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Liu WQ, Ji X, Ba F, Zhang Y, Xu H, Huang S, Zheng X, Liu Y, Ling S, Jewett MC, Li J. Cell-free biosynthesis and engineering of ribosomally synthesized lanthipeptides. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4336. [PMID: 38773100 PMCID: PMC11109155 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48726-y] [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: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a major class of natural products with diverse chemical structures and potent biological activities. A vast majority of RiPP gene clusters remain unexplored in microbial genomes, which is partially due to the lack of rapid and efficient heterologous expression systems for RiPP characterization and biosynthesis. Here, we report a unified biocatalysis (UniBioCat) system based on cell-free gene expression for rapid biosynthesis and engineering of RiPPs. We demonstrate UniBioCat by reconstituting a full biosynthetic pathway for de novo biosynthesis of salivaricin B, a lanthipeptide RiPP. Next, we delete several protease/peptidase genes from the source strain to enhance the performance of UniBioCat, which then can synthesize and screen salivaricin B variants with enhanced antimicrobial activity. Finally, we show that UniBioCat is generalizable by synthesizing and evaluating the bioactivity of ten uncharacterized lanthipeptides. We expect UniBioCat to accelerate the discovery, characterization, and synthesis of RiPPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Qiu Liu
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangyang Ji
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fang Ba
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yufei Zhang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huiling Xu
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuhui Huang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Zheng
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifan Liu
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China.
| | - Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China.
| | - Michael C Jewett
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, US.
| | - Jian Li
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China.
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2
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Li L, Zhang J, Zhou L, Shi H, Mai H, Su J, Ma X, Zhong J. The First Lanthipeptide from Lactobacillus iners, Inecin L, Exerts High Antimicrobial Activity against Human Vaginal Pathogens. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0212322. [PMID: 36847550 PMCID: PMC10057874 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02123-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaginal infections continue to be a serious public health issue, and developing new approaches to address antibiotic-resistant pathogens is an urgent task. The dominant vaginal Lactobacillus species and their active metabolites (e.g., bacteriocins) have the potential to defeat pathogens and help individuals recover from disorders. Here, we describe for the first time a novel lanthipeptide, inecin L, a bacteriocin from Lactobacillus iners with posttranslational modifications. The biosynthetic genes of inecin L were actively transcribed in the vaginal environment. Inecin L was active against the prevailing vaginal pathogens, such as Gardnerella vaginalis and Streptococcus agalactiae, at nanomolar concentrations. We demonstrated that the antibacterial activity of inecin L was closely related to the N terminus and the positively charged His13 residue. In addition, inecin L was a bactericidal lanthipeptide that showed little effect on the cytoplasmic membrane but inhibited the cell wall biosynthesis. Thus, the present work characterizes a new antimicrobial lanthipeptide from a predominant species of the human vaginal microbiota. IMPORTANCE The human vaginal microbiota plays essential roles in preventing pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses from invading. The dominant vaginal Lactobacillus species show great potential to be developed as probiotics. However, the molecular mechanisms (such as bioactive molecules and their modes of action) involved in the probiotic properties remain to be determined. Our work describes the first lanthipeptide molecule from the dominant Lactobacillus iners. Additionally, inecin L is the only lanthipeptide found among the vaginal lactobacilli thus far. Inecin L shows strong antimicrobial activity toward the prevalent vaginal pathogens and antibiotic-resistant strains, suggesting that inecin L is a potent antibacterial molecule for drug development. In addition, our results show that inecin L exhibits specific antibacterial activity related to the residues in the N-terminal region and ring A, which will contribute to structure-activity relationship studies in lacticin 481-like lanthipeptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liyan Zhou
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Haijuan Shi
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Hong Mai
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Junchang Su
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xingwang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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3
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Janssen K, Krasenbrink J, Strangfeld S, Kroheck S, Josten M, Engeser M, Bierbaum G. Elucidation of the Bridging Pattern of the Lantibiotic Pseudomycoicidin. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202200540. [PMID: 36399337 PMCID: PMC10107895 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200540] [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: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Lantibiotics are post-translationally modified antibiotic peptides with lanthionine thioether bridges that represent potential alternatives to conventional antibiotics. The lantibiotic pseudomycoicidin is produced by Bacillus pseudomycoides DSM 12442 and is effective against many Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. While prior work demonstrated that pseudomycoicidin possesses one disulfide bridge and four thioether bridges, the ring topology has so far remained unclear. Here, we analyzed several pseudomycoicidin analogues that are affected in ring formation via MALDI-TOF-MS and tandem mass spectrometry with regard to their dehydration and fragmentation patterns, respectively. As a result, we propose a bridging pattern involving Thr8 and Cys13, Thr10 and Cys16, Ser18 and Cys21, and Ser20 and Cys26, thus, forming two double ring systems. Additionally, we localized the disulfide bridge to connect Cys3 and Cys7 and, therefore, fully elucidated the bridging pattern of pseudomycoicidin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Janssen
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Medical Faculty, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Julia Krasenbrink
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Medical Faculty, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany.,Present address: Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Department for Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sarina Strangfeld
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Medical Faculty, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sarah Kroheck
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Medical Faculty, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michaele Josten
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Medical Faculty, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marianne Engeser
- Kekulé Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Str. 1, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - Gabriele Bierbaum
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Medical Faculty, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
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4
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Covalent Structure and Bioactivity of the Type AII Lantibiotic Salivaricin A2. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.02528-17. [PMID: 29269497 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02528-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Lantibiotics are a class of lanthionine-containing, ribosomally synthesized, and posttranslationally modified peptides (RiPPs) produced by Gram-positive bacteria. Salivaricin A2 belongs to the type AII lantibiotics, which are generally considered to kill Gram-positive bacteria by binding to the cell wall precursor lipid II via a conserved ring A structure. Salivaricin A2 was first reported to be isolated from a probiotic strain, Streptococcus salivarius K12, but the structural and bioactivity characterizations of the antibiotic have remained limited. In this study, salivaricin A2 was purified and its covalent structure was characterized. N-terminal analogues of salivaricin A2 were generated to study the importance for bioactivity of the length and charge of the N-terminal amino acids. Analogue salivaricin A2(3-22) has no antibacterial activity and does not have an antagonistic effect on the native compound. The truncated analogue also lost its ability to bind to lipid II in a thin-layer chromatography (TLC) assay, suggesting that the N-terminal amino acids are important for binding to lipid II. The creation of N-terminal analogues of salivaricin A2 promoted a better understanding of the bioactivity of this antibiotic and further elucidated the structural importance of the N-terminal leader peptide. The antibacterial activity of salivaricin A2 is due not only to the presence of the positively charged N-terminal amino acid residues, but to the length of the N-terminal linear peptide.IMPORTANCE The amino acid composition of the N-terminal linear peptide of salivaricin A2 is crucial for function. Our study shows that the length of the amino acid residues in the linear peptide is crucial for salivaricin A2 antimicrobial activity. Very few type AII lantibiotic covalent structures have been confirmed. The characterization of the covalent structure of salivaricin A2 provides additional support for the predicted lanthionine and methyl-lanthionine ring formations present in this structural class of lantibiotics. Removal of the N-terminal Lys1 and Arg2 residues from the peptide causes a dramatic shift in the chemical shift values of amino acid residues 7 through 9, suggesting that the N-terminal amino acids contribute to a distinct structural conformer for the linear peptide region. The demonstration that the bioactivity could be partially restored with the substitution of N-terminal alanine residues supports further studies aimed at determining whether new analogues of salivaricin A2 for novel applications can be synthesized.
