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51000.9797ArsZ from Ensifer adhaerens ST2 is a novel methylarsenite oxidase. Trivalent methylarsenite [MAs(III)] produced by biomethylation is more toxic than inorganic arsenite [As(III)]. Hence, MAs(III) has been proposed to be a primordial antibiotic. Other bacteria evolved mechanisms to detoxify MAs(III). In this study, the molecular mechanisms of MAs(III) resistance of Ensifer adhaerens ST2 were investigated. In the chromosome of E. adhaerens ST2 is a gene encoding a protein of unknown function. Here, we show that this gene, designated arsZ, encodes a novel MAs(III) oxidase that confers resistance by oxidizing highly toxic MAs(III) to relatively nontoxic MAs(V). Two other genes, arsRK, are adjacent to arsZ but are divergently encoded in the opposite direction. Heterologous expression of arsZ in Escherichia coli confers resistance to MAs(III) but not to As(III). Purified ArsZ catalyses thioredoxin- and NAPD(+) -dependent oxidation of MAs(III). Mutational analysis of ArsZ suggests that Cys59 and Cys123 are involved in the oxidation of MAs(III). Expression of arsZ, arsR and arsK genes is induced by MAs(III) and As(III) and is likely controlled by the ArsR transcriptional repressor. These results demonstrate that ArsZ is a novel MAs(III) oxidase that contributes to E. adhaerens tolerance to environmental organoarsenicals. The arsZRK operon is widely present in bacteria within the Rhizobiaceae family.202235355385
54710.9773Dual role of OhrR as a repressor and an activator in response to organic hydroperoxides in Streptomyces coelicolor. Organic hydroperoxide resistance in bacteria is achieved primarily through reducing oxidized membrane lipids. The soil-inhabiting aerobic bacterium Streptomyces coelicolor contains three paralogous genes for organic hydroperoxide resistance: ohrA, ohrB, and ohrC. The ohrA gene is transcribed divergently from ohrR, which encodes a putative regulator of MarR family. Both the ohrA and ohrR genes were induced highly by various organic hydroperoxides. The ohrA gene was induced through removal of repression by OhrR, whereas the ohrR gene was induced through activation by OhrR. Reduced OhrR bound to the ohrA-ohrR intergenic region, which contains a central (primary) and two adjacent (secondary) inverted-repeat motifs that overlap with promoter elements. Organic peroxide decreased the binding affinity of OhrR for the primary site, with a concomitant decrease in cooperative binding to the adjacent secondary sites. The single cysteine C28 in OhrR was involved in sensing oxidants, as determined by substitution mutagenesis. The C28S mutant of OhrR bound to the intergenic region without any change in binding affinity in response to organic peroxides. These results lead us to propose a model for the dual action of OhrR as a repressor and an activator in S. coelicolor. Under reduced conditions, OhrR binds cooperatively to the intergenic region, repressing transcription from both genes. Upon oxidation, the binding affinity of OhrR decreases, with a concomitant loss of cooperative binding, which allows RNA polymerase to bind to both the ohrA and ohrR promoters. The loosely bound oxidized OhrR can further activate transcription from the ohrR promoter.200717586628
57720.9771The SIR2 gene family, conserved from bacteria to humans, functions in silencing, cell cycle progression, and chromosome stability. Genomic silencing is a fundamental mechanism of transcriptional regulation, yet little is known about conserved mechanisms of silencing. We report here the discovery of four Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologs of the SIR2 silencing gene (HSTs), as well as conservation of this gene family from bacteria to mammals. At least three HST genes can function in silencing; HST1 overexpression restores transcriptional silencing to a sir2 mutant and hst3 hst4 double mutants are defective in telomeric silencing. In addition, HST3 and HST4 together contribute to proper cell cycle progression, radiation resistance, and genomic stability, establishing new connections between silencing and these fundamental cellular processes.19957498786
51430.9769The organoarsenical biocycle and the primordial antibiotic methylarsenite. Arsenic is the most pervasive environmental toxic substance. As a consequence of its ubiquity, nearly every organism has genes for resistance to inorganic arsenic. In bacteria these genes are found largely in bacterial arsenic resistance (ars) operons. Recently a parallel pathway for synthesis and degradation of methylated arsenicals has been identified. The arsM gene product encodes the ArsM (AS3MT in animals) As(iii) S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase that methylates inorganic trivalent arsenite in three sequential steps to methylarsenite MAs(iii), dimethylarsenite (DMAs(iii) and trimethylarsenite (TMAs(iii)). MAs(iii) is considerably more toxic than As(iii), and we have proposed that MAs(iii) was a primordial antibiotic. Under aerobic conditions these products are oxidized to nontoxic pentavalent arsenicals, so that methylation became a detoxifying pathway after the atmosphere became oxidizing. Other microbes have acquired the ability to regenerate MAs(v) by reduction, transforming it again into toxic MAs(iii). Under this environmental pressure, MAs(iii) resistances evolved, including the arsI, arsH and arsP genes. ArsI is a C-As bond lyase that demethylates MAs(iii) back to less toxic As(iii). ArsH re-oxidizes MAs(iii) to MAs(v). ArsP actively extrudes MAs(iii) from cells. These proteins confer resistance to this primitive antibiotic. This oscillation between MAs(iii) synthesis and detoxification is an essential component of the arsenic biogeocycle.201627730229
55640.9765An ArsR/SmtB family member regulates arsenic resistance genes unusually arranged in Thermus thermophilus HB27. Arsenic resistance is commonly clustered in ars operons in bacteria; main ars operon components encode an arsenate reductase, a membrane extrusion protein, and an As-sensitive transcription factor. In the As-resistant thermophile Thermus thermophilus HB27, genes encoding homologues of these proteins are interspersed in the chromosome. In this article, we show that two adjacent genes, TtsmtB, encoding an ArsR/SmtB transcriptional repressor and, TTC0354, encoding a Zn(2+) /Cd(2+) -dependent membrane ATPase are involved in As resistance; differently from characterized ars operons, the two genes are transcribed from dedicated promoters upstream of their respective genes, whose expression is differentially regulated at transcriptional level. Mutants defective in TtsmtB or TTC0354 are more sensitive to As than the wild type, proving their role in arsenic resistance. Recombinant dimeric TtSmtB binds in vitro to both promoters, but its binding capability decreases upon interaction with arsenate and, less efficiently, with arsenite. In vivo and in vitro experiments also demonstrate that the arsenate reductase (TtArsC) is subjected to regulation by TtSmtB. We propose a model for the regulation of As resistance in T. thermophilus in which TtSmtB is the arsenate sensor responsible for the induction of TtArsC which generates arsenite exported by TTC0354 efflux protein to detoxify cells.201728696001
60950.9765A metazoan ortholog of SpoT hydrolyzes ppGpp and functions in starvation responses. In nutrient-starved bacteria, RelA and SpoT proteins have key roles in reducing cell growth and overcoming stresses. Here we identify functional SpoT orthologs in metazoa (named Mesh1, encoded by HDDC3 in human and Q9VAM9 in Drosophila melanogaster) and reveal their structures and functions. Like the bacterial enzyme, Mesh1 proteins contain an active site for ppGpp hydrolysis and a conserved His-Asp-box motif for Mn(2+) binding. Consistent with these structural data, Mesh1 efficiently catalyzes hydrolysis of guanosine 3',5'-diphosphate (ppGpp) both in vitro and in vivo. Mesh1 also suppresses SpoT-deficient lethality and RelA-induced delayed cell growth in bacteria. Notably, deletion of Mesh1 (Q9VAM9) in Drosophila induces retarded body growth and impaired starvation resistance. Microarray analyses reveal that the amino acid-starved Mesh1 null mutant has highly downregulated DNA and protein synthesis-related genes and upregulated stress-responsible genes. These data suggest that metazoan SpoT orthologs have an evolutionarily conserved function in starvation responses.201020818390
