Vancomycin resistance is associated with serine-containing peptidoglycan in Enterococcus gallinarum

In Enterococcus gallinarum SC1, a low-level vancomycin-resistant strain, only monomeric muropentapeptides with a C-terminal D-alanine were detected after growth without vancomycin. In contrast, in SC1 induced by vancomycin, as well as in AIB39, a constitutive vancomycin-resistant strain, monomeric and dimeric muropentapeptides with a C-terminal D-serine were detected.     

Novel mechanism of beta-lactam resistance due to bypass of DD-transpeptidation in Enterococcus faecium

The peptidoglycan structure of in vitro selected ampicillin-resistant mutant Enterococcus faecium D344M512 and of the susceptible parental strain D344S was determined by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The muropeptide monomers were almost identical in the two strains. The substantial majority (99.3%) of the oligomers from the susceptible strain D344S contained the usual d-alanyl --> d-asparaginyl (or d-aspartyl)-l-lysyl cross-link (d-Ala --> d-Asx-l-Lys) generated by beta-lactam-sensitive DD-transpeptidation. The remaining oligomers (0.7%) were produced by beta-lactam-insensitive LD-transpeptidation, because they contained l-Lys --> d-Asx-l-Lys cross-links. The muropeptide oligomers of the ampicillin-resistant mutant D344M512 contained only these l-Lys --> d-Asx-l-Lys cross-links indicating that resistance was due to the bypass of the beta-lactam-sensitive DD-transpeptidation reaction. The discovery of this novel resistance mechanism indicates that DD-transpeptidases cannot be considered anymore as the sole essential transpeptidase enzymes.     

Mechanism of intrinsic resistance to vancomycin in Clostridium innocuum NCIB 10674

We have studied the basis for intrinsic resistance to low levels of vancomycin in Clostridium innocuum NCIB 10674 (MIC = 8 microg/ml). Analysis by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry of peptidoglycan nucleotide precursors pools revealed the presence of two types of UDP-MurNac-pentapeptide precursors constitutively produced, an UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide with a serine at the C terminus which represented 93% of the pool and an UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide with an alanine at the C terminus which represented the rest of the pool. C. innocuum cell wall muropeptides containing pentapeptide[Ser], either dialanine substituted on the epsilon amino group of lysine or not, were identified and represented about 10% of the monomers while only 1% of pentapeptide[D-Ala] monomers were found. The sequence of a 2,465-bp chromosomal fragment from C. innocuum was determined and revealed the presence of ddl(c. innocuum) and C. innocuum racemase genes putatively encoding homologues of D-Ala:D-X ligases and amino acid racemases, respectively. Analysis of the pool of precursors of Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2, containing cloned ddl(c. innocuum) and C. innocuum racemase genes showed in addition to the UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide[D-Ala], the presence of an UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide[D-Ser] precursor. However, the expression of low-level resistance to vancomycin was observed only when both genes were cloned in E. faecalis JH2-2 together with the vanXYc gene from Enterococcus gallinarum BM4174 which encodes a d,d-peptidase which eliminates preferentially the high affinity vancomycin UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide [D-Ala] precursors produced by the host. We conclude that resistance to vancomycin in C. innocuum NCIB 10674 was related to the presence of the two chromosomal ddl(c. innocuum) and C. innocuum racemase genes allowing the synthesis of a peptidoglycan precursor terminating in serine with low affinity for vancomycin.     

Effect of dexamethasone, indomethacin, and lipopolysaccharide on the secretion of interstitial collagenase and type V collagenase by cultured macrophages

The rabbit alveolar macrophage secretes at least two collagenolytic metalloproteinases in vitro including an interstitial collagenase and a type V collagenase. Using assays previously shown to discriminate between these two activities, the secretion of these two enzyme activities was investigated. Both enzyme activities accumulated in culture over 11 days and the release of both were similarly inhibited by cycloheximide. Collagenolytic activity was negligible in cell lysates. The interstitial collagenase was found in a latent form but the type V collagenase activity was active in the culture medium. When cultured in the presence of dexamethasone, the secretion of both the enzymes were identically inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Indomethacin was an effective inhibitor of secretion of both collagenases at a concentration of 10(-5) M but not at lower concentrations. Finally, bacterial lipopolysaccharide stimulated the secretion of both type V and interstitial collagenase by these cells. These studies indicate that, like the interstitial collagenase, the type V collagenase is released from the cell as synthesized and is not stored intracellularly. Protein synthesis is necessary for the release of both these collagenases. Furthermore, the release of type V collagenase responded to dexamethasone, indomethacin, and lipopolysaccharide in a manner identical to the secretion of the interstitial collagenase suggesting that synthesis and secretion of these two enzymes are regulated in a similar manner.     

