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Gorelik MG, Yakhnin H, Pannuri A, Walker AC, Pourciau C, Czyz D, Romeo T, Babitzke P. Multitier regulation of the E. coli extreme acid stress response by CsrA. J Bacteriol 2024; 206:e0035423. [PMID: 38319100 PMCID: PMC11210196 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00354-23] [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: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
CsrA is an RNA-binding protein that regulates processes critical for growth and survival, including central carbon metabolism, motility, biofilm formation, stress responses, and expression of virulence factors in pathogens. Transcriptomics studies in Escherichia coli suggested that CsrA repressed genes involved in surviving extremely acidic conditions. Here, we examine the effects of disrupting CsrA-dependent regulation on the expression of genes and circuitry for acid stress survival and demonstrate CsrA-mediated repression at multiple levels. We show that this repression is critical for managing the trade-off between growth and survival; overexpression of acid stress genes caused by csrA disruption enhances survival under extreme acidity but is detrimental for growth under mildly acidic conditions. In vitro studies confirmed that CsrA binds specifically to mRNAs of structural and regulatory genes for acid stress survival, causing translational repression. We also found that translation of the top-tier acid stress regulator, evgA, is coupled to that of a small leader peptide, evgL, which is repressed by CsrA. Unlike dedicated acid stress response genes, csrA and its sRNA antagonists, csrB and csrC, did not exhibit a substantial response to acid shock. Furthermore, disruption of CsrA regulation of acid stress genes impacted host-microbe interactions in Caenorhabditis elegans, alleviating GABA deficiencies. This study expands the known regulon of CsrA to genes of the extreme acid stress response of E. coli and highlights a new facet of the global role played by CsrA in balancing the opposing physiological demands of stress resistance with the capacity for growth and modulating host interactions.IMPORTANCETo colonize/infect the mammalian intestinal tract, bacteria must survive exposure to the extreme acidity of the stomach. E. coli does this by expressing proteins that neutralize cytoplasmic acidity and cope with molecular damage caused by low pH. Because of the metabolic cost of these processes, genes for surviving acid stress are tightly regulated. Here, we show that CsrA negatively regulates the cascade of expression responsible for the acid stress response. Increased expression of acid response genes due to csrA disruption improved survival at extremely low pH but inhibited growth under mildly acidic conditions. Our findings define a new layer of regulation in the acid stress response of E. coli and a novel physiological function for CsrA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark G. Gorelik
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Helen Yakhnin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for RNA Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Archana Pannuri
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Alyssa C. Walker
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Christine Pourciau
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for RNA Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Daniel Czyz
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Tony Romeo
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Paul Babitzke
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for RNA Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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2
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Zhong G. Cytochromes P450 Associated with the Biosyntheses of Ribosomally Synthesized and Post-translationally Modified Peptides. ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU 2023; 3:371-388. [PMID: 37876494 PMCID: PMC10591300 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.3c00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a class of exponentially increased natural products with characteristic chemical structures, topologies, and biosynthetic mechanisms as well as exceptional bioactivities including antibacteria, antitumors, and antiviruses. The biosynthesis of RiPP proceeds via a ribosomally assembled precursor peptide that undergoes varied post-translational modifications to generate a mature peptide. Cytochrome P450 (CYP or P450) monooxygenases are a superfamily of heme-containing enzymes that span a wide range of secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways due to their broad substrate scopes and excellent catalytic versatility. In contrast to the enormous quantities of RiPPs and P450s, the P450 associated RiPP biosynthesis is comparatively limited, with most of their functions and timings remaining mysterious. Herein, this Review aims to provide an overview on the striking roles of P450s in RiPP biosyntheses uncovered to date and to illustrate their remarkable functions, mechanisms, as well as remaining challenges. This will shed light on novel P450 discovery and characterizations in RiPP biosyntheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guannan Zhong
- State
Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
- Suzhou
Research Institute of Shandong University, Suzhou 215123, China
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3
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Wu Y, Zoller BGE, Kamal MAM, Hotop SK, Lehr CM, Brönstrup M, Dersch P, Empting M. Establishment of an In Bacterio Assay for the Assessment of Carbon Storage Regulator A (CsrA) Inhibitors. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300369. [PMID: 37435861 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Polymicrobial infections involving various combinations of microorganisms, such as Escherichia, Pseudomonas, or Yersinia, can lead to acute and chronic diseases in for example the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. Our aim is to modulate microbial communities by targeting the posttranscriptional regulator system called carbon storage regulator A (CsrA) (or also repressor of secondary metabolites (RsmA)). In previous studies, we identified easily accessible CsrA binding scaffolds and macrocyclic CsrA binding peptides through biophysical screening and phage display technology. However, due to the lack of an appropriate in bacterio assay to evaluate the cellular effects of these inhibitor hits, the focus of the present study is to establish an in bacterio assay capable of probing and quantifying the impact on CsrA-regulated cellular mechanisms. We have successfully developed an assay based on a luciferase reporter gene assay, which in combination with a qPCR expression gene assay, allows for the monitoring of expression levels of different downstream targets of CsrA. The chaperone protein CesT was used as a suitable positive control for the assay, and in time-dependent experiments, we observed a CesT-mediated increase in bioluminescence over time. By this means, the cellular on-target effects of non-bactericidal/non-bacteriostatic virulence modulating compounds targeting CsrA/RsmA can be evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingwen Wu
- Department of Antiviral & Antivirulence Drugs (AVID), Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hanover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hanover, Germany
| | - Ben G E Zoller
- Department of Antiviral & Antivirulence Drugs (AVID), Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Mohamed Ashraf Mostafa Kamal
- Department of Drug Delivery (DDEL), Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Sven-Kevin Hotop
- Department of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Claus-Michael Lehr
- Department of Drug Delivery (DDEL), Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Mark Brönstrup
- Department of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Petra Dersch
- Institute of Infectiology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation (ZMBE), University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Martin Empting
- Department of Antiviral & Antivirulence Drugs (AVID), Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hanover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hanover, Germany
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4
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Adam S, Zheng D, Klein A, Volz C, Mullen W, Shirran SL, Smith BO, Kalinina OV, Müller R, Koehnke J. Unusual peptide-binding proteins guide pyrroloindoline alkaloid formation in crocagin biosynthesis. Nat Chem 2023; 15:560-568. [PMID: 36894702 PMCID: PMC10070186 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01153-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide natural products have provided many highly unusual scaffolds. This includes the intriguing alkaloids crocagins, which possess a tetracyclic core structure and whose biosynthesis has remained enigmatic. Here we use in vitro experiments to demonstrate that three proteins, CgnB, CgnC and CgnE, are sufficient for the production of the hallmark tetracyclic crocagin core from the precursor peptide CgnA. The crystal structures of the homologues CgnB and CgnE reveal them to be the founding members of a peptide-binding protein family and allow us to rationalize their distinct functions. We further show that the hydrolase CgnD liberates the crocagin core scaffold, which is subsequently N-methylated by CgnL. These insights allow us to propose a biosynthetic scheme for crocagins. Bioinformatic analyses based on these data led to the discovery of related biosynthetic pathways that may provide access to a structurally diverse family of peptide-derived pyrroloindoline alkaloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Adam
- Workgroup Structural Biology of Biosynthetic Enzymes, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Dazhong Zheng
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Andreas Klein
- Workgroup Structural Biology of Biosynthetic Enzymes, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Carsten Volz
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, HIPS; HZI; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - William Mullen
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Sally L Shirran
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Brian O Smith
- School of Molecular Biosciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Olga V Kalinina
- Drug Bioinformatics Group, HIPS, HZI, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Medical Faculty, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Rolf Müller
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, HIPS; HZI; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Hannover-Braunschweig Site, German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hanover, Germany
| | - Jesko Koehnke
- Workgroup Structural Biology of Biosynthetic Enzymes, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.
- School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
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5
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Laws D, Plouch EV, Blakey SB. Synthesis of Ribosomally Synthesized and Post-Translationally Modified Peptides Containing C-C Cross-Links. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2022; 85:2519-2539. [PMID: 36136399 PMCID: PMC9617794 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c00508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are known for their macrocyclic structures, which impart unique biological activity. One rapidly emerging subclass of RiPP natural products contains macrocyclic C-C cross-links between two amino acid side chains. These linkages, often biosynthetically formed by a single rSAM or P450 enzyme, introduce significant structural and synthetic complexity to the molecules. While nature utilizes elegant mechanisms to produce C-C cross-linked RiPPs, synthetic tools are only able to access a portion of these biologically relevant natural products. This review provides an overview of the structures in this subclass as well as a discussion on their chemical syntheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Laws
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Eleda V Plouch
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Simon B Blakey
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
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6
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Ongpipattanakul C, Desormeaux EK, DiCaprio A, van der Donk WA, Mitchell DA, Nair SK. Mechanism of Action of Ribosomally Synthesized and Post-Translationally Modified Peptides. Chem Rev 2022; 122:14722-14814. [PMID: 36049139 PMCID: PMC9897510 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a natural product class that has undergone significant expansion due to the rapid growth in genome sequencing data and recognition that they are made by biosynthetic pathways that share many characteristic features. Their mode of actions cover a wide range of biological processes and include binding to membranes, receptors, enzymes, lipids, RNA, and metals as well as use as cofactors and signaling molecules. This review covers the currently known modes of action (MOA) of RiPPs. In turn, the mechanisms by which these molecules interact with their natural targets provide a rich set of molecular paradigms that can be used for the design or evolution of new or improved activities given the relative ease of engineering RiPPs. In this review, coverage is limited to RiPPs originating from bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chayanid Ongpipattanakul
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Emily K. Desormeaux
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Adam DiCaprio
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Wilfred A. van der Donk
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.,Department of Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.,Departments of Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.,Corresponding authors Wilfred A. van der Donk, , 217-244-5360, Douglas A. Mitchell, , 217-333-1345, Satish K. Nair, , 217-333-0641
| | - Douglas A. Mitchell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.,Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.,Departments of Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.,Corresponding authors Wilfred A. van der Donk, , 217-244-5360, Douglas A. Mitchell, , 217-333-1345, Satish K. Nair, , 217-333-0641
| | - Satish K. Nair
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.,Departments of Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.,Corresponding authors Wilfred A. van der Donk, , 217-244-5360, Douglas A. Mitchell, , 217-333-1345, Satish K. Nair, , 217-333-0641
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7
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Sun C, Tian W, Lin Z, Qu X. Biosynthesis of pyrroloindoline-containing natural products. Nat Prod Rep 2022; 39:1721-1765. [PMID: 35762180 DOI: 10.1039/d2np00030j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to 2022Pyrroloindoline is a privileged tricyclic indoline motif widely present in many biologically active and medicinally valuable natural products. Thus, understanding the biosynthesis of this molecule is critical for developing convenient synthetic routes, which is highly challenging for its chemical synthesis due to the presence of rich chiral centers in this molecule, especially the fully substituted chiral carbon center at the C3-position of its rigid tricyclic structure. In recent years, progress has been made in elucidating the biosynthetic pathways and enzymatic mechanisms of pyrroloindoline-containing natural products (PiNPs). This article reviews the main advances in the past few decades based on the different substitutions on the C3 position of PiNPs, especially the various key enzymatic mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis of different types of PiNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghai Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Wenya Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Zhi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China. .,Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Xudong Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China. .,Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
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8
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Dahlem C, Abuhaliema A, Kessler SM, Kröhler T, Zoller BGE, Chanda S, Wu Y, Both S, Müller F, Lepikhov K, Kirsch SH, Laggai S, Müller R, Empting M, Kiemer AK. First Small-Molecule Inhibitors Targeting the RNA-Binding Protein IGF2BP2/IMP2 for Cancer Therapy. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:361-375. [PMID: 35023719 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The RNA-binding protein IGF2BP2/IMP2/VICKZ2/p62 is overexpressed in several tumor entities, promotes tumorigenesis and tumor progression, and has been suggested to worsen the disease outcome. The aim of this study is to (I) validate IMP2 as a potential target for colorectal cancer, (II) set up a screening assay for small-molecule inhibitors of IMP2, and (III) test the biological activity of the obtained hit compounds. Analyses of colorectal and liver cancer gene expression data showed reduced survival in patients with a high IMP2 expression and in patients with a higher IMP2 expression in advanced tumors. In vitro target validation in 2D and 3D cell cultures demonstrated a reduction in cell viability, migration, and proliferation in IMP2 knockout cells. Also, xenotransplant tumor cell growth in vivo was significantly reduced in IMP2 knockouts. Different compound libraries were screened for IMP2 inhibitors using a fluorescence polarization assay, and the results were confirmed by the thermal shift assay and saturation-transfer difference NMR. Ten compounds, which belong to two classes, that is, benzamidobenzoic acid class and ureidothiophene class, were validated in vitro and showed a biological target specificity. The three most active compounds were also tested in vivo and exhibited reduced tumor xenograft growth in zebrafish embryos. In conclusion, our findings support that IMP2 represents a druggable target to reduce tumor cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Dahlem
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - Ali Abuhaliema
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - Sonja M. Kessler
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
- Institute of Pharmacy, Experimental Pharmacology for Natural Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle 06108, Germany
| | - Tarek Kröhler
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - Ben G. E. Zoller
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - Shilpee Chanda
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - Yingwen Wu
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - Simon Both
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - Fabian Müller
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | | | - Susanne H. Kirsch
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - Stephan Laggai
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - Rolf Müller
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - Martin Empting
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
- Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
| | - Alexandra K. Kiemer
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany
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9
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Jakob V, Zoller BG, Rinkes J, Wu Y, Kiefer AF, Hust M, Polten S, White AM, Harvey PJ, Durek T, Craik DJ, Siebert A, Kazmaier U, Empting M. Phage display-based discovery of cyclic peptides against the broad spectrum bacterial anti-virulence target CsrA. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 231:114148. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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10
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Hug JJ, Dastbaz J, Adam S, Revermann O, Koehnke J, Krug D, Müller R. Biosynthesis of Cittilins, Unusual Ribosomally Synthesized and Post-translationally Modified Peptides from Myxococcus xanthus. ACS Chem Biol 2020; 15:2221-2231. [PMID: 32639716 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cittilins are secondary metabolites from myxobacteria comprised of three l-tyrosines and one l-isoleucine forming a bicyclic tetrapeptide scaffold with biaryl and aryl-oxygen-aryl ether bonds. Here we reveal that cittilins belong to the ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide (RiPP) family of natural products, for which only the crocagins have been reported from myxobacteria. A 27 amino acid precursor peptide harbors a C-terminal four amino acid core peptide, which is enzymatically modified and finally exported to yield cittilins. The small biosynthetic gene cluster responsible for cittilin biosynthesis also encodes a cytochrome P450 enzyme and a methyltransferase, whereas a gene encoding a prolyl endopeptidase for the cleavage of the precursor peptide is located outside of the cittilin biosynthetic gene cluster. We confirm the roles of the biosynthetic genes responsible for the formation of cittilins using targeted gene inactivation and heterologous expression in Streptomyces ssp. We also report first steps toward the biochemical characterization of the proposed biosynthetic pathway in vitro. An investigation of the cellular uptake properties of cittilin A connected it to a potential biological function as an inhibitor of the prokaryotic carbon storage regulator A (CsrA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim J. Hug
