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Chen H, Wang Y, Wang W, Cao T, Zhang L, Wang Z, Chi X, Shi T, Wang H, He X, Liang M, Yang M, Jiang W, Lv D, Yu J, Zhu G, Xie Y, Gao B, Wang X, Liu X, Li Y, Ouyang L, Zhang J, Liu H, Li Z, Tong Y, Xia X, Tan GY, Zhang L. High-yield porphyrin production through metabolic engineering and biocatalysis. Nat Biotechnol 2024:10.1038/s41587-024-02267-3. [PMID: 38839873 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-024-02267-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Porphyrins and their derivatives find extensive applications in medicine, food, energy and materials. In this study, we produced porphyrin compounds by combining Rhodobacter sphaeroides as an efficient cell factory with enzymatic catalysis. Genome-wide CRISPRi-based screening in R. sphaeroides identifies hemN as a target for improved coproporphyrin III (CPIII) production, and exploiting phosphorylation of PrrA further improves the production of bioactive CPIII to 16.5 g L-1 by fed-batch fermentation. Subsequent screening and engineering high-activity metal chelatases and coproheme decarboxylase results in the synthesis of various metalloporphyrins, including heme and the anti-tumor agent zincphyrin. After pilot-scale fermentation (200 L) and setting up the purification process for CPIII (purity >95%), we scaled up the production of heme and zincphyrin through enzymatic catalysis in a 5-L bioreactor, with CPIII achieving respective enzyme conversion rates of 63% and 98% and yielding 10.8 g L-1 and 21.3 g L-1, respectively. Our strategy offers a solution for high-yield bioproduction of heme and other valuable porphyrins with substantial industrial and medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haihong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yaohong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Weishan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhengduo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuran Chi
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Tong Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Huangwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinwei He
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Mindong Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengxue Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenyi Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongyuan Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaming Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoliang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongtao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Bei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinye Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xueting Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Youyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Liming Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Huimin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Zilong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yaojun Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuekui Xia
- Key Biosensor Laboratory of Shandong Province, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Gao-Yi Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
| | - Lixin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
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2
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Yang Q, Sun X, Wang H, Chen T, Wang Z. Multi-modular metabolic engineering of heme synthesis in Corynebacterium glutamicum. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2024; 9:285-293. [PMID: 38496319 PMCID: PMC10940142 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2024.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Heme, an iron-containing porphyrin derivative, holds great promise in fields like medicine, food production and chemicals. Here, we developed an engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum strain for efficient heme production by combining modular engineering and RBS engineering. The whole heme biosynthetic pathway was methodically divided into 5-ALA synthetic module, uroporphyrinogen III (UPG III) synthetic module and heme synthetic module for further construction and optimization. Three heme synthetic modules were compared and the siroheme-dependent (SHD) pathway was identified to be optimal in C. glutamicum for the first time. To further improve heme production, the expression of genes in UPG III synthetic module and heme synthetic module was coordinated optimized through RBS engineering, respectively. Subsequently, heme oxygenase was knocked out to reduce heme degradation. The engineered strain HS12 showed a maximum iron-containing porphyrin derivatives titer of 1592 mg/L with the extracellular secretion rate of 45.5% in fed-batch fermentation. Our study constructed a C. glutamicum chassis strain for efficient heme accumulation, which was beneficial for the advancement of efficient heme and other porphyrins production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuyu Yang
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Xi Sun
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Hong Wang
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Zhiwen Wang
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- School of Life Science, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, China
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3
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Dali A, Sebastiani F, Gabler T, Frattini G, Moreno DM, Estrin DA, Becucci M, Hofbauer S, Smulevich G. Proximal ligand tunes active site structure and reactivity in bacterial L. monocytogenes coproheme ferrochelatase. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2024; 313:124120. [PMID: 38479228 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2024.124120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Ferrochelatases catalyze the insertion of ferrous iron into the porphyrin during the heme b biosynthesis pathway, which is fundamental for both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Interestingly, in the active site of ferrochelatases, the proximal ligand coordinating the porphyrin iron of the product is not conserved, and its catalytic role is still unclear. Here we compare the L. monocytogenes bacterial coproporphyrin ferrochelatase native enzyme together with selected variants, where the proximal Tyr residue was replaced by a His (i.e. the most common ligand in heme proteins), a Met or a Phe (as in human and actinobacterial ferrochelatases, respectively), in their Fe(III), Fe(II) and Fe(II)-CO adduct forms. The study of the active site structure and the activity of the proteins in solution has been performed by UV-vis electronic absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopies, biochemical characterization, and classical MD simulations. All the mutations alter the H-bond interactions between the iron porphyrin propionate groups and the protein, and induce effects on the activity, depending on the polarity of the proximal ligand. The overall results confirm that the weak or non-existing coordination of the porphyrin iron by the proximal residue is essential for the binding of the substrate and the release of the final product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Dali
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff" (DICUS), Università di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Federico Sebastiani
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff" (DICUS), Università di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Thomas Gabler
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gianfranco Frattini
- Instituto de Química Rosario (IQUIR, CONICET-UNR) and Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Diego M Moreno
- Instituto de Química Rosario (IQUIR, CONICET-UNR) and Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Darío A Estrin
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes, 2160 Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Química-Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE), Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maurizio Becucci
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff" (DICUS), Università di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy.
| | - Stefan Hofbauer
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Giulietta Smulevich
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff" (DICUS), Università di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy; INSTM Research Unit of Firenze, via della Lastruccia 3, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
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4
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Gabler T, Dali A, Bellei M, Sebastiani F, Becucci M, Battistuzzi G, Furtmüller PG, Smulevich G, Hofbauer S. Revisiting catalytic His and Glu residues in coproporphyrin ferrochelatase - unexpected activities of active site variants. FEBS J 2024; 291:2260-2272. [PMID: 38390750 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The identification of the coproporphyrin-dependent heme biosynthetic pathway, which is used almost exclusively by monoderm bacteria in 2015 by Dailey et al. triggered studies aimed at investigating the enzymes involved in this pathway that were originally assigned to the protoporphyrin-dependent heme biosynthetic pathway. Here, we revisit the active site of coproporphyrin ferrochelatase by a biophysical and biochemical investigation using the physiological substrate coproporphyrin III, which in contrast to the previously used substrate protoporphyrin IX has four propionate substituents and no vinyl groups. In particular, we have compared the reactivity of wild-type coproporphyrin ferrochelatase from the firmicute Listeria monocytogenes with those of variants, namely, His182Ala (H182A) and Glu263Gln (E263Q), involving two key active site residues. Interestingly, both variants are active only toward the physiological substrate coproporphyrin III but inactive toward protoporphyrin IX. In addition, E263 exchange impairs the final oxidation step from ferrous coproheme to ferric coproheme. The characteristics of the active site in the context of the residues involved and the substrate binding properties are discussed here using structural and functional means, providing a further contribution to the deciphering of this enigmatic reaction mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Gabler
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Dali
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff" (DICUS), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Marzia Bellei
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Federico Sebastiani
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff" (DICUS), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Maurizio Becucci
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff" (DICUS), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Gianantonio Battistuzzi
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Paul Georg Furtmüller
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Giulietta Smulevich
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff" (DICUS), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- INSTM Research Unit of Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Stefan Hofbauer
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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5
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Aftab H, Donegan RK. Regulation of heme biosynthesis via the coproporphyrin dependent pathway in bacteria. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1345389. [PMID: 38577681 PMCID: PMC10991733 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1345389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Heme biosynthesis in the Gram-positive bacteria occurs mostly via a pathway that is distinct from that of eukaryotes and Gram-negative bacteria in the three terminal heme synthesis steps. In many of these bacteria heme is a necessary cofactor that fulfills roles in respiration, gas sensing, and detoxification of reactive oxygen species. These varying roles for heme, the requirement of iron and glutamate, as glutamyl tRNA, for synthesis, and the sharing of intermediates with the synthesis of other porphyrin derivatives necessitates the need for many points of regulation in response to nutrient availability and metabolic state. In this review we examine the regulation of heme biosynthesis in these bacteria via heme, iron, and oxygen species. We also discuss our perspective on emerging roles of protein-protein interactions and post-translational modifications in regulating heme biosynthesis.
