Production and characterization of Streptomyces clavuligerus enzymes related to the biosynthesis of clavulanic acid

Author(s)

Débora Fernanda Vieira

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC/BT)
• Defense date: 2012-12-10

Examining board members

Ana Paula Ulian de Araujo; Andrea Soares da Costa; Iran Malavazi; Gabriel Padilla Maldonado; Dulce Helena Ferreira de Souza

• Advisor: Ana Paula Ulian de Araujo

Abstract

Clavulanic acid (CA) is a potent inhibitor of β-lactamases, produced by Streptomyces clavuligerus, clinically used in combination with β-lactam antibiotics to treat resistant bacterial infections. Although CA industrial production is well-established, many important aspects related to its biosynthesis remains under study. It is known that CA pathway involves at least 8 enzymatic steps, being the earliest stages more addressed. For instance, N2-(2-carboxyethyl) arginine synthase (CEAS), β-lactam synthase (BLS) and proclavaminate amidinohydrolase (PAH) are responsible for the first, second and fourth enzymatic reaction, respectively. Recent mutagenic studies in S.clavuligerus have related extra copies of ceas, bls and pah genes ((ceas1, bls1 e pah1) to this pathway but none enzymatic assay was further reported. Although later stages the pathway remain unclear, the action of some putative enzymes like the codified by orf12 showed essential to CA production. Thus, aiming to increase the information available about CA biosynthesis we studied four of its members: CEAS1, BLS1, PAH1, and the putative protein codified by orf12. The genes were isolated from S.clavuligerus genomic DNA by PCR and further cloned into expression vectors in order to produce recombinant proteins in E.coli. Protocols of protein expression were established to CEAS1, PAH1 and ORF12 and recombinant proteins were purified by metal affinity chromatography. BLS was obtained as an insoluble form. Soluble proteins were characterized by means of biochemical and structural approaches. Analyses of CEAS1 and PAH1 were compared with information ever conducted to the isozymes CEAS2 and PAH2, respectively. Thus, oligomerization analysis of proteins resulted respectively in a mix of oligomers forms (monomer, dimer, tetramer) to CEAS1, hexameric form to PAH1 and dimeric form to ORF12, according to the soluble and crystallographic form of CEAS2 (dimer and tetramer) and PAH2 (hexamer). Circular Dichroism spectra showed that CEAS1 and PAH1 have an α-β conformation and were stable up to 35ºC over a wide pH range. Thermodynamic parameters of CEAS1 cofactor (Mg+2) binding were determined showing that is entropic driven, with a 4:1 binding stoichiometry, with a micro-molar affinity (KD = 1.76 ± 0.23 µM). Analyses by coupled assay, High Pressure Liquid Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectroscopy (LC-MS) and Isothermal Titration Calorimetry showed that CEAS1, as well as the CEAS2, presents activity at the substrate glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate, however without formation of final product, N2-(2-carboxyethyl)arginine. Meanwhile recombinant PAH1 showed none activity at analogous substrate, N-α-acetil-L-arginine. Thus despite isozymes maintain a structural pattern, they may have distinct action mechanism. Regards to ORF12, this protein was classified as a β-lactamase with an esterase activity according to our studies performed with the substrates cephalosporin C and p-nitrophenyl acetate. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/01411-6 - Production and characterization of Streptomyces clavuligerus isoenzymes related to clavulanic acid synthesis
• Grantee: Débora Fernanda Vieira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate