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Parkhill SL, Johnson EO. Integrating bacterial molecular genetics with chemical biology for renewed antibacterial drug discovery. Biochem J 2024; 481:839-864. [PMID: 38958473 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The application of dyes to understanding the aetiology of infection inspired antimicrobial chemotherapy and the first wave of antibacterial drugs. The second wave of antibacterial drug discovery was driven by rapid discovery of natural products, now making up 69% of current antibacterial drugs. But now with the most prevalent natural products already discovered, ∼107 new soil-dwelling bacterial species must be screened to discover one new class of natural product. Therefore, instead of a third wave of antibacterial drug discovery, there is now a discovery bottleneck. Unlike natural products which are curated by billions of years of microbial antagonism, the vast synthetic chemical space still requires artificial curation through the therapeutics science of antibacterial drugs - a systematic understanding of how small molecules interact with bacterial physiology, effect desired phenotypes, and benefit the host. Bacterial molecular genetics can elucidate pathogen biology relevant to therapeutics development, but it can also be applied directly to understanding mechanisms and liabilities of new chemical agents with new mechanisms of action. Therefore, the next phase of antibacterial drug discovery could be enabled by integrating chemical expertise with systematic dissection of bacterial infection biology. Facing the ambitious endeavour to find new molecules from nature or new-to-nature which cure bacterial infections, the capabilities furnished by modern chemical biology and molecular genetics can be applied to prospecting for chemical modulators of new targets which circumvent prevalent resistance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susannah L Parkhill
- Systems Chemical Biology of Infection and Resistance Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, U.K
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University College London, London, U.K
| | - Eachan O Johnson
- Systems Chemical Biology of Infection and Resistance Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, U.K
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University College London, London, U.K
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College, London, U.K
- Department of Chemistry, King's College London, London, U.K
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2
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Winther AR, Salehian Z, Bøe CA, Nesdal M, Håvarstein LS, Kjos M, Straume D. Decreased susceptibility to viscosin in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Microbiol Spectr 2024:e0062424. [PMID: 38958463 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00624-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Growing numbers of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae strains are a major concern for healthcare systems that will require new antibiotics for treatment as well as preventative measures that reduce the number of infections. Lipopeptides are antimicrobial molecules, of which some are used as antibiotics, including the last resort antibiotics daptomycin and polymyxins. Here we have studied the antimicrobial effect of the cyclic lipopeptide viscosin on S. pneumoniae growth and morphology. Most lipopeptides function as surfactants that create pores in membrane layers, which is regarded as their main antimicrobial activity. We show that viscosin can inhibit growth of S. pneumoniae without disintegration of the cytoplasmic membrane. Instead, the cells developed abnormal shapes and misplaced new division sites. The cell wall of these bacteria appeared less dense in electron microscopy images, suggesting that viscosin interfered with normal cell wall synthesis. Corroborating this observation, a luciferase reporter assay was used to show that the two-component systems LiaFSR and CiaRH, which are known to be activated upon cell wall stress, were strongly induced by viscosin. Furthermore, a mutant displaying 1.8-fold decreased susceptibility to viscosin was generated by sequential exposure to increasing concentrations of the lipopeptide. The mutant suffered from significant fitness loss and had mutations in genes involved in fatty acid synthesis, teichoic acid synthesis, and cell wall synthesis as well as transcription and translation. How these mutations might be linked to decreased viscosin susceptibility is discussed.IMPORTANCEStreptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of bacterial pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis in children, and the incidence of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant strains is increasing. Development of new antibiotics is therefore necessary to treat these types of infections in the future. Here, we have studied the activity of the antimicrobial lipopeptide viscosin on S. pneumoniae and show that in addition to having the typical membrane destabilizing activity of lipopeptides, viscosin inhibits pneumococcal growth by obstructing normal cell wall synthesis. This suggests a more specific mode of action than just the surfactant activity. Furthermore, we show that S. pneumoniae does not easily acquire resistance to viscosin, which makes it a promising molecule to explore further, for example, by synthesizing less toxic derivates that can be tested for therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Ruud Winther
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Zhian Salehian
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | | | - Malene Nesdal
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Leiv Sigve Håvarstein
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Morten Kjos
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Daniel Straume
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
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3
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Roney IJ, Rudner DZ. Bacillus subtilis uses the SigM signaling pathway to prioritize the use of its lipid carrier for cell wall synthesis. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002589. [PMID: 38683856 PMCID: PMC11081497 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Peptidoglycan (PG) and most surface glycopolymers and their modifications are built in the cytoplasm on the lipid carrier undecaprenyl phosphate (UndP). These lipid-linked precursors are then flipped across the membrane and polymerized or directly transferred to surface polymers, lipids, or proteins. Despite its essential role in envelope biogenesis, UndP is maintained at low levels in the cytoplasmic membrane. The mechanisms by which bacteria distribute this limited resource among competing pathways is currently unknown. Here, we report that the Bacillus subtilis transcription factor SigM and its membrane-anchored anti-sigma factor respond to UndP levels and prioritize its use for the synthesis of the only essential surface polymer, the cell wall. Antibiotics that target virtually every step in PG synthesis activate SigM-directed gene expression, confounding identification of the signal and the logic of this stress-response pathway. Through systematic analyses, we discovered 2 distinct responses to these antibiotics. Drugs that trap UndP, UndP-linked intermediates, or precursors trigger SigM release from the membrane in <2 min, rapidly activating transcription. By contrasts, antibiotics that inhibited cell wall synthesis without directly affecting UndP induce SigM more slowly. We show that activation in the latter case can be explained by the accumulation of UndP-linked wall teichoic acid precursors that cannot be transferred to the PG due to the block in its synthesis. Furthermore, we report that reduction in UndP synthesis rapidly induces SigM, while increasing UndP production can dampen the SigM response. Finally, we show that SigM becomes essential for viability when the availability of UndP is restricted. Altogether, our data support a model in which the SigM pathway functions to homeostatically control UndP usage. When UndP levels are sufficiently high, the anti-sigma factor complex holds SigM inactive. When levels of UndP are reduced, SigM activates genes that increase flux through the PG synthesis pathway, boost UndP recycling, and liberate the lipid carrier from nonessential surface polymer pathways. Analogous homeostatic pathways that prioritize UndP usage are likely to be common in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian J. Roney
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - David Z. Rudner
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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4
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Duguma T, Dinka H. In Silico Identification and Characterization of Drug Targets in Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC 700669 (Serotype 23F) by Subtractive Genomics. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 2024:5917667. [PMID: 38283072 PMCID: PMC10821801 DOI: 10.1155/2024/5917667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is an important pathogen worldwide that causes pneumococcal infections which are related to high rates of morbidity and mortality especially in young children, older adults, and immune-compromised persons. Antibiotic resistance in S. pneumoniae is a serious problem across the world from time to time, resulting in treatment failure and diminished value of older medicines. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify new putative drug targets against S. pneumoniae serotype 23F by using subtractive genomics. By using bioinformatics tools such as NCBI, UniProt KB, PDB, KEGG, DEG, PSORTb, CD hit, DrugBank database, and other softwares, proteins involved in unique metabolic pathways of S. pneumoniae serotype 23F were studied. The result indicates that this serotype consists of 97 metabolic pathways of which 74 are common with that of human, and 23 pathways are unique to the serotype 23F. After investigation and analysis of essentiality, nonhomology, subcellular localization, having drug targets, and enzymatic activity, four proteins were prioritized as druggable targets. These druggable proteins include UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 1-carboxyvinyltransferase, UDP-N-acetyl muramate dehydrogenase, D-alanine-D-alanine ligase, and alanine racemase that are found in S. pneumoniae serotype 23F. All these four proteins are essential, are nonhomologous with human proteins, have drug targets, and are located in cell cytoplasm. Therefore, the authors recommend these proteins to be used for efficient drug design against S. pneumoniae serotype 23F after experimental validation for essentiality and druggability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tolossa Duguma
- Department of Biotechnology, Wolkite University, Wolkite, Ethiopia
| | - Hunduma Dinka
- Department of Applied Biology, Adama Science and Technology University, Adama, Ethiopia
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5
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Theuretzbacher U, Blasco B, Duffey M, Piddock LJV. Unrealized targets in the discovery of antibiotics for Gram-negative bacterial infections. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:957-975. [PMID: 37833553 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00791-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Advances in areas that include genomics, systems biology, protein structure determination and artificial intelligence provide new opportunities for target-based antibacterial drug discovery. The selection of a 'good' new target for direct-acting antibacterial compounds is the first decision, for which multiple criteria must be explored, integrated and re-evaluated as drug discovery programmes progress. Criteria include essentiality of the target for bacterial survival, its conservation across different strains of the same species, bacterial species and growth conditions (which determines the spectrum of activity of a potential antibiotic) and the level of homology with human genes (which influences the potential for selective inhibition). Additionally, a bacterial target should have the potential to bind to drug-like molecules, and its subcellular location will govern the need for inhibitors to penetrate one or two bacterial membranes, which is a key challenge in targeting Gram-negative bacteria. The risk of the emergence of target-based drug resistance for drugs with single targets also requires consideration. This Review describes promising but as-yet-unrealized targets for antibacterial drugs against Gram-negative bacteria and examples of cognate inhibitors, and highlights lessons learned from past drug discovery programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin Blasco
- Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maëlle Duffey
- Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laura J V Piddock
- Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), Geneva, Switzerland.
