1
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Klenotic PA, Yu EW. Structural analysis of resistance-nodulation cell division transporters. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0019823. [PMID: 38551344 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00198-23] [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] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYInfectious bacteria have both intrinsic and acquired mechanisms to combat harmful biocides that enter the cell. Through adaptive pressures, many of these pathogens have become resistant to many, if not all, of the current antibiotics used today to treat these often deadly infections. One prominent mechanism is the upregulation of efflux systems, especially the resistance-nodulation-cell division class of exporters. These tripartite systems consist of an inner membrane transporter coupled with a periplasmic adaptor protein and an outer membrane channel to efficiently transport a diverse array of substrates from inside the cell to the extracellular space. Detailed mechanistic insight into how these inner membrane transporters recognize and shuttle their substrates can ultimately inform both new antibiotic and efflux pump inhibitor design. This review examines the structural basis of substrate recognition of these pumps and the molecular mechanisms underlying multidrug extrusion, which in turn mediate antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip A Klenotic
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Edward W Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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2
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Bhattacharje G, Ghosh A, Das AK. Deciphering the mannose transfer mechanism of mycobacterial PimE by molecular dynamics simulations. Glycobiology 2024; 34:cwad096. [PMID: 38039077 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwad096] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphatidyl-myo-inositol mannosides (PIMs), Lipomannan (LM), and Lipoarabinomannan (LAM) are essential components of the cell envelopes of mycobacteria. At the beginning of the biosynthesis of these compounds, phosphatidylinositol (PI) is mannosylated and acylated by various enzymes to produce Ac1/2PIM4, which is used to synthesize either Ac1/2PIM6 or LM/LAM. The protein PimE, a membrane-bound glycosyltransferase (GT-C), catalyzes the addition of a mannose group to Ac1PIM4 to produce Ac1PIM5, using polyprenolphosphate mannose (PPM) as the mannose donor. PimE-deleted Mycobacterium smegmatis (Msmeg) showed structural deformity and increased antibiotic and copper sensitivity. Despite knowing that the mutation D58A caused inactivity in Msmeg, how PimE catalyzes the transfer of mannose from PPM to Ac1/2PIM4 remains unknown. In this study, analyzing the AlphaFold structure of PimE revealed the presence of a tunnel through the D58 residue with two differently charged gates. Molecular docking suggested PPM binds to the hydrophobic tunnel gate, whereas Ac1PIM4 binds to the positively charged tunnel gate. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations further demonstrated the critical roles of the residues N55, F87, L89, Y163, Q165, K197, L198, R251, F277, W324, H326, and I375 in binding PPM and Ac1PIM4. The mutation D58A caused a faster release of PPM from the catalytic tunnel, explaining the loss of PimE activity. Along with a hypothetical mechanism of mannose transfer by PimE, we also observe the presence of tunnels through a negatively charged aspartate or glutamate with two differently-charged gates among most GT-C enzymes. Common hydrophobic gates of GT-C enzymes probably harbor sugar donors, whereas, differently-charged tunnel gates accommodate various sugar-acceptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gourab Bhattacharje
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Midnapore, WB 721302, India
| | - Amit Ghosh
- School of Energy Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Midnapore, WB 721302, India
| | - Amit Kumar Das
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Midnapore, WB 721302, India
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3
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Choksi H, Carbone J, Paradis NJ, Bennett L, Bui-Linh C, Wu C. Novel Inhibitors to MmpL3 Transporter of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Structure-Based High-Throughput Virtual Screening and Molecular Dynamics Simulations. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:13782-13796. [PMID: 38559933 PMCID: PMC10976370 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c08401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB)-causing bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) utilizes mycolic acids for building the mycobacterial cell wall, which is critical in providing defense against external factors and resisting antibiotic action. MmpL3 is a secondary resistance nodulation division transporter that facilitates the coupled transport of mycolic acid precursor into the periplasm using the proton motive force, thus making it an attractive drug target for TB infection. In 2019, X-ray crystal structures of MmpL3 from M. smegmatis were solved with a promising inhibitor SQ109, which showed promise against drug-resistant TB in Phase II clinical trials. Still, there is a pressing need to discover more effective MmpL3 inhibitors to counteract rising antibiotic resistance. In this study, structure-based high-throughput virtual screening combined with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations identified potential novel MmpL3 inhibitors. Approximately 17 million compounds from the ZINC15 database were screened against the SQ109 binding site on the MmpL3 protein using drug property filters and glide XP docking scores. From this, the top nine compounds and the MmpL3-SQ109 crystal complex structure each underwent 2 × 200 ns MD simulations to probe the inhibitor binding energetics to MmpL3. Four of the nine compounds exhibited stable binding properties and favorable drug properties, suggesting these four compounds could be potential novel inhibitors of MmpL3 for M. tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicholas J. Paradis
- Department of Molecular &
Cellular Biosciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Lucas Bennett
- Department of Molecular &
Cellular Biosciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Candice Bui-Linh
- Department of Molecular &
Cellular Biosciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Chun Wu
- Department of Molecular &
Cellular Biosciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
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4
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Abavisani M, Khoshrou A, Sahebkar A. Artificial intelligence in drug discovery: A new frontier in the fight against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:103909. [PMID: 38307380 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.103909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Abavisani
- Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Alireza Khoshrou
- Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Sahebkar
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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5
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Shyam M, Kumar S, Singh V. Unlocking Opportunities for Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium ulcerans. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:251-269. [PMID: 38295025 PMCID: PMC10862552 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00371] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
In the recent decade, scientific communities have toiled to tackle the emerging burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) and rapidly growing opportunistic nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Among these, two neglected mycobacteria species of the Acinetobacter family, Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium ulcerans, are the etiological agents of leprosy and Buruli ulcer infections, respectively, and fall under the broad umbrella of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Unfortunately, lackluster drug discovery efforts have been made against these pathogenic bacteria in the recent decade, resulting in the discovery of only a few countable hits and majorly repurposing anti-TB drug candidates such as telacebec (Q203), P218, and TB47 for current therapeutic interventions. Major ignorance in drug candidate identification might aggravate the dramatic consequences of rapidly spreading mycobacterial NTDs in the coming days. Therefore, this Review focuses on an up-to-date account of drug discovery efforts targeting selected druggable targets from both bacilli, including the accompanying challenges that have been identified and are responsible for the slow drug discovery. Furthermore, a succinct discussion of the all-new possibilities that could be alternative solutions to mitigate the neglected mycobacterial NTD burden and subsequently accelerate the drug discovery effort is also included. We anticipate that the state-of-the-art strategies discussed here may attract major attention from the scientific community to navigate and expand the roadmap for the discovery of next-generation therapeutics against these NTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mousumi Shyam
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Technology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mersa, Ranchi, Jharkhand 835215, India
| | - Sumit Kumar
- Holistic
Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Vinayak Singh
- Holistic
Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- South
African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research
Unit, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- Institute
of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
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6
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Ge Y, Luo Q, Liu L, Shi Q, Zhang Z, Yue X, Tang L, Liang L, Hu J, Ouyang W. S288T mutation altering MmpL3 periplasmic domain channel and H-bond network: a novel dual drug resistance mechanism. J Mol Model 2024; 30:39. [PMID: 38224406 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-023-05814-y] [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: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Mycobacterial membrane proteins Large 3 (MmpL3) is responsible for the transport of mycobacterial acids out of cell membrane to form cell wall, which is essential for the survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and has become a potent anti-tuberculosis target. SQ109 is an ethambutol (EMB) analogue, as a novel anti-tuberculosis drug, can effectively inhibit MmpL3, and has completed phase 2b-3 clinical trials. Drug resistance has always been the bottleneck problem in clinical treatment of tuberculosis. The S288T mutant of MmpL3 shows significant resistance to the inhibitor SQ109, while the specific action mechanism remains unclear. The results show that MmpL3 S288T mutation causes local conformational change with little effect on the global structure. With MmpL3 bound by SQ109 inhibitor, the distance between D710 and R715 increases resulting in H-bond destruction, but their interactions and proton transfer function are still restored. In addition, the rotation of Y44 in the S288T mutant leads to an obvious bend in the periplasmic domain channel and an increased number of contact residues, reducing substrate transport efficiency. This work not only provides a possible dual drug resistance mechanism of MmpL3 S288T mutant but also aids the development of novel anti-tuberculosis inhibitors. METHODS In this work, molecular dynamics (MD) and quantum mechanics (QM) simulations both were performed to compare inhibitor (i.e., SQ109) recognition, motion characteristics, and H-bond energy change of MmpL3 after S288T mutation. In addition, the WT_SQ109 complex structure was obtained by molecular docking program (Autodock 4.2); Molecular Mechanics/ Poisson Boltzmann Surface Area (MM-PBSA) and Solvated Interaction Energy (SIE) methods were used to calculate the binding free energies (∆Gbind); Geometric criteria were used to analyze the changes of hydrogen bond networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutong Ge
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal and Edible Plants Resources Development of Sichuan Education Department, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China
| | - Qing Luo
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao, 999078, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal and Edible Plants Resources Development of Sichuan Education Department, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China
| | - Quanshan Shi
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal and Edible Plants Resources Development of Sichuan Education Department, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China
| | - Zhigang Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Xinru Yue
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal and Edible Plants Resources Development of Sichuan Education Department, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China
| | - Lingkai Tang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal and Edible Plants Resources Development of Sichuan Education Department, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China
| | - Li Liang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal and Edible Plants Resources Development of Sichuan Education Department, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China
| | - Jianping Hu
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal and Edible Plants Resources Development of Sichuan Education Department, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China.
| | - Weiwei Ouyang
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.
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7
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Brown T, Chavent M, Im W. Molecular Modeling and Simulation of the Mycobacterial Cell Envelope: From Individual Components to Cell Envelope Assemblies. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:10941-10949. [PMID: 38091517 PMCID: PMC10758119 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c06136] [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: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Unlike typical Gram-positive bacteria, the cell envelope of mycobacteria is unique and composed of a mycobacterial outer membrane, also known as the mycomembrane, a peptidoglycan layer, and a mycobacterial inner membrane, which is analogous to that of Gram-negative bacteria. Despite its importance, however, our understanding of this complex cell envelope is rudimentary at best. Thus, molecular modeling and simulation of such an envelope can benefit the scientific community by proposing new hypotheses about the biophysical properties of its different layers. In this Perspective, we present recent advances in molecular modeling and simulation of the mycobacterial cell envelope from individual components to cell envelope assemblies. We also show how modeling other types of cell envelopes, such as that of Escherichia coli, may help modeling part of the mycobacterial envelopes. We hope that the studies presented here are just the beginning of the road and more and more new modeling and simulation studies help us to understand crucial questions related to mycobacteria such as antibiotic resistance or bacterial survival in the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Turner Brown
- Department
of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Matthieu Chavent
- Institut
de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale, CNRS, Université
de Toulouse, 205 Route de Narbonne, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Wonpil Im
- Department
of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
- Departments
of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Lehigh
University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
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8
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Couston J, Guo Z, Wang K, Gourdon P, Blaise M. Cryo-EM structure of the trehalose monomycolate transporter, MmpL3, reconstituted into peptidiscs. Curr Res Struct Biol 2023; 6:100109. [PMID: 38034087 PMCID: PMC10682824 DOI: 10.1016/j.crstbi.2023.100109] [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] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacteria have an atypical thick and waxy cell wall. One of the major building blocks of such mycomembrane is trehalose monomycolate (TMM). TMM is a mycolic acid ester of trehalose that possesses long acyl chains with up to 90 carbon atoms. TMM represents an essential component of mycobacteria and is synthesized in the cytoplasm, and then flipped over the plasma membrane by a specific transporter known as MmpL3. Over the last decade, MmpL3 has emerged as an attractive drug target to combat mycobacterial infections. Recent three-dimensional structures of MmpL3 determined by X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM have increased our understanding of the TMM transport, and the mode of action of inhibiting compounds. These structures were obtained in the presence of detergent and/or in a lipidic environment. In this study, we demonstrate the possibility of obtaining a high-quality cryo-EM structure of MmpL3 without any presence of detergent through the reconstitution of the protein into peptidiscs. The structure was determined at an overall resolution of 3.2 Å and demonstrates that the overall structure of MmpL3 is preserved as compared to previous structures. Further, the study identified a new structural arrangement of the linker that fuses the two subdomains of the transmembrane domain, suggesting the feature may serve a role in the transport process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Couston
- IRIM, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Zongxin Guo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Kaituo Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Pontus Gourdon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, SE-22100, Lund, Sweden
| | - Mickaël Blaise
- IRIM, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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9
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Zhang L, Rao Z. Structural biology and inhibition of the Mtb cell wall glycoconjugates biosynthesis on the membrane. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 82:102670. [PMID: 37542906 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Glycoconjugates are the dominant components of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall. These glycoconjugates are essential for the viability of Mtb and attribute to drug resistance and virulence during infection. The assembly and maturation of the cell wall largely relies on the Mtb plasma membrane. A significant number of membrane-bound glycosyltransferases (GTs) and transporters play pivotal roles in forming the complex glycoconjugates and are targeted by the first-line anti-TB drug and potent drug candidates. Here we summarize the latest structural biology of mycobacterial GTs and transporters, and describe the modes of action of drug and drug candidates that are of substantial clinical value in anti-TB chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Zhang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
| | - Zihe Rao
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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10
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Carbone J, Paradis NJ, Bennet L, Alesiani MC, Hausman KR, Wu C. Inhibition Mechanism of Anti-TB Drug SQ109: Allosteric Inhibition of TMM Translocation of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis MmpL3 Transporter. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:5356-5374. [PMID: 37589273 PMCID: PMC10466384 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
The mycolic acid transporter MmpL3 is driven by proton motive forces (PMF) and functions via an antiport mechanism. Although the crystal structures of the Mycobacterium smegmatis MmpL3 transporter alone and in complex with a trehalose monomycolate (TMM) substrate and an antituberculosis drug candidate SQ109 under Phase 2b-3 Clinical Trials are available, no water and no conformational change in MmpL3 were observed in these structures to explain SQ109's inhibition mechanism of proton and TMM transportation. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations of both apo form and inhibitor-bound MmpL3 in an explicit membrane were used to decipher the inhibition mechanism of SQ109. In the apo system, the close-open motion of the two TM domains, likely driven by the proton translocation, drives the close-open motion of the two PD domains, presumably allowing for TMM translocation. In contrast, in the holo system, the two PD domains are locked in a closed state, and the two TM domains are locked in an off pathway wider open state due to the binding of the inhibitor. Consistent with the close-open motion of the two PD domains, TMM entry size changes in the apo system, likely loading and moving the TMM, but does not vary much in the holo system and probably impair the movement of the TMM. Furthermore, we observed that water molecules passed through the central channel of the MmpL3 transporter to the cytoplasmic side in the apo system but not in the holo system, with a mean passing time of ∼135 ns. Because water wires play an essential role in transporting protons, our findings shed light on the importance of PMF in driving the close-open motion of the two TM domains. Interestingly, the key channel residues involved in water passage display considerable overlap with conserved residues within the MmpL protein family, supporting their critical function role.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mark C. Alesiani
