Identification of the Antifungal Metabolite Chaetoglobosin P From Discosia rubi Using a Cryptococcus neoformans Inhibition Assay: Insights Into Mode of Action and Biosynthesis

Cryptococcus neoformans is an important human pathogen with limited options for treatments. We have interrogated extracts from fungal fermentations to find Cryptococcus-inhibiting natural products using assays for growth inhibition, differential thermosensitivity, and synergy with existing antifunga...

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Main Authors: Bruno Perlatti, Connie B. Nichols, Nan Lan, Philipp Wiemann, Colin J. B. Harvey, J. Andrew Alspaugh, Gerald F. Bills
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01766/full
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author Bruno Perlatti
Connie B. Nichols
Nan Lan
Philipp Wiemann
Colin J. B. Harvey
J. Andrew Alspaugh
Gerald F. Bills
author_facet Bruno Perlatti
Connie B. Nichols
Nan Lan
Philipp Wiemann
Colin J. B. Harvey
J. Andrew Alspaugh
Gerald F. Bills
author_sort Bruno Perlatti
collection DOAJ
description Cryptococcus neoformans is an important human pathogen with limited options for treatments. We have interrogated extracts from fungal fermentations to find Cryptococcus-inhibiting natural products using assays for growth inhibition, differential thermosensitivity, and synergy with existing antifungal drugs. Extracts from fermentations of strains of Discosia rubi from eastern Texas showed anticryptococcal bioactivity with preferential activity in agar zone of inhibition assays against C. neoformans at 37°C versus 25°C. Assay-guided fractionation led to the purification and identification of chaetoglobosin P as the active component of these extracts. Genome sequencing of these strains revealed a biosynthetic gene cluster consistent with chaetoglobosin biosynthesis and β-methylation of the tryptophan residue. Proximity of genes of the actin-binding protein twinfilin-1 to the chaetoglobosin P and K gene clusters suggested a possible self-resistance mechanism involving twinfilin-1 which is consistent with the predicted mechanism of action involving interference with the polymerization of the capping process of filamentous actin. A C. neoformans mutant lacking twinfilin-1 was hypersensitive to chaetoglobosin P. Chaetoglobosins also potentiated the effects of amphotericin B and caspofungin on C. neoformans.
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spelling doaj.art-e7f73788d6f24d7b8334d7dc37a565e22022-12-22T00:38:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2020-07-011110.3389/fmicb.2020.01766564149Identification of the Antifungal Metabolite Chaetoglobosin P From Discosia rubi Using a Cryptococcus neoformans Inhibition Assay: Insights Into Mode of Action and BiosynthesisBruno Perlatti0Connie B. Nichols1Nan Lan2Philipp Wiemann3Colin J. B. Harvey4J. Andrew Alspaugh5Gerald F. Bills6Texas Therapeutics Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, Untied StatesDepartments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United StatesTexas Therapeutics Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, Untied StatesHexagon Bio, Menlo Park, CA, United StatesHexagon Bio, Menlo Park, CA, United StatesDepartments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United StatesTexas Therapeutics Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, Untied StatesCryptococcus neoformans is an important human pathogen with limited options for treatments. We have interrogated extracts from fungal fermentations to find Cryptococcus-inhibiting natural products using assays for growth inhibition, differential thermosensitivity, and synergy with existing antifungal drugs. Extracts from fermentations of strains of Discosia rubi from eastern Texas showed anticryptococcal bioactivity with preferential activity in agar zone of inhibition assays against C. neoformans at 37°C versus 25°C. Assay-guided fractionation led to the purification and identification of chaetoglobosin P as the active component of these extracts. Genome sequencing of these strains revealed a biosynthetic gene cluster consistent with chaetoglobosin biosynthesis and β-methylation of the tryptophan residue. Proximity of genes of the actin-binding protein twinfilin-1 to the chaetoglobosin P and K gene clusters suggested a possible self-resistance mechanism involving twinfilin-1 which is consistent with the predicted mechanism of action involving interference with the polymerization of the capping process of filamentous actin. A C. neoformans mutant lacking twinfilin-1 was hypersensitive to chaetoglobosin P. Chaetoglobosins also potentiated the effects of amphotericin B and caspofungin on C. neoformans.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01766/fullactinβ-methyltryptophancytochalasinsStenocarpella macrosporatwinfilin-1Xylariales
spellingShingle Bruno Perlatti
Connie B. Nichols
Nan Lan
Philipp Wiemann
Colin J. B. Harvey
J. Andrew Alspaugh
Gerald F. Bills
Identification of the Antifungal Metabolite Chaetoglobosin P From Discosia rubi Using a Cryptococcus neoformans Inhibition Assay: Insights Into Mode of Action and Biosynthesis
Frontiers in Microbiology
actin
β-methyltryptophan
cytochalasins
Stenocarpella macrospora
twinfilin-1
Xylariales
title Identification of the Antifungal Metabolite Chaetoglobosin P From Discosia rubi Using a Cryptococcus neoformans Inhibition Assay: Insights Into Mode of Action and Biosynthesis
title_full Identification of the Antifungal Metabolite Chaetoglobosin P From Discosia rubi Using a Cryptococcus neoformans Inhibition Assay: Insights Into Mode of Action and Biosynthesis
title_fullStr Identification of the Antifungal Metabolite Chaetoglobosin P From Discosia rubi Using a Cryptococcus neoformans Inhibition Assay: Insights Into Mode of Action and Biosynthesis
title_full_unstemmed Identification of the Antifungal Metabolite Chaetoglobosin P From Discosia rubi Using a Cryptococcus neoformans Inhibition Assay: Insights Into Mode of Action and Biosynthesis
title_short Identification of the Antifungal Metabolite Chaetoglobosin P From Discosia rubi Using a Cryptococcus neoformans Inhibition Assay: Insights Into Mode of Action and Biosynthesis
title_sort identification of the antifungal metabolite chaetoglobosin p from discosia rubi using a cryptococcus neoformans inhibition assay insights into mode of action and biosynthesis
topic actin
β-methyltryptophan
cytochalasins
Stenocarpella macrospora
twinfilin-1
Xylariales
url https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01766/full
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