Identification of Penexanthone A as a Novel Chemosensitizer to Induce Ferroptosis by Targeting Nrf2 in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Ferroptosis has emerged as a potential mechanism for enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy in cancer treatment. By suppressing nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), cancer cells may lose their ability to counteract the oxidative stress induced by chemotherapy, thereby becoming more susceptible to ferroptosis. In this study, we investigate the potential of penexanthone A (PXA), a xanthone dimer component derived from the endophytic fungus Diaporthe goulteri, obtained from mangrove plant Acanthus ilicifolius, to enhance the therapeutic effect of cisplatin (CDDP) on colorectal cancer (CRC) by inhibiting Nrf2. The present study reported that PXA significantly improved the ability of CDDP to inhibit the activity of and induce apoptosis in CRC cells. Moreover, PXA was found to increase the level of oxidative stress and DNA damage caused by CDDP. In addition, the overexpression of Nrf2 reversed the DNA damage and ferroptosis induced by the combination of PXA and CDDP. In vivo experiments using zebrafish xenograft models demonstrated that PXA enhanced the therapeutic effect of CDDP on CRC. These studies suggest that PXA enhanced the sensitivity of CRC to CDDP and induce ferroptosis by targeting Nrf2 inhibition, indicating that PXA might serve as a novel anticancer drug in combination chemotherapy.

12-O-deacetyl-phomoxanthone A inhibits ovarian tumor growth and metastasis by downregulating PDK4.

AIMS: The xanthone dimer 12-O-deacetyl-phomoxanthone A (12-ODPXA) was extracted from the secondary metabolites of the endophytic fungus Diaporthe goulteri. The 12-ODPXA compound exhibited anticancer properties in murine lymphoma; however, the anti-ovarian cancer (OC) mechanism has not yet been explored. Therefore, the present study evaluated whether 12-ODPXA reduces OC cell proliferation, metastasis, and invasion by downregulating pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK)4 expression. METHODS: Cell counting kit-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, wound healing, and transwell assays were performed to examine the effects of 12-ODPXA on OC cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Transcriptome analysis was used to predict the changes in gene expression. Protein expression was determined using western blotting. Glucose, lactate, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) test kits were used to measure glucose consumption and lactate and ATP production, respectively. Zebrafish xenograft models were constructed to elucidate the anti-OC effects of 12-ODPXA. RESULTS: The 12-ODPXA compound inhibited OC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and glycolysis while inducing cell apoptosis via downregulation of PDK4. In vivo experiments showed that 12-ODPXA suppressed tumor growth and migration in zebrafish. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that 12-ODPXA inhibits ovarian tumor growth and metastasis by downregulating PDK4, revealing the underlying mechanisms of action of 12-ODPXA in OC.

Discovery of a Highly Selective NAMPT Inhibitor That Demonstrates Robust Efficacy and Improved Retinal Toxicity with Nicotinic Acid Coadministration.

NAMPT, an enzyme essential for NAD+ biosynthesis, has been extensively studied as an anticancer target for developing potential novel therapeutics. Several NAMPT inhibitors have been discovered, some of which have been subjected to clinical investigations. Yet, the on-target hematological and retinal toxicities have hampered their clinical development. In this study, we report the discovery of a unique NAMPT inhibitor, LSN3154567. This molecule is highly selective and has a potent and broad spectrum of anticancer activity. Its inhibitory activity can be rescued with nicotinic acid (NA) against the cell lines proficient, but not those deficient in NAPRT1, essential for converting NA to NAD+ LSN3154567 also exhibits robust efficacy in multiple tumor models deficient in NAPRT1. Importantly, this molecule when coadministered with NA does not cause observable retinal and hematological toxicities in the rodents, yet still retains robust efficacy. Thus, LSN3154567 has the potential to be further developed clinically into a novel cancer therapeutic. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(12); 2677-88. ©2017 AACR.

Inhibition of Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), an Enzyme Essential for NAD+ Biosynthesis, Leads to Altered Carbohydrate Metabolism in Cancer Cells.

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) has been extensively studied due to its essential role in NAD(+) biosynthesis in cancer cells and the prospect of developing novel therapeutics. To understand how NAMPT regulates cellular metabolism, we have shown that the treatment with FK866, a specific NAMPT inhibitor, leads to attenuation of glycolysis by blocking the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase step (Tan, B., Young, D. A., Lu, Z. H., Wang, T., Meier, T. I., Shepard, R. L., Roth, K., Zhai, Y., Huss, K., Kuo, M. S., Gillig, J., Parthasarathy, S., Burkholder, T. P., Smith, M. C., Geeganage, S., and Zhao, G. (2013) Pharmacological inhibition of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), an enzyme essential for NAD(+) biosynthesis, in human cancer cells: metabolic basis and potential clinical implications. J. Biol. Chem. 288, 3500-3511). Due to technical limitations, we failed to separate isotopomers of phosphorylated sugars. In this study, we developed an enabling LC-MS methodology. Using this, we confirmed the previous findings and also showed that NAMPT inhibition led to accumulation of fructose 1-phosphate and sedoheptulose 1-phosphate but not glucose 6-phosphate, fructose 6-phosphate, and sedoheptulose 7-phosphate as previously thought. To investigate the metabolic basis of the metabolite formation, we carried out biochemical and cellular studies and established the following. First, glucose-labeling studies indicated that fructose 1-phosphate was derived from dihydroxyacetone phosphate and glyceraldehyde, and sedoheptulose 1-phosphate was derived from dihydroxyacetone phosphate and erythrose via an aldolase reaction. Second, biochemical studies showed that aldolase indeed catalyzed these reactions. Third, glyceraldehyde- and erythrose-labeling studies showed increased incorporation of corresponding labels into fructose 1-phosphate and sedoheptulose 1-phosphate in FK866-treated cells. Fourth, NAMPT inhibition led to increased glyceraldehyde and erythrose levels in the cell. Finally, glucose-labeling studies showed accumulated fructose 1,6-bisphosphate in FK866-treated cells mainly derived from dihydroxyacetone phosphate and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. Taken together, this study shows that NAMPT inhibition leads to attenuation of glycolysis, resulting in further perturbation of carbohydrate metabolism in cancer cells. The potential clinical implications of these findings are also discussed.

Metabolomics analysis of metabolic effects of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) inhibition on human cancer cells.

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) plays an important role in cellular bioenergetics. It is responsible for converting nicotinamide to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, an essential molecule in cellular metabolism. NAMPT has been extensively studied over the past decade due to its role as a key regulator of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-consuming enzymes. NAMPT is also known as a potential target for therapeutic intervention due to its involvement in disease. In the current study, we used a global mass spectrometry-based metabolomic approach to investigate the effects of FK866, a small molecule inhibitor of NAMPT currently in clinical trials, on metabolic perturbations in human cancer cells. We treated A2780 (ovarian cancer) and HCT-116 (colorectal cancer) cell lines with FK866 in the presence and absence of nicotinic acid. Significant changes were observed in the amino acids metabolism and the purine and pyrimidine metabolism. We also observed metabolic alterations in glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (TCA), and the pentose phosphate pathway. To expand the range of the detected polar metabolites and improve data confidence, we applied a global metabolomics profiling platform by using both non-targeted and targeted hydrophilic (HILIC)-LC-MS and GC-MS analysis. We used Ingenuity Knowledge Base to facilitate the projection of metabolomics data onto metabolic pathways. Several metabolic pathways showed differential responses to FK866 based on several matches to the list of annotated metabolites. This study suggests that global metabolomics can be a useful tool in pharmacological studies of the mechanism of action of drugs at a cellular level.

Derivatization of the tricarboxylic acid intermediates with O-benzylhydroxylamine for liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry detection.

The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle is an interface among glycolysis, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. Increasing interest in cancer metabolism has created a demand for rapid and sensitive methods for quantifying the TCA cycle intermediates and related organic acids. We have developed a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to quantify the TCA cycle intermediates in a 96-well format after O-benzylhydroxylamine (O-BHA) derivatization under aqueous conditions. This method was validated for quantitation of all common TCA cycle intermediates with good sensitivity, including α-ketoglutarate, malate, fumarate, succinate, 2-hydroxyglutarate, citrate, oxaloacetate, pyruvate, isocitrate, and lactate using a 8-min run time in cancer cells and tissues. The method was used to detect and quantify changes in metabolite levels in cancer cells and tumor tissues treated with a pharmacological inhibitor of nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPT). This method is rapid, sensitive, and reproducible, and it can be used to assess metabolic changes in cancer cells and tumor samples.

Pharmacological inhibition of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), an enzyme essential for NAD+ biosynthesis, in human cancer cells: metabolic basis and potential clinical implications.

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) catalyzes the first rate-limiting step in converting nicotinamide to NAD(+), essential for cellular metabolism, energy production, and DNA repair. NAMPT has been extensively studied because of its critical role in these cellular processes and the prospect of developing therapeutics against the target, yet how it regulates cellular metabolism is not fully understood. In this study we utilized liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to examine the effects of FK866, a small molecule inhibitor of NAMPT currently in clinical trials, on glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and serine biosynthesis in cancer cells and tumor xenografts. We show for the first time that NAMPT inhibition leads to the attenuation of glycolysis at the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase step due to the reduced availability of NAD(+) for the enzyme. The attenuation of glycolysis results in the accumulation of glycolytic intermediates before and at the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase step, promoting carbon overflow into the pentose phosphate pathway as evidenced by the increased intermediate levels. The attenuation of glycolysis also causes decreased glycolytic intermediates after the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase step, thereby reducing carbon flow into serine biosynthesis and the TCA cycle. Labeling studies establish that the carbon overflow into the pentose phosphate pathway is mainly through its non-oxidative branch. Together, these studies establish the blockade of glycolysis at the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase step as the central metabolic basis of NAMPT inhibition responsible for ATP depletion, metabolic perturbation, and subsequent tumor growth inhibition. These studies also suggest that altered metabolite levels in tumors can be used as robust pharmacodynamic markers for evaluating NAMPT inhibitors in the clinic.

A novel, selective inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor receptors that shows a potent broad spectrum of antitumor activity in several tumor xenograft models.

The fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR) are tyrosine kinases that are present in many types of endothelial and tumor cells and play an important role in tumor cell growth, survival, and migration as well as in maintaining tumor angiogenesis. Overexpression of FGFRs or aberrant regulation of their activities has been implicated in many forms of human malignancies. Therefore, targeting FGFRs represents an attractive strategy for development of cancer treatment options by simultaneously inhibiting tumor cell growth, survival, and migration as well as tumor angiogenesis. Here, we describe a potent, selective, small-molecule FGFR inhibitor, (R)-(E)-2-(4-(2-(5-(1-(3,5-Dichloropyridin-4-yl)ethoxy)-1H-indazol-3yl)vinyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethanol, designated as LY2874455. This molecule is active against all 4 FGFRs, with a similar potency in biochemical assays. It exhibits a potent activity against FGF/FGFR-mediated signaling in several cancer cell lines and shows an excellent broad spectrum of antitumor activity in several tumor xenograft models representing the major FGF/FGFR relevant tumor histologies including lung, gastric, and bladder cancers and multiple myeloma, and with a well-defined pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationship. LY2874455 also exhibits a 6- to 9-fold in vitro and in vivo selectivity on inhibition of FGF- over VEGF-mediated target signaling in mice. Furthermore, LY2874455 did not show VEGF receptor 2-mediated toxicities such as hypertension at efficacious doses. Currently, this molecule is being evaluated for its potential use in the clinic.

Identification and characterization of an inhibitor specific to bacterial NAD+-dependent DNA ligases.

DNA ligases are the enzymes essential for DNA replication, repair and recombination in all organisms. The bacterial DNA ligases involved in DNA replication require NAD(+) for activity, but eukaryotic and viral DNA ligases require ATP. Because of their essential nature, unique structures and widespread existence in nature, bacterial DNA ligases represent a class of valuable targets for identifying novel and selective antibacterial agents. In this study, we cloned and expressed the ligA gene from Streptococcus pneumoniae, and characterized this ligA-encoded NAD(+)-dependent DNA ligase. We then screened small molecule chemical libraries using a biochemical assay and identified a new small molecule with a structure of 2,4-diamino-7-dimethylamino-pyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidine. We show that this small molecule is a specific inhibitor of bacterial NAD(+)-dependent DNA ligases. Biochemical studies show that this molecule inhibits NAD(+)-dependent DNA ligases, but not ATP-dependent enzymes. The molecule inhibits NAD(+)-dependent DNA ligases competitively with respect to NAD(+) and specifically inhibits enzyme adenylation, but not DNA adenylation or ligation. Labeling studies establish that this molecule inhibits the incorporation of thymidine into DNA and that overexpression of DNA ligase in the cell abolishes this inhibition. Finally, microbiological studies show that this molecule exhibits a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. Together, this study shows that this small molecule inhibitor identified is specific to bacterial NAD(+)-dependent DNA ligases, exhibits a broad spectrum of antibacterial activities, and has the potential to be developed into an antibacterial agent.

Characterization and development of a peptide substrate-based phosphate transfer assay for the human vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 tyrosine kinase.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a critical regulator in angiogenesis, exerts its angiogenic effect via binding to its receptor, VEGF receptor-2 tyrosine kinase (VEGFR2) or kinase insert domain-containing receptor (Kdr), on the surface of endothelial cells. Kdr-mediated signaling plays an important role in the proliferation, migration, differentiation, and survival of endothelial cells. Therefore, the inhibition of this signaling pathway represents a promising therapeutic approach for the discovery of novel anticancer agents by destabilizing the progression of solid tumors via abrogating tumor-induced angiogenesis. To explore Kdr as an anticancer target and further characterize the enzyme, we purified a cytoplasmic domain of human Kdr (Kdr-CD) and characterized its autophosphorylation activity. We also designed and synthesized peptides containing amino acid sequences corresponding to the autophosphorylation sites of Kdr and developed a simple, robust, high-throughput assay for measuring the phosphate transfer activity of the enzyme. This assay was validated by the experiments showing that the phosphate transfer activity of the purified Kdr-CD required Mg2+ or Mn2+ and preactivation by adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and was inhibited by known Kdr inhibitors. Using this assay, we examined effects of Mg2+ and Mn2+ on the enzyme activity; optimized the concentrations of Kdr-CD, peptide and ATP substrates, and metal ions in the assay; and determined the kinetic properties of the enzyme for the peptide and ATP as well as IC50 values of two known Kdr inhibitors. Thus, the results of these studies have validated the utilities of this assay for biochemical characterizations of the enzyme and its inhibitors. This approach of designing peptides corresponding to the autophosphorylation sites of Kdr as substrates for the enzyme has general practical implications to other kinases.

Acyl carrier protein synthases from gram-negative, gram-positive, and atypical bacterial species: Biochemical and structural properties and physiological implications.

Acyl carrier protein (ACP) synthase (AcpS) catalyzes the transfer of the 4'-phosphopantetheine moiety from coenzyme A (CoA) onto a serine residue of apo-ACP, resulting in the conversion of apo-ACP to the functional holo-ACP. The holo form of bacterial ACP plays an essential role in mediating the transfer of acyl fatty acid intermediates during the biosynthesis of fatty acids and phospholipids. AcpS is therefore an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. In this study, we have purified and characterized the AcpS enzymes from Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which exemplify gram-negative, gram-positive, and atypical bacteria, respectively. Our gel filtration column chromatography and cross-linking studies demonstrate that the AcpS enzyme from M. pneumoniae, like E. coli enzyme, exhibits a homodimeric structure, but the enzyme from S. pneumoniae exhibits a trimeric structure. Our biochemical studies show that the AcpS enzymes from M. pneumoniae and S. pneumoniae can utilize both short- and long-chain acyl CoA derivatives but prefer long-chain CoA derivatives as substrates. On the other hand, the AcpS enzyme from E. coli can utilize short-chain CoA derivatives but not the long-chain CoA derivatives tested. Finally, our biochemical studies show that M. pneumoniae AcpS is kinetically a very sluggish enzyme compared with those from E. coli and S. pneumoniae. Together, the results of these studies show that the AcpS enzymes from different bacterial species exhibit different native structures and substrate specificities with regard to the utilization of CoA and its derivatives. These findings suggest that AcpS from different microorganisms plays a different role in cellular physiology.

Dicer is required for embryonic angiogenesis during mouse development.

Dicer is a multi-domain protein responsible for the generation of short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) from long double-stranded RNAs during RNA interference. It is also involved in the maturation of microRNAs, some of which are transcriptional regulators of developmental timing in nematodes. To assess the role of Dicer in mammals, we generated Dicerex1/2 mice with a deletion of the amino acid sequences corresponding to the first and second exons of the dicer gene via homologous recombination. We found that Dicerex1/2 homozygous embryos displayed a retarded phenotype and died between days 12.5 and 14.5 of gestation. Thus, these results show that dicerex1/2 is severely hypomorphic and that Dicer is essential for normal mouse development. Interestingly, we also found that blood vessel formation/maintenance in dicerex1/2 embryos and yolk sacs were severely compromised, suggesting a possible role for Dicer in angiogenesis. This finding is consistent with the altered expression of vegf, flt1, kdr, and tie1 in the mutant embryos. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that Dicer exerts its function on mouse embryonic angiogenesis probably through its role in the processing of microRNAs that regulate the expression levels of some critical angiogenic regulators in the cell.

Small interfering RNA molecules as potential anti-human rhinovirus agents: in vitro potency, specificity, and mechanism.

RNA silencing or interference (RNAi) is a sequence-specific, post-transcriptional process of mRNA degradation. The degradation of target gene mRNA can be induced by short dsRNA molecules (21-25-nt) corresponding to the sequence of the target gene to be silenced. Short dsRNA molecules have been shown to be very effective in inducing RNA silencing in several human cell lines. In this study, we have shown that short dsRNA molecules corresponding to the human rhinovirus-16 (HRV-16) genome induce effective inhibition of the viral replication in cell culture. This inhibition is sequence-specific and dose-dependent. A single or double nucleotide sequence change in an effective dsRNA molecule can significantly reduce the ability of the molecule to induce RNA silencing. Reducing the length of siRNA molecules to 19-nt or shorter abolishes their activity. Therefore, the results of this study demonstrate certain siRNA molecules are inhibitory for the replication of HRV-16 when transfected into human cells; further studies are warranted to explore the potential clinical value of these siRNA molecules as anti-human rhinovirus agents.

Characterization of the 16S rRNA- and membrane-binding domains of Streptococcus pneumoniae Era GTPase: structural and functional implications.

Era is a highly conserved GTPase essential for bacterial growth. The N-terminal part of Era contains a conserved GTPase domain, whereas the C-terminal part of the protein contains an RNA- and membrane-binding domain, the KH domain. To investigate whether the binding of Era to 16S rRNA and membrane requires its GTPase activity and whether the GTPase domain is essential for these activities, the N- and C-terminal parts of the Streptococcus pneumoniae Era - Era-N (amino acids 1-185) and Era-C (amino acids 141-299), respectively - were expressed and purified. Era-C, which had completely lost GTPase activity, bound to the cytoplasmic membrane and 16S rRNA. In contrast, Era-N, which retained GTPase activity, failed to bind to RNA or membrane. These results therefore indicate that the binding of Era to RNA and membrane does not require the GTPase activity of the protein and that the RNA-binding domain is an independent, functional domain. The physiological effects of the overexpression of Era-C were assessed. The Escherichia coli cells overexpressing Era and Era-N exhibited the same growth rate as wild-type E. coli cells. In contrast, the E. coli cells overexpressing Era-C exhibited a reduced growth rate, indicating that the overexpression of Era-C inhibits cell growth. Furthermore, overexpression of era-N and era-C resulted in morphological changes. Finally, purified Era and Era-C were able to bind to poly(U) RNA, and the binding of Era to poly(U) RNA was significantly inhibited by liposome, as the amount of Era bound to the RNA decreased proportionally with the increase of liposome in the assay. Therefore, this study provides the first biochemical evidence that both binding sites are overlapping. Together, these results indicate that the RNA- and membrane-binding domain of Era is a separate, functional entity and does not require the GTPase activity or the GTPase domain of the protein for activity.

Development of a fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay for measuring the activity of Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA ligase, an enzyme essential for DNA replication, repair, and recombination.