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6
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Swain B, Campodonico VA, Curtiss R. Recombinant Attenuated Edwardsiella piscicida Vaccine Displaying Regulated Lysis to Confer Biological Containment and Protect Catfish against Edwardsiellosis. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1470. [PMID: 37766146 PMCID: PMC10534663 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11091470] [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: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We implemented a unique strategy to construct a recombinant attenuated Edwardsiella vaccine (RAEV) with a biological containment phenotype that causes regulated bacterial cell wall lysis. This process ensures that the vaccine strain is not able to persist in the environment. The murA gene is responsible for the catalysis of one of the first steps in the biosynthesis of muramic acid, which is a crucial component of the bacterial cell wall. The regulated lysis phenotype was achieved by inserting the tightly regulated araC ParaBAD cassette in place of the chromosomal murA promoter. Strains with this mutation require growth media supplemented with arabinose in order to survive. Without arabinose, they are unable to synthesize the peptidoglycan cell wall. Following the colonization of fish lymphoid tissues, the murA protein is no longer synthesized due to the lack of arabinose. Lysis is subsequently achieved in vivo, thus preventing the generation of disease symptoms and the spread of the strain into the environment. Vaccine strain χ16016 with the genotype ΔPmurA180::TT araC ParaBADmurA is attenuated and shows a higher LD50 value than that of the wild-type strain. Studies have demonstrated that χ16016 induced TLR4, TLR5, TLR8, TLR9, NOD1 and NOD2-mediated NF-κB pathways and upregulated the gene expression of various cytokines, such as il-8, il-1β, tnf-a, il-6 and ifn-γ in catfish. We observed significant upregulation of the expression profiles of cd4, cd8 and mhc-II genes in different organs of vaccinated catfish. Vaccine strain χ16016 induced systemic and mucosal IgM titers and conferred significant protection to catfish against E. piscicida wild-type challenge. Our lysis RAEV is the first live attenuated vaccine candidate designed to be used in the aquaculture industry that displays this biological containment property.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banikalyan Swain
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
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7
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Tsui HCT, Joseph M, Zheng JJ, Perez AJ, Manzoor I, Rued BE, Richardson JD, Branny P, Doubravová L, Massidda O, Winkler ME. Negative regulation of MurZ and MurA underlies the essentiality of GpsB- and StkP-mediated protein phosphorylation in Streptococcus pneumoniae D39. Mol Microbiol 2023; 120:351-383. [PMID: 37452010 PMCID: PMC10530524 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
GpsB links peptidoglycan synthases to other proteins that determine the shape of the respiratory pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus; Spn) and other low-GC Gram-positive bacteria. GpsB is also required for phosphorylation of proteins by the essential StkP(Spn) Ser/Thr protein kinase. Here we report three classes of frequently arising chromosomal duplications (≈21-176 genes) containing murZ (MurZ-family homolog of MurA) or murA that suppress ΔgpsB or ΔstkP. These duplications arose from three different repeated sequences and demonstrate the facility of pneumococcus to modulate gene dosage of numerous genes. Overproduction of MurZ or MurA alone or overproduction of MurZ caused by ΔkhpAB mutations suppressed ΔgpsB or ΔstkP phenotypes to varying extents. ΔgpsB and ΔstkP were also suppressed by MurZ amino-acid changes distant from the active site, including one in commonly studied laboratory strains, and by truncation or deletion of the homolog of IreB(ReoM). Unlike in other Gram-positive bacteria, MurZ is predominant to MurA in pneumococcal cells. However, ΔgpsB and ΔstkP were not suppressed by ΔclpCP, which did not alter MurZ or MurA amounts. These results support a model in which regulation of MurZ and MurA activity, likely by IreB(Spn), is the only essential requirement for StkP-mediated protein phosphorylation in exponentially growing D39 pneumococcal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Merrin Joseph
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Jiaqi J. Zheng
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Amilcar J. Perez
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Irfan Manzoor
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Britta E. Rued
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - John D. Richardson
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Pavel Branny
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Linda Doubravová
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Orietta Massidda
- Department of Cellular, Computational, and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Italy
| | - Malcolm E. Winkler
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA
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8
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Taguchi A, Nakashima R, Nishino K. Functional and structural characterization of Streptococcus pneumoniae pyruvate kinase involved in fosfomycin resistance. J Biol Chem 2023:104892. [PMID: 37286036 PMCID: PMC10338316 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycolysis is the primary metabolic pathway in the strictly fermentative Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is a major human pathogen associated with antibiotic resistance. Pyruvate kinase (PYK) is the last enzyme in this pathway that catalyzes the production of pyruvate from phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and plays a crucial role in controlling carbon flux; however, while S. pneumoniae PYK (SpPYK) is indispensable for growth, surprisingly little is known about its functional properties. Here, we report that compromising mutations in SpPYK confer resistance to the antibiotic fosfomycin, which inhibits the peptidoglycan synthesis enzyme MurA, implying a direct link between PYK and cell wall biogenesis. The crystal structures of SpPYK in the apo and ligand-bound states reveal key interactions that contribute to its conformational change as well as residues responsible for the recognition of PEP and the allosteric activator fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP). Strikingly, FBP binding was observed at a location distinct from previously reported PYK effector binding sites. Furthermore, we show that SpPYK could be engineered to become more responsive to glucose 6-phosphate instead of FBP by sequence and structure-guided mutagenesis of the effector binding site. Together, our work sheds light on the regulatory mechanism of SpPYK and lays the groundwork for antibiotic development that targets this essential enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Taguchi
- SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research), Osaka University, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan; Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
| | - Ryosuke Nakashima
- SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research), Osaka University, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan
| | - Kunihiko Nishino
- SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research), Osaka University, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan; Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
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9
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Tang J, Guo M, Chen M, Xu B, Ran T, Wang W, Ma Z, Lin H, Fan H. A link between STK signalling and capsular polysaccharide synthesis in Streptococcus suis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2480. [PMID: 37120581 PMCID: PMC10148854 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38210-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthesis of capsular polysaccharide (CPS), an important virulence factor of pathogenic bacteria, is modulated by the CpsBCD phosphoregulatory system in Streptococcus. Serine/threonine kinases (STKs, e.g. Stk1) can also regulate CPS synthesis, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we identify a protein (CcpS) that is phosphorylated by Stk1 and modulates the activity of phosphatase CpsB in Streptococcus suis, thus linking Stk1 to CPS synthesis. The crystal structure of CcpS shows an intrinsically disordered region at its N-terminus, including two threonine residues that are phosphorylated by Stk1. The activity of phosphatase CpsB is inhibited when bound to non-phosphorylated CcpS. Thus, CcpS modulates the activity of phosphatase CpsB thereby altering CpsD phosphorylation, which in turn modulates the expression of the Wzx-Wzy pathway and thus CPS production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsheng Tang
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Mengru Guo
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Min Chen
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Bin Xu
- National Research Center of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Tingting Ran
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Weiwu Wang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Zhe Ma
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- Jiangsu Coinnovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Huixing Lin
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- Jiangsu Coinnovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Hongjie Fan
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
- Jiangsu Coinnovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
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10
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Paul NP, Galván AE, Yoshinaga-Sakurai K, Rosen BP, Yoshinaga M. Arsenic in medicine: past, present and future. Biometals 2023; 36:283-301. [PMID: 35190937 PMCID: PMC8860286 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-022-00371-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Arsenicals are one of the oldest treatments for a variety of human disorders. Although infamous for its toxicity, arsenic is paradoxically a therapeutic agent that has been used since ancient times for the treatment of multiple diseases. The use of most arsenic-based drugs was abandoned with the discovery of antibiotics in the 1940s, but a few remained in use such as those for the treatment of trypanosomiasis. In the 1970s, arsenic trioxide, the active ingredient in a traditional Chinese medicine, was shown to produce dramatic remission of acute promyelocytic leukemia similar to the effect of all-trans retinoic acid. Since then, there has been a renewed interest in the clinical use of arsenicals. Here the ancient and modern medicinal uses of inorganic and organic arsenicals are reviewed. Included are antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic and anticancer applications. In the face of increasing antibiotic resistance and the emergence of deadly pathogens such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, we propose revisiting arsenicals with proven efficacy to combat emerging pathogens. Current advances in science and technology can be employed to design newer arsenical drugs with high therapeutic index. These novel arsenicals can be used in combination with existing drugs or serve as valuable alternatives in the fight against cancer and emerging pathogens. The discovery of the pentavalent arsenic-containing antibiotic arsinothricin, which is effective against multidrug-resistant pathogens, illustrates the future potential of this new class of organoarsenical antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngozi P Paul
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Adriana E Galván
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Kunie Yoshinaga-Sakurai
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Barry P Rosen
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
| | - Masafumi Yoshinaga
- Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
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11
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Tsui HCT, Joseph M, Zheng JJ, Perez AJ, Manzoor I, Rued BE, Richardson JD, Branny P, Doubravová L, Massidda O, Winkler ME. Chromosomal Duplications of MurZ (MurA2) or MurA (MurA1), Amino Acid Substitutions in MurZ (MurA2), and Absence of KhpAB Obviate the Requirement for Protein Phosphorylation in Streptococcus pneumoniae D39. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.26.534294. [PMID: 37034771 PMCID: PMC10081211 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.26.534294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
GpsB links peptidoglycan synthases to other proteins that determine the shape of the respiratory pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus; Spn ) and other low-GC Gram-positive bacteria. GpsB is also required for phosphorylation of proteins by the essential StkP( Spn ) Ser/Thr protein kinase. Here we report three classes of frequently arising chromosomal duplications (≈21-176 genes) containing murZ (MurZ-family homolog of MurA) or murA that suppress Δ gpsB or Δ stkP . These duplications arose from three different repeated sequences and demonstrate the facility of pneumococcus to modulate gene dosage of numerous genes. Overproduction of MurZ or MurA alone or overexpression of MurZ caused by Δ khpAB mutations suppressed Δ gpsB or Δ stkP phenotypes to varying extents. Δ gpsB and Δ stkP were also suppressed by MurZ amino-acid changes distant from the active site, including one in commonly studied laboratory strains, and by truncation or deletion of the homolog of IreB(ReoM). Unlike in other Gram-positive bacteria, MurZ is predominant to MurA in pneumococcal cells. However, Δ gpsB and Δ stkP were not suppressed by Δ clpCP , which did not alter MurZ or MurA amounts. These results support a model in which regulation of MurZ and MurA activity, likely by IreB( Spn ), is the only essential requirement for protein phosphorylation in exponentially growing D39 pneumococcal cells.
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12
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Zhou Y, Utama B, Pratap S, Supandy A, Song X, Tran TT, Mehta HH, Arias CA, Shamoo Y. Enolpyruvate transferase MurAA A149E, identified during adaptation of Enterococcus faecium to daptomycin, increases stability of MurAA-MurG interaction. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:102912. [PMID: 36649910 PMCID: PMC9975281 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.102912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Daptomycin (DAP) is an antibiotic frequently used as a drug of last resort against vancomycin-resistant enterococci. One of the major challenges when using DAP against vancomycin-resistant enterococci is the emergence of resistance, which is mediated by the cell-envelope stress system LiaFSR. Indeed, inhibition of LiaFSR signaling has been suggested as a strategy to "resensitize" enterococci to DAP. In the absence of LiaFSR, alternative pathways mediating DAP resistance have been identified, including adaptive mutations in the enolpyruvate transferase MurAA (MurAAA149E), which catalyzes the first committed step in peptidoglycan biosynthesis; however, how these mutations confer resistance is unclear. Here, we investigated the biochemical basis for MurAAA149E-mediated adaptation to DAP to determine whether such an alternative pathway would undermine the potential efficacy of therapies that target the LiaFSR pathway. We found cells expressing MurAAA149E had increased susceptibility to glycoside hydrolases, consistent with decreased cell wall integrity. Furthermore, structure-function studies of MurAA and MurAAA149E using X-ray crystallography and biochemical analyses indicated only a modest decrease in MurAAA149E activity, but a 16-fold increase in affinity for MurG, which performs the last intracellular step of peptidoglycan synthesis. Exposure to DAP leads to mislocalization of cell division proteins including MurG. In Bacillus subtilis, MurAA and MurG colocalize at division septa and, thus, we propose MurAAA149E may contribute to DAP nonsusceptibility by increasing the stability of MurAA-MurG interactions to reduce DAP-induced mislocalization of these essential protein complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhou
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Budi Utama
- Shared Equipment Authority, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Adeline Supandy
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Xinhao Song
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Truc T Tran
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Heer H Mehta
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Cesar A Arias
- Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yousif Shamoo
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA.
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13
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Zhou H, Chen L, Ouyang K, Zhang Q, Wang W. Antibacterial activity and mechanism of flavonoids from Chimonanthus salicifolius S. Y. Hu. and its transcriptome analysis against Staphylococcus aureus. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1103476. [PMID: 36704556 PMCID: PMC9871464 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1103476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Chimonanthus salicifolius S. Y. Hu. (FCS) possess many biological activities, but the antibacterial activity and underlying mechanisms of flavonoids from Chimonanthus salicifolius S. Y. Hu. (FCS) is still unknown. Method Maximum diameter of inhibition zone (DIZ), maximum diameter of inhibition zone (DIZ), the lowest minimum inhibition concentration (MIC), and the lowest minimum bactericide concentration (MBC) were used to detect the antibacterial activity. Meanwhile, related enzyme activities, the transcriptome analysis and quantitative RT-PCR were used to investigate the antibacterial activity mechanisms. Results The results showed that FCS (with a purity of 84.2 ± 2.0%) has potential effects on tested strains with the maximum diameter of inhibition zone (DIZ) was 15.93 ± 2.63 mm, the lowest minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) was 1.56 mg/ml and the lowest minimum bactericide concentration (MBC) was 6.25 mg/ml. In addition, the bacterial growth curve test, release of extracellular alkaline phosphatase (AKP), loss of intracellular components, DNA damage and transmission electron microscope (TEM) suggested that FCS could destroy the cell wall and membrane, cause the loss of intracellular substance, cause DNA damage and even lead to cell death. Moreover, the antibacterial mechanism of FCS against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, Gram-positive bacteria) was further confirmed by the transcriptome analysis and quantitative RT-PCR at the molecular level for the first time. A total of 671 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified after treated with FCS (1/2 MIC), with 338 and 333 genes showing up-regulation and down-regulation, respectively. The highlighted changes were those related to the biosynthesis of bacteria wall and membrane, DNA replication and repair, and energy metabolism. Discussion Overall, our research provides theoretical guidance for the application of FCS, which is expected to be potentially used as a natural antimicrobial agent in food safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhou
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products and Functional Food, College of Food Science and Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Lingli Chen
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products and Functional Food, College of Food Science and Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Kehui Ouyang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Qingfeng Zhang
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products and Functional Food, College of Food Science and Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Wenjun Wang
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products and Functional Food, College of Food Science and Engineering, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China,*Correspondence: Wenjun Wang, ✉
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14
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Genome-Wide Transposon Mutagenesis Screens Identify Group A Streptococcus Genes Affecting Susceptibility to β-Lactam Antibiotics. J Bacteriol 2022; 204:e0028722. [PMID: 36374114 PMCID: PMC9765115 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00287-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a Gram-positive human bacterial pathogen responsible for more than 700 million infections annually worldwide. Beta-lactam antibiotics are the primary agents used to treat GAS infections. Naturally occurring GAS clinical isolates with decreased susceptibility to beta-lactam antibiotics attributed to mutations in PBP2X have recently been documented. This prompted us to perform a genome-wide screen to identify GAS genes that alter beta-lactam susceptibility in vitro. Using saturated transposon mutagenesis, we screened for GAS gene mutations conferring altered in vitro susceptibility to penicillin G and/or ceftriaxone, two beta-lactam antibiotics commonly used to treat GAS infections. In the aggregate, we found that inactivating mutations in 150 GAS genes are associated with altered susceptibility to penicillin G and/or ceftriaxone. Many of the genes identified were previously not known to alter beta-lactam susceptibility or affect cell wall biosynthesis. Using isogenic mutant strains, we confirmed that inactivation of clpX (Clp protease ATP-binding subunit) or cppA (CppA proteinase) resulted in decreased in vitro susceptibility to penicillin G and ceftriaxone. Deletion of murA1 (UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 1-carboxyvinyltransferase) conferred increased susceptibility to ceftriaxone. Our results provide new information about the GAS genes affecting susceptibility to beta-lactam antibiotics. IMPORTANCE Beta-lactam antibiotics are the primary drugs prescribed to treat infections caused by group A streptococcus (GAS), an important human pathogen. However, the molecular mechanisms of GAS interactions with beta-lactam antibiotics are not fully understood. In this study, we performed a genome-wide mutagenesis screen to identify GAS mutations conferring altered susceptibility to beta-lactam antibiotics. In the aggregate, we discovered that mutations in 150 GAS genes were associated with altered beta-lactam susceptibility. Many identified genes were previously not known to alter beta-lactam susceptibility or affect cell wall biosynthesis. Our results provide new information about the molecular mechanisms of GAS interaction with beta-lactam antibiotics.
