1
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Luo Y, Xu S, Frerk AM, van der Donk WA. Facile Method for Determining Lanthipeptide Stereochemistry. Anal Chem 2024; 96:1767-1773. [PMID: 38232355 PMCID: PMC10831782 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Lanthipeptides make up a large group of natural products that belong to the ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Lanthipeptides contain lanthionine and methyllanthionine bis-amino acids that have varying stereochemistry. The stereochemistry of new lanthipeptides is often not determined because current methods require equipment that is not standard in most laboratories. In this study, we developed a facile, efficient, and user-friendly method for detecting lanthipeptide stereochemistry, utilizing advanced Marfey's analysis with detection by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Under optimized conditions, 0.05 mg of peptide is sufficient to characterize the stereochemistry of five (methyl)lanthionines of different stereochemistry using a simple liquid chromatography setup, which is a much lower detection limit than current methods. In addition, we describe methods to readily access standards of the three different methyllanthionine stereoisomers and two different lanthionine stereoisomers that have been reported in known lanthipeptides. The developed workflow uses a commonly used nonchiral column system and offers a scalable platform to assist antimicrobial discovery. We illustrate its utility with an example of a lanthipeptide discovered by genome mining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youran Luo
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Illinois at
Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Shuyun Xu
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Illinois at
Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Autumn M. Frerk
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Illinois at
Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Carl
R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Wilfred A. van der Donk
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Illinois at
Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Carl
R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, University of
Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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2
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Guo L, Wambui J, Wang C, Broos J, Stephan R, Kuipers OP. Rombocin, a Short Stable Natural Nisin Variant, Displays Selective Antimicrobial Activity against Listeria monocytogenes and Employs a Dual Mode of Action to Kill Target Bacterial Strains. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:370-383. [PMID: 38194633 PMCID: PMC10804407 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Nisin, with its unique mode of action and potent antimicrobial activity, serves as a remarkable inspiration for the design of novel antibiotics. However, peptides possess inherent weaknesses, particularly their susceptibility to proteolytic degradation, such as by trypsin, which limits their broader applications. This led us to speculate that natural variants of nisin produced by underexplored bacterial species can potentially overcome these limitations. We carried out genome mining of two Romboutsia sedimentorum strains, RC001 and RC002, leading to the discovery of rombocin A, which is a 25 amino acid residue short nisin variant that is predicted to have only four macrocycles compared to the known 31-35 amino acids long nisin variants with five macrocycles. Using the nisin-controlled expression system, we heterologously expressed fully modified and functional rombocin A in Lactococcus lactis and demonstrated its selective antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes. Rombocin A uses a dual mode of action involving lipid II binding activity and dissipation of the membrane potential to kill target bacteria. Stability tests confirmed its high stability at different pH values, temperatures, and in particular, against enzymatic degradation. With its gene-encoded characteristic, rombocin A is amenable to bioengineering to generate novel derivatives. Further mutation studies led to the identification of rombocin K, a mutant with enhanced bioactivity against L. monocytogenes. Our findings suggest that rombocin A and its bioengineered variant, rombocin K, are promising candidates for development as food preservatives or antibiotics against L. monocytogenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longcheng Guo
- Department
of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology
Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Joseph Wambui
- Institute
for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Chenhui Wang
- Department
of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology
Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap Broos
- Department
of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology
Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Roger Stephan
- Institute
for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Oscar P. Kuipers
- Department
of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology
Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
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3
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Guo L, Wambui J, Wang C, Muchaamba F, Fernandez-Cantos MV, Broos J, Tasara T, Kuipers OP, Stephan R. Cesin, a short natural variant of nisin, displays potent antimicrobial activity against major pathogens despite lacking two C-terminal macrocycles. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0531922. [PMID: 37754751 PMCID: PMC10581189 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05319-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Nisin is a widely used lantibiotic owing to its potent antimicrobial activity and its food-grade status. Its mode of action includes cell wall synthesis inhibition and pore formation, which are attributed to the lipid II binding and pore-forming domains, respectively. We discovered cesin, a short natural variant of nisin, produced by the psychrophilic anaerobe Clostridium estertheticum. Unlike other natural nisin variants, cesin lacks the two terminal macrocycles constituting the pore-forming domain. The current study aimed at heterologous expression and characterization of the antimicrobial activity and physicochemical properties of cesin. Following the successful heterologous expression of cesin in Lactococcus lactis, the lantibiotic demonstrated a broad and potent antimicrobial profile comparable to that of nisin. Determination of its mode of action using lipid II and lipoteichoic acid binding assays linked the potent antimicrobial activity to lipid II binding and electrostatic interactions with teichoic acids. Fluorescence microscopy showed that cesin lacks pore-forming ability in its natural form. Stability tests have shown the lantibiotic is highly stable at different pH values and temperature conditions, but that it can be degraded by trypsin. However, a bioengineered analog, cesin R15G, overcame the trypsin degradation, while keeping full antimicrobial activity. This study shows that cesin is a novel (small) nisin variant that efficiently kills target bacteria by inhibiting cell wall synthesis without pore formation. IMPORTANCE The current increase in antibiotic-resistant pathogens necessitates the discovery and application of novel antimicrobials. In this regard, we recently discovered cesin, which is a short natural variant of nisin produced by the psychrophilic Clostridium estertheticum. However, its suitability as an antimicrobial compound was in doubt due to its structural resemblance to nisin(1-22), a bioengineered short variant of nisin with low antimicrobial activity. Here, we show by heterologous expression, purification, and characterization that the potency of cesin is not only much higher than that of nisin(1-22), but that it is even comparable to the full-length nisin, despite lacking two C-terminal rings that are essential for nisin's activity. We show that cesin is a suitable scaffold for bioengineering to improve its applicability, such as resistance to trypsin. This study demonstrates the suitability of cesin for future application in food and/or for health as a potent and stable antimicrobial compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longcheng Guo
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Joseph Wambui
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Chenhui Wang
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Francis Muchaamba
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maria Victoria Fernandez-Cantos
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jaap Broos
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Taurai Tasara
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Oscar P. Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Roger Stephan
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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4
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Fernández-Fernández R, Elsherbini AMA, Lozano C, Martínez A, de Toro M, Zarazaga M, Peschel A, Krismer B, Torres C. Genomic Analysis of Bacteriocin-Producing Staphylococci: High Prevalence of Lanthipeptides and the Micrococcin P1 Biosynthetic Gene Clusters. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2023:10.1007/s12602-023-10119-w. [PMID: 37632676 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-023-10119-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides produced by bacteria. This study aimed to in silico analyze the presence of bacteriocin gene clusters (BGCs) among the genomes of 22 commensal Staphylococcus isolates from different origins (environment/human/food/pet/wild animals) previously identified as bacteriocin producers. The resistome and plasmidome were studied in all isolates. Five types of BGC were detected in 18 genomes of the 22 bacteriocin-producing staphylococci included in this study: class I (Lanthipeptides), class II, circular bacteriocins, the non-ribosomal-peptide lugdunin and the thiopeptide micrococcin P1 (MP1). A high frequency of lanthipeptides was detected in this collection: BGC variants of BSA, bacCH91, and epilancin15X were identified in two Staphylococcus aureus and one Staphylococcus warneri isolates from food and wild animals. Moreover, two potentially new lanthipeptide-like BGCs with no identity to database entries were found in Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus simulans from food and wild animal, respectively. Interestingly, four isolates (one S. aureus and one Staphylococcus hominis, environmental origin; two Staphylococcus sciuri, food) carried the MP1 BGC with differences to those previously described. On the other hand, seven of the 22 genomes (~32%) lacked known genes related with antibiotic or disinfectant-acquired resistance mechanisms. Moreover, the potential carriage of plasmids was evaluated, and several Rep-proteins were identified (~73% of strains). In conclusion, a wide variety of BGCs has been observed among the 22 genomes, and an interesting relationship between related Staphylococcus species and the type of bacteriocin has been revealed. Therefore, bacteriocin-producing Staphylococcus and especially coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) can be considered good candidates as a source of novel bacteriocins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Fernández-Fernández
- Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OneHealth-UR Research Group, University of La Rioja, 26006, Logroño, Spain
| | - Ahmed M A Elsherbini
- Department of Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence EXC 2124 Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Carmen Lozano
- Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OneHealth-UR Research Group, University of La Rioja, 26006, Logroño, Spain
| | - Agustí Martínez
- Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OneHealth-UR Research Group, University of La Rioja, 26006, Logroño, Spain
| | - María de Toro
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Core Facility, Center for Biomedical Research of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Myriam Zarazaga
- Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OneHealth-UR Research Group, University of La Rioja, 26006, Logroño, Spain
| | - Andreas Peschel
- Department of Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence EXC 2124 Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Bernhard Krismer
- Department of Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence EXC 2124 Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Carmen Torres
- Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OneHealth-UR Research Group, University of La Rioja, 26006, Logroño, Spain.
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5
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Musiejuk M, Kafarski P. Engineering of Nisin as a Means for Improvement of Its Pharmacological Properties: A Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1058. [PMID: 37630973 PMCID: PMC10459688 DOI: 10.3390/ph16081058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Lantibiotics are believed to have a conceivable potential to be used as therapeutics, especially against clinically resistant bacterial strains. However, their low solubility and poor stability under physiological conditions limit their availability for clinical studies and further pharmaceutical commercialization. Nisin is a readily available and cheap lanthipeptide and thus serves as a good model in the search for the tools to engineer lantibiotics with improved pharmacological properties. This review aims to address technologies that can be applied to alter and enhance the antimicrobial activity, antibacterial spectrum and physicochemical properties (solubility, solution stability and protease resistance) of nisin. There are basically two general means to obtain nisin analogs-protein engineering and chemical functionalization of this antibiotic. Although bioengineering techniques have been well developed and enable the creation of nisin mutants of variable structures and properties, they are lacking spectacular effects so far. Chemical modifications of nisin based on utilization of the reactivity of its free amino and carboxylic moieties, as well as reactivity of the double bonds of its dehydroamino acids, are in their infancy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paweł Kafarski
- Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury, pl. Łódzki 4, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland;
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6
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Field D, Fernandez de Ullivarri M, Ross RP, Hill C. After a century of nisin research - where are we now? FEMS Microbiol Rev 2023; 47:fuad023. [PMID: 37300874 PMCID: PMC10257480 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuad023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
It is almost a century since nisin was discovered in fermented milk cultures, coincidentally in the same year that penicillin was first described. Over the last 100 years this small, highly modified pentacyclic peptide has not only found success in the food industry as a preservative but has also served as the paradigm for our understanding of the genetic organization, expression, and regulation of genes involved in lantibiotic biosynthesis-one of the few cases of extensive post-translation modification in prokaryotes. Recent developments in understanding the complex biosynthesis of nisin have shed light on the cellular location of the modification and transport machinery and the co-ordinated series of spatio-temporal events required to produce active nisin and provide resistance and immunity. The continued unearthing of new natural variants from within human and animal gastrointestinal tracts has sparked interest in the potential application of nisin to influence the microbiome, given the growing recognition of the role the gastrointestinal microbiota plays in health and disease. Moreover, interdisciplinary approaches have taken advantage of biotechnological advancements to bioengineer nisin to produce novel variants and expand nisin functionality for applications in the biomedical field. This review will discuss the latest progress in these aspects of nisin research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Des Field
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork,Western Road, Cork T12 YN60, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, College Road, Cork T12 YT20, Ireland
| | | | - R Paul Ross
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork,Western Road, Cork T12 YN60, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, College Road, Cork T12 YT20, Ireland
| | - Colin Hill
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork,Western Road, Cork T12 YN60, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, College Road, Cork T12 YT20, Ireland
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7
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Zhong G, Wang ZJ, Yan F, Zhang Y, Huo L. Recent Advances in Discovery, Bioengineering, and Bioactivity-Evaluation of Ribosomally Synthesized and Post-translationally Modified Peptides. ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU 2023; 3:1-31. [PMID: 37101606 PMCID: PMC10125368 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.2c00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are of increasing interest in natural products as well as drug discovery. This empowers not only the unique chemical structures and topologies in natural products but also the excellent bioactivities such as antibacteria, antifungi, antiviruses, and so on. Advances in genomics, bioinformatics, and chemical analytics have promoted the exponential increase of RiPPs as well as the evaluation of biological activities thereof. Furthermore, benefiting from their relatively simple and conserved biosynthetic logic, RiPPs are prone to be engineered to obtain diverse analogues that exhibit distinct physiological activities and are difficult to synthesize. This Review aims to systematically address the variety of biological activities and/or the mode of mechanisms of novel RiPPs discovered in the past decade, albeit the characteristics of selective structures and biosynthetic mechanisms are briefly covered as well. Almost one-half of the cases are involved in anti-Gram-positive bacteria. Meanwhile, an increasing number of RiPPs related to anti-Gram-negative bacteria, antitumor, antivirus, etc., are also discussed in detail. Last but not least, we sum up some disciplines of the RiPPs' biological activities to guide genome mining as well as drug discovery and optimization in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guannan Zhong
- Helmholtz
International Laboratory for Anti-Infectives, State Key Laboratory
of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
- Suzhou
Research Institute, Shandong University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P. R. China
| | - Zong-Jie Wang
- Helmholtz
International Laboratory for Anti-Infectives, State Key Laboratory
of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Fu Yan
- Helmholtz
International Laboratory for Anti-Infectives, State Key Laboratory
of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Youming Zhang
- Helmholtz
International Laboratory for Anti-Infectives, State Key Laboratory
of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
- CAS
Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute
of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute
of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Faculty
of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute
of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Liujie Huo
- Helmholtz
International Laboratory for Anti-Infectives, State Key Laboratory
of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
- Suzhou
Research Institute, Shandong University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P. R. China
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8
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Biswas S. Synthesis of a Novel Lantibiotic Using Mutacin II Biosynthesis Apparatus. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0303022. [PMID: 36645288 PMCID: PMC9927145 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03030-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Owing to extensive metagenomic studies, we now have access to numerous sequences of novel bacteriocin-like antimicrobial peptides encoded by various cultivable and noncultivable bacteria. However, relatively rarely, we even have access to these cultivable strains to examine the potency and the targets of the predicted bacteriocins. In this study, we evaluated a heterologous biosynthetic system to produce biologically active nonnative novel lantibiotics, which are modified bacteriocins. We chose Streptococcus mutans, a dental pathogen, as the host organism because it is genetically easy to manipulate and is inherently a prolific producer of various bacteriocins. We chose the S. mutans T8 strain as the host, which produces the lantibiotic mutacin II, to express 10 selected homologs of mutacin II identified from GenBank. These lantibiotic peptides either are novel or have been studied very minimally. The core regions of the selected lantibiotic peptides were fused to the leader sequence of the mutacin II peptide and integrated into the chromosome such that the core region of the native mutacin II was replaced with the new core sequences. By this approach, using the mutacin II biosynthesis machinery, we obtained one bioactive novel lantibiotic peptide with 52% different residues compared to the mutacin II core region. This unknown lantibiotic is encoded by Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus ovuberis strains. Since this peptide displays some homology with nukacin ISK-1, we named it nukacin Spp. 2. This study demonstrated that the mutacin II biosynthesis machinery can be successfully used as an efficient system for the production of biologically active novel lantibiotics. IMPORTANCE In this study, we report for the first time that Streptococcus mutans can be used as a host to produce various nonnative lantibiotics. We showed that in the T8 strain, we could produce bioactive lacticin 481 and nukacin ISK-1, both of which are homologs of mutacin II, using T8's modification and secretion apparatus. Similarly, we also synthesized a novel bioactive lantibiotic, which we named nukacin Spp. 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saswati Biswas
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
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9
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Knospe CV, Kamel M, Spitz O, Hoeppner A, Galle S, Reiners J, Kedrov A, Smits SHJ, Schmitt L. The structure of MadC from Clostridium maddingley reveals new insights into class I lanthipeptide cyclases. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1057217. [PMID: 36741885 PMCID: PMC9889658 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1057217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid emergence of microbial multi-resistance against antibiotics has led to intense search for alternatives. One of these alternatives are ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), especially lantibiotics. They are active in a low nanomolar range and their high stability is due to the presence of characteristic (methyl-) lanthionine rings, which makes them promising candidates as bacteriocides. However, innate resistance against lantibiotics exists in nature, emphasizing the need for artificial or tailor-made lantibiotics. Obviously, such an approach requires an in-depth mechanistic understanding of the modification enzymes, which catalyze the formation of (methyl-)lanthionine rings. Here, we determined the structure of a class I cyclase (MadC), involved in the modification of maddinglicin (MadA) via X-ray crystallography at a resolution of 1.7 Å, revealing new insights about the structural composition of the catalytical site. These structural features and substrate binding were analyzed by mutational analyses of the leader peptide as well as of the cyclase, shedding light into the mode of action of MadC.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Vivien Knospe
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Kamel
- Synthetic Membrane Systems, Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Olivia Spitz
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Astrid Hoeppner
- Center for Structural Studies, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Stefanie Galle
- Center for Structural Studies, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jens Reiners
- Center for Structural Studies, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Alexej Kedrov
- Synthetic Membrane Systems, Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sander H. J. Smits
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany,Center for Structural Studies, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lutz Schmitt
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany,*Correspondence: Lutz Schmitt, ✉
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10
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Malit JJL, Leung HYC, Qian PY. Targeted Large-Scale Genome Mining and Candidate Prioritization for Natural Product Discovery. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20060398. [PMID: 35736201 PMCID: PMC9231227 DOI: 10.3390/md20060398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Large-scale genome-mining analyses have identified an enormous number of cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) as a great source of novel bioactive natural products. Given the sheer number of natural product (NP) candidates, effective strategies and computational methods are keys to choosing appropriate BGCs for further NP characterization and production. This review discusses genomics-based approaches for prioritizing candidate BGCs extracted from large-scale genomic data, by highlighting studies that have successfully produced compounds with high chemical novelty, novel biosynthesis pathway, and potent bioactivities. We group these studies based on their BGC-prioritization logics: detecting presence of resistance genes, use of phylogenomics analysis as a guide, and targeting for specific chemical structures. We also briefly comment on the different bioinformatics tools used in the field and examine practical considerations when employing a large-scale genome mining study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie James Limlingan Malit
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China; (J.J.L.M.); (H.Y.C.L.)
- Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hiu Yu Cherie Leung
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China; (J.J.L.M.); (H.Y.C.L.)
- Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pei-Yuan Qian
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China; (J.J.L.M.); (H.Y.C.L.)
- Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
- Correspondence:
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11
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Weixler D, Berghoff M, Ovchinnikov KV, Reich S, Goldbeck O, Seibold GM, Wittmann C, Bar NS, Eikmanns BJ, Diep DB, Riedel CU. Recombinant production of the lantibiotic nisin using Corynebacterium glutamicum in a two-step process. Microb Cell Fact 2022; 21:11. [PMID: 35033086 PMCID: PMC8760817 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-022-01739-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The bacteriocin nisin is naturally produced by Lactococcus lactis as an inactive prepeptide that is modified posttranslationally resulting in five (methyl-)lanthionine rings characteristic for class Ia bacteriocins. Export and proteolytic cleavage of the leader peptide results in release of active nisin. By targeting the universal peptidoglycan precursor lipid II, nisin has a broad target spectrum including important human pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. Industrial nisin production is currently performed using natural producer strains resulting in rather low product purity and limiting its application to preservation of dairy food products. RESULTS We established heterologous nisin production using the biotechnological workhorse organism Corynebacterium glutamicum in a two-step process. We demonstrate successful biosynthesis and export of fully modified prenisin and its activation to mature nisin by a purified, soluble variant of the nisin protease NisP (sNisP) produced in Escherichia coli. Active nisin was detected by a L. lactis sensor strain with strictly nisin-dependent expression of the fluorescent protein mCherry. Following activation by sNisP, supernatants of the recombinant C. glutamicum producer strain cultivated in standard batch fermentations contained at least 1.25 mg/l active nisin. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate successful implementation of a two-step process for recombinant production of active nisin with C. glutamicum. This extends the spectrum of bioactive compounds that may be produced using C. glutamicum to a bacteriocin harboring complex posttranslational modifications. Our results provide a basis for further studies to optimize product yields, transfer production to sustainable substrates and purification of pharmaceutical grade nisin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Weixler
- Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Max Berghoff
- Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Kirill V Ovchinnikov
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Sebastian Reich
- Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Oliver Goldbeck
- Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Gerd M Seibold
- Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.,Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Christoph Wittmann
- Institute of Systems Biotechnology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Nadav S Bar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Bernhard J Eikmanns
- Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Dzung B Diep
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Christian U Riedel
- Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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12
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Tochilina A, Belova I, Ilyicheva T, Marchenko V, Zhirnov V, Molodtsova S, Ikonnikov A, Muhkina I, Blagonravova A, Soloveva I. Genome Features of Probiotic Bifidobacteria Determining Their Strain-Specific Properties. Sovrem Tekhnologii Med 2022; 14:36-43. [PMID: 37181836 PMCID: PMC10171061 DOI: 10.17691/stm2022.14.5.04] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the study was to analyze the genome features of the probiotic strains Bifidobacterium longum 379, Bifidobacterium bifidum 1, and Bifidobacterium bifidum 791 and study their antiviral activity. Materials and Methods Whole genome sequencing of three strains of bifidobacteria was performed on the MiSeq platform (Illumina Inc., USA). The genomes were annotated using the Prokka v. 1.11 utility and RAST genomic server. The individual genetic determinants were searched using the ResFinder 3.2, PathogenFinder, PlasmidFinder, RAST, and Bagel 4 software. The antiviral activity of the strains against influenza A viruses was studied using MDCK cells (Madin-Darby canine kidney cells), the epidemic strain of influenza A/Lipetsk/1V/2018 (H1N1 pdm09) (EPI_ISL_332798), the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A/common gull/Saratov/1676/2018 (H5N6) strain (EPI_ISL_336925), and neutral red vital dye. Results The genomes of all studied strains contained determinants responsible for utilization of carbohydrates of plant origin; the genes of key enzymes for the synthesis of tryptophan and folic acid are present in the genomes of B. longum 379 and B. bifidum 791. A feature of the B. bifidum 791 genome is the presence of determinants responsible for the synthesis of thermostable type I bacteriocins - flavucin and lasso peptide. The B. bifidum 791 strain was found to show pronounced antiviral activity against both the strains of influenza A, the supernatant of which suppressed viral replication in vitro up to a dilution of 1:8, and the cells inhibited viral reproduction up to a concentration of 6·106 CFU/ml. Conclusion The analysis of complete genomes of B. longum 379, B. bifidum 1, and B. bifidum 791 showed features that determine their strain-specific properties, the findings on which were previously made empirically based on indirect signs. In the genomes of B. longum 379 and B. bifidum 791 strains, in contrast to B. bifidum 1 strain, key enzymes for the synthesis of tryptophan and folic acid were found. These substances have an impact on the human body in many ways, including having a thymoleptic effect (reducing emotional stress, irritability, anxiety, eliminating lethargy, apathy, melancholy, anxiety) and regulating cognitive activity. The presence of determinants responsible for the synthesis of thermostable type I bacteriocins in the genome of B. bifidum 791 strain determines its pronounced antiviral activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A.G. Tochilina
- Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Human Microbiome and Means of Its Correction; Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of Rospotrebnadzor (Russian Federal Consumer Rights Protection and Human Health Control Service), 71 Malaya Yamskaya St., Nizhny Novgorod, 603950, Russia; Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Microbiology and Evidence-Based Medicine; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia
- Corresponding author: Anna G. Tochilina, e-mail:
| | - I.V. Belova
- Leading Researcher, Laboratory of Human Microbiome and Means of Its Correction; Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of Rospotrebnadzor (Russian Federal Consumer Rights Protection and Human Health Control Service), 71 Malaya Yamskaya St., Nizhny Novgorod, 603950, Russia; Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Microbiology and Evidence-Based Medicine; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia
| | - T.N. Ilyicheva
- Leading Researcher, Department of Zoonotic Infections and Influenza; State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector” of Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, 630559, Russia
| | - V.Yu. Marchenko
- Leading Researcher, Department of Zoonotic Infections and Influenza; State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector” of Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, 630559, Russia
| | - V.A. Zhirnov
- Researcher, Laboratory of Human Microbiome and Means of Its Correction; Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of Rospotrebnadzor (Russian Federal Consumer Rights Protection and Human Health Control Service), 71 Malaya Yamskaya St., Nizhny Novgorod, 603950, Russia
| | - S.B. Molodtsova
- Researcher, Laboratory of Human Microbiome and Means of Its Correction; Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of Rospotrebnadzor (Russian Federal Consumer Rights Protection and Human Health Control Service), 71 Malaya Yamskaya St., Nizhny Novgorod, 603950, Russia
| | - A.V. Ikonnikov
- Research Assistant; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia
| | - I.V. Muhkina
- Professor, Director of the Institute of Fundamental Medicine; Head of the Department of Normal Physiology named after N.Y. Belenkov; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia
| | - A.S. Blagonravova
- Head of the Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics; Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Microbiology and Evidence-Based Medicine; Vice-Rector for Science; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia
| | - I.V. Soloveva
- Associate Professor, Leading Researcher, Head of the Laboratory of Human Microbiome and Means of its Correction; Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of Rospotrebnadzor (Russian Federal Consumer Rights Protection and Human Health Control Service), 71 Malaya Yamskaya St., Nizhny Novgorod, 603950, Russia
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13
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Bauman KD, Butler KS, Moore BS, Chekan JR. Genome mining methods to discover bioactive natural products. Nat Prod Rep 2021; 38:2100-2129. [PMID: 34734626 PMCID: PMC8597713 DOI: 10.1039/d1np00032b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Covering: 2016 to 2021With genetic information available for hundreds of thousands of organisms in publicly accessible databases, scientists have an unprecedented opportunity to meticulously survey the diversity and inner workings of life. The natural product research community has harnessed this breadth of sequence information to mine microbes, plants, and animals for biosynthetic enzymes capable of producing bioactive compounds. Several orthogonal genome mining strategies have been developed in recent years to target specific chemical features or biological properties of bioactive molecules using biosynthetic, resistance, or transporter proteins. These "biosynthetic hooks" allow researchers to query for biosynthetic gene clusters with a high probability of encoding previously undiscovered, bioactive compounds. This review highlights recent case studies that feature orthogonal approaches that exploit genomic information to specifically discover bioactive natural products and their gene clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine D Bauman
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - Keelie S Butler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, 27402, USA.
| | - Bradley S Moore
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Jonathan R Chekan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, 27402, USA.
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14
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Arias-Orozco P, Inklaar M, Lanooij J, Cebrián R, Kuipers OP. Functional Expression and Characterization of the Highly Promiscuous Lanthipeptide Synthetase SyncM, Enabling the Production of Lanthipeptides with a Broad Range of Ring Topologies. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:2579-2591. [PMID: 34554737 PMCID: PMC8524650 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
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Lanthipeptides are
ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally
modified peptides characterized by the presence of lanthionine rings
that provide stability and functionality. Genome mining techniques
have shown their huge diversity and potential for the discovery of
novel active molecules. However, in many cases, they are not easily
produced under laboratory conditions. The heterologous expression
of these molecules using well-characterized lanthipeptide biosynthetic
enzymes is rising as an alternative system for the design and production
of new lanthipeptides with biotechnological or clinical properties.
Nevertheless, the substrate-enzyme specificity limits the complete
modification of the desired peptides and hence, their full stability
and/or biological activity. New low substrate-selective biosynthetic
enzymes are therefore necessary for the heterologous production of
new-to-nature peptides. Here, we have identified, cloned, and heterologously
expressed in Lactococcus lactis the
most promiscuous lanthipeptide synthetase described to date, i.e.,
SyncM from the marine cyanobacteria Synechococcus MITS9509. We have characterized the functionality of SyncM by the
successful expression of 15 out of 18 different SyncA substrates,
subsequently determining the dehydration and cyclization processes
in six representatives of them. This characterization highlights the
very relaxed substrate specificity of SyncM toward its precursors
and the ability to catalyze the formation of exceptionally large rings
in a variety of topologies. Our results suggest that SyncM could be
an attractive enzyme to design and produce a wide variety of new-to-nature
lanthipeptides with a broad range of ring topologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Arias-Orozco
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747AG, The Netherlands
| | - Maartje Inklaar
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747AG, The Netherlands
| | - Judith Lanooij
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747AG, The Netherlands
| | - Rubén Cebrián
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747AG, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar P. Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747AG, The Netherlands
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15
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Lu W, Pei Z, Zang M, Lee YK, Zhao J, Chen W, Wang H, Zhang H. Comparative Genomic Analysis of Bifidobacterium bifidum Strains Isolated from Different Niches. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12101504. [PMID: 34680899 PMCID: PMC8535415 DOI: 10.3390/genes12101504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The potential probiotic benefits of Bifidobacterium bifidum have received increasing attention recently. We used comparative genomic analysis to explore the differences in the genome and the physiological characteristics of B. bifidum isolated from the fecal samples of Chinese adults and infants. The relationships between genotypes and phenotypes were analyzed to assess the effects of isolation sources on the genetic variation of B. bifidum. The phylogenetic tree results indicated that the phylogeny of B. bifidum may be related to the geographical features of its isolation source. B. bifidum was found to have an open pan-genome and a conserved core genome. The genetic diversity of B. bifidum is mainly reflected in carbohydrate metabolism- and immune/competition-related factors, such as the glycoside hydrolase gene family, bacteriocin operons, antibiotic resistance genes, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas. Additionally, the type III A CRISPR-Cas system was discovered in B. bifidum for the first time. B. bifidum strains exhibited niche-specific characteristics, and the results of this study provide an improved understanding of the genetics of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwei Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (W.L.); (Z.P.); (M.Z.); (J.Z.); (W.C.)
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Zhangming Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (W.L.); (Z.P.); (M.Z.); (J.Z.); (W.C.)
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Mengning Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (W.L.); (Z.P.); (M.Z.); (J.Z.); (W.C.)
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Yuan-kun Lee
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore;
| | - Jianxin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (W.L.); (Z.P.); (M.Z.); (J.Z.); (W.C.)
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (W.L.); (Z.P.); (M.Z.); (J.Z.); (W.C.)
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Hongchao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (W.L.); (Z.P.); (M.Z.); (J.Z.); (W.C.)
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Correspondence: (H.W.); (H.Z.); Tel.: +86-510-85-197-239 (H.W. & H.Z.); Fax: +86-510-85-197-239 (H.W. & H.Z.)
| | - Hao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; (W.L.); (Z.P.); (M.Z.); (J.Z.); (W.C.)
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Wuxi Translational Medicine Research Center and Jiangsu Translational Medicine Research Institute Wuxi Branch, Wuxi 214122, China
- Correspondence: (H.W.); (H.Z.); Tel.: +86-510-85-197-239 (H.W. & H.Z.); Fax: +86-510-85-197-239 (H.W. & H.Z.)
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16
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Zhao X, Xu Y, Viel JH, Kuipers OP. Semisynthetic Macrocyclic Lipo-lanthipeptides Display Antimicrobial Activity Against Bacterial Pathogens. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:1980-1991. [PMID: 34347446 PMCID: PMC8383303 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
A large number of antimicrobial peptides depend on intramolecular disulfide bonds for their biological activity. However, the relative instability of disulfide bonds has limited the potential of some of these peptides to be developed into therapeutics. Conversely, peptides containing intramolecular (methyl)lanthionine-based bonds, lanthipeptides, are highly stable under a broader range of biological and physical conditions. Here, the class-II lanthipeptide synthetase CinM, from the cinnamycin gene cluster, was employed to create methyllanthionine stabilized analogues of disulfide-bond-containing antimicrobial peptides. The resulting analogues were subsequently modified in vitro by adding lipid tails of variable lengths through chemical addition. Finally, the created compounds were characterized by MIC tests against several relevant pathogens, killing assays, membrane permeability assays, and hemolysis assays. It was found that CinM could successfully install methyllanthionine bonds at the intended positions of the analogues and that the lipidated macrocyclic core peptides have bactericidal activity against tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. Additionally, fluorescence microscopy assays revealed that the lipidated compounds disrupt the bacterial membrane and lyse bacterial cells, hinting toward a potential mode of action. Notably, the semisynthesized macrocyclic lipo-lanthipeptides show low hemolytic activity. These results show that the methods developed here extend the toolbox for novel antimicrobial development and might enable the further development of novel compounds with killing activity against relevant pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinghong Zhao
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Yanli Xu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Jakob H. Viel
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar P. Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
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17
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Li C, Alam K, Zhao Y, Hao J, Yang Q, Zhang Y, Li R, Li A. Mining and Biosynthesis of Bioactive Lanthipeptides From Microorganisms. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:692466. [PMID: 34395400 PMCID: PMC8358304 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.692466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious public health issues in the worldwide and only a few new antimicrobial drugs have been discovered in recent decades. To overcome the ever-increasing emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, discovery of new natural products (NPs) against MDR pathogens with new technologies is in great demands. Lanthipeptides which are ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) display high diversity in their chemical structures and mechanisms of action. Genome mining and biosynthetic engineering have also yielded new lanthipeptides, which are a valuable source of drug candidates. In this review we cover the recent advances in the field of microbial derived lanthipeptide discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiyun Li
- Helmholtz International Lab for Anti-infectives, Shandong University-Helmholtz Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Khorshed Alam
- Helmholtz International Lab for Anti-infectives, Shandong University-Helmholtz Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yiming Zhao
- Helmholtz International Lab for Anti-infectives, Shandong University-Helmholtz Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jinfang Hao
- Helmholtz International Lab for Anti-infectives, Shandong University-Helmholtz Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Youming Zhang
- Helmholtz International Lab for Anti-infectives, Shandong University-Helmholtz Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ruijuan Li
- Helmholtz International Lab for Anti-infectives, Shandong University-Helmholtz Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Aiying Li
- Helmholtz International Lab for Anti-infectives, Shandong University-Helmholtz Institute of Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
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18
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Zhao X, Kuipers OP. Nisin- and Ripcin-Derived Hybrid Lanthipeptides Display Selective Antimicrobial Activity against Staphylococcus aureus. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:1703-1714. [PMID: 34156232 PMCID: PMC8291769 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Lanthipeptides are
(methyl)lanthionine ring-containing ribosomally
synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Many
lanthipeptides show strong antimicrobial activity against bacterial
pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens. The
group of disulfide-bond-containing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is
well-known in nature and forms a rich source of templates for the
production of novel peptides with corresponding (methyl)lanthionine
analogues instead of disulfides. Here, we show that novel macrocyclic
lanthipeptides (termed thanacin and ripcin) can be synthesized using
the known antimicrobials thanatin and rip-thanatin as templates. Notably,
the synthesized nisin(1–20)–ripcin hybrid lanthipeptides
(ripcin B–G) showed selective antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, including an antibiotic-resistant MRSA
strain. Interestingly, ripcin B–G, which are hybrid peptides
of nisin(1–20) and ripcin that are each inactive against Gram-negative
pathogens, showed substantial antimicrobial activity against the tested
Gram-negative pathogens. Moreover, ripcin B–G was highly resistant
against the nisin resistance protein (NSR; a peptidase that removes
the C-terminal 6 amino acids of nisin and strongly reduces its antimicrobial
activity), opposed to nisin itself. This study provides an example
of converting disulfide-bond-based AMPs into (methyl)lanthionine-based
macrocyclic hybrid lanthipeptides and can yield antimicrobial peptides
with selective antimicrobial activity against S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinghong Zhao
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar P. Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747 AG, The Netherlands
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Vogel V, Spellerberg B. Bacteriocin Production by Beta-Hemolytic Streptococci. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10070867. [PMID: 34358017 PMCID: PMC8308785 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10070867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Beta-hemolytic streptococci cause a variety of infectious diseases associated with high morbidity and mortality. A key factor for successful infection is host colonization, which can be difficult in a multispecies environment. Secreting bacteriocins can be beneficial during this process. Bacteriocins are small, ribosomally produced, antimicrobial peptides produced by bacteria to inhibit the growth of other, typically closely related, bacteria. In this systematic review, bacteriocin production and regulation of beta-hemolytic streptococci was surveyed. While Streptococcus pyogenes produces eight different bacteriocins (Streptococcin A-FF22/A-M49, Streptin, Salivaricin A, SpbMN, Blp1, Blp2, Streptococcin A-M57), only one bacteriocin of Streptococcus agalactiae (Agalacticin = Nisin P) and one of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (Dysgalacticin) has been described. Expression of class I bacteriocins is regulated by a two-component system, typically with autoinduction by the bacteriocin itself. In contrast, a separate quorum sensing system regulates expression of class II bacteriocins. Both identified class III bacteriocins are plasmid-encoded and regulation has not been elucidated.
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20
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Bothwell IR, Caetano T, Sarksian R, Mendo S, van der Donk WA. Structural Analysis of Class I Lanthipeptides from Pedobacter lusitanus NL19 Reveals an Unusual Ring Pattern. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:1019-1029. [PMID: 34085816 PMCID: PMC9845027 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Lanthipeptides are ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide natural products characterized by the presence of lanthionine and methyllanthionine cross-linked amino acids formed by dehydration of Ser/Thr residues followed by conjugate addition of Cys to the resulting dehydroamino acids. Class I lanthipeptide dehydratases utilize glutamyl-tRNAGlu as a cosubstrate to glutamylate Ser/Thr followed by glutamate elimination. A vast majority of lanthipeptides identified from class I synthase systems have been from Gram-positive bacteria. Herein, we report the heterologous expression and modification in Escherichia coli of two lanthipeptides from the Gram-negative Bacteroidetes Pedobacter lusitanus NL19. These peptides are representative of a group of compounds frequently encoded in Pedobacter genomes. Structural characterization of the lanthipeptides revealed a novel ring pattern as well as an unusual ll-lanthionine stereochemical configuration and a cyclase that lacks the canonical zinc ligands found in most LanC enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian R. Bothwell
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61822
| | - Tânia Caetano
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory, CESAM & Departamento de Biologia
- Campus de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-189 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Raymond Sarksian
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61822
| | - Sónia Mendo
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory, CESAM & Departamento de Biologia
- Campus de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-189 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Wilfred A. van der Donk
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61822
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21
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O'Sullivan JN, O'Connor PM, Rea MC, Field D, Hill C, Ross RP. Nisin variants from Streptococcus and Staphylococcus successfully express in NZ9800. J Appl Microbiol 2021; 131:2223-2234. [PMID: 33876507 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Increases in antimicrobial resistance have meant that the antimicrobial potential of lantibiotics is now being investigated irrespective of the nature of the producing organism. The aim of this study was to investigate whether natural nisin variants produced by non-Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) strains, such as nisin H, nisin J and nisin P, could be expressed in a well-characterized GRAS host. METHODS AND RESULTS This study involved cloning the nisin A promoter and leader sequence fused to nisin H, nisin J or nisin P structural gene sequences originally produced by Streptococcus hyointestinalis DPC 6484, Staphylococcus capitis APC 2923 and Streptococcus agalactiae DPC 7040, respectively. This resulted in their expression in Lactococcus lactis NZ9800, a genetically modified strain that does not produce nisin A. CONCLUSIONS Induction of the nisin controlled gene expression system demonstrates that these three nisin variants could be acted on by nisin A machinery provided by the host strain. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Describes the first successful heterologous production of three natural nisin variants by a GRAS strain, and demonstrates how such systems could be harnessed not only for lantibiotic production but also in the expansion of their structural diversity and development for use as future biotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- J N O'Sullivan
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Co. Cork, Ireland.,School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - P M O'Connor
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Co. Cork, Ireland.,APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - M C Rea
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Co. Cork, Ireland.,APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - D Field
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - C Hill
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - R P Ross
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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22
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23
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Fu Y, Jaarsma AH, Kuipers OP. Antiviral activities and applications of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:3921-3940. [PMID: 33532865 PMCID: PMC7853169 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03759-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The emergence and re-emergence of viral epidemics and the risks of antiviral drug resistance are a serious threat to global public health. New options to supplement or replace currently used drugs for antiviral therapy are urgently needed. The research in the field of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) has been booming in the last few decades, in particular in view of their strong antimicrobial activities and high stability. The RiPPs with antiviral activity, especially those against enveloped viruses, are now also gaining more interest. RiPPs have a number of advantages over small molecule drugs in terms of specificity and affinity for targets, and over protein-based drugs in terms of cellular penetrability, stability and size. Moreover, the great engineering potential of RiPPs provides an efficient way to optimize them as potent antiviral drugs candidates. These intrinsic advantages underscore the good therapeutic prospects of RiPPs in viral treatment. With the aim to highlight the underrated antiviral potential of RiPPs and explore their development as antiviral drugs, we review the current literature describing the antiviral activities and mechanisms of action of RiPPs, discussing the ongoing efforts to improve their antiviral potential and demonstrate their suitability as antiviral therapeutics. We propose that antiviral RiPPs may overcome the limits of peptide-based antiviral therapy, providing an innovative option for the treatment of viral disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Fu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ate H Jaarsma
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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24
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Zhang L, Zhang J, Wei Y, Hu W, Liu G, Zeng H, Shi H. Microbiome-wide association studies reveal correlations between the structure and metabolism of the rhizosphere microbiome and disease resistance in cassava. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2021; 19:689-701. [PMID: 33095967 PMCID: PMC8051613 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Cassava is one of the most important staple food crops in tropical regions. To date, an understanding of the relationship between microbial communities and disease resistance in cassava has remained elusive. In order to explore the relationship among microbiome and phenotypes for further targeted design of microbial community, 16S rRNA and ITS of microbiome of ten cassava varieties were analysed, and a distinctive microbial community in the rhizosphere showed significant interdependence with disease resistance. Shotgun metagenome sequencing was performed to elucidate the structure of microbiomes of cassava rhizosphere. Comprehensive microbiome studies were performed to assess the correlation between the rhizosphere microbiome and disease resistance. Subsequently, the metagenome of rhizosphere microbiome was annotated to obtain taxonomic information at species level and identify metabolic pathways that were significantly associated with cassava disease resistance. Notably, cassava disease resistance was significantly associated with Lactococcus sp., which specifically produces nisin. To definitively explain the role of nisin and underlying mechanism, analysis of nisin biosynthesis-associated genes together with in vitro and in vivo experiments highlighted the effect of nisin on inhibiting the growth of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis (Xam) and activating immune response in cassava. The new insights between cassava rhizosphere microbiome especially Lactococcus sp. and disease resistance provide valuable information into further control of cassava disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhang
- Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical BioresourcesCollege of Tropical CropsCollege of Food Science and TechnologyCollege of Life and Pharmaceutical SciencesHainan UniversityHaikouChina
| | - Jiachao Zhang
- Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical BioresourcesCollege of Tropical CropsCollege of Food Science and TechnologyCollege of Life and Pharmaceutical SciencesHainan UniversityHaikouChina
| | - Yunxie Wei
- Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical BioresourcesCollege of Tropical CropsCollege of Food Science and TechnologyCollege of Life and Pharmaceutical SciencesHainan UniversityHaikouChina
| | - Wei Hu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Resources of Tropical CropsInstitute of Tropical Bioscience and BiotechnologyChinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural SciencesHaikouChina
| | - Guoyin Liu
- Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical BioresourcesCollege of Tropical CropsCollege of Food Science and TechnologyCollege of Life and Pharmaceutical SciencesHainan UniversityHaikouChina
| | - Hongqiu Zeng
- Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical BioresourcesCollege of Tropical CropsCollege of Food Science and TechnologyCollege of Life and Pharmaceutical SciencesHainan UniversityHaikouChina
| | - Haitao Shi
- Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical BioresourcesCollege of Tropical CropsCollege of Food Science and TechnologyCollege of Life and Pharmaceutical SciencesHainan UniversityHaikouChina
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25
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Wu C, van der Donk WA. Engineering of new-to-nature ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide natural products. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2021; 69:221-231. [PMID: 33556835 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2020.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Natural products have historically been important lead sources for drug development, particularly to combat infectious diseases. Increasingly, their structurally complex scaffolds are also envisioned as leads for applications for which they did not evolve, an approach aided by engineering of new-to-nature analogs. Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are promising candidates for bioengineering because they are genetically encoded and their biosynthetic enzymes display significant substrate tolerance. This review highlights recent advances in the discovery of highly unusual new reactions by genome mining and the application of engineering approaches to generate and screen novel RiPP variants. Furthermore, through the use of synthetic biology approaches, hybrid molecules with enhanced or completely new activities have been identified, which opens the door for future advancement of RiPPs as potential next-generation therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyu Wu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, United States
| | - Wilfred A van der Donk
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, United States; Department of Chemistry and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, United States.
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26
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Lagedroste M, Smits SHJ, Schmitt L. Importance of the leader peptide sequence on the lanthipeptide secretion level. FEBS J 2021; 288:4348-4363. [PMID: 33482024 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Lanthipeptides are ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptides. Their precursor peptide comprises of an N-terminal leader peptide and a C-terminal core peptide. Here, the leader peptide is crucial for enzyme recognition especially for the modification enzymes and acts furthermore as a secretion signal for the lanthipeptide exporter. The core peptide is the target site for the posttranslational modifications and contains dehydrated amino acids and lanthionine rings. Nisin produced by the Gram-positive bacterium Lactococcus lactis is one of the best-studied lanthipeptides and used as a model system to study their modification and secretion processes. Nisin is secreted as a precursor peptide. Here, we present an in vivo secretion analysis of NisT in the absence of the modification machinery allowing the secretion of leader peptide mutants and their impact solely on the secretion activity of NisT. Additionally, we created leader peptide hybrids to provide new insights, how the secretion is effected by unnatural leader peptides. The focus on the secretion activity of the transporter alone enabled us to determine the recognition site of NisT within the leader peptide of nisin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Lagedroste
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sander H J Smits
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lutz Schmitt
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
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27
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Montalbán-López M, Scott TA, Ramesh S, Rahman IR, van Heel AJ, Viel JH, Bandarian V, Dittmann E, Genilloud O, Goto Y, Grande Burgos MJ, Hill C, Kim S, Koehnke J, Latham JA, Link AJ, Martínez B, Nair SK, Nicolet Y, Rebuffat S, Sahl HG, Sareen D, Schmidt EW, Schmitt L, Severinov K, Süssmuth RD, Truman AW, Wang H, Weng JK, van Wezel GP, Zhang Q, Zhong J, Piel J, Mitchell DA, Kuipers OP, van der Donk WA. New developments in RiPP discovery, enzymology and engineering. Nat Prod Rep 2021; 38:130-239. [PMID: 32935693 PMCID: PMC7864896 DOI: 10.1039/d0np00027b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 393] [Impact Index Per Article: 131.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to June 2020Ribosomally-synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a large group of natural products. A community-driven review in 2013 described the emerging commonalities in the biosynthesis of RiPPs and the opportunities they offered for bioengineering and genome mining. Since then, the field has seen tremendous advances in understanding of the mechanisms by which nature assembles these compounds, in engineering their biosynthetic machinery for a wide range of applications, and in the discovery of entirely new RiPP families using bioinformatic tools developed specifically for this compound class. The First International Conference on RiPPs was held in 2019, and the meeting participants assembled the current review describing new developments since 2013. The review discusses the new classes of RiPPs that have been discovered, the advances in our understanding of the installation of both primary and secondary post-translational modifications, and the mechanisms by which the enzymes recognize the leader peptides in their substrates. In addition, genome mining tools used for RiPP discovery are discussed as well as various strategies for RiPP engineering. An outlook section presents directions for future research.
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28
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Subcellular Localization and Assembly Process of the Nisin Biosynthesis Machinery in Lactococcus lactis. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.02825-20. [PMID: 33173006 PMCID: PMC7667030 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02825-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Nisin is the model peptide for LanBC-modified lantibiotics that are commonly modified and exported by a putative synthetase complex. Although the mechanism of maturation, transport, immunity, and regulation is relatively well understood, and structural information is available for some of the proteins involved (B. Li, J. P. J. Yu, J. S. Brunzelle, G. N. Moll, et al., Science 311:1464–1467, 2006, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1121422; M. A. Ortega, Y. Hao, Q. Zhang, M. C. Walker, et al., Nature 517:509–512, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13888; C. Hacker, N. A. Christ, E. Duchardt-Ferner, S. Korn, et al., J Biol Chem 290:28869–28886, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M115.679969; Y. Y. Xu, X. Li, R. Q. Li, S. S. Li, et al., Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 70:1499–1505, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1107/S1399004714004234), the subcellular localization and assembly process of the biosynthesis complex remain to be elucidated. In this study, we determined the spatial distribution of nisin synthesis-related enzymes and the transporter, revealing that the modification and secretion of the precursor nisin mainly occur at the old cell poles of L. lactis and that the transporter NisT is probably recruited later to this spot after the completion of the modification reactions by NisB and NisC. Fluorescently labeled nisin biosynthesis machinery was visualized directly by fluorescence microscopy. To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide direct evidence of the existence of such a complex in vivo. Importantly, the elucidation of the “order of assembly” of the complex will facilitate future endeavors in the investigation of the nisin secretion mechanism and even the isolation and structural characterization of the complete complex. Nisin, a class I lantibiotic, is synthesized as a precursor peptide by a putative membrane-associated lanthionine synthetase complex consisting of the dehydratase NisB, the cyclase NisC, and the ABC transporter NisT. Here, we characterize the subcellular localization and the assembly process of the nisin biosynthesis machinery in Lactococcus lactis by mutational analyses and fluorescence microscopy. Precursor nisin, NisB, and NisC were found to be mainly localized at the cell poles, with a preference for the old poles. They were found to be colocalized at the same spots in these old pole regions, functioning as a nisin modification complex. In contrast, the transporter NisT was found to be distributed uniformly and circumferentially in the membrane. When nisin secretion was blocked by mutagenesis of NisT, the nisin biosynthesis machinery was also visualized directly at a polar position using fluorescence microscopy. The interactions between NisB and other components of the machinery were further studied in vivo, and therefore, the “order of assembly” of the complex was revealed, indicating that NisB directly or indirectly plays the role of a polar “recruiter” in the initial assembly process. Additionally, a potential domain that is located at the surface of the elimination domain of NisB was identified to be crucial for the polar localization of NisB. Based on these data, we propose a model wherein precursor nisin is first completely modified by the nisin biosynthesis machinery, preventing the premature secretion of partially modified peptides, and subsequently secreted by recruited NisT, preferentially at the old pole regions.
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29
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Smits SHJ, Schmitt L, Beis K. Self-immunity to antibacterial peptides by ABC transporters. FEBS Lett 2020; 594:3920-3942. [PMID: 33040342 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria produce under certain stress conditions bacteriocins and microcins that display antibacterial activity against closely related species for survival. Bacteriocins and microcins exert their antibacterial activity by either disrupting the membrane or inhibiting essential intracellular processes of the bacterial target. To this end, they can lyse bacterial membranes and cause subsequent loss of their integrity or nutrients, or hijack membrane receptors for internalisation. Both bacteriocins and microcins are ribosomally synthesised and several are posttranslationally modified, whereas others are not. Such peptides are also toxic to the producer bacteria, which utilise immunity proteins or/and dedicated ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters to achieve self-immunity and peptide export. In this review, we discuss the structure and mechanism of self-protection that is conferred by these ABC transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sander H J Smits
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany.,Center for Structural Studies, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Lutz Schmitt
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Konstantinos Beis
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, UK.,Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Research Complex at Harwell, Didcot, UK
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30
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Liu R, Zhang Y, Zhai G, Fu S, Xia Y, Hu B, Cai X, Zhang Y, Li Y, Deng Z, Liu T. A Cell-Free Platform Based on Nisin Biosynthesis for Discovering Novel Lanthipeptides and Guiding their Overproduction In Vivo. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2020; 7:2001616. [PMID: 32995136 PMCID: PMC7507342 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202001616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Lanthipeptides have extensive therapeutic and industrial applications. However, because many are bactericidal, traditional in vivo platforms are limited in their capacity to discover and mass produce novel lanthipeptides as bacterial organisms are often critical components in these systems. Herein, the development of a cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) platform that enables rapid genome mining, screening, and guided overproduction of lanthipeptides in vivo is described. For proof-of-concept studies, a type I lanthipeptide, nisin, is selected. Four novel lanthipeptides with antibacterial activity are identified among all nisin analogs in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database in a single day. Further, the CFPS platform is coupled with a screening assay for anti-gram-negative bacteria growth, resulting in the identification of a potent nisin mutant, M5. The titers of nisin and the nisin analog are found to be improved with CFPS platform guidance. Owing to the similarities in biosynthesis, the CFPS platform is broadly applicable to other lanthipeptides, thereby providing a universal method for lanthipeptide discovery and overproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Liu
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryMinistry of Education and Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan430071China
| | - Yuchen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryMinistry of Education and Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan430071China
| | - Guoqing Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryMinistry of Education and Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan430071China
| | - Shuai Fu
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryMinistry of Education and Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan430071China
| | - Yao Xia
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryMinistry of Education and Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan430071China
| | - Ben Hu
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryMinistry of Education and Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan430071China
| | - Xuan Cai
- Department of Clinical LaboratoryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhan430060China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Clinical LaboratoryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhan430060China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Clinical LaboratoryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhan430060China
| | - Zixin Deng
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryMinistry of Education and Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan430071China
- Hubei Engineering Laboratory for Synthetic MicrobiologyWuhan Institute of BiotechnologyWuhan430075China
| | - Tiangang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryMinistry of Education and Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan430071China
- Hubei Engineering Laboratory for Synthetic MicrobiologyWuhan Institute of BiotechnologyWuhan430075China
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31
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Mimicry of a Non-ribosomally Produced Antimicrobial, Brevicidine, by Ribosomal Synthesis and Post-translational Modification. Cell Chem Biol 2020; 27:1262-1271.e4. [PMID: 32707039 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2020.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The group of bacterial non-ribosomally produced peptides (NRPs) forms a rich source of antibiotics, such as daptomycin, vancomycin, and teixobactin. The difficulty of functionally expressing and engineering the corresponding large biosynthetic complexes is a bottleneck in developing variants of such peptides. Here, we apply a strategy to synthesize mimics of the recently discovered antimicrobial NRP brevicidine. We mimicked the molecular structure of brevicidine by ribosomally synthesized, post-translationally modified peptide (RiPP) synthesis, introducing several relevant modifications, such as dehydration and thioether ring formation. Following this strategy, in two rounds peptides were engineered in vivo, which showed antibacterial activity against Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria susceptible to wild-type brevicidine. This study demonstrates the feasibility of a strategy to structurally and functionally mimic NRPs by employing the synthesis and post-translational modifications typical for RiPPs. This enables the future generation of large genetically encoded peptide libraries of NRP-mimicking structures to screen for antimicrobial activity against relevant pathogens.
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32
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Lagedroste M, Reiners J, Smits SHJ, Schmitt L. Impact of the nisin modification machinery on the transport kinetics of NisT. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12295. [PMID: 32703992 PMCID: PMC7378552 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69225-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Lanthipeptides are ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides containing dehydrated amino acids and (methyl-)lanthionine rings. One of the best-studied examples is nisin produced by Lactococcus lactis. Nisin is synthesized as a precursor peptide comprising of an N-terminal leader peptide and a C-terminal core peptide. Amongst others, the leader peptide is crucial for enzyme recognition and acts as a secretion signal for the ABC transporter NisT that secretes nisin in a proposed channeling mechanism. Here, we present an in vivo secretion analysis of this process in the presence and absence of the nisin maturation machinery, consisting of the dehydratase NisB and the cyclase NisC. Our determined apparent secretion rates of NisT show how NisB and NisC modulate the transport kinetics of NisA. Additional in vitro studies of the detergent-solubilized NisT revealed how these enzymes and the substrates again influence the activity of transporter. In summary, this study highlights the pivotal role of NisB for NisT in the secretion process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Lagedroste
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jens Reiners
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Center for Structural Studies, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sander H J Smits
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lutz Schmitt
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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33
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van Tilburg AY, van Heel AJ, Stülke J, de Kok NAW, Rueff AS, Kuipers OP. Mini Bacillus PG10 as a Convenient and Effective Production Host for Lantibiotics. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:1833-1842. [PMID: 32551553 PMCID: PMC7372594 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Efficient bacterial cell factories are important for the screening and characterization of potent antimicrobial peptides such as lantibiotics. Although lantibiotic production systems have been established in Lactococcus lactis and Escherichia coli, the industrial workhorse Bacillus subtilis has been left relatively unexplored as a lantibiotic production host. Therefore, we tested different B. subtilis strains for their ability to produce lantibiotic peptides by using the subtilin modification and transport enzymes derived from the natural subtilin producer B. subtilis ATCC 6633. Our study shows that although B. subtilis ATCC 6633 and 168 are able to produce various processed lantibiotic peptides, an evident advantage of using either the 8-fold protease-deficient strain WB800 or the genome-minimized B. subtilis 168 strain PG10 is the lack of extracellular serine protease activity. Consequently, leader processing of lantibiotic precursor peptides is circumvented and thus potential toxicity toward the production host is prevented. Furthermore, PG10 provides a clean secondary metabolic background and therefore appears to be the most promising B. subtilis lantibiotic production host. We demonstrate the production of various lantibiotic precursor peptides by PG10 and show different options for their in vitro activation. Our study thus provides a convenient B. subtilis-based lantibiotic production system, which facilitates the search for novel antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Y. van Tilburg
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747AG, The Netherlands
| | - Auke J. van Heel
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747AG, The Netherlands
| | - Jörg Stülke
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Niels A. W. de Kok
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747AG, The Netherlands
| | - Anne-Stéphanie Rueff
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747AG, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar P. Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747AG, The Netherlands
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Rahman IR, Acedo JZ, Liu XR, Zhu L, Arrington J, Gross ML, van der Donk WA. Substrate Recognition by the Class II Lanthipeptide Synthetase HalM2. ACS Chem Biol 2020; 15:1473-1486. [PMID: 32293871 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Class II lanthipeptides belong to a diverse group of natural products known as ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Most RiPP precursor peptides contain an N-terminal recognition sequence known as the leader peptide, which is typically recognized by biosynthetic enzymes that catalyze modifications on the C-terminal core peptide. For class II lanthipeptides, these are carried out by a bifunctional lanthipeptide synthetase (LanM) that catalyzes dehydration and cyclization reactions on peptidic substrates to generate thioether-containing, macrocyclic molecules. Some lanthipeptide synthetases are extraordinarily substrate tolerant, making them promising candidates for biotechnological applications such as combinatorial biosynthesis and cyclic peptide library construction. In this study, we characterized the mode of leader peptide recognition by HalM2, the lanthipeptide synthetase responsible for the production of the antimicrobial peptide haloduracin β. Using NMR spectroscopic techniques, in vitro binding assays, and enzyme activity assays, we identified substrate residues that are important for binding to HalM2 and for post-translational modification of the peptide substrates. Additionally, we provide evidence of the binding site on the enzyme using binding assays with truncated enzyme variants, hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, and photoaffinity labeling. Understanding the mechanism by which lanthipeptide synthetases recognize their substrate will facilitate their use in biotechnology, as well as further our general understanding of how RiPP enzymes recognize their substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imran R. Rahman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Jeella Z. Acedo
- Department of Chemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Xiaoran Roger Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Lingyang Zhu
- School of Chemical Sciences NMR Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Justine Arrington
- Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Michael L. Gross
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Wilfred A. van der Donk
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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Zhao X, Cebrián R, Fu Y, Rink R, Bosma T, Moll GN, Kuipers OP. High-Throughput Screening for Substrate Specificity-Adapted Mutants of the Nisin Dehydratase NisB. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:1468-1478. [PMID: 32374981 PMCID: PMC7309312 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Microbial
lanthipeptides are formed by a two-step enzymatic introduction
of (methyl)lanthionine rings. A dehydratase catalyzes the dehydration
of serine and threonine residues, yielding dehydroalanine and dehydrobutyrine,
respectively. Cyclase-catalyzed coupling of the formed dehydroresidues
to cysteines forms (methyl)lanthionine rings in a peptide. Lanthipeptide
biosynthetic systems allow discovery of target-specific, lanthionine-stabilized
therapeutic peptides. However, the substrate specificity of existing
modification enzymes impose limitations on installing lanthionines
in non-natural substrates. The goal of the present study was to obtain
a lanthipeptide dehydratase with the capacity to dehydrate substrates
that are unsuitable for the nisin dehydratase NisB. We report high-throughput
screening for tailored specificity of intracellular, genetically encoded
NisB dehydratases. The principle is based on the screening of bacterially
displayed lanthionine-constrained streptavidin ligands, which have
a much higher affinity for streptavidin than linear ligands. The designed
NisC-cyclizable high-affinity ligands can be formed via mutant NisB-catalyzed
dehydration but less effectively via wild-type NisB activity. In Lactococcus lactis, a cell surface display precursor was
designed comprising DSHPQFC. The Asp residue preceding the serine
in this sequence disfavors its dehydration by wild-type NisB. The
cell surface display vector was coexpressed with a mutant NisB library
and NisTC. Subsequently, mutant NisB-containing bacteria that display
cyclized strep ligands on the cell surface were selected via panning
rounds with streptavidin-coupled magnetic beads. In this way, a NisB
variant with a tailored capacity of dehydration was obtained, which
was further evaluated with respect to its capacity to dehydrate nisin
mutants. These results demonstrate a powerful method for selecting
lanthipeptide modification enzymes with adapted substrate specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinghong Zhao
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Rubén Cebrián
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Yuxin Fu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Rick Rink
- Lanthio Pharma, Rozenburglaan 13 B, Groningen 9727 DL, The Netherlands
| | - Tjibbe Bosma
- Lanthio Pharma, Rozenburglaan 13 B, Groningen 9727 DL, The Netherlands
| | - Gert N. Moll
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
- Lanthio Pharma, Rozenburglaan 13 B, Groningen 9727 DL, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar P. Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
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An Engineered Double Lipid II Binding Motifs-Containing Lantibiotic Displays Potent and Selective Antimicrobial Activity against Enterococcus faecium. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.02050-19. [PMID: 32179527 PMCID: PMC7269505 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02050-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipid II is an essential precursor for bacterial cell wall biosynthesis and thereby an important target for various antibiotics. Several lanthionine-containing peptide antibiotics target lipid II with lanthionine-stabilized lipid II binding motifs. Here, we used the biosynthesis system of the lantibiotic nisin to synthesize a two-lipid II binding motifs-containing lantibiotic, termed TL19, which contains the N-terminal lipid II binding motif of nisin and the distinct C-terminal lipid II binding motif of one peptide of the two-component haloduracin (i. Lipid II is an essential precursor for bacterial cell wall biosynthesis and thereby an important target for various antibiotics. Several lanthionine-containing peptide antibiotics target lipid II with lanthionine-stabilized lipid II binding motifs. Here, we used the biosynthesis system of the lantibiotic nisin to synthesize a two-lipid II binding motifs-containing lantibiotic, termed TL19, which contains the N-terminal lipid II binding motif of nisin and the distinct C-terminal lipid II binding motif of one peptide of the two-component haloduracin (i.e., HalA1). Further characterization demonstrated that (i) TL19 exerts 64-fold stronger antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecium than nisin(1-22), which has only one lipid II binding site, and (ii) both the N- and C-terminal domains are essential for the potent antimicrobial activity of TL19, as evidenced by mutagenesis of each single and the double domains. These results show the feasibility of a new approach to synthesize potent lantibiotics with two different lipid II binding motifs to treat specific antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
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Barbour A, Wescombe P, Smith L. Evolution of Lantibiotic Salivaricins: New Weapons to Fight Infectious Diseases. Trends Microbiol 2020; 28:578-593. [PMID: 32544444 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2020.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Lantibiotic salivaricins are polycyclic peptides containing lanthionine and/or β-methyllanthionine residues produced by certain strains of Streptococcus salivarius, which almost exclusively reside in the human oral cavity. The importance of these molecules stems from their antimicrobial activity towards relevant oral pathogens which has so far been applied through the development of salivaricin-producing probiotic strains. However, salivaricins may also prove to be of great value in the development of new and novel antibacterial therapies in this era of emerging antibiotic resistance. In this review, we describe the biosynthesis, antimicrobial activity, structure, and mode of action of the lantibiotic salivaricins characterized to date. Moreover, we also provide an expert opinion and suggestions for future development of this important field of microbiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Philip Wescombe
- Yili Innovation Center Oceania, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Leif Smith
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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38
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Lee H, Choi M, Park JU, Roh H, Kim S. Genome Mining Reveals High Topological Diversity of ω-Ester-Containing Peptides and Divergent Evolution of ATP-Grasp Macrocyclases. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:3013-3023. [PMID: 31961152 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b12076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
ω-Ester-containing peptides (OEPs) are a family of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) containing intramolecular ω-ester or ω-amide bonds. Although their distinct side-to-side connections may create considerable topological diversity of multicyclic peptides, it is largely unknown how diverse ring patterns have been developed in nature. Here, using genome mining of biosynthetic enzymes of OEPs, we identified genes encoding nine new groups of putative OEPs with novel core consensus sequences, disclosing a total of ∼1500 candidate OEPs in 12 groups. Connectivity analysis revealed that OEPs from three different groups contain novel tricyclic structures, one of which has a distinct biosynthetic pathway where a single ATP-grasp enzyme produces both ω-ester and ω-amide linkages. Analysis of the enzyme cross-reactivity showed that, while enzymes are promiscuous to nonconserved regions of the core peptide, they have high specificity to the cognate core consensus sequence, suggesting that the enzyme-core pair has coevolved to create a unique ring topology within the same group and has sufficiently diversified across different groups. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the diverse ring topologies, in addition to diverse sequences, have been developed in nature with multiple ω-ester or ω-amide linkages in the OEP family of RiPPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunbin Lee
- Department of Chemistry , Seoul National University , 1 Gwanak-ro , Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826 , South Korea
| | - Mingyu Choi
- Department of Chemistry , Seoul National University , 1 Gwanak-ro , Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826 , South Korea
| | - Jung-Un Park
- Department of Chemistry , Seoul National University , 1 Gwanak-ro , Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826 , South Korea
| | - Heejin Roh
- Department of Chemistry , Seoul National University , 1 Gwanak-ro , Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826 , South Korea
| | - Seokhee Kim
- Department of Chemistry , Seoul National University , 1 Gwanak-ro , Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826 , South Korea
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39
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Sandiford SK. An overview of lantibiotic biosynthetic machinery promiscuity and its impact on antimicrobial discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2020; 15:373-382. [PMID: 31941374 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2020.1699530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: The continued emergence of drug resistant bacteria within the nosocomial and community environment recalcitrant to conventional antimicrobial therapies has enforced the requirement for novel therapeutics. This has led to a renewed interest in peptide antimicrobials, including ribosomally synthesized peptides termed lantibiotics. Lantibiotics represent a novel class of agents that many studies have highlighted as effective against a range of pathogenic bacteria.Areas covered: In this review, the modular nature of lantibiotic synthesis is discussed and how this can be exploited not only to improve known lantibiotics but also for the creation of new to nature lantibiotics exhibiting improved pharmacological properties, antimicrobial activity and ability to bypass bacterial resistance mechanisms.Expert opinion: The use of combinatorial biosynthetic systems to combine different modules or ring structures of known lantibiotics have also been utilized to create new to nature lantibiotics. To fully exploit the available information and its application to lantibiotic engineering, additional structure activity relationship (SAR) analysis is required to fully understand the impact of certain post-translational modifications and the impact they have upon the activity, stability and pharmacological properties.
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40
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Influence of nisin hinge-region variants on lantibiotic immunity and resistance proteins. Bioorg Med Chem 2019; 27:3947-3953. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 07/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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41
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van Heel AJ, de Jong A, Song C, Viel JH, Kok J, Kuipers OP. BAGEL4: a user-friendly web server to thoroughly mine RiPPs and bacteriocins. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:W278-W281. [PMID: 29788290 PMCID: PMC6030817 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 498] [Impact Index Per Article: 99.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Interest in secondary metabolites such as RiPPs (ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptides) is increasing worldwide. To facilitate the research in this field we have updated our mining web server. BAGEL4 is faster than its predecessor and is now fully independent from ORF-calling. Gene clusters of interest are discovered using the core-peptide database and/or through HMM motifs that are present in associated context genes. The databases used for mining have been updated and extended with literature references and links to UniProt and NCBI. Additionally, we have included automated promoter and terminator prediction and the option to upload RNA expression data, which can be displayed along with the identified clusters. Further improvements include the annotation of the context genes, which is now based on a fast blast against the prokaryote part of the UniRef90 database, and the improved web-BLAST feature that dynamically loads structural data such as internal cross-linking from UniProt. Overall BAGEL4 provides the user with more information through a user-friendly web-interface which simplifies data evaluation. BAGEL4 is freely accessible at http://bagel4.molgenrug.nl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Auke J van Heel
- Molecular Genetics, GBB, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747AG, the Netherlands
| | - Anne de Jong
- Molecular Genetics, GBB, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747AG, the Netherlands
| | - Chunxu Song
- Molecular Genetics, GBB, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747AG, the Netherlands
| | - Jakob H Viel
- Molecular Genetics, GBB, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747AG, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Kok
- Molecular Genetics, GBB, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747AG, the Netherlands
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- Molecular Genetics, GBB, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747AG, the Netherlands
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42
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Fitness Restoration of a Genetically Tractable Enterococcus faecalis V583 Derivative To Study Decoration-Related Phenotypes of the Enterococcal Polysaccharide Antigen. mSphere 2019; 4:4/4/e00310-19. [PMID: 31292230 PMCID: PMC6620374 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00310-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
E. faecalis strain VE14089 was derived from V583 cured of its plasmids. Although VE14089 had no major DNA rearrangements, it presented significant growth and host adaptation differences from the reference strain V583 of our collection. To construct a strain with better fitness, we sequenced the genome of VE14089, identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and repaired the genes that could account for these changes. Using this reference-derivative strain, we provide a novel genetic system to understand the role of the variable region of epa in the enterococcal lifestyle. Commensal and generally harmless in healthy individuals, Enterococcus faecalis causes opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. Plasmid-cured E. faecalis strain VE14089, derived from sequenced reference strain V583, is widely used for functional studies due to its improved genetic amenability. Although strain VE14089 has no major DNA rearrangements, with the exception of an ∼20-kb integrated region of pTEF1 plasmid, the strain presented significant growth differences from the V583 reference strain of our collection (renamed VE14002). In the present study, genome sequencing of strain VE14089 identified additional point mutations. Excision of the integrated pTEF1 plasmid region and sequential restoration of wild-type alleles showing nonsilent mutations were performed to obtain the VE18379 reference-derivative strain. Recovery of the growth ability of the restored VE18379 strain at a level similar to that seen with the reference strain points to GreA and Spx as bacterial fitness determinants. Virulence potential in Galleria mellonella and intestinal colonization in mouse demonstrated host adaptation of the VE18379 strain equivalent to VE14002 host adaptation. We further demonstrated that deletion of the 16.8-kb variable region of the epa locus recapitulates the key role of Epa decoration in host adaptation, providing a genetic system to study the role of specific epa-variable regions in host adaptation independently of other genetic variations. IMPORTANCEE. faecalis strain VE14089 was derived from V583 cured of its plasmids. Although VE14089 had no major DNA rearrangements, it presented significant growth and host adaptation differences from the reference strain V583 of our collection. To construct a strain with better fitness, we sequenced the genome of VE14089, identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and repaired the genes that could account for these changes. Using this reference-derivative strain, we provide a novel genetic system to understand the role of the variable region of epa in the enterococcal lifestyle.
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43
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Li Q, Montalban-Lopez M, Kuipers OP. Feasability of Introducing a Thioether Ring in Vasopressin by nisBTC Co-expression in Lactococcus lactis. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1508. [PMID: 31333616 PMCID: PMC6614560 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introducing one or more intramolecular thioether bridges in a peptide provides a promising approach to create more stable molecules with improved pharmacodynamic properties and especially to protect peptides against proteolytic degradation. Lanthipeptides are compounds that naturally possess thioether bonds in their structure. The model lanthipeptide, nisin, is produced by Lactococcus lactis as a core peptide fused to a leader peptide. The modification machinery responsible for nisin production, including the Ser/Thr-dehydratase NisB and the cyclase NisC, can be applied for introducing a thioether bridge into peptides fused to the nisin leader peptide, e.g., to replace a disulfide bond. Vasopressin plays a key role in water homeostasis in the human body and helps to constrict blood vessels. There are two cysteine residues in the structure of wild type vasopressin, which form a disulfide bridge in the mature peptide. Here, we show it is possible to direct the biosynthesis of vasopressin variants in such a way that the disulfide bridge is replaced by a thioether bridge using the nisin modification machinery NisBTC, albeit at low efficiency. Vasopressin mutants were fused either to the nisin leader peptide directly (Type A), after the first three rings of nisin (Type B/C), or after full nisin (Type D). The type B strategy was optimal for expression. LC-MS/MS data verified the formation of a thioether bridge, which provides proof of principle for this modification in vasopressin. This is a first step prior to the necessary increase of the production yield and further purification of these peptides to finally test their biological activity in tissue and animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Manuel Montalban-Lopez
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.,Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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44
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Schmitt S, Montalbán-López M, Peterhoff D, Deng J, Wagner R, Held M, Kuipers OP, Panke S. Analysis of modular bioengineered antimicrobial lanthipeptides at nanoliter scale. Nat Chem Biol 2019; 15:437-443. [PMID: 30936500 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-019-0250-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The rise of antibiotic resistance demands the acceleration of molecular diversification strategies to inspire new chemical entities for antibiotic medicines. We report here on the large-scale engineering of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified antimicrobial peptides carrying the ring-forming amino acid lanthionine. New-to-nature variants featuring distinct properties were obtained by combinatorial shuffling of peptide modules derived from 12 natural antimicrobial lanthipeptides and processing by a promiscuous post-translational modification machinery. For experimental characterization, we developed the nanoFleming, a miniaturized and parallelized high-throughput inhibition assay. On the basis of a hit set of >100 molecules, we identified variants with improved activity against pathogenic bacteria and shifted activity profiles, and extrapolated design guidelines that will simplify the identification of peptide-based anti-infectives in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Schmitt
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - David Peterhoff
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jingjing Deng
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ralf Wagner
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.,Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Martin Held
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Sven Panke
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland.
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45
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Lagedroste M, Reiners J, Smits SHJ, Schmitt L. Systematic characterization of position one variants within the lantibiotic nisin. Sci Rep 2019; 9:935. [PMID: 30700815 PMCID: PMC6353901 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37532-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Lantibiotics are a growing class of natural compounds, which possess antimicrobial activity against a broad range of Gram-positive bacteria. Their high potency against human pathogenic strains such as MRSA and VRE makes them excellent candidates as substitutes for classic antibiotics in times of increasing multidrug resistance of bacterial strains. New lantibiotics are detected in genomes and can be heterologously expressed. The functionality of these novel lantibiotics requires a systematic purification and characterization to benchmark them against for example the well-known lantibiotic nisin. Here, we used a standardized workflow to characterize lantibiotics consisting of six individual steps. The expression and secretion of the lantibiotic was performed employing the promiscuous nisin modification machinery. We mutated the first amino acid of nisin into all proteinaceous amino acids and compared their bactericidal potency against sensitive strains as well as strains expressing nisin resistance proteins. Interestingly, we can highlight four distinct groups based on the residual activity of nisin against sensitive as well as resistant L. lactis strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Lagedroste
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Universitaetsstrasse 1, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Jens Reiners
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Universitaetsstrasse 1, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Sander H J Smits
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Universitaetsstrasse 1, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany.
| | - Lutz Schmitt
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Universitaetsstrasse 1, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany.
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46
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Cebrián R, Macia-Valero A, Jati AP, Kuipers OP. Design and Expression of Specific Hybrid Lantibiotics Active Against Pathogenic Clostridium spp. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2154. [PMID: 31616392 PMCID: PMC6768957 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium difficile has been reported as the most common cause of nosocomial diarrhea (antibiotic-associated diarrhea), resulting in significant morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. The resistance of the clostridial spores to antibiotics and their side effects on the gut microbiota are two factors related to the emergence of infection and its relapses. Lantibiotics provide an innovative alternative for cell growth inhibition due to their dual mechanism of action (membrane pore-forming and cell wall synthesis inhibition) and low resistance rate. Based on the fact that bacteriocins are usually active against bacteria closely related to the producer strains, a new dual approach combining genome mining and synthetic biology was performed, by designing new lantibiotics with high activity and specificity toward Clostridium. We first attempted the heterologous expression of putative lantibiotics identified following Clostridium genome mining. Subsequently, we designed new hybrid lantibiotics combining the start or end of the putative clostridial peptides and the start or end parts of nisin. The designed peptides were cloned and expressed using the nisin biosynthetic machinery in Lactococcus lactis. From the 20 initial peptides, only 1 fulfilled the requirements established in this work to be considered as a good candidate: high heterologous production level and high specificity/activity against clostridial species. The high specificity and activity observed for the peptide AMV10 makes it an interesting candidate as an alternative to traditional antibiotics in the treatment of C. difficile infections, avoiding side effects and protecting the normal gut microbiota.
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Hudson GA, Mitchell DA. RiPP antibiotics: biosynthesis and engineering potential. Curr Opin Microbiol 2018; 45:61-69. [PMID: 29533845 PMCID: PMC6131089 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2018.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The threat of antibiotic resistant bacterial infections continues to underscore the need for new treatment options. Historically, small molecule metabolites from microbes have provided a rich source of antibiotic compounds, and as a result, significant effort has been invested in engineering the responsible biosynthetic pathways to generate novel analogs with attractive pharmacological properties. Unfortunately, biosynthetic stringency has limited the capacity of non-ribosomal peptide synthetases and polyketide synthases from producing substantially different analogs in large numbers. Another class of natural products, the ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), have rapidly expanded in recent years with many natively displaying potent antibiotic activity. RiPP biosynthetic pathways are modular and intrinsically tolerant to alternative substrates. Several prominent RiPPs with antibiotic activity will be covered in this review with a focus on their biosynthetic plasticity. While only a few RiPP enzymes have been thoroughly investigated mechanistically, this knowledge has already been harnessed to generate new-to-nature compounds. Through the use of synthetic biology approaches, on-going efforts in RiPP engineering hold great promise in unlocking the potential of this natural product class.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham A Hudson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, 600 S Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, United States
| | - Douglas A Mitchell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, 600 S Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, United States; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, 600 S Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, United States; Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, 600 S Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, United States.
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Egan K, Field D, Ross RP, Cotter PD, Hill C. In silico Prediction and Exploration of Potential Bacteriocin Gene Clusters Within the Bacterial Genus Geobacillus. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2116. [PMID: 30298056 PMCID: PMC6160750 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The thermophilic, endospore-forming genus of Geobacillus has historically been associated with spoilage of canned food. However, in recent years it has become the subject of much attention due its biotechnological potential in areas such as enzyme and biofuel applications. One aspect of this genus that has not been fully explored or realized is its use as a source of novel forms of the ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial peptides known as bacteriocins. To date only two bacteriocins have been fully characterized within this genus, i.e., Geobacillin I and II, with only a small number of others partially characterized. Here we bioinformatically investigate the potential of this genus as a source of novel bacteriocins through the use of the in silico screening software BAGEL3, which scans publically available genomes for potential bacteriocin gene clusters. In this study we examined the association of bacteriocin gene presence with niche and phylogenetic position within the genus. We also identified a number of candidates from multiple bacteriocin classes which may be promising antimicrobial candidates when investigated in vitro in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Egan
- School of Microbiology, University College, Cork, Ireland
| | - Des Field
- School of Microbiology, University College, Cork, Ireland.,APC Microbiome Institute, Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - R Paul Ross
- School of Microbiology, University College, Cork, Ireland.,APC Microbiome Institute, Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Paul D Cotter
- APC Microbiome Institute, Cork, Cork, Ireland.,Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co., Cork, Ireland
| | - Colin Hill
- School of Microbiology, University College, Cork, Ireland.,APC Microbiome Institute, Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Alkhalili RN, Canbäck B. Identification of Putative Novel Class-I Lanthipeptides in Firmicutes: A Combinatorial In Silico Analysis Approach Performed on Genome Sequenced Bacteria and a Close Inspection of Z-Geobacillin Lanthipeptide Biosynthesis Gene Cluster of the Thermophilic Geobacillus sp. Strain ZGt-1. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E2650. [PMID: 30200662 PMCID: PMC6165006 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19092650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Lanthipeptides are ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified polycyclic peptides. Lanthipeptides that have antimicrobial activity are known as lantibiotics. Accordingly, the discovery of novel lantibiotics constitutes a possible solution for the problem of antibiotic resistance. We utilized the publicly available genome sequences and the bioinformatic tools tailored for the detection of lanthipeptides. We designed our strategy for screening of 252 firmicute genomes and detecting class-I lanthipeptide-coding gene clusters. The designed strategy resulted in identifying 69 class-I lanthipeptide sequences, of which more than 10% were putative novel. The identified putative novel lanthipeptides have not been annotated on the original or the RefSeq genomes, or have been annotated merely as coding for hypothetical proteins. Additionally, we identified bacterial strains that have not been previously recognized as lanthipeptide-producers. Moreover, we suggest corrections for certain firmicute genome annotations, and recommend lanthipeptide records for enriching the bacteriocin genome mining tool (BAGEL) databases. Furthermore, we propose Z-geobacillin, a putative class-I lanthipeptide coded on the genome of the thermophilic strain Geobacillus sp. ZGt-1. We provide lists of putative novel lanthipeptide sequences and of the previously unrecognized lanthipeptide-producing bacterial strains, so they can be prioritized for experimental investigation. Our results are expected to benefit researchers interested in the in vitro production of lanthipeptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rawana N Alkhalili
- Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden.
| | - Björn Canbäck
- Department of Biology, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden.
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Gherghisan-Filip C, Saalbach G, Hatziioanou D, Narbad A, Mayer MJ. Processing and Structure of the Lantibiotic Peptide Nso From the Human Gut Bacterium Blautia obeum A2-162 analysed by Mass Spectrometry. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10077. [PMID: 29973605 PMCID: PMC6031655 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28248-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
A previously reported gene cluster encoding four nisin-like peptides, three with the same sequence (NsoA1-3) and the unique NsoA4, produced antimicrobial activity in the presence of trypsin after heterologous expression in Lactococcus lactis. Protein extracts were separated by SDS gel electrophoresis or immunoprecipitation using an antibody to the NsoA2 leader. Tryptic peptides observed by LC-MS/MS covered the complete sequence of preNsoA1-3 and part of the leader sequence of preNsoA4 and confirmed the expression and the predicted sequences of the preNsoA peptides. Further, the data revealed that the preNsoA1-3 peptides were partly modified with dehydrations and formation of lanthionine rings. A certain amount of fully modified preNsoA1-3 was observed. Details of modifications of the core peptide and the C-terminal tryptic peptide TATCGCHITGK covering rings D and E indicated that 22% of these preNsoA1-3 peptides were completely modified. A lower amount of ring formation is estimated for rings A-C. Intact masses of immunoprecipitation-derived peptides determined by LC-MS accurately matched the expected preNsoA precursor peptides. The most abundant peptides detected were preNsoA2-3-8H2O followed by preNsoA1-8H2O and other states of dehydration. The results confirm incomplete processing of preNsoA peptides in the heterologous system, with the formation of a certain amount of fully modified peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Gherghisan-Filip
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Gut Microbes and Health Institute Strategic Programme, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UA, UK.,University of East Anglia, UEA, Norwich Medical School, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Gerhard Saalbach
- John Innes Centre, Department of Biological Chemistry, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK.
| | - Diane Hatziioanou
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Gut Microbes and Health Institute Strategic Programme, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UA, UK
| | - Arjan Narbad
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Gut Microbes and Health Institute Strategic Programme, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UA, UK
| | - Melinda J Mayer
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Gut Microbes and Health Institute Strategic Programme, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UA, UK.
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