1
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Matsuzaki K. Elucidation of Complex Dynamic Intermolecular Interactions in Membranes. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2022; 70:1-9. [PMID: 34980725 DOI: 10.1248/cpb.c21-00815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Biomembranes composed of various proteins and lipids play important roles in cellular functions, such as signal transduction and substance transport. In addition, some bioactive peptides and pathogenic proteins target membrane proteins and lipids to exert their effects. Therefore, an understanding of dynamic and complex intermolecular interactions among these membrane constituents is needed to elucidate their mechanisms. This review summarizes the major research carried out in the author's laboratory on how lipids and their inhomogeneous distributions regulate the structures and functions of antimicrobial peptides and Alzheimer's amyloid β-protein. Also, how to detect transmembrane helix-helix and membrane protein-protein interactions and how they are modulated by lipids are discussed.
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2
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Juhl DW, Glattard E, Aisenbrey C, Bechinger B. Antimicrobial peptides: mechanism of action and lipid-mediated synergistic interactions within membranes. Faraday Discuss 2021; 232:419-434. [PMID: 34533138 DOI: 10.1039/d0fd00041h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Biophysical and structural studies of peptide-lipid interactions, peptide topology and dynamics have changed our view of how antimicrobial peptides insert and interact with membranes. Clearly, both peptides and lipids are highly dynamic, and change and mutually adapt their conformation, membrane penetration and detailed morphology on a local and a global level. As a consequence, peptides and lipids can form a wide variety of supramolecular assemblies in which the more hydrophobic sequences preferentially, but not exclusively, adopt transmembrane alignments and have the potential to form oligomeric structures similar to those suggested by the transmembrane helical bundle model. In contrast, charged amphipathic sequences tend to stay intercalated at the membrane interface. Although the membranes are soft and can adapt, at increasing peptide density they cause pronounced disruptions of the phospholipid fatty acyl packing. At even higher local or global concentrations the peptides cause transient membrane openings, rupture and ultimately lysis. Interestingly, mixtures of peptides such as magainin 2 and PGLa, which are stored and secreted naturally as a cocktail, exhibit considerably enhanced antimicrobial activities when investigated together in antimicrobial assays and also in pore forming experiments applied to biophysical model systems. Our most recent investigations reveal that these peptides do not form stable complexes but act by specific lipid-mediated interactions and the nanoscale properties of phospholipid bilayers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis W Juhl
- Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, 4, rue Blaise Pascal, 67070 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Elise Glattard
- Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, 4, rue Blaise Pascal, 67070 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Christopher Aisenbrey
- Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, 4, rue Blaise Pascal, 67070 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Burkhard Bechinger
- Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, 4, rue Blaise Pascal, 67070 Strasbourg, France. .,Institut Universitaire de France, France
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3
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Bin Hafeez A, Jiang X, Bergen PJ, Zhu Y. Antimicrobial Peptides: An Update on Classifications and Databases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11691. [PMID: 34769122 PMCID: PMC8583803 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are distributed across all kingdoms of life and are an indispensable component of host defenses. They consist of predominantly short cationic peptides with a wide variety of structures and targets. Given the ever-emerging resistance of various pathogens to existing antimicrobial therapies, AMPs have recently attracted extensive interest as potential therapeutic agents. As the discovery of new AMPs has increased, many databases specializing in AMPs have been developed to collect both fundamental and pharmacological information. In this review, we summarize the sources, structures, modes of action, and classifications of AMPs. Additionally, we examine current AMP databases, compare valuable computational tools used to predict antimicrobial activity and mechanisms of action, and highlight new machine learning approaches that can be employed to improve AMP activity to combat global antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmer Bin Hafeez
- Centre of Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan;
| | - Xukai Jiang
- Infection and Immunity Program, Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; (X.J.); (P.J.B.)
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Phillip J. Bergen
- Infection and Immunity Program, Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; (X.J.); (P.J.B.)
| | - Yan Zhu
- Infection and Immunity Program, Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; (X.J.); (P.J.B.)
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4
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Abstract
AbstractAntimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that selectively permeabilize bacterial membranes are promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Dimerization of AMP is considered an attractive strategy to enhance antimicrobial and membrane-lytic activity, but it also increases undesired hemolytic and cytotoxic activity. Here, we prepared Lys-linked homodimers of membrane-permeabilizing magainin II and cell-penetrating buforin II. Dimerization did not significantly alter conformational behavior, but it had a substantial impact on antimicrobial properties. We found that while the magainin II dimer showed increased antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects, the buforin II dimer conferred much greater antibacterial potency without exhibiting cytotoxic activity. Interestingly, the buforin II dimer was highly effective against several antibiotic-resistant bacterial isolates. Membrane permeabilization experiments indicated that the magainin II dimer rapidly disrupted both anionic and zwitterionic membranes, whereas the buforin II dimer selectively disrupted anionic membranes. Like the monomeric form, the buforin II dimer was efficiently translocated across lipid bilayers. Therefore, our results suggest that the dimerization of cell-penetrating buforin II not only disrupts the bacterial membrane, but also translocates it across the membrane to target intracellular components, resulting in effective antimicrobial activity. We propose that dimerization of intracellular targeting AMPs may present a superior strategy for therapeutic control of pathogenic bacteria.
