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Gu Q, Yan J, Lou Y, Zhang Z, Li Y, Zhu Z, Liu M, Wu D, Liang Y, Pu J, Zhao X, Xiao H, Li P. Bacteriocins: Curial guardians of gastrointestinal tract. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2024; 23:e13292. [PMID: 38284593 DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.13292] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract microbiome secretes various metabolites that play pivotal roles in maintaining host physiological balance and influencing disease progression. Among these metabolites, bacteriocins-small, heat-stable peptides synthesized by ribosomes-are notably prevalent in the GI region. Their multifaceted benefits have garnered significant interest in the scientific community. This review comprehensively explores the methods for mining bacteriocins (traditional separation and purification, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence), their effects on the stomach and intestines, and their complex bioactive mechanisms. These mechanisms include flora regulation, biological barrier restoration, and intervention in epithelial cell pathways. By detailing each well-documented bacteriocin, we reveal the diverse ways in which bacteriocins interact with the GI environment. Moreover, the future research direction is prospected. By further studying the function and interaction of intestinal bacteriocins, we can discover new pharmacological targets and develop drugs targeting intestinal bacteriocins to regulate and improve human health. It provides innovative ideas and infinite possibilities for further exploration, development, and utilization of bacteriocins. The inevitable fact is that the continuously exploration of bacteriocins is sure to bring the promising future for demic GI health understanding and interference strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Gu
- Key Laboratory for Food Microbial Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaqian Yan
- Key Laboratory for Food Microbial Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yeqing Lou
- Key Laboratory for Food Microbial Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Zihao Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Food Microbial Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonglu Li
- Key Laboratory for Food Microbial Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Zichun Zhu
- Key Laboratory for Food Microbial Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Manman Liu
- Key Laboratory for Food Microbial Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Danli Wu
- Key Laboratory for Food Microbial Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Liang
- Key Laboratory for Food Microbial Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaqian Pu
- Key Laboratory for Food Microbial Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaodan Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Food Microbial Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Hang Xiao
- Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ping Li
- Key Laboratory for Food Microbial Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
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Fernández-Fernández R, Lozano C, Reuben RC, Ruiz-Ripa L, Zarazaga M, Torres C. Comprehensive Approaches for the Search and Characterization of Staphylococcins. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1329. [PMID: 37317303 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051329] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Novel and sustainable approaches are required to curb the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Within the last decades, antimicrobial peptides, especially bacteriocins, have received increased attention and are being explored as suitable alternatives to antibiotics. Bacteriocins are ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial peptides produced by bacteria as a self-preservation method against competitors. Bacteriocins produced by Staphylococcus, also referred to as staphylococcins, have steadily shown great antimicrobial potential and are currently being considered promising candidates to mitigate the AMR menace. Moreover, several bacteriocin-producing Staphylococcus isolates of different species, especially coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), have been described and are being targeted as a good alternative. This revision aims to help researchers in the search and characterization of staphylococcins, so we provide an up-to-date list of bacteriocin produced by Staphylococcus. Moreover, a universal nucleotide and amino acid-based phylogeny system of the well-characterized staphylococcins is proposed that could be of interest in the classification and search for these promising antimicrobials. Finally, we discuss the state of art of the staphylococcin applications and an overview of the emerging concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Fernández-Fernández
- Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OneHealth-UR Research Group, University of La Rioja, 26006 Logroño, Spain
| | - Carmen Lozano
- Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OneHealth-UR Research Group, University of La Rioja, 26006 Logroño, Spain
| | - Rine Christopher Reuben
- Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OneHealth-UR Research Group, University of La Rioja, 26006 Logroño, Spain
| | - Laura Ruiz-Ripa
- Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OneHealth-UR Research Group, University of La Rioja, 26006 Logroño, Spain
| | - Myriam Zarazaga
- Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OneHealth-UR Research Group, University of La Rioja, 26006 Logroño, Spain
| | - Carmen Torres
- Area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, OneHealth-UR Research Group, University of La Rioja, 26006 Logroño, Spain
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3
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Nakazono K, Le MNT, Kawada-Matsuo M, Kimheang N, Hisatsune J, Oogai Y, Nakata M, Nakamura N, Sugai M, Komatsuzawa H. Complete sequences of epidermin and nukacin encoding plasmids from oral-derived Staphylococcus epidermidis and their antibacterial activity. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0258283. [PMID: 35041663 PMCID: PMC8765612 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a commensal bacterium in humans. To persist in the bacterial flora of the host, some bacteria produce antibacterial factors such as the antimicrobial peptides known as bacteriocins. In this study, we tried to isolate bacteriocin-producing S. epidermidis strains. Among 150 S. epidermidis isolates from the oral cavities of 287 volunteers, we detected two bacteriocin-producing strains, KSE56 and KSE650. Complete genome sequences of the two strains confirmed that they carried the epidermin-harboring plasmid pEpi56 and the nukacin IVK45-like-harboring plasmid pNuk650. The amino acid sequence of epidermin from KSE56 was identical to the previously reported sequence, but the epidermin synthesis-related genes were partially different. The prepeptide amino acid sequences of nukacin KSE650 and nukacin IVK45 showed one mismatch, but both mature peptides were entirely similar. pNuk650 was larger and had an additional seven ORFs compared to pIVK45. We then investigated the antibacterial activity of the two strains against several skin and oral bacteria and found their different activity patterns. In conclusion, we report the complete sequences of 2 plasmids coding for bacteriocins from S. epidermidis, which were partially different from those previously reported. Furthermore, this is the first report to show the complete sequence of an epidermin-carrying plasmid, pEpi56.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Nakazono
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, Field of Maxillofacial Rehabilitation, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Mi Nguyen-Tra Le
- Department of Bacteriology, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
- Project Research Centre for Nosocomial Infectious Diseases, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Miki Kawada-Matsuo
- Department of Bacteriology, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
- Project Research Centre for Nosocomial Infectious Diseases, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Noy Kimheang
- Department of Bacteriology, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Junzo Hisatsune
- Project Research Centre for Nosocomial Infectious Diseases, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Higashi Murayama, Japan
| | - Yuichi Oogai
- Department of Oral Microbiology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Masanobu Nakata
- Department of Oral Microbiology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Norifumi Nakamura
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, Field of Maxillofacial Rehabilitation, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Motoyuki Sugai
- Project Research Centre for Nosocomial Infectious Diseases, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Higashi Murayama, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Komatsuzawa
- Department of Bacteriology, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
- Project Research Centre for Nosocomial Infectious Diseases, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
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4
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Torres Salazar BO, Heilbronner S, Peschel A, Krismer B. Secondary Metabolites Governing Microbiome Interaction of Staphylococcal Pathogens and Commensals. Microb Physiol 2021; 31:198-216. [PMID: 34325424 DOI: 10.1159/000517082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Various Staphylococcus species colonize skin and upper airways of warm-blooded animals. They compete successfully with many other microorganisms under the hostile and nutrient-poor conditions of these habitats using mechanisms that we are only beginning to appreciate. Small-molecule mediators, whose biosynthesis requires complex enzymatic cascades, so-called secondary metabolites, have emerged as crucial components of staphylococcal microbiome interactions. Such mediators belong to a large variety of compound classes and several of them have attractive properties for future drug development. They include, for instance, bacteriocins such as lanthipeptides, thiopeptides, and fibupeptides that inhibit bacterial competitor species; signaling molecules such as thiolactone peptides that induce or inhibit sensory cascades in other bacteria; or metallophores such as staphyloferrins and staphylopine that scavenge scant transition metal ions. For some secondary metabolites such as the aureusimines, the exact function remains to be elucidated. How secondary metabolites shape the fitness of Staphylococcus species in the complex context of other microbial and host defense factors remains a challenging field of future research. A detailed understanding will help to harness staphylococcal secondary metabolites for excluding the pathogenic species Staphylococcus aureus from the nasal microbiomes of at-risk patients, and it will be instrumental for the development of advanced anti-infective interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin O Torres Salazar
- Department of Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence EXC 2124 Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Simon Heilbronner
- Department of Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence EXC 2124 Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Peschel
- Department of Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence EXC 2124 Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Bernhard Krismer
- Department of Infection Biology, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence EXC 2124 Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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5
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van Staden ADP, van Zyl WF, Trindade M, Dicks LMT, Smith C. Therapeutic Application of Lantibiotics and Other Lanthipeptides: Old and New Findings. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:e0018621. [PMID: 33962984 PMCID: PMC8231447 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00186-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Lanthipeptides are ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptides, with modifications that are incorporated during biosynthesis by dedicated enzymes. Various modifications of the peptides are possible, resulting in a highly diverse group of bioactive peptides that offer a potential reservoir for use in the fight against a plethora of diseases. Their activities range from the antimicrobial properties of lantibiotics, especially against antibiotic-resistant strains, to antiviral activity, immunomodulatory properties, antiallodynic effects, and the potential to alleviate cystic fibrosis symptoms. Lanthipeptide biosynthetic genes are widespread within bacterial genomes, providing a substantial repository for novel bioactive peptides. Using genome mining tools, novel bioactive lanthipeptides can be identified, and coupled with rapid screening and heterologous expression technologies, the lanthipeptide drug discovery pipeline can be significantly sped up. Lanthipeptides represent a group of bioactive peptides that hold great potential as biotherapeutics, especially at a time when novel and more effective therapies are required. With this review, we provide insight into the latest developments made toward the therapeutic applications and production of lanthipeptides, specifically looking at heterologous expression systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Du Preez van Staden
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Winschau F. van Zyl
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Marla Trindade
- Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Leon M. T. Dicks
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Carine Smith
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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6
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Nord C, Levenfors JJ, Bjerketorp J, Sahlberg C, Guss B, Öberg B, Broberg A. Antibacterial Isoquinoline Alkaloids from the Fungus Penicillium Spathulatum Em19. Molecules 2019; 24:E4616. [PMID: 31861067 PMCID: PMC6943532 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24244616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In the search for new microbial antibacterial secondary metabolites, two new compounds (1 and 2) were isolated from culture broths of Penicillium spathulatum Em19. Structure determination by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry identified the compounds as 6,7-dihydroxy-5,10-dihydropyrrolo[1,2-b]isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (1, spathullin A) and 5,10-dihydropyrrolo[1,2-b]isoquinoline-6,7-diol (2, spathullin B). The two compounds displayed activity against both Gram-negative and -positive bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Compound 2 was more potent than 1 against all tested pathogens, with minimal inhibitory concentrations down to 1 µg/mL (5 µM) against S. aureus, but 2 was also more cytotoxic than 1 (50% inhibitory concentrations 112 and 11 µM for compounds 1 and 2, respectively, towards Huh7 cells). Based on stable isotope labelling experiments and a literature comparison, the biosynthesis of 1 was suggested to proceed from cysteine, tyrosine and methionine via a non-ribosomal peptides synthase like enzyme complex, whereas compound 2 was formed spontaneously from 1 by decarboxylation. Compound 1 was also easily oxidized to the 1,2-benzoquinone 3. Due to the instability of compound 1 and the toxicity of 2, the compounds are of low interest as possible future antibacterial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Nord
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Uppsala BioCentrum, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7015, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden; (C.N.); (J.J.L.); (J.B.)
| | - Jolanta J. Levenfors
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Uppsala BioCentrum, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7015, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden; (C.N.); (J.J.L.); (J.B.)
- Ultupharma AB, Södra Rudbecksgatan 13, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Joakim Bjerketorp
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Uppsala BioCentrum, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7015, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden; (C.N.); (J.J.L.); (J.B.)
- Ultupharma AB, Södra Rudbecksgatan 13, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | | | - Bengt Guss
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7036, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Bo Öberg
- Ultupharma AB, Södra Rudbecksgatan 13, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden;
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, P.O. Box 574, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anders Broberg
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Uppsala BioCentrum, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7015, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden; (C.N.); (J.J.L.); (J.B.)
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Influence of nisin hinge-region variants on lantibiotic immunity and resistance proteins. Bioorg Med Chem 2019; 27:3947-3953. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 07/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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8
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Abdel Monaim SAH, Somboro AM, El-Faham A, de la Torre BG, Albericio F. Bacteria Hunt Bacteria through an Intriguing Cyclic Peptide. ChemMedChem 2018; 14:24-51. [PMID: 30394699 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201800597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In the last few decades, peptides have been victorious over small molecules as therapeutics due to their broad range of applications, high biological activity, and high specificity. However, the main challenges to overcome if peptides are to become effective drugs is their low oral bioavailability and instability under physiological conditions. Cyclic peptides play a vital role in this context because they show higher stability under physiological conditions, higher membrane permeability, and greater oral bioavailability than that of their corresponding linear analogues. In this regard, cyclic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have gained considerable attention in the field of novel antibiotic development. Bacterial strains produce cyclic AMPs through two pathways: ribosomal and nonribosomal. This review provides an overview of the chemical classification of cyclic AMPs isolated from bacteria, and provides a description of their biological activity and mode of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shimaa A H Abdel Monaim
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa.,Peptide Science Laboratory, School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4001, South Africa
| | - Anou M Somboro
- Biomedical Resource Unit, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa
| | - Ayman El-Faham
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.,Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, P.O. Box 426, Ibrahimia, Alexandria, 12321, Egypt
| | - Beatriz G de la Torre
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa
| | - Fernando Albericio
- Peptide Science Laboratory, School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4001, South Africa.,Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.,CIBER-BBN, Networking Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, and Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
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9
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Synthesis and succinylation of subtilin-like lantibiotics are strongly influenced by glucose and transition state regulator AbrB. Appl Environ Microbiol 2014; 81:614-22. [PMID: 25381239 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02579-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Subtilin and the closely related entianin are class I lantibiotics produced by different subspecies of Bacillus subtilis. Both molecules are ribosomally synthesized peptide antibiotics with unusual ring structures. Subtilin-like lantibiotics develop strong antibiotic activities against various Gram-positive organisms with an efficiency similar to that of nisin from Lactococcus lactis. In contrast to nisin, subtilin-like lantibiotics partially undergo an additional posttranslational modification, where the N-terminal tryptophan residue becomes succinylated, resulting in drastically reduced antibiotic activities. A highly sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based quantification method enabled us to determine entianin and succinylated entianin (S-entianin) concentrations in the supernatant during growth. We show that entianin synthesis and the degree of succinylation drastically change with culture conditions. In particular, increasing glucose concentrations resulted in higher entianin amounts and lower proportions of S-entianin in Landy-based media. In contrast, no succinylation was observed in medium A with 10% glucose. Interestingly, glucose retarded the expression of entianin biosynthesis genes. Furthermore, deletion of the transition state regulator AbrB resulted in a 6-fold increased entianin production in medium A with 10% glucose. This shows that entianin biosynthesis in B. subtilis is strongly influenced by glucose, in addition to its regulation by the transition state regulator AbrB. Our results suggest that the mechanism underlying the succinylation of subtilin-like lantibiotics is enzymatically catalyzed and occurs in the extracellular space or at the cellular membrane.
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ApnI, a transmembrane protein responsible for subtilomycin immunity, unveils a novel model for lantibiotic immunity. Appl Environ Microbiol 2014; 80:6303-15. [PMID: 25085495 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02280-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Subtilomycin was detected from the plant endophytic strain Bacillus subtilis BSn5 and was first reported from B. subtilis strain MMA7. In this study, a gene cluster that has been proposed to be related to subtilomycin biosynthesis was isolated from the BSn5 genome and was experimentally validated by gene inactivation and heterologous expression. Comparison of the subtilomycin gene cluster with other verified related lantibiotic gene clusters revealed a particular organization of the genes apnI and apnT downstream of apnAPBC, which may be involved in subtilomycin immunity. Through analysis of expression of the apnI and/or apnT genes in the subtilomycin-sensitive strain CU1065 and inactivation of apnI and apnT in the producer strain BSn5, we showed that the single gene apnI, encoding a putative transmembrane protein, was responsible for subtilomycin immunity. To our knowledge, evidence for lantibiotic immunity that is solely dependent on a transmembrane protein is quite rare. Further bioinformatic analysis revealed the abundant presence of ApnI-like proteins that may be responsible for lantibiotic immunity in Bacillus and Paenibacillus. We cloned the paeI gene, encoding one such ApnI-like protein, into CU1065 and showed that it confers resistance to paenibacillin. However, no cross-resistance was detected between ApnI and PaeI, even though subtilomycin and paenibacillin share similar structures, suggesting that the protection provided by ApnI/ApnI-like proteins involves a specific-sequence recognition mechanism. Peptide release/binding assays indicated that the recombinant B. subtilis expressing apnI interacted with subtilomycin. Thus, ApnI represents a novel model for lantibiotic immunity that appears to be common.
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Sandiford SK. Advances in the arsenal of tools available enabling the discovery of novel lantibiotics with therapeutic potential. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2014; 9:283-97. [PMID: 24410252 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2014.877882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Lantibiotics are ribosomally synthesised peptides, which undergo extensive post-translational modification. Their mode of action and effectiveness against multi-drug-resistant pathogens, and relatively low toxicity, makes them attractive therapeutic options. AREAS COVERED This article provides background information on the four classes of lanthipeptides that have been described to date. Due to the clinical potential of these agents, specifically those from Class I and II, it is essential to identify organisms that harbour potentially interesting clusters encoding novel lantibiotics. Multiple emerging technologies have been applied to address this issue, including genome mining and specific bioinformatics programs designed to identify lantibiotic clusters present within the genome sequences. These clusters can then be effectively expressed using optimised heterologous expression systems, which are ideally amenable to large-scale production. EXPERT OPINION The continuing expansion of publicly available genomes, particularly genomes from microorganisms isolated from under-explored environments, combined with powerful bioinformatics tools able to accurately identify clusters of interest are of paramount importance in the discovery of novel lantibiotics. Detailed analysis of clusters drastically reduces dereplication time, which was often problematic when using the traditional method of isolation, purification and then identification. Allowing a more focused direction of 'wet lab' work, targeting the most promising agents, greatly increases the chance of novel lantibiotic discovery and development. High-throughput screening strategies are also required to enable the efficient analysis of these potentially clinically relevant agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Kate Sandiford
- Leiden University, Institute of Biology, Molecular Biotechnology, Sylvius Laboratories , Wassenaarseweg 72, 2333 BE, Leiden , The Netherlands +31 71 527 4759 ; +31 71 527 4900 ;
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12
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Arnison PG, Bibb MJ, Bierbaum G, Bowers AA, Bugni TS, Bulaj G, Camarero JA, Campopiano DJ, Challis GL, Clardy J, Cotter PD, Craik DJ, Dawson M, Dittmann E, Donadio S, Dorrestein PC, Entian KD, Fischbach MA, Garavelli JS, Göransson U, Gruber CW, Haft DH, Hemscheidt TK, Hertweck C, Hill C, Horswill AR, Jaspars M, Kelly WL, Klinman JP, Kuipers OP, Link AJ, Liu W, Marahiel MA, Mitchell DA, Moll GN, Moore BS, Müller R, Nair SK, Nes IF, Norris GE, Olivera BM, Onaka H, Patchett ML, Piel J, Reaney MJT, Rebuffat S, Ross RP, Sahl HG, Schmidt EW, Selsted ME, Severinov K, Shen B, Sivonen K, Smith L, Stein T, Süssmuth RD, Tagg JR, Tang GL, Truman AW, Vederas JC, Walsh CT, Walton JD, Wenzel SC, Willey JM, van der Donk WA. Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide natural products: overview and recommendations for a universal nomenclature. Nat Prod Rep 2013; 30:108-60. [PMID: 23165928 DOI: 10.1039/c2np20085f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1457] [Impact Index Per Article: 132.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
This review presents recommended nomenclature for the biosynthesis of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), a rapidly growing class of natural products. The current knowledge regarding the biosynthesis of the >20 distinct compound classes is also reviewed, and commonalities are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul G Arnison
- Prairie Plant Systems Inc, Botanical Alternatives Inc, Suite 176, 8B-3110 8th Street E, Saskatoon, SK, S7H 0W2, Canada
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13
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Chen WL, Leland BA, Durant JL, Grier DL, Christie BD, Nourse JG, Taylor KT. Self-Contained Sequence Representation: Bridging the Gap between Bioinformatics and Cheminformatics. J Chem Inf Model 2011; 51:2186-208. [DOI: 10.1021/ci2001988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- William L. Chen
- Accelrys, Incorporated, 2440 Camino Ramon, Suite 300, San Ramon, California 94583, United States
| | - Burton A. Leland
- Accelrys, Incorporated, 2440 Camino Ramon, Suite 300, San Ramon, California 94583, United States
| | - Joseph L. Durant
- Accelrys, Incorporated, 2440 Camino Ramon, Suite 300, San Ramon, California 94583, United States
| | - David L. Grier
- Accelrys, Incorporated, 2440 Camino Ramon, Suite 300, San Ramon, California 94583, United States
| | - Bradley D. Christie
- Accelrys, Incorporated, 2440 Camino Ramon, Suite 300, San Ramon, California 94583, United States
| | - James G. Nourse
- Accelrys, Incorporated, 2440 Camino Ramon, Suite 300, San Ramon, California 94583, United States
| | - Keith T. Taylor
- Accelrys, Incorporated, 2440 Camino Ramon, Suite 300, San Ramon, California 94583, United States
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14
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Al-Mahrous MM, Upton M. Discovery and development of lantibiotics; antimicrobial agents that have significant potential for medical application. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2011; 6:155-70. [PMID: 22647134 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2011.545387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Antimicrobial drug resistance is driving the need for novel therapeutics. Amongst the most promising antibacterial agents that are being investigated as replacements for current therapeutic antibiotics are antibacterial peptides, such as the lanthionine-containing peptide antibiotics (lantibiotics). AREAS COVERED This review focuses on the current methods used for discovery of potentially exploitable lantibiotics for medical applications and discusses relevant recent innovations that will have a positive impact on the discovery of useful lantibiotics. EXPERT OPINION Recent technological advances in a number of fields mean that increased research into the identification and characterisation of new lantibiotics is feasible. We need to increase our understanding of the various mechanisms of antibacterial action exhibited by lantibiotics and apply this knowledge to peptide engineering or novel practical applications. The advent of next-generation sequencing approaches now negate the need for extensive reverse genetics and employment of bioinformatics approaches is greatly assisting the identification of potentially useful inhibitors in the genomes of a range of clinically significant bacteria. These advances in genetic analysis and engineering will facilitate increased exploitation of lantibiotics in medical therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed M Al-Mahrous
- University of Manchester, School of Translational Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Clinical Sciences Building, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK +44 1 161 276 8828 ; +44 0 161 276 8826 ;
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15
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Nagao JI, Morinaga Y, Islam MR, Asaduzzaman SM, Aso Y, Nakayama J, Sonomoto K. Mapping and identification of the region and secondary structure required for the maturation of the nukacin ISK-1 prepeptide. Peptides 2009; 30:1412-20. [PMID: 19481127 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2009.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2009] [Revised: 05/20/2009] [Accepted: 05/20/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The prepeptide NukA of the lantibiotic nukacin ISK-1 consists of an N-terminal leader peptide followed by a propeptide moiety that undergoes post-translational modifications, that is, formation of unusual amino acids by NukM, cleavage of the leader peptide and transport by NukT to yield a mature peptide. To identify the region and conformation required for the maturation of prepeptide, we expressed a series of NukA mutants, mutants with the N-terminus-truncated leader peptide and site-directed mutants with conserved residues in the leader peptide of type A(II) lantibiotics, which were evaluated on the basis of the production of nukacin ISK-1. In addition, the secondary structure data of NukA mutants or fragments were obtained by circular dichroism spectra. The results indicated the importance of the alpha-helical leader peptide with hydrophobic and hydrophilic orientation consisting of the conserved residues in type A(II) lantibiotics. The expression data from various combinations of the chimeric prepeptides consisting of NukA and LctA (the prepeptide of lacticin 481, which shows high identity with NukA) further revealed that the amino acid difference at the C-terminus of the propeptide moiety between NukA and LctA, especially His at position 15 and Phe at position 19, was important for the maturation processes by the nukacin ISK-1 biosynthetic enzymes. Our findings suggest that the determinants in NukA were critically involved in the biosynthesis of nukacin ISK-1 and would thus be important for recognition by the nukacin ISK-1 biosynthetic enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Ichi Nagao
- Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Division of Microbial Science and Technology, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Graduate School, Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
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16
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Sahl HG, Jack RW, Bierbaum G. Biosynthesis and Biological Activities of Lantibiotics with Unique Post-Translational Modifications. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1995.0827g.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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17
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Furgerson Ihnken LA, Chatterjee C, van der Donk WA. In vitro reconstitution and substrate specificity of a lantibiotic protease. Biochemistry 2008; 47:7352-63. [PMID: 18570436 DOI: 10.1021/bi800278n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Lacticin 481 is a lanthionine-containing bacteriocin (lantibiotic) produced by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis. The final steps of lacticin 481 biosynthesis are proteolytic removal of an N-terminal leader sequence from the prepeptide LctA and export of the mature lantibiotic. Both proteolysis and secretion are performed by the dedicated ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter LctT. LctT belongs to the family of AMS (ABC transporter maturation and secretion) proteins whose prepeptide substrates share a conserved double-glycine type cleavage site. The in vitro activity of a lantibiotic protease has not yet been characterized. This study reports the purification and in vitro activity of the N-terminal protease domain of LctT (LctT150), and its use for the in vitro production of lacticin 481. The G(-2)A(-1) cleavage site and several other conserved amino acid residues in the leader peptide were targeted by site-directed mutagenesis to probe the substrate specificity of LctT as well as shed light upon the role of these conserved residues in lantibiotic biosynthesis. His 10-LctT150 did not process most variants of the double glycine motif and processed mutants of Glu-8 only very slowly. Furthermore, incorporation of helix-breaking residues in the leader peptide resulted in greatly decreased proteolytic activity by His 10-LctT150. On the other hand, His 10-LctT150 accepted all peptides containing mutations in the propeptide or at nonconserved positions of LctA. In addition, the protease domain of LctT was investigated by site-directed mutagenesis of the conserved residues Cys12, His90, and Asp106. The proteolytic activities of the resulting mutant proteins are consistent with a cysteine protease.
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Affiliation(s)
- L A Furgerson Ihnken
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
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18
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Sahl HG. Gene-encoded antibiotics made in bacteria. CIBA FOUNDATION SYMPOSIUM 2007; 186:27-42; discussion 42-53. [PMID: 7768156 DOI: 10.1002/9780470514658.ch3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Production of antimicrobial peptides and proteins is very common among bacteria and a variety of such substances has been described. In general Gram-negative bacteria produce protein bacteriocins (e.g. colicins) with narrow action spectra based on receptor-mediated activity. They produce comparatively few peptides, such as the post-translationally modified microcin B17. In contrast Gram-positive bacteria tend to produce peptide bacteriocins smaller than 10 kDa and of wider activity spectra. These show particular potential for application. They can be divided into unmodified peptides (e.g. lactococcins, lactacins, pediocins) and lanthionine-containing peptides (lantibiotics, e.g. nisin, epidermin, Pep5). The unmodified peptides are mostly hydrophobic or amphiphilic and act by disturbing the function of the cytoplasmic membrane. They are synthesized as prepeptides with a characteristic N-terminal leader peptide. In some cases genes for immunity peptides were found in close proximity to structural genes; furthermore, two-component response regulators seem to be involved in the regulation of their synthesis. The biosynthetic genes for lantibiotics are also organized in operons. Lantibiotic gene clusters include genes encoding the unique enzymes which dehydrate serine and threonine and form the characteristic thioether-bridged lanthionines. Three types of lantibiotics are currently distinguished on the basis of structural features and functional aspects: type A, which include elongated, amphiphilic, pore-forming peptides (e.g. nisin); type B, which are of globular shape and inhibit phospholipases (e.g. duramycins); and type C (e.g. actagardine) with intermediate features which act by inhibiting bacterial cell wall biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- H G Sahl
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie, Universität Bonn, Germany
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19
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20
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Affiliation(s)
- Günther Jung
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 18, 72075 Tübingen, Germany.
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21
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Corvey C, Stein T, Düsterhus S, Karas M, Entian KD. Activation of subtilin precursors by Bacillus subtilis extracellular serine proteases subtilisin (AprE), WprA, and Vpr. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2003; 304:48-54. [PMID: 12705882 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-291x(03)00529-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The maturation of the peptide antibiotic (lantibiotic) subtilin in Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 includes posttranslational modifications of the propeptide and proteolytic cleavage of the leader peptide. To identify subtilin processing activities, we used antimicrobial inactive subtilin precursors consisting of the leader peptide which was still attached to the fully matured propeptide. Two extracellular B. subtilis proteases were able to activate subtilin precursors, the commercially available serine protease prototype subtilisin (AprE) and WprA. The latter was isolated from B. subtilis WB600, a strain deficient in six extracellular proteases. Surprisingly, the aprE wprA double mutant of the ATCC 6633 strain was still able to produce active subtilin, however, with a reduced production rate. No subtilin processing was found within the culture supernatant of the WB800 strain, which is deficient in eight extracellular proteases. Vpr was identified as the third protease capable to process subtilin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Corvey
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Marie-Curie-Str. 9-11, 60439, Frankfurt/M, Germany
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22
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Xie L, Chatterjee C, Balsara R, Okeley NM, van der Donk WA. Heterologous expression and purification of SpaB involved in subtilin biosynthesis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2002; 295:952-7. [PMID: 12127987 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-291x(02)00783-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Lantibiotic peptides contain thioether bridges termed lanthionines that are putatively generated by dehydration of Ser and Thr residues followed by Michael addition of cysteine residues within the peptide. The LanB and LanC proteins have been proposed to catalyze the dehydration and formation of the thioether rings, respectively. We report here the first heterologous overexpression in Escherichia coli of SpaB, the putative dehydratase for subtilin. Sequence analysis of spaB revealed several nucleotide differences with current gene database entries. The solubility of SpaB was increased dramatically when co-expressed with GroEL/ES, and soluble His(6)-tagged SpaB was purified. The protein is at least a dimer, and interaction between SpaB and SpaC was observed. SpaS the putative substrate for SpaB was overexpressed in E. coli as an intein fusion protein, and after cleavage, the peptide was obtained in good yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Xie
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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23
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Abstract
The lantibiotics are a group of ribosomally synthesised, post-translationally modified peptides containing unusual amino acids, such as dehydrated and lanthionine residues. This group of bacteriocins has attracted much attention in recent years due to the success of the well characterised lantibiotic, nisin, as a food preservative. Numerous other lantibiotics have since been identified and can be divided into two groups on the basis of their structures, designated type-A and type-B. To date, many of these lantibiotics have undergone extensive characterisation resulting in an advanced understanding of them at both the structural and mechanistic level. This review outlines some of the more recent developments in the biochemistry, genetics and mechanism of action of these peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- O McAuliffe
- Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Ireland
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24
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Chen P, Qi FX, Novak J, Krull RE, Caufield PW. Effect of amino acid substitutions in conserved residues in the leader peptide on biosynthesis of the lantibiotic mutacin II. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2001; 195:139-44. [PMID: 11179642 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2001.tb10511.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The lantibiotic mutacin II, produced by Streptococcus mutans T8, is a ribosomally synthesized peptide antibiotic that contains thioether amino acids such as lanthionine and methyllanthionine as a result of post-translational modifications. The mutacin II leader peptide sequence shares a number of identical amino acid residues with class AII lantibiotic leader peptides. To study the role of these conservative residues in the production of active antimicrobial mutacin, 15 mutations were generated by site-directed mutagenesis. The effects of these substitutions vary from no effect to complete block-out. Mutations G-1A, G-2A, I-4D, and L-7K completely blocked the production of mature mutacin. Other mutations (I-4V, L-7M, E-8D, S-11T/A, V-12I/A, and E-13D) had no detectable effect on mutacin production. The changes of Glu-8 to Lys, Val-12 to Leu, Glu-13 to Lys reduced the mutacin production level to about 75%, 50%, and 10% of the wild-type, respectively. Thus, our data indicated that some of these conserved residues are essential for the mutacin biosynthesis, whereas others are important for optimal biosynthesis rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Chen
- LHRB 250, Department of Oral Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1919 7th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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25
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Abstract
Lantibiotics are a subgroup of bacteriocins that are characterized by the presence of the unusual thioether amino acids lanthionine and 3-methyllanthionine generated through posttranslational modification. The biosynthesis of lantibiotics follows a defined pathway comprising modifications of the prepeptide, proteolytic activation, and export. The genes encoding the biosynthesis apparatus and the lantibiotic prepeptide are organized in clusters, which also include information for proteins involved in regulation and producer self-protection. The elongated cationic lantibiotics primarily act through the formation of pores and recent progress with nisin and epidermin has shown that specific docking molecules such as lipid II play an essential role in this mechanism. Mersacidin and actagardine inhibit cell wall biosynthesis by complexing the precursor lipid II, whereas the cinnamycin-like peptides bind to phosphoethanolamine thus inhibiting phospholipase A2.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Guder
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie der Universität Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, D-53105 Bonn, Germany
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Qi F, Chen P, Caufield PW. Purification and biochemical characterization of mutacin I from the group I strain of Streptococcus mutans, CH43, and genetic analysis of mutacin I biosynthesis genes. Appl Environ Microbiol 2000; 66:3221-9. [PMID: 10919773 PMCID: PMC92137 DOI: 10.1128/aem.66.8.3221-3229.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we reported isolation and characterization of mutacin III and genetic analysis of mutacin III biosynthesis genes from the group III strain of Streptococcus mutans, UA787 (F. Qi, P. Chen, and P. W. Caufield, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65:3880-3887, 1999). During the same process of isolating the mutacin III structural gene, we also cloned the structural gene for mutacin I. In this report, we present purification and biochemical characterization of mutacin I from the group I strain CH43 and compare mutacin I and mutacin III biosynthesis genes. The mutacin I biosynthesis gene locus consists of 14 genes in the order mutR, -A, -A', -B, -C, -D, -P, -T, -F, -E, -G, orfX, orfY, orfZ. mutA is the structural gene for mutacin I, while mutA' is not required for mutacin I activity. DNA and protein sequence analysis revealed that mutacins I and III are homologous to each other, possibly arising from a common ancestor. The mature mutacin I is 24 amino acids in size and has a molecular mass of 2, 364 Da. Ethanethiol modification and peptide sequencing of mutacin I revealed that it contains six dehydrated serines, four of which are probably involved with thioether bridge formation. Comparison of the primary sequence of mutacin I with that of mutacin III and epidermin suggests that mutacin I likely has the same bridging pattern as epidermin.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Qi
- Department of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294, USA.
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27
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Karakas Sen A, Narbad A, Horn N, Dodd HM, Parr AJ, Colquhoun I, Gasson MJ. Post-translational modification of nisin. The involvement of NisB in the dehydration process. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 1999; 261:524-32. [PMID: 10215865 DOI: 10.1046/j.1432-1327.1999.00303.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The lantibiotic nisin is an antimicrobial peptide produced by Lactococcus lactis. As with all lantibiotics, nisin contains a number of dehydro-residues and thioether amino acids that introduce five lanthionine rings into the target peptide. These atypical amino acids are introduced by post-translational modification of a ribosomally synthesized precursor peptide. In certain cases, the serine residue, at position 33 of nisin, does not undergo dehydration to Dha33. With native nisin this partially processed form represents about 10% of the total peptide, whereas with the engineered variants, [Trp30]nisin A and [Lys27,Lys31]nisin A, the proportion of peptide that escapes full processing was found to be to approximately 50%. This feature of nisin biosynthesis was exploited in an investigation of the role of the NisB protein in pre-nisin maturation. Manipulation of the level of NisB was achieved by cloning and overexpressing the plasmid-encoded nisB gene in a range of different nisin-producing strains. The resulting fourfold increase in the level of NisB significantly increased the efficiency of the dehydration reaction at Ser33. The final secreted product of biosynthesis by these strains was the homogenous form of the fully processed nisin (or nisin variant) molecule. The results presented represent the first experimental evidence for the direct involvement of the NisB protein in the maturation process of nisin.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Karakas Sen
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Institute of Food Research, Norwich, UK
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29
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Sahl HG, Bierbaum G. Lantibiotics: biosynthesis and biological activities of uniquely modified peptides from gram-positive bacteria. Annu Rev Microbiol 1999; 52:41-79. [PMID: 9891793 DOI: 10.1146/annurev.micro.52.1.41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 360] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
A plethora of novel gene-encoded antimicrobial peptides from animals, plants and bacteria has been described during the last decade. Many of the bacterial peptides possess modified building blocks such as thioethers and thiazoles or unsaturated and stereoinverted amino acids, which are unique among ribosomally made peptides. Genetic and biochemical studies of many of these peptides, mostly the so-called lantibiotics, have revealed the degree to which cells are capable of transforming peptides by posttranslational modification. The biosynthesis follows a general scheme: Precursor peptides are first modified and then proteolytically activated; the latter may occur prior to, concomitantly with or after export from the cell. The genes for the biosynthetic machinery are organized in clusters and include information for the antibiotic prepeptide, the modification enzymes and accessory functions such as dedicated proteases and ABC transporters as well as immunity factors and regulatory proteins. These fundamental aspects are discussed along with the biotechnological potential of the peptides and of the biosynthesis enzymes, which could be used for construction of novel, peptide-based biomedical effector molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- H G Sahl
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie, Universität Bonn, Germany.
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30
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Heidrich C, Pag U, Josten M, Metzger J, Jack RW, Bierbaum G, Jung G, Sahl HG. Isolation, characterization, and heterologous expression of the novel lantibiotic epicidin 280 and analysis of its biosynthetic gene cluster. Appl Environ Microbiol 1998; 64:3140-6. [PMID: 9726851 PMCID: PMC106701 DOI: 10.1128/aem.64.9.3140-3146.1998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/1997] [Accepted: 06/19/1998] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Epicidin 280 is a novel type A lantibiotic produced by Staphylococcus epidermidis BN 280. During C18 reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography two epicidin 280 peaks were obtained; the two compounds had molecular masses of 3,133 +/- 1.5 and 3,136 +/- 1.5 Da, comparable antibiotic activities, and identical amino acid compositions. Amino acid sequence analysis revealed that epicidin 280 exhibits 75% similarity to Pep5. The strains that produce epicidin 280 and Pep5 exhibit cross-immunity, indicating that the immunity peptides cross-function in antagonization of both lantibiotics. The complete epicidin 280 gene cluster was cloned and was found to comprise at least five open reading frames (eciI, eciA, eciP, eciB, and eciC, in that order). The proteins encoded by these open reading frames exhibit significant sequence similarity to the biosynthetic proteins of the Pep5 operon of Staphylococcus epidermidis 5. A gene for an ABC transporter, which is present in the Pep5 gene cluster but is necessary only for high yields (G. Bierbaum, M. Reis, C. Szekat, and H.-G. Sahl, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 60:4332-4338, 1994), was not detected. Instead, upstream of the immunity gene eciI we found an open reading frame, eciO, which could code for a novel lantibiotic modification enzyme involved in reduction of an N-terminally located oxopropionyl residue. Epicidin 280 produced by the heterologous host Staphylococcus carnosus TM 300 after introduction of eciIAPBC (i.e., no eciO was present) behaved homogeneously during reverse-phase chromatography.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Heidrich
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie der Universität Bonn, D-53105 Bonn, Germany
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Brötz H, Bierbaum G, Reynolds PE, Sahl HG. The lantibiotic mersacidin inhibits peptidoglycan biosynthesis at the level of transglycosylation. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 1997; 246:193-9. [PMID: 9210483 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1997.t01-1-00193.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The lantibiotic mersacidin has been previously reported to interfere with bacterial peptidoglycan biosynthesis, [Brötz, H., Bierbaum, G., Markus, A., Molitor, E. & Sahl, H.-G. (1995) Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 39, 714-719]. Here, we focus on the target reaction and describe a mersacidin-induced accumulation of UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl-pentapeptide, indicating that inhibition of peptidoglycan synthesis occurs after the formation of cytoplasmic precursors. In vitro studies involving a wall-membrane particulate fraction of Bacillus megaterium KM demonstrated that mersacidin did not prevent the synthesis of lipid II [undecaprenyl-diphosphoryl-N-acetylmuramoyl-(pentapeptide)-N-ac ety lglucosamine] but specifically the subsequent conversion of this intermediate into polymeric nascent glycan strands by transglycosylation. Comparison with other inhibitors of transglycosylation shows that the effective concentration of mersacidin in vitro is in the range of that of the glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin but 2-3 orders of magnitude higher than that of the competitive enzyme inhibitor moenomycin. The analogy to the glycopeptides may hint at an interaction of mersacidin with the peptidoglycan precursor rather than with the enzyme. Unlike vancomycin however, mersacidin inhibits peptidoglycan formation from UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl-tripeptide and is active against Enterococcus faecium expressing the vanA resistance gene cluster. This indicates that the molecular target site of mersacidin differs from that of vancomycin and that no cross-resistance exists between the two antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Brötz
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie, Universität Bonn, Germany
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Neis S, Bierbaum G, Josten M, Pag U, Kempter C, Jung G, Sahl HG. Effect of leader peptide mutations on biosynthesis of the lantibiotic Pep5. FEMS Microbiol Lett 1997; 149:249-55. [PMID: 9141666 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1997.tb10337.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Lantibiotics are lanthionine-containing antibiotic peptides which are synthesized from ribosomal prepeptides by post-translational modification. In order to elucidate the function of a conserved motif in the N-terminal leader sequence of lantibiotic prepeptides, three amino acids were exchanged in the leader peptide sequence of the lantibiotic Pep5. Exchanging Phe-19 for Ser and Glu-16 for Lys in the FDLEI-motif, reduced Pep5 production to 35 and 38% of the control whereas, after exchanging Asp-6 for Ser and Glu-16 for Lys in the FDLEI-motif, reduced Pep5 production to 35 and 38% of the control whereas, after exchanging ASp-6 for Lys, the production was decreased only to 82%. Proteolytic fragments of Pep5 or incorrectly modified Pep5 molecules, indicative of incorrect modifications, were not found in the culture supernatant. Thus, in contrast to the biosynthesis of the lantibiotic nisin, the FDLEI-motif is not essential for biosynthesis of Pep5 and has no influence on correct ring formation or processing, but seems to be important for optimal biosynthesis rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Neis
- Institut für Medizinische und Mikrobiologie und Immunologie der Universität Bonn, Germany
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Siegers K, Heinzmann S, Entian KD. Biosynthesis of lantibiotic nisin. Posttranslational modification of its prepeptide occurs at a multimeric membrane-associated lanthionine synthetase complex. J Biol Chem 1996; 271:12294-301. [PMID: 8647829 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.271.21.12294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The lantibiotic nisin of Lactococcus lactis is matured from a ribosomally synthesized prepeptide by postranslational modification. Genetic and biochemical evidence suggests that genes nisB and nisC of the nisin gene cluster encode proteins necessary for prenisin modification. Inactivation of both genes resulted in complete loss of nisin production. The preparation of membrane vesicles revealed that NisB and NisC are attached to the cellular membrane, and co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed that they are associated with each other. By using the yeast two-hybrid system, which is a highly sensitive method to unravel protein-protein interactions, we could show that the nisin prepeptide physically interacts with the NisC protein, suggesting that NisC contains a binding site for prenisin. This was also confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation of the NisC protein and the NisA prepeptide by antibodies directed against the leader sequence of the nisin prepeptide. The two-hybrid analysis also confirmed the interaction between NisB and NisC as well as the interaction between NisB and NisC as well as the interaction between NisC and the NisT ABC transporter. A minor interaction was also indicated between prenisin and the NisB protein. Furthermore, the two-hybrid investigations also revealed that at least two molecules of NisC and two molecules of NisT are part of the modification and transport complex. Our results suggest that lantibiotic maturation and secretion occur at a membrane-associated multimeric lanthionine synthetase complex consisting of proteins NisB, NisC, and the ABC transporter molecules NisT.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Siegers
- Institute for Microbiology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universät, Frankfurt am Main, Federal Republic of Germany
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34
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Kupke T, Gotz F. Expression, purification, and characterization of EpiC, an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the lantibiotic epidermin, and sequence analysis of Staphylococcus epidermidis epiC mutants. J Bacteriol 1996; 178:1335-40. [PMID: 8631710 PMCID: PMC177807 DOI: 10.1128/jb.178.5.1335-1340.1996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The plasmid-encoded epidermin biosynthetic gene epiC of Staphylococcus epidermidis Tü3298 was expressed in Escherichia coli by using the T7 RNA polymerase-promoter system, and the gene product EpiC was identified by Western blotting (immunoblotting) with an anti-EpiC-peptide antiserum. EpiC was a hydrophobic but soluble protein. EpiC was purified by hydrophobic-interaction chromatography. The determined amino-terminal amino acid sequence was M I N I N N I .... The electrophoretic migration behavior of EpiC depended on the oxidation state of the enzyme, indicating the formation of an intramolecular disulfide bridge between C-274 and C-321. The cysteine residues in the motifs WC-274YG and C-321HG of EpiC are conserved in all lantibiotic enzymes of the C type (so-called LanC proteins) and in the CylM protein. Mutated epiC genes from S. epidermidis epiC mutants were cloned and expressed in E. coli. Sequence analysis revealed that the mutations occurred in the two motifs -S-X-X-X-G-X-X-G- and -N-X-G-X-A-H-G-X-X-G-, which are conserved in all LanC proteins. For the investigation of EpiC-EpiA interactions, precursor peptide EpiA was coupled to N-hydroxysuccinimide-activated Sepharose High Performance Material (HiTrap). Under reducing conditions, EpiC was retarded on the EpiA-HiTrap column. In the incubation experiments, EpiC did not react with EpiA, with proepidermin, or with oxidative decarboxylated peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Kupke
- Mikrobielle Genetik, Universität Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany
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Abstract
Several newly reported post-translational modification reactions are involved in lantibiotic biosynthesis. A short overview of the present knowledge on the post-translational modifications and on the enzymes involved in lantibiotic biosynthesis is given. The oxidative decarboxylation of the epidermin precursor peptide EpiA is described in detail. The FMN-containing oxidoreductase EpiD is involved in the formation of the C-terminal S-[(Z)-2-aminovinyl]-D-cysteine residue of epidermin: under reducing conditions the side chain of the C-terminal cysteine residue of EpiA is converted to an enethiol. EpiD has no absolute substrate specificity and can be used for modification of peptides having the C-terminal consensus motif [V/I/L/(M)/F/Y/W]-[A/S/V/T/C/(I/L)]-C.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Kupke
- Mikrobielle Genetik, Universität Tübingen, Germany
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36
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Bierbaum G, Götz F, Peschel A, Kupke T, van de Kamp M, Sahl HG. The biosynthesis of the lantibiotics epidermin, gallidermin, Pep5 and epilancin K7. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 1996; 69:119-127. [PMID: 8775972 DOI: 10.1007/bf00399417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Lantibiotics are antibiotic peptides that contain the rare thioether amino acids lanthionine and/or methyllanthionine. Epidermin, Pep5 and epilancin K7 are produced by Staphylococcus epidermidis whereas gallidermin (6L-epidermin) was isolated from the closely related species Staphylococcus gallinarum. The biosynthesis of all four lantibiotics proceeds from structural genes which code for prepeptides that are enzymatically modified to give the mature peptides. The genes involved in biosynthesis, processing, export etc. are found in gene clusters adjacent to the structural genes and code for transporters, immunity functions, regulatory proteins and the modification enzymes LanB, LanC and LanD, which catalyze the biosynthesis of the rare amino acids. LanB and LanC are responsible for the dehydration of the serine and threonine residues to give dehydroalanine and dehydrobutyrine and subsequent addition of cysteine SH-groups to the dehydro amino acids which results in the thioether rings. EpiD, the only LanD enzyme known so far, catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of the C-terminal cysteine of epidermin which gives the C-terminal S-aminovinylcysteine after addition of a dehydroalanine residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bierbaum
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie der Universität Bonn, Germany
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37
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Bierbaum G, Szekat C, Josten M, Heidrich C, Kempter C, Jung G, Sahl HG. Engineering of a novel thioether bridge and role of modified residues in the lantibiotic Pep5. Appl Environ Microbiol 1996; 62:385-92. [PMID: 8593044 PMCID: PMC167809 DOI: 10.1128/aem.62.2.385-392.1996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Pep5 is a 34-amino-acid antimicrobial peptide, produced by Staphylococcus epidermidis 5, that contains the thioether amino acids lanthionine and methyllanthionine, which form three intramolecular ring structures. In addition, two didehydrobutyrines are present in the central part of the lantibiotic and an oxobutyryl residue is located at the N terminus. All rare amino acids are introduced by posttranslational modifications of a ribosomally made precursor peptide. To elucidate the function of the modified residues for the antimicrobial action of Pep5, mutant peptides, in which single modified residues had been eliminated, were produced by site-directed mutagenesis. All of these peptides showed a reduced antimicrobial activity. In addition, those peptides from which the ring structures had been deleted became susceptible to proteolytic digest. This demonstrates that the ring structures serve as stabilizers of conformations essential for activity, e.g., amphiphilicity, as well as for protecting Pep5 against proteases of the producing strains. In addition, residues that could serve as precursors of new modified amino acids in lantibiotics were introduced into the Pep5 precursor peptide. This way, a novel methyllanthionine and a didehydroalanine were inserted into the flexible central part of Pep5, demonstrating that biosynthesis of modified amino acids is feasible by protein engineering and use of the lantibiotic modification system.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bierbaum
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie der Universität Bonn, Germany
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38
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Nelis HJ, De Vuyst L, Goubert K, Devreese BV, Van Beeumen JJ, Raymackers JG, Vandamme EJ, De Leenheer AP. Detection of cleavage of a prenisin-mimicking decapeptide by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis endoproteinase activity. Enzyme Microb Technol 1996; 18:52-8. [PMID: 8824872 DOI: 10.1016/0141-0229(96)00060-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
As part of ongoing studies in the biosynthesis of the lantibiotic nisin, we investigated the proteolytic cleavage of a synthetic Fmoc-labeled decapeptide mimicking a key amino acid sequence of the precursor prenisin in extracts of a Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis strain. Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection was used to trace and purify potential enzymatic conversion products. Of the three newly appearing chromatographic peaks, one was identified by means of electrospray mass spectrometry, amino acid analysis, and amino acid sequencing as an Fmoc-labeled hexapeptide derived from cleavage at the Arg-1-Ile+1 bond. This assay will be useful to monitor the purification of the endoproteinase that reportedly cleaves prenisin at the same Arg-1-Ile+1 site present in the model substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- H J Nelis
- Laboratoria voor Medische Biochemie en voor Klinische Analyse, Universiteit Gent, Belgium
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39
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Ottenwälder B, Kupke T, Brecht S, Gnau V, Metzger J, Jung G, Götz F. Isolation and characterization of genetically engineered gallidermin and epidermin analogs. Appl Environ Microbiol 1995; 61:3894-903. [PMID: 8526502 PMCID: PMC167695 DOI: 10.1128/aem.61.11.3894-3903.1995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Gallidermin (Gdm) and epidermin (Epi) are highly homologous tetracyclic polypeptide antibiotics that are ribosomally synthesized by a Staphylococcus gallinarum strain and a Staphylococcus epidermidis strain, respectively. These antibiotics are secreted into media and are distinguished by the presence of the unusual amino acids lanthionine, 3-methyllanthionine, didehydrobutyrine, and S-(2-aminovinyl)-D-cysteine, which are formed by posttranslational modification. To study the substrate specificities of the modifying enzymes and to obtain variants that exhibit altered or new biological activities, we changed certain amino acids by performing site-specific mutagenesis with the Gdm and Epi structural genes (gdmA and epiA, respectively). S. epidermidis Tü3298/EMS6, an epiA mutant of the Epi-producing strain, was used as the expression host. This mutant synthesized Epi, Gdm, or analogs of these antibiotics when the appropriate genes were introduced on a plasmid. No Epi or Gdm analogs were isolated from the supernatant when (i) hydroxyamino acids involved in thioether amino acid formation were replaced by nonhydroxyamino acids (S3N and S19A); (ii) C residues involved in thioether bridging were deleted (delta C21, C22 and delta C22); or (iii) a ring amino acid was replaced by an amino acid having a completely different character (G10E and Y20G). A strong decrease in production was observed when S residues involved in thioether amino acid formation were replaced by T residues (S16T and S19T). A number of conservative changes at positions 6, 12, and 14 on the Gdm backbone were tolerated and led to analogs that had altered biological properties, such as enhanced antimicrobial activity (L6V) or a remarkable resistance to proteolytic degradation (A12L and Dhb14P). The T14S substitution led to simultaneous production of two Gdm species formed by incomplete posttranslational modification (dehydration) of the S-14 residue. The fully modified Dhb14Dha analog exhibited antimicrobial activity similar to that of Gdm, whereas the Dhb14S analog was less active. Both peptides were more sensitive to tryptic cleavage than Gdm was.
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40
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Meyer C, Bierbaum G, Heidrich C, Reis M, Suling J, Iglesias-Wind MI, Kempter C, Molitor E, Sahl HG. Nucleotide Sequence of the Lantibiotic Pep5 Biosynthetic Gene Cluster and Functional Analysis of PepP and PepC. Evidence for a Role of PepC in Thioether Formation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1995. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1995.478zzz.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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41
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Abstract
The lantibiotics are a rapidly expanding group of biologically active peptides produced by a variety of Gram-positive bacteria, and are so-called because of their content of the thioether amino acids lanthionine and beta-methyllanthionine. These amino acids, and indeed a number of other unusual amino acids found in the lantibiotics, arise following post-translational modification of a ribosomally synthesised precursor peptide. A number of genes involved in the biosynthesis of these highly modified peptides have been identified, including genes encoding the precursor peptide, enzymes responsible for specific amino acid modifications, proteases able to remove the leader peptide, ABC-superfamily transport proteins involved in lantibiotic translocation, regulatory proteins controlling lantibiotic biosynthesis and proteins that protect the producing strain from the action of its own lantibiotic. Analysis of these genes and their products is allowing greater understanding of the complex mechanism(s) of the biosynthesis of these unique peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Jack
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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42
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Meyer C, Bierbaum G, Heidrich C, Reis M, Süling J, Iglesias-Wind MI, Kempter C, Molitor E, Sahl HG. Nucleotide sequence of the lantibiotic Pep5 biosynthetic gene cluster and functional analysis of PepP and PepC. Evidence for a role of PepC in thioether formation. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 1995; 232:478-89. [PMID: 7556197 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1995.tb20834.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The biosynthesis of Pep5, a lanthionine-containing antimicrobial peptide, is directed by the 20-kbp plasmid pED503. We identified a 7.9-kbp DNA-fragment within this plasmid which covers the information for Pep5 synthesis in the homologous host Staphylococcus epidermidis 5 which has been cured of pED503. This fragment contained, in addition to the previously described structural gene pepA and the immunity gene pepI [Reis, M., Eschbach-Bludau, M., Iglesias-Wind, M. I., Kupke, T. & Sahl, H.-G. (1994) Appl. Env. Microbiol. 60, 2876-2883], a gene pepT coding for a translocator of the ABC transporter family, a gene pepP coding for a serine protease and two genes pepB and pepC coding for putative modification enzymes; the gene arrangement is pepTIAPBC. We analyzed the biosynthetic genes with respect to their function in Pep5 biosynthesis. Deletion of PepT reduced Pep5 production to about 10%, indicating that it can be partially replaced by other host-encoded translocators. Inactivation of PepP by site-directed mutagenesis of the active-site His residue resulted in production of incorrectly processed Pep5 fragments with strongly reduced antimicrobial activity. Deletion of pepB and pepC leads to accumulation of Pep5 prepeptide in the cells without excretion of processed peptide. A pepC-deletion clone did not excrete correctly matured Pep5 but it did produce fragments from which serine and threonine were absent. Only one of these fragments contained a single lanthionine residue out of three expected while the remaining, unmodified cysteine residues could be detected by reaction with Ellman's reagent. These results demonstrate that PepC is a thioether-forming protein and strongly suggest that PepB is responsible for dehydration of serine and threonine.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Meyer
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie, Universität Bonn, Germany
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43
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Sahl HG, Jack RW, Bierbaum G. Biosynthesis and biological activities of lantibiotics with unique post-translational modifications. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 1995; 230:827-53. [PMID: 7601145 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1995.tb20627.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 262] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Lantibiotics are biologically active peptides which contain the thioether amino acid lanthionine as well as several other modified amino acids. They can be broadly divided into two groups on the basis of their structures: type-A lantibiotics are elongated, amphiphilic peptides, while type-B lantibiotics are compact and globular. In the last decade there has been a marked increase in research interest in these peptides due both to the novel biosynthetic mechanisms by which they are produced, as well as to their potential applications. Lantibiotics are synthesised on the ribosome as a prepeptide which undergoes several post-translational modification events, including dehydration of specific hydroxyl amino acids to form dehydroamino acids, addition of neighbouring sulfhydryl groups to form thioethers and, in specific cases, other modifications such as introduction of D-alanine residues from L-serine, formation of lysinoalanine bridges, formation of novel N-terminal blocking groups and oxidative decarboxylation of a C-terminal cysteine. The genetic elements responsible for these specific modification reactions encode unique enzymes with hitherto unknown reaction mechanisms. Production of these peptides also requires accessory proteins including processing proteases, translocators of the ATP-binding cassette transporter family, regulatory proteins and dedicated producer self-protection mechanisms. While the principle biological activity of most type-B lantibiotics appears to be directed at the inhibition of enzyme functions, the type-A lantibiotics kill bacterial cells by forming pores in the cytoplasmic membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- H G Sahl
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie, Universität Bonn, Germany
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44
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Kamp M, Hooven HW, Konings RNH, Bierbaum G, Sahl HG, Kuipers OP, Siezen RJ, Vos WM, Hilbers CW, Ven FJM. Elucidation of the Primary Structure of the Lantibiotic Epilancin K7 from Staphylococcus epidermidis K7. Cloning and Characterisation of the Epilancin-K7-Encoding Gene and NMR Analysis of Mature Epilancin K7. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1995. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1995.0587h.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Abstract
In recent years, a group of antibacterial proteins produced by gram-positive bacteria have attracted great interest in their potential use as food preservatives and as antibacterial agents to combat certain infections due to gram-positive pathogenic bacteria. They are ribosomally synthesized peptides of 30 to less than 60 amino acids, with a narrow to wide antibacterial spectrum against gram-positive bacteria; the antibacterial property is heat stable, and a producer strain displays a degree of specific self-protection against its own antibacterial peptide. In many respects, these proteins are quite different from the colicins and other bacteriocins produced by gram-negative bacteria, yet customarily they also are grouped as bacteriocins. Although a large number of these bacteriocins (or bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances) have been reported, only a few have been studied in detail for their mode of action, amino acid sequence, genetic characteristics, and biosynthesis mechanisms. Nevertheless, in general, they appear to be translated as inactive prepeptides containing an N-terminal leader sequence and a C-terminal propeptide component. During posttranslational modifications, the leader peptide is removed. In addition, depending on the particular type, some amino acids in the propeptide components may undergo either dehydration and thioether ring formation to produce lanthionine and beta-methyl lanthionine (as in lantibiotics) or thio ester ring formation to form cystine (as in thiolbiotics). Some of these steps, as well as the translocation of the molecules through the cytoplasmic membrane and producer self-protection against the homologous bacteriocin, are mediated through specific proteins (enzymes). Limited genetic studies have shown that the structural gene for such a bacteriocin and the genes encoding proteins associated with immunity, translocation, and processing are present in a cluster in either a plasmid, the chromosome, or a transposon. Following posttranslational modification and depending on the pH, the molecules may either be released into the environment or remain bound to the cell wall. The antibacterial action against a sensitive cell of a gram-positive strain is produced principally by destabilization of membrane functions. Under certain conditions, gram-negative bacterial cells can also be sensitive to some of these molecules. By application of site-specific mutagenesis, bacteriocin variants which may differ in their antimicrobial spectrum and physicochemical characteristics can be produced. Research activity in this field has grown remarkably but sometimes with an undisciplined regard for conformity in the definition, naming, and categorization of these molecules and their genetic effectors. Some suggestions for improved standardization of nomenclature are offered.
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Affiliation(s)
- R W Jack
- Russell Grimwade School of Biochemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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46
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van de Kamp M, van den Hooven HW, Konings RN, Bierbaum G, Sahl HG, Kuipers OP, Siezen RJ, de Vos WM, Hilbers CW, van de Ven FJ. Elucidation of the primary structure of the lantibiotic epilancin K7 from Staphylococcus epidermidis K7. Cloning and characterisation of the epilancin-K7-encoding gene and NMR analysis of mature epilancin K7. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 1995; 230:587-600. [PMID: 7607233 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1995.tb20600.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Lantibiotics are bacteriocins that contain unusual amino acids such as lanthionines and alpha, beta-didehydro residues generated by posttranslational modification of a ribosomally synthesized precursor protein. The structural gene encoding the novel lantibiotic epilancin K7 from Staphylococcus epidermidis K7 was cloned and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The gene, which was named elkA, codes for a 55-residue preprotein, consisting of an N-terminal 24-residue leader peptide, and a C-terminal 31-residue propeptide which is posttranslationally modified and processed to yield mature epilancin K7. In common with the type-A lantibiotics nisin A and nisin Z, subtilin, epidermin, gallidermin and Pep5, pre-epilancin K7 has a so-called class-Al leader peptide. Downstream and upstream of the elkA gene, the starts of two open-reading-frames, named elkP and elkT, were identified. The elkP and elkT genes presumably encode a leader peptidase and a translocator protein, respectively, which may be involved in the processing and export of epilancin K7. The amino acid sequence of the unmodified pro-epilancin K7, deduced from the elkA gene sequence, is in full agreement with the amino acid sequence of mature epilancin K7, determined previously by means of NMR spectroscopy [van de Kamp, M., Horstink, L. M., van den Hooven, M. W., Konings, R. N. M., Hilbers, C. W., Sahl, H.-G., Metzger, J. W. & van de Ven, F. J. M. (1995) Eur. J. Biochem. 227, 757-771]. The first residue of mature epilancin K7 appears to be modified in a way that has not been described for any other lantibiotic so far. NMR experiments show that the elkA-encoded serine residue at position +1 of pro-epilancin K7 is modified to a 2-hydroxypropionyl residue in the mature protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- M van de Kamp
- Nijmegen SON Research Centre for Molecular Structure, Design and Synthesis, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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47
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Siegers K, Entian KD. Genes involved in immunity to the lantibiotic nisin produced by Lactococcus lactis 6F3. Appl Environ Microbiol 1995; 61:1082-9. [PMID: 7793910 PMCID: PMC167363 DOI: 10.1128/aem.61.3.1082-1089.1995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The lantibiotic nisin is produced by several strains of Lactococcus lactis. The complete gene cluster for nisin biosynthesis in L. lactis 6F3 comprises 15 kb of DNA. As described previously, the structural gene nisA is followed by the genes nisB, nisT, nisC, nisI, nisP, nisR, and nisK. Further analysis revealed three additional open reading frames, nisF, nisE, and nisG, adjacent to nisK. Approximately 1 kb downstream of the nisG gene, three open reading frames in the opposite orientation have been identified. One of the reading frames, sacR, belongs to the sucrose operon, indicating that all genes belonging to the nisin gene cluster of L. lactis 6F3 have now been identified. Proteins NisF and NisE show strong homology to members of the family of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, and nisG encodes a hydrophobic protein which might act similarly to the immunity proteins described for several colicins. Gene disruption mutants carrying mutations in the genes nisF, nisE, and nisG were still able to produce nisin. However, in comparison with the wild-type strain, these mutants were more sensitive to nisin. This indicates that besides nisI the newly identified genes are also involved in immunity to nisin. The NisF-NisE ABC transporter is homologous to an ABC transporter of Bacillus subtilis and the MbcF-MbcE transporter of Escherichia coli, which are involved in immunity to subtilin and microcin B17, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Siegers
- Institut für Mikrobiologie, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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48
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van de Kamp M, Horstink LM, van den Hooven HW, Konings RN, Hilbers CW, Frey A, Sahl HG, Metzger JW, van de Ven FJ. Sequence analysis by NMR spectroscopy of the peptide lantibiotic epilancin K7 from Staphylococcus epidermidis K7. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 1995; 227:757-71. [PMID: 7867636 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1995.tb20199.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The amino acid sequence of the novel lantibiotic epilancin K7 from Staphylococcus epidermidis K7 was determined by NMR spectroscopy. NMR spectroscopy was used because sequencing by conventional Edman degradation techniques was prohibited by internal sequence blocks owing to the presence of modified residues. Epilancin K7 consists of 31 residues, including two alpha,beta-didehydroalanine (one-letter code U) and two alpha,beta-didehydrobutyrine (O) residues, one lanthionine (A-S-A), two beta-methyllanthionines (A*-S-A), and six lysines. Epilancin K7 has a molecular mass of 3032 +/- 1.5 Da. The amino acid sequence of epilancin K7 was derived from both through-space dipolar proton-proton interactions and through-bond scalar proton-carbon interactions as detected by two-dimensional 1H-NOESY, 1H-ROESY and three-dimensional 1H-TOCSY-NOESY, and by two-dimensional 1H,13C-heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation spectroscopy, respectively. The sequence is as follows: [sequence: see text] The N-terminal residue X partly resembles an alanine but its exact nature is unclear. The organization of the sulfide-bridge-containing (beta-methyl-)lanthionines was revealed by 1H-NMR and 1H,13C-NMR spectroscopy. Epilancin K7 has a linear structure and a high positive net charge, and therefore is classified as a type-A lantibiotic. NMR analysis of a degraded though still active form of epilancin K7 showed that two N-terminal residues of epilancin K7 were missing, owing to decomposition at the alpha,beta-didehydro alanine at position 3; it was called the epilancin K7-(3-31)-peptide (peptide fragment of epilancin K7 consisting of positions 3-31). The usefulness of three-dimensional 1H-TOCSY-NOESY, and two-dimensional 1H,13C-heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation spectroscopy at natural abundance for the study of (modified) polypeptides is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- M van de Kamp
- Nijmegen SON Research Centre, Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Affiliation(s)
- R E Hancock
- Department of Microbiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Bierbaum G, Reis M, Szekat C, Sahl HG. Construction of an expression system for engineering of the lantibiotic Pep5. Appl Environ Microbiol 1994; 60:4332-8. [PMID: 7811073 PMCID: PMC201989 DOI: 10.1128/aem.60.12.4332-4338.1994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Pep5 is a lanthionine-containing antimicrobial peptide which is produced by Staphylococcus epidermidis 5. Its structural gene, pepA, is located on the 20-kb plasmid pED503. A 6.2-kb fragment of pED503 containing pepA, the immunity gene pepI, and 5.4 kb of downstream sequence was able to direct biosynthesis of biologically active Pep5 in a nonproducing variant of the producer strain which is devoid of pED503. In addition to producing wild-type Pep5 with a molecular mass of 3,488 Da, the clone produced a peptide with an eightfold-lower bactericidal activity and a mass of 3,506 Da, indicative of incomplete dehydration of one hydroxyamino acid. For construction of the expression system, this 6.2-kb fragment was cut into a 1.39-kb fragment containing pepA and pepI and a 4.8-kb fragment covering the remaining downstream region. This 4.8-kb fragment was directly cloned into an Escherichia coli-Staphylococcus shuttle vector, yielding a new plasmid (pGB9) into which mutated pepA genes generated on the 1.39-kb fragment can be reinserted to yield a functional Pep5 biosynthesis gene cluster. To test the expression system, two mutants were constructed. Lys-18-Pro Pep5 was produced in its dehydrated form and a partially hydrated form in amounts comparable to those of the wild-type peptide. In contrast, only small amounts of Phe-23-Asp Pep5 were excreted, indicating that some residues in the propeptide part of the prelantibiotic may be crucial for certain steps in the biosynthetic pathway of lantibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bierbaum
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie der Universität Bonn, Germany
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