The rus operon genes are differentially regulated when Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans LR is kept in contact with metal sulfides

Autor(es)

Carlos, Camila ^[1] ; Reis, Fernanda C. ^[1] ; Vicentini, Renato ^[2] ; Madureira, Danielle J. ^[1] ; Ottoboni, Laura M. M. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, CBMEG, BR-13083875 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Genet & Evolucao, IB, BR-13083875 Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Current Microbiology; v. 57, n. 4, p. 375-380, OCT 2008.
• Citações Web of Science: 15

Resumo

Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is a Gram-negative bacterium that obtains energy from the oxidation of ferrous iron or reduced sulfur compounds. In this bacterium, the proteins encoded by the rus operon are involved in electron transfer from Fe(II) to O(2), and the first two proteins in this pathway also participate in the electron transfer pathway from Fe(II) to NAD(P). In this work we analyzed the expression, by real-time PCR, of the eight genes from the rus operon when A. ferrooxidans LR was grown in the presence of iron (control) and then kept in contact with chalcopyrite (CuFeS(2)) and covellite (CuS). A small decrease in rus operon gene expression was observed in the presence of chalcopyrite, while in the presence of covellite the expression of these genes showed a remarkable decrease. These results can be explained by the absence of ferrous iron in covellite. To explain the expression difference observed between the gene cyc1 and the gene rus, we investigated the information content presented at the Translation Initiation Site (TIS) of both genes. cyc1 showed a highly information content (8.4 bits) that can maximize translation, and rus showed a less favorable context (5.5 bits). Our hypothesis is that the energetic metabolism in A. ferrooxidans may be controlled at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional level by different mechanisms. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 05/51332-7 - Identificação e caracterização de genes com expressão diferencial em Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans na presença de covelita
• Beneficiário: Laura Maria Mariscal Ottoboni
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 06/54433-1 - Análise da expressão dos genes do Operon em Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans mantida em contato com minerais sulfetados de cobre
• Beneficiário: Camila Carlos
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica
• Processo FAPESP: 05/00139-2 - Identificação de genes com expressão induzida em Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans na presença de Covelita
• Beneficiário: Fernanda de Castro Reis
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado