep evolutionary roots of non-coding RNA - a comparative genomics approach
- 2011
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) are a diverse group of genes that do not encode proteins but function exclusively on the level of RNA and were originally suggested to be remnants of a pre-DNA stage of life known as the RNA world. More recent work, however, has uncovered a rich repertoire of previously unknown families with possible consequences for our understanding of the origin and evolution of the modern RNA infrastructure. The main goal of this thesis was therefore to re-examine the evolutionary history of RNAs and theories regarding the transition from an RNA world in light of recent advances in molecular and computational biology. Using comparative genomics approaches and sequence data from all domains of life, my work shows that the majority of known RNAs exhibit a highly domain-specific distribution, compatible with an ongoing emergence rather than deep ancestry. Focusing on small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNA), I find that the eukaryote ancestor possessed a complex snoRNA infrastructure, but that intronic snoRNAs are mobile over larger evolutionary time scales. The latter has consequences for predictions made by the Introns-first hypothesis, a framework to explain the emergence of introns in an RNA world and which we revisited in light of advances in our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of introns. A more in-depth analysis of ncRNA mobility across vertebrates found intronic copies of both snoRNAs and miRNAs to be more stable than intergenic ones, suggesting that this arrangement may be a consequence of co-expression. Also, snoRNAs are frequently located in highly expressed genes, in line with their role in ribosome biogenesis. Finally, a closer examination of the genomic distribution of two essential ncRNAs, snoRNA U3 and the spliceosomal RNA U1 shows that both are present in numerous copies across vertebrate genomes. Using next-generation sequencing data, I tested whether this is the result of genetic drift or a requirement for having many copies.
|
|
| 11. |
- Hofer, Anders, et al.
(author)
-
DNA building blocks : keeping control of manufacture
- 2012
-
In: Critical reviews in biochemistry and molecular biology. - London : Informa UK Limited. - 1040-9238 .- 1549-7798. ; 47:1, s. 50-63
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) is the only source for de novo production of the four deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) building blocks needed for DNA synthesis and repair. It is crucial that these dNTP pools are carefully balanced, since mutation rates increase when dNTP levels are either unbalanced or elevated. RNR is the major player in this homeostasis, and with its four different substrates, four different allosteric effectors and two different effector binding sites, it has one of the most sophisticated allosteric regulations known today. In the past few years, the structures of RNRs from several bacteria, yeast and man have been determined in the presence of allosteric effectors and substrates, revealing new information about the mechanisms behind the allosteric regulation. A common theme for all studied RNRs is a flexible loop that mediates modulatory effects from the allosteric specificity site (s-site) to the catalytic site for discrimination between the four substrates. Much less is known about the allosteric activity site (a-site), which functions as an on-off switch for the enzyme's overall activity by binding ATP (activator) or dATP (inhibitor). The two nucleotides induce formation of different enzyme oligomers, and a recent structure of a dATP-inhibited α(6)β(2) complex from yeast suggested how its subunits interacted non-productively. Interestingly, the oligomers formed and the details of their allosteric regulation differ between eukaryotes and Escherichia coli. Nevertheless, these differences serve a common purpose in an essential enzyme whose allosteric regulation might date back to the era when the molecular mechanisms behind the central dogma evolved.
|
|
| 12. |
- Johansson, Renzo, et al.
(author)
-
High-resolution crystal structures of the flavoprotein NrdI in oxidized and reduced states – an unusual flavodoxin
- 2010
-
In: The FEBS Journal. - : Wiley. - 1742-464X .- 1742-4658. ; 277:20, s. 4265-4277
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The small flavoprotein NrdI is an essential component of the class Ib ribonucleotide reductase system in many bacteria. NrdI interacts with the class Ib radical generating protein NrdF. It is suggested to be involved in the rescue of inactivated diferric centres or generation of active dimanganese centres in NrdF. Although NrdI bears a superficial resemblance to flavodoxin, its redox properties have been demonstrated to be strikingly different. In particular, NrdI is capable of two-electron reduction, whereas flavodoxins are exclusively one-electron reductants. This has been suggested to depend on a lesser destabilization of the negatively-charged hydroquinone state than in flavodoxins. We have determined the crystal structures of NrdI from Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, in the oxidized and semiquinone forms, at resolutions of 0.96 and 1.4 Å, respectively. These structures, coupled with analysis of all curated NrdI sequences, suggest that NrdI defines a new structural family within the flavodoxin superfamily. The conformational behaviour of NrdI in response to FMN reduction is very similar to that of flavodoxins, involving a peptide flip in a loop near the N5 atom of the flavin ring. However, NrdI is much less negatively charged than flavodoxins, which is expected to affect its redox properties significantly. Indeed, sequence analysis shows a remarkable spread in the predicted isoelectric points of NrdIs, from approximately pH 4–10. The implications of these observations for class Ib ribonucleotide reductase function are discussed.
|
|
| 13. |
- Kjellman, Britt-Marie, et al.
(author)
-
Comparing ambient, air-convection, and fluid-convection heating techniques in treating hypothermic burn patients, a clinical RCT
- 2011
-
In: Annals of Surgical Innovation and Research. - : BioMed Central. - 1750-1164. ; 5
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Hypothermia in burns is common and increases morbidity and mortality. Several methods are available to reach and maintain normal core body temperature, but have not yet been evaluated in critical care for burned patients. Our units ordinary technique for controlling body temperature (Bair Hugger®+ radiator ceiling + bed warmer + Hotline®) has many drawbacks e.g.; slow and the working environment is hampered.The aim of this study was to compare our ordinary heating technique with newly-developed methods: the Allon™2001 Thermowrap (a temperature regulating water-mattress), and Warmcloud (a temperature regulating air-mattress).Methods: Ten consecutive burned patients (andgt; 20% total burned surface area and a core temperature andlt; 36.0C) were included in this prospective, randomised, comparative study. Patients were randomly exposed to 3 heating methods. Each treatment/measuring-cycle lasted for 6 hours. Each heating method was assessed for 2 hours according to a randomised timetable. Core temperature was measured using an indwelling (bladder) thermistor. Paired t-tests were used to assess the significance of differences between the treatments within the patients. ANOVA was used to assess the differences in temperature from the first to the last measurement among all treatments. Three-way ANOVA with the Tukey HSD post hoc test and a repeated measures ANOVA was used in the same manner, but included information about patients and treatment/measuring-cycles to control for potential confounding. Data are presented as mean (SD) and (range). Probabilities of less than 0.05 were accepted as significant.Results: The mean increase, 1.4 (SD 0.6C; range 0.6-2.6C) in core temperature/treatment/measuring-cycle highly significantly favoured the Allon™2001 Thermowrap in contrast to the conventional method 0.2 (0.6)C (range -1.2 to 1.5C) and the Warmcloud 0.3 (0.4)C (range -0.4 to 0.9C). The procedures for using the Allon™2001 Thermowrap were experienced to be more comfortable and straightforward than the conventional method or the Warmcloud.Conclusions: The Allon™2001 Thermowrap was more effective than the Warmcloud or the conventional method in controlling patients temperatures. © 2011 Kjellman et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
|
|
| 14. |
- Kumar, Dinesh, 1981-
(author)
-
dNTPs : the alphabet of life
- 2010
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- From microscopic bacteria to the giant whale, every single living organism on Earth uses the same language of life: DNA. Deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates––dNTPs (dATP, dTTP, dGTP, and dCTP)––are the building blocks of DNA and are therefore the “alphabet of life”. A balanced supply of dNTPs is essential for integral DNA transactions such as faithful genome duplication and repair. The enzyme ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) not only synthesizes all four dNTPs but also primarily maintains the crucial individual concentration of each dNTP in a cell. In this thesis we investigated what happens if the crucial balanced supply of dNTPs is disrupted, addressing whether a cell has a mechanism to detect imbalanced dNTP pools and whether all pool imbalances are equally mutagenic. To address these questions, we introduced single amino acid substitutions into loop 2 of the allosteric specificity site of Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNR and obtained a collection of yeast strains with different but defined dNTP pool imbalances. These results directly confirmed that the loop 2 is the structural link between the substrate specificity and effector binding sites of RNR. We were surprised to observe that mutagenesis was enhanced even in a strain with mildly imbalanced dNTP pools, despite the availability of the two major replication error correction mechanisms: proofreading and mismatch repair. However, the mutagenic potential of different dNTP pool imbalances did not directly correlate with their severity, and the locations of the mutations in a strain with elevated dTTP and dCTP were completely different from those in a strain with elevated dATP and dGTP. We then investigated, whether dNTP pool imbalances interfere with cell cycle progression and if they are detected by the S-phase checkpoint, a genome surveillance mechanism activated in response to DNA damage or replication blocks. The S-phase checkpoint was activated by the depletion of one or more dNTPs. In contrast, when none of the dNTP pools was limiting for DNA replication, even extreme and mutagenic dNTP pool imbalances did not activate the S-phase checkpoint and did not interfere with the cell cycle progression. We also observed an interesting mutational strand bias in one of the mutant rnr1 strains suggesting that the S-phase checkpoint may selectively prevent formation of replication errors during leading strand replication. We further used these strains to study the mechanisms by which dNTP pool imbalances induce genome instability. In addition, we discovered that a high dNTP concentration allows replicative DNA polymerases to bypass certain DNA lesions, which are difficult to bypass at normal dNTP concentrations. Our results broaden the role of dNTPs beyond ‘dNTPs as the building blocks’ and suggest that dNTPs are not only the building blocks of DNA but also that their concentrations in a cell have regulatory implications for maintaining genomic integrity. This is important as all cancers arise as a result of some kind of genomic abnormality.
|
|
| 15. |
- Lundin, Daniel, 1965-, et al.
(author)
-
Ribonucleotide reduction : horizontal transfer of a required function spans all three domains
- 2010
-
In: BMC Evolutionary Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2148. ; 10:383
-
Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background Ribonucleotide reduction is the only de novo pathway for synthesis ofdeoxyribonucleotides, the building blocks of DNA. The reaction is catalysed byribonucleotide reductases (RNRs), an ancient enzyme family comprised of threeclasses. Each class has distinct operational constraints, and are broadly distributedacross organisms from all three domains, though few class I RNRs have beenidentified in archaeal genomes, and classes II and III likewise appear rare acrosseukaryotes. In this study, we examine whether this distribution is best explained bypresence of all three classes in the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA), or byhorizontal gene transfer (HGT) of RNR genes. We also examine to what extentenvironmental factors may have impacted the distribution of RNR classes. Results Our phylogenies show that the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor (LECA) possesseda class I RNR, but that the eukaryotic class I enzymes are not directly descended fromclass I RNRs in archaea. Instead, our results indicate that archaeal class I RNR geneshave been independently transferred from bacteria on two occasions. While LECApossessed a class I RNR, our trees indicate that this is ultimately bacterial in origin.We also find convincing evidence that eukaryotic class I RNR has been transferred tothe bacteroidetes, providing a stunning example of HGT from eukaryotes back tobacteria. Based on our phylogenies and available genetic and genomic evidence, classII and III RNRs in eukaryotes also appear to have been transferred from bacteria, with subsequent within-domain transfer between distantly-related eukaryotes. Under the three-domains hypothesis the RNR present in the last common ancestor of archaeaand eukaryotes appears, through a process of elimination, to have been a dimeric classII RNR, though limited sampling of eukaryotes precludes a firm conclusion as the data may be equally well accounted for by HGT. Conclusions Horizontal gene transfer has clearly played an important role in the evolution of theRNR repertoire of organisms from all three domains of life. Our results clearly showthat class I RNRs have spread to archaea and eukaryotes via transfers from thebacterial domain, indicating that class I likely evolved in the bacteria. We find noclear evolutionary trace placing either class II or III RNRs in the LUCA, despite thefact that ribonucleotide reduction is an essential cellular reaction and was pivotal tothe transition from RNA to DNA genomes. Instead, a general pattern emerges whereenvironmental and enzyme operational constraints, especially the presence or absenceof oxygen, coupled with horizontal transmission are major determinants of the RNR repertoire of genomes.
|
|
| 16. |
- Lundin, Daniel, 1965-
(author)
-
The evolution of ribonucleotide reductases
- 2010
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) catalyses the transformation of RNA building blocks, ribonucleotides, to DNA building blocks, deoxyribonucleotides. This is the only extant reaction pathway for de novo synthesis of DNA building blocks and the enzyme is thus necessary for life. RNR is found in all but a few organisms. There are three classes of RNR, all evolutionarily related. The classification is built on differences in generation of the radical that is central to the reaction. As a consequence, RNR classes have different operational constraints. Class I requires oxygen, while class III is poisoned by oxygen. Class II is independent of oxygen, but dependent on vitamin B12 and, hence, cobalt. This makes RNR interesting from an evolutionary as well as environmental point of view. RNR must have evolved before the transition from RNA encoded genomes to DNA encoded. The extant radical-based reaction is likely similar to the ancestral reaction, which entails that the ancestral enzyme was a protein and not an RNR. My results are consistent with both class II and III being present in the last universal common ancestor. Class I RNR evolved later, presumably once oxygen levels had risen. From commonalities in extant RNRs we can reconstruct their last common ancestor as an enzyme that 1) used a transient cysteine-radical in the reaction, 2) reduced all four ribonucleotides, 3) regulated which nucleotide was reduced after binding an effector nucleotide in the dimer interface of the enzyme and 4) had activity regulation through binding of a nucleotide to another part of the enzyme. The presence of a specific RNR class is likely to influence the environmental range of organisms, which makes horizontal transfer of RNR particularly interesting. Horizontal transfer of RNR genes is widespread, both between closely related organisms and between domains. For instance, all three classes are present in eukaryotes, but likely all three are results of horizontal transfer.
|
|
| 17. |
- Lundin, Daniel, 1965-, et al.
(author)
-
Use of Structural Phylogenetic Networks for Classification of the Ferritin-like Superfamily
- 2012
-
In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - 0021-9258 .- 1083-351X. ; 287:24, s. 20565-20575
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the postgenomic era, bioinformatic analysis of sequence similarity is an immensely powerful tool to gain insight into evolution and protein function. Over long evolutionary distances, however, sequence-based methods fail as the similarities become too low for phylogenetic analysis. Macromolecular structure generally appears better conserved than sequence, but clear models for how structure evolves over time are lacking. The exponential growth of three-dimensional structural information may allow novel structure-based methods to drastically extend the evolutionary time scales amenable to phylogenetics and functional classification of proteins. To this end, we analyzed 80 structures from the functionally diverse ferritin-like superfamily. Using evolutionary networks, we demonstrate that structural comparisons can delineate and discover groups of proteins beyond the “twilight zone” where sequence similarity does not allow evolutionary analysis, suggesting that considerable and useful evolutionary signal is preserved in three-dimensional structures.
|
|
| 18. |
- Sjöberg, Britt-Marie
(author)
-
A Never-Eding Story
- 2010
-
In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 329:5998, s. 1475-1476
-
Research review (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Revealing another way cells make DNA building blocks, this time with manganese.
|
|
| 19. |
- Sjöberg, Britt-Marie, et al.
(author)
-
Shift in Ribonucleotide Reductase Gene Expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa during Infection
- 2011
-
In: Infection and Immunity. - 0019-9567 .- 1098-5522. ; 79:7, s. 2663-2669
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The roles of different ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) in bacterial pathogenesis have not been studied systematically. In this work we analyzed the importance of the different Pseudomonas aeruginosa RNRs in pathogenesis using the Drosophila melanogaster host-pathogen interaction model. P. aeruginosa codes for three different RNRs with different environmental requirements. Class II and III RNR chromosomal mutants exhibited reduced virulence in this model. Translational reporter fusions of RNR gene nrdA, nrdJ, or nrdD to the green fluorescent protein were constructed to measure the expression of each class during the infection process. Analysis of the P. aeruginosa infection by flow cytometry revealed increased expression of nrdJ and nrdD and decreased nrdA expression during the infection process. Expression of each RNR class fits with the pathogenicities of the chromosomal deletion mutants. An extended understanding of the pathogenicity and physiology of P. aeruginosa will be important for the development of novel drugs against infections in cystic fibrosis patients.
|
|
| 20. |
- Tholander, Fredrik, et al.
