Targeting Candida albicans O-acetyl-L-homoserine sulfhydrylase (Met15p) in antifungal treatment

Abstract Fungal infections are a serious threat to public health as they are becoming increasingly frequent. A major problem stems also from a rising fungal resistance to currently available antifungal therapies, therefore novel molecular targets are highly desirable. Exploration of enzymes particip...

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Main Authors: Aleksandra Kuplińska, Kamila Rząd, Joanna Stefaniak-Skorupa, Katarzyna Kozłowska-Tylingo, Marek Wojciechowski, Sławomir Milewski, Iwona Gabriel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79886-y
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author Aleksandra Kuplińska
Kamila Rząd
Joanna Stefaniak-Skorupa
Katarzyna Kozłowska-Tylingo
Marek Wojciechowski
Sławomir Milewski
Iwona Gabriel
author_facet Aleksandra Kuplińska
Kamila Rząd
Joanna Stefaniak-Skorupa
Katarzyna Kozłowska-Tylingo
Marek Wojciechowski
Sławomir Milewski
Iwona Gabriel
author_sort Aleksandra Kuplińska
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Fungal infections are a serious threat to public health as they are becoming increasingly frequent. A major problem stems also from a rising fungal resistance to currently available antifungal therapies, therefore novel molecular targets are highly desirable. Exploration of enzymes participating in the biosynthesis pathways of essential amino acids such as L-methionine (L-Met) may provide new insights into pharmaceutical development. The MET15 gene from Candida albicans, encoding O-acetyl-L-homoserine sulfhydrylase (Met15p), an enzyme catalyzing the second step in that pathway, was cloned and expressed in two versions: as N and C-terminal oligo-His-tagged fusion proteins. The recombinant enzymes revealed appropriate activity, and catalyzed conversion of O-acetyl-L-homoserine and a sulfide ion to produce L-homocysteine. A new RP-HPLC-DAD method, using the enzymatic reaction product pre-column derivatization with 5,5’-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) was developed and used by us to determine Met15p activity. Newly synthesized compounds as well as two commercially available exhibited a Met15p inhibitory effect which was related to antifungal activity. Fungal cells’ sensitivity to inhibitors depending on the presence or absence of L-Met in the medium clearly indicated Met15p targeting. Moreover, the synergistic effect of the first methionine biosynthetic enzyme affecting inhibitor and Met15p inhibitors indicate that methionine biosynthesis pathway enzymes are promising molecular targets.
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spelling doaj-art-d7d31e20ba3e4d568ae959bc01e8259d2025-08-20T02:30:58ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111710.1038/s41598-024-79886-yTargeting Candida albicans O-acetyl-L-homoserine sulfhydrylase (Met15p) in antifungal treatmentAleksandra Kuplińska0Kamila Rząd1Joanna Stefaniak-Skorupa2Katarzyna Kozłowska-Tylingo3Marek Wojciechowski4Sławomir Milewski5Iwona Gabriel6Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of TechnologyDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of TechnologyDepartment of Organic Chemistry, Gdansk University of TechnologyDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of TechnologyDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of TechnologyDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of TechnologyDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of TechnologyAbstract Fungal infections are a serious threat to public health as they are becoming increasingly frequent. A major problem stems also from a rising fungal resistance to currently available antifungal therapies, therefore novel molecular targets are highly desirable. Exploration of enzymes participating in the biosynthesis pathways of essential amino acids such as L-methionine (L-Met) may provide new insights into pharmaceutical development. The MET15 gene from Candida albicans, encoding O-acetyl-L-homoserine sulfhydrylase (Met15p), an enzyme catalyzing the second step in that pathway, was cloned and expressed in two versions: as N and C-terminal oligo-His-tagged fusion proteins. The recombinant enzymes revealed appropriate activity, and catalyzed conversion of O-acetyl-L-homoserine and a sulfide ion to produce L-homocysteine. A new RP-HPLC-DAD method, using the enzymatic reaction product pre-column derivatization with 5,5’-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) was developed and used by us to determine Met15p activity. Newly synthesized compounds as well as two commercially available exhibited a Met15p inhibitory effect which was related to antifungal activity. Fungal cells’ sensitivity to inhibitors depending on the presence or absence of L-Met in the medium clearly indicated Met15p targeting. Moreover, the synergistic effect of the first methionine biosynthetic enzyme affecting inhibitor and Met15p inhibitors indicate that methionine biosynthesis pathway enzymes are promising molecular targets.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79886-y
spellingShingle Aleksandra Kuplińska
Kamila Rząd
Joanna Stefaniak-Skorupa
Katarzyna Kozłowska-Tylingo
Marek Wojciechowski
Sławomir Milewski
Iwona Gabriel
Targeting Candida albicans O-acetyl-L-homoserine sulfhydrylase (Met15p) in antifungal treatment
Scientific Reports
title Targeting Candida albicans O-acetyl-L-homoserine sulfhydrylase (Met15p) in antifungal treatment
title_full Targeting Candida albicans O-acetyl-L-homoserine sulfhydrylase (Met15p) in antifungal treatment
title_fullStr Targeting Candida albicans O-acetyl-L-homoserine sulfhydrylase (Met15p) in antifungal treatment
title_full_unstemmed Targeting Candida albicans O-acetyl-L-homoserine sulfhydrylase (Met15p) in antifungal treatment
title_short Targeting Candida albicans O-acetyl-L-homoserine sulfhydrylase (Met15p) in antifungal treatment
title_sort targeting candida albicans o acetyl l homoserine sulfhydrylase met15p in antifungal treatment
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79886-y
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