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5
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Bechinger B, Juhl DW, Glattard E, Aisenbrey C. Revealing the Mechanisms of Synergistic Action of Two Magainin Antimicrobial Peptides. FRONTIERS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY 2020; 2:615494. [PMID: 35047895 PMCID: PMC8757784 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2020.615494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of peptide-lipid and peptide-peptide interactions as well as their topology and dynamics using biophysical and structural approaches have changed our view how antimicrobial peptides work and function. It has become obvious that both the peptides and the lipids arrange in soft supramolecular arrangements which are highly dynamic and able to change and mutually adapt their conformation, membrane penetration, and detailed morphology. This can occur on a local and a global level. This review focuses on cationic amphipathic peptides of the magainin family which were studied extensively by biophysical approaches. They are found intercalated at the membrane interface where they cause membrane thinning and ultimately lysis. Interestingly, mixtures of two of those peptides namely magainin 2 and PGLa which occur naturally as a cocktail in the frog skin exhibit synergistic enhancement of antimicrobial activities when investigated together in antimicrobial assays but also in biophysical experiments with model membranes. Detailed dose-response curves, presented here for the first time, show a cooperative behavior for the individual peptides which is much increased when PGLa and magainin are added as equimolar mixture. This has important consequences for their bacterial killing activities and resistance development. In membranes that carry unsaturations both peptides align parallel to the membrane surface where they have been shown to arrange into mesophases involving the peptides and the lipids. This supramolecular structuration comes along with much-increased membrane affinities for the peptide mixture. Because this synergism is most pronounced in membranes representing the bacterial lipid composition it can potentially be used to increase the therapeutic window of pharmaceutical formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burkhard Bechinger
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
| | - Dennis Wilkens Juhl
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Elise Glattard
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Christopher Aisenbrey
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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6
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Kurpe SR, Grishin SY, Surin AK, Panfilov AV, Slizen MV, Chowdhury SD, Galzitskaya OV. Antimicrobial and Amyloidogenic Activity of Peptides. Can Antimicrobial Peptides Be Used against SARS-CoV-2? Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9552. [PMID: 33333996 PMCID: PMC7765370 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
At present, much attention is paid to the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) of natural and artificial origin to combat pathogens. AMPs have several points that determine their biological activity. We analyzed the structural properties of AMPs, as well as described their mechanism of action and impact on pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Recently published data on the development of new AMP drugs based on a combination of molecular design and genetic engineering approaches are presented. In this article, we have focused on information on the amyloidogenic properties of AMP. This review examines AMP development strategies from the perspective of the current high prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and the potential prospects and challenges of using AMPs against infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav R. Kurpe
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (S.R.K.); (S.Y.G.); (A.K.S.); (A.V.P.); (M.V.S.)
| | - Sergei Yu. Grishin
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (S.R.K.); (S.Y.G.); (A.K.S.); (A.V.P.); (M.V.S.)
| | - Alexey K. Surin
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (S.R.K.); (S.Y.G.); (A.K.S.); (A.V.P.); (M.V.S.)
- The Branch of the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 142279 Obolensk, Russia
| | - Alexander V. Panfilov
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (S.R.K.); (S.Y.G.); (A.K.S.); (A.V.P.); (M.V.S.)
| | - Mikhail V. Slizen
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (S.R.K.); (S.Y.G.); (A.K.S.); (A.V.P.); (M.V.S.)
| | - Saikat D. Chowdhury
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, West Bengal, India;
| | - Oxana V. Galzitskaya
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (S.R.K.); (S.Y.G.); (A.K.S.); (A.V.P.); (M.V.S.)
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
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7
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Matsuzaki K. Membrane Permeabilization Mechanisms. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1117:9-16. [PMID: 30980350 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-3588-4_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Many antimicrobial peptides are considered to kill microbes by permeabilizing cell membranes. This chapter summarizes the driving force of peptide binding to membranes; various mechanisms of lipid bilayer permeabilization including the barrel-stave, toroidal pore, and carpet models; and modes of permeabilization of bacterial and mammalian membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsumi Matsuzaki
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
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8
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Aisenbrey C, Marquette A, Bechinger B. The Mechanisms of Action of Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides Refined by Novel Concepts from Biophysical Investigations. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1117:33-64. [PMID: 30980352 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-3588-4_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Even 30 years after the discovery of magainins, biophysical and structural investigations on how these peptides interact with membranes can still bear surprises and add new interesting detail to how these peptides exert their antimicrobial action. Early on, using oriented solid-state NMR spectroscopy, it was found that the amphipathic helices formed by magainins are active when being oriented parallel to the membrane surface. More recent investigations indicate that this in-planar alignment is also found when PGLa and magainin in combination exert synergistic pore-forming activities, where studies on the mechanism of synergistic interaction are ongoing. In a related manner, the investigation of dimeric antimicrobial peptide sequences has become an interesting topic of research which bears promise to refine our views how antimicrobial action occurs. The molecular shape concept has been introduced to explain the effects of lipids and peptides on membrane morphology, locally and globally, and in particular of cationic amphipathic helices that partition into the membrane interface. This concept has been extended in this review to include more recent ideas on soft membranes that can adapt to external stimuli including membrane-disruptive molecules. In this manner, the lipids can change their shape in the presence of low peptide concentrations, thereby maintaining the bilayer properties. At higher peptide concentrations, phase transitions occur which lead to the formation of pores and membrane lytic processes. In the context of the molecular shape concept, the properties of lipopeptides, including surfactins, are shortly presented, and comparisons with the hydrophobic alamethicin sequence are made.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arnaud Marquette
- Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, Strasbourg, France
| | - Burkhard Bechinger
- Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, Strasbourg, France. .,Faculté de chimie, Institut le Bel, Strasbourg, France.
