1
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Bhowmick S, Viveros RP, Latoscha A, Commichau FM, Wrede C, Al-Bassam MM, Tschowri N. Cell shape and division septa positioning in filamentous Streptomyces require a functional cell wall glycopolymer ligase CglA. mBio 2024:e0149224. [PMID: 39248520 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01492-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The cell wall of monoderm bacteria consists of peptidoglycan and glycopolymers in roughly equal proportions and is crucial for cellular integrity, cell shape, and bacterial vitality. Despite the immense value of Streptomyces in biotechnology and medicine as antibiotic producers, we know very little about their cell wall biogenesis, composition, and functions. Here, we have identified the LCP-LytR_C domain protein CglA (Vnz_13690) as a key glycopolymer ligase, which specifically localizes in zones of cell wall biosynthesis in S. venezuelae. Reduced amount of glycopolymers in the cglA mutant results in enlarged vegetative hyphae and failures in FtsZ-rings formation and positioning. Consequently, division septa are misplaced leading to the formation of aberrant cell compartments, misshaped spores, and reduced cell vitality. In addition, we report our discovery that c-di-AMP signaling and decoration of the cell wall with glycopolymers are physiologically linked in Streptomyces since the deletion of cglA restores growth of the S. venezuelae disA mutant at high salt. Altogether, we have identified and characterized CglA as a novel component of cell wall biogenesis in Streptomyces, which is required for cell shape maintenance and cellular vitality in filamentous, multicellular bacteria.IMPORTANCEStreptomyces are our key producers of antibitiotics and other bioactive molecules and are, therefore, of high value for medicine and biotechnology. They proliferate by apical extension and branching of hyphae and undergo complex cell differentiation from filaments to spores during their life cycle. For both, growth and sporulation, coordinated cell wall biogenesis is crucial. However, our knowledge about cell wall biosynthesis, functions, and architecture in Streptomyces and in other Actinomycetota is still very limited. Here, we identify CglA as the key enzyme needed for the attachment of glycopolymers to the cell wall of S. venezuelae. We demonstrate that defects in the cell wall glycopolymer content result in loss of cell shape in these filamentous bacteria and show that division-competent FtsZ-rings cannot assemble properly and fail to be positioned correctly. As a consequence, cell septa placement is disturbed leading to the formation of misshaped spores with reduced viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukanya Bhowmick
- Institute of Microbiology, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ruth P Viveros
- Institute of Microbiology, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andreas Latoscha
- Institute of Biology/Microbiology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fabian M Commichau
- Institute of Biology, FG Molecular Microbiology 190 h, Universität Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Christoph Wrede
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Research Core Unit Electron Microscopy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Mahmoud M Al-Bassam
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Natalia Tschowri
- Institute of Microbiology, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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2
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Paquete-Ferreira J, Freire F, Fernandes HS, Muthukumaran J, Ramos J, Bryton J, Panjkovich A, Svergun D, Santos MFA, Correia MAS, Fernandes AR, Romão MJ, Sousa SF, Santos-Silva T. Structural insights of an LCP protein-LytR-from Streptococcus dysgalactiae subs. dysgalactiae through biophysical and in silico methods. Front Chem 2024; 12:1379914. [PMID: 39170866 PMCID: PMC11337229 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1379914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains has become a critical health concern. According to the World Health Organization, the market introduction of new antibiotics is alarmingly sparse, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic targets. The LytR-CpsA-Psr (LCP) family of proteins, which facilitate the insertion of cell wall glycopolymers (CWGPs) like teichoic acids into peptidoglycan, has emerged as a promising target for antibiotic development. LCP proteins are crucial in bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, making them attractive for disrupting these processes. This study investigated the structural and functional characteristics of the LCP domain of LytR from Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae. The protein structure was solved by X-ray Crystallography at 2.80 Å resolution. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data were collected to examine potential conformational differences between the free and ligand-bound forms of the LytR LCP domain. Additionally, docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to predict the interactions and conversion of ATP to ADP and AMP. Experimental validation of these predictions was performed using malachite green activity assays. The determined structure of the LCP domain revealed a fold highly similar to those of homologous proteins while SAXS data indicated potential conformational differences between the ligand-free and ligand-bound forms, suggesting a more compact conformation during catalysis, upon ligand binding. Docking and MD simulations predicted that the LytR LCP domain could interact with ADP and ATP and catalyze their conversion to AMP. These predictions were experimentally validated by malachite green activity assays, confirming the protein's functional versatility. The study provides significant insights into the structural features and functional capabilities of the LCP domain of LytR from S. dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae. These findings pave the way for designing targeted therapies against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and offer strategies to disrupt bacterial biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Paquete-Ferreira
- Associate Laboratory i4HB–Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Filipe Freire
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Henrique S. Fernandes
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jayaraman Muthukumaran
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - João Ramos
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Joana Bryton
- Associate Laboratory i4HB–Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Alejandro Panjkovich
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dmitri Svergun
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marino F. A. Santos
- Associate Laboratory i4HB–Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Márcia A. S. Correia
- Associate Laboratory i4HB–Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Alexandra R. Fernandes
- Associate Laboratory i4HB–Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Maria João Romão
- Associate Laboratory i4HB–Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Sérgio F. Sousa
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Teresa Santos-Silva
- Associate Laboratory i4HB–Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
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3
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Li FKK, Worrall LJ, Gale RT, Brown ED, Strynadka NCJ. Cryo-EM analysis of S. aureus TarL, a polymerase in wall teichoic acid biogenesis central to virulence and antibiotic resistance. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj3864. [PMID: 38416829 PMCID: PMC10901376 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj3864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Wall teichoic acid (WTA), a covalent adduct of Gram-positive bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan, contributes directly to virulence and antibiotic resistance in pathogenic species. Polymerization of the Staphylococcus aureus WTA ribitol-phosphate chain is catalyzed by TarL, a member of the largely uncharacterized TagF-like family of membrane-associated enzymes. We report the cryo-electron microscopy structure of TarL, showing a tetramer that forms an extensive membrane-binding platform of monotopic helices. TarL is composed of an amino-terminal immunoglobulin-like domain and a carboxyl-terminal glycosyltransferase-B domain for ribitol-phosphate polymerization. The active site of the latter is complexed to donor substrate cytidine diphosphate-ribitol, providing mechanistic insights into the catalyzed phosphotransfer reaction. Furthermore, the active site is surrounded by electropositive residues that serve to retain the lipid-linked acceptor for polymerization. Our data advance general insight into the architecture and membrane association of the still poorly characterized monotopic membrane protein class and present molecular details of ribitol-phosphate polymerization that may aid in the design of new antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco K K Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Liam J Worrall
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Robert T Gale
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric D Brown
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Natalie C J Strynadka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Centre for Blood Research, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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4
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Koatale P, Welling MM, Ndlovu H, Kgatle M, Mdanda S, Mdlophane A, Okem A, Takyi-Williams J, Sathekge MM, Ebenhan T. Insights into Peptidoglycan-Targeting Radiotracers for Imaging Bacterial Infections: Updates, Challenges, and Future Perspectives. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:270-286. [PMID: 38290525 PMCID: PMC10862554 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The unique structural architecture of the peptidoglycan allows for the stratification of bacteria as either Gram-negative or Gram-positive, which makes bacterial cells distinguishable from mammalian cells. This classification has received attention as a potential target for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Bacteria's ability to metabolically integrate peptidoglycan precursors during cell wall biosynthesis and recycling offers an opportunity to target and image pathogens in their biological state. This Review explores the peptidoglycan biosynthesis for bacteria-specific targeting for infection imaging. Current and potential radiolabeled peptidoglycan precursors for bacterial infection imaging, their development status, and their performance in vitro and/or in vivo are highlighted. We conclude by providing our thoughts on how to shape this area of research for future clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Palesa
C. Koatale
- Department
of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa
- Nuclear
Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) NPC, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Mick M. Welling
- Interventional
Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Honest Ndlovu
- Department
of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa
- Nuclear
Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) NPC, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Mankgopo Kgatle
- Department
of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa
- Nuclear
Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) NPC, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Sipho Mdanda
- Department
of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa
- Nuclear
Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) NPC, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Amanda Mdlophane
- Department
of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa
- Nuclear
Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) NPC, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Ambrose Okem
- Department
of Anaesthesia, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Witwatersrand, 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - John Takyi-Williams
- Pharmacokinetic
and Mass Spectrometry Core, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Mike M. Sathekge
- Department
of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa
- Nuclear
Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) NPC, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Thomas Ebenhan
- Department
of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa
- Nuclear
Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) NPC, 0001 Pretoria, South Africa
- DSI/NWU Pre-clinical
Drug Development Platform, North West University, 2520 Potchefstroom, South Africa
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5
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Riu F, Ruda A, Ibba R, Sestito S, Lupinu I, Piras S, Widmalm G, Carta A. Antibiotics and Carbohydrate-Containing Drugs Targeting Bacterial Cell Envelopes: An Overview. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:942. [PMID: 36015090 PMCID: PMC9414505 DOI: 10.3390/ph15080942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Certain bacteria constitute a threat to humans due to their ability to escape host defenses as they easily develop drug resistance. Bacteria are classified into gram-positive and gram-negative according to the composition of the cell membrane structure. Gram-negative bacteria have an additional outer membrane (OM) that is not present in their gram-positive counterpart; the latter instead hold a thicker peptidoglycan (PG) layer. This review covers the main structural and functional properties of cell wall polysaccharides (CWPs) and PG. Drugs targeting CWPs are discussed, both noncarbohydrate-related (β-lactams, fosfomycin, and lipopeptides) and carbohydrate-related (glycopeptides and lipoglycopeptides). Bacterial resistance to these drugs continues to evolve, which calls for novel antibacterial approaches to be developed. The use of carbohydrate-based vaccines as a valid strategy to prevent bacterial infections is also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Riu
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Via Muroni 23/A, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (F.R.); (I.L.); (S.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Alessandro Ruda
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (A.R.); (G.W.)
| | - Roberta Ibba
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Via Muroni 23/A, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (F.R.); (I.L.); (S.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Simona Sestito
- Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
| | - Ilenia Lupinu
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Via Muroni 23/A, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (F.R.); (I.L.); (S.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Sandra Piras
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Via Muroni 23/A, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (F.R.); (I.L.); (S.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Göran Widmalm
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (A.R.); (G.W.)
| | - Antonio Carta
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Via Muroni 23/A, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (F.R.); (I.L.); (S.P.); (A.C.)
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6
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Rousseau A, Richard E, Jeacomine I, Armand S, Fort S, Cottaz S. A New Route to NAG‐NAM Disaccharide, an Important Building Block for Peptidoglycan Oligomer Synthesis. ASIAN J ORG CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ajoc.202100547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sylvie Armand
- Univ Grenoble Alpes CNRS, CERMAV 38000 Grenoble France
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7
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Sun Y, Liu M, Niu M, Zhao X. Phenotypic Switching of Staphylococcus aureus Mu50 Into a Large Colony Variant Enhances Heritable Resistance Against β-Lactam Antibiotics. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:709841. [PMID: 34690952 PMCID: PMC8530407 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.709841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic heterogeneity within a bacterial population may confer new functionality and allow microorganisms to adapt to fluctuating environments. Previous work has suggested that Staphylococcus aureus could form small colony variants to avoid elimination by therapeutic antibiotics and host immunity systems. Here we show that a reversible non-pigment large colony morphology (Mu50∆lcpA-LC) was observed in S. aureus Mu50 after knocking out lcpA, coding for the LytR-CpsA-Psr family A protein. Mu50∆lcpA-LC increased resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, in addition, the enlarged cell size, enhanced spreading ability on solid medium, and reduced biofilm formation, suggesting better abilities for bacterial expansion. Moreover, the expression of spa encoding protein A was significantly increased in Mu50∆lcpA-LC. This study shows that besides the small colony variants, S. aureus could fight against antibiotics and host immunity through phenotype switching into a large colony variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Miaomiao Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Mingze Niu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.,Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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8
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Biochemical reconstitution defines new functions for membrane-bound glycosidases in assembly of the bacterial cell wall. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2103740118. [PMID: 34475211 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2103740118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The peptidoglycan cell wall is a macromolecular structure that encases bacteria and is essential for their survival. Proper assembly of the cell wall requires peptidoglycan synthases as well as membrane-bound cleavage enzymes that control where new peptidoglycan is made and inserted. Previous studies have shown that two membrane-bound proteins in Streptococcus pneumoniae, here named MpgA and MpgB, are important in maintaining cell wall integrity. MpgA was predicted to be a lytic transglycosylase based on its homology to Escherichia coli MltG, while the enzymatic activity of MpgB was unclear. Using nascent peptidoglycan substrates synthesized in vitro from the peptidoglycan precursor Lipid II, we report that both MpgA and MpgB are muramidases. We show that replacing a single amino acid in E. coli MltG with the corresponding amino acid from MpgA results in muramidase activity, allowing us to predict from the presence of this amino acid that other putative lytic transglycosylases actually function as muramidases. Strikingly, we report that MpgA and MpgB cut nascent peptidoglycan at different positions along the sugar backbone relative to the reducing end, with MpgA producing much longer peptidoglycan oligomers. We show that the cleavage site selectivity of MpgA is controlled by the LysM-like subdomain, which is required for its full functionality in cells. We propose that MltG's ability to complement the loss of MpgA in S. pneumoniae despite performing different cleavage chemistry is because it can cleave nascent peptidoglycan at the same distance from the lipid anchor.
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9
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Fisher JF, Mobashery S. β-Lactams against the Fortress of the Gram-Positive Staphylococcus aureus Bacterium. Chem Rev 2021; 121:3412-3463. [PMID: 33373523 PMCID: PMC8653850 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The biological diversity of the unicellular bacteria-whether assessed by shape, food, metabolism, or ecological niche-surely rivals (if not exceeds) that of the multicellular eukaryotes. The relationship between bacteria whose ecological niche is the eukaryote, and the eukaryote, is often symbiosis or stasis. Some bacteria, however, seek advantage in this relationship. One of the most successful-to the disadvantage of the eukaryote-is the small (less than 1 μm diameter) and nearly spherical Staphylococcus aureus bacterium. For decades, successful clinical control of its infection has been accomplished using β-lactam antibiotics such as the penicillins and the cephalosporins. Over these same decades S. aureus has perfected resistance mechanisms against these antibiotics, which are then countered by new generations of β-lactam structure. This review addresses the current breadth of biochemical and microbiological efforts to preserve the future of the β-lactam antibiotics through a better understanding of how S. aureus protects the enzyme targets of the β-lactams, the penicillin-binding proteins. The penicillin-binding proteins are essential enzyme catalysts for the biosynthesis of the cell wall, and understanding how this cell wall is integrated into the protective cell envelope of the bacterium may identify new antibacterials and new adjuvants that preserve the efficacy of the β-lactams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jed F Fisher
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, McCourtney Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Shahriar Mobashery
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, McCourtney Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame Indiana 46556, United States
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10
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LytR-CpsA-Psr Glycopolymer Transferases: Essential Bricks in Gram-Positive Bacterial Cell Wall Assembly. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020908. [PMID: 33477538 PMCID: PMC7831098 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria contain a variety of glycopolymers (CWGPs), a significant proportion of which are covalently linked to the peptidoglycan (PGN) scaffolding structure. Prominent CWGPs include wall teichoic acids of Staphylococcus aureus, streptococcal capsules, mycobacterial arabinogalactan, and rhamnose-containing polysaccharides of lactic acid bacteria. CWGPs serve important roles in bacterial cellular functions, morphology, and virulence. Despite evident differences in composition, structure and underlaying biosynthesis pathways, the final ligation step of CWGPs to the PGN backbone involves a conserved class of enzymes-the LytR-CpsA-Psr (LCP) transferases. Typically, the enzymes are present in multiple copies displaying partly functional redundancy and/or preference for a distinct CWGP type. LCP enzymes require a lipid-phosphate-linked glycan precursor substrate and catalyse, with a certain degree of promiscuity, CWGP transfer to PGN of different maturation stages, according to in vitro evidence. The prototype attachment mode is that to the C6-OH of N-acetylmuramic acid residues via installation of a phosphodiester bond. In some cases, attachment proceeds to N-acetylglucosamine residues of PGN-in the case of the Streptococcus agalactiae capsule, even without involvement of a phosphate bond. A novel aspect of LCP enzymes concerns a predicted role in protein glycosylation in Actinomyces oris. Available crystal structures provide further insight into the catalytic mechanism of this biologically important class of enzymes, which are gaining attention as new targets for antibacterial drug discovery to counteract the emergence of multidrug resistant bacteria.
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11
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Liston SD, Willis LM. Racing to build a wall: glycoconjugate assembly in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2021; 68:55-65. [PMID: 33429200 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2020.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The last two years have seen major advances in understanding the structural basis of bacterial cell envelope glycoconjugate biosynthesis, including capsules, lipopolysaccharide, teichoic acid, cellulose, and peptidoglycan. The recent crystal and cryo-electron microscopy structures of proteins involved in the initial glycosyltransferase steps in the cytoplasm, the transport of large and small lipid-linked glycoconjugates across the inner membrane, the polymerization of glycans in the periplasm, and the export of molecules from the cell have shed light on the mechanisms by which cell envelope glycoconjugates are made. We discuss these recent advances and highlight remaining unanswered questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean D Liston
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G1M1, Canada
| | - Lisa M Willis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2T2, Canada; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2T2, Canada; Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Edmonton, AB, T6G2T2, Canada.
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12
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Schaefer K, Owens TW, Page JE, Santiago M, Kahne D, Walker S. Structure and reconstitution of a hydrolase complex that may release peptidoglycan from the membrane after polymerization. Nat Microbiol 2021; 6:34-43. [PMID: 33168989 PMCID: PMC7755832 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-020-00808-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria are encapsulated by a peptidoglycan cell wall that is essential for their survival1. During cell wall assembly, a lipid-linked disaccharide-peptide precursor called lipid II is polymerized and cross-linked to produce mature peptidoglycan. As lipid II is polymerized, nascent polymers remain membrane-anchored at one end, and the other end becomes cross-linked to the matrix2-4. How bacteria release newly synthesized peptidoglycan strands from the membrane to complete the synthesis of mature peptidoglycan is a long-standing question. Here, we show that a Staphylococcus aureus cell wall hydrolase and a membrane protein that contains eight transmembrane helices form a complex that may function as a peptidoglycan release factor. The complex cleaves nascent peptidoglycan internally to produce free oligomers as well as lipid-linked oligomers that can undergo further elongation. The polytopic membrane protein, which is similar to a eukaryotic CAAX protease, controls the length of these products. A structure of the complex at a resolution of 2.6 Å shows that the membrane protein scaffolds the hydrolase to orient its active site for cleaving the glycan strand. We propose that this complex functions to detach newly synthesized peptidoglycan polymer from the cell membrane to complete integration into the cell wall matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin Schaefer
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tristan W Owens
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Julia E Page
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marina Santiago
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel Kahne
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Suzanne Walker
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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13
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Wu X, Han J, Gong G, Koffas MAG, Zha J. Wall teichoic acids: physiology and applications. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2020; 45:6019871. [DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Wall teichoic acids (WTAs) are charged glycopolymers containing phosphodiester-linked polyol units and represent one of the major components of Gram-positive cell envelope. WTAs have important physiological functions in cell division, gene transfer, surface adhesion, drug resistance and biofilm formation, and are critical virulence factors and vital determinants in mediating cell interaction with and tolerance to environmental factors. Here, we first briefly introduce WTA structure, biosynthesis and its regulation, and then summarize in detail four major physiological roles played by WTAs, i.e. WTA-mediated resistance to antimicrobials, virulence to mammalian cells, interaction with bacteriolytic enzymes and regulation of cell metabolism. We also review the applications of WTAs in these fields that are closely related to the human society, including antibacterial drug discovery targeting WTA biosynthesis, development of vaccines and antibodies regarding WTA-mediated pathogenicity, specific and sensitive detection of pathogens in food using WTAs as a surface epitope and regulation of WTA-related pathways for efficient microbial production of useful compounds. We also point out major problems remaining in these fields, and discuss some possible directions in the future exploration of WTA physiology and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Wu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710021, China
| | - Jing Han
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710021, China
| | - Guoli Gong
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710021, China
| | - Mattheos A G Koffas
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
| | - Jian Zha
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710021, China
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14
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Brown AR, Gordon RA, Hyland SN, Siegrist MS, Grimes CL. Chemical Biology Tools for Examining the Bacterial Cell Wall. Cell Chem Biol 2020; 27:1052-1062. [PMID: 32822617 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2020.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria surround themselves with cell walls to maintain cell rigidity and protect against environmental insults. Here we review chemical and biochemical techniques employed to study bacterial cell wall biogenesis. Recent advances including the ability to isolate critical intermediates, metabolic approaches for probe incorporation, and isotopic labeling techniques have provided critical insight into the biochemistry of cell walls. Fundamental manuscripts that have used these techniques to discover cell wall-interacting proteins, flippases, and cell wall stoichiometry are discussed in detail. The review highlights that these powerful methods and techniques have exciting potential to identify and characterize new targets for antibiotic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley R Brown
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Rebecca A Gordon
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-9298, USA; Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003-9298, USA
| | - Stephen N Hyland
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - M Sloan Siegrist
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-9298, USA; Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003-9298, USA
| | - Catherine L Grimes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
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15
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Li FKK, Rosell FI, Gale RT, Simorre JP, Brown ED, Strynadka NCJ. Crystallographic analysis of Staphylococcus aureus LcpA, the primary wall teichoic acid ligase. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:2629-2639. [PMID: 31969390 PMCID: PMC7049971 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.011469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gram-positive bacteria, including major clinical pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, are becoming increasingly drug-resistant. Their cell walls are composed of a thick layer of peptidoglycan (PG) modified by the attachment of wall teichoic acid (WTA), an anionic glycopolymer that is linked to pathogenicity and regulation of cell division and PG synthesis. The transfer of WTA from lipid carriers to PG, catalyzed by the LytR-CpsA-Psr (LCP) enzyme family, offers a unique extracellular target for the development of new anti-infective agents. Inhibitors of LCP enzymes have the potential to manage a wide range of bacterial infections because the target enzymes are implicated in the assembly of many other bacterial cell wall polymers, including capsular polysaccharide of streptococcal species and arabinogalactan of mycobacterial species. In this study, we present the first crystal structure of S. aureus LcpA with bound substrate at 1.9 Å resolution and those of Bacillus subtilis LCP enzymes, TagT, TagU, and TagV, in the apo form at 1.6-2.8 Å resolution. The structures of these WTA transferases provide new insight into the binding of lipid-linked WTA and enable assignment of the catalytic roles of conserved active-site residues. Furthermore, we identified potential subsites for binding the saccharide core of PG using computational docking experiments, and multiangle light-scattering experiments disclosed novel oligomeric states of the LCP enzymes. The crystal structures and modeled substrate-bound complexes of the LCP enzymes reported here provide insights into key features linked to substrate binding and catalysis and may aid the structure-guided design of specific LCP inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco K K Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada; Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Federico I Rosell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada; Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Robert T Gale
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Simorre
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Eric D Brown
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Natalie C J Strynadka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada; Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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16
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Do T, Page JE, Walker S. Uncovering the activities, biological roles, and regulation of bacterial cell wall hydrolases and tailoring enzymes. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:3347-3361. [PMID: 31974163 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev119.010155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria account for 1000-fold more biomass than humans. They vary widely in shape and size. The morphological diversity of bacteria is due largely to the different peptidoglycan-based cell wall structures that encase bacterial cells. Although the basic structure of peptidoglycan is highly conserved, consisting of long glycan strands that are cross-linked by short peptide chains, the mature cell wall is chemically diverse. Peptidoglycan hydrolases and cell wall-tailoring enzymes that regulate glycan strand length, the degree of cross-linking, and the addition of other modifications to peptidoglycan are central in determining the final architecture of the bacterial cell wall. Historically, it has been difficult to biochemically characterize these enzymes that act on peptidoglycan because suitable peptidoglycan substrates were inaccessible. In this review, we discuss fundamental aspects of bacterial cell wall synthesis, describe the regulation and diverse biochemical and functional activities of peptidoglycan hydrolases, and highlight recently developed methods to make and label defined peptidoglycan substrates. We also review how access to these substrates has now enabled biochemical studies that deepen our understanding of how bacterial cell wall enzymes cooperate to build a mature cell wall. Such improved understanding is critical to the development of new antibiotics that disrupt cell wall biogenesis, a process essential to the survival of bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Truc Do
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Julia E Page
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Suzanne Walker
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
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17
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Do T, Schaefer K, Santiago AG, Coe KA, Fernandes PB, Kahne D, Pinho MG, Walker S. Staphylococcus aureus cell growth and division are regulated by an amidase that trims peptides from uncrosslinked peptidoglycan. Nat Microbiol 2020; 5:291-303. [PMID: 31932712 PMCID: PMC7046134 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0632-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria are protected by a polymer of peptidoglycan that serves as an exoskeleton1. In Staphylococcus aureus, the peptidoglycan assembly enzymes relocate during the cell cycle from the periphery, where they are active during growth, to the division site where they build the partition between daughter cells2-4. But how peptidoglycan synthesis is regulated throughout the cell cycle is poorly understood5,6. Here, we used a transposon screen to identify a membrane protein complex that spatially regulates S. aureus peptidoglycan synthesis. This complex consists of an amidase that removes stem peptides from uncrosslinked peptidoglycan and a partner protein that controls its activity. Amidases typically hydrolyse crosslinked peptidoglycan between daughter cells so that they can separate7. However, this amidase controls cell growth. In its absence, peptidoglycan synthesis becomes spatially dysregulated, which causes cells to grow so large that cell division is defective. We show that the cell growth and division defects due to loss of this amidase can be mitigated by attenuating the polymerase activity of the major S. aureus peptidoglycan synthase. Our findings lead to a model wherein the amidase complex regulates the density of peptidoglycan assembly sites to control peptidoglycan synthase activity at a given subcellular location. Removal of stem peptides from peptidoglycan at the cell periphery promotes peptidoglycan synthase relocation to midcell during cell division. This mechanism ensures that cell expansion is properly coordinated with cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
- Truc Do
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kaitlin Schaefer
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Kathryn A Coe
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pedro B Fernandes
- Bacterial Cell Biology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Daniel Kahne
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Mariana G Pinho
- Bacterial Cell Biology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Suzanne Walker
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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18
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Hill MA, Lam AK, Reed P, Harney MC, Wilson BA, Moen EL, Wright SN, Pinho MG, Rice CV. BPEI-Induced Delocalization of PBP4 Potentiates β-Lactams against MRSA. Biochemistry 2019; 58:3813-3822. [PMID: 31429286 PMCID: PMC6941424 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
With its high morbidity rate and increasing resistance to treatment, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a grave concern in the medical field. In methicillin-susceptible strains, β-lactam antibiotics disable the penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) that cross-link the bacterial cell wall. However, methicillin-resistant strains have PBP2a and PBP4, which continue enzymatic activity in the presence of β-lactam antibiotics. The activity of PBP2a and PBP4 is linked to the presence of wall teichoic acid (WTA); thus, WTA has emerged as a target for antibiotic drug discovery. In this work, we disable WTA in situ using its anionic phosphodiester backbone to attract cationic branched polyethylenimine (BPEI). Data show that BPEI removes β-lactam resistance in common MRSA strains and clinical isolates. Fluorescence microscopy was used to investigate this mechanism of action. The results indicate that BPEI prevents the localization of PBP4 to the cell division septum, thereby changing the cellular morphology and inhibiting cell division. Although PBP4 is not required for septum formation, proper cell division and morphology require WTA; BPEI prevents this essential function. The combination of BPEI and β-lactams is bactericidal and synergistic. Because BPEI allows us to study the role of WTA in the cell wall without genetic mutation or altered translocation of biomolecules and/or their precursors, this approach can help revise existing paradigms regarding the role of WTA in prokaryotic biochemistry at every growth stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A. Hill
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Anh K. Lam
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Patricia Reed
- Laboratory of Bacterial Cell Biology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biologica António Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Av. da Repùblica, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Madeline C. Harney
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Beatrice A. Wilson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Erika L. Moen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Summer N. Wright
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Mariana G. Pinho
- Laboratory of Bacterial Cell Biology, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biologica António Xavier, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Av. da Repùblica, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Charles V. Rice
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
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19
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Wang J, Cooper DL, Zhan W, Wu D, He H, Sun S, Lovett ST, Xu B. Diglycine Enables Rapid Intrabacterial Hydrolysis for Activating Anbiotics against Gram-negative Bacteria. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:10631-10634. [PMID: 31167041 PMCID: PMC6656590 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201905230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial drug resistance demands novel approaches for improving the efficacy of antibiotics, especially against Gram-negative bacteria. Herein, we report that conjugating a diglycine (GG) to an antibiotic prodrug drastically accelerates intrabacterial ester-bond hydrolysis required for activating the antibiotic. Specifically, the attachment of GG to chloramphenicol succinate (CLsu) generates CLsuGG, which exhibits about an order of magnitude higher inhibitory efficacy than CLsu against Escherichia coli. Further studies reveal that CLsuGG undergoes rapid hydrolysis, catalyzed by intrabacterial esterases (e.g., BioH and YjfP), to generate chloramphenicol (CL) in E. coli. Importantly, the conjugate exhibits lower cytotoxicity to bone marrow stromal cells than CL. Structural analogues of CLsuGG indicate that the conjugation of GG to an antibiotic prodrug is an effective strategy for accelerating enzymatic prodrug hydrolysis and enhancing the antibacterial efficacy of antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqing Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA, 02454, USA
| | - Deani L Cooper
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA, 02454, USA
| | - Wenjun Zhan
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA, 02454, USA
| | - Difei Wu
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA, 02454, USA
| | - Hongjian He
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA, 02454, USA
| | - Shenghuan Sun
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA, 02454, USA
| | - Susan T Lovett
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA, 02454, USA
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA, 02454, USA
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20
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Wang J, Cooper DL, Zhan W, Wu D, He H, Sun S, Lovett ST, Xu B. Diglycine Enables Rapid Intrabacterial Hydrolysis for Activating Anbiotics against Gram‐negative Bacteria. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201905230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqing Wang
- Department of Chemistry Brandeis University 415 South Street Waltham MA 02454 USA
| | - Deani L. Cooper
- Department of Biology Brandeis University 415 South Street Waltham MA 02454 USA
| | - Wenjun Zhan
- Department of Chemistry Brandeis University 415 South Street Waltham MA 02454 USA
| | - Difei Wu
- Department of Chemistry Brandeis University 415 South Street Waltham MA 02454 USA
| | - Hongjian He
- Department of Chemistry Brandeis University 415 South Street Waltham MA 02454 USA
| | - Shenghuan Sun
- Department of Chemistry Brandeis University 415 South Street Waltham MA 02454 USA
| | - Susan T. Lovett
- Department of Biology Brandeis University 415 South Street Waltham MA 02454 USA
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Chemistry Brandeis University 415 South Street Waltham MA 02454 USA
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21
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Structure and Mechanism of LcpA, a Phosphotransferase That Mediates Glycosylation of a Gram-Positive Bacterial Cell Wall-Anchored Protein. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.01580-18. [PMID: 30782654 PMCID: PMC6381275 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01580-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In Gram-positive bacteria, the conserved LCP family enzymes studied to date are known to attach glycopolymers, including wall teichoic acid, to the cell envelope. It is unknown if these enzymes catalyze glycosylation of surface proteins. We show here in the actinobacterium Actinomyces oris by X-ray crystallography and biochemical analyses that A. oris LcpA is an LCP homolog, possessing pyrophosphatase and phosphotransferase activities known to belong to LCP enzymes that require conserved catalytic Arg residues, while harboring a unique disulfide bond critical for protein stability. Importantly, LcpA mediates glycosylation of the surface protein GspA via phosphotransferase activity. Our studies provide the first experimental evidence of an archetypal LCP enzyme that promotes glycosylation of a cell wall-anchored protein in Gram-positive bacteria. The widely conserved LytR-CpsA-Psr (LCP) family of enzymes in Gram-positive bacteria is known to attach glycopolymers, including wall teichoic acid, to the cell envelope. However, it is undetermined if these enzymes are capable of catalyzing glycan attachment to surface proteins. In the actinobacterium Actinomyces oris, an LCP homolog here named LcpA is genetically linked to GspA, a glycoprotein that is covalently attached to the bacterial peptidoglycan by the housekeeping sortase SrtA. Here we show by X-ray crystallography that LcpA adopts an α-β-α structural fold, akin to the conserved LCP domain, which harbors characteristic catalytic arginine residues. Consistently, alanine substitution for these residues, R149 and R266, abrogates GspA glycosylation, leading to accumulation of an intermediate form termed GspALMM, which is also observed in the lcpA mutant. Unlike other LCP proteins characterized to date, LcpA contains a stabilizing disulfide bond, mutations of which severely affect LcpA stability. In line with the established role of disulfide bond formation in oxidative protein folding in A. oris, deletion of vkor, coding for the thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase VKOR, also significantly reduces LcpA stability. Biochemical studies demonstrated that the recombinant LcpA enzyme possesses pyrophosphatase activity, enabling hydrolysis of diphosphate bonds. Furthermore, this recombinant enzyme, which weakly interacts with GspA in solution, catalyzes phosphotransfer to GspALMM. Altogether, the findings support that A. oris LcpA is an archetypal LCP enzyme that glycosylates a cell wall-anchored protein, a process that may be conserved in Actinobacteria, given the conservation of LcpA and GspA in these high-GC-content organisms.
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22
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Romaniuk JAH, Cegelski L. Peptidoglycan and Teichoic Acid Levels and Alterations in Staphylococcus aureus by Cell-Wall and Whole-Cell Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Biochemistry 2018; 57:3966-3975. [PMID: 29806458 PMCID: PMC6309457 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Gram-positive bacteria surround themselves with a multilayered macromolecular cell wall that is essential to cell survival and serves as a major target for antibiotics. The cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus is composed of two major structural components, peptidoglycan (PG) and wall teichoic acid (WTA), together creating a heterogeneous and insoluble matrix that poses a challenge to quantitative compositional analysis. Here, we present 13C cross polarization magic angle spinning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of intact cell walls, purified PG, and purified WTA. The spectra reveal the clear molecular differences in the two polymers and enable quantification of PG and WTA in isolated cell walls, an attractive alternative to estimating teichoic acid content from a phosphate analysis of completely pyrolyzed cell walls. Furthermore, we discovered that unique PG and WTA spectral signatures could be identified in whole-cell NMR spectra and used to compare PG and WTA levels among intact bacterial cell samples. The distinguishing whole-cell 13C NMR contributions associated with PG include the GlcNAc-MurNAc sugar carbons and glycyl α-carbons. WTA contributes carbons from the phosphoribitol backbone. Distinguishing 15N spectral signatures include glycyl amide nitrogens in PG and the esterified d-alanyl amine nitrogens in WTA. 13C NMR analysis was performed with samples at natural abundance and included 10 whole-cell sample comparisons. Changes consistent with altered PG and WTA content were detected in whole-cell spectra of bacteria harvested at different growth times and in cells treated with tunicamycin. This use of whole-cell NMR provides quantitative parameters of composition in the context of whole-cell activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lynette Cegelski
- Stanford University, Department of Chemistry, 380 Roth Way, Stanford CA 94305
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23
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Caveney NA, Li FK, Strynadka NC. Enzyme structures of the bacterial peptidoglycan and wall teichoic acid biogenesis pathways. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2018; 53:45-58. [PMID: 29885610 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2018.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The bacterial cell wall is a complex polymeric structure with essential roles in defence, survival and pathogenesis. Common to both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria is the mesh-like peptidoglycan sacculus that surrounds the outer leaflet of the cytoplasmic membrane. Recent crystallographic studies of enzymes that comprise the peptidoglycan biosynthetic pathway have led to significant new understanding of all stages. These include initial multi-step cytosolic formation of sugar-pentapeptide precursors, transfer of the precursors to activated polyprenyl lipids at the membrane inner leaflet and flippase mediated relocalization of the resulting lipid II precursors to the outer leaflet where glycopolymerization and subsequent peptide crosslinking are finalized. Additional, species-specific enzymes allow customized peptidoglycan modifications and biosynthetic regulation that are important to bacterial virulence and survival. These studies have reinforced the unique and specific catalytic mechanisms at play in cell wall biogenesis and expanded the atomic foundation to develop novel, structure guided, antibacterial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathanael A Caveney
- University of British Columbia, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Center for Blood Research, Rm 4350 Life Sciences Center, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Franco Kk Li
- University of British Columbia, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Center for Blood Research, Rm 4350 Life Sciences Center, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Natalie Cj Strynadka
- University of British Columbia, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Center for Blood Research, Rm 4350 Life Sciences Center, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver V6T 1Z3 Canada.
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