Evidence of isochorismate channeling between the Escherichia coli enterobactin biosynthetic enzymes EntC and EntB.

Enterobactin is a high-affinity iron chelator produced and secreted by Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium to scavenge scarce extracellular Fe3+ as a micronutrient. EntC and EntB are the first two enzymes in the enterobactin biosynthetic pathway. Isochorismate, produced by EntC, is a substrate for EntB isochorismatase. By using a competing isochorismate-consuming enzyme (the E. coli SEPHCHC synthase MenD), we found in a coupled assay that residual EntB isochorismatase activity decreased as a function of increasing MenD concentration. In the presence of excess MenD, EntB isochorismatase activity was observed to decrease by 84%, indicative of partial EntC-EntB channeling (16%) of isochorismate. Furthermore, addition of glycerol to the assay resulted in an increase of residual EntB isochorismatase activity to approximately 25% while in the presence of excess MenD. These experimental outcomes supported the existence of a substrate channeling surface identified in a previously reported protein-docking model of the EntC-EntB complex. Two positively charged EntB residues (K21 and R196) that were predicted to electrostatically guide negatively charged isochorismate between the EntC and EntB active sites were mutagenized to determine their effects on substrate channeling. The EntB variants K21D and R196D exhibited a near complete loss of isochorismatase activity, likely due to electrostatic repulsion of the negatively charged isochorismate substrate. Variants K21A, R196A, and K21A/R196A retained partial EntB isochorismatase activity in the absence of EntC; in the presence of EntC, isochorismatase activity in all variants increased to near wild-type levels. The MenD competition assay of the variants revealed that while K21A channeled isochorismate as efficiently as wild-type EntB (~ 15%), the variants K21A/R196A and R196A exhibited an approximately 5-fold loss in observed channeling efficiency (~3%). Taken together, these results demonstrate that partial substrate channeling occurs between EntC and EntB via a leaky electrostatic tunnel formed upon dynamic EntC-EntB complex formation and that EntB R196 plays an essential role in isochorismate channeling.

The influence of model building schemes and molecular dynamics sampling on QM-cluster models: the chorismate mutase case study.

Most QM-cluster models of enzymes are constructed based on X-ray crystal structures, which limits comparison to in vivo structure and mechanism. The active site of chorismate mutase from Bacillus subtilis and the enzymatic transformation of chorismate to prephenate is used as a case study to guide construction of QM-cluster models built first from the X-ray crystal structure, then from molecular dynamics (MD) simulation snapshots. The Residue Interaction Network ResidUe Selector (RINRUS) software toolkit, developed by our group to simplify and automate the construction of QM-cluster models, is expanded to handle MD to QM-cluster model workflows. Several options, some employing novel topological clustering from residue interaction network (RIN) information, are evaluated for generating conformational clustering from MD simulation. RINRUS then generates a statistical thermodynamic framework for QM-cluster modeling of the chorismate mutase mechanism via refining 250 MD frames with density functional theory (DFT). The 250 QM-cluster models sampled provide a mean ΔG‡ of 10.3 ± 2.6 kcal mol-1 compared to the experimental value of 15.4 kcal mol-1 at 25 °C. While the difference between theory and experiment is consequential, the level of theory used is modest and therefore "chemical" accuracy is unexpected. More important are the comparisons made between QM-cluster models designed from the X-ray crystal structure versus those from MD frames. The large variations in kinetic and thermodynamic properties arise from geometric changes in the ensemble of QM-cluster models, rather from the composition of the QM-cluster models or from the active site-solvent interface. The findings open the way for further quantitative and reproducible calibration in the field of computational enzymology using the model construction framework afforded with the RINRUS software toolkit.

Can the local electric field be a descriptor of catalytic activity? A case study on chorismate mutase.

The current theoretical perception of enzymatic activity is highly reliant on the determination of the activation energy of the reactions, which is often calculated using computationally demanding quantum mechanical calculations. With the ever-increasing use of bioengineering techniques that produce too many variants of the same enzyme, a fast and accurate way to study the relative efficiency of enzymes is currently in high demand. Here, we propose the local electric field (LEF) of the enzyme along the reaction axis as a descriptor for the enzymatic activity using the example of chorismate mutase in its native form and several variants (R90A, R90G, and R90K/C88S). The study shows a direct correlation between the calculated enzymatic EF and the enzymatic activity for all the complexes. MD simulations of the Michaelis complex and the transition state analog (TSA) show a stabilizing force on the TSA due to the enzymatic EF. QM/MM and QM-only DFT calculations in the presence of an external electric field (EEF) oriented along the reaction axis show that the electric field can interact with the dipole moment of the TS, thereby stabilizing it and thus lowering the activation energy.

