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Kaur J, Sharma A, Mundlia P, Sood V, Pandey A, Singh G, Barnwal RP. RNA-Small-Molecule Interaction: Challenging the "Undruggable" Tag. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 38498010 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
RNA targeting, specifically with small molecules, is a relatively new and rapidly emerging avenue with the promise to expand the target space in the drug discovery field. From being "disregarded" as an "undruggable" messenger molecule to FDA approval of an RNA-targeting small-molecule drug Risdiplam, a radical change in perspective toward RNA has been observed in the past decade. RNAs serve important regulatory functions beyond canonical protein synthesis, and their dysregulation has been reported in many diseases. A deeper understanding of RNA biology reveals that RNA molecules can adopt a variety of structures, carrying defined binding pockets that can accommodate small-molecule drugs. Due to its functional diversity and structural complexity, RNA can be perceived as a prospective target for therapeutic intervention. This perspective highlights the proof of concept of RNA-small-molecule interactions, exemplified by targeting of various transcripts with functional modulators. The advent of RNA-oriented knowledge would help expedite drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaskirat Kaur
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Akanksha Sharma
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
- University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Poonam Mundlia
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Vikas Sood
- Department of Biochemistry, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Ankur Pandey
- Department of Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Gurpal Singh
- University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
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Kim Y, Cho S, Kim JC, Park HS. tRNA engineering strategies for genetic code expansion. Front Genet 2024; 15:1373250. [PMID: 38516376 PMCID: PMC10954879 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1373250] [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: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The advancement of genetic code expansion (GCE) technology is attributed to the establishment of specific aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNA pairs. While earlier improvements mainly focused on aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, recent studies have highlighted the importance of optimizing tRNA sequences to enhance both unnatural amino acid incorporation efficiency and orthogonality. Given the crucial role of tRNAs in the translation process and their substantial impact on overall GCE efficiency, ongoing efforts are dedicated to the development of tRNA engineering techniques. This review explores diverse tRNA engineering approaches and provides illustrative examples in the context of GCE, offering insights into the user-friendly implementation of GCE technology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hee-Sung Park
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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3
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Zhang Q, Zhao J, Wang G, Guan H, Wang S, Yang J, Zhang J, Jian S, Ouyang L, Wu Z, Li A. Differences of bacterioplankton communities between the source and upstream regions of the Yangtze River: microbial structure, co-occurrence pattern, and environmental influencing factors. Braz J Microbiol 2024; 55:571-586. [PMID: 38302737 PMCID: PMC10920563 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01265-6] [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: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The source area of the Yangtze River is located in the hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which is known as the "Earth's third pole." It is the water conservation area and the natural barrier of the ecosystem of the Yangtze River basin. It is also the most sensitive area of the natural ecosystem, and the ecological environment is very fragile. Microorganisms play key roles in the biogeochemical processes of water. In this paper, the bacterioplankton communities in the source and upstream regions of the Yangtze River were studied based on 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, and their environmental influencing factors were further analyzed. Results showed that the upstream region had higher richness and diversity than the source region. The predominant bacterial phyla in the source and upstream regions were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteriota. The bacterial phyla associated with municipal pollution and opportunistic pathogen, such as Firmicutes and Actinobacteriota, were more abundant in the upstream. By contrast, distinct planktonic bacterial genera associated with mining pollution, such as Acidiphilium and Acidithiobacillus, were more abundant in the source region. The co-occurrence network showed that the interaction of bacterioplankton community is more frequent in the upstream. The bacterioplankton community compositions, richness, and functional profiles were affected by the spatial heterogeneity. Moreover, variation partitioning analysis further confirmed that the amount of variation in the source region independently explained by variables of altitude was the largest, followed by water nutrient. This paper revealed the spatial distribution of planktonic bacterial communities in the source and upstream regions of the Yangtze River and its correlation with environmental factors, providing information support for ensuring the health and safety of aquatic ecosystems in the Yangtze River Basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Juan Zhao
- Qinghai Provincial Fishery Environmental Monitoring Center, Xining, 810012, China
- Key Laboratory of Plateau Aquatic and Ecological Environmental in Qinghai Province, Xining, 810012, China
| | - Guojie Wang
- Qinghai Provincial Fishery Environmental Monitoring Center, Xining, 810012, China
- Key Laboratory of Plateau Aquatic and Ecological Environmental in Qinghai Province, Xining, 810012, China
| | - Hongtao Guan
- Qinghai Provincial Fishery Environmental Monitoring Center, Xining, 810012, China
- Key Laboratory of Plateau Aquatic and Ecological Environmental in Qinghai Province, Xining, 810012, China
| | - Shuyi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Jicheng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Jinyong Zhang
- The Laboratory of Aquatic Parasitology, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Shenglong Jian
- Qinghai Provincial Fishery Environmental Monitoring Center, Xining, 810012, China
- Key Laboratory of Plateau Aquatic and Ecological Environmental in Qinghai Province, Xining, 810012, China
| | - Lijian Ouyang
- Ecological Engineering College, Guizhou University of Engineering Science, Bijie, 551700, China
| | - Zhenbing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China.
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
| | - Aihua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China.
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More TH, Hiller K, Seifert M, Illig T, Schmidt R, Gronauer R, von Hahn T, Weilert H, Stang A. Metabolomics analysis reveals novel serum metabolite alterations in cancer cachexia. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1286896. [PMID: 38450189 PMCID: PMC10915872 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1286896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Cachexia is a body wasting syndrome that significantly affects well-being and prognosis of cancer patients, without effective treatment. Serum metabolites take part in pathophysiological processes of cancer cachexia, but apart from altered levels of select serum metabolites, little is known on the global changes of the overall serum metabolome, which represents a functional readout of the whole-body metabolic state. Here, we aimed to comprehensively characterize serum metabolite alterations and analyze associated pathways in cachectic cancer patients to gain new insights that could help instruct strategies for novel interventions of greater clinical benefit. Methods Serum was sampled from 120 metastatic cancer patients (stage UICC IV). Patients were grouped as cachectic or non-cachectic according to the criteria for cancer cachexia agreed upon international consensus (main criterium: weight loss adjusted to body mass index). Samples were pooled by cachexia phenotype and assayed using non-targeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Normalized metabolite levels were compared using t-test (p < 0.05, adjusted for false discovery rate) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Machine-learning models were applied to identify metabolite signatures for separating cachexia states. Significant metabolites underwent MetaboAnalyst 5.0 pathway analysis. Results Comparative analyses included 78 cachectic and 42 non-cachectic patients. Cachectic patients exhibited 19 annotable, significantly elevated (including glucose and fructose) or decreased (mostly amino acids) metabolites associating with aminoacyl-tRNA, glutathione and amino acid metabolism pathways. PLS-DA showed distinct clusters (accuracy: 85.6%), and machine-learning models identified metabolic signatures for separating cachectic states (accuracy: 83.2%; area under ROC: 88.0%). We newly identified altered blood levels of erythronic acid and glucuronic acid in human cancer cachexia, potentially linked to pentose-phosphate and detoxification pathways. Conclusion We found both known and yet unknown serum metabolite and metabolic pathway alterations in cachectic cancer patients that collectively support a whole-body metabolic state with impaired detoxification capability, altered glucose and fructose metabolism, and substrate supply for increased and/or distinct metabolic needs of cachexia-associated tumors. These findings together imply vulnerabilities, dependencies and targets for novel interventions that have potential to make a significant impact on future research in an important field of cancer patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tushar H. More
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biochemistry, Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Karsten Hiller
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biochemistry, Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology (BRICS), Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Martin Seifert
- Asklepios Precision Medicine, Asklepios Hospitals GmbH & Co KgaA, Königstein (Taunus), Germany
- Connexome GmbH, Fischen, Germany
| | - Thomas Illig
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Hannover Unified Biobank (HUB), Hannover, Germany
| | - Rudi Schmidt
- Asklepios Precision Medicine, Asklepios Hospitals GmbH & Co KgaA, Königstein (Taunus), Germany
- Immunetrue, Cologne, Germany
| | - Raphael Gronauer
- Asklepios Precision Medicine, Asklepios Hospitals GmbH & Co KgaA, Königstein (Taunus), Germany
- Connexome GmbH, Fischen, Germany
| | - Thomas von Hahn
- Asklepios Hospital Barmbek, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Hamburg, Germany
- Asklepios Tumorzentrum Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Semmelweis University, Asklepios Campus Hamburg, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Hauke Weilert
- Asklepios Tumorzentrum Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Semmelweis University, Asklepios Campus Hamburg, Budapest, Hungary
- Asklepios Hospital Barmbek, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Axel Stang
- Asklepios Tumorzentrum Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Semmelweis University, Asklepios Campus Hamburg, Budapest, Hungary
- Asklepios Hospital Barmbek, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
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5
