Sulfation of hydroxychlorobiphenyls. Molecular cloning, expression, and functional characterization of zebrafish SULT1 sulfotransferases.

As a first step toward developing a zebrafish model for investigating the role of sulfation in counteracting environmental estrogenic chemicals, we have embarked on the identification and characterization of cytosolic sulfotransferases (STs) in zebrafish. By searching the zebrafish expressed sequence tag database, we have identified two cDNA clones encoding putative cytosolic STs. These two zebrafish ST cDNAs were isolated and subjected to nucleotide sequencing. Sequence data revealed that the two zebrafish STs are highly homologous, being approximately 82% identical in their amino acid sequences. Both of them display approximately 50% amino acid sequence identity to human SULT1A1, rat SULT1A1, and mouse SULT1C1 ST. These two zebrafish STs therefore appear to belong to the SULT1 cytosolic ST gene family. Recombinant zebrafish STs (designated SULT1 STs 1 and 2), expressed using the pGEX-2TK prokaryotic expression system and purified from transformed Escherichia coli cells, migrated as approximately 35 kDa proteins on SDS/PAGE. Purified zebrafish SULT1 STs 1 and 2 displayed differential sulfating activities toward a number of endogenous compounds and xenobiotics including hydroxychlorobiphenyls. Kinetic constants of the two enzymes toward two representative hydroxychlorobiphenyls, 3-chloro-4-biphenylol and 3,3',5,5'-tetrachloro-4,4'-biphenyldiol, and 3,3',5-triiodo-l-thyronine were determined. A thermostability experiment revealed the two enzymes to be relatively stable over the range 20-43 degrees C. Among 10 different divalent metal cations tested, Co2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ exhibited considerable inhibitory effects, while Hg2+ and Cu2+ rendered both enzymes virtually inactive.     

Genetic diversity and molecular typing of Listeria monocytogenes in China

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Listeria monocytogenes can cause invasive diseases in humans and farm animals and is frequently isolated from dairy products and poultry. Listeriosis is uncommon in China but L. monocytogenes has been isolated from foods and food processing environments in China. However little is known of genetic diversity of Chinese L. monocytogenes isolates and their relationships with global isolates. RESULTS: Two hundred and twelve isolates of L. monocytogenes from food sources from 12 provinces/cities in China were analysed by serotyping, Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) and Multi-locus Sequence Typing (MLST). The predominant serotypes are 1/2a, 1/2b and 1/2c accounting for 90.1% of the isolations. PFGE divided the isolates into 61 pulse types (PTs). Twenty nine PTs were represented by more than one isolates with PT GX6A16.0004 containing the most number of isolates. MLST differentiated the isolates into 36 STs, among which 15 were novel. The most common 3 STs were ST9 (29.1%), ST8 (10.7%) and ST87 (9.2%), accounting for 49.0% of the isolates. CONCLUSIONS: STs prevalent in other parts of the world are also prevalent in China including 7 STs (ST1-ST3, ST5, ST6, ST8, ST9) which caused maternal fetal infections or outbreaks, suggesting that these STs potentially can also cause severe human infections or outbreaks in China. Surveillance of these STs will provide important information for prevention of listeriosis. This study also enhances our understanding of genetic diversity of L. monocytogenes in China.     

Multilocus sequence typing and virulence factors analysis of Escherichia coli O157 strains in China

Escherichia coli O157:H7, an important food-borne pathogen, has become a major public health concern worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular epidemiologic feature of E. coli O157:H7 strains in China. 105 E. coli O157:H7 isolates were collected from various hosts and places over 9 years. A multilocus sequence typing scheme (MLST) was applied for bacteria genotyping and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for virulence factor identification. Seven new MLST sequence types (STs), namely ST836, ST837, ST838, ST839, ST840, ST841, and ST842 were identified, which grouped into two lineages. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the most two frequent STs in China, ST837 and ST836, may be the derivatives of E. coli O157:H7 Sakai or E. coli O157:H7 EDL933. Geographical diversity and host variety of E. coli O157:H7 were observed in China. In addition, the different distribution of tccp was detected. The data presented herein provide new insights into the molecular epidemiologic feature of E. coli O157:H7, and aid in the investigation of the transmission regularity and evolutionary mechanism of E. coli O157:H7.     

医院肺炎克雷伯菌耐药及分子流行病学特征研究

摘要 目的：了解医院肺炎克雷伯菌的耐药及分子流行特点,分析其基因同源性,为医院感染控制提供实验室依据。方法：收集2017年10月-2018年12月医院分离的耐碳青霉烯类肺炎克雷伯菌和碳青霉烯类敏感肺炎克雷伯菌,用梅里埃VITEK 2 Compact 全自动微生物分析系统进行细菌鉴定和药敏分析,K-B法药敏予以补充;采用赛沛Xpert?Carba-R试剂盒检测耐碳青霉烯类肺炎克雷伯菌碳青霉烯耐药基因;采用多位点序列分析技术检测菌株7个管家基因型别及其ST型别,使用eBURST软件对ST数据进行亲缘性关系分析。结果：共分离到63株耐碳青霉烯类肺炎克雷伯菌和211株碳青霉烯类敏感肺炎克雷伯菌（随机选取30株作研究）;耐药组对青霉素类、大环内酯类、头孢菌素类、喹诺酮类、含酶抑制剂类、四环素类耐药率显著高于敏感组;63株耐药株中,96.83%（61/63）产KPC酶,1.59%（1/63）产KPC酶和NDM酶,1.59%（1/63）未检测到5种碳青霉烯酶基因;耐碳青霉烯类组获得8个ST型别,包括ST11（54/63,85.71%）、ST15（2/63,3.17%）、ST392（2/63,3.17%）、ST45（1/63,1.59%）、ST147（1/63,1.59%）,ST659（1/63,1.59%）、ST3228（1/63,1.59%）、STr1（1/63,1.59%）,STr1为新发现型别,属于克隆复合体11;30株碳青霉烯敏感组获得25个ST型别,包括ST35（3/30,10.00%）,ST659（3/30,10.00%）,ST147（2/30,6.67%）,ST485、 ST34、 ST395、ST370、ST2388、ST893、ST11、ST2176、ST221、ST86、ST380、ST65、ST920、ST268、ST25、ST2154、ST2229以及5个新ST型别（STs1,STs2,STs3,STs4,STs5）各1株,分别占3.33%,两组比较,耐药组ST型别集中而敏感组离散,差异明显。结论：医院耐碳青霉烯肺炎克雷伯菌具有基因同源相关性,并呈现水平传播的趋势。     

Differential xenoestrogen-sulfating activities of the human cytosolic sulfotransferases: molecular cloning,expression, and purification of human SULT2B1a and SULT2B1b sulfotransferases

Environmental xenoestrogens have been implicated in human reproductive disorders and an increased incidence of breast cancer. Sulfation, a Phase II detoxification mechanism involving the cytosolic sulfotransferases (STs), may be an important mechanism in vivo for fending off these compounds. In this study, we report on the molecular cloning, expression, and purification of two human cytosolic STs, SULT2B1a and SULT2b1b. The activities of these two enzymes, as well as the other eight known human cytosolic STs previously prepared, toward representative environmental xenoestrogens were examined. Activity data showed that P-form (SULT1A1) PST displayed the highest activity toward these compounds, while SULT1C ST #2 also showed considerable activity, indicating that these enzymes may play a more important role in detoxification of environmental xenoestrogens. SULT1C ST #1, SULT2B1a ST, SULT2B1b ST and NST showed negligible or undetectable activity toward these compounds. The other four enzymes, M-form (SULT1A3) PST, SULT1B2 ST, SULT2A1 ST and SULT1E ST showed intermediate levels of activity toward some of these compounds. Kinetic studies on the sulfation of xenoestrogens by P-form (SULT1A1) PST were performed. The results are interpreted in the context of the endocrine-disrupting nature of these xenoestrogens.     

Differential xenoestrogen-sulfating activities of the human cytosolic sulfotransferases: molecular cloning,expression, and purification of human SULT2B1a and SULT2B1b sulfotransferases

Environmental xenoestrogens have been implicated in human reproductive disorders and an increased incidence of breast cancer. Sulfation, a Phase II detoxification mechanism involving the cytosolic sulfotransferases (STs), may be an important mechanism in vivo for fending off these compounds. In this study, we report on the molecular cloning, expression, and purification of two human cytosolic STs, SULT2B1a and SULT2b1b. The activities of these two enzymes, as well as the other eight known human cytosolic STs previously prepared, toward representative environmental xenoestrogens were examined. Activity data showed that P-form (SULT1A1) PST displayed the highest activity toward these compounds, while SULT1C ST #2 also showed considerable activity, indicating that these enzymes may play a more important role in detoxification of environmental xenoestrogens. SULT1C ST #1, SULT2B1a ST, SULT2B1b ST and NST showed negligible or undetectable activity toward these compounds. The other four enzymes, M-form (SULT1A3) PST, SULT1B2 ST, SULT2A1 ST and SULT1E ST showed intermediate levels of activity toward some of these compounds. Kinetic studies on the sulfation of xenoestrogens by P-form (SULT1A1) PST were performed. The results are interpreted in the context of the endocrine-disrupting nature of these xenoestrogens.     

Molecular characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Izmir, Turkey

In recent years, molecular typing methods have been used in epidemiologic studies of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in various areas of the world. However, there have been few data on this issue in Turkey. We describe the molecular characterization of 56 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates recovered from individual patients in Izmir and the surrounding area by three different molecular methods. Isolated M. tuberculosis strains were characterized by IS6110 RFLP, spoligotyping and major genetic group designation. In total, 51 RFLP and 35 spoligopatterns were identified. Fourteen (25%) isolates were indicated as low copy number. Based on three genotypic characterization methods together, five clusters with two isolates each were identified. Most of the isolates (98.2%) were assigned as genetic groups 2 or 3. Only one isolate was identified as Beijing family strain (principal genetic group 1). The shared international clades were found to be Beijing-family, var T1 (ST 37), LAM (Latin-American-Mediterranean) 7 (ST 41), LAM 9 (ST 42), Haarlem 1 (ST 47), Haarlem 3 (ST 50) and T1 (ST 53). In this study, IS6110 RFLP, spoligotyping and major genetic group designation were found to be useful methods for molecular epidemiologic studies.     

Differential expression of mRNAs for sialyltransferase isoenzymes induced in the hippocampus of mouse following kindled seizures

Sialic acids play important roles in various biological functions. In the brain, evidence suggests that sialylation of glycoproteins and glycolipids affects neural plasticity. While the 18 sialyltransferase isoenzymes (STs) identified to date synthesize individual sialyl-oligosaccharide structures, they each exhibit activity toward more than one substrate and can overlap in their specificity. Therefore, the distribution of STs is a secondary factor in the study of specific sialylation. Here, seven STs; ST3Gal I-IV, ST8Sia IV, ST6Gal I and ST6GalNAc II, the expressions of which were identified in the adult hippocampus by RT-PCR, showed diverse localization patterns in the hippocampus on in situ hybridization, suggesting that the individual cells expressed relevant STS: Furthermore, to assay activity-related changes in ST expression, we used amygdaloid-kindling among models of neural plasticity. Differential expression of the STs participating in the kindling, notably, up-regulation of ST3Gal IV and ST6GalNAc II mRNAs, and down-regulation of ST3Gal I and ST8Sia IV mRNAs, were observed in the hippocampus following kindled seizures. These results indicate that ST expressions are regulated by physiological activity and may play a role in neural plasticity.     

