Dynamics of the context-specific translation arrest by chloramphenicol and linezolid

Paenilamicins from the honey bee pathogen Paenibacillus larvae are context-specific translocation inhibitors of protein synthesis

The paenilamicins are a group of hybrid non-ribosomal peptide-polyketide compounds produced by the honey bee pathogen Paenibacillus larvae that display activity against Gram-positive pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus. While paenilamicins have been shown to inhibit protein synthesis, their mechanism of action has remained unclear. Here, we have determined structures of the paenilamicin PamB2 stalled ribosomes, revealing a unique binding site on the small 30S subunit located between the A- and P-site tRNAs. In addition to providing a precise description of interactions of PamB2 with the ribosome, the structures also rationalize the resistance mechanisms utilized by P. larvae. We could further demonstrate that PamB2 interferes with the translocation of mRNA and tRNAs through the ribosome during translation elongation, and that this inhibitory activity is influenced by the presence of modifications at position 37 of the A-site tRNA. Collectively, our study defines the paenilamicins as a new class of context-specific translocation inhibitors.

The ribosome as a small-molecule sensor

Sensing small molecules is crucial for microorganisms to adapt their genetic programs to changes in their environment. Arrest peptides encoded by short regulatory open reading frames program the ribosomes that translate them to undergo translational arrest in response to specific metabolites. Ribosome stalling in turn controls the expression of downstream genes on the same messenger RNA by translational or transcriptional means. In this review, we present our current understanding of the mechanisms by which ribosomes translating arrest peptides sense different metabolites, such as antibiotics or amino acids, to control gene expression.

Euglena mutabilis exists in a FAB consortium with microbes that enhance cadmium tolerance

BACKGROUND

Synthetic algal-fungal and algal-bacterial cultures have been investigated as a means to enhance the technological applications of the algae. This inclusion of other microbes has enhanced growth and improved stress tolerance of the algal culture. The goal of the current study was to investigate natural microbial consortia to gain an understanding of the occurrence and benefits of these associations in nature. The photosynthetic protist Euglena mutabilis is often found in association with other microbes in acidic environments with high heavy metal (HM) concentrations. This may suggest that microbial interactions are essential for the protist's ability to tolerate these extreme environments. Our study assessed the Cd tolerance of a natural fungal-algal-bacterial (FAB) association whereby the algae is E. mutabilis.

RESULTS

This study provides the first assessment of antibiotic and antimycotic agents on an E. mutabilis culture. The results indicate that antibiotic and antimycotic applications significantly decreased the viability of E. mutabilis cells when they were also exposed to Cd. Similar antibiotic treatments of E. gracilis cultures had variable or non-significant impacts on Cd tolerance. E. gracilis also recovered better after pre-treatment with antibiotics and Cd than did E. mutabilis. The recoveries were assessed by heterotrophic growth without antibiotics or Cd. In contrast, both Euglena species displayed increased chlorophyll production upon Cd exposure. PacBio full-length amplicon sequencing and targeted Sanger sequencing identified the microbial species present in the E. mutabilis culture to be the fungus Talaromyces sp. and the bacterium Acidiphilium acidophilum.

CONCLUSION

This study uncovers a possible fungal, algal, and bacterial relationship, what we refer to as a FAB consortium. The members of this consortium interact to enhance the response to Cd exposure. This results in a E. mutabilis culture that has a higher tolerance to Cd than the axenic E. gracilis. The description of this interaction provides a basis for explore the benefits of natural interactions. This will provide knowledge and direction for use when creating or maintaining FAB interactions for biotechnological purposes, including bioremediation.

Central metabolism is a key player in E. coli biofilm stimulation by sub-MIC antibiotics

