Xiulan Xie

Isolation and Structural Characterization of Capistruin, a Lasso Peptide Predicted from the Genome Sequence of Burkholderia thailandensis E264

Lasso peptides are a structurally unique class of bioactive peptides characterized by a knotted arrangement, where the C-terminus threads through an N-terminal macrolactam ring. Although ribosomally synthesized, only the gene cluster for the best studied lasso peptide MccJ25 from Escherichia coli consisting of the precursor protein McjA and the processing and immunity proteins McjB, McjC, and McjD is known. Through genome mining studies, we have identified homologues of all four proteins in Burkholderia thailandensis E264 and predicted this strain to produce a lasso peptide. Here we report the successful isolation of the predicted peptide, named capistruin. Upon optimization of the fermentation conditions, mass spectrometric and NMR structural studies proved capistruin to adopt a novel lasso fold. Heterologous production of the lasso peptide in Escherichia coli showed that the identified genes are sufficient for the biosynthesis of capistruin, which exhibits antimicrobial activity against closely related Burkholderia and Pseudomonas strains. In general, our rational approach should be widely applicable for the isolation of new lasso peptides to explore their high structural stability and diverse biological activity.

Lasso Peptides: An Intriguing Class of Bacterial Natural Products

Natural products of peptidic origin often represent a rich source of medically relevant compounds. The synthesis of such polypeptides in nature is either initiated by deciphering the genetic code on the ribosome during the translation process or driven by ribosome-independent processes. In the latter case, highly modified bioactive peptides are assembled by multimodular enzymes designated as nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) that act as a protein-template to generate chemically diverse peptides. On the other hand, the ribosome-dependent strategy, although relying strictly on the 20-22 proteinogenic amino acids, generates structural diversity by extensive post-translational-modification. This strategy seems to be highly distributed in all kingdoms of life. One example for this is the lasso peptides, which are an emerging class of ribosomally assembled and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) from bacteria that were first described in 1991. A wide range of interesting biological activities are known for these compounds, including antimicrobial, enzyme inhibitory, and receptor antagonistic activities. Since 2008, genome mining approaches allowed the targeted isolation and characterization of such molecules and helped to better understand this compound class and their biosynthesis. Their defining structural feature is a macrolactam ring that is threaded by the C-terminal tail and held in position by sterically demanding residues above and below the ring, resulting in a unique topology that is reminiscent of a lariat knot. The ring closure is achieved by an isopeptide bond formed between the N-terminal α-amino group of a glycine, alanine, serine, or cysteine and the carboxylic acid side chain of an aspartate or glutamate, which can be located at positions 7, 8, or 9 of the amino acid sequence. In this Account, we discuss the newest findings about these compounds, their biosynthesis, and their physicochemical properties. This includes the suggested mechanism through which the precursor peptide is enzymatically processed into a mature lasso peptide and crucial residues for enzymatic recognition. Furthermore, we highlight new insights considering the protease and thermal stability of lasso peptides and discuss why seven amino acid residue rings are likely to be the lower limit feasible for this compound class. To elucidate their fascinating three-dimensional structures, NMR spectroscopy is commonly employed. Therefore, the general methodology to elucidate these structures by NMR will be discussed and pitfalls for these approaches are highlighted. In addition, new tools provided by recent investigations to assess and prove the lasso topology without a complete structure elucidation will be summarized. These include techniques like ion mobility-mass spectrometry and a combined approach of thermal and carboxypeptidase treatment with subsequent LC-MS analysis. Nevertheless, even though much was learned about these compounds in recent years, their true native function and the exact enzymatic mechanism of their maturation remain elusive.

Introducing Lasso Peptides as Molecular Scaffolds for Drug Design: Engineering of an Integrin Antagonist

Thumbnail image of graphical abstract Tightening the noose: Lasso peptides are a class of stable bacterial peptides with unique characteristics that encourage their application in drug design. Epitope grafting of the integrin binding motif RGD onto the lasso structure of microcin J25 converts the knotted peptide into a nanomolar integrin antagonist (see picture). Engineered lasso peptides can therefore be used for pharmacophore presentation.

Structure−Function Analysis of an Enzymatic Prenyl Transfer Reaction Identifies a Reaction Chamber with Modifiable Specificity

Fungal indole prenyltransferases participate in a multitude of biosynthetic pathways. Their ability to prenylate diverse substrates has attracted interest for potential use in chemoenzymatic synthesis. The fungal indole prenyltransferase FtmPT1 catalyzes the prenylation of brevianamide F in the biosynthesis of fumitremorgin-type alkaloids, which show diverse pharmacological activities and are promising candidates for the development of antitumor agents. Here, we report crystal structures of unliganded Aspergillus fumigatus FtmPT1 as well as of a ternary complex of FtmPT1 bound to brevianamide F and an analogue of its isoprenoid substrate dimethylallyl diphosphate. FtmPT1 assumes a rare α/β-barrel fold, consisting of 10 circularly arranged β-strands surrounded by α-helices. Catalysis is performed in a hydrophobic reaction chamber at the center of the barrel. In combination with mutagenesis experiments, our analysis of the liganded and unliganded structures provides insight into the mechanism of catalysis and the determinants of regiospecificity. Sequence conservation of key features indicates that all fungal indole prenyltransferases possess similar active site architectures. However, while the dimethylallyl diphosphate binding site is strictly conserved in these enzymes, subtle changes in the reaction chamber likely allow for the accommodation of diverse aromatic substrates for prenylation. In support of this concept, we were able to redirect the regioselectivity of FtmPT1 by a single mutation of glycine 115 to threonine. This finding provides support for a potential use of fungal indole prenyltransferases as modifiable bioreactors that can be engineered to catalyze highly specific prenyl transfer reactions.

Biochemical Characterization of Indole Prenyltransferases FILLING THE LAST GAP OF PRENYLATION POSITIONS BY A 5-DIMETHYLALLYLTRYPTOPHAN SYNTHASE FROM ASPERGILLUS CLAVATUS

Background: Known indole prenyltransferases catalyzed regioselective prenylations at N-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, C-6, and C-7 of the indole ring. Results: Recombinant 5-DMATS was assayed with tryptophan and derivatives in the presence of DMAPP. Conclusion: 5-DMATS prenylated indole derivatives at C-5. Significance: 5-DMATS fills the last prenylation gap of indole derivatives and could be used as a potential catalyst for chemoenzymatic synthesis. The putative prenyltransferase gene ACLA_031240 belonging to the dimethylallyltryptophan synthase superfamily was identified in the genome sequence of Aspergillus clavatus and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The soluble His-tagged protein EAW08391 was purified to near homogeneity and used for biochemical investigation with diverse aromatic substrates in the presence of different prenyl diphosphates. It has shown that in the presence of dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP), the recombinant enzyme accepted very well simple indole derivatives with l-tryptophan as the best substrate. Product formation was also observed for tryptophan-containing cyclic dipeptides but with much lower conversion yields. In contrast, no product formation was detected in the reaction mixtures of l-tryptophan with geranyl or farnesyl diphosphate. Structure elucidation of the enzyme products by NMR and MS analyses proved unequivocally the highly regiospecific regular prenylation at C-5 of the indole nucleus of the simple indole derivatives. EAW08391 was therefore termed 5-dimethylallyltryptophan synthase, and it filled the last gap in the toolbox of indole prenyltransferases regarding their prenylation positions. Km values of 5-dimethylallyltryptophan synthase were determined for l-tryptophan and DMAPP at 34 and 76 μm, respectively. Average turnover number (kcat) at 1.1 s−1 was calculated from kinetic data of l-tryptophan and DMAPP. Catalytic efficiencies of 5-dimethylallyltryptophan synthase for l-tryptophan at 25,588 s−1·m−1 and for other 11 simple indole derivatives up to 1538 s−1·m−1 provided evidence for its potential usage as a catalyst for chemoenzymatic synthesis.The putative prenyltransferase gene ACLA_031240 belonging to the dimethylallyltryptophan synthase superfamily was identified in the genome sequence of Aspergillus clavatus and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The soluble His-tagged protein EAW08391 was purified to near homogeneity and used for biochemical investigation with diverse aromatic substrates in the presence of different prenyl diphosphates. It has shown that in the presence of dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP), the recombinant enzyme accepted very well simple indole derivatives with L-tryptophan as the best substrate. Product formation was also observed for tryptophan-containing cyclic dipeptides but with much lower conversion yields. In contrast, no product formation was detected in the reaction mixtures of L-tryptophan with geranyl or farnesyl diphosphate. Structure elucidation of the enzyme products by NMR and MS analyses proved unequivocally the highly regiospecific regular prenylation at C-5 of the indole nucleus of the simple indole derivatives. EAW08391 was therefore termed 5-dimethylallyltryptophan synthase, and it filled the last gap in the toolbox of indole prenyltransferases regarding their prenylation positions. K(m) values of 5-dimethylallyltryptophan synthase were determined for L-tryptophan and DMAPP at 34 and 76 μM, respectively. Average turnover number (k(cat)) at 1.1 s(-1) was calculated from kinetic data of L-tryptophan and DMAPP. Catalytic efficiencies of 5-dimethylallyltryptophan synthase for L-tryptophan at 25,588 s(-1)·M(-1) and for other 11 simple indole derivatives up to 1538 s(-1)·M(-1) provided evidence for its potential usage as a catalyst for chemoenzymatic synthesis.

Caulosegnins I-III: a highly diverse group of lasso peptides derived from a single biosynthetic gene cluster.

Lasso peptides are natural products of ribosomal origin with a unique knotted structural fold. Even though only a few of them are known, recent reports of newly isolated lasso peptides were scarce. In this work, we report the identification of a novel lasso peptide gene cluster from Caulobacter segnis, that produces three new lasso peptides (caulosegnins I, II, and III) using a single biosynthetic machinery. These lasso peptides possess different ring sizes and amino acid sequences. In this study, we have developed a system for enhanced lasso peptide production to allow isolation of these compounds through heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. We were able to elucidate the structure of the most abundant lasso peptide caulosegnin I via NMR spectroscopic analysis and performed a thorough mutational analysis that gave insight into their biosynthesis and revealed important factors affecting the stabilization of the lasso fold in general. The caulosegnins also show a diverse behavior when subjected to thermal denaturation, which is exceptional as all lasso peptides were believed to have an intrinsic high thermal stability.

Preparation of pyrrolo[2,3-b]indoles carrying a β-configured reverse C3-dimethylallyl moiety by using a recombinant prenyltransferase CdpC3PT

Six beta-configured reversely C3-prenylated pyrrolo[2,3-b]indoles were successfully prepared by using a recombinant prenyltransferase from Neosartorya fischeri. For this purpose, the putative prenyltransferase gene NFIA_074280 (termed herewith cdpC3PT) was cloned into pQE60 and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The overproduced His(6)-CdpC3PT was purified to near homogeneity and incubated with five cyclic tryptophan-containing dipeptides in the presence of dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP). All of the substrates were accepted by CdpC3PT and converted to reversely C3-prenylated pyrrolo[2,3-b]indoles. Using cyclo-l-Trp-l-Trp as substrate, both mono- and diprenylated derivatives were obtained. The structures of the enzymatic products were confirmed by HR-ESI-MS, (1)H- and (13)C-NMR analyses as well as by long-range (1)H-(13)C connectivities in heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation (HMBC) spectra after preparative isolation. (1)H-(1)H spatial correlations in nuclear overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) were used for determination of absolute configuration. The K(M) values were determined at about 1.5 mM for DMAPP and in the range from 0.22 to 5.5 mM for cyclic dipeptides. The turnover number k(cat) were found in the range of 0.023 to 0.098 s(-1) and specificity constants k(cat)/K(M) from 14.2 to 122.7 M(-1) s(-1). In contrast to the products of AnaPT bearing alpha-configured C3-dimethylallyl residues, the C3-prenyl moieties in the products of CdpC3PT have a beta-configuration. Discovery and characterisation of CdpC3PT expand the usage of the chemoenzymatic approach for stereospecific synthesis of C3-prenylated derivatives.

The glucagon receptor antagonist BI‐32169 constitutes a new class of lasso peptides

The glucagon receptor antagonist BI‐32169, recently isolated from Streptomyces sp., was described as a bicyclic peptide, although its primary structure comprises conserved elements of class I and class II lasso peptides. Tandem mass spectrometric and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies revealed that BI‐32169 is a lasso‐structured peptide constituting the new class III of lasso peptides. The determined lasso fold opens new avenues to improve the promising biological activity of BI‐32169.

An Organometallic Inhibitor for the Human Repair Enzyme 7,8-Dihydro-8-oxoguanosine Triphosphatase.

The probe-based discovery of the first small-molecule inhibitor of the repair enzyme 8-oxo-dGTPase (MTH1) is presented, which is an unconventional cyclometalated ruthenium half-sandwich complex. The organometallic inhibitor with low-nanomolar activity displays astonishing specificity, as verified in tests with an extended panel of protein kinases and other ATP binding proteins. The binding of the organometallic inhibitor to MTH1 is investigated by protein crystallography.

The Astexin-1 Lasso Peptides: Biosynthesis, Stability, and Structural Studies

Lasso peptides are a large family of natural products that owe their name to a unique structure formed by a side chain to backbone macrocyclization, resembling a knotted lasso. The unique structure has significant impact on their biological and physical properties, as lasso peptides are usually more stable than linear ones. Current work examines stability, structure, and biosynthesis of recently discovered lasso peptide astexin-1, a heat-sensitive lasso peptide. The obtained results revealed a new lasso structure with a tight loop and long tail as well as narrow specificity of the maturation machinery for some essential residues associated with the protease processing site, involved in macrolactam ring formation and entrapment of the tail. Using the astexin-1 structure, it was possible to rationally construct a thermostable variant of this lasso peptide.