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Journal ArticleDOI

Crystal structure of the breakage-reunion domain of DNA gyrase

28 Aug 1997-Nature (Nature Publishing Group)-Vol. 388, Iss: 6645, pp 903-906
TL;DR: The crystal structure of the breakage-reunion domain of DNA gyrase at 2.8 A resolution was presented in this paper, where it was shown that the two structures represent two principal conformations that participate in the enzymatic pathway.
Abstract: DNA gyrase is a type II DNA topoisomerase from bacteria that introduces supercoils into DNA1,2. 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 closing 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 (ref. 3) 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.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Surprisingly, despite little or no sequence homology, both type IA and type IIA topoisomerases from prokaryotes and the typeIIA enzymes from eukaryotes share structural folds that appear to reflect functional motifs within critical regions of the enzymes.
Abstract: ▪ Abstract DNA topoisomerases solve the topological problems associated with DNA replication, transcription, recombination, and chromatin remodeling by introducing temporary single- or double-strand breaks in the DNA. In addition, these enzymes fine-tune the steady-state level of DNA supercoiling both to facilitate protein interactions with the DNA and to prevent excessive supercoiling that is deleterious. In recent years, the crystal structures of a number of topoisomerase fragments, representing nearly all the known classes of enzymes, have been solved. These structures provide remarkable insights into the mechanisms of these enzymes and complement previous conclusions based on biochemical analyses. Surprisingly, despite little or no sequence homology, both type IA and type IIA topoisomerases from prokaryotes and the type IIA enzymes from eukaryotes share structural folds that appear to reflect functional motifs within critical regions of the enzymes. The type IB enzymes are structurally distinct from a...

2,513 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The multilayered effects of drug–target interactions, including the essential cellular processes that are inhibited by bactericidal antibiotics and the associated cellular response mechanisms that contribute to killing are discussed.
Abstract: Antibiotic drug-target interactions, and their respective direct effects, are generally well characterized. By contrast, the bacterial responses to antibiotic drug treatments that contribute to cell death are not as well understood and have proven to be complex as they involve many genetic and biochemical pathways. In this Review, we discuss the multilayered effects of drug-target interactions, including the essential cellular processes that are inhibited by bactericidal antibiotics and the associated cellular response mechanisms that contribute to killing. We also discuss new insights into these mechanisms that have been revealed through the study of biological networks, and describe how these insights, together with related developments in synthetic biology, could be exploited to create new antibacterial therapies.

1,796 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Their insidious promotion of substantial resistance, their horizontal spread, and their co-selection with other resistance elements indicate that a more cautious approach to quinolone use and a reconsideration of clinical breakpoints are needed.
Abstract: Summary Fluoroquinolone resistance is emerging in Gram-negative pathogens worldwide. The traditional understanding that quinolone resistance is acquired only through mutation and transmitted only vertically does not entirely account for the relative ease with which resistance develops in exquisitely susceptible organisms, or for the very strong association between resistance to quinolones and to other agents. The recent discovery of plasmid-mediated horizontally transferable genes encoding quinolone resistance might shed light on these phenomena. The Qnr proteins, capable of protecting DNA gyrase from quinolones, have homologues in water-dwelling bacteria, and seem to have been in circulation for some time, having achieved global distribution in a variety of plasmid environments and bacterial genera. AAC(6′)-Ib-cr, a variant aminoglycoside acetyltransferase capable of modifying ciprofloxacin and reducing its activity, seems to have emerged more recently, but might be even more prevalent than the Qnr proteins. Both mechanisms provide low-level quinolone resistance that facilitates the emergence of higher-level resistance in the presence of quinolones at therapeutic levels. Much remains to be understood about these genes, but their insidious promotion of substantial resistance, their horizontal spread, and their co-selection with other resistance elements indicate that a more cautious approach to quinolone use and a reconsideration of clinical breakpoints are needed.

881 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Resistance to fluoroquinolones typically arises as a result of alterations in the target enzymes and of changes in drug entry and efflux and can be mediated by plasmids that produce the Qnr protein, which protects the quinolone targets from inhibition.
Abstract: The increased use of fluoroquinolones has led to increasing resistance to these antimicrobials, with rates of resistance that vary by both organism and geographic region. Resistance to fluoroquinolones typically arises as a result of alterations in the target enzymes (DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV) and of changes in drug entry and efflux. Mutations are selected first in the more susceptible target: DNA gyrase, in gram-negative bacteria, or topoisomerase IV, in gram-positive bacteria. Additional mutations in the next most susceptible target, as well as in genes controlling drug accumulation, augment resistance further, so that the most-resistant isolates have mutations in several genes. Resistance to quinolones can also be mediated by plasmids that produce the Qnr protein, which protects the quinolone targets from inhibition. Qnr plasmids have been found in the United States, Europe, and East Asia. Although Qnr by itself produces only low-level resistance, its presence facilitates the selection of higher-level resistance mutations, thus contributing to the alarming increase in resistance to quinolones.

