E. coli DNA Gyrase, Topo IV, S. aureus DNA Gyrase, Topo IV
TopoGEN offers powerful and tractable services to identify Gyrase and Topoisomerase IV targeting antibiotics. These anti-infective drugs can be subdivided into two large groups:
These drugs block or restrict catalytic activity of the enzyme. Typically, CICs will act at steps 1 or 2 in the overall reaction sequence (Fig 1). By preventing the non-covalent (electrostatic or ionic bridge) complexes which are necessary to proceed to the cleavage complex (step 3), the reaction is effectively blocked. This mechanism is not very common and may not be terribly effective in the prokaryotic domain. Note that CICs can be highly non-specific since even elevated NaCl can be a CIC. In other cases, strong DNA intercalators may interfere with the catalytic reaction sequence.
These agents are technically poisons because they inhibit the re-ligation step in the sequence (‘poison’ the reaction sequence). Consequently, the enzyme becomes covalently trapped on the DNA target sequence and concurrently DNA cleavage is stabilized (single strand nick with topo I and double strand DNA break for topo II). Mechanistically, it appears that IFPs intervene stereochemically in the cleavage complex, forming what is called a ‘ternary complex’ (topo+drug+DNA) wherein the IFP drug induces a mis-alignment of the cleavage intermediate making it unable to re-ligate. When testing IFPs (see Step 3, Fig. 1) it is vital that you perform a proteinase K digestion step, otherwise the cleavage products will shift in the agarose gel, making interpretation impossible. Fluoroquinolones are excellent, front-line IFP acting drugs. More of these are needed moving forward.
Our Screening Services: Independent Validation, Expediency, Value
At TopoGEN, we developed, trademarked and patented many of the technologies associated with drug effects on DNA. We are leading experts at drug testing and assessment of drug action from a mechanistic standpoint. When you engage our services, we will describe and lay out a logical/rational approach that is rich in content and strongly mechanistic. We offer independent consultants who can validate our findings. Our services offer expediency and value as well. We can significantly accelerate the pace of your research, produce publication quality data and you will own the intellectual property that comes with our studies. We routinely enter into confidentiality agreements on projects, so your results are protected. Our in-house testing program is flexible and efficient. The following are important points associated with our services:
All Postitive & Negative Controls
We demonstrate internally that all testing platforms are perfectly functional. As a result, there is no guessing. Your data will be clear and unambiguous. We stand behind our findings and certify the data.
All Markers Will be Included
to document and validate gyrase or topo IV reaction products. Again, we certify tractable results that will be internally controlled.
Testing Flexibility
We tailor each contract to offer maximum flexibility and coordinate with you over the course of the project to ensure intellectual flow of ideas and results. We will advise you on the best course of action with all hits. You can select the level of detail for the project that best suits your needs.
Over-Run Flexibility
In most if not all projects, there will be a need to re-examine, re-test or alter the course. How do we correct for work-load adjustments in the mid-stream? Our solution: we include on all projects, a small indirect “over-run fee” that will allow us to perform additional key experiments without asking for additional funds. This is an advantage for clients and ensures that our high standards of data quality will be maintained. For example, if additional testing regimens are required, we carry out the service automatically. Importantly, there is no guessing on the budget and you will not pay additional fees.
Consulting
We are a team of topo experts. All projects include email and direct SKYPE support over the course of the project. Our scientific staff will discuss and suggest future prospects or experiments.
Reporting
For complete flexibility and to ensure cost-effective contracts, we offer two levels of reporting. At a basic level, included in all contracts, we provide well-documented data (powerpoint, PDF or password protected cloud account). We draw conclusions, presented as bullets, on each slide and make a recommendation for further development and maturation of the project. For clients who wish to have a ‘manuscript’ style report, we offer fully referenced publication style reports. These reports are professionally prepared and are suitable for presentation to regulatory agencies. These publication style reports can be reviewed independently by third party opinion leaders in the field and the reviews appended to the final report.
Hands-on Experience
The company has been actively engaged in contract drug testing since the 1990s and we have the experience to get results that will enable ‘go/no go’ decision making on drug development.
Expedience
In most cases, the project will be completed over a period of several business days. We will clearly stipulate how long the project will take and we deliver on time.
A Selection of Enzymes
We can test prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems with highly purified enzymes that are well-controlled reagents. We can provide additional documentation of purity and QC on all preparations. The following enzymes are currently in our inventory:
- coli DNA Gyrase
- coliTopoisomerase IV
- aureusDNA Gyrase
- aureus Topoisomerase IV (in development)
- tuberculosisGyrase (in development)
- tuberculosis Topoisomerase IV (in development)
"Duel Gel Analytical System"
TopoGEN is unique in offering this service as part of our routine testing regimen. In all projects, we design our experiments to garner new information about your compound. For example, all gels are run in duplicate. One is a non-EB gel system, used to demonstrate unambiguous catalytic activity and the other gel is an EB containing gel to parse clearly the cleavage products. Since the reactions come from the same tube, we can be sure that the results are reproducible and accurate. Importantly, the non-EB gel system also reports whether the drug is a DNA intercalator, which may suggest genotoxicity in cells.