噬菌体gp17基因2种重组产物的抗菌效应比较

通过重组技术获得大肠埃希菌噬菌体内溶素纯化蛋白和表面展示噬菌体,并观察产物的生物效应。将肠侵袭性大肠埃希菌EIEC 8401噬菌体LSB-1内溶素基因gp17构建到质粒pET300中,并在大肠埃希菌BL21中诱导表达,通过Ni柱纯化系统纯化产物;利用噬菌体展示技术构建T7-LSB-gp17重组噬菌体,通过双层琼脂法纯化噬菌体,并观察2种产物的抗菌效应。2 139 bp的gp17基因通过重组技术表达出78.3 ku的可溶性蛋白,纯化后浓度为2.38 mg/mL,其对EIEC8401有良好的抑菌活性,但对其他试验菌无抗性;通过噬菌体展示技术构建的重组噬菌体T7-LSB-gp17通过SDS-PAGE电泳显示在78 ku处有表达增强,对EIEC8401无感染、裂解作用,但对EIEC8401及其他试验菌有明显溶菌作用,宿主谱增加。通过重组技术获得的噬菌体LSB-1内溶素基因gp17的产物对LSB-1噬菌体原宿主具有明显的抑制效应。其中gp17表达的纯化蛋白具有明显的宿主专一性,重组噬菌体悬液有较宽种类的抗菌作用。这可能是因为gp17蛋白与噬菌体表面复杂空间结构的相互作用产生的生物效应。     

Co-expression of gene 31 and 23 products of bacteriophage T4

Folding of the major capsid protein of bacteriophage T4 encoded by gene 23 is aided by Escherichia coli GroEL chaperonin and phage co-chaperonin gp31. In the absence of gene product (gp) 31, aggregates of recombinant gp23 accumulate in the cell similar to inclusion bodies. These aggregates can be solubilized with 6 M urea. However, the protein cannot form regular structures in solution. A system of co-expression of gp31 and gp23 under the control of phage T7 promoter in E. coli cells has been constructed. Folding of entire-length gp23 (534 amino acid residues) in this system results in the correctly folded recombinant gp23, which forms long regular structures (polyheads) in the cell.     

Endolysin of bacteriophage BFK20: evidence of a catalytic and a cell wall binding domain

A gene product of ORF24' was identified on the genome of corynephage BFK20 as a putative phage endolysin. The protein of endolysin BFK20 (gp24') has a modular structure consisting of an N-terminal amidase_2 domain (gp24CD) and a C-terminal cell wall binding domain (gp24BD). The C-terminal domain is unrelated to any of the known cell wall binding domains of phage endolysins. The whole endolysin gene and the sequences of its N-terminal and C-terminal domains were cloned; proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. The lytic activities of endolysin and its catalytic domain were demonstrated on corynebacteria and bacillus substrates. The binding activity of cell wall binding domain alone and in fusion with green fluorescent protein (gp24BD-GFP) were shown by specific binding assays to the cell surface of BFK20 host Brevibacterium flavum CCM 251 as well as those of other corynebacteria.     

Peptidoglycan lytic activity of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage phiKZ gp144 lytic transglycosylase

The gp144 endolysin gene from the Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage phiKZ was cloned and studies of gp144 expression into Escherichia coli showed host cell lysis. The gp144 protein was purified directly from the culture supernatant and from the bacterial cell pellet and showed in vitro antibacterial lytic activity against P. aeruginosa bacteria and degraded purified peptidoglycan of Gram-negative bacteria. MS analysis identified the gp144 peptidoglycan cleavage site and confirmed a lytic transglycosylase enzyme. Studies of gp144 expression in the presence of sodium azide (NaN(3)), an inhibitor of the protein export machinery, and into an E. coli MM52 secA(ts) mutant at permissive and restrictive temperatures showed that gp144 was secreted independently of the Sec system. The solution conformation of purified gp144 analyzed by circular dichroism spectroscopy was 61% in alpha-helical content, and showed a 72% decrease when interacting with dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPG), one of the major components of bacterial membranes and less than 10% with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) found in eukaryotic membranes. Membrane vesicles of DMPG anionic lipids containing calcein indicated that gp144 caused a rapid release of fluorescent calcein when interacting with synthetic membranes. These results indicated that gp144 from phiKZ is a lytic transglycosylase capable of interacting with and disorganizing bacterial membranes and has potential as an antipseudomonal in phage therapy.     

