Diversity of siderophore genes encoding biosynthesis of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid in Aeromonas spp.

Most species of the genus Aeromonas produce the siderophore amonabactin, although two species produce enterobactin, the siderophore of many enteric bacteria. Both siderophores contain 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,3-DHB). Siderophore genes (designated aebC, -E, -B and -A, for aeromonad enterobactin biosynthesis) that complemented mutations in the enterobactin genes of the Escherichia coli 2,3-DHB operon, entCEBA(P15), were cloned from an enterobactin-producing isolate of the Aeromonas spp. Mapping of the aeromonad genes suggested a gene order of aebCEBA, identical to that of the E. coli 2,3-DHB operon. Gene probes for the aeromonad aebCE genes and for amoA (the entC-equivalent gene previously cloned from an amonabactin-producing Aeromonas spp.) did not cross-hybridize. Gene probes for the E. coli 2,3-DHB genes entCEBA did not hybridize with Aeromonas spp. DNA. Therefore, in the genus Aeromonas, 2,3-DHB synthesis is encoded by two distinct gene groups; one (amo) is present in the amonabactin-producers, while the other (aeb) occurs in the enterobactin-producers. Each of these systems differs from (but is functionally related to) the E. coli 2,3-DHB operon. These genes may have diverged from an ancestral group of 2,3-DHB genes.     

Evaluation of hydroxyl radical-scavenging property of purpurogallin using high pressure liquid chromatography

Purpurogallin (PPG) has been used as an additive to edible and non-edible oils or fats to retard oxidation. Its antioxidant mechanism is not known. We investigated the ability of PPG to scavenge exogenously generated hydroxyl radicals (·OH) using a sensitive high pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. ·OH was generated by photolysis of H₂O₂ (1.25–10 moles) with UV light and was trapped with salicylic acid (500 nmoles). Salicylic acid is hydroxylated to produce ·OH adduct products 2,3-and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA). H₂O₂ produced concentration-dependent ·OH as estimated by generation of 2,3- and 2,5-DHBA. PPG (100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 nmoles) produced concentration-dependent decreases in ·OH adduct products (approximately 70% inhibition with 600 nmoles of PPG). It did not affect the peak of standard 2,3- and 2,5-DHBA indicating that the decrease in the adduct product generated by H₂O₂ is due to scavenging of ·OH. These results indicate that photolysis of H₂O₂ by UV light produces ·OH and that PPG scavenges ·OH.     

Antioxidant activity of allicin,an active principle in garlic

Garlic has been claimed to be effective against diseases, in the pathophysiology of which oxygen free radicals (OFRs) have been implicated. Effectiveness of garlic could be due to its ability to scavenge OFRs. However, its antioxidant activity is not known. We investigated the ability of allicin (active ingredient of garlic) contained in the commercial preparation Garlicin to scavenge hydroxyl radicals (·OH) using high pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. ·OH was generated by photolysis of H₂O₂ (1.25–10 moles/ml) with ultraviolet light and was trapped with salicylic acid which is hydroxylated to produce ·OH adduct products 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA). H₂O₂ produced a concentration-dependent ·OH as estimated by ·OH adduct products 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA. Allicin equivalent in Garlicin (1.8, 3.6, 7.2, 14.4, 21.6, 28.8 and 36 g) produced concentration-dependent decreases in the formation of 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA. The inhibition of formation of 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA with 1.8 g/ml was 32.36% and 43.2% respectively while with 36.0 g/ml the inhibition was approximately 94.0% and 90.0% respectively. The decrease in ·OH adduct products was due to scavenging of ·OH and not by scavenging of formed ·OH adduct products. Allicin prevented the lipid peroxidation of liver homogenate in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that allicin scavenges ·OH and Garlicin has antioxidant activity.     

Enzymatic adenylation of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate is enhanced by a protein-protein interaction between Escherichia coli 2,3-dihydro-2,3-dihydroxybenzoate dehydrogenase (EntA) and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate-AMP ligase (EntE)