- Department Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jan Dastbaz
- Department Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Sebastian Adam
- Department Structural Biology of Biosynthetic Enzymes, Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Ole Revermann
- Department Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jesko Koehnke
- Department Structural Biology of Biosynthetic Enzymes, Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Daniel Krug
- Department Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Rolf Müller
- Department Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
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11
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Byun WG, Lim D, Park SB. Discovery of Small-Molecule Modulators of Protein-RNA Interactions by Fluorescence Intensity-Based Binding Assay. Chembiochem 2019; 21:818-824. [PMID: 31587454 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Protein-RNA interactions mediate various cellular processes, the dysregulation of which has been associated with a list of diseases. Thus, novel experimental tools for monitoring protein-RNA interactions are highly desirable to identify new chemical modulators of these therapeutic targets. In this study, we constructed simple fluorescence intensity-based protein-RNA binding assays by testing multiple environment-sensitive organic fluorophores. We selected the oncogenic interaction between Lin28 and the let-7 microRNA and the important immunomodulatory Roquin-Tnf CDE interaction as representative targets. We adapted this assay to high-throughput screening for the identification of pyrazolyl thiazolidinedione-type molecules as potent small-molecule inhibitors of protein-microRNA interactions. We clearly showed the structure-activity relationships of this new class of Lin28-let-7 interaction inhibitors, and confirmed that cellular mature let-7 microRNAs and their target genes could be modulated upon treatment with the pyrazolyl thiazolidinedione-type inhibitor. We expect that our simple and adaptable screening approach can be applied for the development of various assay systems aimed at the identification of bioactive small molecules targeting protein-RNA interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan Gi Byun
- CRI Center for Chemical Proteomics, Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Donghyun Lim
- Department of Biophysics and Chemical Biology, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Seung Bum Park
- CRI Center for Chemical Proteomics, Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.,Department of Biophysics and Chemical Biology, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
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12
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Restriction-Free Construction of a Phage-Presented Very Short Macrocyclic Peptide Library. Methods Mol Biol 2019. [PMID: 31625092 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9853-1_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Phage display is a commonly used technology for the screening of large clonal libraries of proteins and peptides. The construction of peptide libraries containing very short sequences, however, poses certain problems for conventional restriction-based cloning procedures, which are rooted in the necessity to purify restricted library oligos. Herein, we present an alternative cloning method especially suitable for such very short sequences of about only 21 base pairs resulting in a 60 bp insert. The employed restriction-free hot fusion cloning strategy allows for facile library construction bypassing the need for purification of the small oligo. The library includes one well-defined disulfide bridge rendering the displayed macrocyclic peptide sequences as attractive scaffolds for novel active principles.
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13
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Abstract
The global regulatory protein CsrA coordinates gene expression in response to physiological cues reflecting cellular stress and nutrition. CsrA binding to the 5' segments of mRNA targets affects their translation, RNA stability, and/or transcript elongation. Recent studies identified probable mRNA targets of CsrA that are involved in iron uptake and storage in Escherichia coli, suggesting an unexplored role for CsrA in regulating iron homeostasis. Here, we assessed the impact of CsrA on iron-related gene expression, cellular iron, and growth under various iron levels. We investigated five new targets of CsrA regulation, including the genes for 4 ferritin or ferritin-like iron storage proteins (ISPs) and the stress-inducible Fe-S repair protein, SufA. CsrA bound with high affinity and specificity to ftnB, bfr, and dps mRNAs and inhibited their translation, while it modestly activated ftnA expression. Furthermore, CsrA was found to regulate cellular iron levels and support growth by repressing the expression of genes for ISPs, most importantly, ferritin B (FtnB) and bacterioferritin (Bfr). Iron starvation did not substantially affect cellular levels of CsrA or its small RNA (sRNA) antagonists, CsrB and CsrC. csrA disruption led to increased resistance to the lethal effects of H2O2 during exponential growth, consistent with a regulatory role in oxidative stress resistance. We propose that during exponential growth and under minimal stress, CsrA represses the deleterious expression of the ISPs that function under oxidative stress and stationary-phase conditions (FtnB, Bfr, and Dps), thus ensuring that cellular iron is available to processes that are required for growth.IMPORTANCE Iron is an essential micronutrient for nearly all living organisms but is toxic in excess. Consequently, the maintenance of iron homeostasis is a critical biological process, and the genes involved in this function are tightly regulated. Here, we explored a new role for the bacterial RNA binding protein CsrA in the regulation of iron homeostasis. CsrA was shown to be a key regulator of iron storage genes in Escherichia coli, with consequential effects on cellular iron levels and growth. Our findings establish a model in which robust CsrA activity during the exponential phase of growth leads to repression of genes whose products sequester iron or divert it to unnecessary stress response processes. In so doing, CsrA supports E. coli growth under iron-limiting laboratory conditions and may promote fitness in the competitive iron-limited environment of the host large intestine.