Characterization of a zebrafish estrogen-sulfating cytosolic sulfotransferase: inhibitory effects and mechanism of action of phytoestrogens

Cytosolic sulfotransferases (STs) are generally thought to be involved in detoxification of xenobiotics, as well as homeostasis of endogenous compounds such as thyroid/steroid hormones and catecholamine hormones/neurotransmitters. We report here the identification and characterization of a zebrafish estrogen-sulfating cytosolic ST. The zebrafish ST was bacterially expressed, purified, and examined for enzymatic activities using a variety of endogenous compounds as substrates. Results showed that the enzyme displayed much higher activities toward two endogenous estrogens, estrone (E(1)) and 17beta-estradiol (E(2)), in comparison with thyroid hormones, 3,3',5-triiodothyronine (T(3)) and thyroxine (T(4)), dopamine, dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). The kinetic parameters, K(m), and V(max), with estrogens and thyroid hormones as substrates were determined. The calculated V(max)/K(m) for E(1), E(2), T(3), and T(4) were, respectively, 31.6, 16.7, 1.5, and 0.8 nmol min(-1) mg(-1) microM(-1), indicating clearly the estrogens being preferred physiological substrates for the enzyme. The inhibitory effects of isoflavone phytoestrogens on the sulfation of E(2) by this zebrafish ST were examined. The IC(50) determined for quercetin, genistein, and daidzein were 0.7, 2.5, and 8 microM, respectively. Kinetic analyses revealed that the mechanism underlying the inhibition by these isoflavones to be of the competitive type.     

Molecular Typing of Pathogenic Leptospira Serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae Strains Circulating in China during the Past 50 Years

Background

Leptospirosis is one of the most important neglected tropical infectious diseases worldwide. Icterohaemorrhagiae has been throughout recent history, and still is, the predominant serogroup of this pathogen in China. However, very little in detail is known about the serovars or genotypes of this serogroup.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this study, 120 epidemic strains from five geographically diverse regions in China collected over a 50 year period (1958~2008), and 8 international reference strains characterized by 16S rRNA sequencing and MLST analysis. 115, 11 and 2 strains were identified as L. interrogans, L. borgpetersenii, and L. kirschneri, respectively. 17 different STs were identified including 69 ST1 strains, 18 ST17, 18 ST128, 9 ST143 and 2 ST209. The remaining 12 strains belonged to 12 different STs. eBURST analysis demonstrated that, among the clonal complexes isolated (CCs), CC1 accounted for 73.3% (88/120) strains representing three STs: ST1, ST128 and ST98. ST1 was the most likely ancestral strain of this CC, followed by singleton CC17 (17/120) and CC143 (11/120). Further analysis of adding 116 serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae strains in the MLST database and studies previously described using global eBURST analysis and MST dendrogram revealed relatively similar ST clustering patterns with five main CCs and 8 singletons among these 244 strains. CC17 was found to be the most prevalent clone of pathogenic Leptospira circulating worldwide. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that ST1 and ST17 strains were distributed among 4 distinct serovars, indicating a highly complicated relationship between serovars and STs.

Conclusions/Significance

Our studies demonstrated a high level of genetic diversity in the serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae strains. Distinct from ST17 or ST37 circulating elsewhere, ST1 included in CC1, has over the past 50 years or so, proven to be the most prevalent ST of pathogenic leptospires isolated in China. Moreover, the complicated relationship between STs and serovars indicates an urgent need to develop an improved scheme for Leptospira serotyping.     

