@article{frock_montero_blumer-schuette_kelly_2013, title={Stationary Phase and Nutrient Levels Trigger Transcription of a Genomic Locus Containing a Novel Peptide (TM1316) in the Hyperthermophilic Bacterium Thermotoga maritima}, volume={79}, ISSN={["1098-5336"]}, DOI={10.1128/aem.01627-13}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT The genome of the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima encodes numerous putative peptides/proteins of 100 amino acids or less. While most of these open reading frames (ORFs) are transcribed during growth, their corresponding physiological roles are largely unknown. The onset of stationary phase in T. maritima was accompanied by significant morphological changes and upregulation of several ORFs located in the TM1298-TM1336 genome locus. This region contains putative HicAB toxin-antitoxin pairs, hypothetical proteins, radical S -adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzymes, and ABC transporters. Of particular note was the TM1315-TM1319 operon, which includes a putative 31-amino-acid peptide (TM1316) that was the most highly transcribed gene in the transcriptome during stationary phase. Antibodies directed against a synthetic version of TM1316 were used to track its production, which correlated closely with transcriptomic data. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that TM1316 was localized to the cell envelope and prominent in cell aggregates formed during stationary phase. The only functionally characterized locus with an organization similar to that of TM1315-TM1319 is in Bacillus subtilis , which contains subtilosin A, a cyclic peptide with Cys–to–α-carbon linkages that functions as an antilisterial bacteriocin. While the organization of TM1316 resembled that of the Bacillus peptide (e.g., in its number of amino acids and spacing of Cys residues), preparations containing high levels of TM1316 affected the growth of neither Thermotoga species nor Pyrococcus furiosus , a hyperthermophilic archaeon isolated from the same locale as T. maritima . Several other putative Cys-rich peptides could be identified in the TM1298-TM1336 locus, and while their roles are also unclear, they merit examination as potential antimicrobial agents in hyperthermophilic biotopes. }, number={21}, journal={APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY}, author={Frock, Andrew D. and Montero, Clemente I. and Blumer-Schuette, Sara E. and Kelly, Robert M.}, year={2013}, month={Nov}, pages={6637–6646} } @article{montero_johnson_chou_conners_geouge_tachdjian_nichols_kelly_2007, title={Responses of wild-type and resistant strains of the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima to chloramphenicol challenge}, volume={73}, ISSN={["0099-2240"]}, DOI={10.1128/AEM.00453-07}, abstractNote={ABSTRACTTranscriptomes and growth physiologies of the hyperthermophileThermotoga maritimaand an antibiotic-resistant spontaneous mutant were compared prior to and following exposure to chloramphenicol. While the wild-type response was similar to that of mesophilic bacteria, reduced susceptibility of the mutant was attributed to five mutations in 23S rRNA and phenotypic preconditioning to chloramphenicol.}, number={15}, journal={APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY}, author={Montero, Clemente I. and Johnson, Matthew R. and Chou, Chung-Jung and Conners, Shannon B. and Geouge, Sarah G. and Tachdjian, Sabrina and Nichols, Jason D. and Kelly, Robert M.}, year={2007}, month={Aug}, pages={5058–5065} } @article{montero_lewis_johnson_conners_nance_nichols_kelly_2006, title={Colocation of genes encoding a tRNA-mRNA hybrid and a putative signaling peptide on complementary strands in the genome of the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima}, volume={188}, ISSN={["0021-9193"]}, DOI={10.1128/JB.00470-06}, abstractNote={ABSTRACTIn the genome of the hyperthermophilic bacteriumThermotoga maritima, TM0504 encodes a putative signaling peptide implicated in population density-dependent exopolysaccharide formation. Although not noted in the original genome annotation, TM0504 was found to colocate, on the opposite strand, with the gene encodingssrA, a hybrid of tRNA and mRNA (tmRNA), which is involved in atrans-translation process related to ribosome rescue and is ubiquitous in bacteria. Specific DNA probes were designed and used in real-time PCR assays to follow the separate transcriptional responses of the colocated open reading frames (ORFs) during transition from exponential to stationary phase, chloramphenicol challenge, and syntrophic coculture withMethanococcus jannaschii. TM0504 transcription did not vary under normal growth conditions. Transcription of the tmRNA gene, however, was significantly up-regulated during chloramphenicol challenge and inT. maritimabound in exopolysaccharide aggregates during methanogenic coculture. The significance of the colocation of ORFs encoding a putative signaling peptide and tmRNA inT. maritimais intriguing, since this overlapping arrangement (tmRNA associated with putative small ORFs) was found to be conserved in at least 181 bacterial genomes sequenced to date. Whether peptides related to TM0504 in other bacteria play a role in quorum sensing is not yet known, but their ubiquitous colocalization with respect to tmRNA merits further examination.}, number={19}, journal={JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY}, author={Montero, Clemente I. and Lewis, Derrick L. and Johnson, Matthew R. and Conners, Shannon B. and Nance, Elizabeth A. and Nichols, Jason D. and Kelly, Robert M.}, year={2006}, month={Oct}, pages={6802–6807} } @misc{conners_mongodin_johnson_montero_nelson_kelly_2006, title={Microbial biochemistry, physiology, and biotechnology of hyperthermophilic Thermotoga species}, volume={30}, ISSN={["1574-6976"]}, DOI={10.1111/j.1574-6976.2006.00039.x}, abstractNote={High-throughput sequencing of microbial genomes has allowed the application of functional genomics methods to species lacking well-developed genetic systems. For the model hyperthermophile Thermotoga maritima, microarrays have been used in comparative genomic hybridization studies to investigate diversity among Thermotoga species. Transcriptional data have assisted in prediction of pathways for carbohydrate utilization, iron-sulfur cluster synthesis and repair, expolysaccharide formation, and quorum sensing. Structural genomics efforts aimed at the T. maritima proteome have yielded hundreds of high-resolution datasets and predicted functions for uncharacterized proteins. The information gained from genomics studies will be particularly useful for developing new biotechnology applications for T. maritima enzymes.}, number={6}, journal={FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS}, author={Conners, Shannon B. and Mongodin, Emmanuel F. and Johnson, Matthew R. and Montero, Clemente I. and Nelson, Karen E. and Kelly, Robert M.}, year={2006}, month={Nov}, pages={872–905} } @article{johnson_conners_montero_chou_shockley_kelly_2006, title={The Thermotoga maritima phenotype is impacted by syntrophic interaction with Methanococcus jannaschii in hyperthermophilic coculture}, volume={72}, ISSN={["0099-2240"]}, DOI={10.1128/aem.72.1.811-818.2006}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Significant growth phase-dependent differences were noted in the transcriptome of the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima when it was cocultured with the hyperthermophilic archaeon Methanococcus jannaschii . For the mid-log-to-early-stationary-phase transition of a T. maritima monoculture, 24 genes (1.3% of the genome) were differentially expressed twofold or more. In contrast, methanogenic coculture gave rise to 292 genes differentially expressed in T. maritima at this level (15.5% of the genome) for the same growth phase transition. Interspecies H 2 transfer resulted in three- to fivefold-higher T. maritima cell densities than in the monoculture, with concomitant formation of exopolysaccharide (EPS)-based cell aggregates. Differential expression of specific sigma factors and genes related to the ppGpp-dependent stringent response suggests involvement in the transition into stationary phase and aggregate formation. Cell aggregation was growth phase dependent, such that it was most prominent during mid-log phase and decayed as cells entered stationary phase. The reduction in cell aggregation was coincidental with down-regulation of genes encoding EPS-forming glycosyltranferases and up-regulation of genes encoding β-specific glycosyl hydrolases; the latter were presumably involved in hydrolysis of β-linked EPS to release cells from aggregates. Detachment of aggregates may facilitate colonization of new locations in natural environments where T. maritima coexists with other organisms. Taken together, these results demonstrate that syntrophic interactions can impact the transcriptome of heterotrophs in methanogenic coculture, and this factor should be considered in examining the microbial ecology in anaerobic environments. }, number={1}, journal={APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY}, author={Johnson, MR