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14
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Kirsch P, Jakob V, Oberhausen K, Stein SC, Cucarro I, Schulz TF, Empting M. Fragment-Based Discovery of a Qualified Hit Targeting the Latency-Associated Nuclear Antigen of the Oncogenic Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus/Human Herpesvirus 8. J Med Chem 2019; 62:3924-3939. [PMID: 30888817 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) is required for latent replication and persistence of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus/human herpesvirus 8. It acts via replicating and tethering the virus episome to the host chromatin and exerts other functions. We conceived a new approach for the discovery of antiviral drugs to inhibit the interaction between LANA and the viral genome. We applied a biophysical screening cascade and identified the first LANA binders from small, structurally diverse compound libraries. Starting from a fragment-sized scaffold, we generated optimized hits via fragment growing using a dedicated fluorescence-polarization-based assay as the structure-activity-relationship driver. We improved compound potency to the double-digit micromolar range. Importantly, we qualified the resulting hit through orthogonal methods employing EMSA, STD-NMR, and MST methodologies. This optimized hit provides an ideal starting point for subsequent hit-to-lead campaigns providing evident target-binding, suitable ligand efficiencies, and favorable physicochemical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philine Kirsch
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization (DDOP) , Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS)-Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) , Campus E8.1 , 66123 Saarbrücken , Germany.,Department of Pharmacy , Saarland University , Campus E8.1 , 66123 Saarbrücken , Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig , 66123 Saarbrücken , Germany
| | - Valentin Jakob
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization (DDOP) , Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS)-Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) , Campus E8.1 , 66123 Saarbrücken , Germany.,Department of Pharmacy , Saarland University , Campus E8.1 , 66123 Saarbrücken , Germany
| | - Kevin Oberhausen
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization (DDOP) , Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS)-Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) , Campus E8.1 , 66123 Saarbrücken , Germany.,Department of Pharmacy , Saarland University , Campus E8.1 , 66123 Saarbrücken , Germany
| | - Saskia C Stein
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig , 66123 Saarbrücken , Germany.,Institute of Virology , Hannover Medical School , Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1 , 30625 Hannover , Germany
| | - Ivano Cucarro
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization (DDOP) , Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS)-Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) , Campus E8.1 , 66123 Saarbrücken , Germany.,Department of Pharmacy , Saarland University , Campus E8.1 , 66123 Saarbrücken , Germany
| | - Thomas F Schulz
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig , 66123 Saarbrücken , Germany.,Institute of Virology , Hannover Medical School , Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1 , 30625 Hannover , Germany
| | - Martin Empting
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization (DDOP) , Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS)-Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) , Campus E8.1 , 66123 Saarbrücken , Germany.,Department of Pharmacy , Saarland University , Campus E8.1 , 66123 Saarbrücken , Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig , 66123 Saarbrücken , Germany
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15
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Adam S, Klein A, Surup F, Koehnke J. The structure of CgnJ, a domain of unknown function protein from the crocagin gene cluster. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2019; 75:205-211. [PMID: 30839296 PMCID: PMC6404859 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x19000712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural products often contain interesting new chemical entities that are introduced into the structure of a compound by the enzymatic machinery of the producing organism. The recently described crocagins are novel polycyclic peptides which belong to the class of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide natural products. They have been shown to bind to the conserved prokaryotic carbon-storage regulator A in vitro. In efforts to understand crocagin biosynthesis, the putative biosynthetic genes were expressed and purified. Here, the first crystal structure of a protein from the crocagin-biosynthetic gene cluster, CgnJ, a domain of unknown function protein, is reported. Possible functions of this protein were explored by structural and sequence homology analyses. Even though the sequence homology to proteins in the Protein Data Bank is low, the protein shows significant structural homology to a protein with known function within the competency system of Bacillus subtilis, ComJ, leading to the hypothesis of a similar role of the protein within the producing organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Adam
- Structural Biology of Biosynthetic Enzymes, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, Universität des Saarlandes Gebäude E8.1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Andreas Klein
- Structural Biology of Biosynthetic Enzymes, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, Universität des Saarlandes Gebäude E8.1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Frank Surup
- Microbial Drugs, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstrasse 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jesko Koehnke
- Structural Biology of Biosynthetic Enzymes, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, Universität des Saarlandes Gebäude E8.1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
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16
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Abstract
Bacterial regulatory RNAs are key players in adaptation to changing environmental conditions and response to diverse cellular stresses. However, while regulatory RNAs of bacterial pathogens have been intensely studied under defined conditions in vitro, characterization of their role during the infection of eukaryotic host organisms is lagging behind. This review summarizes our current understanding of the contribution of the different classes of regulatory RNAs and RNA-binding proteins to bacterial virulence and illustrates their role in infection by reviewing the mechanisms of some prominent representatives of each class. Emerging technologies are described that bear great potential for global, unbiased studies of virulence-related RNAs in bacterial model and nonmodel pathogens in the future. The review concludes by deducing common principles of RNA-mediated gene expression control of virulence programs in different pathogens, and by defining important open questions for upcoming research in the field.
