Membrane damage elicits an immunomodulatory program in Staphylococcus aureus

The Staphylococcus aureus HrtAB system is a hemin-regulated ABC transporter composed of an ATPase (HrtA) and a permease (HrtB) that protect S. aureus against hemin toxicity. S. aureus strains lacking hrtA exhibit liver-specific hyper-virulence and upon hemin exposure over-express and secrete immunomodulatory factors that interfere with neutrophil recruitment to the site of infection. It has been proposed that heme accumulation in strains lacking hrtAB is the signal which triggers S. aureus to elaborate this anti-neutrophil response. However, we report here that S. aureus strains expressing catalytically inactive HrtA do not elaborate the same secreted protein profile. This result indicates that the physical absence of HrtA is responsible for the increased expression of immunomodulatory factors, whereas deficiencies in the ATPase activity of HrtA do not contribute to this process. Furthermore, HrtB expression in strains lacking hrtA decreases membrane integrity consistent with dysregulated permease function. Based on these findings, we propose a model whereby hemin-mediated over-expression of HrtB in the absence of HrtA damages the staphylococcal membrane through pore formation. In turn, S. aureus senses this membrane damage, triggering the increased expression of immunomodulatory factors. In support of this model, wildtype S. aureus treated with anti-staphylococcal channel-forming peptides produce a secreted protein profile that mimics the effect of treating ΔhrtA with hemin. These results suggest that S. aureus senses membrane damage and elaborates a gene expression program that protects the organism from the innate immune response of the host.

Staphylococcus aureus infects almost every tissue within the human body utilizing a range of virulence factors to combat host defenses. The expression of these virulence factors is a tightly regulated process; however, the signals sensed by S. aureus during infection remain elusive. It has been hypothesized that heme toxicity is a signal sensed by S. aureus during infection. This hypothesis is based on the observation that S. aureus mutants which are incapable of relieving heme-toxicity due to inactivation of the ATPase HrtA elicit an immunomodulatory program that interferes with neutrophil recruitment to the site of infection. In keeping with this, S. aureus hrtA mutants exhibit liver-specific hypervirulence. Herein, we provide evidence for an alternative model to explain the hypervirulent phenotype of S. aureus ΔhrtA. We demonstrate that instead of accumulation of heme toxicity being the trigger for the observed immunomodulatory program, dysregulated pore formation caused by the HrtB permease triggers the anti-neutrophil response. In support of this model, over-expression of HrtB in wildtype S. aureus or exposing S. aureus to channel-forming antimicrobial peptides induces a similar immunomodulatory program. Our work provides evidence that S. aureus senses membrane damage and induces an immunomodulatory circuit that helps the pathogen evade immune-mediated clearance.

Gramicidin S and polymyxins: the revival of cationic cyclic peptide antibiotics

Gramicidin S and polymyxins are small cationic cyclic peptides and act as potent antibiotics against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria by perturbing integrity of the bacterial membranes. Screening of a natural antibiotics library with bacterial membrane vesicles identified gramicidin S as an inhibitor of cytochrome bd quinol oxidase and an alternative NADH dehydrogenase (NDH-2) and polymyxin B as an inhibitor of NDH-2 and malate: quinone oxidoreductase. Our studies showed that cationic cyclic peptide antibiotics have novel molecular targets in the membrane and interfere ligand binding on the hydrophobic surface of enzymes. Improvement of the toxicity and optimization of the structures and clinical uses are urgently needed for their effective application in combating drug-resistant bacteria.