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry,
College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan
University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Katherine R. Hausman
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry,
College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan
University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Chun Wu
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry,
College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan
University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
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11
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North EJ, Schwartz CP, Zgurskaya HI, Jackson M. Recent advances in mycobacterial membrane protein large 3 inhibitor drug design for mycobacterial infections. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2023; 18:707-724. [PMID: 37226498 PMCID: PMC10330604 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2218082] [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: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacterial infections are notoriously difficult to treat, requiring long-courses of intensive multi-drug therapies associated with adverse side effects. To identify better therapeutics, whole cell screens have identified novel pharmacophores, a surprisingly high number of which target an essential lipid transporter known as MmpL3. AREAS COVERED This paper summarizes what is known about MmpL3, its mechanism of lipid transport and therapeutic potential, and provides an overview of the different classes of MmpL3 inhibitors currently under development. It further describes the assays available to study MmpL3 inhibition by these compounds. EXPERT OPINION MmpL3 has emerged as a target of high therapeutic value. Accordingly, several classes of MmpL3 inhibitors are currently under development with one drug candidate (SQ109) having undergone a Phase 2b clinical study. The hydrophobic character of most MmpL3 series identified to date seems to drive antimycobacterial potency resulting in poor bioavailability, which is a significant impediment to their development. There is also a need for more high-throughput and informative assays to elucidate the precise mechanism of action of MmpL3 inhibitors and drive the rational optimization of analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Jeffrey North
- Department of Pharmacy Sciences, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Chris P. Schwartz
- Department of Pharmacy Sciences, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Helen I. Zgurskaya
- University of Oklahoma, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Mary Jackson
- Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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12
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Li Y, Acharya A, Yang L, Liu J, Tajkhorshid E, Zgurskaya HI, Jackson M, Gumbart JC. Insights into substrate transport and water permeation in the mycobacterial transporter MmpL3. Biophys J 2023; 122:2342-2352. [PMID: 36926696 PMCID: PMC10257117 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, are characterized by a uniquely thick and waxy cell envelope that consists of two membranes, with a variety of mycolates comprising their outer membrane (OM). The protein Mycobacterial membrane protein Large 3 (MmpL3) is responsible for the transport of a primary OM component, trehalose monomycolate (TMM), from the inner (cytoplasmic) membrane (IM) to the periplasmic space, a process driven by the proton gradient. Although multiple structures of MmpL3 with bound substrates have been solved, the exact pathway(s) for TMM or proton transport remains elusive. Here, employing molecular dynamics simulations we investigate putative pathways for either transport species. We hypothesized that MmpL3 will cycle through similar conformational states as the related transporter AcrB, which we used as targets for modeling the conformation of MmpL3. A continuous water pathway through the transmembrane region was found in one of these states, illustrating a putative pathway for protons. Additional equilibrium simulations revealed that TMM can diffuse from the membrane into a binding pocket in MmpL3 spontaneously. We also found that acetylation of TMM, which is required for transport, makes it more stable within MmpL3's periplasmic cavity compared with the unacetylated form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yupeng Li
- Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Group, NIH Resource for Macromolecular Modeling and Visualization, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois; Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Atanu Acharya
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Lixinhao Yang
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jinchan Liu
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry (MB&B), Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Emad Tajkhorshid
- Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Group, NIH Resource for Macromolecular Modeling and Visualization, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois; Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois; Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Helen I Zgurskaya
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
| | - Mary Jackson
- Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - James C Gumbart
- School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia; School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia.
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13
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Kapp E, Calitz H, Streicher EM, Dippenaar A, Egieyeh S, Jordaan A, Warner DF, Joubert J, Malan SF, Sampson SL. Discovery and biological evaluation of an adamantyl-amide derivative with likely MmpL3 inhibitory activity. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2023; 141:102350. [PMID: 37244249 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2023.102350] [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: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
A series of molecules containing bulky lipophilic scaffolds was screened for activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and a number of compounds with antimycobacterial activity were identified. The most active compound, (2E)-N-(adamantan-1-yl)-3-phenylprop-2-enamide (C1), has a low micromolar minimum inhibitory concentration, low cytotoxicity (therapeutic index = 32.26), low mutation frequency and is active against intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Whole genome sequencing of mutants resistant to C1 showed a mutation in mmpL3 which may point to the involvement of MmpL3 in the antimycobacterial activity of the compound. In silico mutagenesis and molecular modelling studies were performed to better understand the binding of C1 within MmpL3 and the role that the specific mutation may play in the interaction at protein level. These analyses revealed that the mutation increases the energy required for binding of C1 within the protein translocation channel of MmpL3. The mutation also decreases the solvation energy of the protein, suggesting that the mutant protein might be more solvent-accessible, thereby restricting its interaction with other molecules. The results reported here describe a new molecule that may interact with the MmpL3 protein, providing insights into the effect of mutations on protein-ligand interactions and enhancing our understanding of this essential protein as a priority drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Kapp
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; University of the Western Cape, Private Bag x17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.