DNA ligase is an enzyme essential for DNA replication, repair, and recombination in all organisms. Bacterial DNA ligases catalyze a NAD(+)-dependent DNA ligation reaction, i.e., the formation of a phosphodiester bond between adjacent 3'-OH and 5'-phosphate termini of dsDNA. Due to their essential nature, unique cofactor requirement, and widespread existence in nature, bacterial DNA ligases appear to be valuable targets for identifying novel antibacterial agents. To explore bacterial DNA ligases as antibacterial targets and further characterize them, we developed a simple, robust, homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay (TR-FRET) for measuring Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA ligase activity. This assay involves the use of one dsDNA molecule labeled with biotin and another dsDNA molecule labeled with Cy5, an acceptor fluorophore. During ligation reactions, the donor fluorophore europium (Eu(3+)) labeled with streptavidin was added to the assay mixtures, which bound to the biotin label on the ligated products. This in turn resulted in the FRET from Eu(3+) to Cy5 due to their close proximity. The formation of ligation products was measured by monitoring the emission at 665nm. This assay was validated by the experiments showing that the DNA ligase activity required NAD(+) and MgCl(2), and was inhibited by NMN and AMP, products of the ligase reaction. Using this assay, we determined the K(m) values of the enzyme for dsDNA substrates and NAD(+), and the IC(50) values of NMN and AMP, examined the effects of MgCl(2) and PEG(8000) on the enzyme activity, optimized the concentrations of Eu(3+) in the assay, and validated its utilities for high-throughput screening and biochemical characterizations of this class of enzymes.

Era GTPase of Escherichia coli: binding to 16S rRNA and modulation of GTPase activity by RNA and carbohydrates.

Era, an essential GTPase, appears to play an important role in the regulation of the cell cycle and protein synthesis of bacteria and mycoplasmas. In this study, native Era, His-tagged Era (His-Era) and glutathione S-transferase (GST)-fusion Era (GST-Era) proteins from Escherichia coli were expressed and purified. It was shown that the GST-Era and His-Era proteins purified by 1-step affinity column chromatographic methods were associated with RNA and exhibited a higher GTPase activity. However, the native Era protein purified by a 3-step column chromatographic method had a much lower GTPase activity and was not associated with RNA which had been removed during purification. Purified GST-Era protein was shown to be present as a high- and a low-molecular-mass forms. The high-molecular-mass form of GST-Era was associated with RNA and exhibited a much higher GTPase activity. Removal of the RNA associated with GST-Era resulted in a significant reduction in the GTPase activity. The RNA associated with GST-Era was shown to be primarily 16S rRNA. A purified native Era protein preparation, when mixed with total cellular RNA, was found to bind to some of the RNA. The native Era protein isolated directly from the cells of a wild-type E. coli strain was also present as a high-molecular-mass form complexed with RNA and RNase treatment converted the high-molecular-mass form into a 32 kDa low-molecular-mass form, a monomer of Era. Furthermore, a C-terminally truncated Era protein, when expressed in E. coli, did not bind RNA. Finally, the GTPase activity of the Era protein free of RNA, but not the Era protein associated with the RNA, was stimulated by acetate and 3-phosphoglycerate. These carbohydrates, however, failed to activate the GTPase activity of the C-terminally truncated Era protein. Thus, the results of this study establish that the C-terminus of Era is essential for the RNA-binding activity and that the RNA and carbohydrates modulate the GTPase activity of Era possibly through a similar mechanism.

Biochemical and molecular analyses of the C-terminal domain of Era GTPase from Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Era, an essential GTPase, is present in many bacteria and Mycoplasma spp. and appears to play a major role in the cell cycle and other cellular processes. To further understand its function, an era gene from Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified and cloned, and a mutant era gene with a deletion of 68 codons from its 3'-terminus was constructed. The truncated Era protein was then purified and characterized, and the ability of the truncated era gene to complement an Escherichia coli mutant strain defective in Era production was examined. Like the full-length Era protein, the truncated Era protein was able to bind and hydrolyse GTP, but its binding activity was increased twofold and its hydrolytic activity was reduced sevenfold when compared with those of the full-length Era protein. Unlike the full-length Era protein, the truncated Era protein lost its ability to bind to the E. coli cytoplasmic membrane. The full-length era gene was able to complement the E. coli mutant deficient in Era production when carried on pACYC184, while the truncated era gene failed to do so when carried on pACYC184, pBR322 or pUC18. The cellular amounts of the truncated Era and the full-length Era proteins in E. coli and S. pneumoniae, respectively, were then determined by Western blot analysis. In addition, the minimal amount of the S. pneumoniae Era protein needed for complementation of the E. coli mutant was also measured. Taken together, these results suggest that the C-terminus of the Era protein might be responsible for the binding of the protein to the cytoplasmic membrane and be essential for function.