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Du X, Liu N, Yan B, Li Y, Liu M, Huang Y. Proximity-based defensive mutualism between Streptomyces and Mesorhizobium by sharing and sequestering iron. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrad041. [PMID: 38366066 PMCID: PMC10881299 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrad041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Microorganisms living in soil maintain intricate interactions among themselves, forming the soil microbiota that influences the rhizosphere microbiome and plant growth. However, the mechanisms underlying the soil microbial interactions remain unclear. Streptomyces and Mesorhizobium are commonly found in soil and serve as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Here, we identified an unprecedented interaction between the colonies of red-soil-derived Streptomyces sp. FXJ1.4098 and Mesorhizobium sp. BAC0120 and referred to it as "proximity-based defensive mutualism (PBDM)." We found that metabolite-mediated iron competition and sharing between the two microorganisms were responsible for PBDM. Streptomyces sp. FXJ1.4098 produced a highly diffusible siderophore, desferrioxamine, which made iron unavailable to co-cultured Mesorhizobium sp. BAC0120, thereby inhibiting its growth. Streptomyces sp. FXJ1.4098 also released poorly diffusible iron-porphyrin complexes, which could be utilized by Mesorhizobium sp. BAC0120, thereby restoring the growth of nearby Mesorhizobium sp. BAC0120. Furthermore, in ternary interactions, the PBDM strategy contributed to the protection of Mesorhizobium sp. BAC0120 close to Streptomyces sp. FXJ1.4098 from other microbial competitors, resulting in the coexistence of these two PGPR. A scale-up pairwise interaction screening suggested that the PBDM strategy may be common between Mesorhizobium and red-soil-derived Streptomyces. These results demonstrate the key role of iron in complex microbial interactions and provide novel insights into the coexistence of PGPR in soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyuan Du
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, Beijing 100101, P. R. China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 101408, P. R. China
- National Engineering Laboratory for Site Remediation Technologies, BCEG Environmental Remediation Co., Ltd., Beijing 100015, P. R. China
| | - Ning Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, Beijing 100101, P. R. China
| | - Bingfa Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, Beijing 100101, P. R. China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 101408, P. R. China
| | - Yisong Li
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P. R. China
| | - Minghao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, Beijing 100101, P. R. China
| | - Ying Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, Beijing 100101, P. R. China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 101408, P. R. China
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7
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Shleeva MO, Linge IA, Gligonov IA, Vostroknutova GN, Shashin DM, Tsedilin AM, Apt AS, Kaprelyants AS, Savitsky AP. Acquiring of photosensitivity by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro and inside infected macrophages is associated with accumulation of endogenous Zn-porphyrins. Sci Rep 2024; 14:846. [PMID: 38191600 PMCID: PMC10774309 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51227-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is able to transition into a dormant state, causing the latent state of tuberculosis. Dormant mycobacteria acquire resistance to all known antibacterial drugs and can survive in the human body for decades before becoming active. In the dormant forms of M. tuberculosis, the synthesis of porphyrins and its Zn-complexes significantly increased when 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was added to the growth medium. Transcriptome analysis revealed an activation of 8 genes involved in the metabolism of tetrapyrroles during the Mtb transition into a dormant state, which may lead to the observed accumulation of free porphyrins. Dormant Mtb viability was reduced by more than 99.99% under illumination for 30 min (300 J/cm2) with 565 nm light that correspond for Zn-porphyrin and coproporphyrin absorptions. We did not observe any PDI effect in vitro using active bacteria grown without ALA. However, after accumulation of active cells in lung macrophages and their persistence within macrophages for several days in the presence of ALA, a significant sensitivity of active Mtb cells (ca. 99.99%) to light exposure was developed. These findings create a perspective for the treatment of latent and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis by the eradication of the pathogen in order to prevent recurrence of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita O Shleeva
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre 'Fundamentals of Biotechnology' of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Irina A Linge
- Laboratory for Immunogenetics, Central Tuberculosis Research Institute, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ivan A Gligonov
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre 'Fundamentals of Biotechnology' of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Galina N Vostroknutova
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre 'Fundamentals of Biotechnology' of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Denis M Shashin
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre 'Fundamentals of Biotechnology' of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey M Tsedilin
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre 'Fundamentals of Biotechnology' of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander S Apt
- Laboratory for Immunogenetics, Central Tuberculosis Research Institute, Moscow, Russia
| | - Arseny S Kaprelyants
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre 'Fundamentals of Biotechnology' of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander P Savitsky
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre 'Fundamentals of Biotechnology' of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
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8
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Keith AD, Sawyer EB, Choy DCY, Xie Y, Biggs GS, Klein OJ, Brear PD, Wales DJ, Barker PD. Combining experiment and energy landscapes to explore anaerobic heme breakdown in multifunctional hemoproteins. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:695-712. [PMID: 38053511 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp03897a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
To survive, many pathogens extract heme from their host organism and break down the porphyrin scaffold to sequester the Fe2+ ion via a heme oxygenase. Recent studies have revealed that certain pathogens can anaerobically degrade heme. Our own research has shown that one such pathway proceeds via NADH-dependent heme degradation, which has been identified in a family of hemoproteins from a range of bacteria. HemS, from Yersinia enterocolitica, is the main focus of this work, along with HmuS (Yersinia pestis), ChuS (Escherichia coli) and ShuS (Shigella dysenteriae). We combine experiments, Energy Landscape Theory, and a bioinformatic investigation to place these homologues within a wider phylogenetic context. A subset of these hemoproteins are known to bind certain DNA promoter regions, suggesting not only that they can catalytically degrade heme, but that they are also involved in transcriptional modulation responding to heme flux. Many of the bacterial species responsible for these hemoproteins (including those that produce HemS, ChuS and ShuS) are known to specifically target oxygen-depleted regions of the gastrointestinal tract. A deeper understanding of anaerobic heme breakdown processes exploited by these pathogens could therefore prove useful in the development of future strategies for disease prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alasdair D Keith
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Elizabeth B Sawyer
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Desmond C Y Choy
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Yuhang Xie
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - George S Biggs
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Oskar James Klein
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Paul D Brear
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Sanger Building, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
| | - David J Wales
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Paul D Barker
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
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9
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Dailey HA, Medlock AE. Direct Spectroscopic Ferrochelatase Assay. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2839:243-247. [PMID: 39008258 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4043-2_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Ferrochelatases (E.C. 4.99.1.1) catalyze the insertion of ferrous iron into either protoporphyrin IX to make protoheme IX or coproporphyrin III to make coproheme III. Ferrochelatase activity in extracts or purified protein can be measured via several assays. Here, we describe a rapid real-time direct spectroscopic ferrochelatase assay for both protoporphyrin and coproporphyrin ferrochelatases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry A Dailey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Amy E Medlock
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
- Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership, Athens, GA, USA.
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10
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Zámocký M, Hofbauer S, Gabler T, Furtmüller PG. The Molecular Evolution, Structure, and Function of Coproporphyrinogen Oxidase and Protoporphyrinogen Oxidase in Prokaryotes. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1527. [PMID: 38132353 PMCID: PMC10740692 DOI: 10.3390/biology12121527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Coproporphyrinogen oxidase (CgoX) and protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PgoX) catalyze the oxidation of the flexible cyclic tetrapyrrole of porphyrinogen compounds into fully conjugated, planar macrocyclic porphyrin compounds during heme biosynthesis. These enzymes are activated via different pathways. CgoX oxidizes coproporphyrinogen III to coproporphyrin III in the coproporphyrin-dependent pathway, whereas PgoX oxidizes protoporphyrinogen IX to protoporphyrin IX in the penultimate step of the protoporphyrin-dependent pathway. The phylogenetic analysis presented herein demonstrates a clear differentiation between the two enzyme classes, as evidenced by the clustering of sequences in distinct clades, and it shows that, at the origin of porphyrinogen-type oxidase evolution, PgoXs from cyanobacteria were found, which were noticeably separated from descendant PgoX representatives of Deltaproteobacteria and all later PgoX variants, leading to many eukaryotic clades. CgoX sequences originating from the monoderm Actinomycetota and Bacillota were well separated from the predecessor clades containing PgoX types and represent a peculiar type of gene speciation. The structural similarities and differences between these two oxidases are discussed based on their protein sequence alignment and a structural comparison.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Zámocký
- Laboratory of Phylogenomic Ecology, Institute of Molecular Biology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská Cesta 21, SK-84551 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská Dolina, Ilkovičova 6, SK-84215 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Stefan Hofbauer
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria; (S.H.); (T.G.)
| | - Thomas Gabler
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria; (S.H.); (T.G.)
| | - Paul G. Furtmüller
- Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria; (S.H.); (T.G.)
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11
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Jackson LK, Dailey TA, Anderle B, Warren MJ, Bergonia HA, Dailey HA, Phillips JD. Exploiting Differences in Heme Biosynthesis between Bacterial Species to Screen for Novel Antimicrobials. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1485. [PMID: 37892169 PMCID: PMC10604556 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The final three steps of heme biogenesis exhibit notable differences between di- and mono-derm bacteria. The former employs the protoporphyrin-dependent (PPD) pathway, while the latter utilizes the more recently uncovered coproporphyrin-dependent (CPD) pathway. In order to devise a rapid screen for potential inhibitors that differentiate the two pathways, the genes associated with the protoporphyrin pathway in an Escherichia coli YFP strain were replaced with those for the CPD pathway from Staphylococcus aureus (SA) through a sliding modular gene replacement recombineering strategy to generate the E. coli strain Sa-CPD-YFP. Potential inhibitors that differentially target the pathways were identified by screening compound libraries against the YFP-producing Sa-CPD-YFP strain in comparison to a CFP-producing E. coli strain. Using a mixed strain assay, inhibitors targeting either the CPD or PPD heme pathways were identified through a decrease in one fluorescent signal but not the other. An initial screen identified both azole and prodigiosin-derived compounds that were shown to specifically target the CPD pathway and which led to the accumulation of coproheme, indicating that the main target of inhibition would appear to be the coproheme decarboxylase (ChdC) enzyme. In silico modeling highlighted that these inhibitors are able to bind within the active site of ChdC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie K. Jackson
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; (L.K.J.); (H.A.B.)
| | - Tammy A. Dailey
- Department of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA (H.A.D.)
| | - Brenden Anderle
- WhiteTree Medical, 10437 S Jordan Gateway, South Jordan, UT 84095, USA;
| | - Martin J. Warren
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UQ, UK;
| | - Hector A. Bergonia
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; (L.K.J.); (H.A.B.)
| | - Harry A. Dailey
- Department of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA (H.A.D.)
| | - John D. Phillips
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; (L.K.J.); (H.A.B.)
