A DNA aptamer reveals an allosteric site for inhibition in metallo-β-lactamases

PLoS One. 2019 Apr 22;14(4):e0214440. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214440. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

The hydrolysis of β-lactam antibiotics by β-lactamase enzymes is the most prominent antibiotic resistance mechanism for many pathogenic bacteria. Out of this broad class of enzymes, metallo-β-lactamases are of special clinical interest because of their broad substrate specificities. Several in vitro inhibitors for various metallo-β-lactamases have been reported with no clinical efficacy. Previously, we described a 10-nucleotide single stranded DNA aptamer (10-mer) that inhibits Bacillus cereus 5/B/6 metallo-β-lactamase very effectively. Here, we find that the aptamer shows uncompetitive inhibition of Bacillus cereus 5/B/6 metallo-β-lactamase during cefuroxime hydrolysis. To understand the mechanism of inhibition, we report a 2.5 Å resolution X-ray crystal structure and solution-state NMR analysis of the free enzyme. Chemical shift perturbations were observed in the HSQC spectra for several residues upon titrating with increasing concentrations of the 10-mer. In the X-ray crystal structure, these residues are distal to the active site, suggesting an allosteric mechanism for the aptamer inhibition of the enzyme. HADDOCK molecular docking simulations suggest that the 10-mer docks 26 Å from the active site. We then mutated the three lysine residues in the basic binding patch to glutamine and measured the catalytic activity and inhibition by the 10-mer. No significant inhibition of these mutants was observed by the 10-mer as compared to wild type. Interestingly, mutation of Lys50 (Lys78; according to standard MBL numbering system) resulted in reduced enzymatic activity relative to wild type in the absence of inhibitor, further highlighting an allosteric mechanism for inhibition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Allosteric Site
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / chemistry*
  • Bacillus cereus / drug effects
  • Bacillus cereus / enzymology
  • Catalysis
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Kinetics
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Protein Binding
  • Substrate Specificity
  • beta-Lactamase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • beta-Lactamases / genetics
  • beta-Lactamases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • beta-Lactamase Inhibitors
  • beta-Lactamases