Structural biology of enzymes of the thiamin biosynthesis pathway

Metabolic capabilities are highly conserved among human nasal-associated Corynebacterium species in pangenomic analyses

Corynebacterium species are globally ubiquitous in human nasal microbiota across the lifespan. Moreover, nasal microbiota profiles typified by higher relative abundances of Corynebacterium are often positively associated with health. Among the most common human nasal Corynebacterium species are C. propinquum, C. pseudodiphtheriticum, C. accolens, and C. tuberculostearicum. Based on the prevalence of these species, at least two likely coexist in the nasal microbiota of 82% of adults. To gain insight into the functions of these four species, we identified genomic, phylogenomic, and pangenomic properties and estimated the functional protein repertoire and metabolic capabilities of 87 distinct human nasal Corynebacterium strain genomes: 31 from Botswana and 56 from the U.S. C. pseudodiphtheriticum had geographically distinct clades consistent with localized strain circulation, whereas some strains from the other species had wide geographic distribution across Africa and North America. All four species had similar genomic and pangenomic structures. Gene clusters assigned to all COG metabolic categories were overrepresented in the persistent (core) compared to the accessory genome of each species indicating limited strain-level variability in metabolic capacity. Moreover, core metabolic capabilities were highly conserved among the four species indicating limited species-level metabolic variation. Strikingly, strains in the U.S. clade of C. pseudodiphtheriticum lacked genes for assimilatory sulfate reduction present in the Botswanan clade and in the other studied species, indicating a recent, geographically related loss of assimilatory sulfate reduction. Overall, the minimal species and strain variability in metabolic capacity implies coexisting strains might have limited ability to occupy distinct metabolic niches.

Oxidative Dearomatization of PLP in Thiamin Pyrimidine Biosynthesis in Candida albicans

The yeast thiamin pyrimidine synthase THI5p catalyzes one of the most complex organic rearrangements found in primary metabolism. In this reaction, the active site His66 and PLP are converted to thiamin pyrimidine in the presence of Fe(II) and oxygen. The enzyme is a single-turnover enzyme. Here, we report the identification of an oxidatively dearomatized PLP intermediate. We utilize oxygen labeling studies, chemical-rescue-based partial reconstitution experiments, and chemical model studies to support this identification. In addition, we also identify and characterize three shunt products derived from the oxidatively dearomatized PLP.

Systemic Activation of the Kynurenine Pathway in Graves` Disease with and without Ophthalmopathy

PURPOSE

To characterize the kynurenine pathway, activated during interferon-γ mediated inflammation and cellular (Th1-type) immunity, in Graves` disease (GD) patients with and without thyroid eye disease (TED).

METHODS

We analyzed 34 biomarkers by mass spectrometry in serum samples from 100 patients with GD (36 with TED) and 100 matched healthy controls. The analytes included 10 metabolites and three indices from the kynurenine pathway, six microbiota-derived metabolites, 10 B-vitamers and five serum proteins reflecting inflammation and kidney function.

RESULTS

GD patients showed significantly elevated levels of seven biomarkers compared with healthy controls (omega squared (ω2) > 0.06, P < 0.01). Out of these seven, the six biomarkers with the strongest effect size were all components of the kynurenine pathway. Factor analysis showed that biomarkers related to cellular immunity and the Th1 responses (3-hydroxykynurenine, kynurenine and quinolinic acid with the highest loading) were most strongly associated with GD. Further, a factor mainly reflecting acute phase response (CRP and serum amyloid A) showed weaker association with GD by factor analysis. There were no differences in biomarker levels between GD patients with and without TED.

CONCLUSION

This study supports activation of interferon-γ inflammation and Th1 cellular immunity in GD, but also a contribution of acute phase reactants. Our finding of no difference in systemic activation of the kynurenine pathway in GD patients with and without TED implies that the local Th1 immune response in the orbit is not reflected systemically.

Thiamine Is Required for Virulence and Survival of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 on Tomatoes

Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (PstDC3000) is an important plant pathogen that infects tomatoes and Arabidopsis. Thiamine and its derivative thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) are cofactors that play an important role in the growth and survival of many bacterial microorganisms. However, the role of thiamine-related genes has not been determined in PstDC3000. Hence, to investigate the role of TPP in growth, resistance to stresses, and virulence of PstDC3000, double and quadruple mutants of thiamine biosynthesis-related genes (thiD/E, thiS/G, and thiD/E/S/G deletion mutants) as well as a single mutant of a lipoprotein-related gene (apbE) were constructed. Our results showed that growth of the thiD/E, thiS/G, and thiD/E/S/G mutants in the mannitol-glutamate (MG) medium was significantly lower than that of the wild type (WT) and their growth could be restored to the WT level with the addition of exogenous thiamine, whereas mutation of the apbE gene did not affect its growth in vitro. While tolerance to acid, osmotic, and oxidative stresses for the double mutants was similar to the WT, tolerance to stresses for the apbE mutant was reduced as compared to the WT. In addition, all four mutants exhibited reduced virulence and growth in tomatoes. However, when the double and quadruple mutants were inoculated with exogenous thiamine, the virulence and growth rate of these mutants were restored to the WT level. These results indicated that the thiD/E, thiS/G, and thiD/E/S/G mutants exhibiting growth deficiency in planta are probably due to a lack of thiamine biosynthesis, thus reducing colonization in tomatoes. On the other hand, it is possible that the apbE mutant exhibited reduced stress tolerances, thus resulting in reduced colonization. Overall, our findings suggest that the thiamine biosynthetic (TBS) pathway plays an important role in the colonization and infection of PstDC3000. Therefore, the thiamine biosynthetic pathway could be used as the target to develop new control measures for a bacterial spot in tomatoes.

Antivitamins: A Silver Lining in the Era of Antimicrobial Resistance

Antivitamins are compounds that negate the biological effects of vitamins. They have been successfully exploited for the development of various classes of drugs. In the early 19th century, the antifolate prontosil was developed for the treatment of puerperal fever. Since then, numerous other antifolates have been used to treat a wide range of infections. Antifolates, such as methotrexate, are potent anticancer agents and antivitamin K, such as warfarin, are used as anticoagulants. Despite several years of research, most antivitamin-based drugs are limited to vitamin K and B9, and the development of antagonists for other vitamins is still in the nascent stage. In the era of antimicrobial resistance, antivitamins can be considered as a promising alternative to develop newer antimicrobials and are worth exploring further. This review discusses key antivitamins at different stages of development which have potential utility as antibiotic drug candidates. The summary of studies of antivitamins in clinical development is also narrated.

Functional Analysis of Hypothetical Proteins of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Reveals the Presence of Virulence Factors and Growth-Related Enzymes With Therapeutic Potential

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, an aquatic pathogen, is a major concern in the shrimp aquaculture industry. Several strains of this pathogen are responsible for causing acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease as well as other serious illness, both of which result in severe economic losses. The genome sequence of two pathogenic strains of V. parahaemolyticus, MSR16 and MSR17, isolated from Bangladesh, have been reported to gain a better understanding of their diversity and virulence. However, the prevalence of hypothetical proteins (HPs) makes it challenging to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the pathogenesis of V. parahaemolyticus. The aim of the present study is to provide a functional annotation of the HPs to elucidate their role in pathogenesis employing several in silico tools. The exploration of protein domains and families, similarity searches against proteins with known function, gene ontology enrichment, along with protein-protein interaction analysis of the HPs led to the functional assignment with a high level of confidence for 656 proteins out of a pool of 2631 proteins. The in silico approach used in this study was important for accurately assigning function to HPs and inferring interactions with proteins with previously described functions. The HPs with function predicted were categorized into various groups such as enzymes involved in small-compound biosynthesis pathway, iron binding proteins, antibiotics resistance proteins, and other proteins. Several proteins with potential druggability were identified among them. In addition, the HPs were investigated in search of virulent factors, which led to the identification of proteins that have the potential to be exploited as vaccine candidate. The findings of the study will be effective in gaining a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis. They may also provide an insight into the process of evaluating promising targets for the development of drugs and vaccines against V. parahaemolyticus.

Biosynthesis and Degradation of Sulfur Modifications in tRNAs

Various sulfur-containing biomolecules include iron–sulfur clusters that act as cofactors for enzymes, sulfur-containing vitamins such as thiamin, and sulfur-modified nucleosides in RNA, in addition to methionine and cysteine in proteins. Sulfur-containing nucleosides are post-transcriptionally introduced into tRNA molecules, where they ensure precise codon recognition or stabilization of tRNA structure, thereby maintaining cellular proteome integrity. Modulating sulfur modification controls the translation efficiency of specific groups of genes, allowing organisms to adapt to specific environments. The biosynthesis of tRNA sulfur nucleosides involves elaborate ‘sulfur trafficking systems’ within cellular sulfur metabolism and ‘modification enzymes’ that incorporate sulfur atoms into tRNA. This review provides an up-to-date overview of advances in our knowledge of the mechanisms involved. It covers the functions, biosynthesis, and biodegradation of sulfur-containing nucleosides as well as the reaction mechanisms of biosynthetic enzymes catalyzed by the iron–sulfur clusters, and identification of enzymes involved in the de-modification of sulfur atoms of RNA. The mechanistic similarity of these opposite reactions is discussed. Mutations in genes related to these pathways can cause human diseases (e.g., cancer, diabetes, and mitochondrial diseases), emphasizing the importance of these pathways.

Serum Metabolome Mediates the Antiobesity Effect of Celastrol-Induced Gut Microbial Alterations

The antiobesity effect of celastrol has been reported in numerous studies, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. It is widely accepted that gut dysbiosis is closely related to obesity. The potential effect of celastrol on microbiota is worth exploring. In this study, the celastrol-induced weight loss was validated in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice, with the detection of reported phenotypes including a reduction in food intake, augments in dyslipidemia and glucose metabolism, and adipose thermogenesis. The anti-inflammatory effect of celastrol was also proved based on the alterations in serum cytokines. Antibiotic interference showed that gut microbiota contributes to celastrol-induced weight loss. Several key bacteria were identified using shotgun metagenomic sequencing to display the alterations of the intestinal microbiome in obese mice treated with celastrol. Meanwhile, the fecal and serum metabolic profiles were generated by pseudotargeted metabolomics, and changes in some critical metabolites related to appetite and metabolism were detected. Importantly, we applied in silico bidirectional mediation analysis to identify the precise connections among the alterations in gut microbes, serum metabolome, and host phenotypes induced by celastrol treatment for the first time. Therefore, we concluded that the celastrol-induced microbial changes partially contribute to the antiobesity effect via the serum metabolome. The mass spectrometry data are deposited on MetaboLights (ID: MTBLS3278).

Biotin plays an important role in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings under carbonate stress

Globally, many saline-alkali soils are rich in NaHCO₃ and Na₂CO₃, which are characterized by a high pH Carbonate stress caused by this kind of soil severely damages plant cells and inhibits plant growth. Biotin and HCO₃^- participate in the first and rate-limiting reaction of the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway, but whether biotin contributes to plant responses to carbonate stress is unclear. In this study, we revealed that high carbonate and biotin concentrations inhibited Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seedling growth. However, specific concentrations of carbonate and biotin decreased the inhibitory effects of the other compound at the germination and seedling stages. Additionally, a carbonate treatment increased the endogenous biotin content and expression of AtBIO2, which encodes a biotin synthase. Moreover, phenotypic analyses indicated that the overexpression of AtBIO2 in Arabidopsis enhanced the tolerance to carbonate stress, whereas mutations to AtBIO2 had the opposite effect. Furthermore, the carbonate stress-induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species was lower in plants overexpressing AtBIO2 than in the wild-type and bio2 mutants. Accordingly, biotin, which is an essential vitamin for plants, can enhance the resistance to carbonate stress.

The ThiL enzyme is a valid antibacterial target essential for both thiamine biosynthesis and salvage pathways in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) is an essential cofactor for various pivotal cellular processes in all living organisms, including bacteria. Thiamine biosynthesis occurs in bacteria but not in humans; therefore, the enzymes in this pathway are attractive targets for antibiotic development. Among these enzymes, thiamine monophosphate kinase (ThiL) catalyzes the final step of this pathway, phosphorylating thiamine monophosphate to produce TPP. Here, we extensively investigated ThiL in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a major pathogen responsible for hospital-acquired infections. We demonstrate that thiL deletion abolishes not only thiamine biosynthesis but also thiamine salvage capability and results in growth defects of the ΔthiL strain even in the presence of thiamine derivatives, except for TPP. Most importantly, the pathogenesis of the ΔthiL strain was markedly attenuated, compared with that of WT cells, with lower inflammatory cytokine induction and 10³-10⁴-fold decreased bacterial loads in an in vivo infection model in which the intracellular TPP level was in the submicromolar range. To validate P. aeruginosa ThiL (PaThiL) as a drug target, we further characterized its biochemical properties, determining a V _max of 4.0 ± 0.2 nmol·min^-1 and K_m values of 111 ± 8 and 8.0 ± 3.5 μm for ATP and thiamine monophosphate, respectively. An in vitro small-molecule screening assay identified PaThiL inhibitors including WAY213613, a noncompetitive inhibitor with a K_i value of 13.4 ± 2.3 μm and potential antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa These comprehensive biological and biochemical results indicate that PaThiL represents a potential drug target for the development of an augmented repertoire of antibiotics against P. aeruginosa.

Lycorine and UV-C stimulate phenolic secondary metabolites production and miRNA expression in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Studying stress pathways on the level of secondary metabolites that are found in very small concentration in the cells is complicated. In the algae, the role of individual metabolites (such as carotenoids, phenolic compounds, organic acids, and vitamins) and miRNAs that participate in plant's defence are very poorly understood during stressful conditions. Therefore, in the present experiment, the model organism Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was exposed to stress conditions (Lyc and UV-C irradiation) to detect these substances, even at very low concentrations. The purpose was to monitored changes at each response level with a future view to identifying their specific roles under different stress factors. In stress-treated cultures, numerous transcriptomic and metabolomic pathways were triggered in C. reinhardtii. Although Lyc significantly decreased the concentration of AA, suggesting that Lyc has a similar function in C. reinhardtii as in plants. The negative effect of UV-C radiation was based on the production of ROS and enhancement of antioxidant responses, resulting in increased levels of polyphenols and simple phenolic compounds. Both treatments did lead to extensive changes in transcript levels and miRNA expression patterns.

Species-specific content of thiamin (vitamin B1) in phytoplankton and the transfer to copepods

Thiamin (vitamin B₁) is primarily produced by bacteria and phytoplankton in aquatic food webs and transferred by ingestion to higher trophic levels. However, much remains unknown regarding production, content and transfer of this water-soluble, essential micronutrient. Hence, the thiamin content of six phytoplankton species from different taxa was investigated, along with the effect of thiamin amendment on thiamin content. Furthermore, thiamin transfer to copepods was estimated in feeding experiments. Prey type, not phytoplankton thiamin content per se, was the most important factor for the transfer of thiamin, as it was lowest from filamentous Cyanophyceae and highest from more easily ingested prey like Dunaliella tertiolecta and Rhodomonas salina. Cyanophyceae had the highest thiamin content of the investigated species, eightfold higher than the lowest. Phytoplankton varied in thiamin content related to the supply of thiamin, where thiamin addition enabled higher thiamin content in some species, while copepod thiamin content was less variable. In all, thiamin transfer is not only dependent on the prey thiamin content, but also the edibility and/or digestibility is of importance. Thiamin is essential for all organisms, and this study constitutes an important building block to understanding the dynamics and transfer of thiamin in the aquatic food web.

Vitamin B and Vitamin C Affect DNA Methylation and Amino Acid Metabolism in Mycobacterium bovis BCG

Vitamins are essential nutrients and key cofactors of enzymes that regulate cellular metabolism, and also activate the immune system. Recent studies have shown that vitamin B1 (V_{B 1}) and vitamin C (Vc) can inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth, but the precise mechanism is still not well understood. In the present study, we have used RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing to analyze the transcriptional, metabolic and methylation profiles of Mycobacterium bovis BCG when treated with V_{B 1} and Vc. Our results show that, after vitamin treatment, variant metabolites were mainly clustered in pathways related to amino acid metabolism. Treatment with both vitamins significantly up-regulated the gene encoding cysteine synthase A. Additionally, only BCG that was treated with V_C showed m4c modifications. Genes harboring this methylation were up-regulated, suggesting that m4c methylation can promote gene transcription to some extent. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of the effects of V_{B 1} and V_C, and suggests that these vitamins constitute potential anti-tuberculosis drugs.

The prominent alteration in transcriptome and metabolome of Mycobacterium bovis BCG str. Tokyo 172 induced by vitamin B1

BACKGROUND

Vitamin B1 (VB1) is a crucial dietary nutrient and essential cofactor for several key enzymes in the regulation of cellular and metabolic processes, and more importantly in the activation of immune system. To date, the precise role of VB1 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains to be fully understood.

RESULTS

In this study, the transcriptional and metabolic profiles of VB1-treated Mycobacterium. bovis BCG were analyzed by RNA-sequencing and LC-MS (Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry). The selection of BCG strain was based on its common physiological features shared with M. tuberculosis. The results of cell growth assays demonstrated that VB1 inhibited the BCG growth rate in vitro. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the expression levels of genes related to fatty acid metabolism, cholesterol metabolism, glycolipid catabolism, DNA replication, protein translation, cell division and cell wall formation were significantly downregulated in M. bovis BCG treated with VB1. In addition, the metabolomics LC-MS data indicated that most of the amino acids and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) were decreased in M. bovis BCG strain after VB1 treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides the molecular and metabolic bases to understand the impacts of VB1 on M.bovis BCG.

Crystal structures of thiamine monophosphate kinase from Acinetobacter baumannii in complex with substrates and products

Thiamine monophosphate kinase (ThiL) catalyzes the last step of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) synthesis, the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of thiamine monophosphate (TMP) to thiamine pyrophosphate. We solved the structure of ThiL from the human pathogen A. baumanii in complex with a pair of substrates TMP and a non-hydrolyzable adenosine triphosphate analog, and in complex with a pair of products TPP and adenosine diphosphate. High resolution of the data and anomalous diffraction allows for a detailed description of the binding mode of substrates and products, and their metal environment. The structures further support a previously proposed in-line attack reaction mechanism and show a distinct variability of metal content of the active site.

Recent Advances in Our Understanding of the Biosynthesis of Sulfur Modifications in tRNAs

Sulfur is an essential element in all living organisms. In tRNA molecules, there are many sulfur-containing nucleosides, introduced post-transcriptionally, that function to ensure proper codon recognition or stabilization of tRNA structure, thereby enabling accurate and efficient translation. The biosynthesis of tRNA sulfur modifications involves unique sulfur trafficking systems that are closely related to cellular sulfur metabolism, and “modification enzymes” that incorporate sulfur atoms into tRNA. Herein, recent biochemical and structural characterization of the biosynthesis of sulfur modifications in tRNA is reviewed, with special emphasis on the reaction mechanisms of modification enzymes. It was recently revealed that TtuA/Ncs6-type 2-thiouridylases from thermophilic bacteria/archaea/eukaryotes are oxygen-sensitive iron-sulfur proteins that utilize a quite different mechanism from other 2-thiouridylase subtypes lacking iron-sulfur clusters such as bacterial MnmA. The various reaction mechanisms of RNA sulfurtransferases are also discussed, including tRNA methylthiotransferase MiaB (a radical S-adenosylmethionine-type iron-sulfur enzyme) and other sulfurtransferases involved in both primary and secondary sulfur-containing metabolites.

Competition for vitamin B1 (thiamin) structures numerous ecological interactions

Thiamin (vitamin B1) is a cofactor required for essential biochemical reactions in all living organisms, yet free thiamin is scarce in the environment. The diversity of biochemical pathways involved in the acquisition, degradation, and synthesis of thiamin indicates that organisms have evolved numerous ecological strategies for meeting this nutritional requirement. In this review we synthesize information from multiple disciplines to show how the complex biochemistry of thiamin influences ecological outcomes of interactions between organisms in environments ranging from the open ocean and the Australian outback to the gastrointestinal tract of animals. We highlight population and ecosystem responses to the availability or absence of thiamin. These include widespread mortality of fishes, birds, and mammals, as well as the thiamin-dependent regulation of ocean productivity. Overall, we portray thiamin biochemistry as the foundation for molecularly mediated ecological interactions that influence survival and abundance of a vast array of organisms.

NAD+/NADH homeostasis affects metabolic adaptation to hypoxia and secondary metabolite production in filamentous fungi

Filamentous fungi are used to produce fermented foods, organic acids, beneficial secondary metabolites and various enzymes. During such processes, these fungi balance cellular NAD⁺:NADH ratios to adapt to environmental redox stimuli. Cellular NAD(H) status in fungal cells is a trigger of changes in metabolic pathways including those of glycolysis, fermentation, and the production of organic acids, amino acids and secondary metabolites. Under hypoxic conditions, high NADH:NAD⁺ ratios lead to the inactivation of various dehydrogenases, and the metabolic flow involving NAD⁺ is down-regulated compared with normoxic conditions. This review provides an overview of the metabolic mechanisms of filamentous fungi under hypoxic conditions that alter the cellular NADH:NAD⁺ balance. We also discuss the relationship between the intracellular redox balance (NAD/NADH ratio) and the production of beneficial secondary metabolites that arise from repressing the HDAC activity of sirtuin A via Nudix hydrolase A (NdxA)-dependent NAD⁺ degradation.

Expression, Purification, and Activity of ActhiS, a Thiazole Biosynthesis Enzyme from Acremonium chrysogenum

Thiamine pyrophosphate is an essential coenzyme in all organisms. Its biosynthesis involves independent syntheses of the precursors, pyrimidine and thiazole, which are then coupled. In our previous study with overexpressed and silent mutants of ActhiS (thiazole biosynthesis enzyme from Acremonium chrysogenum), we found that the enzyme level correlated with intracellular thiamine content in A. chrysogenum. However, the exact structure and function of ActhiS remain unclear. In this study, the enzyme-bound ligand was characterized as the ADP adduct of 5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methylthiazole-2-carboxylic acid (ADT) using HPLC and ¹H NMR. The ligand-free ActhiS expressed in M9 minimal medium catalyzed conversion of NAD+ and glycine to ADT in the presence of iron. Furthermore, the C217 residue was identified as the sulfur donor for the thiazole moiety. These observations confirm that ActhiS is a thiazole biosynthesis enzyme in A. chrysogenum, and it serves as a sulfur source for the thiazole moiety.

Thiamine synthesis regulates the fermentation mechanisms in the fungus Aspergillus nidulans

Thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) is a critical cofactor and its biosynthesis is under the control of TPP availability. Here we disrupted a predicted thiA gene of the fungus Aspergillus nidulans and demonstrated that it is essential for synthesizing cellular thiamine. The thiamine riboswitch is a post-transcriptional mechanism for TPP to repress gene expression and it is located on A. nidulans thiA pre-messenger RNA. The thiA riboswitch was not fully derepressed under thiamine-limited conditions, and fully derepressed under environmental stressors. Upon exposure to hypoxic stress, the fungus accumulated more ThiA and NmtA proteins, and more thiamine than under aerobic conditions. The thiA gene was required for the fungus to upregulate hypoxic branched-chain amino acids and ethanol fermentation that involve enzymes containing TPP. These findings indicate that hypoxia modulates thiA expression through the thiamine riboswitch, and alters cellular fermentation mechanisms by regulating the activity of the TPP enzymes.

Structural Basis for Iron-Mediated Sulfur Transfer in Archael and Yeast Thiazole Synthases

Thiamin diphosphate is an essential cofactor in all forms of life and plays a key role in amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism. Its biosynthesis involves separate syntheses of the pyrimidine and thiazole moieties, which are then coupled to form thiamin monophosphate. A final phosphorylation produces the active form of the cofactor. In most bacteria, six gene products are required for biosynthesis of the thiamin thiazole. In yeast and fungi only one gene product, Thi4, is required for thiazole biosynthesis. Methanococcus jannaschii expresses a putative Thi4 ortholog that was previously reported to be a ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate synthase [Finn, M. W. and Tabita, F. R. (2004) J. Bacteriol., 186, 6360-6366]. Our structural studies show that the Thi4 orthologs from M. jannaschii and Methanococcus igneus are structurally similar to Thi4 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In addition, all active site residues are conserved except for a key cysteine residue, which in S. cerevisiae is the source of the thiazole sulfur atom. Our recent biochemical studies showed that the archael Thi4 orthologs use nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, glycine, and free sulfide to form the thiamin thiazole in an iron-dependent reaction [Eser, B., Zhang, X., Chanani, P. K., Begley, T. P., and Ealick, S. E. (2016) J. Am. Chem. Soc. , DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b00445]. Here we report X-ray crystal structures of Thi4 from M. jannaschii complexed with ADP-ribulose, the C205S variant of Thi4 from S. cerevisiae with a bound glycine imine intermediate, and Thi4 from M. igneus with bound glycine imine intermediate and iron. These studies reveal the structural basis for the iron-dependent mechanism of sulfur transfer in archael and yeast thiazole synthases.

Structure of ThiM from Vitamin B1 biosynthetic pathway of Staphylococcus aureus - Insights into a novel pro-drug approach addressing MRSA infections

Infections caused by the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are today known to be a substantial threat for global health. Emerging multi-drug resistant bacteria have created a substantial need to identify and discover new drug targets and to develop novel strategies to treat bacterial infections. A promising and so far untapped antibiotic target is the biosynthesis of vitamin B1 (thiamin). Thiamin in its activated form, thiamin pyrophosphate, is an essential co-factor for all organisms. Therefore, thiamin analogous compounds, when introduced into the vitamin B1 biosynthetic pathway and further converted into non-functional co-factors by the bacterium can function as pro-drugs which thus block various co-factor dependent pathways. We characterized one of the key enzymes within the S. aureus vitamin B1 biosynthetic pathway, 5-(hydroxyethyl)-4-methylthiazole kinase (SaThiM; EC 2.7.1.50), a potential target for pro-drug compounds and analyzed the native structure of SaThiM and complexes with the natural substrate 5-(hydroxyethyl)-4-methylthiazole (THZ) and two selected substrate analogues.

Biosynthesis of Thiamin Pyrophosphate

The biosynthesis of thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) in prokaryotes, as represented by the Escherichia coli and the Bacillus subtilis pathways, is summarized in this review. The thiazole heterocycle is formed by the convergence of three separate pathways. First, the condensation of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and pyruvate, catalyzed by 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (Dxs), gives 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP). Next, the sulfur carrier protein ThiS-COO- is converted to its carboxyterminal thiocarboxylate in reactions catalyzed by ThiF, ThiI, and NifS (ThiF and IscS in B. subtilis). Finally, tyrosine (glycine in B. subtilis) is converted to dehydroglycine by ThiH (ThiO in B. subtilis). Thiazole synthase (ThiG) catalyzes the complex condensation of ThiS-COSH, dehydroglycine, and DXP to give a thiazole tautomer, which is then aromatized to carboxythiazole phosphate by TenI (B. subtilis). Hydroxymethyl pyrimidine phosphate (HMP-P) is formed by a complicated rearrangement reaction of 5-aminoimidazole ribotide (AIR) catalyzed by ThiC. ThiD then generates hydroxymethyl pyrimidine pyrophosphate. The coupling of the two heterocycles and decarboxylation, catalyzed by thiamin phosphate synthase (ThiE), gives thiamin phosphate. A final phosphorylation, catalyzed by ThiL, completes the biosynthesis of TPP, the biologically active form of the cofactor. This review reviews the current status of mechanistic and structural studies on the enzymes involved in this pathway. The availability of multiple orthologs of the thiamin biosynthetic enzymes has also greatly facilitated structural studies, and most of the thiamin biosynthetic and salvage enzymes have now been structurally characterized.