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15
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Schulz LM, Rothe P, Halbedel S, Gründling A, Rismondo J. Imbalance of peptidoglycan biosynthesis alters the cell surface charge of Listeria monocytogenes. Cell Surf 2022; 8:100085. [PMID: 36304571 PMCID: PMC9593813 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcsw.2022.100085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterial cell wall is composed of a thick layer of peptidoglycan and cell wall polymers, which are either embedded in the membrane or linked to the peptidoglycan backbone and referred to as lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and wall teichoic acid (WTA), respectively. Modifications of the peptidoglycan or WTA backbone can alter the susceptibility of the bacterial cell towards cationic antimicrobials and lysozyme. The human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is intrinsically resistant towards lysozyme, mainly due to deacetylation and O-acetylation of the peptidoglycan backbone via PgdA and OatA. Recent studies identified additional factors, which contribute to the lysozyme resistance of this pathogen. One of these is the predicted ABC transporter, EslABC. An eslB mutant is hyper-sensitive towards lysozyme, likely due to the production of thinner and less O-acetylated peptidoglycan. Using a suppressor screen, we show here that suppression of eslB phenotypes could be achieved by enhancing peptidoglycan biosynthesis, reducing peptidoglycan hydrolysis or alterations in WTA biosynthesis and modification. The lack of EslB also leads to a higher negative surface charge, which likely stimulates the activity of peptidoglycan hydrolases and lysozyme. Based on our results, we hypothesize that the portion of cell surface exposed WTA is increased in the eslB mutant due to the thinner peptidoglycan layer and that latter one could be caused by an impairment in UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) production or distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Maria Schulz
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Patricia Rothe
- FG11, Division of Enteropathogenic Bacteria and Legionella, Robert Koch Institute, Burgstraße 37, 38855 Wernigerode, Germany
| | - Sven Halbedel
- FG11, Division of Enteropathogenic Bacteria and Legionella, Robert Koch Institute, Burgstraße 37, 38855 Wernigerode, Germany
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Straße 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Angelika Gründling
- Section of Molecular Microbiology and Medical Research Council Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Jeanine Rismondo
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, GZMB, Georg-August University Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Section of Molecular Microbiology and Medical Research Council Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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16
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Fathalla RK, Fröhner W, Bader CD, Fischer PD, Dahlem C, Chatterjee D, Mathea S, Kiemer AK, Arthanari H, Müller R, Abdel-Halim M, Ducho C, Engel M. Identification and Biochemical Characterization of Pyrrolidinediones as Novel Inhibitors of the Bacterial Enzyme MurA. J Med Chem 2022; 65:14740-14763. [PMID: 36269107 PMCID: PMC9989942 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To develop novel antibiotics, targeting the early steps of cell wall peptidoglycan biosynthesis seems to be a promising strategy that is still underutilized. MurA, the first enzyme in this pathway, is targeted by the clinically used irreversible inhibitor fosfomycin. However, mutations in its binding site can cause bacterial resistance. We herein report a series of novel reversible pyrrolidinedione-based MurA inhibitors that equally inhibit wild type (WT) MurA and the fosfomycin-resistant MurA C115D mutant, showing an additive effect with fosfomycin for the inhibition of WT MurA. For the most potent inhibitor 46 (IC50 = 4.5 μM), the mode of inhibition was analyzed using native mass spectrometry and protein NMR spectroscopy. The compound class was nontoxic against human cells and highly stable in human S9 fraction, human plasma, and bacterial cell lysate. Taken together, this novel compound class might be further developed toward antibiotic drug candidates that inhibit cell wall synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem K. Fathalla
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Saarland University, Campus C2 3, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Fröhner
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Saarland University, Campus C2 3, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Chantal D. Bader
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Patrick D. Fischer
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Saarland University, Campus C2 3, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 02215, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, 02115, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charlotte Dahlem
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Saarland University, Campus C2 3, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Deep Chatterjee
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe-University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Sebastian Mathea
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe-University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Alexandra K. Kiemer
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Saarland University, Campus C2 3, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Haribabu Arthanari
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 02215, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, 02115, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rolf Müller
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- Helmholtz International Lab for Antiinfectives, Campus E8 1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Mohammad Abdel-Halim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Christian Ducho
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Saarland University, Campus C2 3, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Matthias Engel
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Saarland University, Campus C2 3, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
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17
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Genetic Screens Identify Additional Genes Implicated in Envelope Remodeling during the Engulfment Stage of Bacillus subtilis Sporulation. mBio 2022; 13:e0173222. [PMID: 36066101 PMCID: PMC9600426 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01732-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
During bacterial endospore formation, the developing spore is internalized into the mother cell through a phagocytic-like process called engulfment, which involves synthesis and hydrolysis of peptidoglycan. Engulfment peptidoglycan hydrolysis requires the widely conserved and well-characterized DMP complex, composed of SpoIID, SpoIIM, and SpoIIP. In contrast, although peptidoglycan synthesis has been implicated in engulfment, the protein players involved are less well defined. The widely conserved SpoIIIAH-SpoIIQ interaction is also required for engulfment efficiency, functioning like a ratchet to promote membrane migration around the forespore. Here, we screened for additional factors required for engulfment using transposon sequencing in Bacillus subtilis mutants with mild engulfment defects. We discovered that YrvJ, a peptidoglycan hydrolase, and the MurA paralog MurAB, involved in peptidoglycan precursor synthesis, are required for efficient engulfment. Cytological analyses suggest that both factors are important for engulfment when the DMP complex is compromised and that MurAB is additionally required when the SpoIIIAH-SpoIIQ ratchet is abolished. Interestingly, despite the importance of MurAB for sporulation in B. subtilis, phylogenetic analyses of MurA paralogs indicate that there is no correlation between sporulation and the number of MurA paralogs and further reveal the existence of a third MurA paralog, MurAC, within the Firmicutes. Collectively, our studies identify two new factors that are required for efficient envelop remodeling during sporulation and highlight the importance of peptidoglycan precursor synthesis for efficient engulfment in B. subtilis and likely other endospore-forming bacteria.
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18
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Zhang F, Graham J, Zhai T, Liu Y, Huang Z. Discovery of MurA Inhibitors as Novel Antimicrobials through an Integrated Computational and Experimental Approach. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11040528. [PMID: 35453279 PMCID: PMC9031695 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11040528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial cell wall is essential for protecting bacteria from the surrounding environment and maintaining the integrity of bacteria cells. The MurA enzyme, which is an essential enzyme involved in bacterial cell wall synthesis, could be a good drug target for antibiotics. Although fosfomycin is used clinically as a MurA inhibitor, resistance to this antibiotic is a concern. Here we used molecular docking-based virtual screening approaches to identify potential MurA inhibitors from 1.412 million compounds from three databases. Thirty-three top compounds from virtual screening were experimentally tested in Listeria innocua (Gram-positive bacterium) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative bacterium). Compound 2-Amino-5-bromobenzimidazole (S17) showed growth inhibition effect in both L. innocua and E. coli, with the same Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value of 0.5 mg/mL. Compound 2-[4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene]-n-nitrohydrazinecarboximidamide (C1) had growth inhibition effect only in L. innocua, with a MIC value of 0.5 mg/mL. Two FDA-approved drugs, albendazole (S4) and diflunisal (S8), had a growth inhibition effect only in E. coli, with a MIC value of 0.0625 mg/mL. The identified MurA inhibitors could be potential novel antibiotics. Furthermore, they could be potential fosfomycin substitutes for the fosfomycin-resistant strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangyuan Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085, USA; (F.Z.); (J.G.); (T.Z.)
| | - Joshua Graham
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085, USA; (F.Z.); (J.G.); (T.Z.)
| | - Tianhua Zhai
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085, USA; (F.Z.); (J.G.); (T.Z.)
| | - Yanhong Liu
- Molecular Characterization of Foodborne Pathogens Research Unit, Eastern Regional Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wyndmoor, PA 19038, USA
- Correspondence: (Y.L.); (Z.H.); Tel.: +1-215-233-6587 (Y.L.); +1-610-519-4848 (Z.H.)
| | - Zuyi Huang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085, USA; (F.Z.); (J.G.); (T.Z.)
- Correspondence: (Y.L.); (Z.H.); Tel.: +1-215-233-6587 (Y.L.); +1-610-519-4848 (Z.H.)
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19
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Use of an Interspecies Chimeric Receptor for Inducible Gene Expression Reveals that Metabolic Flux through the Peptidoglycan Biosynthesis Pathway is an Important Driver of Cephalosporin Resistance in Enterococcus faecalis. J Bacteriol 2022; 204:e0060221. [PMID: 35258319 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00602-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cephalosporins are commonly prescribed antibiotics that impair cross-linking of the bacterial cell wall. The Gram-positive opportunistic pathogen, Enterococcus faecalis, is intrinsically resistant to these antibiotics and proliferates substantially during cephalosporin therapy. As a result, the usage of cephalosporins has the potential to lead to life-threatening enterococcal infections. Yet, the molecular mechanisms that drive cephalosporin resistance (CR) are incompletely understood. Previously, we demonstrated that MurAA, an enzyme that catalyzes the first committed step in peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis, is required for CR. However, the mechanism by which MurAA contributes to CR remained unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis that MurAA drives CR by controlling metabolic flux through the PG synthesis pathway. To do so, we developed and exploited an inducible gene expression system for E. faecalis based on an interspecies chimeric receptor that responds to exogenous nitrate for control of expression from a NisR-regulated promoter (PnisA). We used this tool to demonstrate synthetic lethality of MurAA with its homolog MurAB, to titrate expression of MurAA, and to conditionally deplete multiple PG synthesis enzymes downstream of MurAA that are predicted to be essential. These genetic manipulations, in addition to pharmacological inhibition of the PG synthesis pathway, all led to reductions in PG synthesis that correlated with reductions in CR. Our findings are consistent with a model in which control of metabolic flux through the PG synthesis pathway is a major driver of CR. IMPORTANCE Enterococci are dangerous opportunistic pathogens with the potential to cause life-threatening infections due in part to their intrinsic resistance to cephalosporin antibiotics. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms that provide this resistance is critical for the development of strategies to both prevent and treat enterococcal infections. Here, we report that the cell wall synthesis enzyme, MurAA, drives cephalosporin resistance at least in part by controlling metabolic flux through the peptidoglycan synthesis pathway. To demonstrate this, we designed and validated an inducible gene expression system based on a chimeric receptor that is functional in multiple lineages of E. faecalis. In doing so, we provided a new tool for inducible gene expression with broad applications beyond our studies, including studies of essential genes.
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20
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Raina D, Kumar C, Kumar V, Khan IA, Saran S. Potential Inhibitors Targeting Escherichia coli UDP-N-Acetylglucosamine Enolpyruvyl Transferase (MurA): An Overview. Indian J Microbiol 2022; 62:11-22. [PMID: 35068599 PMCID: PMC8758813 DOI: 10.1007/s12088-021-00988-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest challenges that is escalating and affecting humanity across the globe. To overcome this increasing burden of resistance, discovering novel hits by targeting the enzymes involved in peptidoglycan (murein) biosynthesis has always been considered better in antimicrobial drug discovery. UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferase (MurA) enzyme has been identified as essential for Escherichia coli survival and catalyzes the early-stage step in bacterial cell wall synthesis. The present article gives a brief overview of the role of enzymes in peptidoglycan synthesis and MurA enzyme (previously known as MurZ in E. coli), in particular, including its structural and active site features. This review also provides an insight into the current knowledge of the reported MurA inhibitors, their mechanism of action and drawbacks of these hits that hinder their clinical trials, which would be helpful for synthesis and discovering potent molecules. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12088-021-00988-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diksha Raina
- Fermentation and Microbial Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu Tawi, 180001 India ,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002 India
| | - Chetan Kumar
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002 India ,Natural Product and Medicinal Chemistry Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu Tawi, 180001 India
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Fermentation and Microbial Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu Tawi, 180001 India ,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002 India
| | - Inshad Ali Khan
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, Rajasthan 305817 India
| | - Saurabh Saran
- Fermentation and Microbial Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu Tawi, 180001 India ,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002 India
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21
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Hager-Mair FF, Stefanović C, Lim C, Webhofer K, Krauter S, Blaukopf M, Ludwig R, Kosma P, Schäffer C. Assaying Paenibacillus alvei CsaB-Catalysed Ketalpyruvyltransfer to Saccharides by Measurement of Phosphate Release. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11111732. [PMID: 34827730 PMCID: PMC8615578 DOI: 10.3390/biom11111732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ketalpyruvyltransferases belong to a widespread but little investigated class of enzymes, which utilise phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) for the pyruvylation of saccharides. Pyruvylated saccharides play pivotal biological roles, ranging from protein binding to virulence. Limiting factors for the characterisation of ketalpyruvyltransferases are the availability of cognate acceptor substrates and a straightforward enzyme assay. We report on a fast ketalpyruvyltransferase assay based on the colorimetric detection of phosphate released during pyruvyltransfer from PEP onto the acceptor via complexation with Malachite Green and molybdate. To optimise the assay for the model 4,6-ketalpyruvyl::ManNAc-transferase CsaB from Paenibacillus alvei, a β-d-ManNAc-α-d-GlcNAc-diphosphoryl-11-phenoxyundecyl acceptor mimicking an intermediate of the bacterium's cell wall glycopolymer biosynthesis pathway, upon which CsaB is naturally active, was produced chemo-enzymatically and used together with recombinant CsaB. Optimal assay conditions were 5 min reaction time at 37 °C and pH 7.5, followed by colour development for 1 h at 37 °C and measurement of absorbance at 620 nm. The structure of the generated pyruvylated product was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. Using the established assay, the first kinetic constants of a 4,6-ketalpyuvyl::ManNAc-transferase could be determined; upon variation of the acceptor and PEP concentrations, a KM, PEP of 19.50 ± 3.50 µM and kcat, PEP of 0.21 ± 0.01 s-1 as well as a KM, Acceptor of 258 ± 38 µM and a kcat, Acceptor of 0.15 ± 0.01 s-1 were revealed. P. alvei CsaB was inactive on synthetic pNP-β-d-ManNAc and β-d-ManNAc-β-d-GlcNAc-1-OMe, supporting the necessity of a complex acceptor substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona F. Hager-Mair
- NanoGlycobiology Unit, Department of NanoBiotechnology, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, 1190 Vienna, Austria; (F.F.H.-M.); (C.S.)
| | - Cordula Stefanović
- NanoGlycobiology Unit, Department of NanoBiotechnology, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, 1190 Vienna, Austria; (F.F.H.-M.); (C.S.)
| | - Charlie Lim
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, 1190 Vienna, Austria; (C.L.); (K.W.); (S.K.); (M.B.); (P.K.)
| | - Katharina Webhofer
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, 1190 Vienna, Austria; (C.L.); (K.W.); (S.K.); (M.B.); (P.K.)
| | - Simon Krauter
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, 1190 Vienna, Austria; (C.L.); (K.W.); (S.K.); (M.B.); (P.K.)
| | - Markus Blaukopf
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, 1190 Vienna, Austria; (C.L.); (K.W.); (S.K.); (M.B.); (P.K.)
| | - Roland Ludwig
- Biocatalysis and Biosensing Laboratory, Department of Food Science and Technology, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, 1190 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Paul Kosma
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, 1190 Vienna, Austria; (C.L.); (K.W.); (S.K.); (M.B.); (P.K.)
| | - Christina Schäffer
- NanoGlycobiology Unit, Department of NanoBiotechnology, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, 1190 Vienna, Austria; (F.F.H.-M.); (C.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-1-47654 (ext. 80203)
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22
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Biodegradation of aromatic pollutants meets synthetic biology. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2021; 6:153-162. [PMID: 34278013 PMCID: PMC8260767 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2021.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitously distributed microorganisms are natural decomposers of environmental pollutants. However, because of continuous generation of novel recalcitrant pollutants due to human activities, it is difficult, if not impossible, for microbes to acquire novel degradation mechanisms through natural evolution. Synthetic biology provides tools to engineer, transform or even re-synthesize an organism purposefully, accelerating transition from unable to able, inefficient to efficient degradation of given pollutants, and therefore, providing new solutions for environmental bioremediation. In this review, we described the pipeline to build chassis cells for the treatment of aromatic pollutants, and presented a proposal to design microbes with emphasis on the strategies applied to modify the target organism at different level. Finally, we discussed challenges and opportunities for future research in this field.
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23
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Shinde Y, Ahmad I, Surana S, Patel H. The Mur Enzymes Chink in the Armour of Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 222:113568. [PMID: 34118719 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
TUBERCULOSIS: (TB) transmitted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is one of the top 10 causes of death globally. Currently, the widespread occurrence of resistance toward Mtb strains is becoming a significant concern to public health. This scenario exaggerated the need for the discovery of novel targets and their inhibitors. Targeting the "Mtb cell wall peptidoglycan synthesis" is an attractive strategy to overcome drug resistance. Mur enzymes (MurA-MurF) play essential roles in the peptidoglycan synthesis by catalyzing the ligation of key amino acid residues to the stem peptide. These enzymes are unique and confined to the eubacteria and are absent in humans, representing potential targets for anti-tubercular drug discovery. Mtb Mur ligases with the same catalytic mechanism share conserved amino acid regions and structural features that can conceivably exploit for the designing of the inhibitors, which can simultaneously target more than one isoforms (MurC-MurF) of the enzyme. In light of these findings in the current review, we have discussed the recent advances in medicinal chemistry of Mtb Mur enzymes (MurA-MurF) and their inhibitors, offering attractive multi-targeted strategies to combat the problem of drug-resistant in M. tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashodeep Shinde
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, R. C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Shirpur, District Dhule, 425405, Maharashtra, India
| | - Iqrar Ahmad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, R. C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Shirpur, District Dhule, 425405, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sanjay Surana
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, R. C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Shirpur, District Dhule, 425405, Maharashtra, India
| | - Harun Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, R. C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Shirpur, District Dhule, 425405, Maharashtra, India.
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24
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Maitra A, Munshi T, Healy J, Martin LT, Vollmer W, Keep NH, Bhakta S. Cell wall peptidoglycan in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: An Achilles' heel for the TB-causing pathogen. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2020; 43:548-575. [PMID: 31183501 PMCID: PMC6736417 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuz016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains one of the leading causes of mortality across the world. There is an urgent requirement to build a robust arsenal of effective antimicrobials, targeting novel molecular mechanisms to overcome the challenges posed by the increase of antibiotic resistance in TB. Mycobacterium tuberculosis has a unique cell envelope structure and composition, containing a peptidoglycan layer that is essential for maintaining cellular integrity and for virulence. The enzymes involved in the biosynthesis, degradation, remodelling and recycling of peptidoglycan have resurfaced as attractive targets for anti-infective drug discovery. Here, we review the importance of peptidoglycan, including the structure, function and regulation of key enzymes involved in its metabolism. We also discuss known inhibitors of ATP-dependent Mur ligases, and discuss the potential for the development of pan-enzyme inhibitors targeting multiple Mur ligases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arundhati Maitra
- Mycobacteria Research Laboratory, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, UK
| | - Tulika Munshi
- Mycobacteria Research Laboratory, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, UK
| | - Jess Healy
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Liam T Martin
- Mycobacteria Research Laboratory, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, UK
| | - Waldemar Vollmer
- The Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK
| | - Nicholas H Keep
- Mycobacteria Research Laboratory, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, UK
| | - Sanjib Bhakta
- Mycobacteria Research Laboratory, Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, UK
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25
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Abstract
Despite efforts to develop new antibiotics, antibacterial resistance still develops too fast for drug discovery to keep pace. Often, resistance against a new drug develops even before it reaches the market. This continued resistance crisis has demonstrated that resistance to antibiotics with single protein targets develops too rapidly to be sustainable. Most successful long-established antibiotics target more than one molecule or possess targets, which are encoded by multiple genes. This realization has motivated a change in antibiotic development toward drug candidates with multiple targets. Some mechanisms of action presuppose multiple targets or at least multiple effects, such as targeting the cytoplasmic membrane or the carrier molecule bactoprenol phosphate and are therefore particularly promising. Moreover, combination therapy approaches are being developed to break antibiotic resistance or to sensitize bacteria to antibiotic action. In this Review, we provide an overview of antibacterial multitarget approaches and the mechanisms behind them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Declan Alan Gray
- Newcastle University
Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, NE2 4HH Newcastle
upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Michaela Wenzel
- Division of Chemical
