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Razvi E, DiFrancesco BR, Wasney GA, Morrison ZA, Tam J, Auger A, Baker P, Alnabelseya N, Rich JD, Sivarajah P, Whitfield GB, Harrison JJ, Melnyk RA, Nitz M, Howell PL. Small Molecule Inhibition of an Exopolysaccharide Modification Enzyme is a Viable Strategy To Block Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pel Biofilm Formation. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0029623. [PMID: 37098898 PMCID: PMC10269871 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00296-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Biosynthesis of the Pel exopolysaccharide in Pseudomonas aeruginosa requires all seven genes of the pelABCDEFG operon. The periplasmic modification enzyme PelA contains a C-terminal deacetylase domain that is necessary for Pel-dependent biofilm formation. Herein, we show that extracellular Pel is not produced by a P. aeruginosa PelA deacetylase mutant. This positions PelA deacetylase activity as an attractive target to prevent Pel-dependent biofilm formation. Using a high-throughput screen (n = 69,360), we identified 56 compounds that potentially inhibit PelA esterase activity, the first enzymatic step in the deacetylase reaction. A secondary biofilm inhibition assay identified methyl 2-(2-pyridinylmethylene) hydrazinecarbodithioate (SK-017154-O) as a specific Pel-dependent biofilm inhibitor. Structure-activity relationship studies identified the thiocarbazate as a necessary functional group and that the pyridyl ring could be replaced with a phenyl substituent (compound 1). Both SK-017154-O and compound 1 inhibit Pel-dependent biofilm formation in Bacillus cereus ATCC 10987, which has a predicted extracellular PelA deacetylase in its pel operon. Michaelis-Menten kinetics determined SK-017154-O to be a noncompetitive inhibitor of PelA, while compound 1 did not directly inhibit PelA esterase activity. Cytotoxicity assays using human lung fibroblast cells showed that compound 1 is less cytotoxic than SK-017154-O. This work provides proof of concept that biofilm exopolysaccharide modification enzymes are important for biofilm formation and can serve as useful antibiofilm targets. IMPORTANCE Present in more than 500 diverse Gram-negative and 900 Gram-positive organisms, the Pel polysaccharide is one of the most phylogenetically widespread biofilm matrix determinants found to date. Partial de-N-acetylation of this α-1,4 linked N-acetylgalactosamine polymer by the carbohydrate modification enzyme PelA is required for Pel-dependent biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus. Given this and our observation that extracellular Pel is not produced by a P. aeruginosa PelA deactylase mutant, we developed an enzyme-based high-throughput screen and identified methyl 2-(2-pyridinylmethylene) hydrazinecarbodithioate (SK-017154-O) and its phenyl derivative as specific Pel-dependent biofilm inhibitors. Michaelis-Menten kinetics revealed SK-017154-O is a noncompetitive inhibitor and that its noncytotoxic, phenyl derivative does not directly inhibit P. aeruginosa PelA esterase activity. We provide proof of concept that exopolysaccharide modification enzymes can be targeted with small molecule inhibitors to block Pel-dependent biofilm development in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erum Razvi
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Gregory A. Wasney
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Structural & Biophysical Core Facility, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - John Tam
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anick Auger
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- SPARC BioCentre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Perrin Baker
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Noor Alnabelseya
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jacquelyn D. Rich
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Piyanka Sivarajah
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gregory B. Whitfield
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joe J. Harrison
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Roman A. Melnyk
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark Nitz
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - P. Lynne Howell
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Liu Y, Ahmed S, Fang Y, Chen M, An J, Yang G, Hou X, Lu J, Ye Q, Zhu R, Liu Q, Liu S. Discovery of Chitin Deacetylase Inhibitors through Structure-Based Virtual Screening and Biological Assays. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 32:504-513. [PMID: 35131956 PMCID: PMC9628821 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2201.01009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Chitin deacetylase (CDA) inhibitors were developed as novel antifungal agents because CDA participates in critical fungal physiological and metabolic processes and increases virulence in soilborne fungal pathogens. However, few CDA inhibitors have been reported. In this study, 150 candidate CDA inhibitors were selected from the commercial Chemdiv compound library through structure-based virtual screening. The top-ranked 25 compounds were further evaluated for biological activity. The compound J075-4187 had an IC50 of 4.24 ± 0.16 μM for AnCDA. Molecular docking calculations predicted that compound J075-4187 binds to the amino acid residues, including active sites (H101, D48). Furthermore, compound J075-4187 inhibited food spoilage fungi and plant pathogenic fungi, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at 260 μg/ml and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) at 520 μg/ml. Therefore, compound J075-4187 is a good candidate for use in developing antifungal agents for fungi control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaodong Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, P.R. China,Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, P.R. China
| | - Sibtain Ahmed
- University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Yaowei Fang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, P.R. China,Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, P.R. China,Jiangsu Marine Resources Development Research Institute, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222000, P.R. China
| | - Meng Chen
- Lianyungang Inspection and Testing Center for Food and Drug Control, P.R. China
| | - Jia An
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, P.R. China,Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, P.R. China
| | - Guang Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, P.R. China,Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoyue Hou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, P.R. China,Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, P.R. China
| | - Jing Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, P.R. China,Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, P.R. China
| | - Qinwen Ye
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, P.R. China,Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, P.R. China
| | - Rongjun Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, P.R. China,Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, P.R. China
| | - Qitong Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, P.R. China,Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, P.R. China