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12
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Leasure CS, Grunenwald CM, Choby JE, Sauer JD, Skaar EP. Maintenance of heme homeostasis in Staphylococcus aureus through post-translational regulation of glutamyl-tRNA reductase. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0017123. [PMID: 37655914 PMCID: PMC10521356 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00171-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen responsible for a variety of infections including skin and soft tissue infections, endocarditis, and sepsis. The combination of increasing antibiotic resistance in this pathogen and the lack of an efficacious vaccine underscores the importance of understanding how S. aureus maintains metabolic homeostasis in a variety of environments, particularly during infection. Within the host, S. aureus must regulate cellular levels of the cofactor heme to support enzymatic activities without encountering heme toxicity. Glutamyl tRNA reductase (GtrR), the enzyme catalyzing the first committed step in heme synthesis, is an important regulatory node of heme synthesis in Bacteria, Archaea, and Plantae. In many organisms, heme status negatively regulates the abundance of GtrR, controlling flux through the heme synthesis pathway. We identified two residues within GtrR, H32 and R214, that are important for GtrR-heme binding. However, in strains expressing either GtrRH32A or GtrRR214A, heme homeostasis was not perturbed, suggesting an alternative mechanism of heme synthesis regulation occurs in S. aureus. In this regard, we report that heme synthesis is regulated through phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of GtrR by the serine/threonine kinase Stk1 and the phosphatase Stp1, respectively. Taken together, these results suggest that the mechanisms governing staphylococcal heme synthesis integrate both the availability of heme and the growth status of the cell. IMPORTANCE Staphylococcus aureus represents a significant threat to human health. Heme is an iron-containing enzymatic cofactor that can be toxic at elevated levels. During infection, S. aureus must control heme levels to replicate and survive within the hostile host environment. We identified residues within a heme biosynthetic enzyme that are critical for heme binding in vitro; however, abrogation of heme binding is not sufficient to perturb heme homeostasis within S. aureus. This marks a divergence from previously reported mechanisms of heme-dependent regulation of the highly conserved enzyme glutamyl tRNA reductase (GtrR). Additionally, we link cell growth arrest to the modulation of heme levels through the post-translational regulation of GtrR by the kinase Stk1 and the phosphatase Stp1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine S. Leasure
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Caroline M. Grunenwald
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jacob E. Choby
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - John-Demian Sauer
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Eric P. Skaar
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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13
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Shashin DM, Demina GR, Linge IA, Vostroknutova GN, Kaprelyants AS, Savitsky AP, Shleeva MO. The Effect of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Inactivation on the Protein Profile of Dormant Mycolicibacterium smegmatis Containing Endogenous Porphyrins. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13968. [PMID: 37762271 PMCID: PMC10531400 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
During transition into a dormant state, Mycolicibacterium (Mycobacterium) smegmatis cells are able to accumulate free porphyrins that makes them sensitive to photodynamic inactivation (PDI). The formation of dormant cells in a liquid medium with an increased concentration of magnesium (up to 25 mM) and zinc (up to 62 µM) resulted in an increase in the total amount of endogenous porphyrins in dormant M. smegmatis cells and their photosensitivity, especially for bacteria phagocytosed by macrophages. To gain insight into possible targets for PDI in bacterial dormant mycobacterial cells, a proteomic profiling with SDS gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry analysis were conducted. Illumination of dormant forms of M. smegmatis resulted in the disappearance of proteins in the separating SDS gel. Dormant cells obtained under an elevated concentration of metal ions were more sensitive to PDI. Differential analysis of proteins with their identification with MALDI-TOF revealed that 45.2% and 63.9% of individual proteins disappeared from the separating gel after illumination for 5 and 15 min, respectively. Light-sensitive proteins include enzymes belonging to the glycolytic pathway, TCA cycle, pentose phosphate pathway, oxidative phosphorylation and energy production. Several proteins involved in protecting against oxygen stress and protein aggregation were found to be sensitive to light. This makes dormant cells highly vulnerable to harmful factors during a long stay in a non-replicative state. PDI caused inhibition of the respiratory chain activity and destroyed enzymes involved in the synthesis of proteins and nucleic acids, the processes which are necessary for dormant cell reactivation and their transition to multiplying bacteria. Because of such multiple targeting, PDI action via endogenous porphyrins could be considered as an effective approach for killing dormant bacteria and a perspective to inactivate dormant mycobacteria and combat the latent form of mycobacteriosis, first of all, with surface localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis M. Shashin
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre ‘Fundamentals of Biotechnology’ of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia; (D.M.S.); (G.R.D.); (G.N.V.); (A.S.K.)
| | - Galina R. Demina
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre ‘Fundamentals of Biotechnology’ of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia; (D.M.S.); (G.R.D.); (G.N.V.); (A.S.K.)
| | - Irina A. Linge
- Central Institute for Tuberculosis, Moscow 107564, Russia;
| | - Galina N. Vostroknutova
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre ‘Fundamentals of Biotechnology’ of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia; (D.M.S.); (G.R.D.); (G.N.V.); (A.S.K.)
| | - Arseny S. Kaprelyants
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre ‘Fundamentals of Biotechnology’ of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia; (D.M.S.); (G.R.D.); (G.N.V.); (A.S.K.)
| | - Alexander P. Savitsky
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre ‘Fundamentals of Biotechnology’ of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia; (D.M.S.); (G.R.D.); (G.N.V.); (A.S.K.)
| | - Margarita O. Shleeva
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre ‘Fundamentals of Biotechnology’ of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia; (D.M.S.); (G.R.D.); (G.N.V.); (A.S.K.)
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14
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Fix I, Heidinger L, Friedrich T, Layer G. The Radical SAM Heme Synthase AhbD from Methanosarcina barkeri Contains Two Auxiliary [4Fe-4S] Clusters. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1268. [PMID: 37627333 PMCID: PMC10452713 DOI: 10.3390/biom13081268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria, heme is synthesized via the siroheme-dependent pathway. The last step of this route is catalyzed by the Radical SAM enzyme AhbD and consists of the conversion of iron-coproporphyrin III into heme. AhbD belongs to the subfamily of Radical SAM enzymes containing a SPASM/Twitch domain carrying either one or two auxiliary iron-sulfur clusters in addition to the characteristic Radical SAM cluster. In previous studies, AhbD was reported to contain one auxiliary [4Fe-4S] cluster. In this study, the amino acid sequence motifs containing conserved cysteine residues in AhbD proteins from different archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria were reanalyzed. Amino acid sequence alignments and computational structural models of AhbD suggested that a subset of AhbD proteins possesses the full SPASM motif and might contain two auxiliary iron-sulfur clusters (AuxI and AuxII). Therefore, the cluster content of AhbD from Methanosarcina barkeri was studied using enzyme variants lacking individual clusters. The purified enzymes were analyzed using UV/Visible absorption and EPR spectroscopy as well as iron/sulfide determinations showing that AhbD from M. barkeri contains two auxiliary [4Fe-4S] clusters. Heme synthase activity assays suggested that the AuxI cluster might be involved in binding the reaction intermediate and both clusters potentially participate in electron transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Fix
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Pharmazeutische Biologie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 19, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lorenz Heidinger
- Institut für Biochemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Albertstr. 21, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; (L.H.); (T.F.)
| | - Thorsten Friedrich
- Institut für Biochemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Albertstr. 21, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; (L.H.); (T.F.)
| | - Gunhild Layer
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Pharmazeutische Biologie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 19, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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15
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Zhou Y, Chen J, Pu W, Cai N, Che B, Yang J, Wang M, Zhong S, Zuo X, Wang D, Wang Y, Zheng P, Sun J. Development of a growth-coupled selection platform for directed evolution of heme biosynthetic enzymes in Corynebacterium glutamicum. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1236118. [PMID: 37654705 PMCID: PMC10465345 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1236118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Heme is an important tetrapyrrole compound, and has been widely applied in food and medicine industries. Although microbial production of heme has been developed with metabolic engineering strategies during the past 20 years, the production levels are relatively low due to the multistep enzymatic processes and complicated regulatory mechanisms of microbes. Previous studies mainly adopted the strategies of strengthening precursor supply and product transportation to engineer microbes for improving heme biosynthesis. Few studies focused on the engineering and screening of efficient enzymes involved in heme biosynthesis. Herein, a growth-coupled, high-throughput selection platform based on the detoxification of Zinc-protoporphyrin IX (an analogue of heme) was developed and applied to directed evolution of coproporphyrin ferrochelatase, catalyzing the insertion of metal ions into porphyrin ring to generate heme or other tetrapyrrole compounds. A mutant with 3.03-fold increase in k cat/K M was selected. Finally, growth-coupled directed evolution of another three key enzymes involved in heme biosynthesis was tested by using this selection platform. The growth-coupled selection platform developed here can be a simple and effective strategy for directed evolution of the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of heme or other tetrapyrrole compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingyu Zhou
- College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiuzhou Chen
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei Pu
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Ningyun Cai
- College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Bin Che
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Jinxing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengmeng Wang
- College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Shasha Zhong
- College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Xingtao Zuo
- College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Depei Wang
- College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Ping Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Jibin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
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16
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Sebastiani F, Dali A, Alonso de Armiño DJ, Campagni L, Patil G, Becucci M, Hofbauer S, Estrin DA, Smulevich G. The role of the distal cavity in carbon monoxide stabilization in the coproheme decarboxylase enzyme from C. diphtheriae. J Inorg Biochem 2023; 245:112243. [PMID: 37196412 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
This work focuses on the carbon monoxide adducts of the wild-type and selected variants of the coproheme decarboxylase from actinobacterial Corynebacterium diphtheriae complexed with coproheme, monovinyl monopropionyl deuteroheme (MMD), and heme b. The UV - vis and resonance Raman spectroscopies together with the molecular dynamics simulations clearly show that the wild-type coproheme-CO adduct is characterized by two CO conformers, one hydrogen-bonded to the distal H118 residue and the other showing a weak polar interaction with the distal cavity. Instead, upon conversion to heme b, i.e. after decarboxylation of propionates 2 and 4 and rotation by 90o of the porphyrin ring inside the cavity, CO probes a less polar environment. In the absence of the H118 residue, both coproheme and heme b complexes form only the non-H-bonded CO species. The unrotated MMD-CO adduct as observed in the H118F variant, confirms that decarboxylation of propionate 2 only, does not affect the heme cavity. The rupture of both the H-bonds involving propionates 2 and 4 destabilizes the porphyrin inside the cavity with the subsequent formation of a CO adduct in an open conformation. In addition, in this work we present data on CO binding to reversed heme b, obtained by hemin reconstitution of the H118A variant, and to heme d, obtained by addition of an excess of hydrogen peroxide. The results will be discussed and compared with those reported for the representatives of the firmicute clade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Sebastiani
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff" DICUS, Università di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) I-50019, Italy
| | - Andrea Dali
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff" DICUS, Università di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) I-50019, Italy
| | - Diego Javier Alonso de Armiño
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lorenzo Campagni
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff" DICUS, Università di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) I-50019, Italy
| | - Gaurav Patil
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Muthgasse 18, Vienna A-1190, Austria
| | - Maurizio Becucci
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff" DICUS, Università di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) I-50019, Italy.
| | - Stefan Hofbauer
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Muthgasse 18, Vienna A-1190, Austria.
| | - Dario A Estrin
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Departamento de Quimica Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina.
| | - Giulietta Smulevich
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff" DICUS, Università di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) I-50019, Italy; INSTM Research Unit of Firenze, via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino I-50019, Italy.
