Bacterial genome-encoded ParMs
ParMs generally exist on low-copy number plasmids where they contribute to plasmid segregation and stable inheritance. We carried out bioinformatics analysis, which indicated that ParM genes are not only confined to plasmids but are also occasionally found on genomes. Here we report the discovery and characterization of two chromosome-encoded ParMs (cParMs) from the genomes of Desulfitobacterium hafniense (Dh-cParM1) and Clostridium botulinum (Cb-cParM). Both cParMs form filaments, exhibit nucleotide hydrolysis, and possess characteristic ParM subunit structures. Dh-cParM1 forms single and tightly coupled double filaments and is highly conserved on the chromosomes of five of six Desulfitobacterium species. Interestingly, these bacteria have not been reported to harbor plasmids. Cb-cParM possesses unique properties. Its filaments were stable after nucleotide hydrolysis and Pi release, and its ParR (Cb-cParR) did not affect the initial phase of Cb-cParM polymerization but displayed properties of a depolymerization factor for mature filaments. These results indicate functional, polymerizing ParMs can be encoded on genomes, suggesting that ParM roles may extend to other functions beyond plasmid segregation.
Authors
- Kotaro Tanaka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7743-8778)
- Fujiet Koh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6682-4449)
- Yoshihito Kitaoku (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6411-0394)
- Kaoru Mitsuoka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1782-675X)
- Samson Ali (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1410-990X)
- Kenji Iwasaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3808-8904)
- Akihiro Narita (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1504-9352)
- David Popp (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4000-8819)
- Robert Robinson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6367-6903)
- Naoyuki Miyazaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4880-7300)
Institutions
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (SG)
- Okayama University of Science (JP)
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SG)
- Protein Research Foundation (JP)
- Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (TH)
- Nagoya University (JP)
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (SG)
- The University of Osaka (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Biological Chemistry
- Published
- 2025-06-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2025.110351
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.81
Funders
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- Osaka University
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- Japan Science and Technology Agency
- Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology