Pengju Wu

Bio: Pengju Wu is an academic researcher from Shandong University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Biology & Protein subunit. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 2 publications receiving 6 citations.

Phosphoproteomic Analysis Reveals Rio1-Related Protein Phosphorylation Changes in Response to UV Irradiation in Sulfolobus islandicus REY15A

Abstract: DNA damage response (DDR) in eukaryotes is largely regulated by protein phosphorylation. In archaea, many proteins are phosphorylated, however, it is unclear how the cells respond to DNA damage through global protein phosphorylation. We previously found that Δrio1, a Rio1 kinase homolog deletion strain of Sulfolobus islandicus REY15A, was sensitive to UV irradiation. In this study, we showed that Δrio1 grew faster than the wild type. Quantitative phosphoproteomic analysis of the wild type and Δrio1, untreated and irradiated with UV irradiation, revealed 562 phosphorylated sites (with a Ser/Thr/Tyr ratio of 65.3%/23.8%/10.9%) of 333 proteins in total. The phosphorylation levels of 35 sites of 30 proteins changed with >1.3-fold in the wild type strain upon UV irradiation. Interestingly, more than half of the UV-induced changes in the wild type did not occur in the Δrio1 strain, which were mainly associated with proteins synthesis and turnover. In addition, a protein kinase and several transcriptional regulators were differentially phosphorylated after UV treatment, and some of the changes were dependent on Rio1. Finally, many proteins involved in various cellular metabolisms exhibited Riol-related and UV-independent phosphorylation changes. Our results suggest that Rio1 is involved in the regulation of protein recycling and signal transduction in response to UV irradiation, and plays regulatory roles in multiple cellular processes in S. islandicus.

The archaeal KEOPS complex possesses a functional Gon7 homolog and has an essential function independent of cellular t6A modification level

Abstract: KEOPS is a multi-subunit protein complex conserved in eukaryotes and archaea. It is composed of Pcc1, Kae1, Bud32, Cgi121, and Gon7 in eukaryotes and is primarily involved in N6-threonylcarbamoyl adenosine (t6A) modification of tRNAs. Recently, KEOPS is reported to participate in homologous recombination repair in yeast. To characterize the KEOPS in archaea (aKEOPS), we conducted genetic and biochemical analyses of its encoding genes in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Saccharolobus islandicus. We show that aKEOPS also possesses five subunits, Pcc1, Kae1, Bud32, Cgi121, and Pcc1-like (or Gon7-like), just as eukaryotic KEOPS. Pcc1-like has physical interactions with Kae1 and Pcc1 and can mediate the monomerization of the dimeric subcomplex (Kae1-Pcc1-Pcc1-Kae1), suggesting that Pcc1-like is a functional homolog of the eukaryotic Gon7 subunit. Strikingly, none of the genes encoding aKEOPS subunits, including Pcc1 and Pcc1-like, can be deleted in the wild type and in a t6A modification complementary strain named TsaKI, implying that aKEOPS complex is essential for an additional cellular process in this archaeon. Knock-down of the Cgi121 subunit leads to severe growth retardance in the wild type which is partially rescued in TsaKI. These results suggest that aKEOPS plays an essential role independent of cellular t6A modification level. In addition, archaeal Cgi121 possesses dsDNA-binding activity which relies on its tRNA 3’ CCA tail binding module. Our study clarifies the subunit organization of archaeal KEOPS and suggests of an origin of eukaryotic Gon7. The study also reveals a possible link between the function in t6A modification and the additional function presumably homologous recombination.

Unlocking the potential of insect and ruminant host symbionts for recycling of lignocellulosic carbon with a biorefinery approach: a review.

Abstract: Uprising fossil fuel depletion and deterioration of ecological reserves supply have led to the search for alternative renewable and sustainable energy sources and chemicals. Although first generation biorefinery is quite successful commercially in generating bulk of biofuels globally, the food versus fuel debate has necessitated the use of non-edible feedstocks, majorly waste biomass, for second generation production of biofuels and chemicals. A diverse class of microbes and enzymes are being exploited for biofuels production for a series of treatment process, however, the conversion efficiency of wide range of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) and consolidated way of processing remains challenging. There were lot of research efforts in the past decade to scour for potential microbial candidate. In this context, evolution has developed the gut microbiota of several insects and ruminants that are potential LCB degraders host eco-system to overcome its host nutritional constraints, where LCB processed by microbiomes pretends to be a promising candidate. Synergistic microbial symbionts could make a significant contribution towards recycling the renewable carbon from distinctly abundant recalcitrant LCB. Several studies have assessed the bioprospection of innumerable gut symbionts and their lignocellulolytic enzymes for LCB degradation. Though, some reviews exist on molecular characterization of gut microbes, but none of them has enlightened the microbial community design coupled with various LCB valorization which intensifies the microbial diversity in biofuels application. This review provides a deep insight into the significant breakthroughs attained in enrichment strategy of gut microbial community and its molecular characterization techniques which aids in understanding the holistic microbial community dynamics. Special emphasis is placed on gut microbial role in LCB depolymerization strategies to lignocellulolytic enzymes production and its functional metagenomic data mining eventually generating the sugar platform for biofuels and renewable chemicals production.

Poisoning and regeneration of commercial V2O5-WO3/TiO2 selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst in coal-fired power plants

Abstract: The NO x emitted from coal combustion can cause great harm to the environment and human health. The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) deNO x technology is a mature commercial deNO x technology, of which the SCR catalyst is the core. In China, the SCR deNO x technology has covered almost every coal-fired power plant since the 13 th Five-Year Plan. Due to the complex and harsh working environment at the operating site, these catalysts will face the deactivation and replacement. This paper presents a comprehensive and systematic review of commercial V 2 O 5 -WO 3 /TiO 2 SCR catalyst from three aspects, including composition and deNO x characteristics, poisoning, and regeneration, based on studies published in the recent years. It has an important guiding significance for the poisoning study and regeneration technology development of commercial SCR catalysts.