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Kim NK, Baek JE, Lee YJ, Oh Y, Oh JI. Rel-dependent decrease in the expression of ribosomal protein genes by inhibition of the respiratory electron transport chain in Mycobacterium smegmatis. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1448277. [PMID: 39188315 PMCID: PMC11345224 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1448277] [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: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we demonstrated that both the expression of most ribosomal protein genes and the amount of ribosomes were decreased in the Δaa 3 mutant of Mycobacterium smegmatis, in which the major terminal oxidase (aa 3 cytochrome c oxidase) of the respiratory electron transport chain (ETC) is inactivated, compared to those in the wild-type strain. Deletion of the rel gene encoding the major (p)ppGpp synthetase in the background of the Δaa 3 mutant restored the reduced expression of ribosomal protein genes, suggesting that inhibition of the respiratory ETC leads to the Rel-dependent stringent response (SR) in this bacterium. Both a decrease in the expression of ribosomal protein genes by overexpression of rel and the increased expression of rel in the Δaa 3 mutant relative to the wild-type strain support the Rel-dependent induction of SR in the Δaa 3 mutant. We also demonstrated that the expression of ribosomal protein genes was decreased in M. smegmatis exposed to respiration-inhibitory conditions, such as KCN and bedaquiline treatment, null mutation of the cytochrome bcc 1 complex, and hypoxia. The MprBA-SigE-SigB regulatory pathway was implicated in both the increased expression of rel and the decreased expression of ribosomal protein genes in the Δaa 3 mutant of M. smegmatis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na-Kyeong Kim
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Eun Baek
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye-Jin Lee
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuna Oh
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Il Oh
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
- Microbiological Resource Research Institute, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
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2
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Singh DK, Bhaskar A, Pahuja I, Shaji A, Moitra B, Shi Y, Dwivedi VP, Das G. Cotreatment With Clofazimine and Rapamycin Eliminates Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis by Inducing Polyfunctional Central Memory T-Cell Responses. J Infect Dis 2023; 228:1166-1178. [PMID: 37290049 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, is acquiring drug resistance at a faster rate than the discovery of new antibiotics. Therefore, alternate therapies that can limit the drug resistance and disease recurrence are urgently needed. Emerging evidence indicates that combined treatment with antibiotics and an immunomodulator provides superior treatment efficacy. Clofazimine (CFZ) enhances the generation of T central memory (TCM) cells by blocking the Kv1.3+ potassium channels. Rapamycin (RAPA) facilitates M. tuberculosis clearance by inducing autophagy. In this study, we observed that cotreatment with CFZ and RAPA potently eliminates both multiple and extensively drug-resistant (MDR and XDR) clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis in a mouse model by inducing robust T-cell memory and polyfunctional TCM responses. Furthermore, cotreatment reduces the expression of latency-associated genes of M. tuberculosis in human macrophages. Therefore, CFZ and RAPA cotherapy holds promise for treating patients infected with MDR and XDR strains of M. tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhiraj Kumar Singh
- Immunobiology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
- Special Center for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Ashima Bhaskar
- Immunobiology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Isha Pahuja
- Immunobiology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Aishwarya Shaji
- Immunobiology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Barnani Moitra
- Special Center for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Yufang Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Ved Prakash Dwivedi
- Immunobiology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Gobardhan Das
- Special Center for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
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3
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Hogins J, Xuan Z, Zimmern PE, Reitzer L. The distinct transcriptome of virulence-associated phylogenetic group B2 Escherichia coli. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0208523. [PMID: 37724859 PMCID: PMC10580932 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02085-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli strains of phylogenetic group B2 are often associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs) and several other diseases. Recent genomic and transcriptomic analyses have not suggested or identified specific genes required for virulence, but have instead suggested multiple virulence strategies and complex host-pathogen interactions. Previous analyses have not compared core gene expression between phylogenetic groups or between pathogens and nonpathogens within phylogenetic groups. We compared the core gene expression of 35 strains from three phylogenetic groups that included both pathogens and nonpathogens after growth in a medium that allowed comparable growth of both types of strains. K-means clustering suggested a B2 cluster with 17 group B2 strains and two group A strains; an AD cluster with six group A strains, five group D strains and one B2 strain; and four outliers which included the highly studied model uropathogenic E. coli strains UTI89 and CFT073. Half of the core genes were differentially expressed between B2 and AD cluster strains, including transcripts of genes for all aspects of macromolecular synthesis-replication, transcription, translation, and peptidoglycan synthesis-energy metabolism, and environmental-sensing transcriptional regulators. Notably, core gene expression between nonpathogenic and uropathogenic transcriptomes within phylogenetic groups did not differ. If differences between pathogens and nonpathogens exist, then the differences do not require transcriptional reprogramming. In summary, B2 cluster strains have a distinct transcription pattern that involves hundreds of genes. We propose that this transcription pattern is one factor that contributes to virulence. IMPORTANCE Escherichia coli is a diverse species and an opportunistic pathogen that is associated with various diseases, such as urinary tract infections. When examined, phylogenetic group B2 strains are more often associated with these diseases, but the specific properties that contribute to their virulence are not known. From a comparative transcriptomic analysis, we found that group B2 strains grown in a nutrient-rich medium had a distinct transcription pattern, which is the first evidence that core gene expression differs between phylogenetic groups. Understanding the consequences of group B2 transcription pattern will provide important information on basic E. coli biology, the basis for E. coli virulence, and possibly for developing therapies for a majority of urinary tract infections and other group B2-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Hogins
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA
| | - Zhenyu Xuan
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA
| | - Philippe E. Zimmern
- Department of Urology, The University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Larry Reitzer
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA
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4
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Sinha S, RS N, Devarakonda Y, Rathi A, Reddy Regatti P, Batra S, Syal K. Tale of Twin Bifunctional Second Messenger (p)ppGpp Synthetases and Their Function in Mycobacteria. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:32258-32270. [PMID: 37720788 PMCID: PMC10500699 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c03557] [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: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
M. tuberculosis, an etiological agent of tuberculosis, requires a long treatment regimen due to its ability to respond to stress and persist inside the host. The second messenger (p)ppGpp-mediated stress response plays a critical role in such long-term survival, persistence, and antibiotic tolerance which may also lead to the emergence of multiple drug resistance. In mycobacteria, (pp)pGpp molecules are synthesized predominantly by two bifunctional enzymes-long RSH-Rel and short SAS-RelZ. The long RSH-Rel is a major (p)ppGpp synthetase and hydrolase. How it switches its activity from synthesis to hydrolysis remains unclear. RelMtb mutant has been reported to be defective in biofilm formation, cell wall function, and persister cell formation. The survival of such mutants has also been observed to be compromised in infection models. In M. smegmatis, short SAS-RelZ has RNase HII activity in addition to (pp)Gpp synthesis activity. The RNase HII function of RelZ has been implicated in resolving replication-transcription conflicts by degrading R-loops. However, the mechanism and regulatory aspects of such a regulation remain elusive. In this article, we have discussed (p)ppGpp metabolism and its role in managing the stress response network of mycobacteria, which is responsible for long-term survival inside the host, making it an important therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubham
Kumar Sinha
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology
Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500078
| | - Neethu RS
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology
Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500078
| | - Yogeshwar Devarakonda
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology
Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500078
| | - Ajita Rathi
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology
Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500078
| | - Pavan Reddy Regatti
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology
Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500078
| | - Sakshi Batra
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology
Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500078
| | - Kirtimaan Syal
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology
Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500078
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Li Y, Zhu F, Manna AC, Chen L, Jiang J, Hong JI, Proctor RA, Bayer AS, Cheung AL, Xiong YQ. Gp05, a Prophage-Encoded Virulence Factor, Contributes to Persistent Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Endovascular Infection. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0060023. [PMID: 37358448 PMCID: PMC10434118 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00600-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Persistent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) endovascular infections represent a serious public health threat. We recently demonstrated that the presence of a novel prophage ϕSA169 was associated with vancomycin (VAN) treatment failure in experimental MRSA endocarditis. In this study, we assessed the role of a ϕSA169 gene, ϕ80α_gp05 (gp05), in VAN-persistent outcome using gp05 isogenic MRSA strain sets. Of note, Gp05 significantly influences the intersection of MRSA virulence factors, host immune responses, and antibiotic treatment efficacy, including the following: (i) activity of the significant energy-yielding metabolic pathway (e.g., tricarboxylic acid cycle); (ii) carotenoid pigment production; (iii) (p)ppGpp (guanosine tetra- and pentaphosphate) production, which activates the stringent response and subsequent downstream functional factors (e.g., phenol-soluble modulins and polymorphonuclear neutrophil bactericidal activity); and (iv) persistence to VAN treatment in an experimental infective endocarditis model. These data suggest that Gp05 is a significant virulence factor which contributes to the persistent outcomes in MRSA endovascular infection by multiple pathways. IMPORTANCE Persistent endovascular infections are often caused by MRSA strains that are susceptible to anti-MRSA antibiotics in vitro by CLSI breakpoints. Thus, the persistent outcome represents a unique variant of traditional antibiotic resistance mechanisms and a significant therapeutic challenge. Prophage, a critical mobile genetic element carried by most MRSA isolates, provides their bacterial host with metabolic advantages and resistance mechanisms. However, how prophage-encoded virulence factors interact with the host defense system and antibiotics, driving the persistent outcome, is not well known. In the current study, we demonstrated that a novel prophage gene, gp05, significantly impacts tricarboxylic acid cycle activity, stringent response, and pigmentation, as well as vancomycin treatment outcome in an experimental endocarditis model using isogenic gp05 overexpression and chromosomal deletion mutant MRSA strain sets. The findings significantly advance our understanding of the role of Gp05 in persistent MRSA endovascular infection and provide a potential target for development of novel drugs against these life-threatening infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Li
- The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
| | - Fengli Zhu
- The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
| | - Adhar C. Manna
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Liang Chen
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Nutley, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jason Jiang
- The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
| | - Jong-In Hong
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Richard A. Proctor
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Arnold S. Bayer
- The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ambrose L. Cheung
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Yan Q. Xiong
- The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
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6
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Li Y, Majumdar S, Treen R, Sharma MR, Corro J, Gamper HB, Manjari SR, Prusa J, Banavali NK, Stallings CL, Hou YM, Agrawal RK, Ojha AK. Starvation sensing by mycobacterial RelA/SpoT homologue through constitutive surveillance of translation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2302006120. [PMID: 37216503 PMCID: PMC10235957 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2302006120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The stringent response, which leads to persistence of nutrient-starved mycobacteria, is induced by activation of the RelA/SpoT homolog (Rsh) upon entry of a deacylated-tRNA in a translating ribosome. However, the mechanism by which Rsh identifies such ribosomes in vivo remains unclear. Here, we show that conditions inducing ribosome hibernation result in loss of intracellular Rsh in a Clp protease-dependent manner. This loss is also observed in nonstarved cells using mutations in Rsh that block its interaction with the ribosome, indicating that Rsh association with the ribosome is important for Rsh stability. The cryo-EM structure of the Rsh-bound 70S ribosome in a translation initiation complex reveals unknown interactions between the ACT domain of Rsh and components of the ribosomal L7/L12 stalk base, suggesting that the aminoacylation status of A-site tRNA is surveilled during the first cycle of elongation. Altogether, we propose a surveillance model of Rsh activation that originates from its constitutive interaction with the ribosomes entering the translation cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlong Li
- Division of Genetics, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY12208
| | - Soneya Majumdar
- Division of Translational Medicine, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY12237
| | - Ryan Treen
- Division of Genetics, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY12208
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, NY12208
| | - Manjuli R. Sharma
- Division of Translational Medicine, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY12237
| | - Jamie Corro
- Division of Genetics, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY12208
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, NY12208
| | - Howard B. Gamper
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA19107
| | - Swati R. Manjari
- Division of Translational Medicine, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY12237
| | - Jerome Prusa
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO63110
| | - Nilesh K. Banavali
- Division of Translational Medicine, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY12237
| | - Christina L. Stallings
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO63110
| | - Ya-Ming Hou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA19107
| | - Rajendra K. Agrawal
- Division of Translational Medicine, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY12237
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, NY12208
| | - Anil K. Ojha
- Division of Genetics, New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY12208
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, NY12208
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7
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Baruzzo G, Serafini A, Finotello F, Sanavia T, Cioetto-Mazzabò L, Boldrin F, Lavezzo E, Barzon L, Toppo S, Provvedi R, Manganelli R, Di Camillo B. Role of the Extracytoplasmic Function Sigma Factor SigE in the Stringent Response of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0294422. [PMID: 36946740 PMCID: PMC10100808 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02944-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria respond to nutrient starvation implementing the stringent response, a stress signaling system resulting in metabolic remodeling leading to decreased growth rate and energy requirements. A well-characterized model of stringent response in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the one induced by growth in low phosphate. The extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factor SigE was previously suggested as having a key role in the activation of stringent response. In this study, we challenge this hypothesis by analyzing the temporal dynamics of the transcriptional response of a sigE mutant and its wild-type parental strain to low phosphate using RNA sequencing. We found that both strains responded to low phosphate with a typical stringent response trait, including the downregulation of genes encoding ribosomal proteins and RNA polymerase. We also observed transcriptional changes that support the occurring of an energetics imbalance, compensated by a reduced activity of the electron transport chain, decreased export of protons, and a remodeling of central metabolism. The most striking difference between the two strains was the induction in the sigE mutant of several stress-related genes, in particular, the genes encoding the ECF sigma factor SigH and the transcriptional regulator WhiB6. Since both proteins respond to redox unbalances, their induction suggests that the sigE mutant is not able to maintain redox homeostasis in response to the energetics imbalance induced by low phosphate. In conclusion, our data suggest that SigE is not directly involved in initiating stringent response but in protecting the cell from stress consequent to the low phosphate exposure and activation of stringent response. IMPORTANCE Mycobacterium tuberculosis can enter a dormant state enabling it to establish latent infections and to become tolerant to antibacterial drugs. Dormant bacteria's physiology and the mechanism(s) used by bacteria to enter dormancy during infection are still unknown due to the lack of reliable animal models. However, several in vitro models, mimicking conditions encountered during infection, can reproduce different aspects of dormancy (growth arrest, metabolic slowdown, drug tolerance). The stringent response, a stress response program enabling bacteria to cope with nutrient starvation, is one of them. In this study, we provide evidence suggesting that the sigma factor SigE is not directly involved in the activation of stringent response as previously hypothesized, but it is important to help the bacteria to handle the metabolic stress related to the adaptation to low phosphate and activation of stringent response, thus giving an important contribution to our understanding of the mechanism behind stringent response development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Baruzzo
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Agnese Serafini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Tiziana Sanavia
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Boldrin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Enrico Lavezzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Luisa Barzon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Stefano Toppo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | | | | | - Barbara Di Camillo
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
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8
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Abstract
As rapidly growing bacteria begin to exhaust essential nutrients, they enter a state of reduced growth, ultimately leading to stasis or quiescence. Investigation of the response to nutrient limitation has focused largely on the consequences of amino acid starvation, known as the "stringent response." Here, an uncharged tRNA in the A-site of the ribosome stimulates the ribosome-associated protein RelA to synthesize the hyperphosphorylated guanosine nucleotides (p)ppGpp that mediate a global slowdown of growth and biosynthesis. Investigations of the stringent response typically employ experimental methodologies that rapidly stimulate (p)ppGpp synthesis by abruptly increasing the fraction of uncharged tRNAs, either by explicit amino starvation or by inhibition of tRNA charging. Consequently, these methodologies inhibit protein translation, thereby interfering with the cellular pathways that respond to nutrient limitation. Thus, complete and/or rapid starvation is a problematic experimental paradigm for investigating bacterial responses to physiologically relevant nutrient-limited states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Dworkin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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9
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Oh Y, Lee HN, Ko EM, Jeong JA, Park SW, Oh JI. Mycobacterial Regulatory Systems Involved in the Regulation of Gene Expression Under Respiration-Inhibitory Conditions. J Microbiol 2023; 61:297-315. [PMID: 36847970 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-023-00026-8] [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: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of tuberculosis. M. tuberculosis can survive in a dormant state within the granuloma, avoiding the host-mounting immune attack. M. tuberculosis bacilli in this state show increased tolerance to antibiotics and stress conditions, and thus the transition of M. tuberculosis to the nonreplicating dormant state acts as an obstacle to tuberculosis treatment. M. tuberculosis in the granuloma encounters hostile environments such as hypoxia, nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, low pH, and nutrient deprivation, etc., which are expected to inhibit respiration of M. tuberculosis. To adapt to and survive in respiration-inhibitory conditions, it is required for M. tuberculosis to reprogram its metabolism and physiology. In order to get clues to the mechanism underlying the entry of M. tuberculosis to the dormant state, it is important to understand the mycobacterial regulatory systems that are involved in the regulation of gene expression in response to respiration inhibition. In this review, we briefly summarize the information regarding the regulatory systems implicated in upregulation of gene expression in mycobacteria exposed to respiration-inhibitory conditions. The regulatory systems covered in this review encompass the DosSR (DevSR) two-component system, SigF partner switching system, MprBA-SigE-SigB signaling pathway, cAMP receptor protein, and stringent response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuna Oh
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Ha-Na Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Eon-Min Ko
- Division of Bacterial Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease Research, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Osong, 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-A Jeong
- Division of Bacterial Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease Research, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Osong, 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Sae Woong Park
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Jeong-Il Oh
- Department of Integrated Biological Science, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea. .,Microbiological Resource Research Institute, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea.
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10
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Mishra S, Saito K. Clinically encountered growth phenotypes of tuberculosis-causing bacilli and their in vitro study: A review. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1029111. [PMID: 36439231 PMCID: PMC9684195 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1029111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The clinical manifestations of tuberculosis (TB) vary widely in severity, site of infection, and outcomes of treatment-leading to simultaneous efforts to individualize therapy safely and to search for shorter regimens that can be successfully used across the clinical spectrum. In these endeavors, clinicians and researchers alike employ mycobacterial culture in rich media. However, even within the same patient, individual bacilli among the population can exhibit substantial variability in their culturability. Bacilli in vitro also demonstrate substantial heterogeneity in replication rate and cultivation requirements, as well as susceptibility to killing by antimicrobials. Understanding parallels in clinical, ex vivo and in vitro growth phenotype diversity may be key to identifying those phenotypes responsible for treatment failure, relapse, and the reactivation of bacilli that progresses TB infection to disease. This review briefly summarizes the current role of mycobacterial culture in the care of patients with TB and the ex vivo evidence of variability in TB culturability. We then discuss current advances in in vitro models that study heterogenous subpopulations within a genetically identical bulk culture, with an emphasis on the effect of oxidative stress on bacillary cultivation requirements. The review highlights the complexity that heterogeneity in mycobacterial growth brings to the interpretation of culture in clinical settings and research. It also underscores the intricacies present in the interplay between growth phenotypes and antimicrobial susceptibility. Better understanding of population dynamics and growth requirements over time and space promises to aid both the attempts to individualize TB treatment and to find uniformly effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh Mishra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kohta Saito
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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11
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Karanika S, Gordy JT, Neupane P, Karantanos T, Ruelas Castillo J, Quijada D, Comstock K, Sandhu AK, Kapoor AR, Hui Y, Ayeh SK, Tasneen R, Krug S, Danchik C, Wang T, Schill C, Markham RB, Karakousis PC. An intranasal stringent response vaccine targeting dendritic cells as a novel adjunctive therapy against tuberculosis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:972266. [PMID: 36189260 PMCID: PMC9523784 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.972266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Lengthy tuberculosis (TB) treatment is required to overcome the ability of a subpopulation of persistent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) to remain in a non-replicating, antibiotic-tolerant state characterized by metabolic remodeling, including induction of the RelMtb-mediated stringent response. We developed a novel therapeutic DNA vaccine containing a fusion of the relMtb gene with the gene encoding the immature dendritic cell-targeting chemokine, MIP-3α/CCL20. To augment mucosal immune responses, intranasal delivery was also evaluated. We found that intramuscular delivery of the MIP-3α/relMtb (fusion) vaccine or intranasal delivery of the relMtb (non-fusion) vaccine potentiate isoniazid activity more than intramuscular delivery of the DNA vaccine expressing relMtb alone in a chronic TB mouse model (absolute reduction of Mtb burden: 0.63 log10 and 0.5 log10 colony-forming units, respectively; P=0.0002 and P=0.0052), inducing pronounced Mtb-protective immune signatures. The combined approach involving intranasal delivery of the DNA MIP-3α/relMtb fusion vaccine demonstrated the greatest mycobactericidal activity together with isoniazid when compared to each approach alone (absolute reduction of Mtb burden: 1.13 log10, when compared to the intramuscular vaccine targeting relMtb alone; P<0.0001), as well as robust systemic and local Th1 and Th17 responses. This DNA vaccination strategy may be a promising adjunctive approach combined with standard therapy to shorten curative TB treatment, and also serves as proof of concept for treating other chronic bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Styliani Karanika
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - James T. Gordy
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Pranita Neupane
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Theodoros Karantanos
- Division of Hematological Malignancies, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jennie Ruelas Castillo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Darla Quijada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kaitlyn Comstock
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Avinaash K. Sandhu
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Aakanksha R. Kapoor
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yinan Hui
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Samuel K. Ayeh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Rokeya Tasneen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Stefanie Krug
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Carina Danchik
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Tianyin Wang
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Courtney Schill
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Richard B. Markham
- Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Petros C. Karakousis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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12
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Boopathi S, Ramasamy S, Haridevamuthu B, Murugan R, Veerabadhran M, Jia AQ, Arockiaraj J. Intercellular communication and social behaviors in mycobacteria. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:943278. [PMID: 36177463 PMCID: PMC9514802 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.943278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-to-cell communication is a fundamental process of bacteria to exert communal behaviors. Sputum samples of patients with cystic fibrosis have often been observed with extensive mycobacterial genetic diversity. The emergence of heterogenic mycobacterial populations is observed due to subtle changes in their morphology, gene expression level, and distributive conjugal transfer (DCT). Since each subgroup of mycobacteria has different hetero-resistance, they are refractory against several antibiotics. Such genetically diverse mycobacteria have to communicate with each other to subvert the host immune system. However, it is still a mystery how such heterogeneous strains exhibit synchronous behaviors for the production of quorum sensing (QS) traits, such as biofilms, siderophores, and virulence proteins. Mycobacteria are characterized by division of labor, where distinct sub-clonal populations contribute to the production of QS traits while exchanging complimentary products at the community level. Thus, active mycobacterial cells ensure the persistence of other heterogenic clonal populations through cooperative behaviors. Additionally, mycobacteria are likely to establish communication with neighboring cells in a contact-independent manner through QS signals. Hence, this review is intended to discuss our current knowledge of mycobacterial communication. Understanding mycobacterial communication could provide a promising opportunity to develop drugs to target key pathways of mycobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seenivasan Boopathi
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Subbiah Ramasamy
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiac Metabolic Disease Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India
| | - B. Haridevamuthu
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Raghul Murugan
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Maruthanayagam Veerabadhran
- Biofouling and Biofilm Processes Section, Water and Steam Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Facilities, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ai-Qun Jia
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- *Correspondence: Ai-Qun Jia
| | - Jesu Arockiaraj
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
- Jesu Arockiaraj ;
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13
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Abstract
Since Jacques Monod's foundational work in the 1940s, investigators studying bacterial physiology have largely (but not exclusively) focused on the exponential phase of bacterial cultures, which is characterized by rapid growth and high biosynthesis activity in the presence of excess nutrients. However, this is not the predominant state of bacterial life. In nature, most bacteria experience nutrient limitation most of the time. In fact, investigators even prior to Monod had identified other aspects of bacterial growth, including what is now known as the stationary phase, when nutrients become limiting. This review will discuss how bacteria transition to growth arrest in response to nutrient limitation through changes in transcription, translation, and metabolism. We will then examine how these changes facilitate survival during potentially extended periods of nutrient limitation, with particular attention to the metabolic strategies that underpin bacterial longevity in this state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Dworkin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA;
| | - Caroline S Harwood
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA;
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14
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Griego A, Douché T, Gianetto QG, Matondo M, Manina G. RNase E and HupB dynamics foster mycobacterial cell homeostasis and fitness. iScience 2022; 25:104233. [PMID: 35521527 PMCID: PMC9062218 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA turnover is a primary source of gene expression variation, in turn promoting cellular adaptation. Mycobacteria leverage reversible mRNA stabilization to endure hostile conditions. Although RNase E is essential for RNA turnover in several species, its role in mycobacterial single-cell physiology and functional phenotypic diversification remains unexplored. Here, by integrating live-single-cell and quantitative-mass-spectrometry approaches, we show that RNase E forms dynamic foci, which are associated with cellular homeostasis and fate, and we discover a versatile molecular interactome. We show a likely interaction between RNase E and the nucleoid-associated protein HupB, which is particularly pronounced during drug treatment and infection, where phenotypic diversity increases. Disruption of RNase E expression affects HupB levels, impairing Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth homeostasis during treatment, intracellular replication, and host spread. Our work lays the foundation for targeting the RNase E and its partner HupB, aiming to undermine M. tuberculosis cellular balance, diversification capacity, and persistence. Single mycobacterial cells exhibit phenotypic variation in RNase E expression RNase E is implicated in the maintenance of mycobacterial cell growth homeostasis RNase E and HupB show a functional interplay in single mycobacterial cells RNase E-HupB disruption impairs Mycobacterium tuberculosis fate under drug and in macrophages
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15
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis Transcription Factor EmbR Regulates the Expression of Key Virulence Factors That Aid in Ex Vivo and In Vivo Survival. mBio 2022; 13:e0383621. [PMID: 35471080 PMCID: PMC9239209 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03836-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis encodes ~200 transcription factors that modulate gene expression under different microenvironments in the host. Even though high-throughput chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) studies have identified the regulatory network for ~80% of transcription factors, many transcription factors remain uncharacterized. EmbR is one such transcription factor whose in vivo regulon and biological function are yet to be elucidated. Previous in vitro studies suggested that phosphorylation of EmbR by PknH upregulates the embCAB operon. Using a gene replacement mutant of embR, we investigated its role in modulating cellular morphology, antibiotic resistance, and survival in the host. Contrary to the prevailing hypothesis, under normal growth conditions, EmbR is neither phosphorylated nor impacted by ethambutol resistance through the regulation of the embCAB operon. The embR deletion mutant displayed attenuated M. tuberculosis survival in vivo. RNA-seq analysis suggested that EmbR regulates operons involved in the secretion pathway, lipid metabolism, virulence, and hypoxia, including well-known hypoxia-inducible genes devS and hspX. Lipidome analysis revealed that EmbR modulates levels of all lysophospholipids, several phospholipids, and M. tuberculosis-specific lipids, which is more pronounced under hypoxic conditions. We found that the EmbR mutant is hypersusceptible to hypoxic stress, and RNA sequencing performed under hypoxic conditions indicated that EmbR majorly regulates genes involved in response to acidic pH, hypoxia, and fatty acid metabolism. We observed condition-specific phosphorylation of EmbR, which contributes to EmbR-mediated transcription of several essential genes, ensuring enhanced survival. Collectively, the study establishes EmbR as a key modulator of hypoxic response that facilitates mycobacterial survival in the host.
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16
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Li X, Chen F, Liu X, Xiao J, Andongma BT, Tang Q, Cao X, Chou SH, Galperin MY, He J. Clp protease and antisense RNA jointly regulate the global regulator CarD to mediate mycobacterial starvation response. eLife 2022; 11:73347. [PMID: 35080493 PMCID: PMC8820732 DOI: 10.7554/elife.73347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Under starvation conditions, bacteria tend to slow down their translation rate by reducing rRNA synthesis, but the way they accomplish that may vary in different bacteria. In Mycobacterium species, transcription of rRNA is activated by the RNA polymerase (RNAP) accessory transcription factor CarD, which interacts directly with RNAP to stabilize the RNAP-promoter open complex formed on rRNA genes. The functions of CarD have been extensively studied, but the mechanisms that control its expression remain obscure. Here, we report that the level of CarD was tightly regulated when mycobacterial cells switched from nutrient-rich to nutrient-deprived conditions. At the translational level, an antisense RNA of carD (AscarD) was induced in a SigF-dependent manner to bind with carD mRNA and inhibit CarD translation, while at the post-translational level, the residual intracellular CarD was quickly degraded by the Clp protease. AscarD thus worked synergistically with Clp protease to decrease the CarD level to help mycobacterial cells cope with the nutritional stress. Altogether, our work elucidates the regulation mode of CarD and delineates a new mechanism for the mycobacterial starvation response, which is important for the adaptation and persistence of mycobacterial pathogens in the host environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinfeng Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Fang Chen
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinfeng Xiao
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Binda T Andongma
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qing Tang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaojian Cao
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shan-Ho Chou
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Michael Y Galperin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Jin He
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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17
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In Mycobacterium abscessus, the stringent factor Rel regulates metabolism, but is not the only (p)ppGpp synthase. J Bacteriol 2021; 204:e0043421. [PMID: 34898264 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00434-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The stringent response is a broadly conserved stress response system that exhibits functional variability across bacterial clades. Here, we characterize the role of the stringent factor Rel in the non-tuberculous mycobacterial pathogen, Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab). We found that deletion of rel does not ablate (p)ppGpp synthesis, and that rel does not provide a survival advantage in several stress conditions, or in antibiotic treatment. Transcriptional data show that RelMab is involved in regulating expression of anabolism and growth genes in stationary phase. However, it does not activate transcription of stress response or antibiotic resistance genes, and actually represses transcription of many antibiotic resistance genes. This work shows that there is an unannotated (p)ppGpp synthetase in Mab. Importance In this study, we examined the functional roles of the stringent factor Rel in Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab). In most species, stringent factors synthesize the alarmone (p)ppGpp, which globally alters transcription to promote growth arrest and survival under stress and in antibiotic treatment. Our work shows that in Mab, an emerging pathogen which is resistant to many antibiotics, the stringent factor Rel is not solely responsible for synthesizing (p)ppGpp. We find that RelMab downregulates many metabolic genes under stress, but does not upregulate stress response genes and does not promote antibiotic tolerance. This study implies that there is another critical but unannotated (p)ppGpp synthetase in Mab, and suggests that RelMab inhibitors are unlikely to sensitize Mab infections to antibiotic treatment.
