Enzymes currently known as lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) play an important role in the conversion of recalcitrant polysaccharides, but their mode of action has remained largely enigmatic. It is generally believed that catalysis by LPMOs requires molecular oxygen and a reductant that delivers two electrons per catalytic cycle. Using enzyme assays, mass spectrometry and experiments with labeled oxygen atoms, we show here that HO, rather than O, is the preferred co-substrate of LPMOs. By controlling HO supply, stable reaction kinetics are achieved, the LPMOs work in the absence of O, and the reductant is consumed in priming rather than in stoichiometric amounts. The use of HO by a monocopper enzyme that is otherwise cofactor-free offers new perspectives regarding the mode of action of copper enzymes. Furthermore, these findings have implications for the enzymatic conversion of biomass in Nature and in industrial biorefining.

The mechanisms of target cell recognition and producer cell selfprotection (immunity) are both important yet poorly understood issues in the biology of peptide bacteriocins. In this report, we provide genetic and biochemical evidence that lactococcin A, a permeabilizing peptide-bacteriocin from Lactococcus lactis, uses components of the mannose phosphotransferase system (man-PTS) of susceptible cells as target/receptor. We present experimental evidence that the immunity protein LciA forms a strong complex with the receptor proteins and the bacteriocin, thereby preventing cells from being killed. Importantly, the complex between LciA and the man-PTS components (IIAB, IIC, and IID) appears to involve an on-off type mechanism that allows complex formation only in the presence of bacteriocin; otherwise no complexes were observed between LciA and the receptor proteins. Deletion of the man-PTS operon combined with biochemical studies revealed that the presence of the membrane-located components IIC and IID was sufficient for sensitivity to lactococcin A as well as complex formation with LciA. The cytoplasmic component of the man-PTS, IIAB, was not required for the biological sensitivity or for complex formation. Furthermore, heterologous expression of the lactococcal man-PTS operon rendered the insensitive Lactobacillus sakei susceptible to lactococcin A. We also provide evidence that, not only lactococcin A, but other class II peptide-bacteriocins including lactococcin B and some Listeria-active pediocin-like bacteriocins also target the man-PTS components IIC and IID on susceptible cells and that their immunity proteins involve a mechanism in producer cell self-protection similar to that observed for LciA.antimicrobial peptides ͉ Mannose-PTS ͉ receptor ͉ protein complex ͉ coprecipitation

The catalytically crucial N-terminal histidine (His1) of fungal lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) is post-translationally modified to carry a methylation. The functional role of this methylation remains unknown. We have carried out an in-depth functional comparison of two variants of a family AA9 LPMO from Thermoascus aurantiacus (TaLPMO9A), one with, and one without the methylation on His1. Various activity assays showed that the two enzyme variants are identical in terms of substrate preferences, cleavage specificities and the ability to activate molecular oxygen. During the course of this work, new functional features of TaLPMO9A were discovered, in particular the ability to cleave xyloglucan, and these features were identical for both variants. Using a variety of techniques, we further found that methylation has minimal effects on the pK of His1, the affinity for copper and the redox potential of bound copper. The two LPMOs did, however, show clear differences in their resistance against oxidative damage. Studies with added hydrogen peroxide confirmed recent claims that low concentrations of H O boost LPMO activity, whereas excess H O leads to LPMO inactivation. The methylated variant of TaLPMO9A, produced in Aspergillus oryzae, was more resistant to excess H O and showed better process performance when using conditions that promote generation of reactive-oxygen species. LPMOs need to protect themselves from reactive oxygen species generated in their active sites and this study shows that methylation of the fully conserved N-terminal histidine provides such protection.

Lactococcus garvieae DCC43 produces a bacteriocin, garvicin ML (GarML), with a molecular mass of 6,004.2 Da. Data from de novo amino acid sequencing by tandem mass spectrometry and nucleotide sequencing by reverse genetics suggested that the bacteriocin is synthesized as a 63-amino-acid precursor with a 3-amino-acid leader peptide that is removed by cleavage. Subsequently, a covalent linkage between the N and C termini forms the mature version of this novel 60-amino-acid circular bacteriocin.

Some 8.8 kb of the Lactobacillus sake plasmid pCIM1 was sequenced, revealing eight tightly clustered open reading frames (ORFs) downstream from lasA, which encodes pre-lactocin S. Transcription analyses demonstrated that the genes are expressed as an operon, with transcription initiating upstream of lasA and terminating immediately 3' to the ninth ORF x lasA is also represented by two small RNAs (RNAI and RNAII) which differ in size by approximately 90 nucleotides, and primer extension experiments demonstrated a corresponding difference in the 5' termini. A palindromie sequence constitutes the 3' terminus of both RNAI and RNAII, and we propose that this sequence has a dual regulatory function in controlling the expression of las operon, acting both as a barrier to 3'-5' exonuclease degradation of the lasA-specific transcript(s), and as a "leaky" transcriptional terminator which limits the expression of down-stream genes. Three of the genes in the las operon have identifiable counterparts in other lantibiotic systems: lasM is likely to be involved in prepeptide modification, lasT, which encodes an ATP-dependent transport protein, is probably involved in the secretion of lactocin S, while lasP specifies a subtilisin-type serine protease which may be the lactocin S leader peptidase. Insertional mutation of either lasT or lasM by the resident transposable element IS1163 abolishes lactocin S production. The remaining five ORFs in the las operon are apparently unique, and their significance with respect to the lactocin S phenotype is presently not known.

The discovery of Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenases (LPMOs) has been 17 instrumental for the development of economically sustainable lignocellulose biorefineries. 18 Despite the obvious importance of these exceptionally powerful redox enzymes, their mode of 19 action remains enigmatic and their activity and stability under process conditions are hard to 20 control. By using enzyme assays, mass spectrometry and experiments with labeled oxygen 21 atoms, we show that H 2 O 2 , and not O 2 as previously thought, is the co-substrate of LPMOs. By 22 controlling H 2 O 2 supply, stable reaction kinetics and high enzymatic rates are achieved, the 23 LPMOs work under anaerobic conditions, and the need for adding stoichiometric amounts of 24 reductants is alleviated. These results offer completely new perspectives regarding the mode of 25 action of these unique mono-copper enzymes, the enzymatic conversion of biomass in Nature, 26 and industrial biorefining. 27 28 29

Background Rhodotorula toruloides is a promising platform organism for production of lipids from lignocellulosic substrates. Little is known about the metabolic aspects of lipid production from the lignocellolosic sugar xylose by oleaginous yeasts in general and R. toruloides in particular. This study presents the first proteome analysis of the metabolism of R. toruloides during conversion of xylose to lipids. Results Rhodotorula toruloides cultivated on either glucose or xylose was subjected to comparative analysis of its growth dynamics, lipid composition, fatty acid profiles and proteome. The maximum growth and sugar uptake rate of glucose-grown R. toruloides cells were almost twice that of xylose-grown cells. Cultivation on xylose medium resulted in a lower final biomass yield although final cellular lipid content was similar between glucose- and xylose-grown cells. Analysis of lipid classes revealed the presence of monoacylglycerol in the early exponential growth phase as well as a high proportion of free fatty acids. Carbon source-specific changes in lipid profiles were only observed at early exponential growth phase, where C18 fatty acids were more saturated in xylose-grown cells. Proteins involved in sugar transport, initial steps of xylose assimilation and NADPH regeneration were among the proteins whose levels increased the most in xylose-grown cells across all time points. The levels of enzymes involved in the mevalonate pathway, phospholipid biosynthesis and amino acids biosynthesis differed in response to carbon source. In addition, xylose-grown cells contained higher levels of enzymes involved in peroxisomal beta-oxidation and oxidative stress response compared to cells cultivated on glucose. Conclusions The results obtained in the present study suggest that sugar import is the limiting step during xylose conversion by R. toruloides into lipids. NADPH appeared to be regenerated primarily through pentose phosphate pathway although it may also involve malic enzyme as well as alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases. Increases in enzyme levels of both fatty acid biosynthesis and beta-oxidation in xylose-grown cells was predicted to result in a futile cycle. The results presented here are valuable for the development of lipid production processes employing R. toruloides on xylose-containing substrates. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13068-019-1478-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

BackgroundSurface proteins are a key to a deeper understanding of the behaviour of Gram-positive bacteria interacting with the human gastro-intestinal tract. Such proteins contribute to cell wall synthesis and maintenance and are important for interactions between the bacterial cell and the human host. Since they are exposed and may play roles in pathogenicity, surface proteins are interesting targets for drug design.ResultsUsing methods based on proteolytic "shaving" of bacterial cells and subsequent mass spectrometry-based protein identification, we have identified surface-located proteins in Enterococcus faecalis V583. In total 69 unique proteins were identified, few of which have been identified and characterized previously. 33 of these proteins are predicted to be cytoplasmic, whereas the other 36 are predicted to have surface locations (31) or to be secreted (5). Lipid-anchored proteins were the most dominant among the identified surface proteins. The seemingly most abundant surface proteins included a membrane protein with a potentially shedded extracellular sulfatase domain that could act on the sulfate groups in mucin and a lipid-anchored fumarate reductase that could contribute to generation of reactive oxygen species.ConclusionsThe present proteome analysis gives an experimental impression of the protein landscape on the cell surface of the pathogenic bacterium E. faecalis. The 36 identified secreted (5) and surface (31) proteins included several proteins involved in cell wall synthesis, pheromone-regulated processes, and transport of solutes, as well as proteins with unknown function. These proteins stand out as interesting targets for further investigation of the interaction between E. faecalis and its environment.