Generation of an actagardine A variant library through saturation mutagenesis

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2012 Sep;95(6):1509-17. doi: 10.1007/s00253-012-4041-0. Epub 2012 Apr 19.

Abstract

The lantibiotic actagardine A is nineteen amino acids in length and comprises three intertwined C-terminal methyllanthionine-bridged rings and an N-terminal lanthionine-bridged ring. Produced by the actinomycete Actinoplanes garbadinensis ATCC 31049, actagardine A demonstrates antibacterial activity against important Gram-positive pathogens. This activity combined with its ribosomal synthesis makes it an attractive target for the generation of lantibiotic variants with improved biological activity. A variant generation system designed to allow the specific substitution of amino acids at targeted sites throughout the actagardine A peptide has been used to generate a comprehensive library by site-directed mutagenesis. With the exception of residues involved in bridge formation, each amino acid in the actagardine A peptide as well as the alanine (ala(0)) at position -1 relative to the mature peptide, has been systematically substituted with all remaining 19 amino acids. A total of 228 mutants have been engineered with 44 produced in good yield. The mutant V15F in particular demonstrates improved activity against a range of notable Gram-positive pathogens including Clostridium difficile, when evaluated alongside actagardine A. The scope of variants generated provides an insight into the flexibility of the actagardine A processing machinery and will undoubtedly assist in future mutational studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / metabolism
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacteriocins / genetics*
  • Bacteriocins / metabolism
  • Bacteriocins / pharmacology
  • Gene Library
  • Genetic Variation
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Micromonosporaceae / genetics*
  • Micromonosporaceae / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis
  • Peptides / genetics*
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Peptides / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacteriocins
  • Peptides
  • gardimycin