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Moreira S, Chyou TY, Wade J, Brown C. Diversification of the Rho transcription termination factor in bacteria. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:8979-8997. [PMID: 38966992 PMCID: PMC11347177 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Correct termination of transcription is essential for gene expression. In bacteria, factor-dependent termination relies on the Rho factor, that classically has three conserved domains. Some bacteria also have a functional insertion region. However, the variation in Rho structure among bacteria has not been analyzed in detail. This study determines the distribution, sequence conservation, and predicted features of Rho factors with diverse domain architectures by analyzing 2730 bacterial genomes. About half (49.8%) of the species analyzed have the typical Escherichia coli like Rho while most of the other species (39.8%) have diverse, atypical forms of Rho. Besides conservation of the main domains, we describe a duplicated RNA-binding domain present in specific species and novel variations in the bicyclomycin binding pocket. The additional regions observed in Rho proteins exhibit remarkable diversity. Commonly, however, they have exceptional amino acid compositions and are predicted to be intrinsically disordered, to undergo phase separation, or have prion-like behavior. Phase separation has recently been shown to play roles in Rho function and bacterial fitness during harsh conditions in one species and this study suggests a more widespread role. In conclusion, diverse atypical Rho factors are broadly distributed among bacteria, suggesting additional cellular roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia M Moreira
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago 9054, New Zealand
| | - Te-yuan Chyou
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago 9054, New Zealand
| | - Joseph T Wade
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12201, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Chris M Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago 9054, New Zealand
- Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago 9054, New Zealand
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2
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Warren Norris MAH, Plaskon DM, Tamayo R. Phase Variation of Flagella and Toxins in Clostridioides difficile is Mediated by Selective Rho-dependent Termination. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168456. [PMID: 38278436 PMCID: PMC10942720 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168456] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is an intestinal pathogen that exhibits phase variation of flagella and toxins through inversion of the flagellar (flg) switch controlling flagellar and toxin gene expression. The transcription termination factor Rho preferentially inhibits swimming motility of bacteria with the 'flg-OFF' switch sequence. How C. difficile Rho mediates this selectivity was unknown. C. difficile Rho contains an N-terminal insertion domain (NID) which is found in a subset of Rho orthologues and confers diverse functions. Here we determined how Rho distinguishes between flg-ON and -OFF mRNAs and the roles of the NID and other domains of C. difficile Rho. Using in vitro ATPase assays, we determined that Rho specifically binds a region containing the left inverted repeat of the flg switch, but only of flg-OFF mRNA, indicating that differential termination is mediated by selective Rho binding. Using a suite of in vivo and in vitro assays in C. difficile, we determined that the NID is essential for Rho termination of flg-OFF mRNA, likely by influencing the ability to form stable hexamers, and the RNA binding domain is critical for flg-OFF specific termination. This work gives insight into the novel mechanism by which Rho interacts with flg mRNA to mediate phase variation of flagella and toxins in C. difficile and broadens our understanding of Rho-mediated termination in an organism with an AT-rich genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes A H Warren Norris
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Dylan M Plaskon
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rita Tamayo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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3
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Wu Z, Zhu X, Hong A, He G, Wang Z, Xu Q, Hu Z, Wu X, Wang Y, Chen Q, Zhao X, Li L, Deng X. Discovery of urea-based pleuromutilin derivatives as potent gram-positive antibacterial agents. Bioorg Chem 2023; 136:106547. [PMID: 37105000 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to discover new antibacterial drugs and provide new treatment options for clinical antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pathogen infections. Inspired by the structural insights from analyzing the co-crystal structure of lefamulin with the ribosomes of S. aureus, a series of novel pleuromutilin derivatives of phenylene sulfide incorporated with urea moiety were designed and synthesized. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) study revealed that derivatives with urea in the meta position of phenylene sulfide had optimal antibacterial activities in vitro. Among them, 21h was the most potent one against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and clinical AMR Gram-positive bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in the range of 0.00195-0.250 μg/mL. And it possessed low resistance frequency, prolonged Post-Antibiotic Effect and the capability to overcome lefamulin-induced resistance. Furthermore, 21h exhibited potent antibacterial activity in vivo in both the thigh infection model and trauma infection model, representing a promising lead for the development of new antibiotics against Gram-positive pathogens, especially for AMR bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhua Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; State-province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Targeted Drugs from Natural Products, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xiaoli Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; State-province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Targeted Drugs from Natural Products, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Anjin Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; State-province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Targeted Drugs from Natural Products, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Guanghui He
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; State-province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Targeted Drugs from Natural Products, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; State-province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Targeted Drugs from Natural Products, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Qingyan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; State-province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Targeted Drugs from Natural Products, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Zhiyu Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; State-province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Targeted Drugs from Natural Products, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xiaobing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; State-province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Targeted Drugs from Natural Products, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Yuezhou Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; State-province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Targeted Drugs from Natural Products, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Qiufang Chen
- Women and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xilin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Li Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; State-province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Targeted Drugs from Natural Products, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.
| | - Xianming Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; State-province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Targeted Drugs from Natural Products, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China.
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D’Halluin A, Polgar P, Kipkorir T, Patel Z, Cortes T, Arnvig KB. Premature termination of transcription is shaped by Rho and translated uORFS in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. iScience 2023; 26:106465. [PMID: 37096044 PMCID: PMC10122055 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the decisions behind transcription elongation versus termination in the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.TB). By applying Term-seq to M.TB we found that the majority of transcription termination is premature and associated with translated regions, i.e., within previously annotated or newly identified open reading frames. Computational predictions and Term-seq analysis, upon depletion of termination factor Rho, suggests that Rho-dependent transcription termination dominates all transcription termination sites (TTS), including those associated with regulatory 5' leaders. Moreover, our results suggest that tightly coupled translation, in the form of overlapping stop and start codons, may suppress Rho-dependent termination. This study provides detailed insights into novel M.TB cis-regulatory elements, where Rho-dependent, conditional termination of transcription and translational coupling together play major roles in gene expression control. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the fundamental regulatory mechanisms that enable M.TB adaptation to the host environment offering novel potential points of intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre D’Halluin
- Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Peter Polgar
- Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Terry Kipkorir
- Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Zaynah Patel
- Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Teresa Cortes
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Valencia 46010, Spain
| | - Kristine B. Arnvig
- Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Corresponding author
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5
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Kumar S, Sau S, Agnivesh PK, Roy A, Kalia NP. Role of transcription termination factor Rho in anti-tuberculosis drug discovery. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103490. [PMID: 36638880 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Mycobacterial infections, including multidrug and extreme drug-resistant (MDR and XDR) infections, are a severe challenge and create a virtual antibiotic-deficient era. Bacterial transcription is an established antimicrobial drug target. In mycobacteria, efficient transcription termination relies on the ATP-dependent RNA helicase factor Rho. Rho factor is essential for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) survival, and is a valid antibacterial drug target with no homolog in eukaryotes. Rho maintains genomic stability and virulence and prevents pervasive transcription in Mtb. In this review, we provide an overview of the essentiality of Rho in Mtb, which makes it an attractive drug target for inhibitor discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Kumar
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, Telangana 500 037, India
| | - Shashikanta Sau
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, Telangana 500 037, India
| | - Puja Kumari Agnivesh
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, Telangana 500 037, India
| | - Arnab Roy
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, Telangana 500 037, India
| | - Nitin Pal Kalia
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, Telangana 500 037, India.
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6
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Ahmad E, Mitra A, Ahmed W, Mahapatra V, Hegde SR, Sala C, Cole ST, Nagaraja V. Rho-dependent transcription termination is the dominant mechanism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2023; 1866:194923. [PMID: 36822574 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2023.194923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Intrinsic and Rho-dependent transcription termination mechanisms regulate gene expression and recycle RNA polymerase in bacteria. Both the modes are well studied in Escherichia coli, and a few other organisms. The understanding of Rho function is limited in most other bacteria including mycobacteria. Here, we highlight the dominance of Rho-dependent termination in mycobacteria and validate Rho as a key regulatory factor. The lower abundance of intrinsic terminators, high cellular levels of Rho, and its genome-wide association with a majority of transcriptionally active genes indicate the pronounced role of Rho-mediated termination in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Rho modulates the termination of RNA synthesis for both protein-coding and stable RNA genes in Mtb. Concordantly, the depletion of Rho in mycobacteria impact its growth and enhances the transcription read-through at 3' ends of the transcription units. We demonstrate that MtbRho is catalytically active in the presence of RNA with varied secondary structures. These properties suggest an evolutionary adaptation of Rho as the efficient and preponderant mode of transcription termination in mycobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezaz Ahmad
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
| | - Anirban Mitra
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
| | - Wareed Ahmed
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
| | - Varsha Mahapatra
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India
| | - Shubhada R Hegde
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bengaluru 560100, India
| | - Claudia Sala
- Monoclonal Antibody Discovery Laboratory, Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | | | - Valakunja Nagaraja
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India; Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru 560064, India.
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7
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Kirsch SH, Haeckl FPJ, Müller R. Beyond the approved: target sites and inhibitors of bacterial RNA polymerase from bacteria and fungi. Nat Prod Rep 2022; 39:1226-1263. [PMID: 35507039 DOI: 10.1039/d1np00067e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Covering: 2016 to 2022RNA polymerase (RNAP) is the central enzyme in bacterial gene expression representing an attractive and validated target for antibiotics. Two well-known and clinically approved classes of natural product RNAP inhibitors are the rifamycins and the fidaxomycins. Rifampicin (Rif), a semi-synthetic derivative of rifamycin, plays a crucial role as a first line antibiotic in the treatment of tuberculosis and a broad range of bacterial infections. However, more and more pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis develop resistance, not only against Rif and other RNAP inhibitors. To overcome this problem, novel RNAP inhibitors exhibiting different target sites are urgently needed. This review includes recent developments published between 2016 and today. Particular focus is placed on novel findings concerning already known bacterial RNAP inhibitors, the characterization and development of new compounds isolated from bacteria and fungi, and providing brief insights into promising new synthetic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne H Kirsch
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarland University Campus, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany. .,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - F P Jake Haeckl
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarland University Campus, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany. .,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Rolf Müller
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarland University Campus, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany. .,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany.,Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
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