Understanding and Exploiting Tunicamycin (Bio)Synthesis to Enable Novel Antibiotics and Inhibitors
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Chemistry
Abstract
Streptomyces are bacteria that live in the soil and produce antibiotics to compete with other soil microorganisms. Tunicamycin is an antibiotic made by Streptomyces chartreusis with a very unusual chemical structure. It kills other bacteria by blocking the action of a protein (an enzyme) that performs an essential role in making the walls of bacterial cells. These cell walls are essential for bacteria to survive. The way in which tunicamycin kills bacteria is different to almost all other antibiotics that are used in medicine and so tunicamycin has the potential to become a new and very effective antibacterial treatment to counter, for example, MRSA infections.
The chemical structure of tunicamycin is actually similar to some of the building blocks used to make cell walls. This suggests that it may act my mimicking these building blocks, preventing the enzyme that makes cell walls from choosing the correct components.
We have discovered recently the genes that allow S. chartreusis to make tunicamycin, and we can now use these genes to produce the enzymes that make tunicamycin. We have also developed methods to make the building blocks, and slightly different versions of them, that are used to make tunicamycin. As a consequence, we are now in a very good position to understand not only how the very unusual tunicamycin structure is made by S. chartreusis, but also to use the enzymes and the variant building blocks to generate new tunicamycin-like compounds. Ultimately we aim to genetically manipulate S. chartreusis itself to produce such compounds.
Why is this important? Although tunicamycin is very good at killing bacteria, it also harms human cells, and so cannot be used as an antibiotic. By changing the structure of tunicamycin, we hope to remove the activity that is deleterious to humans, while retaining, or even improving, the activity against bacteria.
The chemical structure of tunicamycin is actually similar to some of the building blocks used to make cell walls. This suggests that it may act my mimicking these building blocks, preventing the enzyme that makes cell walls from choosing the correct components.
We have discovered recently the genes that allow S. chartreusis to make tunicamycin, and we can now use these genes to produce the enzymes that make tunicamycin. We have also developed methods to make the building blocks, and slightly different versions of them, that are used to make tunicamycin. As a consequence, we are now in a very good position to understand not only how the very unusual tunicamycin structure is made by S. chartreusis, but also to use the enzymes and the variant building blocks to generate new tunicamycin-like compounds. Ultimately we aim to genetically manipulate S. chartreusis itself to produce such compounds.
Why is this important? Although tunicamycin is very good at killing bacteria, it also harms human cells, and so cannot be used as an antibiotic. By changing the structure of tunicamycin, we hope to remove the activity that is deleterious to humans, while retaining, or even improving, the activity against bacteria.
Technical Summary
Tunicamycin was the first nucleoside antibiotic isolated and inhibits bacterial cell wall biosynthesis by blocking MraY, the enzyme that constructs the key biosynthetic precursor lipid I. This mode of action is orthogonal to antibiotics that are in clinical use. Tunicamycin's structure resembles that of substrates of MraY and suggests it behaves as an evolved scaffold for inhibition. Indeed, it is active against several enzymes, including TarO, the first enzyme in bacterial teichoic acid biosynthesis, and the GPT enzymes that create the lipid-linked precursors for all N-linked glycoprotein assembly. This latter property has seen its widespread use in cell biology (>8000 citations) yet creates toxicity that prevents its use in other applications (such as a new mode-of-action antibiotic based on its MraY activity). We have recently, through genome sequencing of the producer Streptomyces chartreusis followed by genome mining, discovered the gene cluster for tunicamycin biosynthesis. We have also developed methods for synthesizing key intermediates. This establishes a strong position to explore not only the mechanism of formation of the unique tunicamycin structure but to also probe the synthetic utility of associated enzymes (for chemical elaboration and diversification). The modular structure of tunicamycin suggests that the inhibitory scaffold may be altered in a systematic way to tune its activity towards and away from existing targets, and to create new ones. Early results have confirmed that core scaffold modules are active against other nucleotidyl-dependent enzymes. This suggests that synthetic analogues may be created that could uncouple existing activities, perhaps allowing eventual use as lead compounds for therapy. This collaborative project will explore tunicamycin biosynthesis, producer immunity, the enzymology (and structures) of key Tun enzymes, the synthesis of tunicamycin analogues, and their activity in screens against target organisms and enzymes.
Planned Impact
Who will benefit from this research?
Longer term, the proposed work should benefit both society and the pharmaceutical industry through the generation of drugs to combat infectious diseases and other human ailments. There is an urgent need for new therapeutic agents for multi-drug resistant pathogens. Tunicamycin possesses a clinically unexploited mechanism of action and is therefore a highly attractive target. This proposal will provide the fundamental knowledge and technology to enable such an outcome. Shorter term, outputs of this research will be of value to fundamental scientists, to applied scientists working in the pharmaceutical industry, and to research clinicians.
