Overproduction and isolation from Xanthomonas albilineans of a new non-ribosomally synthesized peptide putatively involved in plant-bacteria interactions : [Poster 538]

Background: To date, the only known small molecule synthesized by non-ribosomal peptide synthesis (NRPS) in the genus Xanthomonas is the phytotoxin albicidin produced by Xanthomonas albilineans, the causal agent of sugarcane leaf scald disease. Recent analyses of available genomic sequences indicated that X. albilineans, as well as Xanthomonas oryzae and Xanthomonas translucens, possess a novel NRPS gene cluster called META-B whose architecture is strainspecific (each sequenced strain is predicted to synthesize a different peptide) and doesn´t resemble to any NRPS gene cluster described to date. Because the META-B NRPS gene cluster is specific to three phylogenetically distant species of Xanthomonas associated with monocotyledonous plants, we assume a putative involvement of the new family of small molecules produced by this gene cluster in plant-bacteria interactions. Objectives: We aimed at isolating and characterizing the small molecule encoded by the META-B NRPS gene cluster of X. albilineans in order to study its putative involvement in plant-bacteria interactions. Methods: We developed a META-B overproducing X. albilineans strain by over-expressing the AraC transcriptional regulator which is present within the META-B NRPS gene cluster. HPLC profiles obtained from cultures of wild type vs the AraC over-expressing strain were compared. Peaks with significantly increased amplitude in the HPLC profile from the AraC over-expressing strain were collected and their content analyzed by mass spectrometry. Conclusions: We identified a peptide with a nominal molecular mass > 2 kDa and with an amino acid sequence (MS/MS experiments) which excellently matches the one predicted by A-domain specificities of META-B NRPS genes. (Texte intégral

Surface polysaccharides and quorum sensing are involved in the attachment and survival of Xanthomonas albilineans on sugarcane leaves

Xanthomonas albilineans, the causal agent of sugarcane leaf scald, is a bacterial plant pathogen that is mainly spread by infected cuttings and contaminated harvesting tools. However, some strains of this pathogen are known to be spread by aerial means and are able to colonize the phyllosphere of sugarcane before entering the host plant and causing disease. The objective of this study was to identify the molecular factors involved in the survival or growth of X. albilineans on sugarcane leaves. We developed a bioassay to test for the attachment of X. albilineans on sugarcane leaves using tissue-cultured plantlets grown in vitro. Six mutants of strain XaFL07-1 affected in surface polysaccharide production completely lost their capacity to survive on the sugarcane leaf surface. These mutants produced more biofilm in vitro and accumulated more cellular poly-β-hydroxybutyrate than the wild-type strain. A mutant affected in the production of small molecules (including potential biosurfactants) synthesized by non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) attached to the sugarcane leaves as well as the wild-type strain. Surprisingly, the attachment of bacteria on sugarcane leaves varied among mutants of the rpf gene cluster involved in bacterial quorum sensing. Therefore, quorum sensing may affect polysaccharide production, or both polysaccharides and quorum sensing may be involved in the survival or growth of X. albilineans on sugarcane leaves. (Résumé d'auteur

Genome mining indicates that the genus Xanthomonas is a promising reservoir for new bioactive non-ribosomally synthesized peptides

Xanthomonas is a large genus of Gram-negative bacteria that cause disease in hundreds of plant species. To date, the only known small molecule synthesized by non-ribosomal peptide synthesis (NRPS) in this genus is albicidin produced by Xanthomonas albilineans. The DNA gyrase inhibitor albicidin is not only an important virulence factor but also a possible lead structure for novel antibiotics. This study aims to estimate the biosynthetic potential of Xanthomonas spp. by in silico analyses of NRPS genes with unknown function recently identified in the sequenced genomes of X. albilineans and related species of Xanthomonas. We performed in silico analyses of NRPS genes present in all published genome sequences of Xanthomonas spp., as well as in unpublished draft genome sequences of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae strain BAI3 and Xanthomonas spp. strain XaS3. The most unexpected result of these analyses is that these two latter strains, together with X. albilineans strain GPE PC73 and X. oryzae pv. oryzae strains X8-1A and X11-5A, possess novel NRPS gene clusters. Furthermore, these Xanthomonas spp. strains share related NRPS-associated genes such as those required for the biosynthesis of non-proteinogenic amino acids or for the secretion of peptides. In silico prediction of peptide structures according to the NRPS architecture accounts for eight different peptides, each specific to its producing strain. Interestingly, these eight peptides cannot be assigned to any known gene cluster or related to known compounds from natural product databases. PCR screening of a collection of 94 plant pathogenic bacteria indicates that these novel NRPS gene clusters are specific to the genus Xanthomonas and are also present in Xanthomonas transluscens and X. oryzae pv. oryzicola. Further genome mining revealed (i) novel NRPS genes shared by Xanthomonas spp. strains GPE PC73 and XaS3 with the plant-associated bacterium Bradyrhizobium spp. strain BTAi and (ii) novel NRPS genes specific to X. oryzae pv. oryzicola or Xanthomonas sacchari. This study revealed the significant potential of the genus Xanthomonas of producing new non-ribosomally synthesized peptides. Interestingly, this biosynthetic potential seems to be specific to strains of Xanthomonas associated with monocotyledonous plants, suggesting a putative involvement of new non-ribosomally synthesized peptides in plant-bacteria interactions. (Résumé d'auteur

Genome mining indicates that the genus Xanthomonas is a promising reservoir for new bioactive non-ribosomally synthesized peptides

Xanthomonas is a large genus of Gram-negative bacteria that cause disease in hundreds of plant species. To date, the only known small molecule synthesized by non-ribosomal peptide synthesis (NRPS) in this genus is albicidin produced by Xanthomonas albilineans. The DNA gyrase inhibitor albicidin is not only an important virulence factor but also a possible lead structure for novel antibiotics. This study aims to estimate the biosynthetic potential of Xanthomonas spp. by in silico analyses of NRPS genes with unknown function recently identified in the sequenced genomes of X. albilineans and related species of Xanthomonas. We performed in silico analyses of NRPS genes present in all published genome sequences of Xanthomonas spp., as well as in unpublished draft genome sequences of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae strain BAI3 and Xanthomonas spp. strain XaS3. The most unexpected result of these analyses is that these two latter strains, together with X. albilineans strain GPE PC73 and X. oryzae pv. oryzae strains X8-1A and X11-5A, possess novel NRPS gene clusters. Furthermore, these Xanthomonas spp. strains share related NRPS-associated genes such as those required for the biosynthesis of non-proteinogenic amino acids or for the secretion of peptides. In silico prediction of peptide structures according to the NRPS architecture accounts for eight different peptides, each specific to its producing strain. Interestingly, these eight peptides cannot be assigned to any known gene cluster or related to known compounds from natural product databases. PCR screening of a collection of 94 plant pathogenic bacteria indicates that these novel NRPS gene clusters are specific to the genus Xanthomonas and are also present in Xanthomonas transluscens and X. oryzae pv. oryzicola. Further genome mining revealed (i) novel NRPS genes shared by Xanthomonas spp. strains GPE PC73 and XaS3 with the plant-associated bacterium Bradyrhizobium spp. strain BTAi and (ii) novel NRPS genes specific to X. oryzae pv. oryzicola or Xanthomonas sacchari. This study revealed the significant potential of the genus Xanthomonas of producing new non-ribosomally synthesized peptides. Interestingly, this biosynthetic potential seems to be specific to strains of Xanthomonas associated with monocotyledonous plants, suggesting a putative involvement of new non-ribosomally synthesized peptides in plant-bacteria interactions. (Résumé d'auteur

Vers la caractérisation de la fonction d'une nouvelle petite molécule synthétisée par des NRPS chez Xanthomonas albilineans, la bactérie responsable de l'échaudure des feuilles de la canne à sucre : Session 3- Physiologie, génétique et génomique des bactéries

De nombreuses bactéries et de nombreux champignons utilisent la voie non ribosomale pour produire des peptides ou d'autres petites molécules. Cette voie, nommée NRPS pour " non-ribosomal peptide synthesis ", fait appel à des mégaenzymes modulaires qui catalyse nt l'assemblage de peptides à partir d'acides aminés protéinogéniques ou non protéinogéniques. Les petites molécules synthétisées par cette voie peuvent intervenir dans des processus très variés tels que "adaptation aux environnements défavorables, la communication ou la compétition avec d'autres microorganismes dans leur habitat naturel, ou encore l'interaction avec un hôte. Xanthomonas albilineans est l'agent causal de "échaudure des feuilles, une des principales maladies bactériennes de la canne à sucre. Le séquençage de son génome a conduit à la découverte d'un nouveau locus NRPS, appelé META-B, qui est également présent dans le génome de souches appartenant à Xanthomonas oryzae ou Xanthomonas /rans/ucens. Les analyses in silico indiquent que ce locus ne ressemble à aucun autre locus décrit à ce jour et que chaque souche séquencée produit un peptide META-B différent. La présence du locus META-B chez trois espèces de Xanthomonas phylogénétiquement distantes et associées à des plantes monocotylédones suggère que la nouvelle famille de petites molécules produites par ce locus pourrait jouer un rôle dans les interactions plante-bactérie. Un protocole permettant de surproduire et d' isoler le peptide META-B chez la souche GPE PC73 de X. abilineans a été développé. Deux approches sont actuellement mises en oeuvre pour trouver la fonction de ce peptide META-B. La première est basée sur l'étude du peptide META-B purifié (tests in vitro pour évaluer les activités antibactériennes ou antifongiques ou pour mettre en évidence un rôle dans les interactions avec la canne à sucre). La seconde est basée sur l'étude de mutants affectés dans l'expression de gènes du locus META-B (expérimentations sur canne à sucre). (Texte intégral

The gyrase inhibitor albicidin consists of p-aminobenzoic acids and cyanoalanine

Albicidin is a potent DNA gyrase inhibitor produced by the sugarcane pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas albilineans. Here we report the elucidation of the hitherto unknown structure of albicidin, revealing a unique polyaromatic oligopeptide mainly composed of p-aminobenzoic acids. In vitro studies provide further insights into the biosynthetic machinery of albicidin. These findings will enable structural investigations on the inhibition mechanism of albicidin and its assessment as a highly effective antibacterial drug. (Résumé d'auteur

Full elucidation of the hitherto unknown structure of albicidin, a potent antibiotic produced by Xanthomonas albilineans

Albicidin is a potent DNA gyrase inhibitor produced by the sugarcane pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas albilineans. As such, this molecule blocks the differentiation of chloroplasts, resulting in appearance of narrow white stripes on sugarcane leaves that are characteristic of leaf scald disease. Albicidin targets the bacterial gyrase by a mechanism that is different from the one of other DNA gyrases inhibitors like coumarins or quinolones [1]. It also exhibits antibacterial activity at nanomolar concentrations against Escherichia coli and to a lower extent against numerous Gram-negative and -positive human pathogenic bacteria [2].A decade of intense work was necessary to decipher albicidin's biosynthetic pathway and to elucidate its astonishing never-seen-before structure. Albicidin is produced by a hybrid PKS/NRPS (polyketide synthase/non ribosomal peptide synthetase) system. Such ribosome-independent systems consist of modular megasynthetases which operate in an assembly-line fashion to activate, modify and link mostly unusual aminoacid building blocks, finally resulting in complex bioactive peptide-like molecules. The structure of albicidin, which was predicted by former in silico sequence analyses of its PKS/NRPS gene cluster [3], was ascertained by means of mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We were able to demonstrate that albicidin exhibits a linear polyaromatic penta-peptidic structure containing the rare aminoacids para-aminobenzoate and cyanoalanine [4]. The determination of the structure of albicidin allowed the development of a protocol for the chemical synthesis of this complex molecule. Consequently, new research, such as structure-activity relationship studies, will now be possible [5].New insights into biosynthesis pathway and structural determination for albicidin will be presented. (Texte intégral