Discovery, Characterization, and Bioactivity of the Achromonodins: Lasso Peptides Encoded by Achromobacter.

Through genome mining efforts, two lasso peptide biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) within two different species of Achromobacter, a genus that contains pathogenic organisms that can infect patients with cystic fibrosis, were discovered. Using gene-refactored BGCs in E. coli, these lasso peptides, which were named achromonodin-1 and achromonodin-2, were heterologously expressed. Achromonodin-1 is naturally encoded by certain isolates from the sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis. The NMR structure of achromonodin-1 was determined, demonstrating that it is a threaded lasso peptide with a large loop and short tail structure, reminiscent of previously characterized lasso peptides that inhibit RNA polymerase (RNAP). Achromonodin-1 inhibits RNAP in vitro and has potent, focused activity toward Achromobacter pulmonis, another isolate from the sputum of a cystic fibrosis patient. These efforts expand the repertoire of antimicrobial lasso peptides and provide insights into how Achromobacter isolates from certain ecological niches interact with each other.

Rapid fabrication of precise high-throughput filters from membrane protein nanosheets.

Biological membranes are ideal for separations as they provide high permeability while maintaining high solute selectivity due to the presence of specialized membrane protein (MP) channels. However, successful integration of MPs into manufactured membranes has remained a significant challenge. Here, we demonstrate a two-hour organic solvent method to develop 2D crystals and nanosheets of highly packed pore-forming MPs in block copolymers (BCPs). We then integrate these hybrid materials into scalable MP-BCP biomimetic membranes. These MP-BCP nanosheet membranes maintain the molecular selectivity of the three types of ß-barrel MP channels used, with pore sizes of 0.8 nm, 1.3 nm, and 1.5 nm. These biomimetic membranes demonstrate water permeability that is 20-1,000 times greater than that of commercial membranes and 1.5-45 times greater than that of the latest research membranes with comparable molecular exclusion ratings. This approach could provide high performance alternatives in the challenging sub-nanometre to few-nanometre size range.

Antimicrobial Lasso Peptide Cloacaenodin Utilizes a Unique TonB-Dependent Transporter to Access Susceptible Bacteria.

The development of new antimicrobial agents effective against Gram-negative bacteria remains a major challenge in drug discovery. The lasso peptide cloacaenodin has potent antimicrobial activity against multiple strains in the Enterobacter genus, one of the ESKAPE pathogens. Here, we show that cloacaenodin uses a previously uncharacterized TonB-dependent transporter, which we name CloU, to cross the outer membrane (OM) of susceptible bacteria. Inner membrane transport is mediated by the protein SbmA. CloU is distinct from the known OM transporters (FhuA and PupB) utilized by other antimicrobial lasso peptides and thus offers important insight into the spectrum of activity of cloacaenodin. Using knowledge of the transport pathway to predict other cloacaenodin-susceptible strains, we demonstrate the activity of cloacaenodin against clinical isolates of Enterobacter and of a Kluyvera strain. Further, we use molecular dynamics simulations and mutagenesis of CloU to explain the variation in cloacaenodin susceptibility observed across different strains of Enterobacter. This work expands the currently limited understanding of lasso peptide uptake and advances the potential of cloacaenodin as an antibiotic.

Cloacaenodin, an Antimicrobial Lasso Peptide with Activity against Enterobacter.

Using genome mining and heterologous expression, we report the discovery and production of a new antimicrobial lasso peptide from species related to the Enterobacter cloacae complex. Using NMR and mass spectrometric analysis, we show that this lasso peptide, named cloacaenodin, employs a threaded lasso fold which imparts proteolytic resistance that its unthreaded counterpart lacks. Cloacaenodin has selective, low micromolar, antimicrobial activity against species related to the E. cloacae complex, including species implicated in nosocomial infections and against clinical isolates of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales. We further used site-directed mutagenesis to probe the importance of specific residues to the peptide's biosynthesis, stability, and bioactivity.