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Interactions of CcdB with DNA gyrase. Inactivation of Gyra, poisoning of the gyrase-DNA complex, and the antidote action of CcdA.

The F plasmid-carried bacterial toxin, the CcdB protein, is known to act on DNA gyrase in two different ways. CcdB poisons the gyrase-DNA complex, blocking the passage of polymerases and leading to double-strand breakage of the DNA. Alternatively, in cells that overexpress CcdB, the A subunit of DNA gyrase (GyrA) has been found as an inactive complex with CcdB. We have reconstituted the inactive GyrA-CcdB complex by denaturation and renaturation of the purified GyrA dimer in the presence of CcdB. This inactivating interaction involves the N-terminal domain of GyrA, because similar inactive complexes were formed by denaturing and renaturing N-terminal fragments of the GyrA protein in the presence of CcdB. Single amino acid mutations, both in GyrA and in CcdB, that prevent CcdB-induced DNA cleavage also prevent formation of the inactive complexes, indicating that some essential interaction sites of GyrA and of CcdB are common to both the poisoning and the inactivation processes. Whereas the lethal effect of CcdB is most probably due to poisoning of the gyrase-DNA complex, the inactivation pathway may prevent cell death through formation of a toxin-antitoxin-like complex between CcdB and newly translated GyrA subunits. Both poisoning and inactivation can be prevented and reversed in the presence of the F plasmid-encoded antidote, the CcdA protein. The products of treating the inactive GyrA-CcdB complex with CcdA are free GyrA and a CcdB-CcdA complex of approximately 44 kDa, which may correspond to a (CcdB)2(CcdA)2 heterotetramer.

Bacterial Proteins↗

GyrI: a counter-defensive strategy against proteinaceous inhibitors of DNA gyrase.

DNA gyrase is the target of two plasmid-encoded toxins CcdB and microcin B17, which ensure plasmid maintenance. These proteins stabilize gyrase-DNA covalent complexes leading to double-strand breaks in the genome. In contrast, the physiological role of chromosomally encoded inhibitor of DNA gyrase (GyrI) in Escherichia coli is unclear and its mechanism of inhibition has not been established. We demonstrate that the mode of inhibition of GyrI is distinct from all other gyrase inhibitors. It inhibits DNA gyrase prior to, or at the step of, binding of DNA by the enzyme. GyrI reduces intrinsic as well as toxin-stabilized gyrase-DNA covalent complexes. Furthermore, GyrI reduces microcin B17-mediated double-strand breaks in vivo, imparting protection to the cells against the toxin, substantiating the in vitro results. Thus, GyrI is an antidote to DNA gyrase-specific proteinaceous poisons encoded by plasmid addiction systems.

Bacterial Proteins↗

DNA supercoiling in Escherichia coli is under tight and subtle homeostatic control, involving gene-expression and metabolic regulation of both topoisomerase I and DNA gyrase.

DNA of prokaryotes is in a nonequilibrium structural state, characterized as 'active' DNA supercoiling. Alterations in this state affect many life processes and a homeostatic control of DNA supercoiling has been suggested [Menzel, R. & Gellert, M. (1983) Cell 34, 105-113]. We here report on a new method for quantifying homeostatic control of the high-energy state of in vivo DNA. The method involves making small perturbation in the expression of topoisomerase I, and measuring the effect on DNA supercoiling of a reporter plasmid and on the expression of DNA gyrase. In a separate set of experiments the expression of DNA gyrase was manipulated and the control on DNA supercoiling and topoisomerase I expression was measured [part of these latter experiments has been published in Jensen, P.R., van der Weijden, C.C., Jensen, L.B., Westerhoff, H.V. & Snoep, J.L. (1999) Eur. J. Biochem. 266, 865-877]. Of the two regulatory mechanisms via which homeostasis is conferred, regulation of enzyme activity or regulation of enzyme expression, we quantified the first to be responsible for 72% and the latter for 28%. The gene expression regulation could be dissected to DNA gyrase (21%) and to topoisomerase I (7%). On a scale from 0 (no homeostatic control) to 1 (full homeostatic control) we quantified the homeostatic control of DNA supercoiling at 0.87. A 10% manipulation of either topoisomerase I or DNA gyrase activity results in a 1.3% change of DNA supercoiling only. We conclude that the homeostatic regulation of the nonequilibrium DNA structure in wild-type Escherichia coli is almost complete and subtle (i.e. involving at least three regulatory mechanisms).

Base Sequence↗

Crystal structure of the breakage-reunion domain of DNA gyrase.

DNA gyrase is a type II DNA topoisomerase from bacteria that introduces supercoils into DNA. It catalyses the breakage of a DNA duplex (the G segment), the passage of another segment (the T segment) through the break, and then the reunification of the break. This activity involves the opening and dosing of a series of molecular 'gates' which is coupled to ATP hydrolysis. Here we present the crystal structure of the 'breakage-reunion' domain of the gyrase at 2.8 A resolution. Comparison of the structure of this 59K (relative molecular mass, 59,000) domain with that of a 92K fragment of yeast topoisomerase II reveals a very different quaternary organization, and we propose that the two structures represent two principal conformations that participate in the enzymatic pathway. The gyrase structure reveals a new dimer contact with a grooved concave surface for binding the G segment and a cluster of conserved charged residues surrounding the active-site tyrosines. It also shows how breakage of the G segment can occur and, together with the topoisomerase II structure, suggests a pathway by which the T segment can be released through the second gate of the enzyme. Mutations that confer resistance to the quinolone antibacterial agents cluster at the new dimer interface, indicating how these drugs might interact with the gyrase-DNA complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of the interaction between DNA gyrase inhibitor and DNA gyrase of Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli DNA gyrase is comprised of two subunits, GyrA and GyrB. Previous studies have shown that GyrI, a regulatory factor of DNA gyrase activity, inhibits the supercoiling activity of DNA gyrase and that both overexpression and antisense expression of the gyrI gene suppress cell proliferation. Here we have analyzed the interaction of GyrI with DNA gyrase using two approaches. First, immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that GyrI interacts preferentially with the holoenzyme in an ATP-independent manner, although a weak interaction was also detected between GyrI and the individual GyrA and GyrB subunits. Second, surface plasmon resonance experiments indicated that GyrI binds to the gyrase holoenzyme with higher affinity than to either the GyrA or GyrB subunit alone. Unlike quinolone antibiotics, GyrI was not effective in stabilizing the cleavable complex consisting of gyrase and DNA. Further, we identified an 8-residue synthetic peptide, corresponding to amino acids (89)ITGGQYAV(96) of GyrI, which inhibits gyrase activity in an in vitro supercoiling assay. Surface plasmon resonance analysis of the ITGGQYAV-containing peptide-gyrase interaction indicated a high association constant for this interaction. These results suggest that amino acids 89--96 of GyrI are essential for its interaction with, and inhibition of, DNA gyrase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular mechanisms of drug inhibition of DNA gyrase.

DNA gyrase, an enzyme unique to prokaryotes, has been implicated in almost all processes that involve DNA. Although efficient inhibitors of this protein have been known for more than 20 years, none of them have enjoyed prolonged pharmaceutical success. It is only recently that the mechanisms of inhibition for some of these classes of drugs have been established unequivocally by X-ray crystallography. It is hoped that this detailed structural information will assist the design of novel, effective inhibitors of DNA gyrase.

4-Quinolones↗

DNA gyrase and DNA topoisomerase of Bacillus subtilis: expression and characterization of recombinant enzymes encoded by the gyrA, gyrB and parC, parE genes.

Bacillus subtilis Bs gyrA and gyrB genes specifying the DNA gyrase subunits, and parC and parE genes specifying the DNA topoisomerase IV subunits, have been separately cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli as hexahistidine (his6)-tagged recombinant proteins. Purification of the gyrA and gyrB subunits together resulted in predominantly two bands at molecular weights of 94 and 73kDa; purification of the parC and parE subunits together resulted in predominantly two bands at molecular weights of 93 and 75kDa, as predicted by their respective sequences. The ability of the subunits to complement their partner was tested in an ATP-dependent decatenation/supercoiling assay system. The results demonstrated that the DNA gyrase and the topoisomerase IV subunits produce the expected supercoiled DNA and relaxed DNA products, respectively. Additionally, inhibition of these two enzymes by fluoroquinolones has been shown to be comparable to those of the DNA gyrases and topoisomerases of other bacterial strains. In sum, the biological and enzymatic properties of these products are consistent with their authenticity as DNA gyrase and DNA topoisomerase IV enzymes from B. subtilis.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Identification of four GyrA residues involved in the DNA breakage-reunion reaction of DNA gyrase.

DNA supercoiling by DNA gyrase involves the cleavage of a DNA helix, the passage of another helix through the break, and the religation of the first helix. The cleavage-religation reaction involves the formation of a 5'-phosphotyrosine intermediate with the GyrA subunit of the gyrase (A(2)B(2)) complex. We report the characterization of mutations near the active-site tyrosine residue in GyrA predicted to affect the cleavage-religation reaction of gyrase. We find that mutations at Arg32, Arg47, His78 and His80 inhibit DNA supercoiling and other reactions of gyrase. These effects are caused by the involvement of these residues in the DNA cleavage reaction; religation is largely unaffected by these mutations. We show that these residues cooperate with the active-site tyrosine residue on the opposite subunit of the GyrA dimer during the cleavage-religation reaction.

Catalytic Domain↗

Extensive regulation compromises the extent to which DNA gyrase controls DNA supercoiling and growth rate of Escherichia coli.

As DNA gyrase is the only enzyme to supercoil DNA actively, we address here the question of whether it does play the expected dominant role in controlling the level of DNA supercoiling and growth rate in Escherichia coli. We modulated the expression of DNA gyrase around its wild-type level, and measured the effect on plasmid supercoiling and growth rate. As both the activity and the transcription rate of DNA gyrase are sensitive to DNA supercoiling we distinguish two types of control (with control defined as the percentage change observed on a 1% modulation of a parameter). The first type of control, here named inherent control, quantifies the effect of a sustained modulation of the transcription rate of gyrase. At its wild-type expression level this inherent control exerted by DNA gyrase on growth rate was very low, i.e. c mu/gyrase = 0.05 - 0.00, as was the inherent control on DNA supercoiling, c aLK/gyrase = 0.2. The second type of control, here named global control, quantifies the effect of a change in gyrase activity whilst allowing the cell to respond by readjusting gyrase transcription. Both types of control are linked via the sensitivity of gyrase transcription to DNA supercoiling, as determined from the inherent control by gyrase of the gyrase promoter activity using a chromosomal gyrB:lacZ fusion. As expected, the latter control was negative, but small, i.e. c gyr promoter/gyrase=-0.3. The global control by gyrase of active linking number was 0.1. These results show that although gyrase is an essential enzyme it does not have a high control, on either growth rate or DNA supercoiling. Homeostatic regulation of physiological DNA structure appears to dominate. At low degrees of DNA supercoiling, the control by DNA gyrase and by the other topoisomerases is much stronger.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Site-specific interaction of DNA gyrase with DNA.

DNA gyrase, in the presence of the inhibitor oxolinic acid, can induce double-strand DNA breakage at specific sites. The sequences at several sites have been determined. In addition, the structure of complexes formed between DNA gyrase and restriction fragments containing an oxolinic acid-promoted cleavage site has been examined by DNase protection methods. DNA gyrase protects more than 120 base pairs of DNA against pancreatic DNase in a region surrounding the cleavage site. Protection is observed both in the presence and absence of oxolinic acid. Protected DNA flanking the cleavage site contains DNase I-sensitive sites spaced on the average 10 or 11 base pairs apart. This result supports the view that, in the DNA gyrase--DNA complex, the DNA is largely wrapped on the outside of the enzyme.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Probing the binding of coumarins and cyclothialidines to DNA gyrase.

DNA gyrase is the target of a number of antibacterial agents, including the coumarins and the cyclothialidines. To extend our understanding of the mechanism of action of these compounds, we have examined the previously published crystal structures of the complexes between the 24 kDa fragment of GyrB and coumarin and cyclothialidine drugs and made mutations by site-directed mutagenesis. We used proteolysis as a probe of drug binding to wild-type and mutant proteins. Limited proteolysis of gyrase revealed that binding of these antibiotics is associated with a characteristic proteolytic fingerprint, suggesting a drug-induced conformational change. The ability of the mutants to bind the drugs was studied by testing their ability to induce the coumarin-associated proteolytic signature and to bind to a novobiocin-affinity column. To analyze further the interaction of the drugs with gyrase, we studied the binding using surface plasmon resonance. Mutation of Asn46 to Asp has only a modest effect on the binding of coumarins, while an Asn46 to Leu mutation results in a 10-fold decrease in the affinity. Mutation of Asp73 to Asn completely abolishes binding to both coumarins and cyclothialidines. Mutations at these residues also abolish ATP hydrolysis, explaining the inability of such mutations to occur spontaneously.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Structure of the DNA gyrase-DNA complex as revealed by transient electric dichroism.

We have analyzed the structure of complexes between DNA gyrase and four defined DNA fragments by electric dichroism. Both the extrapolated dichroism and relaxation time of these complexes suggest that a single turn of DNA is wrapped around the enzyme with the entry and exit points located close together. The average angle between the DNA tails emerging from the particle is about 120 degrees. This structure is consistent with that seen by electron microscopy. Addition of ATP or the non-hydrolyzable ATP analog 5'-adenylyl-beta, gamma-imidodiphosphate results in a structural change of the complex, consistent with the DNA tails now being wrapped around the protein. The significance of these observations with respect to the mechanism of DNA supercoiling by DNA gyrase is discussed.

Autoradiography↗

DNA cleavage is not required for the binding of quinolone drugs to the DNA gyrase-DNA complex.

The primary target for the quinolone group of antibacterial agents is DNA gyrase. One model for the interaction of quinolone drugs with gyrase and DNA suggests that the drugs bind to the single-stranded regions revealed following DNA cleavage by the enzyme. We have tested this hypothesis by using mutants which have the active-site tyrosine in the gyrase A subunit altered to phenylalanine or serine. We have found that proteins bearing these mutations are still able to bind drug, suggesting that DNA cleavage is not a prerequisite for drug binding. We have also found that the blocking of transcription by RNA polymerase in vitro by the gyrase-quinolone complex on DNA does not occur when the active-site tyrosine is mutated to serine; i.e., polymerase blocking requires DNA cleavage.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

Roles of topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase in DNA unlinking during replication in Escherichia coli.

