scholarly journals HelR is a helicase-like protein that protects RNA polymerase from rifamycin antibiotics.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew D Surette ◽  
Nicholas Waglechner ◽  
Kalinka Koteva ◽  
Gerard D Wright
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Amino Acid Substitutions ◽  
Transcription Inhibition ◽  
Environmental Bacteria ◽  
Encoding Genes ◽  
Dependent Mechanism

Rifamycin antibiotics such as rifampin are widely used for the management of tuberculosis and other bacterial infections. These drugs inhibit prokaryotic RNA polymerase (RNAP) by preventing elongation of mRNA resulting in cell death. Rifamycin resistance in the clinic is manifested primarily through amino acid substitutions in RNAP that decrease target affinity for the antibiotics. In contrast, environmental bacteria possess a wide variety of highly specific rifamycin enzyme-mediated resistance mechanisms that modify and inactivate the antibiotics by glycosylation, phosphorylation, ADP-ribosylation, or hydroxylation. Expression of rifamycin resistance is controlled by a common 19bp cis-acting rifamycin associated element (RAE) upstream of inactivating genes. Guided by the presence of RAE sequences, we identify an unprecedented ATP-dependent mechanism of rifamycin resistance that acts not by antibiotic inactivation but by protecting the RNAP target. We show that Streptomyces venezuelae encodes a helicase-like protein, HelR, which confers broad spectrum rifamycin resistance. Furthermore, HelR is essential for promoting rifamycin tolerance at inhibitory concentrations, enabling bacterial evasion of the toxic properties of these antibiotics. HelR forms a complex with RNAP in vivo and rescues transcription inhibition by rifampin in vitro. We synthesized a rifamycin photoprobe and demonstrated that HelR directly displaces rifamycins from RNAP. HelR-encoding genes associated with RAEs are broadly distributed in actinobacteria, including many opportunistic Mycobacterial pathogens, which cannot currently be treated with rifamycins. This first report of an RNAP protection protein conferring antibiotic resistance and offers guidance for developing new rifamycin antibiotics that can avoid this mechanism.

scholarly journals High Levels of Intrinsic Tetracycline Resistance inMycobacterium abscessusAre Conferred by a Tetracycline-Modifying Monooxygenase

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulami Rudra ◽  
Kelley Hurst-Hess ◽  
Pascal Lappierre ◽  
Pallavi Ghosh
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Tetracycline Resistance ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Mycobacterium Abscessus ◽  
Repeat Sequence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACTTetracyclines have been one of the most successful classes of antibiotics. However, its extensive use has led to the emergence of widespread drug resistance, resulting in discontinuation of use against several bacterial infections. Prominent resistance mechanisms include drug efflux and the use of ribosome protection proteins. Infrequently, tetracyclines can be inactivated by the TetX class of enzymes, also referred to as tetracycline destructases. Low levels of tolerance to tetracycline inMycobacterium smegmatisandMycobacterium tuberculosishave been previously attributed to the WhiB7-dependent TetV/Tap efflux pump. However,Mycobacterium abscessusis ∼500-fold more resistant to tetracycline thanM. smegmatisandM. tuberculosis. In this report, we show that this high level of resistance to tetracycline and doxycycline inM. abscessusis conferred by a WhiB7-independent tetracycline-inactivating monooxygenase, MabTetX (MAB_1496c). The presence of sublethal doses of tetracycline and doxycycline results in a >200-fold induction of MabTetX, and an isogenic deletion strain is highly sensitive to both antibiotics. Further, purified MabTetX can rapidly monooxygenate both antibiotics. We also demonstrate that expression of MabTetX is repressed by MabTetRx, by binding to an inverted repeat sequence upstream of MabTetRx; the presence of either antibiotic relieves this repression. Moreover, anhydrotetracycline (ATc) can effectively inhibit MabTetX activityin vitroand decreases the MICs of both tetracycline and doxycyclinein vivo. Finally, we show that tigecycline, a glycylcycline tetracycline, not only is a poor substrate of MabTetX but also is incapable of inducing the expression of MabTetX. This is therefore the first demonstration of a tetracycline-inactivating enzyme in mycobacteria. It (i) elucidates the mechanism of tetracycline resistance inM. abscessus, (ii) demonstrates the use of an inhibitor that can potentially reclaim the use of tetracycline and doxycycline, and (iii) identifies two sequential bottlenecks—MabTetX and MabTetRx—for acquiring resistance to tigecycline, thereby reiterating its use againstM. abscessus.

