# Isolation and Molecular Identification of Auxotrophic Mutants to Develop a Genetic Manipulation System for the HaloarchaeonNatrinema sp. J7-2

Authors: Jie Lv; Shuai Wang; Yuchen Wang; Yuping Huang; Xiangdong Chen
Journal: Archaea
 (2015)

---

## Abstract

Our understanding of the genusNatrinema is presently limited due to the lack of available genetic tools. Auxotrophic markers have been widely used to construct genetic systems in bacteria and eukaryotes and in some archaeal species. Here, we isolated four auxotrophic mutants of Natrinema sp. J7-2, via 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitroso-guanidin mutagenesis, and designated them as J7-2-1, J7-2-22, J7-2-26, and J7-2-52, respectively. The mutant phenotypes were determined to be auxotrophic for leucine (J7-2-1), arginine (J7-2-22 and J7-2-52), and lysine (J7-2-26). The complete genome and the biosynthetic pathways of amino acids in J7-2 identified that the auxotrophic phenotype of three mutants was due to gene mutations in leuB (J7-2-1), dapD (J7-2-26), and argC (J7-2-52). These auxotrophic phenotypes were employed as selectable makers to establish a transformation method. The transformation efficiencies were determined to be approximately 103 transformants per µg DNA. And strains J7-2-1 and J7-2-26 were transformed into prototrophic strains with the wild type genomic DNA, amplified fragments of the corresponding genes, or the integrative plasmids carrying the corresponding genes. Additionally, exogenous genes, bgaH or amyH gene, were expressed successfully in J7-2-1. Thus, we have developed a genetic manipulation system for the Natrinema genus based on the isolated auxotrophic mutants of Natrinema sp. J7-2.


---

## Body

## 1. Introduction

Archaea were recognized as an independent domain distinct from eukarya and bacteria by Woese in the late 1970s [1, 2]. Unique biological features of archaea that help to adapt to harsh environment could provide opportunities to gain insight into a number of fundamental problems in biology. While so far, literatures about construction of genetic system in archaea are still relatively limited, in 1987, Cline and Ford Doolittle first demonstrated thatHalobacterium halobium could uptake the naked genomic DNA of temperate halovirus φH by PEG- (polyethylene glycol-) mediated spheroplast transfection method and produce plaques successfully [3], which shows the possibility to setup a genetic operation system for these organisms. To establish genetic manipulation system in archaea, selectable marker and shuttle vector based on the marker are critical. In terms of systems based on antibiotic resistance, mevinolin which inhibits 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) [4, 5] and novobiocin which inhibits DNA gyrase [6–8] are two main antibiotics that have successfully been applied in halophiles. In 1989, a resistance gene for mevinolin was isolated to construct the shuttle vector pWL102 forE. coliandHaloferax volcanii.Hfx. volcaniicould be transformed with a shuttle vector by the PEG-mediated method with selection of mevinolin [9]. Later in 1990, shuttle vectors pUBP1 and pUBP2 were developed for the transformation ofHalobacterium halobium, using the replicon region from halobacterial phage φH and the mevinolin resistance as the selectable marker. Resistance gene for the gyrase inhibitor novobiocin was selected from the genusHaloferaxand cloned into the endogenous plasmid pHK2 ofHaloferaxstrain Aa2.2 to form pMDS2. And a shuttle vector pMDS1 was developed and efficiently transformed intoHfx. volcaniiby using novobiocin resistance as a selectable marker [6, 7]. Some other vectors were also developed for these two halophiles; for example, pMPK35, pMPK52 based on pGRB1, pUBP4, and pUBP8 based on pHH1 [5] were developed forHbt. Halobium; pWL101 based on pHV2 [4] and pMDS1 based on pHK2 [7] were developed forHfx. volcanii. And, in 2010, a transformation system forPyrococcus furiosuswas described based on the shuttle vector system pYS2 fromPyrococcus abyssi, in which thepyrE gene was replaced by the HMG-CoA as a selectable marker conferring resistance to the antibiotic simvastatin [10]. Mayrhofer-Iro et al. developed a transformation/vector system for halo(alkali)philic members by using a genomic elements ofNatrialba magadii virus φCh1 and a novobiocin resistance cassette as a selectable marker [11].Besides the antibiotic resistance and shuttle vectors described above, auxotrophic markers are also useful selectable markers for construction of genetic system. Auxotrophs are a group of organisms that lost the ability to synthesize certain substances required for their growth owing to the presence of mutations. Compared to the wild type strain, the auxotrophic mutants cannot grow in minimal medium if the corresponding nutrients are not supplied. Auxotrophic strains have been widely employed for genetic investigation in bacteria and eukaryotes, but only a few cases have been documented in archaea. In 1987, several auxotrophic strains ofMethanococcus voltae PS were obtained by irradiation with UV and gamma rays. These mutants were determined to be auxotrophic for histidine or purine and were used to demonstrate the occurrence of transformation with homologous wild type DNA by using the auxotrophic markers [12]. In 1990, auxotrophs ofMethanococcus maripaludis created by ethyl methanesulfonate treatment were used to investigate the role of the acetyl-CoA pathway of autotrophic CO2 fixation inMethanococcus maripaludis[13]. Recently, aSulfolobus solfataricus pyrEF/lacS mutant was used to construct a reporter gene system with integrative vectors containing the beta-galactosidase gene [14]. In the case of halophilic archaea, auxotrophy is an important tool since only limited selectable markers can be used in them. Several haloarchaeal auxotrophs obtained from mutagenesis or gene knockout have been employed in genetic studies. In 1985, for instance, auxotrophic mutants ofHfx. volcanii generated by chemical mutagenesis were used to demonstrate a native genetic transfer system in this extremely halophilic autotroph [15]. In 1990, Conover and Doolittle demonstrated that cosmid DNA prepared fromEscherichia coli can be used to transform the histidine auxotrophHfx. volcanii to a prototrophy [16]. Uracil auxotrophs based on thepyrE,pyrF, orura3 gene were later used to develop a gene knockout system forHfx. volcanii[17, 18],Halobacterium salinarum [19],Haloferax mediterranei, andHaloarcula hispanica[20], respectively. Aromatic amino acid auxotrophy ofHbt. salinarum was obtained by in-frame deletions of OE1477R [21]. And, in 2014, Choi et al. reported a novel integrative expression vector which contained apyrEgene as an auxotrophic selection marker forSulfolobus species [22]. However, it should be noted that the employment of auxotrophic mutants is presently mainly confined to genetically tractable model organisms; thus similar research in halophiles is important for establishing their respective genetic manipulation system.The halobacterial genusNatrinemagen. nov., which requires a medium with at least 10% salt concentration for cell growth (optimum 19.8%–25.1%), is a genus of halophilic archaea first proposed by McGenity et al. according to the phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences and taxonomic properties [23]. This genus now contains seven species,Natrinema altunense,Natrinema ejinense,Natrinema gari,Natrinema pallidum,Natrinema pellirubrum,Natrinema versiforme, andNatrinema salaciae. Studies of the genusNatrinema have mainly focused on their phenotypic, physiological, biochemical, and taxonomic properties, and no studies analyzing their genetics or genetic engineering potential have yet been reported.Natrinemasp. strains J7-1 and J7-2 were isolated from a salt mine in Yingcheng, Hubei Province, China [24]. The genomes of the two strains were sequenced (GenBank ID: PRJNA157873 and PRJNA89473), revealing that they were genetically identical excluding the fact that J7-1 contains a plasmid named pHH205 and J7-2 contains a plasmid named pJ7-I [25]. Interestingly, the 16,341 bp endogenous plasmid pHH205 included in J7-1 [24, 26] was proven to be the proviral genome of a temperate membrane-containing halophilic virus called SNJ1, which could be induced from J7-1 with mitomycin C and produces plaques on lawns of J7-2 [25, 27]. In addition, another provirus named SNJ2 has recently been found on the chromosomes of these two strains, but the susceptible host of this virus has not yet been identified (unpublished data). Thus the two strains could be valuable models to study the interaction of the proviruses and their host strains. These two strains have also been employed to conduct studies of the halophilic protease SptA [28, 29], heat shock protein 70 [30], and DNA fragments conferring promoter activity in three domains [31, 32]. However, the lack of genetic tools is delaying further studies of these strains. Fortunately, the availability of the genome sequence and the amino acid biosynthetic pathways of strain J7-2 [33] allow us to isolate and characterize auxotrophic mutants of these strains, which may be used to establish a genetic manipulation system for the genusNatrinema.In the present study, we report the isolation of four auxotrophs ofNatrinemasp. J7-2 via 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitroso-guanidin (NTG) mutagenesis. Their auxotrophic phenotypes and genes responsible for the phenotypes were determined. The auxotrophic phenotypes were further used to establish a DNA transformation protocol suitable for the strains. In addition, we showed that both thebgaH gene fromHaloferax alicantei [34, 35] andamyHgene fromHar. hispanica DSM 4426 [36, 37] could be integrated and expressed in strain J7-2-1 by using auxotrophy as a selectable marker.


