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Kwon YS, Cho YE, Kim Y, Koh M, Hwang S. Dimethyloxalylglycine Suppresses SREBP1c and Lipogenic Gene Expressions in Hepatocytes Independently of HIF1A. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:2386-2397. [PMID: 38534767 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46030151] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG) is a representative inhibitor of the prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD), which mediates the degradation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1-alpha (HIF1A). DMOG exerts its pharmacological effects via the canonical pathway that involves PHD inhibition; however, it remains unclear whether DMOG affects lipogenic gene expression in hepatocytes. We aimed to elucidate the effects of DMOG on sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP1c), a master regulator of fatty acid synthesis in hepatocytes. DMOG treatment inhibited SREBP1c mRNA and protein expression in HepG2 and AML12 hepatocytes and reduced the transcript levels of SREBP1c-regulated lipogenic genes. A luciferase reporter assay revealed that DMOG inhibited the transcriptional activity of SREBP1c. Moreover, DMOG suppressed SREBP1c expression in mice liver. Mechanistically, treatment with DMOG enhanced the expression of HIF1A and insulin-induced gene 2 (INSIG2), which inhibits the activation of SREBP1c. However, HIF1A or INSIG2 knockdown failed to reverse the inhibitory effect of DMOG on SREBP1c expression, suggesting a redundant role of HIF1A and INSIG2 in terms of repressing SREBP1c. DMOG did not function through the canonical pathway involving inhibition of SREBP1c by PHD, highlighting the presence of non-canonical pathways that mediate its anti-lipogenic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Seong Kwon
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute for Drug Development, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye Eun Cho
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute for Drug Development, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeonsoo Kim
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute for Drug Development, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Minseob Koh
- Department of Chemistry, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Seonghwan Hwang
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute for Drug Development, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
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2
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Chou L, Grefenstette N, Borges S, Caro T, Catalano E, Harman CE, McKaig J, Raj CG, Trubl G, Young A. Chapter 8: Searching for Life Beyond Earth. ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:S164-S185. [PMID: 38498822 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The search for life beyond Earth necessitates a rigorous and comprehensive examination of biosignatures, the types of observable imprints that life produces. These imprints and our ability to detect them with advanced instrumentation hold the key to our understanding of the presence and abundance of life in the universe. Biosignatures are the chemical or physical features associated with past or present life and may include the distribution of elements and molecules, alone or in combination, as well as changes in structural components or physical processes that would be distinct from an abiotic background. The scientific and technical strategies used to search for life on other planets include those that can be conducted in situ to planetary bodies and those that could be observed remotely. This chapter discusses numerous strategies that can be employed to look for biosignatures directly on other planetary bodies using robotic exploration including those that have been deployed to other planetary bodies, are currently being developed for flight, or will become a critical technology on future missions. Search strategies for remote observations using current and planned ground-based and space-based telescopes are also described. Evidence from spectral absorption, emission, or transmission features can be used to search for remote biosignatures and technosignatures. Improving our understanding of biosignatures, their production, transformation, and preservation on Earth can enhance our search efforts to detect life on other planets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luoth Chou
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- Center for Space Sciences and Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Natalie Grefenstette
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Tristan Caro
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Enrico Catalano
- Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, The BioRobotics Institute, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Jordan McKaig
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Gareth Trubl
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, USA
| | - Amber Young
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
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3
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Zhai L, Bonds AC, Smith CA, Oo H, Chou JCC, Welander PV, Dassama LMK. Novel sterol binding domains in bacteria. eLife 2024; 12:RP90696. [PMID: 38329015 PMCID: PMC10942540 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90696] [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] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Sterol lipids are widely present in eukaryotes and play essential roles in signaling and modulating membrane fluidity. Although rare, some bacteria also produce sterols, but their function in bacteria is not known. Moreover, many more species, including pathogens and commensal microbes, acquire or modify sterols from eukaryotic hosts through poorly understood molecular mechanisms. The aerobic methanotroph Methylococcus capsulatus was the first bacterium shown to synthesize sterols, producing a mixture of C-4 methylated sterols that are distinct from those observed in eukaryotes. C-4 methylated sterols are synthesized in the cytosol and localized to the outer membrane, suggesting that a bacterial sterol transport machinery exists. Until now, the identity of such machinery remained a mystery. In this study, we identified three novel proteins that may be the first examples of transporters for bacterial sterol lipids. The proteins, which all belong to well-studied families of bacterial metabolite transporters, are predicted to reside in the inner membrane, periplasm, and outer membrane of M. capsulatus, and may work as a conduit to move modified sterols to the outer membrane. Quantitative analysis of ligand binding revealed their remarkable specificity for 4-methylsterols, and crystallographic structures coupled with docking and molecular dynamics simulations revealed the structural bases for substrate binding by two of the putative transporters. Their striking structural divergence from eukaryotic sterol transporters signals that they form a distinct sterol transport system within the bacterial domain. Finally, bioinformatics revealed the widespread presence of similar transporters in bacterial genomes, including in some pathogens that use host sterol lipids to construct their cell envelopes. The unique folds of these bacterial sterol binding proteins should now guide the discovery of other proteins that handle this essential metabolite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liting Zhai
- Department of Chemistry and Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Amber C Bonds
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Clyde A Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Hannah Oo
- Department of Chemistry and Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | | | - Paula V Welander
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Laura MK Dassama
- Department of Chemistry and Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of MedicineStanfordUnited States
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4
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Brunoir T, Mulligan C, Sistiaga A, Vuu KM, Shih PM, O'Reilly SS, Summons RE, Gold DA. Common origin of sterol biosynthesis points to a feeding strategy shift in Neoproterozoic animals. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7941. [PMID: 38040676 PMCID: PMC10692144 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43545-z] [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: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Steranes preserved in sedimentary rocks serve as molecular fossils, which are thought to record the expansion of eukaryote life through the Neoproterozoic Era ( ~ 1000-541 Ma). Scientists hypothesize that ancient C27 steranes originated from cholesterol, the major sterol produced by living red algae and animals. Similarly, C28 and C29 steranes are thought to be derived from the sterols of prehistoric fungi, green algae, and other microbial eukaryotes. However, recent work on annelid worms-an advanced group of eumetazoan animals-shows that they are also capable of producing C28 and C29 sterols. In this paper, we explore the evolutionary history of the 24-C sterol methyltransferase (smt) gene in animals, which is required to make C28+ sterols. We find evidence that the smt gene was vertically inherited through animals, suggesting early eumetazoans were capable of C28+ sterol synthesis. Our molecular clock of the animal smt gene demonstrates that its diversification coincides with the rise of C28 and C29 steranes in the Neoproterozoic. This study supports the hypothesis that early eumetazoans were capable of making C28+ sterols and that many animal lineages independently abandoned its biosynthesis around the end-Neoproterozoic, coinciding with the rise of abundant eukaryotic prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Brunoir
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - C Mulligan
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - A Sistiaga
- Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - K M Vuu
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - P M Shih
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - S S O'Reilly
- Department of Life Sciences, Atlantic Technological University, ATU Sligo, Ash Lane, Sligo, Ireland
| | - R E Summons
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - D A Gold
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
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5
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Zhao Y, Xiong W, Li C, Zhao R, Lu H, Song S, Zhou Y, Hu Y, Shi B, Ge J. Hypoxia-induced signaling in the cardiovascular system: pathogenesis and therapeutic targets. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:431. [PMID: 37981648 PMCID: PMC10658171 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01652-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia, characterized by reduced oxygen concentration, is a significant stressor that affects the survival of aerobic species and plays a prominent role in cardiovascular diseases. From the research history and milestone events related to hypoxia in cardiovascular development and diseases, The "hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) switch" can be observed from both temporal and spatial perspectives, encompassing the occurrence and progression of hypoxia (gradual decline in oxygen concentration), the acute and chronic manifestations of hypoxia, and the geographical characteristics of hypoxia (natural selection at high altitudes). Furthermore, hypoxia signaling pathways are associated with natural rhythms, such as diurnal and hibernation processes. In addition to innate factors and natural selection, it has been found that epigenetics, as a postnatal factor, profoundly influences the hypoxic response and progression within the cardiovascular system. Within this intricate process, interactions between different tissues and organs within the cardiovascular system and other systems in the context of hypoxia signaling pathways have been established. Thus, it is the time to summarize and to construct a multi-level regulatory framework of hypoxia signaling and mechanisms in cardiovascular diseases for developing more therapeutic targets and make reasonable advancements in clinical research, including FDA-approved drugs and ongoing clinical trials, to guide future clinical practice in the field of hypoxia signaling in cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongchao Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Weidong Xiong
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Chaofu Li
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ranzun Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
| | - Hao Lu
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shuai Song
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - You Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yiqing Hu
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Bei Shi
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China.
| | - Junbo Ge
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China.
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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6
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Marshall B, Amritkar K, Wolfe M, Kaçar B, Landick R. Evolutionary flexibility and rigidity in the bacterial methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1286626. [PMID: 38029103 PMCID: PMC10663253 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1286626] [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: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Terpenoids are a diverse class of compounds with wide-ranging uses including as industrial solvents, pharmaceuticals, and fragrances. Efforts to produce terpenoids sustainably by engineering microbes for fermentation are ongoing, but industrial production still largely relies on nonrenewable sources. The methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway generates terpenoid precursor molecules and includes the enzyme Dxs and two iron-sulfur cluster enzymes: IspG and IspH. IspG and IspH are rate limiting-enzymes of the MEP pathway but are challenging for metabolic engineering because they require iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis and an ongoing supply of reducing equivalents to function. Therefore, identifying novel alternatives to IspG and IspH has been an on-going effort to aid in metabolic engineering of terpenoid biosynthesis. We report here an analysis of the evolutionary diversity of terpenoid biosynthesis strategies as a resource for exploration of alternative terpenoid biosynthesis pathways. Using comparative genomics, we surveyed a database of 4,400 diverse bacterial species and found that some may have evolved alternatives to the first enzyme in the pathway, Dxs making it evolutionarily flexible. In contrast, we found that IspG and IspH are evolutionarily rigid because we could not identify any species that appear to have enzymatic routes that circumvent these enzymes. The ever-growing repository of sequenced bacterial genomes has great potential to provide metabolic engineers with alternative metabolic pathway solutions. With the current state of knowledge, we found that enzymes IspG and IspH are evolutionarily indispensable which informs both metabolic engineering efforts and our understanding of the evolution of terpenoid biosynthesis pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey Marshall
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Kaustubh Amritkar
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Michael Wolfe
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Betül Kaçar
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Robert Landick
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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7
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Panconi L, Lorenz CD, May RC, Owen DM, Makarova M. Phospholipid tail asymmetry allows cellular adaptation to anoxic environments. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105134. [PMID: 37562570 PMCID: PMC10482748 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane biophysical properties are critical to cell fitness and depend on unsaturated phospholipid acyl tails. These can only be produced in aerobic environments since eukaryotic desaturases require molecular oxygen. This raises the question of how cells maintain bilayer properties in anoxic environments. Using advanced microscopy, molecular dynamics simulations, and lipidomics by mass spectrometry we demonstrated the existence of an alternative pathway to regulate membrane fluidity that exploits phospholipid acyl tail length asymmetry, replacing unsaturated species in the membrane lipidome. We show that the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces japonicus, which can grow in aerobic and anaerobic conditions, is capable of utilizing this strategy, whereas its sister species, the well-known model organism Schizosaccharomyces pombe, cannot. The incorporation of asymmetric-tailed phospholipids might be a general adaptation to hypoxic environmental niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Panconi
- Institute of Immunology and immunotherapy, School of Mathematics and Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Chris D Lorenz
- Department of Physics, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Robin C May
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection and School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Dylan M Owen
- Institute of Immunology and immunotherapy, School of Mathematics and Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Maria Makarova
- School of Biosciences, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research and Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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8
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Tiranakwit T, Puangpun W, Tamprasit K, Wichai N, Siriamornpun S, Srisongkram T, Weerapreeyakul N. Phytochemical Screening on Phenolic, Flavonoid Contents, and Antioxidant Activities of Six Indigenous Plants Used in Traditional Thai Medicine. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13425. [PMID: 37686230 PMCID: PMC10487580 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713425] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The antioxidant activity of a traditional Thai formula has been studied and compared to each plant. The formula comprised the roots of Caesalpinia digyna Rottler, Huberantha cerasoides (Roxb.) Benth), Oxyceros horridus Lour, Antidesma ghaesembilla Gaerth, Combretum quadrangulare Kurz, and Ziziphus cambodiana Pierre. The stem was also studied in comparison. The ethanolic extract from each plant part and the mixed plants mimicking the traditional formula were prepared and investigated for antioxidant capability in vitro via DPPH radical scavenging and ferric-reducing antioxidant power assays. The phytochemical constituents were determined by chemical screening, total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC), and high-performance liquid chromatography. The relationship between antioxidant activity and the contributed phytochemicals was determined using correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). Results showed that extracts from both parts of the plant formula showed the highest antioxidant activity compared to a single plant extract. Among the six plants, C. digyna exhibited the highest TPC and antioxidant activity. TPC had a strong positive correlation with antioxidant activity. PCA revealed that gallic acid contributed to the antioxidant activity. In conclusion, the ethanolic extracts of the traditional formula and C. digyna have the potential for further chemical characterization and study related to antioxidant activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanawuth Tiranakwit
- Program of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand;
| | - Wimonwan Puangpun
- Program of Doctor of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand;
| | - Kawintra Tamprasit
- Human High Performance and Health Promotion Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (K.T.); (T.S.)
