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Cooper SL, Requijo RM, Lucius AL, Schneider DA. Biochemical characterization of Mycobacterial RNA polymerases. J Bacteriol 2024:e0025624. [PMID: 39315796 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00256-24] [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: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). While eukaryotic species employ several specialized RNA polymerases (Pols) to fulfill the RNA synthesis requirements of the cell, bacterial species use a single RNA polymerase (RNAP). To contribute to the foundational understanding of how Mtb and the related non-pathogenic mycobacterial species, Mycobacterium smegmatis (Msm), perform the essential function of RNA synthesis, we performed a series of in vitro transcription experiments to define the unique enzymatic properties of Mtb and Msm RNAPs. In this study, we characterize the mechanism of nucleotide addition used by these bacterial RNAPs with comparisons to previously characterized eukaryotic Pols I, II, and III. We show that Mtb RNAP and Msm RNAP demonstrate similar enzymatic properties and nucleotide addition kinetics to each other but diverge significantly from eukaryotic Pols. We also show that Mtb RNAP and Msm RNAP uniquely bind a nucleotide analog with significantly higher affinity than canonical nucleotides, in contrast to eukaryotic RNA polymerase II. This affinity for analogs may reveal a vulnerability for selective inhibition of the pathogenic bacterial enzyme.IMPORTANCETuberculosis, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remains a severe global health threat. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that tuberculosis is second only to COVID-19 as the most lethal infection worldwide, with more annual deaths than HIV and AIDS (WHO.int). The first-line treatment for tuberculosis, Rifampin (or Rifampicin), specifically targets the Mtb RNA polymerase. This drug has been used for decades, leading to increased numbers of multi-drug-resistant infections (Stephanie, et al). To effectively treat tuberculosis, there is an urgent need for new therapeutics that selectively target vulnerabilities of the bacteria and not the host. Characterization of the differences between Mtb enzymes and host enzymes is critical to inform these ongoing drug design efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L Cooper
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Ryan M Requijo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Aaron L Lucius
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - David A Schneider
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Fu X, Wan X, Memon AA, Fan XY, Sun Q, Chen H, Yao Y, Deng Z, Ma J, Ma W. Regulatory role of Mycobacterium tuberculosis MtrA on dormancy/resuscitation revealed by a novel target gene-mining strategy. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1415554. [PMID: 38952446 PMCID: PMC11215152 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1415554] [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: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The unique dormancy of Mycobacterium tuberculosis plays a significant role in the major clinical treatment challenge of tuberculosis, such as its long treatment cycle, antibiotic resistance, immune escape, and high latent infection rate. Methods To determine the function of MtrA, the only essential response regulator, one strategy was developed to establish its regulatory network according to high-quality genome-wide binding sites. Results and discussion The complex modulation mechanisms were implied by the strong bias distribution of MtrA binding sites in the noncoding regions, and 32.7% of the binding sites were located inside the target genes. The functions of 288 potential MtrA target genes predicted according to 294 confirmed binding sites were highly diverse, and DNA replication and damage repair, lipid metabolism, cell wall component biosynthesis, cell wall assembly, and cell division were the predominant pathways. Among the 53 pathways shared between dormancy/resuscitation and persistence, which accounted for 81.5% and 93.0% of the total number of pathways, respectively, MtrA regulatory genes were identified not only in 73.6% of their mutual pathways, but also in 75.4% of the pathways related to dormancy/resuscitation and persistence respectively. These results suggested the pivotal roles of MtrA in regulating dormancy/resuscitation and the apparent relationship between dormancy/resuscitation and persistence. Furthermore, the finding that 32.6% of the MtrA regulons were essential in vivo and/or in vitro for M. tuberculosis provided new insight into its indispensability. The findings mentioned above indicated that MtrA is a novel promising therapeutic target for tuberculosis treatment since the crucial function of MtrA may be a point of weakness for M. tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyu Wan
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Aadil Ahmed Memon
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Yong Fan
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiuhong Sun
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Haifeng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yufeng Yao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zixin Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Ma
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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Adhikrao PA, Motiram GM, Kumar G. Tackling Nontuberculous Mycobacteria by Repurposable Drugs and Potential Leads from Natural Products. Curr Top Med Chem 2024; 24:1291-1326. [PMID: 38288807 DOI: 10.2174/0115680266276938240108060247] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) refer to bacteria other than all Mycobacterium species that do not cause tuberculosis or leprosy, excluding the species of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, M. leprae and M. lepromatosis. NTM are ubiquitous and present in soils and natural waters. NTM can survive in a wide range of environmental conditions. The direct inoculum of the NTM from water or other materials is most likely a source of infections. NTMs are responsible for several illnesses, including pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pneumoconiosis, and pulmonary disease. Recent reports suggest that NTM species have become insensitive to sterilizing agents, antiseptics, and disinfectants. The efficacy of existing anti-NTM regimens is diminishing and has been compromised due to drug resistance. New and recurring cases of multidrug-resistant NTM strains are increasing. Thus, there is an urgent need for ant-NTM regimens with novel modes of action. This review sheds light on the mode of antimicrobial resistance in the NTM species. Then, we discussed the repurposable drugs (antibiotics) that have shown new indications (activity against NTM strains) that could be developed for treating NTM infections. Also, we have summarised recently identified natural leads acting against NTM, which have the potential for treating NTM-associated infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patil Amruta Adhikrao
- Department of Natural Products, Chemical Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Balanagar, 500037, India
| | - Gudle Mayuri Motiram
- Department of Natural Products, Chemical Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Balanagar, 500037, India
| | - Gautam Kumar
- Department of Natural Products, Chemical Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Balanagar, 500037, India
