scholarly journals Few Conserved Amino Acids in the Small Multidrug Resistance Transporter EmrE Influence Drug Polyselectivity

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marwah Saleh ◽  
Denice C. Bay ◽  
Raymond J. Turner
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Drug Binding ◽  
Conserved Residues ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Small Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Transporter Family ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Multidrug Resistance Transporter ◽  
Conserved Amino Acids

ABSTRACT EmrE is the archetypical member of the small multidrug resistance transporter family and confers resistance to a wide range of disinfectants and dyes known as quaternary cation compounds (QCCs). The aim of this study was to examine which conserved amino acids play an important role in substrate selectivity. On the basis of a previous analysis of EmrE homologues, a total of 33 conserved residues were targeted for cysteine or alanine replacement within E. coli EmrE. The antimicrobial resistance of each EmrE variant expressed in Escherichia coli strain JW0451 (lacking dominant pump acrB) to a collection of 16 different QCCs was tested using agar spot dilution plating to determine MIC values. The results determined that only a few conserved residues were drug polyselective, based on ≥4-fold decreases in MIC values: the active-site residue E14 (E14D and E14A) and 4 additional conserved residues (A10C, F44C, L47C, W63A). EmrE variants I11C, V15C, P32C, I62C, L93C, and S105C enhanced resistance to polyaromatic QCCs, while the remaining EmrE variants reduced resistance to one or more QCCs with shared chemical features: acylation, tri- and tetraphenylation, aromaticity, and dicationic charge. Mapping of EmrE variants onto transmembrane helical wheel projections using the highest resolved EmrE structure suggests that polyselective EmrE variants were located closest to the helical faces surrounding the predicted drug binding pocket, while EmrE variants with greater drug specificity mapped onto distal helical faces. This study reveals that few conserved residues are essential for drug polyselectivity and indicates that aromatic QCC selection involves a greater portion of conserved residues than that in other QCCs.

scholarly journals Multidrug Resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Identification of Functionally Important Residues in the MtrD Efflux Protein

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Chitsaz ◽  
Lauren Booth ◽  
Mitchell T. Blyth ◽  
Megan L. O’Mara ◽  
Melissa H. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Neisseria Gonorrhoeae ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Docking Studies ◽  
Drug Binding ◽  
Multidrug Efflux ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Binding Pockets ◽  
Dynamics Simulations

ABSTRACT A key mechanism that Neisseria gonorrhoeae uses to achieve multidrug resistance is the expulsion of structurally different antimicrobials by the MtrD multidrug efflux protein. MtrD resembles the homologous Escherichia coli AcrB efflux protein with several common structural features, including an open cleft containing putative access and deep binding pockets proposed to interact with substrates. A highly discriminating N. gonorrhoeae strain, with the MtrD and NorM multidrug efflux pumps inactivated, was constructed and used to confirm and extend the substrate profile of MtrD to include 14 new compounds. The structural basis of substrate interactions with MtrD was interrogated by a combination of long-timescale molecular dynamics simulations and docking studies together with site-directed mutagenesis of selected residues. Of the MtrD mutants generated, only one (S611A) retained a wild-type (WT) resistance profile, while others (F136A, F176A, I605A, F610A, F612C, and F623C) showed reduced resistance to different antimicrobial compounds. Docking studies of eight MtrD substrates confirmed that many of the mutated residues play important nonspecific roles in binding to these substrates. Long-timescale molecular dynamics simulations of MtrD with its substrate progesterone showed the spontaneous binding of the substrate to the access pocket of the binding cleft and its subsequent penetration into the deep binding pocket, allowing the permeation pathway for a substrate through this important resistance mechanism to be identified. These findings provide a detailed picture of the interaction of MtrD with substrates that can be used as a basis for rational antibiotic and inhibitor design. IMPORTANCE With over 78 million new infections globally each year, gonorrhea remains a frustratingly common infection. Continuous development and spread of antimicrobial-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of gonorrhea, have posed a serious threat to public health. One of the mechanisms in N. gonorrhoeae involved in resistance to multiple drugs is performed by the MtrD multidrug resistance efflux pump. This study demonstrated that the MtrD pump has a broader substrate specificity than previously proposed and identified a cluster of residues important for drug binding and translocation. Additionally, a permeation pathway for the MtrD substrate progesterone actively moving through the protein was determined, revealing key interactions within the putative MtrD drug binding pockets. Identification of functionally important residues and substrate-protein interactions of the MtrD protein is crucial to develop future strategies for the treatment of multidrug-resistant gonorrhea.

