scholarly journals The Role of Type II Fatty Acid Synthesis Enzymes FabZ, ODSCI, and ODSCII in the Pathogenesis of Toxoplasma gondii Infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Pei Xu ◽  
Hany M. Elsheikha ◽  
Wen-Ge Liu ◽  
Zhi-Wei Zhang ◽  
Li-Xiu Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Fatty Acid Biosynthesis ◽  
Acyl Carrier Protein ◽  
Plaque Assay ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Type Ii

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, which has a worldwide distribution and can infect a large number of warm-blooded animals and humans. T. gondii must colonize and proliferate inside the host cells in order to maintain its own survival by securing essential nutrients for the development of the newly generated tachyzoites. The type II fatty acid biosynthesis pathway (FASII) in the apicoplast is essential for the growth and survival of T. gondii. We investigated whether deletion of genes in the FASII pathway influences the in vitro growth and in vivo virulence of T. gondii. We focused on beta-hydroxyacyl-acyl carrier protein dehydratase (FabZ) and oxidoreductase, short chain dehydrogenase/reductase family proteins ODSCI and ODSCII. We constructed T. gondii strains deficient in FabZ, ODSCI, and ODSCII using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology. The results of immunofluorescence assay, plaque assay, proliferation assay and egress assay showed that in RHΔFabZ strain the apicoplast was partly lost and the growth ability of the parasite in vitro was significantly inhibited, while for RHΔODSCI and RHΔODSCII mutant strains no similar changes were detected. RHΔFabZ exhibited reduced virulence for mice compared with RHΔODSCI and RHΔODSCII, as shown by the improved survival rate. Deletion of FabZ in the PRU strain significantly decreased the brain cyst burden in mice compared with PRUΔODSCI and PRUΔODSCII. Collectively, these findings suggest that FabZ contributes to the growth and virulence of T. gondii, while ODSCI and ODSCII do not contribute to these traits.

scholarly journals In Vitro Inhibition of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis β-Ketoacyl-Acyl Carrier Protein Reductase MabA by Isoniazid

2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 242-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Ducasse-Cabanot ◽  
Martin Cohen-Gonsaud ◽  
Hedia Marrakchi ◽  
Michel Nguyen ◽  
Didier Zerbib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Fatty Acid Biosynthesis ◽  
Dynamic Equilibrium ◽  
Acyl Carrier Protein ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Carrier Protein ◽  
Ligand Complex ◽  
Fas Ii

ABSTRACT The first-line specific antituberculous drug isoniazid inhibits the fatty acid elongation system (FAS) FAS-II involved in the biosynthesis of mycolic acids, which are major lipids of the mycobacterial envelope. The MabA protein that catalyzes the second step of the FAS-II elongation cycle is structurally and functionally related to the in vivo target of isoniazid, InhA, an NADH-dependent enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase. The present work shows that the NADPH-dependent β-ketoacyl reduction activity of MabA is efficiently inhibited by isoniazid in vitro by a mechanism similar to that by which isoniazid inhibits InhA activity. It involves the formation of a covalent adduct between MnIII-activated isoniazid and the MabA cofactor. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses revealed that the isonicotinoyl-NADP adduct has multiple chemical forms in dynamic equilibrium. Both kinetic experiments with isolated forms and purification of the enzyme-ligand complex strongly suggested that the molecules active against MabA activity are the oxidized derivative and a major cyclic form. Spectrofluorimetry showed that the adduct binds to the MabA active site. Modeling of the MabA-adduct complex predicted an interaction between the isonicotinoyl moiety of the inhibitor and Tyr185. This hypothesis was supported by the fact that a higher 50% inhibitory concentration of the adduct was measured for MabA Y185L than for the wild-type enzyme, while both proteins presented similar affinities for NADP+. The crystal structure of MabA Y185L that was solved showed that the substitution of Tyr185 induced no significant conformational change. The description of the first inhibitor of the β-ketoacyl reduction step of fatty acid biosynthesis should help in the design of new antituberculous drugs efficient against multidrug-resistant tubercle bacilli.

scholarly journals SMb20651 is another acyl carrier protein from Sinorhizobium meliloti

Microbiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 155 (1) ◽  
pp. 257-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Laura Ramos-Vega ◽  
Yadira Dávila-Martínez ◽  
Christian Sohlenkamp ◽  
Sandra Contreras-Martínez ◽  
Sergio Encarnación ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Sinorhizobium Meliloti ◽  
Fatty Acid Biosynthesis ◽  
Acyl Carrier Protein ◽  
Fatty Acyl ◽  
Acyl Carrier Proteins ◽  
Coa Ligase ◽  
Acyl Chains

Acyl carrier proteins (ACPs) are small acidic proteins that carry growing acyl chains during fatty acid or polyketide synthesis. In rhizobia, there are four different and well-characterized ACPs: AcpP, NodF, AcpXL and RkpF. The genome sequence of Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 reveals two additional ORFs that possibly encode additional ACPs. One of these, smb20651, is located on the plasmid pSymB as part of an operon. The genes of the operon encode a putative asparagine synthetase (AsnB), the predicted ACP (SMb20651), a putative long-chain fatty acyl-CoA ligase (SMb20650) and a putative ammonium-dependent NAD+ synthetase (NadE1). When SMb20651 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, [3H]β-alanine, a biosynthetic building block of 4′-phosphopantetheine, was incorporated into the protein in vivo. The purified SMb20651 was modified with 4′-phosphopantetheine in the presence of S. meliloti holo-ACP synthase (AcpS). Also, holo-SMb20651 was modified in vitro with a malonyl group by malonyl CoA-ACP transacylase. In E. coli, coexpression of SMb20651 together with other proteins such as AcpS and SMb20650 led to the formation of additional forms of SMb20651. In this bacterium, acylation of SMb20651 with C12 : 0 or C18 : 0 fatty acids was detected, demonstrating that this protein is involved in fatty acid biosynthesis or transfer. Expression of SMb20651 was detected in S. meliloti as holo-SMb20651 and acyl-SMb20651.

ACIS, A Novel KepTide™, Binds to ACE-2 Receptor and Inhibits the Infection of SARS-CoV2 Virus in vitro in Primate Kidney Cells: Therapeutic Implications for COVID-19 (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avik Sotira Scientific
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Plaque Assay ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Surface Glycoprotein ◽  
Crystallographic Structure ◽  
Therapeutic Implications ◽  
Biochemical Assays ◽  
Targeted Medicine

UNSTRUCTURED Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused by a virus known as SARS-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). Without a targeted-medicine, this disease has been causing a massive humanitarian crisis not only in terms of mortality, but also imposing a lasting damage to social life and economic progress of humankind. Therefore, an immediate therapeutic strategy needs to be intervened to mitigate this global crisis. Here, we report a novel KepTide™ (Knock-End Peptide) therapy that nullifies SARS-CoV2 infection. SARS-CoV2 employs its surface glycoprotein “spike” (S-glycoprotein) to interact with angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptor for its infection in host cells. Based on our in-silico-based homology modeling study validated with a recent X-ray crystallographic structure (PDB ID:6M0J), we have identified that a conserved motif of S-glycoprotein that intimately engages multiple hydrogen-bond (H-bond) interactions with ACE-2 enzyme. Accordingly, we designed a peptide, termed as ACIS (ACE-2 Inhibitory motif of Spike), that displayed significant affinity towards ACE-2 enzyme as confirmed by biochemical assays such as BLItz and fluorescence polarization assays. Interestingly, more than one biochemical modifications were adopted in ACIS in order to enhance the inhibitory action of ACIS and hence called as KEpTide™. Consequently, a monolayer invasion assay, plaque assay and dual immunofluorescence analysis further revealed that KEpTide™ efficiently mitigated the infection of SARS-CoV2 in vitro in VERO E6 cells. Finally, evaluating the relative abundance of ACIS in lungs and the potential side-effects in vivo in mice, our current study discovers a novel KepTide™ therapy that is safe, stable, and robust to attenuate the infection of SARS-CoV2 virus if administered intranasally. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.13.337584

