1
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Milli G, Pellegrini A, Listro R, Fasolini M, Pagano K, Ragona L, Pietrocola G, Linciano P, Collina S. New LsrK Ligands as AI-2 Quorum Sensing Interfering Compounds against Biofilm Formation. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 39384180 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/11/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a critical global health crisis. An innovative strategy to deal with AMR is to interfere with biofilm formation and bacterial quorum sensing (QS). In this study, newly designed autoinducer-2 (AI-2)-inspired compounds in targeting biofilm-associated infections were evaluated for their ability to inhibit biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The most effective compounds, 5d, 5e, and 7b, exhibited potent antibiofilm activity with minimal inhibitory concentrations in the low microgram per mL range. Detailed biological assays confirmed that the antibiofilm activity was primarily driven through AI-2 QS inhibition rather than direct antimicrobial effects. The combination of different spectroscopic techniques, such as differential scanning fluorimetry, intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence, circular dichroism, and nuclear magnetic resonance, elucidated the binding between the compounds and the LsrK enzyme, a key player in AI-2 mediated QS. Our findings highlight the potential of these novel QS inhibitors as promising therapeutic agents against biofilm-associated infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Milli
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Angelica Pellegrini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Biochemistry Unit, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 3/b, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Roberta Listro
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Marina Fasolini
- Nerviano Medical Sciences s.r.l., Viale Pasteur 10, Nerviano, Milano 20014, Italy
| | - Katiuscia Pagano
- NMR Laboratory, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", CNR, via Alfonso Corti, 12, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Laura Ragona
- NMR Laboratory, Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", CNR, via Alfonso Corti, 12, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Giampiero Pietrocola
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Biochemistry Unit, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 3/b, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Pasquale Linciano
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Simona Collina
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, Pavia 27100, Italy
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2
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Hetta HF, Ramadan YN, Rashed ZI, Alharbi AA, Alsharef S, Alkindy TT, Alkhamali A, Albalawi AS, Battah B, Donadu MG. Quorum Sensing Inhibitors: An Alternative Strategy to Win the Battle against Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) Bacteria. Molecules 2024; 29:3466. [PMID: 39124871 PMCID: PMC11313800 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29153466] [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: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a major problem and a major global health concern. In total, there are 16 million deaths yearly from infectious diseases, and at least 65% of infectious diseases are caused by microbial communities that proliferate through the formation of biofilms. Antibiotic overuse has resulted in the evolution of multidrug-resistant (MDR) microbial strains. As a result, there is now much more interest in non-antibiotic therapies for bacterial infections. Among these revolutionary, non-traditional medications is quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs). Bacterial cell-to-cell communication is known as quorum sensing (QS), and it is mediated by tiny diffusible signaling molecules known as autoinducers (AIs). QS is dependent on the density of the bacterial population. QS is used by Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria to control a wide range of processes; in both scenarios, QS entails the synthesis, identification, and reaction to signaling chemicals, also known as auto-inducers. Since the usual processes regulated by QS are the expression of virulence factors and the creation of biofilms, QS is being investigated as an alternative solution to antibiotic resistance. Consequently, the use of QS-inhibiting agents, such as QSIs and quorum quenching (QQ) enzymes, to interfere with QS seems like a good strategy to prevent bacterial infections. This review sheds light on QS inhibition strategy and mechanisms and discusses how using this approach can aid in winning the battle against resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helal F. Hetta
- Division of Microbiology, Immunology and Biotechnology, Department of Natural Products and Alternative Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.A.); (S.A.); (T.T.A.)
| | - Yasmin N. Ramadan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt; (Y.N.R.); (Z.I.R.)
| | - Zainab I. Rashed
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt; (Y.N.R.); (Z.I.R.)
| | - Ahmad A. Alharbi
- Division of Microbiology, Immunology and Biotechnology, Department of Natural Products and Alternative Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.A.); (S.A.); (T.T.A.)
| | - Shomokh Alsharef
- Division of Microbiology, Immunology and Biotechnology, Department of Natural Products and Alternative Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.A.); (S.A.); (T.T.A.)
| | - Tala T. Alkindy
- Division of Microbiology, Immunology and Biotechnology, Department of Natural Products and Alternative Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.A.); (S.A.); (T.T.A.)
| | - Alanoud Alkhamali
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (A.S.A.)
| | - Abdullah S. Albalawi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (A.S.A.)
| | - Basem Battah
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Antioch Syrian Private University, Maaret Siadnaya 22734, Syria
| | - Matthew G. Donadu
- Hospital Pharmacy, Giovanni Paolo II Hospital, ASL Gallura, 07026 Olbia, Italy;
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, Scuola di Specializzazione in Farmacia Ospedaliera, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
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3
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Shi Q, Wen H, Xu Y, Zhao X, Zhang J, Li Y, Meng Q, Yu F, Xiao J, Li X. Virtual screening-based discovery of AI-2 quorum sensing inhibitors that interact with an allosteric hydrophobic site of LsrK and their functional evaluation. Front Chem 2023; 11:1185224. [PMID: 37292175 PMCID: PMC10244669 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1185224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Quorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial intracellular and intercellular communication system that regulates virulence factor production, biofilm formation, and antibiotic sensitivity. Quorum-sensing inhibitors (QSIs) are a novel class of antibiotics that can effectively combat antibiotic resistance. Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) is a universal signaling molecule that mediates inter- and intraspecies QS systems among different bacteria. Furthermore, LsrK plays an important role in regulating the activity and stability of the intracellular AI-2 signaling pathway. Thus, LsrK is considered an important target for the development of QSIs. Methods: We designed a workflow integrating molecular dynamic (MD) simulations, virtual screening, LsrK inhibition assays, cell-based AI-2-mediated QS interference assays, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based protein affinity assays to screen for potential LsrK kinase inhibitors. Results: MD simulation results of the LsrK/ATP complex revealed hydrogen bonds and salt bridge formation among four key residues, namely, Lys 431, Tyr 341, Arg 319, and Arg 322, which are critical for the binding of ATP to LsrK. Furthermore, MD simulation results indicated that the ATP-binding site has an allosteric pocket that can become larger and be occupied by small molecule compounds. Based on these MD simulation results, a constraint of forming at least one hydrogen bond with Arg 319, Arg 322, Lys 431, or Tyr 341 residues was introduced when performing virtual screening using Glide's virtual screening workflow (VSW). In the meantime, compounds with hydrophobic group likely to interact with the allosteric hydrophobic pocket are preferred when performing visual inspection. Seventy-four compounds were selected for the wet laboratory assays based on virtual screening and the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties of these compounds. LsrK inhibition assays revealed 12 compounds inhibiting LsrK by more than 60% at a 200 μM concentration; four of these (Y205-6768, D135-0149, 3284-1358, and N025-0038) had IC50 values below 50 μM and were confirmed as ATP-competitive inhibitors. Six of these 12 LsrK inhibitors exhibited high AI-2 QS inhibition, of which, Y205-6768 had the highest activity with IC50 = 11.28 ± 0.70 μM. The SPR assay verified that compounds Y205-6768 and N025-0038 specifically bound to LsrK. MD simulation analysis of the docking complexes of the four active compounds with LsrK further confirmed the importance of forming hydrogen bonds and salt bridges with key basic amino acid residues including Lys 431, Tyr 341, Arg 319, and Arg 322 and filling the allosteric hydrophobic pocket next to the purine-binding site of LsrK. Discussion: Our study clarified for the first time that there is an allosteric site near the ATP-binding site of Lsrk and that it enriches the structure-activity relationship information of Lsrk inhibitors. The four identified compounds showed novel structures, low molecular weights, high activities, and novel LsrK binding modes, rendering them suitable for further optimization for effective AI-2 QSIs. Our work provides a valuable reference for the discovery of QSIs that do not inhibit bacterial growth, thereby avoiding the emergence of drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Shi
- School of Petrochemical Engineering, Liaoning Petrochemical University, Fushun, China
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Strategic Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Huiqi Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yijie Xu
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Strategic Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Zhao
- Department of Hepatology, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Qionglai Medical Center Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Ye Li
- The No 968 Hospital of PLA, Jinzhou, China
| | - Qingbin Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Fang Yu
- School of Petrochemical Engineering, Liaoning Petrochemical University, Fushun, China
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Strategic Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Junhai Xiao
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Strategic Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Xingzhou Li
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Strategic Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
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Xu Y, Zeng C, Wen H, Shi Q, Zhao X, Meng Q, Li X, Xiao J. Discovery of AI-2 Quorum Sensing Inhibitors Targeting the LsrK/HPr Protein-Protein Interaction Site by Molecular Dynamics Simulation, Virtual Screening, and Bioassay Evaluation. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16050737. [PMID: 37242520 DOI: 10.3390/ph16050737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-to-cell communication mechanism that regulates bacterial pathogenicity, biofilm formation, and antibiotic sensitivity. Among the identified quorum sensing, AI-2 QS exists in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and is responsible for interspecies communication. Recent studies have highlighted the connection between the phosphotransferase system (PTS) and AI-2 QS, with this link being associated with protein-protein interaction (PPI) between HPr and LsrK. Here, we first discovered several AI-2 QSIs targeting the LsrK/HPr PPI site through molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, virtual screening, and bioassay evaluation. Of the 62 compounds purchased, eight compounds demonstrated significant inhibition in LsrK-based assays and AI-2 QS interference assays. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis confirmed that the hit compound 4171-0375 specifically bound to the LsrK-N protein (HPr binding domain, KD = 2.51 × 10-5 M), and therefore the LsrK/HPr PPI site. The structure-activity relationships (SARs) emphasized the importance of hydrophobic interactions with the hydrophobic pocket and hydrogen bonds or salt bridges with key residues of LsrK for LsrK/HPr PPI inhibitors. These new AI-2 QSIs, especially 4171-0375, exhibited novel structures, significant LsrK inhibition, and were suitable for structural modification to search for more effective AI-2 QSIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijie Xu
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Chunlan Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Huiqi Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Qianqian Shi
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Xu Zhao
- Department of Hepatology, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Qingbin Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Xingzhou Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Junhai Xiao
- National Engineering Research Center for Strategic Drugs, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
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5
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Bai YB, Shi MY, Wang WW, Wu LY, Bai YT, Li B, Zhou XZ, Zhang JY. Novel quorum sensing inhibitor Echinatin as an antibacterial synergist against Escherichia coli. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1003692. [PMID: 36386683 PMCID: PMC9663819 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1003692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
A new antibacterial strategy based on inhibiting bacterial quorum sensing (QS) has emerged as a promising method of attenuating bacterial pathogenicity and preventing bacterial resistance to antibiotics. In this study, we screened Echinatin (Ech) with high-efficiency anti-QS from 13 flavonoids through the AI-2 bioluminescence assay. Additionally, crystal violet (CV) staining combined with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to evaluate the effect of anti-biofilm against Escherichia coli (E. coli). Further, the antibacterial synergistic effect of Ech and marketed antibiotics were measured by broth dilution and Alamar Blue Assay. It was found that Ech interfered with the phenotype of QS, including biofilm formation, exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, and motility, without affecting bacterial growth and metabolic activity. Moreover, qRT-PCR exhibited that Ech significantly reduced the expression of QS-regulated genes (luxS, pfs, lsrB, lsrK, lsrR, flhC, flhD, fliC, csgD, and stx2). More important, Ech with currently marketed colistin antibiotics (including colistin B and colistin E) showed significantly synergistically increased antibacterial activity in overcoming antibiotic resistance of E. coli. In summary, these results suggested the potent anti-QS and novel antibacterial synergist candidate of Ech for treating E. coli infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Bin Bai
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China,Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou, China,Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Meng-Yan Shi
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China,Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou, China,Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wei-Wei Wang
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China,Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou, China,Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ling-Yu Wu
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China,Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou, China,Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yu-Ting Bai
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China,Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou, China,Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Bing Li
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China,Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou, China,Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xu-Zheng Zhou
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China,Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou, China,Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ji-Yu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China,Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou, China,Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China,*Correspondence: Ji-Yu Zhang,
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6
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Lamin A, Kaksonen AH, Cole IS, Chen XB. Quorum sensing inhibitors applications: a new prospect for mitigation of microbiologically influenced corrosion. Bioelectrochemistry 2022; 145:108050. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2022.108050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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7
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Medarametla P, Kronenberger T, Laitinen T, Poso A. Structural Characterization of LsrK as a Quorum Sensing Target and a Comparison between X-ray and Homology Models. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:1346-1353. [PMID: 33683884 PMCID: PMC8028047 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.0c01233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
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Quorum sensing is
being investigated as an alternative therapeutic
strategy in antibacterial drug discovery programs aimed at combatting
bacterial resistance. LsrK is an autoinducer-2 kinase (belongs to
the sugar kinase family), playing a key role in the phosphorylation
of the autoinducer-2 (AI-2) signaling molecules involved in quorum
sensing. Inhibiting LsrK could result in reduced pathogenicity by
interfering with quorum sensing signaling. Previously, we have generated
homology models to employ in structure-based virtual screening and
successfully identified the first class of LsrK inhibitors. While
conducting these studies, the crystal structure of LsrK was released,
providing us with an opportunity to evaluate the reliability and quality
of our models. A comparative structural analysis of the crystal structure
and homology models revealed consistencies among them in the overall
structural fold and binding site. Furthermore, the binding characteristics
and conformational changes of LsrK have been investigated using molecular
dynamics to inspect whether LsrK undergoes similar conformational
changes as that of sugar kinases. These studies revealed the flexibility
of the LsrK C-terminal domain (Domain II) attributing to the conformational
changes in LsrK resulting in open and closed states during the phosphorylation.
Further, simulations provided us with insights into the flexibility
of a loop in Domain I that can influence the ligand accessibility
to the LsrK binding site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasanthi Medarametla
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Thales Kronenberger
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Oncology and Pneumonology, Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Straße 10, DE 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tuomo Laitinen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Antti Poso
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Oncology and Pneumonology, Internal Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Straße 10, DE 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Linciano P, Cavalloro V, Martino E, Kirchmair J, Listro R, Rossi D, Collina S. Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance with Small Molecules Targeting LsrK: Challenges and Opportunities. J Med Chem 2020; 63:15243-15257. [PMID: 33152241 PMCID: PMC8016206 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing threat with severe health and economic consequences. The available antibiotics are losing efficacy, and the hunt for alternative strategies is a priority. Quorum sensing (QS) controls biofilm and virulence factors production. Thus, the quenching of QS to prevent pathogenicity and to increase bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics is an appealing therapeutic strategy. The phosphorylation of autoinducer-2 (a mediator in QS) by LsrK is a crucial step in triggering the QS cascade. Thus, LsrK represents a valuable target in fighting AMR. Few LsrK inhibitors have been reported so far, allowing ample room for further exploration. This perspective aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current knowledge about the structural and biological properties of LsrK and the state-of-the-art technology for LsrK inhibitor design. We elaborate on the challenges in developing novel LsrK inhibitors and point out promising avenues for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Linciano
- Department
of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Valeria Cavalloro
- Department
of Earth and Environmental Science, University
of Pavia, Via Sant’Epifanio 14, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Emanuela Martino
- Department
of Earth and Environmental Science, University
of Pavia, Via Sant’Epifanio 14, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Johannes Kirchmair
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Roberta Listro
- Department
of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Daniela Rossi
- Department
of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Simona Collina
- Department
of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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