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Amich J. The many roles of sulfur in the fungal-host interaction. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 79:102489. [PMID: 38754292 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Sulfur is an essential macronutrient for life, and consequently, all living organisms must acquire it from external sources to thrive and grow. Sulfur is a constituent of a multitude of crucial molecules, such as the S-containing proteinogenic amino acids cysteine and methionine; cofactors and prosthetic groups, such as coenzyme-A and iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters; and other essential organic molecules, such as glutathione or S-adenosylmethionine. Additionally, sulfur in cysteine thiols is an active redox group that plays paramount roles in protein stability, enzyme catalysis, and redox homeostasis. Furthermore, H2S is gaining more attention as a crucial signaling molecule that influences metabolism and physiological functions. Given its importance, it is not surprising that sulfur plays key roles in the host-pathogen interaction. However, in contrast to its well-recognized involvement in the plant-pathogen interaction, the specific contributions of sulfur to the human-fungal interaction are much less understood. In this short review, I highlight some of the most important known mechanisms and propose directions for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Amich
- Mycology Reference Laboratory (Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Micología [LRIM]), National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
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Wang M, Chu W. Dencichine attenuates the virulence of Fusobacterium nucleatum by targeting hydrogen sulfide-producing enzyme. Int Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s10123-024-00539-1. [PMID: 38789725 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-024-00539-1] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Oral opportunistic pathogen Fusobacterium nucleatum can participate in various disease processes through the metabolite hydrogen sulfide, such as halitosis and colorectal cancer. The object of this study is to identify inhibitor capable of suppressing Fn1220, which is the principal hydrogen sulfide-producing enzyme in F. nucleatum. Through this inhibition, we aim to reduce the hydrogen sulfide production of F. nucleatum, consequently diminishing its virulence. Employing molecular docking techniques for inhibitor screening, we identified dencichine as the monomeric compound from Chinese medicine exhibiting the lowest binding energy to Fn1220 among a set of 27,045 candidates, and evaluated in vitro the ability of dencichine to inhibit hydrogen sulfide production using bismuth chloride method. Additionally, we investigated its impact on key virulence factors, including biofilm formation, hemolysis, and adhesion factors of F. nucleatum, using the crystalline violet method, sheep blood method, and RT-qPCR, respectively. Furthermore, we assessed the influence of dencichine on the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans. Results showed that dencichine was a suitable inhibitor of the Fn1220 of F. nucleatum, which significantly inhibited the production of virulence factors, e.g., biofilm, hemolysin, FadA, and Fap2 of F. nucleatum and improved the survival of C. elegans. We successfully identified the inhibitor of the enzyme Fn1220, dencichine, which inhibited the production of hydrogen sulfide and attenuated the virulence of F. nucleatum and holds promise as a potential therapeutic avenue for addressing oral diseases, e.g., halitosis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minyu Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Weihua Chu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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Raboni S, Faggiano S, Bettati S, Mozzarelli A. Methionine gamma lyase: Structure-activity relationships and therapeutic applications. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2024; 1872:140991. [PMID: 38147934 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2023.140991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Methionine gamma lyase (MGL) is a bacterial and plant enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of methionine in methanthiol, 2-oxobutanoate and ammonia. The enzyme belongs to fold type I of the pyridoxal 5'-dependent family. The catalytic mechanism and the structure of wild type MGL and variants were determined in the presence of the natural substrate as well as of many sulfur-containing derivatives. Structure-function relationship studies were pivotal for MGL exploitation in the treatment of cancer, bacterial infections, and other diseases. MGL administration to cancer cells leads to methionine starvation, thus decreasing cells viability and increasing their vulnerability towards other drugs. In antibiotic therapy, MGL acts by transforming prodrugs in powerful drugs. Numerous strategies have been pursued for the delivering of MGL in vivo to prolong its bioavailability and decrease its immunogenicity. These include conjugation with polyethylene glycol and encapsulation in synthetic or natural vesicles, eventually decorated with tumor targeting molecules, such as the natural phytoestrogens daidzein and genistein. The scientific achievements in studying MGL structure, function and perspective therapeutic applications came from the efforts of many talented scientists, among which late Tatyana Demidkina to whom we dedicate this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samanta Raboni
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Serena Faggiano
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Bettati
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy; National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems (INBB), Rome, Italy; Department of Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Mozzarelli
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
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Caruso L, Mellini M, Catalano Gonzaga O, Astegno A, Forte E, Di Matteo A, Giuffrè A, Visca P, Imperi F, Leoni L, Rampioni G. Hydrogen sulfide production does not affect antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0007524. [PMID: 38445869 PMCID: PMC10989007 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00075-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been proposed to protect bacteria from antibiotics, pointing to H2S-producing enzymes as possible targets for the development of antibiotic adjuvants. Here, MIC assays performed with Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutants producing altered H2S levels demonstrate that H2S does not affect antibiotic resistance in this bacterium. Moreover, correlation analyses in a large collection of P. aeruginosa cystic fibrosis isolates argue against the protective role of H2S from antibiotic activity during chronic lung infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta Mellini
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Elena Forte
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Adele Di Matteo
- CNR Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Visca
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Imperi
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Livia Leoni
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
| | - Giordano Rampioni
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
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Oshibuchi K, Yang J, Obana N, Fukuda S, Arakawa K. Complete genome sequence of Solobacterium moorei JCM 10645 T isolated from a human stool sample. Microbiol Resour Announc 2024; 13:e0096523. [PMID: 38014937 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00965-23] [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: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Solobacterium moorei JCM 10645T is an obligately anaerobic Gram-positive bacterium that was isolated from a human stool sample, generally known as a bacterium associated with sepsis, bacteremia, halitosis, and periodontal disease. In this study, we report the complete genome sequence of this strain, which is 2.615 Mbp with a 37.2% GC content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kota Oshibuchi
