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Tsai K, Stojković V, Noda-Garcia L, Young ID, Myasnikov AG, Kleinman J, Palla A, Floor SN, Frost A, Fraser JS, Tawfik DS, Fujimori DG. Directed evolution of the rRNA methylating enzyme Cfr reveals molecular basis of antibiotic resistance. eLife 2022; 11:e70017. [PMID: 35015630 PMCID: PMC8752094 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alteration of antibiotic binding sites through modification of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is a common form of resistance to ribosome-targeting antibiotics. The rRNA-modifying enzyme Cfr methylates an adenosine nucleotide within the peptidyl transferase center, resulting in the C-8 methylation of A2503 (m8A2503). Acquisition of cfr results in resistance to eight classes of ribosome-targeting antibiotics. Despite the prevalence of this resistance mechanism, it is poorly understood whether and how bacteria modulate Cfr methylation to adapt to antibiotic pressure. Moreover, direct evidence for how m8A2503 alters antibiotic binding sites within the ribosome is lacking. In this study, we performed directed evolution of Cfr under antibiotic selection to generate Cfr variants that confer increased resistance by enhancing methylation of A2503 in cells. Increased rRNA methylation is achieved by improved expression and stability of Cfr through transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms, which may be exploited by pathogens under antibiotic stress as suggested by natural isolates. Using a variant that achieves near-stoichiometric methylation of rRNA, we determined a 2.2 Å cryo-electron microscopy structure of the Cfr-modified ribosome. Our structure reveals the molecular basis for broad resistance to antibiotics and will inform the design of new antibiotics that overcome resistance mediated by Cfr.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn Tsai
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Vanja Stojković
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Lianet Noda-Garcia
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Iris D Young
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Alexander G Myasnikov
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Jordan Kleinman
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Ali Palla
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Stephen N Floor
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Adam Frost
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - James S Fraser
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Dan S Tawfik
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Danica Galonić Fujimori
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
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Gumkowski JD, Martinie RJ, Corrigan PS, Pan J, Bauerle MR, Almarei M, Booker SJ, Silakov A, Krebs C, Boal AK. Analysis of RNA Methylation by Phylogenetically Diverse Cfr Radical S-Adenosylmethionine Enzymes Reveals an Iron-Binding Accessory Domain in a Clostridial Enzyme. Biochemistry 2019; 58:3169-3184. [PMID: 31246421 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cfr is a radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) RNA methylase linked to multidrug antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens. It catalyzes a chemically challenging C-C bond-forming reaction to methylate C8 of A2503 (Escherichia coli numbering) of 23S rRNA during ribosome assembly. The cfr gene has been identified as a mobile genetic element in diverse bacteria and in the genome of select Bacillales and Clostridiales species. Despite the importance of Cfr, few representatives have been purified and characterized in vitro. Here we show that Cfr homologues from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Enterococcus faecalis, Paenibacillus lautus, and Clostridioides difficile act as C8 adenine RNA methylases in biochemical assays. C. difficile Cfr contains an additional Cys-rich C-terminal domain that binds a mononuclear Fe2+ ion in a rubredoxin-type Cys4 motif. The C-terminal domain can be truncated with minimal impact on C. difficile Cfr activity, but the rate of turnover is decreased upon disruption of the Fe2+-binding site by Zn2+ substitution or ligand mutation. These findings indicate an important purpose for the observed C-terminal iron in the native fusion protein. Bioinformatic analysis of the C. difficile Cfr Cys-rich domain shows that it is widespread (∼1400 homologues) as a stand-alone gene in pathogenic or commensal Bacilli and Clostridia, with >10% encoded adjacent to a predicted radical SAM RNA methylase. Although the domain is not essential for in vitro C. difficile Cfr activity, the genomic co-occurrence and high abundance in the human microbiome suggest a possible functional role for a specialized rubredoxin in certain radical SAM RNA methylases that are relevant to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Gumkowski
- Department of Chemistry , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
| | - Ryan J Martinie
- Department of Chemistry , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
| | - Patrick S Corrigan
- Department of Chemistry , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
| | - Juan Pan
- Department of Chemistry , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
| | - Matthew R Bauerle
- Department of Chemistry , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
| | - Mohamed Almarei
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
| | - Squire J Booker
- Department of Chemistry , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
| | - Alexey Silakov
- Department of Chemistry , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
| | - Carsten Krebs
- Department of Chemistry , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
| | - Amie K Boal
- Department of Chemistry , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , The Pennsylvania State University , University Park , Pennsylvania 16802 , United States
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