Control of substrate gating and translocation into ClpP by channel residues and ClpX binding

Discovery and Mechanistic Study of Novel Mycobacterium tuberculosis ClpP1P2 Inhibitors

Caseinolytic protease P (ClpP) responsible for the proteolysis of damaged or misfolded proteins plays a critical role in proteome homeostasis. MtbClpP1P2, a ClpP enzyme complex, is required for survival in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and it is therefore considered as a promising target for the development of antituberculosis drugs. Here, we discovered that cediranib and some of its derivatives are potent MtbClpP1P2 inhibitors and suppress M. tuberculosis growth. Protein pull-down and loss-of-function assays validated the in situ targeting of MtbClpP1P2 by cediranib and its active derivatives. Structural and mutational studies revealed that cediranib binds to MtbClpP1P2 by binding to an allosteric pocket at the equatorial handle domain of the MtbClpP1 subunit, which represents a unique binding mode compared to other known ClpP modulators. These findings provide us insights for rational drug design of antituberculosis therapies and implications for our understanding of the biological activity of MtbClpP1P2.

A closed translocation channel in the substrate-free AAA+ ClpXP protease diminishes rogue degradation

AAA+ proteases degrade intracellular proteins in a highly specific manner. E. coli ClpXP, for example, relies on a C-terminal ssrA tag or other terminal degron sequences to recognize proteins, which are then unfolded by ClpX and subsequently translocated through its axial channel and into the degradation chamber of ClpP for proteolysis. Prior cryo-EM structures reveal that the ssrA tag initially binds to a ClpX conformation in which the axial channel is closed by a pore-2 loop. Here, we show that substrate-free ClpXP has a nearly identical closed-channel conformation. We destabilize this closed-channel conformation by deleting residues from the ClpX pore-2 loop. Strikingly, open-channel ClpXP variants degrade non-native proteins lacking degrons faster than the parental enzymes in vitro but degraded GFP-ssrA more slowly. When expressed in E. coli, these open channel variants behave similarly to the wild-type enzyme in assays of filamentation and phage-Mu plating but resulted in reduced growth phenotypes at elevated temperatures or when cells were exposed to sub-lethal antibiotic concentrations. Thus, channel closure is an important determinant of ClpXP degradation specificity.

Targeting Mitochondria with ClpP Agonists as a Novel Therapeutic Opportunity in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy worldwide and the leading cause of cancer mortality in women. Despite the recent development of new therapeutics including targeted therapies and immunotherapy, triple-negative breast cancer remains an aggressive form of breast cancer, and thus improved treatments are needed. In recent decades, it has become increasingly clear that breast cancers harbor metabolic plasticity that is controlled by mitochondria. A myriad of studies provide evidence that mitochondria are essential to breast cancer progression. Mitochondria in breast cancers are widely reprogrammed to enhance energy production and biosynthesis of macromolecules required for tumor growth. In this review, we will discuss the current understanding of mitochondrial roles in breast cancers and elucidate why mitochondria are a rational therapeutic target. We will then outline the status of the use of mitochondria-targeting drugs in breast cancers, and highlight ClpP agonists as emerging mitochondria-targeting drugs with a unique mechanism of action. We also illustrate possible drug combination strategies and challenges in the future breast cancer clinic.

Hinokiflavone Attenuates the Virulence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus by Targeting Caseinolytic Protease P

Drug-resistant bacteria was the third leading cause of death worldwide in 2019, which sounds like a cautionary note for global public health. Therefore, developing novel strategies to combat Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections is the need of the hour. Caseinolytic protease P (ClpP) represents pivotal microbial degradation machinery in MRSA involved in bacterial homeostasis and pathogenicity, considered an ideal target for combating S. aureus infections. Herein, we identified a natural compound, hinokiflavone, that inhibited the activity of ClpP of MRSA strain USA300 with an IC₅₀ of 34.36 μg/mL. Further assays showed that hinokiflavone reduced the virulence of S. aureus by inhibiting multiple virulence factors expression. Results obtained from cellular thermal transfer assay (CETSA), thermal shift assay (TSA), local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and molecular docking (MD) assay enunciated that hinokiflavone directly bonded to ClpP with confirmed docking sites, including SER-22, LYS-26 and ARG-28. In vivo, the evaluation of anti-infective activity showed that hinokiflavone in combination with vancomycin effectively protected mice from MRSA-induced fatal pneumonia, which was more potent than vancomycin alone. As mentioned above, hinokiflavone, as an inhibitor of ClpP, could be further developed into a promising adjuvant against S. aureus infections.

Catalytic Properties of Caseinolytic Protease Subunit of Plasmodium knowlesi and Its Inhibition by a Member of δ-Lactone, Hyptolide

The caseinolytic protease (Clp) system plays an essential role in the protein homeostasis of the malaria parasite, particularly at the stage of apicoplast development. The inhibition of this protein is known to have a lethal effect on the parasite and is therefore considered an interesting avenue for antimalaria drugs discovery. The catalytic activity of the Clp system is modulated by its proteolytic subunit (ClpP), which belongs to the serine protease family member and is therefore extensively studied for further inhibitors development. Among many inhibitors, the group of β-lactone is known to be a specific inhibitor for ClpP. Nevertheless, other groups of lactones have never been studied. This study aims to characterize the catalytic properties of ClpP of Plasmodium knowlesi (Pk-ClpP) and the inhibition properties of a δ-lactone hyptolide against this protein. Accordingly, a codon-optimized synthetic gene encoding Pk-ClpP was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) and purified under a single step of Ni²⁺-affinity chromatography, yielding a 2.20 mg from 1 L culture. Meanwhile, size-exclusion chromatography indicated that Pk-ClpP migrated primarily as homoheptameric with a size of 205 kDa. The specific activity of pure Pk-ClpP was 0.73 U µg^-1, with a catalytic efficiency k_cat/K_M of 0.05 µM^-1 s^-1, with optimum temperature and pH of 50 °C and 7.0-7.5, respectively. Interestingly, hyptolide, a member of δ-lactone, was shown to inhibit Pk-ClpP with an IC₅₀ value of 17.36 ± 1.44 nM. Structural homology modelling, secondary structure prediction, and far-UV CD spectra revealed that helical structures dominate this protein. In addition, the structural homology modeling showed that this protein forms a barrel-shaped homoheptamer. Docking simulation revealed that the inhibition was found to be a competitive inhibition in which hyptolide was able to dock into the catalytic site and block the substrate. The competitiveness of hyptolide is due to the higher binding affinity of this molecule than the substrate.

Structure and function of ClpXP, a AAA+ proteolytic machine powered by probabilistic ATP hydrolysis

ClpXP is an archetypical AAA+ protease, consisting of ClpX and ClpP. ClpX is an ATP-dependent protein unfoldase and polypeptide translocase, whereas ClpP is a self-compartmentalized peptidase. ClpXP is currently the only AAA+ protease for which high-resolution structures exist, the molecular basis of recognition for a protein substrate is understood, extensive biochemical and genetic analysis have been performed, and single-molecule optical trapping has allowed direct visualization of the kinetics of substrate unfolding and translocation. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of ClpXP structure and function, evaluate competing sequential and probabilistic mechanisms of ATP hydrolysis, and highlight open questions for future exploration.

Structural basis of DegP protease temperature-dependent activation

Protein quality control is an essential cellular function mainly executed by a vast array of different proteases and molecular chaperones. One of the bacterial high temperature requirement A (HtrA) protein family members, the homo-oligomeric DegP protease, plays a crucial role in the Escherichia coli protein quality control machinery by removing unfolded proteins or preventing their aggregation and chaperoning them to their final folded state within the periplasm. DegP contains two regulatory PDZ domains, which play key roles in substrate recognition and in the transformation of DegP between inactive hexameric and proteolytic active cage-like structures. Here, we analyze the interaction and dynamics of the DegP PDZ domains underlying this transformation by high-resolution NMR spectroscopy complemented with biochemical cleavage assays. We identify an interdomain molecular lock, which controls the interactions between the two PDZ domains, regulated by fine-tuned temperature-dependent protein dynamics, and which is potentially conserved in proteins harboring tandem PDZ domains.

Division of labor between the pore-1 loops of the D1 and D2 AAA+ rings coordinates substrate selectivity of the ClpAP protease

ClpAP, an ATP-dependent protease consisting of ClpA, a double-ring hexameric unfoldase of the ATPases associated with diverse cellular activities superfamily, and the ClpP peptidase, degrades damaged and unneeded proteins to support cellular proteostasis. ClpA recognizes many protein substrates directly, but it can also be regulated by an adapter, ClpS, that modifies ClpA’s substrate profile toward N-degron substrates. Conserved tyrosines in the 12 pore-1 loops lining the central channel of the stacked D1 and D2 rings of ClpA are critical for degradation, but the roles of these residues in individual steps during direct or adapter-mediated degradation are poorly understood. Using engineered ClpA hexamers with zero, three, or six pore-1 loop mutations in each ATPases associated with diverse cellular activities superfamily ring, we found that active D1 pore loops initiate productive engagement of substrates, whereas active D2 pore loops are most important for mediating the robust unfolding of stable native substrates. In complex with ClpS, active D1 pore loops are required to form a high affinity ClpA•ClpS•substrate complex, but D2 pore loops are needed to “tug on” and remodel ClpS to transfer the N-degron substrate to ClpA. Overall, we find that the pore-1 loop tyrosines in D1 are critical for direct substrate engagement, whereas ClpS-mediated substrate delivery requires unique contributions from both the D1 and D2 pore loops. In conclusion, our study illustrates how pore loop engagement, substrate capture, and powering of the unfolding/translocation steps are distributed between the two rings of ClpA, illuminating new mechanistic features that may be common to double-ring protein unfolding machines.

Applications of Bacterial Degrons and Degraders - Toward Targeted Protein Degradation in Bacteria

A repertoire of proteolysis-targeting signals known as degrons is a necessary component of protein homeostasis in every living cell. In bacteria, degrons can be used in place of chemical genetics approaches to interrogate and control protein function. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of synthetic applications of degrons in targeted proteolysis in bacteria. We describe recent advances ranging from large screens employing tunable degradation systems and orthogonal degrons, to sophisticated tools and sensors for imaging. Based on the success of proteolysis-targeting chimeras as an emerging paradigm in cancer drug discovery, we discuss perspectives on using bacterial degraders for studying protein function and as novel antimicrobials.

Modular and coordinated activity of AAA+ active sites in the double-ring ClpA unfoldase of the ClpAP protease

Understanding of how ClpA and other double-ring AAA+ enzymes perform mechanical work is limited. Using site-specific cross-linking and mutagenesis, we introduced ATPase-inactive AAA+ modules at alternating positions in individual ClpA rings, or in both rings, to investigate potential active-site coordination during ClpAP degradation. ClpA variants containing alternating active/inactive ATPase modules processively unfolded, translocated, and supported ClpP degradation of protein substrates with energetic efficiencies similar to, or higher than, completely active ClpA. These results impact current models describing the mechanisms of AAA+ family enzymes. The cross-linking/mutagenesis method we employed will also be useful for answering other structure-function questions about ClpA and related double-ring enzymes.

ClpA is a hexameric double-ring AAA+ unfoldase/translocase that functions with the ClpP peptidase to degrade proteins that are damaged or unneeded. How the 12 ATPase active sites of ClpA, 6 in the D1 ring and 6 in the D2 ring, work together to fuel ATP-dependent degradation is not understood. We use site-specific cross-linking to engineer ClpA hexamers with alternating ATPase-active and ATPase-inactive modules in the D1 ring, the D2 ring, or both rings to determine if these active sites function together. Our results demonstrate that D2 modules coordinate with D1 modules and ClpP during mechanical work. However, there is no requirement for adjacent modules in either ring to be active for efficient enzyme function. Notably, ClpAP variants with just three alternating active D2 modules are robust protein translocases and function with double the energetic efficiency of ClpAP variants with completely active D2 rings. Although D2 is the more powerful motor, three or six active D1 modules are important for high enzyme processivity, which depends on D1 and D2 acting coordinately. These results challenge sequential models of ATP hydrolysis and coupled mechanical work by ClpAP and provide an engineering strategy that will be useful in testing other aspects of ClpAP mechanism.

Paraclostridium dentum, a novel species with pathogenic features isolated from human dental plaque sample

A strictly anaerobic bacterial strain designated as SKVG24 was isolated from subgingival dental plaque samples of patients suffering from periodontitis. Cells were stained Gram-positive, rod shaped with endospore. The strain showed negative reaction to catalase and oxidase enzymes, but positive for gelatinase activity. Optimal growth was observed at 37 °C temperature and 7.0 pH. The 16S rRNA gene sequence BLAST analysis assigned strain SKVG24 to the genus Paraclostridium as it displayed 99.93% identity with P. benzoelyticum JC272^T followed by P. bifermentans ATCC 638^T (99.79%). However, average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) of the whole genome sequence showed <97% and <70% identity, respectively, with type strains of all closely related species. The G + C content of the DNA was 28.7 mol%. Total lipids profile showed presence of glycolipids as major lipids. Pathogenic features like hemolysis, gelatin hydrolysis and production of volatile sulfur compounds exhibited by strain SKVG24^T were analogous to those observed in the established oral pathogenic strains. Further, whole genome sequence analysis confirmed the presence of genes encoding virulence factors and provided genomic insights on adaptation of the strain in oral environment. Based on the phenotypic and genetic differences with phylogenetic relatives, strain SKVG24^T is proposed to represent a new species of the genus Paraclostridium with potential pathogenic ability, for which the name Paraclostridium dentum sp. nov., is suggested. The proposed type strain is SKVG24^T (MTCC 12836^T; = JCM 32760^T).

Role of the ClpX from Corynebacterium crenatum involved in stress responses and energy metabolism

ClpX and ClpP are involved in many important functions, including stress responses and energy metabolism, in microorganisms. However, the ClpX and ClpP of microbes used in industrial scale have rarely been studied. Industrial bacterial fermentation experiences a variety of stresses, and energy metabolism is extremely important for industrial bacteria. Thus, the role played by the ClpX and ClpP of industrial bacteria in fermentation should be investigated. Most microorganisms have a single clpP gene, while Corynebacterium crenatum AS 1.542 possesses two clpPs. Herein, the clpX, clpP1, and clpP2 of C. crenatum were cloned, and its fusion protein was expressed and characterized. We also constructed clpX deletion mutant and complementation strain. Results indicate that ClpX serves an important function in thermal, pH, and ethanol stresses. It is also involved in NADPH synthesis and glucose consumption during fermentation.

Structures of the ATP-fueled ClpXP proteolytic machine bound to protein substrate

ClpXP is an ATP-dependent protease in which the ClpX AAA+ motor binds, unfolds, and translocates specific protein substrates into the degradation chamber of ClpP. We present cryo-EM studies of the E. coli enzyme that show how asymmetric hexameric rings of ClpX bind symmetric heptameric rings of ClpP and interact with protein substrates. Subunits in the ClpX hexamer assume a spiral conformation and interact with two-residue segments of substrate in the axial channel, as observed for other AAA+ proteases and protein-remodeling machines. Strictly sequential models of ATP hydrolysis and a power stroke that moves two residues of the substrate per translocation step have been inferred from these structural features for other AAA+ unfoldases, but biochemical and single-molecule biophysical studies indicate that ClpXP operates by a probabilistic mechanism in which five to eight residues are translocated for each ATP hydrolyzed. We propose structure-based models that could account for the functional results.

Mitochondrial ClpX activates an essential biosynthetic enzyme through partial unfolding

Mitochondria control the activity, quality, and lifetime of their proteins with an autonomous system of chaperones, but the signals that direct substrate-chaperone interactions and outcomes are poorly understood. We previously discovered that the mitochondrial AAA+ protein unfoldase ClpX (mtClpX) activates the initiating enzyme for heme biosynthesis, 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALAS), by promoting cofactor incorporation. Here, we ask how mtClpX accomplishes this activation. Using S. cerevisiae proteins, we identified sequence and structural features within ALAS that position mtClpX and provide it with a grip for acting on ALAS. Observation of ALAS undergoing remodeling by mtClpX revealed that unfolding is limited to a region extending from the mtClpX-binding site to the active site. Unfolding along this path is required for mtClpX to gate cofactor binding to ALAS. This targeted unfolding contrasts with the global unfolding canonically executed by ClpX homologs and provides insight into how substrate-chaperone interactions direct the outcome of remodeling.

A processive rotary mechanism couples substrate unfolding and proteolysis in the ClpXP degradation machinery

The ClpXP degradation machine consists of a hexameric AAA+ unfoldase (ClpX) and a pair of heptameric serine protease rings (ClpP) that unfold, translocate, and subsequently degrade client proteins. ClpXP is an important target for drug development against infectious diseases. Although structures are available for isolated ClpX and ClpP rings, it remains unknown how symmetry mismatched ClpX and ClpP work in tandem for processive substrate translocation into the ClpP proteolytic chamber. Here, we present cryo-EM structures of the substrate-bound ClpXP complex from Neisseria meningitidis at 2.3 to 3.3 Å resolution. The structures allow development of a model in which the sequential hydrolysis of ATP is coupled to motions of ClpX loops that lead to directional substrate translocation and ClpX rotation relative to ClpP. Our data add to the growing body of evidence that AAA+ molecular machines generate translocating forces by a common mechanism.

Mechanism of the allosteric activation of the ClpP protease machinery by substrates and active-site inhibitors

Coordinated conformational transitions in oligomeric enzymatic complexes modulate function in response to substrates and play a crucial role in enzyme inhibition and activation. Caseinolytic protease (ClpP) is a tetradecameric complex, which has emerged as a drug target against multiple pathogenic bacteria. Activation of different ClpPs by inhibitors has been independently reported from drug development efforts, but no rationale for inhibitor-induced activation has been hitherto proposed. Using an integrated approach that includes x-ray crystallography, solid- and solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance, molecular dynamics simulations, and isothermal titration calorimetry, we show that the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib binds to the ClpP active-site serine, mimicking a peptide substrate, and induces a concerted allosteric activation of the complex. The bortezomib-activated conformation also exhibits a higher affinity for its cognate unfoldase ClpX. We propose a universal allosteric mechanism, where substrate binding to a single subunit locks ClpP into an active conformation optimized for chaperone association and protein processive degradation.

Mechanical Protein Unfolding and Degradation

AAA+ proteolytic machines use energy from ATP hydrolysis to degrade damaged, misfolded, or unneeded proteins. Protein degradation occurs within a barrel-shaped self-compartmentalized peptidase. Before protein substrates can enter this peptidase, they must be unfolded and then translocated through the axial pore of an AAA+ ring hexamer. An unstructured region of the protein substrate is initially engaged in the axial pore, and conformational changes in the ring, powered by ATP hydrolysis, generate a mechanical force that pulls on and denatures the substrate. The same conformational changes in the hexameric ring then mediate mechanical translocation of the unfolded polypeptide into the peptidase chamber. For the bacterial ClpXP and ClpAP AAA+ proteases, the mechanical activities of protein unfolding and translocation have been directly visualized by single-molecule optical trapping. These studies in combination with structural and biochemical experiments illuminate many principles that underlie this universal mechanism of ATP-fueled protein unfolding and subsequent destruction.

Alanine Tails Signal Proteolysis in Bacterial Ribosome-Associated Quality Control

In ribosome-associated quality control (RQC), Rqc2/NEMF closely supports the E3 ligase Ltn1/listerin in promoting ubiquitylation and degradation of aberrant nascent-chains obstructing large (60S) ribosomal subunits-products of ribosome stalling during translation. However, while Ltn1 is eukaryote-specific, Rqc2 homologs are also found in bacteria and archaea; whether prokaryotic Rqc2 has an RQC-related function has remained unknown. Here, we show that, as in eukaryotes, a bacterial Rqc2 homolog (RqcH) recognizes obstructed 50S subunits and promotes nascent-chain proteolysis. Unexpectedly, RqcH marks nascent-chains for degradation in a direct manner, by appending C-terminal poly-alanine tails that act as degrons recognized by the ClpXP protease. Furthermore, RqcH acts redundantly with tmRNA/ssrA and protects cells against translational and environmental stresses. Our results uncover a proteolytic-tagging mechanism with implications toward the function of related modifications in eukaryotes and suggest that RQC was already active in the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) to help cope with incomplete translation.

Roles of the ClpX IGF loops in ClpP association, dissociation, and protein degradation

IGF-motif loops project from the hexameric ring of ClpX and are required for docking with the self-compartmentalized ClpP peptidase, which consists of heptameric rings stacked back-to-back. Here, we show that ATP or ATPγS support assembly by changing the conformation of the ClpX ring, bringing the IGF loops closer to each other and allowing efficient multivalent contacts with docking clefts on ClpP. In single-chain ClpX pseudohexamers, deletion of one or two IGF loops modestly slows association with ClpP but strongly accelerates dissociation of ClpXP complexes. We probe how changes in the sequence and length of the IGF loops affect ClpX-ClpP interactions and show that deletion of one or two IGF loops slows ATP-dependent proteolysis by ClpXP. We also find that ClpXP degradation is less processive when two IGF loops are deleted.

Initial Characterization of the Two ClpP Paralogs of Chlamydia trachomatis Suggests Unique Functionality for Each

Members of Chlamydia are obligate intracellular bacteria that differentiate between two distinct functional and morphological forms during their developmental cycle, elementary bodies (EBs) and reticulate bodies (RBs). EBs are nondividing small electron-dense forms that infect host cells. RBs are larger noninfectious replicative forms that develop within a membrane-bound vesicle, termed an inclusion. Given the unique properties of each developmental form of this bacterium, we hypothesized that the Clp protease system plays an integral role in proteomic turnover by degrading specific proteins from one developmental form or the other. Chlamydia spp. have five uncharacterized clp genes, clpX, clpC, two clpP paralogs, and clpB In other bacteria, ClpC and ClpX are ATPases that unfold and feed proteins into the ClpP protease to be degraded, and ClpB is a deaggregase. Here, we focused on characterizing the ClpP paralogs. Transcriptional analyses and immunoblotting determined that these genes are expressed midcycle. Bioinformatic analyses of these proteins identified key residues important for activity. Overexpression of inactive clpP mutants in Chlamydia spp. suggested independent function of each ClpP paralog. To further probe these differences, we determined interactions between the ClpP proteins using bacterial two-hybrid assays and native gel analysis of recombinant proteins. Homotypic interactions of the ClpP proteins, but not heterotypic interactions between the ClpP paralogs, were detected. Interestingly, protease activity of ClpP2, but not ClpP1, was detected in vitro This activity was stimulated by antibiotics known to activate ClpP, which also blocked chlamydial growth. Our data suggest the chlamydial ClpP paralogs likely serve distinct and critical roles in this important pathogen.IMPORTANCE Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading cause of preventable infectious blindness and of bacterial sexually transmitted infections worldwide. Chlamydiae are developmentally regulated obligate intracellular pathogens that alternate between two functional and morphologic forms, with distinct repertoires of proteins. We hypothesize that protein degradation is a critical aspect to the developmental cycle. A key system involved in protein turnover in bacteria is the Clp protease system. Here, we characterized the two chlamydial ClpP paralogs by examining their expression in Chlamydia spp., their ability to oligomerize, and their proteolytic activity. This work will help understand the evolutionarily diverse Clp proteases in the context of intracellular organisms, which may aid in the study of other clinically relevant intracellular bacteria.

Hinge-Linker Elements in the AAA+ Protein Unfoldase ClpX Mediate Intersubunit Communication, Assembly, and Mechanical Activity

The ClpXP protease plays important roles in protein homeostasis and quality control. ClpX is a ring-shaped AAA+ homohexamer that unfolds target proteins and translocates them into the ClpP peptidase for degradation. AAA+ modules in each ClpX subunit-consisting of a large AAA+ domain, a short hinge-linker element, and a small AAA+ domain-mediate the mechanical activities of the ring hexamer. Here, we investigate the roles of these hinge-linker elements in ClpX function. Deleting one hinge-linker element in a single-chain ClpX pseudohexamer dramatically decreases unfolding and degradation activity, in part by compromising the formation of closed rings, protein-substrate binding, and ClpP binding. Covalently reclosing the broken hinge-linker interface rescues activity. Deleting one hinge-linker element from a single-chain dimer or trimer prevents assembly of stable hexamers. Mutationally disrupting a hinge-linker element preserves closed-ring assembly but reduces ATP-hydrolysis cooperativity and degradation activity. These results indicate that hinge-linker length and flexibility are optimized for efficient substrate unfolding and support a model in which the hinge-linker elements of ClpX facilitate efficient degradation both by maintaining proper ring geometry and facilitating subunit-subunit communication. This model informs our understanding of ClpX as well as the larger AAA+ family of motor proteins, which play diverse roles in converting chemical into mechanical energy in all cells.

Perrault syndrome type 3 caused by diverse molecular defects in CLPP

The maintenance of mitochondrial protein homeostasis (proteostasis) is crucial for correct cellular function. Recently, several mutations in the mitochondrial protease CLPP have been identified in patients with Perrault syndrome 3 (PRLTS3). These mutations can be arranged into two groups, those that cluster near the docking site (hydrophobic pocket, Hp) for the cognate unfoldase CLPX (i.e. T145P and C147S) and those that are adjacent to the active site of the peptidase (i.e. Y229D). Here we report the biochemical consequence of mutations in both regions. The Y229D mutant not only inhibited CLPP-peptidase activity, but unexpectedly also prevented CLPX-docking, thereby blocking the turnover of both peptide and protein substrates. In contrast, Hp mutations cause a range of biochemical defects in CLPP, from no observable change to CLPP activity for the C147S mutant, to dramatic disruption of most activities for the “gain-of-function” mutant T145P - including loss of oligomeric assembly and enhanced peptidase activity.

In Vivo and In Vitro Effects of a ClpP-Activating Antibiotic against Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci

Antibiotics with novel bactericidal mechanisms of action are urgently needed. The antibiotic acyldepsipeptide 4 (ADEP4) activates the ClpP protease and causes cells to self-digest. The effects of ADEP4 and ClpP activation have not been characterized sufficiently for the enterococci, which are important pathogens known for high levels of acquired and intrinsic antibiotic resistance. In the present study, ADEP4 was found to be potently active against both Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium, with MIC₉₀s of 0.016 μg/ml and 0.031 μg/ml, respectively. ClpP purified from E. faecium was found to bind ADEP4 in a surface plasmon resonance analysis, and ClpP activation by ADEP4 was demonstrated biochemically with a β-casein digestion assay. In addition, E. faecium ClpP was crystallized in the presence of ADEP4, revealing ADEP4 binding to ClpP in the activated state. These results confirm that the anti-enterococcal activity of ADEP4 occurs through ClpP activation. In killing curve assays, ADEP4 was found to be bactericidal against stationary-phase vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis (VRE) strain V583, and resistance development was prevented when ADEP4 was combined with multiple classes of approved antibiotics. ADEP4 in combination with partnering antibiotics also eradicated mature VRE biofilms within 72 h of treatment. Biofilm killing with ADEP4 antibiotic combinations was superior to that with the clinically used combinations ampicillin-gentamicin and ampicillin-daptomycin. In a murine peritoneal septicemia model, ADEP4 alone was as effective as ampicillin. ADEP4 coadministered with ampicillin was significantly more effective than either drug alone. These data suggest that ClpP-activating antibiotics may be useful for treating enterococcal infections.

Reversible inhibition of the ClpP protease via an N-terminal conformational switch

Protein homeostasis is critically important for cell viability. Key to this process is the refolding of misfolded or aggregated proteins by molecular chaperones or, alternatively, their degradation by proteases. In most prokaryotes and in chloroplasts and mitochondria, protein degradation is performed by the caseinolytic protease ClpP, a tetradecamer barrel-like proteolytic complex. Dysregulating ClpP function has shown promise in fighting antibiotic resistance and as a potential therapy for acute myeloid leukemia. Here we use methyl-transverse relaxation-optimized spectroscopy (TROSY)-based NMR, cryo-EM, biochemical assays, and molecular dynamics simulations to characterize the structural dynamics of ClpP from Staphylococcus aureus (SaClpP) in wild-type and mutant forms in an effort to discover conformational hotspots that regulate its function. Wild-type SaClpP was found exclusively in the active extended form, with the N-terminal domains of its component protomers in predominantly β-hairpin conformations that are less well-defined than other regions of the protein. A hydrophobic site was identified that, upon mutation, leads to unfolding of the N-terminal domains, loss of SaClpP activity, and formation of a previously unobserved split-ring conformation with a pair of 20-Å-wide pores in the side of the complex. The extended form of the structure and partial activity can be restored via binding of ADEP small-molecule activators. The observed structural plasticity of the N-terminal gates is shown to be a conserved feature through studies of Escherichia coli and Neisseria meningitidis ClpP, suggesting a potential avenue for the development of molecules to allosterically modulate the function of ClpP.

The Role of ClpP Protease in Bacterial Pathogenesis and Human Diseases

In prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic organelles, the ClpP protease plays an important role in proteostasis. The disruption of the ClpP function has been shown to influence the infectivity and virulence of a number of bacterial pathogens. More recently, ClpP has been found to be involved in various forms of carcinomas and in Perrault syndrome, which is an inherited condition characterized by hearing loss in males and females and by ovarian abnormalities in females. Hence, targeting ClpP is a potentially viable, attractive option for the treatment of different ailments. Herein, the biochemical and cellular activities of ClpP are discussed along with the mechanisms by which ClpP affects bacterial pathogenesis and various human diseases. In addition, a comprehensive overview is given of the new classes of compounds in development that target ClpP. Many of these compounds are currently primarily aimed at treating bacterial infections. Some of these compounds inhibit ClpP activity, while others activate the protease and lead to its dysregulation. The ClpP activators are remarkable examples of small molecules that inhibit protein-protein interactions but also result in a gain of function.

Tripodal Lipoprotein Variants with C-Terminal Hydrophobic Residues Allosterically Modulate Activity of the DegP Protease

DegP, a member of the highly conserved HtrA family of proteases, performs a regulated proteolysis of toxic misfolded proteins in the periplasm of Gram-negative bacteria. The allosteric switch between inactive and active conformations is a central mechanism to carefully control proteolytic activity of DegP and to maintain the optimal cellular fitness, but few other molecules than substrates are known to allosterically control DegP activity. Here, we demonstrate that a mutant variant of an outer-membrane lipoprotein, Lpp^+Leu, can function as a novel allosteric effector that changes the dynamic range of DegP activity. The three leucines at the C-termini of trimeric Lpp^+Leu are central components for activity modulation. Selection experiments with Lpp variant libraries show that Lpp variants with diverse sequences at or near C-termini, in particular those with hydrophobic residues at C-termini, function similarly to Lpp^+Leu. Interestingly, Lpp variants carrying different residues at C-terminal, penultimate, or antepenultimate positions display dramatically different patterns of activation and inhibition effects, suggesting that their interactions with DegP differentially stabilize distinct inactive or active conformations. We propose that the tripodal structure with three hydrophobic ends that mimics Lpp^+Leu is a novel platform for allosteric effectors, which may be useful in developing new antibiotics against DegP or homologous HtrA proteases.

The ClpXP protease is dispensable for degradation of unfolded proteins in Staphylococcus aureus

In living cells intracellular proteolysis is crucial for protein homeostasis, and ClpP proteases are conserved between eubacteria and the organelles of eukaryotic cells. In Staphylococcus aureus, ClpP associates to the substrate specificity factors, ClpX and ClpC forming two ClpP proteases, ClpXP and ClpCP. To address how individual ClpP proteases impact cell physiology, we constructed a S. aureus mutant expressing ClpX with an I₂₆₅E substitution in the ClpP recognition tripeptide of ClpX. This mutant cannot degrade established ClpXP substrates confirming that the introduced amino acid substitution abolishes ClpXP activity. Phenotypic characterization of this mutant showed that ClpXP activity controls cell size and is required for growth at low temperature. Cells expressing the ClpX_I265E variant, in contrast to cells lacking ClpP, are not sensitive to heat-stress and do not accumulate protein aggregates showing that ClpXP is dispensable for degradation of unfolded proteins in S. aureus. Consistent with this finding, transcriptomic profiling revealed strong induction of genes responding to protein folding stress in cells devoid of ClpP, but not in cells lacking only ClpXP. In the latter cells, highly upregulated loci include the urease operon, the pyrimidine biosynthesis operon, the betA-betB operon, and the pathogenicity island, SaPI5, while virulence genes were dramatically down-regulated.

Mini review: ATP-dependent proteases in bacteria

AAA(+) proteases are universal barrel-like and ATP-fueled machines preventing the accumulation of aberrant proteins and regulating the proteome according to the cellular demand. They are characterized by two separate operating units, the ATPase and peptidase domains. ATP-dependent unfolding and translocation of a substrate into the proteolytic chamber is followed by ATP-independent degradation. This review addresses the structure and function of bacterial AAA(+) proteases with a focus on the ATP-driven mechanisms and the coordinated movements in the complex mainly based on the knowledge of ClpXP. We conclude by discussing strategies how novel protease substrates can be trapped by mutated AAA(+) protease variants. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 105: 505-517, 2016.

Two Isoforms of Clp Peptidase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Control Distinct Aspects of Cellular Physiology

Caseinolytic peptidases (ClpPs) regulate diverse aspects of cellular physiology in bacteria. Some species have multiple ClpPs, including the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in which there is an archetypical isoform, ClpP1, and a second isoform, ClpP2, about which little is known. Here, we use phenotypic assays to investigate the biological roles of ClpP1 and ClpP2 and biochemical assays to characterize purified ClpP1, ClpP2, ClpX, and ClpA. Interestingly, ClpP1 and ClpP2 have distinct intracellular roles for motility, pigment production, iron scavenging, and biofilm formation. Of particular interest, ClpP2, but not ClpP1, is required for microcolony organization, where multicellular organized structures first form on the pathway to biofilm production. We found that purified ClpP1 with ClpX or ClpA was enzymatically active, yet to our surprise, ClpP2 was inactive and not fully assembled in vitro; attempts to assist ClpP2 assembly and activation by mixing with the other Clp components failed to turn on ClpP2, as did solution conditions that have helped activate other ClpPs in vitro We postulate that the active form of ClpP2 has yet to be discovered, and we present several potential models to explain its activation as well as the unique role ClpP2 plays in the development of the clinically important biofilms in P. aeruginosaIMPORTANCEPseudomonas aeruginosa is responsible for severe infections of immunocompromised patients. Our work demonstrates that two different isoforms of the Clp peptidase, ClpP1 and ClpP2, control distinct aspects of cellular physiology for this organism. In particular, we identify ClpP2 as being necessary for microcolony organization. Pure active forms of ClpP1 and either ClpX or ClpA were characterized as assembled and active, and ClpP2 was incompletely assembled and inactive. By establishing both the unique biological roles of ClpP1 and ClpP2 and their initial biochemical assemblies, we have set the stage for important future work on the structure, function, and biological targets of Clp proteolytic enzymes in this important opportunistic pathogen.

Insights into ClpXP proteolysis: heterooligomerization and partial deactivation enhance chaperone affinity and substrate turnover in Listeria monocytogenes

Caseinolytic proteases (ClpP) are important for recognition and controlled degradation of damaged proteins. While the majority of bacterial organisms utilize only a single ClpP, Listeria monocytogenes expresses two isoforms (LmClpP1 and LmClpP2). LmClpPs assemble into either a LmClpP2 homocomplex or a LmClpP1/2 heterooligomeric complex. The heterocomplex in association with the chaperone ClpX, exhibits a boost in proteolytic activity for unknown reasons. Here, we use a combined chemical and biochemical strategy to unravel two activation principles of LmClpPs. First, determination of apparent affinity constants revealed a 7-fold elevated binding affinity between the LmClpP1/2 heterocomplex and ClpX, compared to homooligomeric LmClpP2. This tighter interaction favors the formation of the proteolytically active complex between LmClpX and LmClpP1/2 and thereby accelerating the overall turnover. Second, screening a diverse library of fluorescent labeled peptides and proteins with various ClpP mutants allowed the individual analysis of substrate preferences for both isoforms within the heterocomplex. In addition to Leu and Met, LmClpP2 preferred a long aliphatic chain (2-Aoc) in the P1 position for cleavage. Strikingly, design and synthesis of a corresponding 2-Aoc chloromethyl ketone inhibitor resulted in stimulation of proteolysis by 160% when LmClpP2 was partially alkylated on 20% of the active sites. Determination of apparent affinity constants also revealed an elevated complex stability between partially modified LmClpP2 and the cognate chaperone LmClpX. Thus, the stimulation of proteolysis through enhanced binding to the chaperone seems to be a characteristic feature of LmClpPs.

Highly Dynamic Interactions Maintain Kinetic Stability of the ClpXP Protease During the ATP-Fueled Mechanical Cycle

The ClpXP protease assembles in a reaction in which an ATP-bound ring hexamer of ClpX binds to one or both heptameric rings of the ClpP peptidase. Contacts between ClpX IGF-loops and clefts on a ClpP ring stabilize the complex. How ClpXP stability is maintained during the ATP-hydrolysis cycle that powers mechanical unfolding and translocation of protein substrates is poorly understood. Here, we use a real-time kinetic assay to monitor the effects of nucleotides on the assembly and disassembly of ClpXP. When ATP is present, complexes containing single-chain ClpX assemble via an intermediate and remain intact until transferred into buffers containing ADP or no nucleotides. ATP binding to high-affinity subunits of the ClpX hexamer prevents rapid dissociation, but additional subunits must be occupied to promote assembly. Small-molecule acyldepsipeptides, which compete with the IGF loops of ClpX for ClpP-cleft binding, cause exceptionally rapid dissociation of otherwise stable ClpXP complexes, suggesting that the IGF-loop interactions with ClpP must be highly dynamic. Our results indicate that the ClpX hexamer spends almost no time in an ATP-free state during the ATPase cycle, allowing highly processive degradation of protein substrates.

Sclerotiamide: The First Non-Peptide-Based Natural Product Activator of Bacterial Caseinolytic Protease P

Caseinolytic protease P (ClpP) maintains essential roles in bacterial homeostasis. As such, both the inhibition and activation of this enzyme result in bactericidal activity, making ClpP a promising target for antibacterial drug development. Herein, we report the results of a fluorescence-based screen of ∼450 structurally diverse fungal and bacterial secondary metabolites. Sclerotiamide (1), a paraherquamide-related indolinone, was identified as the first non-peptide-based natural product activator of ClpP. Structure-activity relationships arising from the initial screen, preliminary biochemical evaluation of 1, and rationale for the exploitation of this chemotype to develop novel ClpP activators are presented.

Mechanistic insights into bacterial AAA+ proteases and protein-remodelling machines

To maintain protein homeostasis, AAA+ proteolytic machines degrade damaged and unneeded proteins in bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes. This process involves the ATP-dependent unfolding of a target protein and its subsequent translocation into a self-compartmentalized proteolytic chamber. Related AAA+ enzymes also disaggregate and remodel proteins. Recent structural and biochemical studies, in combination with direct visualization of unfolding and translocation in single-molecule experiments, have illuminated the molecular mechanisms behind these processes and suggest how remodelling of macromolecular complexes by AAA+ enzymes could occur without global denaturation. In this Review, we discuss the structural and mechanistic features of AAA+ proteases and remodelling machines, focusing on the bacterial ClpXP and ClpX as paradigms. We also consider the potential of these enzymes as antibacterial targets and outline future challenges for the field.

Examination of a Structural Model of Peptidomimicry by Cyclic Acyldepsipeptide Antibiotics in Their Interaction with the ClpP Peptidase

The cyclic acyldepsipeptide (ADEP) antibiotics act by binding the ClpP peptidase and dysregulating its activity. Their exocyclic N-acylphenylalanine is thought to structurally mimic the ClpP-binding, (I/L)GF tripeptide loop of the peptidase's accessory ATPases. We found that ADEP analogues with exocyclic N-acyl tripeptides or dipeptides resembling the (I/L)GF motif were weak ClpP activators and had no bioactivity. In contrast, ADEP analogues possessing difluorophenylalanine N-capped with methyl-branched acyl groups-like the side chains of residues in the (I/L)GF motifs-were superior to the parent ADEP with respect to both ClpP activation and bioactivity. We contend that the ADEP's N-acylphenylalanine moiety is not simply a stand-in for the ATPases' (I/L)GF motif; it likely has physicochemical properties that are better suited for ClpP binding. Further, our finding that the methyl-branching on the acyl group of the ADEPs improves activity opens new avenues for optimization.

An adenosine triphosphate-independent proteasome activator contributes to the virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis encodes a proteasome that is highly similar to eukaryotic proteasomes and is required to cause lethal infections in animals. The only pathway known to target proteins for proteasomal degradation in bacteria is pupylation, which is functionally analogous to eukaryotic ubiquitylation. However, evidence suggests that the M. tuberculosis proteasome contributes to pupylation-independent pathways as well. To identify new proteasome cofactors that might contribute to such pathways, we isolated proteins that bound to proteasomes overproduced in M. tuberculosis and found a previously uncharacterized protein, Rv3780, which formed rings and capped M. tuberculosis proteasome core particles. Rv3780 enhanced peptide and protein degradation by proteasomes in an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-independent manner. We identified putative Rv3780-dependent proteasome substrates and found that Rv3780 promoted robust degradation of the heat shock protein repressor, HspR. Importantly, an M. tuberculosis Rv3780 mutant had a general growth defect, was sensitive to heat stress, and was attenuated for growth in mice. Collectively, these data demonstrate that ATP-independent proteasome activators are not confined to eukaryotes and can contribute to the virulence of one the world's most devastating pathogens.

Chaperones and chaperone-substrate complexes: Dynamic playgrounds for NMR spectroscopists

The majority of proteins depend on a well-defined three-dimensional structure to obtain their functionality. In the cellular environment, the process of protein folding is guided by molecular chaperones to avoid misfolding, aggregation, and the generation of toxic species. To this end, living cells contain complex networks of molecular chaperones, which interact with substrate polypeptides by a multitude of different functionalities: transport them towards a target location, help them fold, unfold misfolded species, resolve aggregates, or deliver them towards a proteolysis machinery. Despite the availability of high-resolution crystal structures of many important chaperones in their substrate-free apo forms, structural information about how substrates are bound by chaperones and how they are protected from misfolding and aggregation is very sparse. This lack of information arises from the highly dynamic nature of chaperone-substrate complexes, which so far has largely hindered their crystallization. This highly dynamic nature makes chaperone-substrate complexes good targets for NMR spectroscopy. Here, we review the results achieved by NMR spectroscopy to understand chaperone function in general and details of chaperone-substrate interactions in particular. We assess the information content and applicability of different NMR techniques for the characterization of chaperones and chaperone-substrate complexes. Finally, we highlight three recent studies, which have provided structural descriptions of chaperone-substrate complexes at atomic resolution.

Coordinated gripping of substrate by subunits of a AAA+ proteolytic machine

Hexameric ATP-dependent proteases and protein remodeling machines use conserved loops that line the axial pore to apply force to substrates during the mechanical processes of protein unfolding and translocation. Whether loops from multiple subunits act independently or coordinately in these processes is a critical aspect of the mechanism but is currently unknown for any AAA+ machine. By studying covalently linked hexamers of the Escherichia coli ClpX unfoldase bearing different numbers and configurations of wild-type and mutant pore loops, we show that loops function synergistically, and the number of wild-type loops required for efficient degradation is dependent on the stability of the protein substrate. Our results support a mechanism in which a power stroke initiated in one subunit of the ClpX hexamer results in the concurrent movement of all six pore loops, which coordinately grip and apply force to the substrate.

Crystal structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ClpP1P2 suggests a model for peptidase activation by AAA+ partner binding and substrate delivery

Caseinolytic peptidase P (ClpP), a double-ring peptidase with 14 subunits, collaborates with ATPases associated with diverse activities (AAA+) partners to execute ATP-dependent protein degradation. Although many ClpP enzymes self-assemble into catalytically active homo-tetradecamers able to cleave small peptides, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis enzyme consists of discrete ClpP1 and ClpP2 heptamers that require a AAA+ partner and protein-substrate delivery or a peptide agonist to stabilize assembly of the active tetradecamer. Here, we show that cyclic acyldepsipeptides (ADEPs) and agonist peptides synergistically activate ClpP1P2 by mimicking AAA+ partners and substrates, respectively, and determine the structure of the activated complex. Our studies establish the basis of heteromeric ClpP1P2 assembly and function, reveal tight coupling between the conformations of each ring, show that ADEPs bind only to one ring but appear to open the axial pores of both rings, provide a foundation for rational drug development, and suggest strategies for studying the roles of individual ClpP1 and ClpP2 rings in Clp-family proteolysis.

A simple fragment of cyclic acyldepsipeptides is necessary and sufficient for ClpP activation and antibacterial activity

The development of new antibacterial agents, particularly those with unique biological targets, is essential to keep pace with the inevitable emergence of drug resistance in pathogenic bacteria. We identified the minimal structural component of the cyclic acyldepsipeptide (ADEP) antibiotics that exhibits antibacterial activity. We found that N-acyldifluorophenylalanine fragments function via the same mechanism of action as ADEPs, as evidenced by the requirement of ClpP for the fragments' antibacterial activity, the ability of fragments to activate Bacillus subtilis ClpP in vitro, and the capacity of an N-acyldifluorophenylalanine affinity matrix to capture ClpP from B. subtilis cell lysates. N-acyldifluorophenylalanine fragments are much simpler in structure than the full ADEPs and are also highly amenable to structural diversification. Thus, the stage has been set for the development of non-peptide activators of ClpP that can be used as antibacterial agents.

Substrate delivery by the AAA+ ClpX and ClpC1 unfoldases activates the mycobacterial ClpP1P2 peptidase

Mycobacterial Clp-family proteases function via collaboration of the heteromeric ClpP1P2 peptidase with a AAA+ partner, ClpX or ClpC1. These enzymes are essential for M. tuberculosis viability and are validated antibacterial drug targets, but the requirements for assembly and regulation of functional proteolytic complexes are poorly understood. Here, we report the reconstitution of protein degradation by mycobacterial Clp proteases in vitro and describe novel features of these enzymes that distinguish them from orthologues in other bacteria. Both ClpX and ClpC1 catalyse ATP-dependent unfolding and degradation of native protein substrates in conjunction with ClpP1P2, but neither mediates protein degradation with just ClpP1 or ClpP2. ClpP1P2 alone has negligible peptidase activity, but is strongly stimulated by translocation of protein substrates into ClpP1P2 by either AAA+ partner. Interestingly, our results support a model in which both binding of a AAA+ partner and protein-substrate delivery are required to stabilize active ClpP1P2. Our model has implications for therapeutically targeting ClpP1P2 in dormant M. tuberculosis, and our reconstituted systems should facilitate identification of novel Clp protease inhibitors and activators.

A pair of homoeolog ClpP5 genes underlies a virescent yellow-like mutant and its modifier in maize

Gene-background interaction is a commonly observed phenomenon in many species, but the molecular mechanisms of such an interaction is less well understood. Here we report the cloning of a maize mutant gene and its modifier. A recessive mutant with a virescent yellow-like (vyl) phenotype was identified in an ethyl methanesulfonate-mutagenized population derived from the maize inbred line B73. Homozygous mutant maize plants exhibited a yellow leaf phenotype after emergence but gradually recovered and became indistinguishable from wild-type plants after approximately 2 weeks. Taking the positional cloning approach, the Chr.9_ClpP5 gene, one of the proteolytic subunits of the chloroplast Clp protease complex, was identified and validated as the candidate gene for vyl. When introgressed by backcross into the maize inbred line PH09B, the mutant phenotype of vyl lasted much longer in the greenhouse and was lethal in the field, implying the presence of a modifier(s) for vyl. A major modifier locus was identified on chromosome 1, and a paralogous ClpP5 gene was isolated and confirmed as the candidate for the vyl-modifier. Expression of Chr.1_ClpP5 is induced significantly in B73 by the vyl mutation, while the expression of Chr.1_ClpP5 in PH09B is not responsive to the vyl mutation. Moreover, expression and sequence analysis suggests that the PH09B Chr.1_ClpP5 allele is functionally weaker than the B73 allele. We propose that functional redundancy between duplicated paralogous genes is the molecular mechanism for the interaction between vyl and its modifier.

Restriction of the conformational dynamics of the cyclic acyldepsipeptide antibiotics improves their antibacterial activity

The cyclic acyldepsipeptide (ADEP) antibiotics are a new class of antibacterial agents that kill bacteria via a mechanism that is distinct from all clinically used drugs. These molecules bind and dysregulate the activity of the ClpP peptidase. The potential of these antibiotics as antibacterial drugs has been enhanced by the elimination of pharmacological liabilities through medicinal chemistry efforts. Here, we demonstrate that the ADEP conformation observed in the ADEP-ClpP crystal structure is fortified by transannular hydrogen bonding and can be further stabilized by judicious replacement of constituent amino acids within the peptidolactone core structure with more conformationally constrained counterparts. Evidence supporting constraint of the molecule into the bioactive conformer was obtained by measurements of deuterium-exchange kinetics of hydrogens that were proposed to be engaged in transannular hydrogen bonds. We show that the rigidified ADEP analogs bind and activate ClpP at lower concentrations in vitro. Remarkably, these compounds have up to 1200-fold enhanced antibacterial activity when compared to those with the peptidolactone core structure common to two ADEP natural products. This study compellingly demonstrates how rational modulation of conformational dynamics may be used to improve the bioactivities of natural products.

Antibacterial activity of and resistance to small molecule inhibitors of the ClpP peptidase

There is rapidly mounting evidence that intracellular proteases in bacteria are compelling targets for antibacterial drugs. Multiple reports suggest that the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other actinobacteria may be particularly sensitive to small molecules that perturb the activities of self-compartmentalized peptidases, which catalyze intracellular protein turnover as components of ATP-dependent proteolytic machines. Here, we report chemical syntheses and evaluations of structurally diverse β-lactones, which have a privileged structure for selective, suicide inhibition of the self-compartmentalized ClpP peptidase. β-Lactones with certain substituents on the α- and β-carbons were found to be toxic to M. tuberculosis. Using an affinity-labeled analogue of a bioactive β-lactone in a series of chemical proteomic experiments, we selectively captured the ClpP1P2 peptidase from live cultures of two different actinobacteria that are related to M. tuberculosis. Importantly, we found that the growth inhibitory β-lactones also inactivate the M. tuberculosis ClpP1P2 peptidase in vitro via formation of a covalent adduct at the ClpP2 catalytic serine. Given the potent antibacterial activity of these compounds and their medicinal potential, we sought to identify innate mechanisms of resistance. Using a genome mining strategy, we identified a genetic determinant of β-lactone resistance in Streptomyces coelicolor, a non-pathogenic relative of M. tuberculosis. Collectively, these findings validate the potential of ClpP inhibition as a strategy in antibacterial drug development and define a mechanism by which bacteria could resist the toxic effects of ClpP inhibitors.

Protein rescue from aggregates by powerful molecular chaperone machines

Protein quality control within the cell requires the interplay of many molecular chaperones and proteases. When this quality control system is disrupted, polypeptides follow pathways leading to misfolding, inactivity and aggregation. Among the repertoire of molecular chaperones are remarkable proteins that forcibly untangle protein aggregates, called disaggregases. Structural and biochemical studies have led to new insights into how these proteins collaborate with co-chaperones and utilize ATP to power protein disaggregation. Understanding how energy-dependent protein disaggregating machines function is universally important and clinically relevant, as protein aggregation is linked to medical conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyloidosis and prion diseases.

Structural determinants stabilizing the axial channel of ClpP for substrate translocation

Acyldepsipeptides (ADEPs) antibiotics bind to Escherichia coli ClpP mimicking the interactions that the IGL/F loops in ClpA or ClpX ATPases establish with the hydrophobic pockets surrounding the axial pore of the tetradecamer that the protease forms. ADEP binding induces opening of the gates blocking the axial channel of ClpP and allowing protein substrates to be translocated and hydrolysed in the degradation chamber. To identify the structural determinants stabilizing the open conformation of the axial channel for efficient substrate translocation, we constructed ClpP variants with amino acid substitutions in the N-terminal region that forms the axial gates. We found that adoption of a β-hairpin loop by this region and the integrity of the hydrophobic cluster at the base of this loop are necessary elements for the axial gate to efficiently translocate protein substrates. Analysis of ClpP variants from Bacillus subtilis suggested that the identified structural requirements of the axial channel for efficient translocation are conserved between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the activation of ClpP by ADEPs as well as the gating mechanism of the protease in the context of the ClpAP and ClpXP complexes.

Structural alteration in the pore motif of the bacterial 20S proteasome homolog HslV leads to uncontrolled protein degradation

In all cells, ATP-dependent proteases play central roles in the controlled degradation of short-lived regulatory or misfolded proteins. A hallmark of these enzymes is that proteolytic active sites are sequestered within a compartmentalized space, which is accessible to substrates only when they are fed into the cavity by protein-unfolding ATPases. HslVU is a prototype of such enzymes, consisting of the hexameric HslU ATPase and the dodecameric HslV protease. HslV forms a barrel-shaped proteolytic chamber with two constricted axial pores. Here, we report that structural alterations of HslV's pore motif dramatically affect the proteolytic activities of both HslV and HslVU complexes. Mutations of a conserved pore residue in HslV (Leu88 to Ala, Gly, or Ser) led to a tighter binding between HslV and HslU and a dramatic stimulation of both the proteolytic and ATPase activities. Furthermore, the HslV mutants alone showed a marked increase of basal hydrolytic activities toward small peptides and unstructured proteins. A synthetic peptide of the HslU C-terminal tail further stimulated the proteolytic activities of these mutants, even allowing degradation of certain folded proteins in the absence of HslU. Moreover, expression of the L88A mutant in Escherichia coli inhibited cell growth, suggesting that HslV pore mutations dysregulate the protease through relaxing the pore constriction, which normally prevents essential cellular proteins from random degradation. Consistent with these observations, an X-ray crystal structure shows that the pore loop of L88A-HslV is largely disordered. Collectively, these results suggest that substrate degradation by HslV is controlled by gating of its pores.

A conserved ClpP-like protease involved in spore outgrowth in Bacillus subtilis

Germination and outgrowth of endospores of the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis involves the degradation and conversion to free amino acids of abundant proteins located in the spore core known as small acid-soluble proteins (SASP). This degradation is mediated primarily by the germination protease Gpr. Here we show that YmfB, a distant homologue of ClpP serine proteases that is highly conserved among endospore-forming bacteria, contributes to SASP degradation but that its function is normally masked by Gpr. Spores from a ymfB gpr double mutant were more delayed in spore outgrowth and more impaired in SASP degradation than were spores from a gpr single mutant. The activity of YmfB relied on three putative active-site residues as well as on the product of a small gene ylzJ located immediately downstream of, and overlapping with, ymfB. We propose that YmfB is an orphan ClpP protease that is dedicated to the degradation of a specialized family of small protein substrates.

Activation of ClpP protease by ADEP antibiotics: insights from hydrogen exchange mass spectrometry

The bacterial protease ClpP consists of 14 subunits that assemble into two stacked heptameric rings. The central degradation chamber can be accessed via axial pores. In free ClpP, these pores are obstructed by the N-terminal regions of the seven subunits at either end of the barrel. Acyldepsipeptides (ADEPs) are antibacterial compounds that bind in hydrophobic clefts surrounding the pore region, causing the pores to open up. The ensuing uncontrolled degradation of intracellular proteins is responsible for the antibiotic activity of ADEPs. Recently published X-ray structures yielded conflicting models regarding the conformation adopted by the N-terminal regions in the open state. Here, we use hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) mass spectrometry to obtain complementary insights into the ClpP behavior with and without ADEP1. Ligand binding causes rigidification of the equatorial belt, accompanied by destabilization in the vicinity of the binding clefts. The N-terminal regions undergo rapid deuteration with only minor changes after ADEP1 binding, revealing a lack of stable H-bonding. Our data point to a mechanism where the pore opening mechanism is mediated primarily by changes in the packing of N-terminal nonpolar side chains. We propose that a "hydrophobic plug" causes pore blockage in ligand-free ClpP. ADEP1 binding provides new hydrophobic anchor points that nonpolar N-terminal residues can interact with. In this way, ADEP1 triggers the transition to an open conformation, where nonpolar moieties are clustered around the rim of the pore. This proposed mechanism helps reconcile the conflicting models that had been put forward earlier.

Nucleotide binding and conformational switching in the hexameric ring of a AAA+ machine

ClpX, a AAA+ ring homohexamer, uses the energy of ATP binding and hydrolysis to power conformational changes that unfold and translocate target proteins into the ClpP peptidase for degradation. In multiple crystal structures, some ClpX subunits adopt nucleotide-loadable conformations, others adopt unloadable conformations, and each conformational class exhibits substantial variability. Using mutagenesis of individual subunits in covalently tethered hexamers together with fluorescence methods to assay the conformations and nucleotide-binding properties of these subunits, we demonstrate that dynamic interconversion between loadable and unloadable conformations is required to couple ATP hydrolysis by ClpX to mechanical work. ATP binding to different classes of subunits initially drives staged allosteric changes, which set the conformation of the ring to allow hydrolysis and linked mechanical steps. Subunit switching between loadable and unloadable conformations subsequently isomerizes or resets the configuration of the nucleotide-loaded ring and is required for mechanical function.