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Li J, Yang S, Wu Y, Wang R, Liu Y, Liu J, Ye Z, Tang R, Whiteway M, Lv Q, Yan L. Alternative Oxidase: From Molecule and Function to Future Inhibitors. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:12478-12499. [PMID: 38524433 PMCID: PMC10955580 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
In the respiratory chain of the majority of aerobic organisms, the enzyme alternative oxidase (AOX) functions as the terminal oxidase and has important roles in maintaining metabolic and signaling homeostasis in mitochondria. AOX endows the respiratory system with flexibility in the coupling among the carbon metabolism pathway, electron transport chain (ETC) activity, and ATP turnover. AOX allows electrons to bypass the main cytochrome pathway to restrict the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The inhibition of AOX leads to oxidative damage and contributes to the loss of adaptability and viability in some pathogenic organisms. Although AOXs have recently been identified in several organisms, crystal structures and major functions still need to be explored. Recent work on the trypanosome alternative oxidase has provided a crystal structure of an AOX protein, which contributes to the structure-activity relationship of the inhibitors of AOX. Here, we review the current knowledge on the development, structure, and properties of AOXs, as well as their roles and mechanisms in plants, animals, algae, protists, fungi, and bacteria, with a special emphasis on the development of AOX inhibitors, which will improve the understanding of respiratory regulation in many organisms and provide references for subsequent studies of AOX-targeted inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiye Li
- School
of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
- Institute
of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy
of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Shiyun Yang
- School
of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yujie Wu
- School
of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Ruina Wang
- School
of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yu Liu
- School
of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jiacun Liu
- School
of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zi Ye
- School
of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Renjie Tang
- Beijing
South Medical District of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100072, China
| | - Malcolm Whiteway
- Department
of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, H4B 1R6 Quebec, Canada
| | - Quanzhen Lv
- School
of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
- Basic
Medicine Innovation Center for Fungal Infectious Diseases, (Naval Medical University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200433, China
- Key
Laboratory of Biosafety Defense (Naval Medical University), Ministry
of Education, Shanghai 200433, China
- Shanghai
Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Lan Yan
- School
of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
- Basic
Medicine Innovation Center for Fungal Infectious Diseases, (Naval Medical University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200433, China
- Key
Laboratory of Biosafety Defense (Naval Medical University), Ministry
of Education, Shanghai 200433, China
- Shanghai
Key Laboratory of Medical Biodefense, Shanghai 200433, China
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2
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Liu Z, Basso P, Hossain S, Liston SD, Robbins N, Whitesell L, Noble SM, Cowen LE. Multifactor transcriptional control of alternative oxidase induction integrates diverse environmental inputs to enable fungal virulence. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4528. [PMID: 37500616 PMCID: PMC10374912 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40209-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic flexibility enables fungi to invade challenging host environments. In Candida albicans, a common cause of life-threatening infections in humans, an important contributor to flexibility is alternative oxidase (Aox) activity. Dramatic induction of this activity occurs under respiratory-stress conditions, which impair the classical electron transport chain (ETC). Here, we show that deletion of the inducible AOX2 gene cripples C. albicans virulence in mice by increasing immune recognition. To investigate further, we examined transcriptional regulation of AOX2 in molecular detail under host-relevant, ETC-inhibitory conditions. We found that multiple transcription factors, including Rtg1/Rtg3, Cwt1/Zcf11, and Zcf2, bind and regulate the AOX2 promoter, conferring thousand-fold levels of inducibility to AOX2 in response to distinct environmental stressors. Further dissection of this complex promoter revealed how integration of stimuli ranging from reactive species of oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur to reduced copper availability is achieved at the transcriptional level to regulate AOX2 induction and enable pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongle Liu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Pauline Basso
- UCSF Department of Microbiology & Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Saif Hossain
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sean D Liston
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Luke Whitesell
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Suzanne M Noble
- UCSF Department of Microbiology & Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- UCSF Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Olea AF, Rubio J, Sedan C, Carvajal D, Nuñez M, Espinoza L, Llovera L, Nuñez G, Taborga L, Carrasco H. Antifungal Activity of 2-Allylphenol Derivatives on the Botrytis cinerea Strain: Assessment of Possible Action Mechanism. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076530. [PMID: 37047503 PMCID: PMC10095406 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea is a phytopathogenic fungus that causes serious damage to the agricultural industry by infecting various important crops. 2-allylphenol has been used in China as a fungicide for more than a decade, and it has been shown that is a respiration inhibitor. A series of derivatives of 2-allylphenol were synthesized and their activity against B. cinerea was evaluated by measuring mycelial growth inhibition. Results indicate that small changes in the chemical structure or the addition of substituent groups in the aromatic ring induce important variations in activity. For example, changing the hydroxyl group by methoxy or acetyl groups produces dramatic increases in mycelial growth inhibition, i.e., the IC50 value of 2-allylphenol decreases from 68 to 2 and 1 μg mL−1. In addition, it was found that the most active derivatives induce the inhibition of Bcaox expression in the early stages of B. cinerea conidia germination. This gene is associated with the activation of the alternative oxidase enzyme (AOX), which allows fungus respiration to continue in the presence of respiratory inhibitors. Thus, it seems that 2-allylphenol derivatives can inhibit the normal and alternative respiratory pathway of B. cinerea. Therefore, we believe that these compounds are a very attractive platform for the development of antifungal agents against B. cinerea.
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Targeting the alternative oxidase (AOX) for human health and food security, a pharmaceutical and agrochemical target or a rescue mechanism? Biochem J 2022; 479:1337-1359. [PMID: 35748702 PMCID: PMC9246349 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20180192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Some of the most threatening human diseases are due to a blockage of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC). In a variety of plants, fungi, and prokaryotes, there is a naturally evolved mechanism for such threats to viability, namely a bypassing of the blocked portion of the ETC by alternative enzymes of the respiratory chain. One such enzyme is the alternative oxidase (AOX). When AOX is expressed, it enables its host to survive life-threatening conditions or, as in parasites, to evade host defenses. In vertebrates, this mechanism has been lost during evolution. However, we and others have shown that transfer of AOX into the genome of the fruit fly and mouse results in a catalytically engaged AOX. This implies that not only is the AOX a promising target for combating human or agricultural pathogens but also a novel approach to elucidate disease mechanisms or, in several cases, potentially a therapeutic cure for human diseases. In this review, we highlight the varying functions of AOX in their natural hosts and upon xenotopic expression, and discuss the resulting need to develop species-specific AOX inhibitors.
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Popov VN, Syromyatnikov MY, Fernie AR, Chakraborty S, Gupta KJ, Igamberdiev AU. The uncoupling of respiration in plant mitochondria: keeping reactive oxygen and nitrogen species under control. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:793-807. [PMID: 33245770 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Plant mitochondrial respiration involves the operation of various alternative pathways. These pathways participate, both directly and indirectly, in the maintenance of mitochondrial functions though they do not contribute to energy production, being uncoupled from the generation of an electrochemical gradient across the mitochondrial membrane and thus from ATP production. Recent findings suggest that uncoupled respiration is involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging, regulation, and homeostasis. Here we discuss specific roles and possible functions of uncoupled mitochondrial respiration in ROS and NO metabolism. The mechanisms of expression and regulation of the NDA-, NDB- and NDC-type non-coupled NADH and NADPH dehydrogenases, the alternative oxidase (AOX), and the uncoupling protein (UCP) are examined in relation to their involvement in the establishment of the stable far-from-equilibrium state of plant metabolism. The role of uncoupled respiration in controlling the levels of ROS and NO as well as inducing signaling events is considered. Secondary functions of uncoupled respiration include its role in protection from stress factors and roles in biosynthesis and catabolism. It is concluded that uncoupled mitochondrial respiration plays an important role in providing rapid adaptation of plants to changing environmental factors via regulation of ROS and NO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasily N Popov
- Department of Genetics, Cytology and Bioengineering, Voronezh State University, Voronezh, Russia
- Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, Voronezh, Russia
| | - Mikhail Y Syromyatnikov
- Department of Genetics, Cytology and Bioengineering, Voronezh State University, Voronezh, Russia
- Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, Voronezh, Russia
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Subhra Chakraborty
- National Institute for Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Abir U Igamberdiev
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL, Canada
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Song J, Zhou J, Zhang L, Li R. Mitochondria-Mediated Azole Drug Resistance and Fungal Pathogenicity: Opportunities for Therapeutic Development. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1574. [PMID: 33066090 PMCID: PMC7600254 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8101574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the role of mitochondria in pathogenic fungi in terms of azole resistance and fungal pathogenicity has been a rapidly developing field. In this review, we describe the molecular mechanisms by which mitochondria are involved in regulating azole resistance and fungal pathogenicity. Mitochondrial function is involved in the regulation of drug efflux pumps at the transcriptional and posttranslational levels. On the one hand, defects in mitochondrial function can serve as the signal leading to activation of calcium signaling and the pleiotropic drug resistance pathway and, therefore, can globally upregulate the expression of drug efflux pump genes, leading to azole drug resistance. On the other hand, mitochondria also contribute to azole resistance through modulation of drug efflux pump localization and activity. Mitochondria further contribute to azole resistance through participating in iron homeostasis and lipid biosynthesis. Additionally, mitochondrial dynamics play an important role in azole resistance. Meanwhile, mitochondrial morphology is important for fungal virulence, playing roles in growth in stressful conditions in a host. Furthermore, there is a close link between mitochondrial respiration and fungal virulence, and mitochondrial respiration plays an important role in morphogenetic transition, hypoxia adaptation, and cell wall biosynthesis. Finally, we discuss the possibility for targeting mitochondrial factors for the development of antifungal therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxing Song
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province and School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China;
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Jinan 250012, China;
| | - Jingwen Zhou
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province and School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China;
| | - Lei Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Jinan 250012, China;
| | - Rongpeng Li
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province and School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China;
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Barsottini MRO, Copsey A, Young L, Baroni RM, Cordeiro AT, Pereira GAG, Moore AL. Biochemical characterization and inhibition of the alternative oxidase enzyme from the fungal phytopathogen Moniliophthora perniciosa. Commun Biol 2020; 3:263. [PMID: 32451394 PMCID: PMC7248098 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-0981-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Moniliophthora perniciosa is a fungal pathogen and causal agent of the witches' broom disease of cocoa, a threat to the chocolate industry and to the economic and social security in cocoa-planting countries. The membrane-bound enzyme alternative oxidase (MpAOX) is crucial for pathogen survival; however a lack of information on the biochemical properties of MpAOX hinders the development of novel fungicides. In this study, we purified and characterised recombinant MpAOX in dose-response assays with activators and inhibitors, followed by a kinetic characterization both in an aqueous environment and in physiologically-relevant proteoliposomes. We present structure-activity relationships of AOX inhibitors such as colletochlorin B and analogues which, aided by an MpAOX structural model, indicates key residues for protein-inhibitor interaction. We also discuss the importance of the correct hydrophobic environment for MpAOX enzymatic activity. We envisage that such results will guide the future development of AOX-targeting antifungal agents against M. perniciosa, an important outcome for the chocolate industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario R O Barsottini
- Genomics and bioEnergy Laboratory, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.,Biochemistry & Biomedicine, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Alice Copsey
- Biochemistry & Biomedicine, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Luke Young
- Biochemistry & Biomedicine, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Renata M Baroni
- Genomics and bioEnergy Laboratory, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Artur T Cordeiro
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Gonçalo A G Pereira
- Genomics and bioEnergy Laboratory, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
| | - Anthony L Moore
- Biochemistry & Biomedicine, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK.
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Costa PC, Barsottini MR, Vieira ML, Pires BA, Evangelista JS, Zeri AC, Nascimento AF, Silva JS, Carazzolle MF, Pereira GA, Sforça ML, Miranda PC, Rocco SA. N-Phenylbenzamide derivatives as alternative oxidase inhibitors: Synthesis, molecular properties, 1H-STD NMR, and QSAR. J Mol Struct 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2020.127903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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9
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Tian F, Lee SY, Woo SY, Chun HS. Alternative Oxidase: A Potential Target for Controlling Aflatoxin Contamination and Propagation of Aspergillus flavus. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:419. [PMID: 32256475 PMCID: PMC7092633 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aflatoxins are among the most hazardous natural cereal contaminants. These mycotoxins are produced by Aspergillus spp. as polyketide secondary metabolites. Aflatoxigenic fungi including A. flavus express the alternative oxidase (AOX), which introduces a branch in the cytochrome-based electron transfer chain by coupling ubiquinol oxidation directly with the reduction of O2 to H2O. AOX is closely associated with fungal pathogenesis, morphogenesis, stress signaling, and drug resistance and, as recently reported, affects the production of mycotoxins such as sterigmatocystin, the penultimate intermediate in aflatoxin B1 biosynthesis. Thus, AOX might be considered a target for controlling the propagation of and aflatoxin contamination by A. flavus. Hence, this review summarizes the current understanding of fungal AOX and the alternative respiration pathway and the development and potential applications of AOX inhibitors. This review indicates that AOX inhibitors, either alone or in combination with current antifungal agents, are potentially applicable for developing novel, effective antifungal strategies. However, considering the conservation of AOX in fungal and plant cells, a deeper understanding of fungal alternative respiration and fungal AOX structure is needed, along with effective fungal-specific AOX inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Tian
- Food Toxicology Laboratory, Advanced Food Safety Research Group, BK21 Plus, School of Food Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, South Korea
| | - Sang Yoo Lee
- Food Toxicology Laboratory, Advanced Food Safety Research Group, BK21 Plus, School of Food Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, South Korea
| | - So Young Woo
- Food Toxicology Laboratory, Advanced Food Safety Research Group, BK21 Plus, School of Food Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, South Korea
| | - Hyang Sook Chun
- Food Toxicology Laboratory, Advanced Food Safety Research Group, BK21 Plus, School of Food Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, South Korea
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The potential of respiration inhibition as a new approach to combat human fungal pathogens. Curr Genet 2019; 65:1347-1353. [PMID: 31172256 PMCID: PMC6820612 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-019-01001-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The respiratory chain has been proposed as an attractive target for the development of new therapies to tackle human fungal pathogens. This arises from the presence of fungal-specific electron transport chain components and links between respiration and the control of virulence traits in several pathogenic species. However, as the physiological roles of mitochondria remain largely undetermined with respect to pathogenesis, its value as a potential new drug target remains to be determined. The use of respiration inhibitors as fungicides is well developed but has been hampered by the emergence of rapid resistance to current inhibitors. In addition, recent data suggest that adaptation of the human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans, to respiration inhibitors can enhance virulence traits such as yeast-to-hypha transition and cell wall organisation. We conclude that although respiration holds promise as a target for the development of new therapies to treat human fungal infections, we require a more detailed understanding of the role that mitochondria play in stress adaption and virulence.
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