scholarly journals Victorin, the host-selective cyclic peptide toxin from the oat pathogen Cochliobolus victoriae, is ribosomally encoded

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (39) ◽  
pp. 24243-24250
Author(s):  
Simon C. Kessler ◽  
Xianghui Zhang ◽  
Megan C. McDonald ◽  
Cameron L. M. Gilchrist ◽  
Zeran Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cyclic Peptide ◽  
Amine Oxidase ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Oxidative Cyclization ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Peptide Backbone ◽  
Cochliobolus Victoriae ◽  
Cyclic Hexapeptides ◽  
Core Peptide

The necrotrophic fungal pathogen Cochliobolus victoriae produces victorin, a host-selective toxin (HST) essential for pathogenicity to certain oat cultivars with resistance against crown rust. Victorin is a mixture of highly modified heterodetic cyclic hexapeptides, previously assumed to be synthesized by a nonribosomal peptide synthetase. Herein, we demonstrate that victorin is a member of the ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptide (RiPP) family of natural products. Analysis of a newly generated long-read assembly of the C. victoriae genome revealed three copies of precursor peptide genes (vicA1–3) with variable numbers of “GLKLAF” core peptide repeats corresponding to the victorin peptide backbone. vicA1–3 are located in repeat-rich gene-sparse regions of the genome and are loosely clustered with putative victorin biosynthetic genes, which are supported by the discovery of compact gene clusters harboring corresponding homologs in two distantly related plant-associated Sordariomycete fungi. Deletion of at least one copy of vicA resulted in strongly diminished victorin production. Deletion of a gene encoding a DUF3328 protein (VicYb) abolished the production altogether, supporting its predicted role in oxidative cyclization of the core peptide. In addition, we uncovered a copper amine oxidase (CAO) encoded by vicK, in which its deletion led to the accumulation of new glycine-containing victorin derivatives. The role of VicK in oxidative deamination of the N-terminal glycyl moiety of the hexapeptides to the active glyoxylate forms was confirmed in vitro. This study finally unraveled the genetic and molecular bases for biosynthesis of one of the first discovered HSTs and expanded our understanding of underexplored fungal RiPPs.

scholarly journals A Fatty Acid Synthase Gene in Cochliobolus carbonum Required for Production of HC-Toxin, Cyclo(d-Prolyl-l-Alanyl- d-Alanyl- l-2-Amino-9,10-Epoxi-8-Oxodecanoyl)

1997 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joong-Hoon Ahn ◽  
Jonathan D. Walton
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Fatty Acid Synthase ◽  
Cyclic Peptide ◽  
Decanoic Acid ◽  
Toxin Production ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Cochliobolus Carbonum ◽  
Primary Amino ◽  
Hc Toxin

The fungal maize pathogen Cochliobolus carbonum produces a phytotoxic and cytostatic cyclic peptide, HC-toxin, of structure cyclo(D-prolyl-L-alanyl-D-alanyl-L-Aeo), in which Aeo stands for 2-amino-9,10-epoxi-8-oxodecanoic acid. Here we report the isolation of a gene, TOXC, that is present only in HC-toxin-producing (Tox2+) fungal strains. TOXC is present in most Tox2+ strains in three functional copies, all of which are on the same chromosome as the gene encoding HC-toxin synthetase. When all copies of TOXC are mutated by targeted gene disruption, the fungus grows and sporulates normally in vitro but no longer makes HC-toxin and is not pathogenic, indicating that TOXC has a specific role in HC-toxin production and hence virulence. The TOXC mRNA is 6.5 kb and the predicted product has 2,080 amino acids and a molecular weight of 233,000. The primary amino acid sequence is highly similar (45 to 47% identity) to the β subunit of fatty acid synthase from several lower eukaryotes, and contains, in the same order as in other β subunits, domains predicted to encode acetyl transferase, enoyl reductase, dehydratase, and malonyl-palmityl transferase. The most plausible function of TOXC is to contribute to the synthesis of the decanoic acid backbone of Aeo.

scholarly journals Use of Cyclic Backbone NGR-Based SPECT to Increase Efficacy of Postmyocardial Infarction Angiogenesis Imaging

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geert Hendrikx ◽  
Tilman M. Hackeng ◽  
Rick van Gorp ◽  
Matthias Bauwens ◽  
Leon J. Schurgers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cyclic Peptide ◽  
Imaging Agent ◽  
Imaging Agents ◽  
Peptide Backbone ◽  
Chemical Ligation ◽  
Infarcted Myocardium ◽  
Standardized Uptake Values ◽  
Ngr Peptide

As CD13 is selectively expressed in angiogenesis, it can serve as a target for molecular imaging tracers to noninvasively visualize angiogenic processes in vivo. The CD13-targeting moiety NGR was synthesized and cyclized by native chemical ligation (NCL) instead of disulfide bridging, leading to a cyclic peptide backbone: cyclo(Cys-Asn-Gly-Arg-Gly) (coNGR). Beside this new monomeric coNGR, a tetrameric NGR peptide co(NGR)4 was designed and synthesized. After radiolabeling, their in vitro and in vivo characteristics were determined. Both coNGR-based imaging agents displayed considerably higher standardized uptake values (SUVs) at infarcted areas compared to the previously reported disulfide-cyclized cNGR imaging agent. Uptake patterns of 111In-coNGR and 111In-co(NGR)4 coincided with CD13 immunohistochemistry on excised hearts. Blood stability tests indicated better stability for both novel imaging agents after 50 min blood incubation compared to the disulfide-cyclized cNGR imaging agent. In mice, both coNGR peptides cleared rapidly from the blood mainly via the kidneys. In addition, co(NGR)4 showed a significantly higher specific uptake in infarcted myocardium compared to coNGR and thus is a promising sensitive imaging agent for detection of angiogenesis in infarcted myocardium.

scholarly journals Escherichia coli RNA Polymerase Is the Target of the Cyclopeptide Antibiotic Microcin J25

2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (15) ◽  
pp. 4543-4550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica A. Delgado ◽  
Marı́a R. Rintoul ◽  
Ricardo N. Farı́as ◽  
Raúl A. Salomón
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Cyclic Peptide ◽  
Nucleotide Sequencing ◽  
Peptide Antibiotic ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Microcin J25

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli microcin J25 (MccJ25) is a plasmid-encoded, cyclic peptide antibiotic consisting of 21 unmodified amino acid residues. It is primarily active on gram-negative bacteria related to the producer strain, inducing cell filamentation in an SOS-independent way. A mutation causing resistance to MccJ25 was isolated. Genetic analysis indicated that it resided in therpoC gene, encoding the β′ subunit of RNA polymerase, at 90 min on the E. coli genetic map. The mutation was genetically crossed on to a plasmid containing the wild-typerpoC gene. The presence of the recombinant plasmid conferred complete resistance to otherwise sensitive strains. Nucleotide sequencing of the plasmid-borne, mutant rpoCgene revealed a ACC (Thr)-to-ATC (Ile) change at codon 931, within homology block G, an evolutionarily conserved region in the large subunits of all RNA polymerases. MccJ25 decreased RNA synthesis both in vivo and in vitro. These results point to the RNA polymerase as the target of microcin action. We favor the possibility that the filamentous phenotype induced by MccJ25 results from impaired transcription of genes coding for cell division proteins. As far as we know, MccJ25 is the first peptide antibiotic shown to affect RNA polymerase.

scholarly journals Reconstitution of polythioamide antibiotic backbone formation reveals unusual thiotemplated assembly strategy

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (16) ◽  
pp. 8850-8858
Author(s):  
Kyle L. Dunbar ◽  
Maria Dell ◽  
Finn Gude ◽  
Christian Hertweck
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Anaerobic Bacteria ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Biosynthetic Gene Cluster ◽  
Biosynthetic Gene ◽  
Peptide Backbone ◽  
Nonribosomal Peptide ◽  
Bacterial Phyla ◽  
Biochemical Assays

Closthioamide (CTA) is a rare example of a thioamide-containing nonribosomal peptide and is one of only a handful of secondary metabolites described from obligately anaerobic bacteria. Although the biosynthetic gene cluster responsible for CTA production and the thioamide synthetase that catalyzes sulfur incorporation were recently discovered, the logic for peptide backbone assembly has remained a mystery. Here, through the use of in vitro biochemical assays, we demonstrate that the amide backbone of CTA is assembled in an unusual thiotemplated pathway involving the cooperation of a transacylating member of the papain-like cysteine protease family and an iteratively acting ATP-grasp protein. Using the ATP-grasp protein as a bioinformatic handle, we identified hundreds of such thiotemplated yet nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS)-independent biosynthetic gene clusters across diverse bacterial phyla. The data presented herein not only clarify the pathway for the biosynthesis of CTA, but also provide a foundation for the discovery of additional secondary metabolites produced by noncanonical biosynthetic pathways.

scholarly journals A novel cyclic peptide (Naturido) modulates glia–neuron interactions in vitro and reverses ageing-related deficits in senescence-accelerated mice

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0245235
Author(s):  
Shinichi Ishiguro ◽  
Tetsuro Shinada ◽  
Zhou Wu ◽  
Mayumi Karimazawa ◽  
Michimasa Uchidate ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Cyclic Peptide ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
Learning Ability ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Medicinal Fungus ◽  
Neuron Interactions ◽  
Senescence Accelerated Mice

The use of agents that target both glia and neurons may represent a new strategy for the treatment of ageing disorders. Here, we confirmed the presence of the novel cyclic peptide Naturido that originates from a medicinal fungus (Isaria japonica) grown on domestic silkworm (Bombyx mori). We found that Naturido significantly enhanced astrocyte proliferation and activated the single copy gene encoding the neuropeptide VGF and the neuron-derived NGF gene. The addition of the peptide to the culture medium of primary hippocampal neurons increased dendrite length, dendrite number and axon length. Furthermore, the addition of the peptide to primary microglial cultures shifted CGA-activated microglia towards anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective phenotypes. These findings of in vitro glia–neuron interactions led us to evaluate the effects of oral administration of the peptide on brain function and hair ageing in senescence-accelerated mice (SAMP8). In vivo analyses revealed that spatial learning ability and hair quality were improved in Naturido-treated mice compared with untreated mice, to the same level observed in the normal ageing control (SAMR1). These data suggest that Naturido may be a promising glia–neuron modulator for the treatment of not only senescence, but also Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Morpho-Physiological Testing of NaCl Sensitivity of Tobacco Plants Overexpressing Choline Oxidase Gene

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1102
Author(s):  
Galina N. Raldugina ◽  
Sergey V. Evsukov ◽  
Liliya R. Bogoutdinova ◽  
Alexander A. Gulevich ◽  
Ekaterina N. Baranova
Keyword(s):  
Choline Oxidase ◽  
Culture Methods ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Oxidase Gene ◽  
Bacterial Enzyme ◽  
Transgenic Lines ◽  
High Regeneration ◽  
Whole Plants ◽  
Implicit Response

In this study the transgenic lines (TLs) of tobacco (Nicotianatabacum L.), which overexpress the heterologous gene encoding the bacterial enzyme choline oxidase were evaluated. The goal of our work is to study the effect of choline oxidase gene expression on the sensitivity of plant tissues to the action of NaCl. The regenerative capacity, rhizogenesis, the amount of photosynthetic pigments and osmotically active compounds (proline and glycine betaine) were assessed by in vitro cell culture methods using biochemical and morphological parameters. Transgenic lines with confirmed expression were characterized by high regeneration capacity from callus in the presence of 200 mmol NaCl, partial retention of viability at 400 mmol NaCl. These data correlated with the implicit response of regenerants and whole plants to the harmful effects of salinity. They turned out to be less sensitive to the presence of 200 mmol NaCl in the cultivation medium, in contrast to the WT plants.

scholarly journals In vitro display evolution of the PURE system-expressed TNFα-binding unnatural cyclic peptide containing an N-methyl-d-amino acid

2021 ◽  
Vol 534 ◽  
pp. 519-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keita Tsukamoto ◽  
Takehiro Ando ◽  
Daisuke Fuji ◽  
Takumi Yokoyama ◽  
Yukio Takamori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Cyclic Peptide ◽  
Pure System

scholarly journals Structural comparison of Acinetobacter baumannii β-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein reductases in fatty acid and aryl polyene biosynthesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Woo Cheol Lee ◽  
Sungjae Choi ◽  
Ahjin Jang ◽  
Kkabi Son ◽  
Yangmee Kim
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Acinetobacter Baumannii ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Fatty Acid Synthase ◽  
Acyl Carrier Protein ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Carrier Protein ◽  
Aryl Group ◽  
Visible Absorption

AbstractSome Gram-negative bacteria harbor lipids with aryl polyene (APE) moieties. Biosynthesis gene clusters (BGCs) for APE biosynthesis exhibit striking similarities with fatty acid synthase (FAS) genes. Despite their broad distribution among pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria, the detailed roles of the metabolic products of APE gene clusters are unclear. Here, we determined the crystal structures of the β-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) reductase ApeQ produced by an APE gene cluster from clinically isolated virulent Acinetobacter baumannii in two states (bound and unbound to NADPH). An in vitro visible absorption spectrum assay of the APE polyene moiety revealed that the β-ketoacyl-ACP reductase FabG from the A. baumannii FAS gene cluster cannot be substituted for ApeQ in APE biosynthesis. Comparison with the FabG structure exhibited distinct surface electrostatic potential profiles for ApeQ, suggesting a positively charged arginine patch as the cognate ACP-binding site. Binding modeling for the aryl group predicted that Leu185 (Phe183 in FabG) in ApeQ is responsible for 4-benzoyl moiety recognition. Isothermal titration and arginine patch mutagenesis experiments corroborated these results. These structure–function insights of a unique reductase in the APE BGC in comparison with FAS provide new directions for elucidating host–pathogen interaction mechanisms and novel antibiotics discovery.

scholarly journals A plant endophyte Staphylococcus hominis strain MBL_AB63 produces a novel lantibiotic, homicorcin and a position one variant

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Aftab Uddin ◽  
Shammi Akter ◽  
Mahbuba Ferdous ◽  
Badrul Haidar ◽  
Al Amin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Antimicrobial Activities ◽  
Whole Genome Sequence ◽  
Antimicrobial Substances ◽  
The Core ◽  
Rp Hplc ◽  
Ring Structures ◽  
Core Peptide ◽  
Staphylococcus Hominis ◽  
Epilancin 15X

AbstractHere we report a jute endophyte Staphylococcus hominis strain MBL_AB63 isolated from jute seeds which showed promising antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus SG511 when screening for antimicrobial substances. The whole genome sequence of this strain, annotated using BAGEL4 and antiSMASH 5.0 to predict the gene clusters for antimicrobial substances identified a novel antimicrobial peptide cluster that belongs to the class I lantibiotic group. The predicted lantibiotic (homicorcin) was found to be 82% similar to a reported peptide epicidin 280 having a difference of seven amino acids at several positions of the core peptide. Two distinct peaks obtained at close retention times from a RP-HPLC purified fraction have comparable antimicrobial activities and LC–MS revealed the molecular mass of these peaks to be 3046.5 and 3043.2 Da. The presence of an oxidoreductase (homO) similar to that of epicidin 280- associated eciO or epilancin 15X- associated elxO in the homicorcin gene cluster is predicted to be responsible for the reduction of the first dehydrated residue dehydroalanine (Dha) to 2-hydroxypropionate that causes an increase of 3 Da mass of homicorcin 1. Trypsin digestion of the core peptide and its variant followed by ESI–MS analysis suggests the presence of three ring structures, one in the N-terminal and other two interlocking rings at the C-terminal region that remain undigested. Homicorcin exerts bactericidal activity against susceptible cells by disrupting the integrity of the cytoplasmic membrane through pore formation as observed under FE-SEM.

scholarly journals Bacillus thuringiensis Bel Protein Enhances the Toxicity of Cry1Ac Protein to Helicoverpa armigera Larvae by Degrading Insect Intestinal Mucin

2009 ◽  
Vol 75 (16) ◽  
pp. 5237-5243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shangling Fang ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
Wei Guo ◽  
Xia Zhang ◽  
Donghai Peng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Helicoverpa Armigera ◽  
Trichoplusia Ni ◽  
Knockout Mutant ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
In Vitro Degradation ◽  
Intestinal Mucin ◽  
Helicoverpa Armígera ◽  
Cry1ac Protein

ABSTRACT Bacillus thuringiensis has been used as a bioinsecticide to control agricultural insects. Bacillus cereus group genomes were found to have a Bacillus enhancin-like (bel) gene, encoding a peptide with 20 to 30% identity to viral enhancin protein, which can enhance viral infection by degradation of the peritrophic matrix (PM) of the insect midgut. In this study, the bel gene was found to have an activity similar to that of the viral enhancin gene. A bel knockout mutant was constructed by using a plasmid-free B. thuringiensis derivative, BMB171. The 50% lethal concentrations of this mutant plus the cry1Ac insecticidal protein gene were about 5.8-fold higher than those of the BMB171 strain. When purified Bel was mixed with the Cry1Ac protein and fed to Helicoverpa armigera larvae, 3 μg/ml Cry1Ac alone induced 34.2% mortality. Meanwhile, the mortality rate rose to 74.4% when the same amount of Cry1Ac was mixed with 0.8 μg/ml of Bel. Microscopic observation showed a significant disruption detected on the midgut PM of H. armigera larvae after they were fed Bel. In vitro degradation assays showed that Bel digested the intestinal mucin (IIM) of Trichoplusia ni and H. armigera larvae to various degrading products, similar to findings for viral enhancin. These results imply Bel toxicity enhancement depends on the destruction of midgut PM and IIM, similar to the case with viral enhancin. This discovery showed that Bel has the potential to enhance insecticidal activity of B. thuringiensis-based biopesticides and transgenic crops.

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