| | - Natthapong Wichai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand;
| | - Sirithon Siriamornpun
- Research Unit of Thai Food Innovation, Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand;
| | - Tarapong Srisongkram
- Human High Performance and Health Promotion Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (K.T.); (T.S.)
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Natthida Weerapreeyakul
- Human High Performance and Health Promotion Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (K.T.); (T.S.)
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
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9
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Dickson AS, Pauzaite T, Arnaiz E, Ortmann BM, West JA, Volkmar N, Martinelli AW, Li Z, Wit N, Vitkup D, Kaser A, Lehner PJ, Nathan JA. A HIF independent oxygen-sensitive pathway for controlling cholesterol synthesis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4816. [PMID: 37558666 PMCID: PMC10412576 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40541-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholesterol biosynthesis is a highly regulated, oxygen-dependent pathway, vital for cell membrane integrity and growth. In fungi, the dependency on oxygen for sterol production has resulted in a shared transcriptional response, resembling prolyl hydroxylation of Hypoxia Inducible Factors (HIFs) in metazoans. Whether an analogous metazoan pathway exists is unknown. Here, we identify Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2 (SREBP2), the key transcription factor driving sterol production in mammals, as an oxygen-sensitive regulator of cholesterol synthesis. SREBP2 degradation in hypoxia overrides the normal sterol-sensing response, and is HIF independent. We identify MARCHF6, through its NADPH-mediated activation in hypoxia, as the main ubiquitin ligase controlling SREBP2 stability. Hypoxia-mediated degradation of SREBP2 protects cells from statin-induced cell death by forcing cells to rely on exogenous cholesterol uptake, explaining why many solid organ tumours become auxotrophic for cholesterol. Our findings therefore uncover an oxygen-sensitive pathway for governing cholesterol synthesis through regulated SREBP2-dependent protein degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna S Dickson
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Tekle Pauzaite
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Esther Arnaiz
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
- Ochre-Bio Ltd, Hayakawa Building, Oxford Science Park, Edmund Halley Road, Oxford, OX4 4GB, UK
| | - Brian M Ortmann
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Herschel Building, Level 6, Brewery Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - James A West
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Norbert Volkmar
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
- Institute for Molecular Systems Biology (IMSB), ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- DISCO Pharmaceuticals Swiss GmbH, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Anthony W Martinelli
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Zhaoqi Li
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Tango Therapeutics, 201 Brookline Ave Suite 901, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Niek Wit
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Dennis Vitkup
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Arthur Kaser
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Paul J Lehner
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - James A Nathan
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK.
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10
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Cordova-Gonzalez A, Birgel D, Wisshak M, Urich T, Brinkmann F, Marcon Y, Bohrmann G, Peckmann J. A carbonate corrosion experiment at a marine methane seep: The role of aerobic methanotrophic bacteria. GEOBIOLOGY 2023; 21:491-506. [PMID: 36775968 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Methane seeps are typified by the formation of authigenic carbonates, many of which exhibit corrosion surfaces and secondary porosity believed to be caused by microbial carbonate dissolution. Aerobic methane oxidation and sulfur oxidation are two processes capable of inducing carbonate corrosion at methane seeps. Although the potential of aerobic methanotrophy to dissolve carbonate was confirmed in laboratory experiments, this process has not been studied in the environment to date. Here, we report on a carbonate corrosion experiment carried out in the REGAB Pockmark, Gabon-Congo-Angola passive margin, in which marble cubes were deployed for 2.5 years at two sites (CAB-B and CAB-C) with apparent active methane seepage and one site (CAB-D) without methane seepage. Marble cubes exposed to active seepage (experiment CAB-C) were found to be affected by a new type of microbioerosion. Based on 16S rRNA gene analysis, the biofilms adhering to the bioeroded marble mostly consisted of aerobic methanotrophic bacteria, predominantly belonging to the uncultured Hyd24-01 clade. The presence of abundant 13 C-depleted lipid biomarkers including fatty acids (n-C16:1ω8c , n-C18:1ω8c , n-C16:1ω5t ), various 4-mono- and 4,4-dimethyl sterols, and diplopterol agrees with the dominance of aerobic methanotrophs in the CAB-C biofilms. Among the lipids of aerobic methanotrophs, the uncommon 4α-methylcholest-8(14)-en-3β,25-diol is interpreted to be a specific biomarker for the Hyd24-01 clade. The combination of textural, genetic, and organic geochemical evidence suggests that aerobic methanotrophs are the main drivers of carbonate dissolution observed in the CAB-C experiment at the REGAB pockmark.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexmar Cordova-Gonzalez
- Centrum für Erdsystemforschung und Nachhaltigkeit, Universität Hamburg, Institut für Geologie, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Birgel
- Centrum für Erdsystemforschung und Nachhaltigkeit, Universität Hamburg, Institut für Geologie, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Max Wisshak
- Senckenberg am Meer, Abteilung Meeresforschung, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Tim Urich
- Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Institut für Mikrobiologie, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Florian Brinkmann
- MARUM - Zentrum für Marine Umweltwissenschaften und Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Yann Marcon
- MARUM - Zentrum für Marine Umweltwissenschaften und Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Gerhard Bohrmann
- MARUM - Zentrum für Marine Umweltwissenschaften und Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Jörn Peckmann
- Centrum für Erdsystemforschung und Nachhaltigkeit, Universität Hamburg, Institut für Geologie, Hamburg, Germany
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11
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Lee AK, Wei JH, Welander PV. De novo cholesterol biosynthesis in bacteria. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2904. [PMID: 37217541 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38638-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotes produce highly modified sterols, including cholesterol, essential to eukaryotic physiology. Although few bacterial species are known to produce sterols, de novo production of cholesterol or other complex sterols in bacteria has not been reported. Here, we show that the marine myxobacterium Enhygromyxa salina produces cholesterol and provide evidence for further downstream modifications. Through bioinformatic analysis we identify a putative cholesterol biosynthesis pathway in E. salina largely homologous to the eukaryotic pathway. However, experimental evidence indicates that complete demethylation at C-4 occurs through unique bacterial proteins, distinguishing bacterial and eukaryotic cholesterol biosynthesis. Additionally, proteins from the cyanobacterium Calothrix sp. NIES-4105 are also capable of fully demethylating sterols at the C-4 position, suggesting complex sterol biosynthesis may be found in other bacterial phyla. Our results reveal an unappreciated complexity in bacterial sterol production that rivals eukaryotes and highlight the complicated evolutionary relationship between sterol biosynthesis in the bacterial and eukaryotic domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alysha K Lee
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jeremy H Wei
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Paula V Welander
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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12
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Elias D, Tóth Hervay N, Bujdos M, Gbelska Y. Essential Role of CgErg6p in Maintaining Oxidative Stress Tolerance and Iron Homeostasis in Candida glabrata. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9050579. [PMID: 37233290 DOI: 10.3390/jof9050579] [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: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The human pathogenic fungus Candida glabrata is the second leading cause of candidemia, a life-threatening invasive mycosis. Clinical outcomes are complicated by reduced susceptibility of C. glabrata to azoles together with its ability to evolve stable resistance to both azoles and echinocandins following drug exposure. Compared to other Candida spp., C. glabrata displays robust oxidative stress resistance. In this study, we investigated the impact of CgERG6 gene deletion on the oxidative stress response in C. glabrata. CgERG6 gene encodes sterol-24-C-methyltransferase, which is involved in the final steps of ergosterol biosynthesis. Our previous results showed that the Cgerg6Δ mutant has a lower ergosterol content in its membranes. Here, we show that the Cgerg6Δ mutant displays increased susceptibility to oxidative stress inducing agents, such as menadione, hydrogen peroxide and diamide, accompanied with increased intracellular ROS production. The Cgerg6Δ mutant is not able to tolerate higher concentrations of iron in the growth media. We observed increased expression of transcription factors, CgYap1p, CgMsn4p and CgYap5p, together with increased expression of catalase encoding the CgCTA1 gene and vacuolar iron transporter CgCCC1 in the Cgerg6Δ mutant cells. However, it seems that the CgERG6 gene deletion does not influence the function of mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Elias
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovicova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Nora Tóth Hervay
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovicova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Marek Bujdos
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Laboratory Research on Geomaterials, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovicova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Yvetta Gbelska
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovicova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
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13
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Michellod D, Bien T, Birgel D, Violette M, Kleiner M, Fearn S, Zeidler C, Gruber-Vodicka HR, Dubilier N, Liebeke M. De novo phytosterol synthesis in animals. Science 2023; 380:520-526. [PMID: 37141360 PMCID: PMC11139496 DOI: 10.1126/science.add7830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Sterols are vital for nearly all eukaryotes. Their distribution differs in plants and animals, with phytosterols commonly found in plants whereas most animals are dominated by cholesterol. We show that sitosterol, a common sterol of plants, is the most abundant sterol in gutless marine annelids. Using multiomics, metabolite imaging, heterologous gene expression, and enzyme assays, we show that these animals synthesize sitosterol de novo using a noncanonical C-24 sterol methyltransferase (C24-SMT). This enzyme is essential for sitosterol synthesis in plants, but not known from most bilaterian animals. Our phylogenetic analyses revealed that C24-SMTs are present in representatives of at least five animal phyla, indicating that the synthesis of sterols common to plants is more widespread in animals than currently known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolma Michellod
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Tanja Bien
- Institute of Hygiene, University of Münster, Robert-Koch-Str. 41, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Daniel Birgel
- Institute for Geology, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, University of Hamburg, Bundesstraße 55, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marlene Violette
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Manuel Kleiner
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Sarah Fearn
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Zeidler
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | | | - Nicole Dubilier
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Manuel Liebeke
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
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14
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Akone S, Hug JJ, Kaur A, Garcia R, Müller R. Structure Elucidation and Biosynthesis of Nannosterols A and B, Myxobacterial Sterols from Nannocystis sp. MNa10993. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2023; 86:915-923. [PMID: 37011180 PMCID: PMC10152446 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c01143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Myxobacteria represent an underinvestigated source of chemically diverse and biologically active secondary metabolites. Here, we report the discovery, isolation, structure elucidation, and biological evaluation of two new bacterial sterols, termed nannosterols A and B (1, 2), from the terrestrial myxobacterium Nannocystis sp. (MNa10993). Nannosterols feature a cholestanol core with numerous modifications including a secondary alcohol at position C-15, a terminal vicinal diol side chain at C-24-C-25 (1, 2), and a hydroxy group at the angular methyl group at C-18 (2), which is unprecedented for bacterial sterols. Another rare chemical feature of bacterial triterpenoids is a ketone group at position C-7, which is also displayed by 1 and 2. The combined exploration based on myxobacterial high-resolution secondary metabolome data and genomic in silico investigations exposed the nannosterols as frequently produced sterols within the myxobacterial suborder of Nannocystineae. The discovery of the nannosterols provides insights into the biosynthesis of these new myxobacterial sterols, with implications in understanding the evolution of sterol production by prokaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi
H. Akone
- Helmholtz-Institute
for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for
Infection Research (HZI), Department of Microbial Natural Products, Saarland University, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department
of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- German
Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- Helmholtz
International Laboratories, Department of Microbial Natural Products, Saarland University, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University
of Douala, P.O. Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Joachim J. Hug
- Helmholtz-Institute
for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for
Infection Research (HZI), Department of Microbial Natural Products, Saarland University, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department
of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- German
Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- Helmholtz
International Laboratories, Department of Microbial Natural Products, Saarland University, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Amninder Kaur
- Helmholtz-Institute
for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for
Infection Research (HZI), Department of Microbial Natural Products, Saarland University, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department
of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- German
Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- Helmholtz
International Laboratories, Department of Microbial Natural Products, Saarland University, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Ronald Garcia
- Helmholtz-Institute
for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for
Infection Research (HZI), Department of Microbial Natural Products, Saarland University, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department
of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- German
Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- Helmholtz
International Laboratories, Department of Microbial Natural Products, Saarland University, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Rolf Müller
- Helmholtz-Institute
for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for
Infection Research (HZI), Department of Microbial Natural Products, Saarland University, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department
of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- German
Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- Helmholtz
International Laboratories, Department of Microbial Natural Products, Saarland University, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
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15
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Nair IM, Kochupurackal J. Squalene hopene cyclases and oxido squalene cyclases: potential targets for regulating cyclisation reactions. Biotechnol Lett 2023; 45:573-588. [PMID: 37055654 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-023-03366-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Squalene hopene cyclases (SHC) convert squalene, the linear triterpene to fused ring product hopanoid by the cationic cyclization mechanism. The main function of hopanoids, a class of pentacyclic triterpenoids in bacteria involves the maintenance of membrane fluidity and stability. 2, 3-oxido squalene cyclases are functional analogues of SHC in eukaryotes and both these enzymes have fascinated researchers for the high stereo selectivity, complexity, and efficiency they possess. The peculiar property of the enzyme squalene hopene cyclase to accommodate substrates other than its natural substrate can be exploited for the use of these enzymes in an industrial perspective. Here, we present an extensive overview of the enzyme squalene hopene cyclase with emphasis on the cloning and overexpression strategies. An attempt has been made to explore recent research trends around squalene cyclase mediated cyclization reactions of flavour and pharmaceutical significance by using non-natural molecules as substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indu Muraleedharan Nair
- School of Biosciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Athirampuzha, Kottayam, 686560, India
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, T12 XF62, Ireland
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16
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Brown MO, Olagunju BO, Giner JL, Welander PV. Sterol methyltransferases in uncultured bacteria complicate eukaryotic biomarker interpretations. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1859. [PMID: 37012227 PMCID: PMC10070321 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37552-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Sterane molecular fossils are broadly interpreted as eukaryotic biomarkers, although diverse bacteria also produce sterols. Steranes with side-chain methylations can act as more specific biomarkers if their sterol precursors are limited to particular eukaryotes and are absent in bacteria. One such sterane, 24-isopropylcholestane, has been attributed to demosponges and potentially represents the earliest evidence for animals on Earth, but enzymes that methylate sterols to give the 24-isopropyl side-chain remain undiscovered. Here, we show that sterol methyltransferases from both sponges and yet-uncultured bacteria function in vitro and identify three methyltransferases from symbiotic bacteria each capable of sequential methylations resulting in the 24-isopropyl sterol side-chain. We demonstrate that bacteria have the genomic capacity to synthesize side-chain alkylated sterols, and that bacterial symbionts may contribute to 24-isopropyl sterol biosynthesis in demosponges. Together, our results suggest bacteria should not be dismissed as potential contributing sources of side-chain alkylated sterane biomarkers in the rock record.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malory O Brown
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Babatunde O Olagunju
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York-Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - José-Luis Giner
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York-Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Paula V Welander
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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17
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Chiocchio I, Andrés NP, Anaia RA, van Dam NM, Vergara F. Steroidal glycoside profile differences among primary roots system and adventitious roots in Solanum dulcamara. PLANTA 2023; 257:37. [PMID: 36645517 PMCID: PMC9842586 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-023-04072-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Solanum dulcamara primary and adventitious roots showed qualitative and quantitative differences in their steroidal glycosides profile. This opened new venues to evaluate the bioactivity of these molecules in belowground ecosystems. The Solanum genus is characterized by the presence of steroidal glycosides (SGs) that confer herbivore resistance and serve as drug precursors in the pharmaceutical industry. Solanum dulcamara is a self-compatible, sexually reproducing species that produces seeds after buzz-pollination. In addition, primordia on the stem facilitate clonal propagation via adventitious root (AR) formation. ARs contain aerenchyma being developmentally and morphologically different from primary roots (PRs). Therefore, we hypothesized that ARs and PRs have different SG profiles. Aiming to assess differences in SGs profiles in S. dulcamara roots in relation to their origins and morphologies, we used liquid chromatography coupled to electron spray ionization quadruple time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-qToF-MS) to profile SGs from PRs and ARs of seven S. dulcamara individuals. Mass fragmentation pattern analysis indicated the presence of 31 SG-type structures, including those with spirostans and furostans moieties. We assigned the 31 structures to 9 classes of steroidal aglycons (SAgls) that differ in hydroxylation and degree of unsaturation. We found that SAgls were conjugated with di-, tri- and tetra saccharides whereby one compound contained a malonylated sugar. Principle component analysis showed that SG profiles of PRs and ARs separated on the first principal component, supporting our hypothesis. Specifically, PRs contain higher number of SGs than ARs with some compounds exclusively present in PRs. Our results reveal a high level of novel chemodiversity in PRs and ARs of Solanum dulcamara. The knowledge gained will deepen our understanding of SGs biosynthesis and their functional role in plant-environment interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Chiocchio
- Molecular Interaction Ecology, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 42, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Nerea Pérez Andrés
- Molecular Interaction Ecology, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Redouan Adam Anaia
- Molecular Interaction Ecology, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University, Dornburger-Str. 159, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Nicole M van Dam
- Molecular Interaction Ecology, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University, Dornburger-Str. 159, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979, Großbeeren, Germany
| | - Fredd Vergara
- Molecular Interaction Ecology, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University, Dornburger-Str. 159, 07743, Jena, Germany
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18
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Bi Y, Guo P, Liu L, Chen L, Zhang W. Elucidation of sterol biosynthesis pathway and its co-regulation with fatty acid biosynthesis in the oleaginous marine protist Schizochytrium sp. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1188461. [PMID: 37180050 PMCID: PMC10174431 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1188461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Sterols constitute vital structural and regulatory components of eukaryotic cells. In the oleaginous microorganism Schizochytrium sp. S31, the sterol biosynthetic pathway primarily produces cholesterol, stigmasterol, lanosterol, and cycloartenol. However, the sterol biosynthesis pathway and its functional roles in Schizochytrium remain unidentified. Through Schizochytrium genomic data mining and a chemical biology approach, we first in silico elucidated the mevalonate and sterol biosynthesis pathways of Schizochytrium. The results showed that owing to the lack of plastids in Schizochytrium, it is likely to use the mevalonate pathway as the terpenoid backbone pathway to supply isopentenyl diphosphate for the synthesis of sterols, similar to that in fungi and animals. In addition, our analysis revealed a chimeric organization of the Schizochytrium sterol biosynthesis pathway, which possesses features of both algae and animal pathways. Temporal tracking of sterol profiles reveals that sterols play important roles in Schizochytrium growth, carotenoid synthesis, and fatty acid synthesis. Furthermore, the dynamics of fatty acid and transcription levels of genes involved in fatty acid upon chemical inhibitor-induced sterol inhibition reveal possible co-regulation of sterol synthesis and fatty acid synthesis, as the inhibition of sterol synthesis could promote the accumulation of fatty acid in Schizochytrium. Sterol and carotenoid metabolisms are also found possibly co-regulated, as the inhibition of sterols led to decreased carotenoid synthesis through down-regulating the gene HMGR and crtIBY in Schizochytrium. Together, elucidation of the Schizochytrium sterol biosynthesis pathway and its co-regulation with fatty acid synthesis lay the essential foundation for engineering Schizochytrium for the sustainable production of lipids and high-value chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yali Bi
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin, China
| | - Pengfei Guo
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin, China
| | - Liangsen Liu
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin, China
| | - Weiwen Zhang
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education of China, Tianjin, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin, China
- Center for Biosafety Research and Strategy, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Weiwen Zhang,
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19
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Tomato Sterol 22-desaturase Gene CYP710A11: Its Roles in Meloidogyne incognita Infection and Plant Stigmasterol Alteration. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315111. [PMID: 36499431 PMCID: PMC9735470 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Sterols are isoprenoid-derived lipids that play essential structural and functional roles in eukaryotic cells. Plants produce a complex mixture of sterols, and changes in plant sterol profiles have been linked to plant-pathogen interactions. β-Sitosterol and stigmasterol, in particular, have been associated with plant defense. As nematodes have lost the ability to synthesize sterols de novo, they require sterols from the host. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants infected by the plant parasitic nematode Meloidogyne incognita show a reduced level of stigmasterol and a repression of the gene CYP710A11, encoding the sterol C-22 desaturase that is responsible for the conversion of β-sitosterol to stigmasterol. In this study, we investigated the role of the tomato sterol C-22 desaturase gene CYP710A11 in the response to infection by M. incognita. We explored the plant-nematode interaction over time by analyzing the plant sterol composition and CYP710A11 gene regulation in S. lycopersicum after M. incognita infection. The temporal gene expression analysis showed that 3 days after inoculation with M. incognita, the CYP710A11 expression was significantly suppressed in the tomato roots, while a significant decrease in the stigmasterol content was observed after 14 days. A cyp710a11 knockout mutant tomato line lacking stigmasterol was analyzed to better understand the role of CYP710A11 in nematode development. M. incognita grown in the mutant line showed reduced egg mass counts, presumably due to the impaired growth of the mutant. However, the nematodes developed as well as they did in the wild-type line. Thus, while the suppression of CYP710A11 expression during nematode development may be a defense response of the plant against the nematode, the lack of stigmasterol did not seem to affect the nematode. This study contributes to the understanding of the role of stigmasterol in the interaction between M. incognita and tomato plants and shows that the sterol C-22 desaturase is not essential for the success of M. incognita.
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Faulkner R, Jo Y. Synthesis, function, and regulation of sterol and nonsterol isoprenoids. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:1006822. [PMID: 36275615 PMCID: PMC9579336 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1006822] [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: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholesterol, the bulk end-product of the mevalonate pathway, is a key component of cellular membranes and lipoproteins that transport lipids throughout the body. It is also a precursor of steroid hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids. In addition to cholesterol, the mevalonate pathway yields a variety of nonsterol isoprenoids that are essential to cell survival. Flux through the mevalonate pathway is tightly controlled to ensure cells continuously synthesize nonsterol isoprenoids but avoid overproducing cholesterol and other sterols. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase (HMGCR), the rate limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway, is the focus of a complex feedback regulatory system governed by sterol and nonsterol isoprenoids. This review highlights transcriptional and post-translational regulation of HMGCR. Transcriptional regulation of HMGCR is mediated by the Scap-SREBP pathway. Post-translational control is initiated by the intracellular accumulation of sterols, which causes HMGCR to become ubiquitinated and subjected to proteasome-mediated ER-associated degradation (ERAD). Sterols also cause a subfraction of HMGCR molecules to bind the vitamin K2 synthetic enzyme, UbiA prenyltransferase domain-containing protein-1 (UBIAD1). This binding inhibits ERAD of HMGCR, which allows cells to continuously synthesize nonsterol isoprenoids such as geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP), even when sterols are abundant. Recent studies reveal that UBIAD1 is a GGPP sensor, dissociating from HMGCR when GGPP thresholds are met to allow maximal ERAD. Animal studies using genetically manipulated mice disclose the physiological significance of the HMGCR regulatory system and we describe how dysregulation of these pathways contributes to disease.
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21
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Vitamin D in the Context of Evolution. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14153018. [PMID: 35893872 PMCID: PMC9332464 DOI: 10.3390/nu14153018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
For at least 1.2 billion years, eukaryotes have been able to synthesize sterols and, therefore, can produce vitamin D when exposed to UV-B. Vitamin D endocrinology was established some 550 million years ago in animals, when the high-affinity nuclear receptor VDR (vitamin D receptor), transport proteins and enzymes for vitamin D metabolism evolved. This enabled vitamin D to regulate, via its target genes, physiological process, the first of which were detoxification and energy metabolism. In this way, vitamin D was enabled to modulate the energy-consuming processes of the innate immune system in its fight against microbes. In the evolving adaptive immune system, vitamin D started to act as a negative regulator of growth, which prevents overboarding reactions of T cells in the context of autoimmune diseases. When, some 400 million years ago, species left the ocean and were exposed to gravitation, vitamin D endocrinology took over the additional role as a major regulator of calcium homeostasis, being important for a stable skeleton. Homo sapiens evolved approximately 300,000 years ago in East Africa and had adapted vitamin D endocrinology to the intensive exposure of the equatorial sun. However, when some 75,000 years ago, when anatomically modern humans started to populate all continents, they also reached regions with seasonally low or no UV-B, i.e., and under these conditions vitamin D became a vitamin.
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22
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Ahmed U, Ho KY, Simon SE, Saad SM, Ong SK, Anwar A, Tan KO, Sridewi N, Khan KM, Khan NA, Anwar A. Potential anti-acanthamoebic effects through inhibition of CYP51 by novel quinazolinones. Acta Trop 2022; 231:106440. [PMID: 35378058 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba spp. are free living amoebae which can give rise to Acanthamoeba keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. The surface of Acanthamoeba contains ergosterol which is an important target for drug development against eukaryotic microorganisms. A library of ten functionally diverse quinazolinone derivatives (Q1-Q10) were synthesised to assess their activity against Acanthamoeba castellanii T4. The in-vitro effectiveness of these quinazolinones were investigated against Acanthamoeba castellanii by amoebicidal, excystation, host cell cytopathogenicity, and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase assays. Furthermore, wound healing capability was assessed at different time durations. Maximum inhibition at 50 μg/mL was recorded for compounds Q5, Q6 and Q8, while the compound Q3 did not exhibit amoebicidal effects at tested concentrations. Moreover, LDH assay was conducted to assess the cytotoxicity of quinazolinones against HaCaT cell line. The results of wound healing assay revealed that all compounds are not cytotoxic and are likely to promote wound healing at 10 μg/mL. The excystation assays revealed that these compounds significantly inhibit the morphological transformation of A. castellanii. Compound Q3, Q7 and Q8 elevated the level of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase up to five folds. Sterol 14alpha-demethylase (CYP51) a reference enzyme in ergosterol pathway was used as a potential target for anti-amoebic drugs. In this study using i-Tasser, the protein structure of Acanthamoeba castellanii (AcCYP51) was developed in comparison with Naegleria fowleri protein (NfCYP51) structure. The sequence alignment of both proteins has shown 42.72% identity. Compounds Q1-Q10 were then molecularly docked with the predicted AcCYP51. Out of ten quinazolinones, three compounds (Q3, Q7 and Q8) showed good binding activity within 3 Å of TYR 114. The in-silico study confirmed that these compounds are the inhibitor of CYP51 target site. This report presents several potential lead compounds belonging to quinazolinone derivatives for drug discovery against Acanthamoeba infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Usman Ahmed
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Keat-Yie Ho
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Samson Eugin Simon
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Seng-Kai Ong
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Areeba Anwar
- Faculty of Defence Science and Technology, National Defence University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kuan Onn Tan
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nanthini Sridewi
- Faculty of Defence Science and Technology, National Defence University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Khalid Mohammed Khan
- H. E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan; Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, University City, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ayaz Anwar
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
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23
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Li Z, Ji BW, Dixit PD, Tchourine K, Lien EC, Hosios AM, Abbott KL, Rutter JC, Westermark AM, Gorodetsky EF, Sullivan LB, Vander Heiden MG, Vitkup D. Cancer cells depend on environmental lipids for proliferation when electron acceptors are limited. Nat Metab 2022; 4:711-723. [PMID: 35739397 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-022-00588-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Production of oxidized biomass, which requires regeneration of the cofactor NAD+, can be a proliferation bottleneck that is influenced by environmental conditions. However, a comprehensive quantitative understanding of metabolic processes that may be affected by NAD+ deficiency is currently missing. Here, we show that de novo lipid biosynthesis can impose a substantial NAD+ consumption cost in proliferating cancer cells. When electron acceptors are limited, environmental lipids become crucial for proliferation because NAD+ is required to generate precursors for fatty acid biosynthesis. We find that both oxidative and even net reductive pathways for lipogenic citrate synthesis are gated by reactions that depend on NAD+ availability. We also show that access to acetate can relieve lipid auxotrophy by bypassing the NAD+ consuming reactions. Gene expression analysis demonstrates that lipid biosynthesis strongly anti-correlates with expression of hypoxia markers across tumor types. Overall, our results define a requirement for oxidative metabolism to support biosynthetic reactions and provide a mechanistic explanation for cancer cell dependence on lipid uptake in electron acceptor-limited conditions, such as hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoqi Li
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Brian W Ji
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Physician-Scientist Training Pathway, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Purushottam D Dixit
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- University of Florida Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- University of Florida Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Evan C Lien
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Aaron M Hosios
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Keene L Abbott
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Justine C Rutter
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Health Sciences and Technology (HST) and Harvard/MIT MD-PhD Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anna M Westermark
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth F Gorodetsky
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lucas B Sullivan
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Matthew G Vander Heiden
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Dennis Vitkup
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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24
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Zhou W, Zhang X, Wang A, Yang L, Gan Q, Yi L, Summons RE, Volkman JK, Lu Y. Widespread Sterol Methyltransferase Participates in the Biosynthesis of Both C4α- and C4β-Methyl Sterols. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:9023-9032. [PMID: 35561259 PMCID: PMC9136925 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c01401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The 4-methyl steranes
serve as molecular fossils and are used for
studying both eukaryotic evolution and geological history. The occurrence
of 4α-methyl steranes in sediments has long been considered
evidence of products of partial demethylation mediated by sterol methyl
oxidases (SMOs), while 4β-methyl steranes are attributed entirely
to diagenetic generation from 4α-methyl steroids since possible
biological sources of their precursor 4β-methyl sterols are
unknown. Here, we report a previously unknown C4-methyl sterol biosynthetic
pathway involving a sterol methyltransferase rather than the SMOs.
We show that both C4α- and C4β-methyl sterols are end
products of the sterol biosynthetic pathway in an endosymbiont of
reef corals, Breviolum minutum, while
this mechanism exists not only in dinoflagellates but also in eukaryotes
from alveolates, haptophytes, and aschelminthes. Our discovery provides
a previously untapped route for the generation of C4-methyl steranes
and overturns the paradigm that all 4β-methyl steranes are diagenetically
generated from the 4α isomers. This may facilitate the interpretation
of molecular fossils and understanding of the evolution of eukaryotic
life in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Aoqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Lin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Qinhua Gan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Liang Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Geology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Roger E Summons
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - John K Volkman
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Yandu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
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25
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Dutta A, Sarkar P, Shrivastava S, Chattopadhyay A. Effect of Hypoxia on the Function of the Human Serotonin 1A Receptor. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:1456-1466. [PMID: 35467841 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular hypoxia causes numerous pathophysiological conditions associated with the disruption of oxygen homeostasis. Under oxygen-deficient conditions, cells adapt by controlling the cellular functions to facilitate the judicious use of available oxygen, such as cessation of cell growth and proliferation. In higher eukaryotes, the process of cholesterol biosynthesis is intimately coupled to the availability of oxygen, where the synthesis of one molecule of cholesterol requires 11 molecules of O2. Cholesterol is an essential component of higher eukaryotic membranes and is crucial for the physiological functions of several membrane proteins and receptors. The serotonin1A receptor, an important neurotransmitter G protein-coupled receptor associated with cognition and memory, has previously been shown to depend on cholesterol for its signaling and function. In this work, in order to explore the interdependence of oxygen levels, cholesterol biosynthesis, and the function of the serotonin1A receptor, we developed a cellular hypoxia model to explore the function of the human serotonin1A receptor heterologously expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. We observed cell cycle arrest at G1/S phase and the accumulation of lanosterol in cell membranes under hypoxic conditions, thereby validating our cellular model. Interestingly, we observed a significant reduction in ligand binding and disruption of downstream cAMP signaling of the serotonin1A receptor under hypoxic conditions. To the best of our knowledge, our results represent the first report linking the function of the serotonin1A receptor with hypoxia. From a broader perspective, these results contribute to our overall understanding of the molecular basis underlying neurological conditions often associated with hypoxia-induced brain dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aritri Dutta
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, India
| | - Parijat Sarkar
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, India
| | - Sandeep Shrivastava
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, India
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26
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Houston DR, Hanna JG, Lathe JC, Hillier SG, Lathe R. Evidence that nuclear receptors are related to terpene synthases. J Mol Endocrinol 2022; 68:153-166. [PMID: 35112668 PMCID: PMC8942334 DOI: 10.1530/jme-21-0156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Ligand-activated nuclear receptors (NRs) orchestrate development, growth, and reproduction across all animal lifeforms - the Metazoa - but how NRs evolved remains mysterious. Given the NR ligands including steroids and retinoids are predominantly terpenoids, we asked whether NRs might have evolved from enzymes that catalyze terpene synthesis and metabolism. We provide evidence suggesting that NRs may be related to the terpene synthase (TS) enzyme superfamily. Based on over 10,000 3D structural comparisons, we report that the NR ligand-binding domain and TS enzymes share a conserved core of seven α-helical segments. In addition, the 3D locations of the major ligand-contacting residues are also conserved between the two protein classes. Primary sequence comparisons reveal suggestive similarities specifically between NRs and the subfamily of cis-isoprene transferases, notably with dehydrodolichyl pyrophosphate synthase and its obligate partner, NUS1/NOGOB receptor. Pharmacological overlaps between NRs and TS enzymes add weight to the contention that they share a distant evolutionary origin, and the combined data raise the possibility that a ligand-gated receptor may have arisen from an enzyme antecedent. However, our findings do not formally exclude other interpretations such as convergent evolution, and further analysis will be necessary to confirm the inferred relationship between the two protein classes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas R Houston
- Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jane G Hanna
- Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Stephen G Hillier
- Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Correspondence should be addressed to S G Hillier or R Lathe: or
| | - Richard Lathe
- Division of Infection Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Correspondence should be addressed to S G Hillier or R Lathe: or
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27
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Simvastatin Resistance of Leishmania amazonensis Induces Sterol Remodeling and Cross-Resistance to Sterol Pathway and Serine Protease Inhibitors. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10020398. [PMID: 35208853 PMCID: PMC8877030 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020398] [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: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The sterol biosynthesis pathway of Leishmania spp. is used as a pharmacological target; however, available information about the mechanisms of the regulation and remodeling of sterol-related genes is scarce. The present study investigated compensatory mechanisms of the sterol biosynthesis pathway using an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase (simvastatin) and by developing drug-resistant parasites to evaluate the impact on sterol remodeling, cross-resistance, and gene expression. Simvastatin-resistant L. amazonensis parasites (LaSimR) underwent reprogramming of sterol metabolism manifested as an increase in cholestane- and stigmastane-based sterols and a decrease in ergostane-based sterols. The levels of the transcripts of sterol 24-C-methyltransferase (SMT), sterol C14-α-demethylase (C14DM), and protease subtilisin (SUB) were increased in LaSimR. LaSimR was cross-resistance to ketoconazole (a C14DM inhibitor) and remained sensitive to terbinafine (an inhibitor of squalene monooxygenase). Sensitivity of the LaSimR mutant to other antileishmanial drugs unrelated to the sterol biosynthesis pathway, such as trivalent antimony and pentamidine, was similar to that of the wild-type strain; however, LaSimR was cross-resistant to miltefosine, general serine protease inhibitor N-p-tosyl-l-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), subtilisin-specific inhibitor 4-[(diethylamino)methyl]-N-[2-(2-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-N-(3R)-3-pyrrolidinyl-benzamide dihydrochloride (PF-429242), and tunicamycin. The findings on the regulation of the sterol pathway can support the development of drugs and protease inhibitors targeting this route in parasites.
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28
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Hu Z, Wang C, Pan L, Han S, Jin M, Xiang Y, Zheng L, Li Z, Cao R, Qin B. Identification and a phased pH control strategy of diosgenin bio-synthesized by an endogenous Bacillus licheniformis Syt1 derived from Dioscorea zingiberensis C. H. Wright. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:9333-9342. [PMID: 34841464 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11679-z] [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: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Diosgenin is widely used as one precursor of steroidal drugs in pharmaceutical industry. Currently, there is no choice but to traditionally extract diosgenin from Dioscorea zingiberensis C. H. Wright (DZW) or other plants. In this work, an environmentally friendly approach, in which diosgenin can be bio-synthesized by the endophytic bacterium Bacillus licheniformis Syt1 isolated from DZW, is proposed. Diosgenin produced by the strain was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the melting point of the diosgenin product was 204 °C. The optical rotation measurement exhibited that the optical rotation was α20589 = - 126.1° ± 1.5° (chloroform, c = 1%): negative sign means that the product is left-handed, which is very important to further produce steroid hormone drugs. Cholesterol may be the intermediate product in the diosgenin biosynthesis pathway. In the batch fermentation process to produce diosgenin using the strain, pH values played an important role. A phased pH control strategy from 5.5 to 7.5 was proved to be more effective to improve production yield than any single pH control, which could get the highest diosgenin yield of 85 ± 8.6 mg L-1. The proposed method may replace phyto-chemistry extraction to produce diosgenin in the industry in the future.Key points• An endophytic Bacillus licheniformis Syt1 derived from host can produce diosgenin.• A dynamic pH industrial control strategy is better than any single pH control.• Proposed diosgenin-produced method hopefully replaces phyto-chemistry extraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongqiu Hu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunli Wang
- YangLing Demonstration Zone Hospital, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Lintao Pan
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiyao Han
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Miao Jin
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongsheng Xiang
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Lifei Zheng
- College of Science, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhonghong Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Rang Cao
- College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, People's Republic of China
| | - Baofu Qin
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, People's Republic of China.
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29
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Bouwknegt J, Wiersma SJ, Ortiz-Merino RA, Doornenbal ESR, Buitenhuis P, Giera M, Müller C, Pronk JT. A squalene-hopene cyclase in Schizosaccharomyces japonicus represents a eukaryotic adaptation to sterol-limited anaerobic environments. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2105225118. [PMID: 34353908 PMCID: PMC8364164 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2105225118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Biosynthesis of sterols, which are key constituents of canonical eukaryotic membranes, requires molecular oxygen. Anaerobic protists and deep-branching anaerobic fungi are the only eukaryotes in which a mechanism for sterol-independent growth has been elucidated. In these organisms, tetrahymanol, formed through oxygen-independent cyclization of squalene by a squalene-tetrahymanol cyclase, acts as a sterol surrogate. This study confirms an early report [C. J. E. A. Bulder, Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 37, 353-358 (1971)] that Schizosaccharomyces japonicus is exceptional among yeasts in growing anaerobically on synthetic media lacking sterols and unsaturated fatty acids. Mass spectrometry of lipid fractions of anaerobically grown Sch. japonicus showed the presence of hopanoids, a class of cyclic triterpenoids not previously detected in yeasts, including hop-22(29)-ene, hop-17(21)-ene, hop-21(22)-ene, and hopan-22-ol. A putative gene in Sch. japonicus showed high similarity to bacterial squalene-hopene cyclase (SHC) genes and in particular to those of Acetobacter species. No orthologs of the putative Sch. japonicus SHC were found in other yeast species. Expression of the Sch. japonicus SHC gene (Sjshc1) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae enabled hopanoid synthesis and stimulated anaerobic growth in sterol-free media, thus indicating that one or more of the hopanoids produced by SjShc1 could at least partially replace sterols. Use of hopanoids as sterol surrogates represents a previously unknown adaptation of eukaryotic cells to anaerobic growth. The fast anaerobic growth of Sch. japonicus in sterol-free media is an interesting trait for developing robust fungal cell factories for application in anaerobic industrial processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonna Bouwknegt
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne J Wiersma
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Raúl A Ortiz-Merino
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Eline S R Doornenbal
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Petrik Buitenhuis
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Giera
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Christoph Müller
- Department of Pharmacy, Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximillians University Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Jack T Pronk
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands;
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30
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Harada M, Akiyama A, Furukawa R, Yokobori SI, Tajika E, Yamagishi A. Evolution of Superoxide Dismutases and Catalases in Cyanobacteria: Occurrence of the Antioxidant Enzyme Genes before the Rise of Atmospheric Oxygen. J Mol Evol 2021; 89:527-543. [PMID: 34274981 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-021-10021-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Knowledge on the evolution of antioxidant systems in cyanobacteria is crucial for elucidating the cause and consequence of the rise of atmospheric oxygen in the Earth's history. In this study, to elucidate the origin and evolution of cyanobacterial antioxidant enzymes, we analyzed the occurrence of genes encoding four types of superoxide dismutases and three types of catalases in 85 complete cyanobacterial genomes, followed by phylogenetic analyses. We found that Fe superoxide dismutase (FeSOD), Mn superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and Mn catalase (MnCat) are widely distributed among modern cyanobacteria, whereas CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), bifunctional catalase (KatG), and monofunctional catalase (KatE) are less common. Ni superoxide dismutase (NiSOD) is distributed among marine Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus species. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that bacterial MnSOD evolved from cambialistic Fe/MnSOD before the diversification of major bacterial lineages. The analyses suggested that FeSOD evolved from MnSOD before the origin of cyanobacteria. MnCat also evolved in the early stages of bacterial evolution, predating the emergence of cyanobacteria. KatG, KatE, and NiSOD appeared 2.3-2.5 billion years ago. Thus, almost all cyanobacterial antioxidant enzymes emerged before or during the rise of atmospheric oxygen. The loss and appearance of these enzymes in marine cyanobacteria may be also related to the change in the metal concentration induced by the increased oxygen concentration in the ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Harada
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8572, Japan.
