Crystallographic and pre-steady-state kinetics studies on binding of NADH to wild-type and isoniazid-resistant enoyl-ACP(CoA) reductase enzymes from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

An understanding of isoniazid (INH) drug resistance mechanism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis should provide significant insight for the development of newer anti-tubercular agents able to control INH-resistant tuberculosis (TB). The inhA-encoded 2-trans enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase enzyme (InhA) has been shown through biochemical and genetic studies to be the primary target for INH. In agreement with these results, mutations in the inhA structural gene have been found in INH-resistant clinical isolates of M.tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB. In addition, the InhA mutants were shown to have higher dissociation constant values for NADH and lower values for the apparent first-order rate constant for INH inactivation as compared to wild-type InhA. Here, in trying to identify structural changes between wild-type and INH-resistant InhA enzymes, we have solved the crystal structures of wild-type and of S94A, I47T and I21V InhA proteins in complex with NADH to resolutions of, respectively, 2.3A, 2.2A, 2.0 A, and 1.9A. The more prominent structural differences are located in, and appear to indirectly affect, the dinucleotide binding loop structure. Moreover, studies on pre-steady-state kinetics of NADH binding have been carried out. The results showed that the limiting rate constant values for NADH dissociation from the InhA-NADH binary complexes (k(off)) were eleven, five, and tenfold higher for, respectively, I21V, I47T, and S94A INH-resistant mutants of InhA as compared to INH-sensitive wild-type InhA. Accordingly, these results are proposed to be able to account for the reduction in affinity for NADH for the INH-resistant InhA enzymes.     

Functional and structural characterization of the arylamine N-acetyltransferase from the opportunistic pathogen Nocardia farcinica

Arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT) enzymes are found in a broad range of eukaryotes and prokaryotes. There is increasing evidence that NAT enzymes could contribute to antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Nocardia farcinica is an opportunistic human pathogen that causes pulmonary infections (nocardiosis) with clinical manifestations that resemble tuberculosis. While the genomic sequence of this prokaryote has been determined, studies of N. farcinica proteins remain almost nonexistent. In particular, N. farcinica proteins putatively involved in antibiotic resistance mechanisms have not been described structurally or functionally. Here, we have characterized a new NAT enzyme (NfNAT) from N. farcinica at the structural and functional level. NfNAT is the first N. farcinica protein for which a 3D structure is reported. We showed that this novel prokaryotic isoform is structurally and functionally related to the mycobacterial NAT enzymes. In particular, NfNAT was found to display high N-acetyltransferase activity towards several known NAT substrates including the antitubercular drug isoniazid. Interestingly, isoniazid is not used for the treatment of nocardiosis and has been shown to be poorly active against several nocardial species. On the contrary, NfNAT was found to be poorly active towards sulfamethoxazole, a sulfonamide drug considered as the treatment of choice for the treatment of nocardiosis. The functional and structural data reported in this study will help to develop our understanding of the role of NAT enzymes in nocardia and mycobacteria and may help in the rational design of NAT antagonists for a range of clinical applications.     

Rapid detection of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis using the malachite green decolourisation assay

Early detection of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates allows for earlier and more effective treatment of patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of the malachite green decolourisation assay (MGDA) in detecting isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF) resistance in M. tuberculosis clinical isolates. Fifty M. tuberculosis isolates, including 19 multidrug-resistant, eight INH-resistant and 23 INH and RIF-susceptible samples, were tested. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and agreement of the assay for INH were 92.5%, 91.3%, 92.5%, 91.3% and 92%, respectively. Similarly, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and agreement of the assay for RIF were 94.7%, 100%, 100%, 96.8% and 98%, respectively. There was a major discrepancy in the tests of two isolates, as they were sensitive to INH by the MGDA test, but resistant by the reference method. There was a minor discrepancy in the tests of two additional isolates, as they were sensitive to INH by the reference method, but resistant by the MGDA test. The drug susceptibility test results were obtained within eight-nine days. In conclusion, the MGDA test is a reliable and accurate method for the rapid detection of INH and RIF resistance compared with the reference method and the MGDA test additionally requires less time to obtain results.     

根皮素异烟酰基腙的合成、表征及抗氧化活性研究

本文旨在提高根皮素的生物活性,以其作为母体通过与异烟肼结合引入C=NNH活性基团,合成了一种新型酰腙类化合物。采用UV,IR,1H NMR,13C NMR及元素分析等手段对产物进行结构表征,并测定了根皮素及其异烟酰基腙的还原能力,清除DPPH自由基及清除ABTS自由基能力。结果表明根皮素异烟酰基腙的抗氧化活性显著优于根皮素。     

Binding of the anti-tubercular drug isoniazid to the arylamine N-acetyltransferase protein from Mycobacterium smegmatis

Isoniazid is a frontline drug used in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Isoniazid is a prodrug, requiring activation in the mycobacterial cell by the catalase/peroxidase activity of the katG gene product. TB kills two million people every year and the situation is getting worse due to the increase in prevalence of HIV/AIDS and emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of TB. Arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT) is a drug-metabolizing enzyme (E.C. 2.1.3.5). NAT can acetylate isoniazid, transferring an acetyl group from acetyl coenzyme A onto the terminal nitrogen of the drug, which in its N-acetylated form is therapeutically inactive. The bacterium responsible for TB, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, contains and expresses the gene encoding the NAT protein. Isoniazid binds to the NAT protein from Salmonella typhimurium and we report here the mode of binding of isoniazid in the NAT enzyme from Mycobacterium smegmatis, closely related to the M. tuberculosis and S. typhimurium NAT enzymes. The mode of binding of isoniazid to M. smegmatis NAT has been determined using data collected from two distinct crystal forms. We can say with confidence that the observed mode of binding of isoniazid is not an artifact of the crystallization conditions used. The NAT enzyme is active in mycobacterial cells and we propose that isoniazid binds to the NAT enzyme in these cells. NAT activity in M. tuberculosis is likely therefore to modulate the degree of activation of isoniazid by other enzymes within the mycobacterial cell. The structure of NAT with isoniazid bound will facilitate rational drug design for anti-tubercular therapy.     

The development of a “microtitre” fluctuation test for the detection of indirect mutagens, and its use in the evaluation of mixed enzyme induction of the liver

The “Microtitre” Fluctuation test recently introduced for the detection of direct mutagens has been adapted for the detection of indirect mutagens through the incorporation of an “S9-mix” metabolic system. It compares favourably with Greens' original method for the detection of a range of chemical mutagens.

The technique has been employed in the evaluation of mixed enzyme induction using phenobarbitone and β-naphthoflavone (benzoflavone). as a safe substitute for Aroclor-1254. The post-mitochondrial preparations from rats induced with the combined inducers had a similar “metabolic competence” to those derived from Aroclor induced animals. Such a combination would therefore provide a useful alternative to Aroclor-1254 for routine screening.

It was found that the level of “S9” present in the metabolic system greatly affected the quantitative mutagenic response. This varied considerably from chemical to chemical and underlined the need for such preliminary investigations in routine screening.     

摄入异烟肼对家蚕幼虫体内谷胱甘肽氧化还原循环和谷胱甘肽S-转移酶活性的影响

为了建立家蚕Bombyx mori的药物筛选和毒性评价模型, 以剂量为2 000 mg/kg的抗结核模药异烟肼饲喂家蚕5龄第3天幼虫后检测其中肠和脂肪体的抗氧化解毒相关代谢的变化。结果表明： 雌蚕中肠组织中, 总谷胱甘肽(GSH+2GSSG)、 还原型谷胱甘肽(reduced glutathione, GSH)和氧化型谷胱甘肽(oxidized glutathione, GSSG)含量均呈现迅速上升再缓慢下降趋势; 谷胱甘肽S 转移酶(glutathione S-transferase, GST)活性升高到较大值后逐渐降低; GSH/GSSG的比值下降表明, 在72 min后中肠组织向氧化态转移。脂肪体组织中, 总谷胱甘肽、 GSH和GSSG含量变化均呈现迅速下降再迅速上升的趋势; GST活性达到最大值后逐渐降低后趋于平稳; GSH/GSSG比值升高表明, 在72 min后脂肪体组织向还原态转移。无论雌蚕还是雄蚕, 总谷胱甘肽、 GSH和GSSG含量以及GST活性均是脂肪体高于中肠。雌蚕的总谷胱甘肽含量、 GSH和GSSG含量高于雄蚕, 但雄蚕的GST活性高于雌性。结果说明, 摄入异烟肼引起了家蚕幼虫体内谷胱甘肽氧化还原状态的改变和酶活性的变化, 在这个过程中脂肪体起主要解毒代谢作用。     

Simultaneous determination of isoniazid and p‐aminosalicylic acid by capillary electrophoresis using chemiluminescence detection

It was found that isoniazid (ISO) or p‐aminosalicylic acid (PAS) could enhance the chemiluminescence (CL) emission from Cu (II)‐luminol‐hydrogen peroxide system, and the increased chemiluminescence signals were proportional to their concentrations, respectively. Based on this phenomenon, a chemiluminescence method coupled to capillary electrophoresis (CE) was established for simultaneous determination of ISO and PAS. The CE conditions including running buffer and running voltage were investigated in detail. The effects of the pH of H₂O₂ solution and the concentrations of luminol, H₂O₂ and Cu (II) on the CL signal were also investigated carefully. Under the optimized conditions, the analysis could be accomplished within 10 min, with the limits of detection of 0.3 µg mL^–1 for ISO and 1.1 µg mL^–1 for PAS, corresponding to 7.2 and 26.4 pg per injection (24 nL), respectively. Finally, the method was validated by determining the two analytes in pharmaceutical preparation and spiked human serum samples. The results of pharmaceutical tablet analysis were in good agreement with the labeled amounts. The recoveries for ISO and PAS in human serum were in the range of 92–104% and 90–113%, respectively. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of a single multiplex amplification refractory mutation system PCR for the detection of rifampin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis

A rapid and simple method for the detection of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis is critical for the efficient treatment and control of this pathogen in developing country. Here we developed a single multiplex amplification refractory mutation system (M-ARMS) PCR, in which chimeric-primer and temperature switch PCR (TSP) strategy were included. Using this method, we detected rifampin resistance-associated mutations at codons 511, 516, 526 and 531 in the rifampin resistance-determining region of rpoB gene. The performance of M-ARMS-PCR assay was evaluated with 135 cultured isolates of M. tuberculosis. The sensitivity and specificity were 94.2% and 100%, respectively, compared with direct DNA sequencing, and 86.67% and 89.71%, respectively, compared with culture-based phenotypic drug susceptibility testing. Therefore, this newly-developed M-ARMS-PCR method is useful and efficient with an intended application in provincial Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for rapid detection of rifampin resistance-associated mutations.     

Oxadiazolone derivatives,new promising multi-target inhibitors against M. tuberculosis

A set of 19 oxadiazolone (OX) derivatives have been investigated for their antimycobacterial activity against two pathogenic slow-growing mycobacteria, Mycobacterium marinum and Mycobacterium bovis BCG, and the avirulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) mc²6230. The encouraging minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values obtained prompted us to test them against virulent M. tb H37Rv growth either in broth medium or inside macrophages. The OX compounds displayed a diversity of action and were found to act either on extracellular M. tb growth only with moderated MIC₅₀, or both intracellularly on infected macrophages as well as extracellularly on bacterial growth. Of interest, all OX derivatives exhibited very low toxicity towards host macrophages. Among the six potential OXs identified, HPOX, a selective inhibitor of extracellular M. tb growth, was selected and further used in a competitive labelling/enrichment assay against the activity-based probe Desthiobiotin-FP, in order to identify its putative target(s). This approach, combined with mass spectrometry, identified 18 potential candidates, all being serine or cysteine enzymes involved in M. tb lipid metabolism and/or in cell wall biosynthesis. Among them, Ag85A, CaeA, TesA, KasA and MetA have been reported as essential for in vitro growth of M. tb and/or its survival and persistence inside macrophages. Overall, our findings support the assumption that OX derivatives may represent a novel class of multi-target inhibitors leading to the arrest of M. tb growth through a cumulative inhibition of a large number of Ser- and Cys-containing enzymes involved in various important physiological processes.