829 citations


Cites background from "Crystal structure of the breakage-r..."

  • ...This region occurs on the DNA-binding surface of the enzyme [16], and, for E....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The acquisition of antimicrobial resistance genes by ESKAPE pathogens has reduced the treatment options for serious infections, increased the burden of disease, and increased death rates due to treatment failure and requires a coordinated global response for antim antibiotic resistance surveillance.
Abstract: Antimicrobial-resistant ESKAPE ( Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) pathogens represent a global threat to human health. The acquisition of antimicrobial resistance genes by ESKAPE pathogens has reduced the treatment options for serious infections, increased the burden of disease, and increased death rates due to treatment failure and requires a coordinated global response for antimicrobial resistance surveillance. This looming health threat has restimulated interest in the development of new antimicrobial therapies, has demanded the need for better patient care, and has facilitated heightened governance over stewardship practices.

674 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The CCP4 (Collaborative Computational Project, number 4) program suite is a collection of programs and associated data and subroutine libraries which can be used for macromolecular structure determination by X-ray crystallography.
Abstract: The CCP4 (Collaborative Computational Project, number 4) program suite is a collection of programs and associated data and subroutine libraries which can be used for macromolecular structure determination by X-ray crystallography. The suite is designed to be flexible, allowing users a number of methods of achieving their aims and so there may be more than one program to cover each function. The programs are written mainly in standard Fortran77. They are from a wide variety of sources but are connected by standard data file formats. The package has been ported to all the major platforms under both Unix and VMS. The suite is distributed by anonymous ftp from Daresbury Laboratory and is widely used throughout the world.

17,220 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The MOLSCRIPT program as discussed by the authors produces plots of protein structures using several different kinds of representations, including simple wire models, ball-and-stick models, CPK models and text labels.
Abstract: The MOLSCRIPT program produces plots of protein structures using several different kinds of representations. Schematic drawings, simple wire models, ball-and-stick models, CPK models and text labels can be mixed freely. The schematic drawings are shaded to improve the illusion of three dimensionality. A number of parameters affecting various aspects of the objects drawn can be changed by the user. The output from the program is in PostScript format.

13,971 citations

Book
01 Jan 1992
TL;DR: This manual to X-PLOR Version 3.1 presents the theoretical background, syntax and function of the programme and also provides a comprehensive list of references and sample input files with comments.
Abstract: X-PLOR is a highly sophisticated computer program that provides an interface between theoretical foundations and experimental data in structural biology, with specific emphasis on X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in solution of large biological macro-molecules. This manual to X-PLOR Version 3.1 presents the theoretical background, syntax, and function of the program and also provides a comprehensive list of references and sample input files with comments. It is intended primarily for researchers and students in the fields of computational chemistry, structural biology, and computational molecular biology.

3,449 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Raster3D Version 2.0 is a program suite for the production of photorealistic molecular graphics images, and is particularly suited for use in producing large raster images of macromolecules for output to a film recorder or high-quality color printer.
Abstract: Raster3D Version 2.0 is a program suite for the production of photorealistic molecular graphics images. The code is hardware independent, and is particularly suited for use in producing large raster images of macromolecules for output to a film recorder or high-quality color printer. The Raster3D suite contains programs for composing illustrations of space-filling models, ball-and-stick models and ribbon-and-cylinder representations. It may also be used to render figures composed using other graphics tools, notably the widely used program Molscript [Kraulis (1991). J. Appl. Cryst. 24, 946-950].

2,492 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
30 Aug 1991-Science
TL;DR: The 3 angstrom resolution crystal structure of the Escherichia coli catabolite gene activator protein (CAP) complexed with a 30-base pair DNA sequence shows that the DNA is bent by 90 degrees.
Abstract: The 3 angstrom resolution crystal structure of the Escherichia coli catabolite gene activator protein (CAP) complexed with a 30-base pair DNA sequence shows that the DNA is bent by 90 degrees. This bend results almost entirely from two 40 degrees kinks that occur between TG/CA base pairs at positions 5 and 6 on each side of the dyad axis of the complex. DNA sequence discrimination by CAP derives both from sequence-dependent distortion of the DNA helix and from direct hydrogen-bonding interactions between three protein side chains and the exposed edges of three base pairs in the major groove of the DNA. The structure of this transcription factor--DNA complex provides insights into possible mechanisms of transcription activation.

1,046 citations