1
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Delcourte L, Berbon M, Rodriguez M, Subban K, Lends A, Grélard A, Morvan E, Habenstein B, Saupe SJ, Delhaes L, Aimanianda V, Daskalov A, Loquet A. Magic-angle spinning NMR spectral editing of polysaccharides in whole cells using the DREAM scheme. Methods 2024; 230:59-67. [PMID: 39047926 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2024.07.003] [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: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Most bacterial, plant and fungal cells possess at their surface a protective layer called the cell wall, conferring strength, plasticity and rigidity to withstand the osmotic pressure. This molecular barrier is crucial for pathogenic microorganisms, as it protects the cell from the local environment and often constitutes the first structural component encountered in the host-pathogen interaction. In pathogenic molds and yeasts, the cell wall constitutes the main target for the development of clinically-relevant antifungal drugs. In the past decade, solid-state NMR has emerged as a powerful analytical technique to investigate the molecular organization of microbial cell walls in the context of intact cells. 13C NMR chemical shift is an exquisite source of information to identify the polysaccharides present in the cell wall, and two-dimensional 13C-13C correlation experiments provide an efficient tool to rapidly access the polysaccharide composition in whole cells. Here we investigate the use of the adiabatic DREAM (for dipolar recoupling enhancement through amplitude modulation) recoupling scheme to improve solid-state NMR analysis of polysaccharides in intact cells. We demonstrate the advantages of two-dimensional 13C-13C experiments using the DREAM recoupling scheme. We report the spectral editing of polysaccharide signals by varying the radio-frequency carrier position. We provide practical considerations for the implementation of DREAM experiments to characterize polysaccharides in whole cells. We demonstrate the approach on intact fungal cells of Neurospora crassa and Aspergillus fumigatus, a model and a pathogenic filamentous fungus, respectively. The approach could be envisioned to efficiently reduce the spectral crowding of more complex cell surfaces, such as cell wall and peptidoglycan in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loic Delcourte
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, IECB, Pessac, France
| | - Mélanie Berbon
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, IECB, Pessac, France
| | - Marion Rodriguez
- CNR des Aspergilloses Chroniques, Mycology-Parasitology Department, CHU Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33000, France
| | - Kamalraj Subban
- ImmunoConcEpT, CNRS, UMR 5164, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Alons Lends
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, IECB, Pessac, France
| | - Axelle Grélard
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, IECB, Pessac, France
| | - Estelle Morvan
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Inserm, IECB, UAR3033, US01, Pessac, France
| | - Birgit Habenstein
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, IECB, Pessac, France
| | - Sven J Saupe
- CNRS, Université de Bordeaux, IBGC, UMR 5095, Bordeaux, France
| | - Laurence Delhaes
- CNR des Aspergilloses Chroniques, Mycology-Parasitology Department, CHU Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33000, France; Centre de Recherche Cardio-Thoracique de Bordeaux, Inserm UMR 1045, Univ Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33000, France
| | - Vishukumar Aimanianda
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Immunobiology of Aspergillus, Mycology Department, Paris, France
| | - Asen Daskalov
- ImmunoConcEpT, CNRS, UMR 5164, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Antoine Loquet
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, IECB, Pessac, France.
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2
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Cheng Q, Dickwella Widanage MC, Yarava JR, Ankur A, Latgé JP, Wang P, Wang T. Molecular architecture of chitin and chitosan-dominated cell walls in zygomycetous fungal pathogens by solid-state NMR. Nat Commun 2024; 15:8295. [PMID: 39333566 PMCID: PMC11437000 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52759-8] [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: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 09/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Zygomycetous fungal infections pose an emerging medical threat among individuals with compromised immunity and metabolic abnormalities. Our pathophysiological understanding of these infections, particularly the role of fungal cell walls in growth and immune response, remains limited. Here we conducted multidimensional solid-state NMR analysis to examine cell walls in five Mucorales species, including key mucormycosis causative agents like Rhizopus and Mucor species. We show that the rigid core of the cell wall primarily comprises highly polymorphic chitin and chitosan, with minimal quantities of β-glucans linked to a specific chitin subtype. Chitosan emerges as a pivotal molecule preserving hydration and dynamics. Some proteins are entrapped within this semi-crystalline chitin/chitosan layer, stabilized by the sidechains of hydrophobic amino acid residues, and situated distantly from β-glucans. The mobile domain contains galactan- and mannan-based polysaccharides, along with polymeric α-fucoses. Treatment with the chitin synthase inhibitor nikkomycin removes the β-glucan-chitin/chitosan complex, leaving the other chitin and chitosan allomorphs untouched while simultaneously thickening and rigidifying the cell wall. These findings shed light on the organization of Mucorales cell walls and emphasize the necessity for a deeper understanding of the diverse families of chitin synthases and deacetylases as potential targets for novel antifungal therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghui Cheng
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Malitha C Dickwella Widanage
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, USA
| | | | - Ankur Ankur
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Jean-Paul Latgé
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Tuo Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
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3
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Guilloux K, Hegde P, Wong SSW, Aimanianda V, Bayry J, Latgé JP. Comparative Analysis of the Aspergillus fumigatus Cell Wall Modification and Ensuing Human Dendritic Cell Responses by β-(1,3)-Glucan Synthase Inhibitors-Caspofungin and Enfumafungin. Mycopathologia 2024; 189:86. [PMID: 39302505 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-024-00894-7] [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: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
Caspofungin, a lipopeptide, is an antifungal drug that belong to the class of echinocandin. It inhibits fungal cell wall β-(1,3)-glucan synthase activity and is the second-line of drug for invasive aspergillosis, a fatal infection caused mainly by Aspergillus fumigatus. On the other hand, Enfumafungin is a natural triterpene glycoside also with a β-(1,3)-glucan synthase inhibitory activity and reported to have antifungal potential. In the present study, we compared the growth as well as modifications in the A. fumigatus cell wall upon treatment with Caspofungin or Enfumafungin, consequentially their immunomodulatory capacity on human dendritic cells. Caspofungin initially inhibited the growth of A. fumigatus, but the effect was lost over time. By contrast, Enfumafungin inhibited this fungal growth for the duration investigated. Both Caspofungin and Enfumafungin caused a decrease in the cell wall β-(1,3)-glucan content with a compensatory increase in the chitin, and to a minor extent they also affected cell wall galactose content. Treatment with these two antifungals did not result in the exposure of β-(1,3)-glucan on A. fumigatus mycelial surface. Enzymatic digestion suggested a modification of β-(1,3)-glucan structure, specifically its branching, upon Enfumafungin treatment. While there was no difference in the immunostimulatory capacity of antifungal treated A. fumigatus conidia, alkali soluble-fractions from Caspofungin treated mycelia weakly stimulated the dendritic cells, possibly due to an increased content of immunosuppressive polysaccharide galactosaminogalactan. Overall, we demonstrate a novel mechanism that Enfumafungin not only inhibits β-(1,3)-glucan synthase activity, but also causes modifications in the structure of β-(1,3)-glucan in the A. fumigatus cell wall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Guilloux
- Unité des Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Pushpa Hegde
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Sarah Sze Wah Wong
- Unité des Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France
- Immunobiologie d'Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Vishukumar Aimanianda
- Unité des Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France
- Immunobiologie d'Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Jagadeesh Bayry
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, 75006, Paris, France.
- Department of Biological Sciences & Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad, Palakkad, 678623, India.
| | - Jean-Paul Latgé
- Unité des Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur, 75015, Paris, France.
- IMBB-FORTH, Heraklion, Greece.
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Silva-Gomes R, Caldeira I, Fernandes R, Cunha C, Carvalho A. Metabolic regulation of the host-fungus interaction: from biological principles to therapeutic opportunities. J Leukoc Biol 2024; 116:469-486. [PMID: 38498599 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiae045] [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: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections present a significant global public health concern, impacting over 1 billion individuals worldwide and resulting in more than 3 million deaths annually. Despite considerable progress in recent years, the management of fungal infections remains challenging. The limited development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches is largely attributed to our incomplete understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in these diseases. Recent research has highlighted the pivotal role of cellular metabolism in regulating the interaction between fungi and their hosts. In response to fungal infection, immune cells undergo complex metabolic adjustments to meet the energy demands necessary for an effective immune response. A comprehensive understanding of the metabolic circuits governing antifungal immunity, combined with the integration of individual host traits, holds the potential to inform novel medical interventions for fungal infections. This review explores recent insights into the immunometabolic regulation of host-fungal interactions and the infection outcome and discusses how the metabolic repurposing of immune cell function could be exploited in innovative and personalized therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Silva-Gomes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Inês Caldeira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Raquel Fernandes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Cristina Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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Gautam I, Yarava JR, Xu Y, Li R, Scott FJ, Mentink-Vigier F, Momany M, Latgé JP, Wang T. Comparative Analysis of Polysaccharide and Cell Wall Structure in Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus fumigatus by Solid-State NMR. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.13.607833. [PMID: 39185159 PMCID: PMC11343165 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.13.607833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Invasive aspergillosis poses a significant threat to immunocompromised patients, leading to high mortality rates associated with these infections. Targeting the biosynthesis of cell wall carbohydrates is a promising strategy for antifungal drug development and will be advanced by a molecular-level understanding of the native structures of polysaccharides within their cellular context. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy has recently provided detailed insights into the cell wall organization of Aspergillus fumigatus, but genetic and biochemical evidence highlights species-specific differences among Aspergillus species. In this study, we employed a combination of 13C, 15N, and 1H-detection solid-state NMR, supplemented by Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP), to compare the structural organization of cell wall polymers and their assembly in the cell walls of A. fumigatus and A. nidulans, both of which are key model organisms and human pathogens. The two species exhibited a similar rigid core architecture, consisting of chitin, α-glucan, and β-glucan, which contributed to comparable cell wall properties, including polymer dynamics, water retention, and supramolecular organization. However, differences were observed in the chitin, galactosaminogalactan, protein, and lipid content, as well as in the dynamics of galactomannan and the structure of the glucan matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isha Gautam
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | | | - Yifan Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Reina Li
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Faith J. Scott
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | | | - Michelle Momany
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Jean-Paul Latgé
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
- Fungal Respiratory Infections Research Unit and SFR ICAT, University of Angers, France
| | - Tuo Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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Strader MB, Saha AL, Fernandes C, Sharma K, Hadiwinarta C, Calheiros D, Conde-de-Oliveira G, Gonçalves T, Slater JE. Distinct proteomes and allergen profiles appear across the life-cycle stages of Alternaria alternata. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2024; 154:424-434. [PMID: 38663817 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.03.026] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alternaria alternata is associated with allergic respiratory diseases, which can be managed with allergen extract-based diagnostics and immunotherapy. It is not known how spores and hyphae contribute to allergen content. Commercial allergen extracts are manufactured by extracting proteins without separating the different forms of the fungus. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine differences between spore and hyphae proteomes and how allergens are distributed in Aalternata. METHODS Data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry was used to quantitatively compare the proteomes of asexual spores (nongerminating and germinating) with vegetative hyphae. RESULTS We identified 4515 proteins in nongerminating spores, germinating spores, and hyphae; most known allergens are more abundant in nongerminating spores. On comparing significant protein fold-change differences between nongerminating spores and hyphae, we found that 174 proteins were upregulated in nongerminating spores and 80 proteins in hyphae. Among the spore proteins are ones functionally involved in cell wall synthesis, responding to cellular stress, and maintaining redox balance and homeostasis. On comparing nongerminating and germinating spores, 25 proteins were found to be upregulated in nongerminating spores and 54 in germinating spores. Among the proteins specific to germinating spores were proteases known to be virulence factors. One of the most abundant proteins in the spore proteome is sialidase, which has not been identified as an allergen but may be important in the pathogenicity of this fungus. Major allergen Alt a 1 is present at low levels in spores and hyphae and appears to be largely secreted into growth media. CONCLUSIONS Spores and hyphae express overlapping but distinct proteomes. Most known allergens are found more abundantly in nongerminating spores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Brad Strader
- Laboratory of Immunobiochemistry, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Md.