Inter-ring communication allows the GroEL chaperonin complex to distinguish between different substrates

The productive folding of substrate proteins by the GroEL complex of Escherichia coli requires the activity of both the chaperonin rings. These heptameric rings were shown to regulate the chaperonins' affinity for substrates and co-chaperonin via inter-ring communications; however, the molecular details of the interactions are not well understood. We have investigated the effect of substrate binding on inter-ring communications of the chaperonin complex, both the double-ring GroEL as well as the single-ring SR1 chaperonin in complex with four different substrates by using mass spectrometry. This approach shows that whereas SR1 is unable to distinguish between Rubisco, gp23, gp5, and MDH, GroEL shows clear differences upon binding these substrates. The most distinctive binding behavior is observed for Rubisco, which only occupies one GroEL ring. Both bacteriophage capsid proteins (gp23 and gp5) as well as MDH are able to bind to the two GroEL rings simultaneously. Our data suggest that inter-ring communication allows the chaperonin complex to differentiate between substrates. Using collision induced dissociation in the gas phase, differences between the chaperonin(substrate) complexes are observed only when both rings are present. The data indicate that the size of the substrate is an important factor that determines the degree of stabilization of the chaperonin complex.     

An expanded protein folding cage in the GroEL-gp31 complex

Bacteriophage T4 produces a GroES analogue, gp31, which cooperates with the Escherichia coli GroEL to fold its major coat protein gp23. We have used cryo-electron microscopy and image processing to obtain three-dimensional structures of the E.coli chaperonin GroEL complexed with gp31, in the presence of both ATP and ADP. The GroEL-gp31-ADP map has a resolution of 8.2 A, which allows accurate fitting of the GroEL and gp31 crystal structures. Comparison of this fitted structure with that of the GroEL-GroES-ADP structure previously determined by cryo-electron microscopy shows that the folding cage is expanded. The enlarged volume for folding is consistent with the size of the bacteriophage coat protein gp23, which is the major substrate of GroEL-gp31 chaperonin complex. At 56 kDa, gp23 is close to the maximum size limit of a polypeptide that is thought to fit inside the GroEL-GroES folding cage.     

Chaperonin-mediated folding of bacteriophage T4 major capsid protein. II. Production of gene product 23 deletion mutants

Folding of bacteriophage T4 major capsid protein, gene product 23 (534 a.a.), is aided by two proteins: E. coli GroEL chaperonin and viral gp31 co-chaperonin. In the present work a set of mutants with extensive deletions inside gene 23 using controlled digestion with Bal31 nuclease has been constructed. Proteins with deletions were co-expressed from plasmid vectors with phage gp31 co-chaperonin. Deletions from 8 to 33 a.a. in the N-terminal region of the gp23 molecule covering the protein proteolytic cleavage site during capsid maturation have no influence on the mutants' ability to produce in E. coli cells proteins which form regular structures—polyheads. Deletions in other regions of the polypeptide chain (187-203 and 367-476 a.a.) disturb the correct folding and subsequent assembly of gp23 into polyheads.     

Identification and characterization of a GroEL homologue in Rhodobacter sphaeroides

A protein closely related to the Escherichia coli GroEL protein has been isolated from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. Native and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of this protein have shown that it is present in the cell as a multimeric complex of Mr 670,000 which is composed of a monomer of Mr 58,000. Antisera raised against the Mr 58,000 polypeptide have been shown to cross-react with GroEL and the alpha subunit of the pea plastid chaperonin. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the Mr 58,000 polypeptide is identical to that of GroEL at 15 of 19 residues and is also closely related to the alpha subunit of the pea plastid chaperonin, though less so to the beta subunit.     

