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Xu Y, Li G, Xu W, Li Z, Qu H, Cheng J, Li H. Recent Advances of Food Hazard Detection Based on Artificial Nanochannel Sensors. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:11900-11916. [PMID: 38709250 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c00909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Food quality and safety are related to the health and safety of people, and food hazards are important influencing factors affecting food safety. It is strongly necessary to develop food safety rapid detection technology to ensure food safety. As a new detection technology, artificial nanochannel-based electrochemical and other methods have the advantages of being real-time, simple, and sensitive and are widely used in the detection of food hazards. In this paper, we review artificial nanochannel sensors as a new detection technology in food safety for different types of food hazards: biological hazards (bacteria, toxins, viruses) and chemical hazards (heavy metals, organic pollutants, food additives). At the same time, we critically discuss the advantages and disadvantages of artificial nanochannel sensor detection, as well as the restrictions and solutions of detection, and finally look forward to the challenges and development prospects of food safety detection technology based on the limitations of artificial nanochannel detection. We expect to provide a theoretical basis and inspiration for the development of rapid real-time detection technology for food hazards and the production of portable detection equipment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, P.R. China
| | - Guang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, P.R. China
| | - Weiwei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, P.R. China
| | - Ziheng Li
- Hubei Central China Normal University Overseas Study Service Center, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, P.R. China
| | - Haonan Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, P.R. China
| | - Jing Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, P.R. China
| | - Haibing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, P.R. China
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Sengupta S, Pabbaraja S, Mehta G. Natural products from the human microbiome: an emergent frontier in organic synthesis and drug discovery. Org Biomol Chem 2024; 22:4006-4030. [PMID: 38669195 DOI: 10.1039/d4ob00236a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Often referred to as the "second genome", the human microbiome is at the epicenter of complex inter-habitat biochemical networks like the "gut-brain axis", which has emerged as a significant determinant of cognition, overall health and well-being, as well as resistance to antibiotics and susceptibility to diseases. As part of a broader understanding of the nexus between the human microbiome, diseases and microbial interactions, whether encoded secondary metabolites (natural products) play crucial signalling roles has been the subject of intense scrutiny in the recent past. A major focus of these activities involves harvesting the genomic potential of the human microbiome via bioinformatics guided genome mining and culturomics. Through these efforts, an impressive number of structurally intriguing antibiotics, with enhanced chemical diversity vis-à-vis conventional antibiotics have been isolated from human commensal bacteria, thereby generating considerable interest in their total synthesis and expanding their therapeutic space for drug discovery. These developments augur well for the discovery of new drugs and antibiotics, particularly in the context of challenges posed by mycobacterial resistance and emerging new diseases. The current landscape of various synthetic campaigns and drug discovery initiatives on antibacterial natural products from the human microbiome is captured in this review with an intent to stimulate further activities in this interdisciplinary arena among the new generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saumitra Sengupta
- School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad-500046, India.
- Department of Organic Synthesis and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad-500007, India
| | - Srihari Pabbaraja
- Department of Organic Synthesis and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad-500007, India
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Goverdhan Mehta
- School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad-500046, India.
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Bosveli A, Griboura N, Kampouropoulos I, Kalaitzakis D, Montagnon T, Vassilikogiannakis G. The Rapid Synthesis of Colibactin Warhead Model Compounds Using New Metal-Free Photocatalytic Cyclopropanation Reactions Facilitates the Investigation of Biological Mechanisms. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202301713. [PMID: 37452669 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202301713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we report the synthesis of a series of colibactin warhead model compounds using two newly developed metal-free photocatalytic cyclopropanation reactions. These mild cyclopropanations expand the known applications of eosin within synthesis. A halogen atom transfer reaction mode has been harnessed so that dihalides can be used as the cyclopropanating agents. The colibactin warhead models were then used to provide new insight into two key mechanisms in colibactin chemistry. An explanation is provided for why the colibactin warhead sometimes undergoes a ring expansion-addition reaction to give fused cyclobutyl products while at other times nucleophiles add directly to the cyclopropyl unit (as when DNA adds to colibactin). Finally, we provide some evidence that Cu(II) chelated to colibactin may catalyze an important oxidation of the colibactin-DNA adduct. The Cu(I) generated as a result could then also play a role in inducing double strand breaks in DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artemis Bosveli
- Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, Vasilika Vouton, 71003, Iraklion, Crete
| | - Nefeli Griboura
- Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, Vasilika Vouton, 71003, Iraklion, Crete
| | | | - Dimitris Kalaitzakis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, Vasilika Vouton, 71003, Iraklion, Crete
| | - Tamsyn Montagnon
- Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, Vasilika Vouton, 71003, Iraklion, Crete
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Tripathi P, Mousa JJ, Guntaka NS, Bruner SD. Structural basis of the amidase ClbL central to the biosynthesis of the genotoxin colibactin. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2023; 79:830-836. [PMID: 37561403 PMCID: PMC10478638 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798323005703] [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: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Colibactin is a genotoxic natural product produced by select commensal bacteria in the human gut microbiota. The compound is a bis-electrophile that is predicted to form interstrand DNA cross-links in target cells, leading to double-strand DNA breaks. The biosynthesis of colibactin is carried out by a mixed NRPS-PKS assembly line with several noncanonical features. An amidase, ClbL, plays a key role in the pathway, catalyzing the final step in the formation of the pseudodimeric scaffold. ClbL couples α-aminoketone and β-ketothioester intermediates attached to separate carrier domains on the NRPS-PKS assembly. Here, the 1.9 Å resolution structure of ClbL is reported, providing a structural basis for this key step in the colibactin biosynthetic pathway. The structure reveals an open hydrophobic active site surrounded by flexible loops, and comparison with homologous amidases supports its unusual function and predicts macromolecular interactions with pathway carrier-protein substrates. Modeling protein-protein interactions supports a predicted molecular basis for enzyme-carrier domain interactions. Overall, the work provides structural insight into this unique enzyme that is central to the biosynthesis of colibactin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jarrod J. Mousa
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
| | | | - Steven D. Bruner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
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Zhu M, Song Y, Xu Y, Xu H. Manipulating Microbiota in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment: Clinical and Natural Product Interventions Explored. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11004. [PMID: 37446182 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease, that includes Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), having progressively increasing global incidence. Disturbed intestinal flora has been highlighted as an important feature of IBD and offers promising strategies for IBD remedies. A brief overview of the variations occurring in intestinal flora during IBD is presented, and the role of the gut microbiota in intestinal barrier maintenance, immune and metabolic regulation, and the absorption and supply of nutrients is reviewed. More importantly, we review drug research on gut microbiota in the past ten years, including research on clinical and natural drugs, as well as adjuvant therapies, such as Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and probiotic supplements. We also summarize the interventions and mechanisms of these drugs on gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjie Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yijie Song
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yu Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Hongxi Xu
- Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