| | - Hanri Calitz
- DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research/South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, P.O. Box 241, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa.
| | - Elizabeth M Streicher
- DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research/South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, P.O. Box 241, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa.
| | - Anzaan Dippenaar
- DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research/South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, P.O. Box 241, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa; Global Health Institute, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Gouverneur Kinsbergencentrum, Doornstraat 331, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Samuel Egieyeh
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; University of the Western Cape, Private Bag x17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.
| | - Audrey Jordaan
- Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Department of Pathology and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Digby F Warner
- Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Department of Pathology and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Jacques Joubert
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; University of the Western Cape, Private Bag x17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.
| | - Sarel F Malan
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa; University of the Western Cape, Private Bag x17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.
| | - Samantha L Sampson
- DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research/South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, P.O. Box 241, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa.
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14
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Stampolaki M, Stylianakis I, Zgurskaya HI, Kolocouris A. Study of SQ109 analogs binding to mycobacterium MmpL3 transporter using MD simulations and alchemical relative binding free energy calculations. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2023; 37:245-264. [PMID: 37129848 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-023-00504-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
N-geranyl-N΄-(2-adamantyl)ethane-1,2-diamine (SQ109) is a tuberculosis drug that has high potency against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and may function by blocking cell wall biosynthesis. After the crystal structure of MmpL3 from Mycobacterium smegmatis in complex with SQ109 became available, it was suggested that SQ109 inhibits Mmpl3 mycolic acid transporter. Here, we showed using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations that the binding profile of nine SQ109 analogs with inhibitory potency against Mtb and alkyl or aryl adducts at C-2 or C-1 adamantyl carbon to MmpL3 was consistent with the X-ray structure of MmpL3 - SQ109 complex. We showed that rotation of SQ109 around carbon-carbon bond in the monoprotonated ethylenediamine unit favors two gauche conformations as minima in water and lipophilic solvent using DFT calculations as well as inside the transporter's binding area using MD simulations. The binding assays in micelles suggested that the binding affinity of the SQ109 analogs was increased for the larger, more hydrophobic adducts, which was consistent with our results from MD simulations of the SQ109 analogues suggesting that sizeable C-2 adamantyl adducts of SQ109 can fill a lipophilic region between Y257, Y646, F260 and F649 in MmpL3. This was confirmed quantitatively by our calculations of the relative binding free energies using the thermodynamic integration coupled with MD simulations method with a mean assigned error of 0.74 kcal mol-1 compared to the experimental values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Stampolaki
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Section of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece
- Department of NMR-Based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Faßberg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ioannis Stylianakis
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Section of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece
| | - Helen I Zgurskaya
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, OK, 73019-5251, USA
| | - Antonios Kolocouris
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Section of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece.
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15
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Williams JT, Abramovitch RB. Molecular Mechanisms of MmpL3 Function and Inhibition. Microb Drug Resist 2023; 29:190-212. [PMID: 36809064 PMCID: PMC10171966 DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2021.0424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacteria species include a large number of pathogenic organisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium leprae, and various non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Mycobacterial membrane protein large 3 (MmpL3) is an essential mycolic acid and lipid transporter required for growth and cell viability. In the last decade, numerous studies have characterized MmpL3 with respect to protein function, localization, regulation, and substrate/inhibitor interactions. This review summarizes new findings in the field and seeks to assess future areas of research in our rapidly expanding understanding of MmpL3 as a drug target. An atlas of known MmpL3 mutations that provide resistance to inhibitors is presented, which maps amino acid substitutions to specific structural domains of MmpL3. In addition, chemical features of distinct classes of Mmpl3 inhibitors are compared to provide insights into shared and unique features of varied MmpL3 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- John T Williams
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Robert B Abramovitch
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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16
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Alzain AA, Makki AA, Ibraheem W. Insights into the Inhibition of Mycolic Acid Synthesis by Cytosporone E Derivatives for Tuberculosis Treatment Via an In Silico Multi-target Approach. CHEMISTRY AFRICA 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s42250-023-00605-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
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17
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Computational design of MmpL3 inhibitors for tuberculosis therapy. Mol Divers 2023; 27:357-369. [PMID: 35477825 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-022-10436-2] [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: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Tuberculosis is a chronic communicable disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and spreads from lungs to lymphatic system. The cell wall of mycobacterium plays a prominent role in maintaining the virulence and pathogenicity and also acts as prime target for drug discovery. Hence, this study has put into emphasis with target MmpLs (Mycobacterial membrane proteins Large) which are significant for the growth and survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. MmpLs belongs to the resistance, nodulation and division (RND) protein superfamily. MmpL3 is the only MmpL deemed essential for the replication and viability of mycobacterial cells. For the study, we have selected SQ109 derivatives as Mmpl3 inhibitor, which holds non-covalent property. Structure-based pharmacophore model of MmpL3 target protein with SQ109 as co-crystallized ligand (PDB: 6AJG) was generated to screen the ligand database. Compounds with decent fitness score and pharmacophoric features were compared with standard drug and taken for molecular docking studies. Further prime molecular mechanics-Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-GBSA) and induced fit calculations identified potential molecules for further drug-likeness screening. Overall computational calculations identified ZINC000000016638 and ZINC000000003594 as potential in silico MmpL3 inhibitors. Molecular dynamics simulations integrated with MM-PBSA free energy calculations identified that MmpL3-ZINC000000016638 complex was more stable. Study can be further extended for synthesis and biological evaluation, derivatization of active compound to identify potential and safe lead compounds for effective tuberculosis therapy.
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18
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Yan W, Zheng Y, Dou C, Zhang G, Arnaout T, Cheng W. The pathogenic mechanism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: implication for new drug development. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2022; 3:48. [PMID: 36547804 PMCID: PMC9780415 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-022-00106-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), is a tenacious pathogen that has latently infected one third of the world's population. However, conventional TB treatment regimens are no longer sufficient to tackle the growing threat of drug resistance, stimulating the development of innovative anti-tuberculosis agents, with special emphasis on new protein targets. The Mtb genome encodes ~4000 predicted proteins, among which many enzymes participate in various cellular metabolisms. For example, more than 200 proteins are involved in fatty acid biosynthesis, which assists in the construction of the cell envelope, and is closely related to the pathogenesis and resistance of mycobacteria. Here we review several essential enzymes responsible for fatty acid and nucleotide biosynthesis, cellular metabolism of lipids or amino acids, energy utilization, and metal uptake. These include InhA, MmpL3, MmaA4, PcaA, CmaA1, CmaA2, isocitrate lyases (ICLs), pantothenate synthase (PS), Lysine-ε amino transferase (LAT), LeuD, IdeR, KatG, Rv1098c, and PyrG. In addition, we summarize the role of the transcriptional regulator PhoP which may regulate the expression of more than 110 genes, and the essential biosynthesis enzyme glutamine synthetase (GlnA1). All these enzymes are either validated drug targets or promising target candidates, with drugs targeting ICLs and LAT expected to solve the problem of persistent TB infection. To better understand how anti-tuberculosis drugs act on these proteins, their structures and the structure-based drug/inhibitor designs are discussed. Overall, this investigation should provide guidance and support for current and future pharmaceutical development efforts against mycobacterial pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhu Yan
- grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Respiratory Infection and Intervention Laboratory of Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Yanhui Zheng
- grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Respiratory Infection and Intervention Laboratory of Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Chao Dou
- grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Respiratory Infection and Intervention Laboratory of Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Guixiang Zhang
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery and Gastric Cancer center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37. Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Toufic Arnaout
- Kappa Crystals Ltd., Dublin, Ireland ,MSD Dunboyne BioNX, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Wei Cheng
- grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Respiratory Infection and Intervention Laboratory of Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China
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19
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Imran M, Arora MK, Chaudhary A, Khan SA, Kamal M, Alshammari MM, Alharbi RM, Althomali NA, Alzimam IM, Alshammari AA, Alharbi BH, Alshengeti A, Alsaleh AA, Alqahtani SA, Rabaan AA. MmpL3 Inhibition as a Promising Approach to Develop Novel Therapies against Tuberculosis: A Spotlight on SQ109, Clinical Studies, and Patents Literature. Biomedicines 2022; 10:2793. [PMID: 36359313 PMCID: PMC9687596 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10112793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is accountable for considerable global morbidity and mortality. Effective TB therapy with multiple drugs completes in about six months. The longer duration of TB therapy challenges patient compliance and contributes to treatment collapse and drug resistance (DR) progress. Therefore, new medications with an innovative mechanism of action are desperately required to shorten the TB therapy's duration and effective TB control. The mycobacterial membrane protein Large 3 (MmpL3) is a novel, mycobacteria-conserved and recognized promiscuous drug target used in the development of better treatments for multi-drug resistance TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB). This article spotlights MmpL3, the clinical studies of its inhibitor (SQ109), and the patent literature. The literature on MmpL3 inhibitors was searched on PubMed and freely available patent databases (Espacenet, USPTO, and PatentScope). SQ109, an analog of ethambutol (EMB), is an established MmpL3 inhibitor and has completed Phase 2b-3 clinical trials. Infectex and Sequella are developing orally active SQ109 in partnership to treat MDR pulmonary TB. SQ109 has demonstrated activity against drug-sensitive (DS) and drug-resistant (DR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and a synergistic effect with isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF), clofazimine (CFZ), and bedaquiline (BNQ). The combination of SQ109, clofazimine, bedaquiline, and pyrazinamide (PZA) has been patented due to its excellent anti-TB activity against MDR-TB, XDR-TB, and latent-TB. The combinations of SQ109 with other anti-TB drugs (chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, and sutezolid) have also been claimed in the patent literature. SQ109 is more potent than EMB and could substitute EMB in the intensive stage of TB treatment with the three- or four-drug combination. Developing MmpL3 inhibitors is a promising approach to fighting the challenges associated with DS-TB and DR-TB. The authors foresee MmpL3 inhibitors such as SQ109 as future drugs for TB treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd. Imran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Northern Border University, Rafha 91911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mandeep Kumar Arora
- School of Pharmaceutical and Population Health Informatics, DIT University, Dehradun 248009, India
| | - Anurag Chaudhary
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Meerut Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut 250005, India
| | - Shah Alam Khan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, National University of Science and Technology, Muscat 130, Oman
| | - Mehnaz Kamal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manal Mutlaq Alshammari
- Pharmacy Department, Hotat Bani Tamim General Hospital, Hotat Bani Tamim 16631, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Amer Alshengeti
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Al-Madinah 41491, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Hospital, National Guard Health Affairs, Al-Madinah 41491, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulmonem A. Alsaleh
- Clinical Laboratory Science Department, Mohammed Al-Mana College for Medical Sciences, Dammam 34222, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Ali A. Rabaan
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Public Health and Nutrition, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22610, Pakistan
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20
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A Hydrazine-Hydrazone Adamantine Compound Shows Antimycobacterial Activity and Is a Probable Inhibitor of MmpL3. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27207130. [PMID: 36296721 PMCID: PMC9610904 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27207130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Notably, an important number of multi drug resistant cases is an increasing concern. This problem points to an urgent need for novel compounds with antimycobacterial properties and to improve existing therapies. Whole-cell-based screening for compounds with activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains in the presence of linezolid was performed in this study. A set of 15 bioactive compounds with antimycobacterial activity in vitro were identified with a minimal inhibitory concentration of less than 2 µg/mL. Among them, compound 1 is a small molecule with a chemical structure consisting of an adamantane moiety and a hydrazide–hydrazone moiety. Whole genome sequencing of spontaneous mutants resistant to the compounds suggested compound 1 to be a new inhibitor of MmpL3. This compound binds to the same pocket as other already published MmpL3 inhibitors, without disturbing the proton motive force of M. bovis BCG and M. smegmatis. Compound 1 showed a strong activity against a panel ofclinical strains of M. tuberculosis in vitro. This compound showed no toxicity against mammalian cells and protected Galleria mellonella larvae against M. bovis BCG infection. These results suggest that compound 1 is a promising anti-TB agent with the potential to improve TB treatment in combination with standard TB therapies.
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21
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Novel chemical entities inhibiting Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth identified by phenotypic high-throughput screening. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14879. [PMID: 36050506 PMCID: PMC9435431 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19192-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
We performed a high-throughput phenotypic whole cell screen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis against a diverse chemical library of approximately 100,000 compounds from the AbbVie corporate collection and identified 24 chemotypes with anti-tubercular activity. We selected two series for further exploration and conducted structure-activity relationship studies with new analogs for the 4-phenyl piperidines (4PP) and phenylcyclobutane carboxamides (PCB). Strains with mutations in MmpL3 demonstrated resistance to both compound series. We isolated resistant mutants for the two series and found mutations in MmpL3. These data suggest that MmpL3 is the target, or mechanism of resistance for both series.
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22
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Khan MT, Khan TA, Ahmad I, Muhammad S, Wei DQ. Diversity and novel mutations in membrane transporters of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Brief Funct Genomics 2022; 22:168-179. [PMID: 35868449 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elac018] [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: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), encodes a family of membrane proteins belonging to Resistance-Nodulation-Cell Division (RND) permeases also called multidrug resistance pumps. Mycobacterial membrane protein Large (MmpL) transporters represent a subclass of RND transporters known to participate in exporting of lipid components across the cell envelope. These proteins perform an essential role in MTB survival; however, there are no data regarding mutations in MmpL, polyketide synthase (PKS) and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase FadE proteins from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This study aimed to screen mutations in transmembrane transporter proteins including MmpL, PKS and Fad through whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in local isolates of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. Fourteen samples were collected from TB patients and drug susceptibility testing was performed. However, only three samples were completely sequenced. Moreover, 209 whole-genome sequences of the same geography were also retrieved from NCBI GenBank to analyze the diversity of mutations in MmpL, PKS and Fad proteins. Among the 212 WGS (Accession ID: PRJNA629298, PRJNA629388, and ERR2510337-ERR2510345, ERR2510546-ERR2510645), numerous mutations in Fad (n = 756), PKS (n = 479), and MmpL (n = 306) have been detected. Some novel mutations were also detected in MmpL, PKS and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase Fad. Novel mutations including Asn576Ser in MmpL8, Val943Gly in MmpL9 and Asn145Asp have been detected in MmpL3. The presence of a large number of mutations in the MTB membrane may have functional consequences on proteins. However, further experimental studies are needed to elucidate the variants' effect on MmpL, PKS and FadE functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Tahir Khan
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Taj Ali Khan
- Institute of Pathology and Diagnostic Medicine, Khyber Medical University, Phase V, Hayatabad, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 26000, Pakistan
| | - Irshad Ahmad
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics. Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Shabbir Muhammad
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dong-Qing Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Shanghai-Islamabad-Belgrade Joint Innovation Center on Antibacterial Resistances, Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation in Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Ministry of Education and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China.,Peng Cheng Laboratory, Vanke Cloud City Phase I Building 8, Xili Street, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, P.R. China
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23
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Gupta KR, Gwin CM, Rahlwes KC, Biegas KJ, Wang C, Park JH, Liu J, Swarts BM, Morita YS, Rego EH. An essential periplasmic protein coordinates lipid trafficking and is required for asymmetric polar growth in mycobacteria. eLife 2022; 11:80395. [PMID: 36346214 PMCID: PMC9678360 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacteria, including the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, grow by inserting new cell wall material at their poles. This process and that of division are asymmetric, producing a phenotypically heterogeneous population of cells that respond non-uniformly to stress (Aldridge et al., 2012; Rego et al., 2017). Surprisingly, deletion of a single gene - lamA - leads to more symmetry, and to a population of cells that is more uniformly killed by antibiotics (Rego et al., 2017). How does LamA create asymmetry? Here, using a combination of quantitative time-lapse imaging, bacterial genetics, and lipid profiling, we find that LamA recruits essential proteins involved in cell wall synthesis to one side of the cell - the old pole. One of these proteins, MSMEG_0317, here renamed PgfA, was of unknown function. We show that PgfA is a periplasmic protein that interacts with MmpL3, an essential transporter that flips mycolic acids in the form of trehalose monomycolate (TMM), across the plasma membrane. PgfA interacts with a TMM analog suggesting a direct role in TMM transport. Yet our data point to a broader function as well, as cells with altered PgfA levels have differences in the abundance of other lipids and are differentially reliant on those lipids for survival. Overexpression of PgfA, but not MmpL3, restores growth at the old poles in cells missing lamA. Together, our results suggest that PgfA is a key determinant of polar growth and cell envelope composition in mycobacteria, and that the LamA-mediated recruitment of this protein to one side of the cell is a required step in the establishment of cellular asymmetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuldeepkumar R Gupta
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - Celena M Gwin
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - Kathryn C Rahlwes
- Department of Microbiology, University of MassachusettsAmherstUnited States
| | - Kyle J Biegas
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Central Michigan UniversityMount PleasantUnited States,Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology Program, Central Michigan UniversityMount PleasantUnited States
| | - Chunyan Wang
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States,Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale UniversityWest HavenUnited States
| | - Jin Ho Park
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States,Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale UniversityWest HavenUnited States
| | - Benjamin M Swarts
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Central Michigan UniversityMount PleasantUnited States,Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology Program, Central Michigan UniversityMount PleasantUnited States
| | - Yasu S Morita
- Department of Microbiology, University of MassachusettsAmherstUnited States
| | - E Hesper Rego
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
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24
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Ung KL, Alsarraf H, Kremer L, Blaise M. MmpL3, the trehalose monomycolate transporter, is stable in solution in several detergents and can be reconstituted into peptidiscs. Protein Expr Purif 2021; 191:106014. [PMID: 34767949 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2021.106014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Mycobacteria possess a complex and waxy cell wall comprising a large panel of glycolipids. Among these, trehalose monomycolate (TMM) represents abundant and crucial components for the elaboration of the mycomembrane. TMM is synthesized in the cytoplasmic compartment and translocated across the inner membrane by the MmpL3 transporter. Inhibitors impeding TMM transport by targeting MmpL3 show great promises as new antimycobacterials. The recent X-ray or Cryo-EM structures of MmpL3 complexed to TMM or its inhibitors have shed light on the mechanisms of TMM transport and inhibition. So far, purification procedures mainly involved the use of n-Dodecyl-ß-d-Maltopyranoside to solubilize and stabilize MmpL3 from Mycobacterium smegmatis (MmpL3Msm) or Lauryl Maltose Neopentyl Glycol for MmpL3 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Herein, we explored the possibility to solubilize and stabilize MmpL3 with other detergents. We demonstrate that several surfactants from the ionic, non-ionic and zwitterionic classes are prone to solubilize MmpL3Msm expressed in Escherichia coli. The capacity of these detergents to stabilize MmpL3Msm was evaluated by size-exclusion chromatography and thermal stability. This study unraveled three new detergents DM, LDAO and sodium cholate that favor solubilization and stabilization of MmpL3Msm in solution. In addition, we report a protocol that allows reconstitution of MmpL3Msm into peptidiscs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kien Lam Ung
- Université de Montpellier, IRIM, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Husam Alsarraf
- Université de Montpellier, IRIM, CNRS, Montpellier, France; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Aarhus, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Laurent Kremer
- Université de Montpellier, IRIM, CNRS, Montpellier, France; INSERM, IRIM, Montpellier, France
| | - Mickaël Blaise
- Université de Montpellier, IRIM, CNRS, Montpellier, France.
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