Exposure of Escherichia coli to sub-inhibitory antibiotics stimulates biofilm formation through poorly characterized mechanisms. Using a high-throughput Congo Red binding assay to report on biofilm matrix production, we screened ~4000 E. coli K12 deletion mutants for deficiencies in this biofilm stimulation response. We screened using three different antibiotics to identify core components of the biofilm stimulation response. Mutants lacking acnA, nuoE, or lpdA failed to respond to sub-MIC cefixime and novobiocin, implicating central metabolism and aerobic respiration in biofilm stimulation. These genes are members of the ArcA/B regulon-controlled by a respiration-sensitive two-component system. Mutants of arcA and arcB had a 'pre-activated' phenotype, where biofilm formation was already high relative to wild type in vehicle control conditions, and failed to increase further with the addition of sub-MIC cefixime. Using a tetrazolium dye and an in vivo NADH sensor, we showed spatial co-localization of increased metabolic activity with sub-lethal concentrations of the bactericidal antibiotics cefixime and novobiocin. Supporting a role for respiratory stress, the biofilm stimulation response to cefixime and novobiocin was inhibited when nitrate was provided as an alternative electron acceptor. Deletion of a gene encoding part of the machinery for respiring nitrate abolished its ameliorating effects, and nitrate respiration increased during growth with sub-MIC cefixime. Finally, in probing the generalizability of biofilm stimulation, we found that the stimulation response to translation inhibitors, unlike other antibiotic classes, was minimally affected by nitrate supplementation, suggesting that targeting the ribosome stimulates biofilm formation in distinct ways. By characterizing the biofilm stimulation response to sub-MIC antibiotics at a systems level, we identified multiple avenues for design of therapeutics that impair bacterial stress management.

Bleaching-resistant, Near-continuous Single-molecule Fluorescence and FRET Based on Fluorogenic and Transient DNA Binding

Photobleaching of fluorescent probes limits the observation span of typical single-molecule fluorescence measurements and hinders observation of dynamics at long timescales. Here, we present a general strategy to circumvent photobleaching by replenishing fluorescent probes via transient binding of fluorogenic DNAs to complementary DNA strands attached to a target molecule. Our strategy allows observation of near-continuous single-molecule fluorescence for more than an hour, a timescale two orders of magnitude longer than the typical photobleaching time of single fluorophores under our conditions. Using two orthogonal sequences, we show that our method is adaptable to Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) and that can be used to study the conformational dynamics of dynamic structures, such as DNA Holliday junctions, for extended periods. By adjusting the temporal resolution and observation span, our approach enables capturing the conformational dynamics of proteins and nucleic acids over a wide range of timescales.

Atlas of mRNA translation and decay for bacteria

Regulation of messenger RNA stability is pivotal for programmed gene expression in bacteria and is achieved by a myriad of molecular mechanisms. By bulk sequencing of 5' monophosphorylated mRNA decay intermediates (5'P), we show that cotranslational mRNA degradation is conserved among both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. We demonstrate that, in species with 5'-3' exonucleases, the exoribonuclease RNase J tracks the trailing ribosome to produce an in vivo single-nucleotide toeprint of the 5' position of the ribosome. In other species lacking 5'-3' exonucleases, ribosome positioning alters endonucleolytic cleavage sites. Using our metadegradome (5'P degradome) sequencing approach, we characterize 5'P mRNA decay intermediates in 96 species including Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Synechocystis spp. and Prevotella copri and identify codon- and gene-level ribosome stalling responses to stress and drug treatment. We also apply 5'P sequencing to complex clinical and environmental microbiomes and demonstrate that metadegradome sequencing provides fast, species-specific posttranscriptional characterization of responses to drug or environmental perturbations. Finally we produce a degradome atlas for 96 species to enable analysis of mechanisms of RNA degradation in bacteria. Our work paves the way for the application of metadegradome sequencing to investigation of posttranscriptional regulation in unculturable species and complex microbial communities.

Chloramphenicol Derivatization in Its Primary Hydroxyl Group with Basic Amino Acids Leads to New Pharmacophores with High Antimicrobial Activity

In a previous study published by our group, successful modification of the antibiotic chloramphenicol (CHL) was reported, which was achieved by replacing the dichloroacetyl tail with alpha and beta amino acids, resulting in promising new antibacterial pharmacophores. In this study, CHL was further modified by linking the basic amino acids lysine, ornithine, and histidine to the primary hydroxyl group of CHL via triazole, carbamate, or amide bonding. Our results showed that while linking the basic amino acids retained antibacterial activity, it was somewhat reduced compared to CHL. However, in vitro testing demonstrated that all derivatives were comparable in activity to CHL and competed for the same ribosomal binding site with radioactive chloramphenicol. The amino acid-CHL tethering modes were evaluated either with carbamate (7, 8) derivatives, which exhibited higher activity, or with amide- (4-6) or triazole-bridged compounds (1-3), which were equally potent. Our findings suggest that these new pharmacophores have potential as antimicrobial agents, though further optimization is needed.

