1
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Schuster M, Kilaru S, Steinberg G. Azoles activate type I and type II programmed cell death pathways in crop pathogenic fungi. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4357. [PMID: 38821954 PMCID: PMC11143370 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48157-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Triazoles are widely used to control pathogenic fungi. They inhibit the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway, but the precise mechanisms leading to fungicidal activities in many fungal pathogens are poorly understood. Here, we elucidate the mode of action of epoxiconazole and metconazole in the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici and the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. We show that both azoles have fungicidal activity and reduce fluidity, but not integrity, of the plasma membrane. This impairs localisation of Cdc15-like F-BAR proteins, resulting in defective actin ring assembly and incomplete septation. However, mutant studies and pharmacological experiments in vitro and in planta show that azole lethality is due to a combination of reactive oxygen species-induced apoptosis and macroautophagy. Simultaneous inhibition of both programmed cell death pathways abolishes azole-induced cell death. Other classes of ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors also induce apoptosis and macroautophagy, suggesting that activation of these two cell death pathways is a hallmark of ergosterol synthesis-targeting fungicides. This knowledge will inform future crop protection strategies.
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2
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Zhang T, Xie L, Guo Y, Wang Z, Guo X, Liu R, Jin Q, Chang M, Wang X. 4,4-Dimethylsterols Reduces Fat Accumulation via Inhibiting Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase In Vitro and In Vivo. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2024; 7:0377. [PMID: 38812531 PMCID: PMC11134202 DOI: 10.34133/research.0377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
4,4-Dimethylsterols constitute a unique class of phytosterols responsible for regulating endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) functions. However, precise mechanism through which 4,4-dimethylsterols affect fat metabolism and the linkage to the ECS remain unresolved. In this study, we identified that 4,4-dimethylsterols, distinct from 4-demethseterols, act as inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolases (FAAHs) both in vivo and in vitro. Genetic ablation of FAAHs (faah-1) abolishes the effects of 4,4-dimethylsterols on fat accumulation and locomotion behavior in a Caenorhabditis elegans model. We confirmed that dietary intervention with 4,4-dimethylsterols in a high-fat diet (HFD) mouse model leads to a significant reduction in body weight (>11.28%) with improved lipid profiles in the liver and adipose tissues and increased fecal triacylglycerol excretion. Untargeted and targeted metabolomics further verified that 4,4-dimethylsterols influence unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and elevate oleoyl ethanolamine levels in the intestine. We propose a potential molecular mechanism in which 4,4-dimethylsterols engage in binding interactions with the catalytic pocket (Ser241) of FAAH-1 protein due to the shielded polarity, arising from the presence of 2 additional methyl groups (CH3). Consequently, 4,4-dimethylsterols represent an unexplored class of beneficial phytosterols that coordinate with FAAH-1 activity to reduce fat accumulation, which offers new insight into intervention strategies for treating diet-induced obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhang
- School of Food Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology,
Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- College of Food Science and Technology,
Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Liangliang Xie
- School of Biological and Food Engineering,
Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Yiwen Guo
- School of Food Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology,
Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Zhangtie Wang
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science,
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xin Guo
- Department of Food Science,
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Ruijie Liu
- School of Food Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology,
Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Qingzhe Jin
- School of Food Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology,
Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Ming Chang
- School of Food Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology,
Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xingguo Wang
- School of Food Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology,
Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
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3
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Madan B, Wadia SR, Patnaik S, Harmston N, Tan E, Tan IBH, Nes WD, Petretto E, Virshup DM. The cholesterol biosynthesis enzyme FAXDC2 couples Wnt/β-catenin to RTK/MAPK signaling. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e171222. [PMID: 38488003 PMCID: PMC10940096 DOI: 10.1172/jci171222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Wnts, cholesterol, and MAPK signaling are essential for development and adult homeostasis. Here, we report that fatty acid hydroxylase domain containing 2 (FAXDC2), a previously uncharacterized enzyme, functions as a methyl sterol oxidase catalyzing C4 demethylation in the Kandutsch-Russell branch of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. FAXDC2, a paralog of MSMO1, regulated the abundance of the specific C4-methyl sterols lophenol and dihydro-T-MAS. Highlighting its clinical relevance, FAXDC2 was repressed in Wnt/β-catenin-high cancer xenografts, in a mouse genetic model of Wnt activation, and in human colorectal cancers. Moreover, in primary human colorectal cancers, the sterol lophenol, regulated by FAXDC2, accumulated in the cancerous tissues and not in adjacent normal tissues. FAXDC2 linked Wnts to RTK/MAPK signaling. Wnt inhibition drove increased recycling of RTKs and activation of the MAPK pathway, and this required FAXDC2. Blocking Wnt signaling in Wnt-high cancers caused both differentiation and senescence; and this was prevented by knockout of FAXDC2. Our data show the integration of 3 ancient pathways, Wnts, cholesterol synthesis, and RTK/MAPK signaling, in cellular proliferation and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babita Madan
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Shawn R. Wadia
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Siddhi Patnaik
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Nathan Harmston
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
- Science Division, Yale-NUS College, Singapore
| | - Emile Tan
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Iain Bee Huat Tan
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre, Singapore
| | - W. David Nes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Enrico Petretto
- Center for Computational Biology and Program in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
- Institute for Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - David M. Virshup
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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4
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Dembitsky VM. Steroids Bearing Heteroatom as Potential Drugs for Medicine. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2698. [PMID: 37893072 PMCID: PMC10604304 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102698] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Heteroatom steroids, a diverse class of organic compounds, have attracted significant attention in the field of medicinal chemistry and drug discovery. The biological profiles of heteroatom steroids are of considerable interest to chemists, biologists, pharmacologists, and the pharmaceutical industry. These compounds have shown promise as potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of various diseases, such as cancer, infectious diseases, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions. Moreover, the incorporation of heteroatoms has led to the development of targeted drug delivery systems, prodrugs, and other innovative pharmaceutical approaches. Heteroatom steroids represent a fascinating area of research, bridging the fields of organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacology. The exploration of their chemical diversity and biological activities holds promise for the discovery of novel drug candidates and the development of more effective and targeted treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valery M Dembitsky
- Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Lethbridge College, 3000 College Drive South, Lethbridge, AB T1K 1L6, Canada
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5
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Noel D, Hallsworth JE, Gelhaye E, Darnet S, Sormani R, Morel-Rouhier M. Modes-of-action of antifungal compounds: Stressors and (target-site-specific) toxins, toxicants, or Toxin-stressors. Microb Biotechnol 2023. [PMID: 37191200 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungi and antifungal compounds are relevant to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. However, the modes-of-action of antifungals-whether they are naturally occurring substances or anthropogenic fungicides-are often unknown or are misallocated in terms of their mechanistic category. Here, we consider the most effective approaches to identifying whether antifungal substances are cellular stressors, toxins/toxicants (that are target-site-specific), or have a hybrid mode-of-action as Toxin-stressors (that induce cellular stress yet are target-site-specific). This newly described 'toxin-stressor' category includes some photosensitisers that target the cell membrane and, once activated by light or ultraviolet radiation, cause oxidative damage. We provide a glossary of terms and a diagrammatic representation of diverse types of stressors, toxic substances, and Toxin-stressors, a classification that is pertinent to inhibitory substances not only for fungi but for all types of cellular life. A decision-tree approach can also be used to help differentiate toxic substances from cellular stressors (Curr Opin Biotechnol 2015 33: 228-259). For compounds that target specific sites in the cell, we evaluate the relative merits of using metabolite analyses, chemical genetics, chemoproteomics, transcriptomics, and the target-based drug-discovery approach (based on that used in pharmaceutical research), focusing on both ascomycete models and the less-studied basidiomycete fungi. Chemical genetic methods to elucidate modes-of-action currently have limited application for fungi where molecular tools are not yet available; we discuss ways to circumvent this bottleneck. We also discuss ecologically commonplace scenarios in which multiple substances act to limit the functionality of the fungal cell and a number of as-yet-unresolved questions about the modes-of-action of antifungal compounds pertaining to the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John E Hallsworth
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Eric Gelhaye
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, IAM, Nancy, France
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6
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Qian L, Scott NA, Capell-Hattam IM, Draper EA, Fenton NM, Luu W, Sharpe LJ, Brown AJ. Cholesterol synthesis enzyme SC4MOL is fine-tuned by sterols and targeted for degradation by the E3 ligase MARCHF6. J Lipid Res 2023; 64:100362. [PMID: 36958722 PMCID: PMC10176258 DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2023.100362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholesterol biosynthesis is a highly regulated pathway, with over 20 enzymes controlled at the transcriptional and post-translational level. Whilst some enzymes remain stable, increased sterol levels can trigger degradation of several synthesis enzymes via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Of note, we previously identified four cholesterol synthesis enzymes as substrates for one E3 ubiquitin ligase, membrane-associated RING-CH-type finger 6 (MARCHF6). Whether MARCHF6 targets the cholesterol synthesis pathway at other points is unknown. In addition, the post-translational regulation of many cholesterol synthesis enzymes, including the C4-demethylation complex (sterol-C4-methyl oxidase-like, SC4MOL; NAD(P) dependent steroid dehydrogenase-like, NSDHL; hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase, HSD17B7) is largely uncharacterized. Using cultured mammalian cell-lines (human-derived and Chinese Hamster Ovary cells), we show SC4MOL, the first acting enzyme of C4-demethylation, is a MARCHF6 substrate, and is rapidly turned over and sensitive to sterols. Sterol depletion stabilizes SC4MOL protein levels, whilst sterol excess downregulates both transcript and protein levels. Furthermore, we found SC4MOL depletion by siRNA results in a significant decrease in total cell cholesterol. Thus, our work indicates SC4MOL is the most regulated enzyme in the C4-demethylation complex. Our results further implicate MARCHF6 as a crucial post-translational regulator of cholesterol synthesis, with this E3 ubiquitin ligase controlling levels of at least five enzymes of the pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Qian
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Nicola A Scott
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Isabelle M Capell-Hattam
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Eliza A Draper
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Nicole M Fenton
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Winnie Luu
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Laura J Sharpe
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Andrew J Brown
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.
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7
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Arjmand G, Haeri MR. Antibacterial Effect of Some Eukaryotic Sterol Biosynthesis Inhibitors. Adv Biomed Res 2022; 11:90. [PMID: 36518857 PMCID: PMC9744079 DOI: 10.4103/abr.abr_291_21] [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: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Isoprenoids and their derivatives are building blocks for the synthesis of biomolecules with important biological functions such as cholesterol in eukaryotes and lipid carrier undecaprenol, which is involved in cell wall biosynthesis in bacteria. With the global threat of multidrug-resistant bacteria, there is a need for finding new metabolic targets for killing bacteria. In the present study, we examined the impact of eukaryotic sterol biosynthesis inhibitors on the growth of four pathogenic bacteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS Antibacterial effect of HMG CoA reductase inhibitor (simvastatin), farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase inhibitor (alendronate), squalene epoxidase inhibitor (terbinafine), and lanosterol demethylase inhibitor (ketoconazole) were studied against four pathogenic bacteria: two gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis and two gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Broth microdilution method was used for assessing the antibacterial susceptibility of the components using 96 well plats. MIC and MBC were determined visibly. RESULTS MIC of Ketoconazole for Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis were 0.166 and 1 mg/mL, respectively. Terbinafine had a weak inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus (MIC: 8 mg/mL). Ketoconazole and terbinafine had no inhibitory effect on gram-negative bacteria. MBC of Simvastatin for both Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis was 0.5 mg/mL and of Alendronate for Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 6.6 mg/mL. CONCLUSION Our results show that farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase and class II HMG-CoA reductases inhibitors (ketoconazole and simvastatin) have reasonable antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria. These two enzymes provide suitable targets for designing new antibiotics based on modifying the chemical structure of currently used drugs to obtain maximum activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghasem Arjmand
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Payam Noor University, Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Haeri
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran,Address for correspondence: Dr. Mohammad Reza Haeri, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran. E-mail:
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8
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Zhou W, Zhang X, Wang A, Yang L, Gan Q, Yi L, Summons RE, Volkman JK, Lu Y. Widespread Sterol Methyltransferase Participates in the Biosynthesis of Both C4α- and C4β-Methyl Sterols. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:9023-9032. [PMID: 35561259 PMCID: PMC9136925 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c01401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The 4-methyl steranes
serve as molecular fossils and are used for
studying both eukaryotic evolution and geological history. The occurrence
of 4α-methyl steranes in sediments has long been considered
evidence of products of partial demethylation mediated by sterol methyl
oxidases (SMOs), while 4β-methyl steranes are attributed entirely
to diagenetic generation from 4α-methyl steroids since possible
biological sources of their precursor 4β-methyl sterols are
unknown. Here, we report a previously unknown C4-methyl sterol biosynthetic
pathway involving a sterol methyltransferase rather than the SMOs.
