Assignment of 1H, 13C and 15N backbone resonances of Escherichia coli LpxC bound to L-161,240

The UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase LpxC catalyzes the committed reaction of lipid A biosynthesis, an essential pathway in Gram-negative bacteria. We report the backbone resonance assignments of the 34 kDa LpxC from Escherichia coli in complex with the antibiotic L-161,240 using multidimensional, multinuclear NMR experiments. The ¹H chemical shifts of complexed L-161,240 are also determined.     

Design and synthesis of potent Gram-negative specific LpxC inhibitors

Antibiotic resistant hospital acquired infections are on the rise, creating an urgent need for novel bactericidal drugs. Enzymes involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis are attractive antibacterial targets since LPS is the major structural component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Lipid A is an essential hydrophobic anchor of LPS and the first committed step in lipid A biosynthesis is catalyzed by a unique zinc dependent metalloamidase, UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC). LpxC is an attractive Gram-negative only target that has been chemically validated by potent bactericidal hydroxamate inhibitors that work by coordination of the enzyme’s catalytic zinc ion. An exploratory chemistry effort focused on expanding the SAR around hydroxamic acid zinc-binding ‘warheads’ lead to the identification of novel compounds with enzyme potency and antibacterial activity similar to CHIR-090.     

Exploring the UDP pocket of LpxC through amino acid analogs

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis is an attractive antibacterial target as it is both conserved and essential for the survival of key pathogenic bacteria. Lipid A is the hydrophobic anchor for LPS and a key structural component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Lipid A biosynthesis is performed in part by a unique zinc dependent metalloamidase, LpxC (UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase), which catalyzes the first non-reversible step in lipid A biosynthesis. The UDP portion of the LpxC substrate-binding pocket has been relatively unexplored. We have designed and evaluated a series of hydroxamate based inhibitors which explore the SAR of substitutions directed into the UDP pocket with a range of substituted α-amino acid based linkers. We also provide the first wild type structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa LpxC which was utilized in the design of many of these analogs.     

Molecular recognition by Escherichia coli UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase is modulated by bound metal ions

The metal-dependent enzyme UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC) catalyzes the conversion of UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine to UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)glucosamine and acetate. This is the committed step in the biosynthesis of lipid A, and for this reason, LpxC is a target for the development of antibiotics in the treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections. Here we examine the importance of bound metal ion(s) and fatty acids for molecular recognition of ligands by LpxC. The KDproduct value increases >1000-fold with the loss of the hydroxymyristoyl moiety, indicating that the enhanced catalytic efficiency of substrates containing this acyl group is mainly due to increased binding affinity. New fluorescent binding assays for measuring the affinity of LpxC for fatty acids indicate that myristate binds to LpxC 10-fold less tightly than palmitate and that fatty acid affinity is only modestly dependent on pH. Furthermore, LpxC homologues from different species have similar affinities for fatty acids despite alterations in protein sequence. In contrast, the affinity of LpxC for both product and fatty acids is significantly influenced (< or =40-fold) by changes in the number and identity of metal ions bound to the LpxC active site. Therefore, interactions with these metal ions are critical for molecular recognition of ligands by LpxC and may mimic similar contacts with active site inhibitors. These data indicate that the potency of LpxC inhibitors in vitro can be altered by assay conditions used in screening and/or development of LpxC inhibitors and that the metal ion status of LpxC in vivo will likely influence the effectiveness of LpxC inhibitors as antibiotics.     

UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase of Escherichia coli is a zinc metalloenzyme

The enzyme UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-GlcNAc deacetylase (LpxC) catalyzes the committed step in the biosynthesis of lipid A and is therefore a potential antibiotic target. Inhibition of this enzyme by hydroxamate compounds [Onishi, H. R.; Pelak, B. A.; Gerckens, L. S.; Silver, L. L.; Kahan, F. M.; Chen, M. H.; Patchett, A. A.; Stachula, S. S.; Anderson, M. S.; Raetz, C. R. H. (1996) Science 274, 980-982] suggested the presence of a metal ion cofactor. We have investigated the substrate specificity and metal dependence of the deacetylase using spectroscopic and kinetic analyses. Comparison of the steady-state kinetic parameters for the physiological substrate UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-GlcNAc and an alternative substrate, UDP-GlcNAc, demonstrates that the ester-linked R-3-hydroxymyristoyl chain increases kcat/KM (5 x 10(6))-fold. Metal-chelating reagents, such as dipicolinic acid (DPA) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, completely inhibit LpxC activity, implicating an essential metal ion. Plasma emission spectroscopy and colorimetric assays directly demonstrate that purified LpxC contains bound Zn2+. This Zn2+ can be removed by incubation with DPA, causing a decrease in the LpxC activity that can be restored by subsequent addition of Zn2+. However, high concentrations of Zn2+ also inhibit LpxC. Addition of Co2+, Ni2+, or Mn2+ to apo-LpxC also activates the enzyme to varying degrees while no additional activity is observed upon the addition of Cd2+, Ca2+, Mg2+, or Cu2+. This is consistent with the profile of metals that substitute for catalytic zinc ions in metalloproteinases. Co2+ ions stimulate LpxC activity maximally at a stoichiometry of 1:1. These data demonstrate that E. coli LpxC is a metalloenzyme that requires bound Zn2+ for optimal activity.     

A Fluorescence-Based Homogeneous Assay for Measuring Activity of UDP–3-O-(R-3-Hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine Deacetylase

UDP–3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC) is one of the key enzymes of bacterial lipid A biosynthesis, catalyzing the removal of the N-acetyl group of UDP–3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine. The lpxC gene is essential in Gram-negative bacteria but absent from mammalian genomes, making it an attractive target for antibacterial drug discovery. Current assay methods for LpxC are not suitable for high throughput screening, since they require multiple product separation steps and the use of radioactively labeled material that is difficult to prepare. A homogenous fluorescence-based assay was developed that uses UDP–3-O-(N-hexyl-propionamide)-N-acetylglucosamine as a surrogate substrate. This surrogate can be prepared from commercially available UDP–GlcNAc by enzymatic conversion to UDP–MurNAc, which is then chemically coupled to n-hexylamine. Following the LpxC reaction, the free amine of the deacetylation product can be derivatized by fluorescamine, thus generating a fluorescent signal. This surrogate substrate has a K_m of 367 μM and k_cat of 0.36 s⁻¹, compared to 2 μM and 1.5 s⁻¹ for the natural substrate. Since no separation is needed, the assay is easily adaptable to high throughput screening. IC₅₀s of LpxC inhibitors determined using this assay method is similar to those measured by traditional method with the natural substrate.     

Synthesis,biological evaluation and molecular docking studies of benzyloxyacetohydroxamic acids as LpxC inhibitors

The inhibition of the UDP-3-O-[(R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl]-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC) represents a promising strategy to combat infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. In order to elucidate the functional groups being important for the inhibition of LpxC, the structure of our previously reported hydroxamic acid 4 should be systematically varied. Therefore, a series of benzyloxyacetohydroxamic acids was prepared, of which the diphenylacetylene derivatives 28 (K_i = 95 nM) and 21 (K_i = 66 nM) were the most potent inhibitors of Escherichia coli LpxC. These compounds could be synthesized in a stereoselective manner employing a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and a Sonogashira coupling in the key steps. The obtained structure–activity relationships could be rationalized by molecular docking studies.     

Structure of the Bacterial Deacetylase LpxC Bound to the Nucleotide Reaction Product Reveals Mechanisms of Oxyanion Stabilization and Proton Transfer

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria is an increasing threat to global health that underscores an urgent need for an expanded antibacterial armamentarium. Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, have become increasingly important clinical pathogens with limited treatment options. This is due in part to their lipopolysaccharide (LPS) outer membrane components, which dually serve as endotoxins while also protecting Gram-negative bacteria from antibiotic entry. The LpxC enzyme catalyzes the committed step of LPS biosynthesis, making LpxC a promising target for new antibacterials. Here, we present the first structure of an LpxC enzyme in complex with the deacetylation reaction product, UDP-(3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl))-glucosamine. These studies provide valuable insight into recognition of substrates and products by LpxC and a platform for structure-guided drug discovery of broad spectrum Gram-negative antibiotics.     

EXAFS studies of the zinc sites of UDP-(3-O-acyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC)

Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy has been used to determine the structure of the Zn(II) sites in UDP-(3-O-acyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC) from Aquifex aeolicus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The active site Zn(II) is four coordinate, with exclusively low-Z (nitrogen and oxygen) ligation in both enzymes. The amplitude of the outer-shell scattering from the histidine ligands is best fit using two histidine ligands, suggesting a ZnO(2)(His)(2) site, where O most likely represents a conserved aspartate and a solvent molecule. The same structure was found for Co(II)-substituted A. aeolicus LpxC, although in this case it is possible that the coordination sphere may expand to include a fifth low-Z ligand. EXAFS data were also measured for the Escherichia coli LpxC enzyme. When a single Co(II) is substituted for Zn(II) in the active site of E. coli LpxC, EXAFS data show the same ligand environment as is found for the P. aeruginosa and A. aeolicus enzymes. However, the EXAFS data for E. coli LpxC with two zinc ions bound per protein, with the second Zn(II) acting as an inhibitory metal, demonstrates that the inhibitory metal is bound to at least two high-Z (sulfur, presumably thiolate, or chlorine) ligands. Results of the outer-shell scattering analysis, combined with previous studies of the LpxC enzyme, indicate a novel zinc binding motif not found in any previously studied zinc metalloproteins.     

A fluorescence-based homogeneous assay for measuring activity of UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase

UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC) is one of the key enzymes of bacterial lipid A biosynthesis, catalyzing the removal of the N-acetyl group of UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine. The lpxC gene is essential in Gram-negative bacteria but absent from mammalian genomes, making it an attractive target for antibacterial drug discovery. Current assay methods for LpxC are not suitable for high throughput screening, since they require multiple product separation steps and the use of radioactively labeled material that is difficult to prepare. A homogeneous fluorescence-based assay was developed that uses UDP-3-O-(N-hexyl-propionamide)-N-acetylglucosamine as a surrogate substrate. This surrogate can be prepared from commercially available UDP-GlcNAc by enzymatic conversion to UDP-MurNAc, which is then chemically coupled to n-hexylamine. Following the LpxC reaction, the free amine of the deacetylation product can be derivatized by fluorescamine, thus generating a fluorescent signal. This surrogate substrate has a K(m) of 367 microM and k(cat) of 0.36 s(-1), compared to 2 microM and 1.5 s(-1) for the natural substrate. Since no separation is needed, the assay is easily adaptable to high throughput screening. IC(50)s of LpxC inhibitors determined using this assay method is similar to those measured by traditional method with the natural substrate.     

UDP-3-O-((R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase functions through a general acid-base catalyst pair mechanism

UDP-3-O-((R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC) is a zinc-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the deacetylation of UDP-3-O-((R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine to form UDP-3-O-(R-hydroxymyristoyl)glucosamine and acetate. The structural similarity of the active site of LpxC to metalloproteases led to the proposal that LpxC functions via a metalloprotease-like mechanism. The pH dependence of k(cat)/Km catalyzed by Escherichia coli and Aquifex aeolicus LpxC displayed a bell-shaped curve (EcLpxC yields apparent pKa values of 6.4+/-0.1 and 9.1+/-0.1), demonstrating that at least two ionizations are important for maximal activity. Metal substitution and mutagenesis experiments suggest that the basic limb of the pH profile is because of deprotonation of a zinc-coordinated group such as the zinc-water molecule, whereas the acidic limb of the pH profile is caused by protonation of either Glu78 or His265. Furthermore, the magnitude of the activity decreases and synergy observed for the active site mutants suggest that Glu78 and His265 act as a general acid-base catalyst pair. Crystal structures of LpxC complexed with cacodylate or palmitate demonstrate that both Glu78 and His265 hydrogen-bond with the same oxygen atom of the tetrahedral intermediate and the product carboxylate. These structural features suggest that LpxC catalyzes deacetylation by using Glu78 and His265 as a general acid-base pair and the zinc-bound water as a nucleophile.     

Antibacterial agents that target lipid A biosynthesis in gram-negative bacteria. Inhibition of diverse UDP-3-O-(r-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-n-acetylglucosamine deacetylases by substrate analogs containing zinc binding motifs

UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC) catalyzes the second step in the biosynthesis of lipid A, a unique amphiphilic molecule found in the outer membranes of virtually all Gram-negative bacteria. Since lipid A biosynthesis is required for bacterial growth, inhibitors of LpxC have potential utility as antibiotics. The enzymes of lipid A biosynthesis, including LpxC, are encoded by single copy genes in all sequenced Gram-negative genomes. We have now cloned, overexpressed, and purified LpxC from the hyperthermophile Aquifex aeolicus. This heat-stable LpxC variant (the most divergent of all known LpxCs) displays 32% identity and 51% similarity over 277 amino acid residues out of the 305 in Escherichia coli LpxC. Although A. aeolicus LpxC deacetylates the substrate UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine at a rate comparable with E. coli LpxC, a phenyloxazoline-based hydroxamate that inhibits E. coli LpxC with K(i) of approximately 50 nM (Onishi, H. R., Pelak, B. A., Gerckens, L. S., Silver, L. L., Kahan, F. M., Chen, M. H., Patchett, A. A., Galloway, S. M., Hyland, S. A., Anderson, M. S., and Raetz, C. R. H. (1996) Science 274, 980-982) does not inhibit A. aeolicus LpxC. To determine whether or not broad-spectrum deacetylase inhibitors can be found, we have designed a new class of hydroxamate-containing inhibitors of LpxC, starting with the structure of the physiological substrate. Several of these compounds inhibit both E. coli and A. aeolicus LpxC at similar concentrations. We have also identified a phosphinate-containing substrate analog that inhibits both E. coli and A. aeolicus LpxC, suggesting that the LpxC reaction proceeds by a mechanism similar to that described for other zinc metalloamidases, like carboxypeptidase A and thermolysin. The differences between the phenyloxazoline and the substrate-based LpxC inhibitors might be exploited for developing novel antibiotics targeted either against some or all Gram-negative strains. We suggest that LpxC inhibitors with antibacterial activity be termed "deacetylins."     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of enantiomerically pure glyceric acid derivatives as LpxC inhibitors

Inhibitors of the UDP-3-O-[(R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl]-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC) represent a promising class of novel antibiotics, selectively combating Gram-negative bacteria. In order to elucidate the impact of the hydroxymethyl groups of diol (S,S)-4 on the inhibitory activity against LpxC, glyceric acid ethers (R)-7a, (S)-7a, (R)-7b, and (S)-7b, lacking the hydroxymethyl group in benzylic position, were synthesized. The compounds were obtained in enantiomerically pure form by a chiral pool synthesis and a lipase-catalyzed enantioselective desymmetrization, respectively. The enantiomeric hydroxamic acids (R)-7b (K_i = 230 nM) and (S)-7b (K_i = 390 nM) show promising enzyme inhibition. However, their inhibitory activities do not substantially differ from each other leading to a low eudismic ratio. Generally, the synthesized glyceric acid derivatives 7 show antibacterial activities against two Escherichia coli strains exceeding the ones of their respective regioisomes 6.     

Catalytic mechanism and molecular recognition of E. coli UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase probed by mutagenesis

UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC) is a metal-dependent deacetylase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of UDP-3-O-myristoyl-N-acetyl-glucosamine to form UDP-3-O-myristoyl-glucosamine and acetate. This is the committed step in the biosynthesis of lipid A, and therefore, LpxC is a target for the development of antimicrobial agents in the treatment of Gram-negative infections. To facilitate the development of potent and specific inhibitors of LpxC, the molecular determinants of binding and specificity and the catalytic mechanism for this enzyme have been probed. The functions of active site residues have been classified on the basis of changes in steady-state turnover (kcat, KM, and kcat/KM) and product binding affinity (KDProduct). We have identified side chains that enhance product affinity and reactivity (F192, K239, D246, and H265), destabilize product affinity (E78 and D197), and preferentially enhance catalytic efficiency (H19, T19, K143, and N162). In addition, the affinity of LpxC for myrUDP-GlcNH2 is dependent on two ionizations, one deprotonation and one protonation, with apparent pKa values of 6.5 +/- 0.1 and 7.4 +/- 0.1, respectively. The UDP moiety of the product contributes significantly to recognition by LpxC, suggesting that this region can be targeted in drug development. These data provide a map of the active site features essential for catalysis and molecular recognition by LpxC that can be used for developing more potent LpxC inhibitors.     

Synthesis of Fucosyl-N-Acetylglucosamine Disaccharides by Transfucosylation Using α-l-Fucosidases from Lactobacillus casei

AlfB and AlfC α-l-fucosidases from Lactobacillus casei were used in transglycosylation reactions, and they showed high efficiency in synthesizing fucosyldisaccharides. AlfB and AlfC activities exclusively produced fucosyl-α-1,3-N-acetylglucosamine and fucosyl-α-1,6-N-acetylglucosamine, respectively. The reaction kinetics showed that AlfB can convert 23% p-nitrophenyl-α-l-fucopyranoside into fucosyl-α-1,3-N-acetylglucosamine and AlfC at up to 56% into fucosyl-α-1,6-N-acetylglucosamine.     