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17
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Metabolome and transcriptome-wide effects of the carbon storage regulator A in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Sci Rep 2019; 9:138. [PMID: 30644424 PMCID: PMC6333774 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36932-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The carbon storage regulator A (CsrA) is a conserved global regulatory system known to control central carbon pathways, biofilm formation, motility, and pathogenicity. The aim of this study was to characterize changes in major metabolic pathways induced by CsrA in human enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) grown under virulence factor-inducing conditions. For this purpose, the metabolomes and transcriptomes of EPEC and an isogenic ∆csrA mutant derivative were analyzed by untargeted mass spectrometry and RNA sequencing, respectively. Of the 159 metabolites identified from untargeted GC/MS and LC/MS data, 97 were significantly (fold change ≥ 1.5; corrected p-value ≤ 0.05) regulated between the knockout and the wildtype strain. A lack of csrA led to an accumulation of fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) and glycogen synthesis pathway products, whereas metabolites in lower glycolysis and the citric acid cycle were downregulated. Associated pathways from the citric acid cycle like aromatic amino acid and siderophore biosynthesis were also negatively influenced. The nucleoside salvage pathways were featured by an accumulation of nucleosides and nucleobases, and a downregulation of nucleotides. In addition, a pronounced downregulation of lyso-lipid metabolites was observed. A drastic change in the morphology in the form of vesicle-like structures of the ∆csrA knockout strain was visible by electron microscopy. Colanic acid synthesis genes were strongly (up to 50 fold) upregulated, and the abundance of colanic acid was 3 fold increased according to a colorimetric assay. The findings expand the scope of pathways affected by the csrA regulon and emphasize its importance as a global regulator.
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18
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D'Agostino VG, Sighel D, Zucal C, Bonomo I, Micaelli M, Lolli G, Provenzani A, Quattrone A, Adami V. Screening Approaches for Targeting Ribonucleoprotein Complexes: A New Dimension for Drug Discovery. SLAS DISCOVERY 2019; 24:314-331. [PMID: 30616427 DOI: 10.1177/2472555218818065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are pleiotropic factors that control the processing and functional compartmentalization of transcripts by binding primarily to mRNA untranslated regions (UTRs). The competitive and/or cooperative interplay between RBPs and an array of coding and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) determines the posttranscriptional control of gene expression, influencing protein production. Recently, a variety of well-recognized and noncanonical RBP domains have been revealed by modern system-wide analyses, underlying an evolving classification of ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) and their importance in governing physiological RNA metabolism. The possibility of targeting selected RNA-protein interactions with small molecules is now expanding the concept of protein "druggability," with new implications for medicinal chemistry and for a deeper characterization of the mechanism of action of bioactive compounds. Here, taking SF3B1, HuR, LIN28, and Musashi proteins as paradigmatic case studies, we review the strategies applied for targeting RBPs, with emphasis on the technological advancements to study protein-RNA interactions and on the requirements of appropriate validation strategies to parallel high-throughput screening (HTS) efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Giuseppe D'Agostino
- 1 University of Trento, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
| | - Denise Sighel
- 1 University of Trento, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
| | - Chiara Zucal
- 1 University of Trento, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
| | - Isabelle Bonomo
- 1 University of Trento, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Micaelli
- 1 University of Trento, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
| | - Graziano Lolli
- 1 University of Trento, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
| | - Alessandro Provenzani
- 1 University of Trento, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
| | - Alessandro Quattrone
- 1 University of Trento, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
| | - Valentina Adami
- 2 University of Trento, HTS Core Facility, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), Trento, Italy
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19
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Premnath P, Reck M, Wittstein K, Stadler M, Wagner-Döbler I. Screening for inhibitors of mutacin synthesis in Streptococcus mutans using fluorescent reporter strains. BMC Microbiol 2018; 18:24. [PMID: 29580208 PMCID: PMC5870221 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-018-1170-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Within the polymicrobial dental plaque biofilm, bacteria kill competitors by excreting mixtures of bacteriocins, resulting in improved fitness and survival. Inhibiting their bacteriocin synthesis might therefore be a useful strategy to eliminate specific pathogens. We used Streptococcus mutans, a highly acidogenic inhabitant of dental plaque, as a model and searched for natural products that reduced mutacin synthesis. To this end we fused the promoter of mutacin VI to the GFP+ gene and integrated the construct into the genome of S. mutans UA159 by single homologous recombination. Results The resulting reporter strain 423p - gfp + was used to screen 297 secondary metabolites from different sources, mainly myxobacteria and fungi, for their ability to reduce the fluorescence of the fully induced reporter strain by > 50% while growth was almost unaffected (> 90% of control). Seven compounds with different chemical structures and different modes of action were identified. Erinacine C was subsequently validated and shown to inhibit transcription of all three mutacins of S. mutans. The areas of the inhibition zones of the sensor strains S. sanguinis and Lactococcus lactis were reduced by 35% to 61% in comparison to controls in the presence of erinacine C, demonstrating that the amount of active mutacins in the culture supernatants of S. mutans was reduced. Erinacines are cyathane diterpenes that were extracted from cultures of the edible mushroom Hericium erinaceus. They have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and neuroprotective effects. For erinacine C, a new biological activity was found here. Conclusions We demonstrate the successful development of a whole-cell fluorescent reporter for the screening of natural compounds and report that erinacine C suppresses mutacin synthesis in S. mutans without affecting cell viability. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12866-018-1170-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Premnath
- Helmholtz-Center for Infection Research, Group Microbial Communication, Inhoffenstr. 7, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Reck
- Helmholtz-Center for Infection Research, Group Microbial Communication, Inhoffenstr. 7, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Kathrin Wittstein
- Helmholtz-Center for Infection Research, Department of Microbial Drugs, Inhoffenstr. 7, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Marc Stadler
- Helmholtz-Center for Infection Research, Department of Microbial Drugs, Inhoffenstr. 7, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Irene Wagner-Döbler
- Helmholtz-Center for Infection Research, Group Microbial Communication, Inhoffenstr. 7, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany.