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DiBello M, Healy AR, Nikolayevskiy H, Xu Z, Herzon SB. Structure Elucidation of Secondary Metabolites: Current Frontiers and Lingering Pitfalls. Acc Chem Res 2023; 56:1656-1668. [PMID: 37220079 PMCID: PMC10468810 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00183] [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] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Analytical methods allow for the structure determination of submilligram quantities of complex secondary metabolites. This has been driven in large part by advances in NMR spectroscopic capabilities, including access to high-field magnets equipped with cryogenic probes. Experimental NMR spectroscopy may now be complemented by remarkably accurate carbon-13 NMR calculations using state-of-the-art DFT software packages. Additionally, microED analysis stands to have a profound effect on structure elucidation by providing X-ray-like images of microcrystalline samples of analytes. Nonetheless, lingering pitfalls in structure elucidation remain, particularly for isolates that are unstable or highly oxidized. In this Account, we discuss three projects from our laboratory that highlight nonoverlapping challenges to the field, with implications for chemical, synthetic, and mechanism of action studies. We first discuss the lomaiviticins, complex unsaturated polyketide natural products disclosed in 2001. The original structures were derived from NMR, HRMS, UV-vis, and IR analysis. Owing to the synthetic challenges presented by their structures and the absence of X-ray crystallographic data, the structure assignments remained untested for nearly two decades. In 2021, the Nelson group at Caltech carried out microED analysis of (-)-lomaiviticin C, leading to the startling discovery that the original structure assignment of the lomaiviticins was incorrect. Acquisition of higher-field (800 MHz 1H, cold probe) NMR data as well as DFT calculations provided insights into the basis for the original misassignment and lent further support to the new structure identified by microED. Reanalysis of the 2001 data set reveals that the two structure assignments are nearly indistinguishable, underscoring the limitations of NMR-based characterization. We then discuss the structure elucidation of colibactin, a complex, nonisolable microbiome metabolite implicated in colorectal cancer. The colibactin biosynthetic gene cluster was detected in 2006, but owing to colibactin's instability and low levels of production, it could not be isolated or characterized. We used a combination of chemical synthesis, mechanism of action studies, and biosynthetic analysis to identify the substructures in colibactin. These studies, coupled with isotope labeling and tandem MS analysis of colibactin-derived DNA interstrand cross-links, ultimately led to a structure assignment for the metabolite. We then discuss the ocimicides, plant secondary metabolites that were studied as agents against drug-resistant P. falciparum. We synthesized the core structure of the ocimicides and found significant discrepancies between our experimental NMR spectroscopic data and that reported for the natural products. We determined the theoretical carbon-13 NMR shifts for 32 diastereomers of the ocimicides. These studies indicated that a revision of the connectivity of the metabolites is likely needed. We end with some thoughts on the frontiers of secondary metabolite structure determination. As modern NMR computational methods are straightforward to execute, we advocate for their systematic use in validating the assignments of novel secondary metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikaela DiBello
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - Alan R Healy
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - Herman Nikolayevskiy
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - Zhi Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
| | - Seth B Herzon
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
- Departments of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Radiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
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Bonhomme S, Contreras-Martel C, Dessen A, Macheboeuf P. Architecture of a PKS-NRPS hybrid megaenzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the genotoxin colibactin. Structure 2023:S0969-2126(23)00095-3. [PMID: 37059096 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.03.012] [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: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
The genotoxin colibactin produced by Escherichia coli is involved in the development of colorectal cancers. This secondary metabolite is synthesized by a multi-protein machinery, mainly composed of non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS)/polyketide synthase (PKS) enzymes. In order to decipher the function of a PKS-NRPS hybrid enzyme implicated in a key step of colibactin biosynthesis, we conducted an extensive structural characterization of the ClbK megaenzyme. Here we present the crystal structure of the complete trans-AT PKS module of ClbK showing structural specificities of hybrid enzymes. In addition, we report the SAXS solution structure of the full-length ClbK hybrid that reveals a dimeric organization as well as several catalytic chambers. These results provide a structural framework for the transfer of a colibactin precursor through a PKS-NRPS hybrid enzyme and can pave the way for re-engineering PKS-NRPS hybrid megaenzymes to generate diverse metabolites with many applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Bonhomme
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), Bacterial Pathogenesis Group, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Carlos Contreras-Martel
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), Bacterial Pathogenesis Group, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Andréa Dessen
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), Bacterial Pathogenesis Group, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Pauline Macheboeuf
- University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), Bacterial Pathogenesis Group, 38000 Grenoble, France.
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Guan Z, Han X, Huang W, Wang X, Wang H, Fan Y. Construction and application of a heterogeneous quality control library for the Xpert MTB/RIF assay in tuberculosis diagnosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1128337. [PMID: 37009507 PMCID: PMC10063913 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1128337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Proficiency testing based on quality control materials is an important component of the quality assurance system for detection methods. However, in the detection of infectious diseases, it is a challenge to use quality control materials derived from clinical samples or pathogens owing to their infectious nature. The Xpert MTB/RIF assay, endorsed by the World Health Organization, is one of the most widely implemented assays in the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis along with rifampicin resistance and its heterogeneity. Clinical isolates are typically used as quality controls for this assay, leading to concerns about biosafety, constrained target sequence polymorphisms, and time-consuming preparation. In this study, a heterogeneous quality control library for the Xpert MTB/RIF assay was constructed based on DNA synthesis and site-directed mutation, which provides sufficient rifampicin resistance polymorphisms, enabling monitoring all five probes of Xpert MTB/RIF and its combinations. Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis were used as heterogeneous hosts rather than the pathogen itself to eliminate biosafety risks; thus, preparation does not require a biosafety level III laboratory and the production time is reduced from a few months to a few days. The panel was stable for more than 15 months stored at 4°C and could be distributed at room temperature. All 11 laboratories in Shanghai participating in a pilot survey identified the specimens with corresponding probe patterns, and discordant results highlighted inappropriate operations in the process. Collectively, we show, for the first time, that this library, based on heterogeneous hosts, is an appropriate alternative for M. tuberculosis detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehao Guan
- R&D Laboratory of Quality Control Material, Shanghai Center for Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuefei Han
- R&D Laboratory of Quality Control Material, Shanghai Center for Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai, China
| | - Weigang Huang
- R&D Laboratory of Quality Control Material, Shanghai Center for Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai, China
| | - Xueliang Wang
- R&D Laboratory of Quality Control Material, Shanghai Center for Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai, China
| | - Hualiang Wang
- R&D Laboratory of Quality Control Material, Shanghai Center for Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Academy of Experimental Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Fan
- R&D Laboratory of Quality Control Material, Shanghai Center for Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yun Fan,
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Zhou T, Ando T, Kudo A, Sato M, Miyoshi N, Mutoh M, Ishikawa H, Wakabayashi K, Watanabe K. Screening method toward ClbP-specific inhibitors. Genes Environ 2023; 45:8. [PMID: 36797758 PMCID: PMC9933310 DOI: 10.1186/s41021-023-00264-7] [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: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colibactin is a genotoxin produced by Escherichia coli and other Enterobacteriaceae that is believed to increase the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) of their symbiosis hosts, including human. A peptidase ClbP is the key enzyme for activation of colibactin. Inhibition of ClbP is considered to impede maturation of precolibactin into genotoxic colibactin. Therefore, ClbP-specific inhibitors could potentially prevent the onset of CRC, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the world. This study intends to establish an efficient screening system for identifying inhibitors that are specific to ClbP. METHODS Two types of assays were applied in the screening procedure: a probe assay and an LC-MS assay. For the probe assay, we employed the synthesized probe which we described in our previous report. This probe can be hydrolyzed efficiently by ClbP to release a fluorophore. Hence it was applied here for detection of inhibition of ClbP. For the LC-MS assay, formation of the byproduct of precolibactin maturation process, N-myristoyl-D-asparagine, was quantified using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technique. The probe assay can be performed much faster, while the LC-MS assay is more accurate. Therefore, our method employed the two assays in sequence to screen a large number of compounds for inhibition of ClbP. RESULTS A library of 67,965 standard compounds was evaluated by the screening method established in the current study, and one compound was found to show a moderate inhibitory activity against ClbP. CONCLUSION A simple screening method for ClbP-specific inhibitors was established. It was proven to be reliable and is believed to be useful in developing potential prophylactic agents for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhou
- Adenoprevent Co., Ltd., Shizuoka, 422-8526 Japan ,grid.469280.10000 0000 9209 9298Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 422-8526 Japan
| | - Takayuki Ando
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Food Science, Shizuoka Institution of Environment and Hygiene, Fujieda, 426-0083 Japan
| | - Akihiro Kudo
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Food Science, Shizuoka Institution of Environment and Hygiene, Fujieda, 426-0083 Japan
| | - Michio Sato
- grid.469280.10000 0000 9209 9298Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 422-8526 Japan
| | - Noriyuki Miyoshi
- grid.469280.10000 0000 9209 9298Graduate School of Integrated Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 422-8526 Japan
| | - Michihiro Mutoh
- grid.272458.e0000 0001 0667 4960Department of Molecular-Targeting Cancer Prevention, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566 Japan
| | - Hideki Ishikawa
- grid.272458.e0000 0001 0667 4960Department of Molecular-Targeting Cancer Prevention, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566 Japan
| | - Keiji Wakabayashi
- grid.469280.10000 0000 9209 9298Graduate School of Nutritional and Environmental Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 422-8526 Japan
| | - Kenji Watanabe
- Adenoprevent Co., Ltd., Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan. .,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan.
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Velilla JA, Kenney GE, Gaudet R. Structure and function of prodrug-activating peptidases. Biochimie 2023; 205:124-135. [PMID: 36803695 PMCID: PMC10030199 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria protect themselves from the toxicity of antimicrobial metabolites they produce through several strategies. In one resistance mechanism, bacteria assemble a non-toxic precursor on an N-acyl-d-asparagine prodrug motif in the cytoplasm, then export it to the periplasm where a dedicated d-amino peptidase hydrolyzes the prodrug motif. These prodrug-activating peptidases contain an N-terminal periplasmic S12 hydrolase domain and C-terminal transmembrane domains (TMDs) of varying lengths: type I peptidases contain three transmembrane helices, and type II peptidases have an additional C-terminal ABC half-transporter. We review studies which have addressed the role of the TMD in function, the substrate specificity, and the biological assembly of ClbP, the type I peptidase that activates colibactin. We use modeling and sequence analyses to extend those insights to other prodrug-activating peptidases and ClbP-like proteins which are not part of prodrug resistance gene clusters. These ClbP-like proteins may play roles in the biosynthesis or degradation of other natural products, including antibiotics, may adopt different TMD folds, and have different substrate specificity compared to prodrug-activating homologs. Finally, we review the data supporting the long-standing hypothesis that ClbP interacts with transporters in the cell and that this association is important for the export of other natural products. Future investigations of this hypothesis as well as of the structure and function of type II peptidases will provide a complete account of the role of prodrug-activating peptidases in the activation and secretion of bacterial toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A Velilla
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 52 Oxford St, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Grace E Kenney
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 38 Oxford St, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Rachelle Gaudet
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 52 Oxford St, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
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Newly Discovered Mechanisms of Antibiotic Self-Resistance with Multiple Enzymes Acting at Different Locations and Stages. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 12:antibiotics12010035. [PMID: 36671236 PMCID: PMC9854587 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12010035] [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: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-resistance determinants are essential for the biosynthesis of bioactive natural products and are closely related to drug resistance in clinical settings. The study of self-resistance mechanisms has long moved forward on the discovery of new resistance genes and the characterization of enzymatic reactions catalyzed by these proteins. However, as more examples of self-resistance have been reported, it has been revealed that the enzymatic reactions contribute to self-protection are not confined to the cellular location where the final toxic compounds are present. In this review, we summarize representative examples of self-resistance mechanisms for bioactive natural products functional at different cell locations to explore the models of resistance strategies involved. Moreover, we also highlight those resistance determinants that are widespread in nature and describe the applications of self-resistance genes in natural product mining to interrogate the landscape of self-resistance genes in drug resistance-related new drug discovery.
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clbP Gene, a Potential New Member of the β-Lactamase Family. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415642. [PMID: 36555283 PMCID: PMC9778894 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415642] [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: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The colibactin island (pks) of Escherichia coli formed by 19 genes (55-Kb), encodes non-ribosomal peptide (NRP) and polyketide (PK) synthases, which allow the synthesis of colibactin, a suspected hybrid PK-NRP compound that causes damage to DNA in eukaryotic cells. The clbP, an unusual essential gene, is found in the operon structure with the clbS gene in the pks-encoded machinery. Interestingly, the clbP gene has been annotated as a β-lactamase but no previous study has reported its β-lactamase characteristics. In this study, we (i) investigated the β-lactamase properties of the clbP gene in silico by analysing its phylogenetic relationship with bacterial β-lactamase and peptidase enzymes, (ii) compared its three-dimensional (3D) protein structure with those of bacterial β-lactamase proteins using the Phyr2 database and PyMOL software, and (iii) evaluated in vitro its putative enzymatic activities, including β-lactamase, nuclease, and ribonuclease using protein expression and purification from an E. coli BL21 strain. In this study, we reveal a structural configuration of toxin/antitoxin systems in this island. Thus, similar to the toxin/antitoxin systems, the role of the clbP gene within the pks-island gene group appears as an antitoxin, insofar as it is responsible for the activation of the toxin, which is colibactin. In silico, our analyses revealed that ClbP belonged to the superfamily of β-lactamase, class C. Furthermore, in vitro we were unable to demonstrate its β-lactamase activity, likely due to the fact that the clbP gene requires co-expression with other genes, such as the genes present in the pks-island (19 genes). More research is needed to better understand its actions, particularly with regards to antibiotics, and to discover whether it has any additional functions due to the importance of this gene and its toxicity.
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Mousa WK. The microbiome-product colibactin hits unique cellular targets mediating host–microbe interaction. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:958012. [PMID: 36172175 PMCID: PMC9510844 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.958012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The human microbiota produces molecules that are evolved to interact with the diverse cellular machinery of both the host and microbes, mediating health and diseases. One of the most puzzling microbiome molecules is colibactin, a genotoxin encoded in some commensal and extraintestinal microbes and is implicated in initiating colorectal cancer. The colibactin cluster was discovered more than 15 years ago, and most of the research studies have been focused on revealing the biosynthesis and precise structure of the cryptic encoded molecule(s) and the mechanism of carcinogenesis. In 2022, the Balskus group revealed that colibactin not only hits targets in the eukaryotic cell machinery but also in the prokaryotic cell. To that end, colibactin crosslinks the DNA resulting in activation of the SOS signaling pathway, leading to prophage induction from bacterial lysogens and modulation of virulence genes in pathogenic species. These unique activities of colibactin highlight its ecological role in shaping gut microbial communities and further consequences that impact human health. This review dives in-depth into the molecular mechanisms underpinning colibactin cellular targets in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, aiming to understand the fine details of the role of secreted microbiome chemistry in mediating host–microbe and microbe–microbe interactions. This understanding translates into a better realization of microbiome potential and how this could be advanced to future microbiome-based therapeutics or diagnostic biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walaa K. Mousa
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- College of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
- *Correspondence: Walaa K. Mousa,
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Hirayama Y, Sato M, Watanabe K. Advancing the Biosynthetic and Chemical Understanding of the Carcinogenic Risk Factor Colibactin and Its Producers. Biochemistry 2022; 61:2782-2790. [PMID: 35723977 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that Escherichia coli often carries a biosynthetic gene cluster termed either the pks island or the clb cluster that allows the production of a genotoxic polyketide-nonribosomal peptide hybrid secondary metabolite called colibactin. While the gene cluster is not always expressed, when the strain that resides in the colon produces the genotoxin, it is suspected to become a risk factor for colorectal cancer. Therefore, there is great interest in devising a simple method for the detection of colibactin-producing strains and understanding the detailed mechanism of how colibactin can induce oncogenesis, to develop convenient early screening methods and possible preventive treatments against colorectal cancer. However, the definitive chemical structure of colibactin remained elusive until recently, primarily due to its low yield and instability. In this review, we will briefly trace the recent studies leading to the identification of the structure of the active intact colibactin. Subsequently, we will describe our efforts toward developing simple methods for detecting colibactin producers, where we established methods based on the conventional polymerase chain reaction and loop-mediated isothermal amplification techniques. We also designed an activity-based fluorogenic probe for detecting colibactin-producing strains that could discern colibactin production levels among the E. coli strains screened. Using the probe, we isolated a wild-type high-colibactin-producing strain from a colorectal cancer tissue sample that proved to be valuable in identifying new colibactin metabolites and structurally characterizing them by nuclear magnetic resonance. Those techniques and the chemical insight they furnished should improve the fight against colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichiro Hirayama
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Tobetsu 061-0293, Japan
| | - Michio Sato
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan
| | - Kenji Watanabe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan
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