Sulfonation of environmental estrogens by zebrafish cytosolic sulfotransferases

Environmental estrogen-like chemicals are increasingly recognized as a potential hazardous factor for wildlife as well as humans. We have recently embarked on developing a zebrafish model for investigating the role of sulfonation in the metabolism and adverse functioning of environmental estrogens. Here, we report on a systematic investigation of the sulfonation of representative environmental estrogens (bisphenol A, 4-n-octylphenol, 4-n-nolylphenol, diethylstilbestrol, and 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol) by zebrafish cytosolic sulfotransferases (STs). Of the seven enzymes tested, four zebrafish STs (designated ZF ST #2, ZF ST #3, ZF ST #4, and ZF DHEA ST) exhibited differential sulfonating activities toward the five environmental estrogens tested, with ZF ST #3 being more highly active than the other three. It was further demonstrated that bisphenol A, 4-n-octylphenol, and 4-n-nonylphenol exerted concentration-dependent inhibition of the sulfonation of 17 beta-estradiol, implying a potential role of these environmental estrogens in interfering with the sulfonation, and possibly homeostasis, of endogenous estrogens. Kinetic studies revealed that the mechanism underlying the inhibition by bisphenol A or 4-n-nonylphenol to be of the competitive type.     

Regulatory effects of divalent metal cations on human cytosolic sulfotransferases

Cytosolic sulfotransferases (STs), traditionally viewed as Phase II drug-metabolizing or detoxifying enzymes, are increasingly being implicated in the metabolism of endogenous biologically-active molecules. Except for studies on changes in their levels of expression and activity in the early stage of development in mammals, very little is known about how these enzymes are regulated. In this study, the regulatory effects of divalent metal cations on the activity of human cytosolic STs were quantitatively evaluated. Results obtained indicate that all nine human cytosolic STs examined are partially or completely inhibited/stimulated by the ten divalent metal cations tested at 10 mM concentration. Compared with the other metal cations, the inhibitory or stimulatory effect of Mg2+ and Ca2+ on the activities of the human cytosolic STs appeared to be relatively smaller. Concentration-dependent effects of the divalent metal cations were further examined. The IC50 or EC50 values determined for different divalent metal cations were mostly above their normal physiological concentration ranges. In a few cases, however, IC50 values close to the physiological concentrations of certain divalent metal cations were observed. Using the monoamine (M)-form phenol ST (PST) as a model, it was demonstrated that the K(m) for dopamine changed only slightly with increasing concentrations of Cd2+, whereas the V(max) was dramatically decreased.     

199株猪链球菌临床分离株血清型、毒力基因及多位点序列分型分析

【背景】猪链球菌（Streptococcus suis,SS）血清型、基因型众多,毒力因子复杂。【目的】了解SS临床分离株血清型、毒力基因分布、分子分型特征及其之间的相关性。【方法】针对199株SS临床分离株,应用PCR技术进行血清分型和毒力基因检测,采用多位点序列分型方法（multilocus sequence typing,MLST）进行基因分型,并分析SS血清型、毒力基因型和序列型（sequence type,ST型）的流行特点及其关联性。【结果】199株SS临床分离株分属于16种血清型（1、2、3、4、6、7、8、9、10、12、15、16、21、24、29和30型）,主要以2、4、3型为主,分别占26.13%（52/199）、14.57%（29/199）和12.06%（24/199）,未定型（NT）菌株占21.61%（43/199）。共鉴定出72种ST型,其中ST1、ST94、ST117、ST7、ST28和ST87为主要ST型,分别占12.56%（25/199）、11.56%（23/199）、9.56%（19/199）、9.04%（18/199）、6.03%（12/199）和3.01%（6/199）,另有24种新发现的ST型（ST1224—ST1227,ST1229—ST1235,ST1241—ST1242,ST1300—ST1310）;分为12个克隆群（cloning complexes,CC）和32个单个ST型。199株SS分离株中毒力基因fbps的检出率最高,为96.98%（193/199）;共有19种毒力基因型,其中66株（33.17%）epf-/mrp-/sly-/gapdh+/fbps+/orf2+型SS为优势毒力基因型。【结论】近年来SS的优势血清型为2、4和3型;ST型具有明显的遗传异质性,种内分化程度较高且与ST型存在一定交叉性;毒力基因分布情况存在差异,毒力基因型呈现多样化。本研究对SS临床分离株的流行特征进行探究,为猪SS病诊断、治疗和制定防控措施提供科学依据。     

The occurrence of three isoforms of heparan sulfate 6-O-sulfotransferase having different specificities for hexuronic acid adjacent to the targeted N-sulfoglucosamine

We previously cloned heparan sulfate 6-O-sulfotransferase (HS6ST) (Habuchi, H., Kobayashi, M., and Kimata, K. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 9208-9213). In this study, we report the cloning and characterization of three mouse isoforms of HS6ST, a mouse homologue to the original human HS6ST (HS6ST-1) and two novel HS6STs (HS6ST-2 and HS6ST-3). The cDNAs have been obtained from mouse brain cDNA library by cross-hybridization with human HS6ST cDNA. The three cDNAs contained single open reading frames that predicted type II transmembrane proteins composed of 401, 506, and 470 amino acid residues, respectively. Amino acid sequence of HS6ST-1 was 51 and 57% identical to those of HS6ST-2 and HS6ST-3, respectively. HS6ST-2 and HS6ST-3 had the 50% identity. Overexpression of each isoform in COS-7 cells resulted in about 10-fold increase of HS6ST activity. The three isoforms purified with anti-FLAG antibody affinity column transferred sulfate to heparan sulfate and heparin but not to other glycosaminoglycans. Each isoform showed different specificity toward the isomeric hexuronic acid adjacent to the targeted N-sulfoglucosamine; HS6ST-1 appeared to prefer the iduronosyl N-sulfoglucosamine while HS6ST-2 had a different preference, depending upon the substrate concentrations, and HS6ST-3 acted on either substrate. Northern analysis showed that the expression of each message in various tissues was characteristic to the respective isoform. HS6ST-1 was expressed strongly in liver, and HS6ST-2 was expressed mainly in brain and spleen. In contrast, HS6ST-3 was expressed rather ubiquitously. These results suggest that the expression of these isoforms may be regulated in tissue-specific manners and that each isoform may be involved in the synthesis of heparan sulfates with tissue-specific structures and functions.     

Regulation of heparan sulfate 6-O-sulfation by beta-secretase activity

The enzymes involved in glycosaminoglycan chain biosynthesis are mostly Golgi resident proteins, but some are secreted extracellularly. For example, the activities of heparan sulfate 6-O-sulfotransferase (HS6ST) and heparan sulfate 3-O-sulfotransferase are detected in the serum as well in the medium of cell lines. However, the biological significance of this is largely unknown. Here we have investigated by means of monitoring green fluorescent protein (GFP) fluorescence how C-terminally GFP-tagged HS6STs that are stably expressed in CHO-K1 cell lines are secreted/shed. Brefeldin A and monensin treatments revealed that the N-terminal hydrophobic domain of HS6ST3 is processed in the endoplasmic reticulum or cis/medial Golgi. Treatment of HS6ST3-GFP-expressing cells with various protease inhibitors revealed that the cell-permeable beta-secretase inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Leu-leucinal (Z-VLL-CHO) specifically inhibits HS6ST secretion, although this effect was specific for HS6ST3 but not for HS6ST1 and HS6ST2. However, Z-VLL-CHO treatment did not increase the molecular size of the HS6ST3-GFP that accumulated in the cell. Z-VLL-CHO treatment also induced the intracellular accumulation of SP-HS6ST3(-TMD)-GFP, a modified secretory form of HS6ST3 that has the preprotrypsin leader sequence as its N-terminal hydrophobic domain. Diminishment of beta-secretase activity by coexpressing the amyloid precursor protein of a Swedish mutant, a potent beta-secretase substrate, also induced intracellular HS6ST3-GFP accumulation. Moreover, Z-VLL-CHO treatment increased the 6-O-sulfate (6S) levels of HS, especially in the disaccharide unit of hexuronic acid-GlcNS(6S). Thus, the HS6ST3 enzyme in the Golgi apparatus and therefore the 6-O sulfation of heparan sulfates in the cell are at least partly regulated by beta-secretase via an indirect mechanism.     

Prevalence and molecular subtyping of Blastocystis from dairy cattle in Kanagawa,Japan

Blastocystis is an intestinal protist, commonly found in the human population and in a wide range of animals globally. Currently, isolates from mammalian and avian hosts are classified into 17 subtypes (STs) based on phylogeny of the small subunit rRNA gene (SSU rDNA), of which ten (ST1-9, 12) are reported in humans. ST10 is a major ST reported from livestock cattle. However, other STs including ST1, 3, 4, 5, and 6, which have the potential to be transmitted to humans, are also reported from cattle in several countries. Although a survey has been conducted previously in western Japan for livestock cattle, there is no information available regarding other parts of Japan. Therefore, this study surveyed the prevalence of Blastocystis and its STs in cattle from Kanagawa prefecture, eastern Japan. Fecal specimens, collected from 133 dairy cattle on four different farms, were subjected to a short-term xenic in vitro culture and Blastocystis were identified by microscopic examination. Seventy-two cattle were positive for Blastocystis (54.1%). Direct sequences for the partial SSU rDNA were obtained for 45 samples. Based on nucleotide sequence homology search and phylogenetic analysis, 44 isolates were identified as ST14 and one as ST10. Our study confirms the presence of these STs in dairy cattle in Japan for the first time. The STs identified here, ST10 and ST14, support previous findings that Bovidae may be the natural host for both STs.     

Design,synthesis and evaluation of carbamate-linked uridyl-based inhibitors of human ST6Gal I

Sialic acid at the terminus of cell surface glycoconjugates is a critical element in cell-cell recognition, receptor binding and immune responses. Sialyltransferases (ST), the enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of sialylated glycans are highly upregulated in cancer and the resulting hypersialylation of the tumour cell surface correlates strongly with tumour growth, metastasis and drug resistance. Inhibitors of human STs, in particular human ST6Gal I, are thus expected to be valuable chemical tools for the discovery of novel anticancer drugs. Herein, we report on the computationally-guided design and development of uridine-based inhibitors that replace the charged phosphodiester linker of known ST inhibitors with a neutral carbamate to improve pharmacokinetic properties and synthetic accessibility. A series of 24 carbamate-linked uridyl-based compounds were synthesised by coupling aryl and hetaryl α-hydroxyphosphonates with a 5′-amino-5′-deoxyuridine fragment. The inhibitory activities of the newly synthesised compounds against recombinant human ST6Gal I were determined using a luminescent microplate assay, and five promising inhibitors with K_i’s ranging from 1 to 20 µM were identified. These results show that carbamate-linked uridyl-based compounds are a potential new class of readily accessible, non-cytotoxic ST inhibitors to be further explored.     

Structure and function of sulfotransferases

Sulfotransferases (STs) catalyze the transfer reaction of the sulfate group from the ubiquitous donor 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) to an acceptor group of numerous substrates. This reaction, often referred to as sulfuryl transfer, sulfation, or sulfonation, is widely observed from bacteria to humans and plays a key role in various biological processes such as cell communication, growth and development, and defense. The cytosolic STs sulfate small molecules such as steroids, bioamines, and therapeutic drugs, while the Golgi-membrane counterparts sulfate large molecules including glucosaminylglycans and proteins. We have now solved the X-ray crystal structures of four cytosolic and one membrane ST. All five STs are globular proteins composed of a single alpha/beta domain with the characteristic five-stranded beta-sheet. The beta-sheet constitutes the core of the Paps-binding and catalytic sites. Structural analysis of the PAPS-, PAP-, substrate-, and/or orthovanadate (VO(3-)(4))-bound enzymes has also revealed the common molecular mechanism of the transfer reaction catalyzed by sulfotransferses. The X-ray crystal structures have opened a new era for the study of sulfotransferases.     

Molecular Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile Infection in a Large Teaching Hospital in Thailand

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of healthcare-associated morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Thailand, CDI exhibits low recurrence and mortality and its molecular epidemiology is unknown. CDI surveillance was conducted in a tertiary facility (Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok). A total of 53 toxigenic C. difficile strains from Thai patients were analyzed by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), PCR ribotyping, and pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The mean age of the cohort was 64 years and 62.3% were female; 37.7% of patients were exposed to > two antibiotics prior to a diagnosis of CDI, with beta-lactams the most commonly used drug (56.3%). Metronidazole was used most commonly (77.5%; success rate 83.9%), and non-responders were treated with vancomycin (success rate 100%). None of the isolates carried binary toxin genes. Most isolates (98.2–100%) were susceptible to metronidazole, vancomycin, tigecycline and daptomycin. There were 11 sequence types (STs), 13 ribotypes (RTs) and four PFGE types. Six previously identified STs (ST12, ST13, ST14, ST33, ST41 and ST45) and five novel STs unique to Thailand (ST66, ST67, ST68, ST69 and ST70) were identified. PCR RTs UK 017 (ST45) (45.3%) and UK 014/020 (ST33) (24.5%) were the most common. High concordance was observed between the MLST and ribotyping results (p<0.001). C. difficile isolates from Thai patients were highly susceptible to standard antimicrobial agents. In conclusion, the five STs indicate the high genetic diversity and unique polymorphisms in Thailand. Moreover, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance to vancomycin warranted continuous surveillance to prevent further spread of the toxigenic C. difficile isolates.     

Carbonic anhydrases: current state of the art, therapeutic applications and future prospects

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) are wide-spread enzymes, present in mammals in at least 14 different isoforms. Some of these isozymes are cytosolic (CA I, CA II, CA III, CA VII, CA XIII), others are membrane-bound (CA IV, CA IX, CA XII and CA XIV), CA V is mitochondrial and CA VI is secreted in the saliva and milk. Three cytosolic acatalytic forms are also known (CARP VIII, CARP X and CARP XI). The catalytically active isoforms, which play important physiological and patho-physiological functions, are strongly inhibited by aromatic and heterocyclic sulfonamides. The catalytic and inhibition mechanisms of these enzymes are understood in great detail, and this greatly helped the design of potent inhibitors, some of which possess important clinical applications. The use of such CA inhibitors (CAIs) as antiglaucoma drugs are discussed in detail, together with the recent developments that led to isozyme-specific and organ-selective inhibitors. A recent discovery is connected with the involvement of CAs and their sulfonamide inhibitors in cancer: many potent CAIs were shown to inhibit the growth of several tumor cell lines in vitro and in vivo, thus constituting interesting leads for developing novel antitumor therapies. Future prospects for drug design of inhibitors of these ubiquitous enzymes are dealt with. Although activation of CAs has been a controversial issue for some time, recent kinetic, spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic experiments offered an explanation of this phenomenon, based on the catalytic mechanism. It has been demonstrated recently, that molecules that act as carbonic anhydrase activators (CAAs) bind at the entrance of the enzyme active site participating in facilitated proton transfer processes between the active site and the reaction medium. In addition to CA II-activator adducts, X-ray crystallographic studies have been also reported for ternary complexes of this isozyme with activators and anion (azide) inhibitors. Structure-activity correlations for diverse classes of activators is discussed for the isozymes for which the phenomenon has been studied, i.e., CA I, II, III and IV. The possible physiological relevance of CA activation/inhibition is also addressed, together with recent pharmacological/ biomedical applications of such compounds in different fields of life sciences.