Chorismate- and isochorismate converting enzymes: versatile catalysts acting on an important metabolic node.

Chorismate and isochorismate represent an important branching point connecting primary and secondary metabolism in bacteria, fungi, archaea and plants. Chorismate- and isochorismate-converting enzymes are potential targets for new bioactive compounds, as well as valuable biocatalysts for the in vivo and in vitro synthesis of fine chemicals. The diversity of the products of chorismate- and isochorismate-converting enzymes is reflected in the enzymatic three-dimensional structures and molecular mechanisms. Due to the high reactivity of chorismate and its derivatives, these enzymes have evolved to be accurately tailored to their respective reaction; at the same time, many of them exhibit a fascinating flexibility regarding side reactions and acceptance of alternative substrates. Here, we give an overview of the different (sub)families of chorismate- and isochorismate-converting enzymes, their molecular mechanisms, and three-dimensional structures. In addition, we highlight important results of mutagenetic approaches that generate a broader understanding of the influence of distinct active site residues for product formation and the conversion of one subfamily into another. Based on this, we discuss to what extent the recent advances in the field might influence the general mechanistic understanding of chorismate- and isochorismate-converting enzymes. Recent discoveries of new chorismate-derived products and pathways, as well as biocatalytic conversions of non-physiological substrates, highlight how this vast field is expected to continue developing in the future.

Alteration of the Route to Menaquinone towards Isochorismate-Derived Metabolites.

Chorismate and isochorismate constitute branch-point intermediates in the biosynthesis of many aromatic metabolites in microorganisms and plants. To obtain unnatural compounds, we modified the route to menaquinone in Escherichia coli. We propose a model for the binding of isochorismate to the active site of MenD ((1R,2S, 5S,6S)-2-succinyl-5-enolpyruvyl-6-hydroxycyclohex-3-ene-1-carboxylate (SEPHCHC) synthase) that explains the outcome of the native reaction with α-ketoglutarate. We have rationally designed variants of MenD for the conversion of several isochorismate analogues. The double-variant Asn117Arg-Leu478Thr preferentially converts (5S,6S)-5,6-dihydroxycyclohexa-1,3-diene-1-carboxylate (2,3-trans-CHD), the hydrolysis product of isochorismate, with a >70-fold higher ratio than that for the wild type. The single-variant Arg107Ile uses (5S,6S)-6-amino-5-hydroxycyclohexa-1,3-diene-1-carboxylate (2,3-trans-CHA) as substrate with >6-fold conversion compared to wild-type MenD. The novel compounds have been made accessible in vivo (up to 5.3 g L-1 ). Unexpectedly, as the identified residues such as Arg107 are highly conserved (>94 %), some of the designed variations can be found in wild-type SEPHCHC synthases from other bacteria (Arg107Lys, 0.3 %). This raises the question for the possible natural occurrence of as yet unexplored branches of the shikimate pathway.

Chorismatases - the family is growing.

Chorismatases catalyse the cleavage of chorismate, yielding (dihydroxy-)benzoate derivatives, which often constitute starter units for pharmaceutically relevant secondary metabolites. Depending on their products, chorismatases have been classified into three different subfamilies. These can be assigned using a set of amino acid residues in the active site. Here, we describe five new chorismatases, two of them members of a new subfamily, which has been discovered through correlation analysis of homologous protein sequences. The enzymes from the new subfamily produce exclusively 4-hydroxybenzoate, the same compound as produced by the structurally unrelated chorismate lyases. This showcase of convergent evolution is an example of the existence of more than one pathway to central building blocks. In contrast to chorismate lyases, however, chorismatases do not suffer from product inhibition (up to 2 mM 4-HBA), while the remaining kinetic parameters are in the same range; this makes them an interesting alternative for biocatalytic applications.

Molecular Determinants for Rate Acceleration in the Claisen Rearrangement Reaction.

