An Oxidoreductase AioE is Responsible for Bacterial Arsenite Oxidation and Resistance

Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 27:7:41536. doi: 10.1038/srep41536.

Abstract

Previously, we found that arsenite (AsIII) oxidation could improve the generation of ATP/NADH to support the growth of Agrobacterium tumefaciens GW4. In this study, we found that aioE is induced by AsIII and located in the arsenic island near the AsIII oxidase genes aioBA and co-transcripted with the arsenic resistant genes arsR1-arsC1-arsC2-acr3-1. AioE belongs to TrkA family corresponding the electron transport function with the generation of NADH and H+. An aioE in-frame deletion strain showed a null AsIII oxidation and a reduced AsIII resistance, while a cytC mutant only reduced AsIII oxidation efficiency. With AsIII, aioE was directly related to the increase of NADH, while cytC was essential for ATP generation. In addition, cyclic voltammetry analysis showed that the redox potential (ORP) of AioBA and AioE were +0.297 mV vs. NHE and +0.255 mV vs. NHE, respectively. The ORP gradient is AioBA > AioE > CytC (+0.217 ~ +0.251 mV vs. NHE), which infers that electron may transfer from AioBA to CytC via AioE. The results indicate that AioE may act as a novel AsIII oxidation electron transporter associated with NADH generation. Since AsIII oxidation contributes AsIII detoxification, the essential of AioE for AsIII resistance is also reasonable.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agrobacterium tumefaciens / drug effects
  • Agrobacterium tumefaciens / genetics
  • Agrobacterium tumefaciens / metabolism
  • Arsenites / metabolism*
  • Arsenites / pharmacology*
  • Bacterial Physiological Phenomena*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Gene Order
  • NAD / metabolism
  • Operon
  • Oxidation-Reduction*
  • Oxidoreductases / genetics*
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Arsenites
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • NAD
  • Oxidoreductases