Identification of the INO1 gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv reveals a novel class of inositol-1-phosphate synthase enzyme

Antisense Therapy for Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases, particularly Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, pose a significant global health challenge, with 1.6 million reported deaths in 2021, making it the most fatal disease caused by a single infectious agent. The rise of drug-resistant infectious diseases adds to the urgency of finding effective and safe intervention therapies. Antisense therapy uses antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that are short, chemically modified, single-stranded deoxyribonucleotide molecules complementary to their mRNA target. Due to their designed target specificity and inhibition of a disease-causing gene at the mRNA level, antisense therapy has gained interest as a potential therapeutic approach. This type of therapy is currently utilized in numerous diseases, such as cancer and genetic disorders. Currently, there are limited but steadily increasing studies available that report on the use of ASOs as treatment for infectious diseases. This review explores the sustainability of FDA-approved and preclinically tested ASOs as a treatment for infectious diseases and the adaptability of ASOs for chemical modifications resulting in reduced side effects with improved drug delivery; thus, highlighting the potential therapeutic uses of ASOs for treating infectious diseases.

Physiological and transcriptional studies reveal Cr(VI) reduction mechanisms in the exoelectrogen Cellulomonas fimi Clb-11

A facultative exoelectrogen, Cellulomonas fimi strain Clb-11, was isolated from polluted river water. This strain could generate electricity in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as the carbon source, and the maximum output power density was 12.17 ± 2.74 mW·m^-2. In addition, Clb-11 could secrete extracellular chromate reductase or extracellular electron mediator to reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III). When the Cr(VI) concentration was less than 0.5 mM in Luria-Bertani (LB) medium, Cr(VI) could be completely reduced by Clb-11. However, the Clb-11 cells swelled significantly in the presence of Cr(VI). We employed transcriptome sequencing analysis to identify genes involved in different Cr(VI) stress responses in Clb-11. The results indicate that 99 genes were continuously upregulated while 78 genes were continuously downregulated as the Cr(VI) concentration increased in the growth medium. These genes were mostly associated with DNA replication and repair, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, ABC transporters, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, and carbon metabolism. The swelling of Clb-11 cells might have been related to the upregulation of the genes atoB, INO1, dhaM, dhal, dhak, and bccA, which encode acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase, myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase, phosphoenolpyruvate-glycerone phosphotransferase, and acetyl-CoA/propionyl-CoA carboxylase, respectively. Interestingly, the genes cydA and cydB related to electron transport were continuously downregulated as the Cr(VI) concentration increased. Our results provide clues to the molecular mechanism of Cr(VI) reduction by microorganisms in MFCs systems.

Physiological, Biochemical, and Structural Bioinformatic Analysis of the Multiple Inositol Dehydrogenases from Corynebacterium glutamicum

Inositols (cyclohexanehexols) comprise nine isomeric cyclic sugar alcohols, several of which occur in all domains of life with various functions. Many bacteria can utilize inositols as carbon and energy sources via a specific pathway involving inositol dehydrogenases (IDHs) as the first step of catabolism. The microbial cell factory Corynebacterium glutamicum can grow with myo-inositol as a sole carbon source. Interestingly, this species encodes seven potential IDHs, raising the question of the reason for this multiplicity. We therefore investigated the seven IDHs to determine their function, activity, and selectivity toward the biologically most important isomers myo-, scyllo-, and d-chiro-inositol. We created an ΔIDH strain lacking all seven IDH genes, which could not grow on the three inositols. scyllo- and d-chiro-inositol were identified as novel growth substrates of C. glutamicum. Complementation experiments showed that only four of the seven IDHs (IolG, OxiB, OxiD, and OxiE) enabled growth of the ΔIDH strain on two of the three inositols. The kinetics of the four purified enzymes agreed with the complementation results. IolG and OxiD are NAD⁺-dependent IDHs accepting myo- and d-chiro-inositol but not scyllo-inositol. OxiB is an NAD⁺-dependent myo-IDH with a weak activity also for scyllo-inositol but not for d-chiro-inositol. OxiE on the other hand is an NAD⁺-dependent scyllo-IDH showing also good activity for myo-inositol and a very weak activity for d-chiro-inositol. Structural models, molecular docking experiments, and sequence alignments enabled the identification of the substrate binding sites of the active IDHs and of residues allowing predictions on the substrate specificity. IMPORTANCE myo-, scyllo-, and d-chiro-inositol are C₆ cyclic sugar alcohols with various biological functions, which also serve as carbon sources for microbes. Inositol catabolism starts with an oxidation to keto-inositols catalyzed by inositol dehydrogenases (IDHs). The soil bacterium C. glutamicum encodes seven potential IDHs. Using a combination of microbiological, biochemical, and modeling approaches, we analyzed the function of these enzymes and identified four IDHs involved in the catabolism of inositols. They possess distinct substrate preferences for the three isomers, and modeling and sequence alignments allowed the identification of residues important for substrate specificity. Our results expand the knowledge of bacterial inositol metabolism and provide an important basis for the rational development of producer strains for these valuable inositols, which show pharmacological activities against, e.g., Alzheimer's disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, or type II diabetes.

Advances in Key Drug Target Identification and New Drug Development for Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a severe infectious disease worldwide. The increasing emergence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has markedly hampered TB control. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new anti-TB drugs to treat drug-resistant TB and shorten the standard therapy. The discovery of targets of drug action will lay a theoretical foundation for new drug development. With the development of molecular biology and the success of Mtb genome sequencing, great progress has been made in the discovery of new targets and their relevant inhibitors. In this review, we summarized 45 important drug targets and 15 new drugs that are currently being tested in clinical stages and several prospective molecules that are still at the level of preclinical studies. A comprehensive understanding of the drug targets of Mtb can provide extensive insights into the development of safer and more efficient drugs and may contribute new ideas for TB control and treatment.

Lipidomics Analysis of Outer Membrane Vesicles and Elucidation of the Inositol Phosphoceramide Biosynthetic Pathway in Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron

Approximately one-third of the human colonic microbiome is formed by bacteria from the genus Bacteroides. These bacteria produce a large amount of uniformly sized outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), which are equipped with hydrolytic enzymes that play a role in the degradation of diet- and host-derived glycans. In this work, we characterize the lipid composition of membranes and OMVs from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron VPI-5482. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis indicated that OMVs carry sphingolipids, glycerophospholipids, and serine-dipeptide lipids. Sphingolipid species represent more than 50% of the total lipid content of OMVs. The most abundant sphingolipids in OMVs are ethanolamine phosphoceramide (EPC) and inositol phosphoceramide (IPC). Bioinformatics analysis allowed the identification of the BT1522-1526 operon putatively involved in IPC synthesis. Mutagenesis studies revealed that BT1522-1526 is essential for the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol (PI) and IPC, confirming the role of this operon in the biosynthesis of IPC. BT1522-1526 mutant strains lacking IPC produced OMVs that were indistinguishable from the wild-type strain, indicating that IPC sphingolipid species are not involved in OMV biogenesis. Given the known role of sphingolipids in immunomodulation, we suggest that OMVs may act as long-distance vehicles for the delivery of sphingolipids in the human gut. IMPORTANCE Sphingolipids are essential membrane lipid components found in eukaryotes that are also involved in cell signaling processes. Although rare in bacteria, sphingolipids are produced by members of the phylum Bacteroidetes, human gut commensals. Here, we determined that OMVs carry sphingolipids and other lipids of known signaling function. Our results demonstrate that the BT1522-1526 operon is required for IPC biosynthesis in B. thetaiotaomicron.

Insight about cell wall remodulation triggered by rifampicin in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Rifampicin plays an important role during the treatment of tuberculosis, which makes it to be recommended throughout the regimen. The molecular target for rifampicin activity and resistance is the bacterial RNA polymerase coded by rpoB. However, it has been observed that Mycobacterium tuberculosis could use different metabolic pathways contributing to drug activity/resistance. In this sense, Proteomics analysis has been a key aspect towards the understanding of the dynamic genome expression triggered by drugs and other M. tuberculosis hostile stimuli. Herein, we aimed to report the changes in the M. tuberculosis protein profile triggered by rifampicin. The M. tuberculosis H₃₇Rv strain was submitted to 12, 24 and 48 h of rifampicin challenge, at the minimal inhibitory concentration (0.03 μg mL^-1), and proteins were extracted. The protein identification was carried out by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Four proteins, Ino1 (Rv0046c), FabD (Rv2243), EsxK (Rv1197) and PPE60 (Rv3478) were statistically underexpressed over 48 h of rifampicin exposure, indicating that in addition to the known activity of rifampin in transcriptional machinery in M. tuberculosis, processes related to disturbance in cell wall synthesis and lipid metabolism in the bacillus are also triggered by rifampicin contributing to bacillus death.

Osmoregulation by the myo-inositol biosynthesis pathway in turbot Scophthalmus maximus and its regulation by anabolite and c-Myc

The induction of the myo-inositol biosynthesis (MIB) pathway in euryhaline fishes is an important component of the cellular response to osmotic challenge. The MIPS and IMPA1 genes were sequenced in turbot and found to be highly conserved in phylogenetic evolution, especially within the fish species tested. Under salinity stress in turbot, both MIPS and IMPA1 showed adaptive expression, a turning point in the level of expression occurred at 12 h in all tissues tested. We performed an RNAi assay mediated by long fragment dsRNA prepared by transcription in vitro. The findings demonstrated that knockdown of the MIB pathway weakened the function of gill osmotic regulation, and may induce a genetic compensation response in the kidney and gill to maintain physiological function. Even though the gill and kidney conducted stress reactions or compensatory responses to salinity stress, this inadequately addressed the consequences of MIB knockdown. Therefore, the survival time of turbot under salinity stress after knockdown was obviously less than that under seawater, especially under low salt stress. Pearson's correlation analysis between gene expression and dietary myo-inositol concentration indicated that the MIB pathway had a remarkable negative feedback control, and the dynamic equilibrium mediated by negative feedback on the MIB pathway played a crucial role in osmoregulation in turbot. An RNAi assay with c-Myc in vivo and the use of a c-Myc inhibitor (10058-F4) in vitro demonstrated that c-Myc was likely to positively regulate the MIB pathway in turbot.

Myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (Ino-1) functions as a protection mechanism in Corynebacterium glutamicum under oxidative stress

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in aerobic metabolism and oxidative stress lead to macromolecules damage, such as to proteins, lipids, and DNA, which can be eliminated by the redox buffer mycothiol (AcCys-GlcN-Ins, MSH). Myo-inositol-phosphate synthase (Ino-1) catalyzes the first committed step in the synthesis of MSH, thus playing a critical role in the growth of the organism. Although Ino-1s have been systematically studied in eukaryotes, their physiological and biochemical functions remain largely unknown in bacteria. In this study, we report that Ino-1 plays an important role in oxidative stress resistance in the gram-positive Actinobacteria Corynebacterium glutamicum. Deletion of the ino-1 gene resulted in a decrease in cell viability, an increase in ROS production, and the aggravation of protein carbonylation levels under various stress conditions. The physiological roles of Ino-1 in the resistance to oxidative stresses were corroborated by the absence of MSH in the Δino-1 mutant. In addition, we found that the homologous expression of Ino-1 in C. glutamicum yielded a functionally active protein, while when expressed in Escherichia coliBL21(DE3), it lacked measurable activity. An examination of the molecular mass (Mr) suggested that Ino-1 expressed in E. coliBL21(DE3) was not folded in a catalytically competent conformation. Together, the results unequivocally showed that Ino-1 was important for the mediation of oxidative resistance by C. glutamicum.

Chemistry and Redox Biology of Mycothiol

SIGNIFICANCE

Mycothiol (MSH, AcCys-GlcN-Ins) is the main low-molecular weight (LMW) thiol of most Actinomycetes, including the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis that affects millions of people worldwide. Strains with decreased MSH content show increased susceptibilities to hydroperoxides and electrophilic compounds. In M. tuberculosis, MSH modulates the response to several antituberculosis drugs. Enzymatic routes involving MSH could provide clues for specific drug design. Recent Advances: Physicochemical data argue against a rapid, nonenzymatic reaction of MSH with oxidants, disulfides, or electrophiles. Moreover, exposure of the bacteria to high concentrations of two-electron oxidants resulted in protein mycothiolation. The recently described glutaredoxin-like protein mycoredoxin-1 (Mrx-1) provides a route for catalytic reduction of mycothiolated proteins, protecting critical cysteines from irreversible oxidation. The description of MSH/Mrx-1-dependent activities of peroxidases helped to explain the higher susceptibility to oxidants observed in Actinomycetes lacking MSH. Moreover, the first mycothiol-S-transferase, member of the DinB superfamily of proteins, was described. In Corynebacterium, both the MSH/Mrx-1 and the thioredoxin pathways reduce methionine sulfoxide reductase A. A novel tool for in vivo imaging of the MSH/mycothiol disulfide (MSSM) status allows following changes in the mycothiol redox state during macrophage infection and its relationship with antibiotic sensitivity.

CRITICAL ISSUES

Redundancy of MSH with other LMW thiols is starting to be unraveled and could help to rationalize the differences in the reported importance of MSH synthesis observed in vitro versus in animal infection models.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Future work should be directed to establish the structural bases of the specificity of MSH-dependent enzymes, thus facilitating drug developments. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 28, 487-504.

Comparative genomic analysis between Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis strains isolated from buffalo

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is a Gram-positive, pleomorphic, facultative intracellular pathogen that causes Oedematous Skin Disease (OSD) in buffalo. To better understand the pathogenic mechanisms of OSD, we performed a comparative genomic analysis of 11 strains of C. pseudotuberculosis isolated from different buffalo found to be infected in Egypt during an outbreak that occurred in 2008. Sixteen previously described pathogenicity islands (PiCp) were present in all of the new buffalo strains, but one of them, PiCp12, had an insertion that contained both a corynephage and a diphtheria toxin gene, both of which may play a role in the adaptation of C. pseudotuberculosis to this new host. Synteny analysis showed variations in the site of insertion of the corynephage during the same outbreak. A gene functional comparison showed the presence of a nitrate reductase operon that included genes involved in molybdenum cofactor biosynthesis, which is necessary for a positive nitrate reductase phenotype and is a possible adaptation for intracellular survival. Genomes from the buffalo strains also had fusions in minor pilin genes in the spaA and spaD gene cluster (spaCX and spaYEF), which could suggest either an adaptation to this particular host, or mutation events in the immediate ancestor before this particular epidemic. A phylogenomic analysis confirmed a clear separation between the Ovis and Equi biovars, but also showed what appears to be a clustering by host species within the Equi strains.

Recombinant expression of a functional myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (MIPS) in Mycobacterium smegmatis

Myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (MIPS, E.C. 5.5.1.4) catalyzes the first step in inositol production-the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate (Glc-6P) to myo-inositol-1-phosphate. While the three dimensional structure of MIPS from Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been solved, biochemical studies examining the in vitro activity have not been reported to date. Herein we report the in vitro activity of mycobacterial MIPS expressed in E. coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis. Recombinant expression in E. coli yields a soluble protein capable of binding the NAD(+) cofactor; however, it has no significant activity with the Glc-6P substrate. In contrast, recombinant expression in M. smegmatis mc(2)4517 yields a functionally active protein. Examination of structural data suggests that MtMIPS expressed in E. coli adopts a fold that is missing a key helix containing two critical (conserved) Lys side chains, which likely explains the inability of the E. coli expressed protein to bind and turnover the Glc-6P substrate. Recombinant expression in M. smegmatis may yield a protein that adopts a fold in which this key helix is formed enabling proper positioning of important side chains, thereby allowing for Glc-6P substrate binding and turnover. Detailed mechanistic studies may be feasible following optimization of the recombinant MIPS expression protocol in M. smegmatis.

Genetics of Mycobacterial Arabinogalactan and Lipoarabinomannan Assembly

The cell wall of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is unique in that it differs significantly from those of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The thick, carbohydrate- and lipid-rich cell wall with distinct lipoglycans enables mycobacteria to survive under hostile conditions such as shortage of nutrients and antimicrobial exposure. The key features of this highly complex cell wall are the mycolyl-arabinogalactan-peptidoglycan (mAGP)-based and phosphatidyl-myo-inositol-based macromolecular structures, with the latter possessing potent immunomodulatory properties. These structures are crucial for the growth, viability, and virulence of M. tuberculosis and therefore are often the targets of effective chemotherapeutic agents against tuberculosis. Over the past decade, sophisticated genomic and molecular tools have advanced our understanding of the primary structure and biosynthesis of these macromolecules. The availability of the full genome sequences of various mycobacterial species, including M. tuberculosis, Mycobacterium marinum, and Mycobacterium bovis BCG, have greatly facilitated the identification of large numbers of drug targets and antigens specific to tuberculosis. Techniques to manipulate mycobacteria have also improved extensively; the conditional expression-specialized transduction essentiality test (CESTET) is currently used to determine the essentiality of individual genes. Finally, various biosynthetic assays using either purified proteins or synthetic cell wall acceptors have been developed to study enzyme function. This article focuses on the recent advances in determining the structural details and biosynthesis of arabinogalactan, lipoarabinomannan, and related glycoconjugates.

Coordination, microprotonation equilibria and conformational changes of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate with pertinence to its biological function

Within all the eukaryotic cells there is an important group of biomolecules that has been potentially related to signalling functions: the myo-inositol phosphates (InsPs). In nature, the most abundant member of this family is the so called InsP6 (phytate, L(12-)), for which our group has strived in the past to elucidate its intricate chemical behaviour. In this work we expand on our earlier findings, shedding light on the inframolecular details of its protonation and complexation processes. We evaluate systematically the chemical performance of InsP6 in the presence and absence of alkali and alkaline earth metal ions, through (31)P NMR measurements, in a non-interacting medium and over a wide pH range. The analysis of the titration curves by means of a model based on the cluster expansion method allows us to describe in detail the distribution of the different protonated microspecies of the ligand. With the aid of molecular modelling tools, we assess the energetic and geometrical characteristics of the protonation sequence and the conformational transition suffered by InsP6 as the pH changes. By completely characterizing the protonation pattern, conformation and geometry of the metal complexes, we unveil the chemical and structural basis behind the influence that the physiologically relevant cations, Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) have over the phytate chemical reactivity. This information is essential in the process of gaining reliable structural knowledge about the most important InsP6 species in the in vitro and in vivo experiments, and how these features modulate their probable biological functions.

Interaction of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate with biogenic and synthetic polyamines

myo-Inositol hexakisphosphate (phytate) forms very stable adducts with biogenic and synthetic polyamines in aqueous solution.

IpsA, a novel LacI-type regulator, is required for inositol-derived lipid formation in Corynebacteria and Mycobacteria

Background

The development of new drugs against tuberculosis and diphtheria is focused on disrupting the biogenesis of the cell wall, the unique architecture of which confers resistance against current therapies. The enzymatic pathways involved in the synthesis of the cell wall by these pathogens are well understood, but the underlying regulatory mechanisms are largely unknown.

Results

Here, we characterize IpsA, a LacI-type transcriptional regulator conserved among Mycobacteria and Corynebacteria that plays a role in the regulation of cell wall biogenesis. IpsA triggers myo-inositol formation by activating ino1, which encodes inositol phosphate synthase. An ipsA deletion mutant of Corynebacterium glutamicum cultured on glucose displayed significantly impaired growth and presented an elongated cell morphology. Further studies revealed the absence of inositol-derived lipids in the cell wall and a complete loss of mycothiol biosynthesis. The phenotype of the C. glutamicum ipsA deletion mutant was complemented to different extend by homologs from Corynebacterium diphtheriae (dip1969) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (rv3575), indicating the conserved function of IpsA in the pathogenic species. Additional targets of IpsA with putative functions in cell wall biogenesis were identified and IpsA was shown to bind to a conserved palindromic motif within the corresponding promoter regions. Myo-inositol was identified as an effector of IpsA, causing the dissociation of the IpsA-DNA complex in vitro.

Conclusions

This characterization of IpsA function and of its regulon sheds light on the complex transcriptional control of cell wall biogenesis in the mycolata taxon and generates novel targets for drug development.

Phosphorylation regulates myo-inositol-3-phosphate synthase: a novel regulatory mechanism of inositol biosynthesis

myo-Inositol-3-phosphate synthase (MIPS) plays a crucial role in inositol homeostasis. Transcription of the coding gene INO1 is highly regulated. However, regulation of the enzyme is not well defined. We previously showed that MIPS is indirectly inhibited by valproate, suggesting that the enzyme is post-translationally regulated. Using (32)Pi labeling and phosphoamino acid analysis, we show that yeast MIPS is a phosphoprotein. Mass spectrometry analysis identified five phosphosites, three of which are conserved in the human MIPS. Analysis of phosphorylation-deficient and phosphomimetic site mutants indicated that the three conserved sites in yeast (Ser-184, Ser-296, and Ser-374) and humans (Ser-177, Ser-279, and Ser-357) affect MIPS activity. Both S296A and S296D yeast mutants and S177A and S177D human mutants exhibited decreased enzymatic activity, suggesting that a serine residue is critical at that location. The phosphomimetic mutations S184D (human S279D) and S374D (human S357D) but not the phosphodeficient mutations decreased activity, suggesting that phosphorylation of these two sites is inhibitory. The double mutation S184A/S374A caused an increase in MIPS activity, conferred a growth advantage, and partially rescued sensitivity to valproate. Our findings identify a novel mechanism of regulation of inositol synthesis by phosphorylation of MIPS.

L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase expressed in developing organ: isolation and characterisation of the enzyme from human fetal liver

L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (MIPS; EC: 5.5.1.4) activity has been detected and partially purified for the first time from human fetal liver. Crude homogenate from the fetal liver was subjected to streptomycin sulphate precipitation and 0-60 % ammonium sulphate fractionation followed by successive chromatography through DEAE cellulose and BioGel A 0.5-m columns. After the final chromatography, the enzyme was purified 51-fold and 3.46 % of MIPS could be recovered. The human fetal liver MIPS specifically utilised D-glucose-6-phosphte and NAD(+) as its substrate and coenzyme, respectively. It shows pH optima between 7.0 and 7.5 while the temperature maximum was at 40 °C. The enzyme activity was remarkably stimulated by NH (4) (+) , slightly stimulated by K(+) and Ca(2+) and highly inhibited by Zn(2+), Cu(2+) and Hg(2+). The K (m) values of MIPS for D-glucose-6-phosphate and NAD(+) were found to be as 1.15 and 0.12 mM respectively while the V (max) values were 280 nM and 252 nM for D-glucose-6-phosphate and NAD(+) correspondingly. The apparent molecular weight of the native enzyme was determined to be 170 kDa.

Arabinogalactan and lipoarabinomannan biosynthesis: structure, biogenesis and their potential as drug targets

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the etiological agent of TB, remains the leading cause of mortality from a single infectious organism. The persistence of this human pathogen is associated with its distinctive lipid-rich cell wall structure that is highly impermeable to hydrophilic chemical drugs. This highly complex and unique structure is crucial for the growth, viability and virulence of M. tuberculosis, thus representing an attractive target for vaccine and drug development. It contains a large macromolecular structure known as the mycolyl-arabinogalactan-peptidoglycan complex, as well as phosphatidyl-myo-inositol derived glycolipids with potent immunomodulatory activity, notably lipomannan and lipoarabinomannan. These cell wall components are often the targets of effective chemotherapeutic agents against TB, such as ethambutol. This review focuses on the structural details and biosynthetic pathways of both arabinogalactan and lipoarabinomannan, as well as the effects of potent drugs on these important (lipo)polysaccharides.

Lipoarabinomannan and related glycoconjugates: structure, biogenesis and role in Mycobacterium tuberculosis physiology and host-pathogen interaction

Approximately one third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis. This bacterium has an unusual lipid-rich cell wall containing a vast repertoire of antigens, providing a hydrophobic impermeable barrier against chemical drugs, thus representing an attractive target for vaccine and drug development. Apart from the mycolyl–arabinogalactan–peptidoglycan complex, mycobacteria possess several immunomodulatory constituents, notably lipomannan and lipoarabinomannan. The availability of whole-genome sequences of M. tuberculosis and related bacilli over the past decade has led to the identification and functional characterization of various enzymes and the potential drug targets involved in the biosynthesis of these glycoconjugates. Both lipomannan and lipoarabinomannan possess highly variable chemical structures, which interact with different receptors of the immune system during host–pathogen interactions, such as Toll-like receptors-2 and C-type lectins. Recently, the availability of mutants defective in the synthesis of these glycoconjugates in mycobacteria and the closely related bacterium, Corynebacterium glutamicum, has paved the way for host–pathogen interaction studies, as well as, providing attenuated strains of mycobacteria for the development of new vaccine candidates. This review provides a comprehensive account of the structure, biosynthesis and immunomodulatory properties of these important glycoconjugates.

A revised biosynthetic pathway for phosphatidylinositol in Mycobacteria

For the last decade, it has been believed that phosphatidylinositol (PI) in mycobacteria is synthesized from free inositol and CDP-diacylglycerol by PI synthase in the presence of ATP. The role of ATP in this process, however, is not understood. Additionally, the PI synthase activity is extremely low compared with the PI synthase activity of yeast. When CDP-diacylglycerol and [(14)C]1L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate were incubated with the cell wall components of Mycobacterium smegmatis, both phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PIP) and PI were formed, as identified by fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry and thin-layer chromatography. PI was formed from PIP by incubation with the cell wall components. Thus, mycobacterial PI was synthesized from CDP-diacylglycerol and myo-inositol 1-phosphate via PIP, which was dephosphorylated to PI. The gene-encoding PIP synthase from four species of mycobacteria was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and PIP synthase activity was confirmed. A very low, but significant level of free [(3)H]inositol was incorporated into PI in mycobacterial cell wall preparations, but not in recombinant E. coli cell homogenates. This activity could be explained by the presence of two minor PI metabolic pathways: PI/inositol exchange reaction and phosphorylation of inositol by ATP prior to entering the PIP synthase pathway.

Inositol depletion: a good or bad outcome of valproate treatment?

Bipolar affective disorder is a severe and chronic disabling illness affecting 1.5% of the general population. Lithium, valproate and other mood stabilizers are used to treat bipolar disorder; however, these are ineffective for, and not tolerated by, a significant percentage of patients, underscoring the urgent need for better medications. Although not universally accepted, the inositol-depletion hypothesis is one of the main hypotheses suggested to explain the therapeutic mechanism of mood-stabilizing drugs. This paper reviews the relevance of the inositol-depletion hypothesis, paying special attention to the inhibition of inositol de novo synthesis by valproate. It also discusses inositol supplementation as a treatment strategy for multiple neurological disorders, including prophylactic use against valproate-induced neural tube defects.

NAD+ mediated differential thermotolerance between chloroplastic and cytosolic L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase from Diplopterygium glaucum (Thunb.) Nakai

Relative thermotolerance of the enzyme, L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (MIPS; EC: 5.5.1.4), from the chloroplastic and cytosolic sources of Diplopterygium glaucum was studied. The purification involved streptomycin sulphate precipitation, ammonium sulphate fractionation, ion-exchange chromatography, and molecular sieve chromatography. After the final chromatography, 16.62% of chloroplastic and 13.47% of cytosolic MIPS could be recovered. Between 15 degrees C and 55 degrees C, the two forms of MIPS exhibited differential thermal stability, which is related to the presence of the MIPS co-factor, NAD+. Added NAD+ increased the lower thermotolerance of the chloroplastic MIPS and the removal of 'built-in' NAD+ decreased the higher thermal stability of the cytosolic MIPS.

Biochemistry of the initial steps of mycothiol biosynthesis

Mycothiol is the major thiol produced by mycobacteria and is required for growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The final three steps in the biosynthesis of mycothiol have been fully elucidated but the initial steps have been unclear. A glycosyltransferase, MshA, is required for production of the mycothiol precursor, 1-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-D-myo-inositol, but its substrates and immediate products were unknown. In this study, we show that the N-acetylglucosamine donor is UDP-N-acetylglucosamine and that the N-acetylglucosamine acceptor is 1L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate. The reaction generates UDP and 1-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-D-myo-inositol 3-phosphate. Using cell-free extracts of M. smegmatis mc(2)155, little activity was obtained with myo-inositol, 1D-myo-inositol 1-phosphate, or myo-inositol 2-phosphate as the N-acetylglucosamine acceptor. A phosphatase, designated MshA2, is required to dephosphorylate 1-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-glucopyranosyl)-D-myo-inositol 3-phosphate to produce 1-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-D-myo-inositol. The latter is deacetylated, ligated with cysteine, and the cysteinyl amino group acetylated by acetyl-CoA to complete the mycothiol biosynthesis pathway. Uptake and concentration of myo-[14C]inositol is rapid in Mycobacterium smegmatis and leads to production of radiolabeled inositol 1-phosphate and mycothiol. This demonstrates the presence of a myo-inositol transporter and a kinase that generates 1L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate. The biochemical pathway of mycothiol biosynthesis is now fully elucidated.

sll1981, an acetolactate synthase homologue of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, functions as L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase

L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase (EC 5.5.1.4; MIPS) catalyzes the first rate limiting conversion of D-glucose 6-phosphate to L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate in the inositol biosynthetic pathway. In an earlier communication we have reported two forms of MIPS in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (Chatterjee et al. in Planta 218:989-998, 2004). One of the forms with an approximately 50 kDa subunit has been found to be coded by an as yet unassigned ORF, sll1722. In the present study we have purified the second isoform of MIPS as an approximately 65 kDa protein from the crude extract of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 to apparent homogeneity and biochemically characterized. MALDI-TOF analysis of the 65 kDa protein led to its identification as acetolactate synthase large subunit (EC 2.2.1.6; ALS), the putatively assigned ORF sll1981 of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. The PCR amplified approximately 1.6 kb product of sll1981 was found to functionally complement the yeast inositol auxotroph, FY250 and could be expressed as an immunoreactive approximately 65 kDa MIPS protein in the natural inositol auxotroph, Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In vitro MIPS activity and cross reactivity against MIPS antibody of purified recombinant sll1981 further consolidated its identity as the second probable MIPS gene in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. Sequence comparison along with available crystal structure analysis of the yeast MIPS reveals conservation of several amino acids in sll1981 essential for substrate and co-factor binding. Comparison with other prokaryotic and eukaryotic MIPS sequences and phylogenetic analysis, however, revealed that like sll1722, sll1981 is quite divergent from others. It is probable that sll1981 may code for a bifunctional enzyme protein having conserved domains for both MIPS and acetolactate synthase (ALS) activities.

Myo-inositol content in pteridophytes and the isolation and characterization of L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase from Diplopterygium glaucum

Myo-inositol is involved in normal growth and development of all living organisms and L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (MIPS; EC: 5.5.1.4) is responsible for its de novo synthesis. This enzyme has been reported for a number of life forms including plants, animals and bacteria. In the present study free myo-inositol has been detected in the common pteridophytes found in the Darjeeling Himalayas and the enzyme, L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase has been partially purified from Diplopterygium glaucum (Thunb.) Nakai. A crude homogenate from the reproductive pinnules of D. glaucum was subjected to streptomycin sulphate precipitation and 0-70% ammonium sulphate fractionation followed by successive chromatography through DEAE-cellulose, Hexylagarose and BioGel A-0.5m columns. This resulted in a partial purification of the enzyme of about 81-fold with 13.5% recovery. The pteridophytic MIPS specifically utilized D-glucose-6-phosphte and NAD+ as its substrate and co-factor, respectively. It shows a pH optimum between 7.0 and 7.5 while the temperature maximum was 30 °C. The enzyme activity was stimulated by NH4+, slightly inhibited by Na+, Ba2+ and Cd2+, and strongly inhibited by Li+, Zn2+ and Hg2+. EDTA, pCMB and some substrate isomers like glucose-1-phosphate, fructose-6-phosphte and galactose-6-phosphate were inhibitory to the enzyme. The apparent molecular weight of the native D. glaucum MIPS was determined to be approximately 171 kDa.

Inositol phosphates and phosphoinositides in health and disease

In the past two decades, considerable progress has been made toward understanding inositol phosphates and PI metabolism. However, there is still much to learn. The present challenge is to understand how inositol phosphates and PIs are compartmentalized, identify new targets of inositol phosphates and PIs, and elucidate the mechanisms underlying spatial and temporal regulation of the enzymes that metabolize inositol phosphates and PIs. Answers to these questions will help clarify the mechanisms of the diseases associated with these molecules and identify new possibilities for drug design.

Genetic perturbation of glycolysis results in inhibition of de novo inositol biosynthesis

In a genetic screen for Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants hypersensitive to the inositol-depleting drugs lithium and valproate, a loss of function allele of TPI1 was identified. The TPI1 gene encodes triose phosphate isomerase, which catalyzes the interconversion of dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. A single mutation (N65K) in tpi1 completely abolished Tpi1p enzyme activity and led to a 30-fold increase in the intracellular DHAP concentration. The tpi1 mutant was unable to grow in the absence of inositol and exhibited the "inositol-less death" phenotype. Similarly, the pgk1 mutant, which accumulates DHAP as a result of defective conversion of 3-phosphoglyceroyl phosphate to 3-phosphoglycerate, exhibited inositol auxotrophy. DHAP as well as glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and oxaloacetate inhibited activity of both yeast and human myo-inositol-3 phosphate synthase, the rate-limiting enzyme in de novo inositol biosynthesis. Implications for the pathology associated with TPI deficiency and responsiveness to inositol-depleting anti-bipolar drugs are discussed. This study is the first to establish a connection between perturbation of glycolysis and inhibition of de novo inositol biosynthesis.

A novel salt-tolerant L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase from Porteresia coarctata (Roxb.) Tateoka, a halophytic wild rice: molecular cloning, bacterial overexpression, characterization, and functional introgression into tobacco-conferring salt tolerance phenotype

l-myo-Inositol-1-phosphate synthase (EC 5.5.1.4, MIPS), an evolutionarily conserved enzyme protein, catalyzes the synthesis of inositol, which is implicated in a number of metabolic reactions in the biological kingdom. Here we report on the isolation of the gene (PINO1) for a novel salt-tolerant MIPS from the wild halophytic rice, Porteresia coarctata (Roxb.) Tateoka. Identity of the PINO1 gene was confirmed by functional complementation in a yeast inositol auxotrophic strain. Comparison of the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of PINO1 with that of the homologous gene from Oryza sativa L. (RINO1) revealed distinct differences in a stretch of 37 amino acids, between amino acids 174 and 210. Purified bacterially expressed PINO1 protein demonstrated a salt-tolerant character in vitro compared with the salt-sensitive RINO1 protein as with those purified from the native source or an expressed salt-sensitive mutant PINO1 protein wherein amino acids 174-210 have been deleted. Analysis of the salt effect on oligomerization and tryptophan fluorescence of the RINO1 and PINO1 proteins revealed that the structure of PINO1 protein is stable toward salt environment. Furthermore, introgression of PINO1 rendered transgenic tobacco plants capable of growth in 200-300 mm NaCl with retention of approximately 40-80% of the photosynthetic competence with concomitant increased inositol production compared with unstressed control. MIPS protein isolated from PINO1 transgenics showed salt-tolerant property in vitro confirming functional expression in planta of the PINO1 gene. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a salt-tolerant MIPS from any source.

Human 1-D-myo-Inositol-3-phosphate Synthase Is Functional in Yeast

We have cloned, sequenced, and expressed a human cDNA encoding 1-d-myo-inositol-3-phosphate (MIP) synthase (hINO1). The encoded 62-kDa human enzyme converted d-glucose 6-phosphate to 1-d-myo-inositol 3-phosphate, the rate-limiting step for de novo inositol biosynthesis. Activity of the recombinant human MIP synthase purified from Escherichia coli was optimal at pH 8.0 at 37 degrees C and exhibited K(m) values of 0.57 mm and 8 microm for glucose 6-phosphate and NAD(+), respectively. NH(4)(+) and K(+) were better activators than other cations tested (Na(+), Li(+), Mg(2+), Mn(2+)), and Zn(2+) strongly inhibited activity. Expression of the protein in the yeast ino1Delta mutant lacking MIP synthase (ino1Delta/hINO1) complemented the inositol auxotrophy of the mutant and led to inositol excretion. MIP synthase activity and intracellular inositol were decreased about 35 and 25%, respectively, when ino1Delta/hINO1 was grown in the presence of a therapeutically relevant concentration of the anti-bipolar drug valproate (0.6 mm). However, in vitro activity of purified MIP synthase was not inhibited by valproate at this concentration, suggesting that inhibition by the drug is indirect. Because inositol metabolism may play a key role in the etiology and treatment of bipolar illness, functional conservation of the key enzyme in inositol biosynthesis underscores the power of the yeast model in studies of this disorder.

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis ino1 gene is essential for growth and virulence

Inositol is utilized by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the production of its major thiol and of essential cell wall lipoglycans. We have constructed a mutant lacking the gene encoding inositol-1-phosphate synthase (ino1), which catalyses the first committed step in inositol synthesis. This mutant is only viable in the presence of extremely high levels of inositol. Mutant bacteria cultured in inositol-free medium for four weeks showed a reduction in levels of mycothiol, but phosphatidylinositol mannoside, lipomannan and lipoarabinomannan levels were not altered. The ino1 mutant was attenuated in resting macrophages and in SCID mice. We used site-directed mutagenesis to alter four putative active site residues; all four alterations resulted in a loss of activity, and we demonstrated that a D310N mutation caused loss of the active site Zn2+ ion and a conformational change in the NAD+ cofactor.

Lateral gene transfer and the origins of prokaryotic groups

Lateral gene transfer (LGT) is now known to be a major force in the evolution of prokaryotic genomes. To date, most analyses have focused on either (a) verifying phylogenies of individual genes thought to have been transferred, or (b) estimating the fraction of individual genomes likely to have been introduced by transfer. Neither approach does justice to the ability of LGT to effect massive and complex transformations in basic biology. In some cases, such transformation will be manifested as the patchy distribution of a seemingly fundamental property (such as aerobiosis or nitrogen fixation) among the members of a group classically defined by the sharing of other properties (metabolic, morphological, or molecular, such as small subunit ribosomal RNA sequence). In other cases, the lineage of recipients so transformed may be seen to comprise a new group of high taxonomic rank ("class" or even "phylum"). Here we review evidence for an important role of LGT in the evolution of photosynthesis, aerobic respiration, nitrogen fixation, sulfate reduction, methylotrophy, isoprenoid biosynthesis, quorum sensing, flotation (gas vesicles), thermophily, and halophily. Sometimes transfer of complex gene clusters may have been involved, whereas other times separate exchanges of many genes must be invoked.

Diversification and evolution of L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase

L-myo-Inositol 1-phosphate synthase (MIPS, EC 5.5.1.4), the key enzyme in the inositol and phosphoinositide biosynthetic pathway, is present throughout evolutionarily diverse organisms and is considered an ancient protein/gene. Analysis by multiple sequence alignment, phylogenetic tree generation and comparison of newly determined crystal structures provides new insight into the origin and evolutionary relationships among the various MIPS proteins/genes. The evolution of the MIPS protein/gene among the prokaryotes seems more diverse and complex than amongst the eukaryotes. However, conservation of a 'core catalytic structure' among the MIPS proteins implies an essential function of the enzyme in cellular metabolism throughout the biological kingdom.

Recent advances in tuberculosis research in India

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be the leading killer of mankind among all infectious diseases, especially in the developing countries. Since the discovery of tubercle bacillus more than 100 years ago, TB has been the subject of research in an attempt to develop tools and strategies to combat this disease. Research in Indian laboratories has contributed significantly towards developing the DOTS strategy employed worldwide in tuberculosis control programmes and elucidating the biological properties of its etiologic agent, M. tuberculosis. In recent times, the development of tools for manipulation of mycobacteria has given a boost to researchers working in this field. New strategies are being employed towards understanding the mechanisms of protection and pathogenesis of this disease. Molecular methods are being applied to develop new tools and reagents for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis. With the sequencing of the genome of M. tuberculosis, molecules are being identified for the development of new drugs and vaccines. In this chapter, the advances made in these areas by Indian researchers mainly during the last five years are reviewed.

Purification and biochemical characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis SuhB, an inositol monophosphatase involved in inositol biosynthesis

Phosphatidylinositol is an essential component of mycobacteria, and phosphatidylinositol-based lipids such as phosphatidylinositolmannosides, lipomannan, and lipoarabinomannan are major immunomodulatory components of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall. Inositol monophosphatase (EC 3.1.3.25) is a crucial enzyme in the biosynthesis of free myo-inositol from inositol-1-phosphate, a key substrate for the phosphatidylinositol synthase in mycobacteria. Analysis of the M. tuberculosis genome suggested the presence of four M. tuberculosis gene products that exhibit an inositol monophosphatase signature. In the present report, we have focused on SuhB, which possesses the highest degree of homology with human inositol monophosphatase. SuhB gene was cloned into an E. coli expression vector to over-produce a His-tagged protein, which was purified and characterized. SuhB required divalent metal ions for functional inositol monophosphatase activity, with Mg(2+) being the strongest activator. Inositol monophosphatase activity catalyzed by SuhB was inhibited by the monovalent cation lithium (IC(50) = 0.9 mM). As anticipated, inositol-1-phosphate was the preferred substrate (K(m) = 0.177 +/- 0.025 mM; k(cat) = 3.6 +/- 0.2 s(-)(1)); however, SuhB was also able to hydrolyze a variety of polyol phosphates such as glucitol-6-phosphate, glycerol-2-phosphate, and 2'-AMP. To provide further insight into the structure-function relationship of SuhB, different mutant proteins were generated (E83D, D104N, D107N, W234L, and D235N). These mutations almost completely abrogated inositol monophosphatase activity, thus underlining the importance of these residues in inositol-1-phosphate dephosphorylation. We also identified L81 as a key residue involved in sensitivity to lithium. The L81A mutation rendered SuhB inositol monophosphatase activity 10-fold more resistant to inhibition by lithium (IC(50) = 10 mM). These studies provide the first steps in the delineation of the biosynthesis of the key metabolite inositol in M. tuberculosis.

