scholarly journals Molecular Insight Into the Mutation Within Critical Zinc2+-Binding Site in the PAS Domain of WalK in Vancomycin-Intermediate Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Abstract The authors have requested that this preprint be withdrawn due to erroneous posting.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neda Baseri ◽  
Shahin Najar-Peerayeh ◽  
Bita Bakhshi

Abstract Vancomycin-intermediate resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VISA), one of the common causes of nosocomial infection, is developed by mutations, including in walKR, with unclear molecular mechanisms. Although studies have verified some of these mutations, there are a few studies to pay attention to the importance of molecular modeling of mutations. Here, the Sanger sequencing for comparing gene sequences of WlKR between a VISA and its parental strain revealed mutation WalK-H364R. Structural protein mapping showed that H364R was located in a functional zinc ion coordinating residue within the cytoplasmic Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) domain. The structural and functional effects of this mutation were analyzed using molecular computational approaches based on the recently determined crystal structures of the PAS domain of S. aureus. WalK-H364R was predicted to destabilize protein and decrease WalK interactions with proteins and nucleic acids. The qRT-PCR method showed downregulation of walKR and WalKR-regulated autolysins, which verified the molecular computational results.Overall, WalK-H364R within a critical metal-coordinating site is linked to VISA development through the walKR gene expression changes as well as the destructive effects on protein.Therefore, molecular modeling can be provided detailed insight into the molecular mechanism of VISA development, in particular, where complementation experiments are not readily available.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 3206
Author(s):  
Lorina I. Badger-Emeka ◽  
Promise Madu Emeka ◽  
Hairul Islam M. Ibrahim

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is detrimental to hospitalized patients. With diminishing choices of antibiotics and the worry about resistance to colistin in synergistic combined therapy, there are suggestions for the use of herbal derivatives. This investigation evaluated the synergistic effects of Nigella sativa (NS) in combination with beta-lactam (β-lactam) antibiotics on extreme drug-resistant (XDR) MRSA isolates. NS concentrations of 10, 7.5, 5.0, 2.5, 1.0, and 0.1 µg/mL, alone and in combination with β-lactam antibiotics, were used to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of MRSA isolates by the well diffusion method. Time–kill assays were performed using a spectrophotometer, with time–kill curves plotted and synergism ascertained by the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC). Scanning and transmission electron microscopy were used to gain insight into the mechanism of action of treated groups. Isolates were inhibited by the NS concentrations, with differences in the zones of inhibition being statistically insignificant at p < 0.05. There were statistically significant differences in the time–kill assay for the MRSA isolates. In addition, NS combined with augmentin showed better killing than oxacillin and cefuroxime. The mechanism of action shown by the SEM and TEM results revealed cell wall disruption, which probably created interference that led to bacterial lysis.


Toxins ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zelma Faisal ◽  
Diána Derdák ◽  
Beáta Lemli ◽  
Sándor Kunsági-Máté ◽  
Mónika Bálint ◽  
...  

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a nephrotoxic mycotoxin. Roasting of OTA-contaminated coffee results in the formation of 2′R-ochratoxin A (2′R-OTA), which appears in the blood of coffee drinkers. Human serum albumin (HSA) binds 2′R-OTA (and OTA) with high affinity; therefore, albumin may influence the tissue uptake and elimination of ochratoxins. We aimed to investigate the binding site of 2′R-OTA (verses OTA) in HSA and the displacing effects of site markers to explore which molecules can interfere with its albumin-binding. Affinity of 2′R-OTA toward albumins from various species (human, bovine, porcine and rat) was tested to evaluate the interspecies differences regarding 2′R-OTA-albumin interaction. Thermodynamic studies were performed to give a deeper insight into the molecular background of the complex formation. Besides fluorescence spectroscopic and modeling studies, effects of HSA, and fetal bovine serum on the cytotoxicity of 2′R-OTA and OTA were tested in MDCK kidney cell line in order to demonstrate the influence of albumin-binding on the cellular uptake of ochratoxins. Site markers displaced more effectively 2′R-OTA than OTA from HSA. Fluorescence and binding constants of 2′R-OTA-albumin and OTA-albumin complexes showed different tendencies. Albumin significantly decreased the cytotoxicity of ochratoxins. 2′R-OTA, even at sub-toxic concentrations, increased the toxic action of OTA.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1859 (7) ◽  
pp. 482-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Petri ◽  
Yosuke Shimaki ◽  
Wanting Jiao ◽  
Hannah R. Bridges ◽  
Euan R. Russell ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (16) ◽  
pp. 5740
Author(s):  
Hrvoje Rimac ◽  
Tana Tandarić ◽  
Robert Vianello ◽  
Mirza Bojić

Human serum albumin (HSA) is the most abundant carrier protein in the human body. Competition for the same binding site between different ligands can lead to an increased active concentration or a faster elimination of one or both ligands. Indomethacin and quercetin both bind to the binding site located in the IIA subdomain. To determine the nature of the HSA-indomethacin-quercetin interactions, spectrofluorometric, docking, molecular dynamics studies, and quantum chemical calculations were performed. The results show that the indomethacin and quercetin binding sites do not overlap. Moreover, the presence of quercetin does not influence the binding constant and position of indomethacin in the pocket. However, binding of quercetin is much more favorable in the presence of indomethacin, with its position and interactions with HSA significantly changed. These results provide a new insight into drug-drug interactions, which can be important in situations when displacement from HSA or other proteins is undesirable or even desirable. This principle could also be used to deliberately prolong or shorten the xenobiotics’ half-life in the body, depending on the desired outcomes.


mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan M. Park ◽  
Patricia J. Kiley

ABSTRACTHow the architecture of DNA binding sites dictates the extent of repression of promoters is not well understood. Here, we addressed the importance of the number and information content of the three direct repeats (DRs) in the binding and repression of theicdApromoter by the phosphorylated form of the globalEscherichia colirepressor ArcA (ArcA-P). We show that decreasing the information content of the two sites with the highest information (DR1 and DR2) eliminated ArcA binding to all three DRs and ArcA repression oficdA. Unexpectedly, we also found that DR3 occupancy functions principally in repression, since mutation of this low-information-content site both eliminated DNA binding to DR3 and significantly weakenedicdArepression, despite the fact that binding to DR1 and DR2 was intact. In addition, increasing the information content of any one of the three DRs or addition of a fourth DR increased ArcA-dependent repression but perturbed signal-dependent regulation of repression. Thus, our data show that the information content and number of DR elements are critical architectural features for maintaining a balance between high-affinity binding and signal-dependent regulation oficdApromoter function in response to changes in ArcA-P levels. Optimization of such architectural features may be a common strategy to either dampen or enhance the sensitivity of DNA binding among the members of the large OmpR/PhoB family of regulators as well as other transcription factors.IMPORTANCEInEscherichia coli, the response regulator ArcA maintains homeostasis of redox carriers under O2-limiting conditions through a comprehensive repression of carbon oxidation pathways that require aerobic respiration to recycle redox carriers. Although a binding site architecture comprised of a variable number of sequence recognition elements has been identified within the promoter regions of ArcA-repressed operons, it is unclear how this variable architecture dictates transcriptional regulation. By dissecting the role of multiple sequence elements within theicdApromoter, we provide insight into the design principles that allow ArcA to repress transcription within diverse promoter contexts. Our data suggest that the arrangement of recognition elements is tailored to achieve sufficient repression of a given promoter while maintaining appropriate signal-dependent regulation of repression, providing insight into how diverse binding site architectures link changes in O2with the fine-tuning of carbon oxidation pathway levels.


2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (23) ◽  
pp. 7894-7904
Author(s):  
Jordan L. Pederick ◽  
Andrew P. Thompson ◽  
Stephen G. Bell ◽  
John B. Bruning

The ATP-grasp superfamily of enzymes shares an atypical nucleotide-binding site known as the ATP-grasp fold. These enzymes are involved in many biological pathways in all domains of life. One ATP-grasp enzyme, d-alanine–d-alanine ligase (Ddl), catalyzes ATP-dependent formation of the d-alanyl–d-alanine dipeptide essential for bacterial cell wall biosynthesis and is therefore an important antibiotic drug target. Ddl is activated by the monovalent cation (MVC) K+, but despite its clinical relevance and decades of research, how this activation occurs has not been elucidated. We demonstrate here that activating MVCs bind adjacent to the active site of Ddl from Thermus thermophilus and used a combined biochemical and structural approach to characterize MVC activation. We found that TtDdl is a type II MVC-activated enzyme, retaining activity in the absence of MVCs. However, the efficiency of TtDdl increased ∼20-fold in the presence of activating MVCs, and it was maximally activated by K+ and Rb+ ions. A strict dependence on ionic radius of the MVC was observed, with Li+ and Na+ providing little to no TtDdl activation. To understand the mechanism of MVC activation, we solved crystal structures of TtDdl representing distinct catalytic stages in complex with K+, Rb+, or Cs+. Comparison of these structures with apo TtDdl revealed no evident conformational change on MVC binding. Of note, the identified MVC binding site is structurally conserved within the ATP-grasp superfamily. We propose that MVCs activate Ddl by altering the charge distribution of its active site. These findings provide insight into the catalytic mechanism of ATP-grasp enzymes.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document