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Zeng R, He L, Zhang B, Hu Y, Yu J, Yang S, Gu J, Wu Z, Deng J. Association between mutations in a thyX-hsdS.1 region and para-aminosalicylic acid resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates. Emerg Microbes Infect 2023; 12:2276339. [PMID: 38029724 PMCID: PMC10769527 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2276339] [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: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Although para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) has been used to treat tuberculosis agent for decades, its mechanisms of resistance are still not thoroughly understood. Previously, sporadic studies showed that certain mutations in the thyX-hsdS.1 region caused PAS resistance in M. tuberculosis, but a comprehensive analysis is lacking. Recently, we found a G-10A mutation in thyX-hsdS.1 in a PAS-resistant clinical isolate, but it did not cause PAS resistance. SNPs in thyX-hsdS.1 in 6550 clinical isolates were analyzed, and 153 SNPs were identified. C-16 T was the most common SNP identified (54.25%, 83/153), followed by C-4T (7.19%, 11/153) and G-9A (6.54%, 10/153). Subsequently, the effects of those SNPs on the promoter activity of thyX were tested, and the results showed that mutations C-1T, G-3A, C-4T, C-4G, G-7A, G-9A, C-16T, G-18C, and C-19G led to increased promoter activity compared with the wild-type sequence, but other mutations did not. Then, thyX and wild-type thyX-hsdS.1, or thyX-hsdS.1 containing specific SNPs, were overexpressed in M. tuberculosis H37Ra. The results showed that mutations resulting in increased promoter activity also caused PAS resistance. Moreover, the results of an electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that thyX-hsdS.1 containing the C-16T mutation had a higher binding capacity to RNA polymerase than did the wild-type sequence. Taken together, our data demonstrated that among the SNPs identified in thyX-hsdS.1 of M. tuberculosis clinical isolates, only those able to increase the promoter activity of thyX caused PAS resistance and therefore can be considered as molecular markers for PAS resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lina He
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Baoyue Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yangbo Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jifang Yu
- Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shanshan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing Gu
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhilong Wu
- Department of Tuberculosis Control, The Fourth People’s Hospital of Foshan City, Foshan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiaoyu Deng
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
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Kumar G, Adhikrao PA. Targeting Mycobacterium tuberculosis iron-scavenging tools: a recent update on siderophores inhibitors. RSC Med Chem 2023; 14:1885-1913. [PMID: 37859726 PMCID: PMC10583813 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00201b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the various bacterial infections, tuberculosis (TB) remains a life-threatening infectious disease responsible as the most significant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The co-infection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in association with TB burdens the healthcare system substantially. Notably, M.tb possesses defence against most antitubercular antibiotic drugs, and the efficacy of existing frontline anti-TB drugs is waning. Also, new and recurring cases of TB from resistant bacteria such as multidrug-resistant TB (MDR), extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR), and totally drug-resistant TB (TDR) strains are increasing. Hence, TB begs the scientific community to explore the new therapeutic class of compounds with their novel mechanism. M.tb requires iron from host cells to sustain, grow, and carry out several biological processes. M.tb has developed strategic methods of acquiring iron from the surrounding environment. In this communication, we discuss an overview of M.tb iron-scavenging tools. Also, we have summarized recently identified MbtA and MbtI inhibitors, which prevent M.tb from scavenging iron. These iron-scavenging tool inhibitors have the potential to be developed as anti-TB agents/drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gautam Kumar
- Department of Natural Products, Chemical Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Hyderabad (NIPER-Hyderabad) Balanagar Hyderabad 500037 India
| | - Patil Amruta Adhikrao
- Department of Natural Products, Chemical Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Hyderabad (NIPER-Hyderabad) Balanagar Hyderabad 500037 India
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Yang J, Zhang L, Qiao W, Luo Y. Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Pathogenesis and therapeutic targets. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e353. [PMID: 37674971 PMCID: PMC10477518 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health concern in the 21st century, especially due to drug resistance, coinfection with diseases like immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and coronavirus disease 2019, and the lengthy and costly treatment protocols. In this review, we summarize the pathogenesis of TB infection, therapeutic targets, and corresponding modulators, including first-line medications, current clinical trial drugs and molecules in preclinical assessment. Understanding the mechanisms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection and important biological targets can lead to innovative treatments. While most antitubercular agents target pathogen-related processes, host-directed therapy (HDT) modalities addressing immune defense, survival mechanisms, and immunopathology also hold promise. Mtb's adaptation to the human host involves manipulating host cellular mechanisms, and HDT aims to disrupt this manipulation to enhance treatment effectiveness. Our review provides valuable insights for future anti-TB drug development efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxing Yang
- Center of Infectious Diseases and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Laiying Zhang
- Center of Infectious Diseases and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Wenliang Qiao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
- Lung Cancer Center, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Youfu Luo
- Center of Infectious Diseases and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
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Machine Learning Prediction of Mycobacterial Cell Wall Permeability of Drugs and Drug-like Compounds. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 28:molecules28020633. [PMID: 36677691 PMCID: PMC9863426 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28020633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The cell wall of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and related organisms has a very complex and unusual organization that makes it much less permeable to nutrients and antibiotics, leading to the low activity of many potential antimycobacterial drugs against whole-cell mycobacteria compared to their isolated molecular biotargets. The ability to predict and optimize the cell wall permeability could greatly enhance the development of novel antitubercular agents. Using an extensive structure-permeability dataset for organic compounds derived from published experimental big data (5371 compounds including 2671 penetrating and 2700 non-penetrating compounds), we have created a predictive classification model based on fragmental descriptors and an artificial neural network of a novel architecture that provides better accuracy (cross-validated balanced accuracy 0.768, sensitivity 0.768, specificity 0.769, area under ROC curve 0.911) and applicability domain compared with the previously published results.
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