351
|
Influence of shifting positions of Ser, Thr, and Cys residues in prenisin on the efficiency of modification reactions and on the antimicrobial activities of the modified prepeptides. Appl Environ Microbiol 2008; 74:4680-5. [PMID: 18539792 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00112-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the recent discovery that the nisin modification and transport machinery can be used to produce and modify peptides unrelated to nisin, specific questions arose concerning the specificity of the modification enzymes involved and the limits of their promiscuity with respect to the dehydration and cyclization processes. The nisin leader peptide has been postulated to fulfill a recognition and binding function required for these modifications. Here, we investigated whether the relative positions of the modifiable residues in the nisin prepeptide, with respect to the leader peptide, could influence the efficiency of their modification. We conducted a systematic study on the insertion of one to four alanines in front of either ring A or ring D to change the "reading frame" of modifiable residues, resulting in altered distance and topology of the modifiable residues relative to the leader. The insertion of N-terminal and hinge-located Ala residues had only a modest influence on the modification efficiency, demonstrating that the "phasing" of these residues relative to the leader peptide is not a critical factor in determining modification. However, in all cases, but especially with the N-terminal insertions, the antimicrobial activities of the fully modified nisin species were decreased.
Collapse
|
352
|
Specific interaction of the unmodified bacteriocin Lactococcin 972 with the cell wall precursor lipid II. Appl Environ Microbiol 2008; 74:4666-70. [PMID: 18539790 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00092-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lactococcin 972 (Lcn972) is a nonlantibiotic bacteriocin that inhibits septum biosynthesis in Lactococcus lactis rather than forming pores in the cytoplasmic membrane. In this study, a deeper analysis of the molecular basis of the mode of action of Lcn972 was performed. Of several lipid cell wall precursors, only lipid II antagonized Lcn972 inhibitory activity in vivo. Likewise, Lcn972 only coprecipitated with lipid II micelles. This bacteriocin inhibited the in vitro polymerization of lipid II by the recombinant S. aureus PBP2 and the addition to lipid II of the first glycine catalyzed by FemX. These experiments demonstrate that Lcn972 specifically interacts with lipid II, the substrate of both enzymes. In the presence of Lcn972, nisin pore formation was partially hindered in whole cells. However, binding of Lcn972 to lipid II could not compete with nisin in lipid II-doped 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) liposomes, possibly indicating a distinct binding site. The existence of a putative cotarget for Lcn972 activity is discussed in the context of its narrow inhibitory spectrum and the localized action at the division septum. To our knowledge, this is the first unmodified bacteriocin that binds to the cell wall precursor lipid II.
Collapse
|
353
|
Burkard M, Stein T. Microtiter plate bioassay to monitor the interference of antibiotics with the lipid II cycle essential for peptidoglycan biosynthesis. J Microbiol Methods 2008; 75:70-4. [PMID: 18558445 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2008.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2007] [Revised: 02/27/2008] [Accepted: 05/05/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Specific drug-sensing systems that coordinate appropriate genetic responses assure the survival of microorganisms in the presence of antibiotics. We report on the development and application of a microtiter plate-based bioassay for the identification of antibiotics interfering with the lipid II cycle essential for peptidoglycan biosynthesis. A Bacillus subtilis reporter strain sensing specifically lipid II - interfering cell wall biosynthesis stress (T. Mascher, S.L. Zimmer, T.-A. Smith and J. Helmann, Antibiotic-inducible promoter regulated by the cell envelope stress-sensing two-component system LiaRS of Bacillus subtilis; Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., Vol 48 (2004) pp. 2888-2896) was analyzed in the presence of different lantibiotics. We could show dose-dependent cell wall biosynthesis stress of reporter cells in response to the action of the lantibiotics subtilin produced by B. subtilis, epidermin and gallidermin of Staphylococcus epidermidis or S. gallinarum, respectively, in both, agar-plate and liquid culture-based assays. Surprisingly, also cinnamycin of Streptomyces cinnamoneus cinnamoneus), previously known to bind specifically to phosphatidylethanolamin of biological membranes, provoked strong cell wall biosynthetic stress. Our results show that our system can be used for screening purposes, for example to discover novel inhibitors of cell wall biosynthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Burkard
- Institut für Molekulare Biowissenschaften, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Marie-Curie-Str. 9, 60439 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
354
|
Castiglione F, Lazzarini A, Carrano L, Corti E, Ciciliato I, Gastaldo L, Candiani P, Losi D, Marinelli F, Selva E, Parenti F. Determining the structure and mode of action of microbisporicin, a potent lantibiotic active against multiresistant pathogens. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 15:22-31. [PMID: 18215770 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2007.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2007] [Revised: 10/16/2007] [Accepted: 11/06/2007] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotics blocking bacterial cell wall assembly (beta-lactams and glycopeptides) are facing a challenge from the progressive spread of resistant pathogens. Lantibiotics are promising candidates to alleviate this problem. Microbisporicin, the most potent antibacterial among known comparable lantibiotics, was discovered during a screening applied to uncommon actinomycetes. It is produced by Microbispora sp. as two similarly active and structurally related polypeptides (A1, 2246-Da and A2, 2230-Da) of 24 amino acids linked by 5 intramolecular thioether bridges. Microbisporicin contains two posttranslational modifications that have never been reported previously in lantibiotics: 5-chloro-trypthopan and mono- (in A2) or bis-hydroxylated (in A1) proline. Consistent with screening criteria, microbisporicin selectively blocks peptidoglycan biosynthesis, causing cytoplasmic UDP-linked precursor accumulation. Considering its spectrum of activity and its efficacy in vivo, microbisporicin represents a promising antibiotic to treat emerging infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Franca Castiglione
- Vicuron Pharmaceuticals, Via R. Lepetit 34, 21040 Gerenzano, Varese, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
355
|
Abstract
This review is an attempt to bring together and critically evaluate the now-abundant but dispersed data concerning the lipid intermediates of the biosynthesis of bacterial peptidoglycan. Lipid I, lipid II, and their modified forms play a key role not only as the specific link between the intracellular synthesis of the peptidoglycan monomer unit and the extracytoplasmic polymerization reactions but also in the attachment of proteins to the bacterial cell wall and in the mechanisms of action of antibiotics with which they form specific complexes. The survey deals first with their detection, purification, structure, and preparation by chemical and enzymatic methods. The recent important advances in the study of transferases MraY and MurG, responsible for the formation of lipids I and II, are reported. Various modifications undergone by lipids I and II are described, especially those occurring in gram-positive organisms. The following section concerns the cellular location of the lipid intermediates and the translocation of lipid II across the cytoplasmic membrane. The great efforts made since 2000 in the study of the glycosyltransferases catalyzing the glycan chain formation with lipid II or analogues are analyzed in detail. Finally, examples of antibiotics forming complexes with the lipid intermediates are presented.
Collapse
|
356
|
Tai YC, Joshi P, McGuire J, Neff JA. Nisin adsorption to hydrophobic surfaces coated with the PEO-PPO-PEO triblock surfactant Pluronic F108. J Colloid Interface Sci 2008; 322:112-8. [PMID: 18359037 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2008.02.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2007] [Revised: 02/24/2008] [Accepted: 02/26/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The adsorption and elution of the antimicrobial peptide nisin at hydrophobic, silanized silica surfaces coated with the poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) surfactant Pluronic F108 were measured in situ, with ellipsometry. While such layers are known to inhibit protein adsorption, nisin was observed to adsorb in multilayer quantities, to an extent similar to its adsorption at uncoated, hydrophobic surfaces. The rates of nisin adsorption and elution were generally slower at F108-coated surfaces. And, the sequential adsorption of nisin, including two adsorption-elution cycles at each surface, showed greater differences in adsorption rates between the first and second adsorption cycles, when evaluated at identical mass density, for uncoated relative to F108-coated surfaces. These results indicate that nisin adsorption occurs via "entrapment" within the PEO brush layer at F108-coated surfaces, in this way slowing adsorption and spontaneous elution, and inhibiting post-adsorptive molecular rearrangements by reducing the lateral mobility of nisin. While F108-coated layers rejected adsorption of serum albumin, sequential adsorption experiments carried out with nisin and albumin showed a low level of albumin adsorption when nisin was present at the interface.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Ching Tai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
357
|
Smith L, Hasper H, Breukink E, Novak J, Cerkasov J, Hillman JD, Wilson-Stanford S, Orugunty RS. Elucidation of the antimicrobial mechanism of mutacin 1140. Biochemistry 2008; 47:3308-14. [PMID: 18266322 DOI: 10.1021/bi701262z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Mutacin 1140 and nisin A are peptide antibiotics that belong to the lantibiotic family. N-Terminal rings A and B of nisin A and mutacin 1140 (lipid II-binding domain) share many structural and sequence similarities. Nisin A binds lipid II and thus disrupts cell wall synthesis and also forms transmembrane pores. Very little is known about mutacin 1140 in this regard. We performed fluorescence-based studies using a bacteria-mimetic membrane system. The results indicated that lipid II monomers are arranged differently in the mutacin 1140 complex than in the nisin A complex. These differences in complex formation may be attributed to the fact that nisin A uses lipid II to form a distinct pore complex, while mutacin 1140 does not form pores in this membrane system. Further experiments demonstrated that the mutacin 1140-lipid II and nisin A-lipid II complexes are very stable and capable of withstanding competition from each other. Transmembrane electrical potential experiments using a Streptococcus rattus strain, which is sensitive to mutacin 1140, demonstrated that mutacin 1140 does not form pores in this strain even at a concentration 8 times higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Circular complexes of mutacin 1140 and nisin A were observed by electron microscopy, providing direct evidence for a lateral assembly mechanism for these antibiotics. Mutacin 1140 did exhibit a membrane disruptive function in another commonly used artificial bacterial membrane system, and its disruptive activity was enhanced by increasing amounts of anionic phospholipids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leif Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
358
|
Symposium 15: Awards Symposium and IUPAB Arne Engstrom Lecture. Biophys J 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/s0006-3495(08)79101-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
|
359
|
De Pascale G, Grigoriadou C, Losi D, Ciciliato I, Sosio M, Donadio S. Validation for high-throughput screening of a VanRS-based reporter gene assay for bacterial cell wall inhibitors. J Appl Microbiol 2008; 103:133-40. [PMID: 17584459 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2006.03231.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The present study was undertaken to validate, for antibiotic discovery, a reporter gene assay based on a Bacillus subtilis strain expressing the Enterococcusfaecium vanRS genes and a vanH-lacZ fusion, which produced beta-galactosidase activity in the presence of cell wall inhibitors (CWI) and lysozyme. METHODS AND RESULTS The reporter assay was miniaturized, automated and validated with antibiotics and tested against portions of chemical and microbial extract libraries. The assay is simple, fast and reproducible and can detect all CWI, sometimes at concentrations lower than those necessary to inhibit bacterial growth. However, some membrane-interfering compounds also generate comparable signals. While most CWI elicit a signal that is transcription-dependent and abolished in an osmoprotective medium, transcription is not required for beta-galactosidase activity brought about by the membrane-interfering compounds. CONCLUSIONS At least two distinct mechanisms appear to lead to enzymatic activity in the reporter strain. Effective counterscreens can be designed to discard the undesired classes of compounds. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Extensive validation is required before introducing a reporter assay in high-throughput screening. However, the ease of operation and manipulation makes the reporter assays powerful tools for antibiotic discovery.
Collapse
|
360
|
Abstract
The current need for antibiotics with novel target molecules has coincided with advances in technical approaches for the structural and functional analysis of the lantibiotics, which are ribosomally synthesized peptides produced by gram-positive bacteria. These peptides have antibiotic or morphogenetic activity and are structurally defined by the presence of unusual amino acids introduced by posttranslational modification. Lantibiotics are complex polycyclic molecules formed by the dehydration of select Ser and Thr residues and the intramolecular addition of Cys thiols to the resulting unsaturated amino acids to form lanthionine and methyllanthionine bridges, respectively. Importantly, the structural and functional diversity of the lantibiotics is much broader than previously imagined. Here we discuss this growing collection of molecules and introduce some recently discovered peptides, review advances in enzymology and protein engineering, and discuss the regulatory networks that govern the synthesis of the lantibiotics by the producing organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joanne M Willey
- Department of Biology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York 11549, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
361
|
Martin NI, Breukink E. Expanding role of lipid II as a target for lantibiotics. Future Microbiol 2007; 2:513-25. [PMID: 17927474 DOI: 10.2217/17460913.2.5.513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipid II is an essential cell-wall precursor required for the growth and replication of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Compounds that use lipid II to selectively target bacterial cells for destruction represent an important class of antibiotics. Clinically, vancomycin is the most important example of an antibiotic that operates in this manner. Despite being considered the 'antibiotic drug of last resort', significant bacterial resistance to vancomycin now manifests itself worldwide. In this paper we review recent progress made in understanding the lipid II-associated antibacterial characteristics of various naturally occurring compounds, with particular focus on the lantibiotic peptides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel I Martin
- Utrecht University, Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Chemical Biology, 3584 CA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | | |
Collapse
|
362
|
Molecular mechanism of target recognition by subtilin, a class I lanthionine antibiotic. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2007; 52:612-8. [PMID: 17999970 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00836-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing resistance of human pathogens to conventional antibiotics presents a growing threat to the chemotherapeutic management of infectious diseases. The lanthionine antibiotics, still unused as therapeutic agents, have recently attracted significant scientific interest as models for targeting and management of bacterial infections. We investigated the action of one member of this class, subtilin, which permeabilizes lipid membranes in a lipid II-dependent manner and binds bactoprenyl pyrophosphate, akin to nisin. The role the C and N termini play in target recognition was investigated in vivo and in vitro by using the natural N-terminally succinylated subtilin as well as enzymatically truncated subtilin variants. Fluorescence dequenching experiments show that subtilin induces leakage in membranes in a lipid II-dependent manner and that N-succinylated subtilin is roughly 75-fold less active. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance was used to show that subtilin forms complexes with membrane isoprenyl pyrophosphates. Activity assays in vivo show that the N terminus of subtilin plays a critical role in its activity. Succinylation of the N terminus resulted in a 20-fold decrease in its activity, whereas deletion of N-terminal Trp abolished activity altogether.
Collapse
|
363
|
Ghalit N, Reichwein JF, Hilbers HW, Breukink E, Rijkers DTS, Liskamp RMJ. Synthesis of bicyclic alkene-/alkane-bridged nisin mimics by ring-closing metathesis and their biochemical evaluation as lipid II binders: toward the design of potential novel antibiotics. Chembiochem 2007; 8:1540-54. [PMID: 17674393 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.200700244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
This report describes the design, synthesis, and biochemical evaluation of alkene- and alkane-bridged AB(C)-ring mimics of the lantibiotic nisin. Nisin belongs to a class of natural antimicrobial peptides, and has a unique mode of action: its AB(C)-ring system binds to the pyrophosphate moiety of lipid II. This mode of action was the rationale for the design of smaller nisin-derived peptides to obtain novel potential antibiotics. As a conformational constraint the thioether bridge was mimicked by an alkene- or alkane isostere. The peptides of the linear individual ring precursors were synthesized on solid support or in solution, and cyclized by ring-closing metathesis in solution with overall yields of between 36 and 89 %. The individual alkene-bridged macrocycles were assembled in solution by using carbodiimide-based synthesis protocols for the corresponding AB(C)-ring mimics. These compounds were tested for their binding affinity toward lipid II by evaluation of their potency to inhibit nisin-induced carboxyfluorescein release from large unilamellar vesicles. It was found that these AB(C)-ring mimics were not able to induce membrane leakage; however, they acted by inhibiting nisin-induced carboxyfluorescein release; this indicates their affinity toward lipid II. These results imply that an alkene or alkane moiety is a suitable thioether bridge mimic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nourdin Ghalit
- Medicinal Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80082, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
364
|
Rink R, Wierenga J, Kuipers A, Kluskens LD, Driessen AJM, Kuipers OP, Moll GN. Dissection and modulation of the four distinct activities of nisin by mutagenesis of rings A and B and by C-terminal truncation. Appl Environ Microbiol 2007; 73:5809-16. [PMID: 17660303 PMCID: PMC2074915 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01104-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nisin A is a pentacyclic antibiotic peptide produced by various Lactococcus lactis strains. Nisin displays four different activities: (i) it autoinduces its own synthesis; (ii) it inhibits the growth of target bacteria by membrane pore formation; (iii) it inhibits bacterial growth by interfering with cell wall synthesis; and, in addition, (iv) it inhibits the outgrowth of spores. Here we investigate the structural requirements and relevance of the N-terminal thioether rings of nisin by randomization of the ring A and B positions. The data demonstrate that: (i) mutation of ring A results in variants with enhanced activity and a modulated spectrum of target cells; (ii) for the cell growth-inhibiting activity of nisin, ring A is rather promiscuous with respect to its amino acid composition, whereas the bulky amino acid residues in ring B abolish antimicrobial activity; (iii) C-terminally truncated nisin A mutants lacking rings D and E retain significant antimicrobial activity but are unable to permeabilize the target membrane; (iv) the dehydroalanine in ring A is not essential for the inhibition of the outgrowth of Bacillus cells; (v) some ring A mutants have significant antimicrobial activities but have decreased autoinducing activities; (vi) the opening of ring B eliminates antimicrobial activity while retaining autoinducing activity; and (vii) some ring A mutants escape the nisin immune system(s) and are toxic to the nisin-producing strain NZ9700. These data demonstrate that the various activities of nisin can be engineered independently and provide a basis for the design and synthesis of tailor-made analogs with desired activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rick Rink
- BiOMaDe Technology Foundation, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
365
|
Li B, van der Donk WA. Identification of essential catalytic residues of the cyclase NisC involved in the biosynthesis of nisin. J Biol Chem 2007; 282:21169-75. [PMID: 17513866 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m701802200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Nisin is a post-translationally modified antimicrobial peptide that has been widely used in the food industry for several decades. It contains five cyclic thioether cross-links of varying sizes that are installed by a single enzyme, NisC, that catalyzes the addition of cysteines to dehydroamino acids. The recent x-ray crystal structure of NisC has provided the first insights into the catalytic residues responsible for the cyclization step during nisin biosynthesis. In this study, the conserved residues His(212), Arg(280), Asp(141), and Tyr(285) as well as the ligands to the zinc in the active site (Cys(284), Cys(330), and His(331)) were substituted by site-directed mutagenesis. Binding studies showed that all mutants had similar affinities for NisA. Activity assays showed that whereas His(212) and Asp(141) were essential for correct cyclization as judged by the antimicrobial activity of the final product, Arg(280) and Tyr(285) were not. Mutation of zinc ligands to alanine also abolished the enzymatic activity, and these mutant proteins were shown to contain decreased levels of zinc. These results show that the zinc is essential for activity and support a model in which the zinc is used to activate the cysteines in the substrate for nucleophilic attack. These findings also argue against an essential role of Arg(280) and Tyr(285) as an active site general acid/base in the mechanism of cyclization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Li
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
366
|
Burkard M, Entian KD, Stein T. Development and application of a microtiter plate-based autoinduction bioassay for detection of the lantibiotic subtilin. J Microbiol Methods 2007; 70:179-85. [PMID: 17532072 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2007.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2007] [Revised: 04/23/2007] [Accepted: 04/23/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Production of the lantibiotic subtilin in Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 is regulated in a quorum sensing-like mechanism with subtilin acting as autoinducer and signal transduction via the subtilin-specific two-component regulation system SpaRK. Here, we report the construction and application of a subtilin reporter strain in which subtilin induced lacZ gene expression in a B. subtilis ATCC 6633 spaS gene deletion mutant is monitored and visualized by the beta-galactosidase in a chromogenic plate assay. A quantitative microtiter plate subtilin bioassay was developed and optimized. Maximal sensitivity of the system was achieved after 6 h of incubation of the reporter strain together with subtilin in a medium containing 300 mM NaCl. This sensitive and unsusceptible method was applied to identify subtilin producing B. subtilis wild type strains from both, culture collections and soil samples. The B. subtilis lantibiotic ericin S with four amino acid exchanges compared to subtilin induces the subtilin reporter strain, in contrast to the structurally closely related Lactococcus lactis lantibiotic nisin. These observations suggest a certain substrate specificity of the histidine kinase SpaK, which however, also would allow the identification of subtilin-isoform producing microorganisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Burkard
- Center of Excellence, Macromolecular Complexes, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
367
|
Christ K, Wiedemann I, Bakowsky U, Sahl HG, Bendas G. The role of lipid II in membrane binding of and pore formation by nisin analyzed by two combined biosensor techniques. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2007; 1768:694-704. [PMID: 17254547 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2006.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2006] [Revised: 10/25/2006] [Accepted: 12/04/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Nisin, a peptide antibiotic, efficiently kills bacteria through a unique mechanism which includes inhibition of cell wall biosynthesis and pore formation in cytoplasmic membranes. Both mechanisms are based on interaction with the cell wall precursor lipid II which is simultaneously used as target and pore constituent. We combined two biosensor techniques to investigate the nisin activity with respect to membrane binding and pore formation in real time. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) allows the detection of nisin binding kinetics. The presence of 0.1 mol% lipid II strongly increased nisin binding affinity to DOPC (k(D) 2.68 x 10(-7) M vs. 1.03 x 10(-6) M) by a higher association rate. Differences were less pronounced while using negatively charged DOPG membranes. However, lipid II does not influence the absolute amount of bound nisin. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) data confirmed that in presence of 0.1 mol% lipid II, nanomolar nisin concentrations were sufficient to form pores, while micromolar concentrations were necessary in absence of lipid II. Both techniques suggested unspecific destruction of pure DOPG membranes by micromolar nisin concentrations which were prevented by lipid II. This model membrane stabilization by lipid II was confirmed by atomic force microscopy. Combined CV and QCM are valuable to interpret the role of lipid II in nisin activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Christ
- University of Bonn, Department of Pharmacy, An der Immenburg 4, 53121 Bonn, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
368
|
Hancock REW, Sahl HG. Antimicrobial and host-defense peptides as new anti-infective therapeutic strategies. Nat Biotechnol 2007; 24:1551-7. [PMID: 17160061 DOI: 10.1038/nbt1267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2950] [Impact Index Per Article: 173.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Short cationic amphiphilic peptides with antimicrobial and/or immunomodulatory activities are present in virtually every life form, as an important component of (innate) immune defenses. These host-defense peptides provide a template for two separate classes of antimicrobial drugs. Direct-acting antimicrobial host-defense peptides can be rapid-acting and potent, and possess an unusually broad spectrum of activity; consequently, they have prospects as new antibiotics, although clinical trials to date have shown efficacy only as topical agents. But for these compounds to fulfill their therapeutic promise and overcome clinical setbacks, further work is needed to understand their mechanisms of action and reduce the potential for unwanted toxicity, to make them more resistant to protease degradation and improve serum half-life, as well as to devise means of manufacturing them on a large scale in a consistent and cost-effective manner. In contrast, the role of cationic host-defense peptides in modulating the innate immune response and boosting infection-resolving immunity while dampening potentially harmful pro-inflammatory (septic) responses gives these peptides the potential to become an entirely new therapeutic approach against bacterial infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert E W Hancock
- Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research, Room 232, 2259 Lower Mall Research Station, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z4.
| | | |
Collapse
|
369
|
Cobb SL, Vederas JC. A concise stereoselective synthesis of orthogonally protected lanthionine and beta-methyllanthionine. Org Biomol Chem 2007; 5:1031-8. [PMID: 17377656 DOI: 10.1039/b618178c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Lantibiotics such as nisin are active against most Gram-positive bacteria and constitute an important class of antibacterial agents. These ribosomally synthesized peptides contain either one or both of the unusual amino acids meso-lanthionine (m-Lan) or beta-methyllanthionine (beta-MeLan). Nucleophilic ring opening of sulfamidates allows facile preparation of stereochemically pure derivatives of m-Lan and beta-MeLan with orthogonal protection for solid phase synthesis of lantibiotic analogues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven L Cobb
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
| | | |
Collapse
|
370
|
Cotter PD, Deegan LH, Lawton EM, Draper LA, O'Connor PM, Hill C, Ross RP. Complete alanine scanning of the two-component lantibiotic lacticin 3147: generating a blueprint for rational drug design. Mol Microbiol 2007; 62:735-47. [PMID: 17076667 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2006.05398.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Lantibiotics are post-translationally modified antimicrobial peptides which are active at nanomolar concentrations. Some lantibiotics have been shown to function by targeting lipid II, the essential precursor of cell wall biosynthesis. Given that lantibiotics are ribosomally synthesized and amenable to site-directed mutagenesis, they have the potential to serve as biological templates for the production of novel peptides with improved functionalities. However, if a rational approach to novel lantibiotic design is to be adopted, an appreciation of the roles of each individual amino acid (and each domain) is required. To date no lantibiotic has been subjected to such rigorous analysis. To address this issue we have carried out complete scanning mutagenesis of each of the 59 amino acids in lacticin 3147, a two-component lantibiotic which acts through the synergistic activity of the peptides LtnA1 (30 amino acids) and LtnA2 (29 amino acids). All mutations were performed in situ in the native 60 kb plasmid, pMRC01. A number of mutations resulted in the elimination of detectable bioactivity and seem to represent an invariable core within these and related peptides. Significantly however, of the 59 amino acids, at least 36 can be changed without resulting in a complete loss of activity. Many of these are clustered to form variable domains within the peptides. The information generated in this study represents a blue-print that will be critical for the rational design of lantibiotic-based antimicrobial compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul D Cotter
- Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
371
|
Abstract
This Perspective provides an overview of the progress in two of the original programs in my research group focused on the biosynthesis of the antibiotics nisin, lacticin 481, fosfomycin, and bialaphos. The path from start-up funds to tenure and beyond offers insights into the opportunities realized and missed along the road.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wilfred A van der Donk
- Roger Adams Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
372
|
Abstract
For the past five decades, the need for new antibiotics has been met largely by semisynthetic tailoring of natural product scaffolds discovered in the middle of the 20(th) century. More recently, however, advances in technology have sparked a resurgence in the discovery of natural product antibiotics from bacterial sources. In particular, efforts have refocused on finding new antibiotics from old sources (for example, streptomycetes) and new sources (for example, other actinomycetes, cyanobacteria and uncultured bacteria). This has resulted in several newly discovered antibiotics with unique scaffolds and/or novel mechanisms of action, with the potential to form a basis for new antibiotic classes addressing bacterial targets that are currently underexploited.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jon Clardy
- Department of Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
373
|
Nagao JI, Asaduzzaman SM, Aso Y, Okuda KI, Nakayama J, Sonomoto K. Lantibiotics: insight and foresight for new paradigm. J Biosci Bioeng 2006; 102:139-49. [PMID: 17046525 DOI: 10.1263/jbb.102.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2006] [Accepted: 05/18/2006] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Lantibiotics are a unique type of antimicrobial peptide produced by a large number of gram-positive bacteria that contain unusual amino acids, such as lanthionine and dehydrated amino acids. Ribosomally synthesized lantibiotic prepeptide consists of an N-terminal leader peptide followed by a C-terminal propeptide moiety that undergoes several post-translational modification events to yield a biologically active lantibiotic. Research on lantibiotics has drawn much attention in recent years and has undergone extensive progress as a step forward to the next paradigm. Unusual amino acids in lantibiotics solely contribute to their biological activity and also enhance their structural stability. Thus, enzymes involved in lantibiotic biosynthesis would have a high potential for peptide engineering by introducing unusual amino acids into desired peptides, which may establish a universal approach to advance the structural design of novel peptides, termed lantibiotic engineering. In this review, we focus on recent development with contemporary innovations and perspective of lantibiotic research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun-ichi Nagao
- Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Division of Microbial Science and Technology, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Graduate School, Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Fukuoka, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
374
|
Dufour A, Hindré T, Haras D, Le Pennec JP. The biology of lantibiotics from the lacticin 481 group is coming of age. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2006; 31:134-67. [PMID: 17096664 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2006.00045.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Lantibiotics are antimicrobial peptides from the bacteriocin family, secreted by Gram-positive bacteria. These peptides differ from other bacteriocins by the presence of (methyl)lanthionine residues, which result from enzymatic modification of precursor peptides encoded by structural genes. Several groups of lantibiotics have been distinguished, the largest of which is the lacticin 481 group. This group consists of at least 16 members, including lacticin 481, streptococcin A-FF22, mutacin II, nukacin ISK-1, and salivaricins. We present the first review devoted to this lantibiotic group, knowledge of which has increased significantly within the last few years. After updating the group composition and defining the common properties of these lantibiotics, we highlight the most recent developments. The latter concern: transcriptional regulation of the lantibiotic genes; understanding the biosynthetic machinery, in particular the ability to perform in vitro prepeptide maturation; characterization of a novel type of immunity protein; and broad application possibilities. This group differs in many aspects from the best known lantibiotic group (nisin group), but shares properties with less-studied groups such as the mersacidin, cytolysin and lactocin S groups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alain Dufour
- Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et Chimie Marines, EA3884, Université de Bretagne Sud, Lorient, France.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
375
|
Asaduzzaman SM, Nagao JI, Aso Y, Nakayama J, Sonomoto K. Lysine-oriented charges trigger the membrane binding and activity of nukacin ISK-1. Appl Environ Microbiol 2006; 72:6012-7. [PMID: 16957223 PMCID: PMC1563653 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00678-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The antibacterial activities and membrane binding of nukacin ISK-1 and its fragments and mutants were evaluated to delineate the determinants governing structure-function relationships. The tail region (nukacin(1-7)) and ring region (nukacin(7-27)) were shown to have no antibacterial activity and also had no synergistic effect on each other or even on nukacin ISK-1. Both a fragment with three lysines in the N terminus deleted (nukacin(4-27)) and a mutant with three lysines in the N terminus replaced with alanine (K1-3A nukacin ISK-1) imparted very low activity (32-fold lower than nukacin ISK-1) and also exhibited a similar antagonistic effect on nukacin ISK-1. Addition of two lysine residues at the N terminus (+2K nukacin ISK-1) provided no further increased antibacterial activity. Surface plasmon resonance sensorgrams and kinetic rate constants determined by a BIAcore biosensor revealed that nukacin ISK-1 has remarkably higher binding affinity to anionic model membrane than to zwitterionic model membrane. Similar trends of strong binding responses and kinetics were indicated by the high affinities of nukacin ISK-1 and +2K nukacin ISK-1, but there was no binding of tail region, ring region, nukacin(4-27), and K1-3A nukacin ISK-1 to the anionic model membrane. Our findings therefore suggest that the complete structure of nukacin ISK-1 is necessary for its full activity, in which the N-terminus three lysine residues play a crucial role in electrostatic binding to the target membrane and therefore nukacin ISK-1's ability to exert its potent antibacterial activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sikder M Asaduzzaman
- Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Division of Microbial Science and Technology, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Graduate School, Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
376
|
Vederas JC. 2005 Alfred Bader Award Lecture Diaminopimelate and lysine biosynthesis - An antimicrobial target in bacteria. CAN J CHEM 2006. [DOI: 10.1139/v06-072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The development of bacterial resistance to current antibiotic therapy has stimulated the search for novel antimicrobial agents. The essential peptidoglycan cell wall layer in bacteria is the site of action of many current drugs, such as β-lactams and vancomycin. It is also a target for a number of very potent bacterially produced antibiotic peptides, such as nisin A and lacticin 3147, both of which are highly posttranslationally modified lantibiotics that act by binding to lipid II, the peptidoglycan precursor. Another set of potential targets for antibiotic development are the bacterial enzymes that make precursors for lipid II and peptidoglycan, for example, those in the pathway to diamino pimelic acid (DAP) and its metabolic product, L-lysine. Among these, DAP epimerase is a unique nonpyridoxal phosphate (PLP) dependent enzyme that appears to use two active site thiols (Cys73 and Cys217) as a base and an acid to depro tonate the α-hydrogen of LL-DAP or meso-DAP from one side and reprotonate from the other. This process cannot be easily duplicated in the absence of the enzyme. A primary goal of our work was to generate inhibitors of DAP epi merase that would accurately mimic the natural substrates (meso-DAP and LL-DAP) in the enzyme active site and, through crystallographic analysis, provide insight into mechanism and substrate specificity. A series of aziridine-containing DAP analogs were chemically synthesized and tested as inhibitors of DAP epimerase from Haemophilus influenzae. Two diastereomers of 2-(4-amino-4-carboxybutyl)aziridine-2-carboxylic acid (AziDAP) act as rapid irreversible inactivators of DAP epimerase; the AziDAP analog of LL-DAP reacts selectively with the sulfhydryl of Cys73, whereas the corresponding analog of meso-DAP reacts with Cys217. AziDAP isomers are too unstable to be useful antibiotics. However, mass spectral and X-ray crystallographic analyses of the inactivated enzymes confirm that the thiol attacks the methylene group of the aziridine with concomitant ring opening to give a DAP analog bound in the active site. Further crystallographic analyses should yield useful mechanistic insights.Key words: enzyme mechanism, enzyme inhibition, antibiotics, aziridines, amino acids.
Collapse
|
377
|
Montville TJ, De Siano T, Nock A, Padhi S, Wade D. Inhibition of Bacillus anthracis and potential surrogate bacilli growth from spore inocula by nisin and other antimicrobial peptides. J Food Prot 2006; 69:2529-33. [PMID: 17066940 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x-69.10.2529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The ability of nisin, synthetic temporin analogs, magainins, defensins, and cecropins to inhibit Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus mycoides, and Bacillus subtilis growth from spore inocula was determined using well diffusion assays. Nisin, magainin II amide, and defensins were inhibitory in screening against B. anthracis Sterne or B. cereus ATCC 7004, but only nisin inhibited virulent B. anthracis strains. The MICs of nisin against the 10 Bacillus strains examined were 0.70 to 13.51 microg/ml. Synthetic temporin analogs also inhibited B. anthracis but were not as potent as nisin. None of the strains examined were appropriate B. anthracis surrogates for testing sensitivity to antimicrobial peptides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Montville
- Department of Food Science, Cook College, Rutgers- State University of New Jersey, 65 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-8520, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
378
|
Hasper HE, Kramer NE, Smith JL, Hillman JD, Zachariah C, Kuipers OP, de Kruijff B, Breukink E. An alternative bactericidal mechanism of action for lantibiotic peptides that target lipid II. Science 2006; 313:1636-7. [PMID: 16973881 DOI: 10.1126/science.1129818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 366] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Lantibiotics are polycyclic peptides containing unusual amino acids, which have binding specificity for bacterial cells, targeting the bacterial cell wall component lipid II to form pores and thereby lyse the cells. Yet several members of these lipid II-targeted lantibiotics are too short to be able to span the lipid bilayer and cannot form pores, but somehow they maintain their antibacterial efficacy. We describe an alternative mechanism by which members of the lantibiotic family kill Gram-positive bacteria by removing lipid II from the cell division site (or septum) and thus block cell wall synthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hester E Hasper
- Department of Biochemistry of Membranes, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
379
|
|
380
|
Wiedemann I, Böttiger T, Bonelli RR, Schneider T, Sahl HG, Martínez B. Lipid II-based antimicrobial activity of the lantibiotic plantaricin C. Appl Environ Microbiol 2006; 72:2809-14. [PMID: 16597986 PMCID: PMC1449081 DOI: 10.1128/aem.72.4.2809-2814.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We analyzed the mode of action of the lantibiotic plantaricin C (PlnC), produced by Lactobacillus plantarum LL441. Compared to the well-characterized type A lantibiotic nisin and type B lantibiotic mersacidin, which are both able to interact with the cell wall precursor lipid II, PlnC displays structural features of both prototypes. In this regard, we found that lipid II plays a key role in the antimicrobial activity of PlnC besides that of pore formation. The pore forming activity of PlnC in whole cells was prevented by shielding lipid II on the cell surface. However, in contrast to nisin, PlnC was not able to permeabilize Lactococcus lactis cells or to form pores in 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine liposomes supplemented with 0.1 mol% purified lipid II. This emphasized the different requirements of these lantibiotics for pore formation. Using cell wall synthesis assays, we identified PlnC as a potent inhibitor of (i) lipid II synthesis and (ii) the FemX reaction, i.e., the addition of the first Gly to the pentapeptide side chain of lipid II. As revealed by thin-layer chromatography, both reactions were clearly blocked by the formation of a PlnC-lipid I and/or PlnC-lipid II complex. On the basis of the in vivo and in vitro activities of PlnC shown in this study and the structural lipid II binding motifs described for other lantibiotics, the specific interaction of PlnC with lipid II is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Imke Wiedemann
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie une Immunologie-Pharmazeutische Mikrobiologie, Universität Bonn, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
381
|
Abstract
The combined activity of the constituents of two-component antibiotic systems is always significantly higher than the sum of the activities of the individual pieces. Understanding the principles behind this phenomenon might provide new ways to design new antibiotics. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology, Wiedemann and coworkers have made a big step towards understanding the mechanism of action of the two-component lanthionine-containing antibiotic lacticin 3147. It has now become clear that this two-component system specifically targets the bacterial cell wall precursor Lipid II. This makes this essential bacterial lipid one of the most sought-after targets in nature. Surprisingly, in view of its small size (MW 1875 Da), this is now the fifth different way that this key molecule is known to be targeted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eefjan Breukink
- Department of Biochemistry of Membranes, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, Padualaan 83584 CH, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
382
|
Wiedemann I, Böttiger T, Bonelli RR, Wiese A, Hagge SO, Gutsmann T, Seydel U, Deegan L, Hill C, Ross P, Sahl HG. The mode of action of the lantibiotic lacticin 3147--a complex mechanism involving specific interaction of two peptides and the cell wall precursor lipid II. Mol Microbiol 2006; 61:285-96. [PMID: 16771847 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2006.05223.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Lacticin 3147 is a two-peptide lantibiotic produced by Lactococcus lactis in which both peptides, LtnA1 and LtnA2, interact synergistically to produce antibiotic activities in the nanomolar concentration range; the individual peptides possess marginal (LtnA1) or no activity (LtnA2). We analysed the molecular basis for the synergism and found the cell wall precursor lipid II to play a crucial role as a target molecule. Tryptophan fluorescence measurements identified LtnA1, which is structurally similar to the lantibiotic mersacidin, as the lipid II binding component. However, LtnA1 on its own was not able to substantially inhibit cell wall biosynthesis in vitro; for full inhibition, LtnA2 was necessary. Both peptides together caused rapid K(+) leakage from intact cells; in model membranes supplemented with lipid II, the formation of defined pores with a diameter of 0.6 nm was observed. We propose a mode of action model in which LtnA1 first interacts specifically with lipid II in the outer leaflet of the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane. The resulting lipid II:LtnA1 complex is then able to recruit LtnA2 which leads to a high-affinity, three-component complex and subsequently inhibition of cell wall biosynthesis combined with pore formation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Imke Wiedemann
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitolog, Pharmaceutical Microbiology Unit, University of Bonn, D-53115 Bonn, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
383
|
Bonelli RR, Schneider T, Sahl HG, Wiedemann I. Insights into in vivo activities of lantibiotics from gallidermin and epidermin mode-of-action studies. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2006; 50:1449-57. [PMID: 16569864 PMCID: PMC1426925 DOI: 10.1128/aac.50.4.1449-1457.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The activity of lanthionine-containing peptide antibiotics (lantibiotics) is based on different killing mechanisms which may be combined in one molecule. The prototype lantibiotic nisin inhibits peptidoglycan synthesis and forms pores through specific interaction with the cell wall precursor lipid II. Gallidermin and epidermin possess the same putative lipid II binding motif as nisin; however, both peptides are considerably shorter (22 amino acids, compared to 34 in nisin). We demonstrate that in model membranes, lipid II-mediated pore formation by gallidermin depends on membrane thickness. With intact cells, pore formation was less pronounced than for nisin and occurred only in some strains. In Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris HP, gallidermin was not able to release K+, and a mutant peptide, [A12L]gallidermin, in which the ability to form pores was disrupted, was as potent as wild-type gallidermin, indicating that pore formation does not contribute to killing. In contrast, nisin rapidly formed pores in the L. lactis strain; however, it was approximately 10-fold less effective in killing. The superior activity of gallidermin in a cell wall biosynthesis assay may help to explain this high potency. Generally, it appears that the multiple activities of lantibiotics combine differently for individual target strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Regina Bonelli
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Parasitologie, Pharmazeutische Mikrobiologie, Universität Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 168, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
384
|
Abstract
Lipid II is a membrane-anchored cell-wall precursor that is essential for bacterial cell-wall biosynthesis. The effectiveness of targeting Lipid II as an antibacterial strategy is highlighted by the fact that it is the target for at least four different classes of antibiotic, including the clinically important glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin. However, the growing problem of bacterial resistance to many current drugs, including vancomycin, has led to increasing interest in the therapeutic potential of other classes of compound that target Lipid II. Here, we review progress in understanding of the antibacterial activities of these compounds, which include lantibiotics, mannopeptimycins and ramoplanin, and consider factors that will be important in exploiting their potential as new treatments for bacterial infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eefjan Breukink
- Department of Biochemistry of Membranes, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
| | | |
Collapse
|
385
|
Sobko AA, Kotova EA, Antonenko YN, Zakharov SD, Cramer WA. Lipid Dependence of the Channel Properties of a Colicin E1-Lipid Toroidal Pore. J Biol Chem 2006; 281:14408-16. [PMID: 16556601 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m513634200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Colicin E1 belongs to a group of bacteriocins whose cytotoxicity toward Escherichia coli is exerted through formation of ion channels that depolarize the cytoplasmic membrane. The lipid dependence of colicin single-channel conductance demonstrated intimate involvement of lipid in the structure of this channel. The colicin formed "small" conductance 60-picosiemens (pS) channels, with properties similar to those previously characterized, in 1,2-dieicosenoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (C20) or thinner membranes, whereas it formed a novel "large" conductance 600-pS state in thicker 1,2-dierucoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (C22) bilayers. Both channel states were anion-selective and voltage-gated and displayed a requirement for acidic pH. Lipids having negative spontaneous curvature inhibited the formation of both channels but increased the ratio of open 600 pS to 60 pS conductance states. Different diameters of small and large channels, 12 and 16 A, were determined from the dependence of single-channel conductance on the size of nonelectrolyte solute probes. Colicin-induced lipid "flip-flop" and the decrease in anion selectivity of the channel in the presence of negatively charged lipids implied a significant contribution of lipid to the structure of the channel, most readily described as toroidal organization of lipid and protein to form the channel pore.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander A Sobko
- A. N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
386
|
Opinion of the Scientific Panel on food additives, flavourings, processing aids and materials in contact with food (AFC) related to The use of nisin (E 234) as a food additive. EFSA J 2006. [DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2006.314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
|
387
|
Affiliation(s)
- David W Christianson
- Roy and Diana Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6323, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
388
|
Li B, Yu JPJ, Brunzelle JS, Moll GN, van der Donk WA, Nair SK. Structure and Mechanism of the Lantibiotic Cyclase Involved in Nisin Biosynthesis. Science 2006; 311:1464-7. [PMID: 16527981 DOI: 10.1126/science.1121422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Nisin is a posttranslationally modified antimicrobial peptide that is widely used as a food preservative. It contains five cyclic thioethers of varying sizes that are installed by a single enzyme, NisC. Reported here are the in vitro reconstitution of the cyclization process and the x-ray crystal structure of the NisC enzyme. The structure reveals similarities in fold and substrate activation with mammalian farnesyl transferases, suggesting that human homologs of NisC posttranslationally modify a cysteine of a protein substrate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Li
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
389
|
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Welzel
- Institut für Organische Chemie, Universität Leipzig, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
390
|
Ostash B, Walker S. Bacterial transglycosylase inhibitors. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2006; 9:459-66. [PMID: 16118062 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2005.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2005] [Accepted: 08/12/2005] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The spread of bacterial resistance to known antibiotics has inspired interest in previously under-exploited drug targets. The transglycosylation reaction remains a 'black box' in the generally well-studied process of bacterial peptidoglycan biosynthesis, which is a very attractive target for chemotherapeutic intervention. Here, we summarize recent progress in the study of bacterial transglycosylases and the compounds that inhibit them. The transglycosylation reaction is readily targeted by several different classes of natural products, implying that it should be possible to develop drugs that inhibit this process once efficient high-throughput screens and appropriate compound libraries have been developed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bohdan Ostash
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
391
|
Guan Z, Breazeale SD, Raetz CRH. Extraction and identification by mass spectrometry of undecaprenyl diphosphate-MurNAc-pentapeptide-GlcNAc from Escherichia coli. Anal Biochem 2006; 345:336-9. [PMID: 16118008 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2005.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2005] [Revised: 06/29/2005] [Accepted: 07/01/2005] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Undecaprenyl diphosphate-MurNAc-pentapeptide-GlcNAc (lipid II) is extracted from Escherichia coli cells by utilizing its unusual pH-dependent solubility property in a Bligh-Dyer system, and identified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in conjunction with a novel 15N mass shift analysis. The described approach will facilitate the structural characterization of lipid II variants from diverse bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant mutants, as well as the numerous minor uncharacterized lipids present in all biological systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ziqiang Guan
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
392
|
Patton GC, van der Donk WA. New developments in lantibiotic biosynthesis and mode of action. Curr Opin Microbiol 2006; 8:543-51. [PMID: 16118063 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2005.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2005] [Accepted: 08/15/2005] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Lantibiotics are a unique class of peptide antibiotics. Recent studies of the proteins involved in the elaborate post-translational modifications of lantibiotics have revealed that these enzymes have relaxed substrate specificity. These modifications include the dehydration of serine and threonine residues followed by the intramolecular addition of cysteine thiols to the unsaturated amino acids to create an intricate polycyclic peptide. The use of peptide engineering in vivo and in vitro has allowed investigation of their biosynthetic machinery. Several members utilize a unique mode of biological action that involves the sequestration of lipid II, a crucial intermediate in peptidoglycan biosynthesis, to form pores in bacterial membranes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory C Patton
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
393
|
Abstract
Bacteriocins are bacterially produced antimicrobial peptides with narrow or broad host ranges. Many bacteriocins are produced by food-grade lactic acid bacteria, a phenomenon which offers food scientists the possibility of directing or preventing the development of specific bacterial species in food. This can be particularly useful in preservation or food safety applications, but also has implications for the development of desirable flora in fermented food. In this sense, bacteriocins can be used to confer a rudimentary form of innate immunity to foodstuffs, helping processors extend their control over the food flora long after manufacture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul D Cotter
- Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Microbiology Department, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
394
|
Ghalit N, Poot AJ, Fürstner A, Rijkers DTS, Liskamp RMJ. Ring-Closing Alkyne Metathesis Approach toward the Synthesis of Alkyne Mimics of Thioether A-, B-, C-, and DE-Ring Systems of the Lantibiotic Nisin Z. Org Lett 2005; 7:2961-4. [PMID: 15987180 DOI: 10.1021/ol0508781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
[reaction: see text] Ring-closing alkyne metathesis toward the synthesis of the alkyne-brigded A-, B-, C-, and (D)E-ring mimics of the peptide antibiotic nisin Z is described. We have successfully synthesized alkyne-bridged cyclic peptides containing 4-7 amino acid residues in yields ranging from 18 to 82%.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nourdin Ghalit
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
395
|
Ekkelenkamp MB, Hanssen M, Danny Hsu ST, de Jong A, Milatovic D, Verhoef J, van Nuland NAJ. Isolation and structural characterization of epilancin 15X, a novel lantibiotic from a clinical strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis. FEBS Lett 2005; 579:1917-22. [PMID: 15792796 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2005.01.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2004] [Revised: 01/14/2005] [Accepted: 01/22/2005] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The potential application of lantibiotics as food-preserving agents and more recently as antibiotics has strongly increased the interest in these antibacterial peptides. Here, we report the elucidation of the primary and three-dimensional structures of the novel lantibiotic epilancin 15X from Staphylococcus epidermidis using high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and tandem mass spectrometry. The molecule contains ten post-translationally modified amino acids, three lanthionine ring structures and a hydroxy-propionyl N-terminal moiety. The primary and tertiary structure and the distribution of positive charges are closely similar to the previously identified lantibiotic epilancin K7, most likely indicative of a common mode of action.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miquel B Ekkelenkamp
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
396
|
Chatterjee C, Paul M, Xie L, van der Donk WA. Biosynthesis and mode of action of lantibiotics. Chem Rev 2005; 105:633-84. [PMID: 15700960 DOI: 10.1021/cr030105v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 556] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Champak Chatterjee
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
397
|
In Brief. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2004. [PMCID: PMC7097774 DOI: 10.1038/nrd1559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
|