Fundamental knowledge of the mechanism of action and properties of carbohydrate-processing proteins continues to underpin industrial applications in the detergent, paper pulp, fruit juice and food sectors. The use of biocatalysis combined with chemistry in the construction of potential therapeutics based on natural products is an area of current rapidly expanding growth and one where the UK has taken a lead not only through established companies e.g., Celltech (now UCB) but through new companies that place an even greater emphasis on biocatalysis and natural products pathways e.g. Biotica, Novacta (the latter founded on IP from the MJB laboratory).
How will they benefit from this research?
Streptomycetes account for ~80% of commercially important antibiotics, and are a rich source of other bioactive molecules, including anticancer agents and immunosuppressants (~$40 bn p.a. in the pharmaceutical industry worldwide). To fully exploit their biosynthetic potential for the production of compounds, we require a better understanding of natural product biosynthesis. Genetic engineering of tunicamycin biosynthesis has the potential to yield highly effective, clinically useful antibiotics directed at a thus far unexploited target (formation of Lipid I). Tunicamycin derivatives also have the potential for use in other human therapies, targeting specific carbohydrate processing enzymes. The fundamental studies proposed here will provide necessary underpinning knowledge to generate such compounds, and will therefore be of direct interest to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies interested in anti-infectives and other human diseases.
BBSRC Strategic Priorities
Basic Bioscience Underpinning Health: It is a multi-disciplinary programme that combines microbiology, molecular genetics, biochemistry, protein purification and characterization, metabolite analysis, crystallography and chemical synthesis to understand and manipulate the biosynthesis of an unusual and clinically unexploited antibiotic.
Technology Development for the Biosciences: It will lead to the discovery and utilization of biologically-directed chemical tools (Chemical Biology tools) of both academic and commercial relevance that may lead to novel therapeutics.
What are the major aims that are likely to have significant impact?
1. The mutational analysis of the tun gene cluster (WP1) - this will prove or modify our proposed biosynthetic pathway.
2. Increased tunicamycin production from Streptomyces by manipulating gene expression and optimising culture media (WP2.2,2.3) - this will more readily allow production of compounds that will be useful for analogue synthesis.
3. Preparation of tunicamycin intermediates through degradation/relay methods (WP3.1) - this will also more readily allow production of compounds that will be useful for analogue synthesis.
4. In vitro reconstitution of synthetically useful enzyme activities combined with chemical methods to create tunicamycin analogues (WP3.2)
Aims 2. - 4. will more readily allow production of compounds that will be useful for analogue synthesis.
5. Screen analogue activities through zone inhibition, MICs, in vitro assay (MraY-type vs GPT-type) (WP4.1,4.2) - this will identify analogues with unique and enhanced activities.
Longer term, the proposed work should benefit both society and the pharmaceutical industry through the generation of drugs to combat infectious diseases and other human ailments. There is an urgent need for new therapeutic agents for multi-drug resistant pathogens. Tunicamycin possesses a clinically unexploited mechanism of action and is therefore a highly attractive target. This proposal will provide the fundamental knowledge and technology to enable such an outcome. Shorter term, outputs of this research will be of value to fundamental scientists, to applied scientists working in the pharmaceutical industry, and to research clinicians.
Fundamental knowledge of the mechanism of action and properties of carbohydrate-processing proteins continues to underpin industrial applications in the detergent, paper pulp, fruit juice and food sectors. The use of biocatalysis combined with chemistry in the construction of potential therapeutics based on natural products is an area of current rapidly expanding growth and one where the UK has taken a lead not only through established companies e.g., Celltech (now UCB) but through new companies that place an even greater emphasis on biocatalysis and natural products pathways e.g. Biotica, Novacta (the latter founded on IP from the MJB laboratory).
How will they benefit from this research?
Streptomycetes account for ~80% of commercially important antibiotics, and are a rich source of other bioactive molecules, including anticancer agents and immunosuppressants (~$40 bn p.a. in the pharmaceutical industry worldwide). To fully exploit their biosynthetic potential for the production of compounds, we require a better understanding of natural product biosynthesis. Genetic engineering of tunicamycin biosynthesis has the potential to yield highly effective, clinically useful antibiotics directed at a thus far unexploited target (formation of Lipid I). Tunicamycin derivatives also have the potential for use in other human therapies, targeting specific carbohydrate processing enzymes. The fundamental studies proposed here will provide necessary underpinning knowledge to generate such compounds, and will therefore be of direct interest to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies interested in anti-infectives and other human diseases.
BBSRC Strategic Priorities
Basic Bioscience Underpinning Health: It is a multi-disciplinary programme that combines microbiology, molecular genetics, biochemistry, protein purification and characterization, metabolite analysis, crystallography and chemical synthesis to understand and manipulate the biosynthesis of an unusual and clinically unexploited antibiotic.
