Catalytic Mechanism of the Colistin Resistance Protein MCR-1

22 December 2020, Version 1
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

The mcr-1 gene encodes a membrane-bound Zn2+-metalloenzyme, MCR-1, which catalyzes phosphoethanolamine transfer onto bacterial lipid A, making bacteria resistant to colistin, a last-resort antibiotic. Mechanistic understanding of this process remains incomplete. Here, we investigate possible catalytic pathways using DFT and ab initio calculations on cluster models and identify a complete two-step reaction mechanism. The first step, formation of a covalent phosphointermediate via trans-fer of phosphoethanolamine from a membrane phospholipid donor to the acceptor Thr285, is rate-limiting and proceeds with a single Zn2+ ion. The second step, transfer of the phosphoethanolamine group to lipid A, requires an additional Zn2+. The calculations suggest the involment of the Zn2+ orbitals directly in the reaction is limited, with the second Zn2+ acting to bind incoming lipid A and direct phosphoethanolamine addition. The new level of mechanistic detail obtained here, which distinguishes these enzymes from other phosphotransferases, will aid in the development of inhibitors specific to MCR-1 and related bacterial phosphoethanolamine transferases.

Keywords

MCR-1
DFT cluster model
Enzyme reaction mechanisms
Antimicrobial Resistance

Supplementary materials

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chemxriv SI
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B3LYPD3 geometries.tar
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