and Conners, SB and Montero, CI and Chou, CJ and Shockley, KR and Kelly, RM}, year={2006}, month={Jan}, pages={811–818} } @article{lee_shockley_schut_conners_montero_johnson_chou_bridger_wigner_brehm_et al._2006, title={Transcriptional and biochemical analysis of starch metabolism in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus}, volume={188}, ISSN={["1098-5530"]}, DOI={10.1128/JB.188.6.2115-2125.2006}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT Pyrococcus furiosus utilizes starch and its degradation products, such as maltose, as primary carbon sources, but the pathways by which these α-glucans are processed have yet to be defined. For example, its genome contains genes proposed to encode five amylolytic enzymes (including a cyclodextrin glucanotransferase [CGTase] and amylopullulanase), as well as two transporters for maltose and maltodextrins (Mal-I and Mal-II), and a range of intracellular enzymes have been purified that reportedly metabolize maltodextrins and maltose. However, precisely which of these enzymes are involved in starch processing is not clear. In this study, starch metabolism in P. furiosus was examined by biochemical analyses in conjunction with global transcriptional response data for cells grown on a variety of glucans. In addition, DNA sequencing led to the correction of two key errors in the genome sequence, and these change the predicted properties of amylopullulanase (now designated PF1935*) and CGTase (PF0478*). Based on all of these data, a pathway is proposed that is specific for starch utilization that involves one transporter (Mal-II [PF1933 to PF1939]) and only three enzymes, amylopullulanase (PF1935*), 4-α-glucanotransferase (PF0272), and maltodextrin phosphorylase (PF1535). Their expression is upregulated on starch, and together they generate glucose and glucose-1-phosphate, which then feed into the novel glycolytic pathway of this organism. In addition, the results indicate that several hypothetical proteins encoded by three gene clusters are also involved in the transport and processing of α-glucan substrates by P. furiosus . }, number={6}, journal={JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY}, author={Lee, HS and Shockley, KR and Schut, GJ and Conners, SB and Montero, CI and Johnson, MR and Chou, CJ and Bridger, SL and Wigner, N and Brehm, SD and et al.}, year={2006}, month={Mar}, pages={2115–2125} } @article{conners_montero_comfort_shockley_johnson_chhabra_kelly_2005, title={An expression-driven approach to the prediction of carbohydrate transport and utilization regulons in the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima}, volume={187}, ISSN={["1098-5530"]}, DOI={10.1128/JB.187.21.7267-7282.2005}, abstractNote={ABSTRACTComprehensive analysis of genome-wide expression patterns during growth of the hyperthermophilic bacteriumThermotoga maritimaon 14 monosaccharide and polysaccharide substrates was undertaken with the goal of proposing carbohydrate specificities for transport systems and putative transcriptional regulators. Saccharide-induced regulons were predicted through the complementary use of comparative genomics, mixed-model analysis of genome-wide microarray expression data, and examination of upstream sequence patterns. The results indicate thatT. maritimarelies extensively on ABC transporters for carbohydrate uptake, many of which are likely controlled by local regulators responsive to either the transport substrate or a key metabolic degradation product. Roles in uptake of specific carbohydrates were suggested for members of the expanded Opp/Dpp family of ABC transporters. In this family, phylogenetic relationships among transport systems revealed patterns of possible duplication and divergence as a strategy for the evolution of new uptake capabilities. The presence of GC-rich hairpin sequences between substrate-binding proteins and other components of Opp/Dpp family transporters offers a possible explanation for differential regulation of transporter subunit genes. Numerous improvements toT. maritimagenome annotations were proposed, including the identification of ABC transport systems originally annotated as oligopeptide transporters as candidate transporters for rhamnose, xylose, β-xylan, andβ -glucans and identification of genes likely to encode proteins missing from current annotations of the pentose phosphate pathway. Beyond the information obtained forT. maritima, the present study illustrates how expression-based strategies can be used for improving genome annotation in other microorganisms, especially those for which genetic systems are unavailable.