Novel Bifunctional Acylase from Actinoplanes utahensis: A Versatile Enzyme to Synthesize Antimicrobial Compounds and Use in Quorum Quenching Processes.

Many intercellular communication processes, known as quorum sensing (QS), are regulated by the autoinducers N-acyl-l-homoserine lactones (AHLs) in Gram-negative bacteria. The inactivation of these QS processes using different quorum quenching (QQ) strategies, such as enzymatic degradation of the autoinducers or the receptor blocking with non-active analogs, could be the basis for the development of new antimicrobials. This study details the heterologous expression, purification, and characterization of a novel N-acylhomoserine lactone acylase from Actinoplanes utahensis NRRL 12052 (AuAHLA), which can hydrolyze different natural penicillins and N-acyl-homoserine lactones (with or without 3-oxo substitution), as well as synthesize them. Kinetic parameters for the hydrolysis of a broad range of substrates have shown that AuAHLA prefers penicillin V, followed by C12-HSL. In addition, AuAHLA inhibits the production of violacein by Chromobacterium violaceum CV026, confirming its potential use as a QQ agent. Noteworthy, AuAHLA is also able to efficiently synthesize penicillin V, besides natural AHLs and phenoxyacetyl-homoserine lactone (POHL), a non-natural analog of AHLs that could be used to block QS receptors and inhibit signal of autoinducers, being the first reported AHL acylase capable of synthesizing AHLs.

Draft Genome Sequence of Actinoplanes utahensis NRRL 12052, a Microorganism Involved in Industrial Production of Pharmaceutical Intermediates.

Here, we describe the draft genome sequence of Actinoplanes utahensis NRRL 12052, a filamentous bacterium that encodes an aculeacin A acylase and a putative N-acyl-homoserine lactone acylase of biotechnological interest. Moreover, several nonribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS) and polyketide synthase (PKS) clusters and antibiotic resistance genes have been identified.