The Escherichia coli siderophore enterobactin is synthesized in response to iron starvation. 2,3-Dihydro-2,3-dihydroxybenzoate dehydrogenase (EntA) produces 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate (DHB), a biosynthetic intermediate. 2,3-Dihydroxybenzoate-AMP ligase (EntE) adenylates DHB, activating it for attachment to the NRPS substrate holo-EntB. Using analytical ultracentrifugation, we found that EntA undergoes concentration-dependent dimer-tetramer self-association (K(D) = 12.3 μM). We further found that EntA can form a specific complex with EntE. Pull-down assays revealed that recombinant EntA bait pulled down EntE from E. coli lysates, whereas recombinant EntE bait could pull down EntA. Addition of the SMCC cross-linker to a mixture of EntA and EntE resulted in a cross-linked product with a molecular mass of >250 kDa, suggesting a complex stoichiometry of one EntA tetramer and four EntE monomers. The effect of EntA on EntE activity was also examined. Addition of a 4-fold excess of EntA to an EntE assay mixture resulted in a 6-fold stimulation of EntE activity. EntA was also found to perturb the FRET signal between EntE donor residues and EntE-bound DHB. By following the EntA-dependent decrease in the magnitude of the EntE-DHB FRET signal, EntA-EntE binding behavior was found to be sigmoidal, suggesting the presence of both low- and high-affinity binding sites. The EntA-EntE interaction was also directly measured by isothermal titration calorimetry at 10 °C. The resulting binding isotherm fit well to a model describing two binding sites, supporting our AUC and fluorescence data. Taken together, our data show that tetrameric EntA optimally interacts with EntE, resulting in an enhancement of EntE activity.     

A novel green enzymatic synthetic route of 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoic acid from glucose and CO2 fixation

The enzymatic carbon fixation is a promising approach to deal with greenhouse gas emission and is usually accompanied with energy consumption during the reduction of CO₂. As a very important route, the carboxylation can convert CO₂ to organic carbon without extra requirement of reduction power and is hoped as a greener solution, especially for some non-bulk chemicals, such as medical intermediates. Here, a concept-proof trail of green enzymatic process of conversing both of CO₂ and benzene to produce 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,3-DHBA), which is the intermediate for fine chemicals, is introduced with O₂ from air and glucose. The results showed that the conversion catechol by 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoic acid decarboxylase (2,3-DHBD) alone was around 30 %, with an overall conversion from phenol of 2.4 %, which was limited by the in-situ production of catechol. This trail contributed a green enzymatic route for the production of 2,3-DHBA.     

Salicylic acid is not a bacterial siderophore: a theoretical study

Using a newly available program for calculating the concentrations and speciation of various ions (Pettit, LD & Powell KJ, `SolEq' Academic Software, 1999), we have calculated that at pH 7 the amount of free Fe(III) present in an aqueous solution is 1.4×10^–9 M and not 10^–18 M as is usually quoted. In the presence of salicylic acid, included in the calculations at 10^–4 M, the solubility of Fe(III) is increased to only 9.8×10^–9 M suggesting that salicylate is unable to act as a siderophore although it is produced as an extracellular product by several bacterial genera when grown iron deficiently. In the presence of 40 mM phosphate, the soluble Fe(III) concentration is decreased by 10⁴ at pH 7 and again this is hardly affected by the presence of salicylate. Thus, for microorganisms grown either in vitro or in vivo, salicylate is unlikely to function as a iron solubilizing agent. The same conclusions may also apply to 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid.     

Hydroxyl radical-scavenging property of indomethacin

The ability of indomethacin to scavenge hydroxyl radical (.OH) using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was investigated. .OH radical was generated by photolysis of H₂O₂ (1.5–10 mmoles/L) with UV light and was trapped with salicyclic acid (500 nmoles). H₂O₂ produced .OH in a concentration-dependent manner as estimated by .OH adduct products 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA). Indomethacin in increasing concentrations (5–600 moles/L) produced increasing inhibition of generation of 2,3-DHBA (7–67%) and of 2,5-DHBA (7–77%). The results indicate that indomethacin scavenges .OH in a concentration-dependent manner.     

Characterization and Fungal Inhibition Activity of Siderophore from Wheat Rhizosphere Associated Acinetobacter calcoaceticus Strain HIRFA32

Acinetobacter calcoaceticus HIRFA32 from wheat rhizosphere produced catecholate type of siderophore with optimum siderophore (ca. 92 % siderophore units) in succinic acid medium without FeSO₄ at 28 °C and 24 h of incubation. HPLC purified siderophore appeared as pale yellow crystals with molecular weight [M⁺¹] m/z 347.18 estimated by LCMS. The structure elucidated by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HMQC, HMBC, NOESY and decoupling studies, revealed that siderophore composed of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid with hydroxyhistamine and threonine as amino acid subunits. In vitro study demonstrated siderophore mediated mycelium growth inhibition (ca. 46.87 ± 0.5 %) of Fusarium oxysporum. This study accounts to first report on biosynthesis of acinetobactin-like siderophore by the rhizospheric strain of A. calcoaceticus and its significance in inhibition of F. oxysporum.     

