The mechanism of action of inhibitors of bacterial two-component signal transduction systems.
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Two-component signal transduction systems allow bacteria to sense and respond rapidly to changes in their environment leading to specific gene activation or repression. These two-component systems are integral in the ability of pathogenic bacteria to mount and establish a successful infection within the host and, consequently, have been recognized as targets for new anti-microbial agents. In this paper, we define the site and mechanism of action of several previously identified inhibitors of bacterial two-component systems. We show that the most potent inhibitors target the carboxyl-terminal catalytic domain of the sensor kinase and exert their affect by causing structural alterations of the kinase leading to aggregation. Recognition of this phenomenon has important implications for the development of novel inhibitors of two-component systems and should facilitate the rapid identification and elimination of compounds with nonspecific affects from medicinal chemistry drug discovery programs. (+info)
A nonelectrogenic H+ pump in plasma membranes of hog stomach.
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Differential and density gradient centrifugation were used to prepare a vesicular membrane fraction from hog gastric mucosa enriched 17-fold with respect to cation-activated ATPase and 5'-AMPase. Fractionation of the gradient material by free flow electrophoresis resulted in a fraction 35-fold enriched in cation-activated ATPase and essentially free of 5'-AMPase and Mg2+ATPase. The addition of ATP to either fraction resulted in H+ uptake and Rb+ efflux. The ionophoric and osmotic sensitivity showed that these ion movements were due to transport rather than binding. The cation selectivity sequences, substrate specificities and action of inhibitors indicated that the transport was a function of K+ATPase activity. The characteristics of the ATP-dependent enhancement of SCN- uptake and 8-anilinonapthalene-1-sulfonate fluorescence in the presence of valinomycin and the action of ionophores and lipid-permeable ions suggested that the energy dependent K+:H+ exchange was effectively nonelectrogenic. Thus these vesicles contain a nonelectrogenic (H+ + K+)-ATPase, hence acid secretion by the stomach is probably due to an ATP-dependent H+ + K+ exchange. (+info)
Characterization of hydrogenase and reductive dehalogenase activities of Dehalococcoides ethenogenes strain 195.
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Dehalococcoides ethenogenes strain 195 reductively dechlorinates tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) to vinyl chloride and ethene using H2 as an electron donor. PCE- and TCE-reductive dehalogenase (RD) activities were mainly membrane associated, whereas only about 20% of the hydrogenase activity was membrane associated. Experiments with methyl viologen (MV) were consistent with a periplasmic location for the RDs or a component feeding electrons to them. The protonophore uncoupler tetrachlorosalicylanilide did not inhibit reductive dechlorination in cells incubated with H2 and PCE and partially restored activity in cells incubated with the ATPase inhibitor N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Benzyl viologen or diquat (Eo' approximately -360 mV) supported reductive dechlorination of PCE or TCE at rates comparable to MV (-450 mV) in cell extracts. (+info)
Biochemical activities of three pairs of Ehrlichia chaffeensis two-component regulatory system proteins involved in inhibition of lysosomal fusion.
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Ehrlichia chaffeensis, the etiologic agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis, replicates in early endosomes by avoiding lysosomal fusion in monocytes and macrophages. In E. chaffeensis we predicted three pairs of putative two-component regulatory systems (TCSs) designated PleC-PleD, NtrY-NtrX, and CckA-CtrA based on amino acid sequence homology. In the present study to determine biochemical pairs and specificities of the TCSs, the recombinant proteins of the three putative histidine kinase (HK) kinase domains (rPleCHKD, rNtrYHKD, and MBP-rCckAHKD) and the full-length forms of three putative response regulators (RRs) (rPleD, rNtrX, and rCtrA) as well as the respective mutant recombinant proteins (rPleCHKDH244A, rNtrYHKDH498A, MBP-rCckAHKDH449A, rPleDD53A, rNtrXD59A, and rCtrAD53A) were expressed and purified as soluble proteins. The in vitro HK activity, the specific His residue-dependent autophosphorylation of the kinase domain, was demonstrated in the three HKs. The specific Asp residue-dependent in vitro phosphotransfer from the kinase domain to the putative cognate RR was demonstrated in each of the three RRs. Western blot analysis of E. chaffeensis membrane and soluble fractions using antibodies specific for each recombinant protein detected PleC and CckA in the membrane fraction, whereas it detected NtrY, NtrX, and PleD in the soluble fraction. CtrA was found in the two fractions at similar levels. E. chaffeensis was sensitive to closantel, an HK inhibitor. Closantel treatment induced lysosomal fusion of the E. chaffeensis inclusion in a human monocytic leukemia cell line, THP-1 cells, implying that functional TCSs are essential in preventing lysosomal fusion of the E. chaffeensis inclusion compartment. (+info)
Small molecules with antimicrobial activity against E. coli and P. aeruginosa identified by high-throughput screening.
