Platform to Discover Protease-Activated Antibiotics and Application to Siderophore-Antibiotic Conjugates

Here we present a platform for discovery of protease-activated prodrugs and apply it to antibiotics that target Gram-negative bacteria. Because cleavable linkersfor prodrugs had not been developed for bacterial proteases, we used substrate phage to discover substrates for proteases found in the bacterial periplasm. Rather than focusing on a single protease, we used a periplasmic extract to find sequences with the greatest susceptibility to the endogenous mixture of periplasmic proteases. Using a fluorescence assay, candidate sequences were evaluated to identify substrates that release native amine-containing payloads without an attached peptide “scar”. We next designed conjugates consisting of: 1) an N-terminal siderophore to facilitate uptake; 2) a protease-cleavable linker; 3) an amine-containing antibiotic. Using this strategy, we converted daptomycin – which by itself is active only against Gram-positive bacteria – into an antibiotic capable of targeting Gram-negative Acinetobacter species. We similarly demonstrated siderophorefacilitated delivery of oxazolidinone and macrolide antibiotics into a number of Gram-negative species. These results illustrate this platform’s utility for development of protease-activated prodrugs, including Trojan horse antibiotics.

Platform to Discover Protease-Activated Antibiotics and Application to Siderophore-Antibiotic Conjugates

Here we present a platform for discovery of protease-activated prodrugs and apply it to antibiotics that target Gram-negative bacteria. Because cleavable linkersfor prodrugs had not been developed for bacterial proteases, we used substrate phage to discover substrates for proteases found in the bacterial periplasm. Rather than focusing on a single protease, we used a periplasmic extract to find sequences with the greatest susceptibility to the endogenous mixture of periplasmic proteases. Using a fluorescence assay, candidate sequences were evaluated to identify substrates that release native amine-containing payloads without an attached peptide “scar”. We next designed conjugates consisting of: 1) an N-terminal siderophore to facilitate uptake; 2) a protease-cleavable linker; 3) an amine-containing antibiotic. Using this strategy, we converted daptomycin – which by itself is active only against Gram-positive bacteria – into an antibiotic capable of targeting Gram-negative Acinetobacter species. We similarly demonstrated siderophorefacilitated delivery of oxazolidinone and macrolide antibiotics into a number of Gram-negative species. These results illustrate this platform’s utility for development of protease-activated prodrugs, including Trojan horse antibiotics.

Platform to Discover Protease-Activated Antibiotics and Application to Siderophore-Antibiotic Conjugates

Here we present a platform for discovery of protease-activated prodrugs and apply it to antibiotics that target Gram-negative bacteria. Because cleavable linkersfor prodrugs had not been developed for bacterial proteases, we used substrate phage to discover substrates for proteases found in the bacterial periplasm. Rather than focusing on a single protease, we used a periplasmic extract to find sequences with the greatest susceptibility to the endogenous mixture of periplasmic proteases. Using a fluorescence assay, candidate sequences were evaluated to identify substrates that release native amine-containing payloads without an attached peptide “scar”. We next designed conjugates consisting of: 1) an N-terminal siderophore to facilitate uptake; 2) a protease-cleavable linker; 3) an amine-containing antibiotic. Using this strategy, we converted daptomycin – which by itself is active only against Gram-positive bacteria – into an antibiotic capable of targeting Gram-negative Acinetobacter species. We similarly demonstrated siderophorefacilitated delivery of oxazolidinone and macrolide antibiotics into a number of Gram-negative species. These results illustrate this platform’s utility for development of protease-activated prodrugs, including Trojan horse antibiotics.

L'hydrolyse des hétérosides terpéniques du Muscat a petits grains par les enzymes périplasmiques de Saccharomyces cerevisiae

<p style="text-align: justify;">Osidases located in periplasmic space of <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> are able to hydrolyse monoterpenes heterosides of Muscat grapes. To prepare the periplasmic extract, yeast cell walls are digested with <em>Zymolyase</em> in the presence of an osmotic protector to prevent lysis of the resulting protoplasts; periplasmic enzymes are liberated into the supernatant medium. Monoterpenes heterosides are incubated 48 or 72 hours at 25° C with either intact yeast cells or periplasmic enzymatic extract. Monoterpenes, especially gerianol and nerol, are liberated in these conditions. β-glucosidase activity seems to play an important rôle in these reactions.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Fungal extracellular β-glucosidases are commonly strongly inhibited by glucose. Surprisingly, the activity of periplasmic yeast β-glucosidase is quite glucose independant. These results suggest that some periplasmic enzymes from yeast may be involved in the hydrolysis of varietal aroma precursors in wines.</p>