Crystal structure of LpxC from Pseudomonas aeruginosa complexed with the potent BB-78485 inhibitor

The cell wall in Gram-negative bacteria is surrounded by an outer membrane comprised of charged lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules that prevent entry of hydrophobic agents into the cell and protect the bacterium from many antibiotics. The hydrophobic anchor of LPS is lipid A, the biosynthesis of which is essential for bacterial growth and viability. UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC) is an essential zinc-dependant enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine to UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)glucosamine and acetate in the biosynthesis of lipid A, and for this reason, LpxC is an attractive target for antibacterial drug discovery. Here we disclose a 1.9 A resolution crystal structure of LpxC from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (paLpxC) in a complex with the potent BB-78485 inhibitor. To our knowledge, this is the first crystal structure of LpxC with a small-molecule inhibitor that shows antibacterial activity against a wide range of Gram-negative pathogens. Accordingly, this structure can provide important information for lead optimization and rational design of the effective small-molecule LpxC inhibitors for successful treatment of Gram-negative infections.     

Site-directed mutagenesis of the bacterial metalloamidase UDP-(3-O-acyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC). Identification of the zinc binding site

UDP-3-O-(acyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC) catalyzes the second step in the biosynthesis of lipid A in Gram-negative bacteria. Compounds targeting this enzyme are proposed to chelate the single, essential zinc ion bound to LpxC and have been demonstrated to stop the growth of Escherichia coli. A comparison of LpxC sequences from diverse bacteria identified 10 conserved His, Asp, and Glu residues that might play catalytic roles. Each amino acid was altered in both E. coli and Aquifex aeolicus LpxC and the catalytic activities of the variants were determined. Three His and one Asp residues (H79, H238, D246, and H265) are essential for catalysis based on the low activities (<0.1% of wild-type LpxC) of mutants with alanine substitutions at these positions. H79 and H238 likely coordinate zinc; the Zn(2+) content of the purified variant proteins is low and the specific activity is enhanced by the addition of Zn(2+). The third side chain to coordinate zinc is likely either H265 or D246 and a fourth ligand is likely a water molecule, as indicated by the hydroxamate inhibition, suggesting a His(3)H(2)O or His(2)AspH(2)O Zn(2+)-polyhedron in LpxC. The decreased zinc inhibition of LpxC mutants at E78 suggests that this side chain may coordinate a second, inhibitory Zn(2+) ion. Given the absence of any known Zn(2+) binding motifs, the active site of LpxC may have evolved differently than other well-studied zinc metalloamidases, a feature that should aid in the design of safe antibiotics.     

Coexistence of Microaerophilic,Nitrate-Reducing,and Phototrophic Fe(II) Oxidizers and Fe(III) Reducers in Coastal Marine Sediment

Iron is abundant in sediments, where it can be biogeochemically cycled between its divalent and trivalent redox states. The neutrophilic microbiological Fe cycle involves Fe(III)-reducing and three different physiological groups of Fe(II)-oxidizing microorganisms, i.e., microaerophilic, anoxygenic phototrophic, and nitrate-reducing Fe(II) oxidizers. However, it is unknown whether all three groups coexist in one habitat and how they are spatially distributed in relation to gradients of O₂, light, nitrate, and Fe(II). We examined two coastal marine sediments in Aarhus Bay, Denmark, by cultivation and most probable number (MPN) studies for Fe(II) oxidizers and Fe(III) reducers and by quantitative-PCR (qPCR) assays for microaerophilic Fe(II) oxidizers. Our results demonstrate the coexistence of all three metabolic types of Fe(II) oxidizers and Fe(III) reducers. In qPCR, microaerophilic Fe(II) oxidizers (Zetaproteobacteria) were present with up to 3.2 × 10⁶ cells g dry sediment⁻¹. In MPNs, nitrate-reducing Fe(II) oxidizers, anoxygenic phototrophic Fe(II) oxidizers, and Fe(III) reducers reached cell numbers of up to 3.5 × 10⁴, 3.1 × 10², and 4.4 × 10⁴ g dry sediment⁻¹, respectively. O₂ and light penetrated only a few millimeters, but the depth distribution of the different iron metabolizers did not correlate with the profile of O₂, Fe(II), or light. Instead, abundances were homogeneous within the upper 3 cm of the sediment, probably due to wave-induced sediment reworking and bioturbation. In microaerophilic Fe(II)-oxidizing enrichment cultures, strains belonging to the Zetaproteobacteria were identified. Photoferrotrophic enrichments contained strains related to Chlorobium and Rhodobacter; the nitrate-reducing Fe(II) enrichments contained strains related to Hoeflea and Denitromonas. This study shows the coexistence of all three types of Fe(II) oxidizers in two near-shore marine environments and the potential for competition and interrelationships between them.     

Immobilization of Radionuclides and Heavy Metals through Anaerobic Bio-Oxidation of Fe(II)

Adsorption of heavy metals and radionuclides (HMR) onto iron and manganese oxides has long been recognized as an important reaction for the immobilization of these compounds. However, in environments containing elevated concentrations of these HMR the adsorptive capacity of the iron and manganese oxides may well be exceeded, and the HMR can migrate as soluble compounds in aqueous systems. Here we demonstrate the potential of a bioremediative strategy for HMR stabilization in reducing environments based on the recently described anaerobic nitrate-dependent Fe(II) oxidation by Dechlorosoma species. Bio-oxidation of 10 mM Fe(II) and precipitation of Fe(III) oxides by these organisms resulted in rapid adsorption and removal of 55 μM uranium and 81 μM cobalt from solution. The adsorptive capacity of the biogenic Fe(III) oxides was lower than that of abiotically produced Fe(III) oxides (100 μM for both metals), which may have been a result of steric hindrance by the microbial cells on the iron oxide surfaces. The binding capacity of the biogenic oxides for different heavy metals was indirectly correlated to the atomic radius of the bound element. X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicated that the uranium was bound to the biogenically produced Fe(III) oxides as U(VI) and that the U(VI) formed bidentate and tridentate inner-sphere complexes with the Fe(III) oxide surfaces. Dechlorosoma suillum oxidation was specific for Fe(II), and the organism did not enzymatically oxidize U(IV) or Co(II). Small amounts (less than 2.5 μM) of Cr(III) were reoxidized by D. suillum; however, this appeared to be inversely dependent on the initial concentration of the Cr(III). The results of this study demonstrate the potential of this novel approach for stabilization and immobilization of HMR in the environment.     

The Biosynthesis of UDP-d-FucNAc-4N-(2)-oxoglutarate (UDP-Yelosamine) in Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579: Pat AND Pyl,AN AMINOTRANSFERASE AND AN ATP-DEPENDENT Grasp PROTEIN THAT LIGATES 2-OXOGLUTARATE TO UDP-4-AMINO-SUGARS*

Surface glycan switching is often observed when micro-organisms transition between different biotic and abiotic niches, including biofilms, although the advantages of this switching to the organism are not well understood. Bacillus cereus grown in a biofilm-inducing medium has been shown to synthesize an unusual cell wall polysaccharide composed of the repeating subunit →6)Gal(α1–2)(2-R-hydroxyglutar-5-ylamido)Fuc2NAc4N(α1–6)GlcNAc(β1→, where galactose is linked to the hydroxyglutarate moiety of FucNAc-4-amido-(2)-hydroxyglutarate. The molecular mechanism involved in attaching 2-hydroxyglutarate to 4-amino-FucNAc has not been determined. Here, we show two genes in B. cereus ATCC 14579 encoding enzymes involved in the synthesis of UDP-FucNAc-4-amido-(2)-oxoglutarate (UDP-Yelosamine), a modified UDP-sugar not previously reported to exist. Using mass spectrometry and real time NMR spectroscopy, we show that Bc5273 encodes a C4″-aminotransferase (herein referred to as Pat) that, in the presence of pyridoxal phosphate, transfers the primary amino group of l-Glu to C-4″ of UDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-d-GlcNAc to form UDP-4-amino-FucNAc and 2-oxoglutarate. Pat also converts 4-keto-xylose, 4-keto-glucose, and 4-keto-2-acetamido-altrose to their corresponding UDP-4-amino-sugars. Bc5272 encodes a carboxylate-amine ligase (herein referred as Pyl) that, in the presence of ATP and Mg(II), adds 2-oxoglutarate to the 4-amino moiety of UDP-4-amino-FucNAc to form UDP-Yelosamine and ADP. Pyl is also able to ligate 2-oxoglutarate to other 4-amino-sugar derivatives to form UDP-Yelose, UDP-Solosamine, and UDP-Aravonose. Characterizing the metabolic pathways involved in the formation of modified nucleotide sugars provides a basis for understanding some of the mechanisms used by bacteria to modify or alter their cell surface polysaccharides in response to changing growth and environmental challenges.