Biology, Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
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26
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Wamp S, Rutter ZJ, Rismondo J, Jennings CE, Möller L, Lewis RJ, Halbedel S. PrkA controls peptidoglycan biosynthesis through the essential phosphorylation of ReoM. eLife 2020; 9:56048. [PMID: 32469310 PMCID: PMC7286690 DOI: 10.7554/elife.56048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptidoglycan (PG) is the main component of bacterial cell walls and the target for many antibiotics. PG biosynthesis is tightly coordinated with cell wall growth and turnover, and many of these control activities depend upon PASTA-domain containing eukaryotic-like serine/threonine protein kinases (PASTA-eSTK) that sense PG fragments. However, only a few PG biosynthetic enzymes are direct kinase substrates. Here, we identify the conserved ReoM protein as a novel PASTA-eSTK substrate in the Gram-positive pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. Our data show that the phosphorylation of ReoM is essential as it controls ClpCP-dependent proteolytic degradation of the essential enzyme MurA, which catalyses the first committed step in PG biosynthesis. We also identify ReoY as a second novel factor required for degradation of ClpCP substrates. Collectively, our data imply that the first committed step of PG biosynthesis is activated through control of ClpCP protease activity in response to signals of PG homeostasis imbalance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Wamp
- FG11 - Division of Enteropathogenic bacteria and Legionella, Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany
| | - Zoe J Rutter
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Medical School, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jeanine Rismondo
- FG11 - Division of Enteropathogenic bacteria and Legionella, Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany.,Department of General Microbiology, GZMB, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claire E Jennings
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Lars Möller
- ZBS 4 - Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Richard J Lewis
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Medical School, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Sven Halbedel
- FG11 - Division of Enteropathogenic bacteria and Legionella, Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany
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27
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Utami MF, Matsuda Y, Takada A, Iwai N, Hirasawa T, Wachi M. Growth promotion in Corynebacterium glutamicum by overexpression of the NCgl2986 gene encoding a protein homologous to peptidoglycan amidases. J GEN APPL MICROBIOL 2020; 66:1-7. [PMID: 31217415 DOI: 10.2323/jgam.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
We previously reported the extracellular production of antibody fragment Fab by Corynebacterium glutamicum. In the course of searching for genes which improve the secretion efficiency of Fab, we coincidentally found that the final growth increased significantly when the NCgl2986 gene encoding an amidase-like protein was overexpressed. This effect was observed when cells were grown on the production medium MMTG, which contains high concentrations of glucose and neutralizing agent CaCO3, but not on MMTG without CaCO3 or Lennox medium. Not only turbidity but also dry cell weight was increased by NCgl2986 overexpression, although the growth rate was not affected. It was recently reported that the Mycobacterium tuberculosis homolog Rv3915 functions as an activator of MurA protein, which catalyzes the initial step of peptidoglycan synthesis. Growth promotion was also observed when the MurA protein was overproduced. His-tagged NCgl2986 protein was purified, but its peptidoglycan hydrolyzing activity could not be detected. These results suggest that NCgl2986 promotes cell growth by activating the peptidoglycan synthetic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia Fitria Utami
- Department of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology
| | - Yoshihiko Matsuda
- Research Institute for Bioscience Products & Fine Chemicals, Ajinomoto Co., Inc
| | - Ayako Takada
- Biomaterials Analysis Division, Technical Department, Tokyo Institute of Technology
| | - Noritaka Iwai
- Department of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology
| | - Takashi Hirasawa
- Department of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology
| | - Masaaki Wachi
- Department of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology
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28
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Sapkota M, Marreddy RKR, Wu X, Kumar M, Hurdle JG. The early stage peptidoglycan biosynthesis Mur enzymes are antibacterial and antisporulation drug targets for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection. Anaerobe 2019; 61:102129. [PMID: 31760080 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2019.102129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Sporulation during Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) contributes to recurrent disease. Cell division and sporulation both require peptidoglycan biosynthesis. We show C. difficile growth and sporulation is attenuated by antisenses to murA and murC or the MurA inhibitor fosfomycin. Thus, targeting the early steps of peptidoglycan biosynthesis might reduce the onset of recurrent CDI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhab Sapkota
- University of Texas at Arlington, Department of Biology, Arlington, TX, 76019, United States
| | - Ravi K R Marreddy
- Texas A & M University Health Science Center, Biosciences and Technology, Houston, TX, 77030, United States
| | - Xiaoqian Wu
- Texas A & M University Health Science Center, Biosciences and Technology, Houston, TX, 77030, United States
| | - Manish Kumar
- University of Texas at Arlington, Department of Biology, Arlington, TX, 76019, United States
| | - Julian G Hurdle
- Texas A & M University Health Science Center, Biosciences and Technology, Houston, TX, 77030, United States.
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29
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Shi T, Ma Q, Liu X, Hao Y, Li Y, Xu Q, Xie X, Chen N. Double deletion of murA and murB induced temperature sensitivity in Corynebacterium glutamicum. Bioengineered 2019; 10:561-573. [PMID: 31648597 PMCID: PMC6844371 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2019.1685058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, the mechanism of temperature-sensitive production of glutamate in Corynebacterium glutamicum has not been clarified. We first found the murA and murB genes were potentially related to temperature-sensitive secretion of glutamate, which were not existed in a temperature-sensitive mutant. When replenishing murA or/and murB in the mutant, the temperature sensitivity was weakened. While, their knockout in a wild-type strain resulted in temperature-sensitive secretion of glutamate. Peptidoglycan analysis showed that deletion of murA and murB decreased the peptidoglycan synthesis. Comparative metabolomics analysis suggested that the variation in cell wall structure resulted in decreased overall cellular metabolism but increased carbon flow to glutamate synthesis, which was a typical metabolism pattern in industrial temperature-sensitive producing strains. This study clarifies the mechanism between murA and murB deletion and the temperature-sensitive secretion of glutamate in C. glutamcium, and provides a reference for the metabolic engineering of cell wall to obtain increased bioproduction of chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuo Shi
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, P. R. China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Qian Ma
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, P. R. China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China.,College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China.,National and Local United Engineering Lab of Metabolic Control Fermentation Technology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoqian Liu
- College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Yanan Hao
- College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Yanjun Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, P. R. China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China.,College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China.,National and Local United Engineering Lab of Metabolic Control Fermentation Technology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Qingyang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, P. R. China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China.,College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China.,National and Local United Engineering Lab of Metabolic Control Fermentation Technology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Xixian Xie
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, P. R. China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China.,College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China.,National and Local United Engineering Lab of Metabolic Control Fermentation Technology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Ning Chen
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, P. R. China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China.,College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China.,National and Local United Engineering Lab of Metabolic Control Fermentation Technology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, P. R. China
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30
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Helal AM, Sayed AM, Omara M, Elsebaei MM, Mayhoub AS. Peptidoglycan pathways: there are still more! RSC Adv 2019; 9:28171-28185. [PMID: 35530449 PMCID: PMC9071014 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra04518j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of 3rd and 4th generations of currently existing classes of antibiotics has not hindered bacterial resistance, which is escalating at an alarming global level. This review follows WHO recommendations through implementing new criteria for newly discovered antibiotics. These recommendations focus on abandoning old scaffolds and hitting new targets. In light of these recommendations, this review discusses seven bacterial proteins that no commercial antibiotics have targeted yet, alongside their reported chemical scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M Helal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University Cairo 11884 Egypt
| | - Ahmed M Sayed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University Cairo 11884 Egypt
| | - Mariam Omara
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University Cairo 11884 Egypt
| | - Mohamed M Elsebaei
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University Cairo 11884 Egypt
| | - Abdelrahman S Mayhoub
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University Cairo 11884 Egypt
- University of Science and Technology, Zewail City of Science and Technology Giza Egypt
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31
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Movement dynamics of divisome proteins and PBP2x:FtsW in cells of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:3211-3220. [PMID: 30718427 PMCID: PMC6386697 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1816018116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial cell division and peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis are orchestrated by the coordinated dynamic movement of essential protein complexes. Recent studies show that bidirectional treadmilling of FtsZ filaments/bundles is tightly coupled to and limiting for both septal PG synthesis and septum closure in some bacteria, but not in others. Here we report the dynamics of FtsZ movement leading to septal and equatorial ring formation in the ovoid-shaped pathogen, Streptococcus pneumoniae Conventional and single-molecule total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFm) showed that nascent rings of FtsZ and its anchoring and stabilizing proteins FtsA and EzrA move out from mature septal rings coincident with MapZ rings early in cell division. This mode of continuous nascent ring movement contrasts with a failsafe streaming mechanism of FtsZ/FtsA/EzrA observed in a ΔmapZ mutant and another Streptococcus species. This analysis also provides several parameters of FtsZ treadmilling in nascent and mature rings, including treadmilling velocity in wild-type cells and ftsZ(GTPase) mutants, lifetimes of FtsZ subunits in filaments and of entire FtsZ filaments/bundles, and the processivity length of treadmilling of FtsZ filament/bundles. In addition, we delineated the motion of the septal PBP2x transpeptidase and its FtsW glycosyl transferase-binding partner relative to FtsZ treadmilling in S. pneumoniae cells. Five lines of evidence support the conclusion that movement of the bPBP2x:FtsW complex in septa depends on PG synthesis and not on FtsZ treadmilling. Together, these results support a model in which FtsZ dynamics and associations organize and distribute septal PG synthesis, but do not control its rate in S. pneumoniae.