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Gupta N, Bhattacharya S, Urbanová K, Dutta A, Hazra AK, Fernández-Cusimamani E, Leuner O. Systematic analysis of antimicrobial activity, phytochemistry, and in silico molecular interaction of selected essential oils and their formulations from different Indian spices against foodborne bacteria. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22480. [PMID: 38107328 PMCID: PMC10724571 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Essential oils (EOs) from Indian spices like Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton (small green cardamom), Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry (clove), Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume (cinnamon quills), and Cinnamomum tamala (Buch.-Ham.) T. Nees & C. H. Eberm (Indian bay leaves) exhibit a broad spectrum range of biological activity including antibacterial and antifungal activity. Yet, there is a lack of data regarding the antimicrobial activity of their formulations. Also, the link between the antimicrobial effect of individual EO with their chemical composition and molecular interaction with bacterial pathogens has not been systematically explored. Therefore, the objectives of the current study were to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and phytochemical characterization of EOs and to bridge the gap between them through in-silico molecular interactions. The antibacterial activity of EOs of four different spices and their formulations against foodborne pathogens such as Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was evaluated using the disc volatilization method. The chemical profile of the individual EO was determined through GC-MS analysis and molecular interactions of identified major components with bacterial proteins were carried out through molecular docking studies. All EOs and their formulations exhibited antibacterial activity ranging from 5.92 to 24.55 mm and 11-23.52 mm, respectively. Among all EOs, cinnamon and formulation C (cardamom: cinnamon- 2:1) exhibited the highest antibacterial activity. The composition of the EOs included sesquiterpenes, monoterpenoids, monoterpenes, and, phenylpropanoids such as (E)-cinnamaldehyde, δ-cadinene, α-copaene, eugenol, caryophyllene, eugenol acetate, methyl eugenol, menthadiene, eucalyptol, α-terpinyl acetate, and sabinene. Furthermore, docking study revealed that the abundant compounds from cinnamon EO mainly α-copaene and δ-cadinene had a high binding affinity towards the bacterial essential proteins which increases the bacterial susceptibility towards cinnamon EO. The selected EOs and their formulations were systematically analysed and they were effective against foodborne pathogens. The current findings suggest the application of these EOs against food pathogens with further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Gupta
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Suchdol, 165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Soham Bhattacharya
- Department of Agroecology and Crop Production, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6 – Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Klára Urbanová
- Department of Sustainable Technologies, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Adrish Dutta
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Suchdol, 165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | | | - Eloy Fernández-Cusimamani
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Suchdol, 165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Olga Leuner
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Suchdol, 165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
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Theuretzbacher U, Blasco B, Duffey M, Piddock LJV. Unrealized targets in the discovery of antibiotics for Gram-negative bacterial infections. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:957-975. [PMID: 37833553 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00791-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Advances in areas that include genomics, systems biology, protein structure determination and artificial intelligence provide new opportunities for target-based antibacterial drug discovery. The selection of a 'good' new target for direct-acting antibacterial compounds is the first decision, for which multiple criteria must be explored, integrated and re-evaluated as drug discovery programmes progress. Criteria include essentiality of the target for bacterial survival, its conservation across different strains of the same species, bacterial species and growth conditions (which determines the spectrum of activity of a potential antibiotic) and the level of homology with human genes (which influences the potential for selective inhibition). Additionally, a bacterial target should have the potential to bind to drug-like molecules, and its subcellular location will govern the need for inhibitors to penetrate one or two bacterial membranes, which is a key challenge in targeting Gram-negative bacteria. The risk of the emergence of target-based drug resistance for drugs with single targets also requires consideration. This Review describes promising but as-yet-unrealized targets for antibacterial drugs against Gram-negative bacteria and examples of cognate inhibitors, and highlights lessons learned from past drug discovery programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin Blasco
- Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maëlle Duffey
- Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laura J V Piddock
- Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), Geneva, Switzerland.
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Zhang X, Zhou J, Xie Z, Li X, Hu J, He H, Li Z. Exploring blood metabolites and thyroid disorders: a bidirectional mendelian randomization study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1270336. [PMID: 37876541 PMCID: PMC10591305 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1270336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Human blood metabolites have demonstrated close associations with thyroid disorders in observational studies. However, it's essential to determine whether these correlations imply causation. Mendelian Randomization (MR) offers a promising approach to investigate these patterns. Aims The primary aim of our investigation is to establish causality between blood metabolites and three thyroid disorders: TC, GD, and HT. Methods We employed a two-sample bidirectional MR analysis approach to assess the relationships between 452 blood metabolites and the three aforementioned thyroid disorders. Causal links were estimated using the IVW method, with sensitivity analyses conducted via MR-Egger, Weighted Median, and MR-PRESSO. We assessed potential heterogeneity and pleiotropy using MR-Egger intercept and Cochran's Q statistic. Additionally, we conducted pathway analysis to identify potential metabolic pathways. Results We found 46 metabolites that showed suggestive associations with thyroid disease risk, especially Aspartate (ORIVW=7.41; 95%CI: 1.51-36.27; PIVW=0.013) and C-glycosyltryptophan (ORIVW=0.04; 95%CI: 0.00-0.29; PIVW=0.001) impacted TC, Kynurenine (ORIVW=2.69; 95%CI: 1.08-6.66; PIVW=0.032) and 4-androsten-3beta,17beta-diol disulfate 2 (ORIVW=0.78; 95%CI: 0.48-0.91; PIVW=0.024) significantly impacted GD, and Alpha-ketoglutarate (ORIVW=46.89; 95%CI: 4.65-473.28; PIVW=0.001) and X-14189-leucylalanine (ORIVW=0.31; 95%CI: 0.15-0.64 PIVW=0.001) significantly impacted HT. We also detected 23 metabolites influenced by TC and GD. Multiple metabolic pathways have been found to be involved in thyroid disease. Conclusion Our MR findings suggest that the identified metabolites and pathways can serve as biomarkers for clinical thyroid disorder screening and prevention, while also providing new insights for future mechanistic exploration and drug target selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Engineering Research Center of Applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics, Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of General Surgery, The Second People’s Hospital of Hunan, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jiating Zhou
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Engineering Research Center of Applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics, Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zilan Xie
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Engineering Research Center of Applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics, Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xi Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Engineering Research Center of Applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics, Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jiaqing Hu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Trauma Center, The Second People’s Hospital of Hunan, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hengzheng He
- Department of General Surgery, The Second People’s Hospital of Hunan, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhi Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Engineering Research Center of Applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics, Ministry of Education, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Thakur S, Mehra R. Computational Insight into Substrate-Induced Conformational Changes in Methionyl-tRNA Synthetase of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. Protein J 2023; 42:533-546. [PMID: 37402109 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-023-10135-3] [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] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) has killed millions worldwide. Antibiotic resistance leads to the ineffectiveness of the current therapies. Aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (aaRS) class of proteins involved in protein synthesis are promising bacterial targets for developing new therapies. Here, we carried out a systematic comparative study on the aaRS sequences from M.tb and human. We listed important M.tb aaRS that could be explored as potential M.tb targets alongside the detailed conformational space analysis of methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS) in apo- and substrate-bound form, which is among the proposed targets. Understanding the conformational dynamics is central to the mechanistic understanding of MetRS, as the substrate binding leads to the conformational changes causing the reaction to proceed. We performed the most complete simulation study of M.tb MetRS for 6 microseconds (2 systems × 3 runs × 1 microsecond) in the apo and substrate-bound states. Interestingly, we observed differential features, showing comparatively large dynamics for the holo simulations, whereas the apo structures became slightly compact with reduced solvent exposed area. In contrast, the ligand size decreased significantly in holo structures possibly to relax ligand conformation. Our findings correlate with experimental studies, thus validating our protocol. Adenosine monophosphate moiety of the substrate exhibited quite higher fluctuations than the methionine. His21 and Lys54 were found to be the important residues forming prominent hydrogen bond and salt-bridge interactions with the ligand. The ligand-protein affinity decreased during simulations as computed by MMGBSA analysis over the last 500 ns trajectories, which indicates the conformational changes upon ligand binding. These differential features could be further explored for designing new M.tb inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Thakur
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai, Sejbahar, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, 492015, India
| | - Rukmankesh Mehra
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai, Sejbahar, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, 492015, India.
- Department of Bioscience and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai, Sejbahar, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, 492015, India.
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Choi H, Covert MW. Whole-cell modeling of E. coli confirms that in vitro tRNA aminoacylation measurements are insufficient to support cell growth and predicts a positive feedback mechanism regulating arginine biosynthesis. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:5911-5930. [PMID: 37224536 PMCID: PMC10325894 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In Escherichia coli, inconsistencies between in vitro tRNA aminoacylation measurements and in vivo protein synthesis demands were postulated almost 40 years ago, but have proven difficult to confirm. Whole-cell modeling can test whether a cell behaves in a physiologically correct manner when parameterized with in vitro measurements by providing a holistic representation of cellular processes in vivo. Here, a mechanistic model of tRNA aminoacylation, codon-based polypeptide elongation, and N-terminal methionine cleavage was incorporated into a developing whole-cell model of E. coli. Subsequent analysis confirmed the insufficiency of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase kinetic measurements for cellular proteome maintenance, and estimated aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase kcats that were on average 7.6-fold higher. Simulating cell growth with perturbed kcats demonstrated the global impact of these in vitro measurements on cellular phenotypes. For example, an insufficient kcat for HisRS caused protein synthesis to be less robust to the natural variability in aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase expression in single cells. More surprisingly, insufficient ArgRS activity led to catastrophic impacts on arginine biosynthesis due to underexpressed N-acetylglutamate synthase, where translation depends on repeated CGG codons. Overall, the expanded E. coli model deepens understanding of how translation operates in an in vivo context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heejo Choi
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Markus W Covert
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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10
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Narsimulu B, Qureshi R, Jakkula P, Singh P, Arifuddin M, Qureshi IA. Exploration of seryl tRNA synthetase to identify potent inhibitors against leishmanial parasites. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 237:124118. [PMID: 36963547 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124118] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are crucial enzymes for cellular protein metabolism and have been considered as an attractive target for development of new antimicrobials. In the current study, seryl tRNA synthetase of Leishmania donovani (LdSerRS) and its mutants were purified and characterized through biochemical and structural methods. Purified LdSerRS was found to be enzymatically active and exhibited more alpha helices in secondary structure. The enzymatic activity of purified protein was observed as highest near physiological temperature and pH. Mutation in ATP binding residues (R295 and E297) demonstrated reduction in the affinity for cofactor with no significant deviation in secondary structure. In vitro inhibition studies with ureidosulfocoumarin derivatives helped to identify Comp 5l as a specific inhibitor for leishmanial SerRS that showed lesser potency towards purified HsSerRS. The identified compound presented competitive mode of inhibition for LdSerRS and also revealed druglikeness along with very low toxicity for human macrophages. Structural analysis of protein and ligand complex depicted the binding of Comp 5l into the cofactor binding site of LdSerRS with high affinity succeeded by validation employing molecular dynamics simulations. Altogether, our study presents a promising scaffold to explore small molecules to target the enzymatic activity of leishmanial SerRS to develop the specific therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bandigi Narsimulu
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Prof. C.R. Rao Road, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Rahila Qureshi
- Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad 500039, India
| | - Pranay Jakkula
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Prof. C.R. Rao Road, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Priti Singh
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad 500037, India
| | - Mohammed Arifuddin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad 500037, India
| | - Insaf Ahmed Qureshi
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Prof. C.R. Rao Road, Hyderabad 500046, India.
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11
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Istvan ES, Guerra F, Abraham M, Huang KS, Rocamora F, Zhao H, Xu L, Pasaje C, Kumpornsin K, Luth MR, Cui H, Yang T, Diaz SP, Gomez-Lorenzo MG, Qahash T, Mittal N, Ottilie S, Niles J, Lee MCS, Llinas M, Kato N, Okombo J, Fidock DA, Schimmel P, Gamo FJ, Goldberg DE, Winzeler EA. Cytoplasmic isoleucyl tRNA synthetase as an attractive multistage antimalarial drug target. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadc9249. [PMID: 36888694 PMCID: PMC10286833 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adc9249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Development of antimalarial compounds into clinical candidates remains costly and arduous without detailed knowledge of the target. As resistance increases and treatment options at various stages of disease are limited, it is critical to identify multistage drug targets that are readily interrogated in biochemical assays. Whole-genome sequencing of 18 parasite clones evolved using thienopyrimidine compounds with submicromolar, rapid-killing, pan-life cycle antiparasitic activity showed that all had acquired mutations in the P. falciparum cytoplasmic isoleucyl tRNA synthetase (cIRS). Engineering two of the mutations into drug-naïve parasites recapitulated the resistance phenotype, and parasites with conditional knockdowns of cIRS became hypersensitive to two thienopyrimidines. Purified recombinant P. vivax cIRS inhibition, cross-resistance, and biochemical assays indicated a noncompetitive, allosteric binding site that is distinct from that of known cIRS inhibitors mupirocin and reveromycin A. Our data show that Plasmodium cIRS is an important chemically and genetically validated target for next-generation medicines for malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva S. Istvan
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Francisco Guerra
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Matthew Abraham
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | | | - Frances Rocamora
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | | | - Lan Xu
- The Global Health Drug Discovery Institute, Tsinghua University 30 Shuangqing Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Charisse Pasaje
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Madeline R. Luth
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Haissi Cui
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Tuo Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Sara Palomo Diaz
- Global Health Medicines, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, 28760 Tres Cantos, Spain
| | | | - Tarrick Qahash
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Nimisha Mittal
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Sabine Ottilie
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Jacquin Niles
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Marcus C. S. Lee
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Manuel Llinas
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Nobutaka Kato
- The Global Health Drug Discovery Institute, Tsinghua University 30 Shuangqing Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - John Okombo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - David A. Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
- Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Paul Schimmel
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | | | - Daniel E. Goldberg
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Winzeler
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
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12
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Fragment-Based Lead Discovery Strategies in Antimicrobial Drug Discovery. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12020315. [PMID: 36830226 PMCID: PMC9951956 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12020315] [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: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragment-based lead discovery (FBLD) is a powerful application for developing ligands as modulators of disease targets. This approach strategy involves identification of interactions between low-molecular weight compounds (100-300 Da) and their putative targets, often with low affinity (KD ~0.1-1 mM) interactions. The focus of this screening methodology is to optimize and streamline identification of fragments with higher ligand efficiency (LE) than typical high-throughput screening. The focus of this review is on the last half decade of fragment-based drug discovery strategies that have been used for antimicrobial drug discovery.
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13
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Tyrosine-targeted covalent inhibition of a tRNA synthetase aided by zinc ion. Commun Biol 2023; 6:107. [PMID: 36707692 PMCID: PMC9880928 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04517-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARSs), a family of essential protein synthesis enzymes, are attractive targets for drug development. Although several different types of AARS inhibitors have been identified, AARS covalent inhibitors have not been reported. Here we present five unusual crystal structures showing that threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) is covalently inhibited by a natural product, obafluorin (OB). The residue forming a covalent bond with OB is a tyrosine in ThrRS active center, which is not commonly modified by covalent inhibitors. The two hydroxyl groups on the o-diphenol moiety of OB form two coordination bonds with the conserved zinc ion in the active center of ThrRS. Therefore, the β-lactone structure of OB can undergo ester exchange reaction with the phenolic group of the adjacent tyrosine to form a covalent bond between the compound and the enzyme, and allow its nitrobenzene structure to occupy the binding site of tRNA. In addition, when this tyrosine was replaced by a lysine or even a weakly nucleophilic arginine, similar bonds could also be formed. Our report of the mechanism of a class of AARS covalent inhibitor targeting multiple amino acid residues could facilitate approaches to drug discovery for cancer and infectious diseases.
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14
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Cheng B, Cai Z, Luo Z, Luo S, Luo Z, Cheng Y, Yu Y, Guo J, Ju Y, Gu Q, Xu J, Jiang X, Li G, Zhou H. Structure-Guided Design of Halofuginone Derivatives as ATP-Aided Inhibitors Against Bacterial Prolyl-tRNA Synthetase. J Med Chem 2022; 65:15840-15855. [PMID: 36394909 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are promising antimicrobial targets due to their essential roles in protein translation, and expanding their inhibitory mechanisms will provide new opportunities for drug discovery. We report here that halofuginone (HF), an herb-derived medicine, moderately inhibits prolyl-tRNA synthetases (ProRSs) from various pathogenic bacteria. A cocrystal structure of Staphylococcus aureus ProRS (SaProRS) with HF and an ATP analog was determined, which guided the design of new HF analogs. Compound 3 potently inhibited SaProRS at IC50 = 0.18 μM and Kd = 30.3 nM and showed antibacterial activities with an MIC of 1-4 μg/mL in vitro. The bacterial drug resistance to 3 only developed at a rate similar to or slower than those of clinically used antibiotics in vitro. Our study indicates that the scaffold and ATP-aided inhibitory mechanism of HF could apply to bacterial ProRS and also provides a chemical validation for using bacterial ProRS as an antibacterial target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China.,Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Zhengjun Cai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China.,Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Ziqing Luo
- Animal Experiment Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Siting Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China.,Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Zhiteng Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China.,Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Yanfang Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China.,Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Ying Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China.,Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Junsong Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China.,Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Yingchen Ju
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China.,Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Qiong Gu
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Xianxing Jiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Geng Li
- Animal Experiment Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Huihao Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China.,Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
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15
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Aouf A, Bouaouina S, Abdelgawad MA, Abourehab MAS, Farouk A. In Silico Study for Algerian Essential Oils as Antimicrobial Agents against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Pus Samples. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:1317. [PMID: 36289975 PMCID: PMC9598771 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11101317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In the context of the globally growing problem of resistance to most used antibacterial agents, essential oils offer promising solutions against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, etiology, and antibiotic-resistance profiles of bacteria responsible for pyogenic infections in Regional Military University Hospital of Constantine. Disc diffusion and broth microdilution (MIC) methods were used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of essential oils from five Algerian aromatic plants growing wild in the north of Algeria-Salvia officinalis (Sage), Thymus vulgaris (Thyme), Mentha pulegium L. (Mentha), Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary), and Pelargonium roseum (Geranium)-against reference and MDR strains. During three months of the prospective study, 112 isolates out of 431 pus samples were identified. Staphylococcus aureus was the most predominant species (25%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (21.42%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (21%), and Escherichia coli (17.95%). Among pus isolates, 65 were MDR (58.03%). The radial streak-line assay showed that R. officinalis and M. pulegium L. had weak activity against the tested strains, whereas P. roseum showed no activity at all. Meanwhile, T. vulgaris was the most potent, with an inhibition zone of 12-26 mm and an MIC value ranging between 0.25 and 1.25%, followed by S. officinalis with an inhibition zone of 8-12 mm and an MIC value ranging between 0.62 and 2.5%. Generally, A. baumannii and S. aureus ATCC6538P were the most sensitive strains, whereas P. aeruginosa ATCC27853 was the most resistant strain to the oils. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of chemical composition revealed the presence of borneol (76.42%) and thymol (17.69%) as predominant in thyme, whereas camphor (36.92%) and α- thujone (34.91%) were the major volatiles in sage. The in-silico study revealed that sesquiterpenes and thymol had the highest binding free energies against the vital enzymes involved in biosynthesis and repair of cell walls, proteins, and nucleic acids compared to monoterpenes. The results demonstrated that T. vulgaris and S. officinalis are ideal candidates for developing future potentially active remedies against MDR strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelhakim Aouf
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Nature, University of Ferhat Abbas, Setif 19000, Algeria
| | - Sarah Bouaouina
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Nature, University of Ferhat Abbas, Setif 19000, Algeria
| | - Mohamed A. Abdelgawad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72341, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed A. S. Abourehab
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
| | - Amr Farouk
- Flavour and Aroma Chemistry Department, National Research Center, Cairo 12622, Egypt
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16
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Identification of dual-targeted Mycobacterium tuberculosis aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase inhibitors using machine learning. Future Med Chem 2022; 14:1223-1237. [PMID: 35876255 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2022-0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The most serious challenge in the treatment of tuberculosis is the multidrug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to existing antibiotics. As a strategy to overcome resistance we used a multitarget drug design approach. The purpose of the work was to discover dual-targeted inhibitors of mycobacterial LeuRS and MetRS with machine learning. Methods: The artificial neural networks were built using module nnet from R 3.6.1. The inhibitory activity of compounds toward LeuRS and MetRS was investigated in aminoacylation assays. Results: Using a machine-learning approach, we identified dual-targeted inhibitors of LeuRS and MetRS among 2-(quinolin-2-ylsulfanyl)-acetamide derivatives. The most active compound inhibits MetRS and LeuRS with IC50 values of 33 μm and 23.9 μm, respectively. Conclusion: 2-(Quinolin-2-ylsulfanyl)-acetamide scaffold can be useful for further research.