scholarly journals A kinetically-driven free exchange mechanism of EmrE antiport sacrifices coupling efficiency in favor of promiscuity

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne E. Robinson ◽  
Nathan E. Thomas ◽  
Emma A. Morrison ◽  
Bryan Balthazor ◽  
Katherine A. Henzler-Wildman
Keyword(s):  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Coupling Efficiency ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Exchange Model ◽  
Drug Uptake ◽  
Drug Efflux ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Small Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Pure Exchange ◽  
Multidrug Resistance Transporter

ABSTRACTEmrE is a small multidrug resistance transporter found in E. coli that confers resistance to toxic polyaromatic cations due to its proton-coupled antiport of these substrates. Here we show that EmrE breaks the rules generally deemed essential for coupled antiport. NMR spectra reveal that EmrE can simultaneously bind and cotransport proton and drug. The functional consequence of this finding is an exceptionally promiscuous transporter: Not only can EmrE export diverse drug substrates, it can couple antiport of a drug to either one or two protons, performing both electrogenic and electroneutral transport of a single substrate. We present a new kinetically-driven free exchange model for EmrE antiport that is consistent with these results and recapitulates ΔpH-driven concentrative drug uptake. Our results suggest that EmrE sacrifices coupling efficiency for initial transport speed and multidrug specificity.SIGNIFICANCEEmrE facilitates E. coli multidrug resistance by coupling drug efflux to proton import. This antiport mechanism has been thought to occur via a pure exchange model which achieves coupled antiport by restricting when the single binding pocket can alternate access between opposite sides of the membrane. We test this model using NMR titrations and transport assays and find it cannot account for EmrE antiport activity. We propose a new kinetically-driven free exchange model of antiport with fewer restrictions that better accounts for the highly promiscuous nature of EmrE drug efflux. This model expands our understanding of coupled antiport and has implications for transporter design and drug development.

scholarly journals Crystal structures of bacterial Small Multidrug Resistance transporter EmrE in complex with structurally diverse substrates

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali A Kermani ◽  
Olive E. Burata ◽  
B Ben Koff ◽  
Akiko Koide ◽  
Shohei Koide ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Quaternary Ammonium ◽  
Structural Information ◽  
Structural Description ◽  
Small Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Backbone Structure ◽  
Multidrug Resistance Transporter ◽  
Ammonium Compounds

Proteins from the bacterial small multidrug resistance (SMR) family are proton-coupled exporters of diverse antiseptics and antimicrobials, including polyaromatic cations and quaternary ammonium compounds. The transport mechanism of the Escherichia coli transporter, EmrE, has been studied extensively, but a lack of high-resolution structural information has impeded a structural description of its molecular mechanism. Here we apply a novel approach, multipurpose crystallization chaperones, to solve several structures of EmrE, including a 2.9 Å structure at low pH without substrate. We report five additional structures in complex with structurally diverse transported substrates, including quaternary phosphonium, quaternary ammonium, and planar polyaromatic compounds. These structures show that binding site tryptophan and glutamate residues adopt different rotamers to conform to disparate structures without requiring major rearrangements of the backbone structure. Structural and functional comparison to Gdx-Clo, an SMR protein that transports a much narrower spectrum of substrates, suggests that in EmrE, a relatively sparse hydrogen bond network among binding site residues permits increased sidechain flexibility.

scholarly journals Peptide-Based Efflux Pump Inhibitors of the Small Multidrug Resistance Protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chloe J Mitchell ◽  
Tracy A. Stone ◽  
Charles M. Deber
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Membrane Integrity ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Sequence Motif ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Binding Interface ◽  
Small Multidrug Resistance