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17
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Falb N, Patil G, Furtmüller PG, Gabler T, Hofbauer S. Structural aspects of enzymes involved in prokaryotic Gram-positive heme biosynthesis. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:3933-3945. [PMID: 37593721 PMCID: PMC10427985 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The coproporphyrin dependent heme biosynthesis pathway is almost exclusively utilized by Gram-positive bacteria. This fact makes it a worthwhile topic for basic research, since a fundamental understanding of a metabolic pathway is necessary to translate the focus towards medical biotechnology, which is very relevant in this specific case, considering the need for new antibiotic targets to counteract the pathogenicity of Gram-positive superbugs. Over the years a lot of structural data on the set of enzymes acting in Gram-positive heme biosynthesis has accumulated in the Protein Database (www.pdb.org). One major challenge is to filter and analyze all available structural information in sufficient detail in order to be helpful and to draw conclusions. Here we pursued to give a holistic overview of structural information on enzymes involved in the coproporphyrin dependent heme biosynthesis pathway. There are many aspects to be extracted from experimentally determined structures regarding the reaction mechanisms, where the smallest variation of the position of an amino acid residue might be important, but also on a larger level regarding protein-protein interactions, where the focus has to be on surface characteristics and subunit (secondary) structural elements and oligomerization. This review delivers a status quo, highlights still missing information, and formulates future research endeavors in order to better understand prokaryotic heme biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaus Falb
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gaurav Patil
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Paul G. Furtmüller
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Gabler
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Hofbauer
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
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18
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Zamarreño Beas J, Videira MAM, Karavaeva V, Lourenço FM, Almeida MR, Sousa F, Saraiva LM. In Campylobacter jejuni, a new type of chaperone receives heme from ferrochelatase. Front Genet 2023; 14:1199357. [PMID: 37415606 PMCID: PMC10320005 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1199357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular heme formation and trafficking are fundamental processes in living organisms. Bacteria and archaea utilize three biogenesis pathways to produce iron protoporphyrin IX (heme b) that diverge after the formation of the common intermediate uroporphyrinogen III (uro'gen III). In this study, we identify and provide a detailed characterization of the enzymes involved in the transformation of uro'gen III into heme in Campylobacter jejuni, demonstrating that this bacterium utilizes the protoporphyrin-dependent (PPD) pathway. In general, limited knowledge exists regarding the mechanisms by which heme b reaches its target proteins after this final step. Specifically, the chaperones necessary for trafficking heme to prevent the cytotoxic effects associated with free heme remain largely unidentified. In C. jejuni, we identified a protein named CgdH2 that binds heme with a dissociation constant of 4.9 ± 1.0 µM, and this binding is impaired upon mutation of residues histidine 45 and 133. We demonstrate that C. jejuni CgdH2 establishes protein-protein interactions with ferrochelatase, suggesting its role in facilitating heme transfer from ferrochelatase to CgdH2. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis reveals that C. jejuni CgdH2 is evolutionarily distinct from the currently known chaperones. Therefore, CgdH2 is the first protein identified as an acceptor of intracellularly formed heme, expanding our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying heme trafficking within bacterial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Zamarreño Beas
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Marco A. M. Videira
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Val Karavaeva
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Frederico M. Lourenço
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Mafalda R. Almeida
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Filipa Sousa
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Lígia M. Saraiva
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
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19
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Patil G, Michlits H, Furtmüller PG, Hofbauer S. Reactivity of Coproheme Decarboxylase with Monovinyl, Monopropionate Deuteroheme. Biomolecules 2023; 13:946. [PMID: 37371526 PMCID: PMC10296651 DOI: 10.3390/biom13060946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Coproheme decarboxylases (ChdCs) are terminal enzymes of the coproporphyrin-dependent heme biosynthetic pathway. In this reaction, two propionate groups are cleaved from the redox-active iron-containing substrate, coproheme, to form vinyl groups of the heme b product. The two decarboxylation reactions proceed sequentially, and a redox-active three-propionate porphyrin, called monovinyl, monopropionate deuteroheme (MMD), is transiently formed as an intermediate. While the reaction mechanism for the first part of the redox reaction, which is initiated by hydrogen peroxide, has been elucidated in some detail, the second part of this reaction, starting from MMD, has not been studied. Here, we report the optimization of enzymatic MMD production by ChdC and purification by reversed-phase chromatography. With the obtained MMD, we were able to study the second part of heme b formation by actinobacterial ChdC from Corynebacterium diphtheriae, starting with Compound I formation upon the addition of hydrogen peroxide. The results indicate that the second part of the decarboxylation reaction is analogous to the first part, although somewhat slower, which is explained by differences in the active site architecture and its H-bonding network. The results are discussed in terms of known kinetic and structural data and help to fill some mechanistic gaps in the overall reaction catalyzed by ChdCs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Stefan Hofbauer
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
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20
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Yang Q, Zhao J, Zheng Y, Chen T, Wang Z. Microbial Synthesis of Heme b: Biosynthetic Pathways, Current Strategies, Detection, and Future Prospects. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28083633. [PMID: 37110868 PMCID: PMC10144233 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28083633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Heme b, which is characterized by a ferrous ion and a porphyrin macrocycle, acts as a prosthetic group for many enzymes and contributes to various physiological processes. Consequently, it has wide applications in medicine, food, chemical production, and other burgeoning fields. Due to the shortcomings of chemical syntheses and bio-extraction techniques, alternative biotechnological methods have drawn increasing attention. In this review, we provide the first systematic summary of the progress in the microbial synthesis of heme b. Three different pathways are described in detail, and the metabolic engineering strategies for the biosynthesis of heme b via the protoporphyrin-dependent and coproporphyrin-dependent pathways are highlighted. The UV spectrophotometric detection of heme b is gradually being replaced by newly developed detection methods, such as HPLC and biosensors, and for the first time, this review summarizes the methods used in recent years. Finally, we discuss the future prospects, with an emphasis on the potential strategies for improving the biosynthesis of heme b and understanding the regulatory mechanisms for building efficient microbial cell factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuyu Yang
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Juntao Zhao
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yangyang Zheng
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Zhiwen Wang
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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21
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Perez-Ortiz G, Sidda JD, Peate J, Ciccarelli D, Ding Y, Barry SM. Production of copropophyrin III, biliverdin and bilirubin by the rufomycin producer, Streptomyces atratus. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1092166. [PMID: 37007481 PMCID: PMC10060970 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1092166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Heme is best known for its role as a versatile prosthetic group in prokaryotic and eukaryotic proteins with diverse biological functions including gas and electron transport, as well as a wide array of redox chemistry. However, free heme and related tetrapyrroles also have important roles in the cell. In several bacterial strains, heme biosynthetic precursors and degradation products have been proposed to function as signaling molecules, ion chelators, antioxidants and photoprotectants. While the uptake and degradation of heme by bacterial pathogens is well studied, less is understood about the physiological role of these processes and their products in non-pathogenic bacteria. Streptomyces are slow growing soil bacteria known for their extraordinary capacity to produce complex secondary metabolites, particularly many clinically used antibiotics. Here we report the unambiguous identification of three tetrapyrrole metabolites from heme metabolism, coproporphyrin III, biliverdin and bilirubin, in culture extracts of the rufomycin antibiotic producing Streptomyces atratus DSM41673. We propose that biliverdin and bilirubin may combat oxidative stress induced by nitric oxide production during rufomycin biosynthesis, and indicate the genes involved in their production. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of the production of all three of these tetrapyrroles by a Streptomycete.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Sarah M. Barry
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural & Mathematical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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22
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Ushimaru R, Lyu J, Abe I. Diverse enzymatic chemistry for propionate side chain cleavages in tetrapyrrole biosynthesis. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 50:kuad016. [PMID: 37422437 PMCID: PMC10548856 DOI: 10.1093/jimb/kuad016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Tetrapyrroles represent a unique class of natural products that possess diverse chemical architectures and exhibit a broad range of biological functions. Accordingly, they attract keen attention from the natural product community. Many metal-chelating tetrapyrroles serve as enzyme cofactors essential for life, while certain organisms produce metal-free porphyrin metabolites with biological activities potentially beneficial for the producing organisms and for human use. The unique properties of tetrapyrrole natural products derive from their extensively modified and highly conjugated macrocyclic core structures. Most of these various tetrapyrrole natural products biosynthetically originate from a branching point precursor, uroporphyrinogen III, which contains propionate and acetate side chains on its macrocycle. Over the past few decades, many modification enzymes with unique catalytic activities, and the diverse enzymatic chemistries employed to cleave the propionate side chains from the macrocycles, have been identified. In this review, we highlight the tetrapyrrole biosynthetic enzymes required for the propionate side chain removal processes and discuss their various chemical mechanisms. ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY This mini-review describes various enzymes involved in the propionate side chain cleavages during the biosynthesis of tetrapyrrole cofactors and secondary metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richiro Ushimaru
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Jiaqi Lyu
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Ikuro Abe
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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23
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Sebastiani F, Baroni C, Patil G, Dali A, Becucci M, Hofbauer S, Smulevich G. The Role of the Hydrogen Bond Network in Maintaining Heme Pocket Stability and Protein Function Specificity of C. diphtheriae Coproheme Decarboxylase. Biomolecules 2023; 13:235. [PMID: 36830604 PMCID: PMC9953210 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Monoderm bacteria accumulate heme b via the coproporphyrin-dependent biosynthesis pathway. In the final step, in the presence of two molecules of H2O2, the propionate groups of coproheme at positions 2 and 4 are decarboxylated to form vinyl groups by coproheme decarboxylase (ChdC), in a stepwise process. Decarboxylation of propionate 2 produces an intermediate that rotates by 90° inside the protein pocket, bringing propionate 4 near the catalytic tyrosine, to allow the second decarboxylation step. The active site of ChdCs is stabilized by an extensive H-bond network involving water molecules, specific amino acid residues, and the propionate groups of the porphyrin. To evaluate the role of these H-bonds in the pocket stability and enzyme functionality, we characterized, via resonance Raman and electronic absorption spectroscopies, single and double mutants of the actinobacterial pathogen Corynebacterium diphtheriae ChdC complexed with coproheme and heme b. The selective elimination of the H-bond interactions between propionates 2, 4, 6, and 7 and the polar residues of the pocket allowed us to establish the role of each H-bond in the catalytic reaction and to follow the changes in the interactions from the substrate to the product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Sebastiani