In vitro antimicrobial activity of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone against major human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) is an endogenous anti-inflammatory peptide reported to possess antimicrobial properties, however their role as antibacterial peptides is yet to be established. In the present study, we examined in vitro antibacterial activity of alpha-MSH against S. aureus strain ISP479C and several methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) S. aureus strains. Antibacterial activity was examined by varying several parameters, viz., bacterial cell densities, growth phase, pH, salt concentration, and temperature. Antibacterial activity was also examined in complex biomatrices of rat whole blood, plasma and serum as well as in biofilm form of bacteria. Our results showed that alpha-MSH possessed significant and rapid antibacterial activity against all the studied strains including MRSA (84% strains were killed on exposure to 12 microM of alpha-MSH for 2h). pH change from 7.4 to 4 increased alpha-MSH staphylocidal activity against ISP479C by 21%. Antibacterial activity of alpha-MSH was dependent on bacterial cell density and independent of growth phase. Moreover, antimicrobial activity was retained when alpha-MSH was placed into whole blood, plasma, and serum. Most importantly, alpha-MSH exhibited antibacterial activity against staphylococcal biofilms. Multiple membrane permeabilization assays suggested that membrane damage was, at least in part, a major mechanism of staphylocidal activity of alpha-MSH. Collectively the above findings suggest that alpha-MSH could be a promising candidate of a novel class of antimicrobial agents.

Effect of membrane composition on antimicrobial peptides aurein 2.2 and 2.3 from Australian southern bell frogs

The effects of hydrophobic thickness and the molar phosphatidylglycerol (PG) content of lipid bilayers on the structure and membrane interaction of three cationic antimicrobial peptides were examined: aurein 2.2, aurein 2.3 (almost identical to aurein 2.2, except for a point mutation at residue 13), and a carboxy C-terminal analog of aurein 2.3. Circular dichroism results indicated that all three peptides adopt an alpha-helical structure in the presence of a 3:1 molar mixture of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] (DMPC/DMPG), and 1:1 and 3:1 molar mixtures of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] (POPC/POPG). Oriented circular dichroism data for three different lipid compositions showed that all three peptides were surface-adsorbed at low peptide concentrations, but were inserted into the membrane at higher peptide concentrations. The (31)P solid-state NMR data of the three peptides in the DMPC/DMPG and POPC/POPG bilayers showed that all three peptides significantly perturbed lipid headgroups, in a peptide or lipid composition-dependent manner. Differential scanning calorimetry results demonstrated that both amidated aurein peptides perturbed the overall phase structure of DMPC/DMPG bilayers, but perturbed the POPC/POPG chains less. The nature of the perturbation of DMPC/DMPG bilayers was most likely micellization, and for the POPC/POPG bilayers, distorted toroidal pores or localized membrane aggregate formation. Calcein release assay results showed that aurein peptide-induced membrane leakage was more severe in DMPC/DMPG liposomes than in POPC/POPG liposomes, and that aurein 2.2 induced higher calcein release than aurein 2.3 and aurein 2.3-COOH from 1:1 and 3:1 POPC/POPG liposomes. Finally, DiSC(3)5 assay data further delineated aurein 2.2 from the others by showing that it perturbed the lipid membranes of intact S. aureus C622 most efficiently, whereas aurein 2.3 had the same efficiency as gramicidin S, and aurein 2.3-COOH was the least efficient. Taken together, these data show that the membrane interactions of aurein peptides are affected by the hydrophobic thickness of the lipid bilayers and the PG content.

Proline residue-modified polycationic analogs of gramicidin S with high antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and low hemolytic activity*

Novel polycationic analogs of the cyclic decapeptide antibiotic, gramicidin S, possessing NH(2), D/L-Phe-NH or L-Lys-NH groups at the 4alpha- or 4beta-positions of the L-Pro residues, were synthesized. While L-Pro(4alpha/beta-NH(2))-containing analogs exhibited much weaker antibacterial activity, the D/L-Phe and L-Lys-substituted analogs exhibited higher antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria than the parent gramicidin S. All of these additional amino group-containing analogs showed substantially reduced toxicity against human blood cells.

Bacteriophage formation without bacterial growth; the effect of iodoacetate, fluoride, gramicidin, and azide on the formation of bacteriophage

1. Iodoacetate, fluoride, and azide have been found to prevent the formation of phage and to inhibit the synthesis of ATP by Staphylococcus muscae. It is suggested that energy-rich phosphate is needed for the synthesis of phage. 2. Gramicidin prevented the formation of phage. 3. No differences were found between normal bacteria and phage-infected bacteria in the inorganic phosphate, adenosinetriphosphate, ribonucleic acid, and desoxyribonucleic acid content of the cells. 4. The mechanism of phage formation is discussed.

Interaction of gramicidin S and its aromatic amino-acid analog with phospholipid membranes

To investigate the mechanism of interaction of gramicidin S-like antimicrobial peptides with biological membranes, a series of five decameric cyclic cationic beta-sheet-beta-turn peptides with all possible combinations of aromatic D-amino acids, Cyclo(Val-Lys-Leu-D-Ar1-Pro-Val-Lys-Leu-D-Ar2-Pro) (Ar identical with Phe, Tyr, Trp), were synthesized. Conformations of these cyclic peptides were comparable in aqueous solutions and lipid vesicles. Isothermal titration calorimetry measurements revealed entropy-driven binding of cyclic peptides to POPC and POPE/POPG lipid vesicles. Binding of peptides to both vesicle systems was endothermic-exceptions were peptides containing the Trp-Trp and Tyr-Trp pairs with exothermic binding to POPC vesicles. Application of one- and two-site binding (partitioning) models to binding isotherms of exothermic and endothermic binding processes, respectively, resulted in determination of peptide-lipid membrane binding constants (K(b)). The K(b1) and K(b2) values for endothermic two-step binding processes corresponded to high and low binding affinities (K(b1) >or= 100 K(b2)). Conformational change of cyclic peptides in transferring from buffer to lipid bilayer surfaces was estimated using fluorescence resonance energy transfer between the Tyr-Trp pair in one of the peptide constructs. The cyclic peptide conformation expands upon adsorption on lipid bilayer surface and interacts more deeply with the outer monolayer causing bilayer deformation, which may lead to formation of nonspecific transient peptide-lipid porelike zones causing membrane lysis.

Hemigramicidin-TEMPO conjugates: novel mitochondria-targeted antioxidants

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are reactive, partially reduced derivatives of molecular oxygen. ROS are important in the pathogenesis of a wide range of acute pathologic processes, including ischemia/reperfusion injury, sepsis, and shock. Accordingly, effective ROS scavengers might be useful therapeutic agents for these conditions. Since mitochondria are the primary sites for ROS production within cells, it seems reasonable that targeting ROS scavengers to these organelles could be a particularly effective strategy. Indeed, a number of compounds or classes of compounds have been described that are based on this concept. One approach consists of coupling a payload--the portion of the molecule with ROS-scavenging activities--to a targeting moiety--the portion of the molecule that promotes selective accumulation within mitochondria. For example, the payload portion of XJB-5-131 consists of a stable nitroxide radical, which has been extensively investigated as a cytoprotective agent in a number of experimental models of oxidative stress. The targeting portion of XJB-5-131 consists of a portion of the membrane-active cyclopeptide antibiotic, gramicidin S. The gramicidin segment was used to target the nitroxide payload to mitochondria because antibiotics of this type have a high affinity for bacterial membranes and because of the close relationship between bacteria and mitochondria. In a rat model of hemorrhagic shock, delayed treatment with XJB-5-131 has been shown to prolong survival time in the absence of resuscitation with blood or a large volume of crystalloid fluid. Compounds like XJB-5-131 warrant further evaluation for the treatment of hemorrhagic shock as well as other acute conditions associated with increased mitochondrial production of ROS.

[Effect of copper ions on the light-induced proton transfer in spinach chloroplasts]

It was shown that the light-dependent proton uptake by a suspension of isolated chloroplasts was completely inhibited in the presence of 30-50 microM Cu2+ ions at the 0.1-0.3 Cu2+/Chl ratio. At the same time, the rate of photosynthetic oxygen evolution in the presence of 30-200 microM CuSO4 was reduced by no more than 20-30% of control and up to 50% of the control DeltapH value was retained. The results allow us to suppose that, in the presence of copper ions: 1) electron transport in PS2 is inhibited at the level of the secondary quinone acceptor Q(B) whose photoreduction is accompanied by proton uptake from external medium; and 2) an alternative pathway of electron transfer to terminal acceptor is activated, which provides the photooxidation of water and the formation of transmembrane proton gradient.