ABSTRACT Bacteria have acquired multiple mechanisms to evade the lethal effects of current therapeutics, hindering treatment of bacterial infections, such as those caused by the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is responsible for nosocomial and cystic fibrosis lung infections. One resistance mechanism involves membrane-embedded multidrug efflux pumps that can effectively extrude an array of substrates, including common antibiotics, dyes, and biocides. Among these is a small multidrug resistance (SMR) efflux protein, consisting of four transmembrane (TM) helices, that functions as an antiparallel dimer. TM helices 1 to 3 (TM1 to TM3) comprise the substrate binding pocket, while TM4 contains a GG7 heptad sequence motif that mediates the SMR TM4-TM4 dimerization. In the present work, we synthesized a series of peptides containing the residues centered on the TM4-TM4 binding interface found in the P. aeruginosa SMR (PAsmr), typified by Ac-Ala-(Sar)3-LLGIGLIIAGVLV-KKK-NH2 (helix-helix interaction residues are underlined). Here, the acetylated N-terminal sarcosine (N-methyl-Gly) tag [Ac-Ala-(Sar)3] promotes membrane penetration, while the C-terminal Lys tag promotes selectivity for the negatively charged bacterial membranes. This peptide was observed to competitively disrupt PAsmr-mediated efflux, as measured by efflux inhibition of the fluorescent dye ethidium bromide, while having no effect on cell membrane integrity. Alternatively, a corresponding peptide in which the TM4 binding motif is scrambled was inactive in this assay. In addition, when Escherichia coli cells expressing PAsmr were combined with sublethal concentrations of several biocides, growth was significantly inhibited when peptide was added, notably, by up to 95% with the disinfectant benzylalkonium chloride. These results demonstrate promise for an efflux pump inhibitor to address the increasing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

scholarly journals The ilvGMEDA Operon Is Regulated by Transcription Attenuation in Vibrio alginolyticus ZJ-T

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiqin Deng ◽  
Xing Luo ◽  
Mei Xie ◽  
Philippe Bouloc ◽  
Chang Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Branched Chain Amino Acids ◽  
Vibrio Alginolyticus ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Transcription Attenuation ◽  
Branched Chain ◽  
Fish And Shellfish

ABSTRACT Bacteria synthesize amino acids according to their availability in the environment or, in the case of pathogens, within the host. We explored the regulation of the biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) (l-leucine, l-valine, and l-isoleucine) in Vibrio alginolyticus, a marine fish and shellfish pathogen and an emerging opportunistic human pathogen. In this species, the ilvGMEDA operon encodes the main pathway for biosynthesis of BCAAs. Its upstream regulatory region shows no sequence similarity to the corresponding region in Escherichia coli or other Enterobacteriaceae, and yet we show that this operon is regulated by transcription attenuation. The translation of a BCAA-rich peptide encoded upstream of the structural genes provides an adaptive response similar to the E. coli canonical model. This study of a nonmodel Gram-negative organism highlights the mechanistic conservation of transcription attenuation despite the absence of primary sequence conservation. IMPORTANCE This study analyzes the regulation of the biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids (leucine, valine, and isoleucine) in Vibrio alginolyticus, a marine bacterium that is pathogenic to fish and humans. The results highlight the conservation of the main regulatory mechanism with that of the enterobacterium Escherichia coli, suggesting that such a mechanism appeared early during the evolution of Gram-negative bacteria, allowing adaptation to a wide range of environments.

scholarly journals The Q loops of the human multidrug resistance transporter ABCB1 are necessary to couple drug binding to the ATP catalytic cycle

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 4335-4346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph K. Zolnerciks ◽  
Begum G. Akkaya ◽  
Marjolein Snippe ◽  
Peter Chiba ◽  
Anna Seelig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Drug Binding ◽  
Catalytic Cycle ◽  
Multidrug Resistance Transporter

scholarly journals New Transposon Tn6133in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST398 Containsvga(E), a Novel Streptogramin A, Pleuromutilin, and Lincosamide Resistance Gene

2011 ◽  
Vol 55 (10) ◽  
pp. 4900-4904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sybille Schwendener ◽  
Vincent Perreten
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Transporter Family ◽  
Acid Protein ◽  
Mrsa St398 ◽  
Amino Acid Protein

ABSTRACTA novel streptogramin A, pleuromutilin, and lincosamide resistance determinant, Vga(E), was identified in porcine methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) ST398. Thevga(E) gene encoded a 524-amino-acid protein belonging to the ABC transporter family. It was found on a multidrug resistance-conferring transposon, Tn6133, which was comprised of Tn554with a stably integrated 4,787-bp DNA sequence harboringvga(E). Detection of Tn6133in several porcine MRSA ST398 isolates and its ability to circularize suggest a potential for dissemination.

Alpha-periodicity analysis of small multidrug resistance (SMR) efflux transporters

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 791-797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A Edwards ◽  
Raymond J Turner
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Transmembrane Helix ◽  
Power Spectra ◽  
Substitution Matrix ◽  
Transmembrane Helices ◽  
Homologous Proteins ◽  
Small Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Amino Acid Properties ◽  
Periodicity Analysis

Proteins in the small multidrug resistance (SMR) family of transport proteins are about 110 amino acids in length and are predicted to have four transmembrane helices. This family is divided into a two groups, one of which we have referred to as small multidrug pumps (Smp) and confer resistance to a wide variety of quaternary ammonium compounds through a proton-drug efflux antiport mechanism. Members of the second group within this family have, as yet, not had their substrate profile characterized and are referred to as Sug proteins. Alpha-periodicity analysis was conducted on a set of six homologous proteins of the SMR family consisting of three established Smp and three Sug proteins. Several amino acid properties were used in the analysis including hydropathy, variability, and a substitution matrix for lipid exposed amino acids. The scanning window was varied between 8 and 14 residues and the alpha-periodicity was calculated from the peaks in the Fourier transform power spectra in the region between 3.0 and 4.3 residues/turn. This analysis adds to the hydropathy analysis to give a more confident prediction of which residues are within the lipid bilayer for each of the four transmembrane helices. Information was also obtained that allowed for the identification of zones within each transmembrane helix that face the interior of the helical bundle on one side and are lipid exposed on the other face.Key words: modeling, SMR, QAC, multidrug resistance, transporter, hydrophopathy, periodicity, amphipathicity.

scholarly journals Guanidine Riboswitch-Regulated Efflux Transporters Protect Bacteria against Ionic Liquid Toxicity

2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas A. Higgins ◽  
John M. Gladden ◽  
Jeff A. Kimbrel ◽  
Blake A. Simmons ◽  
Steven W. Singer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ionic Liquid ◽  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Efflux Transporters ◽  
Imidazolium Ionic Liquid ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Small Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Cellulosic Sugars ◽  
Industrial Strains ◽  
Biochemical Production

ABSTRACT Plant cell walls contain a renewable, nearly limitless supply of sugar that could be used to support microbial production of commodity chemicals and biofuels. Imidazolium ionic liquid (IIL) solvents are among the best reagents for gaining access to the sugars in this otherwise recalcitrant biomass. However, the sugars from IIL-treated biomass are inevitably contaminated with residual IILs that inhibit growth in bacteria and yeast, blocking biochemical production by these organisms. IIL toxicity is, therefore, a critical roadblock in many industrial biosynthetic pathways. Although several IIL-tolerant (IILT) bacterial and yeast isolates have been identified in nature, few genetic mechanisms have been identified. In this study, we identified two IILT Bacillus isolates as well as a spontaneous IILT Escherichia coli lab strain that are tolerant to high levels of two widely used IILs. We demonstrate that all three IILT strains contain one or more pumps of the small multidrug resistance (SMR) family, and two of these strains contain mutations that affect an adjacent regulatory guanidine riboswitch. Furthermore, we show that the regulation of E. coli sugE by the guanidine II riboswitch can be exploited to promote IIL tolerance by the simple addition of guanidine to the medium. Our results demonstrate the critical role that transporter genes play in IIL tolerance in their native bacterial hosts. The study presented here is another step in engineering IIL tolerance into industrial strains toward overcoming this key gap in biofuels and industrial biochemical production processes. IMPORTANCE This study identifies bacteria that are tolerant to ionic liquid solvents used in the production of biofuels and industrial biochemicals. For industrial microbiology, it is essential to find less-harmful reagents and microbes that are resistant to their cytotoxic effects. We identified a family of small multidrug resistance efflux transporters, which are responsible for the tolerance of these strains. We also found that this resistance can be caused by mutations in the sequences of guanidine-specific riboswitches that regulate these efflux pumps. Extending this knowledge, we demonstrated that guanidine itself can promote ionic liquid tolerance. Our findings will inform genetic engineering strategies that improve conversion of cellulosic sugars into biofuels and biochemicals in processes where low concentrations of ionic liquids surpass bacterial tolerance.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document