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff”, DICUS, Università di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Chiara Baroni
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff”, DICUS, Università di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Gaurav Patil
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Dali
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff”, DICUS, Università di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Maurizio Becucci
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff”, DICUS, Università di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Stefan Hofbauer
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Giulietta Smulevich
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff”, DICUS, Università di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- INSTM Research Unit of Firenze, via della Lastruccia 3, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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24
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Dali A, Gabler T, Sebastiani F, Destinger A, Furtmüller PG, Pfanzagl V, Becucci M, Smulevich G, Hofbauer S. Active site architecture of coproporphyrin ferrochelatase with its physiological substrate coproporphyrin III: Propionate interactions and porphyrin core deformation. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4534. [PMID: 36479958 PMCID: PMC9794026 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Coproporphyrin ferrochelatases (CpfCs) are enzymes catalyzing the penultimate step in the coproporphyrin-dependent (CPD) heme biosynthesis pathway, which is mainly utilized by monoderm bacteria. Ferrochelatases insert ferrous iron into a porphyrin macrocycle and have been studied for many decades, nevertheless many mechanistic questions remain unanswered to date. Especially CpfCs, which are found in the CPD pathway, are currently in the spotlight of research. This pathway was identified in 2015 and revealed that the correct substrate for these ferrochelatases is coproporphyrin III (cpIII) instead of protoporphyrin IX, as believed prior the discovery of the CPD pathway. The chemistry of cpIII, which has four propionates, differs significantly from protoporphyrin IX, which features two propionate and two vinyl groups. These findings let us to thoroughly describe the physiological cpIII-ferrochelatase complex in solution and in the crystal phase. Here, we present the first crystallographic structure of the CpfC from the representative monoderm pathogen Listeria monocytogenes bound to its physiological substrate, cpIII, together with the in-solution data obtained by resonance Raman and UV-vis spectroscopy, for wild-type ferrochelatase and variants, analyzing propionate interactions. The results allow us to evaluate the porphyrin distortion and provide an in-depth characterization of the catalytically-relevant binding mode of cpIII prior to iron insertion. Our findings are discussed in the light of the observed structural restraints and necessities for this porphyrin-enzyme complex to catalyze the iron insertion process. Knowledge about this initial situation is essential for understanding the preconditions for iron insertion in CpfCs and builds the basis for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Dali
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff” – DICUSUniversità di FirenzeSesto Fiorentino (FI)Italy
| | - Thomas Gabler
- Department of ChemistryInstitute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Federico Sebastiani
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff” – DICUSUniversità di FirenzeSesto Fiorentino (FI)Italy
| | - Alina Destinger
- Department of ChemistryInstitute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Paul Georg Furtmüller
- Department of ChemistryInstitute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Vera Pfanzagl
- Department of ChemistryInstitute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | - Maurizio Becucci
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff” – DICUSUniversità di FirenzeSesto Fiorentino (FI)Italy
| | - Giulietta Smulevich
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff” – DICUSUniversità di FirenzeSesto Fiorentino (FI)Italy,INSTM Research Unit of FirenzeSesto Fiorentino (Fi)Italy
| | - Stefan Hofbauer
- Department of ChemistryInstitute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life SciencesViennaAustria
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25
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Donegan RK, Fu Y, Copeland J, Idga S, Brown G, Hale OF, Mitra A, Yang H, Dailey HA, Niederweis M, Jain P, Reddi AR. Exogenously Scavenged and Endogenously Synthesized Heme Are Differentially Utilized by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0360422. [PMID: 36169423 PMCID: PMC9604157 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03604-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Heme is both an essential cofactor and an abundant source of nutritional iron for the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While heme is required for M. tuberculosis survival and virulence, it is also potentially cytotoxic. Since M. tuberculosis can both synthesize and take up heme, the de novo synthesis of heme and its acquisition from the host may need to be coordinated in order to mitigate heme toxicity. However, the mechanisms employed by M. tuberculosis to regulate heme uptake, synthesis, and bioavailability are poorly understood. By integrating ratiometric heme sensors with mycobacterial genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry, we determined that de novo-synthesized heme is more bioavailable than exogenously scavenged heme, and heme availability signals the downregulation of heme biosynthetic enzyme gene expression. Ablation of heme synthesis does not result in the upregulation of known heme import proteins. Moreover, we found that de novo heme synthesis is critical for survival from macrophage assault. Altogether, our data suggest that mycobacteria utilize heme from endogenous and exogenous sources differently and that targeting heme synthesis may be an effective therapeutic strategy to treat mycobacterial infections. IMPORTANCE Mycobacterium tuberculosis infects ~25% of the world's population and causes tuberculosis (TB), the second leading cause of death from infectious disease. Heme is an essential metabolite for M. tuberculosis, and targeting the unique heme biosynthetic pathway of M. tuberculosis could serve as an effective therapeutic strategy. However, since M. tuberculosis can both synthesize and scavenge heme, it was unclear if inhibiting heme synthesis alone could serve as a viable approach to suppress M. tuberculosis growth and virulence. The importance of this work lies in the development and application of genetically encoded fluorescent heme sensors to probe bioavailable heme in M. tuberculosis and the discovery that endogenously synthesized heme is more bioavailable than exogenously scavenged heme. Moreover, it was found that heme synthesis protected M. tuberculosis from macrophage killing, and bioavailable heme in M. tuberculosis is diminished during macrophage infection. Altogether, these findings suggest that targeting M. tuberculosis heme synthesis is an effective approach to combat M. tuberculosis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca K. Donegan
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Barnard College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yibo Fu
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jacqueline Copeland
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Stanzin Idga
- Department of Pathology, Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Gabriel Brown
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Owen F. Hale
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Avishek Mitra
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Harry A. Dailey
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Michael Niederweis
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Paras Jain
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
- Cell Therapy and Cell Engineering Laboratory, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Amit R. Reddi
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Parker Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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26
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Iron–Sulfur Clusters toward Stresses: Implication for Understanding and Fighting Tuberculosis. INORGANICS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/inorganics10100174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains the leading cause of death due to a single pathogen, accounting for 1.5 million deaths annually on the global level. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB, is persistently exposed to stresses such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), acidic conditions, starvation, and hypoxic conditions, all contributing toward inhibiting bacterial proliferation and survival. Iron–sulfur (Fe-S) clusters, which are among the most ancient protein prosthetic groups, are good targets for ROS and RNS, and are susceptible to Fe starvation. Mtb holds Fe-S containing proteins involved in essential biological process for Mtb. Fe-S cluster assembly is achieved via complex protein machineries. Many organisms contain several Fe-S assembly systems, while the SUF system is the only one in some pathogens such as Mtb. The essentiality of the SUF machinery and its functionality under the stress conditions encountered by Mtb underlines how it constitutes an attractive target for the development of novel anti-TB.
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27
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Donegan RK. The role of host heme in bacterial infection. Biol Chem 2022; 403:1017-1029. [PMID: 36228088 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2022-0192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Heme is an indispensable cofactor for almost all aerobic life, including the human host and many bacterial pathogens. During infection, heme and hemoproteins are the largest source of bioavailable iron, and pathogens have evolved various heme acquisition pathways to satisfy their need for iron and heme. Many of these pathways are regulated transcriptionally by intracellular iron levels, however, host heme availability and intracellular heme levels have also been found to regulate heme uptake in some species. Knowledge of these pathways has helped to uncover not only how these bacteria incorporate host heme into their metabolism but also provided insight into the importance of host heme as a nutrient source during infection. Within this review is covered multiple aspects of the role of heme at the host pathogen interface, including the various routes of heme biosynthesis, how heme is sequestered by the host, and how heme is scavenged by bacterial pathogens. Also discussed is how heme and hemoproteins alter the behavior of the host immune system and bacterial pathogens. Finally, some unanswered questions about the regulation of heme uptake and how host heme is integrated into bacterial metabolism are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca K Donegan
- Department of Chemistry, Barnard College, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY, 10027, USA
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28
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Cryptic specialized metabolites drive Streptomyces exploration and provide a competitive advantage during growth with other microbes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2211052119. [PMID: 36161918 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2211052119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptomyces bacteria have a complex life cycle that is intricately linked with their remarkable metabolic capabilities. Exploration is a recently discovered developmental innovation of these bacteria, that involves the rapid expansion of a structured colony on solid surfaces. Nutrient availability impacts exploration dynamics, and we have found that glycerol can dramatically increase exploration rates and alter the metabolic output of exploring colonies. We show here that glycerol-mediated growth acceleration is accompanied by distinct transcriptional signatures and by the activation of otherwise cryptic metabolites including the orange-pigmented coproporphyrin, the antibiotic chloramphenicol, and the uncommon, alternative siderophore foroxymithine. Exploring cultures are also known to produce the well-characterized desferrioxamine siderophore. Mutational studies of single and double siderophore mutants revealed functional redundancy when strains were cultured on their own; however, loss of the alternative foroxymithine siderophore imposed a more profound fitness penalty than loss of desferrioxamine during coculture with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Notably, the two siderophores displayed distinct localization patterns, with desferrioxamine being confined within the colony area, and foroxymithine diffusing well beyond the colony boundary. The relative fitness advantage conferred by the alternative foroxymithine siderophore was abolished when the siderophore piracy capabilities of S. cerevisiae were eliminated (S. cerevisiae encodes a ferrioxamine-specific transporter). Our work suggests that exploring Streptomyces colonies can engage in nutrient-targeted metabolic arms races, deploying alternative siderophores that allow them to successfully outcompete other microbes for the limited bioavailable iron during coculture.