scholarly journals Repurposing Anti-diabetic Drugs to Cripple Quorum Sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1285
Author(s):  
Wael A. H. Hegazy ◽  
Maan T. Khayat ◽  
Tarek S. Ibrahim ◽  
Majed S. Nassar ◽  
Muhammed A. Bakhrebah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Quorum Sensing ◽  
In Silico Analysis ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Chemical Structures ◽  
Similar Chemical ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Encoding Genes

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant human pathogen, it possesses almost all of the known antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. Quorum sensing (QS) is an intercellular communication system that orchestrates bacterial virulence and its targeting is an effective approach to diminish its pathogenesis. Repurposing of drugs is an advantageous strategy, in this study we aimed to repurpose the anti-diabetic drugs sitagliptin, metformin and vildagliptin as anti-QS in P. aeruginosa. The effects of sub-inhibitory concentrations of the tested drugs on the expression of QS-encoding genes and QS-regulated virulence factors were assessed. The protective activity of tested drugs on P. aeruginosa pathogenesis was evaluated in vivo on mice. In silico analysis was performed to evaluate the interference capabilities of the tested drugs on QS-receptors. Although the three drugs reduced the expression of QS-encoding genes, only sitagliptin inhibited the P. aeruginosa virulence in vitro and protected mice from it. In contrast, metformin showed significant in vitro anti-QS activities but failed to protect mice from P. aeruginosa. Vildagliptin did not show any in vitro or in vivo efficacy. Sitagliptin is a promising anti-QS agent because of its chemical nature that hindered QS-receptors. Moreover, it gives an insight to consider their similar chemical structures as anti-QS agents or even design new chemically similar anti-QS pharmacophores.

scholarly journals Transcription promotes the interaction of the FAcilitates Chromatin Transactions (FACT) complex with nucleosomes in S. cerevisiae

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J.E. Martin ◽  
Adam T. Chruscicki ◽  
LeAnn J. Howe
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Micrococcal Nuclease ◽  
Transcription Inhibition ◽  
Nucleosome Structure ◽  
High Resolution Analysis ◽  
Highly Expressed Genes ◽  
Resolution Analysis ◽  
Nuclease Sensitivity

ABSTRACTThe FACT (FAcilitates Chromatin Transactions) complex is enriched on highly expressed genes, where it facilitates transcription while maintaining chromatin structure. How it is targeted to these regions is unknown. In vitro, FACT binds destabilized nucleosomes, supporting the hypothesis that FACT is targeted to transcribed chromatin through recognition of RNA polymerase-disrupted nucleosomes. In this study, we used high resolution analysis of FACT occupancy in S. cerevisiae to test this hypothesis. We demonstrate that FACT interacts with unstable nucleosomes in vivo and its interaction with chromatin is dependent on transcription by any of the three RNA polymerases. Deep sequencing of micrococcal nuclease-resistant fragments shows that FACT-bound nucleosomes exhibit differences in micrococcal nuclease sensitivity compared to bulk chromatin, consistent with a modified nucleosome structure being the preferred ligand for this complex. While the presence of altered nucleosomes associated with FACT can also be explained by the known ability of this complex to modulate nucleosome structure, transcription inhibition alleviates this effect indicating that it is not due to FACT interaction alone. Collectively these results suggest that FACT is targeted to transcribed genes through preferential interaction with RNA polymerase disrupted nucleosomes.

scholarly journals Functional dissection of the catalytic mechanism of mammalian RNA polymerase II

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 497-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoit Coulombe ◽  
Marie-France Langelier
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Catalytic Mechanism ◽  
Mutational Analysis ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Catalytic Mechanisms ◽  
Rnap Ii ◽  
Affinity Peptide

High resolution X-ray crystal structures of multisubunit RNA polymerases (RNAP) have contributed to our understanding of transcriptional mechanisms. They also provided a powerful guide for the design of experiments aimed at further characterizing the molecular stages of the transcription reaction. Our laboratory used tandem-affinity peptide purification in native conditions to isolate human RNAP II variants that had site-specific mutations in structural elements located strategically within the enzyme's catalytic center. Both in vitro and in vivo analyses of these mutants revealed novel features of the catalytic mechanisms involving this enzyme.Key words: RNA polymerase II, transcriptional mechanisms, mutational analysis, mRNA synthesis.

