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Assaying for Inorganic Polyphosphate in Bacteria
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The potential for polyphosphate metabolism in Archaea and anaerobic polyphosphate formation in Methanosarcina mazei

Fabiana S Paula1,2, Jason P Chin3, Anna Schnürer4

  • 1Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Republic of Ireland. fabianaspaula@gmail.com.

Scientific Reports
|November 21, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) metabolism is widespread in Archaea, impacting global phosphorus cycling. Methanosarcina mazei accumulates polyP under specific conditions, with ppk1 gene expression not controlled by phosphate starvation.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is a crucial molecule found in all life forms.
  • Its metabolism is well-studied in bacteria and yeasts, but less so in Archaea.
  • Limited data exists on polyP functions and regulation within archaeal organisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and potential roles of polyP metabolism proteins in Archaea.
  • To explore the regulation of polyP accumulation in the methanogenic archaeon Methanosarcina mazei.
  • To understand the contribution of archaea to global phosphorus cycling.

Main Methods:

  • Bioinformatic analysis to identify homologs of bacterial polyP metabolism proteins in Archaea.
  • Culturing Methanosarcina mazei under anaerobic conditions with varying phosphate availability.
  • Gene expression analysis using transcript abundance measurements (RT-qPCR).
  • Quantification of intracellular polyphosphate content.

Main Results:

  • Homologs of polyP metabolism proteins are conserved across major archaeal taxa.
  • PolyP accumulation in Methanosarcina mazei is induced by anaerobic conditions and shifts in phosphate availability (starvation followed by repletion).
  • Phosphate starvation increased alkaline phosphatase (phoA) and phosphate transport (pstSCAB-phoU) gene transcripts, but not polyphosphate kinase 1 (ppk1).
  • Replete phosphate conditions after starvation led to a significant increase in intracellular polyP and ppk1 transcript levels.

Conclusions:

  • Archaeal populations may play a more significant role in global phosphorus cycling than previously recognized.
  • PolyP accumulation in Methanosarcina mazei is regulated by phosphate availability.
  • The regulation of ppk1 expression in M. mazei does not follow classical phosphate starvation control mechanisms.

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