Journal Article

d-Cycloserine destruction by alanine racemase and the limit of irreversible inhibition

de Chiara, Cesira, Garza-Garcia, Acely, Homšak, Miha, Prosser, Gareth A., Douglas, Holly L., Kelly, Geoff, Purkiss, Andrew G., Tate, Edward W., de Carvalho, Luiz Pedro S.

2020

Overview

The broad-spectrum antibiotic d -cycloserine (DCS) is a key component of regimens used to treat multi- and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis. DCS, a structural analog of d -alanine, binds to and inactivates two essential enzymes involved in peptidoglycan biosynthesis, alanine racemase (Alr) and d -Ala: d -Ala ligase. Inactivation of Alr is thought to proceed via a mechanism-based irreversible route, forming an adduct with the pyridoxal 5′-phosphate cofactor, leading to bacterial death. Inconsistent with this hypothesis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis Alr activity can be detected after exposure to clinically relevant DCS concentrations. To address this paradox, we investigated the chemical mechanism of Alr inhibition by DCS. Inhibition of M. tuberculosis Alr and other Alrs is reversible, mechanistically revealed by a previously unidentified DCS-adduct hydrolysis. Dissociation and subsequent rearrangement to a stable substituted oxime explains Alr reactivation in the cellular milieu. This knowledge provides a novel route for discovery of improved Alr inhibitors against M. tuberculosis and other bacteria. d -Cycloserine inactivates alanine racemase by forming an adduct with the pyridoxal 5′-phosphate cofactor, but structural and spectroscopic analyses reveal that reactivation occurs on adduct hydrolysis and product rearrangement to a stable oxime.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group US,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: 631/535/1266 / 631/92/173 / 631/92/2783 / 631/92/609 / Activation / Alanine / Alanine - chemistry / Alanine - metabolism / Alanine racemase / Alanine Racemase - genetics / Alanine Racemase - metabolism / Amino Acid Sequence / Antibiotics / Antibiotics, Antitubercular - chemistry / Antibiotics, Antitubercular - metabolism / Bacterial Proteins - metabolism / Binding Sites / Biochemical Engineering / Biochemistry / Bioorganic Chemistry / Biosynthesis / Cell Biology / Chemistry / Chemistry and Materials Science / Chemistry/Food Science / Cycloserine / Cycloserine - chemistry / Cycloserine - metabolism / D-Alanine / Deactivation / Drug resistance / Escherichia coli / Hydrolysis / Inactivation / Isoxazoles - chemistry / Ligases - metabolism / Mycobacterium tuberculosis - drug effects / Mycobacterium tuberculosis - enzymology / Oximes - chemistry / Peptidoglycans / Protein Binding / Protein Conformation / Recombinant Proteins - genetics / Recombinant Proteins - metabolism / Tuberculosis