}, number={21}, journal={JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY}, author={Conners, SB and Montero, CI and Comfort, DA and Shockley, KR and Johnson, MR and Chhabra, SR and Kelly, RM}, year={2005}, month={Nov}, pages={7267–7282} } @article{shockley_scott_pysz_conners_johnson_montero_wolfinger_kelly_2005, title={Genorne-wide transcriptional variation within and between steady states for continuous growth of the hyperthermophile Thermotoga maritima}, volume={71}, ISSN={["1098-5336"]}, DOI={10.1128/AEM.71.9.5572-5576.2005}, abstractNote={ABSTRACTMaltose-limited, continuous growth of the hyperthermophileThermotoga maritimaat different temperatures and dilution rates (80°C/0.25 h−1, 80°C/0.17 h−1, and 85°C/0.25 h−1) showed that transcriptome-wide variation in gene expression within mechanical steady states was minimal compared to that between steady states, supporting the efficacy of chemostat-based approaches for functional genomics studies.}, number={9}, journal={APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY}, author={Shockley, KR and Scott, KL and Pysz, MA and Conners, SB and Johnson, MR and Montero, CI and Wolfinger, RD and Kelly, RM}, year={2005}, month={Sep}, pages={5572–5576} } @article{johnson_montero_conners_shockley_pysz_kelly_2004, title={Functional genomics-based studies of the microbial ecology of hyperthermophilic micro-organisms}, volume={32}, ISSN={["1470-8752"]}, DOI={10.1042/BST0320188}, abstractNote={Although much attention has been paid to the genetic, biochemical and physiological aspects of individual hyperthermophiles, how these unique micro-organisms relate to each other and to their natural habitats must be addressed in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of life at high temperatures. Phylogenetic 16 S rRNA-based profiling of samples from various geothermal sites has provided insights into community structure, but this must be complemented with efforts to relate metabolic strategies to biotic and abiotic characteristics in high-temperature habitats. Described here are functional genomics-based approaches, using cDNA microarrays, to gain insight into how ecological features such as biofilm formation, species interaction, and possibly even gene transfer may occur in native environments, as well as to determine what genes or sets of genes may be tied to environmental functionality.}, number={2004 Apr}, journal={BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS}, author={Johnson, MR and Montero, CI and Conners, SB and Shockley, KR and Pysz, MA and Kelly, RM}, year={2004}, month={Apr}, pages={188–192} } @article{johnson_montero_conners_shockley_bridger_kelly_2005, title={Population density-dependent regulation of exopolysaccharide formation in the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima}, volume={55}, ISSN={["1365-2958"]}, DOI={10.1111/j.1365-2958.2004.04419.x}, abstractNote={SummaryCo‐cultivation of the hyperthermophiles Thermotoga maritima and Methanococcus jannaschii resulted in fivefold higher T. maritima cell densities when compared with monoculture as well as concomitant formation of exopolysaccharide and flocculation of heterotroph‐methanogen cellular aggregates. Transcriptional analysis of T. maritima cells from these aggregates using a whole genome cDNA microarray revealed the induction of a putative exopolysaccharide synthesis pathway, regulated by intracellular levels of cyclic diguanosine 3′,5′‐(cyclic)phosphate (cyclic di‐GMP) and mediated by the action of several GGDEF proteins, including a putative diguanylate cyclase (TM1163) and a putative phosphodiesterase (TM1184). Transcriptional analysis also showed that TM0504, which encodes a polypeptide containing a motif common to known peptide‐signalling molecules in mesophilic bacteria, was strongly upregulated in the co‐culture. Indeed, when a synthetically produced peptide based on TM0504 was dosed into the culture at ecologically relevant levels, the production of exopolysaccharide was induced at significantly lower cell densities than was observed in cultures lacking added peptide. In addition to identifying a pathway for polysaccharide formation in T. maritima, these results point to the existence of peptide‐based quorum sensing in hyperthermophilic bacteria and indicate that cellular communication should be considered as a component of the microbial ecology within hydrothermal habitats.}, number={3}, journal={MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY}, author={Johnson, MR and Montero, CI and Conners, SB and Shockley, KR and Bridger, SL and Kelly, RM}, year={2005}, month={Feb}, pages={664–674} } @misc{pysz_conners_montero_shockley_johnson_ward_kelly_2004, title={Transcriptional analysis of biofilm formation processes in the anaerobic, hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima}, volume={70}, ISSN={["1098-5336"]}, DOI={10.1128/AEM.70.10.6098-6112.2004}, abstractNote={ABSTRACTThermotoga maritima, a fermentative, anaerobic, hyperthermophilic bacterium, was found to attach to bioreactor glass walls, nylon mesh, and polycarbonate filters during chemostat cultivation on maltose-based media at 80°C. A whole-genome cDNA microarray was used to examine differential expression patterns between biofilm and planktonic populations. Mixed-model statistical analysis revealed differential expression (twofold or more) of 114 open reading frames in sessile cells (6% of the genome), over a third of which were initially annotated as hypothetical proteins in theT. maritimagenome. Among the previously annotated genes in theT. maritimagenome, which showed expression changes during biofilm growth, were several that corresponded to biofilm formation genes identified in mesophilic bacteria (i.e.,Pseudomonasspecies,Escherichia coli, andStaphylococcus epidermidis). Most notably,T. maritimabiofilm-bound cells exhibited increased transcription of genes involved in iron and sulfur transport, as well as in biosynthesis of cysteine, thiamine, NAD, and isoprenoid side chains of quinones. These findings were all consistent with the up-regulation of iron-sulfur cluster assembly and repair functions in biofilm cells. Significant up-regulation of several β-specific glycosidases was also noted in biofilm cells, despite the fact that maltose was the primary carbon source fed to the chemostat. The reasons for increased β-glycosidase levels are unclear but are likely related to the processing of biofilm-based polysaccharides. In addition to revealing insights into the phenotype of sessileT. maritimacommunities, the methodology developed here can be extended to study other anaerobic biofilm formation processes as well as to examine aspects of microbial ecology in hydrothermal environments.}, number={10}, journal={APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY}, author={Pysz, MA and Conners, SB and Montero, CI and Shockley, KR and Johnson, MR and Ward, DE and Kelly, RA}, year={2004}, month={Oct}, pages={6098–6112} } @article{pysz_ward_shockley_montero_conners_johnson_kelly_2004, title={Transcriptional analysis of dynamic heat-shock response by the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima}, volume={8}, ISSN={["1433-4909"]}, DOI={10.1007/s00792-004-0379-2}, abstractNote={The thermal stress response of the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima was characterized using a 407-open reading frame-targeted cDNA microarray. Transient gene expression was followed for 90 min, following a shift from 80 degrees C to 90 degrees C. While some aspects of mesophilic heat-shock response were conserved in T. maritima, genome content suggested differentiating features that were borne out by transcriptional analysis. Early induction of predicted heat-shock operons hrcA-grpE-dnaJ (TM0851-TM0850-TM0849), groES-groEL (TM0505-TM0506), and dnaK-sHSP (TM0373-TM0374) was consistent with conserved CIRCE elements upstream of hrcA and groES. Induction of the T. maritima rpoE/ sigW and rpoD/ sigA homologs suggests a mechanism for global heat-shock response in the absence of an identifiable ortholog to a major heat-shock sigma factor. In contrast to heat-shock response in Escherichia coli, the majority of genes encoding ATP-dependent proteases were downregulated, including clpP (TM0695), clpQ (TM0521), clpY (TM0522), lonA (TM1633), and lonB (TM1869). Notably, T. maritima showed indications of a late heat-shock response with the induction of a marR homolog (TM0816), several other putative transcriptional regulators (TM1023, TM1069), and two alpha-glucosidases (TM0434 and TM1068). Taken together, the results reported here indicate that, while T. maritima shares core elements of the bacterial heat-shock response with mesophiles, the thermal stress regulatory strategies of this organism differ significantly. However, it remains to be elucidated whether these differences are related to thermophilicity or phylogenetic placement.}, number={3}, journal={EXTREMOPHILES}, author={Pysz, MA and Ward, DE and Shockley, KR and Montero, CI and Conners, SB and Johnson, MR and Kelly, RM}, year={2004}, month={Jun}, pages={209–217} }