HSP60/10 chaperonin systems are inhibited by a variety of approved drugs,natural products,and known bioactive molecules

All living organisms contain a unique class of molecular chaperones called 60?kDa heat shock proteins (HSP60 – also known as GroEL in bacteria). While some organisms contain more than one HSP60 or GroEL isoform, at least one isoform has always proven to be essential. Because of this, we have been investigating targeting HSP60 and GroEL chaperonin systems as an antibiotic strategy. Our initial studies focused on applying this antibiotic strategy for treating African sleeping sickness (caused by Trypanosoma brucei parasites) and drug-resistant bacterial infections (in particular Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus – MRSA). Intriguingly, during our studies we found that three known antibiotics – suramin, closantel, and rafoxanide – were potent inhibitors of bacterial GroEL and human HSP60 chaperonin systems. These findings prompted us to explore what other approved drugs, natural products, and known bioactive molecules might also inhibit HSP60 and GroEL chaperonin systems. Initial high-throughput screening of 3680 approved drugs, natural products, and known bioactives identified 161 hit inhibitors of the Escherichia coli GroEL chaperonin system (4.3% hit rate). From a purchased subset of 60 hits, 29 compounds (48%) re-confirmed as selective GroEL inhibitors in our assays, all of which were nearly equipotent against human HSP60. These findings illuminate the notion that targeting chaperonin systems might be a more common occurrence than we previously appreciated. Future studies are needed to determine if the in vivo modes of action of these approved drugs, natural products, and known bioactive molecules are related to GroEL and HSP60 inhibition.     

Characterization of lytic enzyme open reading frame 9 (ORF9) derived from Enterococcus faecalis bacteriophage phiEF24C

In bacteriophage (phage) therapy against Gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Enterococcus faecalis, members of a genus of SPO1-like viruses are typically employed because of their extreme virulence and broad host spectrum. Phage φEF24C, which is a SPO1-like virus infecting E. faecalis, has previously been characterized as a therapeutic phage candidate. In addition to the phage itself, phage endolysin is also recognized as an effective antimicrobial agent. In this study, a putative endolysin gene (orf9) of E. faecalis phage φEF24C was analyzed in silico, and its activity was characterized using the recombinant form. First, bioinformatics analysis predicted that the open reading frame 9 (ORF9) protein is N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidase. Second, bacteriolytic and bactericidal activities of ORF9 against E. faecalis were confirmed by zymography, decrease of peptidoglycan turbidity, decrease of the viable count, and morphological analysis of ORF9-treated cells. Third, ORF9 did not appear to require Zn(2+) ions for its activity, contrary to the bioinformatics prediction of a Zn(2+) ion requirement. Fourth, the lytic spectrum was from 97.1% (34 out of 35 strains, including vancomycin-resistant strains) of E. faecalis strains to 60% (6 out of 10 strains) of Enterococcus faecium strains. Fifth, N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidase activity of ORF9 was confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and the subsequent MALDI-postsource decay (PSD) analyses. Finally, functional analysis using N- or C-terminally deleted ORF9 mutants suggested that a complete ORF9 molecule is essential for its activity. These results suggested that ORF9 is an endolysin of phage φEF24C and can be a therapeutic alternative to antibiotics.     

Genome comparison of Pseudomonas aeruginosa large phages

Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage EL is a dsDNA phage related to the giant phiKZ-like Myoviridae. The EL genome sequence comprises 211,215 bp and has 201 predicted open reading frames (ORFs). The EL genome does not share DNA sequence homology with other viruses and micro-organisms sequenced to date. However, one-third of the predicted EL gene products (gps) shares similarity (Blast alignments of 17-55% amino acid identity) with phiKZ proteins. Comparative EL and phiKZ genomics reveals that these giant phages are an example of substantially diverged genetic mosaics. Based on the position of similar EL and phiKZ predicted gene products, five genome regions can be delineated in EL, four of which are relatively conserved between EL and phiKZ. Region IV, a 17.7 kb genome region with 28 predicted ORFs, is unique to EL. Fourteen EL ORFs have been assigned a putative function based on protein similarity. Assigned proteins are involved in DNA replication and nucleotide metabolism (NAD+-dependent DNA ligase, ribonuclease HI, helicase, thymidylate kinase), host lysis and particle structure. EL-gp146 is the first chaperonin GroEL sequence identified in a viral genome. Besides a putative transposase, EL harbours predicted mobile endonucleases related to H-N-H and LAGLIDADG homing endonucleases associated with group I intron and intein intervening sequences.     