| | - Shu Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, 222005, P.R. China,Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, P.R. China,Corresponding author E-mail:
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Li Y, Liu L, Yang J, Yang Q. An overall look at insect chitin deacetylases: Promising molecular targets for developing green pesticides. JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE SCIENCE 2021; 46:43-52. [PMID: 33746545 PMCID: PMC7953033 DOI: 10.1584/jpestics.d20-085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Chitin deacetylase (CDA) is a key enzyme involved in the modification of chitin and plays critical roles in molting and pupation, which catalyzes the removal of acetyl groups from N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in chitin to form chitosan and release acetic acid. Defects in the CDA genes or their expression may lead to stunted insect development and even death. Therefore, CDA can be used as a potential pest control target. However, there are no effective pesticides known to target CDA. Although there has been some exciting research progress on bacterial or fungal CDAs, insect CDA characteristics are less understood. This review summarizes the current understanding of insect CDAs, especially very recent advances in our understanding of crystal structures and the catalytic mechanism. Progress in developing small-molecule CDA inhibitors is also summarized. We hope the information included in this review will help facilitate new pesticide development through a novel action mode, such as targeting CDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingchen Li
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning 116024, China
| | - Lin Liu
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning 116024, China
| | - Jun Yang
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning 116024, China
| | - Qing Yang
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning 116024, China
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection and Shenzhen Agricultural Genome Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
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Cools F, Delputte P, Cos P. The search for novel treatment strategies for Streptococcus pneumoniae infections. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 45:6064299. [PMID: 33399826 PMCID: PMC8371276 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This review provides an overview of the most important novel treatment strategies against Streptococcus pneumoniae infections published over the past 10 years. The pneumococcus causes the majority of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia cases, and it is one of the prime pathogens in bacterial meningitis. Over the last 10 years, extensive research has been conducted to prevent severe pneumococcal infections, with a major focus on (i) boosting the host immune system and (ii) discovering novel antibacterials. Boosting the immune system can be done in two ways, either by actively modulating host immunity, mostly through administration of selective antibodies, or by interfering with pneumococcal virulence factors, thereby supporting the host immune system to effectively overcome an infection. While several of such experimental therapies are promising, few have evolved to clinical trials. The discovery of novel antibacterials is hampered by the high research and development costs versus the relatively low revenues for the pharmaceutical industry. Nevertheless, novel enzymatic assays and target-based drug design, allow the identification of targets and the development of novel molecules to effectively treat this life-threatening pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Cools
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - P Delputte
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - P Cos
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
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Forman A, Pfoh R, Eddenden A, Howell PL, Nitz M. Synthesis of defined mono-de-N-acetylated β-(1→6)-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine oligosaccharides to characterize PgaB hydrolase activity. Org Biomol Chem 2019; 17:9456-9466. [PMID: 31642455 DOI: 10.1039/c9ob02079a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Many clinically-relevant biofilm-forming bacterial strains produce partially de-N-acetylated poly-β-(1→6)-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (dPNAG) as an exopolysaccharide. In Gram-negative bacteria, the periplasmic protein PgaB is responsible for partial de-N-acetylation of PNAG prior to its export to the extracellular space. In addition to de-N-acetylase activity found in the N-terminal domain, PgaB contains a C-terminal hydrolase domain that can disrupt dPNAG-dependent biofilms and hydrolyzes dPNAG but not fully acetylated PNAG. The role of this C-terminal domain in biofilm formation has yet to be determined in vivo. Further characterization of the enzyme's hydrolase activity has been hampered by a lack of specific dPNAG oligosaccharides. Here, we report the synthesis of a defined mono de-N-acetylated dPNAG penta- and hepta-saccharide. Using mass spectrometry analysis and a fluorescence-based thin-layer chromatography (TLC) assay, we found that our defined dPNAG oligosaccharides are hydrolase substrates. In addition to the expected cleavage site, two residues to the reducing side of the de-N-acetylated residue, minor cleavage products on the non-reducing side of the de-N-acetylation site were observed. These findings provide quantitative data to support how PNAG is processed in Gram-negative bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Forman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3H6.
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Bioisosteres of Carbohydrate Functional Groups in Glycomimetic Design. Biomimetics (Basel) 2019; 4:biomimetics4030053. [PMID: 31357673 PMCID: PMC6784292 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics4030053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The aberrant presentation of carbohydrates has been linked to a number of diseases, such as cancer metastasis and immune dysregulation. These altered glycan structures represent a target for novel therapies by modulating their associated interactions with neighboring cells and molecules. Although these interactions are highly specific, native carbohydrates are characterized by very low affinities and inherently poor pharmacokinetic properties. Glycomimetic compounds, which mimic the structure and function of native glycans, have been successful in producing molecules with improved pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) features. Several strategies have been developed for glycomimetic design such as ligand pre-organization or reducing polar surface area. A related approach to developing glycomimetics relies on the bioisosteric replacement of carbohydrate functional groups. These changes can offer improvements to both binding affinity (e.g., reduced desolvation costs, enhanced metal chelation) and pharmacokinetic parameters (e.g., improved oral bioavailability). Several examples of bioisosteric modifications to carbohydrates have been reported; this review aims to consolidate them and presents different possibilities for enhancing core interactions in glycomimetics.
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