scholarly journals Identification of 14-α-Lanosterol Demethylase (CYP51) in Scedosporium Species

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Bernhardt ◽  
Wieland Meyer ◽  
Volker Rickerts ◽  
Toni Aebischer ◽  
Kathrin Tintelnot
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Upstream Region ◽  
Scedosporium Apiospermum ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Specific Amino Acid ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Scedosporium Dehoogii ◽  
Lanosterol Demethylase ◽  
Species Specific

ABSTRACT Scedosporium spp. cause infections (scedosporiosis) in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals and may persistently colonize the respiratory tract in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). They are less susceptible against azoles than are other molds, such as Aspergillus spp., suggesting the presence of resistance mechanisms. It can be hypothesized that the decreased susceptibility of Scedosporium spp. to azoles is also CYP51 dependent. Analysis of the Scedosporium apiospermum and Scedosporium aurantiacum genomes revealed one CYP51 gene encoding the 14-α-lanosterol demethylase. This gene from 159 clinical or environmental Scedosporium isolates and three Lomentospora prolificans isolates has been sequenced and analyzed. The Scedosporium CYP51 protein clustered with the group of known CYP51B orthologues and showed species-specific polymorphisms. A tandem repeat in the 5′ upstream region of Scedosporium CYP51 like that in Aspergillus fumigatus could not be detected. Species-specific amino acid alterations in CYP51 of Scedosporium boydii, Scedosporium ellipsoideum, Scedosporium dehoogii, and Scedosporium minutisporum isolates were located at positions that have not been described as having an impact on azole susceptibility. In contrast, two of the three S. apiospermum-specific amino acid changes (Y136F and G464S) corresponded to respective mutations in A. fumigatus CYP51A at amino acid positions 121 and 448 (Y121F and G448S, respectively) that had been linked to azole resistance.

Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides for Tuberculosis: A Mini-Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 885-892
Author(s):  
Sara Silva ◽  
Nuno Vale
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Antimicrobial Peptides ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Pharmacological Properties ◽  
Therapeutic Activity ◽  
Alternative Strategies ◽  
Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides ◽  
Specific Amino Acid

Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) can be considered as new potential therapeutic agents for Tuberculosis treatment with a specific amino acid sequence. New studies can be developed in the future to improve the pharmacological properties of CAMPs and also understand possible resistance mechanisms. This review discusses the principal properties of natural and/or synthetic CAMPs, and how these new peptides have a significant specificity for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Also, we propose some alternative strategies to enhance the therapeutic activity of these CAMPs that include coadministration with nanoparticles and/or classic drugs.

scholarly journals Molecular cloning and evolutionary analysis of the GJA1 (connexin43) gene from bats (Chiroptera)

2009 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
LI WANG ◽  
GANG LI ◽  
JINHONG WANG ◽  
SHAOHUI YE ◽  
GARETH JONES ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽  
Purifying Selection ◽  
Likelihood Method ◽  
Evolutionary Analysis ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Specific Amino Acid ◽  
Junction Protein ◽  
Gap Junction Protein ◽  
Species Specific

SummaryGap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43), encoded by the GJA1 gene, is the most abundant connexin in the cardiovascular system and was reported as a crucial factor maintaining cardiac electrical conduction, as well as having a very important function in facilitating the recycling of potassium ions from hair cells in the cochlea back into the cochlear endolymph during auditory transduction processes. In mammals, bats are the only taxon possessing powered flight, placing exceptional demand on many organismal processes. To meet the demands of flying, the hearts of bats show many specialties. Moreover, ultrasonic echolocation allows bat species to orientate and often detect and locate food in darkness. In this study, we cloned the full-length coding region of GJA1 gene from 12 different species of bats and obtained orthologous sequences from other mammals. We used the maximum likelihood method to analyse the evolution of GJA1 gene in mammals and the lineage of bats. Our results showed this gene is much conserved in mammals, as well as in bats' lineage. Compared with other mammals, we found one private amino acid substitution shared by bats, which is located on the inner loop domain, as well as some species-specific amino acid substitutions. The evolution rate analyses showed the signature of purifying selection on not only different classification level lineages but also the different domains and amino acid residue sites of this gene. Also, we suggested that GJA1 gene could be used as a good molecular marker to do the phylogenetic reconstruction.

scholarly journals A High-Throughput Fatty Acid Profiling Screen Reveals Novel Variations in Fatty Acid Biosynthesis in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Related Algae

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1431-1438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin L. Pflaster ◽  
Michael J. Schwabe ◽  
Joyanne Becker ◽  
Melissa S. Wilkinson ◽  
Ashley Parmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Fatty Acid Biosynthesis ◽  
Methyl Esters ◽  
Screening Method ◽  
Laboratory Strain ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Species Specific

ABSTRACTAnalysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) by gas chromatography (GC) is a common technique for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of acyl lipids. Methods for FAME preparation are typically time-consuming and labor-intensive and require multiple transfers of reagents and products between reaction tubes and autosampler vials. In order to increase throughput and lower the time and materials costs required for FAME preparation prior to GC analysis, we have developed a method in which 10-to-20-mg samples of microbial biomass are transferred to standard GC autosampler vials, transesterified using an emulsion of methanolic trimethylsulfonium hydroxide and hexane, and analyzed directly by GC without further sample handling. This method gives results that are essentially identical to those obtained by the more labor- and material-intensive FAME preparation methods, such as transmethylation with methanolic HCl. We applied this method to the screening of laboratory and environmental isolates of the green algaChlamydomonasfor variations in fatty acid composition. This screening method facilitated two novel discoveries. First, we identified a common laboratory strain ofC. reinhardtii, CC-620, completely lacking all ω-3 fatty acids normally found in this organism and showed that this strain contains an inactivating mutation in the CrFAD7 gene, encoding the sole ω-3 desaturase activity in this organism. Second, we showed that some species ofChlamydomonasmake Δ6-unsaturated polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) rather than the Δ5 species normally made by the previously characterized laboratory strains ofChlamydomonas, suggesting that there is species-specific variation in the regiospecificity and substrate selectivity of front-end desaturases in this algal genus.

scholarly journals Efficient Production of Polymyxin in the Surrogate Host Bacillus subtilis by Introducing a ForeignectBGene and Disrupting theabrBGene

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (12) ◽  
pp. 4194-4199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soo-Young Park ◽  
Soo-Keun Choi ◽  
Jihoon Kim ◽  
Tae-Kwang Oh ◽  
Seung-Hwan Park
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Paenibacillus Polymyxa ◽  
Biosynthetic Gene Cluster ◽  
Upstream Region ◽  
Efficient Production ◽  
Knockout Mutant ◽  
Double Knockout ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Surrogate Host

ABSTRACTIn our previous study,Bacillus subtilisstrain BSK3S, containing a polymyxin biosynthetic gene cluster fromPaenibacillus polymyxa, could produce polymyxin only in the presence of exogenously addedl-2,4-diaminobutyric acid (Dab). The dependence of polymyxin production on exogenous Dab was removed by introducing anectBgene encoding the diaminobutyrate synthase ofP. polymyxainto BSK3S (resulting in strain BSK4). We found, by observing the complete inhibition of polymyxin synthesis when thespo0Agene was knocked out (strain BSK4-0A), that Spo0A is indispensable for the production of polymyxin. Interestingly, theabrB-spo0Adouble-knockout mutant, BSK4-0A-rB, and the singleabrBmutant, BSK4-rB, showed 1.7- and 2.3-fold increases, respectively, in polymyxin production over that of BSK4. These results coincided with the transcription levels ofpmxAin the strains observed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The AbrB protein was shown to bind directly to the upstream region ofpmxA, indicating that AbrB directly inhibits the transcription of polymyxin biosynthetic genes. The BSK4-rB strain, producing high levels of polymyxin, will be useful for the development and production of novel polymyxin derivatives.

scholarly journals Transcription factor GCN4 for control of amino acid biosynthesis also regulates the expression of the gene for lipoamide dehydrogenase

