Comparative c-type cytochrome expression analysis in Shewanella oneidensis strain MR-1 and Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans strain 2CP-C grown with soluble and insoluble oxidized metal electron acceptors

The genomes of Shewanella oneidensis strain MR-1 and Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans strain 2CP-C encode 40 and 69 putative c-type cytochrome genes respectively. Deletion mutant and biochemical studies have assigned specific functions to a few c-type cytochromes involved in electron transfer to oxidized metals in S. oneidensis strain MR-1. Although promising, the genetic approach is limited to gene deletions that produce a distinct phenotype and to an organism for which a genetic system is available. To investigate and compare c-type cytochrome expression in S. oneidensis strain MR-1 and Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans strain 2CP-C more comprehensively, proteomic measurements were used to characterize lysates of cells grown with soluble Fe(III) (as ferric citrate) and insoluble Mn(IV) (as MnO₂) as electron acceptors. Strain MR-1 expressed 19 and 20, and strain 2CP-C expressed 27 and 25, c-type cytochromes when grown with Fe(III) and Mn(IV) respectively. The majority of c-type cytochromes (77% for strain MR-1 and 63% for strain 2CP-C) were expressed under both growth conditions; however, the analysis also revealed unique c-type cytochromes that were specifically expressed in cells grown with soluble Fe(III) or insoluble Mn(IV). Proteomic characterization proved to be a promising approach for determining the c-type cytochrome complement expressed under different growth conditions, and will help to elucidate the specific functions of more c-type cytochromes that are the basis for Shewanella and Anaeromyxobacter respiratory versatility.