Effects on renal function of a drug antagonistic to morphine-like peptide systems after water load

Following i.v. administration of 0,4 mg Naloxone, a pure antagonist of opioid peptides, a study of renal function was performed in 5 patients who underwent oral water load equal to 20 cc/Kg water for 15-20 min. Within 15 min after administration of the drug all cases showed a further increase in urinary flow resulting from an increase in glomerular filtration rate and CH2O. The absence of systemic haemodynamic changes (BP, HR) suggested an intrarenal origin of the phenomena observed, as a sign of expansion of the system responsible for free water elimination. We put forward the hypothesis that Naloxone inhibits the antidiuretic activity of opioid peptides - in any case quiescent under water load conditions - which is masked by osmotic and volume mechanism.     

Production and preliminary characterization of monoclonal antibodies to rat plasma fibronectin

We have produced several monoclonal antibodies which appear to be directed against different antigenic determinants of rat plasma fibronectin. Fibronectin was purified from rat plasma by affinity chromatography on gelatin-Sepharose and arginine-Sepharose columns. Mice were immunized and hybridomas were prepared by fusing spleen cells with Sp2/0-Ag14 myeloma cells using poly(ethylene glycol). Three hybridomas (RFN1, RFN2 and RFN3) were selected for characterization. All are IgG molecules, one is IgG2a, one IgG2b and one IgG1. Titers of ascites fluids produced using these hybridomas range from 102 400 to greater than 409 600. The antibodies cross-reacted to different degrees with human fibronectin. Rat fibronectin was radioactively labeled and cleaved using human polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase. Four major peptides, Mr approx. 160 000, 140 000, 60 000 and 30 000 were produced. Each of the hybridoma antibodies immunoprecipitated different elastase peptides. RFN1 precipitated the Mr 160 000 peptide, RFN2 precipitated the Mr 160 000 and the Mr 140 000 peptide and RFN3 precipitated the Mr 60 000 peptide as well as low molecular weight material migrating at the buffer front. These antibodies will be useful in studies of structure/function relationships of rat fibronectin.     

Covalent structure of collagen: amino acid sequence of alpha 2-CB5 of chick skin collagen containing the animal collagenase cleavage site.

The amino acid sequence of the 112 residues from the amino terminus of alpha 2-CB5 from chick skin collagen was determined by automated sequential degradation of intact alpha 2-CB5 and several chymotryptic and tryptic peptides. This segment of the peptide includes the site of the action of animal collagenases. As compared to the sequence around the alpha 1 cleavage site, the alpha 2 sequence is notable for the remarkable constancy of the residues to the amino side and the relative abundance of hydrophobic residues to the carboxyl side of the cleavage site, suggesting that these features are important in the recognition by the enzyme. The sequence of this region of the alpha 2 chain is consistent with the Gly-X-Y triplet structure and the preference of certain residues for either the X or Y position in distribution. However, three of the six residues of leucine were found in the Y position rather than the X position. Leucine residues were found only once in the Y position in the alpha 1 (I) chain. This preference does not appear to hold in the alpha 2 chain.     

Selectivity for D-lactate incorporation into the peptidoglycan precursors of Lactobacillus plantarum: role of Aad, a VanX-like D-alanyl-D-alanine dipeptidase

Lactobacillus plantarum produces peptidoglycan precursors ending in D-lactate instead of D-alanine, making the bacterium intrinsically resistant to vancomycin. The ligase Ddl of L. plantarum plays a central role in this specificity by synthesizing D-alanyl-D-lactate depsipeptides that are added to the precursor peptide chain by the enzyme MurF. Here we show that L. plantarum also encodes a D-Ala-D-Ala dipeptidase, Aad, which eliminates D-alanyl-D-alanine dipeptides that are produced by the Ddl ligase, thereby preventing their incorporation into the precursors. Although D-alanine-ended precursors can be incorporated into the cell wall, inactivation of Aad failed to suppress growth defects of L. plantarum mutants deficient in d-lactate-ended precursor synthesis.