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Abdullaziz MA, Takada S, Illarionov B, Pessanha de Carvalho L, Sakamoto Y, Höfmann S, Knak T, Kiffe-Delf AL, Mazzone F, Pfeffer K, Kalscheuer R, Bacher A, Held J, Fischer M, Tanaka N, Kurz T. Reverse N-Substituted Hydroxamic Acid Derivatives of Fosmidomycin Target a Previously Unknown Subpocket of 1-Deoxy-d-xylulose 5-Phosphate Reductoisomerase (DXR). ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:1739-1752. [PMID: 38647213 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Reverse analogs of the phosphonohydroxamic acid antibiotic fosmidomycin are potent inhibitors of the nonmevalonate isoprenoid biosynthesis enzyme 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR, IspC) of Plasmodium falciparum. Some novel analogs with large phenylalkyl substituents at the hydroxamic acid nitrogen exhibit nanomolar PfDXR inhibition and potent in vitro growth inhibition of P. falciparum parasites coupled with good parasite selectivity. X-ray crystallographic studies demonstrated that the N-phenylpropyl substituent of the newly developed lead compound 13e is accommodated in a subpocket within the DXR catalytic domain but does not reach the NADPH binding pocket of the N-terminal domain. As shown for reverse carba and thia analogs, PfDXR selectively binds the S-enantiomer of the new lead compound. In addition, some representatives of the novel inhibitor subclass are nanomolar Escherichia coli DXR inhibitors, whereas the inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DXR is considerably weaker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona A Abdullaziz
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- National Research Centre (NRC), 33 El Buhouth St, Ad Doqi, Dokki, Cairo 12622, Egypt
| | - Sana Takada
- School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Boris Illarionov
- Hamburg School of Food Science, Universität Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lais Pessanha de Carvalho
- Institut für Tropenmedizin, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Wilhelmstr. 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Yasumitsu Sakamoto
- School of Pharmacy, Iwate Medical University, Yahaba, Iwate 028-3694, Japan
| | - Stefan Höfmann
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Talea Knak
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Anna-Lene Kiffe-Delf
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Flaminia Mazzone
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich Heine University, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Germany, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Klaus Pfeffer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich Heine University, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Germany, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Rainer Kalscheuer
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Adelbert Bacher
- Hamburg School of Food Science, Universität Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
- TUM School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr. 10, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Jana Held
- Institut für Tropenmedizin, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Wilhelmstr. 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Markus Fischer
- Hamburg School of Food Science, Universität Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nobutada Tanaka
- School of Pharmacy, Kitasato University, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Thomas Kurz
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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Wu X, Yang Z, Song C, Bu M, Li W, Duan J, Yang GF, Zhang A. Hydroxamate-Containing Bisphosphonates as Fosmidomycin Analogues: Design, Synthesis, and Proherbicide Activity. J Agric Food Chem 2024; 72:7684-7693. [PMID: 38532701 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c07872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Fosmidomycin (FOS) is a natural product inhibiting the DXR enzyme in the MEP pathway and has stimulated interest for finding more suitable FOS analogues. Herein, two series of FOS analogue hydroxamate-containing bisphosphonates as proherbicides were designed, with bisphosphonate replacing the phosphonic unit in FOS while retaining the hydroxamate (BPF series) or replacing it with retro-hydroxamate (BPRF series). The BPF series were synthesized through a three-step reaction sequence including Michael addition of vinylidenebisphosphonate, N-acylation, and deprotection, and the BPRF series were synthesized with a retro-Claisen condensation incorporated into the reaction sequence. Evaluation on model plants demonstrated several compounds having considerable herbicidal activities, and in particular, compound 8m exhibited multifold activity enhancement as compared to the control FOS. The proherbicide properties were comparatively validated. Furthermore, DXR enzyme assay, dimethylallyl pyrophosphate rescue, and molecular docking verified 8m to be a promising proherbicide candidate targeting the DXR enzyme. In addition, 8m also displayed good antimalarial activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Zili Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Chunlin Song
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Mengwei Bu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Weiguo Li
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Jiang Duan
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Guang-Fu Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Aidong Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
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Crispim M, Verdaguer IB, Hernández A, Kronenberger T, Fenollar À, Yamaguchi LF, Alberione MP, Ramirez M, de Oliveira SS, Katzin AM, Izquierdo L. Beyond the MEP Pathway: A novel kinase required for prenol utilization by malaria parasites. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011557. [PMID: 38277417 PMCID: PMC10849223 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
A proposed treatment for malaria is a combination of fosmidomycin and clindamycin. Both compounds inhibit the methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway, the parasitic source of farnesyl and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (FPP and GGPP, respectively). Both FPP and GGPP are crucial for the biosynthesis of several essential metabolites such as ubiquinone and dolichol, as well as for protein prenylation. Dietary prenols, such as farnesol (FOH) and geranylgeraniol (GGOH), can rescue parasites from MEP inhibitors, suggesting the existence of a missing pathway for prenol salvage via phosphorylation. In this study, we identified a gene in the genome of P. falciparum, encoding a transmembrane prenol kinase (PolK) involved in the salvage of FOH and GGOH. The enzyme was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and its FOH/GGOH kinase activities were experimentally validated. Furthermore, conditional knockout parasites (Δ-PolK) were created to investigate the biological importance of the FOH/GGOH salvage pathway. Δ-PolK parasites were viable but displayed increased susceptibility to fosmidomycin. Their sensitivity to MEP inhibitors could not be rescued by adding prenols. Additionally, Δ-PolK parasites lost their capability to utilize prenols for protein prenylation. Experiments using culture medium supplemented with whole/delipidated human plasma in transgenic parasites revealed that human plasma has components that can diminish the effectiveness of fosmidomycin. Mass spectrometry tests indicated that both bovine supplements used in culture and human plasma contain GGOH. These findings suggest that the FOH/GGOH salvage pathway might offer an alternate source of isoprenoids for malaria parasites when de novo biosynthesis is inhibited. This study also identifies a novel kind of enzyme related to isoprenoid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcell Crispim
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignasi Bofill Verdaguer
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Agustín Hernández
- Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Integrated Unit for Research in Biodiversity (BIOTROP-CCBS), Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Thales Kronenberger
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tuebingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Excellence Cluster "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections" (CMFI), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Àngel Fenollar
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - María Pía Alberione
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miriam Ramirez
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Alejandro Miguel Katzin
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luis Izquierdo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Barcelona, Spain
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Dreneau A, Krebs FS, Munier M, Ngov C, Tritsch D, Lièvremont D, Rohmer M, Grosdemange-Billiard C. α,α-Difluorophosphonohydroxamic Acid Derivatives among the Best Antibacterial Fosmidomycin Analogues. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26165111. [PMID: 34443699 PMCID: PMC8397956 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26165111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Three α,α-difluorophosphonate derivatives of fosmidomycin were synthesized from diethyl 1,1-difluorobut-3-enylphosphonate and were evaluated on Escherichia coli. Two of them are among the best 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase inhibitors, with IC50 in the nM range, much better than fosmidomycin, the reference compound. They also showed an enhanced antimicrobial activity against E. coli on Petri dishes in comparison with the corresponding phosphates and the non-fluorinated phosphonate.
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Abstract
Drug resistance is a major healthcare challenge, resulting in a continuous need to develop new inhibitors. The development of these inhibitors requires an understanding of the mechanisms of resistance for a critical mass of occurrences. Recent genome editing technologies based on high-throughput DNA synthesis and sequencing may help to predict mutations resulting in resistance by testing large mutagenesis libraries. Here we describe the rationale of this approach, with examples and relevance to drug development and resistance in malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gur Pines
- Department of Entomology, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, P.O.B 15159, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
| | - Reilly G. Fankhauser
- Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health & Science University, Baird Hall 3225 SW Pavilion Loop, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
| | - Carrie A. Eckert
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, 027 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- Biosciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401, USA
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Swift RP, Rajaram K, Liu HB, Dziedzic A, Jedlicka AE, Roberts AD, Matthews KA, Jhun H, Bumpus NN, Tewari SG, Wallqvist A, Prigge ST. A mevalonate bypass system facilitates elucidation of plastid biology in malaria parasites. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008316. [PMID: 32059044 PMCID: PMC7046295 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites rely on a plastid organelle for survival during the blood stages of infection. However, the entire organelle is dispensable as long as the isoprenoid precursor, isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), is supplemented in the culture medium. We engineered parasites to produce isoprenoid precursors from a mevalonate-dependent pathway, creating a parasite line that replicates normally after the loss of the apicoplast organelle. We show that carbon-labeled mevalonate is specifically incorporated into isoprenoid products, opening new avenues for researching this essential class of metabolites in malaria parasites. We also show that essential apicoplast proteins, such as the enzyme target of the drug fosmidomycin, can be deleted in this mevalonate bypass parasite line, providing a new method to determine the roles of other important apicoplast-resident proteins. Several antibacterial drugs kill malaria parasites by targeting basic processes, such as transcription, in the organelle. We used metabolomic and transcriptomic methods to characterize parasite metabolism after azithromycin treatment triggered loss of the apicoplast and found that parasite metabolism and the production of apicoplast proteins is largely unaltered. These results provide insight into the effects of apicoplast-disrupting drugs, several of which have been used to treat malaria infections in humans. Overall, the mevalonate bypass system provides a way to probe essential aspects of apicoplast biology and study the effects of drugs that target apicoplast processes. Malaria parasites rely on an organelle called the apicoplast for growth and survival. Antimalarial drugs such as azithromycin inhibit basic processes in the apicoplast and result in the disruption of the organelle. Surprisingly, addition of a single metabolite, isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), allows the parasites to survive in culture after disruption of the apicoplast. Unfortunately, using IPP to study this phenomenon has several limitations: IPP is prohibitively expensive, has to be used at high concentrations, and has a half-life less than 5 hours. To address these problems, we engineered parasites to express four enzymes from an alternative pathway capable of producing IPP in the parasites. We validated this new system and used it to metabolically label essential metabolites, to delete an essential apicoplast protein, and to characterize the state of apicoplast-disrupted parasites. A key finding from these studies comes from transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of parasites treated with the drug azithromycin. We found that apicoplast disruption results in few changes in parasite metabolism. In particular, the expression of hundreds of nuclear-encoded apicoplast proteins are not affected by disruption of the apicoplast organelle, making it likely that apicoplast metabolic pathways and processes are still functional in apicoplast-disrupted parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell P. Swift
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Krithika Rajaram
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Hans B. Liu
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Amanda Dziedzic
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Anne E. Jedlicka
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Aleah D. Roberts
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Krista A. Matthews
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Hugo Jhun
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Namandje N. Bumpus
- Department of Medicine (Division of Clinical Pharmacology), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Shivendra G. Tewari
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Ft. Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Anders Wallqvist
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Ft. Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sean T. Prigge
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Guggisberg AM, Frasse PM, Jezewski AJ, Kafai NM, Gandhi AY, Erlinger SJ, Odom John AR. Suppression of Drug Resistance Reveals a Genetic Mechanism of Metabolic Plasticity in Malaria Parasites. mBio 2018; 9:e01193-18. [PMID: 30425143 PMCID: PMC6234871 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01193-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, synthesis of isoprenoids from glycolytic intermediates is essential for survival. The antimalarial fosmidomycin (FSM) inhibits isoprenoid synthesis. In P. falciparum, we identified a loss-of-function mutation in HAD2 (P. falciparum 3D7_1226300 [PF3D7_1226300]) as necessary for FSM resistance. Enzymatic characterization revealed that HAD2, a member of the haloacid dehalogenase-like hydrolase (HAD) superfamily, is a phosphatase. Harnessing a growth defect in resistant parasites, we selected for suppression of HAD2-mediated FSM resistance and uncovered hypomorphic suppressor mutations in the locus encoding the glycolytic enzyme phosphofructokinase 9 (PFK9). Metabolic profiling demonstrated that FSM resistance is achieved via increased steady-state levels of methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway and glycolytic intermediates and confirmed reduced PFK9 function in the suppressed strains. We identified HAD2 as a novel regulator of malaria parasite metabolism and drug sensitivity and uncovered PFK9 as a novel site of genetic metabolic plasticity in the parasite. Our report informs the biological functions of an evolutionarily conserved family of metabolic regulators and reveals a previously undescribed strategy by which malaria parasites adapt to cellular metabolic dysregulation.IMPORTANCE Unique and essential aspects of parasite metabolism are excellent targets for development of new antimalarials. An improved understanding of parasite metabolism and drug resistance mechanisms is urgently needed. The antibiotic fosmidomycin targets the synthesis of essential isoprenoid compounds from glucose and is a candidate for antimalarial development. Our report identifies a novel mechanism of drug resistance and further describes a family of metabolic regulators in the parasite. Using a novel forward genetic approach, we also uncovered mutations that suppress drug resistance in the glycolytic enzyme PFK9. Thus, we identify an unexpected genetic mechanism of adaptation to metabolic insult that influences parasite fitness and tolerance of antimalarials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann M Guggisberg
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Philip M Frasse
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Andrew J Jezewski
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Natasha M Kafai
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Aakash Y Gandhi
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Samuel J Erlinger
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Audrey R Odom John
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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He L, He P, Luo X, Li M, Yu L, Guo J, Zhan X, Zhu G, Zhao J. The MEP pathway in Babesia orientalis apicoplast, a potential target for anti-babesiosis drug development. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:452. [PMID: 30081952 PMCID: PMC6090808 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3038-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The apicomplexan parasite Babesia orientalis, the causative agent of water buffalo babesiosis in China, is widespread in central and south China, resulting in a huge economic loss annually. Currently, there is no effective vaccine or drug against this disease. Babesia bovis and Plasmodium falciparum were reported to possess an apicoplast which contains the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway inhibitable by fosmidomycin, suggesting that the pathway could serve as a drug target for screening new drugs. However, it remains unknown in B. orientalis. METHODS Primers were designed according to the seven MEP pathway genes of Babesia microti and Babesia bovis. The genes were cloned, sequenced and analyzed. The open reading frames (ORFs) of the first two enzyme genes, 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (BoDXS) and 1-Deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (BoDXR), were cloned into the pET-32a expression vector and expressed as a Trx-tag fusion protein. Rabbit anti-rBoDXS and rabbit anti-rBoDXR antibodies were generated. Western blot was performed to identify the native proteins of BoDXS and BoDXR in B. orientalis. Fosmidomycin and geranylgeraniol were used for inhibition assay and rescue assay, respectively, in the in vitro cultivation of B. orientalis. RESULTS The seven enzyme genes of the B. orientalis MEP pathway (DXS, DXR, IspD, IspE, IspF, IspG and IspH) were cloned and sequenced, with a full length of 2094, 1554, 1344, 1521, 654, 1932 and 1056 bp, respectively. BoDXS and BoDXR were expressed as Trx-tag fusion proteins, with a size of 95 and 67 kDa, respectively. Western blot identified a 77 kDa band for the native BoDXS and a 49 kDa band for the native BoDXR. The drug assay results showed that fosmidomycin could inhibit the growth of B. orientalis, and geranylgeraniol could reverse the effect of fosmidomycin. CONCLUSIONS Babesia orientalis has the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway, which could be a potential drug target for controlling and curing babesiosis. Considering the high price and instability of fosmidomycin, further studies should focus on the screening of stable and cheap drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei China
| | - Pei He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoying Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei People’s Republic of China
| | - Muxiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei People’s Republic of China
| | - Long Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiaying Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei People’s Republic of China
| | - Xueyan Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei People’s Republic of China
| | - Guan Zhu
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas USA
| | - Junlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Development of Veterinary Diagnostic Products, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei China
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Sanders S, Bartee D, Harrison MJ, Phillips PD, Koppisch AT, Freel Meyers CL. Growth medium-dependent antimicrobial activity of early stage MEP pathway inhibitors. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197638. [PMID: 29771999 PMCID: PMC5957436 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The in vivo microenvironment of bacterial pathogens is often characterized by nutrient limitation. Consequently, conventional rich in vitro culture conditions used widely to evaluate antibacterial agents are often poorly predictive of in vivo activity, especially for agents targeting metabolic pathways. In one such pathway, the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway, which is essential for production of isoprenoids in bacterial pathogens, relatively little is known about the influence of growth environment on antibacterial properties of inhibitors targeting enzymes in this pathway. The early steps of the MEP pathway are catalyzed by 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) synthase and reductoisomerase (IspC). The in vitro antibacterial efficacy of the DXP synthase inhibitor butylacetylphosphonate (BAP) was recently reported to be strongly dependent upon growth medium, with high potency observed under nutrient limitation and exceedingly weak activity in nutrient-rich conditions. In contrast, the well-known IspC inhibitor fosmidomycin has potent antibacterial activity in nutrient-rich conditions, but to date, its efficacy had not been explored under more relevant nutrient-limited conditions. The goal of this work was to thoroughly characterize the effects of BAP and fosmidomycin on bacterial cells under varied growth conditions. In this work, we show that activities of both inhibitors, alone and in combination, are strongly dependent upon growth medium, with differences in cellular uptake contributing to variance in potency of both agents. Fosmidomycin is dissimilar to BAP in that it displays relatively weaker activity in nutrient-limited compared to nutrient-rich conditions. Interestingly, while it has been generally accepted that fosmidomycin activity depends upon expression of the GlpT transporter, our results indicate for the first time that fosmidomycin can enter cells by an alternative mechanism under nutrient limitation. Finally, we show that the potency and relationship of the BAP-fosmidomycin combination also depends upon the growth medium, revealing a striking loss of BAP-fosmidomycin synergy under nutrient limitation. This change in BAP-fosmidomycin relationship suggests a shift in the metabolic and/or regulatory networks surrounding DXP accompanying the change in growth medium, the understanding of which could significantly impact targeting strategies against this pathway. More generally, our findings emphasize the importance of considering physiologically relevant growth conditions for predicting the antibacterial potential MEP pathway inhibitors and for studies of their intracellular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Sanders
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - David Bartee
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Mackenzie J. Harrison
- Department of Chemistry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America
| | - Paul D. Phillips
- Department of Chemistry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America
| | - Andrew T. Koppisch
- Department of Chemistry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America
| | - Caren L. Freel Meyers
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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10
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Rasulov B, Talts E, Niinemets Ü. Spectacular Oscillations in Plant Isoprene Emission under Transient Conditions Explain the Enigmatic CO2 Response. Plant Physiol 2016; 172:2275-2285. [PMID: 27770061 PMCID: PMC5129709 DOI: 10.1104/pp.16.01002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Plant isoprene emissions respond to light and temperature similarly to photosynthesis, but CO2 dependencies of isoprene emission and photosynthesis are profoundly different, with photosynthesis increasing and isoprene emission decreasing with increasing CO2 concentration due to reasons not yet understood. We studied isoprene emission, net assimilation rate, and chlorophyll fluorescence under different CO2 and O2 concentrations in the strong isoprene emitter hybrid aspen (Populus tremula × Populus tremuloides), and used rapid changes in ambient CO2 or O2 concentrations or light level to induce oscillations. As isoprene-emitting species support very high steady-state chloroplastic pool sizes of the primary isoprene substrate, dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMADP), which can mask the effects of oscillatory dynamics on isoprene emission, the size of the DMADP pool was experimentally reduced by either partial inhibition of isoprenoid synthesis pathway by fosmidomycin-feeding or by changes in ambient gas concentrations leading to DMADP pool depletion in intact leaves. In feedback-limited conditions observed at low O2 and/or high CO2 concentration under which the rate of photosynthesis is governed by the limited rate of ATP and NADPH formation due to low chloroplastic phosphate levels, oscillations in photosynthesis and isoprene emission were repeatedly induced by rapid environmental modifications in both partly fosmidomycin-inhibited leaves and in intact leaves with in vivo reduced DMADP pools. The oscillations in net assimilation rate and isoprene emission in feedback-inhibited leaves were in the same phase, and relative changes in the pools of photosynthetic metabolites and DMADP estimated by in vivo kinetic methods were directly proportional through all oscillations induced by different environmental perturbations. We conclude that the oscillations in isoprene emission provide direct experimental evidence demonstrating that the response of isoprene emission to changes in ambient gas concentrations is controlled by the chloroplastic reductant supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahtijor Rasulov
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51014 Tartu, Estonia (B.R., E.T., Ü.N.)
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu 50411, Estonia (B.R.); and
- Estonian Academy of Sciences, 10130 Tallinn, Estonia (Ü.N.)
| | - Eero Talts
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51014 Tartu, Estonia (B.R., E.T., Ü.N.)
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu 50411, Estonia (B.R.); and
- Estonian Academy of Sciences, 10130 Tallinn, Estonia (Ü.N.)
| | - Ülo Niinemets
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51014 Tartu, Estonia (B.R., E.T., Ü.N.);
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu 50411, Estonia (B.R.); and
- Estonian Academy of Sciences, 10130 Tallinn, Estonia (Ü.N.)
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11
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Guggisberg AM, Sundararaman SA, Lanaspa M, Moraleda C, González R, Mayor A, Cisteró P, Hutchinson D, Kremsner PG, Hahn BH, Bassat Q, Odom AR. Whole-Genome Sequencing to Evaluate the Resistance Landscape Following Antimalarial Treatment Failure With Fosmidomycin-Clindamycin. J Infect Dis 2016; 214:1085-91. [PMID: 27443612 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiw304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel antimalarial therapies are needed in the face of emerging resistance to artemisinin combination therapies. A previous study found a high cure rate in Mozambican children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria 7 days after combination treatment with fosmidomycin-clindamycin. However, 28-day cure rates were low (45.9%), owing to parasite recrudescence. We sought to identify any genetic changes underlying parasite recrudescence. To this end, we used a selective whole-genome amplification method to amplify parasite genomes from blood spot DNA samples. Parasite genomes from pretreatment and postrecrudescence samples were subjected to whole-genome sequencing to identify nucleotide variants. Our data did not support the existence of a genetic change responsible for recrudescence following fosmidomycin-clindamycin treatment. Additionally, we found that previously described resistance alleles for these drugs do not represent biomarkers of recrudescence. Future studies should continue to optimize fosmidomycin combinations for use as antimalarial therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sesh A Sundararaman
- Department of Medicine Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Miguel Lanaspa
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Mozambique Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona Center for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cinta Moraleda
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Mozambique Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona Center for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel González
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Mozambique Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona Center for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alfredo Mayor
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Mozambique Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona Center for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pau Cisteró
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona Center for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Peter G Kremsner
- Institut für Tropenmedizin, University of Tübingen, Germany Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Beatrice H Hahn
- Department of Medicine Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Quique Bassat
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Mozambique
| | - Audrey R Odom
- Department of Pediatrics Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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12
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Rasulov B, Talts E, Kännaste A, Niinemets Ü. Bisphosphonate inhibitors reveal a large elasticity of plastidic isoprenoid synthesis pathway in isoprene-emitting hybrid aspen. Plant Physiol 2015; 168:532-48. [PMID: 25926480 PMCID: PMC4453795 DOI: 10.1104/pp.15.00470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Recently, a feedback inhibition of the chloroplastic 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP)/2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway of isoprenoid synthesis by end products dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMADP) and isopentenyl diphosphate (IDP) was postulated, but the extent to which DMADP and IDP can build up is not known. We used bisphosphonate inhibitors, alendronate and zoledronate, that inhibit the consumption of DMADP and IDP by prenyltransferases to gain insight into the extent of end product accumulation and possible feedback inhibition in isoprene-emitting hybrid aspen (Populus tremula × Populus tremuloides). A kinetic method based on dark release of isoprene emission at the expense of substrate pools accumulated in light was used to estimate the in vivo pool sizes of DMADP and upstream metabolites. Feeding with fosmidomycin, an inhibitor of DXP reductoisomerase, alone or in combination with bisphosphonates was used to inhibit carbon input into DXP/MEP pathway or both input and output. We observed a major increase in pathway intermediates, 3- to 4-fold, upstream of DMADP in bisphosphonate-inhibited leaves, but the DMADP pool was enhanced much less, 1.3- to 1.5-fold. In combined fosmidomycin/bisphosphonate treatment, pathway intermediates accumulated, reflecting cytosolic flux of intermediates that can be important under strong metabolic pull in physiological conditions. The data suggested that metabolites accumulated upstream of DMADP consist of phosphorylated intermediates and IDP. Slow conversion of the huge pools of intermediates to DMADP was limited by reductive energy supply. These data indicate that the DXP/MEP pathway is extremely elastic, and the presence of a significant pool of phosphorylated intermediates provides an important valve for fine tuning the pathway flux.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahtijor Rasulov
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51014 Tartu, Estonia (B.R., E.T., A.K., Ü.N.);Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia (B.R.); andEstonian Academy of Sciences, 10130 Tallinn, Estonia (Ü.N.)
| | - Eero Talts
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51014 Tartu, Estonia (B.R., E.T., A.K., Ü.N.);Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia (B.R.); andEstonian Academy of Sciences, 10130 Tallinn, Estonia (Ü.N.)
| | - Astrid Kännaste
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51014 Tartu, Estonia (B.R., E.T., A.K., Ü.N.);Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia (B.R.); andEstonian Academy of Sciences, 10130 Tallinn, Estonia (Ü.N.)
| | - Ülo Niinemets
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, 51014 Tartu, Estonia (B.R., E.T., A.K., Ü.N.);Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia (B.R.); andEstonian Academy of Sciences, 10130 Tallinn, Estonia (Ü.N.)
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13
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Du X, Zhang C, Guo W, Jin W, Liang Z, Yan X, Guo Z, Liu Y, Yang D. Nitric Oxide Plays a Central Role in Water Stress-Induced Tanshinone Production in Salvia miltiorrhiza Hairy Roots. Molecules 2015; 20:7574-85. [PMID: 25919278 PMCID: PMC6272322 DOI: 10.3390/molecules20057574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Revised: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO), a well-known signaling molecule plays an important role in abiotic and biotic stress-induced production of plant secondary metabolites. In this study, roles of NO in water stress-induced tanshinone production in Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy roots were investigated. The results showed that accumulations of four tanshinone compounds in S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots were significantly stimulated by sodium nitroprusside (SNP, a NO donor) at 100 μM. Effects of SNP were just partially arrested by the mevalonate (MVA) pathway inhibitor (mevinolin), but were completely inhibited by the 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate pathway (MEP) inhibitor (fosmidomycin). The increase of tanshinone accumulation and the up-regulation of HMGR and DXR expression by PEG and ABA treatments were partially inhibited by an inhibitor of NO biosynthesis (Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)) and a NO scavenger (2-(4-Carboxyphenyl)- 4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (c-PTIO)). Simultaneously, NO generation in the hairy roots was triggered by PEG and ABA, and the effects were also arrested by c-PTIO and L-NAME. These results indicated that NO signaling probably plays a central role in water stress-induced tanshinone production in S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots. SNP mainly stimulated the MEP pathway to increase tanshinone accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuhong Du
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Chenlu Zhang
- College of Biological Science & Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723000, China.
| | - Wanli Guo
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Weibo Jin
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Zongsuo Liang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Xijun Yan
- Tasly R&D Institute, Tasly Holding Group Co. Ltd, Tianjin 300410, China.
| | - Zhixin Guo
- Tasly R&D Institute, Tasly Holding Group Co. Ltd, Tianjin 300410, China.
| | - Yan Liu
- Tianjin Tasly Modern TCM Resources Co., Ltd., Tianjin 300402, China.
| | - Dongfeng Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
- Tasly R&D Institute, Tasly Holding Group Co. Ltd, Tianjin 300410, China.
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14
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Abstract
Malaria kills nearly 1 million people each year, and the protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum has become increasingly resistant to current therapies. Isoprenoid synthesis via the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway represents an attractive target for the development of new antimalarials. The phosphonic acid antibiotic fosmidomycin is a specific inhibitor of isoprenoid synthesis and has been a helpful tool to outline the essential functions of isoprenoid biosynthesis in P. falciparum. Isoprenoids are a large, diverse class of hydrocarbons that function in a variety of essential cellular processes in eukaryotes. In P. falciparum, isoprenoids are used for tRNA isopentenylation and protein prenylation, as well as the synthesis of vitamin E, carotenoids, ubiquinone, and dolichols. Recently, isoprenoid synthesis in P. falciparum has been shown to be regulated by a sugar phosphatase. We outline what is known about isoprenoid function and the regulation of isoprenoid synthesis in P. falciparum, in order to identify valuable directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann M Guggisberg
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Rachel E Amthor
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Audrey R Odom
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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15
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Pillai PP, Nair AR. Hypericin biosynthesis in Hypericum hookerianum Wight and Arn: investigation on biochemical pathways using metabolite inhibitors and suppression subtractive hybridization. C R Biol 2014; 337:571-80. [PMID: 25282172 DOI: 10.1016/j.crvi.2014.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2014] [Revised: 07/27/2014] [Accepted: 08/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The biochemical pathway to hypericin biosynthesis is presumed to be polyketide synthase (PKS) mediated, but it has not been experimentally validated, and no alternate route (chorismate/o-succinylbenzoate pathway) has been analyzed. We report here our earlier developed auxin inducible culture systems of Hypericum hookerianum as a model, to study the metabolic pathway to hypericin synthesis. Inhibitors of the alternate pathway at varying concentrations showed steady synthesis of total hypericins with means of 2.80±0.22, 18.75±0.01; 16.39±3.75, 29.60±1.90 (mevinolin) 2.53±0.10, 18.12±0.56; 0.14±0.01, 14.28±1.11 (fosmidomycin) and 2.7±0.35, 18.75±0.61; 0.14±0.01, 12.80±1.09 mg g(-1) DW (glyphosate) in the control and auxin-induced shoot and shoot-forming callus cultures, respectively. SSH analysis classified the differentially expressed sequences into protein synthesis (38%), modification (20%), electron transport (9%) and remaining as unclassified (11%) and unknown proteins (22%). Functional annotation of sequences indicates the presence of additional protein components besides PKS activity. Our results demonstrate direct biochemical and molecular evidence of PKS hypothesis of hypericin biosynthesis for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Padmesh P Pillai
- Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram 695 562, India.
| | - Aswati R Nair
- School of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Calicut 673 601, India
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16
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Haymond A, Johny C, Dowdy T, Schweibenz B, Villarroel K, Young R, Mantooth CJ, Patel T, Bases J, Jose GS, Jackson ER, Dowd CS, Couch RD. Kinetic characterization and allosteric inhibition of the Yersinia pestis 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (MEP synthase). PLoS One 2014; 9:e106243. [PMID: 25171339 PMCID: PMC4149570 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 07/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway found in many bacteria governs the synthesis of isoprenoids, which are crucial lipid precursors for vital cell components such as ubiquinone. Because mammals synthesize isoprenoids via an alternate pathway, the bacterial MEP pathway is an attractive target for novel antibiotic development, necessitated by emerging antibiotic resistance as well as biodefense concerns. The first committed step in the MEP pathway is the reduction and isomerization of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate (DXP) to methylerythritol phosphate (MEP), catalyzed by MEP synthase. To facilitate drug development, we cloned, expressed, purified, and characterized MEP synthase from Yersinia pestis. Enzyme assays indicate apparent kinetic constants of KMDXP = 252 µM and KMNADPH = 13 µM, IC50 values for fosmidomycin and FR900098 of 710 nM and 231 nM respectively, and Ki values for fosmidomycin and FR900098 of 251 nM and 101 nM respectively. To ascertain if the Y. pestis MEP synthase was amenable to a high-throughput screening campaign, the Z-factor was determined (0.9) then the purified enzyme was screened against a pilot scale library containing rationally designed fosmidomycin analogs and natural product extracts. Several hit molecules were obtained, most notably a natural product allosteric affector of MEP synthase and a rationally designed bisubstrate derivative of FR900098 (able to associate with both the NADPH and DXP binding sites in MEP synthase). It is particularly noteworthy that allosteric regulation of MEP synthase has not been described previously. Thus, our discovery implicates an alternative site (and new chemical space) for rational drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Haymond
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Chinchu Johny
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Tyrone Dowdy
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Brandon Schweibenz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Karen Villarroel
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Richard Young
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Clark J. Mantooth
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Trishal Patel
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Jessica Bases
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Geraldine San Jose
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Emily R. Jackson
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Cynthia S. Dowd
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Robin D. Couch
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
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17
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Chofor R, Risseeuw MDP, Pouyez J, Johny C, Wouters J, Dowd CS, Couch RD, Van Calenbergh S. Synthetic Fosmidomycin analogues with altered chelating moieties do not inhibit 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate Reductoisomerase or Plasmodium falciparum growth in vitro. Molecules 2014; 19:2571-87. [PMID: 24566322 PMCID: PMC6271069 DOI: 10.3390/molecules19022571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2014] [Revised: 02/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fourteen new fosmidomycin analogues with altered metal chelating groups were prepared and evaluated for inhibition of E. coli Dxr, M. tuberculosis Dxr and the growth of P. falciparum K1 in human erythrocytes. None of the synthesized compounds showed activity against either enzyme or the Plasmodia. This study further underlines the importance of the hydroxamate functionality and illustrates that identifying effective alternative bidentate ligands for this target enzyme is challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- René Chofor
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry, Ghent University, Harelbekestraat 72, Ghent B-9000, Belgium.
| | - Martijn D P Risseeuw
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry, Ghent University, Harelbekestraat 72, Ghent B-9000, Belgium.
| | - Jenny Pouyez
- Department of Chemistry, University of Namur, UNamur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, Namur B-5000, Belgium.
| | - Chinchu Johny
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA.
| | - Johan Wouters
- Department of Chemistry, University of Namur, UNamur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, Namur B-5000, Belgium.
| | - Cynthia S Dowd
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
| | - Robin D Couch
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA.
| | - Serge Van Calenbergh
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry, Ghent University, Harelbekestraat 72, Ghent B-9000, Belgium.
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18
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Huchelmann A, Gastaldo C, Veinante M, Zeng Y, Heintz D, Tritsch D, Schaller H, Rohmer M, Bach TJ, Hemmerlin A. S-carvone suppresses cellulase-induced capsidiol production in Nicotiana tabacum by interfering with protein isoprenylation. Plant Physiol 2014; 164:935-50. [PMID: 24367019 PMCID: PMC3912117 DOI: 10.1104/pp.113.232546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
S-Carvone has been described as a negative regulator of mevalonic acid (MVA) production by interfering with 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) activity, a key player in isoprenoid biosynthesis. The impact of this monoterpene on the production of capsidiol in Nicotiana tabacum, an assumed MVA-derived sesquiterpenoid phytoalexin produced in response to elicitation by cellulase, was investigated. As expected, capsidiol production, as well as early stages of elicitation such as hydrogen peroxide production or stimulation of 5-epi-aristolochene synthase activity, were repressed. Despite the lack of capsidiol synthesis, apparent HMGR activity was boosted. Feeding experiments using (1-13C)Glc followed by analysis of labeling patterns by 13C-NMR, confirmed an MVA-dependent biosynthesis; however, treatments with fosmidomycin, an inhibitor of the MVA-independent 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) isoprenoid pathway, unexpectedly down-regulated the biosynthesis of this sesquiterpene as well. We postulated that S-carvone does not directly inhibit the production of MVA by inactivating HMGR, but possibly targets an MEP-derived isoprenoid involved in the early steps of the elicitation process. A new model is proposed in which the monoterpene blocks an MEP pathway-dependent protein geranylgeranylation necessary for the signaling cascade. The production of capsidiol was inhibited when plants were treated with some inhibitors of protein prenylation or by further monoterpenes. Moreover, S-carvone hindered isoprenylation of a prenylable GFP indicator protein expressed in N. tabacum cell lines, which can be chemically complemented with geranylgeraniol. The model was further validated using N. tabacum cell extracts or recombinant N. tabacum protein prenyltransferases expressed in Escherichia coli. Our study endorsed a reevaluation of the effect of S-carvone on plant isoprenoid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Huchelmann
- Unité Propre de Recherche 2357, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, conventionné avec l’Université de Strasbourg, F-67083 Strasbourg, France (Al.H., M.V., Y.Z., D.H., H.S., T.J.B., An.H.); and
- Institut de Chimie Unité Mixte de Recherche 7177, Université de Strasbourg/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-67070 Strasbourg, France (C.G., D.T., M.R.)
| | - Clément Gastaldo
- Unité Propre de Recherche 2357, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, conventionné avec l’Université de Strasbourg, F-67083 Strasbourg, France (Al.H., M.V., Y.Z., D.H., H.S., T.J.B., An.H.); and
- Institut de Chimie Unité Mixte de Recherche 7177, Université de Strasbourg/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-67070 Strasbourg, France (C.G., D.T., M.R.)
| | - Mickaël Veinante
- Unité Propre de Recherche 2357, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, conventionné avec l’Université de Strasbourg, F-67083 Strasbourg, France (Al.H., M.V., Y.Z., D.H., H.S., T.J.B., An.H.); and
- Institut de Chimie Unité Mixte de Recherche 7177, Université de Strasbourg/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-67070 Strasbourg, France (C.G., D.T., M.R.)
| | | | - Dimitri Heintz
- Unité Propre de Recherche 2357, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, conventionné avec l’Université de Strasbourg, F-67083 Strasbourg, France (Al.H., M.V., Y.Z., D.H., H.S., T.J.B., An.H.); and
- Institut de Chimie Unité Mixte de Recherche 7177, Université de Strasbourg/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-67070 Strasbourg, France (C.G., D.T., M.R.)
| | - Denis Tritsch
- Unité Propre de Recherche 2357, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, conventionné avec l’Université de Strasbourg, F-67083 Strasbourg, France (Al.H., M.V., Y.Z., D.H., H.S., T.J.B., An.H.); and
- Institut de Chimie Unité Mixte de Recherche 7177, Université de Strasbourg/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-67070 Strasbourg, France (C.G., D.T., M.R.)
| | - Hubert Schaller
- Unité Propre de Recherche 2357, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, conventionné avec l’Université de Strasbourg, F-67083 Strasbourg, France (Al.H., M.V., Y.Z., D.H., H.S., T.J.B., An.H.); and
- Institut de Chimie Unité Mixte de Recherche 7177, Université de Strasbourg/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-67070 Strasbourg, France (C.G., D.T., M.R.)
| | - Michel Rohmer
- Unité Propre de Recherche 2357, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, conventionné avec l’Université de Strasbourg, F-67083 Strasbourg, France (Al.H., M.V., Y.Z., D.H., H.S., T.J.B., An.H.); and
- Institut de Chimie Unité Mixte de Recherche 7177, Université de Strasbourg/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-67070 Strasbourg, France (C.G., D.T., M.R.)
| | - Thomas J. Bach
- Unité Propre de Recherche 2357, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, conventionné avec l’Université de Strasbourg, F-67083 Strasbourg, France (Al.H., M.V., Y.Z., D.H., H.S., T.J.B., An.H.); and
- Institut de Chimie Unité Mixte de Recherche 7177, Université de Strasbourg/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-67070 Strasbourg, France (C.G., D.T., M.R.)
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Kim S, Schlicke H, Van Ree K, Karvonen K, Subramaniam A, Richter A, Grimm B, Braam J. Arabidopsis chlorophyll biosynthesis: an essential balance between the methylerythritol phosphate and tetrapyrrole pathways. Plant Cell 2013; 25:4984-93. [PMID: 24363312 PMCID: PMC3904000 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.113.119172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2013] [Revised: 11/16/2013] [Accepted: 11/29/2013] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Chlorophyll, essential for photosynthesis, is composed of a chlorin ring and a geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP)-derived isoprenoid, which are generated by the tetrapyrrole and methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) biosynthesis pathways, respectively. Although a functional MEP pathway is essential for plant viability, the underlying basis of the requirement has been unclear. We hypothesized that MEP pathway inhibition is lethal because a reduction in GGPP availability results in a stoichiometric imbalance in tetrapyrrolic chlorophyll precursors, which can cause deadly photooxidative stress. Consistent with this hypothesis, lethality of MEP pathway inhibition in Arabidopsis thaliana by fosmidomycin (FSM) is light dependent, and toxicity of MEP pathway inhibition is reduced by genetic and chemical impairment of the tetrapyrrole pathway. In addition, FSM treatment causes a transient accumulation of chlorophyllide and transcripts associated with singlet oxygen-induced stress. Furthermore, exogenous provision of the phytol molecule reduces FSM toxicity when the phytol can be modified for chlorophyll incorporation. These data provide an explanation for FSM toxicity and thereby provide enhanced understanding of the mechanisms of FSM resistance. This insight into MEP pathway inhibition consequences underlines the risk plants undertake to synthesize chlorophyll and suggests the existence of regulation, possibly involving chloroplast-to-nucleus retrograde signaling, that may monitor and maintain balance of chlorophyll precursor synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se Kim
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005-1892
| | - Hagen Schlicke
- Institute of Biology, Department of Plant Physiology, Humboldt University, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kalie Van Ree
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005-1892
| | - Kristine Karvonen
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005-1892
| | - Anant Subramaniam
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005-1892
| | - Andreas Richter
- Institute of Biology, Department of Plant Physiology, Humboldt University, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernhard Grimm
- Institute of Biology, Department of Plant Physiology, Humboldt University, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Janet Braam
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005-1892
- Address correspondence to
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20
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Zhang XN, Wang ZS, Gao W, Huang LQ. [Effects on Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy roots of tanshinones content accumulation after treated with fosmidomycin]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 2013; 38:4263-4266. [PMID: 24791527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Fosmidomycin (100 micromol x L(-1)) which is the effective inhibitor of DXR, key enzyme in terpenoid MEP pathway, was used to treat with hairy roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza. The treated roots were harvested at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 16 and 21 d, mRNA level of SmDXR and tanshinone content in treated and negative control groups were detected. Results found that, after treated with fosmidomycin, color of S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots grew pale gradually comparing with controls; mRNA level of SmDXR in hairy roots varied as a shape of parabolic and the highest value achieved at the sixth day after treatment, then it decreased gradually; Content of four kinds of tanshinones were detected. Among of the four kinds of tanshinones, Tanshinone I content changed relatively little, while content of dihydrotanshinone I, cryptotanshinone and tanshinone II (A) decreased gradually in 21 days. The content of total tanshinones in NC groups was 5, 63 times more than FOS-treated roots in the 21th day. The previous results showed that SmDXR played an important role in the accumulation of tanshinone content in MEP pathway. Once the mRNA level of SmDXR was suppressed, the accumulation of secondary metabolites will be significantly affected.
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21
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Ramak P, Kazempour Osaloo S, Ebrahimzadeh H, Sharifi M, Behmanesh M. Inhibition of the mevalonate pathway enhances carvacrol biosynthesis and DXR gene expression in shoot cultures of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad. J Plant Physiol 2013; 170:1187-93. [PMID: 23611428 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2013.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2012] [Revised: 03/22/2013] [Accepted: 03/24/2013] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Carvacrol is a major component of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad (≤90%) that has significant antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Considering the specific capabilities of S. khuzistanica to produce highly pure carvacrol, this plant is an important potential source of carvacrol that could address the abundant consumption and increasing demand for this monoterpene in current world markets. This research was performed to better understand the process of biosynthesis and accumulation of carvacrol in S. khuzistanica. Tests were performed on shoot cultures of S. khuzistanica in Linsmaier-Skoog (LS) medium treated with different concentrations of fosmidomycin (an inhibitor of the non-mevalonate pathway) and mevinolin (an inhibitor of the mevalonate pathway) for 21 days at the following concentrations: 0, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 μM. The present study demonstrated that the MEP pathway is the major pathway that provides IPP for the biosynthesis of carvacrol, and the expression and activity levels of the DXR enzyme have a critical effect on carvacrol biosynthesis. Surprisingly, Mevinolin at concentrations of 75 and 100 μM increased the carvacrol content and the DXR activity and gene expression in S. khuzistanica plantlets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parvin Ramak
- Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, 14115-154, Tehran, Iran.
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22
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Ramak P, Kazempour Osaloo S, Ebrahimzadeh H, Sharifi M, Behmanesh M. Inhibition of the mevalonate pathway enhances carvacrol biosynthesis and DXR gene expression in shoot cultures of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad. J Plant Physiol 2013. [PMID: 23611428 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2013.03.013/1618-1328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Carvacrol is a major component of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad (≤90%) that has significant antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Considering the specific capabilities of S. khuzistanica to produce highly pure carvacrol, this plant is an important potential source of carvacrol that could address the abundant consumption and increasing demand for this monoterpene in current world markets. This research was performed to better understand the process of biosynthesis and accumulation of carvacrol in S. khuzistanica. Tests were performed on shoot cultures of S. khuzistanica in Linsmaier-Skoog (LS) medium treated with different concentrations of fosmidomycin (an inhibitor of the non-mevalonate pathway) and mevinolin (an inhibitor of the mevalonate pathway) for 21 days at the following concentrations: 0, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 μM. The present study demonstrated that the MEP pathway is the major pathway that provides IPP for the biosynthesis of carvacrol, and the expression and activity levels of the DXR enzyme have a critical effect on carvacrol biosynthesis. Surprisingly, Mevinolin at concentrations of 75 and 100 μM increased the carvacrol content and the DXR activity and gene expression in S. khuzistanica plantlets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parvin Ramak
- Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, 14115-154, Tehran, Iran.
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23
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Tempera G, Mirabile M, Mangiafico A, Caccamo M, Bonfiglio G. Fosfomycin Tromethamine in Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections: an Epidemiological Survey. J Chemother 2013; 16:216-7. [PMID: 15216960 DOI: 10.1179/joc.2004.16.2.216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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Haussig JM, Matuschewski K, Kooij TWA. Experimental Genetics of Plasmodium berghei NFU in the Apicoplast Iron-Sulfur Cluster Biogenesis Pathway. PLoS One 2013; 8:e67269. [PMID: 23805304 PMCID: PMC3689711 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2012] [Accepted: 05/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic pathogens of the phylum Apicomplexa contain a non-photosynthetic plastid, termed apicoplast. Within this organelle distinct iron-sulfur [Fe-S] cluster proteins are likely central to biosynthesis pathways, including generation of isoprenoids and lipoic acid. Here, we targeted a nuclear-encoded component of the apicoplast [Fe-S] cluster biosynthesis pathway by experimental genetics in the murine malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. We show that ablation of the gene encoding a nitrogen fixation factor U (NifU)-like domain containing protein (NFUapi) resulted in parasites that were able to complete the entire life cycle indicating redundant or non-essential functions. nfu– parasites displayed reduced merosome formation in vitro, suggesting that apicoplast NFUapi plays an auxiliary role in establishing a blood stage infection. NFUapi fused to a combined fluorescent protein-epitope tag delineates the Plasmodium apicoplast and was tested to revisit inhibition of liver stage development by azithromycin and fosmidomycin. We show that the branched apicoplast signal is entirely abolished by azithromycin treatment, while fosmidomycin had no effect on apicoplast morphology. In conclusion, our experimental genetics analysis supports specialized and/or redundant role(s) for NFUapi in the [Fe-S] cluster biosynthesis pathway in the apicoplast of a malarial parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana M. Haussig
- Parasitology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kai Matuschewski
- Parasitology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Taco W. A. Kooij
- Parasitology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail:
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25
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Han M, Heppel SC, Su T, Bogs J, Zu Y, An Z, Rausch T. Enzyme inhibitor studies reveal complex control of methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway enzyme expression in Catharanthus roseus. PLoS One 2013; 8:e62467. [PMID: 23650515 PMCID: PMC3641079 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2012] [Accepted: 03/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In Catharanthus roseus, the monoterpene moiety exerts a strong flux control for monoterpene indole alkaloid (MIA) formation. Monoterpene synthesis depends on the methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway. Here, we have explored the regulation of this pathway in response to developmental and environmental cues and in response to specific enzyme inhibitors. For the MEP pathway entry enzyme 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXS), a new (type I) DXS isoform, CrDXS1, has been cloned, which, in contrast to previous reports on type II CrDXS, was not transcriptionally activated by the transcription factor ORCA3. Regulation of the MEP pathway in response to metabolic perturbations has been explored using the enzyme inhibitors clomazone (precursor of 5-ketochlomazone, inhibitor of DXS) and fosmidomycin (inhibitor of deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR)), respectively. Young leaves of non-flowering plants were exposed to both inhibitors, adopting a non-invasive in vivo technique. Transcripts and proteins of DXS (3 isoforms), DXR, and hydroxymethylbutenyl diphosphate synthase (HDS) were monitored, and protein stability was followed in isolated chloroplasts. Transcripts for DXS1 were repressed by both inhibitors, whereas transcripts for DXS2A&B, DXR and HDS increased after clomazone treatment but were barely affected by fosmidomycin treatment. DXS protein accumulated in response to both inhibitors, whereas DXR and HDS proteins were less affected. Fosmidomycin-induced accumulation of DXS protein indicated substantial posttranscriptional regulation. Furthermore, fosmidomycin effectively protected DXR against degradation in planta and in isolated chloroplasts. Thus our results suggest that DXR protein stability may be affected by substrate binding. In summary, the present results provide novel insight into the regulation of DXS expression in C. roseus in response to MEP-pathway perturbation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Han
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simon C. Heppel
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tao Su
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jochen Bogs
- Dienstleistungszentrum Ländlicher Raum-Rheinpfalz, Neustadt, Germany
| | - Yuangang Zu
- Northeast Forestry University, Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Harbin, PR China
| | - Zhigang An
- Northeast Forestry University, Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Harbin, PR China
| | - Thomas Rausch
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Li Z, Sharkey TD. Metabolic profiling of the methylerythritol phosphate pathway reveals the source of post-illumination isoprene burst from leaves. Plant Cell Environ 2013; 36:429-37. [PMID: 22831282 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3040.2012.02584.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway in plants produces the prenyl precursors for all plastidic isoprenoids, including carotenoids and quinones. The MEP pathway is also responsible for synthesis of approximately 600 Tg of isoprene per year, the largest non-methane hydrocarbon flux into the atmosphere. There have been few studies of the regulation of the MEP pathway in plants under physiological conditions. In this study, we combined gas exchange techniques and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS-MS) and measured the profile of MEP pathway metabolites under different conditions. We report that in the MEP pathway, metabolites immediately preceding steps requiring reducing power were in high concentration. Inhibition of the MEP pathway by fosmidomycin caused deoxyxylulose phosphate accumulation in leaves as expected. Evidence is presented that accumulation of MEP pathway intermediates, primarily methylerythritol cyclodiphosphate, is responsible for the post-illumination isoprene burst phenomenon. Pools of intermediate metabolites stayed at approximately the same level 10 min after light was turned off, but declined eventually under prolonged darkness. In contrast, a strong inhibition of the second-to-last step of the MEP pathway caused suppression of isoprene emission in pure N(2). Our study suggests that reducing equivalents may be a key regulator of the MEP pathway and therefore isoprene emission from leaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziru Li
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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27
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Nguyen-Trung AT, Tritsch D, Grosdemange-Billiard C, Rohmer M. Synthesis of tetrazole analogues of phosphonohydroxamic acids: an attempt to improve the inhibitory activity against the DXR. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 23:1643-7. [PMID: 23414808 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.01.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2012] [Revised: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 01/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
This work is focused on the design of new antimicrobial drugs and on the development of lipophilic inhibitors of the DXR, the second enzyme of the MEP pathway for the biosynthesis of isoprene units in most bacteria, by replacing the phosphonate group of fosmidomycin derivatives by a tetrazoyl moiety capable of multiple hydrogen bonding. The N- and C-substituted tetrazole analogues of phosphonohydroxamate inhibitors were synthesized and tested on the DXR of Escherichia coli. This work points out the hypothesis that the phosphonate/phosphate recognition site might be too rigid to accommodate other functional groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anh Thu Nguyen-Trung
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Strasbourg, UMR 7177, Institut Le Bel, 4 rue Blaise Pascal, 67081 Strasbourg, France
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Radhika V, Kost C, Bonaventure G, David A, Boland W. Volatile emission in bracken fern is induced by jasmonates but not by Spodoptera littoralis or Strongylogaster multifasciata herbivory. PLoS One 2012. [PMID: 23185246 PMCID: PMC3502421 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Jasmonate-mediated regulation of VOC emission has been extensively investigated in higher plants, however, only little is known about VOC production and its regulation in ferns. Here, we investigate whether the emission of VOCs from bracken fern Pteridium aquilinum is triggered by herbivory and if so - whether it is regulated by the octadecanoid signaling pathway. Interestingly, feeding of both generalist (Spodoptera littoralis) and specialist (Strongylogaster multifasciata) herbivores as well as application of singular and continuous mechanical wounding of fronds induced only very low levels of VOC emission. In contrast, treatment with jasmonic acid (JA) led to the emission of a blend of VOCs that was mainly comprised of terpenoids. Likewise, treatment with the JA precursor 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) and α-linolenic acid also induced VOC emission, albeit to a lower intesity than the JA treatment. Accumulation of endogenous JA was low in mechanically wounded fronds and these levels were unaffected by the application of oral secretions from both generalist or specialist herbivores. The emission of terpenoids upon JA treatment could be blocked with fosmidomycin and mevinolin, which are inhibitors of the MEP- and MVA pathways, respectively. These results indicate that similar to higher plants, terpenoid VOCs are produced via these pathways in bracken fern and that these pathways are JA-responsive. However, the very low amounts of terpenoids released after herbivory or mechanical damage are in stark contrast to what is known from higher plants. We speculate that S. multifasciata and S. littoralis feeding apparently did not induce the threshold levels of JA required for activating the MEP and MVA pathways and the subsequent volatile emission in bracken fern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkatesan Radhika
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
- Plant Productivity System Research, Plant Science Center, RIKEN Yokohama Institute, Yokohama City, Japan
| | - Christian Kost
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
- Experimental Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Gustavo Bonaventure
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Anja David
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Wilhelm Boland
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Zhou K, Zou R, Stephanopoulos G, Too HP. Metabolite profiling identified methylerythritol cyclodiphosphate efflux as a limiting step in microbial isoprenoid production. PLoS One 2012; 7:e47513. [PMID: 23133596 PMCID: PMC3487848 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2012] [Accepted: 09/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Isoprenoids are natural products that are all derived from isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP). These precursors are synthesized either by the mevalonate (MVA) pathway or the 1-Deoxy-D-Xylulose 5-Phosphate (DXP) pathway. Metabolic engineering of microbes has enabled overproduction of various isoprenoid products from the DXP pathway including lycopene, artemisinic acid, taxadiene and levopimaradiene. To date, there is no method to accurately measure all the DXP metabolic intermediates simultaneously so as to enable the identification of potential flux limiting steps. In this study, a solid phase extraction coupled with ultra performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (SPE UPLC-MS) method was developed. This method was used to measure the DXP intermediates in genetically engineered E. coli. Unexpectedly, methylerythritol cyclodiphosphate (MEC) was found to efflux when certain enzymes of the pathway were over-expressed, demonstrating the existence of a novel competing pathway branch in the DXP metabolism. Guided by these findings, ispG was overexpressed and was found to effectively reduce the efflux of MEC inside the cells, resulting in a significant increase in downstream isoprenoid production. This study demonstrated the necessity to quantify metabolites enabling the identification of a hitherto unrecognized pathway and provided useful insights into rational design in metabolic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Zhou
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Singapore-MIT Alliance, Singapore
| | - Ruiyang Zou
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Singapore-MIT Alliance, Singapore
| | - Gregory Stephanopoulos
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Singapore-MIT Alliance, Singapore
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Heng-Phon Too
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Singapore-MIT Alliance, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail:
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McKenney ES, Sargent M, Khan H, Uh E, Jackson ER, Jose GS, Couch RD, Dowd CS, van Hoek ML. Lipophilic prodrugs of FR900098 are antimicrobial against Francisella novicida in vivo and in vitro and show GlpT independent efficacy. PLoS One 2012; 7:e38167. [PMID: 23077474 PMCID: PMC3471904 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2011] [Accepted: 05/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria, plants, and algae produce isoprenoids through the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway, an attractive pathway for antimicrobial drug development as it is present in prokaryotes and some lower eukaryotes but absent from human cells. The first committed step of the MEP pathway is catalyzed by 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR/MEP synthase). MEP pathway genes have been identified in many biothreat agents, including Francisella, Brucella, Bacillus, Burkholderia, and Yersinia. The importance of the MEP pathway to Francisella is demonstrated by the fact that MEP pathway mutations are lethal. We have previously established that fosmidomycin inhibits purified MEP synthase (DXR) from F. tularensis LVS. FR900098, the acetyl derivative of fosmidomycin, was found to inhibit the activity of purified DXR from F. tularensis LVS (IC50 = 230 nM). Fosmidomycin and FR900098 are effective against purified DXR from Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well, but have no effect on whole cells because the compounds are too polar to penetrate the thick cell wall. Fosmidomycin requires the GlpT transporter to enter cells, and this is absent in some pathogens, including M. tuberculosis. In this study, we have identified the GlpT homologs in F. novicida and tested transposon insertion mutants of glpT. We showed that FR900098 also requires GlpT for full activity against F. novicida. Thus, we synthesized several FR900098 prodrugs that have lipophilic groups to facilitate their passage through the bacterial cell wall and bypass the requirement for the GlpT transporter. One compound, that we termed “compound 1,” was found to have GlpT-independent antimicrobial activity. We tested the ability of this best performing prodrug to inhibit F. novicida intracellular infection of eukaryotic cell lines and the caterpillar Galleria mellonella as an in vivo infection model. As a lipophilic GlpT-independent DXR inhibitor, compound 1 has the potential to be a broad-spectrum antibiotic, and should be effective against most MEP-dependent organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth S. McKenney