Technology Development for the Biosciences: It will lead to the discovery and utilization of biologically-directed chemical tools (Chemical Biology tools) of both academic and commercial relevance that may lead to novel therapeutics.
What are the major aims that are likely to have significant impact?
1. The mutational analysis of the tun gene cluster (WP1) - this will prove or modify our proposed biosynthetic pathway.
2. Increased tunicamycin production from Streptomyces by manipulating gene expression and optimising culture media (WP2.2,2.3) - this will more readily allow production of compounds that will be useful for analogue synthesis.
3. Preparation of tunicamycin intermediates through degradation/relay methods (WP3.1) - this will also more readily allow production of compounds that will be useful for analogue synthesis.
4. In vitro reconstitution of synthetically useful enzyme activities combined with chemical methods to create tunicamycin analogues (WP3.2)
Aims 2. - 4. will more readily allow production of compounds that will be useful for analogue synthesis.
5. Screen analogue activities through zone inhibition, MICs, in vitro assay (MraY-type vs GPT-type) (WP4.1,4.2) - this will identify analogues with unique and enhanced activities.
Publications
Backus KM
(2014)
The three Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 85 isoforms have unique substrates and activities determined by non-active site regions.
in The Journal of biological chemistry
Cruz IN
(2013)
Glycomimetic affinity-enrichment proteomics identifies partners for a clinically-utilized iminosugar.
in Chemical science
Davis Ben
(2012)
Sugars and proteins
in ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
Kong L
(2013)
Single-molecule interrogation of a bacterial sugar transporter allows the discovery of an extracellular inhibitor.
in Nature chemistry
Liu F
(2014)
Rationally designed short polyisoprenol-linked PglB substrates for engineered polypeptide and protein N-glycosylation.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Schiffner Torben
(2014)
Refocussing Antibody Responses by Chemical Modification of Vaccine Antigens
in AIDS RESEARCH AND HUMAN RETROVIRUSES
Wang LX
(2013)
Realizing the Promise of Chemical Glycobiology.
in Chemical science
Widdick D
(2018)
Analysis of the Tunicamycin Biosynthetic Gene Cluster of Streptomyces chartreusis Reveals New Insights into Tunicamycin Production and Immunity.
in Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Wyszynski FJ
(2012)
Biosynthesis of the tunicamycin antibiotics proceeds via unique exo-glycal intermediates.
in Nature chemistry
Description | We were able to elucidate the key steps in the biosynthesis of a totally new type of antibiotic. This understanding then allowed us to redesign this to make an unnatural variant that can be used in the clinic. We are now at the stage where we now that our new variants are good enough to test in in vivo models; this testing has now revealed non toxicity in mammals. We have now also determined the origin of the activity effects that we observed through structural biology and binding assays against key human enzymes. Use of this antibiotic allowed treatment of TB in animal models - the first in vivo demonstration of a non-toxic tunicamycin and validation of this new class of antibiotics. |
Exploitation Route | We have established a key collaboration with the NIH in the USA to test our antibiotic for treating in TB in animal models. The initial results are exciting. We filed patents and negotiated with potential licensees. This has now led to a research contract with Evotec on new antibiotics with the option to form a spin-out. This project has also formed the basis of a successful application for a fellowship from the Wellcome Trust. |
Sectors | Chemicals,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
URL | http://users.ox.ac.uk/~dplb0149/index.html |
Description | The work has been featured in a number of publications and at presentations at public engagement events in Oxford and worldwide with regard to the imminent menace of antibiotic resistance. These include, for example, some of the BBSRC's own public-facing activities, see: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/documents/amr-new-antibiotics-bacterial-bioscience-pdf/. We have also now entered into a research collaboration with Evotec to develop new antibiotics based on this work, including an option to create a spin-out. This work led to the submission of two additional papers based on new collaborations including a high impact paper in Cell. It has also led to commercial development through the Oxford-Evotec Lab282 that has just been renewed. |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
Description | Bonn Microbiology Group |
Organisation | University of Bonn |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have probed the new activities of our designed antibiotics against key enzyme MraY in other organisms |
Collaborator Contribution | Access to MraY constructs |
Impact | Enzyme assays |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Genomatica evaluation |
Organisation | Genomatica Inc |
Country | United States |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Evaluation of emerging antibiotic technology |
Collaborator Contribution | Evaluation |
Impact | Evaluation of potential clinical use |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | NIH in vivo testing |
Organisation | National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | The novel antibiotics that we have designed are being tested in in vivo challenge models for TB |
Collaborator Contribution | In vivo toxicity and challenge models |
Impact | In vivo data |
Start Year | 2014 |
Company Name | Glycoform Ltd |
Description | drug delivery and glycoprotein specialist; biopharmaceuticals |
Impact | Employed >20 people over 10 years and provided a model for how synthetic protein drugs might be constructed and used. The technology for this company has now been used by major US companies. |
Website | http://isis-innovation.com/news/glycoform-ltd-improve-drug-delivery/ |