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Unravelling the Function of a Bacterial Effector from a Non-cultivable Plant Pathogen Using a Yeast Two-hybrid Screen
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The plant pathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum contains a functional formate hydrogenlyase-2 complex
Alexander J Finney1,2, Rebecca Lowden2, Michal Fleszar2
1School of Natural & Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.
Molecular Microbiology
|August 18, 2019
Summary
Pectobacterium atrosepticum produces hydrogen gas via the formate hydrogenlyase-2 (FHL-2) enzyme complex. This study reveals FHL-2
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Pectobacterium atrosepticum SCRI1043 is a plant pathogen.
- Anaerobic conditions induce respiration and fermentation genes.
- Formate hydrogenlyase-2 (FHL-2) is a poorly understood membrane-bound enzyme with links to mitochondrial Complex I.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function and structure of FHL-2 in P. atrosepticum.
- To determine the role of FHL-2 in hydrogen gas production.
- To explore the genetic basis of FHL-2 function.
Main Methods:
- Molecular genetic approaches
- Biochemical analyses
- Gene expression analysis under anaerobic conditions
Main Results:
- FHL-2 is fully functional in P. atrosepticum and is the primary source of hydrogen gas.
- The FHL-2 complex includes a rare [NiFe]-hydrogenase-4 (Hyd-4) isoenzyme and a selenium-free formate dehydrogenase.
- Most genes encoding the FHL-2 membrane arm are not essential for hydrogen production.
Conclusions:
- P. atrosepticum serves as a novel model for studying anaerobic formate and hydrogen metabolism.
- This research elucidates the function and structure of FHL-2.
- The study provides insights into the evolutionary relationships of FHL-2 with mitochondrial enzymes.
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