1
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Cereijo AE, Ferretti MV, Iglesias AA, Álvarez HM, Asencion Diez MD. Study of two glycosyltransferases related to polysaccharide biosynthesis in Rhodococcus jostii RHA1. Biol Chem 2024; 405:325-340. [PMID: 38487862 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2023-0339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
The bacterial genus Rhodococcus comprises organisms performing oleaginous behaviors under certain growth conditions and ratios of carbon and nitrogen availability. Rhodococci are outstanding producers of biofuel precursors, where lipid and glycogen metabolisms are closely related. Thus, a better understanding of rhodococcal carbon partitioning requires identifying catalytic steps redirecting sugar moieties to storage molecules. Here, we analyzed two GT4 glycosyl-transferases from Rhodococcus jostii (RjoGlgAb and RjoGlgAc) annotated as α-glucan-α-1,4-glucosyl transferases, putatively involved in glycogen synthesis. Both enzymes were produced in Escherichia coli cells, purified to homogeneity, and kinetically characterized. RjoGlgAb and RjoGlgAc presented the "canonical" glycogen synthase activity and were actives as maltose-1P synthases, although to a different extent. Then, RjoGlgAc is a homologous enzyme to the mycobacterial GlgM, with similar kinetic behavior and glucosyl-donor preference. RjoGlgAc was two orders of magnitude more efficient to glucosylate glucose-1P than glycogen, also using glucosamine-1P as a catalytically efficient aglycon. Instead, RjoGlgAb exhibited both activities with similar kinetic efficiency and preference for short-branched α-1,4-glucans. Curiously, RjoGlgAb presented a super-oligomeric conformation (higher than 15 subunits), representing a novel enzyme with a unique structure-to-function relationship. Kinetic results presented herein constitute a hint to infer on polysaccharides biosynthesis in rhodococci from an enzymological point of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonela Estefania Cereijo
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, 603337 Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (UNL-CONICET) & Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas , Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María Victoria Ferretti
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, 603337 Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (UNL-CONICET) & Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas , Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Alberto Alvaro Iglesias
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, 603337 Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (UNL-CONICET) & Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas , Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Héctor Manuel Álvarez
- Instituto de Biociencias de la Patagonia (INBIOP), 28226 Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco y CONICET , Km 4-Ciudad Universitaria 9000, Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Matías Damian Asencion Diez
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, 603337 Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (UNL-CONICET) & Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas , Santa Fe, Argentina
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2
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Cifuente JO, Colleoni C, Kalscheuer R, Guerin ME. Architecture, Function, Regulation, and Evolution of α-Glucans Metabolic Enzymes in Prokaryotes. Chem Rev 2024; 124:4863-4934. [PMID: 38606812 PMCID: PMC11046441 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria have acquired sophisticated mechanisms for assembling and disassembling polysaccharides of different chemistry. α-d-Glucose homopolysaccharides, so-called α-glucans, are the most widespread polymers in nature being key components of microorganisms. Glycogen functions as an intracellular energy storage while some bacteria also produce extracellular assorted α-glucans. The classical bacterial glycogen metabolic pathway comprises the action of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase and glycogen synthase, whereas extracellular α-glucans are mostly related to peripheral enzymes dependent on sucrose. An alternative pathway of glycogen biosynthesis, operating via a maltose 1-phosphate polymerizing enzyme, displays an essential wiring with the trehalose metabolism to interconvert disaccharides into polysaccharides. Furthermore, some bacteria show a connection of intracellular glycogen metabolism with the genesis of extracellular capsular α-glucans, revealing a relationship between the storage and structural function of these compounds. Altogether, the current picture shows that bacteria have evolved an intricate α-glucan metabolism that ultimately relies on the evolution of a specific enzymatic machinery. The structural landscape of these enzymes exposes a limited number of core catalytic folds handling many different chemical reactions. In this Review, we present a rationale to explain how the chemical diversity of α-glucans emerged from these systems, highlighting the underlying structural evolution of the enzymes driving α-glucan bacterial metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier O. Cifuente
- Instituto
Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC), University of
the Basque Country, E-48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Christophe Colleoni
- University
of Lille, CNRS, UMR8576-UGSF -Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale
et Fonctionnelle, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Rainer Kalscheuer
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Marcelo E. Guerin
- Structural
Glycobiology Laboratory, Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB), Spanish
National Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona Science Park, c/Baldiri Reixac 4-8, Tower R, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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3
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Esteban-Torres M, Ruiz L, Rossini V, Nally K, van Sinderen D. Intracellular glycogen accumulation by human gut commensals as a niche adaptation trait. Gut Microbes 2023; 15:2235067. [PMID: 37526383 PMCID: PMC10395257 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2235067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The human gut microbiota is a key contributor to host metabolism and physiology, thereby impacting in various ways on host health. This complex microbial community has developed many metabolic strategies to colonize, persist and survive in the gastrointestinal environment. In this regard, intracellular glycogen accumulation has been associated with important physiological functions in several bacterial species, including gut commensals. However, the role of glycogen storage in shaping the composition and functionality of the gut microbiota offers a novel perspective in gut microbiome research. Here, we review what is known about the enzymatic machinery and regulation of glycogen metabolism in selected enteric bacteria, while we also discuss its potential impact on colonization and adaptation to the gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, we survey the presence of such glycogen biosynthesis pathways in gut metagenomic data to highlight the relevance of this metabolic trait in enhancing survival in the highly competitive and dynamic gut ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Esteban-Torres
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Lorena Ruiz
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of Dairy Products, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias, IPLA-CSIC, Villaviciosa, Spain
- Functionality and Ecology of Benefitial Microbes (MicroHealth Group), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | - Valerio Rossini
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Ken Nally
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Douwe van Sinderen
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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4
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Bhayani J, Iglesias MJ, Minen RI, Cereijo AE, Ballicora MA, Iglesias AA, Asencion Diez MD. Carbohydrate Metabolism in Bacteria: Alternative Specificities in ADP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylases Open Novel Metabolic Scenarios and Biotechnological Tools. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:867384. [PMID: 35572620 PMCID: PMC9093745 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.867384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We explored the ability of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (ADP-Glc PPase) from different bacteria to use glucosamine (GlcN) metabolites as a substrate or allosteric effectors. The enzyme from the actinobacteria Kocuria rhizophila exhibited marked and distinctive sensitivity to allosteric activation by GlcN-6P when producing ADP-Glc from glucose-1-phosphate (Glc-1P) and ATP. This behavior is also seen in the enzyme from Rhodococcus spp., the only one known so far to portray this activation. GlcN-6P had a more modest effect on the enzyme from other Actinobacteria (Streptomyces coelicolor), Firmicutes (Ruminococcus albus), and Proteobacteria (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) groups. In addition, we studied the catalytic capacity of ADP-Glc PPases from the different sources using GlcN-1P as a substrate when assayed in the presence of their respective allosteric activators. In all cases, the catalytic efficiency of Glc-1P was 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than GlcN-1P, except for the unregulated heterotetrameric protein (GlgC/GgD) from Geobacillus stearothermophilus. The Glc-1P substrate preference is explained using a model of ADP-Glc PPase from A. tumefaciens based on the crystallographic structure of the enzyme from potato tuber. The substrate-binding domain localizes near the N-terminal of an α-helix, which has a partial positive charge, thus favoring the interaction with a hydroxyl rather than a charged primary amine group. Results support the scenario where the ability of ADP-Glc PPases to use GlcN-1P as an alternative occurred during evolution despite the enzyme being selected to use Glc-1P and ATP for α-glucans synthesis. As an associated consequence in such a process, certain bacteria could have improved their ability to metabolize GlcN. The work also provides insights in designing molecular tools for producing oligo and polysaccharides with amino moieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaina Bhayani
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Maria Josefina Iglesias
- Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Romina I Minen
- Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Antonela E Cereijo
- Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Miguel A Ballicora
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Alberto A Iglesias
- Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Matias D Asencion Diez
- Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
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Ferretti MV, Hussien RA, Ballicora MA, Iglesias AA, Figueroa CM, Asencion Diez MD. The ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from Melainabacteria: a comparative study between photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic bacterial sources. Biochimie 2021; 192:30-37. [PMID: 34560201 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2021.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Until recently, the cyanobacterial phylum only included oxygenic photosynthesizer members. The discovery of Melainabacteria as a group of supposed non-photosynthetic cyanobacteria asked to revisit such scenario. From metagenomic data, we were able to identify sequences encoding putative ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylases (ADP-GlcPPase) from free-living and intestinal Melainabacteria. The respective genes were de novo synthesized and over-expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified recombinant proteins from both Melainabacteria species were active as ADP-GlcPPases, exhibiting Vmax values of 2.3 (free-living) and 7.1 U/mg (intestinal). The enzymes showed similar S0.5 values (∼0.3 mM) for ATP, while the one from the intestinal source exhibited a 6-fold higher affinity toward glucose-1P. Both recombinant ADP-GlcPPases were sensitive to glucose-6P activation (A0.5 ∼0.3 mM) and Pi and ADP inhibition (I0.5 between 0.2 and 3 mM). Interestingly, the enzymes from Melainabacteria were insensitive to 3-phosphoglycerate, which is the principal activator of ADP-GlcPPases from photosynthetic cyanobacteria. As far as we know, this is the first biochemical characterization of an active enzyme from Melainabacteria. This work contributes to a better understanding of the evolution of allosteric regulation in the ADP-GlcPPase family, which is critical for synthesizing the main reserve polysaccharide in prokaryotes (glycogen) and plants (starch). In addition, our results offer further information to discussions regarding the phylogenetic position of Melainabacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- María V Ferretti
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Rania A Hussien
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Chemistry, Al Baha University, Al Baha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Miguel A Ballicora
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Alberto A Iglesias
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Carlos M Figueroa
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Matías D Asencion Diez
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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6
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Figueroa CM, Lunn JE, Iglesias AA. Nucleotide-sugar metabolism in plants: the legacy of Luis F. Leloir. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:4053-4067. [PMID: 33948638 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This review commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Luis F. Leloir 'for his discovery of sugar-nucleotides and their role in the biosynthesis of carbohydrates'. He and his co-workers discovered that activated forms of simple sugars, such as UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose, are essential intermediates in the interconversion of sugars. They elucidated the biosynthetic pathways for sucrose and starch, which are the major end-products of photosynthesis, and for trehalose. Trehalose 6-phosphate, the intermediate of trehalose biosynthesis that they discovered, is now a molecule of great interest due to its function as a sugar signalling metabolite that regulates many aspects of plant metabolism and development. The work of the Leloir group also opened the doors to an understanding of the biosynthesis of cellulose and other structural cell wall polysaccharides (hemicelluloses and pectins), and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Nucleotide-sugars also serve as sugar donors for a myriad of glycosyltransferases that conjugate sugars to other molecules, including lipids, phytohormones, secondary metabolites, and proteins, thereby modifying their biological activity. In this review, we highlight the diversity of nucleotide-sugars and their functions in plants, in recognition of Leloir's rich and enduring legacy to plant science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos M Figueroa
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, UNL, CONICET, FBCB, Colectora Ruta Nacional 168 km 0, 3000 Santa Fe,Argentina
| | - John E Lunn
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Alberto A Iglesias
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, UNL, CONICET, FBCB, Colectora Ruta Nacional 168 km 0, 3000 Santa Fe,Argentina
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7
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Cereijo AE, Kuhn ML, Hernández MA, Ballicora MA, Iglesias AA, Alvarez HM, Asencion Diez MD. Study of duplicated galU genes in Rhodococcus jostii and a putative new metabolic node for glucosamine-1P in rhodococci. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2020; 1865:129727. [PMID: 32890704 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2020.129727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGOUND Studying enzymes that determine glucose-1P fate in carbohydrate metabolism is important to better understand microorganisms as biotechnological tools. One example ripe for discovery is the UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase enzyme from Rhodococcus spp. In the R. jostii genome, this gene is duplicated, whereas R. fascians contains only one copy. METHODS We report the molecular cloning of galU genes from R. jostii and R. fascians to produce recombinant proteins RjoGalU1, RjoGalU2, and RfaGalU. Substrate saturation curves were conducted, kinetic parameters were obtained and the catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) was used to analyze enzyme promiscuity. We also investigated the response of R. jostii GlmU pyrophosphorylase activity with different sugar-1Ps, which may compete for substrates with RjoGalU2. RESULTS All enzymes were active as pyrophosphorylases and exhibited substrate promiscuity toward sugar-1Ps. Remarkably, RjoGalU2 exhibited one order of magnitude higher activity with glucosamine-1P than glucose-1P, the canonical substrate. Glucosamine-1P activity was also significant in RfaGalU. The efficient use of the phospho-amino-sugar suggests the feasibility of the reaction to occur in vivo. Also, RjoGalU2 and RfaGalU represent enzymatic tools for the production of (amino)glucosyl precursors for the putative synthesis of novel molecules. CONCLUSIONS Results support the hypothesis that partitioning of glucosamine-1P includes an uncharacterized metabolic node in Rhodococcus spp., which could be important for producing diverse alternatives for carbohydrate metabolism in biotechnological applications. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Results presented here provide a model to study evolutionary enzyme promiscuity, which could be used as a tool to expand an organism's metabolic repertoire by incorporating non-canonical substrates into novel metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- A E Cereijo
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, CCT-Santa Fe, Colectora Ruta Nac 168 km 0, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - M L Kuhn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - M A Hernández
- Instituto de Biociencias de la Patagonia (INBIOP), Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco y CONICET, Km 4-Ciudad Universitaria 9000, Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina
| | - M A Ballicora
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Loyola University Chicago, 1068 W. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60660, United States
| | - A A Iglesias
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, CCT-Santa Fe, Colectora Ruta Nac 168 km 0, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - H M Alvarez
- Instituto de Biociencias de la Patagonia (INBIOP), Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco y CONICET, Km 4-Ciudad Universitaria 9000, Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina.
| | - M D Asencion Diez
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, CCT-Santa Fe, Colectora Ruta Nac 168 km 0, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina.
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8
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Cereijo AE, Alvarez HM, Iglesias AA, Asencion Diez MD. Glucosamine-P and rhodococcal ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylases: A hint to (re)discover (actino)bacterial amino sugar metabolism. Biochimie 2020; 176:158-161. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2020.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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9
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Kumpf A, Kowalczykiewicz D, Szymańska K, Mehnert M, Bento I, Łochowicz A, Pollender A, Jarzȩbski A, Tischler D. Immobilization of the Highly Active UDP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase From Thermocrispum agreste Provides a Highly Efficient Biocatalyst for the Production of UDP-Glucose. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:740. [PMID: 32714915 PMCID: PMC7343719 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Biocatalysis that produces economically interesting compounds can be carried out by using free enzymes or microbial cells. However, often the cell metabolism does not allow the overproduction or secretion of activated sugars and thus downstream processing of these sugars is complicated. Here enzyme immobilization comes into focus in order to stabilize the enzyme as well as to make the overall process economically feasible. Besides a robust immobilization method, a highly active and stable enzyme is needed to efficiently produce the product of choice. Herein, we report on the identification, gene expression, biochemical characterization as well as immobilization of the uridine-5′-diphosphate-glucose (UDP-glucose) pyrophosphorylase originating from the thermostable soil actinobacterium Thermocrispum agreste DSM 44070 (TaGalU). The enzyme immobilization was performed on organically modified mesostructured cellular foams (MCF) via epoxy and amino group to provide a stable and active biocatalyst. The soluble and highly active TaGalU revealed a Vmax of 1698 U mg–1 (uridine-5′-triphosphate, UTP) and a Km of 0.15 mM (UTP). The optimum reaction temperature was determined to be 50°C. TaGalU was stable at this temperature for up to 30 min with a maximum loss of activity of 65%. Interestingly, immobilized TaGalU was stable at 50°C for at least 120 min without a significant loss of activity, which makes this enzyme an interesting biocatalyst for the production of UDP-glucose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antje Kumpf
- Institute of Biosciences, Environmental Microbiology, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany.,Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,EMBL Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Daria Kowalczykiewicz
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Bioorganic Chemistry and Biotechnology, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland.,Biotechnology Centre, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Szymańska
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Process Design, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Maria Mehnert
- Institute of Biosciences, Environmental Microbiology, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
| | | | - Aleksandra Łochowicz
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Bioorganic Chemistry and Biotechnology, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland
| | - André Pollender
- Institute of Biosciences, Environmental Microbiology, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Andrzej Jarzȩbski
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Process Design, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland.,Institute of Chemical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Dirk Tischler
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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10
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Mycobacterial OtsA Structures Unveil Substrate Preference Mechanism and Allosteric Regulation by 2-Oxoglutarate and 2-Phosphoglycerate. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.02272-19. [PMID: 31772052 PMCID: PMC6879718 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02272-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterial infections are a significant source of mortality worldwide, causing millions of deaths annually. Trehalose is a multipurpose disaccharide that plays a fundamental structural role in these organisms as a component of mycolic acids, a molecular hallmark of the cell envelope of mycobacteria. Here, we describe the first mycobacterial OtsA structures. We show mechanisms of substrate preference and show that OtsA is regulated allosterically by 2-oxoglutarate and 2-phosphoglycerate at an interfacial site. These results identify a new allosteric site and provide insight on the regulation of trehalose synthesis through the OtsAB pathway in mycobacteria. Trehalose is an essential disaccharide for mycobacteria and a key constituent of several cell wall glycolipids with fundamental roles in pathogenesis. Mycobacteria possess two pathways for trehalose biosynthesis. However, only the OtsAB pathway was found to be essential in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, with marked growth and virulence defects of OtsA mutants and strict essentiality of OtsB2. Here, we report the first mycobacterial OtsA structures from Mycobacterium thermoresistibile in both apo and ligand-bound forms. Structural information reveals three key residues in the mechanism of substrate preference that were further confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. Additionally, we identify 2-oxoglutarate and 2-phosphoglycerate as allosteric regulators of OtsA. The structural analysis in this work strongly contributed to define the mechanisms for feedback inhibition, show different conformational states of the enzyme, and map a new allosteric site.
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11
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Kumpf A, Partzsch A, Pollender A, Bento I, Tischler D. Two Homologous Enzymes of the GalU Family in Rhodococcus opacus 1CP- RoGalU1 and RoGalU2. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20225809. [PMID: 31752319 PMCID: PMC6888414 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Uridine-5’-diphosphate (UDP)-glucose is reported as one of the most versatile building blocks within the metabolism of pro- and eukaryotes. The activated sugar moiety is formed by the enzyme UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (GalU). Two homologous enzymes (designated as RoGalU1 and RoGalU2) are encoded by most Rhodococcus strains, known for their capability to degrade numerous compounds, but also to synthesize natural products such as trehalose comprising biosurfactants. To evaluate their functionality respective genes of a trehalose biosurfactant producing model organism—Rhodococcus opacus 1CP—were cloned and expressed, proteins produced (yield up to 47 mg per L broth) and initially biochemically characterized. In the case of RoGalU2, the Vmax was determined to be 177 U mg−1 (uridine-5’-triphosphate (UTP)) and Km to be 0.51 mM (UTP), respectively. Like other GalUs this enzyme seems to be rather specific for the substrates UTP and glucose 1-phosphate, as it accepts only dTTP and galactose 1-phoshate in addition, but both with solely 2% residual activity. In comparison to other bacterial GalU enzymes the RoGalU2 was found to be somewhat higher in activity (factor 1.8) even at elevated temperatures. However, RoGalU1 was not obtained in an active form thus it remains enigmatic if this enzyme participates in metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antje Kumpf
- Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Leipziger Str. 29, 09599 Freiberg, Germany; (A.P.); (A.P.)
- EMBL Hamburg, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany;
- Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology & Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
- Correspondence: (A.K.); (D.T.); Tel.: +49-234-32-22082 (A.K.); +49-234-32-22656 (D.T.)
| | - Anett Partzsch
- Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Leipziger Str. 29, 09599 Freiberg, Germany; (A.P.); (A.P.)
| | - André Pollender
- Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Leipziger Str. 29, 09599 Freiberg, Germany; (A.P.); (A.P.)
| | - Isabel Bento
- EMBL Hamburg, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Dirk Tischler
- Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology & Biotechnology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
- Correspondence: (A.K.); (D.T.); Tel.: +49-234-32-22082 (A.K.); +49-234-32-22656 (D.T.)
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12
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The Mycobacterium tuberculosis capsule: a cell structure with key implications in pathogenesis. Biochem J 2019; 476:1995-2016. [PMID: 31320388 PMCID: PMC6698057 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20190324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial capsules have evolved to be at the forefront of the cell envelope, making them an essential element of bacterial biology. Efforts to understand the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) capsule began more than 60 years ago, but the relatively recent development of mycobacterial genetics combined with improved chemical and immunological tools have revealed a more refined view of capsule molecular composition. A glycogen-like α-glucan is the major constituent of the capsule, with lower amounts of arabinomannan and mannan, proteins and lipids. The major Mtb capsular components mediate interactions with phagocytes that favor bacterial survival. Vaccination approaches targeting the mycobacterial capsule have proven successful in controlling bacterial replication. Although the Mtb capsule is composed of polysaccharides of relatively low complexity, the concept of antigenic variability associated with this structure has been suggested by some studies. Understanding how Mtb shapes its envelope during its life cycle is key to developing anti-infective strategies targeting this structure at the host-pathogen interface.
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Regulatory Properties of the ADP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase from the Clostridial Firmicutes Member Ruminococcus albus. J Bacteriol 2018; 200:JB.00172-18. [PMID: 29941423 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00172-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from Firmicutes is encoded by two genes (glgC and glgD) leading to a heterotetrameric protein structure, unlike those in other bacterial phyla. The enzymes from two groups of Firmicutes, Bacillales and Lactobacillales, present dissimilar kinetic and regulatory properties. Nevertheless, no ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from Clostridiales, the third group in Firmicutes, has been characterized. For this reason, we cloned the glgC and glgD genes from Ruminococcus albus Different quaternary forms of the enzyme (GlgC, GlgD, and GlgC/GlgD) were purified to homogeneity and their kinetic parameters were analyzed. We observed that GlgD is an inactive monomer when expressed alone but increased the catalytic efficiency of the heterotetramer (GlgC/GlgD) compared to the homotetramer (GlgC). The heterotetramer is regulated by fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, phosphoenolpyruvate, and NAD(P)H. The first characterization of the Bacillales enzyme suggested that heterotetrameric ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylases from Firmicutes were unregulated. Our results, together with data from Lactobacillales, indicate that heterotetrameric Firmicutes enzymes are mostly regulated. Thus, the ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from Bacillales seems to have distinctive insensitivity to regulation.IMPORTANCE The enzymes involved in glycogen synthesis from Firmicutes have been less characterized in comparison with other bacterial groups. We performed kinetic and regulatory characterization of the ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from Ruminococcus albus Our results showed that this protein that belongs to different groups from Firmicutes (Bacillales, Lactobacillales, and Clostridiales) presents dissimilar features. This study contributes to the understanding of how this critical enzyme for glycogen biosynthesis is regulated in the Firmicutes group, whereby we propose that these heterotetrameric enzymes, with the exception of Bacillales, are allosterically regulated. Our results provide a better understanding of the evolutionary relationship of this enzyme family in Firmicutes.
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14
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Korte J, Alber M, Trujillo CM, Syson K, Koliwer-Brandl H, Deenen R, Köhrer K, DeJesus MA, Hartman T, Jacobs WR, Bornemann S, Ioerger TR, Ehrt S, Kalscheuer R. Trehalose-6-Phosphate-Mediated Toxicity Determines Essentiality of OtsB2 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis In Vitro and in Mice. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1006043. [PMID: 27936238 PMCID: PMC5148154 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Trehalose biosynthesis is considered an attractive target for the development of antimicrobials against fungal, helminthic and bacterial pathogens including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The most common biosynthetic route involves trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) synthase OtsA and T6P phosphatase OtsB that generate trehalose from ADP/UDP-glucose and glucose-6-phosphate. In order to assess the drug target potential of T6P phosphatase, we generated a conditional mutant of M. tuberculosis allowing the regulated gene silencing of the T6P phosphatase gene otsB2. We found that otsB2 is essential for growth of M. tuberculosis in vitro as well as for the acute infection phase in mice following aerosol infection. By contrast, otsB2 is not essential for the chronic infection phase in mice, highlighting the substantial remodelling of trehalose metabolism during infection by M. tuberculosis. Blocking OtsB2 resulted in the accumulation of its substrate T6P, which appears to be toxic, leading to the self-poisoning of cells. Accordingly, blocking T6P production in a ΔotsA mutant abrogated otsB2 essentiality. T6P accumulation elicited a global upregulation of more than 800 genes, which might result from an increase in RNA stability implied by the enhanced neutralization of toxins exhibiting ribonuclease activity. Surprisingly, overlap with the stress response caused by the accumulation of another toxic sugar phosphate molecule, maltose-1-phosphate, was minimal. A genome-wide screen for synthetic lethal interactions with otsA identified numerous genes, revealing additional potential drug targets synergistic with OtsB2 suitable for combination therapies that would minimize the emergence of resistance to OtsB2 inhibitors. Trehalose biosynthesis is considered an attractive target for the development of new drugs against various microbial pathogens including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In this human pathogen, two partially redundant pathways mediate trehalose biosynthesis. The OtsA-OtsB2 pathway, which dominates in culture, involves trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) synthase OtsA and T6P phosphatase OtsB2. While OtsA is dispensable, OtsB2 is strictly essential for growth of M. tuberculosis. Using conditional gene silencing, we here show that essentiality of OtsB2 is linked to accumulation of its substrate T6P, which exhibits direct or indirect toxic effects. Regulated gene expression in vivo revealed that OtsB2 is required to establish an acute infection of M. tuberculosis in a mouse infection model, but is surprisingly fully dispensable during the chronic infection phase. This highlights that trehalose metabolism of M. tuberculosis is substantially remodelled during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Korte
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marina Alber
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Carolina M. Trujillo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Karl Syson
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom
| | - Hendrik Koliwer-Brandl
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - René Deenen
- Biological and Medical Research Center (BMFZ), Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Karl Köhrer
- Biological and Medical Research Center (BMFZ), Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael A. DeJesus
- Department of Computer Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Travis Hartman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - William R. Jacobs
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Stephen Bornemann
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas R. Ioerger
- Department of Computer Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sabine Ehrt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Rainer Kalscheuer
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- * E-mail:
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15
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Asención Diez MD, Miah F, Stevenson CEM, Lawson DM, Iglesias AA, Bornemann S. The Production and Utilization of GDP-glucose in the Biosynthesis of Trehalose 6-Phosphate by Streptomyces venezuelae. J Biol Chem 2016; 292:945-954. [PMID: 27903647 PMCID: PMC5247666 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.758664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2016] [Revised: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Trehalose-6-phosphate synthase OtsA from streptomycetes is unusual in that it uses GDP-glucose as the donor substrate rather than the more commonly used UDP-glucose. We now confirm that OtsA from Streptomyces venezuelae has such a preference for GDP-glucose and can utilize ADP-glucose to some extent too. A crystal structure of the enzyme shows that it shares twin Rossmann-like domains with the UDP-glucose-specific OtsA from Escherichia coli. However, it is structurally more similar to Streptomyces hygroscopicus VldE, a GDP-valienol-dependent pseudoglycosyltransferase enzyme. Comparison of the donor binding sites reveals that the amino acids associated with the binding of diphosphoribose are almost all identical in these three enzymes. By contrast, the amino acids associated with binding guanine in VldE (Asn, Thr, and Val) are similar in S. venezuelae OtsA (Asp, Ser, and Phe, respectively) but not conserved in E. coli OtsA (His, Leu, and Asp, respectively), providing a rationale for the purine base specificity of S. venezuelae OtsA. To establish which donor is used in vivo, we generated an otsA null mutant in S. venezuelae. The mutant had a cell density-dependent growth phenotype and accumulated galactose 1-phosphate, glucose 1-phosphate, and GDP-glucose when grown on galactose. To determine how the GDP-glucose is generated, we characterized three candidate GDP-glucose pyrophosphorylases. SVEN_3027 is a UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, SVEN_3972 is an unusual ITP-mannose pyrophosphorylase, and SVEN_2781 is a pyrophosphorylase that is capable of generating GDP-glucose as well as GDP-mannose. We have therefore established how S. venezuelae can make and utilize GDP-glucose in the biosynthesis of trehalose 6-phosphate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías D Asención Diez
- the Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, CCT-Santa Fe, Colectora Ruta Nac 168 Km 0, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Farzana Miah
- From the Biological Chemistry Department, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom and
| | - Clare E M Stevenson
- From the Biological Chemistry Department, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom and
| | - David M Lawson
- From the Biological Chemistry Department, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom and
| | - Alberto A Iglesias
- the Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, CCT-Santa Fe, Colectora Ruta Nac 168 Km 0, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Stephen Bornemann
- From the Biological Chemistry Department, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom and
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16
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Abstract
It has long been reported that Mycobacterium tuberculosis is capable of synthesizing the α-glucan glycogen. However, what makes this bacterium stand out is that it coats itself in a capsule that mainly consists of a glycogen-like α-glucan. This polymer helps the pathogen evade immune responses. In 2010, the biosynthesis of α-glucans has been shown to not only involve the classical enzymes of glycogen metabolism but also a distinct GlgE pathway. Since then, this pathway has attracted attention not least in terms of the quest for new inhibitors that could be developed into new treatments for tuberculosis. Some lines of recent inquiry have shed a lot of light on to how GlgE catalyses the polymerization of α-glucan, using α-maltose 1-phosphate (M1P) as a building block and how the pathways are regulated. Nevertheless, many unanswered questions remain regarding the synthesis and role of α-glucans in mycobacteria and the numerous other bacteria that possess the GlgE pathway.
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17
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van Wyk N, Drancourt M, Henrissat B, Kremer L. Current perspectives on the families of glycoside hydrolases ofMycobacterium tuberculosis: their importance and prospects for assigning function to unknowns. Glycobiology 2016; 27:112-122. [DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cww099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Revised: 08/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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18
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Koliwer-Brandl H, Syson K, van de Weerd R, Chandra G, Appelmelk B, Alber M, Ioerger TR, Jacobs WR, Geurtsen J, Bornemann S, Kalscheuer R. Metabolic Network for the Biosynthesis of Intra- and Extracellular α-Glucans Required for Virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005768. [PMID: 27513637 PMCID: PMC4981310 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis synthesizes intra- and extracellular α-glucans that were believed to originate from separate pathways. The extracellular glucose polymer is the main constituent of the mycobacterial capsule that is thought to be involved in immune evasion and virulence. However, the role of the α-glucan capsule in pathogenesis has remained enigmatic due to an incomplete understanding of α-glucan biosynthetic pathways preventing the generation of capsule-deficient mutants. Three separate and potentially redundant pathways had been implicated in α-glucan biosynthesis in mycobacteria: the GlgC-GlgA, the Rv3032 and the TreS-Pep2-GlgE pathways. We now show that α-glucan in mycobacteria is exclusively assembled intracellularly utilizing the building block α-maltose-1-phosphate as the substrate for the maltosyltransferase GlgE, with subsequent branching of the polymer by the branching enzyme GlgB. Some α-glucan is exported to form the α-glucan capsule. There is an unexpected convergence of the TreS-Pep2 and GlgC-GlgA pathways that both generate α-maltose-1-phosphate. While the TreS-Pep2 route from trehalose was already known, we have now established that GlgA forms this phosphosugar from ADP-glucose and glucose 1-phosphate 1000-fold more efficiently than its hitherto described glycogen synthase activity. The two routes are connected by the common precursor ADP-glucose, allowing compensatory flux from one route to the other. Having elucidated this unexpected configuration of the metabolic pathways underlying α-glucan biosynthesis in mycobacteria, an M. tuberculosis double mutant devoid of α-glucan could be constructed, showing a direct link between the GlgE pathway, α-glucan biosynthesis and virulence in a mouse infection model. Capsule formation is critical for the virulence of many bacterial and fungal pathogens. Mycobacterium tuberculosis cells are known to be surrounded by a capsule layer that is mainly composed of an α-glucan glucose polymer that resembles glycogen. Progress in understanding its role in the virulence of this important human pathogen has been held back by a lack of knowledge of its biosynthesis, preventing the generation of α-glucan-deficient mutants that could be tested in animal infection models. In this work, we unraveled an unexpected metabolic network configuration revealing the exclusive production of both intracellular and capsular α-glucans by the maltosyltransferase GlgE in mycobacteria. GlgE polymerizes an α-maltose 1-phosphate building block, which is generated by two alternative pathways that are connected by a common intermediate allowing rechanneling of flux from one route to the other. Elucidation of this unexpected configuration of the metabolic pathways underlying α-glucan biosynthesis allowed the rational construction of an M. tuberculosis mutant strain devoid of α-glucan, showing a direct link between the GlgE pathway, α-glucan biosynthesis and virulence in a mouse infection model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Koliwer-Brandl
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Karl Syson
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Robert van de Weerd
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Govind Chandra
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, John Innes Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Ben Appelmelk
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marina Alber
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Thomas R. Ioerger
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - William R. Jacobs
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States of America
| | - Jeroen Geurtsen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stephen Bornemann
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Rainer Kalscheuer
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- * E-mail:
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19
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Suzuki E, Suzuki R. Distribution of glucan-branching enzymes among prokaryotes. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 73:2643-60. [PMID: 27141939 PMCID: PMC11108348 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-016-2243-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Glucan-branching enzyme plays an essential role in the formation of branched polysaccharides, glycogen, and amylopectin. Only one type of branching enzyme, belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 13 (GH13), is found in eukaryotes, while two types of branching enzymes (GH13 and GH57) occur in prokaryotes (Bacteria and Archaea). Both of these types are the members of protein families containing the diverse specificities of amylolytic glycoside hydrolases. Although similarities are found in the catalytic mechanism between the two types of branching enzyme, they are highly distinct from each other in terms of amino acid sequence and tertiary structure. Branching enzymes are found in 29 out of 30 bacterial phyla and 1 out of 5 archaeal phyla, often along with glycogen synthase, suggesting the existence of α-glucan production and storage in a wide range of prokaryotes. Enormous variability is observed as to which type and how many copies of branching enzyme are present depending on the phylum and, in some cases, even among species of the same genus. Such a variation may have occurred through lateral transfer, duplication, and/or differential loss of genes coding for branching enzyme during the evolution of prokaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eiji Suzuki
- Department of Biological Production, Akita Prefectural University, 241-438, Kaidobata-Nishi, Shimoshinjyo-Nakano, Akita, 010-0195, Japan.
