Detection of broad-spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotics through fluorescence-labeling aminoglycoside acetyltransferase(6')-Ii

Aminoglycosides are among the most commonly used antibiotics. The intensive use of aminoglycoside antibiotics has led to the problem of food contamination and the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In the present study, we developed an effective method for easy sensitive detection of broad-spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotics. Aminoglycoside 6′-N-acetyltransferase family catalyzes the transfer of an acetyl group from acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) to the 6′ amino group of the aminoglycoside, which is one of the most widespread determinants of aminoglycoside resistance. Because acetyl-CoA is naturally present only in living organisms, it is expected that the enzyme can bind with aminoglycoside antibiotics without catalysis in vitro. The enzyme was mutated for the introduction of a cysteine residue to flexible loops close to the binding site, which was then labeled with thio-labeling reagent fluorescein-5-maleimide. The labeled enzymes were characterized with kinetic and binding studies of various known aminoglycoside antibiotics. The binding of the labeled enzyme with aminoglycoside antibiotics causes a conformational change of the enzyme, which subsequently changes the hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity environment of fluorescent labeling reagent resulting in emission of fluorescence. This study provides a sensitive detection method for residual aminoglycoside antibiotics and strategies to screen and discover new effective aminoglycoside antibiotics.     

Characterization of the bifunctional aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme ANT(3')-Ii/AAC(6')-IId from Serratia marcescens

A newly discovered bifunctional antibiotic resistance enzyme from Serratia marcescens catalyzes adenylation and acetylation of aminoglycoside antibiotics. The structure assignment of the enzymic products indicated that acetylation takes place on the 6'-amine of kanamycin A and the adenylation on 3'- and 9-hydroxyl groups of streptomycin and spectinomycin, respectively. The adenyltransferase domain appears to be highly specific to spectinomycin and streptomycin, while the acetyltransferase domain shows a broad substrate profile. Initial velocity patterns indicate that both domains follow a sequential kinetic mechanism. The use of dead-end and product inhibition, the solvent isotope effect, and the solvent viscosity effect reveals that the adenyltransferase domain catalyzes the reaction by a Theorell-Chance kinetic mechanism, where ATP binds to the enzyme prior to the aminoglycoside and the modified antibiotic is the last product to be released. The acetyltransferase domain follows an ordered bi-bi kinetic mechanism, in which the antibiotic is the first substrate that binds to the active site and CoASH is released prior to the modified aminoglycoside. The merging of two genes to create bifunctional resistance enzymes with expanded profiles has now been documented in four instances, including the subject of study in this report, which suggests a new trend in the emergence of resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics among pathogens.     

Kinetic and mutagenic characterization of the chromosomally encoded Salmonella enterica AAC(6')-Iy aminoglycoside N-acetyltransferase

The chromosomally encoded aminoglycoside N-acetyltransferase, AAC(6')-Iy, from Salmonella enterica confers resistance toward a number of aminoglycoside antibiotics. The structural gene was cloned and expressed and the purified enzyme existed in solution as a dimer of ca. 17 000 Da monomers. Acetyl-CoA was the preferred acyl donor, and most therapeutically important aminoglycosides were substrates for acetylation. Exceptions are those aminoglycosides that possess a 6'-hydroxyl substituent (e.g., lividomycin). Thus, the enzyme exhibited regioselective and exclusive acetyltransferase activity to 6'-amine-containing aminoglycosides. The enzyme exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics for some aminoglycoside substrates but "substrate activation" with others. Kinetic studies supported a random kinetic mechanism for the enzyme. The enzyme was inactivated by iodoacetamide in a biphasic manner, with half of the activity being lost rapidly and the other half more slowly. Tobramycin, but not acetyl-CoA, protected against inactivation. Each of the three cysteine residues (C70, C109, C145) in the wild-type enzyme were carboxamidomethylated by iodoacetamide. Cysteine 109 in AAC(6')-Iy is conserved in 12 AAC(6') enzyme sequences of the major class I subfamily. Surprisingly, mutation of this residue to alanine neither abolished activity nor altered the biphasic inactivation by iodoacetamide. The maximum velocity and V/K values for a number of aminoglycosides were elevated in this single mutant, and the kinetic behavior of substrates exhibiting linear vs nonlinear kinetics was reversed. Cysteine 70 in AAC(6')-Iy is either a cysteine or a threonine residue in all 12 AAC(6') enzymes of the major class I subfamily. The double mutant, C109A/C70A, was not inactivated by iodoacetamide. The double mutant exhibited large increases in the K(m) values for both acetyl-CoA and aminoglycoside substrates, and all aminoglycoside substrates exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Solvent kinetic isotope effects on V/K were normal for the WT enzyme and inverse for the double mutant. We discuss a chemical mechanism and the likely rate-limiting steps for both the wild-type and mutant forms of the enzyme.     

Mechanistic and structural analysis of aminoglycoside N-acetyltransferase AAC(6')-Ib and its bifunctional, fluoroquinolone-active AAC(6')-Ib-cr variant

Enzymatic modification of aminoglycoside antibiotics mediated by regioselective aminoglycoside N-acetyltransferases is the predominant cause of bacterial resistance to aminoglycosides. A recently discovered bifunctional aminoglycoside acetyltransferase (AAC(6')-Ib variant, AAC(6')-Ib-cr) has been shown to catalyze the acetylation of fluoroquinolones as well as aminoglycosides. We have expressed and purified AAC(6')-Ib-wt and its bifunctional variant AAC(6')-Ib-cr in Escherichia coli and characterized their kinetic and chemical mechanism. Initial velocity and dead-end inhibition studies support an ordered sequential mechanism for the enzyme(s). The three-dimensional structure of AAC(6')-Ib-wt was determined in various complexes with donor and acceptor ligands to resolutions greater than 2.2 A. Observation of the direct, and optimally positioned, interaction between the 6'-NH 2 and Asp115 suggests that Asp115 acts as a general base to accept a proton in the reaction. The structure of AAC(6')-Ib-wt permits the construction of a molecular model of the interactions of fluoroquinolones with the AAC(6')-Ib-cr variant. The model suggests that a major contribution to the fluoroquinolone acetylation activity comes from the Asp179Tyr mutation, where Tyr179 makes pi-stacking interactions with the quinolone ring facilitating quinolone binding. The model also suggests that fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides have different binding modes. On the basis of kinetic properties, the pH dependence of the kinetic parameters, and structural information, we propose an acid/base-assisted reaction catalyzed by AAC(6')-Ib-wt and the AAC(6')-Ib-cr variant involving a ternary complex.     

Crystal structure of an aminoglycoside 6'-N-acetyltransferase: defining the GCN5-related N-acetyltransferase superfamily fold.

BACKGROUND: The predominant mechanism of antibiotic resistance employed by pathogenic bacteria against the clinically used aminoglycosides is chemical modification of the drug. The detoxification reactions are catalyzed by enzymes that promote either the phosphorylation, adenylation or acetylation of aminoglycosides. Structural studies of these aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes may assist in the development of therapeutic agents that could circumvent antibiotic resistance. In addition, such studies may shed light on the development of antibiotic resistance and the evolution of different enzyme classes. RESULTS: The crystal structure of the aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme aminoglycoside 6'-N-acetyltransferase type li (AAC(6')-li) in complex with the cofactor acetyl coenzyme A has been determined at 2.7 A resolution. The structure establishes that this acetyltransferase belongs to the GCN5-related N-acetyltransferase superfamily, which includes such enzymes as the histone acetyltransferases GCN5 and Hat1. CONCLUSIONS: Comparison of the AAC(6')-li structure with the crystal structures of two other members of this superfamily, Serratia marcescens aminoglycoside 3-N-acetyltransferase and yeast histone acetyltransferase Hat1, reveals that of the 84 residues that are structurally similar, only three are conserved and none can be implicated as catalytic residues. Despite the negligible sequence identity, functional studies show that AAC(6')-li possesses protein acetylation activity. Thus, AAC(6')-li is both a structural and functional homolog of the GCN5-related histone acetyltransferases.     

Thermodynamics of aminoglycoside and acyl-coenzyme A binding to the Salmonella enterica AAC(6')-Iy aminoglycoside N-acetyltransferase

Kinetic and mechanistic studies on the chromosomally encoded aminoglycoside 6'-N-acetyltransferase, AAC(6')-Iy, of Salmonella enterica that confers resistance toward aminoglycosides have been previously reported [Magnet et al. (2001) Biochemistry 40, 3700-3709]. In the present study, equilibrium binding and the thermodynamic parameters of binding of aminoglycosides and acyl-coenzyme A derivatives to AAC(6')-Iy and of two mutants, C109A and the C109A/C70A double mutant, have been studied using fluorescence spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Association constants for different aminoglycosides varied greatly (4 x 10(4)-150 x 10(4)) while the association constants of several acyl-coenzyme A derivatives were similar (3.2 x 10(4)-4.5 x 10(4)). The association constants and van't Hoff enthalpy changes derived from intrinsic protein fluorescence changes were in agreement with independently measured values from isothermal titration calorimetry studies. Binding of both aminoglycosides and acyl-coenzyme A derivatives is strongly enthalpically driven and revealed opposing negative entropy changes, resulting in enthalpy-entropy compensation. The acetyltransferase exhibited a temperature-dependent binding of tobramycin with a negative heat capacity value of 410 cal mol(-1) K(-1). Isothermal titration studies of acetyl-coenzyme A and tobramycin binding to mutant forms of the enzyme indicated that completely conserved C109 does not play any direct role in the binding of either of the substrates, while C70 is directly involved in aminoglycoside binding. These results are discussed and compared with previous steady-state kinetic studies of the enzyme.     

Domain-domain interactions in the aminoglycoside antibiotic resistance enzyme AAC(6')-APH(2'')

The most common determinant of aminoglycoside antibiotic resistance in Gram positive bacterial pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus, is a modifying enzyme, AAC(6')-APH(2' '), capable of acetylating and phosphorylating a wide range of antibiotics. This enzyme is unique in that it is composed of two separable modification domains, and although a number of studies have been conducted on the acetyltransferase and phosphotransferase activities in isolation, little is known about the role and impact of domain interactions on antibiotic resistance. Kinetic analysis and in vivo assessment of a number of N- and C-terminal truncated proteins have demonstrated that the two domains operate independently and do not accentuate one another's resistance activity. However, the two domains are structurally integrated, and mutational analysis has demonstrated that a predicted connecting alpha-helix is especially critical for maintaining proper structure and function of both activities. AAC(6')-APH(2' ') detoxifies a staggering array of aminoglycosides, where one or both activities make important contributions depending on the antibiotic. Thus, to overcome antibiotic resistance associated with AAC(6')-APH(2' '), aminoglycosides resistant to modification and/or inhibitors against both activities must be employed. Domain-domain interactions in AAC(6')-APH(2' ') offer a unique target for inhibitor strategies, as we show that their disruption simultaneously inhibits both activities >90%.     

Domain dissection and characterization of the aminoglycoside resistance enzyme ANT(3″)-Ii/AAC(6′)-IId from Serratia marcescens

Aminoglycosides (AGs) are broad-spectrum antibiotics whose constant use and presence in growth environments has led bacteria to develop resistance mechanisms to aid in their survival. A common mechanism of resistance to AGs is their chemical modification (nucleotidylation, phosphorylation, or acetylation) by AG-modifying enzymes (AMEs). Through evolution, fusion of two AME-encoding genes has resulted in bifunctional enzymes with broader spectrum of activity. Serratia marcescens, a human enteropathogen, contains such a bifunctional enzyme, ANT(3″)-Ii/AAC(6′)-IId. To gain insight into the role, effect, and importance of the union of ANT(3″)-Ii and AAC(6′)-IId in this bifunctional enzyme, we separated the two domains and compared their activity to that of the full-length enzyme. We performed a thorough comparison of the substrate and cosubstrate profiles as well as kinetic characterization of the bifunctional ANT(3″)-Ii/AAC(6′)-IId and its individually expressed components.     

X-ray structure of the AAC(6')-Ii antibiotic resistance enzyme at 1.8 A resolution; examination of oligomeric arrangements in GNAT superfamily members

The rise of antibiotic resistance as a public health concern has led to increased interest in studying the ways in which bacteria avoid the effects of antibiotics. Enzymatic inactivation by several families of enzymes has been observed to be the predominant mechanism of resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics such as kanamycin and gentamicin. Despite the importance of acetyltransferases in bacterial resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics, relatively little is known about their structure and mechanism. Here we report the three-dimensional atomic structure of the aminoglycoside acetyltransferase AAC(6')-Ii in complex with coenzyme A (CoA). This structure unambiguously identifies the physiologically relevant AAC(6')-Ii dimer species, and reveals that the enzyme structure is similar in the AcCoA and CoA bound forms. AAC(6')-Ii is a member of the GCN5-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) superfamily of acetyltransferases, a diverse group of enzymes that possess a conserved structural motif, despite low sequence homology. AAC(6')-Ii is also a member of a subset of enzymes in the GNAT superfamily that form multimeric complexes. The dimer arrangements within the multimeric GNAT superfamily members are compared, revealing that AAC(6')-Ii forms a dimer assembly that is different from that observed in the other multimeric GNAT superfamily members. This different assembly may provide insight into the evolutionary processes governing dimer formation.     

