Recently, PhD student Xiaomei REN et al and her supervisor Prof Shengqing YU at Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences have reported a novel regulatory mechanism of biotin synthesis---the XRE type regulatory factor BioX regulates the biotin synthesis of Riemerella anatipestifer. This study provides a theoretical basis for the design of new antibiotics for Gram-negative bacteria. This research has been published in the Journal of Bacteriology.
Biotin, also known as Vitamin H, is rarely found in living organisms and is an essential cofactor involved in cell metabolism. Microorganisms have two ways to obtain biotin. One is de novo synthesis, and the other is the scavenging route. In mammals, the scavenging route is the only way to obtain biotin. Therefore, it suggests that biotin synthesis is a potential target for the development of new antibiotics.
Specifically, REN et al found that the type II bifunctional biotin ligase BirA protein involved in regulating biotin synthesis in E. coli does not suppress biotin synthesis in Riemerella anatipestifer. It only can catalyze biotin to acceptor protein AccB, which belongs to the type I biotin ligase protein and positively regulates the synthesis of biotin. In a further study, the AS87_RS09325 gene was found encoding XRE family protein (named BioX), which suppresses biotin synthesis by binding ATP and biotin to form a complex under the condition of excess biotin in vivo. The research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program (2016YFD0500805), the Co-innovation of Science and Technology Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS-XTCX2016011-04-8), and the Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan (19391902800).

The original link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33972354/