| | - Ryuichiro Suzuki
- Department of Biological Production, Akita Prefectural University, 241-438, Kaidobata-Nishi, Shimoshinjyo-Nakano, Akita, 010-0195, Japan
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20
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Cereijo AE, Asencion Diez MD, Dávila Costa JS, Alvarez HM, Iglesias AA. On the Kinetic and Allosteric Regulatory Properties of the ADP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase from Rhodococcus jostii: An Approach to Evaluate Glycogen Metabolism in Oleaginous Bacteria. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:830. [PMID: 27313571 PMCID: PMC4890535 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhodococcus spp. are oleaginous bacteria that accumulate glycogen during exponential growth. Despite the importance of these microorganisms in biotechnology, little is known about the regulation of carbon and energy storage, mainly the relationship between glycogen and triacylglycerols metabolisms. Herein, we report the molecular cloning and heterologous expression of the gene coding for ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (EC 2.7.7.27) of Rhodococcus jostii, strain RHA1. The recombinant enzyme was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity to accurately characterize its oligomeric, kinetic, and regulatory properties. The R. jostii ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase is a homotetramer of 190 kDa exhibiting low basal activity to catalyze synthesis of ADP-glucose, which is markedly influenced by different allosteric effectors. Glucose-6P, mannose-6P, fructose-6P, ribose-5P, and phosphoenolpyruvate were major activators; whereas, NADPH and 6P-gluconate behaved as main inhibitors of the enzyme. The combination of glucose-6P and other effectors (activators or inhibitors) showed a cross-talk effect suggesting that the different metabolites could orchestrate a fine regulation of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase in R. jostii. The enzyme exhibited some degree of affinity toward ATP, GTP, CTP, and other sugar-1P substrates. Remarkably, the use of glucosamine-1P was sensitive to allosteric activation. The relevance of the fine regulation of R. jostii ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase is further analyzed in the framework of proteomic studies already determined for the bacterium. Results support a critical role for glycogen as a temporal reserve that provides a pool of carbon able of be re-routed to produce long-term storage of lipids under certain conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonela E Cereijo
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, CONICET, Centro Científico Tecnológico, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Matías D Asencion Diez
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, CONICET, Centro Científico Tecnológico, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - José S Dávila Costa
- Centro Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Científico Tecnológico, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina
| | - Héctor M Alvarez
- Centro Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Científico Tecnológico, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina
| | - Alberto A Iglesias
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, CONICET, Centro Científico Tecnológico, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral Santa Fe, Argentina
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21
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Miah F, Bibb MJ, Barclay JE, Findlay KC, Bornemann S. Developmental delay in a Streptomyces venezuelae glgE null mutant is associated with the accumulation of α-maltose 1-phosphate. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2016; 162:1208-1219. [PMID: 27121970 PMCID: PMC5042117 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The GlgE pathway is thought to be responsible for the conversion of trehalose into a glycogen-like α-glucan polymer in bacteria. Trehalose is first converted to maltose, which is phosphorylated by maltose kinase Pep2 to give α-maltose 1-phosphate. This is the donor substrate of the maltosyl transferase GlgE that is known to extend α-1,4-linked maltooligosaccharides, which are thought to be branched with α-1,6 linkages. The genome of Streptomyces venezuelae contains all the genes coding for the GlgE pathway enzymes but none of those of related pathways, including glgC and glgA of the glycogen pathway. This provides an opportunity to study the GlgE pathway in isolation. The genes of the GlgE pathway were upregulated at the onset of sporulation, consistent with the known timing of α-glucan deposition. A constructed ΔglgE null mutant strain was viable but showed a delayed developmental phenotype when grown on maltose, giving less cell mass and delayed sporulation. Pre-spore cells and spores of the mutant were frequently double the length of those of the wild-type, implying impaired cross-wall formation, and spores showed reduced tolerance to stress. The mutant accumulated α-maltose 1-phosphate and maltose but no α-glucan. Therefore, the GlgE pathway is necessary and sufficient for polymer biosynthesis. Growth of the ΔglgE mutant on galactose and that of a Δpep2 mutant on maltose were analysed. In both cases, neither accumulation of α-maltose 1-phosphate/α-glucan nor a developmental delay was observed. Thus, high levels of α-maltose 1-phosphate are responsible for the developmental phenotype of the ΔglgE mutant, rather than the lack of α-glucan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzana Miah
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Maureen J Bibb
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - J Elaine Barclay
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Kim C Findlay
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Stephen Bornemann
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
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Bashiri G, Baker EN. Production of recombinant proteins in Mycobacterium smegmatis for structural and functional studies. Protein Sci 2014; 24:1-10. [PMID: 25303009 DOI: 10.1002/pro.2584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Revised: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Protein production using recombinant DNA technology has a fundamental impact on our understanding of biology through providing proteins for structural and functional studies. Escherichia coli (E. coli) has been traditionally used as the default expression host to over-express and purify proteins from many different organisms. E. coli does, however, have known shortcomings for obtaining soluble, properly folded proteins suitable for downstream studies. These shortcomings are even more pronounced for the mycobacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, with typically only one third of proteins expressed in E. coli produced as soluble proteins. Mycobacterium smegmatis (M. smegmatis) is a closely related and non-pathogenic species that has been successfully used as an expression host for production of proteins from various mycobacterial species. In this review, we describe the early attempts to produce mycobacterial proteins in alternative expression hosts and then focus on available expression systems in M. smegmatis. The advantages of using M. smegmatis as an expression host, its application in structural biology and some practical aspects of protein production are also discussed. M. smegmatis provides an effective expression platform for enhanced understanding of mycobacterial biology and pathogenesis and for developing novel and better therapeutics and diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghader Bashiri
- Structural Biology Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences and Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
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