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Microbial Ecology Metaproteomics: A New Approach for Studying Functional Microbial Ecology Pierre-Alain Maron, Lionel Ranjard, Christophe Mougel and Philippe Lemanceau ´ ´ UMRMicrobiologie et Geochimie des Sols, INRA/Universite de Bourgogne, CMSE, BP 86510, 17 rue de Sully, 21065, Dijon Cedex, France Received: 17 November 2006 / Accepted: 26 November 2006 / Online publication: 13 March 2007 Abstract be an integrative science with strong interconnections In the postgenomic era, there is a clear recognition of the between systematics, genetics, biochemistry, molecular limitations of nucleic acid-based methods for getting biology, physiology, modeling, paleobiology, soil science, information on functions expressed by microbial com- parasitology, epidemiology, etc., with important food, munities in situ. In this context, the large-scale study of public health, and environmental implications. Microbial proteins expressed by indigenous microbial communities ecology can be considered apart from Bclassical^ ecology (metaproteome) should provide information to gain by the specifics of the organisms involved. The small size insights into the functioning of the microbial component of microorganisms, the difficulty defining bacterial in ecosystems. Characterization of the metaproteome is species and the huge genetic/metabolic diversity among expected to provide data linking genetic and functional them in the various environments they colonize [50] led diversity of microbial communities. Studies on the to the development of specific concepts and methodo- metaproteome together with those on the metagenome logical approaches for elucidating the role of microbes in and the metatranscriptome will contribute to progress in ecosystem functioning. Analysis of historical and recent our knowledge of microbial communities and their advances in microbial ecology shows a Bstep-by-step^ contribution in ecosystem functioning. Effectiveness of evolution managed by methodological developments the metaproteomic approach will be improved as ([8], Fig. 1). increasing metagenomic information is made available In the 1960s, the most comprehensive studies thanks to the environmental sequencing projects cur- focused on monoxenic cultures lacking interactions rently running. More specifically, analysis of metapro- between microorganisms and between microorganisms teome in contrasted environmental situations should and their habitat. In the 1980s, one of the first advances allow (1) tracking new functional genes and metabolic was to take into consideration not only single organisms pathways and (2) identifying proteins preferentially but density, diversity, and activity of microbial popula- associated with specific stresses. These proteins consid- tions isolated from natural environments. This was ered as functional bioindicators should contribute, in the initiated by Brock (1987) [5] who stated that the future, to help policy makers in defining strategies for properties of an organism cultivated in the laboratory sustainable management of our environment. may not necessary reflect its activity and physiology in the environment where factors such as resource com- petition, environmental heterogeneity, predation, and other interactions are prevalent. In the 1990s, many Past, Present, and Future Prospects studies were dedicated to this type of approach and Microbial ecology is a scientific domain derived (40 years provided the basis for understanding the microbial ago) from medicine and agronomy by the need to world and its role in ecosystem functioning. However, elucidate relationships between microbes and their the statements made by Bakken (1985) [3]andAmann natural habitats (soil, water, sediments, rhizosphere, et al. (1995) [1] that more than 90% of the micro- alimentary canal...). Soil microbial ecology is known to organisms in the environment are not cultivable highlighted the limit of culture-dependent approaches to describe natural diversity and that most of the Correspondence to: Philippe Lemanceau; E-mail: lemanceau@dijon.inra.fr microbial diversity remained unexplored. Faced with 486 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-006-9196-8 & Volume 53, 486–493 (2007) & * Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2007 P.-A. MARON ET AL.: METAPROTEOMICS: A NEW APPROACH FOR STUDYING FUNCTIONAL MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 487 FiFirrsst st syymmppoosusuii mmooff FirFirsst mat mannuuaall ofof FirsFirst st sccieientificntific joujourrnanalsls mmiicrcrobiaobiall eeccoolloogygy mmiicrcrobiaobiall eeccoollogyogy AAppplpl EEnnvirviroonn Micr Microbiol.obiol. BrBroocckk anandd MiMicrcrobiol.obiol. E Eccolol.. ‘o‘ommiicc eerraa’’ stst 11 ISISMMEE titimmee 19195577 19619666 11970970 1971974-4-7676 11980980 19199090 19199988 nonowwaadadayyss InteInteggrraattioionn lleevvelel ooff st stududiesies iin mn miiccrroobbiiaall ecoecollooggyy IIndividndividuualal lelevveell ((mmononoxoxeneniicc cucullttuure)re) PopulatioPopulationn le levevell CoCommmmuunniittyy lleevvelel LinkLink be betwtweeeenn ggeenneetticic aanndd funcfunctiotionnaall divdiveerrssityity MeMetthhooddoologilogiccaall ddeevveellopopmmeennttss DDevelevelopmopmeenntt ofof c cuultulturre e mmeedidia fa foorr is isololatinatingg mmicricrobiobialal ororgaganisnismmss 2-2-DD ge gell MaMassss BiBioo eleleeccttrropophhooresresiiss PCPCRR SSppececttrroommetetrryy inforinformmaatticic GenGenoomimicc DeDevveellooppmmenentt ooff m moolleecucullaarr bibiolologyogy aanndd bi biochocheemmiissttrryy DDNA-NA-SSIIPP MMeetataggeenonommiicc DDeevevelopmlopmeenntt ooff m meeththodolodologiogieess tto o extextrraacct,t, amplamplififyy,, cclloneone an and sd seeququenencece DDNNAA f frroomm mmiiccrrobialobial ccoommummunnititiieess MMeetatatrtraannscscrriiptptoommiicc DDeeveloveloppmmeentnt ofof met methhododolologogiieess tto extro extracact, at, ammplipliffyy and sand seeququencencee RRNNAA ffrromom mimiccrrobobiiaall ccoommmunimunittiieses MeMetatapprrootteeoommiicc DDeveevelopmlopmeenntt ooff meth methodoodollooggiieess tto o extextrracactt aandnd chchaarraacctteeririzzee pprrooteteinsins ffroromm mmiiccrroobbiiaall cocommummunniittiieess Figure 1. Historical and step-by-step evolution of microbial ecology. this major limitation, Pace et al. (1985) [34]introduced evolution of uncultured microorganisms. However, indi- a cultivation-independent approach based on the ex- cations of genetic potential does not contribute to the traction, amplification, cloning, and characterization of elucidation of the functionality (level of expression of the rDNA genes directly from natural environments. genetic potential) (Fig. 2) of microbial communities in Beginning with these early works, many efforts have ecosystems [8, 45, 50, 52]. been dedicated to developing molecular methods to Different methods have been developed to discrimi- characterizemicrobialinformationcontainedinthenucleic nate active populations from quiescent ones in natural acids extracted from environmental samples [1, 20]. These habitats by incorporation of labeled markers in microbial developments enabled the characterization of variations of biomass such as 13C (DNA-Stable isotope probing meth- the microbial community structure and diversity in mul- ods [41]), or BrdU [4]. However, these approaches only tiple situations allowing the identification of populations provide limited information on the populations associated preferentially associated with environmental perturbations with a specific process rather than a complete description (for review, see [44]). Further methodological progress of their functional role within a Bcommunity^. Bioinfor- allowed the cloning and sequencing of large genome frag- matic data acquired over the last 20 years on putative ments (about 40 kb) from microbial communities of a functional genes allows the design of primers and probes planktonic marine archaeon [49]. This work provided the to target specific functional communities in complex first glimpse into content and diversity of marine archae environments. The design of such primers enables but was also the first example of the feasibility of meta- (1) the quantification of gene copy number [real time genome characterization [collective genome from all polymerase chain reaction (PCR)] and (2) the character- (micro-) organisms present in an ecosystem] [46]. Recent ization of polymorphism(s) of functional gene(s). These advances in high-throughput screening and sequencing studies performed at the DNA level can be further linked facilitate this type of study and have provided the majority to measurement of the corresponding activities [27]. of DNA sequences now found in databases. Metagenomic However, this integrated approach is restricted to a approaches provide new insights into genetic diversity and limited number of functions (denitrification, nitrification, 488 P.-A. MARON ET AL.: METAPROTEOMICS: A NEW APPROACH FOR STUDYING FUNCTIONAL MICROBIAL ECOLOGY Figure 2. Schematic representation of the FMeta_ levels in the ecology of microbial communities. and methane oxidation) for which genes involved in each which represents the last and crucial step toward our step of the metabolic pathway are known and sufficiently understanding of metabolome regulation (collective conserved to allow the design of consensus primers. metabolites from all microorganisms present in an Furthermore, the presence of a gene within populations ecosystem [12]) (Fig. 2). The aim of this position paper of a given Bfunctional community^ does not necessarily is to stress the relevance of metaproteome analysis in mean that it is expressed in the habitat. (1) describing new functional genes and (2) relating In the postgenomic era, a major challenge is to genetic and taxonomic diversity to the functionality of elucidate the functional role of the metagenome by microbial communities in complex environments. linking genetic structure and diversity of microbial communities with their functions. To fulfill this chal- lenge, advances in the understanding of the evolution of Onthe Track of Metaproteomics? microorganisms must be achieved by developing new approaches(Fig.1). Databases also include putative func- Proteomics, Bthe large-scale study of proteins expressed tional gene sequences from microbial groups which have by an organism^ [54], truly emerged in the middle of the yet to be cultivated in isolation in the laboratory. Until 1970s, when scientists started to map protein expression we manage to grow them, progress in our knowledge of using the newly developed two-dimensional (2-D) gel their functions in complex environments can only be electrophoresis [29]. By applying the 2-D technique, it achieved by untargeted culture-independent character- became possible to separate proteins from complex ization of their functionality. As shown in Fig. 2, mixtures of cellular extracts into individual polypeptides, microbial functionality can be characterized either by thus, allowing the analysis of bacterial response to the analysis of transcripts (metranscriptome: collective various growth conditions [38]. However, protein iden- RNA from all microorganisms present in an ecosystem) tification was time consuming and tedious due to the and/or proteins (metaproteome: collective proteins from lack of sensitive and fast sequencing technologies for all microorganisms present in an ecosystem [45]). So far, protein analysis. From the 1990s, proteomics has been major limitations related to the short half-life of RNA, made advanced, thanks to the development of high- difficulty in eliminating humic acids during the extrac- efficiency peptide ionization methods in mass spectrom- tion process, differential transcription kinetics of similar etry (MS), allowing rapid and highly sensitive protein genes in different populations, low correlation between identification [36, 56]. In parallel, progress was made in RNA levels and synthesis of the corresponding proteins bioinformatic tools and in their adaptation to the have hampered the study of the metatranscriptome of analysis of information from 2-D gels and MS, making indigenous microbial communities [17, 58]. possible (1) the identification of proteins by database These limitations, together with progress in protein searching with MS information [35], (2) the character- analysis (see below), have stimulated interest in meta- ization of the corresponding genes by reverse genetics proteome characterization. The term Bmetaproteomics^ [22], and(3)thedeterminationofproteinposttranslational was first proposed by Wilmes and Bond (2004) [55]as modifications [2]. Over the last decade, the advances in Bthe large-scale characterization of the entire protein proteomic technologies, together with the sequencing of complement of environmental microbiota at a given an increasing number of complete genomes of different point in time^. As proteins, and more precisely enzymes, microorganisms, provide the opportunity to link phylog- are involved in biotransformation processes, metapro- eny with the function of microorganisms. In this context, teome analysis constitutes a suitable way to characterize the proteomic characterization of model organisms the dynamics of microbial function in a holistic way, currently being sequenced further facilitates the descrip- P.-A. MARON ET AL.: METAPROTEOMICS: A NEW APPROACH FOR STUDYING FUNCTIONAL MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 489 tion of those physiological pathways involved in various environmental matrix to the resolution of their diversity functions and interactions within and between organisms and their identification (Fig. 3). such as symbiosis [14], pathogenicity [28], antibiotic As with in situ nucleic acid-based studies, the most resistance [6], and adaptation to stresses [16, 51]. crucial step in the metaproteome analysis is ensuring that These studies stress the relevance of proteome the quality and quantity of the proteins extracted are analysis for investigating global modifications in genome representative of the sample. This is particularly true for expression of prokaryotic organisms and to progress in environmental proteomic studies because of the com- our knowledge of those processes that regulate gene plexity of indigenous microbial communities, the het- expression. However, these investigations have largely erogeneity of natural environments, especially soil, and been performed under laboratory conditions, at the the presence of interfering compounds (phenolic com- organism level, without taking into account the biotic pounds, humic acids...) making difficult the extraction of (among microorganisms) and abiotic (microorganisms a suitable protein fraction for analysis. The extraction with their natural habitat) interactions governing the strategy varies according to the targeted protein fraction ecology of microbial communities in situ. Therefore, new (i.e., procaryota/eucaryota, extracellular/cell associated) approaches are needed for in situ characterization of the and by the subsequent methods of protein analysis global protein expression at the population, or more (i.e., 2-D comparative protein maps or measurement/ widely, at the community level. The main challenge of detection of specific polypeptides or enzymatic activities). environmental proteomics is to map proteins (proteo- Recently, Schulze et al. (2004) [47] characterized extra- typing) extracted from indigenous microbial communi- cellular proteins isolated from dissolved organic matter ties and identify in an untargeted way new physiological in different environments and showed that the relative pathways and their associated coding genes. proportion of the proteins originating from bacteria varied from 78% in lake water to less than 50% in a forest soil solution. HowtoDoIt? For an exhaustive recovery of environmental pro- teins (cellular + extracellular), organisms may be lyzed Metaproteome analysis of soil microbial communities directly in the environmental matrix before purification, implies the development of different technical steps, quantification, and analysis [30–32, 48, 55]. This strate- from the extraction of microbial proteins from the gy, based on direct lysis, was applied by several authors EnEnvironmvironmeenntaltal ExtExtrractactiion of on of mmiicrobcrobiiaall pprotroteeiicc poolpool ProtProteieinn ssepeparataratiioonn sasammppleless 2D2D-gel-gel e ellectectrroopphhororesiesiss 1D1D-gel-gel el eleeccttrrophorophoresiesiss PPrrototeieinn ssttatatisisticticaall aanalynalyssiiss prprofiofillee LLiink tnk too ModiModiffiiccaattiionsons of of ooff en encodcodeedd pprofrofiillee == genetgenetiicc ssttrucructturure e funcfuncttiionalonal ssttrruuccttuurree FFiingerpingerpintntiinngg ooff funcfuncttiionalonal ststruruccttuurree IInn si situ spot ditu spot digestgestionion IIddententiiffiicatcatiioonn reverse reverse FunctFunctiiononalal of newof new funct functiiononalal gegenneettiicc ProtProteieinn iidendenttiiffiiccatatiion bon byy comcommmuniunittiieess gegenneess MaMassss sp speecctrtroommeettrryy FFunctunctiiononalal PPhhyyssioiolologgiiccaall bibioioindindiccaattoror responseresponse Figure 3. Experimental strategy and expected outcomes of the metaproteome characterization.
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