Inactivation of the Burkholderia toxin malleicyprol by enzymatic cyclopropanol ring opening.

Fiedler J, Richter I, Dornblut K, Scharf A, Hertweck C (2025) Inactivation of the Burkholderia toxin malleicyprol by enzymatic cyclopropanol ring opening. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 65(2), e21105.

Abstract

Pathogenic bacteria of the Burkholderia pseudomallei group cause life-threatening infections in humans and animals. Their virulence factors include malleicyprols bearing a reactive cyclopropanol moiety essential for toxicity. Inactivating this reactive motif, therefore, is a promising way to neutralize these toxins. Here, we identify a heme-dependent oxidoreductase (BurK) that cleaves the cyclopropanol warhead. Mutational analyses and in vivo radical capturing show that BurK catalyzes a radical ring opening to yield a propanone fragment. Characterizing BurK orthologs across various bacterial phyla suggests broader ecological roles of these unusual enzymes. Using a nematode model, we demonstrate that BurK-producing helper bacteria neutralize malleicyprols, significantly reducing toxicity and enhancing host survival. In addition to uncovering a novel biocatalyst, this work lays the foundation for antivirulence approaches using therapeutic microbes against antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Leibniz-HKI-Authors

Katharina Dornblut
Jonas Fiedler
Christian Hertweck
Ingrid Richter
Alicia Scharf

Identifier

doi: 10.1002/anie.202521105

PMID: 41211792