Document Detail


Mapping interactions between germinants and Clostridium difficile spores.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20971909     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Germination of Clostridium difficile spores is the first required step in establishing C. difficile-associated disease (CDAD). Taurocholate (a bile salt) and glycine (an amino acid) have been shown to be important germinants of C. difficile spores. In the present study, we tested a series of glycine and taurocholate analogs for the ability to induce or inhibit C. difficile spore germination. Testing of glycine analogs revealed that both the carboxy and amino groups are important epitopes for recognition and that the glycine binding site can accommodate compounds with more widely separated termini. The C. difficile germination machinery also recognizes other hydrophobic amino acids. In general, linear alkyl side chains are better activators of spore germination than their branched analogs. However, L-phenylalanine and L-arginine are also good germinants and are probably recognized by distinct binding sites. Testing of taurocholate analogs revealed that the 12-hydroxyl group of taurocholate is necessary, but not sufficient, to activate spore germination. In contrast, the 6- and 7-hydroxyl groups are required for inhibition of C. difficile spore germination. Similarly, C. difficile spores are able to detect taurocholate analogs with shorter, but not longer, alkyl amino sulfonic acid side chains. Furthermore, the sulfonic acid group can be partially substituted with other acidic groups. Finally, a taurocholate analog with an m-aminobenzenesulfonic acid side chain is a strong inhibitor of C. difficile spore germination. In conclusion, C. difficile spores recognize both amino acids and taurocholate through multiple interactions that are required to bind the germinants and/or activate the germination machinery.
Authors:
Amber Howerton; Norma Ramirez; Ernesto Abel-Santos
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2010-10-22
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of bacteriology     Volume:  193     ISSN:  1098-5530     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Bacteriol.     Publication Date:  2011 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-12-14     Completed Date:  2011-01-18     Revised Date:  2011-08-01    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  2985120R     Medline TA:  J Bacteriol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  274-82     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry,  pharmacology
Clostridium difficile / drug effects*,  physiology*
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / drug effects
Glycine / analogs & derivatives,  chemistry,  pharmacology*
Molecular Structure
Spores, Bacterial / drug effects*,  physiology*
Structure-Activity Relationship
Taurocholic Acid / analogs & derivatives,  chemistry,  pharmacology*
Time Factors
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Anti-Bacterial Agents; 56-40-6/Glycine; 81-24-3/Taurocholic Acid
Comments/Corrections

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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