scholarly journals 1455. Potential Mechanisms of Cefiderocol MIC Increase in Enterobacterales in In Vitro Resistance Acquisition Studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S730-S730
Author(s):  
Yoshinori Yamano ◽  
Rio Nakamura ◽  
Miki Takemura ◽  
Roger Echols
Keyword(s):  
Iron Transport ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Mueller Hinton ◽  
Two Component ◽  
Mueller Hinton Agar ◽  
Related Proteins

Abstract Background Cefiderocol (CFDC) is a novel siderophore, iron-chelating cephalosporin, which is transported into bacteria via iron transporters. CFDC has potent in vitro and in vivo activity against all aerobic Gram-negative bacteria, including carbapenem-resistant strains. To date, clinical isolates with cefiderocol MIC >4 µg/mL have been found infrequently, in which the presence of a few β-lactamases or altered iron transport was found. We investigated potential new mechanisms causing CFDC MIC increases in non-clinical studies. Methods The mutation positions were determined by whole genome sequencing using four K. pneumoniae mutants including two KPC producers and one NDM producer that had shown CFDC MIC increases in previous in vitro resistance-acquisition studies. The mutant strains were obtained at the frequency of 10-7 to < 10-8 by spreading bacteria on standard Mueller‒Hinton agar medium containing CFDC at concentrations of 10× MIC, with or without apo-transferrin (20 μg/mL). CFDC MIC was determined by broth microdilution using iron-depleted cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth based on Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The emergence of MIC increase mutants was also assessed by in vitro chemostat models under humanized plasma pharmacokinetic exposures of CFDC. Results The possible resistance mechanisms were investigated. Mutation of baeS or envZ, sensors of two-component regulation systems, were found in three or two mutants among the tested four isolates, respectively, and caused the MIC to increase by 4–32-fold. The altered expression level of specific genes by the baeS or envZ mutation could affect CFDC susceptibility, but the specific genes have not been identified. In addition, the mutation of exbD, an accessory protein related to iron transport, was identified in one case and caused the MIC to increase by >8-fold. In vitro chemostat studies using two isolates (one NDM producer and one KPC producer) showed no resistance acquisition during 24-hour exposure. Table. Overview of mutation emergence in five isolates of K. pneumoniae Conclusion The mutation of two-component regulation systems (BaeSR and OmpR/EnvZ) and iron transport-related proteins were shown to be possible mechanisms causing CFDC MIC increases, but these mutants did not appear under human exposures. Disclosures Yoshinori Yamano, PhD, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Employee) Rio Nakamura, BSc, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Employee) Miki Takemura, MSc, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Employee) Roger Echols, MD, Shionogi Inc. (Consultant)

scholarly journals Mammary gland 3D cell culture systems in farm animals

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Finot ◽  
Eric Chanat ◽  
Frederic Dessauge
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
3D Cell Culture ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Culture Systems ◽  
Cell Culture Systems

AbstractIn vivo study of tissue or organ biology in mammals is very complex and progress is slowed by poor accessibility of samples and ethical concerns. Fortunately, however, advances in stem cell identification and culture have made it possible to derive in vitro 3D “tissues” called organoids, these three-dimensional structures partly or fully mimicking the in vivo functioning of organs. The mammary gland produces milk, the source of nutrition for newborn mammals. Milk is synthesized and secreted by the differentiated polarized mammary epithelial cells of the gland. Reconstructing in vitro a mammary-like structure mimicking the functional tissue represents a major challenge in mammary gland biology, especially for farm animals for which specific agronomic questions arise. This would greatly facilitate the study of mammary gland development, milk secretion processes and pathological effects of viral or bacterial infections at the cellular level, all with the objective of improving milk production at the animal level. With this aim, various 3D cell culture models have been developed such as mammospheres and, more recently, efforts to develop organoids in vitro have been considerable. Researchers are now starting to draw inspiration from other fields, such as bioengineering, to generate organoids that would be more physiologically relevant. In this chapter, we will discuss 3D cell culture systems as organoids and their relevance for agronomic research.

scholarly journals DDRE-07. DIPG HARBOUR ALTERATIONS TARGETABLE BY MEK INHIBITORS, WITH ACQUIRED RESISTANCE MECHANISMS OVERCOME BY COMBINATORIAL INHIBITION

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii62-ii62
Author(s):  
Elisa Izquierdo ◽  
Diana Carvalho ◽  
Alan Mackay ◽  
Sara Temelso ◽  
Jessica K R Boult ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Exposure ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Acquired Resistance ◽  
Mek Inhibitor ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition

Abstract The survival of children with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) remains dismal, with new treatments desperately needed. In the era of precision medicine, targeted therapies represent an exciting treatment opportunity, yet resistance can rapidly emerge, playing an important role in treatment failure. In a prospective biopsy-stratified clinical trial, we combined detailed molecular profiling (methylation BeadArray, exome, RNAseq, phospho-proteomics) linked to drug screening in newly-established patient-derived models of DIPG in vitro and in vivo. We identified a high degree of in vitro sensitivity to the MEK inhibitor trametinib (GI50 16-50nM) in samples, which harboured genetic alterations targeting the MAPK pathway, including the non-canonical BRAF_G469V mutation, and those affecting PIK3R1 and NF1. However, treatment of PDX models and of a patient with trametinib at relapse failed to elicit a significant response. We generated trametinib-resistant clones (62-188-fold, GI50 2.4–5.2µM) in the BRAF_G469V model through continuous drug exposure, and identified acquired mutations in MEK1/2 (MEK1_K57N, MEK1_I141S and MEK2_I115N) with sustained pathway up-regulation. These cells showed the hallmarks of mesenchymal transition, and expression signatures overlapping with inherently trametinib-insensitive primary patient-derived cells that predicted an observed sensitivity to dasatinib. Combinations of trametinib with dasatinib and the downstream ERK inhibitor ulixertinib showed highly synergistic effects in vitro. These data highlight the MAPK pathway as a therapeutic target in DIPG, and show the importance of parallel resistance modelling and rational combinatorial treatments likely to be required for meaningful clinical translation.

scholarly journals PAR-4/Ca2+-calpain pathway activation stimulates platelet-derived microparticles in hyperglycemic type 2 diabetes

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Giannella ◽  
Giulio Ceolotto ◽  
Claudia Maria Radu ◽  
Arianna Cattelan ◽  
Elisabetta Iori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Normal Glucose Tolerance ◽  
Calpain Inhibitor ◽  
Pathway Activation ◽  
Normal Glucose ◽  
Circulating Levels ◽  
Dependent Mechanism

Abstract Background Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) have a prothrombotic state that needs to be fully clarified; microparticles (MPs) have emerged as mediators and markers of this condition. Thus, we investigate, in vivo, in T2DM either with good (HbA1c ≤ 7.0%; GGC) or poor (HbA1c > 7.0%; PGC) glycemic control, the circulating levels of MPs, and in vitro, the molecular pathways involved in the release of MPs from platelets (PMP) and tested their pro-inflammatory effects on THP-1 transformed macrophages. Methods In 59 T2DM, and 23 control subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), circulating levels of CD62E+, CD62P+, CD142+, CD45+ MPs were determined by flow cytometry, while plasma levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, IL-6 by ELISA. In vitro, PMP release and activation of isolated platelets from GGC and PGC were investigated, along with their effect on IL-6 secretion in THP-1 transformed macrophages. Results We found that MPs CD62P+ (PMP) and CD142+ (tissue factor-bearing MP) were significantly higher in PGC T2DM than GGC T2DM and NGT. Among MPs, PMP were also correlated with HbA1c and IL-6. In vitro, we showed that acute thrombin exposure stimulated a significantly higher PMP release in PGC T2DM than GGC T2DM through a more robust activation of PAR-4 receptor than PAR-1 receptor. Treatment with PAR-4 agonist induced an increased release of PMP in PGC with a Ca2+-calpain dependent mechanism since this effect was blunted by calpain inhibitor. Finally, the uptake of PMP derived from PAR-4 treated PGC platelets into THP-1 transformed macrophages promoted a marked increase of IL-6 release compared to PMP derived from GGC through the activation of the NF-kB pathway. Conclusions These results identify PAR-4 as a mediator of platelet activation, microparticle release, and inflammation, in poorly controlled T2DM.

scholarly journals Direct Interaction between the Subunit RAP30 of Transcription Factor IIF (TFIIF) and RNA Polymerase Subunit 5, Which Contributes to the Association between TFIIF and RNA Polymerase II

2001 ◽  
Vol 276 (15) ◽  
pp. 12266-12273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenxiang Wei ◽  
Dorjbal Dorjsuren ◽  
Yong Lin ◽  
Weiping Qin ◽  
Takahiro Nomura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Middle Part ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Binding Region ◽  
Pol Ii ◽  
Transcription Factor Iif ◽  
B Virus

The general transcription factor IIF (TFIIF) assembled in the initiation complex, and RAP30 of TFIIF, have been shown to associate with RNA polymerase II (pol II), although it remains unclear which pol II subunit is responsible for the interaction. We examined whether TFIIF interacts with RNA polymerase II subunit 5 (RPB5), the exposed domain of which binds transcriptional regulatory factors such as hepatitis B virus X protein and a novel regulatory protein, RPB5-mediating protein. The results demonstrated that RPB5 directly binds RAP30in vitrousing purified recombinant proteins andin vivoin COS1 cells transiently expressing recombinant RAP30 and RPB5. The RAP30-binding region was mapped to the central region (amino acids (aa) 47–120) of RPB5, which partly overlaps the hepatitis B virus X protein-binding region. Although the middle part (aa 101–170) and the N-terminus (aa 1–100) of RAP30 independently bound RPB5, the latter was not involved in the RPB5 binding when RAP30 was present in TFIIF complex. Scanning of the middle part of RAP30 by clustered alanine substitutions and then point alanine substitutions pinpointed two residues critical for the RPB5 binding inin vitroandin vivoassays. Wild type but not mutants Y124A and Q131A of RAP30 coexpressed with FLAG-RAP74 efficiently recovered endogenous RPB5 to the FLAG-RAP74-bound anti-FLAG M2 resin. The recovered endogenous RPB5 is assembled in pol II as demonstrated immunologically. Interestingly, coexpression of the central region of RPB5 and wild type RAP30 inhibited recovery of endogenous pol II to the FLAG-RAP74-bound M2 resin, strongly suggesting that the RAP30-binding region of RPB5 inhibited the association of TFIIF and pol II. The exposed domain of RPB5 interacts with RAP30 of TFIIF and is important for the association between pol II and TFIIF.

scholarly journals Interactions between RNA polymerase and the core recognition element are a determinant of transcription start site selection

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (21) ◽  
pp. E2899-E2905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina O. Vvedenskaya ◽  
Hanif Vahedian-Movahed ◽  
Yuanchao Zhang ◽  
Deanne M. Taylor ◽  
Richard H. Ebright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Transcription Start Site ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Start Site ◽  
Transcription Start ◽  
Transcription Bubble ◽  
Recognition Element

During transcription initiation, RNA polymerase (RNAP) holoenzyme unwinds ∼13 bp of promoter DNA, forming an RNAP-promoter open complex (RPo) containing a single-stranded transcription bubble, and selects a template-strand nucleotide to serve as the transcription start site (TSS). In RPo, RNAP core enzyme makes sequence-specific protein–DNA interactions with the downstream part of the nontemplate strand of the transcription bubble (“core recognition element,” CRE). Here, we investigated whether sequence-specific RNAP–CRE interactions affect TSS selection. To do this, we used two next-generation sequencing-based approaches to compare the TSS profile of WT RNAP to that of an RNAP derivative defective in sequence-specific RNAP–CRE interactions. First, using massively systematic transcript end readout, MASTER, we assessed effects of RNAP–CRE interactions on TSS selection in vitro and in vivo for a library of 47 (∼16,000) consensus promoters containing different TSS region sequences, and we observed that the TSS profile of the RNAP derivative defective in RNAP–CRE interactions differed from that of WT RNAP, in a manner that correlated with the presence of consensus CRE sequences in the TSS region. Second, using 5′ merodiploid native-elongating-transcript sequencing, 5′ mNET-seq, we assessed effects of RNAP–CRE interactions at natural promoters in Escherichia coli, and we identified 39 promoters at which RNAP–CRE interactions determine TSS selection. Our findings establish RNAP–CRE interactions are a functional determinant of TSS selection. We propose that RNAP–CRE interactions modulate the position of the downstream end of the transcription bubble in RPo, and thereby modulate TSS selection, which involves transcription bubble expansion or transcription bubble contraction (scrunching or antiscrunching).

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