## 2. Materials and Methods

### 2.1. Strains and Culture Conditions

Strains and plasmids used in this study are listed in Table1.Natrinemasp. strains were grown in Halo-2 (H-2) medium prepared as previously described [27]. Modified growth media (MGM) contained 18% (w/v) salt water (SW) [38]; minimal medium (MM) used to isolate and identifyNatrinemasp. J7-2 auxotrophs contained, per liter, 188 g NaCl, 43 g MgSO4·7H2O, 2.5 g KCl, 5 mM Tris HCl (pH 7.5), 5 mL 1 M NH4Cl solution, 5 mL 10% disodium succinic acid, 2 mL 0.05 M K2HPO4, 2 g glucose, 4.865 mL 1 M CaCl2, and 1 mL of trace element solution. The trace element solution contained, per 100 mL, 47 mg MnCl2·4H2O, 44 mg ZnSO4·7H2O, 5 mg CuSO4·5H2O, and 42 mg FeSO4·7H2O. If required, the corresponding amino acid was added to the MM medium to make a final concentration of 50 μg mL−1. Solid agar was made with the addition of Bacto Agar (BD, USA) to the final concentration of 1.5%. Soluble starch was applied to the MGM and MM media at a final concentration of 1%-2%.Table 1
Strains, plasmids, and amplification fragments used in this work.
Strains, plasmids, and amplification fragments
Description
Source or reference
Strain
Natrinemasp. J7-2
Haloarchaeal strain isolated from a salt mine
CCTCC AB91141, China [24, 25, 27]
Natrinemasp. J7-2-1
Auxotrophic strain from J7-2, Leu−
This work
Natrinemasp. J7-2-22
Auxotrophic strain from J7-2, Arg−
This work
Natrinemasp. J7-2-26
Auxotrophic strain from J7-2, Lys−
This work
Natrinemasp. J7-2-52
Auxotrophic strain from J7-2, Arg−
This work
Escherichia coli DH5α
F
-  endA1 glnV44 thi-1 recA1 relA1 gyrA96 deoR nupGΦ80dlacZΔM15Δ(lacZYA-argF)U169,  hsdR17(rK-mK+),λ-
[42]
Escherichia coli JM110
rpsL thr leu thi lacY galK galT ara tonA tsx dam dcm glnV44
Δ
(lac-proAB) e14-[
F
′
traD36
p
r
o
A
B
+
lacI
q
lacZ
Δ
M15] hsdR17(
r
K
-
m
K
+
)
[43]
Plasmid
pUC19
Cloning vector
Lab stock
pMD19T-simple
Sequence vector
Purchased from TaKaRa
pUC19-KM1752
pUC19 containingleuBgene withKpnI andMfeI from J7-2
This work
pUC19-HM1752
pUC19 containing the ORF ofleuBgene with HindIII and MfeI from J7-2
This work
pUC19-HM4049
pUC19 containingdapD gene with HindIII and MfeI from J7-2
This work
pUC19-HM1752-amyH
pUC19-HM1752 containingamyH gene from Haloarcula hispanica DSM 4426
This work
pUC19-HM1752-bgaH
pUC19-HM1752 containingbgaH gene from Haloferax  alicantei
This work
Amplification fragments
KM1752
leuB gene containing promoter from J7-2 with KpnI andMfeI
This work
HM1752
Amplification fragments ofleuB gene from J7-2 with HindIII andMfeI
This work
HM4049
Amplification fragments ofdapD gene from J7-2 with HindIII andMfeI
This workE. coli strains were grown in Luria-Broth (LB) medium supplemented with antibiotics when necessary [39]. Among them, DH5α was used for plasmid construction and propagation, and JM110 was employed to prepare unmethylated plasmid DNA for efficient transformation intoNatrinemasp. J7-2.


### 2.2. Molecular Manipulation

Restriction endonuclease digestion, agarose gel electrophoresis, and additional molecular cloning techniques were carried out according to standard protocols [39, 40] or to the manufacturer’s instructions. Small amounts of plasmid DNA were prepared using TIANprep Mini Plasmid Kit from TIANGEN (China). The primers used in this study are listed in Table 2. Restriction enzymes and other DNA modifying enzymes were purchased from TaKaRa or Fermentas and used according to the manufacturer’s directions. Oligonucleotides were purchased from Sangon (Shanghai, China). DNA sequencing was performed by BGI (China).Table 2
Primers used in this work.
Primer name
Sequence (5′-3′)
Restriction site
KpnI-1752
TAAGGTACCTCGCTGCGATCTTGCAGGGACT
KpnI
1752-MfeI
TAACAATTGCGGCGGTCGCGGGCCACTAAA
MfeI
HindIII-1752
TTAAAGCTTATGACTCACGAAATCGCCGTCATT
HindIII
HindIII-4049
TTAAAGCTTATGAGCGCACTCGAAA
HindIII
4049-MfeI
TATCAATTGCCGGTTACGCCACCCCGCG
MfeI
MfeI-amyH
AATCAATTGATCATATATGCCAACTATTTA
MfeI
amyH-PstI
AAACTGCAGTAGTGGAAAGCGAGCCAGC
PstI
leuA-F
ATGGCACGTTATCCGCCATCT
/
leuA-R
TCAGTCGTCGGCCGGCGT
/
leuC-F
ATGAGCGCGGAAACGCTG
/
leuC-R
TCATACCGAGGTCACCTCCT
/
leuD-F
ATGACGGACGAGGTCGAGATT
/
leuD-R
TACTCCGCTTCGGGAATCGC
/
leuB-F
GTGAGTATGACTCACGAAAT
/
leuB-R
TTACAGTCGGTCGATGAT
/
dapA-F
GCGACCCAAGAGACCACA
/
dapA-R
TCATCGCTCATCCTCCG
/
dapF-F
ATGAATATCCCATTTCAGAAGT
/
dapF-R
TCACGGCTCGGCCGGGGATT
/
lysA-F
ATGAACGAAACCCAAACGTT
/
lysA-R
TATCGGTCGTATTCGTTGTC
/
dapD-F
ATGAGCGCACTCGAAACCGA
/
dapD-R
TTACTCCCGCAGCGCGTCCT
/
dapB-F
ATGACGACGCGAATCGGCGTCAC
/
dapB-R
TCATTCGCTGATCACGTCTGCGAA
/
argF-F
ATGACGACCGATTCCGATCC
/
argF-R
TCACTCGAGCACCCAACTCA
/
argE-F
ATGAGTGCAACCATGGACGACA
/
argE-R
TCATTCGTCGTCCTCGCGAA
/
argD-F
ATGAGCGACCTCGATTTCGT
/
argD-R
TCATGCGTTGGAGTCGGT
/
argB-F
GGGCACCCTAACATGACGAC
/
argB-R
TCATTGGGCCACCTCC
/
argC-F
ATGGCGGTCGGGACCGAG
/
argC-R
TTAGGGTGCCCCCACGGG
/
argXW-F
ATGACCGAATGCGTCGAGTG
/
argXW-R
TCAGGCGGTCACCTC
/
argH-F
ATGACCGAGGAGAGCGCTCAC
/
argH-R
TCAGACATAGCCGTTCACCT
/
argG-F
GATATGACCCGCGTGGCACT
/
argG-R
TTACTGGTCGTCTCCCGTCCC
/


### 2.3. Mutagenesis and Isolation of Auxotrophs from Strain J7-2

Strain J7-2 was grown in H-2 medium at 42°C for approximately 36 h. The cells were collected after centrifugation at 12,857 ×g for 2 min and resuspended in an equal volume of fresh medium. Mutagenesis was carried out using the following three methods: (1) NTG was added to the cell culture with final concentrations of 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, and 1.5 mg mL−1. The culture was kept at 37°C with shaking (180 rpm) for 1.5 h. (2) The concentrated cell cultures were directly spread on the solid H-2 plate. An NTG particle was then placed on the edge region of the plate. The plate was kept at 42°C until the appearance of the lawn. There was a large inhibition zone around the NTG particle. Cells collected from the edge of this zone were transferred to liquid H-2 medium and cultured for approximately 36 h at 42°C. (3) Under sterile conditions, the cell cultures were stirred using a magnetic stirrer under ultraviolet radiation (UV) for around 1.5 h. After the mutagenic treatment described above, six successive 10-fold dilutions of the cell cultures were taken. The 10−4, 10−5, and 10−6 dilutions of the cultures were spread on H-2 plates and incubated at 42°C for 7–10 days until colonies appeared. Subsequently, the colonies were inoculated in parallel on the MGM and MM plates and incubated at 42°C for 7–10 days. Strains that showed growth on MGM but failed to grow on the MM plate were considered as candidate auxotrophic mutants. The candidates were subjected to single colony isolation and inoculation in parallel on the MGM and MM plate experiments again, until the auxotrophic phenotype was confirmed.


### 2.4. Phenotypic and Molecular Characterization of NTG-Induced Auxotrophs

To identify the phenotypes of the auxotrophic mutants, different nutrients (amino acids, vitamins, purine, and pyrimidine) were combined into different groups (Table3). Auxotrophic mutants were spread on the MM plates. Small filter papers (approximately 5 mm in diameter) soaked in different types of liquid nutrition were placed on separate regions of the agar surface. Filter paper soaked with MGM medium was used as control. The plates were kept at 42°C for 7–15 days. According to their growth status, the nutrients required for the growth of the auxotrophic mutants were determined. Subsequently, the auxotrophic mutants were cultured again in both solid and liquid media of MGM, MM, and MM with added nutrients to reaffirm their phenotypes (Figure 1).Table 3
Different combination groups of growth factors used in this work to determine the auxotrophic phenotype of the four mutation strains.
(a)
Single growth factors used in this work and groups containing all of the growth factors belonged to the same type
Group 1: containing amino acids from 2–24
2: Asp
3: Cys
4: Ile
5: Gly
6: Glu
7: Val
8: Ser
9: Ala
10: His
11: Tyr
12: Phe
13: Met
14: Thr
15: Met
16: Trp
17: Pro
18: Leu
19: Lys
20: cystine
21: Arg
22: Asp
23: Asn
24: Gln
Group 25: containing vitamins from 26 to 35
26: vitamin H
27: vitamin C
28: vitamin B6
29: vitamin B3
30: vitamin B5
31: vitamin B4
32: vitamin B2
33: vitamin B9
34: vitamin B12
35: vitamin B1
Group 36: containing dNTPs from 37 to 43
37: dATP
38: dGTP
39: dTTp
40: dCTP
41: dUTP
42: xanthine
43: hypoxanthine
(b)
Different combination groups containing amino acids
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
9: Ala
21: Arg
23: Asn
22: Asp
3: Cys
Group G
6: Glu
24: Gln
5: Gly
10: His
4: Ile
Group H
18: Leu
19: Lys
15: Met
12: Phe
17: Pro
Group I
8: Ser
14: Thr
16: Trp
11: Tyr
7: Val
(c)
Different combination groups containing vitamins
Group I
Group II
Group III
Group IV
32: vitamin B2
33: vitamin B9
31: vitamin B4
35: vitamin B1
Group V
28: vitamin B6
27: vitamin C
29: vitamin B3
35: vitamin B1
Group VI
30: vitamin B5
34: vitamin B12
26: vitamin H
35: vitamin B1
(d)
Different combination groups containing purine and pyrimidine
Group X1
Group X2
Group X3
Group X4
41: dUTP
37: dATP
39: dTTP
Group X5
42: xanthine
43: hypoxanthine
40: dCTP
38: dGTP
38: dGTP
38: dGTP
(e)
The growth of the four auxotrophic strains on MM medium supplied with different nutrients
Supplied nutrients in MM medium
J7-2-1
J7-2-22
J7-2-26
J7-2-52
MM medium
Na
N
N
N
MGM medium
Yb
Y
Y
Y
Group ALL
Y
Y
Y
Y
Group 1
Y
Y
Y
Y
Group 25
N
N
N
N
Group 36
N
N
N
N
Group A
Y
N
N
N
Group B
N
Y
Y
Y
Group F
N
Y
N
Y
Group H
Y
N
Y
N
Group I
N
Ic
N
N
18
Y
N
N
N
19
N
N
Y
N
21
N
Y
N
Y
Other nutrients
N
N
N
N
aN: the growth of the auxotrophs was not detected. bY: the growth of the auxotrophs was detected. cI: an inhibition zone was detected.Figure 1
Growth behavior of the auxotrophic strains in different media. The method used to determine the nutrients required for the four auxotrophic mutants is described in Materials and Methods, after which the phenotypes of the mutants were confirmed. We picked out a single colony of each of the four mutants and cultivated it in a liquid MGM medium at 42°C. The cultures of each strain were obtained, centrifuged, and resuspended in MM medium. Then, the suspended cultures were inoculated in liquid media of MGM, MM, and MM with the corresponding nutrients added (as shown in the figure, leucine was added to the MM medium to reconfirm the phenotype of J7-2-1; lysine was added for reconfirming J7-2-26, arginine for J7-2-52, and threonine and arginine for J7-2-22). In corresponding solid media, the suspended cultures were diluted with MM media before spreading on the corresponding media plates. Their growth states were recorded and pictures were taken after storage at 42°C for 7–15 days. MGM: a complete medium that could support the growth of all J7-2 auxotrophic strains; MM: a minimal medium that could only support the growth of the J7-2 prototrophic strain; MM+aa: MM supplied with the relevant single amino acid to a final concentration of 50μg/mL.To find significant mutations in the auxotrophic mutants, genes important in the pathways of the corresponding amino acid synthesis were analyzed by PCR and DNA sequencing. The mutant genes were determined by comparison of the corresponding DNA sequences between the wild type strain and the auxotroph. Information about these genes and their primers is shown in Tables2 and 4.Table 4
Molecular characterization of the auxotrophic mutants by analyzing relevant genes in the corresponding amino acid biosynthetic pathways.
Auxotrophic strains
Phenotype
Gene
Gene number
Notation
Length (bp)
Mutation status
J7-2-1
Leu−
leuA
NJ7_G1272
2-Isopropylmalate synthase
831
None
leuC
NJ7_G1748
3-Isopropylmalate dehydratase, large subunit
1388
None
leuD
NJ7_G1749
3-Isopropylmalate dehydratase, small subunit
837
None
leuB
NJ7_G1752
3-Isopropylmalate dehydrogenase
768
12 bp fragment deletion from 690 to 701 bp
J7-2-26
Lys−
dapA
NJ7_G4051
Dihydrodipicolinate synthase
951
None
dapF
NJ7_G4046
Diaminopimelate epimerase
1639
None
lysA
NJ7_G4047
Diaminopimelate decarboxylase
1422
None
dapD
NJ7_G4049
2,3,4,5-Tetrahydropyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate N-succinyltransferase
635
18 bp deletion from 583 to 600 bp
dapB
NJ7_G4050
Dihydrodipicolinate reductase
987
None
Auxotrophic strains
Phenotype
Gene
Gene number
Notation
Length (bp)
Mutation Status
J7-2-22
J7-2-52
J7-2-22J7-2-52
Arg−
argF
NJ7_G0258
Ornithine carbamoyltransferase
921
None
None
argE
NJ7_G0259
N-Acetyl-ornithine/N-acetyl-lysine deacetylase
1110
None
None
argD
NJ7_G0260
Acetylornithine aminotransferase
1155
None
None
argB
NJ7_G0261
Acetylglutamate kinase
870
None
None
argC
NJ7_G0262
N-Acetyl-gamma-glutamyl-phosphate reductase
1077
None
1051 bp: G-A(GGG-GAG)
argX
NJ7_G0263
Ribosomal protein S6 modification protein
1043
None
None
argW
NJ7_G0264
Putative biosynthetic carrier protein
argH
NJ7_G0265
Argininosuccinate lyase
1539
None
None
argG
NJ7_G0266
Argininosuccinate synthase
1242
None
None


### 2.5. Isolation ofNatrinemasp. J7-2 Total Genomic DNA

High molecular weightNatrinemasp. J7-2 genomic DNA was prepared according to the protocol of TIANamp Bacteria DNA Kit from TIANGEN (China). DNA samples prepared were examined by agarose gel electrophoresis and then used directly for transformation.


### 2.6. Transformation

All procedures were performed at room temperature unless indicated otherwise. The main transformation process of the auxotrophic mutants ofNatrinemasp. J7-2 was performed based on the transformation protocol used forHfx. volcanii [41] with several modifications: the standing time was modified from 10 min to 15 min to form spheroplasts; regeneration time was altered from 20–30 min at room temperature (RT) to 2–5 hours at 37°C and the transformation solutions were changed from 1 M NaCl to 2 M NaCl, a higher saline concentration suitable toHbt. salinarum[41]. Finally, the resultant mixture was spread on the selected solid medium and stored at 45°C for 7–10 days to detect the transformants.


### 2.7. Molecular Identification of the Transformants

Target gene fragments were amplified from the genomic DNA of the wild type strain, auxotrophic strain, and the corresponding transformant. The DNA sequences were comparatively analyzed to determine whether the mutation sites had been complemented by the transformation.


### 2.8.β-Galactosidase Detection

Theβ-galactosidase activity ofNatrinemasp. J7-2-1 transformants on plates was determined as described previously [44]. Briefly, agar plates were sprayed with X-gal (20 mg mL−1); blue colonies indicated the existence of β-galactosidase activity.


### 2.9. Amylase Activity Assay

The amylase activity ofNatrinemasp. J7-2-1 transformants on plates was determined as described previously [37, 44] using 18% MGM supplemented with 2% (w/v) soluble starch. After incubation at 42°C for 5–7 days, plates were flooded with 0.3% I2/0.6% KI solution; a clear zone around the growth indicated starch hydrolysis.


## 2.1. Strains and Culture Conditions

Strains and plasmids used in this study are listed in Table1.Natrinemasp. strains were grown in Halo-2 (H-2) medium prepared as previously described [27]. Modified growth media (MGM) contained 18% (w/v) salt water (SW) [38]; minimal medium (MM) used to isolate and identifyNatrinemasp. J7-2 auxotrophs contained, per liter, 188 g NaCl, 43 g MgSO4·7H2O, 2.5 g KCl, 5 mM Tris HCl (pH 7.5), 5 mL 1 M NH4Cl solution, 5 mL 10% disodium succinic acid, 2 mL 0.05 M K2HPO4, 2 g glucose, 4.865 mL 1 M CaCl2, and 1 mL of trace element solution. The trace element solution contained, per 100 mL, 47 mg MnCl2·4H2O, 44 mg ZnSO4·7H2O, 5 mg CuSO4·5H2O, and 42 mg FeSO4·7H2O. If required, the corresponding amino acid was added to the MM medium to make a final concentration of 50 μg mL−1. Solid agar was made with the addition of Bacto Agar (BD, USA) to the final concentration of 1.5%. Soluble starch was applied to the MGM and MM media at a final concentration of 1%-2%.Table 1
Strains, plasmids, and amplification fragments used in this work.
Strains, plasmids, and amplification fragments
Description
Source or reference
Strain
Natrinemasp. J7-2
Haloarchaeal strain isolated from a salt mine
CCTCC AB91141, China [24, 25, 27]
Natrinemasp. J7-2-1
Auxotrophic strain from J7-2, Leu−
This work
Natrinemasp. J7-2-22
Auxotrophic strain from J7-2, Arg−
This work
Natrinemasp. J7-2-26
Auxotrophic strain from J7-2, Lys−
This work
Natrinemasp. J7-2-52
Auxotrophic strain from J7-2, Arg−
This work
Escherichia coli DH5α
F
-  endA1 glnV44 thi-1 recA1 relA1 gyrA96 deoR nupGΦ80dlacZΔM15Δ(lacZYA-argF)U169,  hsdR17(rK-mK+),λ-
[42]
Escherichia coli JM110
rpsL thr leu thi lacY galK galT ara tonA tsx dam dcm glnV44
Δ
(lac-proAB) e14-[
F
′
traD36
p
r
o
A
B
+
lacI
q
lacZ
Δ
M15] hsdR17(
r
K
-
m
K
+
)
[43]
Plasmid
pUC19
Cloning vector
Lab stock
pMD19T-simple
Sequence vector
Purchased from TaKaRa
pUC19-KM1752
pUC19 containingleuBgene withKpnI andMfeI from J7-2
This work
pUC19-HM1752
pUC19 containing the ORF ofleuBgene with HindIII and MfeI from J7-2
This work
pUC19-HM4049
pUC19 containingdapD gene with HindIII and MfeI from J7-2
This work
pUC19-HM1752-amyH
pUC19-HM1752 containingamyH gene from Haloarcula hispanica DSM 4426
This work
pUC19-HM1752-bgaH
pUC19-HM1752 containingbgaH gene from Haloferax  alicantei
This work
Amplification fragments
KM1752
leuB gene containing promoter from J7-2 with KpnI andMfeI
This work
HM1752
Amplification fragments ofleuB gene from J7-2 with HindIII andMfeI
This work
HM4049
Amplification fragments ofdapD gene from J7-2 with HindIII andMfeI
This workE. coli strains were grown in Luria-Broth (LB) medium supplemented with antibiotics when necessary [39]. Among them, DH5α was used for plasmid construction and propagation, and JM110 was employed to prepare unmethylated plasmid DNA for efficient transformation intoNatrinemasp. J7-2.


## 2.2. Molecular Manipulation

Restriction endonuclease digestion, agarose gel electrophoresis, and additional molecular cloning techniques were carried out according to standard protocols [39, 40] or to the manufacturer’s instructions. Small amounts of plasmid DNA were prepared using TIANprep Mini Plasmid Kit from TIANGEN (China). The primers used in this study are listed in Table 2. Restriction enzymes and other DNA modifying enzymes were purchased from TaKaRa or Fermentas and used according to the manufacturer’s directions. Oligonucleotides were purchased from Sangon (Shanghai, China). DNA sequencing was performed by BGI (China).Table 2
Primers used in this work.
Primer name
Sequence (5′-3′)
Restriction site
KpnI-1752
TAAGGTACCTCGCTGCGATCTTGCAGGGACT
KpnI
1752-MfeI
TAACAATTGCGGCGGTCGCGGGCCACTAAA
MfeI
HindIII-1752
TTAAAGCTTATGACTCACGAAATCGCCGTCATT
HindIII
HindIII-4049
TTAAAGCTTATGAGCGCACTCGAAA
HindIII
4049-MfeI
TATCAATTGCCGGTTACGCCACCCCGCG
MfeI
MfeI-amyH
AATCAATTGATCATATATGCCAACTATTTA
MfeI
amyH-PstI
AAACTGCAGTAGTGGAAAGCGAGCCAGC
PstI
leuA-F
ATGGCACGTTATCCGCCATCT
/
leuA-R
TCAGTCGTCGGCCGGCGT
/
leuC-F
ATGAGCGCGGAAACGCTG
/
leuC-R
TCATACCGAGGTCACCTCCT
/
leuD-F
ATGACGGACGAGGTCGAGATT
/
leuD-R
TACTCCGCTTCGGGAATCGC
/
leuB-F
GTGAGTATGACTCACGAAAT
/
leuB-R
TTACAGTCGGTCGATGAT
/
dapA-F
GCGACCCAAGAGACCACA
/
dapA-R
TCATCGCTCATCCTCCG
/
dapF-F
ATGAATATCCCATTTCAGAAGT
/
dapF-R
TCACGGCTCGGCCGGGGATT
/
lysA-F
ATGAACGAAACCCAAACGTT
/
lysA-R
TATCGGTCGTATTCGTTGTC
/
dapD-F
ATGAGCGCACTCGAAACCGA
/
dapD-R
TTACTCCCGCAGCGCGTCCT
/
dapB-F
ATGACGACGCGAATCGGCGTCAC
/
dapB-R
TCATTCGCTGATCACGTCTGCGAA
/
argF-F
ATGACGACCGATTCCGATCC
/
argF-R
TCACTCGAGCACCCAACTCA
/
argE-F
ATGAGTGCAACCATGGACGACA
/
argE-R
TCATTCGTCGTCCTCGCGAA
/
argD-F
ATGAGCGACCTCGATTTCGT
/
argD-R
TCATGCGTTGGAGTCGGT
/
argB-F
GGGCACCCTAACATGACGAC
/
argB-R
TCATTGGGCCACCTCC
/
argC-F
ATGGCGGTCGGGACCGAG
/
argC-R
TTAGGGTGCCCCCACGGG
/
argXW-F
ATGACCGAATGCGTCGAGTG
/
argXW-R
TCAGGCGGTCACCTC
/
argH-F
ATGACCGAGGAGAGCGCTCAC
/
argH-R
TCAGACATAGCCGTTCACCT
/
argG-F
GATATGACCCGCGTGGCACT
/
argG-R
TTACTGGTCGTCTCCCGTCCC
/


## 2.3. Mutagenesis and Isolation of Auxotrophs from Strain J7-2

Strain J7-2 was grown in H-2 medium at 42°C for approximately 36 h. The cells were collected after centrifugation at 12,857 ×g for 2 min and resuspended in an equal volume of fresh medium. Mutagenesis was carried out using the following three methods: (1) NTG was added to the cell culture with final concentrations of 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, and 1.5 mg mL−1. The culture was kept at 37°C with shaking (180 rpm) for 1.5 h. (2) The concentrated cell cultures were directly spread on the solid H-2 plate. An NTG particle was then placed on the edge region of the plate. The plate was kept at 42°C until the appearance of the lawn. There was a large inhibition zone around the NTG particle. Cells collected from the edge of this zone were transferred to liquid H-2 medium and cultured for approximately 36 h at 42°C. (3) Under sterile conditions, the cell cultures were stirred using a magnetic stirrer under ultraviolet radiation (UV) for around 1.5 h. After the mutagenic treatment described above, six successive 10-fold dilutions of the cell cultures were taken. The 10−4, 10−5, and 10−6 dilutions of the cultures were spread on H-2 plates and incubated at 42°C for 7–10 days until colonies appeared. Subsequently, the colonies were inoculated in parallel on the MGM and MM plates and incubated at 42°C for 7–10 days. Strains that showed growth on MGM but failed to grow on the MM plate were considered as candidate auxotrophic mutants. The candidates were subjected to single colony isolation and inoculation in parallel on the MGM and MM plate experiments again, until the auxotrophic phenotype was confirmed.


## 2.4. Phenotypic and Molecular Characterization of NTG-Induced Auxotrophs

To identify the phenotypes of the auxotrophic mutants, different nutrients (amino acids, vitamins, purine, and pyrimidine) were combined into different groups (Table3). Auxotrophic mutants were spread on the MM plates. Small filter papers (approximately 5 mm in diameter) soaked in different types of liquid nutrition were placed on separate regions of the agar surface. Filter paper soaked with MGM medium was used as control. The plates were kept at 42°C for 7–15 days. According to their growth status, the nutrients required for the growth of the auxotrophic mutants were determined. Subsequently, the auxotrophic mutants were cultured again in both solid and liquid media of MGM, MM, and MM with added nutrients to reaffirm their phenotypes (Figure 1).Table 3
Different combination groups of growth factors used in this work to determine the auxotrophic phenotype of the four mutation strains.
(a)
Single growth factors used in this work and groups containing all of the growth factors belonged to the same type
Group 1: containing amino acids from 2–24
2: Asp
3: Cys
4: Ile
5: Gly
6: Glu
7: Val
8: Ser
9: Ala
10: His
11: Tyr
12: Phe
13: Met
14: Thr
15: Met
16: Trp
17: Pro
18: Leu
19: Lys
20: cystine
21: Arg
22: Asp
23: Asn
24: Gln
Group 25: containing vitamins from 26 to 35
26: vitamin H
27: vitamin C
28: vitamin B6
29: vitamin B3
30: vitamin B5
31: vitamin B4
32: vitamin B2
33: vitamin B9
34: vitamin B12
35: vitamin B1
Group 36: containing dNTPs from 37 to 43
37: dATP
38: dGTP
39: dTTp
40: dCTP
41: dUTP
42: xanthine
43: hypoxanthine
(b)
Different combination groups containing amino acids
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
9: Ala
21: Arg
23: Asn
22: Asp
3: Cys
Group G
6: Glu
24: Gln
5: Gly
10: His
4: Ile
Group H
18: Leu
19: Lys
15: Met
12: Phe
17: Pro
Group I
8: Ser
14: Thr
16: Trp
11: Tyr
7: Val
(c)
Different combination groups containing vitamins
Group I
Group II
Group III
Group IV
32: vitamin B2
33: vitamin B9
31: vitamin B4
35: vitamin B1
Group V
28: vitamin B6
27: vitamin C
29: vitamin B3
35: vitamin B1
Group VI
30: vitamin B5
34: vitamin B12
26: vitamin H
35: vitamin B1
(d)
Different combination groups containing purine and pyrimidine
Group X1
Group X2
Group X3
Group X4
41: dUTP
37: dATP
39: dTTP
Group X5
42: xanthine
43: hypoxanthine
40: dCTP
38: dGTP
38: dGTP
38: dGTP
(e)
The growth of the four auxotrophic strains on MM medium supplied with different nutrients
Supplied nutrients in MM medium
J7-2-1
J7-2-22
J7-2-26
J7-2-52
MM medium
Na
N
N
N
MGM medium
Yb
Y
Y
Y
Group ALL
Y
Y
Y
Y
Group 1
Y
Y
Y
Y
Group 25
N
N
N
N
Group 36
N
N
N
N
Group A
Y
N
N
N
Group B
N
Y
Y
Y
Group F
N
Y
N
Y
Group H
Y
N
Y
N
Group I
N
Ic
N
N
18
Y
N
N
N
19
N
N
Y
N
21
N
Y
N
Y
Other nutrients
N
N
N
N
aN: the growth of the auxotrophs was not detected. bY: the growth of the auxotrophs was detected. cI: an inhibition zone was detected.Figure 1
Growth behavior of the auxotrophic strains in different media. The method used to determine the nutrients required for the four auxotrophic mutants is described in Materials and Methods, after which the phenotypes of the mutants were confirmed. We picked out a single colony of each of the four mutants and cultivated it in a liquid MGM medium at 42°C. The cultures of each strain were obtained, centrifuged, and resuspended in MM medium. Then, the suspended cultures were inoculated in liquid media of MGM, MM, and MM with the corresponding nutrients added (as shown in the figure, leucine was added to the MM medium to reconfirm the phenotype of J7-2-1; lysine was added for reconfirming J7-2-26, arginine for J7-2-52, and threonine and arginine for J7-2-22). In corresponding solid media, the suspended cultures were diluted with MM media before spreading on the corresponding media plates. Their growth states were recorded and pictures were taken after storage at 42°C for 7–15 days. MGM: a complete medium that could support the growth of all J7-2 auxotrophic strains; MM: a minimal medium that could only support the growth of the J7-2 prototrophic strain; MM+aa: MM supplied with the relevant single amino acid to a final concentration of 50μg/mL.To find significant mutations in the auxotrophic mutants, genes important in the pathways of the corresponding amino acid synthesis were analyzed by PCR and DNA sequencing. The mutant genes were determined by comparison of the corresponding DNA sequences between the wild type strain and the auxotroph. Information about these genes and their primers is shown in Tables2 and 4.Table 4
Molecular characterization of the auxotrophic mutants by analyzing relevant genes in the corresponding amino acid biosynthetic pathways.
Auxotrophic strains
Phenotype
Gene
Gene number
Notation
Length (bp)
Mutation status
J7-2-1
Leu−
leuA
NJ7_G1272
2-Isopropylmalate synthase
831
None
leuC
NJ7_G1748
3-Isopropylmalate dehydratase, large subunit
1388
None
leuD
NJ7_G1749
3-Isopropylmalate dehydratase, small subunit
837
None
leuB
NJ7_G1752
3-Isopropylmalate dehydrogenase
768
12 bp fragment deletion from 690 to 701 bp
J7-2-26
Lys−
dapA
NJ7_G4051
Dihydrodipicolinate synthase
951
None
dapF
NJ7_G4046
Diaminopimelate epimerase
1639
None
lysA
NJ7_G4047
Diaminopimelate decarboxylase
1422
None
dapD
NJ7_G4049
2,3,4,5-Tetrahydropyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate N-succinyltransferase
635
18 bp deletion from 583 to 600 bp
dapB
NJ7_G4050
Dihydrodipicolinate reductase
987
None
Auxotrophic strains
Phenotype
Gene
Gene number
Notation
Length (bp)
Mutation Status
J7-2-22
J7-2-52
J7-2-22J7-2-52
Arg−
argF
NJ7_G0258
Ornithine carbamoyltransferase
921
None
None
argE
NJ7_G0259
N-Acetyl-ornithine/N-acetyl-lysine deacetylase
1110
None
None
argD
NJ7_G0260
Acetylornithine aminotransferase
1155
None
None
argB
NJ7_G0261
Acetylglutamate kinase
870
None
None
argC
NJ7_G0262
N-Acetyl-gamma-glutamyl-phosphate reductase
1077
None
1051 bp: G-A(GGG-GAG)
argX
NJ7_G0263
Ribosomal protein S6 modification protein
1043
None
None
argW
NJ7_G0264
Putative biosynthetic carrier protein
argH
NJ7_G0265
Argininosuccinate lyase
1539
None
None
argG
NJ7_G0266
Argininosuccinate synthase
1242
None
None


## 2.5. Isolation ofNatrinemasp. J7-2 Total Genomic DNA

High molecular weightNatrinemasp. J7-2 genomic DNA was prepared according to the protocol of TIANamp Bacteria DNA Kit from TIANGEN (China). DNA samples prepared were examined by agarose gel electrophoresis and then used directly for transformation.


## 2.6. Transformation

All procedures were performed at room temperature unless indicated otherwise. The main transformation process of the auxotrophic mutants ofNatrinemasp. J7-2 was performed based on the transformation protocol used forHfx. volcanii [41] with several modifications: the standing time was modified from 10 min to 15 min to form spheroplasts; regeneration time was altered from 20–30 min at room temperature (RT) to 2–5 hours at 37°C and the transformation solutions were changed from 1 M NaCl to 2 M NaCl, a higher saline concentration suitable toHbt. salinarum[41]. Finally, the resultant mixture was spread on the selected solid medium and stored at 45°C for 7–10 days to detect the transformants.


## 2.7. Molecular Identification of the Transformants

Target gene fragments were amplified from the genomic DNA of the wild type strain, auxotrophic strain, and the corresponding transformant. The DNA sequences were comparatively analyzed to determine whether the mutation sites had been complemented by the transformation.


## 2.8.β-Galactosidase Detection

Theβ-galactosidase activity ofNatrinemasp. J7-2-1 transformants on plates was determined as described previously [44]. Briefly, agar plates were sprayed with X-gal (20 mg mL−1); blue colonies indicated the existence of β-galactosidase activity.


## 2.9. Amylase Activity Assay

The amylase activity ofNatrinemasp. J7-2-1 transformants on plates was determined as described previously [37, 44] using 18% MGM supplemented with 2% (w/v) soluble starch. After incubation at 42°C for 5–7 days, plates were flooded with 0.3% I2/0.6% KI solution; a clear zone around the growth indicated starch hydrolysis.


## 3. Results and Discussion

### 3.1. Isolation of Auxotrophic Mutants ofNatrinema sp. J7-2 by Mutagenesis

The halophilic archaeaNatrinema sp. J7-2 could be a useful model to investigate the interactions between provirus and host, but such studies have so far been prevented by a lack of genetic tools. As genetic manipulation systems based on auxotrophic selectable markers have been developed in other halophilic archaea, such asHb. salinarum NRC-1,Haloferax mediterranei, andHaloarcula hispanica, we decided to isolate auxotrophic mutants ofNatrinema sp. J7-2 and develop a genetic system based on them.Before mutagenesis,Natrinema sp. J7-2 was tested that it could grow on MM plate (Figure S1 in Supplementary Material available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/483194). The cultures ofNatrinema sp. J7-2 having undergone NTG or UV mutagenesis were spread on the MGM plate to obtain individual colonies; randomly selected colonies were inoculated on the MGM and MM plates in parallel. Colonies which appeared on the MGM plates but not on the corresponding MM plates were considered as candidate auxotrophic mutants. Ten colonies from approximately 7000 randomly selected candidates were able to grow on the MGM plates, but not on the corresponding MM plates. These candidate auxotrophic mutants were purified using the spread plate method on MGM agar media, and the resultant individual colonies were again inoculated on the MGM and MM plates in parallel for further identification. Finally, four auxotrophic mutant strains were confirmed and were named as J7-2-1, J7-2-22, J7-2-26, and J7-2-52 (Figures S2 and S3). All were obtained from the NTG (0.75 mg mL−1) mutagenesis treatment, which has previously been used to isolate mutants inSulfolobus acidocaldarius [45] and other species [46, 47].


### 3.2. Phenotypic and Molecular Characterization of Auxotrophic Mutants ofNatrinema sp. J7-2

The phenotypes of the isolated auxotrophic strains were determined by restoration of their growth on the MM plate by supplying them with a range of nutrient combinations (as shown in Tables3(a), 3(b), 3(c), and 3(d)). The results indicate that all were auxotrophic for specific amino acids. As shown in Table 3(e), strain J7-2-1 was a leucine auxotroph, since it could grow in MM medium supplied with groups ALL, 1, A, or H, all of which contain leucine. Strain J7-2-26 was determined to be a lysine auxotroph because it exhibited growth only on MM plates supplied with groups ALL, 1, B, or H, all of which contain lysine. Strain J7-2-52 was an arginine auxotroph as it could grow in MM medium supplied with groups ALL, 1, B, or F, all of which contain arginine. However, strain J7-2-22 could be auxotrophic for either arginine or threonine (Table 3(e)) because it could grow not only in MM medium supplied with groups ALL, 1, B, or F, but also on MM plates supplied with group I. The auxotrophic phenotypes of the four mutant strains were confirmed by assessment of their ability to grow in MM medium supplied with the corresponding single amino acid (Figure 1). The results reaffirmed that strain J7-2-1 is auxotrophic for leucine, strain J7-2-26 is auxotrophic for lysine, and both strains J7-2-22 and J7-2-52 are auxotrophic for arginine.After the phenotypes of the auxotrophic strains were determined, we wanted to identify the mutations responsible for them. Each of the genes predicted to be involved in the corresponding amino acid biosynthesis was amplified from the genomes of the auxotrophs and the wild type strain (Figure S4). The mutation sites were determined by comparative analysis of the gene sequences (Table4). The results showed that strain J7-2-1 (Leu−) has a 12 bp fragment deletion from 690 bp to 701 bp inleuB, whereas strain J7-2-26 (Lys−) has an 18 bp fragment deletion from 583 bp to 600 bp indapD(Figure S5). We believe that these deletions might be the cause of their auxotrophic phenotypes. Consistent with its arginine auxotrophic phenotype, a single nucleotide substitution at position 1051 bp of theargC gene was identified in strain J7-2-52. This substitution resulted in a change of the codon from GGG to GAG. However, no mutations were identified in the coding regions of the genes involved in arginine biosynthesis in the other arginine auxotroph strain J7-2-22, indicating that its phenotype might be the result of mutations in other regulatory genes for arginine biosynthesis.


### 3.3. Establishment of a Genetic Transformation System for theNatrinema Genus

In 1987, Cline and Ford Doolittle developed a PEG-mediated transformation protocol forHfx. volcanii [3]. In this protocol, cells are first treated with EDTA, which converts the cell to a spheroplast by removing its paracrystalline glycoprotein surface layer. DNA is then introduced into the spheroplasts with the help of PEG600, after which the cells recover in a regenerate solution or rich media before plating on a selective medium [48]. Although this transformation protocol has been used in a number of archaea, especially haloarchaea, it is only applicable for species in which a spheroplast can be generated readily [49].As there was no transformation protocol available for theNatrinemagenus, we aimed to develop a transformation method forNatrinemabased on the above transformation protocol forHfx. volcanii. We determined whetherNatrinema J7-2 cells could become spheroplasts after EDTA treatment and secondly if the spheroplast could recover in regenerate solution. The standing time in the process was modified to 15 min to form spheroplasts; regeneration time was changed as two to five hours at 37°C and the transformation solutions were also changed to 2 M NaCl, a higher saline concentration suitable forHbt. salinarum. As shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b) and Table 5, the morphology of the cells changed from rod shaped to spherical after EDTA treatment for 15 min, indicating the generation of the spheroplast. Three different regeneration solutions were tested to identify the most suitable for recovery ofNatrinemaspheroplast: H-2 medium; 18% MGM; and regeneration solution. The first two are rich media used to cultivateNatrinemasp. J7 serials strains andHfx. volcanii, respectively. The regeneration solution, comprised of an 18% salt solution supplied with 15% sucrose, 0.05% yeast extract, 0.01% peptone, and 0.1% casamino acids, was used for transformation ofHfx. volcanii. Cell morphology could be restored to rods using all three mediums, but the cells recovered more effectively in the H-2 medium and 18% MGM than in the regeneration solution (Figures 2(c), 2(d), and 2(e) and Table 5). Thus, in the following experiments, we chose H-2 medium as the recovery solution.Table 5
Percentages of spheroplasts formation and spheroplasts regenerated to wt cells.
Percentage of Spheroplasts formation
Percentage of spheroplasts regenerated to wt cells
Different regeneration solutions
About 95%
H-2 medium
18% MGM medium
Regeneration solution
About 90%
About 80%
About 20%Figure 2
Morphological changes to the cells during the transformation process. As there was no transformation protocol available for the genus ofNatrinema, we used the transformation process used forHfx. volcanii. All procedures were performed at room temperature. We picked out a single colony of J7-2 and cultivated it in liquid MGM media at 42°C. Selected cultures of J7-2 were obtained and treated with spheroplasting solution for 15 min, while some were not treated to provide a control. Cell morphology was observed and recorded under the microscope. The results are shown in (a) and (b). During the recovery process, three different regeneration solutions were tested to determine whether the cell morphology could be recovered to short rods and which medium was more suitable forNatrinema: H-2 medium, 18% MGM and regeneration solution. We modified the protocol slightly. The regeneration time was changed from 20–30 min at RT to 2 to 5 hours at 37°C and the transformation solutions were also changed from 1 M NaCl to 2 M NaCl. The regeneration results were also observed and recorded under microscope. All recovered results are shown in (c), (d), and (e). (a) Cells of J7-2 grown in MGM medium before spheroplasting solution treatment. (b) Cells of J7-2 treated with spheroplasting solution. (c) Cells of J7-2 regenerated with H-2 medium treatment. (d) Cells of J7-2 regenerated with 18% MGM medium treatment. (e) Cells of J7-2 regenerated with regeneration solution treatment.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)Since the spheroplast ofNatrinema could be generated and recover successfully, we tested if spheroplasted J7-2 cells could be transformed by exogenous DNA using the isolated auxotrophic mutants J7-2-1 and J7-2-26 as recipients. The genomic DNA ofNatrinemasp. J7-2 was prepared as the transforming DNA and applied to auxotrophic strains. As strains J7-2-1 and J7-2-26 require the presence of leucine or lysine for growth, only recombinants that restore the ability to synthesize leucine or lysine would grow on MM plates. As shown in Figure 3, strains of J7-2-1 and J7-2-26 transformed with the genomic DNA of J7-2 appeared in the MM plates (plates 1 and 3), but colonies did not appear on plates when DNA was not added to the spheroplasts of J7-2-1 and J7-2-26. The transformation efficiency is estimated to be 3.62 × 103 transformants per μg DNA. To confirm the results, theleuB gene of the transformants of J7-2-1 and thedapD gene of the transformants of J7-2-26 were amplified and subjected to sequencing. Compared to the parent strains (J7-2-1 has a 12 bp fragment deletion from 690 to 701 bp inleuBgene and J7-2-26 has an 18 bp fragment deletion from 583 to 600 bp indapDgene), the results showed that the mutations had been corrected in all the transformants, presumably by homologous recombination (Figures S5 and S6). These results indicate that, using the protocol we developed, exogenous DNA can be transformed intoNatrinema and the resultant auxotrophic strains represent useful genetic tools.Figure 3
Results of the transformation of J7-2-1 and J7-2-26 with J7-2 genome. The wild typeNatrinema sp. J7-2 total genomic DNA was isolated and then transformed into two auxotrophic mutants, J7-2-1 and J7-2-26. The transformation mixture was spread on the MM plates and cultivated at 42°C for 15 days. The detailed transformation process was described in Materials and Methods. (1) J7-2-1 transformed with J7-2 genome. (2) Negative control, J7-2-1 transformed with salt solution without DNA. (3) J7-2-26 transformed with J7-2 genome. (4) Negative control, J7-2-26 transformed with salt solution without DNA.To confirm that the auxotrophs were transformed to prototrophs by homologous recombination at the corresponding mutated genes, theleuB gene fragment and thedapD gene fragment from the genome of the wild type strain were amplified and transformed into J7-2-1 and J7-2-26 spheroplasts, respectively. As expected, transformants of each auxotroph transformed with the matching gene appeared on the MM plate and sequencing ofleuB ordapD from the corresponding transformants confirmed that the mutation had been corrected (Figure S6). Furthermore, in the J7-2-1 transformation process, we amplified two fragments, KM1752, aleuB cloning fragment containing the promoter from J7-2, and HM1752, aleuB open reading frame (ORF) cloning fragment from J7-2 (Table 1), to identify any difference in transformation result. No obvious difference was observed (Figure S6). It is noteworthy that although the amount ofleuB ordapD coding fragment should be much higher when transformed with the amplified gene fragment than that of transformation with genomic DNA, transformation efficiency of the former was slightly lower (1.02 × 103 transformants per μg DNA versus 3.62 × 103 transformants per μg DNA). We speculate that this is because the amplified fragments were short in length, resulting in a reduced efficiency of homologous recombination. However additional evidence is needed to prove this hypothesis.


### 3.4. Possibility of Transformation with Circular Plasmids and the Ability to Express Exogenous Genes in Auxotrophic Strains through Homologous Recombination

The above results showed that auxotrophs ofNatrinemasp. J7-2 can be transformed to prototrophs by transformation with genomic DNA or amplified gene fragments of the wild type strain. However, both of them were linear DNA fragments. We wanted to know whether circular plasmids could also be transformed. Three plasmids containing the corresponding genes were constructed and named pUC19-KM1752, pUC19-HM1752, and pUC19-HM4049 (Table 1). The former two plasmids carrying theleuB gene were transformed into auxotrophic strain J7-2-1, while the latter, carrying thedapD gene, was transformed into auxotrophic strain J7-2-26. They were subsequently demethylated inE. colistrain JM110. As expected, all three circular plasmids could be transformed efficiently into auxotrophs and the prototrophic phenotype was restored on MM plates. We further quantified transformation efficiency, which was equal to approximately 2.96 × 103 transformants per μg DNA. Although the transformation efficiency is slightly increased, compared with the amplified gene fragment, it is still relatively low compared to that ofHfx. volcanii(103 transformants per μg DNA versus 106 transformants per μg DNA [7]). One possibility is that the transformation method we developed still requires improvement, though it is also possible thatNatrinema sp. J7-2 is less effective thanHfx. volcanii at taking up extracellular DNA and performing homologous recombination. Nevertheless, the successful transformation of DNA into the auxotrophic strains of J7-2 shows that transformation inNatrinema is possible and theleuB anddapD genes could be used as selectable markers for the development of genetic manipulation systems.Sequencing of the genomic regions of the transformants of J7-2-1 or J7-2-26 revealed that the mutatedleuB ordapD genes had been replaced with wild typeleuB anddapD(Figure S6), suggesting that the restoration of growth on the MM plate was due to homologous recombination between the chromosome and the incoming plasmids. Since the circular plasmids could be transformed into auxotrophs, we attempted to use these plasmids to integrate and express exogenous genes in the auxotroph strain J7-2-1. ThebgaH gene fromHfx. alicantei [34, 35] was cloned into pUC19-HM1752 to produce the plasmid pUC19-HM1752-BgaH, which was then transformed into J7-2-1 and selected on MM plates. The resultant transformants were analyzed for the expression of the β-galactosidase using MGM plates supplied with X-gal. As shown in Figure 4, 31 of 200 tested transformants (ca. 15.5% of the transformants) displayed β-galactosidase activity, detected by a color change (from pink to blue), on the MGM plates supplied with X-gal.Figure 4
Expression ofbgaH gene in J7-2-1 via the integrative plasmid pUC19-HM1752-bgaH. The plasmid pUC19-HM1752-bgaH containingbgaH was transformed into strain J7-2-1. In total, 200 transformants were picked out randomly and cultured. The activity of β-galactosidase in these 200 transformants was detected on four MGM plates (50 transformants on each plate) supplied with X-gal (detailed process is discussed in Materials and Methods). If the transformants had β-galactosidase activity, the color of the corresponding colony would turn blue. The results were recorded and pictures taken after the four plates were stored at 42°C for 7–15 days. P: positive control. N1: negative controlHfx. volcaniiDS52. N2: negative control J7-2-1. N3: negative control J7-2-1 transformed with J7-2 genome. N4: negative control J7-2-1 transformed with KM1752 fragment.Besides thebgaH gene fromHfx. alicantei, we also tested the expression of theamyHgene fromHar. hispanicaDSM 4426 [36] in strain J7-2-1. Similar tobgaH,amyH was cloned into plasmid pUC19-HM1752 and the resulting plasmid pUC19-HM1752-amyH was transformed into J7-2-1. Transformants were screened on MM plates (Figure 5(a)). Twenty-nine transformants were selected and inoculated on the MGM plate containing soluble starch in order to detect the expression and activity of theamyH gene. As shown in Figure 5(b), four out of the 29 transformants exhibited amylase activity and produced a hydrolysis ring on the MGM plate. Consistent with this, theamyHgene could be amplified from two randomly selected transformants that produced the hydrolysis ring, and sequence analysis confirmed that theamyHgene was integrated into the genome by a recombination event at theleuBgene. Other elements on the integrative plasmid, such as the replication region, the antibiotic gene of ampicillin, and thelacZgene in pUC19, were also detected by PCR amplification from the same two randomly selected transformants conferring amylase activity (Figure S7). Interestingly, we found that specific fragments within the ampicillin resistance gene andColE1replication region could be detected in a randomly selected transformant without amylase activity. Currently, it is unclear why theamyH gene was dropped off from the chromosome; one possibility is that some sections of pUC19-HM1752-amyH were integrated into this transformant, but not including theamyHgene or thelacZgene. Another possibility is that a secondary recombination event occurred between the J7-2-1 genome and the integrative plasmid, resulting in regions includingamyHgene orlacZgene dropping off from genome. Additional studies are required to solve this problem and therefore increase the percentage of positive transformants.Figure 5
Expression ofamyH gene in J7-2-1 via the integrative plasmid pUC19-HM1752-amyH. The plasmid pUC19-HM1752-amyH containingamyH was transformed into strain J7-2-1. Twenty-nine transformants were picked out randomly and cultured. Amylase activity in these transformants was detected on an MGM plate supplied with 2% (w/v) soluble starch. (detailed process is discussed in Materials and Methods). The plate was flooded with 0.3% I2/0.6% KI solution after incubation at 42°C for 7–15 days. If the transformants had amylase activity, a clear zone indicating starch hydrolysis would be observed. The results were recorded and pictures were taken. (a) (1) Negative control, J7-2-1 transformed with salt solution without DNA. (2) J7-2-1 transformed with integrative plasmid pUC19-HM1752-amyH. (b) MGM plates containing soluble starch are used to detect the expression ofamyHgene in J7-2-1 by integrative plasmid pUC19-HM1752-amyH. P. Positive control. N1: negative controlHaloferax volcaniiDS52. N2: negative control J7-2-1. N3: negative control J7-2-1 transformed with J7-2 Genome. N4: negative control J7-2-1 transformed with KM1752 fragment. 1–29: samples from transformants of J7-2-1 transformed with integrative plasmid pUC19-HM1752-amyH.
(a)
(b)The integration relative positions of the exogenousamyHgene on the genomes of transformants conferring amylase activity were identified through amplification experiments and sequencing with different primers and different primer combinations in the plasmid and are shown in Figure 6, confirming that the plasmid was integrated into the chromosome at theleuB locus by homologous recombination.Figure 6
The possible integration position of exogenous DNA in the genome of transformants conferring amylase activity. Strain J7-2-1 was transformed with pUC19-HM1752-amyH and the schematic diagram shows the possible crossover event between the plasmid and J7-2-1 genome. (a) Plasmid pUC19-HM1752-amyH. (b) J7-2-1 genome with the mutated 1752 gene. (c) The possible integration position of exogenous DNA on the genome of the transformants conferring amylase activity.Nonetheless, the auxotrophs isolated here have been proven to be useful as selectable markers for the expression of exogenous genes inNatrinema. These auxotrophs could also facilitate the development of more sophisticated genetic tools to study other proteins and their functions in the genus ofNatrinema and to investigate horizontal gene transfer between strains from this genus and others. In ongoing research, we are attempting to use the elements of the halophilic virus SNJ1 to construct a shuttle vector system forNatrinemasp. J7-2 and CJ7 (anotherNatrinemastrain without any plasmid). We believe that the above provide useful information for further study and will contribute to understanding the genetics ofNatrinemagenus and halophilic archaea.