We show that both C4α- and C4β-methyl sterols are end
products of the sterol biosynthetic pathway in an endosymbiont of
reef corals, Breviolum minutum, while
this mechanism exists not only in dinoflagellates but also in eukaryotes
from alveolates, haptophytes, and aschelminthes. Our discovery provides
a previously untapped route for the generation of C4-methyl steranes
and overturns the paradigm that all 4β-methyl steranes are diagenetically
generated from the 4α isomers. This may facilitate the interpretation
of molecular fossils and understanding of the evolution of eukaryotic
life in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Aoqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Lin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Qinhua Gan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Liang Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Geology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Roger E Summons
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - John K Volkman
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Yandu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
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9
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Pleshinger MJ, Friedrich RM, Hubler Z, Rivera-León AM, Gao F, Yan D, Sax JL, Srinivasan R, Bederman I, Shick HE, Tesar PJ, Adams DJ. Inhibition of SC4MOL and HSD17B7 shifts cellular sterol composition and promotes oligodendrocyte formation. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:56-68. [PMID: 35128409 PMCID: PMC8729178 DOI: 10.1039/d1cb00145k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
While the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway has been extensively studied, recent work has forged new links between inhibition of specific sterol pathway enzymes, accumulation of their unique sterol substrates, and biological areas as diverse as cancer, immunology, and neurodegenerative disease. We recently reported that dozens of small molecules enhance formation of oligodendrocytes, a glial cell type lost in multiple sclerosis, by inhibiting CYP51, Sterol 14-reductase, or EBP and inducing cellular accumulation of their 8,9-unsaturated sterol substrates. Several adjacent pathway enzymes also have 8,9-unsaturated sterol substrates but have not yet been evaluated as potential targets for oligodendrocyte formation or in many other biological contexts, in part due to a lack of available small-molecule probes. Here, we show that genetic suppression of SC4MOL or HSD17B7 increases the formation of oligodendrocytes. Additionally, we have identified and optimized multiple potent new series of SC4MOL and HSD17B7 inhibitors and shown that these small molecules enhance oligodendrocyte formation. SC4MOL inhibitor CW4142 induced accumulation of SC4MOL's sterol substrates in mouse brain and represents an in vivo probe of SC4MOL activity. Mechanistically, the cellular accumulation of these 8,9-unsaturated sterols represents a central driver of enhanced oligodendrocyte formation, as exogenous addition of purified SC4MOL and HSD17B7 substrates but not their 8,9-saturated analogs promotes OPC differentiation. Our work validates SC4MOL and HSD17B7 as novel targets for promoting oligodendrocyte formation, underlines a broad role for 8,9-unsaturated sterols as enhancers of oligodendrocyte formation, and establishes the first high-quality small molecules targeting SC4MOL and HSD17B7 as novel tools for probing diverse areas of biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Pleshinger
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland Ohio 44106 USA
| | - Ryan M Friedrich
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland Ohio 44106 USA
| | - Zita Hubler
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland Ohio 44106 USA
| | - Adrianna M Rivera-León
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland Ohio 44106 USA
| | - Farrah Gao
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland Ohio 44106 USA
| | - David Yan
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland Ohio 44106 USA
| | - Joel L Sax
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland Ohio 44106 USA
| | - Ramya Srinivasan
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland Ohio 44106 USA
| | - Ilya Bederman
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland Ohio 44106 USA
| | - H Elizabeth Shick
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland Ohio 44106 USA
| | - Paul J Tesar
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland Ohio 44106 USA
| | - Drew J Adams
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland Ohio 44106 USA
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10
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Sakyi PO, Amewu RK, Devine RNOA, Bienibuor AK, Miller WA, Kwofie SK. Unravelling the myth surrounding sterol biosynthesis as plausible target for drug design against leishmaniasis. J Parasit Dis 2021; 45:1152-1171. [PMID: 34790000 PMCID: PMC8556451 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-021-01390-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The mortality rate of leishmaniasis is increasing at an alarming rate and is currently second to malaria amongst the other neglected tropical diseases. Unfortunately, many governments and key stakeholders are not investing enough in the development of new therapeutic interventions. The available treatment options targeting different pathways of the parasite have seen inefficiencies, drug resistance, and toxic side effects coupled with longer treatment durations. Numerous studies to understand the biochemistry of leishmaniasis and its pathogenesis have identified druggable targets including ornithine decarboxylase, trypanothione reductase, and pteridine reductase, which are relevant for the survival and growth of the parasites. Another plausible target is the sterol biosynthetic pathway; however, this has not been fully investigated. Sterol biosynthesis is essential for the survival of the Leishmania species because its inhibition could lead to the death of the parasites. This review seeks to evaluate how critical the enzymes involved in sterol biosynthetic pathway are to the survival of the leishmania parasite. The review also highlights both synthetic and natural product compounds with their IC50 values against selected enzymes. Finally, recent advancements in drug design strategies targeting the sterol biosynthesis pathway of Leishmania are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick O. Sakyi
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, PMB LG 56, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Chemical Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Box 214, Sunyani, Ghana
| | - Richard K. Amewu
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, PMB LG 56, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Robert N. O. A. Devine
- Department of Chemical Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Box 214, Sunyani, Ghana
| | - Alfred K. Bienibuor
- Department of Chemical Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Box 214, Sunyani, Ghana
| | - Whelton A. Miller
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153 USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153 USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, IL 19104 USA
| | - Samuel K. Kwofie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, College of Basic & Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, PMB LG 77, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
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11
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Darnet S, Blary A, Chevalier Q, Schaller H. Phytosterol Profiles, Genomes and Enzymes - An Overview. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:665206. [PMID: 34093623 PMCID: PMC8172173 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.665206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The remarkable diversity of sterol biosynthetic capacities described in living organisms is enriched at a fast pace by a growing number of sequenced genomes. Whereas analytical chemistry has produced a wealth of sterol profiles of species in diverse taxonomic groups including seed and non-seed plants, algae, phytoplanktonic species and other unicellular eukaryotes, functional assays and validation of candidate genes unveils new enzymes and new pathways besides canonical biosynthetic schemes. An overview of the current landscape of sterol pathways in the tree of life is tentatively assembled in a series of sterolotypes that encompass major groups and provides also peculiar features of sterol profiles in bacteria, fungi, plants, and algae.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hubert Schaller
- Plant Isoprenoid Biology Team, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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12
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Pounina TA, Gloriozova TA, Savidov N, Dembitsky VM. Sulfated and Sulfur-Containing Steroids and Their Pharmacological Profile. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:240. [PMID: 33923288 PMCID: PMC8145587 DOI: 10.3390/md19050240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The review focuses on sulfated steroids that have been isolated from seaweeds, marine sponges, soft corals, ascidians, starfish, and other marine invertebrates. Sulfur-containing steroids and triterpenoids are sourced from sedentary marine coelenterates, plants, marine sediments, crude oil, and other geological deposits. The review presents the pharmacological profile of sulfated steroids, sulfur-containing steroids, and triterpenoids, which is based on data obtained using the PASS program. In addition, several semi-synthetic and synthetic epithio steroids, which represent a rare group of bioactive lipids that have not yet been found in nature, but possess a high level of antitumor activity, were included in this review for the comparative pharmacological characterization of this class of compounds. About 140 steroids and triterpenoids are presented in this review, which demonstrate a wide range of biological activities. Therefore, out of 71 sulfated steroids, thirteen show strong antitumor activity with a confidence level of more than 90%, out of 50 sulfur-containing steroids, only four show strong antitumor activity with a confidence level of more than 93%, and out of eighteen epithio steroids, thirteen steroids show strong antitumor activity with a confidence level of 91% to 97.4%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana A. Pounina
- Far Eastern Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 159 Prospect 100-letiya Vladivostoka, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia;
| | - Tatyana A. Gloriozova
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 10 Building 8, Pogodinskaya Street, 119121 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Nick Savidov
- Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Lethbridge College, 3000 College Drive South, Lethbridge, AB T1K 1L6, Canada;
| | - Valery M. Dembitsky
- Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Lethbridge College, 3000 College Drive South, Lethbridge, AB T1K 1L6, Canada;
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, 17 Palchevsky Str., 690041 Vladivostok, Russia
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13
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De Vriese K, Pollier J, Goossens A, Beeckman T, Vanneste S. Dissecting cholesterol and phytosterol biosynthesis via mutants and inhibitors. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:241-253. [PMID: 32929492 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Plants stand out among eukaryotes due to the large variety of sterols and sterol derivatives that they can produce. These metabolites not only serve as critical determinants of membrane structures, but also act as signaling molecules, as growth-regulating hormones, or as modulators of enzyme activities. Therefore, it is critical to understand the wiring of the biosynthetic pathways by which plants generate these distinct sterols, to allow their manipulation and to dissect their precise physiological roles. Here, we review the complexity and variation of the biosynthetic routes of the most abundant phytosterols and cholesterol in the green lineage and how different enzymes in these pathways are conserved and diverged from humans, yeast, and even bacteria. Many enzymatic steps show a deep evolutionary conservation, while others are executed by completely different enzymes. This has important implications for the use and specificity of available human and yeast sterol biosynthesis inhibitors in plants, and argues for the development of plant-tailored inhibitors of sterol biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kjell De Vriese
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Technologiepark, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jacob Pollier