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9
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Lipid-Mediated Interactions between the Antimicrobial Peptides Magainin 2 and PGLa in Bilayers. Biophys J 2018; 115:1033-1044. [PMID: 30195937 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2018.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Revised: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
A synergistic enhancement of activities has been described for the amphipathic cationic antimicrobial peptides magainin 2 and PGLa when tested in antimicrobial assays or in biophysical experiments using model membranes. In the presence of magainin 2, PGLa changes from an in-planar alignment parallel to the membrane surface to a more transmembrane orientation when investigated in membranes made from fully saturated PC or PC/PG, but not when one of the fatty acyl chains is unsaturated. Such lipid-mediated changes in the membrane topology of polypeptide domains could provide an interesting mechanism for the regulation of membrane proteins. Here we investigated the PGLa topology in a wide variety of membranes made of saturated or unsaturated PE, PC, and/or PG using 15N solid-state NMR spectroscopy. In contrast to predictions made by previous models the data show that membrane curvature has only a minor effect on PGLa realignment. Furthermore, using 2H solid-state NMR spectroscopy of deuterated phospholipid fatty acyl chains the order parameters of the lipids were investigated in the presence of PGLa, magainin, or equimolar peptide mixtures. Both peptides cause a pronounced decrease in the order parameters when oriented parallel to the membrane surface, an effect that reverts when PGLa flips into transmembrane alignments. Taken together, these data are suggestive that the magainin-induced disordering of fatty acyl chains provides an important driving force for PGLa realignment.
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10
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Marquette A, Bechinger B. Biophysical Investigations Elucidating the Mechanisms of Action of Antimicrobial Peptides and Their Synergism. Biomolecules 2018; 8:E18. [PMID: 29670065 PMCID: PMC6023007 DOI: 10.3390/biom8020018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Biophysical and structural investigations are presented with a focus on the membrane lipid interactions of cationic linear antibiotic peptides such as magainin, PGLa, LL37, and melittin. Observations made with these peptides are distinct as seen from data obtained with the hydrophobic peptide alamethicin. The cationic amphipathic peptides predominantly adopt membrane alignments parallel to the bilayer surface; thus the distribution of polar and non-polar side chains of the amphipathic helices mirror the environmental changes at the membrane interface. Such a membrane partitioning of an amphipathic helix has been shown to cause considerable disruptions in the lipid packing arrangements, transient openings at low peptide concentration, and membrane disintegration at higher peptide-to-lipid ratios. The manifold supramolecular arrangements adopted by lipids and peptides are represented by the 'soft membranes adapt and respond, also transiently' (SMART) model. Whereas molecular dynamics simulations provide atomistic views on lipid membranes in the presence of antimicrobial peptides, the biophysical investigations reveal interesting details on a molecular and supramolecular level, and recent microscopic imaging experiments delineate interesting sequences of events when bacterial cells are exposed to such peptides. Finally, biophysical studies that aim to reveal the mechanisms of synergistic interactions of magainin 2 and PGLa are presented, including unpublished isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), circular dichroism (CD) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements that suggest that the peptides are involved in liposome agglutination by mediating intermembrane interactions. A number of structural events are presented in schematic models that relate to the antimicrobial and synergistic mechanism of amphipathic peptides when they are aligned parallel to the membrane surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Marquette
- Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, 4, rue Blaise Pascal, 67070 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Burkhard Bechinger
- Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, 4, rue Blaise Pascal, 67070 Strasbourg, France.
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11
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Li Z, Hu Y, Yang Y, Lu Z, Wang Y. Antimicrobial resistance in livestock: antimicrobial peptides provide a new solution for a growing challenge. Anim Front 2018; 8:21-29. [PMID: 32002215 PMCID: PMC6951932 DOI: 10.1093/af/vfy005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Li
- Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Department of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yuhan Hu
- Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Department of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yuanyuan Yang
- Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Department of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Zeqing Lu
- Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Department of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yizhen Wang
- Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Department of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
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12
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Molecular mechanism of synergy between the antimicrobial peptides PGLa and magainin 2. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13153. [PMID: 29030606 PMCID: PMC5640672 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12599-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
PGLa and magainin 2 (MAG2) are amphiphilic α-helical membranolytic peptides from frog skin with known synergistic antimicrobial activity. By systematically mutating residues in the two peptides it was possible to identify the ones crucial for the synergy, as monitored by biological assays, fluorescence vesicle leakage, and solid-state 15N-NMR. Electrostatic interactions between anionic groups in MAG2 and cationic residues in PGLa enhance synergy but are not necessary for the synergistic effect. Instead, two Gly residues (7 and 11) in a so-called GxxxG motif in PGLa are necessary for synergy. Replacing either of them with Ala or another hydrophobic residue completely abolishes synergy according to all three methods used. The designer-made peptide MSI-103, which has a similar sequence as PGLa, shows no synergy with MAG2, but by introducing two Gly mutations it was possible to make it synergistic. A molecular model is proposed for the functionally active PGLa-MAG2 complex, consisting of a membrane-spanning antiparallel PGLa dimer that is stabilized by intimate Gly-Gly contacts, and where each PGLa monomer is in contact with one MAG2 molecule at its C-terminus.
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13
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Verly RM, Resende JM, Junior EFC, de Magalhães MTQ, Guimarães CFCR, Munhoz VHO, Bemquerer MP, Almeida FCL, Santoro MM, Piló-Veloso D, Bechinger B. Structure and membrane interactions of the homodimeric antibiotic peptide homotarsinin. Sci Rep 2017; 7:40854. [PMID: 28102305 PMCID: PMC5244374 DOI: 10.1038/srep40854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from amphibian skin are valuable template structures to find new treatments against bacterial infections. This work describes for the first time the structure and membrane interactions of a homodimeric AMP. Homotarsinin, which was found in Phyllomedusa tarsius anurans, consists of two identical cystine-linked polypeptide chains each of 24 amino acid residues. The high-resolution structures of the monomeric and dimeric peptides were determined in aqueous buffers. The dimer exhibits a tightly packed coiled coil three-dimensional structure, keeping the hydrophobic residues screened from the aqueous environment. An overall cationic surface of the dimer assures enhanced interactions with negatively charged membranes. An extensive set of biophysical data allowed us to establish structure-function correlations with antimicrobial assays against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Although both peptides present considerable antimicrobial activity, the dimer is significantly more effective in both antibacterial and membrane biophysical assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo M. Verly
- Departamento de Química Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O.Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Departamento de Química Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, 39100-000 Diamantina, MG, Brazil
| | - Jarbas M. Resende
- Departamento de Química Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O.Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Eduardo F. C. Junior
- Departamento de Química Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, 39100-000 Diamantina, MG, Brazil
| | - Mariana T. Q. de Magalhães
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O.Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Carlos F. C. R. Guimarães
- Departamento de Química Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O.Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Departamento de Química Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, 39100-000 Diamantina, MG, Brazil
| | - Victor H. O. Munhoz
- Departamento de Química Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O.Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Departamento de Química Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, 39100-000 Diamantina, MG, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Porto Bemquerer
- Laboratório de Espectrometria de Massa, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA) - Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Estação Parque Biológico, Final W5, Asa Norte, Brasília, DF, 70770-900, Brazil
| | - Fábio C. L. Almeida
- Centro Nacional de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear Jiri Jonas – CNRMN, Instituto de Bioquimica Médica, Programa de Biologia Estrutural, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcelo M. Santoro
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O.Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Dorila Piló-Veloso
- Departamento de Química Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O.Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Burkhard Bechinger
- Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, Strasbourg, France
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14
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Schrimpf A, Linne U, Geyer A. Eight at one stroke – a synthetic tetra-disulfide peptide epitope. Org Biomol Chem 2017; 15:2512-2521. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ob02746f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A tetra-disulfide peptide dimer, representing an antiparallel hinge, is synthesised without the need for orthogonal cysteine protecting groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Schrimpf
- Department of Chemistry
- Philipps-Universität Marburg
- 35032 Marburg
- Germany
| | - Uwe Linne
- Mass spectrometry facility of the Department of Chemistry
- Philipps-Universität Marburg
- 35032 Marburg
- Germany
| | - Armin Geyer
- Department of Chemistry
- Philipps-Universität Marburg
- 35032 Marburg
- Germany
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15
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Gómez-Llobregat J, Elías-Wolff F, Lindén M. Anisotropic Membrane Curvature Sensing by Amphipathic Peptides. Biophys J 2016; 110:197-204. [PMID: 26745422 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2015.11.3512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Revised: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Many proteins and peptides have an intrinsic capacity to sense and induce membrane curvature, and play crucial roles for organizing and remodeling cell membranes. However, the molecular driving forces behind these processes are not well understood. Here, we describe an approach to study curvature sensing by simulating the interactions of single molecules with a buckled lipid bilayer. We analyze three amphipathic antimicrobial peptides, a class of membrane-associated molecules that specifically target and destabilize bacterial membranes, and find qualitatively different sensing characteristics that would be difficult to resolve with other methods. Our findings provide evidence for direction-dependent curvature sensing mechanisms in amphipathic peptides and challenge existing theories of hydrophobic insertion. The buckling approach is generally applicable to a wide range of curvature-sensing molecules, and our results provide strong motivation to develop new experimental methods to track position and orientation of membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Gómez-Llobregat
- Center for Biomembrane Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Federico Elías-Wolff
- Center for Biomembrane Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Martin Lindén
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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16
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Zerweck J, Strandberg E, Bürck J, Reichert J, Wadhwani P, Kukharenko O, Ulrich AS. Homo- and heteromeric interaction strengths of the synergistic antimicrobial peptides PGLa and magainin 2 in membranes. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL: EBJ 2016; 45:535-47. [PMID: 27052218 DOI: 10.1007/s00249-016-1120-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Revised: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PGLa and magainin 2 (MAG2) are amphiphilic α-helical frog peptides with synergistic antimicrobial activity. In vesicle leakage assays we observed the strongest synergy for equimolar mixtures of PGLa and MAG2. This result was consistent with solid-state (15)N-NMR data on the helix alignment in model membranes. The Hill coefficients determined from the vesicle leakage data showed that the heterodimeric (PGLa-MAG2) interactions were stronger than the homodimeric (PGLa-PGLa and MAG2-MAG2) interactions. This result was also reflected in the free energy of dimerization determined from oriented circular dichroism and quantitative solid-state (19)F-NMR analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Zerweck
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Organic Chemistry, Fritz-Haber-Weg 6, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Erik Strandberg
- KIT, Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), POB 3640, 76021, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jochen Bürck
- KIT, Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), POB 3640, 76021, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Johannes Reichert
- KIT, Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), POB 3640, 76021, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Parvesh Wadhwani
- KIT, Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), POB 3640, 76021, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Olga Kukharenko
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Organic Chemistry, Fritz-Haber-Weg 6, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Anne S Ulrich
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Organic Chemistry, Fritz-Haber-Weg 6, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany. .,KIT, Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), POB 3640, 76021, Karlsruhe, Germany.
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17
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Hayouka Z, Thomas NC, Mortenson DE, Satyshur KA, Weisblum B, Forest KT, Gellman SH. Quasiracemate Crystal Structures of Magainin 2 Derivatives Support the Functional Significance of the Phenylalanine Zipper Motif. J Am Chem Soc 2015; 137:11884-7. [PMID: 26369301 PMCID: PMC4831726 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b07206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Quasiracemic crystallography has been used to explore the significance of homochiral and heterochiral associations in a set of host-defense peptide derivatives. The previously reported racemic crystal structure of a magainin 2 derivative displayed a homochiral antiparallel dimer association featuring a "phenylalanine zipper" notable for the dual roles of phenylalanines in mediating dimerization and formation of an exposed hydrophobic swath. This motif is seen as well in two new quasiracemate crystals that contain the d form of the magainin 2 derivative along with an l-peptide in which one Ala has been replaced by a β-amino acid residue. This structural trend supports the hypothesis that the Phe zipper motif has functional significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zvi Hayouka
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Nicole C. Thomas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - David E. Mortenson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Kenneth A. Satyshur
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Bernard Weisblum
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Katrina T. Forest
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Samuel H. Gellman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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18
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Investigations of the synergistic enhancement of antimicrobial activity in mixtures of magainin 2 and PGLa. Biophys Chem 2015; 210:35-44. [PMID: 26099623 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2015.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Revised: 05/28/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Magainins are antimicrobial peptides isolated from the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis. They interact with bacterial membranes where they cause channel formation and membrane disruption. When added as a cocktail magainin 2 and PGLa are considerably more efficient when compared to the corresponding amounts of individual components. In order to investigate this synergistic interaction of PGLa and magainin a number of magainin variants have been prepared and investigated in biological and biophysical assays. In particular we report on the antimicrobial activities and solid-state NMR investigations of magainins that have been extended by a carboxyterminal GGC tripeptide to form covalently linked dimers. Notably, when the formation of the covalent linkage is prevented by exchanging the cystein by serine or alanine no loss in efficiency was observed indicating that the covalent interaction is not necessary for synergistic interaction. In a next step peptides labelled with (15)N and (2)H were reconstituted into oriented membranes and their topology studied by solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The tendency of some of these peptides to adopt membrane-spanning alignments does not correlate with their synergistic activities in antimicrobial assays. In contrast, the stable alignment of PGLa parallel to the surface of membranes made of Escherichia coli lipid extracts is strongly suggestive that the peptides develop synergistic activities when in an in-planar configuration. Notably, the phospholipid head groups of these samples show a high degree of disturbance suggesting that the synergistic interactions between the magainin peptides could be mediated through the lipid phase.
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19
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Abstract
We show that antimicrobial peptides target multiple steps of the biofilm life cycle by several mechanisms of activity. We also show a correlation between the peptides’ activity and their biophysical properties.
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20
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Li C, Blencke HM, Haug T, Stensvåg K. Antimicrobial peptides in echinoderm host defense. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 49:190-197. [PMID: 25445901 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2014.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Revised: 10/02/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important effector molecules in innate immunity. Here we briefly summarize characteristic traits of AMPs and their mechanisms of antimicrobial activity. Echinoderms live in a microbe-rich marine environment and are known to express a wide range of AMPs. We address two novel AMP families from coelomocytes of sea urchins: cysteine-rich AMPs (strongylocins) and heterodimeric AMPs (centrocins). These peptide families have conserved preprosequences, are present in both adults and pluteus stage larvae, have potent antimicrobial properties, and therefore appear to be important innate immune effectors. Strongylocins have a unique cysteine pattern compared to other cysteine-rich peptides, which suggests a novel AMP folding pattern. Centrocins and SdStrongylocin 2 contain brominated tryptophan residues in their native form. This review also includes AMPs isolated from other echinoderms, such as holothuroidins, fragments of beta-thymosin, and fragments of lectin (CEL-III). Echinoderm AMPs are crucial molecules for the understanding of echinoderm immunity, and their potent antimicrobial activity makes them potential precursors of novel drug leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Li
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Breivika, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Hans-Matti Blencke
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Breivika, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway; Centre for Research-based Innovation on Marine Bioactives and Drug Discovery (MabCent-SFI), UiT The Arctic University of Norway, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Tor Haug
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Breivika, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway; Centre for Research-based Innovation on Marine Bioactives and Drug Discovery (MabCent-SFI), UiT The Arctic University of Norway, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Klara Stensvåg
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Breivika, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway; Centre for Research-based Innovation on Marine Bioactives and Drug Discovery (MabCent-SFI), UiT The Arctic University of Norway, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway.
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21
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Samy RP, Kandasamy M, Gopalakrishnakone P, Stiles BG, Rowan EG, Becker D, Shanmugam MK, Sethi G, Chow VTK. Wound healing activity and mechanisms of action of an antibacterial protein from the venom of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus). PLoS One 2014; 9:e80199. [PMID: 24551028 PMCID: PMC3925076 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 09/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Basic phospholipase A2 was identified from the venom of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake. The Crotalus adamanteus toxin-II (CaTx-II) induced bactericidal effects (7.8 µg/ml) on Staphylococcus aureus, while on Burkholderia pseudomallei (KHW), and Enterobacter aerogenes were killed at 15.6 µg/ml. CaTx-II caused pore formation and membrane damaging effects on the bacterial cell wall. CaTx-II was not cytotoxic on lung (MRC-5), skin fibroblast (HEPK) cells and in mice. CaTx-II-treated mice showed significant wound closure and complete healing by 16 days as compared to untreated controls (**P<0.01). Histological examination revealed enhanced collagen synthesis and neovascularization after treatment with CaTx-II versus 2% Fusidic Acid ointment (FAO) treated controls. Measurement of tissue cytokines revealed that interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) expression in CaTx-II treated mice was significantly suppressed versus untreated controls. In contrast, cytokines involved in wound healing and cell migration i.e., monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), fibroblast growth factor-basic (FGF-b), chemokine (KC), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were significantly enhanced in CaTx-II treated mice, but not in the controls. CaTx-II also modulated nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation during skin wound healing. The CaTx-II protein highlights distinct snake proteins as a potential source of novel antimicrobial agents with significant therapeutic application for bacterial skin infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramar Perumal Samy
- Venom and Toxin Research Programme, Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Infectious Diseases Programme, Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- * E-mail:
| | - Matheswaran Kandasamy
- Infection & Immunity Programme, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Brenner Centre for Molecular Medicine, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ponnampalam Gopalakrishnakone
- Venom and Toxin Research Programme, Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bradley G. Stiles
- Integrated Toxicology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Edward G. Rowan
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - David Becker
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Muthu K. Shanmugam
- Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Research Centre, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Research Centre, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vincent T. K. Chow
- Infectious Diseases Programme, Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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22
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Kim IW, Lee JH, Kwon YN, Yun EY, Nam SH, Ahn MY, Kang DC, Hwang JS. Anticancer activity of a synthetic peptide derived from harmoniasin, an antibacterial peptide from the ladybug Harmonia axyridis. Int J Oncol 2013; 43:622-8. [PMID: 23732481 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2013.1973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Harmoniasin is a defensin-like antimicrobial peptide identified from the ladybug Harmonia axyridis. Among the synthetic homodimer peptide analogues derived from harmoniasin, HaA4 has been found to have antibacterial activity without hemolytic activity. In this study, we investigated whether HaA4 has anticancer activity against human leukemia cell lines such as U937 and Jurkat cells. HaA4 manifested cytotoxicity and decreased the cell viability of U937 and Jurkat cells in MTS assay and LDH release assay. We found that HaA4 induced apoptotic and necrotic cell death of the leukemia cells using flow cytometric analysis, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining and nucleosomal fragmentation of genomic DNA. Activation of caspase-7 and -9 and fragmentation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase was detected in the HaA4-treated leukemia cells, suggesting induction of a caspase-dependent apoptosis pathway by HaA4. Caspase-dependent apoptosis was further confirmed by reversal of the HaA4-induced viability reduction by treatment of Z-VAD-FMK, a pan-caspase inhibitor. In conclusion, HaA4 caused necrosis and caspase-dependent apoptosis in both U937 and Jurkat leukemia cells, which suggests potential utility of HaA4 as a cancer therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- In-Woo Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon 441-853, Republic of Korea
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23
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Dimerization of aurein 1.2: effects in structure, antimicrobial activity and aggregation of Cândida albicans cells. Amino Acids 2013; 44:1521-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-013-1475-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2012] [Accepted: 02/14/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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24
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Effects of dimerization on the structure and biological activity of antimicrobial peptide Ctx-Ha. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2012; 56:3004-10. [PMID: 22391524 DOI: 10.1128/aac.06262-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that cationic antimicrobial peptides (cAMPs) are potential microbicidal agents for the increasing problem of antimicrobial resistance. However, the physicochemical properties of each peptide need to be optimized for clinical use. To evaluate the effects of dimerization on the structure and biological activity of the antimicrobial peptide Ctx-Ha, we have synthesized the monomeric and three dimeric (Lys-branched) forms of the Ctx-Ha peptide by solid-phase peptide synthesis using a combination of 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc) and t-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) chemical approaches. The antimicrobial activity assay showed that dimerization decreases the ability of the peptide to inhibit growth of bacteria or fungi; however, the dimeric analogs displayed a higher level of bactericidal activity. In addition, a dramatic increase (50 times) in hemolytic activity was achieved with these analogs. Permeabilization studies showed that the rate of carboxyfluorescein release was higher for the dimeric peptides than for the monomeric peptide, especially in vesicles that contained sphingomyelin. Despite different biological activities, the secondary structure and pore diameter were not significantly altered by dimerization. In contrast to the case for other dimeric cAMPs, we have shown that dimerization selectively decreases the antimicrobial activity of this peptide and increases the hemolytic activity. The results also show that the interaction between dimeric peptides and the cell wall could be responsible for the decrease of the antimicrobial activity of these peptides.
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25
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Membrane active antitumor activity of NK-18, a mammalian NK-lysin-derived cationic antimicrobial peptide. Biochimie 2012; 94:184-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2011.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2011] [Accepted: 10/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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26
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Buch I, Tsai CJ, Wolfson HJ, Nussinov R. Symmetry-based self-assembled nanotubes constructed using native protein structures: the key role of flexible linkers. Protein Pept Lett 2011; 18:362-72. [PMID: 21222638 PMCID: PMC7316382 DOI: 10.2174/092986611794653996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2010] [Accepted: 12/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We construct nanotubes using native protein structures and their native associations from structural databases. The construction is based on a shape-guided symmetric self-assembly concept. Our strategy involves fusing judiciously-selected oligomerization domains via peptide linkers. Linkers are inherently flexible, hence their choice is critical: they should position the domains in three-dimensional space in the desired orientation while retaining their own natural conformational tendencies; however, at the same time, retain the construct stability. Here we outline a design scheme which accounts for linker flexibility considerations, and present two examples. The first is HIV-1 capsid protein, which in vitro self-assembles into nanotubes and conical capsids, and its linker exists as a short flexible loop. The second involves novel nanotubes construction based on antimicrobial homodimer Magainin 2, employing linkers of distinct lengths and flexibility levels. Our strategy utilizes the abundance of unique shapes and sizes of proteins and their building blocks which can assemble into a vast number of combinations, and consequently, nanotubes of distinct morphologies and diameters. Computational design and assessment methodologies can help reduce the number of candidates for experimental validation. This is an invited paper for a special issue on protein dynamics, here focusing on flexibility in nanotube design based on protein building blocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Idit Buch
- Department of Human Genetics, Sackler Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Chung-Jung Tsai