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20
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Regulation of host–pathogen interactions via the post-transcriptional Csr/Rsm system. Curr Opin Microbiol 2018; 41:58-67. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2017.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 11/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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21
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Surup F, Viehrig K, Rachid S, Plaza A, Maurer CK, Hartmann RW, Müller R. Crocadepsins-Depsipeptides from the Myxobacterium Chondromyces crocatus Found by a Genome Mining Approach. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:267-272. [PMID: 29220569 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.7b00900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Analysis of the genome sequence of the myxobacterium Chondromyces crocatus Cm c5 revealed the presence of numerous cryptic megasynthetase gene clusters, one of which we here assign to two previously unknown chlorinated metabolites by a comparative gene inactivation and secondary metabolomics approach. Structure elucidation of these compounds revealed a unique cyclic depsipeptide skeleton featuring β- and δ-amide bonds of aspartic acid and 3-methyl ornithine moieties, respectively. Insights into their biosynthesis were obtained by targeted gene inactivation and feeding experiments employing isotope-labeled precursors. The compounds were produced ubiquitously by the species Chondromyces crocatus and were found to inhibit the carbon storage regulator-RNA interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Surup
- Helmholtz Center
for Infection Research (HZI), Department Microbial Drugs, Inhoffenstraβe
7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research Association (DZIF), partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, Inhoffenstraβe 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Konrad Viehrig
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical
Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Center for Infection Research
and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Saarland University, Campus, Building C2.3, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Shwan Rachid
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical
Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Center for Infection Research
and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Saarland University, Campus, Building C2.3, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Alberto Plaza
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical
Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Center for Infection Research
and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Saarland University, Campus, Building C2.3, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Christine K. Maurer
- Department of Drug Design & Optimization, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research Association (DZIF), partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, Inhoffenstraβe 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Rolf W. Hartmann
- Department of Drug Design & Optimization, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research Association (DZIF), partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, Inhoffenstraβe 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Rolf Müller
- Helmholtz Center
for Infection Research (HZI), Department Microbial Drugs, Inhoffenstraβe
7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical
Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Center for Infection Research
and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Saarland University, Campus, Building C2.3, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research Association (DZIF), partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, Inhoffenstraβe 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
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22
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Ren X, Zeng R, Tortorella M, Wang J, Wang C. Structural Insight into Inhibition of CsrA-RNA Interaction Revealed by Docking, Molecular Dynamics and Free Energy Calculations. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14934. [PMID: 29097778 PMCID: PMC5668361 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14916-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The carbon storage regulator A (CsrA) and its homologs play an important role in coordinating the expression of bacterial virulence factors required for successful host infection. In addition, bacterial pathogens with deficiency of CsrA are typically attenuated for virulence. In 2016, the first series of small-molecule inhibitors of CsrA-RNA interaction were identified, which were found to achieve the CsrA-RNA inhibition by binding to the CsrA, without interfering with the RNA. However, the binding mechanism of these inhibitors of CsrA is not known. Herein, we applied molecular docking, molecular dynamics and binding free energy calculations to investigate the binding mode of inhibitors to CsrA. We found that the G11(RNA)-binding site is the most important binding site for CsrA inhibitors. An inhibitor with the proper size range can bind to that site and form a stable complex. We also found that inhibitors with larger size ranges bind to the entire CsrA-RNA interface, but have loose binding. However, this loose binding still resulted in inhibitory activity. The calculated binding free energy from MM/GBSA has a good correlation with the derived experimental binding energy, which might be used as a tool to further select CsrA inhibitors after a first-round of high-throughput virtual screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Ren
- Department of Pharmacy, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, 550002, P.R. China
| | - Rui Zeng
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
| | - Micky Tortorella
- Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510530, P.R. China
| | - Jinming Wang
- Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510530, P.R. China
| | - Changwei Wang
- Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510530, P.R. China.
