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Li H, Wang Q, Zhao R, Wang Y, Xun L, Liu H. Construction of Escherichia coli Whole-Cell Biosensors for Statin Efficacy and Production Test. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:404. [PMID: 32671060 PMCID: PMC7326143 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00404] [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: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Statins are widely used cholesterol-lowering drugs. Their potential application in anti-cancer treatment is also under investigation. The individual variance in statin response has been observed, which may be caused by the variation in human HMG-CoA reductase (hHMGR)—the inhibition target of statin drugs. Herein, we reported the design and construction of two Escherichia coli whole-cell biosensors. The first one is statin-efficacy testing sensor, which is composed of two separate modules: a hybrid mevalonate (MVA) pathway and a HMG-CoA sensing system. A truncated hHMGR was used as the key enzyme of the MVA pathway and a promiscuous transcription factor (TF) BsFapR was used as the HMG-CoA sensor. When hHMGR was inhibited by statins, HMG-CoA accumulated intracellularly and was sensed by BsFapR, which subsequently turned on its cognate promoter. This biosensor has the potential to be used as a “precision medicine” tool—selecting potent statin drugs for individual patients. The second one is a statin-production testing sensor, which is based on another promiscuous TF AraCM that can sense statins. This biosensor can be used in optimization of statin-producing strains. The prototypes of these two biosensors were successfully constructed and their further optimization is highly expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanjie Li
- School of Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China.,Medical Research and Laboratory Diagnostic Center, Jinan Central Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Qingda Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yunshan Wang
- School of Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Medical Research and Laboratory Diagnostic Center, Jinan Central Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Luying Xun
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China.,School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Huaiwei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
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Warchol I, Gora M, Wysocka-Kapcinska M, Komaszylo J, Swiezewska E, Sojka M, Danikiewicz W, Plochocka D, Maciejak A, Tulacz D, Leszczynska A, Kapur S, Burzynska B. Genetic engineering and molecular characterization of yeast strain expressing hybrid human-yeast squalene synthase as a tool for anti-cholesterol drug assessment. J Appl Microbiol 2016; 120:877-88. [PMID: 26757023 DOI: 10.1111/jam.13053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Revised: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The main objective of the study is molecular and biological characterization of the human-yeast hybrid squalene synthase (SQS), as a promising target for treatment of hypercholesterolaemia. METHODS AND RESULTS The human-yeast hybrid SQS, with 67% amino acids, including the catalytic site derived from human enzyme, was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain deleted of its own SQS gene. The constructed strain has a decreased level of sterols compared to the control strain. The mevalonate pathway and sterol biosynthesis genes are induced and the level of triacylglycerols is increased. Treatment of the strain with rosuvastatin or zaragozic acid, two mevalonate pathway inhibitors, decreased the amounts of squalene, lanosterol and ergosterol, and up-regulated expression of several genes encoding enzymes responsible for biosynthesis of ergosterol precursors. Conversely, expression of the majority genes implicated in the biosynthesis of other mevalonate pathway end products, ubiquinone and dolichol, was down-regulated. CONCLUSIONS The S. cerevisiae strain constructed in this study enables to investigate the physiological and molecular effects of inhibitors on cell functioning. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The yeast strain expressing hybrid SQS with the catalytic core of human enzyme is a convenient tool for efficient screening for novel inhibitors of cholesterol-lowering properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Warchol
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - M Gora
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - M Wysocka-Kapcinska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - J Komaszylo
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - E Swiezewska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - M Sojka
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - W Danikiewicz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - D Plochocka
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - A Maciejak
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - D Tulacz
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - A Leszczynska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - S Kapur
- Department of Biological Science, Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Hyderabad, India
| | - B Burzynska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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Maciejak A, Leszczynska A, Warchol I, Gora M, Kaminska J, Plochocka D, Wysocka-Kapcinska M, Tulacz D, Siedlecka J, Swiezewska E, Sojka M, Danikiewicz W, Odolczyk N, Szkopinska A, Sygitowicz G, Burzynska B. The effects of statins on the mevalonic acid pathway in recombinant yeast strains expressing human HMG-CoA reductase. BMC Biotechnol 2013; 13:68. [PMID: 24128347 PMCID: PMC3765880 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6750-13-68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be a useful model for studying cellular mechanisms related to sterol synthesis in humans due to the high similarity of the mevalonate pathway between these organisms. This metabolic pathway plays a key role in multiple cellular processes by synthesizing sterol and nonsterol isoprenoids. Statins are well-known inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), the key enzyme of the cholesterol synthesis pathway. However, the effects of statins extend beyond their cholesterol-lowering action, since inhibition of HMGR decreases the synthesis of all products downstream in the mevalonate pathway. Using transgenic yeast expressing human HMGR or either yeast HMGR isoenzyme we studied the effects of simvastatin, atorvastatin, fluvastatin and rosuvastatin on the cell metabolism. Results Statins decreased sterol pools, prominently reducing sterol precursors content while only moderately lowering ergosterol level. Expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in sterol biosynthesis was induced, while genes from nonsterol isoprenoid pathways, such as coenzyme Q and dolichol biosynthesis or protein prenylation, were diversely affected by statin treatment. Statins increased the level of human HMGR protein substantially and only slightly affected the levels of Rer2 and Coq3 proteins involved in non-sterol isoprenoid biosynthesis. Conclusion Statins influence the sterol pool, gene expression and protein levels of enzymes from the sterol and nonsterol isoprenoid biosynthesis branches and this effect depends on the type of statin administered. Our model system is a cheap and convenient tool for characterizing individual statins or screening for novel ones, and could also be helpful in individualized selection of the most efficient HMGR inhibitors leading to the best response and minimizing serious side effects.
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Leszczynska A, Burzynska B, Plochocka D, Kaminska J, Zimnicka M, Kania M, Kiliszek M, Wysocka-Kapcinska M, Danikiewicz W, Szkopinska A. Investigating the effects of statins on cellular lipid metabolism using a yeast expression system. PLoS One 2009; 4:e8499. [PMID: 20041128 PMCID: PMC2796174 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2009] [Accepted: 12/07/2009] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, defects in lipid metabolism are associated with a number of severe diseases such as atherosclerosis, obesity and type II diabetes. Hypercholesterolemia is a primary risk factor for coronary artery disease, the major cause of premature deaths in developed countries. Statins are inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), the key enzyme of the sterol synthesis pathway. Since yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae harbours many counterparts of mammalian enzymes involved in lipid-synthesizing pathways, conclusions drawn from research with this single cell eukaryotic organism can be readily applied to higher eukaryotes. Using a yeast strain with deletions of both HMG1 and HMG2 genes (i.e. completely devoid of HMGR activity) with introduced wild-type or mutant form of human HMGR (hHMGR) gene we investigated the effects of statins on the lipid metabolism of the cell. The relative quantification of mRNA demonstrated a different effect of simvastatin on the expression of the wild-type and mutated hHMGR gene. GC/MS analyses showed a significant decrease of sterols and enhanced conversion of squalene and sterol precursors into ergosterol. This was accompanied by the mobilization of ergosterol precursors localized in lipid particles in the form of steryl esters visualized by confocal microscopy. Changes in the level of ergosterol and its precursors in cells treated with simvastatin depend on the mutation in the hHMGR gene. HPLC/MS analyses indicated a reduced level of phospholipids not connected with the mevalonic acid pathway. We detected two significant phenomena. First, cells treated with simvastatin develop an adaptive response compensating the lower activity of HMGR. This includes enhanced conversion of sterol precursors into ergosterol, mobilization of steryl esters and increased expression of the hHMGR gene. Second, statins cause a substantial drop in the level of glycerophospholipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Leszczynska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics PAS, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Beata Burzynska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics PAS, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Danuta Plochocka
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics PAS, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Kaminska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics PAS, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Zimnicka
- Institute of Organic Chemistry PAS, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Kania
- Institute of Organic Chemistry PAS, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marek Kiliszek
- Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Witold Danikiewicz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry PAS, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Szkopinska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics PAS, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- * E-mail:
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