Polyamines produced by an extreme thermophile are essential for cell growth at high temperature. (25th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sakamoto, Akihiko; Tamakoshi, Masatada; Moriya, Toshiyuki; Oshima, Tairo; Takao, Koichi; Sugita, Yoshiaki; Furuchi, Takemitsu; Niitsu, Masaru; Uemura, Takeshi; Igarashi, Kazuei; Kashiwagi, Keiko; Terui, Yusuke
• Is Part Of: Journal of biochemistry. Volume 172:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: 109
• Page End: 115
• Publication Date: 2022-05-25
• Subjects: Thermus thermophilus -- polyamine -- high temperature -- DNA double-strand breaks -- cell growth; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 572.05
• DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvac048
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-924X

Abstract

Abstract: An extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus grows at an optimum temperature of around 70°C and produces 16 different polyamines including long-chain and branched-chain polyamines. We found that the composition of polyamines in the thermophile cells changes with culture temperature. Long-chain and branched-chain polyamines (unusual polyamines) were increased in the cells grown at high temperature such as 80°C, but they were minor components in the cells grown at relatively lower temperature such as 60°C. The effects of polyamines on cell growth were studied using T. thermophilus HB8 Δ speA deficient in arginine decarboxylase. Cell growth of this mutant strain was significantly decreased at 70°C. This mutant strain cannot produce polyamines and grows poorly at 75°C. It was also determined whether polyamines are directly involved in protecting DNA from DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) induced by heat. Polyamines protected DNA against double-strand breaks. Therefore, polyamines play essential roles in cell growth at extremely high temperature through maintaining a functional conformation of DNA against DSBs and depurination. Graphical Abstract: