2021
Escherichia coli small molecule metabolism at the host–microorganism interface
Gatsios A, Kim CS, Crawford JM. Escherichia coli small molecule metabolism at the host–microorganism interface. Nature Chemical Biology 2021, 17: 1016-1026. PMID: 34552219, PMCID: PMC8675634, DOI: 10.1038/s41589-021-00807-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSmall molecule metabolismE. coliHost-bacteria interfaceModel organismsHost-bacterial interactionsChemical arsenalMolecule metabolismEscherichia coliHuman microbiotaColiSmall molecule chemistryMetabolismCommon componentSignalingOrganismsBiologyDisease modulationCommensalEscherichiaHostPathogenic roleRoleMicrobiotaMembers
2020
Characterization of Autoinducer‑3 Structure and Biosynthesis in E. coli
Kim CS, Gatsios A, Cuesta S, Lam YC, Wei Z, Chen H, Russell RM, Shine EE, Wang R, Wyche TP, Piizzi G, Flavell RA, Palm NW, Sperandio V, Crawford JM. Characterization of Autoinducer‑3 Structure and Biosynthesis in E. coli. ACS Central Science 2020, 6: 197-206. PMID: 32123737, PMCID: PMC7047286, DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.9b01076.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAutoinducer-3Population-level phenotypesDiverse biological rolesGram-positive bacterial pathogensPrimary human tissuesModel organismsQuorum sensingMolecular foundationBiological roleCommon inhabitantsVariety of GramHuman microbiotaVirulence genesBacterial pathogensE. coliBiochemical originBiosynthesisHuman tissuesUnknown structureSynthetase reactionGenesOrganismsBiologyMetabolitesEnterohemorrhagic
2018
Characterization of Natural Colibactin–Nucleobase Adducts by Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Isotopic Labeling. Support for DNA Alkylation by Cyclopropane Ring Opening
Xue M, Shine E, Wang W, Crawford JM, Herzon SB. Characterization of Natural Colibactin–Nucleobase Adducts by Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Isotopic Labeling. Support for DNA Alkylation by Cyclopropane Ring Opening. Biochemistry 2018, 57: 6391-6394. PMID: 30365310, PMCID: PMC6997931, DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b01023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenotoxic secondary metabolitesMethionine auxotrophic strainsE. coliGut commensal Escherichia coliClb gene clusterColibactin biosynthesisElectrophilic CyclopropanesGene clusterDNA alkylationPrevious biosynthetic studiesSecondary metabolitesAuxotrophic strainsEscherichia coliCommensal Escherichia coliBiosynthetic studiesFirst identificationBiosynthesisColiColibactinPUC19 DNAIsotopic labelingNucleotidesDNATandem mass spectrometryCertain strains
2016
A Mechanistic Model for Colibactin-Induced Genotoxicity
Healy AR, Nikolayevskiy H, Patel JR, Crawford JM, Herzon SB. A Mechanistic Model for Colibactin-Induced Genotoxicity. Journal Of The American Chemical Society 2016, 138: 15563-15570. PMID: 27934011, PMCID: PMC5359767, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b10354.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGene clusterE. coliDNA double-strand breaksDouble-strand breaksProbiotic Nissle 1917Clb gene clusterEukaryotic cellsCertain commensalDNA bindingProbiotic E. coliDisparate phenotypesPrecolibactinsAlkylate DNAColibactinIsolation effortsFermentation productsColiDNA alkylationDNANissle 1917Mechanistic modelSide chainsNatural productsMetabolite structuresEfficient DNA alkylation
2015
Gut Symbionts from Distinct Hosts Exhibit Genotoxic Activity via Divergent Colibactin Biosynthesis Pathways
Engel P, Vizcaino MI, Crawford JM. Gut Symbionts from Distinct Hosts Exhibit Genotoxic Activity via Divergent Colibactin Biosynthesis Pathways. Applied And Environmental Microbiology 2015, 81: 1502-1512. PMID: 25527542, PMCID: PMC4309719, DOI: 10.1128/aem.03283-14.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNonribosomal peptide synthetaseBiosynthetic pathwayBacterial symbiontsGut symbiontsSecondary metabolitesEukaryotic cellsGenomic islandsBacterial gut symbiontDiverse symbiotic associationsDivergent variantsDNA damagePolyketide synthase pathwayE. coliComparative metabolomic analysisRelated secondary metabolitesPathway-dependent mannerSymbiotic associationGene clusterMicrobial interactionsBiosynthesis pathwayDistinct hostsPeptide synthetaseMammalian gutHoney beesSymbionts