54660.9764Resistance to organic hydroperoxides requires ohr and ohrR genes in Sinorhizobium meliloti. BACKGROUND: Sinorhizobium meliloti is a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium that elicits nodules on roots of host plants Medicago sativa. During nodule formation bacteria have to withstand oxygen radicals produced by the plant. Resistance to H2O2 and superoxides has been extensively studied in S. meliloti. In contrast resistance to organic peroxides has not been investigated while S. meliloti genome encodes putative organic peroxidases. Organic peroxides are produced by plants and are highly toxic. The resistance to these oxygen radicals has been studied in various bacteria but never in plant nodulating bacteria. RESULTS: In this study we report the characterisation of organic hydroperoxide resistance gene ohr and its regulator ohrR in S. meliloti. The inactivation of ohr affects resistance to cumene and ter-butyl hydroperoxides but not to hydrogen peroxide or menadione in vitro. The expression of ohr and ohrR genes is specifically induced by organic peroxides. OhrR binds to the intergenic region between the divergent genes ohr and ohrR. Two binding sites were characterised. Binding to the operator is prevented by OhrR oxidation that promotes OhrR dimerisation. The inactivation of ohr did not affect symbiosis and nitrogen fixation, suggesting that redundant enzymatic activity exists in this strain. Both ohr and ohrR are expressed in nodules suggesting that they play a role during nitrogen fixation. CONCLUSIONS: This report demonstrates the significant role Ohr and OhrR proteins play in bacterial stress resistance against organic peroxides in S. meliloti. The ohr and ohrR genes are expressed in nodule-inhabiting bacteroids suggesting a role during nodulation.201121569462
54570.9763Characterization of the organic hydroperoxide resistance system of Brucella abortus 2308. The organic hydroperoxide resistance protein Ohr has been identified in numerous bacteria where it functions in the detoxification of organic hydroperoxides, and expression of ohr is often regulated by a MarR-type regulator called OhrR. The genes annotated as BAB2_0350 and BAB2_0351 in the Brucella abortus 2308 genome sequence are predicted to encode OhrR and Ohr orthologs, respectively. Using isogenic ohr and ohrR mutants and lacZ promoter fusions, it was determined that Ohr contributes to resistance to organic hydroperoxide, but not hydrogen peroxide, in B. abortus 2308 and that OhrR represses the transcription of both ohr and ohrR in this strain. Moreover, electrophoretic mobility shift assays and DNase I footprinting revealed that OhrR binds directly to a specific region in the intergenic region between ohr and ohrR that shares extensive nucleotide sequence similarity with so-called "OhrR boxes" described in other bacteria. While Ohr plays a prominent role in protecting B. abortus 2308 from organic hydroperoxide stress in in vitro assays, this protein is not required for the wild-type virulence of this strain in cultured murine macrophages or experimentally infected mice.201222821968
51280.9761An alternate pathway of antimonite [Sb(III)] resistance in Ensifer adhaerens mediated by ArsZ'. Trivalent arsenicals, such as arsenite [As(III)] and methylarsenite [MAs(III)], are highly toxic and commonly found in anoxic environments. Similarly, antimony (Sb), a toxic metalloid present in the environment, triggers the activation of numerous genes in microorganisms to resist, transform, and efflux it. This study focuses on the arsZ' gene from the trivalent metalloids-resistant Ensifer adhaerens strain ST2 and its role in mitigating antimonite [Sb(III)] toxicity. The introduction of arsZ' into Escherichia coli AW3110 provided resistance to Sb(III) but not MAs(III). Crucial cysteine residues, Cys95 and Cys109 in ArsZ', were found to be essential for Sb(III) resistance. The disruption of arsZ' in E. adhaerens resulted in decreased tolerance to Sb(III) but not As(III). Exposure to Sb(III) in the ΔarsZ' mutant strain ST2(Δars'Z) led to a significant rise in reactive oxygen species production and a decline in catalase activity, indicating oxidative stress. Particularly, Sb(III) induced glutathione reductase activity. These discoveries shed light on a novel detoxification pathway for Sb(III) in bacteria and underscore the potential of soil bacteria like strain ST2 in mitigating Sb(III) toxicity for future bioremediation endeavors.202540682878
54490.9760Organic Hydroperoxide Induces Prodigiosin Biosynthesis in Serratia sp. ATCC 39006 in an OhrR-Dependent Manner. The biosynthesis of prodigiosin in the model prodigiosin-producing strain, Serratia sp. ATCC 39006, is significantly influenced by environmental and cellular signals. However, a comprehensive regulatory mechanism for this process has not been well established. In the present study, we demonstrate that organic hydroperoxide activates prodigiosin biosynthesis in an OhrR-dependent manner. Specifically, the MarR-family transcriptional repressor OhrR (Ser39006_RS05455) binds to its operator located far upstream of the promoter region of the prodigiosin biosynthesis operon (319 to 286 nucleotides [nt] upstream of the transcription start site) and negatively regulates the expression of prodigiosin biosynthesis genes. Organic hydroperoxide disassociates the binding between OhrR and its operator, thereby promoting the prodigiosin production. Moreover, OhrR modulates the resistance of Serratia sp. ATCC 39006 to organic hydroperoxide by regulating the transcription of its own gene and the downstream cotranscribed ohr gene. These results demonstrate that OhrR is a pleiotropic repressor that modulates the prodigiosin production and the resistance of Serratia sp. ATCC 39006 to organic hydroperoxide stress. IMPORTANCE Bacteria naturally encounter various environmental and cellular stresses. Organic hydroperoxides generated from the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids are widely distributed and usually cause lethal oxidative stress by damaging cellular components. OhrR is known as a regulator that modulates the resistance of bacteria to organic hydroperoxide stress. In the current study, organic hydroperoxide disassociates OhrR from the promoter of prodigiosin biosynthesis gene cluster, thus promoting transcription of pigA to -O genes. In this model, organic hydroperoxide acts as an inducer of prodigiosin synthesis in Serratia sp. ATCC 39006. These results improve our understanding of the regulatory network of prodigiosin synthesis and serve as an example for identifying the cross talk between the stress responses and the regulation of secondary metabolism.202235044847
511100.9756Oxidation of organoarsenicals and antimonite by a novel flavin monooxygenase widely present in soil bacteria. Arsenic can be biomethylated to form a variety of organic arsenicals differing in toxicity and environmental mobility. Trivalent methylarsenite (MAs(III)) produced in the methylation process is more toxic than inorganic arsenite (As(III)). MAs(III) also serves as a primitive antibiotic and, consequently, some environmental microorganisms have evolved mechanisms to detoxify MAs(III). However, the mechanisms of MAs(III) detoxification are not well understood. In this study, we identified an arsenic resistance (ars) operon consisting of three genes, arsRVK, that contribute to MAs(III) resistance in Ensifer adhaerens ST2. ArsV is annotated as an NADPH-dependent flavin monooxygenase with unknown function. Expression of arsV in the arsenic hypersensitive Escherichia coli strain AW3110Δars conferred resistance to MAs(III) and the ability to oxidize MAs(III) to MAs(V). In the presence of NADPH and either FAD or FMN, purified ArsV protein was able to oxidize both MAs(III) to MAs(V) and Sb(III) to Sb(V). Genes with arsV-like sequences are widely present in soils and environmental bacteria. Metagenomic analysis of five paddy soils showed the abundance of arsV-like sequences of 0.12-0.25 ppm. These results demonstrate that ArsV is a novel enzyme for the detoxification of MAs(III) and Sb(III) and the genes encoding ArsV are widely present in soil bacteria.202233769668
178110.9753Molecular basis of bacterial resistance to organomercurial and inorganic mercuric salts. Bacteria mediate resistance to organomercurial and inorganic mercuric salts by metabolic conversion to nontoxic elemental mercury, Hg(0). The genes responsible for mercury resistance are organized in the mer operon, and such operons are often found in plasmids that also bear drug resistance determinants. We have subcloned three of these mer genes, merR, merB, and merA, and have studied their protein products via protein overproduction and purification, and structural and functional characterization. MeR is a metalloregulatory DNA-binding protein that acts as a repressor of both its own and structural gene transcription in the absence of Hg(II); in addition it acts as a positive effector of structural gene transcription when Hg(II) is present. MerB, organomercury lyase, catalyzes the protonolytic fragmentation of organomercurials to the parent hydrocarbon and Hg(II) by an apparent SE2 mechanism. MerA, mercuric ion reductase, is an FAD-containing and redox-active disulfide-containing enzyme with homology to glutathione reductase. It has evolved the unique catalytic capacity to reduce Hg(II) to Hg(0) and thereby complete the detoxification scheme.19883277886
549120.9753Extracytoplasmic function sigma factor σ(D) confers resistance to environmental stress by enhancing mycolate synthesis and modifying peptidoglycan structures in Corynebacterium glutamicum. Mycolates are α-branched, β-hydroxylated, long-chain fatty acid specifically synthesized in bacteria in the suborder Corynebacterineae of the phylum Actinobacteria. They form an outer membrane, which functions as a permeability barrier and confers pathogenic mycobacteria to resistance to antibiotics. Although the mycolate biosynthetic pathway has been intensively studied, knowledge of transcriptional regulation of genes involved in this pathway is limited. Here, we report that the extracytoplasmic function sigma factor σ(D) is a key regulator of the mycolate synthetic genes in Corynebacterium glutamicum in the suborder. Chromatin immunoprecipitation with microarray analysis detected σ(D) -binding regions in the genome, establishing a consensus promoter sequence for σ(D) recognition. The σ(D) regulon comprised acyl-CoA carboxylase subunits, acyl-AMP ligase, polyketide synthase and mycolyltransferases; they were involved in mycolate synthesis. Indeed, deletion or overexpression of sigD encoding σ(D) modified the extractable mycolate amount. Immediately downstream of sigD, rsdA encoded anti-σ(D) and was under the control of a σ(D) -dependent promoter. Another σ(D) regulon member, l,d-transpeptidase, conferred lysozyme resistance. Thus, σ(D) modifies peptidoglycan cross-linking and enhances mycolate synthesis to provide resistance to environmental stress.201829148103
557130.9753Identification of a MarR Subfamily That Regulates Arsenic Resistance Genes. In this study, comprehensive analyses were performed to determine the function of an atypical MarR homolog in Achromobacter sp. strain As-55. Genomic analyses of Achromobacter sp. As-55 showed that this marR is located adjacent to an arsV gene. ArsV is a flavin-dependent monooxygenase that confers resistance to the antibiotic methylarsenite [MAs(III)], the organoarsenic compound roxarsone(III) [Rox(III)], and the inorganic antimonite [Sb(III)]. Similar marR genes are widely distributed in arsenic-resistant bacteria. Phylogenetic analyses showed that these MarRs are found in operons predicted to be involved in resistance to inorganic and organic arsenic species, so the subfamily was named MarR(ars). MarR(ars) orthologs have three conserved cysteine residues, which are Cys36, Cys37, and Cys157 in Achromobacter sp. As-55, mutation of which compromises the response to MAs(III)/Sb(III). GFP-fluorescent biosensor assays show that AdMarR(ars) (MarR protein of Achromobacter deleyi As-55) responds to trivalent As(III) and Sb(III) but not to pentavalent As(V) or Sb(V). The results of RT-qPCR assays show that arsV is expressed constitutively in a marR deletion mutant, indicating that marR represses transcription of arsV. Moreover, electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) demonstrate that AdMarR(ars) binds to the promoters of both marR and arsV in the absence of ligands and that DNA binding is relieved upon binding of As(III) and Sb(III). Our results demonstrate that AdMarR(ars) is a novel As(III)/Sb(III)-responsive