| | - Ayumi Akiyama
- Department of Earth & Planetary Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, 133-0033, Japan
| | - Ryutaro Furukawa
- Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, 359-1192, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichi Yokobori
- Department of Applied Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, 192-0392, Japan
| | - Eiichi Tajika
- Department of Earth & Planetary Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, 133-0033, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yamagishi
- Department of Applied Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Hachioji, 192-0392, Japan
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31
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Abstract
Steroids are one of three major lipid components of the eukaryotic cellular membrane, along with glycerophospolipids and sphingolipids. Steroids have critical roles in eukaryotic endocytosis and thus may have been structural prerequisites for the endocytic acquisition of mitochondria during eukaryogenesis. The evolutionary history of the eukaryotic cellular membrane is poorly understood and, as such, has limited our understanding of eukaryogenesis. We address the evolution of steroid biosynthesis by combining ancestral sequence reconstruction and phylogenetic analyses of steroid biosynthesis genes. Our results indicate that steroid biosynthesis evolved within bacteria in response to the rise of oxygen and was later horizontally transferred to eukaryotes. Membrane properties of early eukaryotes are inferred to have been different than that of modern eukaryotes. Steroids are components of the eukaryotic cellular membrane and have indispensable roles in the process of eukaryotic endocytosis by regulating membrane fluidity and permeability. In particular, steroids may have been a structural prerequisite for the acquisition of mitochondria via endocytosis during eukaryogenesis. While eukaryotes are inferred to have evolved from an archaeal lineage, there is little similarity between the eukaryotic and archaeal cellular membranes. As such, the evolution of eukaryotic cellular membranes has limited our understanding of eukaryogenesis. Despite evolving from archaea, the eukaryotic cellular membrane is essentially a fatty acid bacterial-type membrane, which implies a substantial bacterial contribution to the evolution of the eukaryotic cellular membrane. Here, we address the evolution of steroid biosynthesis in eukaryotes by combining ancestral sequence reconstruction and comprehensive phylogenetic analyses of steroid biosynthesis genes. Contrary to the traditional assumption that eukaryotic steroid biosynthesis evolved within eukaryotes, most steroid biosynthesis genes are inferred to be derived from bacteria. In particular, aerobic deltaproteobacteria (myxobacteria) seem to have mediated the transfer of key genes for steroid biosynthesis to eukaryotes. Analyses of resurrected steroid biosynthesis enzymes suggest that the steroid biosynthesis pathway in early eukaryotes may have been similar to the pathway seen in modern plants and algae. These resurrected proteins also experimentally demonstrate that molecular oxygen was required to establish the modern eukaryotic cellular membrane during eukaryogenesis. Our study provides unique insight into relationships between early eukaryotes and other bacteria in addition to the well-known endosymbiosis with alphaproteobacteria.
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32
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Identification of Oxygen-Independent Pathways for Pyridine Nucleotide and Coenzyme A Synthesis in Anaerobic Fungi by Expression of Candidate Genes in Yeast. mBio 2021; 12:e0096721. [PMID: 34154398 PMCID: PMC8262920 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00967-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Neocallimastigomycetes are unique examples of strictly anaerobic eukaryotes. This study investigates how these anaerobic fungi bypass reactions involved in synthesis of pyridine nucleotide cofactors and coenzyme A that, in canonical fungal pathways, require molecular oxygen. Analysis of Neocallimastigomycetes proteomes identified a candidate l-aspartate-decarboxylase (AdcA) and l-aspartate oxidase (NadB) and quinolinate synthase (NadA), constituting putative oxygen-independent bypasses for coenzyme A synthesis and pyridine nucleotide cofactor synthesis. The corresponding gene sequences indicated acquisition by ancient horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events involving bacterial donors. To test whether these enzymes suffice to bypass corresponding oxygen-requiring reactions, they were introduced into fms1Δ and bna2Δ Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. Expression of nadA and nadB from Piromyces finnis and adcA from Neocallimastix californiae conferred cofactor prototrophy under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. This study simulates how HGT can drive eukaryotic adaptation to anaerobiosis and provides a basis for elimination of auxotrophic requirements in anaerobic industrial applications of yeasts and fungi. IMPORTANCE NAD (NAD+) and coenzyme A (CoA) are central metabolic cofactors whose canonical biosynthesis pathways in fungi require oxygen. Anaerobic gut fungi of the Neocallimastigomycota phylum are unique eukaryotic organisms that adapted to anoxic environments. Analysis of Neocallimastigomycota genomes revealed that these fungi might have developed oxygen-independent biosynthetic pathways for NAD+ and CoA biosynthesis, likely acquired through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from prokaryotic donors. We confirmed functionality of these putative pathways under anaerobic conditions by heterologous expression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This approach, combined with sequence comparison, offers experimental insight on whether HGT events were required and/or sufficient for acquiring new traits. Moreover, our results demonstrate an engineering strategy for enabling S. cerevisiae to grow anaerobically in the absence of the precursor molecules pantothenate and nicotinate, thereby contributing to alleviate oxygen requirements and to move closer to prototrophic anaerobic growth of this industrially relevant yeast.
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Mooiman C, Bouwknegt J, Dekker WJC, Wiersma SJ, Ortiz-Merino RA, de Hulster E, Pronk JT. Critical parameters and procedures for anaerobic cultivation of yeasts in bioreactors and anaerobic chambers. FEMS Yeast Res 2021; 21:foab035. [PMID: 34100921 PMCID: PMC8216787 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foab035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
All known facultatively fermentative yeasts require molecular oxygen for growth. Only in a small number of yeast species, these requirements can be circumvented by supplementation of known anaerobic growth factors such as nicotinate, sterols and unsaturated fatty acids. Biosynthetic oxygen requirements of yeasts are typically small and, unless extensive precautions are taken to minimize inadvertent entry of trace amounts of oxygen, easily go unnoticed in small-scale laboratory cultivation systems. This paper discusses critical points in the design of anaerobic yeast cultivation experiments in anaerobic chambers and laboratory bioreactors. Serial transfer or continuous cultivation to dilute growth factors present in anaerobically pre-grown inocula, systematic inclusion of control strains and minimizing the impact of oxygen diffusion through tubing are identified as key elements in experimental design. Basic protocols are presented for anaerobic-chamber and bioreactor experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiaan Mooiman
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Jonna Bouwknegt
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Wijb J C Dekker
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne J Wiersma
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Raúl A Ortiz-Merino
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Erik de Hulster
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Jack T Pronk
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
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34
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Darnet S, Blary A, Chevalier Q, Schaller H. Phytosterol Profiles, Genomes and Enzymes - An Overview. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:665206. [PMID: 34093623 PMCID: PMC8172173 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.665206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The remarkable diversity of sterol biosynthetic capacities described in living organisms is enriched at a fast pace by a growing number of sequenced genomes. Whereas analytical chemistry has produced a wealth of sterol profiles of species in diverse taxonomic groups including seed and non-seed plants, algae, phytoplanktonic species and other unicellular eukaryotes, functional assays and validation of candidate genes unveils new enzymes and new pathways besides canonical biosynthetic schemes. An overview of the current landscape of sterol pathways in the tree of life is tentatively assembled in a series of sterolotypes that encompass major groups and provides also peculiar features of sterol profiles in bacteria, fungi, plants, and algae.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hubert Schaller
- Plant Isoprenoid Biology Team, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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35
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de Lima TM, Nery LEM, Maciel FE, Ngo-Vu H, Kozma MT, Derby CD. Oxygen sensing in crustaceans: functions and mechanisms. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2021; 207:1-15. [PMID: 33392718 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-020-01457-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Animals that live in changing environments need to adjust their metabolism to maintain body functions, and sensing these changing conditions is essential for mediating the short- and long-term physiological and behavioral responses that make these adjustments. Previous research on nematodes and insects facing changing oxygen levels has shown that these animals rapidly respond using atypical soluble guanylyl cyclases (sGCs) as oxygen sensors connected to downstream cGMP pathways, and they respond more slowly using hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs) that are further modulated by oxygen-sensing prolyl hydroxylases (PHs). Crustaceans are known to respond in different ways to hypoxia, but the mechanisms responsible for sensing oxygen levels are more poorly understood than in nematodes and insects. Our paper reviews the functions of and mechanisms underlying oxygen sensing in crustaceans. Furthermore, using the oxygen sensing abilities of nematodes and insects as guides in analyzing available crustacean transcriptomes, we identified orthologues of atypical sGCs, HIFs, and PHs in crustaceans, including in their chemosensory organs and neurons. These molecules include atypical sGCs activated by hypoxia (Gyc-88E/GCY-31 and Gyc-89D/GCY-33) but not those activated by hyperoxia (GCY-35, GCY-36), as well as orthologues of HIF-α, HIF-β, and PH. We offer possible directions for future research on oxygen sensing by crustaceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tábata Martins de Lima
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, FURG, Av. Itália, Km 8, Rio Grande, RS, 96201-300, Brazil.
| | - Luiz Eduardo Maia Nery
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, FURG, Av. Itália, Km 8, Rio Grande, RS, 96201-300, Brazil
| | - Fábio Everton Maciel
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, FURG, Av. Itália, Km 8, Rio Grande, RS, 96201-300, Brazil
| | - Hanh Ngo-Vu
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Mihika T Kozma
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO, USA
| | - Charles D Derby
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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36
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Four new polyhydroxylated steroids from the South Sea sponge Plakortis sp. Chin J Nat Med 2020; 18:844-849. [PMID: 33308606 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(20)60026-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Four new polyhydroxylated steroids plaksterols A-D (1-4), together with two known related steroids ergost-7,9(11),22-trien-3β,5α,6α-triol (5) and ergosta-6β-methoxy-7,22-diene-3β,5α-diol (6), were isolated from methanol extract of the South China Sea marine sponge Plakortis sp. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis, including NMR, MS, and IR. The cytotoxicity of the polyhydroxylated steroids were evaluated, and compound 6 showed moderate inhibitory activities against K562, HL-60 and BEL-7402 cells.
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37
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Liu Q, Adler K, Lipus D, Kämpf H, Bussert R, Plessen B, Schulz HM, Krauze P, Horn F, Wagner D, Mangelsdorf K, Alawi M. Microbial Signatures in Deep CO 2-Saturated Miocene Sediments of the Active Hartoušov Mofette System (NW Czech Republic). Front Microbiol 2020; 11:543260. [PMID: 33381087 PMCID: PMC7768021 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.543260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The Hartoušov mofette system is a natural CO2 degassing site in the central Cheb Basin (Eger Rift, Central Europe). In early 2016 a 108 m deep core was obtained from this system to investigate the impact of ascending mantle-derived CO2 on indigenous deep microbial communities and their surrounding life habitat. During drilling, a CO2 blow out occurred at a depth of 78.5 meter below surface (mbs) suggesting a CO2 reservoir associated with a deep low-permeable CO2-saturated saline aquifer at the transition from Early Miocene terrestrial to lacustrine sediments. Past microbial communities were investigated by hopanoids and glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) reflecting the environmental conditions during the time of deposition rather than showing a signal of the current deep biosphere. The composition and distribution of the deep microbial community potentially stimulated by the upward migration of CO2 starting during Mid Pleistocene time was investigated by intact polar lipids (IPLs), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis. The deep biosphere is characterized by microorganisms that are linked to the distribution and migration of the ascending CO2-saturated groundwater and the availability of organic matter instead of being linked to single lithological units of the investigated rock profile. Our findings revealed high relative abundances of common soil and water bacteria, in particular the facultative, anaerobic and potential iron-oxidizing Acidovorax and other members of the family Comamonadaceae across the whole recovered core. The results also highlighted the frequent detection of the putative sulfate-oxidizing and CO2-fixating genus Sulfuricurvum at certain depths. A set of new IPLs are suggested to be indicative for microorganisms associated to CO2 accumulation in the mofette system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Liu
- Section Geomicrobiology, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany.,Institute of Geosciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Karsten Adler
- Institute of Geosciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.,Section Organic Geochemistry, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Daniel Lipus
- Section Geomicrobiology, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Horst Kämpf
- Section Organic Geochemistry, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Robert Bussert
- Section Applied Geochemistry, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Birgit Plessen
- Section Climate Dynamics and Landscape Evolution, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Hans-Martin Schulz
- Section Organic Geochemistry, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Patryk Krauze
- Section Geomicrobiology, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany.,Institute of Geosciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Fabian Horn
- Section Geomicrobiology, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Dirk Wagner
- Section Geomicrobiology, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany.,Institute of Geosciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Kai Mangelsdorf
- Section Organic Geochemistry, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Mashal Alawi
- Section Geomicrobiology, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
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38
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The Role of Structure and Biophysical Properties in the Pleiotropic Effects of Statins. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228745. [PMID: 33228116 PMCID: PMC7699354 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Statins are a class of drugs used to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and are amongst the most prescribed medications worldwide. Most statins work as a competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGR), but statin intolerance from pleiotropic effects have been proposed to arise from non-specific binding due to poor enzyme-ligand sensitivity. Yet, research into the physicochemical properties of statins, and their interactions with off-target sites, has not progressed much over the past few decades. Here, we present a concise perspective on the role of statins in lowering serum cholesterol levels, and how their reported interactions with phospholipid membranes offer a crucial insight into the mechanism of some of the more commonly observed pleiotropic effects of statin administration. Lipophilicity, which governs hepatoselectivity, is directly related to the molecular structure of statins, which dictates interaction with and transport through membranes. The structure of statins is therefore a clinically important consideration in the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia. This review integrates the recent biophysical studies of statins with the literature on the physiological effects and provides new insights into the mechanistic cause of statin pleiotropy, and prospective means of understanding the cholesterol-independent effects of statins.
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39
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Duda JP, Love GD, Rogov VI, Melnik DS, Blumenberg M, Grazhdankin DV. Understanding the geobiology of the terminal Ediacaran Khatyspyt Lagerstätte (Arctic Siberia, Russia). GEOBIOLOGY 2020; 18:643-662. [PMID: 32881267 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Khatyspyt Lagerstätte (~544 Ma, Russia) provides a valuable window into late Ediacaran Avalon-type ecosystems with rangeomorphs, arboreomorphs, and mega-algae. Here, we tackle the geobiology of this Lagerstätte by the combined analysis of paleontological features, sedimentary facies, and lipid biomarkers. The Khatyspyt Formation was deposited in carbonate ramp environments. Organic matter (0.12-2.22 wt.% TOC) displays characteristic Ediacaran biomarker features (e.g., eukaryotic steranes dominated by the C29 stigmastane). Some samples contain a putative 2-methylgammacerane that was likely sourced by ciliates and/or bacteria. 24-isopropylcholestane and 26-methylstigmastane are consistently scarce (≤0.4% and ≤0.2% of ∑C27-30 regular steranes, respectively). Thus, Avalon-type organisms occupied different niches than organisms capable of directly synthesizing C30 sterane precursors among their major lipids. Relative abundances of eukaryotic steranes and bacterial hopanes (sterane/hopane ratios = 0.07-0.30) demonstrate oligotrophic and bacterially dominated marine environments, similar to findings from other successions with Ediacara-type fossils. Ediacara-type fossils occur in facies characterized by microbial mats and biomarkers indicative for a stratified marine environment with normal-moderate salinities (moderate-high gammacerane index of 2.3-5.7; low C35 homohopane index of 0.1-0.2). Mega-algae, in contrast, are abundant in facies that almost entirely consist of allochthonous event layers. Biomarkers in these samples indicate a non-stratified marine environment and normal salinities (low gammacerane index of 0.6-0.8; low C35 homohopane index of 0.1). Vertical burrowers occur in similar facies but with biomarker evidence for stratification in the water column or around the seafloor (high gammacerane index of 5.6). Thus, the distribution of macro-organisms and burrowers was controlled by various, dynamically changing environmental factors. It appears likely that dynamic settings like the Khatyspyt Lagerstätte provided metabolic challenges for sustenance and growth which primed eukaryotic organisms to cope with changing environmental habitats, allowing for a later diversification and expansion of complex macroscopic life in the marine realm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Peter Duda
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
- Geobiology Group, Geoscience Centre, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gordon D Love
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Vladimir I Rogov
- Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics, Siberian Branch Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Dmitry S Melnik
- Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics, Siberian Branch Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Martin Blumenberg
- Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Hannover, Germany
| | - Dmitriy V Grazhdankin
- Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics, Siberian Branch Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
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40
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Liparulo I, Bergamini C, Bortolus M, Calonghi N, Gasparre G, Kurelac I, Masin L, Rizzardi N, Rugolo M, Wang W, Aleo SJ, Kiwan A, Torri C, Zanna C, Fato R. Coenzyme Q biosynthesis inhibition induces HIF-1α stabilization and metabolic switch toward glycolysis. FEBS J 2020; 288:1956-1974. [PMID: 32898935 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ, ubiquinone) is a redox-active lipid endogenously synthesized by the cells. The final stage of CoQ biosynthesis is performed at the mitochondrial level by the 'complex Q', where coq2 is responsible for the prenylation of the benzoquinone ring of the molecule. We report that the competitive coq2 inhibitor 4-nitrobenzoate (4-NB) decreased the cellular CoQ content and caused severe impairment of mitochondrial function in the T67 human glioma cell line. In parallel with the reduction in CoQ biosynthesis, the cholesterol level increased, leading to significant perturbation of the plasma membrane physicochemical properties. We show that 4-NB treatment did not significantly affect the cell viability, because of an adaptive metabolic rewiring toward glycolysis. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) stabilization was detected in 4-NB-treated cells, possibly due to the contribution of both reduction in intracellular oxygen tension and ROS overproduction. Exogenous CoQ supplementation partially recovered cholesterol content, HIF-1α degradation, and ROS production, whereas only weakly improved the bioenergetic impairment induced by the CoQ depletion. Our data provide new insights on the effect of CoQ depletion and contribute to shed light on the pathogenic mechanisms of ubiquinone deficiency syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Liparulo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology-FABIT, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Christian Bergamini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology-FABIT, University of Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Natalia Calonghi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology-FABIT, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gasparre
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences - DIMEC, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Ivana Kurelac
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences - DIMEC, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Masin
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology-FABIT, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Nicola Rizzardi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology-FABIT, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Michela Rugolo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology-FABIT, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Wenping Wang
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology-FABIT, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Serena J Aleo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology-FABIT, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Alisar Kiwan
- Department of Chemistry 'Giacomo Ciamician', University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Cristian Torri
- Department of Chemistry 'Giacomo Ciamician', University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudia Zanna
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology-FABIT, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Romana Fato
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology-FABIT, University of Bologna, Italy
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41
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Squalene-Tetrahymanol Cyclase Expression Enables Sterol-Independent Growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:AEM.00672-20. [PMID: 32561581 PMCID: PMC7440791 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00672-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The laboratory experiments described in this report simulate a proposed horizontal gene transfer event during the evolution of strictly anaerobic fungi. The demonstration that expression of a single heterologous gene sufficed to eliminate anaerobic sterol requirements in the model eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae therefore contributes to our understanding of how sterol-independent eukaryotes evolved in anoxic environments. This report provides a proof of principle for a metabolic engineering strategy to eliminate sterol requirements in yeast strains that are applied in large-scale anaerobic industrial processes. The sterol-independent yeast strains described in this report provide a valuable platform for further studies on the physiological roles and impacts of sterols and sterol surrogates in eukaryotic cells. Biosynthesis of sterols, which are considered essential components of virtually all eukaryotic membranes, requires molecular oxygen. Anaerobic growth of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae therefore strictly depends on sterol supplementation of synthetic growth media. Neocallimastigomycota are a group of strictly anaerobic fungi which, instead of containing sterols, contain the pentacyclic triterpenoid “sterol surrogate” tetrahymanol, which is formed by cyclization of squalene. Here, we demonstrate that expression of the squalene-tetrahymanol cyclase gene TtTHC1 from the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila enables synthesis of tetrahymanol by S. cerevisiae. Moreover, expression of TtTHC1 enabled exponential growth of anaerobic S. cerevisiae cultures in sterol-free synthetic media. After deletion of the ERG1 gene from a TtTHC1-expressing S. cerevisiae strain, native sterol synthesis was abolished and sustained sterol-free growth was demonstrated under anaerobic as well as aerobic conditions. Anaerobic cultures of TtTHC1-expressing S. cerevisiae on sterol-free medium showed lower specific growth rates and biomass yields than ergosterol-supplemented cultures, while their ethanol yield was higher. This study demonstrated that acquisition of a functional squalene-tetrahymanol cyclase gene offers an immediate growth advantage to S. cerevisiae under anaerobic, sterol-limited conditions and provides the basis for a metabolic engineering strategy to eliminate the oxygen requirements associated with sterol synthesis in yeasts. IMPORTANCE The laboratory experiments described in this report simulate a proposed horizontal gene transfer event during the evolution of strictly anaerobic fungi. The demonstration that expression of a single heterologous gene sufficed to eliminate anaerobic sterol requirements in the model eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae therefore contributes to our understanding of how sterol-independent eukaryotes evolved in anoxic environments. This report provides a proof of principle for a metabolic engineering strategy to eliminate sterol requirements in yeast strains that are applied in large-scale anaerobic industrial processes. The sterol-independent yeast strains described in this report provide a valuable platform for further studies on the physiological roles and impacts of sterols and sterol surrogates in eukaryotic cells.
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Chu XY, Zhang HY. Cofactors as Molecular Fossils To Trace the Origin and Evolution of Proteins. Chembiochem 2020; 21:3161-3168. [PMID: 32515532 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Due to their early origin and extreme conservation, cofactors are valuable molecular fossils for tracing the origin and evolution of proteins. First, as the order of protein folds binding with cofactors roughly coincides with protein-fold chronology, cofactors are considered to have facilitated the origin of primitive proteins by selecting them from pools of random amino acid sequences. Second, in the subsequent evolution of proteins, cofactors still played an important role. More interestingly, as metallic cofactors evolved with geochemical variations, some geochemical events left imprints in the chronology of protein architecture; this provides further evidence supporting the coevolution of biochemistry and geochemistry. In this paper, we attempt to review the molecular fossils used in tracing the origin and evolution of proteins, with a special focus on cofactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yi Chu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Hong-Yu Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
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Santana-Molina C, Rivas-Marin E, Rojas AM, Devos DP. Origin and Evolution of Polycyclic Triterpene Synthesis. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 37:1925-1941. [PMID: 32125435 PMCID: PMC7306690 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Polycyclic triterpenes are members of the terpene family produced by the cyclization of squalene. The most representative polycyclic triterpenes are hopanoids and sterols, the former are mostly found in bacteria, whereas the latter are largely limited to eukaryotes, albeit with a growing number of bacterial exceptions. Given their important role and omnipresence in most eukaryotes, contrasting with their scant representation in bacteria, sterol biosynthesis was long thought to be a eukaryotic innovation. Thus, their presence in some bacteria was deemed to be the result of lateral gene transfer from eukaryotes. Elucidating the origin and evolution of the polycyclic triterpene synthetic pathways is important to understand the role of these compounds in eukaryogenesis and their geobiological value as biomarkers in fossil records. Here, we have revisited the phylogenies of the main enzymes involved in triterpene synthesis, performing gene neighborhood analysis and phylogenetic profiling. Squalene can be biosynthesized by two different pathways containing the HpnCDE or Sqs proteins. Our results suggest that the HpnCDE enzymes are derived from carotenoid biosynthesis ones and that they assembled in an ancestral squalene pathway in bacteria, while remaining metabolically versatile. Conversely, the Sqs enzyme is prone to be involved in lateral gene transfer, and its emergence is possibly related to the specialization of squalene biosynthesis. The biosynthesis of hopanoids seems to be ancestral in the Bacteria domain. Moreover, no triterpene cyclases are found in Archaea, invoking a potential scenario in which eukaryotic genes for sterol biosynthesis assembled from ancestral bacterial contributions in early eukaryotic lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Santana-Molina
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD)-CSIC, Junta de Andalucía, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Elena Rivas-Marin
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD)-CSIC, Junta de Andalucía, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Ana M Rojas
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD)-CSIC, Junta de Andalucía, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Damien P Devos
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD)-CSIC, Junta de Andalucía, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
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Chua NK, Coates HW, Brown AJ. Squalene monooxygenase: a journey to the heart of cholesterol synthesis. Prog Lipid Res 2020; 79:101033. [DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2020.101033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Dekker WJC, Wiersma SJ, Bouwknegt J, Mooiman C, Pronk JT. Anaerobic growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CEN.PK113-7D does not depend on synthesis or supplementation of unsaturated fatty acids. FEMS Yeast Res 2020; 19:5551482. [PMID: 31425603 PMCID: PMC6750169 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foz060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, acyl-coenzyme A desaturation by Ole1 requires molecular oxygen. Tween 80, a poly-ethoxylated sorbitan-oleate ester, is therefore routinely included in anaerobic growth media as a source of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). During optimization of protocols for anaerobic bioreactor cultivation of this yeast, we consistently observed growth of the laboratory strain S. cerevisiae CEN.PK113-7D in media that contained the anaerobic growth factor ergosterol, but lacked UFAs. To minimize oxygen contamination, additional experiments were performed in an anaerobic chamber. After anaerobic precultivation without ergosterol and Tween 80, strain CEN.PK113-7D and a congenic ole1Δ strain both grew during three consecutive batch-cultivation cycles on medium that contained ergosterol, but not Tween 80. During these three cycles, no UFAs were detected in biomass of cultures grown without Tween 80, while contents of C10 to C14 saturated fatty acids were higher than in biomass from Tween 80-supplemented cultures. In contrast to its UFA-independent anaerobic growth, aerobic growth of the ole1Δ strain strictly depended on Tween 80 supplementation. This study shows that the requirement of anaerobic cultures of S. cerevisiae for UFA supplementation is not absolute and provides a basis for further research on the effects of lipid composition on yeast viability and robustness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wijb J C Dekker
- Delft University of Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne J Wiersma
- Delft University of Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Jonna Bouwknegt
- Delft University of Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Christiaan Mooiman
- Delft University of Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Jack T Pronk
- Delft University of Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
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Jaramillo-Madrid AC, Ashworth J, Fabris M, Ralph PJ. The unique sterol biosynthesis pathway of three model diatoms consists of a conserved core and diversified endpoints. ALGAL RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2020.101902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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A phylogenetically novel cyanobacterium most closely related to Gloeobacter. ISME JOURNAL 2020; 14:2142-2152. [PMID: 32424249 PMCID: PMC7368068 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-0668-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Clues to the evolutionary steps producing innovations in oxygenic photosynthesis may be preserved in the genomes of organisms phylogenetically placed between non-photosynthetic Vampirovibrionia (formerly Melainabacteria) and the thylakoid-containing Cyanobacteria. However, only two species with published genomes are known to occupy this phylogenetic space, both within the genus Gloeobacter. Here, we describe nearly complete, metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of an uncultured organism phylogenetically placed near Gloeobacter, for which we propose the name Candidatus Aurora vandensis {Au’ro.ra. L. fem. n. aurora, the goddess of the dawn in Roman mythology; van.de’nsis. N.L. fem. adj. vandensis of Lake Vanda, Antarctica}. The MAG of A. vandensis contains homologs of most genes necessary for oxygenic photosynthesis including key reaction center proteins. Many accessory subunits associated with the photosystems in other species either are missing from the MAG or are poorly conserved. The MAG also lacks homologs of genes associated with the pigments phycocyanoerethrin, phycoeretherin and several structural parts of the phycobilisome. Additional characterization of this organism is expected to inform models of the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis.
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Zumberge JA, Rocher D, Love GD. Free and kerogen-bound biomarkers from late Tonian sedimentary rocks record abundant eukaryotes in mid-Neoproterozoic marine communities. GEOBIOLOGY 2020; 18:326-347. [PMID: 31865640 PMCID: PMC7233469 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Lipid biomarker assemblages preserved within the bitumen and kerogen phases of sedimentary rocks from the ca. 780-729 Ma Chuar and Visingsö Groups facilitate paleoenvironmental reconstructions and reveal fundamental aspects of emerging mid-Neoproterozoic marine communities. The Chuar and Visingsö Groups were deposited offshore of two distinct paleocontinents (Laurentia and Baltica, respectively) during the Tonian Period, and the rock samples used had not undergone excessive metamorphism. The major polycyclic alkane biomarkers detected in the rock bitumens and kerogen hydropyrolysates consist of tricyclic terpanes, hopanes, methylhopanes, and steranes. Major features of the biomarker assemblages include detectable and significant contribution from eukaryotes, encompassing the first robust occurrences of kerogen-bound regular steranes from Tonian rocks, including 21-norcholestane, 27-norcholestane, cholestane, ergostane, and cryostane, along with a novel unidentified C30 sterane series from our least thermally mature Chuar Group samples. Appreciable values for the sterane/hopane (S/H) ratio are found for both the free and kerogen-bound biomarker pools for both the Chuar Group rocks (S/H between 0.09 and 1.26) and the Visingsö Group samples (S/H between 0.03 and 0.37). The more organic-rich rock samples generally yield higher S/H ratios than for organic-lean substrates, which suggests a marine nutrient control on eukaryotic abundance relative to bacteria. A C27 sterane (cholestane) predominance among total C26 -C30 steranes is a common feature found for all samples investigated, with lower amounts of C28 steranes (ergostane and crysotane) also present. No traces of known ancient C30 sterane compounds; including 24-isopropylcholestanes, 24-n-propylcholestanes, or 26-methylstigmastanes, are detectable in any of these pre-Sturtian rocks. These biomarker characteristics support the view that the Tonian Period was a key interval in the history of life on our planet since it marked the transition from a bacterially dominated marine biosphere to an ocean system which became progressively enriched with eukaryotes. The eukaryotic source organisms likely encompassed photosynthetic primary producers, marking a rise in red algae, and consumers in a revamped trophic structure predating the Sturtian glaciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Alex Zumberge
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | | | - Gordon D. Love
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
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Li B, Kuang Y, He JB, Tang R, Xu LL, Leung CH, Ma DL, Qiao X, Ye M. Antcamphorols A-K, Cytotoxic and ROS Scavenging Triterpenoids from Antrodia camphorata. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2020; 83:45-54. [PMID: 31891260 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Antrodia camphorata is a rare and valuable medicinal mushroom. In this work, 11 new triterpenoids, namely, antcamphorols A-K (1-11), together with 10 known triterpenoids, 12-21, were isolated from dish-cultured A. camphorata. Compound 1 is an unprecedented C31 lanostane-type triterpenoid featuring a methyl group at C-15 and a C-21-O-C-24 tetrahydropyran ring at C-17. Compounds 2-11 are ergostane-type triterpenoids, and they include two pairs of norergostanes 2-5. The structures of the new compounds were identified by NMR, 2D NMR, and HRESIMS data analyses. The absolute configurations of 1 and 6 were defined by X-ray diffraction data, and the absolute configuration at C-25 of 4 was determined by the modified Mosher's method. Compounds 7, 9, 10, 16, and 19 showed significant ROS scavenging activities (63.9-70.5% at 20 μM) in high-glucose-induced HUVECs. Compounds 3 and 8 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against U251 (IC50, 9.2 μM) and MCF-7 (IC50, 8.1 μM) human cancer cell lines, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs & Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road , Beijing 100191 , People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Kuang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs & Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road , Beijing 100191 , People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Bin He
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs & Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road , Beijing 100191 , People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs & Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road , Beijing 100191 , People's Republic of China
| | - Lu-Lu Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs & Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road , Beijing 100191 , People's Republic of China
| | - Chung-Hang Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences , University of Macau , Macau , People's Republic of China
| | - Dik-Lung Ma
- Department of Chemistry , Hong Kong Baptist University , Kowloon Tong SWT 802 , Hong Kong , People's Republic of China
| | - Xue Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs & Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road , Beijing 100191 , People's Republic of China
| | - Min Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs & Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Peking University , 38 Xueyuan Road , Beijing 100191 , People's Republic of China
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Wang L, Wang Y, Chen A, Teli M, Kondo R, Jalali A, Fan Y, Liu S, Zhao X, Siegel A, Minami K, Agarwal M, Li BY, Yokota H. Pitavastatin slows tumor progression and alters urine-derived volatile organic compounds through the mevalonate pathway. FASEB J 2019; 33:13710-13721. [PMID: 31585508 PMCID: PMC6894072 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901388r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Bone is a frequent site of metastasis from breast cancer, and a desirable drug could suppress tumor growth as well as metastasis-linked bone loss. Currently, no drug is able to cure breast cancer-associated bone metastasis. In this study, we focused on statins that are known to inhibit cholesterol production and act as antitumor agents. After an initial potency screening of 7 U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved statins, we examined pitavastatin as a drug candidate for inhibiting tumor and tumor-induced bone loss. In vitro analysis revealed that pitavastatin acted as an inhibitor of tumor progression by altering stress to the endoplasmic reticulum, down-regulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, and reducing Snail and matrix metalloproteinase 9. In bone homeostasis, it blocked osteoclast development by suppressing transcription factors c-Fos and JunB, but stimulated osteoblast mineralization by regulating bone morphogenetic protein 2 and p53. In a mouse model, pitavastatin presented a dual role in tumor inhibition in the mammary fat pad, as well as in bone protection in the osteolytic tibia. In mass spectrometry-based analysis, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that were linked to lipid metabolism and cholesterol synthesis were elevated in mice from the tumor-grown placebo group. Notably, pitavastatin-treated mice reduced specific VOCs that are linked to lipid metabolites in the mevalonate pathway. Collectively, the results lay a foundation for further investigation of pitavastatin's therapeutic efficacy in tumor-induced bone loss, as well as VOC-based diagnosis of tumor progression and treatment efficacy.-Wang, L., Wang, Y., Chen, A., Teli, M., Kondo, R., Jalali, A., Fan, Y., Liu, S., Zhao, X., Siegel, A., Minami, K., Agarwal, M., Li, B.-Y., Yokota, H. Pitavastatin slows tumor progression and alters urine-derived volatile organic compounds through the mevalonate pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luqi Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Andy Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Meghana Teli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Rika Kondo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Aydin Jalali
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Yao Fan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Shengzhi Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Xinyu Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Amanda Siegel
- Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Mangilal Agarwal
- Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Bai-Yan Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Hiroki Yokota
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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