Conjugates of Chloramphenicol Amine and Berberine as Antimicrobial Agents

In order to obtain antimicrobial compounds with improved properties, new conjugates comprising two different biologically active agents within a single chimeric molecule based on chloramphenicol (CHL) and a hydrophobic cation were synthesized and studied. Chloramphenicol amine (CAM), derived from the ribosome-targeting antibiotic CHL, and the plant isoquinoline alkaloid berberine (BER) are connected by alkyl linkers of different lengths in structures of these conjugates. Using competition binding, double reporter system, and toeprinting assays, we showed that synthesized CAM-Cn-BER compounds bound to the bacterial ribosome and inhibited protein synthesis like the parent CHL. The mechanism of action of CAM-C5-BER and CAM-C8-BER on the process of bacterial translations was similar to CHL. Experiments with bacteria demonstrated that CAM-Cn-BERs suppressed the growth of laboratory strains of CHL and macrolides-resistant bacteria. CAM-C8-BER acted against mycobacteria and more selectively inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria than the parent CHL and the berberine derivative lacking the CAM moiety (CH₃-C8-BER). Using a potential-sensitive fluorescent probe, we found that CAM-C8-BER significantly reduced the membrane potential in B. subtilis cells. Crystal violet assays were used to demonstrate the absence of induction of biofilm formation under the action of CAM-C8-BER on E. coli bacteria. Thus, we showed that CAM-C8-BER could act both on the ribosome and on the cell membrane of bacteria, with the alkylated berberine fragment of the compound making a significant contribution to the inhibitory effect on bacterial growth. Moreover, we showed that CAM-Cn-BERs did not inhibit eukaryotic translation in vitro and were non-toxic for eukaryotic cells.

Visualizing translation dynamics at atomic detail inside a bacterial cell

Translation is the fundamental process of protein synthesis and is catalysed by the ribosome in all living cells1. Here we use advances in cryo-electron tomography and sub-tomogram analysis2,3 to visualize the structural dynamics of translation inside the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae. To interpret the functional states in detail, we first obtain a high-resolution in-cell average map of all translating ribosomes and build an atomic model for the M. pneumoniae ribosome that reveals distinct extensions of ribosomal proteins. Classification then resolves 13 ribosome states that differ in their conformation and composition. These recapitulate major states that were previously resolved in vitro, and reflect intermediates during active translation. On the basis of these states, we animate translation elongation inside native cells and show how antibiotics reshape the cellular translation landscapes. During translation elongation, ribosomes often assemble in defined three-dimensional arrangements to form polysomes4. By mapping the intracellular organization of translating ribosomes, we show that their association into polysomes involves a local coordination mechanism that is mediated by the ribosomal protein L9. We propose that an extended conformation of L9 within polysomes mitigates collisions to facilitate translation fidelity. Our work thus demonstrates the feasibility of visualizing molecular processes at atomic detail inside cells.

Oxazolidinones: mechanisms of resistance and mobile genetic elements involved

The oxazolidinones (linezolid and tedizolid) are last-resort antimicrobial agents used for the treatment of severe infections in humans caused by MDR Gram-positive bacteria. They bind to the peptidyl transferase centre of the bacterial ribosome inhibiting protein synthesis. Even if the majority of Gram-positive bacteria remain susceptible to oxazolidinones, resistant isolates have been reported worldwide. Apart from mutations, affecting mostly the 23S rDNA genes and selected ribosomal proteins, acquisition of resistance genes (cfr and cfr-like, optrA and poxtA), often associated with mobile genetic elements [such as non-conjugative and conjugative plasmids, transposons, integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs), prophages and translocatable units], plays a critical role in oxazolidinone resistance. In this review, we briefly summarize the current knowledge on oxazolidinone resistance mechanisms and provide an overview on the diversity of the mobile genetic elements carrying oxazolidinone resistance genes in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Structural basis for the inability of chloramphenicol to inhibit peptide bond formation in the presence of A-site glycine

Ribosome serves as a universal molecular machine capable of synthesis of all the proteins in a cell. Small-molecule inhibitors, such as ribosome-targeting antibiotics, can compromise the catalytic versatility of the ribosome in a context-dependent fashion, preventing transpeptidation only between particular combinations of substrates. Classic peptidyl transferase center inhibitor chloramphenicol (CHL) fails to inhibit transpeptidation reaction when the incoming A site acceptor substrate is glycine, and the molecular basis for this phenomenon is unknown. Here, we present a set of high-resolution X-ray crystal structures that explain why CHL is unable to inhibit peptide bond formation between the incoming glycyl-tRNA and a nascent peptide that otherwise is conducive to the drug action. Our structures reveal that fully accommodated glycine residue can co-exist in the A site with the ribosome-bound CHL. Moreover, binding of CHL to a ribosome complex carrying glycyl-tRNA does not affect the positions of the reacting substrates, leaving the peptide bond formation reaction unperturbed. These data exemplify how small-molecule inhibitors can reshape the A-site amino acid binding pocket rendering it permissive only for specific amino acid residues and rejective for the other substrates extending our detailed understanding of the modes of action of ribosomal antibiotics.

Expression of Bacillus subtilis ABCF antibiotic resistance factor VmlR is regulated by RNA polymerase pausing, transcription attenuation, translation attenuation and (p)ppGpp

Since antibiotic resistance is often associated with a fitness cost, bacteria employ multi-layered regulatory mechanisms to ensure that expression of resistance factors is restricted to times of antibiotic challenge. In Bacillus subtilis, the chromosomally-encoded ABCF ATPase VmlR confers resistance to pleuromutilin, lincosamide and type A streptogramin translation inhibitors. Here we show that vmlR expression is regulated by translation attenuation and transcription attenuation mechanisms. Antibiotic-induced ribosome stalling during translation of an upstream open reading frame in the vmlR leader region prevents formation of an anti-antiterminator structure, leading to the formation of an antiterminator structure that prevents intrinsic termination. Thus, transcription in the presence of antibiotic induces vmlR expression. We also show that NusG-dependent RNA polymerase pausing in the vmlR leader prevents leaky expression in the absence of antibiotic. Furthermore, we demonstrate that induction of VmlR expression by compromised protein synthesis does not require the ability of VmlR to rescue the translational defect, as exemplified by constitutive induction of VmlR by ribosome assembly defects. Rather, the specificity of induction is determined by the antibiotic's ability to stall the ribosome on the regulatory open reading frame located within the vmlR leader. Finally, we demonstrate the involvement of (p)ppGpp-mediated signalling in antibiotic-induced VmlR expression.

Plasma colorimetric aptasensor for the detection of chloramphenicol in honey based on cage Au@AuNPs and cascade hybridization chain reaction

A plasma colorimetric aptasensor was developed for rapid determination of chloramphenicol (CAP) in honey on site. Herein, cage gold shell@core nanoparticles (Au@AuNPs) were synthesized to enhance signal response and broaden the linear range. In addition, aptamer-based cascade hybridization chain reaction (cHCR), consisting of HP1, HP2, HP3, and HP4, was also designed for signal amplification and specific analysis. In this assay, HP1 and HP4 were immobilized on the surface of cage Au@AuNPs. In the presence of CAP, cHCR was triggered, and frond-like DNA products were formed, which made the distance among the cage Au@AuNPs closer and the system color changed from red to deep purple. Qualitative and quantitative analysis were carried out according to color changes and UV-Vis spectra. Under the optimized conditions, the wavelength of UV-Vis absorption peak exhibited a good linear relationship with CAP concentration in the range of 5.0 to 500 nmol/L with the detection limit of 1.2 nmol/L (S/N = 3). This aptasensor also showed good specificity for CAP detection compared with other antibiotics similar to the target analyte. Furthermore, the colorimetric aptasensor was successfully applied to the detection of CAP in honey with recoveries of 88.0-107.6%. This cHCR-based aptasensing for CAP possesses high sensitivity, good selectivity, low cost and excellent stability, and could be extended to detect a wide variety of other small molecular analytes, nucleic acids or proteins. Therefore, the versatile method might become a potential alternative tool in food analysis and environmental monitoring.

Structural basis for PoxtA-mediated resistance to phenicol and oxazolidinone antibiotics

PoxtA and OptrA are ATP binding cassette (ABC) proteins of the F subtype (ABCF). They confer resistance to oxazolidinone and phenicol antibiotics, such as linezolid and chloramphenicol, which stall translating ribosomes when certain amino acids are present at a defined position in the nascent polypeptide chain. These proteins are often encoded on mobile genetic elements, facilitating their rapid spread amongst Gram-positive bacteria, and are thought to confer resistance by binding to the ribosome and dislodging the bound antibiotic. However, the mechanistic basis of this resistance remains unclear. Here we refine the PoxtA spectrum of action, demonstrate alleviation of linezolid-induced context-dependent translational stalling, and present cryo-electron microscopy structures of PoxtA in complex with the Enterococcus faecalis 70S ribosome. PoxtA perturbs the CCA-end of the P-site tRNA, causing it to shift by ∼4 Å out of the ribosome, corresponding to a register shift of approximately one amino acid for an attached nascent polypeptide chain. We postulate that the perturbation of the P-site tRNA by PoxtA thereby alters the conformation of the attached nascent chain to disrupt the drug binding site.

PoxtA confers resistance to ribosome-targeting oxazolidinone (linezolid) and chloramphenicol antibiotics. Here, Crowe-McAuliffe et al. provide structural insights into how binding of PoxtA to the ribosome indirectly promotes drug dissociation.

Can DyeCycling break the photobleaching limit in single-molecule FRET?

Biomolecular systems, such as proteins, crucially rely on dynamic processes at the nanoscale. Detecting biomolecular nanodynamics is therefore key to obtaining a mechanistic understanding of the energies and molecular driving forces that control biomolecular systems. Single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) is a powerful technique to observe in real-time how a single biomolecule proceeds through its functional cycle involving a sequence of distinct structural states. Currently, this technique is fundamentally limited by irreversible photobleaching, causing the untimely end of the experiment and thus, a narrow temporal bandwidth of ≤ 3 orders of magnitude. Here, we introduce "DyeCycling", a measurement scheme with which we aim to break the photobleaching limit in smFRET. We introduce the concept of spontaneous dye replacement by simulations, and as an experimental proof-of-concept, we demonstrate the intermittent observation of a single biomolecule for one hour with a time resolution of milliseconds. Theoretically, DyeCycling can provide > 100-fold more information per single molecule than conventional smFRET. We discuss the experimental implementation of DyeCycling, its current and fundamental limitations, and specific biological use cases. Given its general simplicity and versatility, DyeCycling has the potential to revolutionize the field of time-resolved smFRET, where it may serve to unravel a wealth of biomolecular dynamics by bridging from milliseconds to the hour range.

ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

Supplementary material is available for this article at 10.1007/s12274-022-4420-5 and is accessible for authorized users.

Peptidyl transferase center decompaction and structural constraints during early protein elongation on the ribosome

Peptide bond formation on the ribosome requires that aminoacyl-tRNAs and peptidyl-tRNAs are properly positioned on the A site and the P site of the peptidyl transferase center (PTC) so that nucleophilic attack can occur. Here we analyse some constraints associated with the induced-fit mechanism of the PTC, that promotes this positioning through a compaction around the aminoacyl ester orchestrated by U2506. The physical basis of PTC decompaction, that allows the elongated peptidyl-tRNA to free itself from that state and move to the P site of the PTC, is still unclear. From thermodynamics considerations and an analysis of published ribosome structures, the present work highlights the rational of this mechanism, in which the free-energy released by the new peptide bond is used to kick U2506 away from the reaction center. Furthermore, we show the evidence that decompaction is impaired when the nascent peptide is not yet anchored inside the exit tunnel, which may contribute to explain why the first rounds of elongation are inefficient, an issue that has attracted much interest for about two decades. Results in this field are examined in the light of the present analysis and a physico-chemical correlation in the genetic code, which suggest that elementary constraints associated with the size of the side-chain of the amino acids penalize early elongation events.

Rickettsia conorii survival in THP-1 macrophages involves host lipid droplet alterations and active rickettsial protein production

Rickettsia conorii is a Gram-negative, cytosolic intracellular bacterium that has classically been investigated in terms of endothelial cell infection. However, R. conorii and other human pathogenic Rickettsia species have evolved mechanisms to grow in various cell types, including macrophages, during mammalian infection. During infection of these phagocytes, R. conorii shifts the host cell's overall metabolism towards an anti-inflammatory M2 response, metabolically defined by an increase in host lipid metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. Lipid metabolism has more recently been identified as a key regulator of host homeostasis through modulation of immune signalling and metabolism. Intracellular pathogens have adapted mechanisms of hijacking host metabolic pathways including host lipid catabolic pathways for various functions required for growth and survival. In the present study, we hypothesised that alterations of host lipid droplets initiated by lipid catabolic pathways during R. conorii infection is important for bacterial survival in macrophages. Herein, we determined that host lipid droplet modulation is initiated early during R. conorii infection, and these alterations rely on active bacteria and lipid catabolic pathways. We also find that these lipid catabolic pathways are essential for efficient bacterial survival. Unlike the mechanisms used by other intracellular pathogens, the catabolism of lipid droplets induced by R. conorii infection is independent of upstream host peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARα) signalling. Inhibition of PPARɣ signalling and lipid droplet accumulation in host cells cause a significant decrease in R. conorii survival suggesting a negative correlation with lipid droplet production and R. conorii survival. Together, these results strongly suggest that the modulation of lipid droplets in macrophage cells infected by R. conorii is an important and underappreciated aspect of the infection process. TAKE AWAYS: Host lipid droplets are differentially altered in early and replicative stages of THP-1 macrophage infection with R. conorii. Lipid droplet alterations are initiated in a bacterial-dependent manner and do not require host peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α or ɣ activation. Pharmacological inhibition of host lipid catabolic processes during R. conorii infection indicates a requirement of lipid catabolism for bacterial survival and initiation of lipid droplet modulation. A significant increase in host lipid droplets during infection has a negative impact on R. conorii survival in THP-1 macrophages.

Interaction of Chloramphenicol Cationic Peptide Analogues with the Ribosome

Virtual screening of all possible tripeptide analogues of chloramphenicol was performed using molecular docking to evaluate their affinity to bacterial ribosomes. Chloramphenicol analogues that demonstrated the lowest calculated energy of interaction with ribosomes were synthesized. Chloramphenicol amine (CAM) derivatives, which contained specific peptide fragments from the proline-rich antimicrobial peptides were produced. It was demonstrated using displacement of the fluorescent erythromycin analogue from its complex with ribosomes that the novel peptide analogues of chloramphenicol were able to bind bacterial ribosome; all the designed tripeptide analogues and one of the chloramphenicol amine derivatives containing fragment of the proline-rich antimicrobial peptides exhibited significantly greater affinity to Escherichia coli ribosome than chloramphenicol. Correlation between the calculated and experimentally evaluated levels of the ligand efficiencies was observed. In vitro protein biosynthesis inhibition assay revealed, that the RAW-CAM analogue shows activity at the level of chloramphenicol. These data were confirmed by the chemical probing assay, according to which binding pattern of this analogue in the nascent peptide exit tunnel was similar to chloramphenicol.

Ribosome Protection Proteins-"New" Players in the Global Arms Race with Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogens

Bacteria have evolved an array of mechanisms enabling them to resist the inhibitory effect of antibiotics, a significant proportion of which target the ribosome. Indeed, resistance mechanisms have been identified for nearly every antibiotic that is currently used in clinical practice. With the ever-increasing list of multi-drug-resistant pathogens and very few novel antibiotics in the pharmaceutical pipeline, treatable infections are likely to become life-threatening once again. Most of the prevalent resistance mechanisms are well understood and their clinical significance is recognized. In contrast, ribosome protection protein-mediated resistance has flown under the radar for a long time and has been considered a minor factor in the clinical setting. Not until the recent discovery of the ATP-binding cassette family F protein-mediated resistance in an extensive list of human pathogens has the significance of ribosome protection proteins been truly appreciated. Understanding the underlying resistance mechanism has the potential to guide the development of novel therapeutic approaches to evade or overcome the resistance. In this review, we discuss the latest developments regarding ribosome protection proteins focusing on the current antimicrobial arsenal and pharmaceutical pipeline as well as potential implications for the future of fighting bacterial infections in the time of "superbugs."

A translational riboswitch coordinates nascent transcription-translation coupling

Bacterial messenger RNA (mRNA) synthesis by RNA polymerase (RNAP) and first-round translation by the ribosome are often coupled to regulate gene expression, yet how coupling is established and maintained is ill understood. Here, we develop biochemical and single-molecule fluorescence approaches to probe the dynamics of RNAP-ribosome interactions on an mRNA with a translational preQ₁-sensing riboswitch in its 5' untranslated region. Binding of preQ₁ leads to the occlusion of the ribosome binding site (RBS), inhibiting translation initiation. We demonstrate that RNAP poised within the mRNA leader region promotes ribosomal 30S subunit binding, antagonizing preQ₁-induced RBS occlusion, and that the RNAP-30S bridging transcription factors NusG and RfaH distinctly enhance 30S recruitment and retention, respectively. We further find that, while 30S-mRNA interaction significantly impedes RNAP in the absence of translation, an actively translating ribosome promotes productive transcription. A model emerges wherein mRNA structure and transcription factors coordinate to dynamically modulate the efficiency of transcription-translation coupling.

New Chloramphenicol Derivatives with a Modified Dichloroacetyl Tail as Potential Antimicrobial Agents

To combat the dangerously increasing pathogenic resistance to antibiotics, we developed new pharmacophores by chemically modifying a known antibiotic, which remains to this day the most familiar and productive way for novel antibiotic development. We used as a starting material the chloramphenicol base, which is the free amine group counterpart of the known chloramphenicol molecule antibiotic upon removal of its dichloroacetyl tail. To this free amine group, we tethered alpha- and beta-amino acids, mainly glycine, lysine, histidine, ornithine and/or beta-alanine. Furthermore, we introduced additional modifications to the newly incorporated amine groups either with protecting groups triphenylmethyl- (Trt) and tert-butoxycarbonyl- (Boc) or with the dichloroacetic group found also in the chloramphenicol molecule. The antimicrobial activity of all compounds was tested both in vivo and in vitro, and according to the results, the bis-dichloroacetyl derivative of ornithine displayed the highest antimicrobial activity both in vivo and in vitro and seems to be a dynamic new pharmacophore with room for further modification and development.

trans-Translation inhibitors bind to a novel site on the ribosome and clear Neisseria gonorrhoeae in vivo

Bacterial ribosome rescue pathways that remove ribosomes stalled on mRNAs during translation have been proposed as novel antibiotic targets because they are essential in bacteria and are not conserved in humans. We previously reported the discovery of a family of acylaminooxadiazoles that selectively inhibit trans-translation, the main ribosome rescue pathway in bacteria. Here, we report optimization of the pharmacokinetic and antibiotic properties of the acylaminooxadiazoles, producing MBX-4132, which clears multiple-drug resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in mice after a single oral dose. Single particle cryogenic-EM studies of non-stop ribosomes show that acylaminooxadiazoles bind to a unique site near the peptidyl-transfer center and significantly alter the conformation of ribosomal protein bL27, suggesting a novel mechanism for specific inhibition of trans-translation by these molecules. These results show that trans-translation is a viable therapeutic target and reveal a new conformation within the bacterial ribosome that may be critical for ribosome rescue pathways.

A snapshot of translation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis during exponential growth and nutrient starvation revealed by ribosome profiling

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis, can undergo prolonged periods of non-replicating persistence in the host. The mechanisms underlying this are not fully understood, but translational regulation is thought to play a role. A large proportion of mRNA transcripts expressed in M. tuberculosis lack canonical bacterial translation initiation signals, but little is known about the implications of this for fine-tuning of translation. Here, we perform ribosome profiling to characterize the translational landscape of M. tuberculosis under conditions of exponential growth and nutrient starvation. Our data reveal robust, widespread translation of non-canonical transcripts and point toward different translation initiation mechanisms compared to canonical Shine-Dalgarno transcripts. During nutrient starvation, patterns of ribosome recruitment vary, suggesting that regulation of translation in this pathogen is more complex than originally thought. Our data represent a rich resource for others seeking to understand translational regulation in bacterial pathogens.

ABC-F translation factors: from antibiotic resistance to immune response

Energy-dependent translational throttle A (EttA) from Escherichia coli is a paradigmatic ABC-F protein that controls the first step in polypeptide elongation on the ribosome according to the cellular energy status. Biochemical and structural studies have established that ABC-F proteins generally function as translation factors that modulate the conformation of the peptidyl transferase center upon binding to the ribosomal tRNA exit site. These factors, present in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes but not in archaea, use related molecular mechanisms to modulate protein synthesis for heterogenous purposes, ranging from antibiotic resistance and rescue of stalled ribosomes to modulation of the mammalian immune response. Here, we review the canonical studies characterizing the phylogeny, regulation, ribosome interactions, and mechanisms of action of the bacterial ABC-F proteins, and discuss the implications of these studies for the molecular function of eukaryotic ABC-F proteins, including the three human family members.