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Jin C, Kang SM, Kim DH, Lee Y, Lee BJ. Discovery of Antimicrobial Agents Based on Structural and Functional Study of the Klebsiella pneumoniae MazEF Toxin-Antitoxin System. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:398. [PMID: 38786127 PMCID: PMC11117207 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13050398] [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: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae causes severe human diseases, but its resistance to current antibiotics is increasing. Therefore, new antibiotics to eradicate K. pneumoniae are urgently needed. Bacterial toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are strongly correlated with physiological processes in pathogenic bacteria, such as growth arrest, survival, and apoptosis. By using structural information, we could design the peptides and small-molecule compounds that can disrupt the binding between K. pneumoniae MazE and MazF, which release free MazF toxin. Because the MazEF system is closely implicated in programmed cell death, artificial activation of MazF can promote cell death of K. pneumoniae. The effectiveness of a discovered small-molecule compound in bacterial cell killing was confirmed through flow cytometry analysis. Our findings can contribute to understanding the bacterial MazEF TA system and developing antimicrobial agents for treating drug-resistant K. pneumoniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglong Jin
- The Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea;
- Mastermeditech Ltd., Gangseo-gu, Seoul 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Min Kang
- College of Pharmacy, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul 01369, Republic of Korea;
| | - Do-Hee Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea;
| | - Yuno Lee
- Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Korea Chemical Bank Daejeon, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea;
| | - Bong-Jin Lee
- Mastermeditech Ltd., Gangseo-gu, Seoul 16499, Republic of Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Ajou University, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
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Okabe T, Aoi R, Yokota A, Tamiya-Ishitsuka H, Jiang Y, Sasaki A, Tsuneda S, Noda N. Arg-73 of the RNA endonuclease MazF in Salmonella enterica subsp. arizonae contributes to guanine and uracil recognition in the cleavage sequence. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105636. [PMID: 38199572 PMCID: PMC10864209 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The sequence-specific endoribonuclease MazF is widely conserved among prokaryotes. Approximately 20 different MazF cleavage sequences have been discovered, varying from three to seven nucleotides in length. Although MazFs from various prokaryotes were found, the cleavage sequences of most MazFs are unknown. Here, we characterized the conserved MazF of Salmonella enterica subsp. arizonae (MazF-SEA). Using massive parallel sequencing and fluorometric assays, we revealed that MazF-SEA preferentially cleaves the sequences U∧ACG and U∧ACU (∧ represents cleavage sites). In addition, we predicted the 3D structure of MazF-SEA using AlphaFold2 and aligned it with the crystal structure of RNA-bound Bacillus subtilis MazF to evaluate RNA interactions. We found Arg-73 of MazF-SEA interacts with RNAs containing G and U at the third position from the cleavage sites (U∧ACG and U∧ACU). We then obtained the mutated MazF-SEA R73L protein to evaluate the significance of Arg-73 interaction with RNAs containing G and U at this position. We also used fluorometric and kinetic assays and showed the enzymatic activity of MazF-SEA R73L for the sequence UACG and UACU was significantly decreased. These results suggest Arg-73 is essential for recognizing G and U at the third position from the cleavage sites. This is the first study to our knowledge to identify a single residue responsible for RNA recognition by MazF. Owing to its high specificity and ribosome-independence, MazF is useful for RNA cleavage in vitro. These results will likely contribute to increasing the diversity of MazF specificity and to furthering the application of MazF in RNA engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuma Okabe
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan; Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Rie Aoi
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan; Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Akiko Yokota
- Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Hiroko Tamiya-Ishitsuka
- Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yunong Jiang
- Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Ibaraki, Japan; Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Akira Sasaki
- Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Satoshi Tsuneda
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Naohiro Noda
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan; Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Ibaraki, Japan; School of Integrative and Global Majors, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
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Bacteriophages benefit from mobilizing pathogenicity islands encoding immune systems against competitors. Cell 2022; 185:3248-3262.e20. [PMID: 35985290 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria encode sophisticated anti-phage systems that are diverse and versatile and display high genetic mobility. How this variability and mobility occurs remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that a widespread family of pathogenicity islands, the phage-inducible chromosomal islands (PICIs), carry an impressive arsenal of defense mechanisms, which can be disseminated intra- and inter-generically by helper phages. These defense systems provide broad immunity, blocking not only phage reproduction, but also plasmid and non-cognate PICI transfer. Our results demonstrate that phages can mobilize PICI-encoded immunity systems to use them against other mobile genetic elements, which compete with the phages for the same bacterial hosts. Therefore, despite the cost, mobilization of PICIs may be beneficial for phages, PICIs, and bacteria in nature. Our results suggest that PICIs are important players controlling horizontal gene transfer and that PICIs and phages establish mutualistic interactions that drive bacterial ecology and evolution.
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Cao G, Deng Y, Chen X, Huo D, Li J, Yang M, Hou C. The fluorescent biosensor for detecting N 6 methyladenine FzD5 mRNA and MazF activity. Anal Chim Acta 2021; 1188:339185. [PMID: 34794576 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2021.339185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
N6 methyladenine (m6A) modification of the FzD5 mRNA, an important post-transcriptional regulation in eukaryotes, is closely related to the occurrence and development of breast cancer. Here, we developed an ultra-sensitive biosensor based on MazF combining with cascaded strand displacement amplification (C-SDA) and CRISPR/Cas12a to detect m6A FzD5 mRNA. MazF toxin protein is a vital component of the bacterial mazEF toxin-antitoxin system that is sensitive to m6A RNA. Take advantage of it, the biosensor achieved antibody-independent and gene-specific detection for m6A RNA. Moreover, compared with traditional amplification methods, the more efficient C-SDA and the CRISPR/Cas12a system with trans-cleavage activity gave the fluorescent biosensor an excellent sensitivity with the detection limit of 0.64 fM. In addition, MazF, as a new antibacterial target, was detected by the biosensor based on C-SDA and CRISPR/Cas12a with the detection limit of 1.127 × 10-4 U mL-1. More importantly, the biosensor has good performance in complex samples. Therefore, the biosensor is a potential tool in detecting m6A FzD5 mRNA and MazF activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaihua Cao
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, PR China
| | - Yuanyi Deng
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, PR China
| | - Xiaolong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, PR China
| | - Danqun Huo
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Bio-perception & Intelligent Information Processing, School of Microelectronics and Communication Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, PR China
| | - Jiawei Li
- Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing, 404000, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Bio-perception & Intelligent Information Processing, School of Microelectronics and Communication Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, PR China.
| | - Mei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, PR China.
| | - Changjun Hou
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, PR China; National Facility for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, PR China.
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Maggi S, Ferrari A, Yabre K, Bonini AA, Rivetti C, Folli C. Strategies to Investigate Membrane Damage, Nucleoid Condensation, and RNase Activity of Bacterial Toxin-Antitoxin Systems. Methods Protoc 2021; 4:mps4040071. [PMID: 34698227 PMCID: PMC8544347 DOI: 10.3390/mps4040071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A large number of bacterial toxin–antitoxin (TA) systems have been identified so far and different experimental approaches have been explored to investigate their activity and regulation both in vivo and in vitro. Nonetheless, a common feature of these methods is represented by the difficulty in cell transformation, culturing, and stability of the transformants, due to the expression of highly toxic proteins. Recently, in dealing with the type I Lpt/RNAII and the type II YafQ/DinJ TA systems, we encountered several of these problems that urged us to optimize methodological strategies to study the phenotype of recombinant Escherichia coli host cells. In particular, we have found conditions to tightly repress toxin expression by combining the pET expression system with the E. coli C41(DE3) pLysS strain. To monitor the RNase activity of the YafQ toxin, we developed a fluorescence approach based on Thioflavin-T which fluoresces brightly when complexed with bacterial RNA. Fluorescence microscopy was also applied to reveal loss of membrane integrity associated with the activity of the type I toxin Lpt, by using DAPI and ethidium bromide to selectively stain cells with impaired membrane permeability. We further found that atomic force microscopy can readily be employed to characterize toxin-induced membrane damages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Maggi
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (S.M.); (A.A.B.)
| | - Alberto Ferrari
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (A.F.); (K.Y.)
| | - Korotoum Yabre
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (A.F.); (K.Y.)
| | - Aleksandra Anna Bonini
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (S.M.); (A.A.B.)
| | - Claudio Rivetti
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (S.M.); (A.A.B.)
- Correspondence: (C.R.); (C.F.)
| | - Claudia Folli
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (A.F.); (K.Y.)
- Correspondence: (C.R.); (C.F.)
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