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23
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Chemische Struktur und Biosynthese der Crocagine, polycyclischer Peptide ribosomalen Ursprungs ausChondromyces crocatus. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201612640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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24
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Viehrig K, Surup F, Volz C, Herrmann J, Abou Fayad A, Adam S, Köhnke J, Trauner D, Müller R. Structure and Biosynthesis of Crocagins: Polycyclic Posttranslationally Modified Ribosomal Peptides fromChondromyces crocatus. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017; 56:7407-7410. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201612640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Revised: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Viehrig
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS); Helmholtz Center for Infection Research and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology; Saarland University; Campus, Building E8.1 66123 Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Frank Surup
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI); Department Microbial Drugs; Inhoffenstraße 7 38124 Braunschweig Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig; Germany
| | - Carsten Volz
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS); Helmholtz Center for Infection Research and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology; Saarland University; Campus, Building E8.1 66123 Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Jennifer Herrmann
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS); Helmholtz Center for Infection Research and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology; Saarland University; Campus, Building E8.1 66123 Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Antoine Abou Fayad
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS); Helmholtz Center for Infection Research and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology; Saarland University; Campus, Building E8.1 66123 Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Sebastian Adam
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS); Helmholtz Center for Infection Research and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology; Saarland University; Campus, Building E8.1 66123 Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Jesko Köhnke
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS); Helmholtz Center for Infection Research and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology; Saarland University; Campus, Building E8.1 66123 Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Dirk Trauner
- Department of Chemistry; Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München; Butenandtstrasse 5-13 81377 Munich Germany
| | - Rolf Müller
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS); Helmholtz Center for Infection Research and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology; Saarland University; Campus, Building E8.1 66123 Saarbrücken Germany
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI); Department Microbial Drugs; Inhoffenstraße 7 38124 Braunschweig Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig; Germany
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Dersch P, Khan MA, Mühlen S, Görke B. Roles of Regulatory RNAs for Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria and Their Potential Value as Novel Drug Targets. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:803. [PMID: 28529506 PMCID: PMC5418344 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of antibiotic resistance mechanisms among bacterial pathogens increases the demand for novel treatment strategies. Lately, the contribution of non-coding RNAs to antibiotic resistance and their potential value as drug targets became evident. RNA attenuator elements in mRNA leader regions couple expression of resistance genes to the presence of the cognate antibiotic. Trans-encoded small RNAs (sRNAs) modulate antibiotic tolerance by base-pairing with mRNAs encoding functions important for resistance such as metabolic enzymes, drug efflux pumps, or transport proteins. Bacteria respond with extensive changes of their sRNA repertoire to antibiotics. Each antibiotic generates a unique sRNA profile possibly causing downstream effects that may help to overcome the antibiotic challenge. In consequence, regulatory RNAs including sRNAs and their protein interaction partners such as Hfq may prove useful as targets for antimicrobial chemotherapy. Indeed, several compounds have been developed that kill bacteria by mimicking ligands for riboswitches controlling essential genes, demonstrating that regulatory RNA elements are druggable targets. Drugs acting on sRNAs are considered for combined therapies to treat infections. In this review, we address how regulatory RNAs respond to and establish resistance to antibiotics in bacteria. Approaches to target RNAs involved in intrinsic antibiotic resistance or virulence for chemotherapy will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Dersch
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection ResearchBraunschweig, Germany
| | - Muna A Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University of ViennaVienna, Austria
| | - Sabrina Mühlen
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection ResearchBraunschweig, Germany
| | - Boris Görke
- Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University of ViennaVienna, Austria
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New RNA-seq approaches for the study of bacterial pathogens. Curr Opin Microbiol 2017; 35:78-87. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2017.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Revised: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Nuss AM, Heroven AK, Dersch P. RNA Regulators: Formidable Modulators of Yersinia Virulence. Trends Microbiol 2016; 25:19-34. [PMID: 27651123 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2016.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2016] [Revised: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
A large repertoire of RNA-based regulatory mechanisms, including a plethora of cis- and trans-acting noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), sensory RNA elements, regulatory RNA-binding proteins, and RNA-degrading enzymes have been uncovered lately as key players in the regulation of metabolism, stress responses, and virulence of the genus Yersinia. Many of them are strictly controlled in response to fluctuating environmental conditions sensed during the course of the infection, and certain riboregulators have already been shown to be crucial for virulence. Some of them are highly conserved among the family Enterobacteriaceae, while others are genus-, species-, or strain-specific and could contribute to the difference in Yersinia pathogenicity. Importantly, the analysis of Yersinia riboregulators has not only uncovered crucial elements and regulatory mechanisms governing host-pathogen interactions, it also revealed exciting new venues for the design of novel anti-infectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M Nuss
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Ann Kathrin Heroven
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Petra Dersch
- Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.
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