The Claisen rearrangement is a carbon-carbon bond-forming, pericyclic reaction of fundamental importance due to its relevance in synthetic and mechanistic investigations of organic and biological chemistry. Despite continued efforts, the molecular origins of the rate acceleration in going from the aqueous phase into the protein is still incompletely understood. In the present work, the rearrangement reactions for allyl-vinyl-ether (AVE), its dicarboxylated variant (AVE-(CO2)2), and the biologically relevant substrate chorismate are investigated in the gas phase, water, and in chorismate mutase. Only the rearrangement of chorismate in the enzyme shows a negative differential barrier when compared to the reaction in water, which leads to the experimentally observed catalytic effect for the enzyme. The molecular origin of this effect is the positioning of AVE-(CO2)2 and chorismate in the protein active site compared to AVE. Furthermore, in going from AVE-(CO2)2 to chorismate, entropic effects due to rigidification and ring formation are operative, which lead to changes in the rate. On the basis of "More O'Ferrall-Jencks" diagrams, it is confirmed that C-O bond breaking precedes C-C bond formation in all cases. This effect becomes more pronounced in going from the gas phase to the protein.

New Chromane-Based Derivatives as Inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Salicylate Synthase (MbtI): Preliminary Biological Evaluation and Molecular Modeling Studies.

Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent worldwide; therefore, the need for new antitubercular drugs is desperate. The recently validated target salicylate synthase MbtI is the first enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of mycobactins, compounds able to chelate iron, an essential cofactor for the survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the host. Here, we report on the synthesis and biological evaluation of chromane-based compounds as new potential inhibitors of MbtI. Our approach successfully allowed the identification of a novel lead compound (1), endowed with a promising activity against this enzyme (IC50 = 55 µM). Molecular modeling studies were performed in order to evaluate the binding mode of 1 and rationalize the preliminary structure-activity relationships, thus providing crucial information to carry out further optimization studies.

Comparative studies of the catalytic mechanisms of two chorismatases: CH-fkbo and CH-Hyg5.

Chorismatase is an important enzyme involved in Shikimate pathway, which catalyzes the conversion of chorismate into pyruvate and (dihydro)-benzoic acid derivatives. According to the outcomes of catalytic reactions, chorismatases can be divided into three subfamilies: CH-Fkbo, CH-Hyg5 and CH-XanB2. Recently, the crystal structures of CH-Fkbo and CH-Hyg5 from Streptomyces hygroscopicus have been successfully obtained, allowing us to perform QM/MM calculations to explore the reaction details. Our calculation results support the proposal that CH-Fkbo and CH-Hyg5 employ different catalytic mechanisms and gave the mechanistic details. Fkbo follows a typical hydrolytic mechanism, which contains three consecutive steps, including the protonation step of the methylene group of substrate, the nucleophilic attack of the resulted carbocation by activated water and cleavage of C2'-O8 bond of tetrahedral intermediate (hemiketal). The protonation of methylene group and the C2'-O8 cleavage correspond to similar energy barriers (26.5 and 24.8 kcal/mol), suggesting both steps to be rate-limiting. Whereas Hyg5 employs an intramolecular mechanism, in which the oxygen from C4 migrates to C3 via an arene oxide intermediate. The first step of Hyg5, which corresponds to the concerted protonation of methylene group and the cleavage of C3-O8, is calculated to be rate-limiting with an energy barrier of 26.3 kcal/mol. The nonconserved active site residue G240Hyg5 (or A244Fkb °) is suggested to be responsible for leading to different reaction mechanism in CH-Fkbo and CH-Hyg5. During the catalytic reaction, residue C327 plays an important role in directing the product selectivity in Hyg5 enzyme. Proteins 2017; 85:1146-1158. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

An Overview of Compounds Derived from the Shikimate and Phenylpropanoid Pathways and Their Medicinal Importance.

OBJECTIVE: There has been a massive increase in the number of reports about the medicinal benefits of the consumption of phenylpropanoids derived from the plastidic shikimate pathway. These benefits include anti-retroviral, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and insulin-sensitizing activities, the reduction of the risk of a range of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoporosis as well as inhibition of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) oxidation. In addition, chorismate-derived salicylate which was originally isolated from plants, albeit now under chemical production, is massively used for pain relief in the form of acetylsalycilic acid, namely aspirin. Chorismate also acts as precursor in the biosynthesis of folate and phylloquinone, i.e., vitamins B9 and K1, respectively. RESULTS: Cumulative evidence suggests that deficiencies of either of these vitamins in the diet can result in a wide range of diseases. In parallel to our enhanced comprehension of the dietary importance of shikimate-derived compounds, the advent of metabolomics and the development of next-generation sequencing technologies have dramatically accelerated advances in our understanding of the biosynthetic, decorative and degradation pathways underlying their metabolism. Furthermore, forward and reverse genetic approaches have begun to facilitate the metabolic engineering of plants for biofortification of these compounds. CONCLUSION: Here we review data about the bioactivities of these compounds and provide an overview of our current understanding of biosynthesis, molecular function and their in planta occurrence. Finally we discuss the future perspectives and the importance of further development of cross-disciplinary research efforts in this rapidly expanding research field.

Integration of ligand and structure based approaches for identification of novel MbtI inhibitors in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and molecular dynamics simulation studies.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an obligate pathogen of mammals and is responsible for more than two million deaths annually. The ability to acquire iron from the extracellular environment is a key determinant of pathogenicity in mycobacteria. M. tuberculosis acquires iron exclusively through the siderophores. Several lines of evidence suggest that siderophores have a critical role in bacterial growth and virulence. Hence, in the present study, we have used a combined ligand and structure-based drug design approach for identification of novel inhibitors against salicylate synthase MbtI, a unique and essential enzyme for the biosynthesis of siderophores in M. tuberculosis. We have generated the ligand based and structure based pharmacophores and validated exhaustively. From the validation results it was found that GH (Goodness of Hit) scores for the selected ligand based and structure based pharmacophore models were 0.89 and 0.97, respectively, which indicate that the quality of the pharmacophore models are acceptable as GH value is >0.7. The validated pharmacophores were used for screening the ZINC database. A total of 73 hits, obtained through various insilico screening techniques, were further enriched to 17 hits using docking studies. Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to compare the binding mode and stability of complexes of MbtI bound with substrate, known inhibitors, and three top ranked hits. The results obtained in this study gave assurance about the identified hits as prospective inhibitors of MbtI.

Steered Molecular Dynamics Methods Applied to Enzyme Mechanism and Energetics.

One of the main goals of chemistry is to understand the underlying principles of chemical reactions, in terms of both its reaction mechanism and the thermodynamics that govern it. Using hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM)-based methods in combination with a biased sampling scheme, it is possible to simulate chemical reactions occurring inside complex environments such as an enzyme, or aqueous solution, and determining the corresponding free energy profile, which provides direct comparison with experimental determined kinetic and equilibrium parameters. Among the most promising biasing schemes is the multiple steered molecular dynamics method, which in combination with Jarzynski's Relationship (JR) allows obtaining the equilibrium free energy profile, from a finite set of nonequilibrium reactive trajectories by exponentially averaging the individual work profiles. However, obtaining statistically converged and accurate profiles is far from easy and may result in increased computational cost if the selected steering speed and number of trajectories are inappropriately chosen. In this small review, using the extensively studied chorismate to prephenate conversion reaction, we first present a systematic study of how key parameters such as pulling speed, number of trajectories, and reaction progress are related to the resulting work distributions and in turn the accuracy of the free energy obtained with JR. Second, and in the context of QM/MM strategies, we introduce the Hybrid Differential Relaxation Algorithm, and show how it allows obtaining more accurate free energy profiles using faster pulling speeds and smaller number of trajectories and thus smaller computational cost.

Analysis of salicylic acid-dependent pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana following infection with Plasmodiophora brassicae and the influence of salicylic acid on disease.

Salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis, the expression of SA-related genes and the effect of SA on the Arabidopsis-Plasmodiophora brassicae interaction were examined. Biochemical analyses revealed that, in P. brassicae-infected Arabidopsis, the majority of SA is synthesized from chorismate. Real-time monitored expression of a gene for isochorismate synthase was induced on infection. SA can be modified after accumulation, either by methylation, improving its mobility, or by glycosylation, as one possible reaction for inactivation. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) confirmed the induction of an SA methyltransferase gene, whereas SA glucosyltransferase expression was not changed after infection. Col-0 wild-type (wt) did not provide a visible phenotypic resistance response, whereas the Arabidopsis mutant dnd1, which constitutively activates the immune system, showed reduced gall scores. As dnd1 showed control of the pathogen, exogenous SA was applied to Arabidopsis in order to test whether it could suppress clubroot. In wt, sid2 (SA biosynthesis), NahG (SA-deficient) and npr1 (SA signalling-impaired) mutants, SA treatment did not alter the gall score, but positively affected the shoot weight. This suggests that SA alone is not sufficient for Arabidopsis resistance against P. brassicae. Semi-quantitative PCR revealed that wt, cpr1, dnd1 and sid2 showed elevated PR-1 expression on P. brassicae and SA + P. brassicae inoculation at 2 and 3 weeks post-inoculation (wpi), whereas NahG and npr1 showed no expression. This work contributes to the understanding of SA involvement in the Arabidopsis-P. brassicae interaction.

Conversion of anthranilate synthase into isochorismate synthase: implications for the evolution of chorismate-utilizing enzymes.

Chorismate-utilizing enzymes play a vital role in the biosynthesis of metabolites in plants as well as free-living and infectious microorganisms. Among these enzymes are the homologous primary metabolic anthranilate synthase (AS) and secondary metabolic isochorismate synthase (ICS). Both catalyze mechanistically related reactions by using ammonia and water as nucleophiles, respectively. We report that the nucleophile specificity of AS can be extended from ammonia to water by just two amino acid exchanges in a channel leading to the active site. The observed ICS/AS bifunctionality demonstrates that a secondary metabolic enzyme can readily evolve from a primary metabolic enzyme without requiring an initial gene duplication event. In a general sense, these findings add to our understanding how nature has used the structurally predetermined features of enzyme superfamilies to evolve new reactions.

Electrostatic transition state stabilization rather than reactant destabilization provides the chemical basis for efficient chorismate mutase catalysis.

For more than half a century, transition state theory has provided a useful framework for understanding the origins of enzyme catalysis. As proposed by Pauling, enzymes accelerate chemical reactions by binding transition states tighter than substrates, thereby lowering the activation energy compared with that of the corresponding uncatalyzed process. This paradigm has been challenged for chorismate mutase (CM), a well-characterized metabolic enzyme that catalyzes the rearrangement of chorismate to prephenate. Calculations have predicted the decisive factor in CM catalysis to be ground state destabilization rather than transition state stabilization. Using X-ray crystallography, we show, in contrast, that a sluggish variant of Bacillus subtilis CM, in which a cationic active-site arginine was replaced by a neutral citrulline, is a poor catalyst even though it effectively preorganizes chorismate for the reaction. A series of high-resolution molecular snapshots of the reaction coordinate, including the apo enzyme, and complexes with substrate, transition state analog and product, demonstrate that an active site, which is only complementary in shape to a reactive substrate conformer, is insufficient for effective catalysis. Instead, as with other enzymes, electrostatic stabilization of the CM transition state appears to be crucial for achieving high reaction rates.

The structural biology of phenazine biosynthesis.

The phenazines are a class of over 150 nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds of bacterial and archeal origin. Their redox properties not only explain their activity as broad-specificity antibiotics and virulence factors but also enable them to function as respiratory pigments, thus extending their importance to the primary metabolism of phenazine-producing species. Despite their discovery in the mid-19th century, the molecular mechanisms behind their biosynthesis have only been unraveled in the last decade. Here, we review the contribution of structural biology that has led to our current understanding of phenazine biosynthesis.

Structural evolution of differential amino acid effector regulation in plant chorismate mutases.

Chorismate mutase converts chorismate into prephenate for aromatic amino acid biosynthesis. To understand the molecular basis of allosteric regulation in the plant chorismate mutases, we analyzed the three Arabidopsis thaliana chorismate mutase isoforms (AtCM1-3) and determined the x-ray crystal structures of AtCM1 in complex with phenylalanine and tyrosine. Functional analyses show a wider range of effector control in the Arabidopsis chorismate mutases than previously reported. AtCM1 is activated by tryptophan with phenylalanine and tyrosine acting as negative effectors; however, tryptophan, cysteine, and histidine activate AtCM3. AtCM2 is a nonallosteric form. The crystal structure of AtCM1 in complex with tyrosine and phenylalanine identifies differences in the effector sites of the allosterically regulated yeast enzyme and the other two Arabidopsis isoforms. Site-directed mutagenesis of residues in the effector site reveals key features leading to differential effector regulation in these enzymes. In AtCM1, mutations of Gly-213 abolish allosteric regulation, as observed in AtCM2. A second effector site position, Gly-149 in AtCM1 and Asp-132 in AtCM3, controls amino acid effector specificity in AtCM1 and AtCM3. Comparisons of chorismate mutases from multiple plants suggest that subtle differences in the effector site are conserved in different lineages and may lead to specialized regulation of this branch point enzyme.

In vivo instability of chorismate causes substrate loss during fermentative production of aromatics.

Metabolic engineering of microbial strains to produce aromatic compounds deriving from the shikimate pathway is of great interest to the chemical industry as a more sustainable alternative for feedstock production. Chorismate is a significant intermediate in the shikimate pathway. In this study, the formation of phenylalanine and phenylpyruvate as by-products in strains engineered downstream of the chorismate node for increased aromatic production was explored in yeast fermentations. Tracer experiments showed that these compounds are synthesized de novo during fermentation, under conditions in which their synthesis was genetically blocked. Chorismate stability evaluation, as well as deletion mutation analysis throughout the phenylalanine biosynthesis pathway, suggested that this synthesis was a result of intracellular, non-enzymatic rearrangement of chorismate to phenylpyruvate via prephenate, which was followed by enzymatic transamination of phenylpyruvate to form phenylalanine. These results not only aid in the development of strain-engineering strategies to avoid the accumulation of by-products during fermentations aimed at increased aromatics production, but also deepen our understanding of yeast metabolism.

In vitro production and purification of isochorismate using a two-enzyme cascade.

Combining the isochorismate synthase EntC and the chorismatase FkbO in a sequential enzyme cascade provides a useful system for the biocatalytic production and subsequent purification of isochorismate from an isochorismate/chorismate mixture. FkbO has a strict preference for chorismate - isochorismate is not accepted as a substrate - therefore the enzyme can be used to selectively hydrolyse chorismate, leading to the chiral building block 3,4-dihydroxycyclohexa-1,5-dienecarboxylate. This simplifies the final purification step, as isochorismate is much easier to separate from the chorismate hydrolysis products than from chorismate itself. The presented procedure starts with an optimised method for purifying chorismate from Escherichia coli culture supernatants, which is followed by conversion into isochorismate with the isochorismate synthase EntC, removal of the remaining chorismate by FkbO and a final purification step using an automated flash chromatography system. Isochorismate was isolated in up to 20% yield and >95% purity from chorismate, and has been characterised with respect to its degradation and suitability as a substrate in enzyme assays.

A conserved suppressor mutation in a tryptophan auxotroph results in dysregulation of Pseudomonas quinolone signal synthesis.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common nosocomial pathogen that relies on three cell-to-cell signals to regulate multiple virulence factors. The Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS; 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4-quinolone) is one of these signals, and it is known to be important for P. aeruginosa pathogenesis. PQS is synthesized in a multistep reaction that condenses anthranilate and a fatty acid. In P. aeruginosa, anthranilate is produced via the kynurenine pathway and two separate anthranilate synthases, TrpEG and PhnAB, the latter of which is important for PQS synthesis. Others have previously shown that a P. aeruginosa tryptophan auxotroph could grow on tryptophan-depleted medium with a frequency of 10(-5) to 10(-6). These revertants produced more pyocyanin and had increased levels of phnA transcript. In this study, we constructed similar tryptophan auxotroph revertants and found that the reversion resulted from a synonymous G-to-A nucleotide mutation within pqsC. This change resulted in increased pyocyanin and decreased PQS, along with an increase in the level of the pqsD, pqsE, and phnAB transcripts. Reporter fusion and reverse transcriptase PCR studies indicated that a novel transcript containing pqsD, pqsE, and phnAB occurs in these revertants, and quantitative real-time PCR experiments suggested that the same transcript appears in the wild-type strain under nutrient-limiting conditions. These results imply that the PQS biosynthetic operon can produce an internal transcript that increases anthranilate production and greatly elevates the expression of the PQS signal response protein PqsE. This suggests a novel mechanism to ensure the production of both anthranilate and PQS-controlled virulence factors.