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Jojić K, Gherlone F, Cseresnyés Z, Bissell AU, Hoefgen S, Hoffmann S, Huang Y, Janevska S, Figge MT, Valiante V. The spatial organization of sphingofungin biosynthesis in Aspergillus fumigatus and its cross-interaction with sphingolipid metabolism. mBio 2024; 15:e0019524. [PMID: 38380921 PMCID: PMC10936153 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00195-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Sphingofungins are sphinganine analog mycotoxins acting as inhibitors of serine palmitoyl transferases, enzymes responsible for the first step in the sphingolipid biosynthesis. Eukaryotic cells are highly organized with various structures and organelles to facilitate cellular processes and chemical reactions, including the ones occurring as part of the secondary metabolism. We studied how sphingofungin biosynthesis is compartmentalized in the human-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, and we observed that it takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), ER-derived vesicles, and the cytosol. This implies that sphingofungin and sphingolipid biosynthesis colocalize to some extent. Automated analysis of confocal microscopy images confirmed the colocalization of the fluorescent proteins. Moreover, we demonstrated that the cluster-associated aminotransferase (SphA) and 3-ketoreductase (SphF) play a bifunctional role, supporting sphingolipid biosynthesis, and thereby antagonizing the toxic effects caused by sphingofungin production.IMPORTANCEA balanced sphingolipid homeostasis is critical for the proper functioning of eukaryotic cells. To this end, sphingolipid inhibitors have therapeutic potential against diseases related to the deregulation of sphingolipid balance. In addition, some of them have significant antifungal activity, suggesting that sphingolipid inhibitors-producing fungi have evolved mechanisms to escape self-poisoning. Here, we propose a novel self-defense mechanism, with cluster-associated genes coding for enzymes that play a dual role, being involved in both sphingofungin and sphingolipid production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Jojić
- Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Fabio Gherlone
- Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Zoltán Cseresnyés
- Applied Systems Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Alexander U. Bissell
- Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Sandra Hoefgen
- Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Stefan Hoffmann
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Applied Systems Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Ying Huang
- Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Slavica Janevska
- (Epi-)Genetic Regulation of Fungal Virulence, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Marc Thilo Figge
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Applied Systems Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Vito Valiante
- Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
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Matabaro E, Witte L, Gherlone F, Vogt E, Kaspar H, Künzler M. Promiscuity of Omphalotin A Biosynthetic Enzymes Allows de novo Production of Non-Natural Multiply Backbone N-Methylated Peptide Macrocycles in Yeast. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300626. [PMID: 38059521 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Multiple backbone N-methylation and macrocyclization improve the proteolytic stability and oral availability of therapeutic peptides. Chemical synthesis of such peptides is challenging, in particular for the generation of peptide libraries for screening purposes. Enzymatic backbone N-methylation and macrocyclization occur as part of both non-ribosomal and ribosomal peptide biosynthesis, exemplified by the fungal natural products cyclosporin A and omphalotin A, respectively. Omphalotin A, a 9fold backbone N-methylated dodecamer isolated from the agaricomycete Omphalotus olearius, can be produced in Pichia pastoris by coexpression of the ophMA and ophP genes coding for the peptide precursor protein harbouring an autocatalytic peptide α-N-methyltransferase domain, and a peptide macrocyclase, respectively. Since both OphMA and OphP were previously shown to be relatively promiscuous in terms of peptide substrates, we expressed mutant versions of ophMA, encoding OphMA variants with altered core peptide sequences, along with wildtype ophP and assessed the production of the respective peptide macrocycles by the platform by high-performance liquid chromatography, coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Our results demonstrate the successful production of fifteen non-natural omphalotin-derived macrocycles, containing polar, aromatic and charged residues, and, thus, suggest that the system may be used as biotechnological platform to generate libraries of non-natural multiply backbone N-methylated peptide macrocycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Matabaro
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog Weg 4, HCI F423, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Luca Witte
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog Weg 4, HCI F423, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Fabio Gherlone
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog Weg 4, HCI F423, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Eva Vogt
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog Weg 4, HCI F423, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hannelore Kaspar
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog Weg 4, HCI F423, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Markus Künzler
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog Weg 4, HCI F423, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