Proton transport through influenza A virus M2 protein reconstituted in vesicles

Influenza A virus M2 protein is known to form acid-activated, proton-selective, amantadine-sensitive channels. We directly measured proton uptake in vesicles containing reconstituted M2 by monitoring external pH after addition of valinomycin to vesicles with 100-fold-diluted external [K(+)]. External pH typically increased by a few tenths of a pH unit over a few minutes after valinomycin addition, but proton uptake was not significantly altered by acidification. Under neutral conditions, external addition of 1 mM amantadine produced a reduction in flux consistent with randomly ordered channels; however, experimental variation is high with this method and the block was not statistically significant. Amantadine block was reduced at pH 5.4. In accord with Lin and Schroeder's study of reconstituted M2 using a pH-sensitive dye to monitor intravesicular pH, we conclude that bath pH weakly affects or does not significantly affect proton flow in the pH range 5.4-7.0 for the reconstituted system, contrary to results from electrophysiological studies. Theoretical analysis of the relaxation to Donnan equilibrium utilized for such vesicle uptake assays illuminates the appropriate timescale of the initial slope and an important limitation that must be placed on inferences about channel ion selectivity. The rise in pH over 10 s after ionophore addition yielded time-averaged single-channel conductances of 0.35 +/- 0.20 aS and 0.72 +/- 0.42 aS at pH 5.4 and 7.0, respectively, an order of magnitude lower than previously reported in vesicles. Assuming complete membrane incorporation and tetramerization of the reconstituted protein, such a low time-averaged conductance in the face of previously observed single-channel conductance (6 pS at pH 3) implies an open channel probability of 10(-6)-10(-4). Based on leakage of potassium from M2-containing vesicles, compared to protein-free vesicles, we conclude that M2 exhibits approximately 10(7) selectivity for hydrogen over potassium.

The ability of Aneurinibacillus migulanus (Bacillus brevis) to produce the antibiotic gramicidin S is correlated with phenotype variation

Phenotype instability of bacterial strains can cause significant problems in biotechnological applications, since industrially useful properties may be lost. Here we report such degenerative dissociation for Aneurinibacillus migulanus (formerly known as Bacillus brevis) an established producer of the antimicrobial peptide gramicidin S (GS). Phenotypic variations within and between various strains maintained in different culture collections are demonstrated. The type strain, ATCC 9999, consists of six colony morphology variants, R, RC, RP, RT, SC, and SP, which were isolated and characterized as pure cultures. Correlations between colony morphology, growth, GS production, spore formation, and resistance to their own antimicrobial peptide were established in this study. We found the original R form to be the best producer, followed by RC, RP, and RT, while SC and SP yielded no GS at all. Currently available ATCC 9999(T) contains only 2% of the original R producer and is dominated by the newly described phenotypes RC and RP. No original R form is detected in the nominally equivalent strain DSM 2895(T) (=ATCC 9999(T)), which grows only as SC and SP phenotypes and has thus completely lost its value as a peptide producer. Two other strains from the same collection, DSM 5668 and DSM 5759, contain the unproductive SC variant and the GS-producing RC form, respectively. We describe the growth and maintenance conditions that stabilize certain colony phenotypes and reduce the degree of degenerative dissociation, thus providing a recommendation for how to revert the nonproducing smooth phenotypes to the valuable GS-producing rough ones.

Membrane permeabilization of a mammalian neuroendocrine cell type (PC12) by the channel-forming peptides zervamicin, alamethicin, and gramicidin