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University , Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
- Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University , Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
- MIRAI Technology Institute Yokohama , Yokohama, Japan
| | - Jiayue Yang
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University , Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
- Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University , Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Nozomu Obana
- Transborder Medical Research Center, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba , Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Shinji Fukuda
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University , Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
- Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University , Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
- Transborder Medical Research Center, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba , Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Gut Environmental Design Group, Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology , Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
- Laboratory for Regenerative Microbiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine , Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuharu Arakawa
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University , Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
- Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University , Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
- Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University , Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
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Britton TA, Wu C, Chen YW, Franklin D, Chen Y, Camacho MI, Luong TT, Das A, Ton-That H. The respiratory enzyme complex Rnf is vital for metabolic adaptation and virulence in Fusobacterium nucleatum. mBio 2024; 15:e0175123. [PMID: 38059640 PMCID: PMC10790702 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01751-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE This paper illuminates the significant question of how the oral commensal Fusobacterium nucleatum adapts to the metabolically changing environments of several extra-oral sites such as placenta and colon to promote various diseases as an opportunistic pathogen. We demonstrate here that the highly conserved Rhodobacter nitrogen-fixation complex, commonly known as Rnf complex, is key to fusobacterial metabolic adaptation and virulence. Genetic disruption of this Rnf complex causes global defects in polymicrobial interaction, biofilm formation, cell growth and morphology, hydrogen sulfide production, and ATP synthesis. Targeted metabolomic profiling demonstrates that the loss of this respiratory enzyme significantly diminishes catabolism of numerous amino acids, which negatively impacts fusobacterial virulence as tested in a preterm birth model in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timmie A. Britton
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Chenggang Wu
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yi-Wei Chen
- Division of Oral & Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Dana Franklin
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yimin Chen
- Division of Oral & Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Martha I. Camacho
- Division of Oral & Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Truc T. Luong
- Division of Oral & Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Asis Das
- Department of Medicine, Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Hung Ton-That
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Division of Oral & Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Britton TA, Wu C, Chen YW, Franklin D, Chen Y, Camacho MI, Luong TT, Das A, Ton-That H. The respiratory enzyme complex Rnf is vital for metabolic adaptation and virulence in Fusobacterium nucleatum. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.13.544113. [PMID: 37398403 PMCID: PMC10312631 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.13.544113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
A prominent oral commensal and opportunistic pathogen, Fusobacterium nucleatum can traverse to extra-oral sites such as placenta and colon, promoting adverse pregnancy outcomes and colorectal cancer, respectively. How this anaerobe sustains many metabolically changing environments enabling its virulence potential remains unclear. Informed by our genome-wide transposon mutagenesis, we report here that the highly conserved Rnf complex, encoded by the rnfCDGEAB gene cluster, is key to fusobacterial metabolic adaptation and virulence. Genetic disruption of the Rnf complex via non-polar, in-frame deletion of rnfC (Δ rnfC ) abrogates polymicrobial interaction (or coaggregation) associated with adhesin RadD and biofilm formation. The defect in coaggregation is not due to reduced cell surface of RadD, but rather an increased level of extracellular lysine, which binds RadD and inhibits coaggregation. Indeed, removal of extracellular lysine via washing Δ rnfC cells restores coaggregation, while addition of lysine inhibits this process. These phenotypes mirror that of a mutant (Δ kamAΔ ) that fails to metabolize extracellular lysine. Strikingly, the Δ rnfC mutant is defective in ATP production, cell growth, cell morphology, and expression of the enzyme MegL that produces hydrogen sulfide from cysteine. Targeted metabolic profiling demonstrated that catabolism of many amino acids, including histidine and lysine, is altered in Δ rnfC cells, thereby reducing production of ATP and metabolites including H2S and butyrate. Most importantly, we show that the Δ rnfC mutant is severely attenuated in a mouse model of preterm birth. The indispensable function of Rnf complex in fusobacterial pathogenesis via modulation of bacterial metabolism makes it an attractive target for developing therapeutic intervention.
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Lu T, Wang Q, Cao Q, Xia Y, Xun L, Liu H. The Pleiotropic Regulator AdpA Regulates the Removal of Excessive Sulfane Sulfur in Streptomyces coelicolor. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12020312. [PMID: 36829871 PMCID: PMC9952706 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12020312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Reactive sulfane sulfur (RSS), including persulfide, polysulfide, and elemental sulfur (S8), has important physiological functions, such as resisting antibiotics in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli and regulating secondary metabolites production in Streptomyces spp. However, at excessive levels it is toxic. Streptomyces cells may use known enzymes to remove extra sulfane sulfur, and an unknown regulator is involved in the regulation of these enzymes. AdpA is a multi-functional transcriptional regulator universally present in Streptomyces spp. Herein, we report that AdpA was essential for Streptomyces coelicolor survival when facing external RSS stress. AdpA deletion also resulted in intracellular RSS accumulation. Thioredoxins and thioredoxin reductases were responsible for anti-RSS stress via reducing RSS to gaseous hydrogen sulfide (H2S). AdpA directly activated the expression of these enzymes at the presence of excess RSS. Since AdpA and thioredoxin systems are widely present in Streptomyces, this finding unveiled a new mechanism of anti-RSS stress by these bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Qingda Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Qun Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yongzhen Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Luying Xun
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 991647520, USA
- Correspondence: (L.X.); (H.L.)
| | - Huaiwei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China
- Correspondence: (L.X.); (H.L.)
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