Ionophore 4-Br-A23187 causes copper stress in B. subtilis
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ABSTRACT: Ionophores are small molecules or peptides that transport metal ions across biological membranes. Their transport capabilities are typically characterized in vitro using vesicles and single ion species. It is difficult to infer from these data which effects ionophores have on living cells in a complex environment (e.g. culture medium), since net transport is influenced e.g. by ion composition, concentration gradients, pH gradient, and active transport. To gain insights into the antibacterial mechanism of the semi-synthetic polyether ionophore 4-Br-A23187, we investigated its effects on the gram-positive model organism Bacillus subtilis. Changes in intracellular ion concentrations were determined using ionomics and the physiological impact was assessed by proteomics. 4-Br-A23187 treatment resulted in an increase in intracellular copper levels, an effect that was dependent on the copper concentration of the medium. The antibiotic effect of 4-Br-A23187 is further aggravated by a decrease in intracellular manganese and magnesium. Effects of copper hyperaccumulation, mirrored by the proteomic response, included oxidative stress, disturbance of proteostasis, metal, and sulfur homeostasis. Especially solvent-exposed iron-sulfur clusters like that of aconitase of the citric acid cycle are readily destabilized by copper. Using calcein fluorescence quenching as a readout, we confirmed in vitro that 4-Br-A23187 acts as copper ionophore.
INSTRUMENT(S): Synapt MS
ORGANISM(S): Bacillus Subtilis Subsp. Subtilis Str. 168
SUBMITTER: Christoph Senges
LAB HEAD: Julia E. Bandow
PROVIDER: PXD028938 | Pride | 2022-06-08
REPOSITORIES: Pride
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