1
|
Xu G, Torri D, Cuesta-Hoyos S, Panda D, Yates LRL, Zallot R, Bian K, Jia D, Iorgu AI, Levy C, Shepherd SA, Micklefield J. Cryptic enzymatic assembly of peptides armed with β-lactone warheads. Nat Chem Biol 2024:10.1038/s41589-024-01657-7. [PMID: 38951647 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-024-01657-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Nature has evolved biosynthetic pathways to molecules possessing reactive warheads that inspired the development of many therapeutic agents, including penicillin antibiotics. Peptides armed with electrophilic warheads have proven to be particularly effective covalent inhibitors, providing essential antimicrobial, antiviral and anticancer agents. Here we provide a full characterization of the pathways that nature deploys to assemble peptides with β-lactone warheads, which are potent proteasome inhibitors with promising anticancer activity. Warhead assembly involves a three-step cryptic methylation sequence, which is likely required to reduce unfavorable electrostatic interactions during the sterically demanding β-lactonization. Amide-bond synthetase and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-grasp enzymes couple amino acids to the β-lactone warhead, generating the bioactive peptide products. After reconstituting the entire pathway to β-lactone peptides in vitro, we go on to deliver a diverse range of analogs through enzymatic cascade reactions. Our approach is more efficient and cleaner than the synthetic methods currently used to produce clinically important warhead-containing peptides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guangcai Xu
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Daniele Torri
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Sebastian Cuesta-Hoyos
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Deepanjan Panda
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Luke R L Yates
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Rémi Zallot
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Kehan Bian
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Dongxu Jia
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Andreea I Iorgu
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Colin Levy
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Sarah A Shepherd
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jason Micklefield
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cui JJ, Zhang Y, Ju KS. Phosphonoalamides Reveal the Biosynthetic Origin of Phosphonoalanine Natural Products and a Convergent Pathway for Their Diversification. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024:e202405052. [PMID: 38780891 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202405052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Phosphonate natural products, with their potent inhibitory activity, have found widespread use across multiple industries. Their success has inspired development of genome mining approaches that continue to reveal previously unknown bioactive scaffolds and biosynthetic insights. However, a greater understanding of phosphonate metabolism is required to enable prediction of compounds and their bioactivities from sequence information alone. Here, we expand our knowledge of this natural product class by reporting the complete biosynthesis of the phosphonoalamides, antimicrobial tripeptides with a conserved N-terminal l-phosphonoalanine (PnAla) residue produced by Streptomyces. The phosphonoalamides result from the convergence of PnAla biosynthesis and peptide ligation pathways. We elucidate the biochemistry underlying the transamination of phosphonopyruvate to PnAla, a new early branchpoint in phosphonate biosynthesis catalyzed by an aminotransferase with evolved specificity for phosphonate metabolism. Peptide formation is catalyzed by two ATP-grasp ligases, the first of which produces dipeptides, and a second which ligates dipeptides to PnAla to produce phosphonoalamides. Substrate specificity profiling revealed a dramatic expansion of dipeptide and tripeptide products, while finding PnaC to be the most promiscuous dipeptide ligase reported thus far. Our findings highlight previously unknown transformations in natural product biosynthesis, promising enzyme biocatalysts, and unveil insights into the diversity of phosphonopeptide natural products.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jerry J Cui
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, 318W. 12th Ave, Columbus, OH-43210, USA
| | - Yeying Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, 318W. 12th Ave, Columbus, OH-43210, USA
| | - Kou-San Ju
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, 318W. 12th Ave, Columbus, OH-43210, USA
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Center for Applied Plant Sciences, Infectious Disease Institute, The Ohio State University, 318W. 12th Ave, Columbus, OH-43210, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ohnuki J, Arimura Y, Kono T, Kino K, Kurumizaka H, Takano M. Electrostatic Ratchet for Successive Peptide Synthesis in Nonribosomal Molecular Machine RimK. J Am Chem Soc 2023. [PMID: 37452763 PMCID: PMC10375531 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c03926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
