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Hsu TW, Fang JM. Advances and prospects of analytic methods for bacterial transglycosylation and inhibitor discovery. Analyst 2024; 149:2204-2222. [PMID: 38517346 DOI: 10.1039/d3an01968c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The cell wall is essential for bacteria to maintain structural rigidity and withstand external osmotic pressure. In bacteria, the cell wall is composed of peptidoglycan. Lipid II is the basic unit for constructing highly cross-linked peptidoglycan scaffolds. Transglycosylase (TGase) is the initiating enzyme in peptidoglycan synthesis that catalyzes the ligation of lipid II moieties into repeating GlcNAc-MurNAc polysaccharides, followed by transpeptidation to generate cross-linked structures. In addition to the transglycosylases in the class-A penicillin-binding proteins (aPBPs), SEDS (shape, elongation, division and sporulation) proteins are also present in most bacteria and play vital roles in cell wall renewal, elongation, and division. In this review, we focus on the latest analytical methods including the use of radioactive labeling, gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, fluorescence labeling, probing undecaprenyl pyrophosphate, fluorescence anisotropy, ligand-binding-induced tryptophan fluorescence quenching, and surface plasmon resonance to evaluate TGase activity in cell wall formation. This review also covers the discovery of TGase inhibitors as potential antibacterial agents. We hope that this review will give readers a better understanding of the chemistry and basic research for the development of novel antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tse-Wei Hsu
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
| | - Jim-Min Fang
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
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Zhang XL, Báti G, Li C, Guo A, Yeo C, Ding H, Pal KB, Xu Y, Qiao Y, Liu XW. GlcNAc-1,6-anhydro-MurNAc Moiety Affords Unusual Glycosyl Acceptor that Terminates Peptidoglycan Elongation. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:7400-7407. [PMID: 38456799 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c12526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Peptidoglycan (PG), an essential exoskeletal polymer in bacteria, is a well-known antibiotic target. PG polymerization requires the action of bacterial transglycosylases (TGases), which couple the incoming glycosyl acceptor to the donor. Interfering with the TGase activity can interrupt the PG assembly. Existing TGase inhibitors like moenomycin and Lipid II analogues always occupy the TGase active sites; other strategies to interfere with proper PG elongation have not been widely exploited. Inspired by the natural 1,6-anhydro-MurNAc termini that mark the ends of PG strands in bacteria, we hypothesized that the incorporation of an anhydromuramyl-containing glycosyl acceptor by TGase into the growing PG may effectively inhibit PG elongation. To explore this possibility, we synthesized 4-O-(N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminyl)-1,6-anhydro-N-acetyl-β-d-muramyl-l-Ala-γ-d-Glu-l-Lys-d-Ala-d-Ala, 1, within 15 steps, and demonstrated that this anhydromuropeptide and its analogue lacking the peptide, 1-deAA, were both utilized by bacterial TGase as noncanonical anhydro glycosyl acceptors in vitro. The incorporation of an anhydromuramyl moiety into PG strands by TGases afforded efficient termination of glycan chain extension. Moreover, the preliminary in vitro studies of 1-deAA against Staphylococcus aureus showed that 1-deAA served as a reasonable antimicrobial adjunct of vancomycin. These insights imply the potential application of such anhydromuropeptides as novel classes of PG-terminating inhibitors, pointing toward novel strategies in antibacterial agent development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Lin Zhang
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Gábor Báti
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Chenyu Li
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Aoxin Guo
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Claresta Yeo
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Han Ding
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Kumar Bhaskar Pal
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Yuan Xu
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Yuan Qiao
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Xue-Wei Liu
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
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Kwan JMC, Qiao Y. Mechanistic Insights into the Activities of Major Families of Enzymes in Bacterial Peptidoglycan Assembly and Breakdown. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202200693. [PMID: 36715567 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Serving as an exoskeletal scaffold, peptidoglycan is a polymeric macromolecule that is essential and conserved across all bacteria, yet is absent in mammalian cells; this has made bacterial peptidoglycan a well-established excellent antibiotic target. In addition, soluble peptidoglycan fragments derived from bacteria are increasingly recognised as key signalling molecules in mediating diverse intra- and inter-species communication in nature, including in gut microbiota-host crosstalk. Each bacterial species encodes multiple redundant enzymes for key enzymatic activities involved in peptidoglycan assembly and breakdown. In this review, we discuss recent findings on the biochemical activities of major peptidoglycan enzymes, including peptidoglycan glycosyltransferases (PGT) and transpeptidases (TPs) in the final stage of peptidoglycan assembly, as well as peptidoglycan glycosidases, lytic transglycosylase (LTs), amidases, endopeptidases (EPs) and carboxypeptidases (CPs) in peptidoglycan turnover and metabolism. Biochemical characterisation of these enzymes provides valuable insights into their substrate specificity, regulation mechanisms and potential modes of inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeric Mun Chung Kwan
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CCEB), 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore, 637371, Singapore.,LKC School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, Singapore, 208232, Singapore
| | - Yuan Qiao
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CCEB), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore, 637371, Singapore
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Vacariu CM, Tanner ME. Recent Advances in the Synthesis and Biological Applications of Peptidoglycan Fragments. Chemistry 2022; 28:e202200788. [PMID: 35560956 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202200788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The biosynthesis, breakdown, and modification of peptidoglycan (PG) play vital roles in both bacterial viability and in the response of human physiology to bacterial infection. Studies on PG biochemistry are hampered by the fact that PG is an inhomogeneous insoluble macromolecule. Chemical synthesis is therefore an important means to obtain PG fragments that may serve as enzyme substrates and elicitors of the human immune response. This review outlines the recent advances in the synthesis and biochemical studies of PG fragments, PG biosynthetic intermediates (such as Park's nucleotides and PG lipids), and PG breakdown products (such as muramyl dipeptides and anhydro-muramic acid-containing fragments). A rich variety of synthetic approaches has been applied to preparing such compounds since carbohydrate, peptide, and phospholipid chemical methodologies must all be applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Condurache M Vacariu
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z1, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Martin E Tanner
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z1, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Guo CW, Chen KT, You TY, Lin CC, Cheng WC. Synthesis and Evaluation of Diverse N-Substituted Disaccharide Dipeptides for Human NOD2 Stimulation Activity. Chem Asian J 2021; 17:e202101169. [PMID: 34951523 DOI: 10.1002/asia.202101169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A new strategy for the preparation of distinct N -substituted muropeptides is described. Different orthogonally N -protected disaccharide thioglycosides were designed and synthesized. Among them, compound 4 , qualified as a key intermediate, was utilized for further chemical transformations to develop a series of diverse N -substituted-glucosaminyl N -substituted-muramyl dipeptides (GMDPs). These unique muropeptides were applied for the study of human NOD2 stimulation. Intriguingly, structural modification of the MurNAc residue to N -non-substituted muramic acid (MurNH 2 ) in GMDP dramatically impaired NOD2 stimulatory activity, but GMDPs possessing the glucosamine residue with a free amino group retained NOD2 stimulation activity. This work is the first study to illustrate the impact of both N -substituents of GMDPs on immunostimulatory activities of human NOD2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Wei Guo
- Academia Sinica, Genomics Research Center, 128 Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, 11529, Taipei, TAIWAN
| | - Kuo-Ting Chen
- National Dong Hwa University, Department of Chemistry, 1, Sec. 2, Da Hsueh Road, Shoufeng, 974301, Hualien, TAIWAN
| | - Ting-Yun You
- Academia Sinica, Genomics Research Center, 128 Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, 11529, Taipei, TAIWAN
| | - Chun-Cheng Lin
- National Tsing Hua University, Department of Chemistry, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Road, 300044, Hsinchu, TAIWAN
| | - Wei-Chieh Cheng
- Academia sinica, Genomics research center, 128, Academia road, sec 2,, 115, Taipei, TAIWAN
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Hsu TW, Fang JM. Effective assay of bacterial transglycosylation by molecular turn-on sensing and a second-order scattering effect. Analyst 2021; 146:5843-5847. [PMID: 34570849 DOI: 10.1039/d1an00941a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Instead of using the lipid II substrate that requires prior labelling with a radioactive isotope or fluorophore to probe the formation of peptidoglycan in bacterial transglycosylation, the released undecaprenyl pyrophosphate (UPP) product is quantitatively measured either using a terpyridine-zinc fluorescence turn-on sensor or simply by the second-order scattering effect of the in situ formed UPP-calcium complex. Both the assay methods are utilized to identify moenomycin A as a potent transglycosylase inhibitor with a consistent IC50 value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tse-Wei Hsu
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
| | - Jim-Min Fang
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan. .,The Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
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Chen X, Wong CH, Ma C. Targeting the Bacterial Transglycosylase: Antibiotic Development from a Structural Perspective. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:1493-1504. [PMID: 31283163 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
One of the major threats to human life nowadays is widespread antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections by targeting their essential pathways, such as the biosynthesis of bacterial cell walls. Bacterial transglycosylase, particularly glycosyltransferase family 51 (GT51), is one critical player in the cell wall biosynthesis and has long been known as a promising yet challenging target for antibiotic development. Here, we review the structural studies of this protein and summarize recent progress in developing its specific inhibitors, including synthetic substrate analogs and novel compounds identified from high-throughput screens. A detailed analysis of the protein-ligand interface has also provided us with valuable insights into the future antibiotic development against the bacterial transglycosylase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorui Chen
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Section 2, Academia Road, Nangang District, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Huey Wong
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Section 2, Academia Road, Nangang District, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Che Ma
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Section 2, Academia Road, Nangang District, Taipei 115, Taiwan
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