scholarly journals The antibiotic sorangicin A inhibits promoter DNA unwinding in aMycobacterium tuberculosisrifampicin-resistant RNA polymerase

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (48) ◽  
pp. 30423-30432
Author(s):  
Mirjana Lilic ◽  
James Chen ◽  
Hande Boyaci ◽  
Nathaniel Braffman ◽  
Elizabeth A. Hubin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Profile ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Catalytic Center ◽  
Template Strand ◽  
Short Rnas ◽  
New Antibiotics ◽  
Sorangicin A ◽  
Promoter Dna

Rifampicin (Rif) is a first-line therapeutic used to treat the infectious disease tuberculosis (TB), which is caused by the pathogenMycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb). The emergence of Rif-resistant (RifR)Mtbpresents a need for new antibiotics. Rif targets the enzyme RNA polymerase (RNAP). Sorangicin A (Sor) is an unrelated inhibitor that binds in the Rif-binding pocket of RNAP. Sor inhibits a subset of RifRRNAPs, including the most prevalent clinical RifRRNAP substitution found inMtbinfected patients (S456>L of the β subunit). Here, we present structural and biochemical data demonstrating that Sor inhibits the wild-typeMtbRNAP by a similar mechanism as Rif: by preventing the translocation of very short RNAs. By contrast, Sor inhibits the RifRS456L enzyme at an earlier step, preventing the transition of a partially unwound promoter DNA intermediate to the fully opened DNA and blocking the template-strand DNA from reaching the active site in the RNAP catalytic center. By defining template-strand blocking as a mechanism for inhibition, we provide a mechanistic drug target in RNAP. Our finding that Sor inhibits the wild-type and mutant RNAPs through different mechanisms prompts future considerations for designing antibiotics against resistant targets. Also, we show that Sor has a better pharmacokinetic profile than Rif, making it a suitable starting molecule to design drugs to be used for the treatment of TB patients with comorbidities who require multiple medications.

scholarly journals Structural origins of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase open promoter complex stability

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (40) ◽  
pp. e2112877118
Author(s):  
Ruth M. Saecker ◽  
James Chen ◽  
Courtney E. Chiu ◽  
Brandon Malone ◽  
Johanna Sotiris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Promoter Strength ◽  
Transcription Bubble ◽  
Template Strand ◽  
Solution Studies ◽  
Active Site Cleft ◽  
Promoter Dna

The first step in gene expression in all organisms requires opening the DNA duplex to expose one strand for templated RNA synthesis. In Escherichia coli, promoter DNA sequence fundamentally determines how fast the RNA polymerase (RNAP) forms “open” complexes (RPo), whether RPo persists for seconds or hours, and how quickly RNAP transitions from initiation to elongation. These rates control promoter strength in vivo, but their structural origins remain largely unknown. Here, we use cryoelectron microscopy to determine the structures of RPo formed de novo at three promoters with widely differing lifetimes at 37 °C: λPR (t1/2 ∼10 h), T7A1 (t1/2 ∼4 min), and a point mutant in λPR (λPR-5C) (t1/2 ∼2 h). Two distinct RPo conformers are populated at λPR, likely representing productive and unproductive forms of RPo observed in solution studies. We find that changes in the sequence and length of DNA in the transcription bubble just upstream of the start site (+1) globally alter the network of DNA–RNAP interactions, base stacking, and strand order in the single-stranded DNA of the transcription bubble; these differences propagate beyond the bubble to upstream and downstream DNA. After expanding the transcription bubble by one base (T7A1), the nontemplate strand “scrunches” inside the active site cleft; the template strand bulges outside the cleft at the upstream edge of the bubble. The structures illustrate how limited sequence changes trigger global alterations in the transcription bubble that modulate the RPo lifetime and affect the subsequent steps of the transcription cycle.

scholarly journals Fidaxomicin jams Mycobacterium tuberculosis RNA polymerase motions needed for initiation via RbpA contacts

eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hande Boyaci ◽  
James Chen ◽  
Mirjana Lilic ◽  
Margaret Palka ◽  
Rachel Anne Mooney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Structural Determinants ◽  
General Transcription Factor ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Intestinal Infections ◽  
Promoter Dna ◽  
Poor Absorption

Fidaxomicin (Fdx) is an antimicrobial RNA polymerase (RNAP) inhibitor highly effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis RNAP in vitro, but clinical use of Fdx is limited to treating Clostridium difficile intestinal infections due to poor absorption. To identify the structural determinants of Fdx binding to RNAP, we determined the 3.4 Å cryo-electron microscopy structure of a complete M. tuberculosis RNAP holoenzyme in complex with Fdx. We find that the actinobacteria general transcription factor RbpA contacts fidaxomycin, explaining its strong effect on M. tuberculosis. Additional structures define conformational states of M. tuberculosis RNAP between the free apo-holoenzyme and the promoter-engaged open complex ready for transcription. The results establish that Fdx acts like a doorstop to jam the enzyme in an open state, preventing the motions necessary to secure promoter DNA in the active site. Our results provide a structural platform to guide development of anti-tuberculosis antimicrobials based on the Fdx binding pocket.

scholarly journals Structural origins of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase open promoter complex stability

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth M. Saecker ◽  
James Chen ◽  
Courtney E. Chiu ◽  
Brandon Malone ◽  
Johanna Sotiris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Promoter Strength ◽  
Transcription Bubble ◽  
Template Strand ◽  
Solution Studies ◽  
Active Site Cleft ◽  
Promoter Dna

AbstractThe first step of gene expression in all organisms requires opening the DNA duplex to expose one strand for templated RNA synthesis. In Escherichia coli, promoter DNA sequence fundamentally determines how fast the RNA polymerase (RNAP) forms “open” complexes (RPo), whether RPo persists for seconds or hours, and how quickly RNAP transitions from initiation to elongation. These rates control promoter strength in vivo but their structural origins remain largely unknown. Here we use cryo-electron microscopy to determine structures of RPo formed de novo at three promoters with widely differing lifetimes at 37°C: λPR (t1/2 ∼ 10 hours), T7A1 (t1/2 ∼ 4 minutes), and a point mutant in λPR (λPR-5C) (t1/2 ∼ 2 hours). Two distinct RPo conformers are populated at λPR, likely representing productive and unproductive forms of RPo observed in solution studies. We find that changes in the sequence and length of DNA in the transcription bubble just upstream of the start site (+1) globally alter the network of DNA-RNAP interactions, base stacking, and strand order in the single-stranded DNA of the transcription bubble; these differences propagate beyond the bubble to upstream and downstream DNA. After expanding the transcription bubble by one base (T7A1), the nontemplate-strand “scrunches” inside the active site cleft; the template-strand bulges outside the cleft at the upstream edge of the bubble. The structures illustrate how limited sequence changes trigger global alterations in the transcription bubble that modulate RPo lifetime and affect the subsequent steps of the transcription cycle.

scholarly journals Structure of a bacterial RNA polymerase holoenzyme open promoter complex

eLife ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Bae ◽  
Andrey Feklistov ◽  
Agnieszka Lass-Napiorkowska ◽  
Robert Landick ◽  
Seth A Darst
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Bubble Formation ◽  
Thermus Aquaticus ◽  
Transcription Bubble ◽  
Template Strand ◽  
Bacterial Rna ◽  
Promoter Complex ◽  
Primary Means ◽  
Promoter Dna ◽  
Biochemical Analyses

Initiation of transcription is a primary means for controlling gene expression. In bacteria, the RNA polymerase (RNAP) holoenzyme binds and unwinds promoter DNA, forming the transcription bubble of the open promoter complex (RPo). We have determined crystal structures, refined to 4.14 Å-resolution, of RPo containing Thermus aquaticus RNAP holoenzyme and promoter DNA that includes the full transcription bubble. The structures, combined with biochemical analyses, reveal key features supporting the formation and maintenance of the double-strand/single-strand DNA junction at the upstream edge of the −10 element where bubble formation initiates. The results also reveal RNAP interactions with duplex DNA just upstream of the −10 element and potential protein/DNA interactions that direct the DNA template strand into the RNAP active site. Addition of an RNA primer to yield a 4 base-pair post-translocated RNA:DNA hybrid mimics an initially transcribing complex at the point where steric clash initiates abortive initiation and σA dissociation.