A nonribosomal peptide-synthesizing molecular machine, RimK, adds l-glutamic acids to the C-terminus of ribosomal protein S6 (RpsF) in vivo and synthesizes poly-α-glutamates in vitro. However, the mechanism of the successive glutamate addition, which is fueled by ATP, remains unclear. Here, we investigate the successive peptide-synthesizing mechanism of RimK via the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of glutamate binding. We first show that RimK adopts three stable structural states with respect to the ATP-binding loop and the triphosphate chain of the bound ATP. We then show that a glutamate in solution preferentially binds to a positively charged belt-like region of RimK and the bound glutamate exhibits Brownian motion along the belt. The binding-energy landscape shows that the open-to-closed transition of the ATP-binding loop and the bent-to-straight transition of the triphosphate chain of ATP can function as an electrostatic ratchet that guides the bound glutamate to the active site. We then show the binding site of the second glutamate, which allows us to infer the ligation mechanism. Consistent with MD results, the crystal structure of RimK we obtained in the presence of RpsF presents an electron density that is presumed to correspond to the C-terminus of RpsF. We finally propose a mechanism for the successive peptide synthesis by RimK and discuss its similarity to other molecular machines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Ohnuki
- Department of Pure and Applied Physics, Waseda University, Okubo 3-4-1, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Arimura
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Tomonori Kono
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Waseda University, Okubo 3-4-1, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Kuniki Kino
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Waseda University, Okubo 3-4-1, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Kurumizaka
- Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Mitsunori Takano
- Department of Pure and Applied Physics, Waseda University, Okubo 3-4-1, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bown L, Hirota R, Goettge MN, Cui J, Krist DT, Zhu L, Giurgiu C, van der Donk WA, Ju KS, Metcalf WW. A Novel Pathway for Biosynthesis of the Herbicidal Phosphonate Natural Product Phosphonothrixin Is Widespread in Actinobacteria. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0048522. [PMID: 37074199 PMCID: PMC10210982 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00485-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphonothrixin is an herbicidal phosphonate natural product with an unusual, branched carbon skeleton. Bioinformatic analyses of the ftx gene cluster, which is responsible for synthesis of the compound, suggest that early steps of the biosynthetic pathway, up to production of the intermediate 2,3-dihydroxypropylphosphonic acid (DHPPA) are identical to those of the unrelated phosphonate natural product valinophos. This conclusion was strongly supported by the observation of biosynthetic intermediates from the shared pathway in spent media from two phosphonothrixin producing strains. Biochemical characterization of ftx-encoded proteins confirmed these early steps, as well as subsequent steps involving the oxidation of DHPPA to 3-hydroxy-2-oxopropylphosphonate and its conversion to phosphonothrixin by the combined action of an unusual heterodimeric, thiamine-pyrophosphate (TPP)-dependent ketotransferase and a TPP-dependent acetolactate synthase. The frequent observation of ftx-like gene clusters within actinobacteria suggests that production of compounds related to phosphonothrixin is common within these bacteria. IMPORTANCE Phosphonic acid natural products, such as phosphonothrixin, have great potential for biomedical and agricultural applications; however, discovery and development of these compounds requires detailed knowledge of the metabolism involved in their biosynthesis. The studies reported here reveal the biochemical pathway phosphonothrixin production, which enhances our ability to design strains that overproduce this potentially useful herbicide. This knowledge also improves our ability to predict the products of related biosynthetic gene clusters and the functions of homologous enzymes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luke Bown
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Ryuichi Hirota
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Michelle N. Goettge
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Jerry Cui
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - David T. Krist
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Lingyang Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Constantin Giurgiu
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Wilfred A. van der Donk
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Department of Chemistry and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Kou-San Ju
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Center for Applied Plant Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - William W. Metcalf
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Yang L, Zhao Z, Luo D, Liang M, Zhang Q. Global Metabolomics of Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) Explore Metabolic Adaptation to Fresh Water in Insects. INSECTS 2022; 13:823. [PMID: 36135524 PMCID: PMC9503472 DOI: 10.3390/insects13090823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic insects are well-adapted to freshwater environments, but metabolic mechanisms of such adaptations, particularly to primary environmental factors (e.g., hypoxia, water pressure, dark light, and abundant microbes), are poorly known. Most firefly species (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) are terrestrial, but the larvae of a few species are aquatic. We generated 24 global metabolomic profiles of larvae and adults of Aquatica leii (freshwater) and Lychnuris praetexta (terrestrial) to identify freshwater adaptation-related metabolites (AARMs). We identified 110 differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) in A. leii (adults vs. aquatic larvae) and 183 DAMs in L. praetexta (adults vs. terrestrial larvae). Furthermore, 100 DAMs specific to aquatic A. leii larvae were screened as AARMs via interspecific comparisons (A. leii vs. L. praetexta), which were primarily involved in antioxidant activity, immune response, energy production and metabolism, and chitin biosynthesis. They were assigned to six categories/superclasses (e.g., lipids and lipid-like molecules, organic acids and derivatives, and organoheterocyclic compound). Finally, ten metabolic pathways shared between KEGG terms specific to aquatic fireflies and enriched by AARMs were screened as aquatic adaptation-related pathways (AARPs). These AARPs were primarily involved in energy metabolism, xenobiotic biodegradation, protection of oxidative/immune damage, oxidative stress response, and sense function (e.g., glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, drug metabolism-cytochrome P450, and taste transduction), and certain aspects of morphology (e.g., steroid hormone biosynthesis). These results provide evidence suggesting that abundance changes in metabolomes contribute to freshwater adaptation of fireflies. The metabolites identified here may be vital targets for future work to determine the mechanism of freshwater adaptation in insects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linyu Yang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Zishun Zhao
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Dan Luo
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
- YEN, Chuxiong People’s Hospital, Chuxiong 675000, China
| | - Mingzhong Liang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster in the Beibu Gulf, Ocean College, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China
| | - Qilin Zhang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mogany T, Kumari S, Swalaha FM, Bux F. In silico analysis of enzymes involved in mycosporine-like amino acids biosynthesis in Euhalothece sp.: Structural and functional characterization. ALGAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2022.102806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
7
|
Hemmann JL, Brühwiler MR, Bortfeld-Miller M, Vorholt JA. Structural diversity of the coenzyme methylofuran and identification of enzymes for the biosynthesis of its polyglutamate side chain. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100682. [PMID: 33894199 PMCID: PMC8141765 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylofuran (MYFR) is a formyl-carrying coenzyme essential for the oxidation of formaldehyde in most methylotrophic bacteria. In Methylorubrum extorquens, MYFR contains a large and branched polyglutamate side chain of up to 24 glutamates. These glutamates play an essential role in interfacing the coenzyme with the formyltransferase/hydrolase complex, an enzyme that generates formate. To date, MYFR has not been identified in other methylotrophs, and it is unknown whether its structural features are conserved. Here, we examined nine bacterial strains for the presence and structure of MYFR using high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Two of the strains produced MYFR as present in M. extorquens, while a modified MYFR containing tyramine instead of tyrosine in its core structure was detected in six strains. When M. extorquens was grown in the presence of tyramine, the compound was readily incorporated into MYFR, indicating that the biosynthetic enzymes are unable to discriminate tyrosine from tyramine. Using gene deletions in combination with LC-MS analyses, we identified three genes, orf5, orfY, and orf17 that are essential for MYFR biosynthesis. Notably, the orfY and orf5 mutants accumulated short MYFR intermediates with only one and two glutamates, respectively, suggesting that these enzymes catalyze glutamate addition. Upon homologous overexpression of orf5, a drastic increase in the number of glutamates in MYFR was observed (up to 40 glutamates), further corroborating the function of Orf5 as a glutamate ligase. We thus renamed OrfY and Orf5 to MyfA and MyfB to highlight that these enzymes are specifically involved in MYFR biosynthesis.
Collapse
|
8
|
Awakawa T, Barra L, Abe I. Biosynthesis of sulfonamide and sulfamate antibiotics in actinomycete. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 48:6123731. [PMID: 33928358 PMCID: PMC9113183 DOI: 10.1093/jimb/kuab001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Sulfonamides and sulfamates are a group of organosulfur compounds that contain the signature sulfamoyl structural motif. These compounds were initially only known as synthetic antibacterial drugs but were later also discovered as natural products. Eight highly potent examples have been isolated from actinomycetes to date, illustrating the large biosynthetic repertoire of this bacterial genus. For the biosynthesis of these compounds, several distinct and unique biosynthetic machineries have been discovered, capable to generate the unique S–N bond. For the creation of novel, second generation natural products by biosynthetic engineering efforts, a detailed understanding of the underlying enzyme machinery toward potent structural motifs is crucial. In this review, we aim to summarize the current state of knowledge on sulfonamide and sulfamate biosynthesis. A detailed discussion for the secondary sulfamate ascamycin, the tertiary sulfonamide sulfadixiamycin A, and the secondary sulfonamide SB-203208 is provided and their bioactivities and mode of actions are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ikuro Abe
- Correspondence should be addressed to: Lena Barra at
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Structural basis for polyglutamate chain initiation and elongation by TTLL family enzymes. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2020; 27:802-813. [PMID: 32747782 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-020-0462-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Glutamylation, introduced by tubulin tyrosine ligase-like (TTLL) enzymes, is the most abundant modification of brain tubulin. Essential effector proteins read the tubulin glutamylation pattern, and its misregulation causes neurodegeneration. TTLL glutamylases post-translationally add glutamates to internal glutamates in tubulin carboxy-terminal tails (branch initiation, through an isopeptide bond), and additional glutamates can extend these (elongation). TTLLs are thought to specialize in initiation or elongation, but the mechanistic basis for regioselectivity is unknown. We present cocrystal structures of murine TTLL6 bound to tetrahedral intermediate analogs that delineate key active-site residues that make this enzyme an elongase. We show that TTLL4 is exclusively an initiase and, through combined structural and phylogenetic analyses, engineer TTLL6 into a branch-initiating enzyme. TTLL glycylases add glycines post-translationally to internal glutamates, and we find that the same active-site residues discriminate between initiase and elongase glycylases. These active-site specializations of TTLL glutamylases and glycylases ultimately yield the chemical complexity of cellular microtubules.
Collapse
|
10
|
l-amino acid ligase: A promising alternative for the biosynthesis of l-dipeptides. Enzyme Microb Technol 2020; 136:109537. [DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2020.109537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
11
|
Reconstitution of polythioamide antibiotic backbone formation reveals unusual thiotemplated assembly strategy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:8850-8858. [PMID: 32265283 PMCID: PMC7183216 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1918759117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonribosomal peptides (NRPs) are a vast class of natural products and an important source of therapeutics. Typically, these secondary metabolites are assembled by NRP synthetases (NRPSs) that function on substrates covalently linked to the enzyme by a thioester, in a process known as thiotemplated biosynthesis. Although NRPS-independent assembly pathways are known, all are nonthiotemplated. Here we report an NRPS-independent yet thiotemplated pathway for NRP biosynthesis and demonstrate that members of the ATP-grasp and cysteine protease families form the β-peptide backbone of an antibiotic. Armed with this knowledge, we provide genomic evidence that this noncanonical assembly pathway is widespread in bacteria. Our results will inspire future genome mining efforts for the discovery of potential therapeutics that otherwise would be overlooked. Closthioamide (CTA) is a rare example of a thioamide-containing nonribosomal peptide and is one of only a handful of secondary metabolites described from obligately anaerobic bacteria. Although the biosynthetic gene cluster responsible for CTA production and the thioamide synthetase that catalyzes sulfur incorporation were recently discovered, the logic for peptide backbone assembly has remained a mystery. Here, through the use of in vitro biochemical assays, we demonstrate that the amide backbone of CTA is assembled in an unusual thiotemplated pathway involving the cooperation of a transacylating member of the papain-like cysteine protease family and an iteratively acting ATP-grasp protein. Using the ATP-grasp protein as a bioinformatic handle, we identified hundreds of such thiotemplated yet nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS)-independent biosynthetic gene clusters across diverse bacterial phyla. The data presented herein not only clarify the pathway for the biosynthesis of CTA, but also provide a foundation for the discovery of additional secondary metabolites produced by noncanonical biosynthetic pathways.
Collapse
|
12
|
Strategy for the Biosynthesis of Short Oligopeptides: Green and Sustainable Chemistry. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9110733. [PMID: 31766233 PMCID: PMC6920838 DOI: 10.3390/biom9110733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Short oligopeptides are some of the most promising and functionally important amide bond-containing components, with widespread applications. Biosynthesis of these oligopeptides may potentially become the ultimate strategy because it has better cost efficiency and environmental-friendliness than conventional solid phase peptide synthesis and chemo-enzymatic synthesis. To successfully apply this strategy for the biosynthesis of structurally diverse amide bond-containing components, the identification and selection of specific biocatalysts is extremely important. Given that perspective, this review focuses on the current knowledge about the typical enzymes that might be potentially used for the synthesis of short oligopeptides. Moreover, novel enzymatic methods of producing desired peptides via metabolic engineering are highlighted. It is believed that this review will be helpful for technological innovation in the production of desired peptides.
Collapse
|
13
|
Abstract
Bacterial natural products display astounding structural diversity, which, in turn, endows them with a remarkable range of biological activities that are of significant value to modern society. Such structural features are generated by biosynthetic enzymes that construct core scaffolds or perform peripheral modifications, and can thus define natural product families, introduce pharmacophores and permit metabolic diversification. Modern genomics approaches have greatly enhanced our ability to access and characterize natural product pathways via sequence-similarity-based bioinformatics discovery strategies. However, many biosynthetic enzymes catalyse exceptional, unprecedented transformations that continue to defy functional prediction and remain hidden from us in bacterial (meta)genomic sequence data. In this Review, we highlight exciting examples of unusual enzymology that have been uncovered recently in the context of natural product biosynthesis. These suggest that much of the natural product diversity, including entire substance classes, awaits discovery. New approaches to lift the veil on the cryptic chemistries of the natural product universe are also discussed.
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Peptides, biologically occurring oligomers of amino acids linked by amide bonds, are essential for living organisms. Many peptides isolated as natural products have biological functions such as antimicrobial, antivirus and insecticidal activities. Peptides often possess structural features or modifications not found in proteins, including the presence of nonproteinogenic amino acids, macrocyclic ring formation, heterocyclization, N-methylation and decoration by sugars or acyl groups. Nature employs various strategies to increase the structural diversity of peptides. Enzymes that modify peptides to yield mature natural products are of great interest for discovering new enzyme chemistry and are important for medicinal chemistry applications. We have discovered novel peptide modifying enzymes and have identified: (i) a new class of amide bond forming-enzymes; (ii) a pathway to biosynthesize a carbonylmethylene-containing pseudodipeptide structure; and (iii) two distinct peptide epimerases. In this review, an overview of our findings on peptide modifying enzymes is presented.
Collapse
|
15
|
Baulig A, Helmle I, Bader M, Wolf F, Kulik A, Al-Dilaimi A, Wibberg D, Kalinowski J, Gross H, Kaysser L. Biosynthetic reconstitution of deoxysugar phosphoramidate metalloprotease inhibitors using an N-P-bond-forming kinase. Chem Sci 2019; 10:4486-4490. [PMID: 31057776 PMCID: PMC6482885 DOI: 10.1039/c9sc00641a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphoramidon is a potent metalloprotease inhibitor and a widespread tool in cell biology research. It contains a dipeptide backbone that is uniquely linked to a 6-deoxysugar via a phosphoramidate bridge. Herein, we report the identification of a gene cluster for the formation of phosphoramidon and its detailed characterization. In vitro reconstitution of the biosynthesis established TalE as a phosphoramidate-forming kinase and TalC as the glycosyltransferase which installs the l-rhamnose moiety by phosphoester linkage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Baulig
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology , Pharmaceutical Institute , University of Tübingen , 72076 Tübingen , Germany . .,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF) , partner site Tübingen , 72076 Tübingen , Germany
| | - Irina Helmle
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology , Pharmaceutical Institute , University of Tübingen , 72076 Tübingen , Germany .
| | - Marius Bader
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology , Pharmaceutical Institute , University of Tübingen , 72076 Tübingen , Germany . .,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF) , partner site Tübingen , 72076 Tübingen , Germany
| | - Felix Wolf
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology , Pharmaceutical Institute , University of Tübingen , 72076 Tübingen , Germany . .,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF) , partner site Tübingen , 72076 Tübingen , Germany
| | - Andreas Kulik
- Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT) , Microbiology/Biotechnology , University of Tübingen , 72076 Tübingen , Germany
| | - Arwa Al-Dilaimi
- Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec) , Bielefeld University , 33615 Bielefeld , Germany
| | - Daniel Wibberg
- Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec) , Bielefeld University , 33615 Bielefeld , Germany
| | - Jörn Kalinowski
- Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec) , Bielefeld University , 33615 Bielefeld , Germany
| | - Harald Gross
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology , Pharmaceutical Institute , University of Tübingen , 72076 Tübingen , Germany . .,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF) , partner site Tübingen , 72076 Tübingen , Germany
| | - Leonard Kaysser
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology , Pharmaceutical Institute , University of Tübingen , 72076 Tübingen , Germany . .,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF) , partner site Tübingen , 72076 Tübingen , Germany
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Bougioukou DJ, Ting CP, Peck SC, Mukherjee S, van der Donk WA. Use of the dehydrophos biosynthetic enzymes to prepare antimicrobial analogs of alaphosphin. Org Biomol Chem 2019; 17:822-829. [PMID: 30608108 DOI: 10.1039/c8ob02860e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The C-terminal domain of the dehydrophos biosynthetic enzyme DhpH (DhpH-C) catalyzes the condensation of Leu-tRNALeu with (R)-1-aminoethylphosphonate, the aminophosphonate analog of alanine called Ala(P). The product of this reaction, Leu-Ala(P), is a phosphonodipeptide, a class of compounds that have previously been investigated for use as clinical antibiotics. In this study, we show that DhpH-C is highly substrate tolerant and can condense various aminophosphonates (Gly(P), Ser(P), Val(P), 1-amino-propylphosphonate, and phenylglycine(P)) to Leu. Moreover, the enzyme is also tolerant with respect to the amino acid attached to tRNALeu. Using a mutant of leucyl tRNA synthetase that is deficient in its proofreading ability allowed the preparation of a series of aminoacyl-tRNALeu derivatives (Ile, Ala, Val, Met, norvaline, and norleucine). DhpH-C accepted these aminoacyl-tRNA derivatives and condensed the amino acid with l-Ala(P) to form the corresponding phosphonodipeptides. A subset of these peptides displayed antimicrobial activities demonstrating that the enzyme is a versatile biocatalyst for the preparation of antimicrobial peptides. We also investigated another enzyme from the dehydrophos biosynthetic pathway, the 2-oxoglutarate dependent enzyme DhpA. This enzyme oxidizes 2-hydroxyethylphosphonate to 1,2-dihydroxyethylphosphonate en route to l-Ala(P), but longer incubation results in overoxidation to 1-oxo-2-hydroxyethylphosphonate. This α-ketophosphonate was converted by the pyridoxal phosphate dependent enzyme DhpD into l-Ser(P). Thus, the dehydrophos biosynthetic enzymes can generate not only l-Ala(P) but also l-Ser(P).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Despina J Bougioukou
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Kaysser L. Built to bind: biosynthetic strategies for the formation of small-molecule protease inhibitors. Nat Prod Rep 2019; 36:1654-1686. [DOI: 10.1039/c8np00095f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The discovery and characterization of natural product protease inhibitors has inspired the development of numerous pharmaceutical agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonard Kaysser
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology
- University of Tübingen
- 72076 Tübingen
- Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF)
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Liu XH, Zhao JF, Wang T, Wu MB. Design, identification, antifungal evaluation and molecular modeling of chlorotetaine derivatives as new anti-fungal agents. Nat Prod Res 2018; 34:1712-1720. [PMID: 30417659 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2018.1528582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
It is feasible to rationally modify existing bioactive components for new drug development, achieving molecules with improved biological activities. In this study, rational modification of chlorotetaine was carried out following in silico molecular modelling to enhance interactions between the fungal oligopeptide transmembrane transporter PTR22 and the ligand. The peptide obtained with the lowest docking energy, Lys-chlorotetaine (LC), displayed an improved antifungal effect compared with chlorotetaine. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration observed against a tested pathogen was 1.47 µg/mL (Candida krusei CBS573), which was satisfactory. To thoroughly explore the detailed interactions between the transporter and LC, molecular dynamics simulation was also performed, which revealed that LC could bind to the transporter via different intermolecular interactions from chlorotetaine, and predicted electrostatic interactions (salt-bridges) would enable the more efficient release of LC. This study provides a simple and reliable method for the rational modification of oligopeptide antibiotics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Huan Liu
- School of Biological Science, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Jiong Feng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tao Wang
- School of Biological Science, Jining Medical University, Jining, China.,Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mian Bin Wu
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Antifungal Drugs, Taizhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Abstract
Bacterial pathogens cause plant diseases that threaten the global food supply. To control diseases, it is important to understand how pathogenic bacteria evade plant defense and promote infection. We identify from the phytopathogen Pseudomonas syringae a small-molecule virulence factor—phevamine A. Both the chemical structure and mode of action of phevamine A are different from known bacterial phytotoxins. Phevamine A promotes bacterial growth by suppressing plant immune responses, including both early (the generation of reactive oxygen species) and late (the deposition of cell wall reinforcing callose in leaves and leaf cell death) markers. This work uncovers a widely distributed, small-molecule virulence factor and shows the power of a multidisciplinary approach to identify small molecules important for plant infection. Bacterial plant pathogens cause significant crop damage worldwide. They invade plant cells by producing a variety of virulence factors, including small-molecule toxins and phytohormone mimics. Virulence of the model pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pto) is regulated in part by the sigma factor HrpL. Our study of the HrpL regulon identified an uncharacterized, three-gene operon in Pto that is controlled by HrpL and related to the Erwinia hrp-associated systemic virulence (hsv) operon. Here, we demonstrate that the hsv operon contributes to the virulence of Pto on Arabidopsis thaliana and suppresses bacteria-induced immune responses. We show that the hsv-encoded enzymes in Pto synthesize a small molecule, phevamine A. This molecule consists of l-phenylalanine, l-valine, and a modified spermidine, and is different from known small molecules produced by phytopathogens. We show that phevamine A suppresses a potentiation effect of spermidine and l-arginine on the reactive oxygen species burst generated upon recognition of bacterial flagellin. The hsv operon is found in the genomes of divergent bacterial genera, including ∼37% of P. syringae genomes, suggesting that phevamine A is a widely distributed virulence factor in phytopathogens. Our work identifies a small-molecule virulence factor and reveals a mechanism by which bacterial pathogens overcome plant defense. This work highlights the power of omics approaches in identifying important small molecules in bacteria–host interactions.
Collapse
|
20
|
A distributive peptide cyclase processes multiple microviridin core peptides within a single polypeptide substrate. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1780. [PMID: 29725007 PMCID: PMC5934393 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04154-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are an important family of natural products. Their biosynthesis follows a common scheme in which the leader peptide of a precursor peptide guides the modifications of a single core peptide. Here we describe biochemical studies of the processing of multiple core peptides within a precursor peptide, rare in RiPP biosynthesis. In a cyanobacterial microviridin pathway, an ATP-grasp ligase, AMdnC, installs up to two macrolactones on each of the three core peptides within AMdnA. The enzyme catalysis occurs in a distributive fashion and follows an unstrict N-to-C overall directionality, but a strict order in macrolactonizing each core peptide. Furthermore, AMdnC is catalytically versatile to process unnatural substrates carrying one to four core peptides, and kinetic studies provide insights into its catalytic properties. Collectively, our results reveal a distinct biosynthetic logic of RiPPs, opening up the possibility of modular production via synthetic biology approaches. Microviridins belong to the family of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Here, the authors discover a microviridin-synthesizing enzyme in a cyanobacterium that modifies multiple core peptides from a single substrate in a distributive and unstrictly directional manner, an unusual biosynthetic logic for RiPPs.
Collapse
|