Zervamicin IIB (ZER) is a 16-mer peptaibol that produces voltage-dependent conductances in artificial membranes, a property considered responsible for its antimicrobial activity to mainly Gram-positive microorganisms. In addition, ZER appears to inhibit the locomotor activity of the mouse (see elsewhere in this Issue), probably by affecting the brain. To examine whether the electrophysiological properties of the neuronal cells of the central neural system might be possibly influenced by the pore forming ZER, the present study was undertaken as a first attempt to unravel the molecular mechanism of this biological activity. To this end, membrane permeabilization of the neuron-like rat pheochromocytoma cell (PC12) by the channel-forming ZER was studied with the whole-cell patch-clamp technique, and compared with the permeabilizations of the well-known voltage-gated peptaibol alamethicin F50/5 (ALA) and the cation channel-forming peptide-antibiotic gramicidin D (GRAM). While 1 muM GRAM addition to PC12 cells kept at a membrane potential V(m)=0 mV causes an undelayed gradual increase of a leak conductance with a negative reversal potential of ca. -24 mV, ZER and ALA are ineffective at that concentration and potential. However, if ZER and ALA are added in 5-10 microM concentrations while V(m) is kept at -60 mV, they cause a sudden and strong permeabilization of the PC12 cell membrane after a delay of 1-2 min, usually leading to disintegrating morphology changes of the patched cell but not of the surrounding cells of the culture at that time scale. The zero reversal potential of the established conductance is consistent with the known aselectivity of the channels formed. This sudden permeabilization does not occur within 10-20 min at V(m)=0 mV, in accordance with the known voltage dependency of ZER and ALA channel formation in artificial lipid membranes. The permeabilizing action of these peptaibols on the culture as a whole is further supported by K(+)-release measurements from a PC12 suspension with a K(+)-selective electrode. Further analysis suggested that the permeabilizing action is associated with extra- or intracellular calcium effects, because barium inhibited the permeabilizing effects of ZER and ALA. We conclude, for the membrane of the mammalian neuron-like PC12 cell, that the permeabilizing effects of the peptides ZER and ALA are different from those of GRAM, consistent with earlier studies of these peptides in other (artificial) membrane systems. They are increased by cis-positive membrane potentials in the physiological range and may include calcium entry into the PC12 cell.

Biofilms protect Mycoplasma pulmonis cells from lytic effects of complement and gramicidin

The length of the tandem repeat region of the Vsa protein of Mycoplasma pulmonis has previously been shown to modulate the susceptibility of mycoplasmas to killing by complement: cells that produce a short form of the Vsa protein are highly sensitive, and cells producing the long Vsa protein are resistant. In contrast to their differing susceptibilities to complement, the mycoplasmas were highly sensitive to gramicidin irrespective of the length of the Vsa protein produced. We show here that when encased within a biofilm, cells of M. pulmonis producing a short form of the Vsa protein were more resistant to complement and gramicidin than mycoplasmas that were dispersed. The resistance appeared to be localized to those mycoplasmas within tower structures of the biofilms. Biofilm formation may be a mechanism that protects mycoplasmas from host immunity.

Tri-adcortyl ointment ear dressing in myringoplasty: an analysis of outcome

In a retrospective study of patients who had undergone myringoplasty at our department within a 12-month period, we assessed the graft take rate using tri-adcortyl ointment (TAO) as ear dressing. Data including age, site and size of perforation, grade of surgeon, surgical approach, use of postoperative ear dressings, complications and audiometric outcome was collected from the patient notes and analysed. The overall success rate of the operation (with success being defined as an intact tympanic membrane at 6 months) was noted. Seventy-seven patients were operated, but data were complete on 64 patients and these constituted the study population. TAO was used in 95% of the patients and BIPP gauze pack in the remaining 5%. Age ranged from 8 to 63 years (mean 34 years). Mean follow-up period was 13 months. Most of the operations (72.88%) were carried out by consultants with a success rate of 89% and the remaining patients were operated by trainees with a success rate of 88% (P = 1.000). The overall success rate was 89, 90.16% for TAO and 66.66% (2 out of 3) for BIPP (P = 0.298), 95% for small and 86% for subtotal perforations (P = 0.573), 85% for anterior and 100% for posterior perforations (P = 0.240), 91% for adult patients and 88% for children (P = 1.000). TAO is a suitable ear dressing in myringoplasty. Routine use of TAO did not affect the success rate of myringoplasty at our centre.

Assessing the data quality in predictive toxicology using a panel of cell lines and cytotoxicity assays

In vitro cell viability assays have a central role in predictive toxicology, both in assessing acute toxicity of chemicals and as a source of experimental data for in silico methods. However, the quality of in vitro toxicity databanks fluctuates dramatically because information they contain is obtained under varying conditions and in different laboratories. The aim of this study was to identify the factors responsible for these deviations and thus the quality of the data extracted for predictive toxicology. Three cell viability assays measuring LDH leakage, WST-1 reduction, and intracellular ATP were compared in an automated environment using four mammalian cell lines: Caco-2, Calu-3, Huh-7, and BHK. Using four standard compounds--polymyxin B, gramicidin, 5-fluorouracil, and camptothecin--a significant lack of sensitivity in LDH assay compared with the other assays was observed. Because the viability IC(50) values for the standards were similar among the cell lines, the biochemical characteristics of different cell lines seem to play only a minor role, with an exception being the hepatocellular Huh-7 cell line. Toxicity assessment of new 1,2,4-triazoles revealed significant differences in their toxic potential, and the results indicate the same sensitivity profile among the assays as observed with the standard compounds. Overall, it can be argued that the assay selection is the most important factor governing the uniform quality of the data obtained from in vitro cell viability assays.

Presence of a Na+-stimulated P-type ATPase in the plasma membrane of the alkaliphilic halotolerant cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica

Aphanothece cells could take up Na(+) and this uptake was strongly inhibited by the protonophore, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). Cells preloaded with Na(+) exhibited Na(+) extrusion ability upon energizing with glucose. Na(+) was also taken up by the plasma membranes supplied with ATP and the uptake was abolished by gramicidin D, monensin or Na(+)-ionophore. Orthovanadate and CCCP strongly inhibited Na(+) uptake, whereas N, N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) slightly inhibited the uptake. Plasma membranes could hydrolyse ATP in the presence of Na(+) but not with K(+), Ca(2+) and Li(+). The K(m) values for ATP and Na(+) were 1.66+/-0.12 and 25.0+/-1.8 mM, respectively, whereas the V(max) value was 0.66+/-0.05 mumol min(-1) mg(-1). Mg(2+) was required for ATPase activity whose optimal pH was 7.5. The ATPase was insensitive to N-ethylmaleimide, nitrate, thiocyanate, azide and ouabain, but was substantially inhibited by orthovanadate and DCCD. Amiloride, a Na(+)/H(+) antiporter inhibitor, and CCCP showed little or no effect. Gramicidin D and monensin stimulated ATPase activity. All these results suggest the existence of a P-type Na(+)-stimulated ATPase in Aphanothece halophytica. Plasma membranes from cells grown under salt stress condition showed higher ATPase activity than those from cells grown under nonstress condition.

Insulin increases the potency of glycine at ionotropic glycine receptors

The mechanisms by which insulin modulates neuronal plasticity and pain processes remain poorly understood. Here we report that insulin rapidly increases the function of glycine receptors in murine spinal neurons and recombinant human glycine receptors expressed in human embryonic kidney cells. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings showed that insulin reversibly enhanced current evoked by exogenous glycine and increased the amplitude of spontaneous glycinergic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents recorded in cultured spinal neurons. Insulin (1 microM) also shifted the glycine concentration-response plot to the left and reduced the glycine EC(50) value from 52 to 31 microM. Currents evoked by a submaximal concentration of glycine were increased to approximately 140% of control. The glycine receptor alpha subunit was sufficient for the enhancement by insulin because currents from recombinant homomeric alpha(1) receptors and heteromeric alpha(1)beta receptors were both increased. Insulin acted at the insulin receptor via pathways dependent on tyrosine kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase because the insulin effect was eliminated by the insulin receptor antagonist, hydroxy-2-naphthalenylmethylphosphonic acid trisacetoxymethyl ester, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor lavendustin A, and the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase antagonist wortmannin. Together, these results show that insulin has a novel regulatory action on the potency of glycine for ionotropic glycine receptors.

[Cell wall components in Staphylococcus aureus with double resistance to gramicidin S and actinomycin D]