High quality draft genome sequence of Corynebacterium ulceribovis type strain IMMIB-L1395(T) (DSM 45146(T))

Corynebacterium ulceribovis strain IMMIB L-1395(T) (= DSM 45146(T)) is an aerobic to facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive, non-spore-forming, non-motile rod-shaped bacterium that was isolated from the skin of the udder of a cow, in Schleswig Holstein, Germany. The cell wall of C. ulceribovis contains corynemycolic acids. The cellular fatty acids are those described for the genus Corynebacterium, but tuberculostearic acid is not present. Here we describe the features of C. ulceribovis strain IMMIB L-1395(T), together with genome sequence information and its annotation. The 2,300,451 bp long genome containing 2,104 protein-coding genes and 54 RNA-encoding genes and is part of the Genomic Encyclopedia of Type Strains, Phase I: the one thousand microbial genomes (KMG) project.

Protein-pyridinol thioester precursor for biosynthesis of the organometallic acyl-iron ligand in [Fe]-hydrogenase cofactor

The iron-guanylylpyridinol (FeGP) cofactor of [Fe]-hydrogenase contains a prominent iron centre with an acyl-Fe bond and is the only acyl-organometallic iron compound found in nature. Here, we identify the functions of HcgE and HcgF, involved in the biosynthesis of the FeGP cofactor using structure-to-function strategy. Analysis of the HcgE and HcgF crystal structures with and without bound substrates suggest that HcgE catalyses the adenylylation of the carboxy group of guanylylpyridinol (GP) to afford AMP-GP, and subsequently HcgF catalyses the transesterification of AMP-GP to afford a Cys (HcgF)-S-GP thioester. Both enzymatic reactions are confirmed by in vitro assays. The structural data also offer plausible catalytic mechanisms. This strategy of thioester activation corresponds to that used for ubiquitin activation, a key event in the regulation of multiple cellular processes. It further implicates a nucleophilic attack onto the acyl carbon presumably via an electron-rich Fe(0)- or Fe(I)-carbonyl complex in the Fe-acyl formation.

Acthi, a thiazole biosynthesis enzyme, is essential for thiamine biosynthesis and CPC production in Acremonium chrysogenum

Background

The filamentous fungus Acremonium chrysogenum is an important industrial fungus and is used in the production of the β-lactam antibiotic cephalosporin C. Little is known regarding the molecular and biological mechanisms of how this industrial strain was improved by mutagenesis and molecular breeding. Comparative proteomics is one of the most powerful methods to evaluate the influence of gene expression on metabolite production.

Results

In this study, we used comparative proteomics to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis of cephalosporin C between a high-producer (HY) strain and a wide-type (WT) strain. We found that the expression levels of thiamine biosynthesis-related enzymes, including the thiazole biosynthesis enzyme (Acthi), pyruvate oxidase, flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent oxidoreductase and sulfur carrier protein-thiS, were up-regulated in the HY strain. An Acthi-silencing mutant of the WT strain grew poorly on chemically defined medium (MMC) in the absence of thiamine, and its growth was recovered on MMC medium supplemented with thiamine. The intracellular thiamine content was changed in the Acthi silencing or over-expression mutants. In addition, we demonstrated that the manipulation of the Acthi gene can affect the hyphal growth of Acremonium chrysogenum, the transcription levels of cephalosporin C biosynthetic genes, the quantification levels of precursor amino acids for cephalosporin C synthesis and the expression levels of thiamine diphosphate-dependent enzymes. Over-expression of Acthi can significantly increase the cephalosporin C yield in both the WT strain and the HY mutant strain.

Conclusions

Using comparative proteomics, four differently expressed proteins were exploited, whose functions may be involved in thiamine diphosphate metabolism. Among these proteins, the thiazole biosynthesis enzyme (ActhiS) may play an important role in cephalosporin C biosynthesis. Our studies suggested that Acthi might be involved in the transcriptional regulation of cephalosporin C biosynthesis. Therefore, the thiamine metabolic pathway could be a potential target for the molecular breeding of this cephalosporin C producer for industrial applications.

Biosynthesis and functions of sulfur modifications in tRNA

Sulfur is an essential element for a variety of cellular constituents in all living organisms. In tRNA molecules, there are many sulfur-containing nucleosides, such as the derivatives of 2-thiouridine (s²U), 4-thiouridine (s⁴U), 2-thiocytidine (s²C), and 2-methylthioadenosine (ms²A). Earlier studies established the functions of these modifications for accurate and efficient translation, including proper recognition of the codons in mRNA or stabilization of tRNA structure. In many cases, the biosynthesis of these sulfur modifications starts with cysteine desulfurases, which catalyze the generation of persulfide (an activated form of sulfur) from cysteine. Many sulfur-carrier proteins are responsible for delivering this activated sulfur to each biosynthesis pathway. Finally, specific “modification enzymes” activate target tRNAs and then incorporate sulfur atoms. Intriguingly, the biosynthesis of 2-thiouridine in all domains of life is functionally and evolutionarily related to the ubiquitin-like post-translational modification system of cellular proteins in eukaryotes. This review summarizes the recent characterization of the biosynthesis of sulfur modifications in tRNA and the novel roles of this modification in cellular functions in various model organisms, with a special emphasis on 2-thiouridine derivatives. Each biosynthesis pathway of sulfur-containing molecules is mutually modulated via sulfur trafficking, and 2-thiouridine and codon usage bias have been proposed to control the translation of specific genes.

Biochemical characterisation during seed development of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis)

Developmental biochemical information is a vital base for the elucidation of seed physiology and metabolism. However, no data regarding the biochemical profile of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) seed development has been reported thus far. In this study, the biochemical changes in the developing oil palm seed were investigated to study their developmental pattern. The biochemical composition found in the seed differed significantly among the developmental stages. During early seed development, the water, hexose (glucose and fructose), calcium and manganese contents were present in significantly high levels compared to the late developmental stage. Remarkable changes in the biochemical composition were observed at 10 weeks after anthesis (WAA): the dry weight and sucrose content increased significantly, whereas the water content and hexose content declined. The switch from a high to low hexose/sucrose ratio could be used to identify the onset of the maturation phase. At the late stage, dramatic water loss occurred, whereas the content of storage reserves increased progressively. Lauric acid was the most abundant fatty acid found in oil palm seed starting from 10 WAA.

Differentially expressed genes in Hirudo medicinalis ganglia after acetyl-L-carnitine treatment

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) is a naturally occurring substance that, when administered at supra-physiological concentration, is neuroprotective. It is involved in membrane stabilization and in enhancement of mitochondrial functions. It is a molecule of considerable interest for its clinical application in various neural disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and painful neuropathies. ALC is known to improve the cognitive capability of aged animals chronically treated with the drug and, recently, it has been reported that it impairs forms of non-associative learning in the leech. In the present study the effects of ALC on gene expression have been analyzed in the leech Hirudo medicinalis. The suppression subtractive hybridisation methodology was used for the generation of subtracted cDNA libraries and the subsequent identification of differentially expressed transcripts in the leech nervous system after ALC treatment. The method detects differentially but also little expressed transcripts of genes whose sequence or identity is still unknown. We report that a single administration of ALC is able to modulate positively the expression of genes coding for functions that reveal a lasting effect of ALC on the invertebrate, and confirm the neuroprotective and neuromodulative role of the substance. In addition an important finding is the modulation of genes of vegetal origin. This might be considered an instance of ectosymbiotic mutualism.

Structural diversity in the AdoMet radical enzyme superfamily

AdoMet radical enzymes are involved in processes such as cofactor biosynthesis, anaerobic metabolism, and natural product biosynthesis. These enzymes utilize the reductive cleavage of S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) to afford l-methionine and a transient 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical, which subsequently generates a substrate radical species. By harnessing radical reactivity, the AdoMet radical enzyme superfamily is responsible for an incredible diversity of chemical transformations. Structural analysis reveals that family members adopt a full or partial Triose-phosphate Isomerase Mutase (TIM) barrel protein fold, containing core motifs responsible for binding a catalytic [4Fe-4S] cluster and AdoMet. Here we evaluate over twenty structures of AdoMet radical enzymes and classify them into two categories: 'traditional' and 'ThiC-like' (named for the structure of 4-amino-5-hydroxymethyl-2-methylpyrimidine phosphate synthase (ThiC)). In light of new structural data, we reexamine the 'traditional' structural motifs responsible for binding the [4Fe-4S] cluster and AdoMet, and compare and contrast these motifs with the ThiC case. We also review how structural data combine with biochemical, spectroscopic, and computational data to help us understand key features of this enzyme superfamily, such as the energetics, the triggering, and the molecular mechanisms of AdoMet reductive cleavage. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Radical SAM Enzymes and Radical Enzymology.

Mycoplasma genitalium: a comparative genomics study of metabolic pathways for the identification of drug and vaccine targets

Increasing emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic microorganisms is one of the biggest challenges for biomedical research and drug development. Traditional drug discovery methods are time-consuming, expensive and often yield few drug targets. In contrast, advances in complete genome sequencing, bioinformatics and cheminformatics represent an attractive alternative approach to identify drug targets worthy of experimental follow-up. Mycoplasma genitalium is a human parasitic pathogen that is associated with several sexually transmitted diseases. Recently, emergence of treatment-resistant isolates has been reported, which raises serious concern and a need for identification of additional drug targets. In the present study, a systematic workflow consisting of comparative genomics, metabolic pathways analysis and additional drug prioritizing parameters was defined for the identification of novel drug and vaccine targets that are essential for M. genitalium, but absent in its human host. In silico analyses and manual mining identified 79 proteins of M. genitalium, which showed no similarity to human proteins. Among these, 67 proteins were identified as non-homologous essential proteins that could serve as potential drug and vaccine targets. Subcellular localization, molecular weight, and three-dimensional structural characteristics that could facilitate filtering of attractive drug targets were also calculated for the non-homologous essential proteins. Enzymes from thiamine biosynthesis, protein biosynthesis, and folate biosynthesis were identified as attractive candidates for drug development. Furthermore, druggability of each of the identified drug targets was also evaluated by the DrugBank database. Results from this study could facilitate selection of M. genitalium proteins for entry into drug design and vaccine production pipelines.

Biochemical and functional characterization of an albumin protein belonging to the hemopexin superfamily from Lens culinaris seeds

The present paper reports the purification and biochemical characterization of an albumin identified in mature lentil seeds with high sequence similarity to pea PA2. These proteins are found in many edible seeds and are considered potentially detrimental for human health due to the potential allergenicity and lectin-like activity. Thus, the description of their possible presence in food and the assessment of the molecular properties are relevant. The M(r), pI, and N-terminal sequence of this protein have been determined. The work included the study of (i) the binding properties to hemine to assess the presence of hemopexin structural domains and (ii) the binding properties of the protein to thiamin. In addition, the structural changes induced by heating have been evaluated by means of spectroscopic techniques. Denaturation temperature has also been determined. The present work provides new insights about the structural molecular features and the ligand-binding properties and dynamics of this kind of seed albumin.

Complex biotransformations catalyzed by radical S-adenosylmethionine enzymes

The radical S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) superfamily currently comprises thousands of proteins that participate in numerous biochemical processes across all kingdoms of life. These proteins share a common mechanism to generate a powerful 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical, which initiates a highly diverse array of biotransformations. Recent studies are beginning to reveal the role of radical AdoMet proteins in the catalysis of highly complex and chemically unusual transformations, e.g. the ThiC-catalyzed complex rearrangement reaction. The unique features and intriguing chemistries of these proteins thus demonstrate the remarkable versatility and sophistication of radical enzymology.

Thiamin (vitamin B1) biosynthesis and regulation: a rich source of antimicrobial drug targets?

Drug resistance of pathogens has necessitated the identification of novel targets for antibiotics. Thiamin (vitamin B1) is an essential cofactor for all organisms in its active form thiamin diphosphate (ThDP). Therefore, its metabolic pathways might be one largely untapped source of antibiotics targets. This review describes bacterial thiamin biosynthetic, salvage, and transport pathways. Essential thiamin synthetic enzymes such as Dxs and ThiE are proposed as promising drug targets. The regulation mechanism of thiamin biosynthesis by ThDP riboswitch is also discussed. As drug targets of existing antimicrobial compound pyrithiamin, the ThDP riboswitch might serves as alternative targets for more antibiotics.

HMP binding protein ThiY and HMP-P synthase THI5 are structural homologues

The ATP-binding cassette transporter system ThiXYZ transports N-formyl-4-amino-5-(aminomethyl)-2-methylpyrimidine (FAMP), a thiamin salvage pathway intermediate, into cells. FAMP is then converted to 4-amino-5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpyrimidine (HMP) and recycled into the thiamin biosynthetic pathway. ThiY is the periplasmic substrate binding protein of the ThiXYZ system and delivers the substrate FAMP to the transmembrane domain. We report the crystal structure of Bacillus halodurans ThiY with FAMP bound at 2.4 Å resolution determined by single-wavelength anomalous diffraction phasing. The crystal structure reveals that ThiY belongs to the group II periplasmic binding protein family. The closest structural homologues of ThiY are periplasmic binding proteins involved in alkanesulfonate/nitrate and bicarbonate transport. ThiY is also structurally homologous to thiamin binding protein (TbpA) and to thiaminase-I. THI5 is responsible for the synthesis of 4-amino-5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpyrimidine phosphate in the thiamin biosynthetic pathway of eukaryotes and is approximately 25% identical in sequence with ThiY. A homology model of Saccharomyces cerevisiae THI5 was generated on the basis of the structure of ThiY. Many features of the thiamin pyrimidine binding site are shared between ThiY and THI5, suggesting a common ancestor.

Aptazyme-mediated regulation of 16S ribosomal RNA

Developing artificial genetic switches in order to control gene expression via an external stimulus is an important aim in chemical and synthetic biology. Here, we expand the application range of RNA switches to the regulation of 16S rRNA function in Escherichia coli. For this purpose, we incorporated hammerhead ribozymes at several positions into orthogonalized 16S rRNA. We observed that ribosomal function is remarkably tolerant toward the incorporation of large additional RNA fragments at certain sites of the 16S rRNA. However, ribozyme-mediated cleavage results in severe reduction of 16S rRNA stability. We carried out an in vivo screen for the identification of sequences acting as ligand-responsive RNA switches, enabling thiamine-dependent switching of 16S rRNA function. In addition to expanding the regulatory toolbox, the presented artificial riboswitches should prove valuable to study aspects of rRNA folding and stability in bacteria.

Transcriptomes of the desiccation-tolerant resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum

Studies of the resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum have revealed some of the mechanisms which these desiccation-tolerant plants use to survive environments with extreme dehydration and restricted seasonal water. Most resurrection plants are polyploid with large genomes, which has hindered efforts to obtain whole genome sequences and perform mutational analysis. However, the application of deep sequencing technologies to transcriptomics now permits large-scale analyses of gene expression patterns despite the lack of a reference genome. Here we use pyro-sequencing to characterize the transcriptomes of C. plantagineum leaves at four stages of dehydration and rehydration. This reveals that genes involved in several pathways, such as those required for vitamin K and thiamin biosynthesis, are tightly regulated at the level of gene expression. Our analysis also provides a comprehensive picture of the array of cellular responses controlled by gene expression that allow resurrection plants to survive desiccation.

Genomic and phenotypic characterization of a nonpigmented variant of Pantoea vagans biocontrol strain C9-1 lacking the 530-kb megaplasmid pPag3

A 530-kb megaplasmid pPag3 contributing 10.8% of the total genome of Pantoea vagans biocontrol strain C9-1 was sequenced. A rare nonpigmented variant C9-1W was obtained and shown to have lost pPag3, but retained all other plasmids (pPag1, pPag2). Phenotypic characterization of the variant confirmed the function of several annotated genes that may influence ecological fitness and efficacy. Metabolic profiling revealed important plasmid-based carbon utilization phenotypes. Plasmid loss resulted in thiamine auxotrophy, absence of carotenoid pigmentation, desferrioxamine diffusible siderophore biosynthesis, inherent ampicillin resistance and expression of AI-1 quorum-sensing signaling. This confirmed the functional expression of the corresponding genes located on pPag3 in P. vagans.