Bioinformatics searches of eubacterial genomes have yielded many riboswitch candidates where the identity of the ligand is not immediately obvious on examination of associated genes. One of these motifs is found exclusively in the family Streptococcaceae within the 59 untranslated regions (UTRs) of genes encoding the hypothetical membrane protein classified as COG4708 or DUF988. While the function of this protein class is unproven, a riboswitch binding the queuosine biosynthetic intermediate pre-queuosine 1 (preQ 1 ) has been identified in the 59 UTR of homologous genes in many Firmicute species of bacteria outside of Streptococcaceae. Here we show that a representative of the COG4708 RNA motif from Streptococcus pneumoniae R6 also binds preQ 1 . Furthermore, representatives of this RNA have structural and molecular recognition characteristics that are distinct from those of the previously described preQ 1 riboswitch class. PreQ 1 is the second metabolite for which two or more distinct classes of natural aptamers exist, indicating that natural aptamers utilizing different structures to bind the same metabolite may be more common than is currently known. Additionally, the association of preQ 1 binding RNAs with most genes encoding proteins classified as COG4708 strongly suggests that these proteins function as transporters for preQ 1 or another queuosine biosynthetic intermediate.
SummarySince 1967, Rifamaycin (RIF) has been used as a first line antibiotic treatment for tuberculosis (TB), and it remains the cornerstone of current short-term TB treatment. Increased occurrence of RIF-resistant (RIF R ) TB, ~41% of which results from the RpoB S531L mutation in RNA polymerase (RNAP), has become a growing problem worldwide. In this study, we determined the X-ray crystal structures of the Escherichia coli RNAPs containing the most clinically important S531L mutation and two other frequently observed RIF R mutants, RpoB D516V and RpoB H526Y. The structures reveal that the S531L mutation imparts subtle if any structural or functional impact on RNAP in the absence of RIF. However, upon Rifampin (RMP) binding, the S531L mutant exhibits a disordering of the RIF binding interface, which effectively reduces the RIF affinity. In contrast, the H526Y mutation reshapes the RIF binding pocket, generating significant steric conflicts that essentially prevent RIF binding. While the D516V mutant does not exhibit any such gross structural changes, certainly the electrostatic surface of the RIF binding pocket is dramatically changed, likely resulting in the decreased affinity for RIF. Analysis of interactions of RMP with three common RIF R mutant RNAPs suggests that modifications to RMP may recover its efficacy against RIF R TB.
Eubacterial tRNA-guanine transglycosylase (TGT) is involved in the hypermodification of cognate tRNAs, leading to the exchange of G34 by preQ1 at the wobble position in the anticodon loop. Mutation of the tgt gene in Shigella flexneri results in a significant loss of pathogenicity of the bacterium due to inefficient translation of a virulence protein mRNA. Herein, we describe the discovery of a ligand with an unexpected binding mode. On the basis of this binding mode, three slightly deviating pharmacophore hypotheses have been derived. Virtual screening based on this composite pharmacophore model retrieved a set of potential TGT inhibitors belonging to several compound classes. All nine tested inhibitors being representatives of these classes showed activity in the micromolar range, two of them even in the submicromolar range.
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