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29
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Abstract
Heme (protoheme IX) is an essential cofactor for a large variety of proteins whose functions vary from one electron reactions to binding gases. While not ubiquitous, heme is found in the great majority of known life forms. Unlike most cofactors that are acquired from dietary sources, the vast majority of organisms that utilize heme possess a complete pathway to synthesize the compound. Indeed, dietary heme is most frequently utilized as an iron source and not as a source of heme. In Nature there are now known to exist three pathways to synthesize heme. These are the siroheme dependent (SHD) pathway which is the most ancient, but least common of the three; the coproporphyrin dependent (CPD) pathway which with one known exception is found only in gram positive bacteria; and the protoporphyrin dependent (PPD) pathway which is found in gram negative bacteria and all eukaryotes. All three pathways share a core set of enzymes to convert the first committed intermediate, 5-aminolevulinate (ALA) into uroporphyrinogen III. In the current review all three pathways are reviewed as well as the two known pathways to synthesize ALA. In addition, interesting features of some heme biosynthesis enzymes are discussed as are the regulation and disorders of heme biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry A Dailey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-1111, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-1111, USA
| | - Amy E Medlock
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-1111, USA
- Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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30
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Choi KR, Yu HE, Lee H, Lee SY. Improved production of heme using metabolically engineered Escherichia coli. Biotechnol Bioeng 2022; 119:3178-3193. [PMID: 35892195 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Heme has recently attracted much attention due to its promising applications in food and healthcare industries. However, the current titers and productivities of heme produced by recombinant microorganisms are not high enough for a wide range of applications. In this study, the process for the fermentation of the metabolically engineered E. coli HAEM7 strain was optimized for the high-level production of heme. To improve the production of heme, different carbon sources, iron concentration in the medium, pH control strategies, induction points, and iron content in feeding solution were examined. Moreover, strategies of increasing cell density, regular iron supplementation, and supply of excess feeding solution were developed to further improve the production of heme. In the optimized fermentation process, the HAEM7 strain produced 1.03 g/L heme with a productivity of 21.5 mg/L/h. The fermentation process and strategies reported here will expedite establishing industry-level production of heme. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyeong Rok Choi
- Metabolic and Biomolecular Engineering National Research Laboratory, Systems Metabolic Engineering and Systems Healthcare Cross-Generation Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.,BioProcess Engineering Research Center, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Eun Yu
- Metabolic and Biomolecular Engineering National Research Laboratory, Systems Metabolic Engineering and Systems Healthcare Cross-Generation Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hoseong Lee
- Metabolic and Biomolecular Engineering National Research Laboratory, Systems Metabolic Engineering and Systems Healthcare Cross-Generation Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Yup Lee
- Metabolic and Biomolecular Engineering National Research Laboratory, Systems Metabolic Engineering and Systems Healthcare Cross-Generation Collaborative Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 four), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.,BioProcess Engineering Research Center, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.,BioInformatics Research Center, KAIST Institute for the BioCentury, KAIST Institute for Artificial Intelligence, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
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Layer G, Jahn M, Moser J, Jahn D. Radical SAM Enzymes Involved in Tetrapyrrole Biosynthesis and Insertion. ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU 2022; 2:196-204. [PMID: 37101575 PMCID: PMC10114771 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.1c00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
The anaerobic biosyntheses of heme, heme d 1, and bacteriochlorophyll all require the action of radical SAM enzymes. During heme biosynthesis in some bacteria, coproporphyrinogen III dehydrogenase (CgdH) catalyzes the decarboxylation of two propionate side chains of coproporphyrinogen III to the corresponding vinyl groups of protoporphyrinogen IX. Its solved crystal structure was the first published structure for a radical SAM enzyme. In bacteria, heme is inserted into enzymes by the cytoplasmic heme chaperone HemW, a radical SAM enzyme structurally highly related to CgdH. In an alternative heme biosynthesis route found in archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria, the two radical SAM enzymes AhbC and AhbD catalyze the removal of two acetate groups (AhbC) or the decarboxylation of two propionate side chains (AhbD). NirJ, a close homologue of AhbC, is required for propionate side chain removal during the formation of heme d 1 in some denitrifying bacteria. Biosynthesis of the fifth ring (ring E) of all chlorophylls is based on an unusual six-electron oxidative cyclization step. The sophisticated conversion of Mg-protoporphyrin IX monomethylester to protochlorophyllide is facilitated by an oxygen-independent cyclase termed BchE, which is a cobalamin-dependent radical SAM enzyme. Most of the radical SAM enzymes involved in tetrapyrrole biosynthesis were recognized as such by Sofia et al. in 2001 (Nucleic Acids Res.2001, 29, 1097-1106) and were biochemically characterized thereafter. Although much has been achieved, the challenging tetrapyrrole substrates represent a limiting factor for enzyme/substrate cocrystallization and the ultimate elucidation of the corresponding enzyme mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunhild Layer
- Institut
für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Pharmazeutische Biologie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 19, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- . Phone: ++49
0761 203 8373
| | - Martina Jahn
- Institut
für Mikrobiologie, Technische Universität
Braunschweig, Spielmannstr. 7, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jürgen Moser
- Institut
für Mikrobiologie, Technische Universität
Braunschweig, Spielmannstr. 7, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Dieter Jahn
- Braunschweig
Integrated Center of Systems Biology BRICS, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Rebenring 56, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
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32
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Hunter GA, Ferreira GC. Metal ion coordination sites in ferrochelatase. Coord Chem Rev 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2022.214464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Obi CD, Bhuiyan T, Dailey HA, Medlock AE. Ferrochelatase: Mapping the Intersection of Iron and Porphyrin Metabolism in the Mitochondria. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:894591. [PMID: 35646904 PMCID: PMC9133952 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.894591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Porphyrin and iron are ubiquitous and essential for sustaining life in virtually all living organisms. Unlike iron, which exists in many forms, porphyrin macrocycles are mostly functional as metal complexes. The iron-containing porphyrin, heme, serves as a prosthetic group in a wide array of metabolic pathways; including respiratory cytochromes, hemoglobin, cytochrome P450s, catalases, and other hemoproteins. Despite playing crucial roles in many biological processes, heme, iron, and porphyrin intermediates are potentially cytotoxic. Thus, the intersection of porphyrin and iron metabolism at heme synthesis, and intracellular trafficking of heme and its porphyrin precursors are tightly regulated processes. In this review, we discuss recent advances in understanding the physiological dynamics of eukaryotic ferrochelatase, a mitochondrially localized metalloenzyme. Ferrochelatase catalyzes the terminal step of heme biosynthesis, the insertion of ferrous iron into protoporphyrin IX to produce heme. In most eukaryotes, except plants, ferrochelatase is localized to the mitochondrial matrix, where substrates are delivered and heme is synthesized for trafficking to multiple cellular locales. Herein, we delve into the structural and functional features of ferrochelatase, as well as its metabolic regulation in the mitochondria. We discuss the regulation of ferrochelatase via post-translational modifications, transportation of substrates and product across the mitochondrial membrane, protein-protein interactions, inhibition by small-molecule inhibitors, and ferrochelatase in protozoal parasites. Overall, this review presents insight on mitochondrial heme homeostasis from the perspective of ferrochelatase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chibuike David Obi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Tawhid Bhuiyan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Harry A. Dailey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Amy E. Medlock
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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Sebastiani F, Niccoli C, Michlits H, Risorti R, Becucci M, Hofbauer S, Smulevich G. Spectroscopic evidence of the effect of hydrogen peroxide excess on the coproheme decarboxylase from actinobacterial Corynebacterium diphtheriae. JOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY : JRS 2022; 53:890-901. [PMID: 35910417 PMCID: PMC9310987 DOI: 10.1002/jrs.6326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The actinobacterial coproheme decarboxylase from Corynebacterium diphtheriae catalyzes the final reaction to generate heme b via the "coproporphyrin-dependent" heme biosynthesis pathway in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The enzyme has a high reactivity toward H2O2 used for the catalytic reaction and in the presence of an excess of H2O2 new species are generated. Resonance Raman data, together with electronic absorption spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, indicate that an excess of hydrogen peroxide for both the substrate (coproheme) and product (heme b) complexes of this enzyme causes a porphyrin hydroxylation of ring C or D, which is compatible with the formation of an iron chlorin-type heme d species. A similar effect has been previously observed for other heme-containing proteins, but this is the first time that a similar mechanism is reported for a coproheme enzyme. The hydroxylation determines a symmetry lowering of the porphyrin macrocycle, which causes the activation of A2g modes upon Soret excitation with a significant change in their polarization ratios, the enhancement and splitting into two components of many Eu bands, and an intensity decrease of the non-totally symmetric modes B1g, which become polarized. This latter effect is clearly observed for the isolated ν10 mode upon either Soret or Q-band excitations. The distal His118 is shown to be an absolute requirement for the conversion to heme d. This residue also plays an important role in the oxidative decarboxylation, because it acts as a base for deprotonation and subsequent heterolytic cleavage of hydrogen peroxide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Sebastiani
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff” DICUSUniversità di FirenzeSesto FiorentinoItaly
| | - Chiara Niccoli
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff” DICUSUniversità di FirenzeSesto FiorentinoItaly
| | - Hanna Michlits
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of BiochemistryUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Riccardo Risorti
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff” DICUSUniversità di FirenzeSesto FiorentinoItaly
| | - Maurizio Becucci
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff” DICUSUniversità di FirenzeSesto FiorentinoItaly
| | - Stefan Hofbauer
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of BiochemistryUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Giulietta Smulevich
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Ugo Schiff” DICUSUniversità di FirenzeSesto FiorentinoItaly
- INSTM Research Unit of FirenzeSesto FiorentinoItaly
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35
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An active site at work – the role of key residues in C. diphteriae coproheme decarboxylase. J Inorg Biochem 2022; 229:111718. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2022.111718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Reorienting Mechanism of Harderoheme in Coproheme Decarboxylase-A Computational Study. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052564. [PMID: 35269706 PMCID: PMC8910490 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Coproheme decarboxylase (ChdC) is an important enzyme in the coproporphyrin-dependent pathway (CPD) of Gram-positive bacteria that decarboxylates coproheme on two propionates at position 2 and position 4 sequentially to generate heme b by using H2O2 as an oxidant. This work focused on the ChdC from Geobacillus stearothermophilus (GsChdC) to elucidate the mechanism of its sequential two-step decarboxylation of coproheme. The models of GsChdC in a complex with substrate and reaction intermediate were built to investigate the reorienting mechanism of harderoheme. Targeted molecular dynamics simulations on these models validated that harderoheme is able to rotate in the active site of GsChdC with a 19.06-kcal·mol-1 energy barrier after the first step of decarboxylation to bring the propionate at position 4 in proximity of Tyr145 to continue the second decarboxylation step. The harderoheme rotation mechanism is confirmed to be much easier than the release-rebinding mechanism. In the active site of GsChdC, Trp157 and Trp198 comprise a "gate" construction to regulate the clockwise rotation of the harderoheme. Lys149 plays a critical role in the rotation mechanism, which not only keeps the Trp157-Trp198 "gate" from being closed but also guides the propionate at position 4 through the gap between Trp157 and Trp198 through a salt bridge interaction.
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Michlits H, Valente N, Mlynek G, Hofbauer S. Initial Steps to Engineer Coproheme Decarboxylase to Obtain Stereospecific Monovinyl, Monopropionyl Deuterohemes. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 9:807678. [PMID: 35141216 PMCID: PMC8819088 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.807678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The oxidative decarboxylation of coproheme to form heme b by coproheme decarboxylase is a stereospecific two-step reaction. In the first step, the propionate at position two (p2) is cleaved off the pyrrole ring A to form a vinyl group at this position. Subsequently, the propionate at position four (p4) on pyrrole ring B is cleaved off and heme b is formed. In this study, we attempted to engineer coproheme decarboxylase from Corynebacterium diphtheriae to alter the stereospecificity of this reaction. By introducing a tyrosine residue in proximity to the propionate at position 4, we were able to create a new radical center in the active site. However, the artificial Tyr183• radical could not be shown to catalyze any decarboxylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Michlits
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nina Valente
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg Mlynek
- Core Facility Biomolecular and Cellular Analysis, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Hofbauer
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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Cheng J, Liu WQ, Zhu X, Zhang Q. Functional Diversity of HemN-like Proteins. ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU 2022; 2:109-119. [PMID: 37101745 PMCID: PMC10114718 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.1c00058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
HemN is a radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzyme that catalyzes the anaerobic oxidative decarboxylation of coproporphyrinogen III to produce protoporphyrinogen IX, a key intermediate in heme biosynthesis. Proteins homologous to HemN (HemN-like proteins) are widespread in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Although these proteins are in most cases annotated as anaerobic coproporphyrinogen III oxidases (CPOs) in the public database, many of them are actually not CPOs but have diverse functions such as methyltransferases, cyclopropanases, heme chaperones, to name a few. This Perspective discusses the recent advances in the understanding of HemN-like proteins, and particular focus is placed on the diverse chemistries and functions of this growing protein family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinduo Cheng
- Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Wan-Qiu Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
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40
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Brimberry MA, Mathew L, Lanzilotta W. Making and breaking carbon-carbon bonds in class C radical SAM methyltransferases. J Inorg Biochem 2022; 226:111636. [PMID: 34717253 PMCID: PMC8667262 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2021.111636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzymes utilize a [4Fe-4S]1+ cluster and S-(5'-adenosyl)-L-methionine, (SAM), to generate a highly reactive radical and catalyze what is arguably the most diverse set of chemical reactions for any known enzyme family. At the heart of radical SAM catalysis is a highly reactive 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical intermediate (5'-dAdo●) generated through reductive cleavage of SAM or nucleophilic attack of the unique iron of the [4Fe-4S]+ cluster on the 5' C atom of SAM. Spectroscopic studies reveal the 5'-dAdo● is transiently captured in an FeC bond (Ω species). In the presence of substrate, homolytic scission of this metal‑carbon bond regenerates the 5'-dAdo● for catalytic hydrogen atom abstraction. While reminiscent of the adenosylcobalamin mechanism, radical SAM enzymes appear to encompass greater catalytic diversity. In this review we discuss recent developments for radical SAM enzymes involved in unique chemical rearrangements, specifically regarding class C radical SAM methyltransferases. Illuminating this class of radical SAM enzymes is especially significant as many enzymes have been shown to play critical roles in pathogenesis and the synthesis of novel antimicrobial compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marley A. Brimberry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology & Center for Metalloenzyme Studies,,Department of Chemistry University of Georgia, Athens GA 30602
| | - Liju Mathew
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology & Center for Metalloenzyme Studies,,Department of Chemistry University of Georgia, Athens GA 30602
| | - William Lanzilotta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology & Center for Metalloenzyme Studies,,Department of Chemistry University of Georgia, Athens GA 30602.,To whom correspondence should be addressed. Phone, (706) 542-1324; fax, (706) 542-1738;
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Gabler T, Sebastiani F, Helm J, Dali A, Obinger C, Furtmüller PG, Smulevich G, Hofbauer S. Substrate specificity and complex stability of coproporphyrin ferrochelatase is governed by hydrogen-bonding interactions of the four propionate groups. FEBS J 2021; 289:1680-1699. [PMID: 34719106 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Coproporpyhrin III is the substrate of coproporphyrin ferrochelatases (CpfCs). These enzymes catalyse the insertion of ferrous iron into the porphyrin ring. This is the penultimate step within the coproporphyrin-dependent haeme biosynthesis pathway. This pathway was discovered in 2015 and is mainly utilised by monoderm bacteria. Prior to this discovery, monoderm bacteria were believed to utilise the protoporphyrin-dependent pathway, analogously to diderm bacteria, where the substrate for the respective ferrochelatase is protoporphyrin IX, which has two propionate groups at positions 6 and 7 and two vinyl groups at positions 2 and 4. In this work, we describe for the first time the interactions of the four-propionate substrate, coproporphyrin III, and the four-propionate product, iron coproporphyrin III (coproheme), with the CpfC from Listeria monocytogenes and pin down differences with respect to the protoporphyrin IX and haeme b complexes in the wild-type (WT) enzyme. We further created seven LmCpfC variants aiming at altering substrate and product coordination. The WT enzyme and all the variants were comparatively studied by spectroscopic, thermodynamic and kinetic means to investigate in detail the H-bonding interactions, which govern complex stability and substrate specificity. We identified a tyrosine residue (Y124 in LmCpfC), coordinating the propionate at position 2, which is conserved in monoderm CpfCs, to be highly important for binding and stabilisation. Importantly, we also describe a tyrosine-serine-threonine triad, which coordinates the propionate at position 4. The study of the triad variants indicates structural differences between the coproporphyrin III and the coproheme complexes. ENZYME: EC 4.99.1.9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Gabler
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Federico Sebastiani
- Dipartimento di Chimica 'Ugo Schiff' (DICUS), Università di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Johannes Helm
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Dali
- Dipartimento di Chimica 'Ugo Schiff' (DICUS), Università di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Christian Obinger
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Paul G Furtmüller
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Giulietta Smulevich
- Dipartimento di Chimica 'Ugo Schiff' (DICUS), Università di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.,INSTM Research Unit of Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Stefan Hofbauer
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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Insight into the function of active site residues in the catalytic mechanism of human ferrochelatase. Biochem J 2021; 478:3239-3252. [PMID: 34402499 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Ferrochelatase catalyzes the insertion of ferrous iron into a porphyrin macrocycle to produce the essential cofactor, heme. In humans this enzyme not only catalyzes the terminal step, but also serves a regulatory step in the heme synthesis pathway. Over a dozen crystal structures of human ferrochelatase have been solved and many variants have been characterized kinetically. In addition, hydrogen deuterium exchange, resonance Raman, molecular dynamics, and high level quantum mechanic studies have added to our understanding of the catalytic cycle of the enzyme. However, an understanding of how the metal ion is delivered and the specific role that active site residues play in catalysis remain open questions. Data are consistent with metal binding and insertion occurring from the side opposite from where pyrrole proton abstraction takes place. To better understand iron delivery and binding as well as the role of conserved residues in the active site, we have constructed and characterized a series of enzyme variants. Crystallographic studies as well as rescue and kinetic analysis of variants were performed. Data from these studies are consistent with the M76 residue playing a role in active site metal binding and formation of a weak iron protein ligand being necessary for product release. Additionally, structural data support a role for E343 in proton abstraction and product release in coordination with a peptide loop composed of Q302, S303 and K304 that act a metal sensor.
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43
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Simultaneous exposure to intracellular and extracellular photosensitizers for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:e0091921. [PMID: 34516248 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00919-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a serious threat to public health due to the rise of antibiotic resistance in this organism, which can prolong or exacerbate skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). Methicillin-resistant S. aureus is a Gram-positive bacterium and a leading cause of SSTIs. As such, many efforts are underway to develop therapies that target essential biological processes in S. aureus. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy is effective alternative to antibiotics, therefore we developed an approach to simultaneously expose S. aureus to intracellular and extracellular photoactivators. A near infrared photosensitizer was conjugated to human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target the S. aureus Isd heme acquisition proteins. Additionally, the compound VU0038882 was developed to increase photoactivatable porphyrins within the cell. Combinatorial PDT treatment of drug-resistant S. aureus exposed to VU0038882 and conjugated anti-Isd mAbs proved to be an effective antibacterial strategy in vitro and in a murine model of SSTIs.
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44
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Sebastiani F, Michlits H, Lier B, Becucci M, Furtmüller PG, Oostenbrink C, Obinger C, Hofbauer S, Smulevich G. Reaction intermediate rotation during the decarboxylation of coproheme to heme b in C. diphtheriae. Biophys J 2021; 120:3600-3614. [PMID: 34339636 PMCID: PMC8456308 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.06.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Monoderm bacteria utilize coproheme decarboxylases (ChdCs) to generate heme b by a stepwise decarboxylation of two propionate groups of iron coproporphyrin III (coproheme), forming two vinyl groups. This work focuses on actinobacterial ChdC from Corynebacterium diphtheriae (CdChdC) to elucidate the hydrogen peroxide-mediated decarboxylation of coproheme via monovinyl monopropionyl deuteroheme (MMD) to heme b, with the principal aim being to understand the reorientation mechanism of MMD during turnover. Wild-type CdChdC and variants, namely H118A, H118F, and A207E, were studied by resonance Raman and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and molecular dynamics simulations. As actinobacterial ChdCs use a histidine (H118) as a distal base, we studied the H118A and H118F variants to elucidate the effect of 1) the elimination of the proton acceptor and 2) steric constraints within the active site. The A207E variant mimics the proximal H-bonding network found in chlorite dismutases. This mutation potentially increases the rigidity of the proximal site and might impair the rotation of the reaction intermediate MMD. We found that both wild-type CdChdC and the variant H118A convert coproheme mainly to heme b upon titration with H2O2. Interestingly, the variant A207E mostly accumulates MMD along with small amounts of heme b, whereas H118F is unable to produce heme b and accumulates only MMD. Together with molecular dynamics simulations, the spectroscopic data provide insight into the reaction mechanism and the mode of reorientation of MMD, i.e., a rotation in the active site versus a release and rebinding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Sebastiani
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff", Università di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Hanna Michlits
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Modeling and Simulation, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bettina Lier
- Department of Material Sciences and Process Engineering, Institute of Molecular Modeling and Simulation, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maurizio Becucci
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff", Università di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Paul G Furtmüller
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Modeling and Simulation, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Chris Oostenbrink
- Department of Material Sciences and Process Engineering, Institute of Molecular Modeling and Simulation, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Obinger
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Modeling and Simulation, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Hofbauer
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Modeling and Simulation, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Giulietta Smulevich
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff", Università di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy; INSTM Research Unit of Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
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45
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Tian G, Hao G, Chen X, Liu Y. Tyrosyl Radical-Mediated Sequential Oxidative Decarboxylation of Coproporphyrinogen III through PCET: Theoretical Insights into the Mechanism of Coproheme Decarboxylase ChdC. Inorg Chem 2021; 60:13539-13549. [PMID: 34382397 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c01864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The peroxide-dependent coproheme decarboxylase ChdC from Geobacillus stearothermophilus catalyzes two key steps in the synthesis of heme b, i.e., two sequential oxidative decarboxylations of coproporphyrinogen III (coproheme III) at propionate groups P2 and P4. In the binding site of coproheme III, P2 and P4 are anchored by different residues (Tyr144, Arg217, and Ser222 for P2 and Tyr113, Lys148, and Trp156 for P4); however, strong experimental evidence supports that the generated Tyr144 radical acts as an unique intermediary for hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) from both reactive propionates. So far, the reaction details are still unclear. Herein, we carried out quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations to explore the decarboxylation mechanism of coproheme III. In our calculations, the coproheme Cpd I, Fe(IV) = O coupled to a porphyrin radical cation (por•+) with four propionate groups, was used as a reactant model. Our calculations reveal that Tyr144 is directly involved in the decarboxylation of propionate group P2. First, the proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) occurs from Tyr144 to P2, generating a Tyr144 radical, which then abstracts a hydrogen atom from the Cβ of P2. The β-H extraction was calculated to be the rate-limiting step of decarboxylation. It is the porphyrin radical cation (por•+) that makes the PCET from Tyr144 to P2 to be quite easy to initiate the decarboxylation. Finally, the electron transfers from the Cβ• through the porphyrin to the iron center, leading to the decarboxylation of P2. Importantly, the decarboxylation of P4 mediated by Lys148 was calculated to be very difficult, which suggests that after the P2 decarboxylation, the generated harderoheme III intermediate should rebind or rotate in the active site so that the propionate P4 occupies the binding site of P2, and Tyr144 again mediates the decarboxylation of P4. Thus, our calculations support the fact that Tyr144 is responsible for the decarboxylation of both P2 and P4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Tian
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, Shandong 271000, China.,School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250100, China
| | - Gangping Hao
- School of Life Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, Shandong 271000, China
| | - Xiaohua Chen
- National-Municipal Joint Engineering Laboratory for Chemical Process Intensification and Reaction, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Yongjun Liu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250100, China
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Kořený L, Oborník M, Horáková E, Waller RF, Lukeš J. The convoluted history of haem biosynthesis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 97:141-162. [PMID: 34472688 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The capacity of haem to transfer electrons, bind diatomic gases, and catalyse various biochemical reactions makes it one of the essential biomolecules on Earth and one that was likely used by the earliest forms of cellular life. Since the description of haem biosynthesis, our understanding of this multi-step pathway has been almost exclusively derived from a handful of model organisms from narrow taxonomic contexts. Recent advances in genome sequencing and functional studies of diverse and previously neglected groups have led to discoveries of alternative routes of haem biosynthesis that deviate from the 'classical' pathway. In this review, we take an evolutionarily broad approach to illuminate the remarkable diversity and adaptability of haem synthesis, from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, showing the range of strategies that organisms employ to obtain and utilise haem. In particular, the complex evolutionary histories of eukaryotes that involve multiple endosymbioses and horizontal gene transfers are reflected in the mosaic origin of numerous metabolic pathways with haem biosynthesis being a striking case. We show how different evolutionary trajectories and distinct life strategies resulted in pronounced tensions and differences in the spatial organisation of the haem biosynthesis pathway, in some cases leading to a complete loss of a haem-synthesis capacity and, rarely, even loss of a requirement for haem altogether.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luděk Kořený
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, U.K
| | - Miroslav Oborník
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice (Budweis), 370 05, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská, České Budějovice (Budweis), 31, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Horáková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice (Budweis), 370 05, Czech Republic
| | - Ross F Waller
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, U.K
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice (Budweis), 370 05, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská, České Budějovice (Budweis), 31, Czech Republic
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Sharma M, Gupta Y, Dwivedi P, Kempaiah P, Singh P. Mycobacterium lepromatosis MLPM_5000 is a potential heme chaperone protein HemW and mis-annotation of its orthologues in mycobacteria. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 94:105015. [PMID: 34311096 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.105015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The genome of a newly identified leprosy causing bacillus Mycobacterium lepromatosis was sequenced in 2015 wherein a gene MLPM_5000 was detected whose corresponding sequences are missing in its close relative Mycobacterium leprae, the well-known causal agent of leprosy. Thus MLPM_5000 is considered to be a specific genomic locus for differentiating M. lepromatosis from M. leprae. The locus was annotated as HemN (Coproporphyrinogen III oxidase) based on the available annotations in other mycobacterial species. However, we noticed that the MLPM_5000 and its orthologues in different mycobacterial species show a much higher degree of similarity with Escherichia coli HemW (378 aa) in comparison to the E. coli HemN (457 aa). Additionally, the fourth cysteine of the characteristic CX3CX2CXC motif of the E. coli HemN is replaced by a phenylalanine in the M. lepromatosis MLPM_5000 and its mycobacterial orthologues, which is a hallmark of heme chaperone protein HemW in E. coli and other species. Phylogenetic analysis of MLPM_5000 and its mycobacterial orthologues also showed that these proteins form a divergent phylogenetic clade with the HemW proteins of other species such as Escherichia coli and Lactococcus lactis. Further, Molecular Dynamics simulation studies also predicted that the residues of conserved HNXXYW motif of the MLPM_5000 may have a role in binding to heme part of the host hemoglobin, thereby suggesting it to be a HemW instead of HemN. Altogether, this work shows that MLPM_5000 and its mycobacterial orthologues are highly unlikely to be HemN. Therefore, the current annotations of mycobacterial HemN sequences should be corrected to heme chaperone 'HemW' in various protein databases. The study not only corrects the mis-annotation but also provides a new perspective in the context of evolutionary history of M. leprae and M. lepromatosis such as lack of HemW in M. leprae may explain some of the variations in the virulence between the two pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukul Sharma
- Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Research in Tribal Health, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Yash Gupta
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Purna Dwivedi
- Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Research in Tribal Health, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India; The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
| | - Prakasha Kempaiah
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Pushpendra Singh
- Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Research in Tribal Health, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.
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Hamchand R, Lafountain AM, Büchel R, Maas KR, Hird SM, Warren M, Frank HA, Brückner C. Red Fluorescence of European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) Spines Results from Free-Base Porphyrins of Potential Microbial Origin. J Chem Ecol 2021; 47:588-596. [PMID: 33948884 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-021-01279-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Bioluminescence has been recognized as an important means for inter- and intra-species communication. A growing number of reports of red fluorescence occurring in keratinaceous materials have become available. The fluorophore(s) in these cases were shown to be, or suspected to be, free base porphyrins. The red fluorescence found in the downs of bustards was associated with inter-species signaling in mate selection. First reported in 1925, we confirm that spines of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) when irradiated with UV (365-395 nm) light display red fluorescence localized in the light-colored sections of their proximal ends. Using reflectance fluorescence spectroscopy, we confirmed that the fluorophores responsible for the emission are free-base porphyrins, as suspected in the original report. Base-induced degradation of the spine matrix and subsequent HPLC, UV-vis, and ESI+ mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of a mixture of coproporphyrin III and uroporphyrin III as predominant porphyrins and a minor fraction of protoporphyrin IX. Investigation of the spine microbiome uncovered the abundant presence of bacteria known to secrete and/or interconvert porphyrins and that are not present on the non-fluorescing quills of the North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum). Given this circumstantial evidence, we propose the porphyrins could originate from commensal bacteria. Furthermore, we hypothesize that the fluorescence may be incidental and of no biological function for the hedgehog.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randy Hamchand
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Unit 3060, Storrs, CT, 06269-3060, USA
| | - Amy M Lafountain
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Unit 3060, Storrs, CT, 06269-3060, USA
| | - Rhea Büchel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Unit 3060, Storrs, CT, 06269-3060, USA
| | - Kendra R Maas
- Microbial Analysis, Resources, and Services (MARS), University of Connecticut, Unit-3032, Storrs, CT, 06269-3032, USA
| | - Sarah M Hird
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Unit 3125, Storrs, CT, 06269-3125, USA
| | - Martin Warren
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NJ, UK
| | - Harry A Frank
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Unit 3060, Storrs, CT, 06269-3060, USA
| | - Christian Brückner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Unit 3060, Storrs, CT, 06269-3060, USA.
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Ko YJ, Kim M, You SK, Shin SK, Chang J, Choi HJ, Jeong WY, Lee ME, Hwang DH, Han SO. Animal-free heme production for artificial meat in Corynebacterium glutamicum via systems metabolic and membrane engineering. Metab Eng 2021; 66:217-228. [PMID: 33945844 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2021.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Recently, heme has attracted much attention as a main ingredient that mimics meat flavor in artificial meat in the food industry. Here, we developed Corynebacterium glutamicum capable of high-yield production of heme with systems metabolic engineering and modification of membrane surface. The combination of two precursor pathways based on thermodynamic information increased carbon flux toward heme and porphyrin intermediate biosynthesis. The co-overexpression of genes involved in a noncanonical downstream pathway and the gene encoding the transcriptional regulator DtxR significantly enhanced heme production. The overexpression of the putative heme exporters, knockout of heme-binding proteins, modification of the cell wall by chemical treatment, and reduction of intermediate UP III substantially improved heme secretion. The fed-batch fermentation showed a maximum heme titer of 309.18 ± 16.43 mg l-1, including secreted heme of 242.95 ± 11.45 mg l-1, a yield on glucose of 0.61 mmol mol-1, and productivity of 6.44 mg l-1h-1, which are the highest values reported to date. These results demonstrate that engineered C. glutamicum can be an attractive cell factory for animal-free heme production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Jin Ko
- Department of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Minhye Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Kyou You
- Department of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Kyu Shin
- Department of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Joonhee Chang
- Department of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae Jin Choi
- Department of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Wu-Young Jeong
- Department of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Myeong-Eun Lee
- Department of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Hyeok Hwang
- Department of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Ok Han
- Department of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
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Pérez C, Zúñiga T, Palavecino CE. Photodynamic therapy for treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2021; 34:102285. [PMID: 33836278 DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2021.102285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive spherical bacterium that commonly causes various infections which can range from superficial to life-threatening. Hospital strains of S. aureus are often resistant to antibiotics, which has made their treatment difficult in recent decades. Other therapeutic alternatives have been postulated to overcome the drawbacks of antibiotic multi-resistance. Of these, photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising approach to address the notable shortage of new active antibiotics against multidrug-resistant S. aureus. PDT combines the use of a photosensitizer agent, light, and oxygen to eradicate pathogenic microorganisms. Through a systematic analysis of published results, this work aims to verify the usefulness of applying PDT in treating multidrug-resistant S.aureus infections. METHODS This review was based on a bibliographic search in various databases and the analysis of relevant publications. RESULTS There is currently a large body of evidence demonstrating the efficacy of photodynamic therapy in eliminating S.aureus strains. Both biofilm-producing strains, as well as multidrug-resistant strains. CONCLUSION We conclude that there is sufficient scientific evidence that PDT is a useful adjunct to traditional antibiotic therapy for treating S. aureus infections. Clinical application through appropriate trials should be introduced to further define optimal treatment protocols, safety and efficay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Pérez
- Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Central de Chile, Chile.
| | - Tania Zúñiga
- Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Central de Chile, Chile.
| | - Christian Erick Palavecino
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Celular, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Salud, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Central de Chile, Lord Cochrane 418, 8330546, Santiago, Chile.
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