(author)
-
Discovery of antimicrobial ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors by screening in microwell format
- 2012
-
In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 109:25, s. 9798-9803
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) catalyzes reduction of the four different ribonucleotides to their corresponding deoxyribonucleotides and is the rate-limiting enzyme in DNA synthesis. RNR is a well-established target for the antiproliferative drugs Gemzar and Hydrea, for antisense therapy, and in combination chemotherapies. Surprisingly, few novel drugs that target RNR have emerged, partly because RNR activity assays are laboratory-intense and exclude high-throughput methodologies. Here, we present a previously undescribed PCR-based assay for RNR activity measurements in microplate format. We validated the approach by screening a diverse library of 1,364 compounds for inhibitors of class I RNR from the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and we identified 27 inhibitors with IC50 values from similar to 200 nM to 30 mu M. Interestingly, a majority of the identified inhibitors have been found inactive in human cell lines as well as in anticancer and in vivo tumor tests as reported by the PubChem BioAssay database. Four of the RNR inhibitors inhibited growth of P. aeruginosa, and two were also found to affect the transcription of RNR genes and to decrease the cellular deoxyribonucleotide pools. This unique PCR-based assay works with any RNR enzyme and any substrate nucleotide, and thus opens the door to high-throughput screening for RNR inhibitors in drug discovery.
|
|
| 21. |
- Thureborn, Petter, et al.
(author)
-
A Metagenomics Transect into the Deepest Point of the Baltic Sea Reveals Clear Stratification of Microbial Functional Capacities
- 2013
-
In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 8:9, s. e74983-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Baltic Sea is characterized by hyposaline surface waters, hypoxic and anoxic deep waters and sediments. These conditions, which in turn lead to a steep oxygen gradient, are particularly evident at Landsort Deep in the Baltic Proper. Given these substantial differences in environmental parameters at Landsort Deep, we performed a metagenomic census spanning surface to sediment to establish whether the microbial communities at this site are as stratified as the physical environment. We report strong stratification across a depth transect for both functional capacity and taxonomic affiliation, with functional capacity corresponding most closely to key environmental parameters of oxygen, salinity and temperature. We report similarities in functional capacity between the hypoxic community and hadal zone communities, underscoring the substantial degree of eutrophication in the Baltic Proper. Reconstruction of the nitrogen cycle at Landsort deep shows potential for syntrophy between archaeal ammonium oxidizers and bacterial denitrification at anoxic depths, while anaerobic ammonium oxidation genes are absent, despite substantial ammonium levels below the chemocline. Our census also reveals enrichment in genetic prerequisites for a copiotrophic lifestyle and resistance mechanisms reflecting adaptation to prevalent eutrophic conditions and the accumulation of environmental pollutants resulting from ongoing anthropogenic pressures in the Baltic Sea.
|
|
| 22. |
- Torrents, Eduard, et al.
(author)
-
Antibacterial activity of radical scavengers against reductase from Bacillus anthracis
- 2010
-
In: Biological chemistry (Print). - 1431-6730 .- 1437-4315. ; 391:2/3, s. 229-234
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Bacillus anthracis is a severe mammalian pathogen. The deoxyribonucleotides necessary for DNA replication and repair are provided via the ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) enzyme. RNR is also important for spore germination and cell proliferation upon infection. We show that the expression of B. anthracis class Ib RNR responds to the environment that the pathogen encounters upon infection. We also show that several anti-proliferative agents (radical scavengers) specifically inhibit the B. anthracis RNR. Owing to the importance of RNR in the pathogenic infection process, our results highlight a promising potential to inhibit the growth of B. anthracis early during infection.
|
|
