Identification of an analgesic lipopeptide produced by the probiotic Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917

Nat Commun. 2017 Nov 3;8(1):1314. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-01403-9.

Abstract

Administration of the probiotic Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917 (EcN) decreases visceral pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome. Mutation of clbA, a gene involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, including colibactin, was previously shown to abrogate EcN probiotic activity. Here, we show that EcN, but not an isogenic clbA mutant, produces an analgesic lipopeptide. We characterize lipoamino acids and lipopeptides produced by EcN but not by the mutant by online liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. One of these lipopeptides, C12AsnGABAOH, is able to cross the epithelial barrier and to inhibit calcium flux induced by nociceptor activation in sensory neurons via the GABAB receptor. C12AsnGABAOH inhibits visceral hypersensitivity induced by nociceptor activation in mice. Thus, EcN produces a visceral analgesic, which could be the basis for the development of new visceral pain therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics / chemistry
  • Analgesics / metabolism*
  • Analgesics / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Calcium Signaling / drug effects
  • Drug Discovery
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Lipopeptides / biosynthesis*
  • Lipopeptides / chemistry
  • Lipopeptides / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mutation
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Polyketides / chemistry
  • Polyketides / metabolism
  • Probiotics / metabolism*
  • Sensory Receptor Cells / drug effects
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / chemistry
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / pharmacology

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Lipopeptides
  • Peptides
  • Polyketides
  • colibactin
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid