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Perez-Gil J, Behrendorff J, Douw A, Vickers CE. The methylerythritol phosphate pathway as an oxidative stress sense and response system. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5303. [PMID: 38906898 PMCID: PMC11192765 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49483-8] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway is responsible for biosynthesis of the precursors of isoprenoid compounds in eubacteria and plastids. It is a metabolic alternative to the well-known mevalonate pathway for isoprenoid production found in archaea and eukaryotes. Recently, a role for the MEP pathway in oxidative stress detection, signalling, and response has been identified. This role is executed in part through the unusual cyclic intermediate, methylerythritol cyclodiphosphate (MEcDP). We postulate that this response is triggered through the oxygen sensitivity of the MEP pathway's terminal iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster enzymes. MEcDP is the substrate of IspG, the first Fe-S cluster enzyme in the pathway; it accumulates under oxidative stress conditions and acts as a signalling molecule. It may also act as an antioxidant. Furthermore, evidence is emerging for a broader and highly nuanced role of the MEP pathway in oxidative stress responses, implemented through a complex system of differential regulation and sensitivity at numerous nodes in the pathway. Here, we explore the evidence for such a role (including the contribution of the Fe-S cluster enzymes and different pathway metabolites, especially MEcDP), the evolutionary implications, and the many questions remaining about the behaviour of the MEP pathway in the presence of oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Perez-Gil
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
- School of Environmental and Biological Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia
| | - James Behrendorff
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
- School of Environmental and Biological Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia
| | - Andrew Douw
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Claudia E Vickers
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.
- School of Environmental and Biological Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia.
- BioBuilt Solutions, Corinda, QLD, 4075, Australia.
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Schelz Z, Muddather HF, Zupkó I. Repositioning of HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors as Adjuvants in the Modulation of Efflux Pump-Mediated Bacterial and Tumor Resistance. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1468. [PMID: 37760764 PMCID: PMC10525194 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12091468] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Efflux pump (EP)-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) seems ubiquitous in bacterial infections and neoplastic diseases. The diversity and lack of specificity of these efflux mechanisms raise a great obstacle in developing drugs that modulate efflux pumps. Since developing novel chemotherapeutic drugs requires large investments, drug repurposing offers a new approach that can provide alternatives as adjuvants in treating resistant microbial infections and progressive cancerous diseases. Hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme-A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, also known as statins, are promising agents in this respect. Originally, statins were used in the therapy of dyslipidemia and for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases; however, extensive research has recently been performed to elucidate the functions of statins in bacterial infections and cancers. The mevalonate pathway is essential in the posttranslational modification of proteins related to vital eukaryotic cell functions. In this article, a comparative review is given about the possible role of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in managing diseases of bacterial and neoplastic origin. Molecular research and clinical studies have proven the justification of statins in this field. Further well-designed clinical trials are urged to clarify the significance of the contribution of statins to the lower risk of disease progression in bacterial infections and cancerous diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - István Zupkó
- Institute of Pharmacodynamics and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Szeged, Eötvös u. 6, 6720 Szeged, Hungary; (Z.S.); (H.F.M.)
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Innard N, Chong JPJ. The challenges of monitoring and manipulating anaerobic microbial communities. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 344:126326. [PMID: 34780902 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mixed anaerobic microbial communities are a key component in valorization of waste biomass via anaerobic digestion. Similar microbial communities are important as soil and animal microbiomes and have played a critical role in shaping the planet as it is today. Understanding how individual species within communities interact with others and their environment is important for improving performance and potential applications of an inherently green technology. Here, the challenges associated with making measurements critical to assessing the status of anaerobic microbial communities are considered. How these measurements could be incorporated into control philosophies and augment the potential of anaerobic microbial communities to produce different and higher value products from waste materials are discussed. The benefits and pitfalls of current genetic and molecular approaches to measuring and manipulating anaerobic microbial communities and the challenges which should be addressed to realise the potential of this exciting technology are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Innard
- Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - James P J Chong
- Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
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Alice AF, Kramer G, Bambina S, Bahjat KS, Gough MJ, Crittenden MR. Listeria monocytogenes-infected human monocytic derived dendritic cells activate Vγ9Vδ2 T cells independently of HMBPP production. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16347. [PMID: 34381163 PMCID: PMC8358051 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95908-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Gamma-delta (γδ) T cells express T cell receptors (TCR) that are preconfigured to recognize signs of pathogen infection. In primates, γδ T cells expressing the Vγ9Vδ2 TCR innately recognize (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but- 2-enyl pyrophosphate (HMBPP), a product of the 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4- phosphate (MEP) pathway in bacteria that is presented in infected cells via interaction with members of the B7 family of costimulatory molecules butyrophilin (BTN) 3A1 and BTN2A1. In humans, Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) vaccine platforms have the potential to generate potent Vγ9Vδ2 T cell recognition. To evaluate the activation of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells by Lm-infected human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DC) we engineered Lm strains that lack components of the MEP pathway. Direct infection of Mo-DC with these bacteria were unchanged in their ability to activate CD107a expression in Vγ9Vδ2 T cells despite an inability to synthesize HMBPP. Importantly, functional BTN3A1 was essential for this activation. Unexpectedly, we found that cytoplasmic entry of Lm into human dendritic cells resulted in upregulation of cholesterol metabolism in these cells, and the effect of pathway regulatory drugs suggest this occurs via increased synthesis of the alternative endogenous Vγ9Vδ2 ligand isoprenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and/or its isomer dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP). Thus, following direct infection, host pathways regulated by cytoplasmic entry of Lm can trigger Vγ9Vδ2 T cell recognition of infected cells without production of the unique bacterial ligand HMBPP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro F Alice
- Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Portland Medical Center, 4805 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR, 97213, USA
| | - Gwen Kramer
- Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Portland Medical Center, 4805 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR, 97213, USA
| | - Shelly Bambina
- Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Portland Medical Center, 4805 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR, 97213, USA
| | - Keith S Bahjat
- Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Portland Medical Center, 4805 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR, 97213, USA.,Astellas Pharma US, 100 Kimball Way, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Michael J Gough
- Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Portland Medical Center, 4805 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR, 97213, USA
| | - Marka R Crittenden
- Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Portland Medical Center, 4805 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR, 97213, USA. .,The Oregon Clinic, Portland, OR, 97213, USA.
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Anaya-Sanchez A, Feng Y, Berude JC, Portnoy DA. Detoxification of methylglyoxal by the glyoxalase system is required for glutathione availability and virulence activation in Listeria monocytogenes. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009819. [PMID: 34407151 PMCID: PMC8372916 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive, food-borne pathogen that lives a biphasic lifestyle, cycling between the environment and as a facultative intracellular pathogen of mammals. Upon entry into host cells, L. monocytogenes upregulates expression of glutathione synthase (GshF) and its product, glutathione (GSH), which is an allosteric activator of the master virulence regulator PrfA. Although gshF mutants are highly attenuated for virulence in mice and form very small plaques in host cell monolayers, these virulence defects can be fully rescued by mutations that lock PrfA in its active conformation, referred to as PrfA*. While PrfA activation can be recapitulated in vitro by the addition of reducing agents, the precise biological cue(s) experienced by L. monocytogenes that lead to PrfA activation are not known. Here we performed a genetic screen to identify additional small-plaque mutants that were rescued by PrfA* and identified gloA, which encodes glyoxalase A, a component of a GSH-dependent methylglyoxal (MG) detoxification system. MG is a toxic byproduct of metabolism produced by both the host and pathogen, which if accumulated, causes DNA damage and protein glycation. As a facultative intracellular pathogen, L. monocytogenes must protect itself from MG produced by its own metabolic processes and that of its host. We report that gloA mutants grow normally in broth, are sensitive to exogenous MG and severely attenuated upon IV infection in mice, but are fully rescued for virulence in a PrfA* background. We demonstrate that transcriptional activation of gshF increased upon MG challenge in vitro, and while this resulted in higher levels of GSH for wild-type L. monocytogenes, the glyoxalase mutants had decreased levels of GSH, presumably due to the accumulation of the GSH-MG hemithioacetal adduct. These data suggest that MG acts as a host cue that leads to GSH production and activation of PrfA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Anaya-Sanchez
- Graduate Group in Microbiology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Ying Feng
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - John C. Berude
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Daniel A. Portnoy
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States of America
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Identification of Listeria monocytogenes Genes Contributing to Oxidative Stress Resistance under Conditions Relevant to Host Infection. Infect Immun 2021; 89:IAI.00700-20. [PMID: 33495274 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00700-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The Gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes survives in environments ranging from the soil to the cytosol of infected host cells. Key to L. monocytogenes intracellular survival is the activation of PrfA, a transcriptional regulator that is required for the expression of multiple bacterial virulence factors. Mutations that constitutively activate prfA (prfA* mutations) result in high-level expression of multiple bacterial virulence factors as well as the physiological adaptation of L. monocytogenes for optimal replication within host cells. Here, we demonstrate that L. monocytogenes prfA* mutants exhibit significantly enhanced resistance to oxidative stress in comparison to that of wild-type strains. Transposon mutagenesis of L. monocytogenes prfA* strains resulted in the identification of three novel gene targets required for full oxidative stress resistance only in the context of PrfA activation. One gene, lmo0779, predicted to encode an uncharacterized protein, and two additional genes known as cbpA and ygbB, encoding a cyclic di-AMP binding protein and a 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase, respectively, contribute to the enhanced oxidative stress resistance of prfA* strains while exhibiting no significant contribution in wild-type L. monocytogenes Transposon inactivation of cbpA and lmo0779 in a prfA* background led to reduced virulence in the liver of infected mice. These results indicate that L. monocytogenes calls upon specific bacterial factors for stress resistance in the context of PrfA activation and thus under conditions favorable for bacterial replication within infected mammalian cells.
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