| | - Aishwarya L Saha
- Laboratory of Immunobiochemistry, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Md
| | - Chantal Fernandes
- University of Coimbra, CNC-UC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, FMUC - Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Kavita Sharma
- Laboratory of Immunobiochemistry, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Md
| | - Christian Hadiwinarta
- Laboratory of Immunobiochemistry, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Md
| | - Daniela Calheiros
- University of Coimbra, CNC-UC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, FMUC - Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Gonçalo Conde-de-Oliveira
- University of Coimbra, CNC-UC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, FMUC - Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Teresa Gonçalves
- University of Coimbra, CNC-UC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, FMUC - Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jay E Slater
- Laboratory of Immunobiochemistry, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic and Allergenic Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Md
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7
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Dickwella Widanage MC, Gautam I, Sarkar D, Mentink-Vigier F, Vermaas JV, Ding SY, Lipton AS, Fontaine T, Latgé JP, Wang P, Wang T. Adaptative survival of Aspergillus fumigatus to echinocandins arises from cell wall remodeling beyond β-1,3-glucan synthesis inhibition. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6382. [PMID: 39085213 PMCID: PMC11291495 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50799-8] [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: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Antifungal echinocandins inhibit the biosynthesis of β-1,3-glucan, a major and essential polysaccharide component of the fungal cell wall. However, the efficacy of echinocandins against the pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus is limited. Here, we use solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) and other techniques to show that echinocandins induce dynamic changes in the assembly of mobile and rigid polymers within the A. fumigatus cell wall. The reduction of β-1,3-glucan induced by echinocandins is accompanied by a concurrent increase in levels of chitin, chitosan, and highly polymorphic α-1,3-glucans, whose physical association with chitin maintains cell wall integrity and modulates water permeability. The rearrangement of the macromolecular network is dynamic and controls the permeability and circulation of the drug throughout the cell wall. Thus, our results indicate that echinocandin treatment triggers compensatory rearrangements in the cell wall that may help A. fumigatus to tolerate the drugs' antifungal effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malitha C Dickwella Widanage
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Isha Gautam
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | | | | | - Josh V Vermaas
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Shi-You Ding
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Andrew S Lipton
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Thierry Fontaine
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INRAE, USC2019, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, F-, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Paul Latgé
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Ping Wang
- Departments of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Tuo Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
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8
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Vallet A, Ayala I, Perrone B, Hassan A, Simorre JP, Bougault C, Schanda P. MAS NMR experiments of corynebacterial cell walls: Complementary 1H- and CPMAS CryoProbe-enhanced 13C-detected experiments. JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE (SAN DIEGO, CALIF. : 1997) 2024; 364:107708. [PMID: 38901173 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmr.2024.107708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial cell walls are gigadalton-large cross-linked polymers with a wide range of motional amplitudes, including rather rigid as well as highly flexible parts. Magic-angle spinning NMR is a powerful method to obtain atomic-level information about intact cell walls. Here we investigate sensitivity and information content of different homonuclear 13C13C and heteronuclear 1H15N, 1H13C and 15N13C correlation experiments. We demonstrate that a CPMAS CryoProbe yields ca. 8-fold increased signal-to-noise over a room-temperature probe, or a ca. 3-4-fold larger per-mass sensitivity. The increased sensitivity allowed to obtain high-resolution spectra even on intact bacteria. Moreover, we compare resolution and sensitivity of 1H MAS experiments obtained at 100 kHz vs. 55 kHz. Our study provides useful hints for choosing experiments to extract atomic-level details on cell-wall samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Vallet
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71, avenue des martyrs, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | - Isabel Ayala
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71, avenue des martyrs, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | | | - Alia Hassan
- Bruker Biospin, Fällanden, 8117, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Pierre Simorre
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71, avenue des martyrs, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | - Catherine Bougault
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 71, avenue des martyrs, Grenoble, 38000, France.
| | - Paul Schanda
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, Klosterneuburg, 3400, Austria.
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9
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Xue Y, Li H, Kang X. Molecular unraveling of polysaccharide digestion in wood-feeding termites: A solid-state NMR perspective. Carbohydr Polym 2024; 331:121843. [PMID: 38388031 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.121843] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Termites are among the most efficient organisms utilizing polysaccharides from wood and play a significant role in global carbon recycling, especially within tropical and subtropical ecosystems. Yet, the molecular details in polysaccharide degradation by termites remain largely unexplored. In this work, we have elucidated the shared and distinct molecular details in polysaccharides digestion by the higher termite Nasutitermes on poplar and the lower termite Cryptotermes on pine using high resolution solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. For the first time, structural polymers are partitioned into the minor mobile and dominant rigid phases for individual examination. The mobile polysaccharides receive less structural impacts and exhibit greater digestibility compared to the rigid counterparts. While both termites effectively degrade cellulose, Nasutitermes significantly outperforms Cryptotermes in hemicellulose breakdown. In the rigid phase, cellulose is comprehensively degraded into a fragmented and more dynamically consistent structure; As Nasutitermes breaks down hemicellulose in a similar manner to cellulose, Cryptotermes selectively digests hemicellulose at its interfaces with cellulose. Additionally, crystalline cellulose undergoes selective degradation, and the digestion of amorphous cellulose might involve sugar chain detachment within microfibrils. Overall, our findings offer significant advancements and fresh perspectives on the polysaccharide digestion strategies of different termite lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xue
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Hongjie Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
| | - Xue Kang
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
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10
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Xue Y, Yu C, Ouyang H, Huang J, Kang X. Uncovering the Molecular Composition and Architecture of the Bacillus subtilis Biofilm via Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:11906-11923. [PMID: 38629727 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00889] [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: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The complex and dynamic compositions of biofilms, along with their sophisticated structural assembly mechanisms, endow them with exceptional capabilities to thrive in diverse conditions that are typically unfavorable for individual cells. Characterizing biofilms in their native state is significantly challenging due to their intrinsic complexities and the limited availability of noninvasive techniques. Here, we utilized solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to analyze Bacillus subtilis biofilms in-depth. Our data uncover a dynamically distinct organization within the biofilm: a dominant, hydrophilic, and mobile framework interspersed with minor, rigid cores of limited water accessibility. In these heterogeneous rigid cores, the major components are largely self-assembled. TasA fibers, the most robust elements, further provide a degree of mechanical support for the cell aggregates and some lipid vesicles. Notably, rigid cell aggregates can persist even without the major extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) polymers, although this leads to slight variations in their rigidity and water accessibility. Exopolysaccharides are exclusively present in the mobile domain, playing a pivotal role in its water retention property. Specifically, all water molecules are tightly bound within the biofilm matrix. These findings reveal a dual-layered defensive strategy within the biofilm: a diffusion barrier through limited water mobility in the mobile phase and a physical barrier posed by limited water accessibility in the rigid phase. Complementing these discoveries, our comprehensive, in situ compositional analysis is not only essential for delineating the sophisticated biofilm architecture but also reveals the presence of alternative genetic mechanisms for synthesizing exopolysaccharides beyond the known pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xue
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Chenjie Yu
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Han Ouyang
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Jiaofang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xue Kang
- Institute of Drug Discovery Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
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11
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Sani MA, Rajput S, Keizer DW, Separovic F. NMR techniques for investigating antimicrobial peptides in model membranes and bacterial cells. Methods 2024; 224:10-20. [PMID: 38295893 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2024.01.012] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
AMPs are short, mainly cationic membrane-active peptides found in all living organism. They perform diverse roles including signaling and acting as a line of defense against bacterial infections. AMPs have been extensively investigated as templates to facilitate the development of novel antimicrobial therapeutics. Understanding the interplay between these membrane-active peptides and the lipid membranes is considered to be a significant step in elucidating the specific mechanism of action of AMPs against prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells to aid the development of new therapeutics. In this review, we have provided a brief overview of various NMR techniques commonly used for studying AMP structure and AMP-membrane interactions in model membranes and whole cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-Antoine Sani
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
| | - Sunnia Rajput
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - David W Keizer
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Frances Separovic
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
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12
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Miyazawa K, Umeyama T, Yoshimi A, Abe K, Miyazaki Y. [Aspergillus Cell Surface Structural Analysis and Its Applications to Industrial and Medical Use]. Med Mycol J 2024; 65:75-82. [PMID: 39218650 DOI: 10.3314/mmj.24.007] [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] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The hyphal surface of cells of filamentous fungi is covered with cell wall, which is mainly composed of polysaccharides. Since the cell wall is the first structure to come in contact with the infection host, the environment, and the fungus itself, the elucidation of the cell wall structure and biogenesis is essential for understanding fungal ecology. Among filamentous fungi, the genus Aspergillus is an important group in the industrial, food, and medical fields. It is known that Aspergillus species form hyphal pellets in shake liquid culture. The authors previously found the role of α-1,3-glucan in hyphal aggregation in Aspergillus species. In addition, extracellular polysaccharide galactosaminogalactan contributed to hyphal aggregation as well, and dual disruption of biosynthesis genes of α-1,3-glucan and galactosaminogalactan resulted in complete hyphal dispersion in shake liquid culture. The characteristic of mycelia to form pellets under liquid culture conditions was the main reason why the growth measurement methods used for unicellular organisms could not be applied. We reported that hyphal growth of the dual disruption mutant could be measured by optical density. A real-time plate reader could be used to determine the growth curve of the mycelial growth of the dual disruption mutant. This measurement approach not only provides basic microbiological insights in filamentous fungi, but also has the potential to be applied to high-throughput screening of anti-Aspergillus drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Miyazawa
- Department of Fungal Infection, National Institute of Infectious Diseases
| | - Takashi Umeyama
- Department of Fungal Infection, National Institute of Infectious Diseases
| | - Akira Yoshimi
- Terrestrial Microbiology and Systematics, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University
- New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University
| | - Keietsu Abe
- New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tohoku University
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13
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Bikmurzin R, Maršalka A, Kalėdienė L. Solid-State 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study of Soluble and Insoluble β-Glucans Extracted from Candida lusitaniae. Molecules 2023; 28:8066. [PMID: 38138557 PMCID: PMC10745363 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28248066] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
β-glucans are widely known for their biological activities. However, the choice of extraction method can significantly influence their structural characteristics, thereby potentially impacting their biological functions. In this paper, three fractions of β-glucans were obtained from Candida lusitaniae yeast via alkali and hot-water extraction methods and were analyzed using solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy was used as a nondestructive technique that preserves the structure of the analyzed molecules. The results suggest that differences in the β-glucan structure are affected by the choice of extraction method. The main difference occurred in the 82-92 ppm region with signal presence suggesting that β-glucans have a linear structure when hot-water-extracted, which is absent in alkali-extracted fractions resulting in the acquisition of β-glucans with an ordered, possibly helical structure. A hot-water extracted water-insoluble (HWN) fraction consists of linear β-1,3-glucans with other signals indicating the presence of β-1,6-linked side chains, chitin and small amounts of α-glucan impurities. For those that are alkali-extracted, alkali-insoluble (AN) and water-soluble (AWS) fractions are structurally similar and consist of an ordered β-1,3-glucan structure with β-1,6-linked side chains and a significant amount of α-glucan and chitin in both fractions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruslan Bikmurzin
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio Ave. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Department of Medical Technology and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Care, Vilniaus Kolegija/Higher Education Institution, Didlaukio Str. 45, LT-08303 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Arūnas Maršalka
- Institute of Chemical Physics, Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio Ave. 3, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania;
| | - Lilija Kalėdienė
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
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14
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Fernando LD, Pérez-Llano Y, Dickwella Widanage MC, Jacob A, Martínez-Ávila L, Lipton AS, Gunde-Cimerman N, Latgé JP, Batista-García RA, Wang T. Structural adaptation of fungal cell wall in hypersaline environment. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7082. [PMID: 37925437 PMCID: PMC10625518 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42693-6] [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: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Halophilic fungi thrive in hypersaline habitats and face a range of extreme conditions. These fungal species have gained considerable attention due to their potential applications in harsh industrial processes, such as bioremediation and fermentation under unfavorable conditions of hypersalinity, low water activity, and extreme pH. However, the role of the cell wall in surviving these environmental conditions remains unclear. Here we employ solid-state NMR spectroscopy to compare the cell wall architecture of Aspergillus sydowii across salinity gradients. Analyses of intact cells reveal that A. sydowii cell walls contain a rigid core comprising chitin, β-glucan, and chitosan, shielded by a surface shell composed of galactomannan and galactosaminogalactan. When exposed to hypersaline conditions, A. sydowii enhances chitin biosynthesis and incorporates α-glucan to create thick, stiff, and hydrophobic cell walls. Such structural rearrangements enable the fungus to adapt to both hypersaline and salt-deprived conditions, providing a robust mechanism for withstanding external stress. These molecular principles can aid in the optimization of halophilic strains for biotechnology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyanage D Fernando
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Yordanis Pérez-Llano
- Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Malitha C Dickwella Widanage
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Anand Jacob
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Liliana Martínez-Ávila
- Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Andrew S Lipton
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | | | - Jean-Paul Latgé
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
- Fungal Respiratory Infections Research Unit, University of Angers, Angers, France
| | | | - Tuo Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
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Fernando LD, Zhao W, Gautam I, Ankur A, Wang T. Polysaccharide assemblies in fungal and plant cell walls explored by solid-state NMR. Structure 2023; 31:1375-1385. [PMID: 37597511 PMCID: PMC10843855 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Structural analysis of macromolecular complexes within their natural cellular environment presents a significant challenge. Recent applications of solid-state NMR (ssNMR) techniques on living fungal cells and intact plant tissues have greatly enhanced our understanding of the structure of extracellular matrices. Here, we selectively highlight the most recent progress in this field. Specifically, we discuss how ssNMR can provide detailed insights into the chemical composition and conformational structure of pectin, and the consequential impact on polysaccharide interactions and cell wall organization. We elaborate on the use of ssNMR data to uncover the arrangement of the lignin-polysaccharide interface and the macrofibrillar structure in native plant stems or during degradation processes. We also comprehend the dynamic structure of fungal cell walls under various morphotypes and stress conditions. Finally, we assess how the combination of NMR with other techniques can enhance our capacity to address unresolved structural questions concerning these complex macromolecular assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyanage D Fernando
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Wancheng Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Isha Gautam
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Ankur Ankur
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Tuo Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
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16
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Latgé JP. Cell wall of Aspergillus fumigatus: Variability and response to stress. Fungal Biol 2023; 127:1259-1266. [PMID: 37495316 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2023.05.001] [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: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
The fungal cell is surrounded by a thick cell wall which obviously play an essential role in the protection of the fungus against external aggressive environments. In spite of 50 years of studies, the cell wall remains poorly known and especially its constant modifications during growth as well as environmental changes is not well appreciated. This review focus on the cell wall changes seen between different fungal stages and cell populations with a specific view to explain the resistance to stresses.
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