Removal of phosphoglycolate in hyperthermophilic archaea

Yuta Michimori, Rikihisa Izaki, Yu Su, Yuto Fukuyama, Shigeru Shimamura, Karin Nishimura, Yuya Miwa, Sotaro Hamakita, Takahiro Shimosaka, Yuki Makino, Ryo Takeno, Takaaki Sato, Haruki Beppu, Isaac Cann, Tamotsu Kanai, Takuro Nunoura, Haruyuki Atomi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Many organisms that utilize the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle for autotrophic growth harbor metabolic pathways to remove and/or salvage 2-phosphoglycolate, the product of the oxygenase activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco). It has been presumed that the occurrence of 2-phosphoglycolate salvage is linked to the CBB cycle, and in particular, the C2 pathway to the CBB cycle and oxygenic photosynthesis. Here, we examined 2-phosphoglycolate salvage in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis, an obligate anaerobe that harbors a Rubisco that functions in the pentose bisphosphate pathway. T. kodakarensis harbors enzymes that have the potential to convert 2-phosphoglycolate to glycine and serine, and their genes were identified by biochemical and/or genetic analyses. 2-phosphoglycolate phosphatase activity increased 1.6-fold when cells were grown under microaerobic conditions compared to anaerobic conditions. Among two candidates, TK1734 encoded a phosphatase specific for 2-phosphoglycolate, and the enzyme was responsible for 80% of the 2-phosphoglycolate phosphatase activity in T. kodakarensis cells. The TK1734 disruption strain displayed growth impairment under microaerobic conditions, which was relieved upon addition of sodium sulfide. In addition, glycolate was detected in the medium when T. kodakarensis was grown under microaerobic conditions. The results suggest that T. kodakarensis removes 2-phosphoglycolate via a phosphatase reaction followed by secretion of glycolate to the medium. As the Rubisco in T. kodakarensis functions in the pentose bisphosphate pathway and not in the CBB cycle, mechanisms to remove 2-phosphoglycolate in this archaeon emerged independent of the CBB cycle.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere2311390121
Pages (from-to)e2311390121
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume121
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 16 2024

Keywords

  • 2-phosphoglycolate
  • Archaea
  • metabolism
  • Rubisco

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Removal of phosphoglycolate in hyperthermophilic archaea'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this