Non-functioning chaperonin GroEL stimulates protein aggregation

To clarify the role of chaperones in the development of amyloid diseases, the interaction of the chaperonin GroEL with misfolded proteins and recombinant prions has been studied. The efficiency of the chaperonin-assisted folding of denatured glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was shown to be decreased in the presence of prions. Prions are capable of binding to GroEL immobilized on Sepharose, but this does not prevent the interaction between GroEL and other denatured proteins. The size of individual proteins (GroEL, GAPDH, and the recombinant prion) and aggregates formed after their mixing have been determined by the dynamic light scattering analysis. It was shown that at 25°C, the non-functioning chaperonin (equimolar mixture of GroEL and GroES in the absence of Mg-ATP) bound prion yielding large aggregates (greater than 400 nm). The addition of Mg-ATP decreased significantly the size of the aggregates to 70–80 nm. After blocking of one of the chaperonin active sites by oxidized denatured GAPDH, the aggregate size increased to 1200 nm, and the addition of Mg-ATP did not prevent the aggregation. These data indicate the significant role of chaperonins in the formation of amyloid structures and demonstrate the acceleration of aggregation in the presence of functionally inactive chaperonins. The suggested model can be used for the analysis of the efficiency of antiaggregants in the system containing chaperonins.     

Identification and characterization of an endolysin encoded by the<Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces aureofaciens</Emphasis> phage μ1/6

An open reading frame homologous to the genes encoding several cell-wall hydrolyzing enzymes was identified on the genome of actinophage mu 1/6. This open reading frame encoding the putative endolysin was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and cloned into the expression vector pET-21a. This gene consisted of 1182 bp encoding a 393 amino acid polypeptide with a molar mass of 42.1 kDa. The gene product was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and then the lytic enzyme was purified by a two-step chromatographic procedure. When applied exogenously, the endolysin of phage mu 1/6 was active against all tested Streptomyces strains but did not affect other bacteria. The amino acid sequence showed a high homology with a putative amidase of the Streptomyces phase phi C31. Downstream of the endolysin gene, an open reading frame encoding an 88 amino acid protein was identified. Structural analysis of its sequence revealed features characteristics for holin.     

Dual-targeting GroEL/ES chaperonin and protein tyrosine phosphatase B (PtpB) inhibitors: A polypharmacology strategy for treating Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections

Current treatments for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections require long and complicated regimens that can lead to patient non-compliance, increasing incidences of antibiotic-resistant strains, and lack of efficacy against latent stages of disease. Thus, new therapeutics are needed to improve tuberculosis standard of care. One strategy is to target protein homeostasis pathways by inhibiting molecular chaperones such as GroEL/ES (HSP60/10) chaperonin systems. M. tuberculosis has two GroEL homologs: GroEL1 is not essential but is important for cytokine-dependent granuloma formation, while GroEL2 is essential for survival and likely functions as the canonical housekeeping chaperonin for folding proteins. Another strategy is to target the protein tyrosine phosphatase B (PtpB) virulence factor that M. tuberculosis secretes into host cells to help evade immune responses. In the present study, we have identified a series of GroEL/ES inhibitors that inhibit M. tuberculosis growth in liquid culture and biochemical function of PtpB in vitro. With further optimization, such dual-targeting GroEL/ES and PtpB inhibitors could be effective against all stages of tuberculosis – actively replicating bacteria, bacteria evading host cell immune responses, and granuloma formation in latent disease – which would be a significant advance to augment current therapeutics that primarily target actively replicating bacteria.     

Analogs of nitrofuran antibiotics are potent GroEL/ES inhibitor pro-drugs

In two previous studies, we identified compound 1 as a moderate GroEL/ES inhibitor with weak to moderate antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including Bacillus subtilis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Acinetobacter baumannii, and SM101 Escherichia coli (which has a compromised lipopolysaccharide biosynthetic pathway making bacteria more permeable to drugs). Extending from those studies, we developed two series of analogs with key substructures resembling those of known antibacterials, nitroxoline (hydroxyquinoline moiety) and nifuroxazide/nitrofurantoin (bis-cyclic-N-acylhydrazone scaffolds). Through biochemical and cell-based assays, we identified potent GroEL/ES inhibitors that selectively blocked E. faecium, S. aureus, and E. coli proliferation with low cytotoxicity to human colon and intestine cells in vitro. Initially, only the hydroxyquinoline-bearing analogs were found to be potent inhibitors in our GroEL/ES-mediated substrate refolding assays; however, subsequent testing in the presence of an E. coli nitroreductase (NfsB) in situ indicated that metabolites of the nitrofuran-bearing analogs were potent GroEL/ES inhibitor pro-drugs. Consequently, this study has identified a new target of nitrofuran-containing drugs, and is the first reported instance of such a unique class of GroEL/ES chaperonin inhibitors. The intriguing results presented herein provide impetus for expanded studies to validate inhibitor mechanisms and optimize this antibacterial class using the respective GroEL/ES chaperonin systems and nitroreductases from E. coli and the ESKAPE bacteria.     

Functional analysis of the holin-like proteins of mycobacteriophage Ms6

The mycobacteriophage Ms6 is a temperate double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) bacteriophage which, in addition to the predicted endolysin (LysA)-holin (Gp4) lysis system, encodes three additional proteins within its lysis module: Gp1, LysB, and Gp5. Ms6 Gp4 was previously described as a class II holin-like protein. By analysis of the amino acid sequence of Gp4, an N-terminal signal-arrest-release (SAR) domain was identified, followed by a typical transmembrane domain (TMD), features which have previously been observed for pinholins. A second putative holin gene (gp5) encoding a protein with a predicted single TMD at the N-terminal region was identified at the end of the Ms6 lytic operon. Neither the putative class II holin nor the single TMD polypeptide could trigger lysis in pairwise combinations with the endolysin LysA in Escherichia coli. One-step growth curves and single-burst-size experiments of different Ms6 derivatives with deletions in different regions of the lysis operon demonstrated that the gene products of gp4 and gp5, although nonessential for phage viability, appear to play a role in controlling the timing of lysis: an Ms6 mutant with a deletion of gp4 (Ms6(Δgp4)) caused slightly accelerated lysis, whereas an Ms6(Δgp5) deletion mutant delayed lysis, which is consistent with holin function. Additionally, cross-linking experiments showed that Ms6 Gp4 and Gp5 oligomerize and that both proteins interact. Our results suggest that in Ms6 infection, the correct and programmed timing of lysis is achieved by the combined action of Gp4 and Gp5.     

Co-expression of chaperonin GroEL/GroES enhances in vivo folding of yeast mitochondrial aconitase and alters the growth characteristics of Escherichia coli

Over last two decades many researchers have demonstrated the mechanisms of how the Escherichia coli chaperonin GroEL and GroES work in the binding and folding of different aggregation prone substrate proteins both in vivo and in vitro. However, preliminary aspects, such as influence of co-expressing GroEL and GroES on the over expression of other recombinant proteins in E. coli cells and subsequent growth aspects, as well as the conditions for optimum production of recombinant proteins in presence of recombinant chaperones have not been properly investigated. In the present study we have demonstrated the temperature dependent growth characteristics of E. coli cells, which are over expressing recombinant aconitase and how the co-expression of E. coli chaperonin GroEL and GroES influence the growth rate of the cells and in vivo folding of recombinant aconitase. Presence of co-expressed GroEL reduces the aconitase over-expression drastically; however, exogenous GroEL & GroES together compensate this reduction. For the aconitase over-expressing cells the growth rate decreases by 30% at 25 degrees C when compared with the M15 E. coli cells, however, there is an increase of 20% at 37 degrees C indicating the participation of endogenous chaperonin in the folding of a fraction of over expressed aconitase. However, in presence of co-expressed GroEL and GroES the growth rate of aconitase producing cells was enhanced by 30% at 37 degrees C confirming the assistance of exogenous chaperone system for the folding of recombinant aconitase. Optimum in vivo folding of aconitase requires co-production of complete E. coli chaperonin machinery GroEL and GroES together.     

Effect of ADP and GroES on interaction of molecular chaperonin GroEL with non-native lysozyme

The interaction of the molecular chaperonin GroEL with fluorescein-labeled lysozyme in the presence of high concentrations of thiol reagent--dithiothreitol (DTT) has been studied. In case of high concentrations of DTT lysozyme loses the native conformation due to the disruption of the intramolecular disulfide bonds stabilizing its structure and effectively aggregates. It has been shown that in the presence of high concentrations of DTT and two-fold molar excess of GroEL the lysozyme tightly interacts with GroEL that essentially decreases the efficiency of its aggregation. The addition of ADP to the complex of GroEL with nonnative lysozyme noticeably decreases the interaction of the chaperonin with nonnative protein target resulting in some increase of the efficiency of its aggregation. However, the addition of the co-chaperonin GroES together with ADP (i.e. the formation of the complex of GroEL with GroES) leads to drastic weakness of the interaction of GroEL with nonnative lysozyme and the efficiency of its aggregation becomes comparable with that in the absence of GroEL.     

Coexistence of group I and group II chaperonins in the archaeon Methanosarcina mazei

Two distantly related classes of cylindrical chaperonin complexes assist in the folding of newly synthesized and stress-denatured proteins in an ATP-dependent manner. Group I chaperonins are thought to be restricted to the cytosol of bacteria and to mitochondria and chloroplasts, whereas the group II chaperonins are found in the archaeal and eukaryotic cytosol. Here we show that members of the archaeal genus Methanosarcina co-express both the complete group I (GroEL/GroES) and group II (thermosome/prefoldin) chaperonin systems in their cytosol. These mesophilic archaea have acquired between 20 and 35% of their genes by lateral gene transfer from bacteria. In Methanosarcina mazei G?1, both chaperonins are similarly abundant and are moderately induced under heat stress. The M. mazei GroEL/GroES proteins have the structural features of their bacterial counterparts. The thermosome contains three paralogous subunits, alpha, beta, and gamma, which assemble preferentially at a molar ratio of 2:1:1. As shown in vitro, the assembly reaction is dependent on ATP/Mg2+ or ADP/Mg2+ and the regulatory role of the beta subunit. The co-existence of both chaperonin systems in the same cellular compartment suggests the Methanosarcina species as useful model systems in studying the differential substrate specificity of the group I and II chaperonins and in elucidating how newly synthesized proteins are sorted from the ribosome to the proper chaperonin for folding.     

Tail-associated structural protein gp61 of Staphylococcus aureus phage phi MR11 has bifunctional lytic activity.

A tailed bacteriophage, phi MR11 (siphovirus), was selected as a candidate therapeutic phage against Staphylococcus aureus infections. Gene 61, one of the 67 ORFs identified, is located in the morphogenic module. The gene product (gp61) has lytic domains homologous to CHAP (corresponding to an amidase function) at its N-terminus and lysozyme subfamily 2 (LYZ2) at its C-terminus. Each domain of gp61 was purified as a recombinant protein. Both the amidase [amino acids (aa) 1-150] and the lysozyme (aa 401-624) domains but not the linker domain (aa 151-400) caused efficient lysis of S. aureus. Immunoelectron microscopy localized gp61 to the tail tip of the phi MR11 phage. These data strongly suggest that gp61 is a tail-associated lytic factor involved in local cell-wall degradation, allowing the subsequent injection of phi MR11 DNA into the host cytoplasm. Staphylococcus aureus lysogenized with phi MR11 was also lysed by both proteins. Staphylococcus aureus strains on which phi MR11 phage can only produce spots but not plaques were also lysed by each protein, indicating that gp61 may be involved in 'lysis from without'. This is the first report of the presence of a tail-associated virion protein that acts as a lysin, in an S. aureus phage.