The Division and Cell Wall Gene Cluster of Enterococcus Hirae S185

A chromosomal 10355-bp segment of Enterococcus hirae S185 contains nine orfs which occur in the same order as the MraW-, FtsL-, PBP3-, MraY-, MurD-, MurG-, FtsQ-, FtsA- and FtsZ-encoding genes of the division and cell wall clusters of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. The E. hirae DNA segment lacks the genes which in E. coli encode the ligases Ddl, MurC, MurE and MurF and the integral membrane protein FtsW. The encoded E. hirae and E. coli proteins share 25% to 50% identity except FtsL and FtsQ (approximately = 14% identity)

Redefining the Role of psr in β-Lactam Resistance and Cell Autolysis of Enterococcus hirae

The contribution of penicillin-binding protein 5 (PBP5) and the PBP5 synthesis repressor (Psr) to the β-lactam resistance, growth, and cell autolysis of wild-type strain ATCC 9790 and resistant strain R40 of Enterococcus hirae was investigated by disruption or substitution of the corresponding pbp5 and psr genes by Campbell-type recombination. The resulting modifications were confirmed by hybridization and PCR. The low susceptibility of E. hirae to β-lactams was confirmed to be largely dependent on the presence of PBP5. However, against all expectations, inactivation of psr in ATCC 9790 or complementation of R40 cells with psr did not modify the susceptibility to benzylpenicillin or the growth and cell autolysis rates. These results indicated that the psr gene does not seem to be involved in the regulation of PBP5 synthesis and consequently in β-lactam resistance or in the regulation of cell autolysis in E. hirae

Crystal Structure of the Extended-Spectrum β -Lactamase PER-2 and Insights into the Role of Specific Residues in the Interaction with β -Lactams and β -Lactamase Inhibitors

PER-2 belongs to a small (7 members to date) group of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases. It has 88% amino acid identity with PER-1 and both display high catalytic efficiencies toward most beta-lactams. In this study, we determined the X-ray structure of PER-2 at 2.20 A and evaluated the possible role of several residues in the structure and activity toward beta-lactams and mechanism-based inhibitors. PER-2 is defined by the presence of a singular trans bond between residues 166 to 167, which generates an inverted Omega loop, an expanded fold of this domain that results in a wide active site cavity that allows for efficient hydrolysis of antibiotics like the oxyimino-cephalosporins, and a series of exclusive interactions between residues not frequently involved in the stabilization of the active site in other class A beta-lactamases. PER beta-lactamases might be included within a cluster of evolutionarily related enzymes harboring the conserved residues Asp136 and Asn179. Other signature residues that define these enzymes seem to be Gln69, Arg220, Thr237, and probably Arg/Lys240A ("A" indicates an insertion according to Ambler's scheme for residue numbering in PER beta-lactamases), with structurally important roles in the stabilization of the active site and proper orientation of catalytic water molecules, among others. We propose, supported by simulated models of PER-2 in combination with different beta-lactams, the presence of a hydrogen-bond network connecting Ser70-Gln69-water-Thr237-Arg220 that might be important for the proper activity and inhibition of the enzyme. Therefore, we expect that mutations occurring in these positions will have impacts on the overall hydrolytic behavior

Synthesis of N-fluoroalkyl-tryptophan and study of their biological activity as potential substrates for indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (rhIDO) is an enzyme mainly expressed in brain and tumor cells and catalyzing the oxidative cleavage of the indole ring of L-tryptophan through the kynurenine pathway. Furthermore this enzyme could be responsible for the eventual suppression of immune responses by blocking locally T-lymphocyte proliferation. The syntheses of 1-(2-fluoroethyl)-tryptophan (1-[19F]FETrp) and 1-((1-(2-fluoroethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl)-tryptophan, two N-fluoroalkylated tryptophan derivatives, are described here. In vitro enzymatic assays with these two new potential substrates of rhIDO show that 1-[19F]FETrp is a good and specific substrate of hIDO

N (1)-Fluoroalkyltryptophan Analogues: Synthesis and in vitro Study as Potential Substrates for Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (hIDO) is an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative cleavage of the indole ring of l-tryptophan through the kynurenine pathway, thereby exerting immunosuppressive properties in inflammatory and tumoral tissues. The syntheses of 1-(2-fluoroethyl)-tryptophan (1-FETrp) and 1-((1-(2-fluoroethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl)-tryptophan, two N (1)-fluoroalkylated tryptophan derivatives, are described here. In vitro enzymatic assays with these two new potential substrates of hIDO show that 1-FETrp is a good and specific substrate of hIDO. Therefore, its radioactive isotopomer, 1-[(18)F]FETrp, should be a molecule of choice to visualize tumoral and inflammatory tissues and/or to validate new potential inhibitors