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Michelle Sargent
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Hameed Khan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Eugene Uh
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Emily R. Jackson
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Géraldine San Jose
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Robin D. Couch
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Cynthia S. Dowd
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Monique L. van Hoek
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Niitsu R, Kanazashi M, Matsuwaki I, Ikegami Y, Tanoi T, Kawachi M, Watanabe MM, Kato M. Changes in the hydrocarbon-synthesizing activity during growth of Botryococcus braunii B70. Bioresour Technol 2012; 109:297-299. [PMID: 21925877 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.08.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2011] [Revised: 08/12/2011] [Accepted: 08/16/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Botryococcus braunii is a green, colonial microalga that produces large amounts of hydrocarbons. B. braunii B70 was estimated to be B race by the incorporation of radioactivity from l-[methyl(14)C]-methionine into hydrocarbon. The hydrocarbon-synthesizing activity of B70 cells was determined by feeding experiments using (14)C-compounds. NaH(14)CO(3) incorporation rate into the hydrocarbon was high in the early logarithmic growth phase but it declined thereafter. Hydrocarbon-synthesizing activity from [2-(14)C] pyruvate in 15-day cells was 80% of that in 5-day cells. In contrast, hydrocarbon-synthesizing activity from NaH(14)CO(3) and l-[methyl(14)C]-methionine decreased remarkably by 15 days after inoculation. Hence, the allocation of carbon was a regulatory step in hydrocarbon biosynthesis during the early logarithmic growth phase. The high activity of pentose phosphate pathway in the early logarithmic growth was seemed to be the contribution of the supply of NADPH for botryococcene synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rika Niitsu
- Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Japan
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Kumar S, Hahn FM, Baidoo E, Kahlon TS, Wood DF, McMahan CM, Cornish K, Keasling JD, Daniell H, Whalen MC. Remodeling the isoprenoid pathway in tobacco by expressing the cytoplasmic mevalonate pathway in chloroplasts. Metab Eng 2012; 14:19-28. [PMID: 22123257 PMCID: PMC5767336 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2011.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2011] [Revised: 10/20/2011] [Accepted: 11/08/2011] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic engineering to enhance production of isoprenoid metabolites for industrial and medical purposes is an important goal. The substrate for isoprenoid synthesis in plants is produced by the mevalonate pathway (MEV) in the cytosol and by the 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway in plastids. A multi-gene approach was employed to insert the entire cytosolic MEV pathway into the tobacco chloroplast genome. Molecular analysis confirmed the site-specific insertion of seven transgenes and homoplasmy. Functionality was demonstrated by unimpeded growth on fosmidomycin, which specifically inhibits the MEP pathway. Transplastomic plants containing the MEV pathway genes accumulated higher levels of mevalonate, carotenoids, squalene, sterols, and triacyglycerols than control plants. This is the first time an entire eukaryotic pathway with six enzymes has been transplastomically expressed in plants. Thus, we have developed an important tool to redirect metabolic fluxes in the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway and a viable multigene strategy for engineering metabolism in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashi Kumar
- Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA, United States
- Yulex Corporation, Maricopa, AZ, United States
| | - Frederick M. Hahn
- Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA, United States
| | - Edward Baidoo
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Emeryville, CA, United States
| | - Talwinder S. Kahlon
- Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA, United States
| | - Delilah F. Wood
- Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA, United States
| | - Colleen M. McMahan
- Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA, United States
| | | | - Jay D. Keasling
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Emeryville, CA, United States
| | - Henry Daniell
- Department of Molecular Biology & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Maureen C. Whalen
- Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA, United States
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Uh E, Jackson ER, Jose GS, Maddox M, Lee RE, Lee RE, Boshoff HI, Dowd CS. Antibacterial and antitubercular activity of fosmidomycin, FR900098, and their lipophilic analogs. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2011; 21:6973-6. [PMID: 22024034 PMCID: PMC3215086 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2011.09.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2011] [Revised: 09/27/2011] [Accepted: 09/28/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The nonmevalonate pathway (NMP) of isoprene biosynthesis is an exciting new route toward novel antibiotic development. Inhibitors against several enzymes in this pathway are currently under examination. A significant liability of many of these agents is poor cell penetration. To overcome and improve our understanding of this problem, we have synthesized a series of lipophilic, prodrug analogs of fosmidomycin and FR900098, inhibitors of the NMP enzyme Dxr. Several of these compounds show improved antibacterial activity against a panel of organisms relative to the parent compound, including activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Our results show that this strategy can be an effective way for improving whole cell activity of NMP inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene Uh
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington DC 20052
| | - Emily R. Jackson
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington DC 20052
| | - Géraldine San Jose
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington DC 20052
| | - Marcus Maddox
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | - Robin E. Lee
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | - Richard E. Lee
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | - Helena I. Boshoff
- Tuberculosis Research Section, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Cynthia S. Dowd
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington DC 20052
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Messiaen AS, Verbrugghen T, Declerck C, Ortmann R, Schlitzer M, Nelis H, Van Calenbergh S, Coenye T. Resistance of the Burkholderia cepacia complex to fosmidomycin and fosmidomycin derivatives. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2011; 38:261-4. [PMID: 21724375 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2011.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2010] [Revised: 04/27/2011] [Accepted: 04/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) is a group of 17 closely related opportunistic pathogens that are able to infect the respiratory tract of cystic fibrosis patients. BCC bacteria are intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics and are therefore difficult to eradicate. Fosmidomycin could be a new therapeutic agent to treat BCC infections as it inhibits 1-deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (Dxr), a key enzyme in the non-mevalonate pathway essential in BCC bacteria for isoprenoid synthesis. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of fosmidomycin and eight fosmidomycin derivatives towards 40 BCC strains was investigated. All BCC strains were resistant to fosmidomycin, although addition of glucose-6-phosphate reduced the minimum inhibitory concentration values of FR900098, the fosmidomycin acetyl derivative, from 512 mg/L to 64 mg/L for Burkholderia multivorans and B. cepacia. This enhanced activity was linked to increased expression of the genes involved in glycerol-3-phosphate transport, which appears to be the only route for fosmidomycin import in BCC bacteria. Furthermore, upregulation of a fosmidomycin resistance gene (fsr) encoding an efflux pump was observed during fosmidomycin and FR900098 treatment. These results strongly suggest that the observed resistance in BCC bacteria is due to insufficient uptake accompanied by fosmidomycin and FR900098 efflux.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Sophie Messiaen
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ghent University, Harelbekestraat 72, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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35
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Vickers CE, Possell M, Laothawornkitkul J, Ryan AC, Hewitt CN, Mullineaux PM. Isoprene synthesis in plants: lessons from a transgenic tobacco model. Plant Cell Environ 2011; 34:1043-1053. [PMID: 21388420 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3040.2011.02303.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Isoprene is a highly reactive gas, and is emitted in such large quantities from the biosphere that it substantially affects the oxidizing potential of the atmosphere. Relatively little is known about the control of isoprene emission at the molecular level. Using transgenic tobacco lines harbouring a poplar isoprene synthase gene, we examined control of isoprene emission. Isoprene synthase required chloroplastic localization for catalytic activity, and isoprene was produced via the methyl erythritol (MEP) pathway from recently assimilated carbon. Emission patterns in transgenic tobacco plants were remarkably similar to naturally emitting plants under a wide variety of conditions. Emissions correlated with photosynthetic rates in developing and mature leaves, and with the amount of isoprene synthase protein in mature leaves. Isoprene synthase protein levels did not change under short-term increase in heat/light, despite an increase in emissions under these conditions. A robust circadian pattern could be observed in emissions from long-day plants. The data support the idea that substrate supply and changes in enzyme kinetics (rather than changes in isoprene synthase levels or post-translational regulation of activity) are the primary controls on isoprene emission in mature transgenic tobacco leaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia E Vickers
- Department of Biological Sciences, Essex University, Colchester, Essex C04 3SQLancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, England, UK
| | - Malcolm Possell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Essex University, Colchester, Essex C04 3SQLancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, England, UK
| | - Jullada Laothawornkitkul
- Department of Biological Sciences, Essex University, Colchester, Essex C04 3SQLancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, England, UK
| | - Annette C Ryan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Essex University, Colchester, Essex C04 3SQLancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, England, UK
| | - C Nicholas Hewitt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Essex University, Colchester, Essex C04 3SQLancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, England, UK
| | - Philip M Mullineaux
- Department of Biological Sciences, Essex University, Colchester, Essex C04 3SQLancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, England, UK
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Rasulov B, Hüve K, Laisk A, Niinemets Ü. Induction of a longer term component of isoprene release in darkened aspen leaves: origin and regulation under different environmental conditions. Plant Physiol 2011; 156:816-31. [PMID: 21502186 PMCID: PMC3177278 DOI: 10.1104/pp.111.176222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2011] [Accepted: 04/12/2011] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
After darkening, isoprene emission continues for 20 to 30 min following biphasic kinetics. The initial dark release of isoprene (postillumination emission), for 200 to 300 s, occurs mainly at the expense of its immediate substrate, dimethylallyldiphosphate (DMADP), but the origin and controls of the secondary burst of isoprene release (dark-induced emission) between approximately 300 and 1,500 s, are not entirely understood. We used a fast-response gas-exchange system to characterize the controls of dark-induced isoprene emission by light, temperature, and CO(2) and oxygen concentrations preceding leaf darkening and the effects of short light pulses and changing gas concentrations during dark-induced isoprene release in hybrid aspen (Populus tremula × Populus tremuloides). The effect of the 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate pathway inhibitor fosmidomycin was also investigated. The integral of postillumination isoprene release was considered to constitute the DMADP pool size, while the integral of dark-induced emission was defined as the "dark" pool. Overall, the steady-state emission rate in light and the maximum dark-induced emission rate responded similarly to variations in preceding environmental drivers and atmospheric composition, increasing with increasing light, having maxima at approximately 40 °C and close to the CO(2) compensation point, and were suppressed by lack of oxygen. The DMADP and dark pool sizes were also similar through their environmental dependencies, except for high temperatures, where the dark pool significantly exceeded the DMADP pool. Isoprene release could be enhanced by short lightflecks early during dark-induced isoprene release, but not at later stages. Fosmidomycin strongly suppressed both the isoprene emission rates in light and in the dark, but the dark pool was only moderately affected. These results demonstrate a strong correspondence between the steady-state isoprene emission in light and the dark-induced emission and suggest that the dark pool reflects the total pool size of 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate pathway metabolites upstream of DMADP. These metabolites are converted to isoprene as soon as ATP and NADPH become available, likely by dark activation of chloroplastic glycolysis and chlororespiration.
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Baumeister S, Wiesner J, Reichenberg A, Hintz M, Bietz S, Harb OS, Roos DS, Kordes M, Friesen J, Matuschewski K, Lingelbach K, Jomaa H, Seeber F. Fosmidomycin uptake into Plasmodium and Babesia-infected erythrocytes is facilitated by parasite-induced new permeability pathways. PLoS One 2011; 6:e19334. [PMID: 21573242 PMCID: PMC3087763 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2011] [Accepted: 03/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Highly charged compounds typically suffer from low membrane permeability and thus are generally regarded as sub-optimal drug candidates. Nonetheless, the highly charged drug fosmidomycin and its more active methyl-derivative FR900098 have proven parasiticidal activity against erythrocytic stages of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Both compounds target the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway present in bacteria and plastid-bearing organisms, like apicomplexan parasites. Surprisingly, the compounds are inactive against a range of apicomplexans replicating in nucleated cells, including Toxoplasma gondii. Methodology/Principal Findings Since non-infected erythrocytes are impermeable for FR90098, we hypothesized that these drugs are taken up only by erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium. We provide evidence that radiolabeled FR900098 accumulates in theses cells as a consequence of parasite-induced new properties of the host cell, which coincide with an increased permeability of the erythrocyte membrane. Babesia divergens, a related parasite that also infects human erythrocytes and is also known to induce an increase in membrane permeability, displays a similar susceptibility and uptake behavior with regard to the drug. In contrast, Toxoplasma gondii-infected cells do apparently not take up the compounds, and the drugs are inactive against the liver stages of Plasmodium berghei, a mouse malaria parasite. Conclusions/Significance Our findings provide an explanation for the observed differences in activity of fosmidomycin and FR900098 against different Apicomplexa. These results have important implications for future screens aimed at finding new and safe molecular entities active against P. falciparum and related parasites. Our data provide further evidence that parasite-induced new permeability pathways may be exploited as routes for drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Baumeister
- Parasitologie, Fachbereich Biologie, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jochen Wiesner
- Institut für Klinische Immunologie und Transfusionsmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Giessen und Marburg GmbH, Giessen, Germany
| | - Armin Reichenberg
- Institut für Klinische Immunologie und Transfusionsmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Giessen und Marburg GmbH, Giessen, Germany
| | - Martin Hintz
- Institut für Klinische Immunologie und Transfusionsmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Giessen und Marburg GmbH, Giessen, Germany
| | - Sven Bietz
- Parasitologie, Fachbereich Biologie, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany
| | - Omar S. Harb
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - David S. Roos
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Maximilian Kordes
- Parasitology Unit, Max-Planck-Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes Friesen
- Parasitology Unit, Max-Planck-Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kai Matuschewski
- Parasitology Unit, Max-Planck-Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus Lingelbach
- Parasitologie, Fachbereich Biologie, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany
| | - Hassan Jomaa
- Institut für Klinische Immunologie und Transfusionsmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Giessen und Marburg GmbH, Giessen, Germany
| | - Frank Seeber
- Parasitologie, Fachbereich Biologie, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany
- Fachgebiet 16 Parasitologie, Robert-Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Possell M, Ryan A, Vickers CE, Mullineaux PM, Hewitt CN. Effects of fosmidomycin on plant photosynthesis as measured by gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence. Photosynth Res 2010; 104:49-59. [PMID: 19915954 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-009-9504-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2009] [Accepted: 11/02/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
In higher plants, many isoprenoids are synthesised via the chloroplastic 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate/2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway. Attempts to elucidate the function of individual isoprenoids have used the antibiotic/herbicidal compound fosmidomycin (3-[N-formyl-N-hydroxy amino] propyl phosphonic acid) to inhibit this pathway. Examination of the effect of fosmidomycin on the major components of photosynthesis in leaves of white poplar (Populus alba) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) was made. Fosmidomycin reduced net photosynthesis in both species within 1 h of application, but only when photosynthesis was light-saturated. In P. alba, these reductions were confounded by high light and fosmidomycin inducing stomatal patchiness. In tobacco, this was caused by significant reductions in PSII chlorophyll fluorescence and reductions in V(cmax) and J(max). Our data indicate that the diminution of photosynthesis is likely a complex effect resulting from the inhibition of multiple MEP pathway products, resulting in photoinhibition and photo-damage. These effects should be accounted for in experimental design and analysis when using fosmidomycin to avoid misinterpretation of results as measured by gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malcolm Possell
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
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Jawaid S, Seidle H, Zhou W, Abdirahman H, Abadeer M, Hix JH, van Hoek ML, Couch RD. Kinetic characterization and phosphoregulation of the Francisella tularensis 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (MEP synthase). PLoS One 2009; 4:e8288. [PMID: 20011597 PMCID: PMC2788227 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2009] [Accepted: 11/19/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Deliberate and natural outbreaks of infectious disease underscore the necessity of effective vaccines and antimicrobial/antiviral therapeutics. The prevalence of antibiotic resistant strains and the ease by which antibiotic resistant bacteria can be intentionally engineered further highlights the need for continued development of novel antibiotics against new bacterial targets. Isoprenes are a class of molecules fundamentally involved in a variety of crucial biological functions. Mammalian cells utilize the mevalonic acid pathway for isoprene biosynthesis, whereas many bacteria utilize the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway, making the latter an attractive target for antibiotic development. In this report we describe the cloning and characterization of Francisella tularensis MEP synthase, a MEP pathway enzyme and potential target for antibiotic development. In vitro growth-inhibition assays using fosmidomycin, an inhibitor of MEP synthase, illustrates the effectiveness of MEP pathway inhibition with F. tularensis. To facilitate drug development, F. tularensis MEP synthase was cloned, expressed, purified, and characterized. Enzyme assays produced apparent kinetic constants (KMDXP = 104 µM, KMNADPH = 13 µM, kcatDXP = 2 s−1, kcatNADPH = 1.3 s−1), an IC50 for fosmidomycin of 247 nM, and a Ki for fosmidomycin of 99 nM. The enzyme exhibits a preference for Mg+2 as a divalent cation. Titanium dioxide chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry identified Ser177 as a site of phosphorylation. S177D and S177E site-directed mutants are inactive, suggesting a mechanism for post-translational control of metabolic flux through the F. tularensis MEP pathway. Overall, our study suggests that MEP synthase is an excellent target for the development of novel antibiotics against F. tularensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safdar Jawaid
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Heather Seidle
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Weidong Zhou
- Department of Molecular and Microbiology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Hafsa Abdirahman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Maher Abadeer
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Joseph H. Hix
- Department of Molecular and Microbiology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Monique L. van Hoek
- Department of Molecular and Microbiology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Robin D. Couch
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Gerber E, Hemmerlin A, Hartmann M, Heintz D, Hartmann MA, Mutterer J, Rodríguez-Concepción M, Boronat A, Van Dorsselaer A, Rohmer M, Crowell DN, Bach TJ. The plastidial 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate pathway provides the isoprenyl moiety for protein geranylgeranylation in tobacco BY-2 cells. Plant Cell 2009; 21:285-300. [PMID: 19136647 PMCID: PMC2648074 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.108.063248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2008] [Revised: 12/12/2008] [Accepted: 12/19/2008] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Protein farnesylation and geranylgeranylation are important posttranslational modifications in eukaryotic cells. We visualized in transformed Nicotiana tabacum Bright Yellow-2 (BY-2) cells the geranylgeranylation and plasma membrane localization of GFP-BD-CVIL, which consists of green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to the C-terminal polybasic domain (BD) and CVIL isoprenylation motif from the Oryza sativa calmodulin, CaM61. Treatment with fosmidomycin (Fos) or oxoclomazone (OC), inhibitors of the plastidial 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway, caused mislocalization of the protein to the nucleus, whereas treatment with mevinolin, an inhibitor of the cytosolic mevalonate pathway, did not. The nuclear localization of GFP-BD-CVIL in the presence of MEP pathway inhibitors was completely reversed by all-trans-geranylgeraniol (GGol). Furthermore, 1-deoxy-d-xylulose (DX) reversed the effects of OC, but not Fos, consistent with the hypothesis that OC blocks 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate synthesis, whereas Fos inhibits its conversion to 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate. By contrast, GGol and DX did not rescue the nuclear mislocalization of GFP-BD-CVIL in the presence of a protein geranylgeranyltransferase type 1 inhibitor. Thus, the MEP pathway has an essential role in geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) biosynthesis and protein geranylgeranylation in BY-2 cells. GFP-BD-CVIL is a versatile tool for identifying pharmaceuticals and herbicides that interfere either with GGPP biosynthesis or with protein geranylgeranylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Gerber
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Propre de Recherche 2357, associated with the Université Louis Pasteur), F-67083 Strasbourg, France
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41
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Abstract
Isoprene and nitric oxide (NO) are two volatile molecules that are produced in leaves. Both compounds were suggested to have an important protective role against stresses. We tested, in two isoprene-emitting species, Populus nigra and Phragmites australis, whether: (1) NO emission outside leaves is measurable and is affected by oxidative stresses; and (2) isoprene and NO protect leaves against oxidative stresses, both singularly and in combination. The emission of NO was undetectable, and the compensation point was very low in control poplar leaves. Both emission and compensation point increased dramatically in stressed leaves. NO emission was inversely associated with stomatal conductance. More NO was emitted in leaves that were isoprene-inhibited, and more isoprene was emitted when NO was reduced by NO scavenger c-PTIO. Both isoprene and NO reduced oxidative damages. Isoprene-emitting leaves which were also fumigated with NO, or treated with NO donor, showed low damage to photosynthesis, a reduced accumulation of H(2)O(2) and a reduced membrane denaturation. We conclude that measurable amounts of NO are only produced and emitted by stressed leaves, that both isoprene and NO are effective antioxidant molecules and that an additional protection is achieved when both molecules are released.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violeta Velikova
- Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Institute of Plant Physiology, Sofia, Bulgaria
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42
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Eliot AC, Griffin BM, Thomas PM, Johannes TW, Kelleher NL, Zhao H, Metcalf WW. Cloning, expression, and biochemical characterization of Streptomyces rubellomurinus genes required for biosynthesis of antimalarial compound FR900098. Chem Biol 2008; 15:765-70. [PMID: 18721747 PMCID: PMC2603629 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2008.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2008] [Revised: 06/30/2008] [Accepted: 07/08/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The antibiotics fosmidomycin and FR900098 are members of a unique class of phosphonic acid natural products that inhibit the nonmevalonate pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis. Both are potent antibacterial and antimalarial compounds, but despite their efficacy, little is known regarding their biosynthesis. Here we report the identification of the Streptomyces rubellomurinus genes required for the biosynthesis of FR900098. Expression of these genes in Streptomyces lividans results in production of FR900098, demonstrating their role in synthesis of the antibiotic. Analysis of the putative gene products suggests that FR900098 is synthesized by metabolic reactions analogous to portions of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. These data greatly expand our knowledge of phosphonate biosynthesis and enable efforts to overproduce this highly useful therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C. Eliot
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, 601 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Benjamin M. Griffin
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, 1206 W. Gregory, Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Paul M. Thomas
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, 1206 W. Gregory, Urbana, IL 61801
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Matthews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Tyler W. Johannes
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, 1206 W. Gregory, Urbana, IL 61801
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Matthews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Neil L. Kelleher
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, 1206 W. Gregory, Urbana, IL 61801
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Matthews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Huimin Zhao
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, 1206 W. Gregory, Urbana, IL 61801
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Matthews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801
| | - William W. Metcalf
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, 601 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, 1206 W. Gregory, Urbana, IL 61801
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43
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Abstract
Many plants respond to herbivory by arthropods with an induced emission of volatiles such as green leaf volatiles and terpenoids. These herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) can attract carnivores, for example, predators and parasitoids. We investigated the significance of terpenoids in attracting herbivores and carnivores in two tritrophic systems where we manipulated the terpenoid emission by treating the plants with fosmidomycin, which inhibits one of the terpenoid biosynthetic pathways and consequently terpenoid emission. In the 'lima bean' system, volatiles from spider-mite-infested fosmidomycin-treated plants were less attractive to the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis than from infested control plants. In the 'cabbage' system, fosmidomycin treatment did not alter the attractiveness of Brussels sprouts to two Pieris butterflies for oviposition. The parasitoid Cotesia glomerata did not discriminate between the volatiles of fosmidomycin-treated and water-treated caterpillar-infested cabbage. Both P. persimilis and C. glomerata preferred volatiles from infested plants to uninfested ones when both were treated with fosmidomycin. Chemical analysis showed that terpenoid emission was inhibited more strongly in infested lima bean plants than in Brussels sprouts plants after fosmidomycin treatment. This study shows an important role of terpenoids in the indirect defence of lima bean, which is discussed relative to the role of other HIPVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Mumm
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, PO Box 8031, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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44
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Cassera MB, Merino EF, Peres VJ, Kimura EA, Wunderlich G, Katzin AM. Effect of fosmidomycin on metabolic and transcript profiles of the methylerythritol phosphate pathway in Plasmodium falciparum. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2007; 102:377-83. [PMID: 17568945 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762007000300019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2007] [Accepted: 03/14/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In Plasmodium falciparum, the formation of isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethylallyl diphosphate, central intermediates in the biosynthesis of isoprenoids, occurs via the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway. Fosmidomycin is a specific inhibitor of the second enzyme of the MEP pathway, 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase. We analyzed the effect of fosmidomycin on the levels of each intermediate and its metabolic requirement for the isoprenoid biosynthesis, such as dolichols and ubiquinones, throughout the intraerythrocytic cycle of P. falciparum. The steady-state RNA levels of the MEP pathway-associated genes were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction and correlated with the related metabolite levels. Our results indicate that MEP pathway metabolite peak precede maximum transcript abundance during the intraerythrocytic cycle. Fosmidomycin-treatment resulted in a decrease of the intermediate levels in the MEP pathway as well as in ubiquinone and dolichol biosynthesis. The MEP pathway associated transcripts were modestly altered by the drug, indicating that the parasite is not strongly responsive at the transcriptional level. This is the first study that compares the effect of fosmidomycin on the metabolic and transcript profiles in P. falciparum, which has only the MEP pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- María B Cassera
- Department of Biochemistry, Yeshiva University, The Bronx, NY, USA
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45
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Kurz T, Schlüter K, Pein M, Behrendt C, Bergmann B, Walter RD. Conformationally restrained aromatic analogues of fosmidomycin and FR900098. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2007; 340:339-44. [PMID: 17611943 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.200700013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The synthesis and in-vitro antimalarial activity of conformationally restrained bis(pivaloyloxymethyl) ester analogues of the natural product fosmidomycin is presented. In contrast to alpha-aryl-substituted analogues, conformationally restrained aromatic analogues exhibit only moderate in-vitro antimalarial activity against the chloroquine-sensitive strain 3D7 of Plasmodium falciparum. The most active derivative displays an IC(50) value of 47 microM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Kurz
- Institute of Pharmacy, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
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46
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Fokin AA, Yurchenko AG, Rodionov VN, Gunchenko PA, Yurchenko RI, Reichenberg A, Wiesner J, Hintz M, Jomaa H, Schreiner PR. Synthesis of the antimalarial drug FR900098 utilizing the nitroso-ene reaction. Org Lett 2007; 9:4379-82. [PMID: 17887769 DOI: 10.1021/ol702082k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The antimalarial drug FR900098 was prepared from diethyl allylphosphonate involving the nitroso-ene reaction with nitrosocarbonyl methane as the key step followed by hydrogenation and dealkylation. The utilization of dibenzyl allylphosphonate as the starting compound allows one-step hydrogenation with dealkylation, which simplifies the preparative scheme further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey A Fokin
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Kiev Polytechnic Institute, pr. Pobedy 37, 03056 Kiev, Ukraine.
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47
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Ortmann R, Wiesner J, Silber K, Klebe G, Jomaa H, Schlitzer M. Novel Deoxyxylulosephosphate-Reductoisomerase Inhibitors: Fosmidomycin Derivatives with Spacious Acyl Residues. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2007; 340:483-90. [PMID: 17806130 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.200700149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (Dxr) represents an essential enzyme of the mevalonate-independent pathway of the isoprenoid biosynthesis. Using fosmidomycin as a specific inhibitor of Dxr, this enzyme was previously validated as target for the treatment of malaria and bacterial infections. The replacement of the formyl residue of fosmidomycin by spacious acyl residues yielded inhibitors active in the micromolar range. As predicted by flexible docking, evidence was obtained for the formation of a hydrogen bond between an appropriately placed carbonyl group in the acyl residue and the main-chain NH of Met214 located in the flexible catalytic loop of the enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina Ortmann
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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48
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Chaijaroenkul W, Pruktal P, Muhamad P, Na-Bangchang K. Assessment of in vitro antimalarial interactions between dihydroartemisinin and fosmidomycin. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 2007; 38:791-795. [PMID: 18041293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Malaria remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the tropics with an annual estimate of 500 million clinical cases and 2 million deaths. The treatment and control of malaria is becoming increasingly difficult due to Plasmodium falciparum resistance to commonly used antimalarials. Combination therapy is currently the strategy for combating multi-drug resistant falciparum malaria, through exploiting pharmacodynamic synergistic effects and delaying the emergence of drug resistance. The combination of artemisinin derivatives with fosmidomycin, which have different modes of action, appears to be one of the most promising combinations. The objective of the present study was to investigate the antimalarial interactions between dihydroartemisinin and fosmidomycin in vitro, against chloroquine-resistant (K1) and chloroquine-sensitive (G112) P. falciparum strains. Concentration-response analysis was performed based on an in vitro schizont maturation inhibition test. The fixed concentration ratios of dihydroartemisinin: fosmidomycin used were 0:5,000, 2:4,500, 6:3,500, 10:2,500, 14:1,500, 18:500 and 20:0 nM. The highest final concentrations of dihydroartemisinin and fosmidomycin were 20 and 5,000 nM, respectively. Results showed IC50 (drug concentration which produced 50% schizont maturation inhibition) medians (range) for dihydroartemisinin against K1 and G112 strains to be 1.6 (1.2-2.0) and 2.5 (2.4-2.6) nM, respectively. The IC50 medians (range) for fosmidomycin against K1 and G112 strains were 1,347 (1,068-1,625) and 786 (737-834) nM, respectively. An isobologram revealed an increasing trend for the fraction IC50 (FIC), which indicates marked antagonism of this drug combination against both chloroquine resistant and chloroquine sensitive strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanna Chaijaroenkul
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasart University, Pathum Thani, Thailand
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49
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Tahar R, Basco LK. Molecular epidemiology of malaria in Cameroon. XXV. In vitro activity of fosmidomycin and its derivatives against fresh clinical isolates of Plasmodium falciparum and sequence analysis of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2007; 77:214-20. [PMID: 17690389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The in vitro activities of fosmidomycin derivatives, chloroquine, and pyrimethamine were assessed by the radioisotopic assay in clinical isolates of Plasmodium falciparum. In a series of experiments with RPMI 1640 medium-10% fetal bovine serum, the geometric mean 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)s) (n = 34) for fosmidomycin and FR900098 were 301 nM and 118 nM, respectively. In another series of experiments, the geometric mean IC(50)s (n = 33) for fosmidomycin and TH II46 were 413 nM and 249 nM, respectively. The IC(50)s were 2-3 times lower with RPMI-10% fetal bovine serum than the IC(50)s obtained with RPMI-10% human serum. FR900098 and TH II46 were 2.6 and 1.7 times more potent, respectively, than fosmidomycin. There was no correlation between chloroquine or pyrimethamine and fosmidomycin, which suggested the absence of in vitro cross-resistance. Sequence analysis showed five amino acid substitutions, but their possible relationship with the response to fosmidomycin is not clear. Fosmidomycin derivatives are promising candidates for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachida Tahar
- Unité de Recherche 77 Paludologie Afro-Tropicale, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Organisation de Coordination pour la lutte contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
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50
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Tatar LD, Marolda CL, Polischuk AN, van Leeuwen D, Valvano MA. An Escherichia coli undecaprenyl-pyrophosphate phosphatase implicated in undecaprenyl phosphate recycling. Microbiology (Reading) 2007; 153:2518-2529. [PMID: 17660416 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.2007/006312-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Undecaprenyl phosphate (Und-P) is a universal lipid carrier of glycan biosynthetic intermediates for carbohydrate polymers that are exported to the bacterial cell envelope. Und-P arises from the dephosphorylation of undecaprenyl pyrophosphate (Und-PP) molecules produced by de novo synthesis and also from the recycling of released Und-PP after the transfer of the glycan component to other acceptor molecules. The latter reactions take place at the periplasmic side of the plasma membrane, while cytoplasmic enzymes catalyse the de novo synthesis. Four Und-PP pyrophosphatases were recently identified in Escherichia coli. One of these, UppP (formerly BacA), accounts for 75 % of the total cellular Und-PP pyrophosphatase activity and has been suggested to participate in the Und-P de novo synthesis pathway. Unlike UppP, the other three pyrophosphatases (YbjG, YeiU and PgpB) have a typical acid phosphatase motif also found in eukaryotic dolichyl-pyrophosphate-recycling pyrophosphatases. This study shows that double and triple deletion mutants in the genes uppP and ybjG, and uppP, ybjG and yeiU, respectively, are supersensitive to the Und-P de novo biosynthesis inhibitor fosmidomycin. In contrast, single or combined deletions including pgpB have no effect on fosmidomycin supersensitivity. Experimental evidence is also presented that the acid phosphatase motifs of YbjG and YeiU face the periplasmic space. Furthermore, the quadruple deletion mutant DeltauppP-DeltaybjG-DeltayeiU-DeltawaaL has a growth defect and abnormal cell morphology, suggesting that accumulation of unprocessed Und-PP-linked O antigen polysaccharides is toxic for these cells. Together, the results support the notion that YbjG, and to a lesser extent YeiU, exert their enzymic activity on the periplasmic side of the plasma membrane and are implicated in the recycling of periplasmic Und-PP molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura D Tatar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Infectious Diseases Research Group, Siebens Drake Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Cristina L Marolda
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Infectious Diseases Research Group, Siebens Drake Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Andrew N Polischuk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Infectious Diseases Research Group, Siebens Drake Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Deborah van Leeuwen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Infectious Diseases Research Group, Siebens Drake Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Miguel A Valvano
- Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Infectious Diseases Research Group, Siebens Drake Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
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