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Zhang H, Guo L, Su Y, Wang R, Yang W, Mu W, Xuan L, Huang L, Wang J, Gao W. Hosts engineering and in vitro enzymatic synthesis for the discovery of novel natural products and their derivatives. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2024; 44:1121-1139. [PMID: 37574211 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2023.2236787] [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: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Novel natural products (NPs) and their derivatives are important sources for drug discovery, which have been broadly applied in the fields of agriculture, livestock, and medicine, making the synthesis of NPs and their derivatives necessarily important. In recent years, biosynthesis technology has received increasing attention due to its high efficiency in the synthesis of high value-added novel products and its advantages of green, environmental protection, and controllability. In this review, the technological advances of biosynthesis strategies in the discovery of novel NPs and their derivatives are outlined, with an emphasis on two areas of host engineering and in vitro enzymatic synthesis. In terms of hosts engineering, multiple microorganisms, including Streptomyces, Aspergillus, and Penicillium, have been used as the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) provider and host strain for the expression of BGCs to discover new compounds over the past years. In addition, the use of in vitro enzymatic synthesis strategy to generate novel compounds such as triterpenoid saponins and flavonoids is also hereby described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanyu Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Lanping Guo
- National Resource Center for Chinese Meteria Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yaowu Su
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Rubing Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Wenqi Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Wenrong Mu
- College of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Liangshuang Xuan
- College of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Luqi Huang
- National Resource Center for Chinese Meteria Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Juan Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Wenyuan Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P.R. China
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2
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Kinshuk S, Li L, Meckes B, Chan CTY. Sequence-Based Protein Design: A Review of Using Statistical Models to Characterize Coevolutionary Traits for Developing Hybrid Proteins as Genetic Sensors. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8320. [PMID: 39125888 PMCID: PMC11312098 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158320] [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: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Statistical analyses of homologous protein sequences can identify amino acid residue positions that co-evolve to generate family members with different properties. Based on the hypothesis that the coevolution of residue positions is necessary for maintaining protein structure, coevolutionary traits revealed by statistical models provide insight into residue-residue interactions that are important for understanding protein mechanisms at the molecular level. With the rapid expansion of genome sequencing databases that facilitate statistical analyses, this sequence-based approach has been used to study a broad range of protein families. An emerging application of this approach is to design hybrid transcriptional regulators as modular genetic sensors for novel wiring between input signals and genetic elements to control outputs. Among many allosterically regulated regulator families, the members contain structurally conserved and functionally independent protein domains, including a DNA-binding module (DBM) for interacting with a specific genetic element and a ligand-binding module (LBM) for sensing an input signal. By hybridizing a DBM and an LBM from two different family members, a hybrid regulator can be created with a new combination of signal-detection and DNA-recognition properties not present in natural systems. In this review, we present recent advances in the development of hybrid regulators and their applications in cellular engineering, especially focusing on the use of statistical analyses for characterizing DBM-LBM interactions and hybrid regulator design. Based on these studies, we then discuss the current limitations and potential directions for enhancing the impact of this sequence-based design approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahaj Kinshuk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of North Texas, 3940 N Elm Street, Denton, TX 76207, USA; (S.K.); (L.L.); (B.M.)
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of North Texas, 3940 N Elm Street, Denton, TX 76207, USA; (S.K.); (L.L.); (B.M.)
| | - Brian Meckes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of North Texas, 3940 N Elm Street, Denton, TX 76207, USA; (S.K.); (L.L.); (B.M.)
- BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #305220, Denton, TX 76203, USA
| | - Clement T. Y. Chan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of North Texas, 3940 N Elm Street, Denton, TX 76207, USA; (S.K.); (L.L.); (B.M.)
- BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #305220, Denton, TX 76203, USA
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3
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Chan CTY, Kennedy V, Kinshuk S. A domain swapping strategy to create modular transcriptional regulators for novel topology in genetic network. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 72:108345. [PMID: 38513775 PMCID: PMC11135624 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108345] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Transcriptional regulators generate connections between biological signals and genetic outputs. They are used robustly for sensing input signals in building genetic circuits. However, each regulator can only generate a fixed connection, which generates constraints in linking multiple signals for more complex processes. Recent studies discovered that a domain swapping strategy can be applied to various regulator families to create modular regulators for new signal-output connections, significantly broadening possibilities in circuit design. Here we review the development of this emerging strategy, the use of resulting modular regulators for creating novel genetic response behaviors, and current limitations and solutions for further advancing the design of modular regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clement T Y Chan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, TX 76207, USA; BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, TX 76207, USA.
| | - Vincenzo Kennedy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, TX 76207, USA
| | - Sahaj Kinshuk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, TX 76207, USA
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4
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Cook GD, Stasulli NM. Employing synthetic biology to expand antibiotic discovery. SLAS Technol 2024; 29:100120. [PMID: 38340893 DOI: 10.1016/j.slast.2024.100120] [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: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacterial pathogens are a continually growing threat as our methods for combating these infections continue to be overcome by the evolution of resistance mechanisms. Recent therapeutic methods have not staved off the concern of AMR infections, so continued research focuses on new ways of identifying small molecules to treat AMR pathogens. While chemical modification of existing antibiotics is possible, there has been rapid development of resistance by pathogens that were initially susceptible to these compounds. Synthetic biology is becoming a key strategy in trying to predict and induce novel, natural antibiotics. Advances in cloning and mutagenesis techniques applied through a synthetic biology lens can help characterize the native regulation of antibiotic biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) to identify potential modifications leading to more potent antibiotic activity. Additionally, many cryptic antibiotic BGCs are derived from non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS) and polyketide synthase (PKS) biosynthetic pathways; complex, clustered genetic sequences that give rise to amino acid-derived natural products. Synthetic biology can be applied to modify and metabolically engineer these enzyme-based systems to promote rapid and sustainable production of natural products and their variants. This review will focus on recent advances related to synthetic biology as applied to genetic pathway characterization and identification of antibiotics from naturally occurring BGCs. Specifically, we will summarize recent efforts to characterize BGCs via general genomic mutagenesis, endogenous gene expression, and heterologous gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta D Cook
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, 300 Boston Post Rd, Dodds Hall 316, West Haven 06516 USA
| | - Nikolas M Stasulli
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, 300 Boston Post Rd, Dodds Hall 316, West Haven 06516 USA.
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5
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Guidelines for metabolomics-guided transposon mutagenesis for microbial natural product discovery. Methods Enzymol 2022; 665:305-323. [PMID: 35379440 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
There is a great discrepancy between the natural product output of cultured microorganisms and their bioinformatically predicted biosynthetic potential, such that most of the molecular diversity contained within microbial reservoirs has yet to be discovered. One of the primary reasons is insufficient expression of natural product biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) under standard laboratory conditions. Several methods have been developed to increase production from such "cryptic" BGCs. Among these, we recently implemented mass spectrometry-guided transposon mutagenesis, a forward genetic screen in which mutants that exhibit stimulated biosynthesis of cryptic metabolites, as read out by mass spectrometry, are selected from a transposon mutant library. Herein, we use Burkholderia gladioli as an example and provide guidelines for generating transposon mutant libraries, measuring metabolomic inventories through mass spectrometry, performing comparative metabolomics to prioritize cryptic natural products from the mutant library, and isolating and characterizing novel natural products elicited through mutagenesis. Application of this approach will be useful in both accessing novel natural products from cryptic BGCs and identifying genes involved in their global regulation.
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Domingues Vieira B, Niero H, de Felício R, Giolo Alves LF, Freitas Bazzano C, Sigrist R, Costa Furtado L, Felix Persinoti G, Veras Costa-Lotufo L, Barretto Barbosa Trivella D. Production of Epoxyketone Peptide-Based Proteasome Inhibitors by Streptomyces sp. BRA-346: Regulation and Biosynthesis. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:786008. [PMID: 35401454 PMCID: PMC8988807 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.786008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptomyces sp. BRA-346 is an Actinobacteria isolated from the Brazilian endemic tunicate Euherdmania sp. We have reported that this strain produces epoxyketone peptides, as dihydroeponemycin (DHE) and structurally related analogs. This cocktail of epoxyketone peptides inhibits the proteasome chymotrypsin-like activity and shows high cytotoxicity to glioma cells. However, low yields and poor reproducibility of epoxyketone peptides production by BRA-346 under laboratory cultivation have limited the isolation of epoxyketone peptides for additional studies. Here, we evaluated several cultivation methods using different culture media and chemical elicitors to increase the repertoire of peptide epoxyketone production by this bacterium. Furthermore, BRA-346 genome was sequenced, revealing its broad genetic potential, which is mostly hidden under laboratory conditions. By using specific growth conditions, we were able to evidence different classes of secondary metabolites produced by BRA-346. In addition, by combining genome mining with untargeted metabolomics, we could link the metabolites produced by BRA-346 to its genetic capacity and potential regulators. A single biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) was related to the production of the target epoxyketone peptides by BRA-346. The candidate BGC displays conserved biosynthetic enzymes with the reported eponemycin (EPN) and TMC-86A (TMC) BGCs. The core of the putative epoxyketone peptide BGC (ORFs A-L), in which ORF A is a LuxR-like transcription factor, was cloned into a heterologous host. The recombinant organism was capable to produce TMC and EPN natural products, along with the biosynthetic intermediates DH-TMC and DHE, and additional congeners. A phylogenetic analysis of the epn/tmc BGC revealed related BGCs in public databases. Most of them carry a proteasome beta-subunit, however, lacking an assigned specialized metabolite. The retrieved BGCs also display a diversity of regulatory genes and TTA codons, indicating tight regulation of this BGC at the transcription and translational levels. These results demonstrate the plasticity of the epn/tmc BGC of BRA-346 in producing epoxyketone peptides and the feasibility of their production in a heterologous host. This work also highlights the capacity of BRA-346 to tightly regulate its secondary metabolism and shed light on how to awake silent gene clusters of Streptomyces sp. BRA-346 to allow the production of pharmacologically important biosynthetic products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Domingues Vieira
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (FCF), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Henrique Niero
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (FCF), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Rafael de Felício
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Luiz Fernando Giolo Alves
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Cristina Freitas Bazzano
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
- Institute of Computing (IC), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Renata Sigrist
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Luciana Costa Furtado
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Felix Persinoti
- Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory (LNBR), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Leticia Veras Costa-Lotufo
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniela Barretto Barbosa Trivella
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Daniela Barretto Barbosa Trivella,
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7
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Jiang XL, Dimas RP, Chan CTY, Morcos F. Coevolutionary methods enable robust design of modular repressors by reestablishing intra-protein interactions. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5592. [PMID: 34552074 PMCID: PMC8458406 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25851-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic sensors with unique combinations of DNA recognition and allosteric response can be created by hybridizing DNA-binding modules (DBMs) and ligand-binding modules (LBMs) from distinct transcriptional repressors. This module swapping approach is limited by incompatibility between DBMs and LBMs from different proteins, due to the loss of critical module-module interactions after hybridization. We determine a design strategy for restoring key interactions between DBMs and LBMs by using a computational model informed by coevolutionary traits in the LacI family. This model predicts the influence of proposed mutations on protein structure and function, quantifying the feasibility of each mutation for rescuing hybrid repressors. We accurately predict which hybrid repressors can be rescued by mutating residues to reinstall relevant module-module interactions. Experimental results confirm that dynamic ranges of gene expression induction were improved significantly in these mutants. This approach enhances the molecular and mechanistic understanding of LacI family proteins, and advances the ability to design modular genetic parts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-Li Jiang
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rey P Dimas
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
| | - Clement T Y Chan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA.
- BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA.
| | - Faruck Morcos
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Center for Systems Biology, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.
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8
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Covington BC, Xu F, Seyedsayamdost MR. A Natural Product Chemist's Guide to Unlocking Silent Biosynthetic Gene Clusters. Annu Rev Biochem 2021; 90:763-788. [PMID: 33848426 PMCID: PMC9148385 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-081420-102432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Microbial natural products have provided an important source of therapeutic leads and motivated research and innovation in diverse scientific disciplines. In recent years, it has become evident that bacteria harbor a large, hidden reservoir of potential natural products in the form of silent or cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). These can be readily identified in microbial genome sequences but do not give rise to detectable levels of a natural product. Herein, we provide a useful organizational framework for the various methods that have been implemented for interrogating silent BGCs. We divide all available approaches into four categories. The first three are endogenous strategies that utilize the native host in conjunction with classical genetics, chemical genetics, or different culture modalities. The last category comprises expression of the entire BGC in a heterologous host. For each category, we describe the rationale, recent applications, and associated advantages and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett C Covington
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA; ,
| | - Fei Xu
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Department of Gastroenterology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China;
| | - Mohammad R Seyedsayamdost
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA; ,
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, New Jersey 08544, USA
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9
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Abstract
Covering: up to mid-2020 Terpenoids, also called isoprenoids, are the largest and most structurally diverse family of natural products. Found in all domains of life, there are over 80 000 known compounds. The majority of characterized terpenoids, which include some of the most well known, pharmaceutically relevant, and commercially valuable natural products, are produced by plants and fungi. Comparatively, terpenoids of bacterial origin are rare. This is counter-intuitive to the fact that recent microbial genomics revealed that almost all bacteria have the biosynthetic potential to create the C5 building blocks necessary for terpenoid biosynthesis. In this review, we catalogue terpenoids produced by bacteria. We collected 1062 natural products, consisting of both primary and secondary metabolites, and classified them into two major families and 55 distinct subfamilies. To highlight the structural and chemical space of bacterial terpenoids, we discuss their structures, biosynthesis, and biological activities. Although the bacterial terpenome is relatively small, it presents a fascinating dichotomy for future research. Similarities between bacterial and non-bacterial terpenoids and their biosynthetic pathways provides alternative model systems for detailed characterization while the abundance of novel skeletons, biosynthetic pathways, and bioactivies presents new opportunities for drug discovery, genome mining, and enzymology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Rudolf
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
| | - Tyler A Alsup
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
| | - Baofu Xu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
| | - Zining Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
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10
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Sadler JC. The Bipartisan Future of Synthetic Chemistry and Synthetic Biology. Chembiochem 2020; 21:3489-3491. [PMID: 33201568 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology holds great potential for sustainable chemical synthesis, yet is limited to accessing a relatively small area of chemical space. By interfacing this new technology with the versatility and scope of synthetic chemistry, the best of both worlds can be harnessed to drive a green chemical industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna C Sadler
- Institute for Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh King's Buildings, Alexander Crum Brown Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, UK
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11
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Alvarez R, de Lera AR. Natural polyenic macrolactams and polycyclic derivatives generated by transannular pericyclic reactions: optimized biogenesis challenging chemical synthesis. Nat Prod Rep 2020; 38:1136-1220. [PMID: 33283831 DOI: 10.1039/d0np00050g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Covering from 1992 to the end of 2020-11-20.Genetically-encoded polyenic macrolactams, which are constructed by Nature using hybrid polyketide synthase/nonribosomal peptide synthase (PKSs/NRPSs) assembly lines, are part of the large collection of natural products isolated from bacteria. Activation of cryptic (i.e., silent) gene clusters in these microorganisms has more recently allowed to generate and eventually isolate additional members of the family. Having two unsaturated fragments separated by short saturated chains, the primary macrolactam is posited to undergo transannular reactions and further rearrangements thus leading to the generation of a structurally diverse collection of polycyclic (natural) products and oxidized derivatives. The review will cover the challenges that scientists face on the isolation of these unstable compounds from the cultures of the producing microorganisms, their structural characterization, biological activities, optimized biogenetic routes, as well as the skeletal rearrangements of the primary structures of the natural macrolactams derived from pericyclic reactions of the polyenic fragments. The efforts of the synthetic chemists to emulate Nature on the successful generation and structural confirmation of these natural products will also be reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosana Alvarez
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Center for Biomedical Research (CINBIO), IBIV, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain.
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12
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Engineered protein switches for exogenous control of gene expression. Biochem Soc Trans 2020; 48:2205-2212. [DOI: 10.1042/bst20200441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
There is an ongoing need in the synthetic biology community for novel ways to regulate gene expression. Protein switches, which sense biological inputs and respond with functional outputs, represent one way to meet this need. Despite the fact that there is already a large pool of transcription factors and signaling proteins available, the pool of existing switches lacks the substrate specificities and activities required for certain applications. Therefore, a large number of techniques have been applied to engineer switches with novel properties. Here we discuss some of these techniques by broadly organizing them into three approaches. We show how novel switches can be created through mutagenesis, domain swapping, or domain insertion. We then briefly discuss their use as biosensors and in complex genetic circuits.
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13
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Girard L, Höfte M, De Mot R. Lipopeptide families at the interface between pathogenic and beneficial Pseudomonas-plant interactions. Crit Rev Microbiol 2020; 46:397-419. [PMID: 32885723 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2020.1794790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Lipopeptides (LPs) are a prominent class of molecules among the steadily growing spectrum of specialized metabolites retrieved from Pseudomonas, in particular soil-dwelling and plant-associated isolates. Among the multiple LP families, pioneering research focussed on phytotoxic and antimicrobial cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) of the ubiquitous plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae (syringomycin and syringopeptin). Their non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are embedded in biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) that are tightly co-clustered on a pathogenicity island. Other members of the P. syringae group (Pseudomonas cichorii) and some species of the Pseudomonas asplenii group and Pseudomonas fluorescens complex have adopted these biosynthetic strategies to co-produce their own mycin and peptin variants, in some strains supplemented with an analogue of the P. syringae linear LP (LLP), syringafactin. This capacity is not confined to phytopathogens but also occurs in some biocontrol strains, which indicates that these LP families not solely function as general virulence factors. We address this issue by scrutinizing the structural diversity and bioactivities of LPs from the mycin, peptin, and factin families in a phylogenetic and evolutionary perspective. BGC functional organization (including associated regulatory and transport genes) and NRPS modular architectures in known and candidate LP producers were assessed by genome mining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa Girard
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven, Heverlee-Leuven, Belgium
| | - Monica Höfte
- Department of Plants and Crops, Laboratory of Phytopathology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - René De Mot
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, KU Leuven, Heverlee-Leuven, Belgium
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14
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Mukherji R, Zhang S, Chowdhury S, Stallforth P. Chimeric LuxR Transcription Factors Rewire Natural Product Regulation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:6192-6195. [PMID: 31943579 PMCID: PMC7187462 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201914449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
LuxR-type transcriptional activator proteins frequently regulate the expression of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). With only a fraction of bacterial BGCs being expressed under standard culturing conditions, modulation of LuxRs would provide a powerful approach to activate silent clusters. We show that by exploiting the modular nature of LuxR proteins, it is possible to construct functional chimeric LuxRs, which enables both the rewiring of quorum sensing systems and the activation of silent BGCs. Importantly, our strategy allowed us to identify the novel natural product pseudomonol from a bacterium of the genus Pseudomonas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruchira Mukherji
- Independent Junior Research Group Chemistry of Microbial CommunicationLeibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection BiologyHans Knöll Institute (HKI)Beutenbergstrasse 11a07745JenaGermany
| | - Shuaibing Zhang
- Independent Junior Research Group Chemistry of Microbial CommunicationLeibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection BiologyHans Knöll Institute (HKI)Beutenbergstrasse 11a07745JenaGermany
| | - Somak Chowdhury
- Independent Junior Research Group Chemistry of Microbial CommunicationLeibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection BiologyHans Knöll Institute (HKI)Beutenbergstrasse 11a07745JenaGermany
| | - Pierre Stallforth
- Independent Junior Research Group Chemistry of Microbial CommunicationLeibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection BiologyHans Knöll Institute (HKI)Beutenbergstrasse 11a07745JenaGermany
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