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5
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Baindara P, Chaudhry V, Mittal G, Liao LM, Matos CO, Khatri N, Franco OL, Patil PB, Korpole S. Characterization of the Antimicrobial Peptide Penisin, a Class Ia Novel Lantibiotic from Paenibacillus sp. Strain A3. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016; 60:580-91. [PMID: 26574006 PMCID: PMC4704198 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01813-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Attempts to isolate novel antimicrobial peptides from microbial sources have been on the rise recently, despite their low efficacy in therapeutic applications. Here, we report identification and characterization of a new efficient antimicrobial peptide from a bacterial strain designated A3 that exhibited highest identity with Paenibacillus ehimensis. Upon purification and subsequent molecular characterization of the antimicrobial peptide, referred to as penisin, we found the peptide to be a bacteriocin-like peptide. Consistent with these results, RAST analysis of the entire genome sequence revealed the presence of a lantibiotic gene cluster containing genes necessary for synthesis and maturation of a lantibiotic. While circular dichroism and one-dimension nuclear magnetic resonance experiments confirmed a random coil structure of the peptide, similar to other known lantibiotics, additional biochemical evidence suggests posttranslational modifications of the core peptide yield six thioether cross-links. The deduced amino acid sequence of the putative biosynthetic gene penA showed approximately 74% similarity with elgicin A and 50% similarity with the lantibiotic paenicidin A. Penisin effectively killed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and did not exhibit hemolysis activity. Unlike other lantibiotics, it effectively inhibited the growth of Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, 80 mg/kg of body weight of penisin significantly reduced bacterial burden in a mouse thigh infection model and protected BALB/c mice in a bacteremia model entailing infection with Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 96, suggesting that it could be a promising new antimicrobial peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vasvi Chaudhry
- CSIR Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Garima Mittal
- CSIR Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Luciano M Liao
- Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Carolina O Matos
- Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Neeraj Khatri
- CSIR Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Octavio L Franco
- Centro de Analises Proteomicas e Bioquimicas, Pós-graduacão em Ciências Genomicas e Biotecnologia, Brasília, Brazil S-Inova, Programa de Pós-Graduacão em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Prabhu B Patil
- CSIR Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Suresh Korpole
- CSIR Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
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Type AII lantibiotic bovicin HJ50 with a rare disulfide bond: structure, structure-activity relationships and mode of action. Biochem J 2014; 461:497-508. [PMID: 24814218 DOI: 10.1042/bj20131524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Lantibiotics are ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial peptides containing unusual amino acids. As promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics, they have a high potential for alleviating the problem of emergent antibiotic resistance, with possible applications in many industries that have antibacterial demand. Bovicin HJ50 is a type AII lantibiotic, the largest group of lantibiotics, comprising a linear N-terminal region and a globular C-terminal region. Interestingly, bovicin H50 has a disulfide bond that is rare in this group. Owing to limited information about the spatial structures of type AII lantibiotics, the functional regions of this type and the role of the disulfide bond are still unknown. In the present study, we resolved the solution structure of bovicin HJ50 using NMR spectroscopy. This is the first spatial structure of a type AII lantibiotic. Bovicin HJ50 exhibited high flexibility in aqueous solution, whereas varied rigidities were observed in the different rings with the conserved ring A being the most rigid. The charged residues Lys¹¹, Asp¹² and Lys³⁰, as well as the essential disulfide bond were critical for antimicrobial activity. Importantly, bovicin HJ50 showed not only peptidoglycan precursor lipid II-binding ability, but also pore-forming activity, which is significantly different from other bacteriostatic type AII lantibiotics, suggesting a novel antimicrobial mechanism.
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7
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Structural characterization of thioether-bridged bacteriocins. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 2013; 67:23-30. [PMID: 24022605 DOI: 10.1038/ja.2013.81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2013] [Revised: 07/23/2013] [Accepted: 07/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Bacteriocins are a group of ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial peptides produced by bacteria, some of which are extensively post-translationally modified. Some bacteriocins, namely the lantibiotics and sactibiotics, contain one or more thioether bridges. However, these modifications complicate the structural elucidation of these bacteriocins using conventional techniques. This review will discuss the techniques and strategies that have been applied to determine the primary structures of lantibiotics and sactibiotics. A major challenge is to identify the topology of thioether bridges in these peptides (i.e., which amino-acid residues are involved in which bridges). Edman degradation, NMR spectroscopy and tandem MS have all been commonly applied to characterize these bacteriocins, but can be incompatible with the post-translational modifications present. Chemical modifications to the modified residues, such as desulfurization and reduction, make the treated bacteriocins more compatible to analysis by these standard peptide analytical techniques. Despite their differences in structure, similar strategies have proved useful to study the structures of both lantibiotics and sactibiotics.
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8
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Lin Y, Teng K, Huan L, Zhong J. Dissection of the bridging pattern of bovicin HJ50, a lantibiotic containing a characteristic disulfide bridge. Microbiol Res 2011; 166:146-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2010.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2010] [Revised: 04/27/2010] [Accepted: 05/08/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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9
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Stanley B, Mehr KA, Kellock T, Van Hamme JD, Donkor KK. Separation and determination of closely related lantibiotics by micellar electrokinetic chromatography. J Sep Sci 2009; 32:2993-3000. [DOI: 10.1002/jssc.200900185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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10
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Bowden GHW. The Microbial Ecology of Dental Caries. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY IN HEALTH AND DISEASE 2009. [DOI: 10.1080/089106000750051819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- G. H. W. Bowden
- Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, 780 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Canada R3E 0W2
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11
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Petersen J, Boysen A, Fogh L, Tabermann K, Kofoed T, King A, Schrotz-King P, Hansen MC. Identification and characterization of a bioactive lantibiotic produced by Staphylococcus warneri. Biol Chem 2009; 390:437-44. [DOI: 10.1515/bc.2009.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Lantibiotics are a group of potent antibacterial agents that contain unusual amino acids, such as the thioether amino acids lanthionine and methyllanthionine, and the didehydroamino acids didehydroalanine and didehydro-aminobutyric acid. Here, we report on an antibacterial lantibiotic peptide named SWLP1 (Staphylococcus warneri lantibiotic peptide 1), which is secreted from Staphylococcus warneri (deposited with DSMZ, accession number DSM 16081). SWLP1 was purified from growth media. The purified peptide displays antibacterial activity against several species, including Staphylococcus epidermidis. The molecular mass of SWLP1 is 2998.9 Da as determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The sequence and possible structure was elucidated by combining electrospray ionization mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry data of ethanethiol-treated and non-ethanethiol-treated tryptic fragments of the SWLP1. SWLP1 contains three thioether bridges, one didehydroalanine, and three didehydroaminobutyric acids. This peptide has the potential to be used in treatment of several Gram-positive bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jørgen Petersen
- ACE BioSciences A/S, Unsbjergvej 2a, DK-5220 Odense, Denmark
| | - Anders Boysen
- ACE BioSciences A/S, Unsbjergvej 2a, DK-5220 Odense, Denmark
| | - Lotte Fogh
- ACE BioSciences A/S, Unsbjergvej 2a, DK-5220 Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Thomas Kofoed
- ACE BioSciences A/S, Unsbjergvej 2a, DK-5220 Odense, Denmark
| | - Angus King
- ACE BioSciences A/S, Unsbjergvej 2a, DK-5220 Odense, Denmark
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12
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Cotter PD, Deegan LH, Lawton EM, Draper LA, O'Connor PM, Hill C, Ross RP. Complete alanine scanning of the two-component lantibiotic lacticin 3147: generating a blueprint for rational drug design. Mol Microbiol 2007; 62:735-47. [PMID: 17076667 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2006.05398.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Lantibiotics are post-translationally modified antimicrobial peptides which are active at nanomolar concentrations. Some lantibiotics have been shown to function by targeting lipid II, the essential precursor of cell wall biosynthesis. Given that lantibiotics are ribosomally synthesized and amenable to site-directed mutagenesis, they have the potential to serve as biological templates for the production of novel peptides with improved functionalities. However, if a rational approach to novel lantibiotic design is to be adopted, an appreciation of the roles of each individual amino acid (and each domain) is required. To date no lantibiotic has been subjected to such rigorous analysis. To address this issue we have carried out complete scanning mutagenesis of each of the 59 amino acids in lacticin 3147, a two-component lantibiotic which acts through the synergistic activity of the peptides LtnA1 (30 amino acids) and LtnA2 (29 amino acids). All mutations were performed in situ in the native 60 kb plasmid, pMRC01. A number of mutations resulted in the elimination of detectable bioactivity and seem to represent an invariable core within these and related peptides. Significantly however, of the 59 amino acids, at least 36 can be changed without resulting in a complete loss of activity. Many of these are clustered to form variable domains within the peptides. The information generated in this study represents a blue-print that will be critical for the rational design of lantibiotic-based antimicrobial compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul D Cotter
- Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Hyink O, Wescombe PA, Upton M, Ragland N, Burton JP, Tagg JR. Salivaricin A2 and the novel lantibiotic salivaricin B are encoded at adjacent loci on a 190-kilobase transmissible megaplasmid in the oral probiotic strain Streptococcus salivarius K12. Appl Environ Microbiol 2006; 73:1107-13. [PMID: 17194838 PMCID: PMC1828679 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02265-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The commercial probiotic Streptococcus salivarius strain K12 is the prototype of those S. salivarius strains that are the most strongly inhibitory in a standardized test of streptococcal bacteriocin production and has been shown to produce the 2,368-Da salivaricin A2 (SalA2) and the 2,740-Da salivaricin B (SboB) lantibiotics. The previously uncharacterized SboB belongs to the type AII class of lantibiotic bacteriocins and is encoded by an eight-gene cluster. The genetic loci encoding SalA2 and SboB in strain K12 have been fully characterized and are localized to nearly adjacent sites on pSsal-K12, a 190-kb megaplasmid. Of 61 strongly inhibitory strains of S. salivarius, 19 (31%) were positive for the sboB structural gene. All but one (strain NR) of these 19 strains were also positive for salA2, and in each of these cases of double positivity, the two loci were separated by fewer than 10 kb. This is the first report of a single streptococcus strain producing two distinct lantibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otto Hyink
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
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14
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingolf F Nes
- Laboratory of Microbial Gene Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, N-1432 As, Norway.