## 3.1. Isolation of Auxotrophic Mutants ofNatrinema sp. J7-2 by Mutagenesis

The halophilic archaeaNatrinema sp. J7-2 could be a useful model to investigate the interactions between provirus and host, but such studies have so far been prevented by a lack of genetic tools. As genetic manipulation systems based on auxotrophic selectable markers have been developed in other halophilic archaea, such asHb. salinarum NRC-1,Haloferax mediterranei, andHaloarcula hispanica, we decided to isolate auxotrophic mutants ofNatrinema sp. J7-2 and develop a genetic system based on them.Before mutagenesis,Natrinema sp. J7-2 was tested that it could grow on MM plate (Figure S1 in Supplementary Material available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/483194). The cultures ofNatrinema sp. J7-2 having undergone NTG or UV mutagenesis were spread on the MGM plate to obtain individual colonies; randomly selected colonies were inoculated on the MGM and MM plates in parallel. Colonies which appeared on the MGM plates but not on the corresponding MM plates were considered as candidate auxotrophic mutants. Ten colonies from approximately 7000 randomly selected candidates were able to grow on the MGM plates, but not on the corresponding MM plates. These candidate auxotrophic mutants were purified using the spread plate method on MGM agar media, and the resultant individual colonies were again inoculated on the MGM and MM plates in parallel for further identification. Finally, four auxotrophic mutant strains were confirmed and were named as J7-2-1, J7-2-22, J7-2-26, and J7-2-52 (Figures S2 and S3). All were obtained from the NTG (0.75 mg mL−1) mutagenesis treatment, which has previously been used to isolate mutants inSulfolobus acidocaldarius [45] and other species [46, 47].


## 3.2. Phenotypic and Molecular Characterization of Auxotrophic Mutants ofNatrinema sp. J7-2

The phenotypes of the isolated auxotrophic strains were determined by restoration of their growth on the MM plate by supplying them with a range of nutrient combinations (as shown in Tables3(a), 3(b), 3(c), and 3(d)). The results indicate that all were auxotrophic for specific amino acids. As shown in Table 3(e), strain J7-2-1 was a leucine auxotroph, since it could grow in MM medium supplied with groups ALL, 1, A, or H, all of which contain leucine. Strain J7-2-26 was determined to be a lysine auxotroph because it exhibited growth only on MM plates supplied with groups ALL, 1, B, or H, all of which contain lysine. Strain J7-2-52 was an arginine auxotroph as it could grow in MM medium supplied with groups ALL, 1, B, or F, all of which contain arginine. However, strain J7-2-22 could be auxotrophic for either arginine or threonine (Table 3(e)) because it could grow not only in MM medium supplied with groups ALL, 1, B, or F, but also on MM plates supplied with group I. The auxotrophic phenotypes of the four mutant strains were confirmed by assessment of their ability to grow in MM medium supplied with the corresponding single amino acid (Figure 1). The results reaffirmed that strain J7-2-1 is auxotrophic for leucine, strain J7-2-26 is auxotrophic for lysine, and both strains J7-2-22 and J7-2-52 are auxotrophic for arginine.After the phenotypes of the auxotrophic strains were determined, we wanted to identify the mutations responsible for them. Each of the genes predicted to be involved in the corresponding amino acid biosynthesis was amplified from the genomes of the auxotrophs and the wild type strain (Figure S4). The mutation sites were determined by comparative analysis of the gene sequences (Table4). The results showed that strain J7-2-1 (Leu−) has a 12 bp fragment deletion from 690 bp to 701 bp inleuB, whereas strain J7-2-26 (Lys−) has an 18 bp fragment deletion from 583 bp to 600 bp indapD(Figure S5). We believe that these deletions might be the cause of their auxotrophic phenotypes. Consistent with its arginine auxotrophic phenotype, a single nucleotide substitution at position 1051 bp of theargC gene was identified in strain J7-2-52. This substitution resulted in a change of the codon from GGG to GAG. However, no mutations were identified in the coding regions of the genes involved in arginine biosynthesis in the other arginine auxotroph strain J7-2-22, indicating that its phenotype might be the result of mutations in other regulatory genes for arginine biosynthesis.


## 3.3. Establishment of a Genetic Transformation System for theNatrinema Genus

In 1987, Cline and Ford Doolittle developed a PEG-mediated transformation protocol forHfx. volcanii [3]. In this protocol, cells are first treated with EDTA, which converts the cell to a spheroplast by removing its paracrystalline glycoprotein surface layer. DNA is then introduced into the spheroplasts with the help of PEG600, after which the cells recover in a regenerate solution or rich media before plating on a selective medium [48]. Although this transformation protocol has been used in a number of archaea, especially haloarchaea, it is only applicable for species in which a spheroplast can be generated readily [49].As there was no transformation protocol available for theNatrinemagenus, we aimed to develop a transformation method forNatrinemabased on the above transformation protocol forHfx. volcanii. We determined whetherNatrinema J7-2 cells could become spheroplasts after EDTA treatment and secondly if the spheroplast could recover in regenerate solution. The standing time in the process was modified to 15 min to form spheroplasts; regeneration time was changed as two to five hours at 37°C and the transformation solutions were also changed to 2 M NaCl, a higher saline concentration suitable forHbt. salinarum. As shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b) and Table 5, the morphology of the cells changed from rod shaped to spherical after EDTA treatment for 15 min, indicating the generation of the spheroplast. Three different regeneration solutions were tested to identify the most suitable for recovery ofNatrinemaspheroplast: H-2 medium; 18% MGM; and regeneration solution. The first two are rich media used to cultivateNatrinemasp. J7 serials strains andHfx. volcanii, respectively. The regeneration solution, comprised of an 18% salt solution supplied with 15% sucrose, 0.05% yeast extract, 0.01% peptone, and 0.1% casamino acids, was used for transformation ofHfx. volcanii. Cell morphology could be restored to rods using all three mediums, but the cells recovered more effectively in the H-2 medium and 18% MGM than in the regeneration solution (Figures 2(c), 2(d), and 2(e) and Table 5). Thus, in the following experiments, we chose H-2 medium as the recovery solution.Table 5
Percentages of spheroplasts formation and spheroplasts regenerated to wt cells.
Percentage of Spheroplasts formation
Percentage of spheroplasts regenerated to wt cells
Different regeneration solutions
About 95%
H-2 medium
18% MGM medium
Regeneration solution
About 90%
About 80%
About 20%Figure 2
Morphological changes to the cells during the transformation process. As there was no transformation protocol available for the genus ofNatrinema, we used the transformation process used forHfx. volcanii. All procedures were performed at room temperature. We picked out a single colony of J7-2 and cultivated it in liquid MGM media at 42°C. Selected cultures of J7-2 were obtained and treated with spheroplasting solution for 15 min, while some were not treated to provide a control. Cell morphology was observed and recorded under the microscope. The results are shown in (a) and (b). During the recovery process, three different regeneration solutions were tested to determine whether the cell morphology could be recovered to short rods and which medium was more suitable forNatrinema: H-2 medium, 18% MGM and regeneration solution. We modified the protocol slightly. The regeneration time was changed from 20–30 min at RT to 2 to 5 hours at 37°C and the transformation solutions were also changed from 1 M NaCl to 2 M NaCl. The regeneration results were also observed and recorded under microscope. All recovered results are shown in (c), (d), and (e). (a) Cells of J7-2 grown in MGM medium before spheroplasting solution treatment. (b) Cells of J7-2 treated with spheroplasting solution. (c) Cells of J7-2 regenerated with H-2 medium treatment. (d) Cells of J7-2 regenerated with 18% MGM medium treatment. (e) Cells of J7-2 regenerated with regeneration solution treatment.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)Since the spheroplast ofNatrinema could be generated and recover successfully, we tested if spheroplasted J7-2 cells could be transformed by exogenous DNA using the isolated auxotrophic mutants J7-2-1 and J7-2-26 as recipients. The genomic DNA ofNatrinemasp. J7-2 was prepared as the transforming DNA and applied to auxotrophic strains. As strains J7-2-1 and J7-2-26 require the presence of leucine or lysine for growth, only recombinants that restore the ability to synthesize leucine or lysine would grow on MM plates. As shown in Figure 3, strains of J7-2-1 and J7-2-26 transformed with the genomic DNA of J7-2 appeared in the MM plates (plates 1 and 3), but colonies did not appear on plates when DNA was not added to the spheroplasts of J7-2-1 and J7-2-26. The transformation efficiency is estimated to be 3.62 × 103 transformants per μg DNA. To confirm the results, theleuB gene of the transformants of J7-2-1 and thedapD gene of the transformants of J7-2-26 were amplified and subjected to sequencing. Compared to the parent strains (J7-2-1 has a 12 bp fragment deletion from 690 to 701 bp inleuBgene and J7-2-26 has an 18 bp fragment deletion from 583 to 600 bp indapDgene), the results showed that the mutations had been corrected in all the transformants, presumably by homologous recombination (Figures S5 and S6). These results indicate that, using the protocol we developed, exogenous DNA can be transformed intoNatrinema and the resultant auxotrophic strains represent useful genetic tools.Figure 3
Results of the transformation of J7-2-1 and J7-2-26 with J7-2 genome. The wild typeNatrinema sp. J7-2 total genomic DNA was isolated and then transformed into two auxotrophic mutants, J7-2-1 and J7-2-26. The transformation mixture was spread on the MM plates and cultivated at 42°C for 15 days. The detailed transformation process was described in Materials and Methods. (1) J7-2-1 transformed with J7-2 genome. (2) Negative control, J7-2-1 transformed with salt solution without DNA. (3) J7-2-26 transformed with J7-2 genome. (4) Negative control, J7-2-26 transformed with salt solution without DNA.To confirm that the auxotrophs were transformed to prototrophs by homologous recombination at the corresponding mutated genes, theleuB gene fragment and thedapD gene fragment from the genome of the wild type strain were amplified and transformed into J7-2-1 and J7-2-26 spheroplasts, respectively. As expected, transformants of each auxotroph transformed with the matching gene appeared on the MM plate and sequencing ofleuB ordapD from the corresponding transformants confirmed that the mutation had been corrected (Figure S6). Furthermore, in the J7-2-1 transformation process, we amplified two fragments, KM1752, aleuB cloning fragment containing the promoter from J7-2, and HM1752, aleuB open reading frame (ORF) cloning fragment from J7-2 (Table 1), to identify any difference in transformation result. No obvious difference was observed (Figure S6). It is noteworthy that although the amount ofleuB ordapD coding fragment should be much higher when transformed with the amplified gene fragment than that of transformation with genomic DNA, transformation efficiency of the former was slightly lower (1.02 × 103 transformants per μg DNA versus 3.62 × 103 transformants per μg DNA). We speculate that this is because the amplified fragments were short in length, resulting in a reduced efficiency of homologous recombination. However additional evidence is needed to prove this hypothesis.