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Technologiepark, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Metabolomics Core, Technologiepark, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alain Goossens
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Technologiepark, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tom Beeckman
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Technologiepark, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Steffen Vanneste
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Technologiepark, Ghent, Belgium
- Laboratory of Plant Growth Analysis, Ghent University Global Campus, Songdomunhwa-Ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea
- Department of Plants and Crops, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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14
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Girard J, Lanneau G, Delage L, Leroux C, Belcour A, Got J, Collén J, Boyen C, Siegel A, Dittami SM, Leblanc C, Markov GV. Semi-Quantitative Targeted Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Profiling Supports a Late Side-Chain Reductase Cycloartenol-to-Cholesterol Biosynthesis Pathway in Brown Algae. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:648426. [PMID: 33986764 PMCID: PMC8112355 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.648426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Sterols are biologically important molecules that serve as membrane fluidity regulators and precursors of signaling molecules, either endogenous or involved in biotic interactions. There is currently no model of their biosynthesis pathways in brown algae. Here, we benefit from the availability of genome data and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) sterol profiling using a database of internal standards to build such a model. We expand the set of identified sterols in 11 species of red, brown, and green macroalgae and integrate these new data with genomic data. Our analyses suggest that some metabolic reactions may be conserved despite the loss of canonical eukaryotic enzymes, like the sterol side-chain reductase (SSR). Our findings are consistent with the principle of metabolic pathway drift through enzymatic replacement and show that cholesterol synthesis from cycloartenol may be a widespread but variable pathway among chlorophyllian eukaryotes. Among the factors contributing to this variability, one could be the recruitment of cholesterol biosynthetic intermediates to make signaling molecules, such as the mozukulins. These compounds were found in some brown algae belonging to Ectocarpales, and we here provide a first mozukulin biosynthetic model. Our results demonstrate that integrative approaches can already be used to infer experimentally testable models, which will be useful to further investigate the biological roles of those newly identified algal pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Girard
- CNRS, Integrative Biology of Marine Models (LBI2M, UMR8227), Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR), Sorbonne Université, Roscoff, France
| | - Goulven Lanneau
- CNRS, Integrative Biology of Marine Models (LBI2M, UMR8227), Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR), Sorbonne Université, Roscoff, France
- CNRS, Plateforme Corsaire-METABOMER (FR2424), Station Biologique de Roscoff, Sorbonne Université, Roscoff, France
| | - Ludovic Delage
- CNRS, Integrative Biology of Marine Models (LBI2M, UMR8227), Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR), Sorbonne Université, Roscoff, France
| | - Cédric Leroux
- CNRS, Plateforme Corsaire-METABOMER (FR2424), Station Biologique de Roscoff, Sorbonne Université, Roscoff, France
| | - Arnaud Belcour
- Univ Rennes, Inria, CNRS, IRISA, Equipe Dyliss, Rennes, France
| | - Jeanne Got
- Univ Rennes, Inria, CNRS, IRISA, Equipe Dyliss, Rennes, France
| | - Jonas Collén
- CNRS, Integrative Biology of Marine Models (LBI2M, UMR8227), Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR), Sorbonne Université, Roscoff, France
| | - Catherine Boyen
- CNRS, Integrative Biology of Marine Models (LBI2M, UMR8227), Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR), Sorbonne Université, Roscoff, France
| | - Anne Siegel
- Univ Rennes, Inria, CNRS, IRISA, Equipe Dyliss, Rennes, France
| | - Simon M. Dittami
- CNRS, Integrative Biology of Marine Models (LBI2M, UMR8227), Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR), Sorbonne Université, Roscoff, France
| | - Catherine Leblanc
- CNRS, Integrative Biology of Marine Models (LBI2M, UMR8227), Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR), Sorbonne Université, Roscoff, France
| | - Gabriel V. Markov
- CNRS, Integrative Biology of Marine Models (LBI2M, UMR8227), Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR), Sorbonne Université, Roscoff, France
- *Correspondence: Gabriel V. Markov,
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15
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Antifungal Agent Luliconazole Inhibits the Growth of Mouse Glioma-initiating Cells in Brain Explants. Keio J Med 2020; 69:97-104. [PMID: 32741855 DOI: 10.2302/kjm.2020-0001-oa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Imidazole antifungal compounds exert their antipathogenic effects through inhibition of sterol biosynthesis. These drugs have also recently been identified as candidate anticancer agents for several solid tumors including glioblastoma. However, their effects on glioma-initiating cells (GICs), i.e., glioma cells with stemlike properties that are able to initiate tumors, remain unclear. Consequently, we examined the effects of the optically active imidazole compound luliconazole on mouse GICs and GIC-based tumors. Luliconazole impaired in a concentration-dependent manner the growth of spheres formed by GICs in vitro. In contrast to the inhibitory effects of ionizing radiation and temozolomide on sphere growth, that of luliconazole was attenuated by the addition of exogenous cholesterol. Exposure to luliconazole of brain slices derived from mice with orthotopic GIC implants for 4 days in culture resulted in a marked increase in the number of tumor cells positive for cleaved caspase-3, but without a similar effect on normal cells. Furthermore, in brain slices, luliconazole inhibited the expansion of GIC-based tumors and the parenchymal infiltration of tumor cells. Our findings therefore indicate that luliconazole effectively targets GICs, thereby providing further support for the antitumorigenic effects of imidazole antifungal compounds.
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16
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Lathosterol Oxidase (Sterol C-5 Desaturase) Deletion Confers Resistance to Amphotericin B and Sensitivity to Acidic Stress in Leishmania major. mSphere 2020; 5:5/4/e00380-20. [PMID: 32611698 PMCID: PMC7333571 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00380-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Sterols are essential membrane components in eukaryotes, and sterol synthesis inhibitors can have potent effects against pathogenic fungi and trypanosomatids. Understanding the roles of sterols will facilitate the development of new drugs and counter drug resistance. LSO is required for the formation of the C-5–C-6 double bond in the sterol core structure in mammals, fungi, protozoans, plants, and algae. Functions of this C-5–C-6 double bond are not well understood. In this study, we generated and characterized a lathosterol oxidase-null mutant in Leishmania major. Our data suggest that LSO is vital for the structure and membrane-stabilizing functions of leishmanial sterols. In addition, our results imply that while mutations in lathosterol oxidase can confer resistance to amphotericin B, an important antifungal and antiprotozoal agent, the alteration in sterol structure leads to significant defects in stress response that could be exploited for drug development. Lathosterol oxidase (LSO) catalyzes the formation of the C-5–C-6 double bond in the synthesis of various types of sterols in mammals, fungi, plants, and protozoa. In Leishmania parasites, mutations in LSO or other sterol biosynthetic genes are associated with amphotericin B resistance. To investigate the biological roles of sterol C-5–C-6 desaturation, we generated an LSO-null mutant line (lso−) in Leishmania major, the causative agent for cutaneous leishmaniasis. lso− parasites lacked the ergostane-based sterols commonly found in wild-type L. major and instead accumulated equivalent sterol species without the C-5–C-6 double bond. These mutant parasites were replicative in culture and displayed heightened resistance to amphotericin B. However, they survived poorly after reaching the maximal density and were highly vulnerable to the membrane-disrupting detergent Triton X-100. In addition, lso− mutants showed defects in regulating intracellular pH and were hypersensitive to acidic conditions. They also had potential alterations in the carbohydrate composition of lipophosphoglycan, a membrane-bound virulence factor in Leishmania. All these defects in lso− were corrected upon the restoration of LSO expression. Together, these findings suggest that the C-5–C-6 double bond is vital for the structure of the sterol core, and while the loss of LSO can lead to amphotericin B resistance, it also makes Leishmania parasites vulnerable to biologically relevant stress. IMPORTANCE Sterols are essential membrane components in eukaryotes, and sterol synthesis inhibitors can have potent effects against pathogenic fungi and trypanosomatids. Understanding the roles of sterols will facilitate the development of new drugs and counter drug resistance. LSO is required for the formation of the C-5–C-6 double bond in the sterol core structure in mammals, fungi, protozoans, plants, and algae. Functions of this C-5–C-6 double bond are not well understood. In this study, we generated and characterized a lathosterol oxidase-null mutant in Leishmania major. Our data suggest that LSO is vital for the structure and membrane-stabilizing functions of leishmanial sterols. In addition, our results imply that while mutations in lathosterol oxidase can confer resistance to amphotericin B, an important antifungal and antiprotozoal agent, the alteration in sterol structure leads to significant defects in stress response that could be exploited for drug development.
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17
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Hu D, Gao YH, Yao XS, Gao H. Recent advances in dissecting the demethylation reactions in natural product biosynthesis. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2020; 59:47-53. [PMID: 32460136 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Demethylation is a chemical process widely distributed in nature to remove a methyl group from an organic molecule, which is a key aspect of diverse biological processes including biosynthesis of natural products, degradation of plant biomass and epigenetic regulation. This process is facilitated by diverse demethylases via distinct mechanisms. Recent studies have disclosed some novel demethylation reactions as well as their underlying demethylases in the biosynthesis of bacterial sterols, fungal terpenoids, and plant alkaloids. This article focuses on current advances in dissecting the demethylation reactions in biosynthesis of natural products and aims to point out the enzymatic mechanisms, which will further enhance our knowledge and understanding of demethylation process in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Hu
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Products, College of Pharmacy/Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yao-Hui Gao
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Products, College of Pharmacy/Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin-Sheng Yao
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Products, College of Pharmacy/Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Gao
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Products, College of Pharmacy/Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, People's Republic of China.
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18
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Gallo C, Landi S, d'Ippolito G, Nuzzo G, Manzo E, Sardo A, Fontana A. Diatoms synthesize sterols by inclusion of animal and fungal genes in the plant pathway. Sci Rep 2020; 10:4204. [PMID: 32144288 PMCID: PMC7060231 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60993-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Diatoms are ubiquitous microalgae that have developed remarkable metabolic plasticity and gene diversification. Here we report the first elucidation of the complete biosynthesis of sterols in the lineage. The study has been carried out on the bloom-forming species Skeletonema marinoi and Cyclotella cryptica that synthesise an ensemble of sterols with chemotypes of animals (cholesterol and desmosterol), plants (dihydrobrassicasterol and 24-methylene cholesterol), algae (fucosterol) and marine invertebrates (clionasterol). In both species, sterols derive from mevalonate through cyclization of squalene to cycloartenol by cycloartenol synthase. The pathway anticipates synthesis of cholesterol by enzymes of the phytosterol route in plants, as recently reported in Solanaceae. Major divergences stem from reduction of Δ24(28) and Δ24(25) double bonds which, in diatoms, are apparently dependent on sterol reductases of fungi, algae and animals. Phylogenetic comparison revealed a good level of similarity between the sterol biosynthetic genes of S. marinoi and C. cryptica with those in the genomes of the other diatoms sequenced so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmela Gallo
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Bio-Organic Chemistry Unit, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Simone Landi
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Bio-Organic Chemistry Unit, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy.,Univeristy of Naples "Federico II", Department of Biology, Cupa Nuova Cintia 21, 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Giuliana d'Ippolito
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Bio-Organic Chemistry Unit, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy.
| | - Genoveffa Nuzzo
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Bio-Organic Chemistry Unit, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Emiliano Manzo
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Bio-Organic Chemistry Unit, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy
| | - Angela Sardo
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Bio-Organic Chemistry Unit, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy.,Stazione Zoologica "A. Dohrn", Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
| | - Angelo Fontana
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Bio-Organic Chemistry Unit, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli (Napoli), Italy.
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19
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Inhibition of Phytosterol Biosynthesis by Azasterols. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25051111. [PMID: 32131509 PMCID: PMC7179204 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25051111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibitors of enzymes in essential cellular pathways are potent probes to decipher intricate physiological functions of biomolecules. The analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana sterol profiles upon treatment with a series of azasterols reveals a specific in vivo inhibition of SMT2, a plant sterol-C-methyltransferase acting as a branch point between the campesterol and sitosterol biosynthetic segments in the pathway. Side chain azasteroids that modify sitosterol homeostasis help to refine its particular function in plant development.
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20
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Darnet S, Fliesler SJ, Schaller H. Worming our way toward multiple evolutionary origins of convergent sterol pathways. J Lipid Res 2019; 61:129-132. [PMID: 31871066 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.c119000600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Darnet
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
| | - Steven J Fliesler
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Biochemistry and the Neuroscience Graduate Program, University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY.,Research Service, Veterans Administration Western NY Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY
| | - Hubert Schaller
- Institut de biologie moléculaire des plantes, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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21
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Zhou W, Fisher PM, Vanderloop BH, Shen Y, Shi H, Maldonado AJ, Leaver DJ, Nes WD. A nematode sterol C4α-methyltransferase catalyzes a new methylation reaction responsible for sterol diversity. J Lipid Res 2019; 61:192-204. [PMID: 31548366 PMCID: PMC6997595 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.ra119000317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2019] [Revised: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Primitive sterol evolution plays an important role in fossil record interpretation and offers potential therapeutic avenues for human disease resulting from nematode infections. Recognizing that C4-methyl stenol products [8(14)-lophenol] can be synthesized in bacteria while C4-methyl stanol products (dinosterol) can be synthesized in dinoflagellates and preserved as sterane biomarkers in ancient sedimentary rock is key to eukaryotic sterol evolution. In this regard, nematodes have been proposed to convert dietary cholesterol to 8(14)-lophenol by a secondary metabolism pathway that could involve sterol C4 methylation analogous to the C2 methylation of hopanoids (radicle-type mechanism) or C24 methylation of sterols (carbocation-type mechanism). Here, we characterized dichotomous cholesterol metabolic pathways in Caenorhabditis elegans that generate 3-oxo sterol intermediates in separate paths to lophanol (4-methyl stanol) and 8(14)-lophenol (4-methyl stenol). We uncovered alternate C3-sterol oxidation and Δ7 desaturation steps that regulate sterol flux from which branching metabolite networks arise, while lophanol/8(14)-lophenol formation is shown to be dependent on a sterol C4α-methyltransferse (4-SMT) that requires 3-oxo sterol substrates and catalyzes a newly discovered 3-keto-enol tautomerism mechanism linked to S-adenosyl-l-methionine-dependent methylation. Alignment-specific substrate-binding domains similarly conserved in 4-SMT and 24-SMT enzymes, despite minimal amino acid sequence identity, suggests divergence from a common, primordial ancestor in the evolution of methyl sterols. The combination of these results provides evolutionary leads to sterol diversity and points to cryptic C4-methyl steroidogenic pathways of targeted convergence that mediate lineage-specific adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxu Zhou
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
| | - Paxtyn M Fisher
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
| | - Boden H Vanderloop
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
| | - Yun Shen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
| | - Huazhong Shi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
| | - Adrian J Maldonado
- Department of Biology, Geology, and Physical Sciences, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX
| | - David J Leaver
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.,Department of Biology, Geology, and Physical Sciences, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX
| | - W David Nes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
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