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Hoefgen S, Bissell AU, Huang Y, Gherlone F, Raguž L, Beemelmanns C, Valiante V. Desaturation of the Sphingofungin Polyketide Tail Results in Increased Serine Palmitoyltransferase Inhibition. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0133122. [PMID: 36121228 PMCID: PMC9603476 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01331-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Serine palmitoyltransferase catalyzes the first step of the sphingolipid biosynthesis. Recently, sphingolipid homeostasis has been connected to several human diseases, making serine palmitoyltransferases an interesting therapeutic target. Known and efficient serine palmitoyltransferase-inhibitors are sphingofungins, a group of natural products isolated from fungi. To further characterize newly isolated sphingofungins, we designed an easy to use colorimetric serine palmitoyltransferase activity assay using FadD, which can be performed in 96-well plates. Because sphingofungins exert antifungal activitiy as well, we compared the in vitro assay results with an in vivo growth assay using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The reported experiments showed differences among the assayed sphingofungins, highlighting an increase of activity based on the saturation levels of the polyketide tail. IMPORTANCE Targeting the cellular sphingolipid metabolism is often discussed as a potential approach to treat associated human diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Alternatively, it is also a possible target for the development of antifungal compounds, which are direly needed. A central role is played by the serine palmitoyltransferase, which catalyzes the initial and rate limiting step of sphingolipid de novo synthesis and, as such, the development of inhibitory compounds for this enzyme is of interest. Our work here established an alternative approach for determining the activity of serine palmitoyltransferase adding another tool for the validation of its inhibition. We also determined the effect of different modifications to sphingofungins on their inhibitory activity against serine palmitoyltransferase, revealing important differences on said activity against enzymes of bacterial and fungal origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Hoefgen
- Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Alexander U. Bissell
- Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Ying Huang
- Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Fabio Gherlone
- Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Luka Raguž
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry and Earth Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Christine Beemelmanns
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Vito Valiante
- Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
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Huang Y, Hoefgen S, Gherlone F, Valiante V. Intrinsic Ability of the β‐Oxidation Pathway To Produce Bioactive Styrylpyrones. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202206851. [PMID: 35726672 PMCID: PMC9541201 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202206851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Naturally occurring α‐pyrones with biological activities are mostly synthesised by polyketide synthases (PKSs) via iterative decarboxylative Claisen condensation steps. Remarkably, we found that some enzymes related to the fatty acid β‐oxidation pathway in Escherichia coli, namely the CoA ligase FadD and the thiolases FadA and FadI, can synthesise styrylpyrones with phenylpropionic acids in vivo. The two thiolases directly utilise acetyl‐CoA as an extender unit for carbon‐chain elongation through a non‐decarboxylative Claisen condensation, thus making the overall reaction more efficient in terms of carbon and energy consumption. Moreover, using a cell‐free approach, different styrylpyrones were synthesised in vitro. Finally, targeted feeding experiments led to the detection of styrylpyrones in other species, demonstrating that the intrinsic ability of the β‐oxidation pathway allows for the synthesis of such molecules in bacteria, revealing an important biological feature hitherto neglected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Huang
- Independent Junior Research Group Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology Hans Knöll Institute (HKI) Beutenbergstrasse 11a 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Sandra Hoefgen
- Independent Junior Research Group Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology Hans Knöll Institute (HKI) Beutenbergstrasse 11a 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Fabio Gherlone
- Independent Junior Research Group Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology Hans Knöll Institute (HKI) Beutenbergstrasse 11a 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Vito Valiante
- Independent Junior Research Group Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology Hans Knöll Institute (HKI) Beutenbergstrasse 11a 07745 Jena Germany
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Valiante V, Huang Y, Hoefgen S, Gherlone F. Intrinsic Ability of the ß‐Oxidation Pathway To Produce Bioactive Styrylpyrones. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202206851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vito Valiante
- Leibniz-Institut für Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie eV Hans-Knöll-Institut Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 23 07745 Jena GERMANY
| | - Ying Huang
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection BiologyHans Knöll Institute: Leibniz-Institut fur Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie eV Hans-Knoll-Institut Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses 07745 Jena GERMANY
| | - Sandra Hoefgen
- Leibniz-Institut für Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie eV Hans-Knöll-Institut: Leibniz-Institut fur Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie eV Hans-Knoll-Institut Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses 07745 Jena GERMANY
| | - Fabio Gherlone
- Leibniz-Institut für Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie eV Hans-Knöll-Institut: Leibniz-Institut fur Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie eV Hans-Knoll-Institut Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses 07745 Jena GERMANY
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