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32
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Park JY, Jo SK, Park KM, Yu H, Bai J, Ryu S, Chang PS. Transcriptomic analysis of Staphylococcus aureus under the stress condition of antibacterial erythorbyl laurate by RNA sequencing. Food Control 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2018.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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33
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Yang Y, Luo M, Zhou H, Li C, Luk A, Zhao G, Fung K, Ip M. Role of Two-Component System Response Regulator bceR in the Antimicrobial Resistance, Virulence, Biofilm Formation, and Stress Response of Group B Streptococcus. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:10. [PMID: 30728810 PMCID: PMC6351488 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS; Streptococcus agalactiae) is a leading cause of sepsis in neonates and pregnant mothers worldwide. Whereas the hyper-virulent serogroup III clonal cluster 17 has been associated with neonatal disease and meningitis, serogroup III ST283 was recently implicated in invasive disease among non-pregnant adults in Asia. Here, through comparative genome analyses of invasive and non-invasive ST283 strains, we identified a truncated DNA-binding regulator of a two-component system in a non-invasive strain that was homologous to Bacillus subtilis bceR, encoding the bceRSAB response regulator, which was conserved among GBS strains. Using isogenic knockout and complementation mutants of the ST283 strain, we demonstrated that resistance to bacitracin and the human antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin LL-37 was reduced in the ΔbceR strain with MICs changing from 64 and 256 μg/ml to 0.25 and 64 μg/ml, respectively. Further, the ATP-binding cassette transporter was upregulated by sub-inhibitory concentrations of bacitracin in the wild-type strain. Upregulation of dltA in the wild-type strain was also observed and thought to explain the increased resistance to antimicrobial peptides. DltA, an enzyme involved in D-alanylation during the synthesis of wall teichoic acids, which mediates reduced antimicrobial susceptibility, was previously shown to be regulated by the bceR-type regulator in Staphylococcus aureus. In a murine infection model, we found that the ΔbceR mutation significantly reduced the mortality rate compared to that with the wild-type strain (p < 0.01). Moreover, this mutant was more susceptible to oxidative stress compared to the wild-type strain (p < 0.001) and was associated with reduced biofilm formation (p < 0.0001). Based on 2-DGE and mass spectrometry, we showed that downregulation of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpC), a Gls24 family stress protein, and alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) in the ΔbceR strain might explain the attenuated virulence and compromised stress response. Together, we showed for the first time that the bceR regulator in GBS plays an important role in bacitracin and antimicrobial peptide resistance, virulence, survival under oxidative stress, and biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yang
- Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Mingjing Luo
- Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Haokui Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Li
- Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Alison Luk
- Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - GuoPing Zhao
- Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Kitty Fung
- Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Margaret Ip
- Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
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34
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Frazier KR, Moore JA, Long TE. Antibacterial activity of disulfiram and its metabolites. J Appl Microbiol 2018; 126:79-86. [PMID: 30160334 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 08/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Disulfiram (Antabuse™) and its metabolites formed in vivo were evaluated as antibacterial agents against thirty species of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The synergistic potential of disulfiram (DSF) and metabolite diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) with approved antibiotics were also compared by isobologram (checkerboard) analysis. METHODS AND RESULTS Standard microdilution susceptibility testing showed that most DSF metabolites did not possess appreciable antibacterial activity except for DDTC in Bacillus anthracis. Checkerboard studies revealed similarities between the combination drug effects of DSF and DDTC with standard antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS It was concluded from the susceptibility data that the metabolites would not extend the antibacterial spectrum of DSF in vivo. The data also suggest that the DDTC by-product of DSF metabolism potentiates the antibacterial activity of DSF as both a standalone and combination agent. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The study provides a greater understanding of the antibacterial effects of Antabuse and its metabolites. This research also demonstrates the potential application of DSF as an antibiotic adjuvant for the treatment of resistant staph infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- K R Frazier
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Research, School of Pharmacy, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| | - J A Moore
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Research, School of Pharmacy, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| | - T E Long
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Research, School of Pharmacy, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
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35
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Sonkar A, Shukla H, Shukla R, Kalita J, Pandey T, Tripathi T. UDP-N-Acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferase (MurA) of Acinetobacter baumannii (AbMurA): Structural and functional properties. Int J Biol Macromol 2017; 97:106-114. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.12.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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36
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Abstract
Fosfomycin, a natural product antibiotic, has been in use for >20 years in Spain, Germany, France, Japan, Brazil, and South Africa for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other indications and was registered in the United States for the oral treatment of uncomplicated UTIs because of Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli in 1996. It has a broad spectrum, is bactericidal, has very low toxicity, and acts as a time-dependent inhibitor of the MurA enzyme, which catalyzes the first committed step of peptidoglycan synthesis. Whereas resistance to fosfomycin arises rapidly in vitro through loss of active transport mechanisms, resistance is rarely seen during therapy of UTIs, seemingly because of the low fitness of the resistant organisms. Recently, interest has grown in the use of fosfomycin against multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens in other indications, prompting the advent of development in the United States of a parenteral formulation for use, initially, in complicated UTIs. Whereas resistance has not been problematic in the uncomplicated UTI setting, it remains to be seen whether resistance remains at bay with expansion to other indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn L Silver
- LL Silver Consulting, LLC, Springfield, New Jersey 07081
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Suppressor Mutations Linking gpsB with the First Committed Step of Peptidoglycan Biosynthesis in Listeria monocytogenes. J Bacteriol 2016; 199:JB.00393-16. [PMID: 27795316 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00393-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/16/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The cell division protein GpsB is a regulator of the penicillin binding protein A1 (PBP A1) in the Gram-positive human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes Penicillin binding proteins mediate the last two steps of peptidoglycan biosynthesis as they polymerize and cross-link peptidoglycan strands, the main components of the bacterial cell wall. It is not known what other processes are controlled by GpsB. L. monocytogenes gpsB mutants are unable to grow at 42°C, but we observed that spontaneous suppressors correcting this defect arise on agar plates with high frequency. We here describe a first set of gpsB suppressors that mapped to the clpC and murZ genes. While ClpC is the ATPase component of the Clp protease, MurZ is a paralogue of the listerial UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) 1-carboxyvinyltransferase MurA. Both enzymes catalyze the enolpyruvyl transfer from phosphoenolpyruvate to UDP-GlcNAc, representing the first committed step of peptidoglycan biosynthesis. We confirmed that clean deletion of the clpC or murZ gene suppressed the ΔgpsB phenotype. It turned out that the absence of either gene leads to accumulation of MurA, and we show that artificial overexpression of MurA alone was sufficient for suppression. Inactivation of other UDP-GlcNAc-consuming pathways also suppressed the heat-sensitive growth of the ΔgpsB mutant, suggesting that an increased influx of precursor molecules into peptidoglycan biosynthesis can compensate for the lack of GpsB. Our results support a model according to which PBP A1 becomes misregulated and thus toxic in the absence of GpsB due to unproductive consumption of cell wall precursor molecules. IMPORTANCE The late cell division protein GpsB is important for cell wall biosynthesis in Gram-positive bacteria. GpsB of the human pathogen L. monocytogenes interacts with one of the key enzymes of this pathway, penicillin binding protein A1 (PBP A1), and influences its activity. PBP A1 catalyzes the last two steps of cell wall biosynthesis, but it is unknown how GpsB controls PBP A1. We observed that a L. monocytogenes gpsB mutant forms spontaneous suppressors and have mapped their mutations to genes mediating and influencing the first step of cell wall biosynthesis, likely stimulating the influx of metabolites into this pathway. We assume that GpsB is important to ensure productive incorporation of cell wall precursors into the peptidoglycan sacculus by PBP A1.
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Boutte CC, Baer CE, Papavinasasundaram K, Liu W, Chase MR, Meniche X, Fortune SM, Sassetti CM, Ioerger TR, Rubin EJ. A cytoplasmic peptidoglycan amidase homologue controls mycobacterial cell wall synthesis. eLife 2016; 5. [PMID: 27304077 PMCID: PMC4946905 DOI: 10.7554/elife.14590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulation of cell wall assembly is essential for bacterial survival and contributes to pathogenesis and antibiotic tolerance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). However, little is known about how the cell wall is regulated in stress. We found that CwlM, a protein homologous to peptidoglycan amidases, coordinates peptidoglycan synthesis with nutrient availability. Surprisingly, CwlM is sequestered from peptidoglycan (PG) by localization in the cytoplasm, and its enzymatic function is not essential. Rather, CwlM is phosphorylated and associates with MurA, the first enzyme in PG precursor synthesis. Phosphorylated CwlM activates MurA ~30 fold. CwlM is dephosphorylated in starvation, resulting in lower MurA activity, decreased cell wall metabolism, and increased tolerance to multiple antibiotics. A phylogenetic analysis of cwlM implies that localization in the cytoplasm drove the evolution of this factor. We describe a system that controls cell wall metabolism in response to starvation, and show that this regulation contributes to antibiotic tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara C Boutte
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States
| | - Christina E Baer
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| | - Kadamba Papavinasasundaram
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| | - Weiru Liu
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States
| | - Michael R Chase
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States
| | - Xavier Meniche
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| | - Sarah M Fortune
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States
| | - Christopher M Sassetti
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| | - Thomas R Ioerger
- Department of Computer Science, Texas A and M University, Texas, United States
| | - Eric J Rubin
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
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A. Elnakady Y, Chatterjee I, Bischoff M, Rohde M, Josten M, Sahl HG, Herrmann M, Müller R. Investigations to the Antibacterial Mechanism of Action of Kendomycin. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0146165. [PMID: 26795276 PMCID: PMC4721675 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2014] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The emergence of bacteria that are resistant to many currently used drugs emphasizes the need to discover and develop new antibiotics that are effective against such multi-resistant strains. Kendomycin is a novel polyketide that has a unique quinone methide ansa structure and various biological properties. This compound exhibits strong antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Despite the promise of kendomycinin in several therapeutic areas, its mode of action has yet to be identified. Methods In this study, we used a multidisciplinary approach to gain insight into the antibacterial mechanism of this compound. Results The antibacterial activity of kendomycin appears to be bacteriostatic rather than bactericidal. Kendomycin inhibited the growth of the MRSA strain COL at a low concentration (MIC of 5 μg/mL). Proteomic analysis and gene transcription profiling of kendomycin-treated cells indicated that this compound affected the regulation of numerous proteins and genes involved in central metabolic pathways, such as the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (SdhA) and gluconeogenesis (PckA and GapB), cell wall biosynthesis and cell division (FtsA, FtsZ, and MurAA), capsule production (Cap5A and Cap5C), bacterial programmed cell death (LrgA and CidA), the cellular stress response (ClpB, ClpC, ClpP, GroEL, DnaK, and GrpE), and oxidative stress (AhpC and KatA). Electron microscopy revealed that kendomycin strongly affected septum formation during cell division. Most kendomycin-treated cells displayed incomplete septa with abnormal morphology. Conclusions Kendomycin might directly or indirectly affect the cell division machinery, protein stability, and programmed cell death in S. aureus. Additional studies are still needed to obtain deeper insight into the mode of action of kendomycin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasser A. Elnakady
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Faculty of Science, Zoology Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Indranil Chatterjee
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Markus Bischoff
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Rohde
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michaele Josten
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Bonn University, Bonn, Germany
| | - Hans-Georg Sahl
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Bonn University, Bonn, Germany
| | - Mathias Herrmann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Rolf Müller
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
- * E-mail:
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40
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Vemula H, Ayon NJ, Gutheil WG. Cytoplasmic peptidoglycan intermediate levels in Staphylococcus aureus. Biochimie 2015; 121:72-8. [PMID: 26612730 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2015.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Intracellular cytoplasmic peptidoglycan (PG) intermediate levels were determined in Staphylococcus aureus during log-phase growth in enriched media. Levels of UDP-linked intermediates were quantitatively determined using ion pairing LC-MS/MS in negative mode, and amine intermediates were quantitatively determined stereospecifically as their Marfey's reagent derivatives in positive mode. Levels of UDP-linked intermediates in S. aureus varied from 1.4 μM for UDP-GlcNAc-Enolpyruvyate to 1200 μM for UDP-MurNAc. Levels of amine intermediates (L-Ala, D-Ala, D-Ala-D-Ala, L-Glu, D-Glu, and L-Lys) varied over a range of from 860 μM for D-Ala-D-Ala to 30-260 mM for the others. Total PG was determined from the D-Glu content of isolated PG, and used to estimate the rate of PG synthesis (in terms of cytoplasmic metabolite flux) as 690 μM/min. The total UDP-linked intermediates pool (2490 μM) is therefore sufficient to sustain growth for 3.6 min. Comparison of UDP-linked metabolite levels with published pathway enzyme characteristics demonstrates that enzymes on the UDP-branch range from >80% saturation for MurA, Z, and C, to <5% saturation for MurB. Metabolite levels were compared with literature values for Escherichia coli, with the major difference in UDP-intermediates being the level of UDP-MurNAc, which was high in S. aureus (1200 μM) and low in E. coli (45 μM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Harika Vemula
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
| | - Navid J Ayon
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
| | - William G Gutheil
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA.
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Abstract
Gram-positive organisms, including the pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis, have dynamic cell envelopes that mediate interactions with the environment and serve as the first line of defense against toxic molecules. Major components of the cell envelope include peptidoglycan (PG), which is a well-established target for antibiotics, teichoic acids (TAs), capsular polysaccharides (CPS), surface proteins, and phospholipids. These components can undergo modification to promote pathogenesis, decrease susceptibility to antibiotics and host immune defenses, and enhance survival in hostile environments. This chapter will cover the structure, biosynthesis, and important functions of major cell envelope components in gram-positive bacteria. Possible targets for new antimicrobials will be noted.
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Chang CM, Chern J, Chen MY, Huang KF, Chen CH, Yang YL, Wu SH. Avenaciolides: Potential MurA-Targeted Inhibitors Against Peptidoglycan Biosynthesis in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). J Am Chem Soc 2014; 137:267-75. [DOI: 10.1021/ja510375f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ming-Yi Chen
- General
Education Center, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei 112, Taiwan
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Rahman MA, Noore MS, Hasan MA, Ullah MR, Rahman MH, Hossain MA, Ali Y, Islam MS. Identification of potential drug targets by subtractive genome analysis of Bacillus anthracis A0248: An in silico approach. Comput Biol Chem 2014; 52:66-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2014.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2014] [Revised: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 09/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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Toxin ζ reversible induces dormancy and reduces the UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pool as one of the protective responses to cope with stress. Toxins (Basel) 2014; 6:2787-803. [PMID: 25238046 PMCID: PMC4179160 DOI: 10.3390/toxins6092787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2014] [Revised: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxins of the ζ/PezT family, found in the genome of major human pathogens, phosphorylate the peptidoglycan precursor uridine diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine (UNAG) leading to unreactive UNAG-3P. Transient over-expression of a PezT variant impairs cell wall biosynthesis and triggers autolysis in Escherichia coli. Conversely, physiological levels of ζ reversibly induce dormancy produce a sub-fraction of membrane-compromised cells, and a minor subpopulation of Bacillus subtilis cells become tolerant of toxin action. We report here that purified ζ is a strong UNAG-dependent ATPase, being GTP a lower competitor. In vitro, ζ toxin phosphorylates a fraction of UNAG. In vivo, ζ-mediated inactivation of UNAG by phosphorylation does not deplete the active UNAG pool, because expression of the toxin enhances the efficacy of genuine cell wall inhibitors (fosfomycin, vancomycin or ampicillin). Transient ζ expression together with fosfomycin treatment halt cell proliferation, but ε2 antitoxin expression facilitates the exit of ζ-induced dormancy, suggesting that there is sufficient UNAG for growth. We propose that ζ induces diverse cellular responses to cope with stress, being the reduction of the UNAG pool one among them. If the action of ζ is not inhibited, e.g., by de novo ε2 antitoxin synthesis, the toxin markedly enhances the efficacy of antimicrobial treatment without massive autolysis in Firmicutes.
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Overexpression of the Lactobacillus plantarum peptidoglycan biosynthesis murA2 gene increases the tolerance of Escherichia coli to alcohols and enhances ethanol production. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 98:8399-411. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-6004-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2014] [Revised: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 08/03/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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46
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Cloning, expression and characterization of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferase (MurA) from Wolbachia endosymbiont of human lymphatic filarial parasite Brugia malayi. PLoS One 2014; 9:e99884. [PMID: 24941309 PMCID: PMC4062475 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia, an endosymbiont of filarial nematode, is considered a promising target for treatment of lymphatic filariasis. Although functional characterization of the Wolbachia peptidoglycan assembly has not been fully explored, the Wolbachia genome provides evidence for coding all of the genes involved in lipid II biosynthesis, a part of peptidoglycan biosynthesis pathway. UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferase (MurA) is one of the lipid II biosynthesis pathway enzymes and it has inevitably been recognized as an antibiotic target. In view of the vital role of MurA in bacterial viability and survival, MurA ortholog from Wolbachia endosymbiont of Brugia malayi (wBm-MurA) was cloned, expressed and purified for further molecular characterization. The enzyme kinetics and inhibition studies were undertaken using fosfomycin. wBm-MurA was found to be expressed in all the major life stages of B. malayi and was immunolocalized in Wolbachia within the microfilariae and female adults by the confocal microscopy. Sequence analysis suggests that the amino acids crucial for enzymatic activity are conserved. The purified wBm-MurA was shown to possess the EPSP synthase (3-phosphoshikimate 1-carboxyvinyltransferase) like activity at a broad pH range with optimal activity at pH 7.5 and 37°C temperature. The apparent affinity constant (Km) for the substrate UDP-N-acetylglucosamine was found to be 0.03149 mM and for phosphoenolpyruvate 0.009198 mM. The relative enzymatic activity was inhibited ∼2 fold in presence of fosfomycin. Superimposition of the wBm-MurA homology model with the structural model of Haemophilus influenzae (Hi-MurA) suggests binding of fosfomycin at the same active site. The findings suggest wBm-MurA to be a putative antifilarial drug target for screening of novel compounds.
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Khokhar M, Kaur N, Jain V, Sandhir R, Gautam A, Bharatam PV, Tewari R. Comparative modeling of pivotal enzymes, MurA and MurZ, of Enterococcus faecalis and identification of potential inhibitors by computational methods. Med Chem Res 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-013-0785-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Characterization of mycobacterial UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyle transferase (MurA). Res Microbiol 2014; 165:91-101. [PMID: 24463011 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2014.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 01/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The mycobacterial peptidoglycan has structure and biosynthetic pathways to similar those of other bacteria. UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyle transferase (MurA) catalyzes the first reaction in the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan. The MurA enzyme has been identified from various bacterial species, but the in-depth biochemical properties of mycobacterial MurA have not been characterized. In this study, both Mycobacterium tuberculosis MurA protein and Mycobacterium smegmatis MurA protein were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography. MurA activity was detected by HPLC. A colorimetric assay of MurA activity was also developed and the kinetic properties of Mtb MurA and Msm MurA were determined using this colorimetric assay. A conditional murA gene knockout strain was constructed by DNA homologous recombination. The disruption of murA in the genome of M. smegmatis led to loss of viability at a non-permissive temperature. Drastic morphological and structural alterations in the M. smegmatis murA knockout strain were observed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. These results demonstrated that murA was an essential gene for growth of M. smegmatis. Therefore, MurA is a potential target for developing new anti-tuberculosis drugs.
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Kunzmann MH, Bach NC, Bauer B, Sieber SA. α-Methylene-γ-butyrolactones attenuate Staphylococcus aureus virulence by inhibition of transcriptional regulation. Chem Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c3sc52228h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
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Heteroresistance to fosfomycin is predominant in Streptococcus pneumoniae and depends on the murA1 gene. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2013; 57:2801-8. [PMID: 23571543 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00223-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fosfomycin targets the first step of peptidoglycan biosynthesis in Streptococcus pneumoniae catalyzed by UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyltransferase (MurA1). We investigated whether heteroresistance to fosfomycin occurs in S. pneumoniae. We found that of 11 strains tested, all but 1 (Hungary(19A)) displayed heteroresistance and that deletion of murA1 abolished heteroresistance. Hungary(19A) differs from the other strains by a single amino acid substitution in MurA1 (Ala(364)Thr). To test whether this substitution is responsible for the lack of heteroresistance, it was introduced into strain D39. The heteroresistance phenotype of strain D39 was not changed. Furthermore, no relevant structural differences between the MurA1 crystal structures of heteroresistant strain D39 and nonheteroresistant strain Hungary(19A) were found. Our results reveal that heteroresistance to fosfomycin is the predominant phenotype of S. pneumoniae and that MurA1 is required for heteroresistance to fosfomycin but is not the only factor involved. The findings provide a caveat for any future use of fosfomycin in the treatment of pneumococcal infections.
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