Cell walls of Staphylococcus aureus R9/80 resistant to gramicidin S and actinomycin D were investigated. The strain was isolated after passages of a previously isolated strain of S. aureus with resistance to gramicidin and definite changes in the cell walls, a medium with increasing concentrations of actinomycin being used for the passages. The data on the study of the cell walls of the strain with the double resistance were compared with the results of the investigation of the cell walls of the strain susceptible to gramicidin, the gramicidin resistant strain (initial for strain R9/80) and the actinomycin adapted strain that also showed changes in the cell walls. The cell walls of the resistant strains had no significant changes in the peptidoglycane and glucosamine levels, as well as in the peptidoglycane amino acid composition. Teichoic acids of all the strains had different levels of substitution of ribite by D-alanine (a factor influencing the negative charge of teichoic acids and the wall at large). It was noted that all the strains resistant to the tested antibiotics had lower levels of teichoic acids in the cell walls. The resistant cells showed some increase of the lipid component in the walls: from 1.6% in the susceptible strain to 2.1-2.9% in the resistant cells. The main trend of the changes in the resistance development was revealed to be the thickening of the cell wall and its consolidation. The development of resistance to gramicidin, actinomycin and to both the antibiotics provoked respectively a 2.4-, 4- and 5.4-fold increase of the content of the main cell component. i.e. peptidoglycane in the cell biomass. The barrier role of the cell walls in the resistant strains and their ability to bind the antibiotic is discussed.

The involvement of Na+/K(+)-ATPase in the development of platelet procoagulant response

In circulation, platelets may come into contact with both exogenous (cardiac glycoside treatment) and endogenously produced inhibitors of Na+/K(+)-ATPase. We examined whether blocking of platelet Na+/K(+)-ATPase by ouabain results in generation of procoagulant activity. It was shown that an in vitro treatment of platelets with ouabain (20-200 microM for 20 to 60 min) is associated with an intracellular accumulation of sodium ([Na+](i)), generation of a weak calcium signal, and expression of procoagulant activity. The ouabain-induced procoagulant response was dose- and time-related, less pronounced than that evoked by collagen and similar to that produced by gramicidin, not affected by EDTA or aspirin, and strongly reduced in the absence of extracellular Na+ or by hyperosmolality. Flow cytometry studies revealed that ouabain treatment results in a unimodal left shift in the forward and side scatter of the entire platelet population indicating morphological changes of the plasma membrane. The shift was dose related, weaker than that evoked by collagen and similar to that produced by gramicidin. Ouabain-treated platelets express phosphatidylserine (PS). The ouabain-evoked PS expression was dose- and time-dependent, weaker than that produced by collagen and similar to that evoked by gramicidin. Electronic cell sizing measurements showed a dose-dependent increase in mean platelet volume upon treatment with ouabain. Hypoosmotically-evoked platelet swelling resulted in the appearance of procoagulant activity. Thromboelastography measurements indicate that, in whole blood, nanomolar (50-1000 nM, 15 min) concentrations of ouabain significantly accelerate the rate of clot formation initiated by contact and high extracellular concentration of calcium. We conclude that inefficiently operating platelet Na+/K(+)-ATPase results in a rise in [Na+](i). An increase in [Na+](i) and the swelling associated with it may produce PS exposure and a rise in membrane curvature leading to the generation of a procoagulant activity.

Synthesis of Low-Hemolytic Antimicrobial Dehydropeptides Based on Gramicidin S

The synthesis and biological activity of a novel cyclic beta-sheet-type antimicrobial dehydropeptide based on gramicidin S (GS) is described. The GS analogue, containing two (Z)-(beta-3-pyridyl)-alpha,beta-dehydroalanine (DeltaZ3Pal) residues at the 4 and 4' positions (2), was synthesized by solution-phase methodologies using Boc-Leu-DeltaZ3Pal azlactone. Analogue 2 exhibited high antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and had much lower hemolytic activity than wild-type GS and the corresponding (Z)-alpha,beta-dehydrophenylalanine (DeltaZPhe) analogue (1).

Estimate of the chloride concentration in a central glutamatergic terminal: a gramicidin perforated-patch study on the calyx of Held

The function of presynaptic terminals is regulated by intracellular Cl-, the levels of which modify vesicular endocytosis and transmitter refilling and mediate the effects of presynaptic ligand-gated Cl- channels. Nevertheless, the concentration of Cl- in a central nerve terminal is unknown, and it is unclear whether terminals can regulate Cl- independently of the soma. Using perforated-patch recording in a mammalian synapse, we found that terminals accumulate Cl- up to 21 mm, between four and five times higher than in their parent cell bodies. Changing [Cl-] did not alter vesicular glutamate content in intact terminals, unlike in vitro experiments. Thus, glutamatergic terminals maintain an elevated Cl- concentration without compromising synaptic transmission.