transcriptional repressor that controls expression of arsV, which confers resistance to MAs(III), Rox(III), and Sb(III). AdMarR(ars) and its orthologs form a subfamily of MarR proteins that regulate genes conferring resistance to arsenic-containing antibiotics. IMPORTANCE In this study, a MarR family member, AdMarR(ars) was shown to regulate the arsV gene, which confers resistance to arsenic-containing antibiotics. It is a founding member of a distinct subfamily that we refer to as MarR(ars), regulating genes conferring resistance to arsenic and antimony antibiotic compounds. AdMarR(ars) was shown to be a repressor containing conserved cysteine residues that are required to bind As(III) and Sb(III), leading to a conformational change and subsequent derepression. Here we show that members of the MarR family are involved in regulating arsenic-containing compounds.202134613763
502140.9753A highly specialized flavin mononucleotide riboswitch responds differently to similar ligands and confers roseoflavin resistance to Streptomyces davawensis. Streptomyces davawensis is the only organism known to synthesize the antibiotic roseoflavin, a riboflavin (vitamin B2) analog. Roseoflavin is converted to roseoflavin mononucleotide (RoFMN) and roseoflavin adenine dinucleotide in the cytoplasm of target cells. (Ribo-)Flavin mononucleotide (FMN) riboswitches are genetic elements, which in many bacteria control genes responsible for the biosynthesis and transport of riboflavin. Streptomyces davawensis is roseoflavin resistant, and the closely related bacterium Streptomyces coelicolor is roseoflavin sensitive. The two bacteria served as models to investigate roseoflavin resistance of S. davawensis and to analyze the mode of action of roseoflavin in S. coelicolor. Our experiments demonstrate that the ribB FMN riboswitch of S. davawensis (in contrast to the corresponding riboswitch of S. coelicolor) is able to discriminate between the two very similar flavins FMN and RoFMN and shows opposite responses to the latter ligands.201222740651
594150.9752Challenging Xanthomonas campestris with low levels of arsenic mediates cross-protection against oxidant killing. Xanthomonas encounters highly toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) from many sources, such as those generated by plants against invading bacteria, other soil bacteria and from aerobic respiration. Thus, conditions that alter intracellular ROS levels such as exposure to toxic metalloids would have profound effects on bacterial physiology. Here, we report that exposure of Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Xp) to low levels of arsenic induces physiological cross-protection against killing by H(2)O(2) and organic hydroperoxide but not a superoxide generator. Cross-protection against H(2)O(2) and organic hydroperoxide toxicity was due to increased expression of genes encoding major peroxide-metabolizing enzymes such as alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpC), catalase (KatA) and organic hydroperoxide resistance protein (Ohr). Arsenic-induced protection against H(2)O(2) and organic hydroperoxide requires the peroxide stress response regulators, OxyR and OhrR, respectively. Moreover, analyses of double mutants of the major H(2)O(2) and organic hyproperoxide-scavenging enzymes, Xp ahpC katA and Xp ahpC ohr, respectively, suggested the existence of unidentified OxyR- and OhrR-regulated genes that are involved in arsenic-induced resistance to H(2)O(2) and organic hyproperoxide killing in Xp. These arsenic-induced physiological alterations could play an important role in bacterial survival both in the soil environment and during plant-pathogen interactions.200616907748
543160.9752OxyR2 Modulates OxyR1 Activity and Vibrio cholerae Oxidative Stress Response. Bacteria have developed capacities to deal with different stresses and adapt to different environmental niches. The human pathogen Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of the severe diarrheal disease cholera, utilizes the transcriptional regulator OxyR to activate genes related to oxidative stress resistance, including peroxiredoxin PrxA, in response to hydrogen peroxide. In this study, we identified another OxyR homolog in V. cholerae, which we named OxyR2, and we renamed the previous OxyR OxyR1. We found that OxyR2 is required to activate its divergently transcribed gene ahpC, encoding an alkylhydroperoxide reductase, independently of H(2)O(2) A conserved cysteine residue in OxyR2 is critical for this function. Mutation of either oxyR2 or ahpC rendered V. cholerae more resistant to H(2)O(2) RNA sequencing analyses indicated that OxyR1-activated oxidative stress-resistant genes were highly expressed in oxyR2 mutants even in the absence of H(2)O(2) Further genetic analyses suggest that OxyR2-activated AhpC modulates OxyR1 activity by maintaining low intracellular concentrations of H(2)O(2) Furthermore, we showed that ΔoxyR2 and ΔahpC mutants were less fit when anaerobically grown bacteria were exposed to low levels of H(2)O(2) or incubated in seawater. These results suggest that OxyR2 and AhpC play important roles in the V. cholerae oxidative stress response.201728138024
517170.9751Adaptation to metal(loid)s in strain Mucilaginibacter rubeus P2 involves novel arsenic resistance genes and mechanisms. Arsenic is a ubiquitous environmental toxi substance that affects human health. Compared to inorganic arsenicals, reduced organoarsenicals are more toxic, and some of them are recognized as antibiotics, such as methylarsenite [MAs(III)] and arsinothricin (2-amino-4-(hydroxymethylarsinoyl)butanoate, or AST). To date, organoarsenicals such as MAs(V) and roxarsone [Rox(V)] are still used in agriculture and animal husbandry. How bacteria deal with both inorganic and organoarsenic species is unclear. Recently, we identified an environmental isolate Mucilaginibacter rubeus P2 that has adapted to high arsenic and antinomy levels by triplicating an arsR-mrarsU(Bact)-arsN-arsC-(arsRhp)-hp-acr3-mrme1(Bact)-mrme2(Bact)gene cluster. Heterologous expression of mrarsM(Bact), mrarsU(Bact), mrme1(Bact) and mrme2(Bact), encoding putative arsenic resistance determinants, in the arsenic hypersensitive strain Escherichia coli AW3110 conferred resistance to As(III), As(V), MAs(III) or Rox(III). Our data suggest that metalloid exposure promotes plasticity in arsenic resistance systems, enhancing host organism adaptation to metalloid stress.202437865075
513180.9750New mechanisms of bacterial arsenic resistance. Arsenic is the most pervasive environmental substance and is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Group 1 human carcinogen. Nearly every organism has resistance pathways for inorganic arsenic, and in bacteria, their genes are found in arsenic resistance (ars) operons. Recently, a parallel pathway for organic arsenicals has been identified. The ars genes responsible for the organoarsenical detoxification includes arsM, which encodes an As(III) S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase, arsI, which encodes a C-As bond lyase, and arsH, which encodes a methylarsenite oxidase. The identification and properties of arsM, arsI and arsH are described in this review.201627105594
176190.9749The mercury resistance (mer) operon in a marine gliding flavobacterium, Tenacibaculum discolor 9A5. Genes conferring mercury resistance have been investigated in a variety of bacteria and archaea but not in bacteria of the phylum Bacteroidetes, despite their importance in many environments. We found, however, that a marine gliding Bacteroidetes species, Tenacibaculum discolor, was the predominant mercury-resistant bacterial taxon cultured from a salt marsh fertilized with mercury-contaminated sewage sludge. Here we report characterization of the mercuric reductase and the narrow-spectrum mercury resistance (mer) operon from one of these strains - T. discolor 9A5. This mer operon, which confers mercury resistance when cloned into Flavobacterium johnsoniae, encodes a novel mercury-responsive ArsR/SmtB family transcriptional regulator that appears to have evolved independently from other mercury-responsive regulators, a novel putative transport protein consisting of a fusion between the integral membrane Hg(II) transporter MerT and the periplasmic Hg(II)-binding protein MerP, an additional MerP protein, and a mercuric reductase that is phylogenetically distinct from other known mercuric reductases.201322816663