1
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Zhang W, Xu R, Chen J, Xiong H, Wang Y, Pang B, Du G, Kang Z. Advances and challenges in biotechnological production of chondroitin sulfate and its oligosaccharides. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:126551. [PMID: 37659488 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a member of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and has critical physiological functions. CS is widely applied in medical and clinical fields. Currently, the supply of CS relies on traditional animal tissue extraction methods. From the perspective of medical applications, the biggest drawback of animal-derived CS is its uncontrollable molecular weight and sulfonated patterns, which are key factors affecting CS activities. The advances of cell-free enzyme catalyzed systems and de novo biosynthesis strategies have paved the way to rationally regulate CS sulfonated pattern and molecular weight. In this review, we first present a general overview of biosynthesized CS and its oligosaccharides. Then, the advances in chondroitin biosynthesis, 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) synthesis and regeneration, and CS biosynthesis catalyzed by sulfotransferases are discussed. Moreover, the progress of mining and expression of chondroitin depolymerizing enzymes for preparation of CS oligosaccharides is also summarized. Finally, we analyze and discuss the challenges faced in synthesizing CS and its oligosaccharides using microbial and enzymatic methods. In summary, the biotechnological production of CS and its oligosaccharides is a promising method in addressing the drawbacks associated with animal-derived CS and enabling the production of CS oligosaccharides with defined structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijiao Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China; The Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Ruirui Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China; The Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Jiamin Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China; The Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Haibo Xiong
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China; The Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Yang Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China; The Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
| | - Bo Pang
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China; The Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Guocheng Du
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China; The Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Zhen Kang
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China; The Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
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2
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Wang D, Hu L, Xu R, Zhang W, Xiong H, Wang Y, Du G, Kang Z. Production of different molecular weight glycosaminoglycans with microbial cell factories. Enzyme Microb Technol 2023; 171:110324. [PMID: 37742407 DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2023.110324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are naturally occurring acidic polysaccharides with wide applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and health foods. The diverse biological activities and physiological functions of GAGs are closely associated with their molecular weights and sulfation patterns. Except for the non-sulfated hyaluronan which can be synthesized naturally by group A Streptococcus, all the other GAGs such as heparin and chondroitin sulfate are mainly acquired from animal tissues. Microbial cell factories provide a more effective platform for the production of structurally homogeneous GAGs. Enhancing the production efficiency of polysaccharides, accurately regulating the GAGs molecular weight, and effectively controlling the sulfation degree of GAGs represent the major challenges of developing GAGs microbial cell factories. Several enzymatic, metabolic engineering, and synthetic biology strategies have been developed to tackle these obstacles and push forward the industrialization of biotechnologically produced GAGs. This review summarizes the recent advances in the construction of GAGs synthesis cell factories, regulation of GAG molecular weight, and modification of GAGs chains. Furthermore, the challenges and prospects for future research in this field are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daoan Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; The Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Litao Hu
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; The Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Ruirui Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; The Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Weijiao Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; The Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Haibo Xiong
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; The Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Yang Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; The Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Guocheng Du
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; The Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Zhen Kang
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; The Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, China.
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3
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Shen Q, Guo Y, Wang K, Zhang C, Ma Y. A Review of Chondroitin Sulfate's Preparation, Properties, Functions, and Applications. Molecules 2023; 28:7093. [PMID: 37894574 PMCID: PMC10609508 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28207093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a natural macromolecule polysaccharide that is extensively distributed in a wide variety of organisms. CS is of great interest to researchers due to its many in vitro and in vivo functions. CS production derives from a diverse number of sources, including but not limited to extraction from various animals or fish, bio-synthesis, and fermentation, and its purity and homogeneity can vary greatly. The structural diversity of CS with respect to sulfation and saccharide content endows this molecule with distinct complexity, allowing for functional modification. These multiple functions contribute to the application of CS in medicines, biomaterials, and functional foods. In this article, we discuss the preparation of CS from different sources, the structure of various forms of CS, and its binding to other relevant molecules. Moreover, for the creation of this article, the functions and applications of CS were reviewed, with an emphasis on drug discovery, hydrogel formation, delivery systems, and food supplements. We conclude that analyzing some perspectives on structural modifications and preparation methods could potentially influence future applications of CS in medical and biomaterial research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingshan Shen
- Zhang Zhongjing College of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Changjiang Road 80, Nanyang 473004, China
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Products Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yujie Guo
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Products Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Kangyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Products Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Chunhui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Products Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yanli Ma
- Zhang Zhongjing College of Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Changjiang Road 80, Nanyang 473004, China
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Cimini D, Bedini E, Schiraldi C. Biotechnological advances in the synthesis of modified chondroitin towards novel biomedical applications. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 67:108185. [PMID: 37290584 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a well-known glycosaminoglycan present in a large variety of animal tissues, with an outstanding structural heterogeneity mainly related to molecular weight and sulfation pattern. Recently, few microorganisms, eventually engineered, proved able to synthesize the CS biopolymer backbone, composed of d-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-d-galactosamine linked through alternating β-(1-3)- and β-(1-4)-glycosidic bonds, and secrete the biopolymers generally unsulfated and possibly decorated with other carbohydrates/molecules. Enzyme catalyzed/assisted methods and chemical tailored protocols allowed to obtain a variety of macromolecules not only resembling the natural extractive ones, but even enlarging the access to unnatural structural features. These macromolecules have been investigated for their bioactivity in vitro and in vivo establishing their potentialities in an array of novel applications in the biomedical field. This review aims to present an overview of the advancements in: i) the metabolic engineering strategies and the biotechnological processes towards chondroitin manufacturing; ii) the chemical approaches applied to obtain specific structural features and targeted decoration of the chondroitin backbone; iii) the biochemical and biological properties of the diverse biotechnological-sourced chondroitin polysaccharides reported so far, unraveling novel fields of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Cimini
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43, I-81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Emiliano Bedini
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, via Cintia 4, I-80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Chiara Schiraldi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Biotechnology, Medical Histology and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via L. de Crecchio 7, I-80138 Naples, Italy.
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Suzuki K, Kaseyama-Takemoto H. Simultaneous production of N-acetylheparosan and recombinant chondroitin using gene-engineered Escherichia coli K5. Heliyon 2023; 9:e14815. [PMID: 37095938 PMCID: PMC10121815 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
N-Acetylheparosan and chondroitin are increasingly needed as alternative sources of animal-derived sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and as inert substances in medical devices and pharmaceuticals. The N-acetylheparosan productivity of E. coli K5 has achieved levels of industrial applications, whereas E.coli K4 produces a relatively lower amount of fructosylated chondroitin. In this study, the K5 strain was gene-engineered to co-express K4-derived, chondroitin-synthetic genes, namely kfoA and kfoC. The productivities of total GAG and chondroitin in batch culture were 1.2 g/L and 1.0 g/L respectively, which were comparable to the productivity of N-acetylheparosan in the wild K5 strain (0.6-1.2 g/L). The total GAG of the recombinant K5 was partially purified by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and was subjected to degradation tests with specific GAG-degrading enzymes combined with HPLC and 1H NMR analyses. The results indicated that the recombinant K5 simultaneously produced both 100-kDa chondroitin and 45-kDa N-acetylheparosan at a weight ratio of approximately 4:1. The content of chondroitin in total GAG partially purified was 73.2%. The molecular weight of recombinant chondroitin (100 kDa) was 5-10 times higher than that of commercially available chondroitin sulfate. These results indicated that the recombinant K5 strain acquired the chondroitin-producing ability without altering the total GAG productivity of the host.
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Couto MR, Rodrigues JL, Rodrigues LR. Heterologous production of chondroitin. BIOTECHNOLOGY REPORTS 2022; 33:e00710. [PMID: 35242620 PMCID: PMC8858990 DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2022.e00710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a glycosaminoglycan with a growing variety of applications. CS can be produced from microbial fermentation of native or engineered strains. Synthetic biology tools are being used to improve CS yields in different hosts. Integrated polymerization and sulfation can generate cost-effective CS.
Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a glycosaminoglycan with a broad range of applications being a popular dietary supplement for osteoarthritis. Usually, CS is extracted from animal sources. However, the known risks of animal products use have been driving the search for alternative methods and sources to obtain this compound. Several pathogenic bacteria naturally produce chondroitin-like polysaccharides through well-known pathways and, therefore, have been the basis for numerous studies that aim to produce chondroitin using non-pathogenic hosts. However, the yields obtained are not enough to meet the high demand for this glycosaminoglycan. Metabolic engineering strategies have been used to construct improved heterologous hosts. The identification of metabolic bottlenecks and regulation points, and the screening for efficient enzymes are key points for constructing microbial cell factories with improved chondroitin yields to achieve industrial CS production. The recent advances on enzymatic and microbial strategies to produce non-animal chondroitin are herein reviewed. Challenges and prospects for future research are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márcia R. Couto
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS – Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana L. Rodrigues
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS – Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
- Corresponding author.
| | - Lígia R. Rodrigues
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS – Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
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7
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Vitiello G, Venezia V, Verrillo M, Nuzzo A, Houston J, Cimino S, D'Errico G, Aronne A, Paduano L, Piccolo A, Luciani G. Hybrid humic acid/titanium dioxide nanomaterials as highly effective antimicrobial agents against gram(-) pathogens and antibiotic contaminants in wastewater. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 193:110562. [PMID: 33271143 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Humic acids (HAs) provide an important bio-source for redox-active materials. Their functional chemical groups are responsible for several properties, such as metal ion chelating activity, adsorption ability towards small molecules and antibacterial activity, through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. However, the poor selectivity and instability of HAs in solution hinder their application. A promising strategy for overcoming these disadvantages is conjugation with an inorganic phase, which leads to more stable hybrid nanomaterials with tuneable functionalities. In this study, we demonstrate that hybrid humic acid/titanium dioxide nanostructured materials that are prepared via a versatile in situ hydrothermal strategy display promising antibacterial activity against various pathogens and behave as selective sequestering agents of amoxicillin and tetracycline antibiotics from wastewater. A physicochemical investigation in which a combination of techniques were utilized, which included TEM, BET, 13C-CPMAS-NMR, EPR, DLS and SANS, shed light on the structure-property-function relationships of the nanohybrids. The proposed approach traces a technological path for the exploitation of organic biowaste in the design at the molecular scale of multifunctional nanomaterials, which is useful for addressing environmental and health problems that are related to water contamination by antibiotics and pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Vitiello
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering (DICMaPI), University of Naples Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125, Naples, Italy; CSGI, Center for Colloid and Surface Science, Via Della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy.
| | - Virginia Venezia
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering (DICMaPI), University of Naples Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125, Naples, Italy
| | - Mariavittoria Verrillo
- Department of Agricultural Science, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy; Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca Sulla Risonanza Magnetica Nucleare per L'Ambiente, L'Agro-Alimentare Ed I Nuovi Materiali (CERMANU), Via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Assunta Nuzzo
- Department of Agricultural Science, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy; Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca Sulla Risonanza Magnetica Nucleare per L'Ambiente, L'Agro-Alimentare Ed I Nuovi Materiali (CERMANU), Via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Judith Houston
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) at Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Lichtenbergstraße 1, Garching, 85747, Germany; European Spallation Source (ESS), Odarslovsvagen 113, 22592, Lund, Sweden
| | - Stefano Cimino
- IRC-Istituto di Ricerche Sulla Combustione, CNR - Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, Piazzale V. Tecchio 80, 80125, Naples, Italy
| | - Gerardino D'Errico
- CSGI, Center for Colloid and Surface Science, Via Della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy; Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 4, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Aronne
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering (DICMaPI), University of Naples Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125, Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Paduano
- CSGI, Center for Colloid and Surface Science, Via Della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy; Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 4, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Piccolo
- Department of Agricultural Science, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy; Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca Sulla Risonanza Magnetica Nucleare per L'Ambiente, L'Agro-Alimentare Ed I Nuovi Materiali (CERMANU), Via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Luciani
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering (DICMaPI), University of Naples Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125, Naples, Italy
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Misincorporation of Galactose by Chondroitin Synthase of Escherichia coli K4: From Traces to Synthesis of Chondbiuronan, a Novel Chondroitin-Like Polysaccharide. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10121667. [PMID: 33322778 PMCID: PMC7764085 DOI: 10.3390/biom10121667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Chondroitin synthase KfoC is a bifunctional enzyme which polymerizes the capsular chondroitin backbone of Escherichia coli K4, composed of repeated β3N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)-β4-glucuronic acid (GlcA) units. Sugar donors UDP-GalNAc and UDP-GlcA are the natural precursors of bacterial chondroitin synthesis. We have expressed KfoC in a recombinant strain of Escherichia coli deprived of 4-epimerase activity, thus incapable of supplying UDP-GalNAc in the bacterial cytoplasm. The strain was also co-expressing mammal galactose β-glucuronyltransferase, providing glucuronyl-lactose from exogenously added lactose, serving as a primer of polymerization. We show by the mean of NMR analyses that in those conditions, KfoC incorporates galactose, forming a chondroitin-like polymer composed of the repeated β3-galactose (Gal)-β4-glucuronic acid units. We also show that when UDP-GlcNAc 4-epimerase KfoA, encoded by the K4-operon, was co-expressed and produced UDP-GalNAc, a small proportion of galactose was still incorporated into the growing chain of chondroitin.
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9
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Gottschalk J, Elling L. Current state on the enzymatic synthesis of glycosaminoglycans. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2020; 61:71-80. [PMID: 33271474 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are linear anionic polysaccharides, and most of them show a specific sulfation pattern. GAGs have been studied for decades, and still, new biological functions are discovered. Hyaluronic acid and heparin are sold for medical or cosmetic applications. With increased market and applications, the production of GAGs stays in the focus of research groups and the industry. Common industrial GAG production relies on the extraction of animal tissue. Contamination, high dispersity, and uncontrolled sulfation pattern are still obstacles to this process. Tailored production strategies for the chemoenzymatic synthesis have been developed to address these obstacles. In recent years, enzyme cascades, including uridine-5'-diphosphate sugar syntheses, were established to obtain defined polymer size and dispersity, as well as defined sulfation patterns. Nevertheless, the complex synthesis of GAGs is still a challenging research field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Gottschalk
- Laboratory for Biomaterials, Institute of Biotechnology and Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 20, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lothar Elling
- Laboratory for Biomaterials, Institute of Biotechnology and Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 20, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
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10
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Awofiranye AE, Baytas SN, Xia K, Badri A, He W, Varki A, Koffas M, Linhardt RJ. N-glycolyl chondroitin synthesis using metabolically engineered E. coli. AMB Express 2020; 10:144. [PMID: 32803432 PMCID: PMC7429809 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-020-01084-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
N-glycolyl chondroitin (Gc-CN) is a metabolite of N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), a sialic acid that is commonly found in mammals, but not humans. Humans can incorporate exogenous Neu5Gc into their tissues from eating red meat. Neu5Gc cannot be biosynthesized by humans due to an evolutionary mutation and has been implicated in causing inflammation causing human diseases, such as cancer. The study Neu5Gc is important in evolutionary biology and the development of potential cancer biomarkers. Unfortunately, there are several limitations to detecting Neu5Gc. The elimination of Neu5Gc involves a degradative pathway leading to the incorporation of N-glycolyl groups into glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), such as Gc-CN. Gc-CN has been found in humans and in animals including mice, lamb and chimpanzees. Here, we present the biosynthesis of Gc-CN in bacteria by feeding chemically synthesized N-glycolylglucosamine to Escherichia coli. A metabolically engineered strain of E. coli K4, fed with glucose supplemented with GlcNGc, converted it to N-glycolylgalactosamine (GalNGc) that could then be utilized as a substrate in the chondroitin biosynthetic pathway. The final product, Gc-CN was converted to disaccharides using chondroitin lyase ABC and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with multiple reaction monitoring detection. This analysis showed the incorporation of GalNGc into the backbone of the chondroitin oligosaccharide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeola E Awofiranye
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Sultan N Baytas
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ke Xia
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Abinaya Badri
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Wenqin He
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Ajit Varki
- Glycobiology Research and Training Center, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mattheos Koffas
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.
| | - Robert J Linhardt
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.
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11
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Abstract
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are a family of structurally complex heteropolysaccharides composed of alternating hexosamine and uronic acid or galatose residue that include hyaluronan, chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate, heparin and heparan sulfate, and keratan sulfate. GAGs display a range of critical biological functions, including regulating cell-cell interactions and cell proliferation, inhibiting enzymes, and activating growth factor receptors during various metabolic processes. Indeed, heparin is a widely used GAG-based anticoagulant drug. Unfortunately, naturally derived GAGs are highly heterogeneous, limiting studies of their structure-activity relationships and even resulting in safety concerns. For example, the heparin contamination crisis in 2007 reportedly killed more than a hundred people in the United States. Unfortunately, the chemical synthesis of GAGs, or their oligosaccharides, based on repetitive steps of protection, activation, coupling, and deprotection, is incredibly challenging. Recent advances in chemoenzymatic synthesis integrate the flexibility of chemical derivatization with enzyme-catalyzed reactions, mimicking the biosynthetic pathway of GAGs, and represent a promising strategy to solve many of these synthetic challenges. In this critical Account, we examine the recent progress made, in our laboratory and by others, in the chemoenzymatic synthesis of GAGs, focusing on heparan sulfate and heparin, a class of GAGs with profound physiological and pharmacological importance. A major challenge for the penetration of the heparin market by homogeneous heparin products is their cost-effective large-scale synthesis. In the past decade, we and our collaborators have systematically explored the key factors that impact this process, including better enzyme expression, improved biocatalysts using protein engineering and immobilization, low cost production of enzyme cofactors, optimization of the order of enzymatic transformations, as well as development of efficient technologies, such as using ultraviolet absorbing or fluorous tags, to detect and purify synthetic intermediates. These improvements have successfully resulted in multigram-scale synthesis of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs), with some showing excellent anticoagulant activity and even resulting in more effective protamine reversal than commercial, animal-sourced LMWH drugs. Sophisticated structural analysis is another challenge for marketing heparins, since impurities and contaminants can be present that are difficult to distinguish from heparin drug products. The availability of the diverse library of structurally defined heparin oligosaccharides has facilitated the systematic analytical studies undertaken by our group, resulting in important information for characterizing diverse heparin products, safeguarding their quality. Recently, a series of chemically modified nucleotide sugars have been investigated in our laboratory and have been accepted by synthases to obtain novel GAGs and GAG oligosaccharides. These include fluoride and azido regioselectively functionalized sugars and stable isotope-enriched GAGs and GAG oligosaccharides, critical for better understanding the biological roles of these important biopolymers. We speculate that the repertoire of unnatural acceptors and nucleotide sugar donors will soon be expanded to afford many new GAG analogues with new biological and pharmacological properties including improved specificity and metabolic stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Zhang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Lei Lin
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - He Huang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Robert J. Linhardt
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, United States
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Siepi M, Oliva R, Battista F, Petraccone L, Del Vecchio P, Izzo V, Dal Piaz F, Isticato R, Notomista E, Donadio G. Molecular Dissection of dH3w, A Fluorescent Peptidyl Sensor for Zinc and Mercury. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 20:E598. [PMID: 31973164 PMCID: PMC7038057 DOI: 10.3390/s20030598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Previously, we reported that fluorescent peptide dansyl-HPHGHW-NH2 (dH3w), designed on the repeats of the human histidine-rich glycoprotein, shows a turn-on response to Zn(II) and a complex response to Hg(II) characterized by a turn-off phase at low Hg(II) concentrations and a turn-on phase at high concentrations. As Hg(II) easily displaces Zn(II), dH3w is a useful probe for the environmental monitoring of Hg(II). In order to investigate the molecular basis of the metal selectivity and fluorescence response, we characterized three variants, dH3w(H1A), dH3w(H3A), and dH3w(H5A), in which each of the three histidine residues was changed to alanine, and two variants with a single fluorescent moiety, namely dH3w(W6A), in which the tryptophan residue at the C-terminus was changed to alanine, and AcH3w, in which the N-terminal dansyl moiety was substituted by an acetyl group. These variants allowed us to demonstrate that all the histidine residues are essential for a strong interaction with Zn(II), whereas two histidine residues (in particular His5) and the dansyl group are necessary to bind Hg(II). The data reported herein shed light on the molecular behavior of dH3w, thus paving the way to the rational designing of further and more efficient fluorescent peptidyl probes for Hg(II).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialuisa Siepi
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (M.S.); (R.I.)
| | - Rosario Oliva
- Physical Chemistry I, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany;
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (F.B.); (L.P.); (P.D.V.)
| | - Filomena Battista
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (F.B.); (L.P.); (P.D.V.)
| | - Luigi Petraccone
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (F.B.); (L.P.); (P.D.V.)
| | - Pompea Del Vecchio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (F.B.); (L.P.); (P.D.V.)
| | - Viviana Izzo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Via Salvador Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (V.I.); (F.D.P.)
| | - Fabrizio Dal Piaz
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Via Salvador Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (V.I.); (F.D.P.)
| | - Rachele Isticato
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (M.S.); (R.I.)
| | - Eugenio Notomista
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (M.S.); (R.I.)
| | - Giuliana Donadio
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Via Salvador Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (V.I.); (F.D.P.)
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Denatured lysozyme-coated carbon nanotubes: a versatile biohybrid material. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16643. [PMID: 31719550 PMCID: PMC6851173 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52701-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are among the most versatile nanomaterials, but their exploitation is hindered by limited dispersibility, especially in aqueous solvents. Here, we show that AP-LYS, a highly cationic soluble derivative of denatured hen egg lysozyme, is a very effective tool for the unbundling and solubilisation of CNTs. AP-LYS proved to mediate the complete and stable dispersion of CNTs at protein: CNT ratios ≥1: 3 (w:w) in very mild conditions (10–20 minutes sonication in ammonium acetate buffer, pH 5.0). Electrophoretic mobility and ζ-potential measurements confirmed that dispersed CNTs were coated by the protein, whereas molecular docking was used to study the interactions between AP-LYS and CNTs. AP-LYS-coated CNTs proved to be a very effective microbial cell-flocculating agent with an efficiency similar to that of chitosan, one of the best available flocculating agents, thus suggesting that this hybrid could find industrial applications in the treatment of wastewaters contaminated by microbial cells, or to remove microbial cells after fermentation processes. Moreover, we exploited the low stability of AP-LYS-coated CNT dispersions in eukaryotic cell culture media to prepare scaffolds with an extracellular matrix-like rough surface for the cultivation of eukaryotic cells.
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Vitiello G, Melone P, Silvestri B, Pezzella A, Di Donato P, D’Errico G, Di Napoli M, Zanfardino A, Varcamonti M, Luciani G. Titanium based complexes with melanin precursors as a tool for directing melanogenic pathways. PURE APPL CHEM 2019. [DOI: 10.1515/pac-2018-1210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Bioinspired melanin based hybrid materials hold huge promise for developing multifunctional systems for a considerable set of applications. Yet, control of melanogenic pathway is a big challenge to allow rational design of nanostructured systems with tuned structures and improved properties. This study proves the ability of titanium ions interactions with melanin precursors in directing melanogenic pathway. To this purpose complementary spectroscopic evidences were collected to reveal that in the presence of a TiO2-sol, amino-acid complex of Ti(IV) ions and DOPA actually inhibits its cyclization, during oxidative process, thus leading to DOPA-based polyphenols, stable even in oxidative environment, rather than eumelanin. This hugely impacts on the biological properties of the final hybrid systems which, discloses relevant and durable antioxidant behavior but poor antimicrobial activity differently from DHICA-based hybrid nanostructures. Overall this study, discloses the high potential of ceramic templated approach in combination with the selection of melanin precursor in achieving a fine tuning of physico-chemical as well as bioactivity of melanin-TiO2 nanostructures, opening new scenarios towards the design of cutting-edge biomaterials with tailored biological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Vitiello
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering , University of Naples “Federico II” , p.le V. Tecchio 80 , 80125 Naples , Italy
- CSGI, Consorzio interuniversitario per lo sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase, Sesto Fiorentino , via della Lastruccia 3 , Firenze , Italy
| | - Pietro Melone
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering , University of Naples “Federico II” , p.le V. Tecchio 80 , 80125 Naples , Italy
| | - Brigida Silvestri
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering , University of Naples “Federico II” , p.le V. Tecchio 80 , 80125 Naples , Italy
| | - Alessandro Pezzella
- National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM) , Florence , Italy
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), CNR , Via Campi Flegrei 34 , I-80078 Pozzuoli (NA) , Italy
- Department of Chemical Sciences , University of Naples “Federico II” Via Cintia 4 , I-80126 Naples , Italy
| | - Paola Di Donato
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), CNR , Via Campi Flegrei 34 , I-80078 Pozzuoli (NA) , Italy
- Department of Science and Technology , University of Naples “Parthenope” , Centro Direzionale, Isola C4 , 80143 Naples , Italy
| | - Gerardino D’Errico
- Department of Chemical Sciences , University of Naples “Federico II” Via Cintia 4 , I-80126 Naples , Italy
| | - Michela Di Napoli
- Department of Biology , University of Naples “Federico II” Via Cintia 4 , I-80126 Naples , Italy
| | - Anna Zanfardino
- Department of Biology , University of Naples “Federico II” Via Cintia 4 , I-80126 Naples , Italy
| | - Mario Varcamonti
- Department of Biology , University of Naples “Federico II” Via Cintia 4 , I-80126 Naples , Italy
| | - Giuseppina Luciani
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering , University of Naples “Federico II” , p.le V. Tecchio 80 , 80125 Naples , Italy , Tel.: +390817682433, Fax: +390817682595
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Molecular weight determination of heparosan- and chondroitin-like capsular polysaccharides: figuring out differences between wild -type and engineered Escherichia coli strains. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:6771-6782. [PMID: 31222385 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-09969-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Heparin and chondroitin sulfate are used as anti-thrombic and anti-osteoarthritis drugs, respectively, but their pharmacological actions depend on their structural characteristics such as their sulfation grade and their molecular weight. In the last years, new fermentation-based biotechnological approaches have tried to obtain heparin and chondroitin sulfate starting from the heparosan and chondroitin-like capsular polysaccharides produced by Escherichia coli K5 and K4. The study of the microbial capsular polysaccharide molecular weight is critical to obtain nature-like or structural tailor cut glycosaminoglycan homologues. However, so far, it has been scarcely investigated. In this paper, for the first time, a new protocol was set up to determine the molecular weights of the capsular polysaccharides of three wild-type and three engineered E. coli K5 and K4 strains. The protocol includes a small-scale downstream train to purify the intact polysaccharides, directly from the fermentation broth supernatants, by using ultrafiltration membranes and anion exchange chromatography, and it couples size exclusion chromatography analyses with triple detector array. In the purification high recovery (> 85.0%) and the removal of the main contaminant, the lipopolysaccharide, were obtained. The averaged molecular weights of the wild-type capsular polysaccharides ranged from 51.3 to 90.9 kDa, while the engineered strains produced polysaccharides with higher molecular weights, ranging from 68.4 to 130.6 kDa, but with similar polydispersity values between 1.1 and 1.5.
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Microbial production and metabolic engineering of chondroitin and chondroitin sulfate. Emerg Top Life Sci 2018; 2:349-361. [PMID: 33525790 DOI: 10.1042/etls20180006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Several commercial uses and potential novel applications have recently been described for chondroitin sulfate (CS). However, the currently applied animal extractive procedure has a high environmental impact, which may become more profound especially in relation to the forecasted expansion of the CS market for applications as a food supplement, pharmaceutical ingredient, and biopolymer in materials for regenerative medicine. This issue, together with religious and consumer concerns, has prompted the good manufacturing practice (GMP) of chondroitin and CS. This is achievable by combining the design of metabolically engineered microorganisms and tailor-made fermentation processes with semi-synthetic or enzyme-based approaches. The final target is to obtain molecules with specific sulfation patterns that resemble those occurring in natural products and improve the sulfation motif or introduce specific substitutions, such as fucosylation, to tune the biological function. The frontier that is currently triggering attention is related to evaluating the bioactivity of unsulfated chondroitin. Due to recent advancements in the field, a brief survey of the most recent patent and research literature is discussed here.
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Pane K, Cafaro V, Avitabile A, Torres MDT, Vollaro A, De Gregorio E, Catania MR, Di Maro A, Bosso A, Gallo G, Zanfardino A, Varcamonti M, Pizzo E, Di Donato A, Lu TK, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Notomista E. Identification of Novel Cryptic Multifunctional Antimicrobial Peptides from the Human Stomach Enabled by a Computational-Experimental Platform. ACS Synth Biol 2018; 7:2105-2115. [PMID: 30124040 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.8b00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Novel approaches are needed to combat antibiotic resistance. Here, we describe a computational-experimental framework for the discovery of novel cryptic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The computational platform, based on previously validated antimicrobial scoring functions, indicated the activation peptide of pepsin A, the main human stomach protease, and its N- and C-terminal halves as antimicrobial peptides. The three peptides from pepsinogen A3 isoform were prepared in a recombinant form using a fusion carrier specifically developed to express toxic peptides in Escherichia coli. Recombinant pepsinogen A3-derived peptides proved to be wide-spectrum antimicrobial agents with MIC values in the range 1.56-50 μM (1.56-12.5 μM for the whole activation peptide). Moreover, the activation peptide was bactericidal at pH 3.5 for relevant foodborne pathogens, suggesting that this new class of previously unexplored AMPs may contribute to microbial surveillance within the human stomach. The peptides showed no toxicity toward human cells and exhibited anti-infective activity in vivo, reducing by up to 4 orders of magnitude the bacterial load in a mouse skin infection model. These peptides thus represent a promising new class of antibiotics. We envision that computationally guided data mining approaches such as the one described here will lead to the discovery of antibiotics from previously unexplored sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katia Pane
- IRCCS SDN, Via E. Gianturco, 113, 80143 Naples, Italy
| | - Valeria Cafaro
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80126, Italy
| | - Angela Avitabile
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80126, Italy
| | - Marcelo Der Torossian Torres
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Biological Engineering, and Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Adriana Vollaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Eliana De Gregorio
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Catania
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Antimo Di Maro
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Naples, Vanvitelli, Caserta 81100, Italy
| | - Andrea Bosso
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80126, Italy
| | - Giovanni Gallo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80126, Italy
| | - Anna Zanfardino
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80126, Italy
| | - Mario Varcamonti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80126, Italy
| | - Elio Pizzo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80126, Italy
| | - Alberto Di Donato
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80126, Italy
| | - Timothy K. Lu
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Biological Engineering, and Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Biological Engineering, and Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Eugenio Notomista
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80126, Italy
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Metabolic engineering of capsular polysaccharides. Emerg Top Life Sci 2018; 2:337-348. [DOI: 10.1042/etls20180003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
With rising concerns about sustainable practices, environmental complications, and declining resources, metabolic engineers are transforming microorganisms into cellular factories for producing capsular polysaccharides (CPSs). This review provides an overview of strategies employed for the metabolic engineering of heparosan, chondroitin, hyaluronan, and polysialic acid — four CPSs that are of interest for manufacturing a variety of biomedical applications. Methods described include the exploitation of wild-type and engineered native CPS producers, as well as genetically engineered heterologous hosts developed through the improvement of naturally existing pathways or newly (de novo) designed ones. The implementation of methodologies like gene knockout, promoter engineering, and gene expression level control has resulted in multiple-fold improvements in CPS fermentation titers compared with wild-type strains, and substantial increases in productivity, reaching as high as 100% in some cases. Optimization of these biotechnological processes can permit the adoption of industrially competitive engineered microorganisms to replace traditional sources that are generally toxic, unreliable, and inconsistent in product quality.
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Enhancing fructosylated chondroitin production in Escherichia coli K4 by balancing the UDP-precursors. Metab Eng 2018; 47:314-322. [PMID: 29654832 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2018.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Microbial production of chondroitin and chondroitin-like polysaccharides from renewable feedstock is a promising and sustainable alternative to extraction from animal tissues. In this study, we attempted to improve production of fructosylated chondroitin in Escherichia coli K4 by balancing intracellular levels of the precursors UDP-GalNAc and UDP-GlcA. To this end, we deleted pfkA to favor the production of Fru-6-P. Then, we identified rate-limiting enzymes in the synthesis of UDP-precursors. Third, UDP-GalNAc synthesis, UDP-GlcA synthesis, and chondroitin polymerization were combinatorially optimized by altering the expression of relevant enzymes. The ratio of intracellular UDP-GalNAc to UDP-GlcA increased from 0.17 in the wild-type strain to 1.05 in a 30-L fed-batch culture of the engineered strain. Titer and productivity of fructosylated chondroitin also increased to 8.43 g/L and 227.84 mg/L/h; the latter represented the highest productivity level achieved to date.
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Cimini D, Iacono ID, Carlino E, Finamore R, Restaino OF, Diana P, Bedini E, Schiraldi C. Engineering S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus towards concurrent production of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin biopolymers of biomedical interest. AMB Express 2017; 7:61. [PMID: 28293868 PMCID: PMC5350083 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-017-0364-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycosaminoglycans, such as hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate, are not only more and more required as main ingredients in cosmeceutical and nutraceutical preparations, but also as active principles in medical devices and pharmaceutical products. However, while biotechnological production of hyaluronic acid is industrially established through fermentation of Streptococcus spp. and recently Bacillus subtilis, biotechnological chondroitin is not yet on the market. A non-hemolytic and hyaluronidase negative S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus mutant strain was engineered in this work by the addition of two E. coli K4 genes, namely kfoA and kfoC, involved in the biosynthesis of chondroitin-like polysaccharide. Chondroitin is the precursor of chondroitin sulphate, a nutraceutical present on the market as anti-arthritic drug, that is lately being studied for its intrinsic bioactivity. In small scale bioreactor batch experiments the production of about 1.46 ± 0.38 g/L hyaluronic acid and 300 ± 28 mg/L of chondroitin with an average molecular weight of 1750 and 25 kDa, respectively, was demonstrated, providing an approach to the concurrent production of both biopolymers in a single fermentation.
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KfoA, the UDP-glucose-4-epimerase of Escherichia coli strain O5:K4:H4, shows preference for acetylated substrates. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 102:751-761. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8639-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2017] [Revised: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Kim HA, Kim HJ, Park J, Choi AR, Heo K, Jeong H, Jung KH, Seok YJ, Kim P, Lee SJ. An evolutionary optimization of a rhodopsin-based phototrophic metabolism in Escherichia coli. Microb Cell Fact 2017; 16:111. [PMID: 28619035 PMCID: PMC5472908 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-017-0725-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The expression of the Gloeobacter rhodopsin (GR) in a chemotrophic Escherichia coli enables the light-driven phototrophic energy generation. Adaptive laboratory evolution has been used for acquiring desired phenotype of microbial cells and for the elucidation of basic mechanism of molecular evolution. To develop an optimized strain for the artificially acquired phototrophic metabolism, an ancestral E. coli expressing GR was adaptively evolved in a chemostat reactor with constant illumination and limited glucose conditions. This study was emphasized at an unexpected genomic mutation contributed to the improvement of microbial performance. Results During the chemostat culture, increase of cell size was observed, which were distinguished from that of the typical rod-shaped ancestral cells. A descendant ET5 strain was randomly isolated from the chemostat culture at 88-days. The phototrophic growth and the light-induced proton pumping of the ET5 strain were twofold and eightfold greater, respectively, than those of the ancestral E. coli strain. Single point mutation of C1082A at dgcQ gene (encoding diguanylate cyclase, also known as the yedQ gene) in the chromosome of ET5 strain was identified from whole genome sequencing analysis. An ancestral E. coli complemented with the same dgcQ mutation from the ET5 was repeated the subsequently enhancements of light-driven phototrophic growth and proton pumping. Intracellular c-di-GMP, the product of the diguanylate cyclase (dgcQ), of the descendant ET5 strain was suddenly increased while that of the ancestral strain was negligible. Conclusions Newly acquired phototrophic metabolism of E. coli was further improved via adaptive laboratory evolution by the rise of a point mutation on a transmembrane cell signaling protein followed by increase of signal molecule that eventually led an increase proton pumping and phototrophic growth. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12934-017-0725-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Aaron Kim
- Hana Academy Seoul, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Ju Kim
- Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihoon Park
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
| | - Ah Reum Choi
- Department of Life Sciences, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoo Heo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Haeyoung Jeong
- Infectious Disease Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang-Hwan Jung
- Department of Life Sciences, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeong-Jae Seok
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Pil Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sang Jun Lee
- Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea.
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New insight into chondroitin and heparosan-like capsular polysaccharide synthesis by profiling of the nucleotide sugar precursors. Biosci Rep 2017; 37:BSR20160548. [PMID: 28104792 PMCID: PMC5317027 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20160548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Revised: 01/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli K4 and K5 capsular polysaccharides (K4 and K5 CPSs) have been used as starting material for the biotechnological production of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and heparin (HP) respectively. The CPS covers the outer cell wall but in late exponential or stationary growth phase it is released in the surrounding medium. The released CPS concentration was used, so far, as the only marker to connect the strain production ability to the different cultivation conditions employed. Determining also the intracellular UDP-sugar precursor concentration variations, during the bacterial growth, and correlating it with the total CPS production (as sum of the inner and the released ones), could help to better understand the chain biosynthetic mechanism and its bottlenecks. In the present study, for the first time, a new capillary electrophoresis method was set up to simultaneously analyse the UDP-glucose (UDP-Glc), UDP-galactose (UDP-Gal), UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine (UDP-GalNAc), UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) and UDP-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcA) and the inner CPS portion, extracted at the same time from the bacterial biomasses; separation was performed at 18°C and 18 kV with a borate-based buffer and detection at 200 nm. The E. coli K4 and K5 UDP-sugar pools were profiled, for the first time, at different time points of shake flask growths on a glycerol-containing medium and on the same medium supplemented with the monosaccharide precursors of the CPSs: their concentrations varied from 0.25 to 11 μM·gcdw-1, according to strain, the type of precursor, the growth phase and the cultivation conditions and their availability dramatically influenced the total CPS produced.
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Becker J, Wittmann C. Systems metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for the heterologous production of high value molecules — a veteran at new shores. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2016; 42:178-188. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2016.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Revised: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Zhao X, Chen Z, Gu G, Guo Z. Recent advances in the research of bacterial glucuronosyltransferases. J Carbohydr Chem 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/07328303.2016.1205597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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26
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Xue J, Jin L, Zhang X, Wang F, Ling P, Sheng J. Impact of donor binding on polymerization catalyzed by KfoC by regulating the affinity of enzyme for acceptor. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2016; 1860:844-55. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Revised: 01/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Jin P, Zhang L, Yuan P, Kang Z, Du G, Chen J. Efficient biosynthesis of polysaccharides chondroitin and heparosan by metabolically engineered Bacillus subtilis. Carbohydr Polym 2016; 140:424-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.12.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/27/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Suflita M, Fu L, He W, Koffas M, Linhardt RJ. Heparin and related polysaccharides: synthesis using recombinant enzymes and metabolic engineering. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 99:7465-79. [PMID: 26219501 PMCID: PMC4546523 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-6821-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Revised: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Glycosaminoglycans are linear anionic polysaccharides that exhibit a number of important biological and pharmacological activities. The two most prominent members of this class of polysaccharides are heparin/heparan sulfate and the chondroitin sulfates (including dermatan sulfate). These polysaccharides, having complex structures and polydispersity, are biosynthesized in the Golgi of most animal cells. The chemical synthesis of these glycosaminoglycans is precluded by their structural complexity. Today, we depend on food animal tissues for their isolation and commercial production. Ton quantities of these glycosaminoglycans are used annually as pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. The variability of animal-sourced glycosaminoglycans, their inherent impurities, the limited availability of source tissues, the poor control of these source materials, and their manufacturing processes suggest a need for new approaches for their production. Over the past decade, there have been major efforts in the biotechnological production of these glycosaminoglycans. This mini-review focuses on the use of recombinant enzymes and metabolic engineering for the production of heparin and chondroitin sulfates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Suflita
- Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 121806
| | - Li Fu
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 121806
| | - Wenqin He
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 121806
| | - Mattheos Koffas
- Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 121806
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 121806
| | - Robert J. Linhardt
- Department of Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 121806
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 121806
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 121806
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 121806
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He W, Fu L, Li G, Andrew Jones J, Linhardt RJ, Koffas M. Production of chondroitin in metabolically engineered E. coli. Metab Eng 2014; 27:92-100. [PMID: 25461828 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2014.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Revised: 10/15/2014] [Accepted: 11/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Chondroitin sulfates, widely used in the treatment of arthritis, are glycosaminoglycans extracted from food animal tissues. As part of our ongoing efforts to separate the food chain from the drug chain, we are examining the possibility of using metabolic engineering to produce chondroitin sulfate in Escherichia coli. Chondroitin is a valuable precursor in the synthesis of chondroitin sulfate. This study proposes a safer and more feasible approach to metabolically engineer chondroitin production by expressing genes from the pathogenic E. coli K4 strain, which natively produces a capsular polysaccharide that shares the similar structure with chondroitin, into the non-pathogenic E. coli BL21 Star™ (DE3) strain. The ePathBrick vectors, allowing for multiple gene addition and expression regulatory signal control, are used for metabolic balancing needed to obtain the maximum potential yield. The resulting engineered strain produced chondroitin, as demonstrated by (1)H NMR and disaccharide analysis, relying on chondrotinase treatment followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The highest yield from shake flask experiment was 213mg/L and further increased to 2.4g/L in dissolved oxygen-stat fed batch bioreactor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqin He
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Li Fu
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Guoyun Li
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - J Andrew Jones
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
| | - Robert J Linhardt
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA; Department of Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.
| | - Mattheos Koffas
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA.
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Cress BF, Englaender JA, He W, Kasper D, Linhardt RJ, Koffas MAG. Masquerading microbial pathogens: capsular polysaccharides mimic host-tissue molecules. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2014; 38:660-97. [PMID: 24372337 PMCID: PMC4120193 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6976.12056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Revised: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria portends an impending postantibiotic age, characterized by diminishing efficacy of common antibiotics and routine application of multifaceted, complementary therapeutic approaches to treat bacterial infections, particularly multidrug-resistant organisms. The first line of defense for most bacterial pathogens consists of a physical and immunologic barrier known as the capsule, commonly composed of a viscous layer of carbohydrates that are covalently bound to the cell wall in Gram-positive bacteria or often to lipids of the outer membrane in many Gram-negative bacteria. Bacterial capsular polysaccharides are a diverse class of high molecular weight polysaccharides contributing to virulence of many human pathogens in the gut, respiratory tree, urinary tract, and other host tissues, by hiding cell surface components that might otherwise elicit host immune response. This review highlights capsular polysaccharides that are structurally identical or similar to polysaccharides found in mammalian tissues, including polysialic acid and glycosaminoglycan capsules hyaluronan, heparosan, and chondroitin. Such nonimmunogenic coatings render pathogens insensitive to certain immune responses, effectively increasing residence time in host tissues and enabling pathologically relevant population densities to be reached. Biosynthetic pathways and capsular involvement in immune system evasion are described, providing a basis for potential therapies aimed at supplementing or replacing antibiotic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brady F Cress
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA
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Monosaccharide precursors for boosting chondroitin-like capsular polysaccharide production. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2012; 97:1699-709. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-012-4343-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2012] [Revised: 07/24/2012] [Accepted: 07/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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DeAngelis PL. Glycosaminoglycan polysaccharide biosynthesis and production: today and tomorrow. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2012; 94:295-305. [PMID: 22391966 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-011-3801-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2011] [Revised: 11/29/2011] [Accepted: 12/01/2011] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Glycosaminoglycans [GAGs] are essential heteropolysaccharides in vertebrate tissues that are also, in certain cases, employed as virulence factors by microbes. Hyaluronan [HA], heparin, and chondroitin sulfate [CS] are GAGs currently used in various medical applications and together are multi-billion dollar products thus targets for production by animal-free manufacture. By using bacteria as the source of GAGs, the pathogen's sword may be converted into a plowshare to help avoid potential liabilities springing from the use of animal-derived GAGs including adventitious agents (e.g., prions, pathogens), antigenicity, degradation of the environment, and depletion of endangered species. HA from microbes, which have a chemical structure identical to human HA, has already been commercialized and sold at the ton-scale. Substantial progress towards microbial heparin and CS has been made, but these vertebrate polymers are more complicated structurally than the unsulfated bacterial polysaccharide precursors thus require additional processing steps. This review provides an overview of GAG structure, medical applications, microbial biosynthesis, and the state of bacterial GAG production systems. Representatives of all glycosyltransferase enzymes that polymerize the sugar chains of the three main GAGs have been identified and serve as the core technology to harness, but the proteins involved in sugar precursor formation and chain export steps of biosynthesis are also essential to the GAG production process. In addition, this review discusses future directions and potential important issues. Overall, this area is poised to make great headway to produce safer (both increased purity and more secure supply chains) non-animal GAG-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul L DeAngelis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73126, USA.
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Cimini D, Rosa MD, Schiraldi C. Production of glucuronic acid-based polysaccharides by microbial fermentation for biomedical applications. Biotechnol J 2011; 7:237-50. [PMID: 22125298 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201100242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2011] [Revised: 08/05/2011] [Accepted: 09/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
This review provides an overview of the properties, different biosynthetic machineries, and biotechnological production processes of four microbially derived glucuronic acid-based polysaccharides that are of interest for diverse biomedical purposes. In particular, the utilization of hyaluronic acid and heparin sulfate in high-value medical applications is already well established, whereas chondroitin sulfate and alginate show high potential within this ever-growing field. Furthermore, new strategies exploiting genetically engineered microorganisms generated through improving naturally existing pathways or de novo designed ones are described. These new developments result in increased fermentation titers, and thereby, pave the way towards feasible, or at least improved, process economy. Moreover, these strategies also allow for the future possibility of producing tailor-made biopolymers with specified characteristics, even novel molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Cimini
- Second University of Naples, Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Naples, Italy
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