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17
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McDonnell CM, Ghanim M, Mike Southern J, Kelly VP, Connon SJ. De-novo designed β-lysine derivatives can both augment and diminish the proliferation rates of E. coli through the action of Elongation Factor P. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2022; 59:128545. [PMID: 35032607 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.128545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
An investigation into the effect of modified β -lysines on the growth rates of eubacterial cells is reported. It is shown that the effects observed are due to the post translational modification of Elongation Factor P (EFP) with these compounds catalysed by PoxA. PoxA was found to be remarkably promiscuous, which allowed the activity of a wide range of exogenous β -lysines to be examined. Two chain-elongated β -lysine derivatives which differ in aminoalkyl chain length by only 2 carbon units exhibited opposing biological activities - one promoting growth and the other retarding it. Both compounds were shown to operate through modification of EFP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciara M McDonnell
- School of Chemistry, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Magda Ghanim
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - J Mike Southern
- School of Chemistry, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - Vincent P Kelly
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - Stephen J Connon
- School of Chemistry, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin 152-160 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.
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18
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Yu X, Jiang W, Kosik RO, Song Y, Luo Q, Qiao T, Tong J, Liu S, Deng C, Qin S, Lv Z, Li D. Gut microbiota changes and its potential relations with thyroid carcinoma. J Adv Res 2022; 35:61-70. [PMID: 35003794 PMCID: PMC8721249 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Thyroid cancer patients have reduced richness and diversity of gut microbiota. A predictive model of 10 genera could distinguish thyroid cancer patients from healthy controls. The loss of the short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria may promote thyroid carcinoma. The functional changes that occur in thyroid cancer patients affect the processing of genetic information. A four-genus microbial signature may be able to distinguish thyroid carcinoma patients with metastatic lymphadenopathy from those without metastatic lymphadenopathy.
Introduction Emerging evidence suggests that the essence of life is the ecological balance of the neural, endocrine, metabolic, microbial, and immune systems. Gut microbiota have been implicated as an important factor affecting thyroid homeostasis. Objectives This study aims to explore the relationship between gut microbiota and the development of thyroid carcinoma. Methods Stool samples were collected from 90 thyroid carcinoma patients (TCs) and 90 healthy controls (HCs). Microbiota were analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. A cross-sectional study of an exploratory cohort of 60 TCs and 60 HCs was conducted. The gut microbiota signature of TCs was established by LEfSe, stepwise logistic regression, lasso regression, and random forest model analysis. An independent cohort of 30 TCs and 30 HCs was used to validate the findings. Functional prediction was achieved using Tax4Fun and PICRUSt2. TC patients were subsequently divided into subgroups to analyze the relationship between microbiota and metastatic lymphadenopathy. Results In the exploratory cohorts, TCs had reduced richness and diversity of gut microbiota compared to HCs. No significant difference was found between TCs and HCs on the phylum level, though 70% of TCs had increased levels of Proteobacteria-types based on dominant microbiota typing. A prediction model of 10 genera generated with LEfSe analysis and lasso regression distinguished TCs from HCs with areas under the curves of 0.809 and 0.746 in the exploration and validation cohorts respectively. Functional prediction suggested that the microbial changes observed in TCs resulted in a decline in aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, homologous recombination, mismatch repair, DNA replication, and nucleotide excision repair. A four-genus microbial signature was able to distinguish TC patients with metastatic lymphadenopathy from those without metastatic lymphadenopathy. Conclusion Our study shows that thyroid carcinoma patients demonstrate significant changes in gut microbiota, which will help delineate the relationship between gut microbiota and TC pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaqing Yu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Russell Oliver Kosik
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingchun Song
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiong Luo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingting Qiao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Junyu Tong
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Simin Liu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chengwen Deng
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shanshan Qin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongwei Lv
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Clinical Nuclear Medicine Center, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Imaging Clinical Medical Center, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Clinical Nuclear Medicine Center, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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19
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Rybak M, Gudzera OI, Gorbatiuk OB, Usenko MO, Yarmoluk SM, Tukalo MA, Volynets GP. Rational Design of Hit Compounds Targeting Staphylococcus aureus Threonyl-tRNA Synthetase. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:24910-24918. [PMID: 34604672 PMCID: PMC8482496 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c03789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most dangerous nosocomial pathogens which cause a wide variety of hospital-acquired infectious diseases. S. aureus is considered as a superbug due to the development of multidrug resistance to all current therapeutic regimens. Therefore, the discovery of antibiotics with novel mechanisms of action to combat staphylococcal infections is of high priority for modern medicinal chemistry. Nowadays, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are considered as promising molecular targets for antibiotic development. In the present study, we used for the first time S. aureus threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) as a molecular target. Recombinant S. aureus ThrRS was obtained in the soluble form in a sufficient amount for inhibitor screening assay. Using the molecular docking approach, we selected 180 compounds for investigation of inhibitory activity toward ThrRS. Among the tested compounds, we identified five inhibitors from different chemical classes decreasing the activity of ThrRS by more than 70% at a concentration of 100 μM. The most active compound 2,4-dibromo-6-{[4-(4-nitro-phenyl)-thiazol-2-yl]-hydrazonomethyl}-phenol has an IC50 value of 56.5 ± 3.5 μM. These compounds are not cytotoxic toward eukaryotic cells HEK293 (EC50 > 100 μM) and can be useful for further optimization and biological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariia
Yu. Rybak
- Department
of Protein Synthesis Enzymology, Institute
of Molecular Biology and Genetics National Academy of Sciences of
Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnogo Street, Kyiv 03143, Ukraine
| | - Olga I. Gudzera
- Department
of Protein Synthesis Enzymology, Institute
of Molecular Biology and Genetics National Academy of Sciences of
Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnogo Street, Kyiv 03143, Ukraine
| | - Oksana B. Gorbatiuk
- Department
of Cell Regulatory Mechanisms, Institute
of Molecular Biology and Genetics National Academy of Sciences of
Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnogo Street, Kyiv 03143, Ukraine
| | - Mariia O. Usenko
- Department
of Cell Regulatory Mechanisms, Institute
of Molecular Biology and Genetics National Academy of Sciences of
Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnogo Street, Kyiv 03143, Ukraine
| | - Sergiy M. Yarmoluk
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Molecular
Biology and Genetics National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnogo Street, Kyiv 03143, Ukraine
| | - Michael A. Tukalo
- Department
of Protein Synthesis Enzymology, Institute
of Molecular Biology and Genetics National Academy of Sciences of
Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnogo Street, Kyiv 03143, Ukraine
| | - Galyna P. Volynets
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Molecular
Biology and Genetics National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnogo Street, Kyiv 03143, Ukraine
- The
Scientific-Services Company “OTAVA”, 150 Zabolotnogo Street, Kyiv 03143, Ukraine
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20
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Antoine L, Bahena-Ceron R, Devi Bunwaree H, Gobry M, Loegler V, Romby P, Marzi S. RNA Modifications in Pathogenic Bacteria: Impact on Host Adaptation and Virulence. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1125. [PMID: 34440299 PMCID: PMC8394870 DOI: 10.3390/genes12081125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA modifications are involved in numerous biological processes and are present in all RNA classes. These modifications can be constitutive or modulated in response to adaptive processes. RNA modifications play multiple functions since they can impact RNA base-pairings, recognition by proteins, decoding, as well as RNA structure and stability. However, their roles in stress, environmental adaptation and during infections caused by pathogenic bacteria have just started to be appreciated. With the development of modern technologies in mass spectrometry and deep sequencing, recent examples of modifications regulating host-pathogen interactions have been demonstrated. They show how RNA modifications can regulate immune responses, antibiotic resistance, expression of virulence genes, and bacterial persistence. Here, we illustrate some of these findings, and highlight the strategies used to characterize RNA modifications, and their potential for new therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Stefano Marzi
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, F-67000 Strasbourg, France; (L.A.); (R.B.-C.); (H.D.B.); (M.G.); (V.L.); (P.R.)
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21
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Isolation, characterization, anti-MRSA evaluation, and in-silico multi-target anti-microbial validations of actinomycin X 2 and actinomycin D produced by novel Streptomyces smyrnaeus UKAQ_23. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14539. [PMID: 34267232 PMCID: PMC8282855 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93285-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptomyces smyrnaeus UKAQ_23, isolated from the mangrove-sediment, collected from Jubail,Saudi Arabia, exhibited substantial antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), including non-MRSA Gram-positive test bacteria. The novel isolate, under laboratory-scale conditions, produced the highest yield (561.3 ± 0.3 mg/kg fermented agar) of antimicrobial compounds in modified ISP-4 agar at pH 6.5, temperature 35 °C, inoculum 5% v/w, agar 1.5% w/v, and an incubation period of 7 days. The two major compounds, K1 and K2, were isolated from fermented medium and identified as Actinomycin X2 and Actinomycin D, respectively, based on their structural analysis. The antimicrobial screening showed that Actinomycin X2 had the highest antimicrobial activity compared to Actinomycin D, and the actinomycins-mixture (X2:D, 1:1, w/w) against MRSA and non-MRSA Gram-positive test bacteria, at 5 µg/disc concentrations. The MIC of Actinomycin X2 ranged from 1.56–12.5 µg/ml for non-MRSA and 3.125–12.5 µg/ml for MRSA test bacteria. An in-silico molecular docking demonstrated isoleucyl tRNA synthetase as the most-favored antimicrobial protein target for both actinomycins, X2 and D, while the penicillin-binding protein-1a, was the least-favorable target-protein. In conclusion, Streptomyces smyrnaeus UKAQ_23 emerged as a promising source of Actinomycin X2 with the potential to be scaled up for industrial production, which could benefit the pharmaceutical industry.
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22
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Travin DY, Severinov K, Dubiley S. Natural Trojan horse inhibitors of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. RSC Chem Biol 2021; 2:468-485. [PMID: 34382000 PMCID: PMC8323819 DOI: 10.1039/d0cb00208a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
For most antimicrobial compounds with intracellular targets, getting inside the cell is the major obstacle limiting their activity. To pass this barrier some antibiotics mimic the compounds of specific interest for the microbe (siderophores, peptides, carbohydrates, etc.) and hijack the transport systems involved in their active uptake followed by the release of a toxic warhead inside the cell. In this review, we summarize the information about the structures, biosynthesis, and transport of natural inhibitors of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (albomycin, microcin C-related compounds, and agrocin 84) that rely on such "Trojan horse" strategy to enter the cell. In addition, we provide new data on the composition and distribution of biosynthetic gene clusters reminiscent of those coding for known Trojan horse aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases inhibitors. The products of these clusters are likely new antimicrobials that warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitrii Y Travin
- Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology Moscow Russia
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
| | - Konstantin Severinov
- Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology Moscow Russia
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
- Waksman Institute for Microbiology, Rutgers, Piscataway New Jersey USA
| | - Svetlana Dubiley
- Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology Moscow Russia
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow Russia
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23
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Rybak MY, Balanda AO, Yatsyshyna AP, Kotey IM, Starosyla SA, Bdzhola VG, Lukash LL, Yarmoluk SM, Tukalo MA, Volynets GP. Discovery of novel antituberculosis agents among 3-phenyl-5-(1-phenyl-1H-[1,2,3]triazol-4-yl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazole derivatives targeting aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7162. [PMID: 33785838 PMCID: PMC8010095 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86562-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a major problem of tuberculosis treatment. This provides the stimulus for the search of novel molecular targets and approaches to reduce or forestall resistance emergence in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Earlier, we discovered a novel small-molecular inhibitor among 3-phenyl-5-(1-phenyl-1H-[1,2,3]triazol-4-yl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazoles targeting simultaneously two enzymes-mycobacterial leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LeuRS) and methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS), which are promising molecular targets for antibiotic development. Unfortunately, the identified inhibitor does not reveal antibacterial activity toward M. tuberculosis. This study aims to develop novel aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase inhibitors among this chemical class with antibacterial activity toward resistant strains of M. tuberculosis. We performed molecular docking of the library of 3-phenyl-5-(1-phenyl-1H-[1,2,3]triazol-4-yl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazole derivatives and selected 41 compounds for investigation of their inhibitory activity toward MetRS and LeuRS in aminoacylation assay and antibacterial activity toward M. tuberculosis strains using microdilution assay. In vitro screening resulted in 10 compounds active against MetRS and 3 compounds active against LeuRS. Structure-related relationships (SAR) were established. The antibacterial screening revealed 4 compounds active toward M. tuberculosis mono-resistant strains in the range of concentrations 2-20 mg/L. Among these compounds, only one compound 27 has significant enzyme inhibitory activity toward mycobacterial MetRS (IC50 = 148.5 µM). The MIC for this compound toward M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain is 12.5 µM. This compound is not cytotoxic to human HEK293 and HepG2 cell lines. Therefore, 3-phenyl-5-(1-phenyl-1H-[1,2,3]triazol-4-yl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazole derivatives can be used for further chemical optimization and biological research to find non-toxic antituberculosis agents with a novel mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariia Yu Rybak
- Department of Protein Synthesis Enzymology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.
| | - Anatoliy O Balanda
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Anna P Yatsyshyna
- Department of Human Genetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Igor M Kotey
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Sergiy A Starosyla
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Volodymyr G Bdzhola
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Lubov L Lukash
- Department of Human Genetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Sergiy M Yarmoluk
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Michael A Tukalo
- Department of Protein Synthesis Enzymology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Galyna P Volynets
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
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24
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Ehrlich R, Davyt M, López I, Chalar C, Marín M. On the Track of the Missing tRNA Genes: A Source of Non-Canonical Functions? Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:643701. [PMID: 33796548 PMCID: PMC8007984 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.643701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular tRNAs appear today as a diverse population of informative macromolecules with conserved general elements ensuring essential common functions and different and distinctive features securing specific interactions and activities. Their differential expression and the variety of post-transcriptional modifications they are subject to, lead to the existence of complex repertoires of tRNA populations adjusted to defined cellular states. Despite the tRNA-coding genes redundancy in prokaryote and eukaryote genomes, it is surprising to note the absence of genes coding specific translational-active isoacceptors throughout the phylogeny. Through the analysis of different releases of tRNA databases, this review aims to provide a general summary about those “missing tRNA genes.” This absence refers to both tRNAs that are not encoded in the genome, as well as others that show critical sequence variations that would prevent their activity as canonical translation adaptor molecules. Notably, while a group of genes are universally missing, others are absent in particular kingdoms. Functional information available allows to hypothesize that the exclusion of isodecoding molecules would be linked to: 1) reduce ambiguities of signals that define the specificity of the interactions in which the tRNAs are involved; 2) ensure the adaptation of the translational apparatus to the cellular state; 3) divert particular tRNA variants from ribosomal protein synthesis to other cellular functions. This leads to consider the “missing tRNA genes” as a source of putative non-canonical tRNA functions and to broaden the concept of adapter molecules in ribosomal-dependent protein synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Ehrlich
- Biochemistry-Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Marcos Davyt
- Biochemistry-Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ignacio López
- Biochemistry-Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Cora Chalar
- Biochemistry-Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Mónica Marín
- Biochemistry-Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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25
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Chen B, Luo S, Zhang S, Ju Y, Gu Q, Xu J, Yang XL, Zhou H. Inhibitory mechanism of reveromycin A at the tRNA binding site of a class I synthetase. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1616. [PMID: 33712620 PMCID: PMC7955072 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21902-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The polyketide natural product reveromycin A (RM-A) exhibits antifungal, anticancer, anti-bone metastasis, anti-periodontitis and anti-osteoporosis activities by selectively inhibiting eukaryotic cytoplasmic isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IleRS). Herein, a co-crystal structure suggests that the RM-A molecule occupies the substrate tRNAIle binding site of Saccharomyces cerevisiae IleRS (ScIleRS), by partially mimicking the binding of tRNAIle. RM-A binding is facilitated by the copurified intermediate product isoleucyl-adenylate (Ile-AMP). The binding assays confirm that RM-A competes with tRNAIle while binding synergistically with L-isoleucine or intermediate analogue Ile-AMS to the aminoacylation pocket of ScIleRS. This study highlights that the vast tRNA binding site of the Rossmann-fold catalytic domain of class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases could be targeted by a small molecule. This finding will inform future rational drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingyi Chen
- grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006 China ,grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XResearch Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006 China
| | - Siting Luo
- grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006 China ,grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XResearch Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006 China
| | - Songxuan Zhang
- grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006 China ,grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XResearch Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006 China
| | - Yingchen Ju
- grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006 China ,grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XResearch Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006 China
| | - Qiong Gu
- grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XResearch Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006 China
| | - Jun Xu
- grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XResearch Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006 China
| | - Xiang-Lei Yang
- grid.214007.00000000122199231Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037 USA
| | - Huihao Zhou
- grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006 China ,grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XResearch Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006 China
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26
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Pang L, Weeks SD, Van Aerschot A. Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases as Valuable Targets for Antimicrobial Drug Discovery. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1750. [PMID: 33578647 PMCID: PMC7916415 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) catalyze the esterification of tRNA with a cognate amino acid and are essential enzymes in all three kingdoms of life. Due to their important role in the translation of the genetic code, aaRSs have been recognized as suitable targets for the development of small molecule anti-infectives. In this review, following a concise discussion of aaRS catalytic and proof-reading activities, the various inhibitory mechanisms of reported natural and synthetic aaRS inhibitors are discussed. Using the expanding repository of ligand-bound X-ray crystal structures, we classified these compounds based on their binding sites, focusing on their ability to compete with the association of one, or more of the canonical aaRS substrates. In parallel, we examined the determinants of species-selectivity and discuss potential resistance mechanisms of some of the inhibitor classes. Combined, this structural perspective highlights the opportunities for further exploration of the aaRS enzyme family as antimicrobial targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luping Pang
- KU Leuven, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, Herestraat 49–box 1041, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- KU Leuven, Biocrystallography, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Herestraat 49–box 822, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Arthur Van Aerschot
- KU Leuven, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, Herestraat 49–box 1041, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
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27
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Baidin V, Owens TW, Lazarus MB, Kahne D. Simple Secondary Amines Inhibit Growth of Gram-Negative Bacteria through Highly Selective Binding to Phenylalanyl-tRNA Synthetase. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:623-627. [PMID: 33411531 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c11113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotics to treat drug-resistant Gram-negative infections are urgently needed but challenging to discover. Using a cell-based screen, we identified a simple secondary amine that inhibited the growth of wild-type Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumannii but not the growth of the Gram-positive organism Bacillus subtilis. Resistance mutations in E. coli and A. baumannii mapped exclusively to the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase PheRS. We confirmed biochemically that the compound inhibited PheRS from these organisms and showed that it did not inhibit PheRS from B. subtilis or humans. To understand the basis for the compound's high selectivity for only some PheRS enzymes, we solved crystal structures of E. coli and A. baumannii PheRS complexed with the inhibitor. The structures showed that the compound's benzyl group mimics the benzyl of phenylalanine. The other amine substituent, a 2-(cyclohexen-1-yl)ethyl group, induces a hydrophobic pocket in which it binds. Through bioinformatic analysis and mutagenesis, we show that the ability to induce a complementary hydrophobic pocket that can accommodate the second substituent explains the high selectivity of this remarkably simple molecular scaffold for Gram-negative PheRS. Because this secondary amine scaffold is active against wild-type Gram-negative pathogens but is not cytotoxic to mammalian cells, we suggest that it may be possible to develop it for use in combination antibiotic therapy to treat Gram-negative infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim Baidin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Tristan W Owens
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Michael B Lazarus
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Daniel Kahne
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
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28
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Zarnowski R, Jaromin A, Zagórska A, Dominguez EG, Sidoryk K, Gubernator J, Andes DR. A Label-Free Cellular Proteomics Approach to Decipher the Antifungal Action of DiMIQ, a Potent Indolo[2,3- b]Quinoline Agent, against Candida albicans Biofilms. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010108. [PMID: 33374351 PMCID: PMC7795236 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans forms extremely drug-resistant biofilms, which present a serious threat to public health globally. Biofilm-based infections are difficult to treat due to the lack of efficient antifungal therapeutics, resulting in an urgent demand for the development of novel antibiofilm strategies. In this study, the antibiofilm activity of DiMIQ (5,11-dimethyl-5H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoline) was evaluated against C. albicans biofilms. DiMIQ is a synthetic derivative of indoquinoline alkaloid neocryptolepine isolated from a medicinal African plant, Cryptolepis sanguinolenta. Antifungal activity of DiMIQ was determined using the XTT assay, followed by cell wall and extracellular matrix profiling and cellular proteomes. Here, we demonstrated that DiMIQ inhibited C. albicans biofilm formation and altered fungal cell walls and the extracellular matrix. Cellular proteomics revealed inhibitory action against numerous translation-involved ribosomal proteins, enzymes involved in general energy producing processes and select amino acid metabolic pathways including alanine, aspartate, glutamate, valine, leucine and isoleucine. DiMIQ also stimulated pathways of cellular oxidation, metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids (glycine, serine, threonine, arginine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan) and nucleic acids (aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, RNA transport, nucleotide metabolism). Our findings suggest that DiMIQ inhibits C. albicans biofilms by arresting translation and multidirectional pathway reshaping of cellular metabolism. Overall, this agent may provide a potent alternative to treating biofilm-associated Candida infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Zarnowski
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (E.G.D.); (D.R.A.)
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Correspondence: (R.Z.); (A.J.); Tel.: +1-608-265-8578 (R.Z.); +48-71-375-6203 (A.J.)
| | - Anna Jaromin
- Department of Lipids and Liposomes, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland;
- Correspondence: (R.Z.); (A.J.); Tel.: +1-608-265-8578 (R.Z.); +48-71-375-6203 (A.J.)
| | - Agnieszka Zagórska
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-688 Cracow, Poland;
| | - Eddie G. Dominguez
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (E.G.D.); (D.R.A.)
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Katarzyna Sidoryk
- Department of Pharmacy, Cosmetic Chemicals and Biotechnology, Team of Chemistry, Łukasiewicz Research Network-Industrial Chemistry Institute, 01-793 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Jerzy Gubernator
- Department of Lipids and Liposomes, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - David R. Andes
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; (E.G.D.); (D.R.A.)
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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29
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Ozdemir O, Soyer F. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Presents Multiple Vital Changes in Its Proteome in the Presence of 3-Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid, a Promising Antimicrobial Agent. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:19938-19951. [PMID: 32832748 PMCID: PMC7439270 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c00703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a widely distributed opportunistic pathogen, is an important threat to human health for causing serious infections worldwide. Due to its antibiotic resistance and virulence factors, it is so difficult to combat this bacterium; thus, new antimicrobial agents are in search. 3-Hydroxyphenylacetic acid (3-HPAA), which is a phenolic acid mostly found in olive oil wastewater, can be a promising candidate with its dose-dependent antimicrobial properties. Elucidating the molecular mechanism of action is crucial for future examinations and the presentation of 3-HPAA as a new agent. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of 3-HPAA on P. aeruginosa and its action mechanism was investigated via shot-gun proteomics. The data, which are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD016243, were examined by STRING analysis to determine the interaction networks of proteins. KEGG Pathway enrichment analysis via the DAVID bioinformatics tool was also performed to investigate the metabolic pathways that undetected and newly detected groups of the proteins. The results displayed remarkable changes after 3-HPAA exposure in the protein profile of P. aeruginosa related to DNA replication and repair, RNA modifications, ribosomes and proteins, cell envelope, oxidative stress, as well as nutrient availability. 3-HPAA showed its antimicrobial action on P. aeruginosa by affecting multiple bacterial processes; hence, it could be categorized as a multitarget antimicrobial agent.
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Abstract
The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are an essential and universally distributed family of enzymes that plays a critical role in protein synthesis, pairing tRNAs with their cognate amino acids for decoding mRNAs according to the genetic code. Synthetases help to ensure accurate translation of the genetic code by using both highly accurate cognate substrate recognition and stringent proofreading of noncognate products. While alterations in the quality control mechanisms of synthetases are generally detrimental to cellular viability, recent studies suggest that in some instances such changes facilitate adaption to stress conditions. Beyond their central role in translation, synthetases are also emerging as key players in an increasing number of other cellular processes, with far-reaching consequences in health and disease. The biochemical versatility of the synthetases has also proven pivotal in efforts to expand the genetic code, further emphasizing the wide-ranging roles of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase family in synthetic and natural biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Angel Rubio Gomez
- Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Michael Ibba
- Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
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31
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Mutations in ArgS Arginine-tRNA Synthetase Confer Additional Antibiotic Tolerance Protection to Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Burkholderia thailandensis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.02252-19. [PMID: 32205346 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02252-19] [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: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Highly conserved PenI-type class A β-lactamase in pathogenic members of Burkholderia species can evolve to extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL), which exhibits hydrolytic activity toward third-generation cephalosporins, while losing its activity toward the original penicillin substrates. We describe three single-amino-acid-substitution mutations in the ArgS arginine-tRNA synthetase that confer extra antibiotic tolerance protection to ESBL-producing Burkholderia thailandensis This pathway can be exploited to evade antibiotic tolerance induction in developing therapeutic measures against Burkholderia species, targeting their essential aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.
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32
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Kelly P, Hadi-Nezhad F, Liu DY, Lawrence TJ, Linington RG, Ibba M, Ardell DH. Targeting tRNA-synthetase interactions towards novel therapeutic discovery against eukaryotic pathogens. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0007983. [PMID: 32106219 PMCID: PMC7046186 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of chemotherapies against eukaryotic pathogens is especially challenging because of both the evolutionary conservation of drug targets between host and parasite, and the evolution of strain-dependent drug resistance. There is a strong need for new nontoxic drugs with broad-spectrum activity against trypanosome parasites such as Leishmania and Trypanosoma. A relatively untested approach is to target macromolecular interactions in parasites rather than small molecular interactions, under the hypothesis that the features specifying macromolecular interactions diverge more rapidly through coevolution. We computed tRNA Class-Informative Features in humans and independently in eight distinct clades of trypanosomes, identifying parasite-specific informative features, including base pairs and base mis-pairs, that are broadly conserved over approximately 250 million years of trypanosome evolution. Validating these observations, we demonstrated biochemically that tRNA:aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) interactions are a promising target for anti-trypanosomal drug discovery. From a marine natural products extract library, we identified several fractions with inhibitory activity toward Leishmania major alanyl-tRNA synthetase (AlaRS) but no activity against the human homolog. These marine natural products extracts showed cross-reactivity towards Trypanosoma cruzi AlaRS indicating the broad-spectrum potential of our network predictions. We also identified Leishmania major threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) inhibitors from the same library. We discuss why chemotherapies targeting multiple aaRSs should be less prone to the evolution of resistance than monotherapeutic or synergistic combination chemotherapies targeting only one aaRS. Trypanosome parasites pose a significant health risk worldwide. Conventional drug development strategies have proven challenging given the high conservation between humans and pathogens, with off-target toxicity being a common problem. Protein synthesis inhibitors have historically been an attractive target for antimicrobial discovery against bacteria, and more recently for eukaryotic pathogens. Here we propose that exploiting pathogen-specific tRNA-synthetase interactions offers the potential for highly targeted drug discovery. To this end, we improved tRNA gene annotations in trypanosome genomes, identified functionally informative trypanosome-specific tRNA features, and showed that these features are highly conserved over approximately 250 million years of trypanosome evolution. Highlighting the species-specific and broad-spectrum potential of our approach, we identified natural product inhibitors against the parasite translational machinery that have no effect on the homologous human enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Kelly
- The Ohio State University Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Fatemeh Hadi-Nezhad
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Program, University of California, Merced, California, United States of America
| | - Dennis Y. Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Travis J. Lawrence
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Program, University of California, Merced, California, United States of America
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Roger G. Linington
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael Ibba
- The Ohio State University Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Ohio, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MI); (DHA)
| | - David H. Ardell
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Program, University of California, Merced, California, United States of America
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MI); (DHA)
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Discovery of novel tRNA-amino acid dual-site inhibitors against threonyl-tRNA synthetase by fragment-based target hopping. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 187:111941. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Kovalenko OP, Volynets GP, Rybak MY, Starosyla SA, Gudzera OI, Lukashov SS, Bdzhola VG, Yarmoluk SM, Boshoff HI, Tukalo MA. Dual-target inhibitors of mycobacterial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases among N-benzylidene- N'-thiazol-2-yl-hydrazines. MEDCHEMCOMM 2019; 10:2161-2169. [PMID: 32206244 PMCID: PMC7069510 DOI: 10.1039/c9md00347a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Effective treatment of tuberculosis is challenged by the rapid development of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) multidrug resistance that presumably could be overcome with novel multi-target drugs. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARSs) are an essential part of protein biosynthesis machinery and attractive targets for drug discovery. Here, we experimentally verify a hypothesis of simultaneous targeting of structurally related AARSs by a single inhibitor. We previously identified a new class of mycobacterial leucyl-tRNA synthetase inhibitors, N-benzylidene-N'-thiazol-2-yl-hydrazines. Molecular docking of a library of novel N-benzylidene-N'-thiazol-2-yl-hydrazine derivatives into active sites of M. tuberculosis LeuRS (MtbLeuRS) and MetRS (MtbMetRS) resulted in a panel of the best ranking compounds, which were then evaluated for enzymatic potency. Screening data revealed 11 compounds active against MtbLeuRS and 28 compounds active against MtbMetRS. The hit compounds display dual inhibitory potency as demonstrated by IC50 values for both enzymes. Compound 3 is active against Mtb H37Rv cells in in vitro bioassays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oksana P Kovalenko
- Department of Protein Synthesis Enzymology , Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics , The NAS of Ukraine , 150 Zabolotnogo St , 03143 Kyiv , Ukraine . ; ; ; Tel: +38 044 5265589
| | - Galyna P Volynets
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry , Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics , The NAS of Ukraine , 150 Zabolotnogo St , 03143 Kyiv , Ukraine
| | - Mariia Yu Rybak
- Department of Protein Synthesis Enzymology , Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics , The NAS of Ukraine , 150 Zabolotnogo St , 03143 Kyiv , Ukraine . ; ; ; Tel: +38 044 5265589
| | - Sergiy A Starosyla
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry , Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics , The NAS of Ukraine , 150 Zabolotnogo St , 03143 Kyiv , Ukraine
| | - Olga I Gudzera
- Department of Protein Synthesis Enzymology , Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics , The NAS of Ukraine , 150 Zabolotnogo St , 03143 Kyiv , Ukraine . ; ; ; Tel: +38 044 5265589
| | - Sergiy S Lukashov
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry , Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics , The NAS of Ukraine , 150 Zabolotnogo St , 03143 Kyiv , Ukraine
| | - Volodymyr G Bdzhola
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry , Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics , The NAS of Ukraine , 150 Zabolotnogo St , 03143 Kyiv , Ukraine
| | - Sergiy M Yarmoluk
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry , Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics , The NAS of Ukraine , 150 Zabolotnogo St , 03143 Kyiv , Ukraine
| | - Helena I Boshoff
- Tuberculosis Research Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology , National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease , National Institute of Health , 5601 Fishers Lane, MSC 9806 , Bethesda , MD 20892-9806 , Maryland , USA
| | - Michael A Tukalo
- Department of Protein Synthesis Enzymology , Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics , The NAS of Ukraine , 150 Zabolotnogo St , 03143 Kyiv , Ukraine . ; ; ; Tel: +38 044 5265589
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35
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Igloi GL. Molecular evidence for the evolution of the eukaryotic mitochondrial arginyl-tRNA synthetase from the prokaryotic suborder Cystobacterineae. FEBS Lett 2019; 594:951-957. [PMID: 31705651 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The evolutionary origin of the family of eukaryotic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases that are essential to all living organisms is a matter of debate. In order to shed molecular light on the ancient source of arginyl-tRNA synthetase, a total of 1347 eukaryotic arginyl-tRNA synthetase sequences were mined from databases and analyzed. Their multiple sequence alignment reveals a signature sequence that is characteristic of the nuclear-encoded enzyme, which is imported into mitochondria. Using this molecular beacon, the origins of this gene can be traced to modern prokaryotes. In this way, a previous phylogenetic analysis linking Myxococcus to the emergence of the eukaryotic mitochondrial arginyl-tRNA synthetase is supported by the unique existence of the molecular signature within the suborder Cystobacterineae that includes Myxococcus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabor L Igloi
- Institute of Biology, University of Freiburg, Germany
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36
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Dual-targeted hit identification using pharmacophore screening. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2019; 33:955-964. [PMID: 31691918 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-019-00245-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection remains a major cause of global morbidity and mortality due to the increase of antibiotics resistance. Dual/multi-target drug discovery is a promising approach to overcome bacterial resistance. In this study, we built ligand-based pharmacophore models and performed pharmacophore screening in order to identify hit compounds targeting simultaneously two enzymes-M. tuberculosis leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LeuRS) and methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS). In vitro aminoacylation assay revealed five compounds from different chemical classes inhibiting both enzymes. Among them the most active compound-3-(3-chloro-4-methoxy-phenyl)-5-[3-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-5-yl]-3H-[1,2,3]triazol-4-ylamine (1) inhibits mycobacterial LeuRS and MetRS with IC50 values of 13 µM and 13.8 µM, respectively. Molecular modeling study indicated that compound 1 has similar binding mode with the active sites of both aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and can be valuable compound for further chemical optimization in order to find promising antituberculosis agents.
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37
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Cain R, Salimraj R, Punekar AS, Bellini D, Fishwick CWG, Czaplewski L, Scott DJ, Harris G, Dowson CG, Lloyd AJ, Roper DI. Structure-Guided Enhancement of Selectivity of Chemical Probe Inhibitors Targeting Bacterial Seryl-tRNA Synthetase. J Med Chem 2019; 62:9703-9717. [PMID: 31626547 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are ubiquitous and essential enzymes for protein synthesis and also a variety of other metabolic processes, especially in bacterial species. Bacterial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases represent attractive and validated targets for antimicrobial drug discovery if issues of prokaryotic versus eukaryotic selectivity and antibiotic resistance generation can be addressed. We have determined high-resolution X-ray crystal structures of the Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus seryl-tRNA synthetases in complex with aminoacyl adenylate analogues and applied a structure-based drug discovery approach to explore and identify a series of small molecule inhibitors that selectively inhibit bacterial seryl-tRNA synthetases with greater than 2 orders of magnitude compared to their human homologue, demonstrating a route to the selective chemical inhibition of these bacterial targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricky Cain
- School of Life Sciences , University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road , Coventry CV4 7AL , United Kingdom
| | - Ramya Salimraj
- School of Life Sciences , University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road , Coventry CV4 7AL , United Kingdom
| | - Avinash S Punekar
- School of Life Sciences , University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road , Coventry CV4 7AL , United Kingdom
| | - Dom Bellini
- School of Life Sciences , University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road , Coventry CV4 7AL , United Kingdom
| | - Colin W G Fishwick
- School of Chemistry , University of Leeds , Leeds LS2 9JT , United Kingdom
| | - Lloyd Czaplewski
- Chemical Biology Ventures Limited , Abingdon OX14 1XD , United Kingdom
| | - David J Scott
- School of Biosciences , University of Nottingham , Nottingham LE12 5RD , United Kingdom.,ISIS Spallation Neutron and Muon Source and the Research Complex at Harwell , Rutherford Appleton Laboratory , Oxfordshire OX11 0FA , United Kingdom
| | - Gemma Harris
- ISIS Spallation Neutron and Muon Source and the Research Complex at Harwell , Rutherford Appleton Laboratory , Oxfordshire OX11 0FA , United Kingdom
| | - Christopher G Dowson
- School of Life Sciences , University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road , Coventry CV4 7AL , United Kingdom
| | - Adrian J Lloyd
- School of Life Sciences , University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road , Coventry CV4 7AL , United Kingdom
| | - David I Roper
- School of Life Sciences , University of Warwick , Gibbet Hill Road , Coventry CV4 7AL , United Kingdom
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38
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Abstract
Many antibiotics available in the clinic today directly inhibit bacterial translation. Despite the past success of such drugs, their efficacy is diminishing with the spread of antibiotic resistance. Through the use of ribosomal modifications, ribosomal protection proteins, translation elongation factors and mistranslation, many pathogens are able to establish resistance to common therapeutics. However, current efforts in drug discovery are focused on overcoming these obstacles through the modification or discovery of new treatment options. Here, we provide an overview for common mechanisms of resistance to translation-targeting drugs and summarize several important breakthroughs in recent drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Witzky
- 1 Department of Molecular Genetics, Ohio State University , Columbus, OH 43210 , USA.,2 Center for RNA Biology, Ohio State University , Columbus, OH 43210 , USA
| | - Rodney Tollerson
- 2 Center for RNA Biology, Ohio State University , Columbus, OH 43210 , USA.,3 Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University , Columbus, OH 43210 , USA
| | - Michael Ibba
- 2 Center for RNA Biology, Ohio State University , Columbus, OH 43210 , USA.,3 Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University , Columbus, OH 43210 , USA
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Frohlich KM, Weintraub SF, Bell JT, Todd GC, Väre VYP, Schneider R, Kloos ZA, Tabe ES, Cantara WA, Stark CJ, Onwuanaibe UJ, Duffy BC, Basanta-Sanchez M, Kitchen DB, McDonough KA, Agris PF. Discovery of Small-Molecule Antibiotics against a Unique tRNA-Mediated Regulation of Transcription in Gram-Positive Bacteria. ChemMedChem 2019; 14:758-769. [PMID: 30707489 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201800744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria necessitates the identification of unique targets of intervention and compounds that inhibit their function. Gram-positive bacteria use a well-conserved tRNA-responsive transcriptional regulatory element in mRNAs, known as the T-box, to regulate the transcription of multiple operons that control amino acid metabolism. T-box regulatory elements are found only in the 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of mRNAs of Gram-positive bacteria, not Gram-negative bacteria or the human host. Using the structure of the 5'UTR sequence of the Bacillus subtilis tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase mRNA T-box as a model, in silico docking of 305 000 small compounds initially yielded 700 as potential binders that could inhibit the binding of the tRNA ligand. A single family of compounds inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria, but not Gram-negative bacteria, including drug-resistant clinical isolates at minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC 16-64 μg mL-1 ). Resistance developed at an extremely low mutational frequency (1.21×10-10 ). At 4 μg mL-1 , the parent compound PKZ18 significantly inhibited in vivo transcription of glycyl-tRNA synthetase mRNA. PKZ18 also inhibited in vivo translation of the S. aureus threonyl-tRNA synthetase protein. PKZ18 bound to the Specifier Loop in vitro (Kd ≈24 μm). Its core chemistry necessary for antibacterial activity has been identified. These findings support the T-box regulatory mechanism as a new target for antibiotic discovery that may impede the emergence of resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyla M Frohlich
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.,Current address: Regeneron Inc., Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Spencer F Weintraub
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.,Current address: New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - Janeen T Bell
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.,Current address: Albany Medical College, Center for Physician Assistant Studies, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Gabrielle C Todd
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Ville Y P Väre
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Ryan Schneider
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany - State University of New York, P.O. Box 22002, Albany, NY, 12201, USA
| | - Zachary A Kloos
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, P.O. Box 22002, Albany, NY, 12201-2002, USA.,Current address: Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ebot S Tabe
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, P.O. Box 22002, Albany, NY, 12201-2002, USA.,Current address: Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY, USA
| | - William A Cantara
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.,Current address: Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Caren J Stark
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Urenna J Onwuanaibe
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Bryan C Duffy
- Albany Molecular Research Incorporated, 26 Corporate Circle, Albany, NY, 12203, USA.,Current address: New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Maria Basanta-Sanchez
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.,Current address: Waters Corporation, Pleasanton, CA, USA
| | - Douglas B Kitchen
- Albany Molecular Research Incorporated, 26 Corporate Circle, Albany, NY, 12203, USA
| | - Kathleen A McDonough
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany - State University of New York, P.O. Box 22002, Albany, NY, 12201, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, P.O. Box 22002, Albany, NY, 12201-2002, USA
| | - Paul F Agris
- The RNA Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany - State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12222, USA.,Current address: Duke University, Medical School, Durham, NC, USA
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40
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Umehara T, Kosono S, Söll D, Tamura K. Lysine Acetylation Regulates Alanyl-tRNA Synthetase Activity in Escherichia coli. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9100473. [PMID: 30274179 PMCID: PMC6209979 DOI: 10.3390/genes9100473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 09/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein lysine acetylation is a widely conserved posttranslational modification in all three domains of life. Lysine acetylation frequently occurs in aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) from many organisms. In this study, we determined the impact of the naturally occurring acetylation at lysine-73 (K73) in Escherichia coli class II alanyl-tRNA synthetase (AlaRS) on its alanylation activity. We prepared an AlaRS K73Ac variant in which Nε-acetyl-l-lysine was incorporated at position 73 using an expanded genetic code system in E. coli. The AlaRS K73Ac variant showed low activity compared to the AlaRS wild type (WT). Nicotinamide treatment or CobB-deletion in an E. coli led to elevated acetylation levels of AlaRS K73Ac and strongly reduced alanylation activities. We assumed that alanylation by AlaRS is affected by K73 acetylation, and the modification is sensitive to CobB deacetylase in vivo. We also showed that E. coli expresses two CobB isoforms (CobB-L and CobB-S) in vivo. CobB-S displayed the deacetylase activity of the AlaRS K73Ac variant in vitro. Our results imply a potential regulatory role for lysine acetylation in controlling the activity of aaRSs and protein synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Umehara
- Biotechnology Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan.
| | - Saori Kosono
- Biotechnology Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
- Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - Koji Tamura
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan.
- Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba 278-8510, Japan.
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41
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Lee EY, Kim S, Kim MH. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, therapeutic targets for infectious diseases. Biochem Pharmacol 2018; 154:424-434. [PMID: 29890143 PMCID: PMC7092877 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2018.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Despite remarkable advances in medical science, infection-associated diseases remain among the leading causes of death worldwide. There is a great deal of interest and concern at the rate at which new pathogens are emerging and causing significant human health problems. Expanding our understanding of how cells regulate signaling networks to defend against invaders and retain cell homeostasis will reveal promising strategies against infection. It has taken scientists decades to appreciate that eukaryotic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) play a role as global cell signaling mediators to regulate cell homeostasis, beyond their intrinsic function as protein synthesis enzymes. Recent discoveries revealed that ubiquitously expressed standby cytoplasmic ARSs sense and respond to danger signals and regulate immunity against infections, indicating their potential as therapeutic targets for infectious diseases. In this review, we discuss ARS-mediated anti-infectious signaling and the emerging role of ARSs in antimicrobial immunity. In contrast to their ability to defend against infection, host ARSs are inevitably co-opted by viruses for survival and propagation. We therefore provide a brief overview of the communication between viruses and the ARS system. Finally, we discuss encouraging new approaches to develop ARSs as therapeutics for infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Young Lee
- Infection and Immunity Research Laboratory, Metabolic Regulation Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunghoon Kim
- Medicinal Bioconvergence Research Center, Seoul National University, Suwon 16229, Republic of Korea; College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung Hee Kim
- Infection and Immunity Research Laboratory, Metabolic Regulation Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
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42
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11th IUBMB Focused Meeting on the Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases: Sailing a New Sea of Complex Functions in Human Biology and Disease. Biomolecules 2018; 8:biom8020022. [PMID: 29723968 PMCID: PMC6023080 DOI: 10.3390/biom8020022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The 11th IUBMB Focused Meeting on Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases was held in Clearwater Beach, Florida from 29 October–2 November 2017, with the aim of presenting the latest research on these enzymes and promoting interchange among aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS) researchers. Topics covered in the meeting included many areas of investigation, including ARS evolution, mechanism, editing functions, biology in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and their organelles, their roles in human diseases, and their application to problems in emerging areas of synthetic biology. In this report, we provide a summary of the major themes of the meeting, citing contributions from the oral presentations in the meeting.
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43
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick O’Donoghue
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jiqiang Ling
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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