Jawsamycin exhibits in vivo antifungal properties by inhibiting Spt14/Gpi3-mediated biosynthesis of glycosylphosphatidylinositol

Nat Commun. 2020 Jul 7;11(1):3387. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-17221-5.

Abstract

Biosynthesis of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) is required for anchoring proteins to the plasma membrane, and is essential for the integrity of the fungal cell wall. Here, we use a reporter gene-based screen in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the discovery of antifungal inhibitors of GPI-anchoring of proteins, and identify the oligocyclopropyl-containing natural product jawsamycin (FR-900848) as a potent hit. The compound targets the catalytic subunit Spt14 (also referred to as Gpi3) of the fungal UDP-glycosyltransferase, the first step in GPI biosynthesis, with good selectivity over the human functional homolog PIG-A. Jawsamycin displays antifungal activity in vitro against several pathogenic fungi including Mucorales, and in vivo in a mouse model of invasive pulmonary mucormycosis due to Rhyzopus delemar infection. Our results provide a starting point for the development of Spt14 inhibitors for treatment of invasive fungal infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fermentation
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / biosynthesis
  • Glycosyltransferases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • K562 Cells
  • Lung / microbiology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Mucorales
  • Multigene Family
  • Polyketides / pharmacology*
  • Rhizopus
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Glycosylphosphatidylinositols
  • Polyketides
  • SPT14 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • jawsamycin
  • Glycosyltransferases