How do bacterial cells take up lignin-derived aromatics?

Bacterial catabolic functions for the conversion of lignin-derived aromatic compounds are essential to lignin valorization; however, their uptake system was mostly unknown. Here we showed that the outer membrane transport of a lignin-derived aromatic compound is mediated by the TonB system.
How do bacterial cells take up lignin-derived aromatics?
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Sphingobium sp. strain SYK-6, an alphaproteobacterium isolated from pulp effluent, can grow as the sole source of carbon and energy on various lignin-derived aromatic compounds (dimers and monomers). To date, we have identified and characterized more than 30 step reactions and 50 genes involved in the catabolism of lignin-derived aromatics by SYK-6 (Figure). In the SYK-6 cells, syringyl- and guaiacyl-types of lignin-derived dimers are converted into syringate and vanillate, respectively, by various types of enzymes. The resulting syringate and vanillate are O demethylated to produce catecholic compounds, which are subjected to the ring-cleavage pathways. In these ring-cleavage pathways, 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylate (PDC) is generated as a metabolite. PDC can be used as a chemical building block to synthesize functional polymers such as polyester films, polyurethane sheets, and adhesives. Therefore, the conversion of lignin into chemical building blocks such as PDC is one of the promising strategies for lignin valorization. The above-mentioned catabolic enzyme genes are essential to developing conversion systems; however, the transport systems for lignin-derived aromatics remained mostly uncovered.  


           Figure. Catabolism of lignin-derived aromatics in Sphingobium sp. SYK-6.


In this study, we focused on identifying the outer membrane transport system for lignin-derived aromatic compounds. In the outer membrane, transport of nutrients is achieved by passive transporters, such as porins and substrate-specific channels, and active transporters, TonB-dependent receptors (TBDRs). TBDRs are known in general to mediate substrate-specific transport (typically siderophores and vitamin B12), utilizing energy derived from the proton motive force transmitted from the TonB-ExbB-ExbD complex (TonB complex) located in the inner membrane (TonB system). Bacterial outer membrane transporters of aromatic compounds reported thus far have included passive transporters for vanillate and naphthalene. However, only one gene showed any similarity with known aromatic-compound porins in the genome of SYK-6, whereas there are 74 putative TBDR genes! There was no report verifying the involvement of the TonB system in the uptake and catabolism of aromatic compounds. Based on the fact that there are a significant number of TBDR genes in the SYK-6 genome and observations of the upregulation of particular TBDR-like genes during the growth of some bacteria in the presence of dioxin or vanillin, we envisaged the possibility that TBDRs participate in the outer membrane transport of aromatic compounds.


 This study first revealed that the transcription of 17 TBDR genes was specifically induced during the growth of SYK-6 with particular lignin-derived aromatic compounds. Among these genes, we proved that ddvT encodes the outer membrane transporter of a lignin-derived biphenyl compound, 5,5’-dehydrodivanillate (DDVA). Possible components of the TonB system for DDVA uptake were also determined. Furthermore, overexpression of ddvT enhanced the uptake of DDVA and improved the rate of PDC production from DDVA. Our results opened the door to clarify one of the diverse functions of TBDRs and will provide a new strategy for microbial production and bioremediation. However, to this point, we have only been able to identify one outer membrane transporter and a few inner membrane transporters. Further research will hopefully identify additional transporters.


You can read our paper at https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-019-0676-z.


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Life Sciences > Biological Sciences > Biotechnology

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