In vivo and in vitro lipogenesis and aspects of metabolism in ovines: Effect of environmental temperature and dietary lipid supplementation

2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Moibi ◽  
R. J. Christopherson ◽  
E. K. Okine
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Fatty Acid Synthesis ◽  
Cold Exposure ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Dietary Lipid ◽  
Acetate Incorporation ◽  
Lipid Supplementation

Twenty-four wether lambs were randomly allocated to six treatments to investigate the effect of temperature and dietary lipid supplements on fatty acid synthesis and metabolic activity in sheep. The treatments consisted of four groups exposed to either cold (0 °C) or warm temperature (+23 °C) and given ad libitum access to either a control barley-based diet or with lipid supplementation. Two other groups were placed on the dietary regimen at 0 °C, but pair-fed to intake of animals in the +23 °C environment. At 5 wk, fatty acid synthesis was measured by [1-14C]acetate incorporation into tissue lipids. Cold exposure and dietary lipid supplementation had no effect (P > 0.05) on in vivo fatty acid synthesis rates in either longissimus dorsi or the liver. In both subcutaneous and mesenteric adipose tissue depots, the rate of acetate incorporation into tissue lipid was not significantly affected by cold exposure. In the perirenal fat depot, cold exposure increased (P < 0.05) the rate of fatty acid synthesis, while lipid supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) the rate in all tissue adipose depots. In vitro, mesenteric and perirenal adipose tissues from cold pair-fed animals had higher (P < 0.05) rates of fatty acid synthesis compared to tissues from animals in the warm environment. However, there was no effect of dietary lipid supplementation in these two fat depots. Metabolic heat production, and energy and nitrogen excretion by animals were increased (P < 0.05) by cold exposure while lipid supplementation had the opposite effect (P < 0.05). The relationship between average daily gain and feed intake was linear at both warm and cold environments, but with higher (P < 0.05) average daily gain at all levels of intake in the cold compared to the warm environment. Results indicate that both environment and diet regulate metabolic activity in sheep. However, there were differences in lipogenic response by tissues to the treatments. Key words: Environmental temperature, dietary lipid, fatty acid synthesis, metabolic rate, sheep

scholarly journals ROP18-Mediated Transcriptional Reprogramming of HEK293T Cell Reveals New Roles of ROP18 in the Interplay Between Toxoplasma gondii and the Host Cell

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie-Xi Li ◽  
Jun-Jun He ◽  
Hany M. Elsheikha ◽  
Jun Ma ◽  
Xiao-Pei Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Hek293t Cell ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Pathway Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Type I ◽  
Human Embryonic Kidney Cells ◽  
Pathway Enrichment

Toxoplasma gondii secretes a number of virulence-related effector proteins, such as the rhoptry protein 18 (ROP18). To further broaden our understanding of the molecular functions of ROP18, we examined the transcriptional response of human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293T) to ROP18 of type I T. gondii RH strain. Using RNA-sequencing, we compared the transcriptome of ROP18-expressing HEK293T cells to control HEK293T cells. Our analysis revealed that ROP18 altered the expression of 750 genes (467 upregulated genes and 283 downregulated genes) in HEK293T cells. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly enriched in extracellular matrix– and immune–related GO terms and pathways. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs were involved in several disease-related pathways, such as nervous system diseases and eye disease. ROP18 significantly increased the alternative splicing pattern “retained intron” and altered the expression of 144 transcription factors (TFs). These results provide new insight into how ROP18 may influence biological processes in the host cells via altering the expression of genes, TFs, and pathways. More in vitro and in vivo studies are required to substantiate these findings.

Fatty-acid synthase activity and mRNA level in hypertrophic type II cells from silica-treated rats

1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (2) ◽  
pp. L128-L136
Author(s):  
J. Rami ◽  
W. Stenzel ◽  
S. M. Sasic ◽  
C. Puel-M'Rini ◽  
J. P. Besombes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Fatty Acid Synthase ◽  
Fatty Acid Biosynthesis ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Mrna Level ◽  
Type Ii Cells ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Maximum Increase

Silica instillation causes a massive increase in lung surfactant. Two populations of type II pneumocytes can be isolated from rats administered silica by intratracheal injection: type IIA cells similar to type II cells from normal rats and type IIB cells, which are larger and contain elevated levels of surfactant protein A and phospholipid. Activities of choline-phosphate cytidylyltransferase, a rate-regulatory enzyme in phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis, and fatty-acid synthase (FAS) are increased in type IIB cells isolated from rats 14 days after silica injection. In the present study, we examined the increase in FAS and cytidylyltransferase activities in type IIB cells as a function of time after silica administration. FAS activity increased rapidly, was approximately threefold elevated 1 day after silica administration and has reached close to the maximum increase by 3 days. Cytidylyltransferase activity was not increased on day 1, was significantly increased on day 3 but was not maximally increased until day 7. Inhibition of de novo fatty-acid biosynthesis, by in vivo injection of hydroxycitric acid and inclusion of agaric acid in the type II cell culture medium, abolished the increase in cytidylyltransferase activity on day 3 but not FAS and had no effect on activities of two other enzymes of phospholipid synthesis. FAS mRNA levels were not increased in type IIB cells isolated 1-14 days after silica injection. These data show that the increase in FAS activity in type IIB cells is an early response to silica, that it mediates the increase in cytidylyltransferase activity, and that it is not due to enhanced FAS gene expression.

scholarly journals The ketolide antibiotics HMR 3647 and HMR 3004 are active against Toxoplasma gondii in vitro and in murine models of infection.

1997 ◽  
Vol 41 (10) ◽  
pp. 2137-2140 ◽  
Author(s):  
F G Araujo ◽  
A A Khan ◽  
T L Slifer ◽  
A Bryskier ◽  
J S Remington
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
New Class ◽  
Human Foreskin Fibroblasts ◽  
Significant Toxicity ◽  
Different Strains

Ketolides are a new class of macrolide antibiotics that have been shown to be active against a variety of bacteria including macrolide-resistant bacteria and mycobacteria. We examined two ketolides, HMR 3647 and HMR 3004, for their in vitro and in vivo activities against the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. In vitro, both ketolides at concentrations as low as 0.05 microg/ml markedly inhibited replication of tachyzoites of the RH strain within human foreskin fibroblasts. HMR 3004 demonstrated some toxicity for host cells after they were exposed to 5 microg of the drug per ml for 72 h. In contrast, HMR 3647 did not show any significant toxicity even at concentrations as high as 25 microg/ml. In vivo, both ketolides provided remarkable protection against death in mice lethally infected intraperitoneally with tachyzoites of the RH strain or orally with tissue cysts of the C56 strain of T. gondii. A dosage of 100 mg of HMR 3647 per kg of body weight per day administered for 10 days protected 50% of mice infected with tachyzoites. The same dosage of HMR 3004 protected 100% of the mice. In mice infected with cysts, a dosage of 30 mg of HMR 3647 per kg per day protected 100% of the mice, whereas a dosage of 40 mg of HMR 3004 per kg per day protected 75% of the mice. These results demonstrate that HMR 3647 and HMR 3004 possess excellent activities against two different strains of T. gondii and may be useful for the treatment of toxoplasmosis in humans.

scholarly journals Fatty Acid Synthesis Is Essential for Survival of Cryptococcus neoformans and a Potential Fungicidal Target

2007 ◽  
Vol 51 (10) ◽  
pp. 3537-3545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Methee Chayakulkeeree ◽  
Thomas H. Rude ◽  
Dena L. Toffaletti ◽  
John R. Perfect
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Cryptococcus Neoformans ◽  
Fatty Acid Synthase ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Synthase Inhibitor ◽  
The Brain

ABSTRACT Fatty acid synthase in the yeast Cryptococcus neoformans is composed of two subunits encoded by FAS1 and FAS2 genes. We inserted a copper-regulated promoter (P CTR4-2 ) to regulate FAS1 and FAS2 expression in Cryptococcus neoformans (strains P CTR4-2 /FAS1 and P CTR4-2 /FAS2, respectively). Both mutants showed growth rates similar to those of the wild type in a low-copper medium in which FAS1 and FAS2 were expressed, but even in the presence of exogenous fatty acids, strains were suppressed in growth under high-copper conditions. The treatment of C. neoformans with fluconazole was shown to have an increased inhibitory activity and even became fungicidal when either FAS1 or FAS2 expression was suppressed. Furthermore, a subinhibitory dose of fluconazole showed anticryptococcal activity in vitro in the presence of cerulenin, a fatty acid synthase inhibitor. In a murine model of pulmonary cryptococcosis, a tissue census of yeast cells in P CTR4-2 /FAS2 strain at day 7 of infection was significantly lower than that in mice treated with tetrathiomolybdate, a copper chelator (P < 0.05), and a yeast census of P CTR4-2 /FAS1 strain at day 14 of infection in the brain was lower in the presence of more copper. In fact, no positive cultures from the brain were detected in mice (with or without tetrathiomolybdate treatment) infected with the P CTR4-2 /FAS2 strain, which implies that this mutant did not reach the brain in mice. We conclude that both FAS1 and FAS2 in C. neoformans are essential for in vitro and in vivo growth in conditions with and without exogenous fatty acids and that FAS1 and FAS2 can potentially be fungicidal targets for C. neoformans with a potential for synergistic behavior with azoles.

scholarly journals The inhibitory effect of cromolyn sodium and ketotifen on Toxoplasma gondii entrance into host cells in vitro and in vivo

2014 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 1001-1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Rezaei ◽  
Mohammad Ali Ebrahimzadeh ◽  
Ahmad Daryani ◽  
Mehdi Sharif ◽  
Ehsan Ahmadpour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Cromolyn Sodium ◽  
Host Cells

scholarly journals Actin depolymerizing factor controls actin turnover and gliding motility in Toxoplasma gondii

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1290-1299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simren Mehta ◽  
L. David Sibley
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Gliding Motility ◽  
Conditional Knockout ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Actin Depolymerizing Factor

Apicomplexan parasites rely on actin-based gliding motility to move across the substratum, cross biological barriers, and invade their host cells. Gliding motility depends on polymerization of parasite actin filaments, yet ∼98% of actin is nonfilamentous in resting parasites. Previous studies suggest that the lack of actin filaments in the parasite is due to inherent instability, leaving uncertain the role of actin-binding proteins in controlling dynamics. We have previously shown that the single allele of Toxoplasma gondii actin depolymerizing factor (TgADF) has strong actin monomer–sequestering and weak filament-severing activities in vitro. Here we used a conditional knockout strategy to investigate the role of TgADF in vivo. Suppression of TgADF led to accumulation of actin-rich filaments that were detected by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Parasites deficient in TgADF showed reduced speed of motility, increased aberrant patterns of motion, and inhibition of sustained helical gliding. Lack of TgADF also led to severe defects in entry and egress from host cells, thus blocking infection in vitro. These studies establish that the absence of stable actin structures in the parasite are not simply the result of intrinsic instability, but that TgADF is required for the rapid turnover of parasite actin filaments, gliding motility, and cell invasion.

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