Impaired phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis and ascorbic acid depletion in lung during lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxaemia in guinea pigs

Recently there has been a moderate resurgence in the use of flax-seed in a variety of ways including bread. The scientific basis of its use is very limited. There is some claim for beneficial effects in cancer and lupus nephritis. These claims could be due to its ability to scavenge oxygen radicals. However, its antioxidant activity is not known. Recently a method has been developed to isolate secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) from defatted flax-seed in large quantity (patent pending). We investigated the ability of SDG to scavenge úOH using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. úOH was generated by photolysis of H2O2 (1.25-10.0 \sgmaelig;moles/ml) with ultraviolet light and was trapped with salicylic acid which is hydroxylated to produce úOH-adduct products 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) and 2,5-DHBA. H2O2 produced a concentration-dependent úOH as estimated by 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA. A standard curve was constructed for known concentrations of 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA against corresponding area under the peaks which then was used for measurement of 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA generated by UV irradiation of H2O2 in the presence of salicylic acid. SDG in the concentration range of 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000 and 2000 \sgmaelig;g/ml (36.4, 72.8, 145.6, 364.0, 728.0, 1092.0, 1456.0 and 2912.0 \sgmaelig;M respectively) produced a concentration-dependent decrease in the formation of 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA, the inhibition being 4 and 4.65% respectively with 25 \sgmaelig;g/ml (36.4 \sgmaelig;M) and 82 and 74% respectively with 2000 \sgmaelig;g/ml (2912.0 \sgmaelig;M). The decrease in úOH-adduct products was due to scavenging of úOH not and by scavenging of formed 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA. SDG prevented the lipid peroxidation of liver homogenate in a concentration-dependent manner in the concentration range from 319.3-2554.4 \sgmaelig;M. These results suggest that SDG scavenges úOH and therefore has an antioxidant activity.     

Temperature Control of a 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoate (Protocatechuate)-Based Siderophore in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus anthracis</Emphasis>

Bacillus anthracis Sterne produced a catecholate siderophore named anthrachelin that was based on 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-DHB, or protocatechuic acid), a catechol moiety previously unreported as a siderophore component. During iron restriction, both anthrachelin and free 3,4-DHB were excreted. Growth at 37°C (as compared with 23°C) decreased excretion of anthrachelin but not its precursor 3,4-DHB, suggesting that anthrachelin assembly is temperature regulated. A plasmidless strain also produced anthrachelin in an iron- and temperature-regulated fashion, indicating that anthrachelin genes are chromosomal. In addition to anthrachelin-mediated iron delivery, B. anthracis also used heme, hemoproteins, iron-transferrin, and certain heterologous siderophores (xenosiderophores) produced by other microorganisms as iron sources. Downregulation of anthrachelin production at the temperature of the mammalian host (which triggers toxin production in this pathogen) may focus the B. anthracis iron acquisition systems to exploit the iron sources prevailing in the infected host.     

Cloning, mutagenesis, and nucleotide sequence of a siderophore biosynthetic gene (amoA) from Aeromonas hydrophila.

Many isolates of the Aeromonas species produce amonabactin, a phenolate siderophore containing 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,3-DHB). An amonabactin biosynthetic gene (amoA) was identified (in a Sau3A1 gene library of Aeromonas hydrophila 495A2 chromosomal DNA) by its complementation of the requirement of Escherichia coli SAB11 for exogenous 2,3-DHB to support siderophore (enterobactin) synthesis. The gene amoA was subcloned as a SalI-HindIII 3.4-kb DNA fragment into pSUP202, and the complete nucleotide sequence of amoA was determined. A putative iron-regulatory sequence resembling the Fur repressor protein-binding site overlapped a possible promoter region. A translational reading frame, beginning with valine and encoding 396 amino acids, was open for 1,188 bp. The C-terminal portion of the deduced amino acid sequence showed 58% identity and 79% similarity with the E. coli EntC protein (isochorismate synthetase), the first enzyme in the E. coli 2,3-DHB biosynthetic pathway, suggesting that amoA probably encodes a step in 2,3-DHB biosynthesis and is the A. hydrophila equivalent of the E. coli entC gene. An isogenic amonabactin-negative mutant, A. hydrophila SB22, was isolated after marker exchange mutagenesis with Tn5-inactivated amoA (amoA::Tn5). The mutant excreted neither 2,3-DHB nor amonabactin, was more sensitive than the wild-type to growth inhibition by iron restriction, and used amonabactin to overcome iron starvation.     

Elicitation of 2,3-Dihydroxybenzoic Acid and Ajmalicine in a Catharanthus roseus Suspension Culture*

Addition of an elicitor preparation from cell walls of Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. glycinea (Pmg elicitor) to a newly established cell suspension culture of Catharanthus roseus induced extracellular free 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid, suggesting its role in pathogen defense. The same substance also accumulated intracellularly in a bound form. Treatment of the crude Pmg elicitor preparation with trypsin abolished elicitor activity, suggesting that the active fraction is proteinaceous. The cells became more sensitive to low but not to elevated elicitor concentrations when they were pretreated with 2,6-dichloroisonicotinic (DCIA) or 5-chlorosalicylic (5CSA) acid for about 1 day before addition of the elicitor. This indicates that the elicitor reception/transduction system becomes improved by these compounds known to be related to systemic acquired resistance against plant pathogens. The newly established cell line initially accumulated also the indole alkaloid ajmalicine, a process enhanced by Pmg elicitor. This potency was lost during subculturing for about 1 year and was also not restored by preincubation with DCIA or 5CSA. In contrast, elicitation of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid synthesis was undiminished, suggesting that the Pmg elicitor perception system was still functioning and not the cause for the decline in elicited indole alkaloid production.     

Biological Reactions of Peroxynitrite: Evidence for an Alternative Pathway of Salicylate Hydroxylation

Salicylate hydroxylation has often been used as an assay of hydroxyl radical production in vivo. We have examined here if hydroxylation of salicylate might also occur by its reaction with peroxynitrite. To test this hypothesis, we exposed salicylate to various concentrations of peroxynitrite, in vitro. We observed the hydroxylation of salicylate at 37°C by peroxynitrite at pH 6, 7 and 7.5, where the primary products had similar retention times on HPLC to 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxy-benzoic acid. The product yields were pH dependent with maximal amounts formed at pH 6. Furthermore, the relative concentration of 2,3- to 2,5-dihydroxyben-zoic acid increased with decreasing pH. Nitration of salicylate was also observed and both nitration and hydroxylation reaction products were confirmed independently by mass spectrometry. The spin trap N-t-butyl-a-phenylnitrone (PBN), with or without dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), was incapable of trapping the peroxynitrite decomposition intermediates. Moreover, free radical adducts of the type PBN/'CH₃ and PBN/ 'OH were susceptible to destruction by peroxynitrite (pH 7, 0.1 M phosphate buffer). These results suggest direct peroxynitrite hydroxylation of salicylate and that the presence of hydroxyl radicals is not a prerequisite for hydroxylation reactions.     

Carrier protein recognition in siderophore-producing nonribosomal peptide synthetases

Nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) use phosphopantetheine (pPant) bearing carrier proteins to chaperone activated aminoacyl and peptidyl intermediates to the various enzymes that effect peptide synthesis. Using components from siderophore NRPSs that synthesize vibriobactin, enterobactin, yersiniabactin, pyochelin, and anguibactin, we examined the nature of the interaction of such cofactor-carrier proteins with acyl-activating adenylation (A) domains. While VibE, EntE, and PchD were all able to utilize "carrier protein-free" pPant derivatives, the pattern of usage indicated diversity in the binding mechanism, and even the best substrates were down at least 3 log units relative to the native cofactor-carrier protein. When tested with four noncognate carrier proteins, EntE and VibE differed both in the range of substrate utilization efficiency and in the distribution of the efficiencies across this range. Correlating sequence alignments to kinetic efficiency allowed for the construction of eight point mutants of VibE's worst substrate, HMWP2 ArCP, to the corresponding residue in its native VibB. Mutants S49D and H66E combined to increase activity 6.2-fold and had similar enhancing effects on the downstream condensation domain VibH, indicating that the two NRPS enzymes share carrier protein recognition determinants. Similar mutations of HMWP2 ArCP toward EntB had little effect on EntE, suggesting that the position of recognition determinants varies across NRPS systems.     