- SAIC-Frederick, Inc., Center for Cancer Research Nanobiology Program, NCI – Frederick, Bldg 469, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Haim J. Wolfson
- School of Computer Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Ruth Nussinov
- Department of Human Genetics, Sackler Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- SAIC-Frederick, Inc., Center for Cancer Research Nanobiology Program, NCI – Frederick, Bldg 469, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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27
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Saravanan R, Bhattacharjya S. Oligomeric structure of a cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide in dodecylphosphocholine micelle determined by NMR spectroscopy. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2010; 1808:369-81. [PMID: 20933496 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2010.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2010] [Revised: 09/24/2010] [Accepted: 10/04/2010] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The broad spectrum of antibacterial activities of host defense cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) arises from their ability to perturb membrane integrity of the microbes. The mechanisms are often thought to require assembly of AMPs on the membrane surface to form pores. However, three dimensional structures in the oligomeric form of AMPs in the context of lipid membranes are largely limited. Here, we demonstrate that a 22-residue antimicrobial peptide, termed VK22, derived from fowlicidin-1, a cathelicidin family of AMP from chicken oligomerizes into a predominantly tetrameric state in zwitterionic dodecylphosphocholine (DPC) micelles. An ensemble of NMR structures of VK22 determined in 200mM perdeuterated DPC, from 755 NOE constrains including 19 inter-helical NOEs, had revealed an assembly of four helices arranged in anti-parallel fashion. Hydrogen bonds, C(α)H-O=C types, and van der Waals interactions among the helical sub-units appear to be involved in the stabilization of the quaternary structures. The central region of the barrel shaped tetrameric bundle is non-polar with clusters of aromatic residues, whereas all the cationic residues are positioned at the termini. Paramagnetic spin labeled NMR experiments indicated that the tetrameric structure is embedded into micelles such that the non-polar region located inside the lipid acyl chains. Structure and micelle localization of a monomeric version, obtained from substitution of two Tyr residues with Ala, of the peptide is also compared. The mutated peptide VK22AA has been found be localized at the surface of the micelles. The tetrameric structure of VK22 delineates a small water pore that can be larger in the higher order oligomers. As these results provide structural insights, at atomic resolution, into the oligomeric states of a helical AMP in lipid environment, the structural details may be further utilized for the design of novel self-assembled membrane protein mimics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rathi Saravanan
- School of Biological Sciences, Division of Structural and Computational Biology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
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28
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Li C, Haug T, Moe MK, Styrvold OB, Stensvåg K. Centrocins: isolation and characterization of novel dimeric antimicrobial peptides from the green sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2010; 34:959-968. [PMID: 20438753 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2010.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2010] [Revised: 04/16/2010] [Accepted: 04/18/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
As immune effector molecules, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play an important role in the invertebrate immune system. Here, we present two novel AMPs, named centrocins 1 (4.5kDa) and 2 (4.4kDa), purified from coelomocyte extracts of the green sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. The native peptides are cationic and show potent activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The centrocins have an intramolecular heterodimeric structure, containing a heavy chain (30 amino acids) and a light chain (12 amino acids). The cDNA encoding the peptides and genomic sequences were cloned and sequenced. One putative isoform (centrocin 1b) was identified and one intron was found in the genes coding for the centrocins. The full length protein sequence of centrocin 1 consists of 119 amino acids, whereas centrocin 2 consists of 118 amino acids which both include a preprosequence of 51 or 50 amino acids for centrocins 1 and 2, respectively, and an interchain of 24 amino acids between the heavy and light chain. The difference of molecular mass between the native centrocins and the deduced sequences from cDNA indicates that the native centrocins contain a post-translational brominated tryptophan. In addition, two amino acids at the C-terminal, Gly-Arg, were removed from the light chains during the post-translational processing. The separate peptide chains of centrocin 1 were synthesized and the heavy chain alone was shown to be sufficient for antimicrobial activity. The genome of the closely related species, the purple sea urchin (S. purpuratus), was shown to contain two putative proteins with high similarity to the centrocins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Li
- Norwegian College of Fishery Science, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, University of Tromsø, Breivika, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway
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29
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Smith-Dupont KB, Guo L, Gai F. Diffusion as a probe of the heterogeneity of antimicrobial peptide-membrane interactions. Biochemistry 2010; 49:4672-8. [PMID: 20455545 DOI: 10.1021/bi100426p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Many antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) function by forming various oligomeric structures and/or pores upon binding to bacterial membranes. Because such peptide aggregates are capable of inducing membrane thinning and membrane permeabilization, we expected that AMP binding would also affect the diffusivity or mobility of the lipid molecules in the membrane. Herein, we show that measurements of the diffusion times of individual lipids through a confocal volume via fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) provide a sensitive means of probing the underlying AMP-membrane interactions. In particular, results obtained with two well-studied AMPs, magainin 2 and mastoparan X, and two model membranes indicate that this method is capable of revealing structural information, especially the heterogeneity of the peptide-membrane system, that is otherwise difficult to obtain using common ensemble methods. Moreover, because of the high sensitivity of FCS, this method allows examination of the effect of AMPs on the membrane structure at very low peptide/lipid ratios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn B Smith-Dupont
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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30
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Strandberg E, Tremouilhac P, Wadhwani P, Ulrich AS. Synergistic transmembrane insertion of the heterodimeric PGLa/magainin 2 complex studied by solid-state NMR. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2009; 1788:1667-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2008.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2008] [Revised: 11/21/2008] [Accepted: 12/11/2008] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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31