Application of Molecular Docking for the Development of Improved HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arash Soltani ◽  
Seyed Isaac Hashemy ◽  
Farnaz Zahedi Avval ◽  
Houshang Rafatpanah ◽  
Seyed Abdolrahim Rezaee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Binding Capacity ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Ligand Docking ◽  
Binding Modes ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Parent Molecule ◽  
Discovery Studio ◽  
Approved Drugs ◽  
Hiv 1

Introoduction: Inhibition of the reverse transcriptase (RT) enzyme of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by low molecular weight inhibitors is still an active area of research. Here, protein-ligand interactions and possible binding modes of novel compounds with the HIV-1 RT binding pocket (the wild-type as well as Y181C and K103N mutants) were obtained and discussed. Methods: A molecular fragment-based approach using FDA-approved drugs were followed to design novel chemical derivatives using delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine and rilpivirine as the scaffolds. The drug-likeliness of the derivatives was evaluated using Swiss-ADME. Then the parent molecule and derivatives were docked into the binding pocket of related crystal structures (PDB ID: 4G1Q, 1IKW, 1KLM and 3MEC). Genetic Optimization for Ligand Docking (GOLD) Suite 5.2.2 software was used for docking and the results analyzed in the Discovery Studio Visualizer 4. A derivative was chosen for further analysis, if it passed drug-likeliness and the docked energy was more favorable than that of its parent molecule. Out of the fifty-seven derivatives, forty-eight failed in druglikeness screening by Swiss-ADME or in docking stage. Results: The final results showed that the selected compounds had higher predicted binding affinities than their parent scaffolds in both wild-type and the mutants. Binding energy improvement was higher for the structures designed based on second-generation NNRTIs (etravirine and rilpivirine) than the first-generation NNRTIs (delavirdine and efavirenz). For example, while the docked energy for rilpivirine was -51 KJ/mol, it was improved for its derivatives RPV01 and RPV15 up to -58.3 and -54.5 KJ/mol, respectively. Conclusion: In this study, we have identified and proposed some novel molecules with improved binding capacity for HIV RT using fragment-based approach.

scholarly journals Monoclonal antibodies directed against mammalian RNA polymerase I. Identification of the catalytic center.

1983 ◽  
Vol 258 (21) ◽  
pp. 12976-12981 ◽  
Author(s):  
K M Rose ◽  
K A Maguire ◽  
J N Wurpel ◽  
D A Stetler ◽  
E D Márquez
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase I ◽  
Catalytic Center ◽  
Polymerase I

scholarly journals Replication of an rRNA gene origin plasmid in the Tetrahymena thermophila macronucleus is prevented by transcription through the origin from an RNA polymerase I promoter.

1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 3372-3381 ◽  
Author(s):  
W J Pan ◽  
R C Gallagher ◽  
E H Blackburn
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Tetrahymena Thermophila ◽  
Rna Polymerase I ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Independent Evidence ◽  
Origin Region ◽  
Origin Function ◽  
Polymerase I ◽  
Wild Type Promoter

In the somatic macronucleus of the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, the palindromic rRNA gene (rDNA) minichromosome is replicated from an origin near the center of the molecule in the 5' nontranscribed spacer. The replication of this rDNA minichromosome is under both cell cycle and copy number control. We addressed the effect on origin function of transcription through this origin region. A construct containing a pair of 1.9-kb tandem direct repeats of the rDNA origin region, containing the origin plus a mutated (+G), but not a wild type, rRNA promoter, is initially maintained in macronuclei as an episome. Late, linear and circular replicons with long arrays of tandem repeats accumulate (W.-J. Pan and E. H. Blackburn, Nucleic Acids Res, in press). We present direct evidence that the +G mutation inactivates this rRNA promoter. It lacks the footprint seen on the wild-type promoter and produces no detectable in vivo transcript. Independent evidence that the failure to maintain wild-type 1.9-kb repeats was caused by transcription through the origin came from placing a short DNA segment containing the rRNA gene transcriptional termination region immediately downstream of the wild-type rRNA promoter. Insertion of this terminator sequence in the correct, but not the inverted, orientation restored plasmid maintenance. Hence, origin function was restored by inactivating the rRNA promoter through the +G mutation or causing termination before transcripts from a wild-type promoter reached the origin region. We propose that transcription by RNA polymerase I through the rDNA origin inhibits replication by preventing replication factors from assembling at the origin.

scholarly journals Identification of Tyr residues that enhance folate substrate binding and constrain oscillation of the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT-SLC46A1)

2015 ◽  
Vol 308 (8) ◽  
pp. C631-C641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Visentin ◽  
Ersin Selcuk Unal ◽  
Mitra Najmi ◽  
Andras Fiser ◽  
Rongbao Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Choroid Plexus ◽  
Rate Constant ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Efflux Rate ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Extracellular Compartment ◽  
Efflux Rate Constant ◽  
Opposite Compartment

The proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) mediates intestinal folate absorption and transport of folates across the choroid plexus. This study focuses on the role of Tyr residues in PCFT function. The substituted Cys-accessibility method identified four Tyr residues (Y291, Y362, Y315, and Y414) that are accessible to the extracellular compartment; three of these (Y291, Y362, and Y315) are located within or near the folate binding pocket. When the Tyr residues were replaced with Cys or Ala, these mutants showed similar (up to 6-fold) increases in influx Vmax and Kt/ Ki for [3H]methotrexate and [3H]pemetrexed. When the Tyr residues were replaced with Phe, these changes were moderated or absent. When Y315A PCFT was used as representative of the mutants and [3H]pemetrexed as the transport substrate, this substitution did not increase the efflux rate constant. Furthermore, neither influx nor efflux mediated by Y315A PCFT was transstimulated by the presence of substrate in the opposite compartment; however, substantial bidirectional transstimulation of transport was mediated by wild-type PCFT. This resulted in a threefold greater efflux rate constant for cells that express wild-type PCFT than for cells that express Y315 PCFT under exchange conditions. These data suggest that these Tyr residues, possibly through their rigid side chains, secure the carrier in a high-affinity state for its folate substrates. However, this may be achieved at the expense of constraining the carrier's mobility, thereby decreasing the rate at which the protein oscillates between its conformational states. The Vmax generated by these Tyr mutants may be so rapid that further augmentation during transstimulation may not be possible.

scholarly journals The Role of Arg13 in Protein Phosphatase M tPphA from Thermosynechococcus elongatus

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiyong Su ◽  
Karl Forchhammer
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Protein Phosphatase ◽  
Arginine Residue ◽  
Side Chain ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Catalytic Center ◽  
Nitrophenyl Phosphate ◽  
Reduced Activity ◽  
Amino Acid Variants

A highly conserved arginine residue is close to the catalytic center of PPM/PP2C-type protein phosphatases. Different crystal structures of PPM/PP2C homologues revealed that the guanidinium side chain of this arginine residue can adopt variable conformations and may bind ligands, suggesting an important role of this residue during catalysis. In this paper, we randomly mutated Arginine 13 of tPphA, a PPM/PP2C-type phosphatase from Thermosynechococcus elongatus, and obtained 18 different amino acid variants. The generated variants were tested towards p-nitrophenyl phosphate and various phosphopeptides. Towards p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate, twelve variants showed 3–7 times higher Km values than wild-type tPphA and four variants (R13D, R13F, R13L, and R13W) completely lost activity. Strikingly, these variants were still able to dephosphorylate phosphopeptides, although with strongly reduced activity. The specific inability of some Arg-13 variants to hydrolyze p-nitrophenyl phosphate highlights the importance of additional substrate interactions apart from the substrate phosphate for catalysis. The properties of the R13 variants indicate that this residue assists in substrate binding.

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