基于生物信息学分析从Streptomyces albofaciens JCM 4342中发现2,3-二羟基苯甲酸酯-L-丝氨酸脱水三聚体和二聚体天然产物

[背景] 铁是细菌生长的基本元素,而三价铁在自然水环境中几乎无法溶解。细菌已经进化出产生各种铁载体的能力,以促进铁的吸收。对于链霉菌,其特有的铁载体是去铁胺,同时它们也可以产生其他结构的铁载体,如ceolichelin、白霉素、肠杆菌素（enterobactin）和griseobactin。[目的] 揭示链霉菌中铁载体生物合成基因簇（Biosynthetic Gene Clusters,BGCs）的分布特点和基因簇特征,并探索其所合成铁载体的化合物结构。[方法] 利用生物信息学工具系统地分析308个具有全基因组序列信息的链霉菌中的铁载体生物合成基因簇,并用色谱和波谱方法分离和表征肠杆菌素相关天然产物。[结果] 发现Streptomyces albofaciens JCM 4342和其他少数菌株同时含有一个缺少2,3-二羟基苯甲酸（2,3-DHB）生物合成基因的孤立的肠杆菌素生物合成基因簇和另外一个推测可合成griseobactin的基因簇。从S.albofaciens JCM 4342发酵液中鉴定出4个肠杆菌素衍生的天然产物,包括链状2,3-二羟基苯甲酸酯-l-丝氨酸（2,3-DHBS）的三聚体和二聚体以及它们的脱水产物。[结论] 2个基因簇间存在一种特别的协同生物合成机制。推测是griseobactin基因簇负责合成2,3-DHB,而孤立的肠杆菌素基因簇编码的生物合成酶可夺取该底物,进而完成上述4种肠杆菌素衍生天然产物的生物合成。     

Detection of conformationally changed MBP using intramolecular FRET

The principal objective of this study was to explore protein conformational changes using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology. Maltose binding protein (MBP) was adopted as a target model, due to its well-characterized structure and ligand specificity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to provide information regarding the biological distance between the two lobes of MBP upon maltose binding. For the FRET pair, ECFP and EYFP were used as the donor and the acceptor, and were linked genetically to the C-terminal and N-terminal regions of MBP (ECFP:MBP:EYFP), respectively. After the FRET reaction, maltose-treated MBP was shown to exhibit a considerable energy transfer (FRET efficiency (E) = ∼0.11, Distance (D) = ∼6.93 nm) at the ensemble level, which was regarded as reflective of the increase in donor quenching and the upshift in acceptor emission intensity, thereby suggesting that the donor and the acceptor had been brought close together as the result of structural alterations in MBP. However, upon glucose treatment, no FRET phenomenon was detected, thereby implying the specificity of interaction between MBP and maltose. The in vitro FRET results were also confirmed via the acceptor photobleaching method. Therefore, our data showed that maltose-stimulated conformational changes of MBP could be measured by FRET, thereby providing biological information, including the FRET efficiency and the intramolecular distance.     

Study on the reaction of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid with molybdenum in aqueous solution. I. Synthesis and characterization of the oligomeric complexes formed

Dimeric or oligomeric oxo-complexes of Mo(VI) with 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid were prepared in aqueous solutions in the presence or not of K₂S₂O₅ (acting as a reducing agent) in various conditions. The complexes were found to contain the cis-(Mo₂O₅)²⁺ core and the ligands in the catecholate, semiquinonate or mixed valence oxidation form, depending on the reaction conditions and especially on the presence or not of the reductant. The isolated complexes in the presence or absence of reductant and the oxidation products in solution in the presence of air were studied via elemental, thermogravimetric and electrochemical analysis, Infrared, Raman, NMR and ESR spectroscopies and Electrospray Mass Spectra. The general molecular formula for the complexes is {[(PPh₄)₂(Mo₂O₅L₂X₂] · xH₂O)}_n, where the coordinated ligand’s L oxidation form varies and X involves coordinated water or hydroxyl group depending on the ligand oxidation state.     

Liver-type fatty acid binding protein interacts with hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) regulates liver type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) gene expression. Conversely as shown herein, L-FABP structurally and functionally also interacts with HNF4α. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between Cy3-HNF4α (donor) and Cy5-L-FABP (acceptor) as well as FRET microscopy detected L-FABP in close proximity (∼80 Å) to HNF4α, binding with high affinity K_d ∼250–300 nM. Circular dichroism (CD) determined that the HNF4α/L-FABP interaction altered protein secondary structure. Finally, L-FABP potentiated transactivation of HNF4α in COS7 cells. Taken together, these data suggest that L-FABP provides a signaling path to HNF4α activation in the nucleus.