Mechanistic characterization of the bifunctional aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme AAC(3)-Ib/AAC(6')-Ib' from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A recently discovered bifunctional antibiotic-resistance enzyme named AAC(3)-Ib/AAC(6')-Ib', from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, catalyzes acetylation of aminoglycoside antibiotics. Since both domains are acetyltransferases, each was cloned and purified for mechanistic studies. The AAC(3)-Ib domain appears to be highly specific to fortimicin A and gentamicin as substrates, while the AAC(6')-Ib' domain exhibits a broad substrate spectrum. Initial velocity patterns indicate that both domains follow a sequential kinetic mechanism. The use of dead-end and product inhibition and solvent-isotope effect reveals that both domains catalyze their reactions by a steady-state ordered Bi-Bi kinetic mechanism, in which acetyl-CoA is the first substrate that binds to the active site, followed by binding of the aminoglycoside antibiotic. Subsequent to the transfer of the acetyl group, acetylated aminoglycoside is released prior to coenzyme A. The merger of two genes to create a bifunctional enzyme with expanded substrate profile would appear to be a recent trend in evolution of resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics, of which four examples have been documented in the past few years.     

Overexpression and mechanistic analysis of chromosomally encoded aminoglycoside 2'-N-acetyltransferase (AAC(2')-Ic) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The chromosomally encoded aminoglycoside N-acetyltransferase, AAC(2')-Ic, of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has a yet unidentified physiological function. The aac(2')-Ic gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and AAC(2')-Ic was purified. Recombinant AAC(2')-Ic was a soluble protein of 20,000 Da and acetylated all aminoglycosides substrates tested in vitro, including therapeutically important antibiotics. Acetyl-CoA was the preferred acyl donor. The enzyme, in addition to acetylating aminoglycosides containing 2'-amino substituents, also acetylated kanamycin A and amikacin that contain a 2'-hydroxyl substituent, although with lower activity, indicating the capacity of the enzyme to perform both N-acetyl and O-acetyl transfer. The enzyme exhibited "substrate activation" with many aminoglycoside substrates while exhibiting Michaelis-Menten kinetics with others. Kinetic studies supported a random kinetic mechanism for AAC(2')-Ic. Comparison of the kinetic parameters of different aminoglycosides suggested that their hexopyranosyl residues and, to a lesser extent, the central aminocyclitol residue carry the major determinants of substrate affinity.     

In vitro transfer of the aac(6')-aph(2") gene that confers aminoglycoside antibiotic resistance from Staphylococcus aureus to Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus avium

In nine strains of Enterococcus, frequency of resistance gene transfer from MRSA caring gene acc(6')-aph(2") was investigated. Transfer was inducted in broth at 44 degrees C for 24 h. Presence of acc(6')-aph(2") gene was confirmed by PCR method. Frequency of gene transfer was the highest for strains Enterococcus faecalis isolated from humans (0.13), significant lower for Enterococcus avium (0.007) and the lowest for strains of Enterococcus faecalis isolated from animals (0.004).     

Kinetic mechanism of the adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit in the direction of magnesium adenosine 5'-diphosphate phosphorylation.

In order to define the overall kinetic mechanism of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit and also to elaborate the kinetic mechanism in the direction of peptide phosphorylation, we have determined its kinetic mechanism in the direction of MgADP phosphorylation. Studies of initial velocity as a function of uncomplexed Mg2+ (Mgf) in the absence and presence of dead-end inhibitors were used to define the kinetic mechanism. Data are consistent with the overall kinetic mechanism in the direction of MgADP phosphorylation being random with both the pathways allowed, i.e., the pathway in which MgADP binds to the enzyme prior to phosphorylated peptide and the pathway in which phosphorylated peptide binds to enzyme prior to MgADP. In addition, depending on the concentration of Mgf, one or the other pathway predominates. At low (0.5 mM) Mgf, the mechanism is steady-state ordered with the pathway in which phosphorylated peptide binds first being preferred; at high (10 mM) Mgf, the kinetic mechanism is equilibrium ordered, and the pathway in which MgADP binds first is preferred. This change in mechanism to equilibrium ordered at higher concentration of Mgf is due to an increase in affinity of the enzyme for MgADP and a decrease in affinity for the phosphorylated peptide. The Haldane relationship gives a Keq of 2 +/- 1 x 10(3) at pH 7.2, in agreement with the values obtained from 31P NMR (1.6 +/- 0.8 x 10(3)) and direct determination of reactant concentrations at equilibrium (3.5 +/- 0.6 x 10(3)).     

Structure of the HIV-1 5' untranslated region dimer alone and in complex with gold nanocolloids: support of a TAR-TAR-containing 5' dimer linkage site (DLS) and a 3' DIS-DIS-containing DLS

The formation of a genomic RNA dimer is critical for the HIV-1 replication cycle, and dimerization is known to initiate within the 5'UTR (5' untranslated region) of the viral RNA. However, the 5'UTR constitutes the 335 terminal nucleotides, and because of this considerable size, it has been difficult to study the global structure using conventional structural methods. Here, the atomic force microscope has been used to directly visualize the dimer formed from RNAs including HIV-1 nucleotides 1-744. Gold nanocolloids were deposited on the primer binding site regions in the dimer as an internal control. The dimer showed distinct ring morphology with up to two gold nanocolloids deposited within the ring and one or two strands extending from the ring. This morphology implies a dimer including a DIS-DIS (dimerization initiation site)-containing 3' dimer linkage site (DLS) and a TAR-TAR (trans-activation region)-containing 5'DLS. Furthermore, the dimer was formed under the influence of Mg(2+) and was imaged with an atomic force microscope under buffer conditions. The overall ring morphology containing a 5'DLS and a 3'DLS with one or two strands extending from it was conserved in these atomic force microscopy images. This indicates that the observed dimer morphology is physiologically significant. Moreover, evidence of multiple dimer interstrand contacts downstream of the major splice donor were observed, which indicates a component in the selection of full-length genomic RNA in dimer formation during virion packaging.     

Molecular mechanism of aminoglycoside antibiotic kinase APH(3')-IIIa: roles of conserved active site residues

The aminoglycoside antibiotic kinases (APHs) constitute a clinically important group of antibiotic resistance enzymes. APHs share structural and functional homology with Ser/Thr and Tyr kinases, yet only five amino acids are invariant between the two groups of enzymes and these residues are all located within the nucleotide binding regions of the proteins. We have performed site-directed mutagenesis on all five conserved residues in the aminoglycoside kinase APH(3')-IIIa: Lys(44) and Glu(60) involved in ATP capture, a putative active site base required for deprotonating the incoming aminoglycoside hydroxyl group Asp(190), and the Mg(2+) ligands Asn(195) and Glu(208), which coordinate two Mg(2+) ions, Mg1 and Mg2. Previous structural and mutagenesis evidence have demonstrated that Lys(44) interacts directly with the phosphate groups of ATP; mutagenesis of invariant Glu(60), which forms a salt bridge with the epsilon-amino group of Lys(44), demonstrated that this residue does not play a critical role in ATP recognition or catalysis. Results of mutagenesis of Asp(190) were consistent with a role in proper positioning of the aminoglycoside hydroxyl during phosphoryl transfer but not as a general base. The Mg1 and Mg2 ligand Asp(208) was found to be absolutely required for enzyme activity and the Mg2 ligand Asn(195) is important for Mg.ATP recognition. The mutagenesis results together with solvent isotope, solvent viscosity, and divalent cation requirements are consistent with a dissociative mechanism of phosphoryl transfer where initial substrate deprotonation is not essential for phosphate transfer and where Mg2 and Asp(208) likely play a critical role in stabilization of a metaphosphate-like transition state. These results lay the foundation for the synthesis of transition state mimics that could reverse aminoglycoside antibiotic resistance in vivo.     

Reaction mechanism of single subunit NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Ndi1) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae: evidence for a ternary complex mechanism

The flavoprotein rotenone-insensitive internal NADH-ubiquinone (UQ) oxidoreductase (Ndi1) is a member of the respiratory chain in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We reported previously that bound UQ in Ndi1 plays a key role in preventing the generation of reactive oxygen species. Here, to elucidate this mechanism, we investigated biochemical properties of Ndi1 and its mutants in which highly conserved amino acid residues (presumably involved in NADH and/or UQ binding sites) were replaced. We found that wild-type Ndi1 formed a stable charge transfer (CT) complex (around 740 nm) with NADH, but not with NADPH, under anaerobic conditions. The intensity of the CT absorption band was significantly increased by the presence of bound UQ or externally added n-decylbenzoquinone. Interestingly, however, when Ndi1 was exposed to air, the CT band transiently reached the same maximum level regardless of the presence of UQ. This suggests that Ndi1 forms a ternary complex with NADH and UQ, but the role of UQ in withdrawing an electron can be substitutable with oxygen. Proteinase K digestion analysis showed that NADH (but not NADPH) binding induces conformational changes in Ndi1. The kinetic study of wild-type and mutant Ndi1 indicated that there is no overlap between NADH and UQ binding sites. Moreover, we found that the bound UQ can reversibly dissociate from Ndi1 and is thus replaceable with other quinones in the membrane. Taken together, unlike other NAD(P)H-UQ oxidoreductases, the Ndi1 reaction proceeds through a ternary complex (not a ping-pong) mechanism. The bound UQ keeps oxygen away from the reduced flavin.