For a cell to complete DNA replication, every link between the Watson-Crick strands must be removed by topoisomerases. Previously, we reported that the inhibition of topoisomerase IV (topo IV) leads to the accumulation of catenated plasmid replicons to a steady-state level of approximately 10%. Using pulse labeling with [3H]thymidine in Escherichia coli, we have found that in the absence of topo IV activity, nearly all newly synthesized plasmid DNA is catenated. Pulse-chase protocols revealed that catenanes are metabolized even in the absence of topo IV and that the residual turnover is carried out by DNA gyrase at a rate of approximately 0.01/sec. Using extremely short pulse-labeling times, we identified significant amounts of replication catenanes in wild-type cells. The rate of catenane unlinking in wild-type cells by the combined activities of topo IV and DNA gyrase was approximately 1/sec. Therefore, gyrase is 100-fold less efficient than topo IV in plasmid replicon decatenation in vivo. This may explain why a fully functional gyrase cannot prevent the catenation of newly synthesized plasmid DNA and the partition phenotype of topo IV mutants. We conclude that catenanes are kinetic intermediates in DNA replication and that the essential role of topo IV is to unlink daughter replicons.

DNA Replication↗

Evidence for a conformational change in the DNA gyrase-DNA complex from hydroxyl radical footprinting.

We have used the technique of hydroxyl radical footprinting to probe the complex between DNA gyrase and a 198 bp DNA fragment containing the preferred gyrase cleavage site from plasmid pBR322. We find that gyrase protects 128 bp from the hydroxyl radical with the central 13 bp (adjacent to the gyrase cleavage site) being most strongly protected. Flanking the central region are arms showing periodic protection from the reagent suggesting a helical repeat of 10.6 bp, consistent with the DNA being wrapped upon the enzyme surface. The presence of 5'-adenylyl-beta,gamma-imidodiphosphate or a quinolone drug causes alteration of the protection pattern consistent with a conformational change in the complex involving one arm of the wrapped DNA. The significance of these results for the mechanism of DNA supercoiling by gyrase is discussed.

Base Sequence↗

In the presence of subunit A inhibitors DNA gyrase cleaves DNA fragments as short as 20 bp at specific sites.

A key step in the supercoiling reaction is the DNA gyrase-mediated cleavage and religation step of double-stranded DNA. Footprinting studies suggest that the DNA gyrase binding site is 100-150 bp long and that the DNA is wrapped around the enzyme with the cleavage site located near the center of the fragment. Subunit A inhibitors interrupt this cleavage and resealing cycle and result in cleavage occurring at preferred sites. We have been able to show that even a 30 bp DNA fragment containing a 20 bp preferred cleavage sequence from the pBR322 plasmid was a substrate for the DNA gyrase-mediated cleavage reaction in the presence of inhibitors. This DNA fragment was cleaved, although with reduced efficiency, at the same sites as a 122 bp DNA fragment. A 20 bp DNA fragment was cleaved with low efficiency at one of these sites and a 10 bp DNA fragment was no longer a substrate. We therefore propose that subunit A inhibitors interact with DNA at inhibitor-specific positions, thus determining cleavage sites by forming ternary complexes between DNA, inhibitors and DNA gyrase.

Benzimidazoles↗

Replication of mini RK2 plasmid in extracts of Escherichia coli requires plasmid-encoded protein TrfA and host-encoded proteins DnaA, B, G DNA gyrase and DNA polymerase III.

Soluble extracts of Escherichia coli capable of carrying out replication of the mini-RK2 derivative pCT461 have been prepared from cells carrying this plasmid or from plasmid-free bacteria. The latter are dependent upon exogenously added plasmid-encoded replication protein (TrfA) and require additional DnaA protein for optimum activity. This dependence upon DnaA was confirmed by the failure of DnaA-deficient cell extracts to support replication of pCT461 in the absence of added DnaA protein. Replication is unidirectional and begins at or near oriV, the vegetative replication origin of RK2. DNase I protection studies with purified TrfA indicate that this protein acts by binding to short (17 base-pairs) directly repeated DNA sequences present in oriV. The in vitro replication is resistant to rifampicin but can be abolished by antibodies against DnaG protein (E. coli primase) or DnaB protein (helicase) and by DNA gyrase inhibitors. Inhibition by arabinosyl-CTP suggests that DNA polymerase III is responsible for elongation of nascent DNA strands. These results are discussed in relation to the mechanism of RK2 replication and in the context of the host range of the plasmid.

Bacterial Proteins↗