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18
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Shin J, Singal B, Grüber A, Wong DMK, Ragunathan P, Grüber G. Atomic structure of the regulatory TGS domain of Rel protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its interaction with deacylated tRNA. FEBS Lett 2021; 595:3006-3018. [PMID: 34808002 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The stringent response is critical for the survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) under nutrient starvation. The mechanism is mediated by a GTP pyrophosphokinase known as Rel, containing N-terminal synthetase and hydrolase domains and C-terminal regulatory domains, which include the TGS domain (ThrRS, GTPase, and SpoT proteins) that has been proposed to activate the synthetase domain via interaction with deacylated tRNA. Here, we present the NMR solution structure of the Mtb Rel TGS domain (MtRel TGS), consisting of five antiparallel β-strands and one helix-loop-helix motif. The interaction of MtRel TGS with deacylated tRNA is shown, indicating the critical amino acids of MtRel TGS in tRNA binding, and presenting the first structural evidence of MtRel TGS binding to deacylated tRNA in solution in the absence of the translational machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon Shin
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Bharti Singal
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Ardina Grüber
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - David Meng Kit Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Priya Ragunathan
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Gerhard Grüber
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
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19
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Gupta KR, Arora G, Mattoo A, Sajid A. Stringent Response in Mycobacteria: From Biology to Therapeutic Potential. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111417. [PMID: 34832573 PMCID: PMC8622095 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a human pathogen that can thrive inside the host immune cells for several years and cause tuberculosis. This is due to the propensity of M. tuberculosis to synthesize a sturdy cell wall, shift metabolism and growth, secrete virulence factors to manipulate host immunity, and exhibit stringent response. These attributes help M. tuberculosis to manage the host response, and successfully establish and maintain an infection even under nutrient-deprived stress conditions for years. In this review, we will discuss the importance of mycobacterial stringent response under different stress conditions. The stringent response is mediated through small signaling molecules called alarmones “(pp)pGpp”. The synthesis and degradation of these alarmones in mycobacteria are mediated by Rel protein, which is both (p)ppGpp synthetase and hydrolase. Rel is important for all central dogma processes—DNA replication, transcription, and translation—in addition to regulating virulence, drug resistance, and biofilm formation. Rel also plays an important role in the latent infection of M. tuberculosis. Here, we have discussed the literature on alarmones and Rel proteins in mycobacteria and highlight that (p)ppGpp-analogs and Rel inhibitors could be designed and used as antimycobacterial compounds against M. tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gunjan Arora
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA;
| | - Abid Mattoo
- Pharmaceutical Development, Ultragenyx Gene Therapy, Woburn, MA 01801, USA;
| | - Andaleeb Sajid
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA;
- Correspondence: or
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20
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Danchik C, Wang S, Karakousis PC. Targeting the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Stringent Response as a Strategy for Shortening Tuberculosis Treatment. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:744167. [PMID: 34690990 PMCID: PMC8529327 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.744167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The stringent response is well conserved across bacterial species and is a key pathway involved both in bacterial survival and virulence and in the induction of antibiotic tolerance in Mycobacteria. It is mediated by the alarmone (p)ppGpp and the regulatory molecule inorganic polyphosphate in response to stress conditions such as nutrient starvation. Efforts to pharmacologically target various components of the stringent response have shown promise in modulating mycobacterial virulence and antibiotic tolerance. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the stringent response and its role in virulence and tolerance in Mycobacteria, including evidence that targeting this pathway could have therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Petros C. Karakousis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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21
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Chau NYE, Ahmad S, Whitney JC, Coombes BK. Emerging and divergent roles of pyrophosphorylated nucleotides in bacterial physiology and pathogenesis. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009532. [PMID: 33984072 PMCID: PMC8118318 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria inhabit diverse environmental niches and consequently must modulate their metabolism to adapt to stress. The nucleotide second messengers guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) and guanosine pentaphosphate (pppGpp) (collectively referred to as (p)ppGpp) are essential for survival during nutrient starvation. (p)ppGpp is synthesized by the RelA-SpoT homologue (RSH) protein family and coordinates the control of cellular metabolism through its combined effect on over 50 proteins. While the role of (p)ppGpp has largely been associated with nutrient limitation, recent studies have shown that (p)ppGpp and related nucleotides have a previously underappreciated effect on different aspects of bacterial physiology, such as maintaining cellular homeostasis and regulating bacterial interactions with a host, other bacteria, or phages. (p)ppGpp produced by pathogenic bacteria facilitates the evasion of host defenses such as reactive nitrogen intermediates, acidic pH, and the complement system. Additionally, (p)ppGpp and pyrophosphorylated derivatives of canonical adenosine nucleotides called (p)ppApp are emerging as effectors of bacterial toxin proteins. Here, we review the RSH protein family with a focus on its unconventional roles during host infection and bacterial competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Y Elizabeth Chau
- Department of Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shehryar Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - John C. Whitney
- Department of Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian K. Coombes
- Department of Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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22
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Niño-Padilla EI, Velazquez C, Garibay-Escobar A. Mycobacterial biofilms as players in human infections: a review. BIOFOULING 2021; 37:410-432. [PMID: 34024206 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2021.1925886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The role of biofilms in pathogenicity and treatment strategies is often neglected in mycobacterial infections. In recent years, the emergence of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections has necessitated the development of novel prophylactic strategies and elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the establishment of chronic infections. More importantly, the question arises whether members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex can form biofilms and contribute to latent tuberculosis and drug resistance because of the long-lasting and recalcitrant nature of its infections. This review discusses some of the molecular mechanisms by which biofilms could play a role in infection or pathological events in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlos Velazquez
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, México
| | - Adriana Garibay-Escobar
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, México
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23
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Tkachenko AG, Kashevarova NM, Sidorov RY, Nesterova LY, Akhova AV, Tsyganov IV, Vaganov VY, Shipilovskikh SA, Rubtsov AE, Malkov AV. A synthetic diterpene analogue inhibits mycobacterial persistence and biofilm formation by targeting (p)ppGpp synthetases. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:1420-1432.e9. [PMID: 33621482 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial persistence coupled with biofilm formation is directly associated with failure of antibiotic treatment of tuberculosis. We have now identified 4-(4,7-DiMethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroNaphthalene-1-yl)Pentanoic acid (DMNP), a synthetic diterpene analogue, as a lead compound that was capable of suppressing persistence and eradicating biofilms in Mycobacterium smegmatis. By using two reciprocal experimental approaches - ΔrelMsm and ΔrelZ gene knockout mutations versus relMsm and relZ overexpression technique - we showed that both RelMsm and RelZ (p)ppGpp synthetases are plausible candidates for serving as targets for DMNP. In vitro, DMNP inhibited (p)ppGpp-synthesizing activity of purified RelMsm in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings, supplemented by molecular docking simulation, suggest that DMNP targets the structural sites shared by RelMsm, RelZ, and presumably by a few others as yet unidentified (p)ppGpp producers, thereby inhibiting persister cell formation and eradicating biofilms. Therefore, DMNP may serve as a promising lead for development of antimycobacterial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander G Tkachenko
- Laboratory of Microbial Adaptation, Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms, Perm Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ural Branch, Goleva 13, Perm, 614081, Perm Krai, Russia; Perm State University, Bukireva 15, Perm, 614990, Perm Krai, Russia.
| | - Natalya M Kashevarova
- Laboratory of Microbial Adaptation, Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms, Perm Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ural Branch, Goleva 13, Perm, 614081, Perm Krai, Russia
| | - Roman Yu Sidorov
- Laboratory of Microbial Adaptation, Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms, Perm Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ural Branch, Goleva 13, Perm, 614081, Perm Krai, Russia; Perm State University, Bukireva 15, Perm, 614990, Perm Krai, Russia
| | - Larisa Yu Nesterova
- Laboratory of Microbial Adaptation, Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms, Perm Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ural Branch, Goleva 13, Perm, 614081, Perm Krai, Russia; Perm State University, Bukireva 15, Perm, 614990, Perm Krai, Russia
| | - Anna V Akhova
- Laboratory of Microbial Adaptation, Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms, Perm Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ural Branch, Goleva 13, Perm, 614081, Perm Krai, Russia; Perm State University, Bukireva 15, Perm, 614990, Perm Krai, Russia
| | - Ivan V Tsyganov
- Laboratory of Microbial Adaptation, Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms, Perm Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ural Branch, Goleva 13, Perm, 614081, Perm Krai, Russia; Perm State University, Bukireva 15, Perm, 614990, Perm Krai, Russia
| | | | | | | | - Andrei V Malkov
- Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University Address: University Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK.
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24
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Kushwaha GS, Patra A, Bhavesh NS. Structural Analysis of (p)ppGpp Reveals Its Versatile Binding Pattern for Diverse Types of Target Proteins. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:575041. [PMID: 33224117 PMCID: PMC7674647 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.575041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
(p)ppGpp, highly phosphorylated guanosine, are global regulatory nucleotides that modulate several biochemical events in bacterial physiology ranging from core central dogma to various metabolic pathways. Conventionally, (p)ppGpp collectively refers to two nucleotides, ppGpp, and pppGpp in the literature. Initially, (p)ppGpp has been discovered as a transcription regulatory molecule as it binds to RNA polymerase and regulates transcriptional gene regulation. During the past decade, several other target proteins of (p)ppGpp have been discovered and as of now, more than 30 proteins have been reported to be regulated by the binding of these two signaling nucleotides. The regulation of diverse biochemical activities by (p)ppGpp requires fine-tuned molecular interactions with various classes of proteins so that it can moderate varied functions. Here we report a structural dynamics of (p)ppGpp in the unbound state using well-defined computational tools and its interactions with target proteins to understand the differential regulation by (p)ppGpp at the molecular level. We carried out replica exchange molecular dynamics simulation studies to enhance sampling of conformations during (p)ppGpp simulation. The detailed comparative analysis of torsion angle conformation of ribose sugar of unbound (p)ppGpp and bound states of (p)ppGpp was carried out. The structural dynamics shows that two linear phosphate chains provide plasticity to (p)ppGpp nucleotides for the binding to diverse proteins. Moreover, the intermolecular interactions between (p)ppGpp and target proteins were characterized through various physicochemical parameters including, hydrogen bonds, van der Waal’s interactions, aromatic stacking, and side chains of interacting residues of proteins. Surprisingly, we observed that interactions of (p)ppGpp to target protein have a consensus binding pattern for a particular functional class of enzymes. For example, the binding of (p)ppGpp to RNA polymerase is significantly different from the binding of (p)ppGpp to the proteins involved in the ribosome biogenesis pathway. Whereas, (p)ppGpp binding to enzymes involved in nucleotide metabolism facilitates the functional regulation through oligomerization. Analysis of these datasets revealed that guanine base-specific contacts are key determinants to discriminate functional class of protein. Altogether, our studies provide significant information to understand the differential interaction pattern of (p)ppGpp to its target and this information may be useful to design antibacterial compounds based on (p)ppGpp analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gajraj Singh Kushwaha
- Transcription Regulation Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, India.,KIIT Technology Business Incubator (KIIT-TBI), Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Anupam Patra
- Transcription Regulation Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, India
| | - Neel Sarovar Bhavesh
- Transcription Regulation Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, India
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25
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Shin J, Singal B, Sony Subramanian Manimekalai M, Wei Chen M, Ragunathan P, Grüber G. Atomic structure of, and valine binding to the regulatory ACT domain of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rel protein. FEBS J 2020; 288:2377-2397. [PMID: 33067840 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The stringent response, regulated by the bifunctional (p)ppGpp synthetase/hydrolase Rel in mycobacteria, is critical for long-term survival of the drug-tolerant dormant state of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. During amino acid starvation, MtRel senses a drop in amino acid concentration and synthesizes the messengers pppGpp and ppGpp, collectively called (p)ppGpp. Here, we investigate the role of the regulatory 'Aspartokinase, Chorismate mutase and TyrA' (ACT) domain in MtRel. Using NMR spectroscopy approaches, we report the high-resolution structure of dimeric MtRel ACT which selectively binds to valine out of all other branched-chain amino acids tested. A set of MtRel ACT mutants were generated to identify the residues required for maintaining the head-to-tail dimer. Through NMR titrations, we determined the crucial residues for binding of valine and show structural rearrangement of the MtRel ACT dimer in the presence of valine. This study suggests the direct involvement of amino acids in (p)ppGpp accumulation mediated by MtRel independent to interactions with stalled ribosomes. Database Structural data are available in the PDB database under the accession number 6LXG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon Shin
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Bharti Singal
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore City, Singapore
| | | | - Ming Wei Chen
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Priya Ragunathan
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore City, Singapore
| | - Gerhard Grüber
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore City, Singapore
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26
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Nadolinskaia NI, Karpov DS, Goncharenko AV. Vaccines Against Tuberculosis: Problems and Prospects (Review). APPL BIOCHEM MICRO+ 2020; 56:497-504. [PMID: 32981943 PMCID: PMC7508421 DOI: 10.1134/s0003683820050129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Despite the efforts of the global medical and scientific community, tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death from infectious diseases. The expectation of success associated with the development of new anti-TB drugs was not justified, and the attention of researchers was largely drawn to the creation of new mycobacterial strains for vaccination against tuberculosis. The proposed review contains current information on the existing vaccine strains and the development of new, genetically engineered strains for the prevention of tuberculosis and the prevention and treatment of other diseases. The review includes relevant information on the correlation between BCG vaccination and the frequency and severity of COVID-19 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. I. Nadolinskaia
- Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center Fundamentals of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - D. S. Karpov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - A. V. Goncharenko
- Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center Fundamentals of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
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27
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Podlesek Z, Žgur Bertok D. The DNA Damage Inducible SOS Response Is a Key Player in the Generation of Bacterial Persister Cells and Population Wide Tolerance. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1785. [PMID: 32849403 PMCID: PMC7417476 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Population-wide tolerance and persisters enable susceptible bacterial cells to endure hostile environments, including antimicrobial exposure. The SOS response can play a significant role in the generation of persister cells, population-wide tolerance, and shielding. The SOS pathway is an inducible DNA damage repair system that is also pivotal for bacterial adaptation, pathogenesis, and diversification. In addition to the two key SOS regulators, LexA and RecA, some other stressors and stress responses can control SOS factors. Bacteria are exposed to DNA-damaging agents and other environmental and intracellular factors, including cigarette smoke, that trigger the SOS response at a number of sites within the host. The Escherichia coli TisB/IstR module is as yet the only known SOS-regulated toxin–antitoxin module involved in persister formation. Nevertheless, the SOS response plays a key role in the formation of biofilms that are highly recalcitrant to antimicrobials and can be abundant in persisters. Furthermore, the dynamic biofilm environment generates DNA-damaging factors that trigger the SOS response within the biofilm, fueling bacterial adaptation and diversification. This review highlights the SOS response in relation to antimicrobial recalcitrance to antimicrobials in four clinically significant species, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zdravko Podlesek
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Darja Žgur Bertok
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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28
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Potential therapeutic approaches for a sleeping pathogen: tuberculosis a case for bioinorganic chemistry. J Biol Inorg Chem 2020; 25:685-704. [PMID: 32676771 DOI: 10.1007/s00775-020-01803-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has an old history as a human pathogen and still kills over one million people every year. One key feature of this bacterium is its dormancy: a phenomenon responsible for major changes in its metabolism and replication that have been associated with the need for a lengthy therapy for Mtb. This process is regulated by key heme-based sensors, particularly DosT and DevS (DosS), among other co-regulators, and also linked to nitrogen utilization (nitrate/nitrite) and stringent responses. In face of the current threat of tuberculosis, there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic agents capable of targeting the dormant state, associated with the need for a lengthy therapy. Interestingly, many of those key proteins are indeed metallo-containing or metallo-dependent biomolecules, opening exciting bioinorganic opportunities. Here, we critically reviewed a series of small molecules targeting key proteins involved in these processes, including DosT/DevS/DevR, RegX3, MprA, MtrA, NarL, PknB, Rel, PPK, nitrate and nitrite reductases, GlnA1, aiming for new opportunities and alternative therapies. In the battle against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, new drug targets must be searched, in particular those involved in dormancy. A series of exciting cases for drug development involving metallo-containing or metallo-dependent biomolecules are reviewed, opening great opportunities for the bioinorganic chemistry community.
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29
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Synthesis of ppGpp impacts type IX secretion and biofilm matrix formation in Porphyromonas gingivalis. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2020; 6:5. [PMID: 32005827 PMCID: PMC6994654 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-020-0115-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to persist, bacteria need to adjust their physiological state in response to external and internal cues. External stimuli are often referred to as stressors. The stringent response, mediated by the alarmone (p)ppGpp, is central to the stress response in many bacteria; yet, there is limited knowledge regarding the role of (p)ppGpp signaling in bacteria belonging to the phylum Bacteroidetes. Like its counterparts in the gut (e.g., Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Bacteroides fragilis), Porphyromonas gingivalis persists in close association with its human host. Given the potential for numerous perturbations in the oral cavity, and the fact that P. gingivalis can enter and replicate within host cells, we hypothesized that (p)ppGpp is a key signaling molecule for stress adaptation and persistence. Here, we show that accumulation of ppGpp in P. gingivalis is governed by two homologous enzymes, designated Rel, and RshB, and that ppGpp signaling affects growth rate, survival, biofilm formation, production of outer membrane vesicles, and expression of genes encoding type IX secretion structural and cargo proteins. Overall, our findings provide a potential mechanism by which biofilm formation and virulence of P. gingivalis are integrated via ppGpp signaling, a regulatory mechanism central to bacterial survival in dynamic environments.
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30
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Zúñiga A, Aravena P, Pulgar R, Travisany D, Ortiz-Severín J, Chávez FP, Maass A, González M, Cambiazo V. Transcriptomic Changes of Piscirickettsia salmonis During Intracellular Growth in a Salmon Macrophage-Like Cell Line. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 9:426. [PMID: 31998656 PMCID: PMC6964531 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Piscirickettsia salmonis is the causative agent of Piscirickettsiosis, a systemic infection of salmonid fish species. P. salmonis infects and survives in its host cell, a process that correlates with the expression of virulence factors including components of the type IVB secretion system. To gain further insights into the cellular and molecular mechanism behind the adaptive response of P. salmonis during host infection, we established an in vitro model of infection using the SHK-1 cell line from Atlantic salmon head kidney. The results indicated that in comparison to uninfected SHK-1 cells, infection significantly decreased cell viability after 10 days along with a significant increment of P. salmonis genome equivalents. At that time, the intracellular bacteria were localized within a spacious cytoplasmic vacuole. By using a whole-genome microarray of P. salmonis LF-89, the transcriptome of this bacterium was examined during intracellular growth in the SHK-1 cell line and exponential growth in broth. Transcriptome analysis revealed a global shutdown of translation during P. salmonis intracellular growth and suggested an induction of the stringent response. Accordingly, key genes of the stringent response pathway were up-regulated during intracellular growth as well as at stationary phase bacteria, suggesting a role of the stringent response on bacterial virulence. Our results also reinforce the participation of the Dot/Icm type IVB secretion system during P. salmonis infection and reveals many unexplored genes with potential roles in the adaptation to intracellular growth. Finally, we proposed that intracellular P. salmonis alternates between a replicative phase and a stationary phase in which the stringent response is activated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Zúñiga
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática y Expresión Génica, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos (INTA), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Blue Genomics Chile, Puerto Varas, Chile
| | - Pamela Aravena
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática y Expresión Génica, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos (INTA), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Pulgar
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática y Expresión Génica, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos (INTA), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Dante Travisany
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Santiago, Chile.,Center for Mathematical Modeling (PIA AFB17001) and Department of Mathematical Engineering, Universidad de Chile - UMI CNRS 2807, Santiago, Chile
| | - Javiera Ortiz-Severín
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática y Expresión Génica, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos (INTA), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Laboratorio de Microbiología de Sistemas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco P Chávez
- Center for Mathematical Modeling (PIA AFB17001) and Department of Mathematical Engineering, Universidad de Chile - UMI CNRS 2807, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandro Maass
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Santiago, Chile.,Center for Mathematical Modeling (PIA AFB17001) and Department of Mathematical Engineering, Universidad de Chile - UMI CNRS 2807, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mauricio González
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática y Expresión Génica, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos (INTA), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Santiago, Chile
| | - Verónica Cambiazo
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática y Expresión Génica, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos (INTA), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Santiago, Chile
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31
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Hook JS, Cao M, Weng K, Kinnare N, Moreland JG. Mycobacterium tuberculosis Lipoarabinomannan Activates Human Neutrophils via a TLR2/1 Mechanism Distinct from Pam 3CSK 4. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 204:671-681. [PMID: 31871022 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Neutrophils, polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes, play an important role in the early innate immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in the lung. Interactions between PMN and mycobacterial lipids impact the activation state of these migrated cells with consequences for the surrounding tissue in terms of resolution versus ongoing inflammation. We hypothesized that lipoarabinomannan from M. tuberculosis (Mtb LAM) would prime human PMN in a TLR2-dependent manner and investigated this with specific comparison with the purified synthetic TLR2 agonists, Pam3CSK4 and FSL-1. In contrast to Pam3CSK4 and FSL-1, we found Mtb LAM did not induce any of the classical PMN priming phenotypes, including enhancement of NADPH oxidase activity, shedding of l-selectin, or mobilization of CD11b. However, exposure of PMN to Mtb LAM did elicit pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production and release in a TLR2/1-dependent manner, using the TLR1 single-nucleotide polymorphism rs5743618 (1805G/T) as a marker for TLR2/1 specificity. Moreover, Mtb LAM did not elicit p38 MAPK phosphorylation or endocytosis, although these processes occurred with Pam3CSK4 stimulation, and were necessary for the early priming events to occur. Interestingly, Mtb LAM did not abrogate priming responses elicited by Pam3CSK4 Notably, subfractionation of light membranes from Pam3CSK4 versus Mtb LAM-stimulated cells demonstrated differential patterns of exocytosis. In summary, Mtb LAM activates PMN via TLR2/1, resulting in the production of cytokines but does not elicit early PMN priming responses, as seen with Pam3CSK4 We speculate that the inability of Mtb LAM to prime PMN may be due to differential localization of TLR2/1 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica S Hook
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390; and
| | - Mou Cao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390; and
| | - Kayson Weng
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390; and
| | - Nedha Kinnare
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390; and
| | - Jessica G Moreland
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390; and .,Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
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32
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Ruwe M, Persicke M, Busche T, Müller B, Kalinowski J. Physiology and Transcriptional Analysis of (p)ppGpp-Related Regulatory Effects in Corynebacterium glutamicum. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2769. [PMID: 31849906 PMCID: PMC6892785 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The alarmone species ppGpp and pppGpp are elementary components of bacterial physiology as they both coordinate the bacterial stress response and serve as fine-tuners of general metabolism during conditions of balanced growth. Since the regulation of (p)ppGpp metabolism and the effects of (p)ppGpp on cellular processes are highly complex and show massive differences between bacterial species, the underlying molecular mechanisms have so far only been insufficiently investigated for numerous microorganisms. In this study, (p)ppGpp physiology in the actinobacterial model organism Corynebacterium glutamicum was analyzed by phenotypic characterization and RNAseq-based transcriptome analysis. Total nutrient starvation was identified as the most effective method to induce alarmone production, whereas traditional induction methods such as the addition of serine hydroxamate (SHX) or mupirocin did not show a strong accumulation of (p)ppGpp. The predominant alarmone in C. glutamicum represents guanosine tetraphosphate, whose stress-associated production depends on the presence of the bifunctional RSH enzyme Rel. Interestingly, in addition to ppGpp, another substance yet not identified accumulated strongly under inducing conditions. A C. glutamicum triple mutant (Δrel,ΔrelS,ΔrelH) unable to produce alarmones [(p)ppGpp0 strain] exhibited unstable growth characteristics and interesting features such as an influence of illumination on its physiology, production of amino acids as well as differences in vitamin and carotenoid production. Differential transcriptome analysis using RNAseq provided numerous indications for the molecular basis of the observed phenotype. An evaluation of the (p)ppGpp-dependent transcriptional regulation under total nutrient starvation revealed a complex interplay with the involvement of ribosome-mediated transcriptional attenuation, the stress-responsive sigma factors σB and σH and transcription factors such as McbR, the master regulator of sulfur metabolism. In addition to the differential regulation of genes connected with various cell functions, the transcriptome analysis revealed conserved motifs within the promoter regions of (p)ppGpp-dependently and independently regulated genes. In particular, the representatives of translation-associated genes are both (p)ppGpp-dependent transcriptionally downregulated and show a highly conserved and so far unknown TTTTG motif in the -35 region, which is also present in other actinobacterial genera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Ruwe
- Microbial Genomics and Biotechnology, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Marcus Persicke
- Microbial Genomics and Biotechnology, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Tobias Busche
- Microbial Genomics and Biotechnology, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | | | - Jörn Kalinowski
- Microbial Genomics and Biotechnology, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
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33
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Kushwaha GS, Oyeyemi BF, Bhavesh NS. Stringent response protein as a potential target to intervene persistent bacterial infection. Biochimie 2019; 165:67-75. [PMID: 31302165 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2019.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
More than half of the world's population is infected with persistent bacterial infections, consequently, persisters are gradually becoming a major public health concern. During the persistent phase, bacterial pathogens deploy many regulatory strategies to compensate unfavorable host environmental conditions. The stringent response is one of such gene regulatory mechanisms which is stimulated by nutrient starvation. It is regulated by the synthesis of highly phosphorylated signaling nucleotides, (p)ppGpp or alarmone. (p)ppGpp is synthesized by ppGpp synthetases, and these proteins are classified as RelA/SpoT homolog (RSH) proteins. Subsequently, (p)ppGpp modulate several molecular and biochemical processes ranging from transcription to metabolism. Imperativeness of (p)ppGpp synthetases has been investigated by numerous approaches including microbiology and animal studies, thereby establishing that Rel enzyme deleted strains of pathogenic bacteria were unable to transform in persister form. In this review, we summarize recent findings to corroborate the rationality to consider (p)ppGpp synthetase as a potential target in discovering a novel class of antimicrobial agents to combat persistent infections. Moreover, inhibition studies on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (p)ppGpp synthetase shows that these inhibitors prevent dormant state transition and biofilm formation. Also, we have highlighted the structural biology of (p)ppGpp synthetases, which may provide significant information that could be used in structure-based inhibitor design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gajraj Singh Kushwaha
- Transcription Regulation Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India.
| | - Bolaji Fatai Oyeyemi
- Transcription Regulation Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Neel Sarovar Bhavesh
- Transcription Regulation Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, 110067, India.
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34
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Interaction studies on bacterial stringent response protein RelA with uncharged tRNA provide evidence for its prerequisite complex for ribosome binding. Curr Genet 2019; 65:1173-1184. [PMID: 30968189 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-019-00966-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The bacterial stringent response is regulated by the synthesis of (p)ppGpp which is mediated by RelA in a complex with uncharged tRNA and ribosome. We intended to probe RelA-uncharged tRNA interactions off the ribosome to understand the sequential activation mechanism of RelA. Stringent response is a key regulatory pleiotropic mechanism which allows bacteria to survive in unfavorable conditions. Since the discovery of RelA, it has been believed that it is activated upon binding to ribosomes which already have uncharged tRNA on acceptor site (A-site). However, uncharged tRNA occupied in the A-site of the ribosome prior to RelA binding could not be observed; therefore, recently an alternate model for RelA activation has been proposed in which RelA first binds to uncharged tRNA and then RelA-uncharged tRNA complex is loaded on to the ribosome to synthesize (p)ppGpp. To explore the alternate hypothesis, we report here the in vitro binding of uncharged tRNA to RelA in the absence of ribosome using formaldehyde cross-linking, fluorescence spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance, size-exclusion chromatography, and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry. Altogether, our results clearly indicate binding between RelA and uncharged tRNA without the involvement of ribosome. Moreover, we have analyzed their binding kinetics and mapping of tRNA-interacting regions of RelA structure. We have also co-purified TGS domain in complex with tRNA to further establish in vivo RelA-tRNA binding. We have observed that TGS domain recognizes all types of uncharged tRNA similar to EF-Tu and tRNA interactions. Altogether, our results demonstrate the complex formation between RelA and uncharged tRNA that may be loaded to the ribosome for (p)ppGpp synthesis.
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35
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Dutta NK, Klinkenberg LG, Vazquez MJ, Segura-Carro D, Colmenarejo G, Ramon F, Rodriguez-Miquel B, Mata-Cantero L, Porras-De Francisco E, Chuang YM, Rubin H, Lee JJ, Eoh H, Bader JS, Perez-Herran E, Mendoza-Losana A, Karakousis PC. Inhibiting the stringent response blocks Mycobacterium tuberculosis entry into quiescence and reduces persistence. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaav2104. [PMID: 30906866 PMCID: PMC6426458 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aav2104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The stringent response enables Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) to shut down its replication and metabolism under various stresses. Here we show that Mtb lacking the stringent response enzyme RelMtb was unable to slow its replication rate during nutrient starvation. Metabolomics analysis revealed that the nutrient-starved relMtb -deficient strain had increased metabolism similar to that of exponentially growing wild-type bacteria in nutrient-rich broth, consistent with an inability to enter quiescence. Deficiency of relMtb increased the susceptibility of mutant bacteria to killing by isoniazid during nutrient starvation and in the lungs of chronically infected mice. We screened a pharmaceutical library of over 2 million compounds for inhibitors of RelMtb and showed that the lead compound X9 was able to directly kill nutrient-starved M. tuberculosis and enhanced the killing activity of isoniazid. Inhibition of RelMtb is a promising approach to target M. tuberculosis persisters, with the potential to shorten the duration of TB treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noton K. Dutta
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lee G. Klinkenberg
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Gonzalo Colmenarejo
- Molecular Discovery Research, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Unit, IMDEA Food Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Ramon
- Molecular Discovery Research, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Lydia Mata-Cantero
- Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Yu-Min Chuang
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Harvey Rubin
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jae Jin Lee
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hyungjin Eoh
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Joel S. Bader
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Esther Perez-Herran
- Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Petros C. Karakousis
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Kathleen M, Patrick B. Editorial: Introduction to thematic issue 'Molecular Effectors of Tuberculosis Pathogenesis'. Pathog Dis 2018; 76:5307233. [PMID: 30726953 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/fty077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- McDonough Kathleen
- Wadsworth Center, NYS Department of Health; and Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, SUNY, USA
| | - Brennan Patrick
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, USA
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