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: New antimicrobials are needed because of the emergence of organisms that are resistant to available antimicrobials. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a high-throughput screening approach to identify antibacterials against two common disease-causing bacteria, and to determine the frequency, novelty, and potency of compounds with antibacterial activity. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: A high-throughput, turbidometric assay of bacterial growth in a 96-well plate format was used to screen a diverse collection of 150,000 small molecules for antibacterial activity against E. coli and P. aeruginosa. The statistical Z'-factor for the assay was > or = 0.7. KEY RESULTS: Screening for inhibition of E. coli growth gave a 'hit' rate (> 60% inhibition at 12.5 microM) of 0.025%, which was more than 5-fold reduced for P. aeruginosa. The most potent antibacterials (EC50 < 0.5 microM) were of the nitrofuran class followed by naphthalimide, salicylanilide, bipyridinium and quinoazolinediamine chemical classes. Screening of > 250 analogs of the most potent antibacterial classes established structure-activity data sets. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Our results validate and demonstrate the utility of a growth-based phenotype screen for rapid identification of small-molecule antibacterials. The favourable efficacy and structure-activity data for several of the antibacterial classes suggests their potential development for clinical use. (+info)
Differential movement of ions in artificial phospholipid vesicles.
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Pyranine was incorporated into sonicated unilamellar vesicles of soybean phosphatidylcholine to monitor changes in the internal pH of the vesicles. Dilution of soybean phosphatidylcholine vesicles loaded with 0.3 M KCl, KNO3 or K2SO4 into salt-free buffer resulted in rapid exchange of K+ and protons. A pseudoequilibrium distribution of ions was achieved, since addition of valinomycin, uncoupler or nigericin now caused a rapid alkalinization of the vesicle interior. Dilution into buffer containing NaCl gave a further exchange of Na+ and protons following the initial K+/proton exchange. Na+ permeation was slower than that of K+. A stable membrane potential was not generated by the ion movements. It is proposed that aqueous channels are formed through the phospholipid bilayers and that K+ and Na+ permeate through these channels as the hydrated ions. (+info)
Salicylanilide acetates: synthesis and antibacterial evaluation.
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A new series of salicylanilide acetates was synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antifungal and antituberculotic activity. Some of the evaluated compounds possessed comparable or better antifungal activity than a fluconazole standard. All these compounds exhibited very good potential and their in vitro activity against drug resistant and sensitive clinical isolates of Mycobacteria were found to be equivalent or better than a standard of isoniazide, a well-known first-line drug for tuberculosis treatment. (+info)
Effect of 3,3',4',5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide on reduction of excess sludge and nitrogen removal in biological wastewater treatment process.
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A metabolic uncoupler, 3,3',4',5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCS), was used to reduce excess sludge production in biological wastewater treatment processes. Batch experiments confirmed that 0.4 mg/l of TCS reduced the aerobic growth yield of activated sludge by over 60%. However, the growth yield remained virtually constant even at the increased concentrations of TCS when cultivations were carried out under the anoxic condition. Reduction of sludge production yield was confirmed in a laboratory-scale anoxic-oxic process operated for 6 months. However, it was found that ammonia oxidation efficiency was reduced by as much as 77% in the presence of 0.8 mg/l of TCS in the batch culture. Similar results were also obtained through batch inhibition tests with activated sludges and by bioluminescence assays using a recombinant Nitrosomonas europaea (pMJ217). Because of this inhibitory effect of TCS on nitrification, the TCS-fed continuous system failed to remove ammonia in the influent. When TCS feeding was stopped, the nitrification yield of the process was resumed. Therefore, it seems to be necessary to assess the nitrogen content of wastewater if TCS is used for reducing sludge generation. (+info)