Oxygen reduction in chloroplast thylakoids results in production of hydrogen peroxide inside the membrane

Hydrogen peroxide production in isolated pea thylakoids was studied in the presence of cytochrome c to prevent disproportionation of superoxide radicals outside of the thylakoid membranes. The comparison of cytochrome c reduction with accompanying oxygen uptake revealed that hydrogen peroxide was produced within the thylakoid. The proportion of electrons from water oxidation participating in this hydrogen peroxide production increased with increasing light intensity, and at a light intensity of 630 micromol quanta m(-2) s(-1) it reached 60% of all electrons entering the electron transport chain. Neither the presence of a superoxide dismutase inhibitor, potassium cyanide or sodium azide, in the thylakoid suspension, nor unstacking of the thylakoids appreciably affected the partitioning of electrons to hydrogen peroxide production. Also, osmolarity-induced changes in the thylakoid lumen volume, as well as variation of the lumen pH induced by the presence of Gramicidin D, had negligible effects on such partitioning. The flow of electrons participating in lumen hydrogen peroxide production was found to be near 10% of the total electron flow from water. It is concluded that a considerable amount of hydrogen peroxide is generated inside thylakoid membranes, and a possible mechanism, as well as the significance, of this process are discussed.

A novel, antimicrobially active analog of gramicidin S without amphiphilic conformation

A novel gramicidin S analog, cyclo(-Val-Leu-Leu-Orn-Leu-D-Phe-Pro-)2, was synthesized, its antibiotic activity compared with gramicidin S and shown to be as potent as gramicidin S when compared with the susceptibility toward five Gram-positive microorganisms. It exceeded the activity of gramicidin S against Bacillus megaterium ATCC 19213 by a factor of two. Circular dichroism and NMR data suggested this analog to adopt an antiparallel beta-sheet conformation without amphiphilic character.

Patch-clamp studies in the CNS illustrate a simple new method for obtaining viable neurons in rat brain slices: glycerol replacement of NaCl protects CNS neurons

Viable neurons in brain slices are crucial for electrophysiological studies. The present study describes a new method for obtaining viable cells in several regions of the central nervous system including the ventral tegmental area, the hypothalamus, the periaqueductal grey matter and the spinal cord. The essence of the method was to use a modified artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) in which all NaCl was replaced initially by equi-osmotic glycerol. This modified glycerol-based ACSF was used during slice preparation. The underlying principle for the modification is to prevent the possible acute neurotoxic effects of passive chloride entry, subsequent cell swelling and lysis. This method significantly increased the live/dead ratio in morphology compared to the normal ACSF or sucrose-base ACSF, in which NaCl was replaced by sucrose. An examination of some electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of the neurons in these preparations, by means of current-clamp and voltage-clamp recordings, revealed similar properties of those neurons obtained with the traditional ACSF method. Due to the increase in the number of viable neurons, the new ACSF increases the productivity of experiments. Based on our data, we propose that this glycerol-based solution may protect CNS neurons.

β-Turn Modified Gramicidin S Analogues Containing Arylated Sugar Amino Acids Display Antimicrobial and Hemolytic Activity Comparable to the Natural Product

This paper describes the design and synthesis of gramicidin S (GS) analogues 10a-c containing arylated sugar amino acids (SAAs) as a replacement of one of the two (D)Phe-Pro beta-turn regions. The cyclic, amphiphilic peptides adopt a beta-sheet conformation featuring an unusual reverse turn induced by the SAAs. The altered turn region induces a slight distortion of the antiparallel beta-sheet, as compared to GS; the overall geometry however closely resembles that of the nonarylated GS analogue 1. GS analogues 10a-c proved to be as active as the parent GS itself as antibacterial agents and are equally efficient in lysing red blood cells. These properties are in sharp contrast to the diminished biological activity displayed by 1. We conclude that the presence of aromaticity in the turn regions of GS derivatives is required for biological activity, whereas the native conformation of the beta-hairpin is not. Our findings may guide future research toward efficient and nonhemolytic GS analogues for combating bacterial infections.