1999 ◽  
Vol 340 (3) ◽  
pp. 855-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zafar ZAMAN ◽  
Susan B. BOWMAN ◽  
Geoff D. KORNFELD ◽  
Alistair J. P. BROWN ◽  
Ian W. DAWES
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Biosynthesis ◽  
Upstream Region ◽  
Northern Analysis ◽  
General Control ◽  
Acid Biosynthesis ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Lipoamide Dehydrogenase

The yeast LPD1 gene encoding lipoamide dehydrogenase is subject to the general control of amino acid biosynthesis mediated by the GCN4 transcription factor. This is striking in that it demonstrates that GCN4-mediated regulation extends much farther upstream than simply to the direct pathways for amino acid and purine biosynthesis. In yeast, lipoamide dehydrogenase functions in at least three multienzyme complexes: pyruvate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (which function in the entry of pyruvate into, and metabolism via, the citric acid cycle) and glycine decarboxylase. When wild-type cells were shifted from growth on amino acid-rich to amino acid-deficient medium, the expression of lipoamide dehydrogenase was induced approx. 2-fold. In a similar experiment no such induction was observed in isogenic gcn4 mutant cells. Northern analysis indicated that amino acid starvation affected levels of the LPD1 transcript. In the upstream region of LPD1 are three matches to the consensus for control mediated by GCN4. Directed mutagenesis of each site, and of all combinations of sites, suggests that only one site might be important for the general control response under the conditions tested. Gel-retardation analysis with GCN4 protein synthesized in vitro has indicated that GCN4 can bind in vitro to at least two of the consensus motifs.

scholarly journals Three-ComponentO-Demethylase System Essential for Catabolism of a Lignin-Derived Biphenyl Compound in Sphingobium sp. Strain SYK-6

2014 ◽  
Vol 80 (23) ◽  
pp. 7142-7153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taichi Yoshikata ◽  
Kazuya Suzuki ◽  
Naofumi Kamimura ◽  
Masahiro Namiki ◽  
Shojiro Hishiyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Transfer ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Sequence ◽  
Reductase Activity ◽  
Normal Growth ◽  
Prosthetic Group ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sequence Identities ◽  
Electron Transfer Component

ABSTRACTSphingobiumsp. strain SYK-6 is able to assimilate lignin-derived biaryls, including a biphenyl compound, 5,5′-dehydrodivanillate (DDVA). Previously,ligXa(SLG_07770), which is similar to the gene encoding oxygenase components of Rieske-type nonheme iron aromatic-ring-hydroxylating oxygenases, was identified to be essential for the conversion of DDVA; however, the genes encoding electron transfer components remained unknown. Disruption of putative electron transfer component genes scattered through the SYK-6 genome indicated that SLG_08500 and SLG_21200, which showed approximately 60% amino acid sequence identities with ferredoxin and ferredoxin reductase of dicambaO-demethylase, were essential for the normal growth of SYK-6 on DDVA. LigXa and the gene products of SLG_08500 (LigXc) and SLG_21200 (LigXd) were purified and were estimated to be a trimer, a monomer, and a monomer, respectively. LigXd contains FAD as the prosthetic group and showed much higher reductase activity toward 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol with NADH than with NADPH. A mixture of purified LigXa, LigXc, and LigXd converted DDVA into 2,2′,3-trihydroxy-3′-methoxy-5,5′-dicarboxybiphenyl in the presence of NADH, indicating that DDVAO-demethylase is a three-component monooxygenase. This enzyme requires Fe(II) for its activity and is highly specific for DDVA, with aKmvalue of 63.5 μM andkcatof 6.1 s−1. Genome searches in six other sphingomonads revealed genes similar toligXcandligXd(>58% amino acid sequence identities) with a limited number of electron transfer component genes, yet a number of diverse oxygenase component genes were found. This fact implies that these few electron transfer components are able to interact with numerous oxygenase components and the conserved LigXc and LigXd orthologs are important in sphingomonads.

scholarly journals Histidine Degradation via an Aminotransferase Increases the Nutritional Flexibility of Candida glabrata

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 758-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sascha Brunke ◽  
Katja Seider ◽  
Martin Ernst Richter ◽  
Sibylle Bremer-Streck ◽  
Shruthi Ramachandra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acid ◽  
Candida Glabrata ◽  
Genomic Structure ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acids ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Upstream Region ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Aromatic Amino Acid Aminotransferase

ABSTRACTThe ability to acquire nutrients during infections is an important attribute in microbial pathogenesis. Amino acids are a valuable source of nitrogen if they can be degraded by the infecting organism. In this work, we analyzed histidine utilization in the fungal pathogen of humansCandida glabrata. Hemiascomycete fungi, likeC. glabrataorSaccharomyces cerevisiae, possess no gene coding for a histidine ammonia-lyase, which catalyzes the first step of a major histidine degradation pathway in most other organisms. We show thatC. glabratainstead initializes histidine degradation via the aromatic amino acid aminotransferase Aro8. AlthoughARO8is also present inS. cerevisiaeand is induced by extracellular histidine, the yeast cannot use histidine as its sole nitrogen source, possibly due to growth inhibition by a downstream degradation product. Furthermore,C. glabratarelies only on Aro8 for phenylalanine and tryptophan utilization, sinceARO8, but not its homologueARO9, was transcriptionally activated in the presence of these amino acids. Accordingly, anARO9deletion had no effect on growth with aromatic amino acids. In contrast, inS. cerevisiae,ARO9is strongly induced by tryptophan and is known to support growth on aromatic amino acids. Differences in the genomic structure of theARO9gene betweenC. glabrataandS. cerevisiaeindicate a possible disruption in the regulatory upstream region. Thus, we show that, in contrast toS. cerevisiae,C. glabratahas adapted to use histidine as a sole source of nitrogen and that the aromatic amino acid aminotransferase Aro8, but not Aro9, is the enzyme required for this process.

scholarly journals Resistance Mechanisms and Clinical Features of Fluconazole-Nonsusceptible Candida tropicalis Isolates Compared with Fluconazole-Less-Susceptible Isolates

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 3653-3661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Ji Choi ◽  
Eun Jeong Won ◽  
Jong Hee Shin ◽  
Soo Hyun Kim ◽  
Wee-Gyo Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
Candida Tropicalis ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Therapeutic Failure ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Azole Resistance ◽  
Amino Acid Substitutions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Expression Levels

We investigated the azole resistance mechanisms and clinical features of fluconazole-nonsusceptible (FNS) isolates ofCandida tropicalisrecovered from Korean surveillance cultures in comparison with fluconazole-less-susceptible (FLS) isolates. Thirty-five clinical isolates ofC. tropicalis, comprising 9 FNS (fluconazole MIC, 4 to 64 μg/ml), 12 FLS (MIC, 1 to 2 μg/ml), and 14 control (MIC, 0.125 to 0.5 μg/ml) isolates, were assessed.CDR1,MDR1, andERG11expression was quantified, and theERG11andUPC2genes were sequenced. Clinical features of 16 patients with FNS or FLS bloodstream isolates were analyzed. Both FNS and FLS isolates had >10-fold higher mean expression levels ofCDR1,MDR1, andERG11genes than control isolates (Pvalues of <0.02 for all). When FNS and FLS isolates were compared, FNS isolates had 3.4-fold higher meanERG11expression levels than FLS isolates (P= 0.004), but there were no differences in those ofCDR1orMDR1. Of all 35 isolates, 4 (2 FNS and 2 FLS) and 28 (8 FNS, 11 FLS, and 9 control) isolates exhibited amino acid substitutions in Erg11p and Upc2p, respectively. Both FNS and FLS bloodstream isolates were associated with azole therapeutic failure (3/4 versus 4/7) or uncleared fungemia (4/6 versus 4/10), but FNS isolates were identified more frequently from patients with previous azole exposure (6/6 versus 3/10;P= 0.011) and immunosuppression (6/6 versus 3/10;P= 0.011). These results reveal that the majority of FNSC. tropicalisisolates show overexpression ofCDR1,MDR1, andERG11genes, and fungemia develops after azole exposure in patients with immunosuppression.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document