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15
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Dufour A, Hindré T, Haras D, Le Pennec JP. The biology of lantibiotics from the lacticin 481 group is coming of age. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2006; 31:134-67. [PMID: 17096664 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2006.00045.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Lantibiotics are antimicrobial peptides from the bacteriocin family, secreted by Gram-positive bacteria. These peptides differ from other bacteriocins by the presence of (methyl)lanthionine residues, which result from enzymatic modification of precursor peptides encoded by structural genes. Several groups of lantibiotics have been distinguished, the largest of which is the lacticin 481 group. This group consists of at least 16 members, including lacticin 481, streptococcin A-FF22, mutacin II, nukacin ISK-1, and salivaricins. We present the first review devoted to this lantibiotic group, knowledge of which has increased significantly within the last few years. After updating the group composition and defining the common properties of these lantibiotics, we highlight the most recent developments. The latter concern: transcriptional regulation of the lantibiotic genes; understanding the biosynthetic machinery, in particular the ability to perform in vitro prepeptide maturation; characterization of a novel type of immunity protein; and broad application possibilities. This group differs in many aspects from the best known lantibiotic group (nisin group), but shares properties with less-studied groups such as the mersacidin, cytolysin and lactocin S groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Dufour
- Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et Chimie Marines, EA3884, Université de Bretagne Sud, Lorient, France.
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16
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He Z, Kisla D, Zhang L, Yuan C, Green-Church KB, Yousef AE. Isolation and identification of a Paenibacillus polymyxa strain that coproduces a novel lantibiotic and polymyxin. Appl Environ Microbiol 2006; 73:168-78. [PMID: 17071789 PMCID: PMC1797129 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02023-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A new bacterial strain, displaying potent antimicrobial properties against gram-negative and gram-positive pathogenic bacteria, was isolated from food. Based on its phenotypical and biochemical properties as well as its 16S rRNA gene sequence, the bacterium was identified as Paenibacillus polymyxa and it was designated as strain OSY-DF. The antimicrobials produced by this strain were isolated from the fermentation broth and subsequently analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Two antimicrobials were found: a known antibiotic, polymyxin E1, which is active against gram-negative bacteria, and an unknown 2,983-Da compound showing activity against gram-positive bacteria. The latter was purified to homogeneity, and its antimicrobial potency and proteinaceous nature were confirmed. The antimicrobial peptide, designated paenibacillin, is active against a broad range of food-borne pathogenic and spoilage bacteria, including Bacillus spp., Clostridium sporogenes, Lactobacillus spp., Lactococcus lactis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Listeria spp., Pediococcus cerevisiae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus agalactiae. Furthermore, it possesses the physico-chemical properties of an ideal antimicrobial agent in terms of water solubility, thermal resistance, and stability against acid/alkali (pH 2.0 to 9.0) treatment. Edman degradation, mass spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance were used to sequence native and chemically modified paenibacillin. While details of the tentative sequence need to be elucidated in future work, the peptide was unequivocally characterized as a novel lantibiotic, with a high degree of posttranslational modifications. The coproduction of polymyxin E1 and a lantibiotic is a finding that has not been reported earlier. The new strain and associated peptide are potentially useful in food and medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zengguo He
- Parker Food Science Building, The Ohio State University, 2015 Fyffe Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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17
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Nicolas G, Morency H, LaPointe G, Lavoie MC. Mutacin H-29B is identical to mutacin II (J-T8). BMC Microbiol 2006; 6:36. [PMID: 16626493 PMCID: PMC1462995 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-6-36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2006] [Accepted: 04/20/2006] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Streptococcus mutans produces bacteriocins named mutacins. Studies of mutacins have always been hampered by the difficulties in obtaining active liquid preparations of these substances. Some of them were found to be lantibiotics, defined as bacterial ribosomally synthesised lanthionine-containing peptides with antimicrobial activity. The goal of this study was to produce and characterize a new mutacin from S. mutans strain 29B, as it shows a promising activity spectrum against current human pathogens. RESULTS Mutacin H-29B, produced by S. mutans strain 29B, was purified by successive hydrophobic chromatography from a liquid preparation consisting of cheese whey permeate (6% w/v) supplemented with yeast extract (2%) and CaCO3 (1%). Edman degradation revealed 24 amino acids identical to those of mutacin II (also known as J-T8). The molecular mass of the purified peptide was evaluated at 3246.08 +/- 0.1 Da by MALDI-TOF MS. CONCLUSION A simple procedure for production and purification of mutacins along with its characterization is presented. Our results show that the amino acid sequence of mutacin H-29B is identical to the already known mutacin II (J-T8) over the first 24 residues. S. mutans strains of widely different origins may thus produce very similar bacteriocins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Nicolas
- Département de Biochimie et Microbiologie, Faculté des Sciences et Génie, Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, G1K 7P4, Canada
| | - Hélène Morency
- Département de Biochimie et Microbiologie, Faculté des Sciences et Génie, Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, G1K 7P4, Canada
| | - Gisèle LaPointe
- Centre de Recherche en Sciences et Technologie du Lait (STELA), Institut des Nutraceutiques et des Aliments Fonctionnels (INAF), Faculté des Sciences de 1' Agriculture et de 1' Alimentation, Université Laval, Québec, G1K 7P4, Canada
| | - Marc C Lavoie
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Bridgetown, BB 11000, Barbados
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18
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Chatterjee C, Paul M, Xie L, van der Donk WA. Biosynthesis and mode of action of lantibiotics. Chem Rev 2005; 105:633-84. [PMID: 15700960 DOI: 10.1021/cr030105v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 563] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Champak Chatterjee
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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19
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Kaewsrichan J, Douglas CWI, Nissen-Meyer J, Fimland G, Teanpaisan R. Characterization of a bacteriocin produced by Prevotella nigrescens ATCC 25261. Lett Appl Microbiol 2005; 39:451-8. [PMID: 15482437 DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2004.01608.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To characterize the antimicrobial activity produced by Prevotella nigrescens ATCC 25261, and to evaluate its safety on cultured gingival fibroblasts. METHODS AND RESULTS An antimicrobial activity was obtained from purifying the culture supernatant of Pr. nigrescens ATCC 25261. Purification of the active compound was achieved with ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by anion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. As revealed by SDS-PAGE, the active fraction was relatively homogeneous, showing a protein with an approximate molecular weight of 41 kDa. The antimicrobial compound, named nigrescin, exhibited a bactericidal mode of action against Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythensis, and Actinomyces spp. Nigrescin was stable in a pH range between 6.5 and 9.5, at 100 degrees C for 10 min, and resistant to lyophilization. But its activity was lost after proteinase K treatment. Despite at very high concentrations beyond the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), nigrescin was not toxic to the gingival fibroblasts. CONCLUSION Nigrescin is a novel bacteriocin produced by Pr. nigrescens ATCC 25261. It exhibits antimicrobial activity against species that are implicated in periodontal diseases. The absence of toxicity on the gingival fibroblasts suggests the possibility in using of nigrescin for an application in periodontal treatment. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Novel evidence on nigrescin would make Pr. nigrescens ATCC 25261 attractive in biotechnological applications as an antimicrobial agent in clinical dentistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Kaewsrichan
- Department of Stomatology, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand.
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Dabard J, Bridonneau C, Phillipe C, Anglade P, Molle D, Nardi M, Ladiré M, Girardin H, Marcille F, Gomez A, Fons M. Ruminococcin A, a new lantibiotic produced by a Ruminococcus gnavus strain isolated from human feces. Appl Environ Microbiol 2001; 67:4111-8. [PMID: 11526013 PMCID: PMC93137 DOI: 10.1128/aem.67.9.4111-4118.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
When cultivated in the presence of trypsin, the Ruminococcus gnavus E1 strain, isolated from a human fecal sample, was able to produce an antibacterial substance that accumulated in the supernatant. This substance, called ruminococcin A, was purified to homogeneity by reverse-phase chromatography. It was shown to be a 2,675-Da bacteriocin harboring a lanthionine structure. The utilization of Edman degradation and tandem mass spectrometry techniques, followed by DNA sequencing of part of the structural gene, allowed the identification of 21 amino acid residues. Similarity to other bacteriocins present in sequence libraries strongly suggested that ruminococcin A belonged to class IIA of the lantibiotics. The purified ruminococcin A was active against various pathogenic clostridia and bacteria phylogenetically related to R. gnavus. This is the first report on the characterization of a bacteriocin produced by a strictly anaerobic bacterium from human fecal microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Dabard
- Unité d'Ecologie et de Physiologie du Système Digestif, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas Cedex, France
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