## 3.4. Possibility of Transformation with Circular Plasmids and the Ability to Express Exogenous Genes in Auxotrophic Strains through Homologous Recombination

The above results showed that auxotrophs ofNatrinemasp. J7-2 can be transformed to prototrophs by transformation with genomic DNA or amplified gene fragments of the wild type strain. However, both of them were linear DNA fragments. We wanted to know whether circular plasmids could also be transformed. Three plasmids containing the corresponding genes were constructed and named pUC19-KM1752, pUC19-HM1752, and pUC19-HM4049 (Table 1). The former two plasmids carrying theleuB gene were transformed into auxotrophic strain J7-2-1, while the latter, carrying thedapD gene, was transformed into auxotrophic strain J7-2-26. They were subsequently demethylated inE. colistrain JM110. As expected, all three circular plasmids could be transformed efficiently into auxotrophs and the prototrophic phenotype was restored on MM plates. We further quantified transformation efficiency, which was equal to approximately 2.96 × 103 transformants per μg DNA. Although the transformation efficiency is slightly increased, compared with the amplified gene fragment, it is still relatively low compared to that ofHfx. volcanii(103 transformants per μg DNA versus 106 transformants per μg DNA [7]). One possibility is that the transformation method we developed still requires improvement, though it is also possible thatNatrinema sp. J7-2 is less effective thanHfx. volcanii at taking up extracellular DNA and performing homologous recombination. Nevertheless, the successful transformation of DNA into the auxotrophic strains of J7-2 shows that transformation inNatrinema is possible and theleuB anddapD genes could be used as selectable markers for the development of genetic manipulation systems.Sequencing of the genomic regions of the transformants of J7-2-1 or J7-2-26 revealed that the mutatedleuB ordapD genes had been replaced with wild typeleuB anddapD(Figure S6), suggesting that the restoration of growth on the MM plate was due to homologous recombination between the chromosome and the incoming plasmids. Since the circular plasmids could be transformed into auxotrophs, we attempted to use these plasmids to integrate and express exogenous genes in the auxotroph strain J7-2-1. ThebgaH gene fromHfx. alicantei [34, 35] was cloned into pUC19-HM1752 to produce the plasmid pUC19-HM1752-BgaH, which was then transformed into J7-2-1 and selected on MM plates. The resultant transformants were analyzed for the expression of the β-galactosidase using MGM plates supplied with X-gal. As shown in Figure 4, 31 of 200 tested transformants (ca. 15.5% of the transformants) displayed β-galactosidase activity, detected by a color change (from pink to blue), on the MGM plates supplied with X-gal.Figure 4
Expression ofbgaH gene in J7-2-1 via the integrative plasmid pUC19-HM1752-bgaH. The plasmid pUC19-HM1752-bgaH containingbgaH was transformed into strain J7-2-1. In total, 200 transformants were picked out randomly and cultured. The activity of β-galactosidase in these 200 transformants was detected on four MGM plates (50 transformants on each plate) supplied with X-gal (detailed process is discussed in Materials and Methods). If the transformants had β-galactosidase activity, the color of the corresponding colony would turn blue. The results were recorded and pictures taken after the four plates were stored at 42°C for 7–15 days. P: positive control. N1: negative controlHfx. volcaniiDS52. N2: negative control J7-2-1. N3: negative control J7-2-1 transformed with J7-2 genome. N4: negative control J7-2-1 transformed with KM1752 fragment.Besides thebgaH gene fromHfx. alicantei, we also tested the expression of theamyHgene fromHar. hispanicaDSM 4426 [36] in strain J7-2-1. Similar tobgaH,amyH was cloned into plasmid pUC19-HM1752 and the resulting plasmid pUC19-HM1752-amyH was transformed into J7-2-1. Transformants were screened on MM plates (Figure 5(a)). Twenty-nine transformants were selected and inoculated on the MGM plate containing soluble starch in order to detect the expression and activity of theamyH gene. As shown in Figure 5(b), four out of the 29 transformants exhibited amylase activity and produced a hydrolysis ring on the MGM plate. Consistent with this, theamyHgene could be amplified from two randomly selected transformants that produced the hydrolysis ring, and sequence analysis confirmed that theamyHgene was integrated into the genome by a recombination event at theleuBgene. Other elements on the integrative plasmid, such as the replication region, the antibiotic gene of ampicillin, and thelacZgene in pUC19, were also detected by PCR amplification from the same two randomly selected transformants conferring amylase activity (Figure S7). Interestingly, we found that specific fragments within the ampicillin resistance gene andColE1replication region could be detected in a randomly selected transformant without amylase activity. Currently, it is unclear why theamyH gene was dropped off from the chromosome; one possibility is that some sections of pUC19-HM1752-amyH were integrated into this transformant, but not including theamyHgene or thelacZgene. Another possibility is that a secondary recombination event occurred between the J7-2-1 genome and the integrative plasmid, resulting in regions includingamyHgene orlacZgene dropping off from genome. Additional studies are required to solve this problem and therefore increase the percentage of positive transformants.Figure 5
Expression ofamyH gene in J7-2-1 via the integrative plasmid pUC19-HM1752-amyH. The plasmid pUC19-HM1752-amyH containingamyH was transformed into strain J7-2-1. Twenty-nine transformants were picked out randomly and cultured. Amylase activity in these transformants was detected on an MGM plate supplied with 2% (w/v) soluble starch. (detailed process is discussed in Materials and Methods). The plate was flooded with 0.3% I2/0.6% KI solution after incubation at 42°C for 7–15 days. If the transformants had amylase activity, a clear zone indicating starch hydrolysis would be observed. The results were recorded and pictures were taken. (a) (1) Negative control, J7-2-1 transformed with salt solution without DNA. (2) J7-2-1 transformed with integrative plasmid pUC19-HM1752-amyH. (b) MGM plates containing soluble starch are used to detect the expression ofamyHgene in J7-2-1 by integrative plasmid pUC19-HM1752-amyH. P. Positive control. N1: negative controlHaloferax volcaniiDS52. N2: negative control J7-2-1. N3: negative control J7-2-1 transformed with J7-2 Genome. N4: negative control J7-2-1 transformed with KM1752 fragment. 1–29: samples from transformants of J7-2-1 transformed with integrative plasmid pUC19-HM1752-amyH.
(a)
(b)The integration relative positions of the exogenousamyHgene on the genomes of transformants conferring amylase activity were identified through amplification experiments and sequencing with different primers and different primer combinations in the plasmid and are shown in Figure 6, confirming that the plasmid was integrated into the chromosome at theleuB locus by homologous recombination.Figure 6
The possible integration position of exogenous DNA in the genome of transformants conferring amylase activity. Strain J7-2-1 was transformed with pUC19-HM1752-amyH and the schematic diagram shows the possible crossover event between the plasmid and J7-2-1 genome. (a) Plasmid pUC19-HM1752-amyH. (b) J7-2-1 genome with the mutated 1752 gene. (c) The possible integration position of exogenous DNA on the genome of the transformants conferring amylase activity.Nonetheless, the auxotrophs isolated here have been proven to be useful as selectable markers for the expression of exogenous genes inNatrinema. These auxotrophs could also facilitate the development of more sophisticated genetic tools to study other proteins and their functions in the genus ofNatrinema and to investigate horizontal gene transfer between strains from this genus and others. In ongoing research, we are attempting to use the elements of the halophilic virus SNJ1 to construct a shuttle vector system forNatrinemasp. J7-2 and CJ7 (anotherNatrinemastrain without any plasmid). We believe that the above provide useful information for further study and will contribute to understanding the genetics ofNatrinemagenus and halophilic archaea.



---

*Source: 483194-2015-05-21.xml*