Crystal structure of inositol 1-phosphate synthase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a key enzyme in phosphatidylinositol synthesis

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) is essential for Mycobacterium tuberculosis viability and the enzymes involved in the PI biosynthetic pathway are potential antimycobacterial agents for which little structural information is available. The rate-limiting step in the pathway is the production of (L)-myo-inositol 1-phosphate from (D)-glucose 6-phosphate, a complex reaction catalyzed by the enzyme inositol 1-phosphate synthase. We have determined the crystal structure of this enzyme from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (tbINO) at 1.95 A resolution, bound to the cofactor NAD+. The active site is located within a deep cleft at the junction between two domains. The unexpected presence of a zinc ion here suggests a mechanistic difference from the eukaryotic inositol synthases, which are stimulated by monovalent cations, that may be exploitable in developing selective inhibitors of tbINO.

Characterization and regulation of inositol monophosphatase activity in Mycobacterium smegmatis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis and related members of the genus Mycobacterium contain a number of inositol-based lipids, such as phosphatidylinositol mannosides, lipomannan and lipoarabinomannan. The synthesis of phosphatidylinositol in M. smegmatis is essential for growth and myo-inositol is a key metabolite for mycobacteria. Little is known about the biosynthesis of inositol in mycobacteria and the only known de novo pathway for myo-inositol biosynthesis involves a two-step process. First, cyclization of glucose 6-phosphate to afford myo-inositol 1-phosphate via inositol-1-phosphate synthase and, secondly, dephosphorylation of myo-inositol 1-phosphate by inositol monophosphatase (IMP) to afford myo-inositol. The following report examines IMP activity in M. smegmatis extracts, with regard to pH dependence, bivalent cation requirement, univalent cation inhibition, regulation by growth and carbon source. We show that IMP activity, which is optimal at the end of the exponential growth phase in Sauton's medium, is Mg(2+)-dependent. Moreover, IMP activity is inhibited by Li(+) and Na(+), with Li(+) also being able to inhibit growth of M. smegmatis in vivo. This study represents a first step in the delineation of myo-inositol biosynthesis in mycobacteria.

Phylogenetic analyses of two "archaeal" genes in thermotoga maritima reveal multiple transfers between archaea and bacteria

The genome sequence of Thermotoga maritima revealed that 24% of its open reading frames (ORFs) showed the highest similarity scores to archaeal genes in BLAST analyses. Here we screened 16 strains from the genus Thermotoga and other related Thermotogales for the occurrence of two of these "archaeal" genes: the gene encoding the large subunit of glutamate synthase (gltB) and the myo-inositol 1P synthase gene (ino1). Both genes were restricted to the Thermotoga species within the Thermotogales. The distribution of the two genes, along with results from phylogenetic analyses, showed that they were acquired from Archaea during the divergence of the Thermotogales. Database searches revealed that three other bacteria-Dehalococcoides ethenogenes, Sinorhizobium meliloti, and Clostridium difficile-possess archaeal-type gltBs, and the phylogenetic analyses confirmed at least two lateral gene transfer (LGT) events between Bacteria and Archaea. These LGT events were also strongly supported by gene structure data, as the three domains in bacterial-type gltB are homologous to three independent ORFs in Archaea and Bacteria with archaeal-type gltBs. The ino1 gene has a scattered distribution among Bacteria, and apart from the Thermotoga strains it is found only in Aquifex aeolicus, D. ethenogenes, and some high-G+C Gram-positive bacteria. Phylogenetic analysis of the ino1 sequences revealed three highly supported prokaryotic clades, all containing a mixture of archaeal and bacterial sequences, and suggested that all bacterial ino1 genes had been recruited from archaeal donors. The Thermotoga strains and A. aeolicus acquired this gene independently from different archaeal species. Although transfer of genes from hyperthermophilic Archaea may have facilitated the evolution of bacterial hyperthermophily, between-domain transfers also affect mesophilic species. For hyperthermophiles, we hypothesize that LGT may be as much a consequence as the cause of adaptation to hyperthermophily.

Inositol-1-phosphate synthase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus is a class II aldolase

A gene putatively identified as the Archaeoglobus fulgidus inositol-1-phosphate synthase (IPS) gene was overexpressed to high level (about 30-40% of total soluble cellular proteins) in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was purified to homogeneity by heat treatment followed by two column chromatographic steps. The native enzyme was a tetramer of 168 +/- 4 kDa (subunit molecular mass of 44 kDa). At 90 degrees C the K(m) values for glucose-6-phosphate and NAD(+) were estimated as 0.12 +/- 0.04 mM and 5.1 +/- 0.9 microM, respectively. Use of (D)-[5-(13)C]glucose-6-phosphate as a substrate confirmed that the stereochemistry of the product of the IPS reaction was L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate. This archaeal enzyme, with the highest activity at its optimum growth temperature among all IPS reported (k(cat) = 9.6 +/- 0.4 s(-1) with an estimated activation energy of 69 kJ/mol), was extremely heat stable. However, the most unique feature of A. fulgidus IPS was that it absolutely required divalent metal ions for activity. Zn(2+) and Mn(2+) were the best activators with K(D) approximately 1 microM, while NH(4)(+) (a critical activator for all the other characterized IPS enzymes) had no effect on the enzyme. These properties suggested that this archaeal IPS was a class II aldolase. In support of this, stoichiometric reduction of NAD(+) to NADH could be followed spectrophotometrically when EDTA was present along with glucose-6-phosphate.