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Shi L, Cembran A, Gao J, Veglia G. Tilt and azimuthal angles of a transmembrane peptide: a comparison between molecular dynamics calculations and solid-state NMR data of sarcolipin in lipid membranes. Biophys J 2009; 96:3648-62. [PMID: 19413970 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2009.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2008] [Revised: 02/03/2009] [Accepted: 02/12/2009] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We report molecular dynamics simulations in the explicit membrane environment of a small membrane-embedded protein, sarcolipin, which regulates the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase activity in both cardiac and skeletal muscle. In its monomeric form, we found that sarcolipin adopts a helical conformation, with a computed average tilt angle of 28 +/- 6 degrees and azymuthal angles of 66 +/- 22 degrees, in reasonable accord with angles determined experimentally (23 +/- 2 degrees and 50 +/- 4 degrees, respectively) using solid-state NMR with separated-local-field experiments. The effects of time and spatial averaging on both (15)N chemical shift anisotropy and (1)H/(15)N dipolar couplings have been analyzed using short-time averages of fast amide out-of-plane motions and following principal component dynamic trajectories. We found that it is possible to reproduce the regular oscillatory patterns observed for the anisotropic NMR parameters (i.e., PISA wheels) employing average amide vectors. This work highlights the role of molecular dynamics simulations as a tool for the analysis and interpretation of solid-state NMR data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Shi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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32
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Davis RW, Arango DC, Jones HDT, Van Benthem MH, Haaland DM, Brozik SM, Sinclair MB. Antimicrobial peptide interactions with silica bead supported bilayers and E. coli:
buforin II, magainin II, and arenicin. J Pept Sci 2009; 15:511-22. [DOI: 10.1002/psc.1152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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33
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Peptide-lipid huge toroidal pore, a new antimicrobial mechanism mediated by a lactococcal bacteriocin, lacticin Q. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2009; 53:3211-7. [PMID: 19470516 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00209-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lacticin Q is a pore-forming bacteriocin produced by Lactococcus lactis QU 5, and its antimicrobial activity is in the nanomolar range. Lacticin Q induced calcein leakage from negatively charged liposomes. However, no morphological changes in the liposomes were observed by light scattering. Concomitantly with the calcein leakage, lacticin Q was found to translocate from the outer to the inner leaflet of the liposomes, after it initially bound to the membrane within 2 s. Lacticin Q also induced lipid flip-flop. These results reveal that the antimicrobial mechanism of lacticin Q can be described by the toroidal pore model. This is the first report of a bacteriocin of gram-positive bacteria that forms a toroidal pore. From liposomes, lacticin Q leaked fluorescence-labeled dextran with a diameter of 4.6 nm. In addition, lacticin Q caused the leakage of small proteins, such as the green fluorescent protein, from live bacterial cells. There are no other reports of antimicrobial peptides that exhibit protein leakage properties. The proposed pore formation model of lacticin Q is as follows: (i) quick binding to outer membrane leaflets; (ii) the formation of at least 4.6-nm pores, causing protein leakage with lipid flip-flop; and (iii) the migration of lacticin Q molecules from the outer to the inner membrane leaflets. Consequently, we termed the novel pore model in the antimicrobial mechanism of lacticin Q a "huge toroidal pore."
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Haney EF, Hunter HN, Matsuzaki K, Vogel HJ. Solution NMR studies of amphibian antimicrobial peptides: linking structure to function? BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2009; 1788:1639-55. [PMID: 19272309 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2009.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2008] [Revised: 12/19/2008] [Accepted: 01/09/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The high-resolution three-dimensional structure of an antimicrobial peptide has implications for the mechanism of its antimicrobial activity, as the conformation of the peptide provides insights into the intermolecular interactions that govern the binding to its biological target. For many cationic antimicrobial peptides the negatively charged membranes surrounding the bacterial cell appear to be a main target. In contrast to what has been found for other classes of antimicrobial peptides, solution NMR studies have revealed that in spite of the wide diversity in the amino acid sequences of amphibian antimicrobial peptides (AAMPs), they all adopt amphipathic alpha-helical structures in the presence of membrane-mimetic micelles, bicelles or organic solvent mixtures. In some cases the amphipathic AAMP structures are directly membrane-perturbing (e.g. magainin, aurein and the rana-box peptides), in other instances the peptide spontaneously passes through the membrane and acts on intracellular targets (e.g. buforin). Armed with a high-resolution structure, it is possible to relate the peptide structure to other relevant biophysical and biological data to elucidate a mechanism of action. While many linear AAMPs have significant antimicrobial activity of their own, mixtures of peptides sometimes have vastly improved antibiotic effects. Thus, synergy among antimicrobial peptides is an avenue of research that has recently attracted considerable attention. While synergistic relationships between AAMPs are well described, it is becoming increasingly evident that analyzing the intermolecular interactions between these peptides will be essential for understanding the increased antimicrobial effect. NMR structure determination of hybrid peptides composed of known antimicrobial peptides can shed light on these intricate synergistic relationships. In this work, we present the first NMR solution structure of a hybrid peptide composed of magainin 2 and PGLa bound to SDS and DPC micelles. The hybrid peptide adopts a largely helical conformation and some information regarding the inter-helix organization of this molecule is reported. The solution structure of the micelle associated MG2-PGLa hybrid peptide highlights the importance of examining structural contributions to the synergistic relationships but it also demonstrates the limitations in the resolution of the currently used solution NMR techniques for probing such interactions. Future studies of antimicrobial peptide synergy will likely require stable isotope-labeling strategies, similar to those used in NMR studies of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan F Haney
- Structural Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
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Lee JY, Yang ST, Lee SK, Jung HH, Shin SY, Hahm KS, Kim JI. Salt-resistant homodimeric bactenecin, a cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial peptide. FEBS J 2008; 275:3911-20. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2008.06536.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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36
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Handler AA, Lim JE, Losick R. Peptide inhibitor of cytokinesis during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. Mol Microbiol 2008; 68:588-99. [PMID: 18284588 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2008.06173.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cytokinesis in bacteria is mediated by the tubulin-like protein FtsZ, which forms a Z-ring at the division site. Using FtsZ as bait in a two-hybrid screen, we discovered a 40-amino-acid peptide, termed MciZ, from Bacillus subtilis that appeared to interact with FtsZ. Cells engineered to produce MciZ during growth formed aseptate filaments that lacked Z-rings. A mutant resistant to the toxic effects of MciZ during growth harboured an amino acid substitution near the GTP binding pocket of FtsZ. Synthetic MciZ inhibited the GTPase activity of FtsZ and its ability to polymerize. MciZ was produced during sporulation under the control of the transcription factor sigma(E). In the absence of MciZ, the mother-cell compartment of the sporangium aberrantly formed a Z-ring at a time in development when cytokinetic events normally have ceased. We conclude that MciZ is a previously unrecognized inhibitor of FtsZ that prevents inappropriate Z-ring formation during sporulation. MciZ showed little sequence similarity to other peptides in the databases, except the mouse antimicrobial peptide CRAMP, which we speculate works in part by inhibiting cytokinesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron A Handler
- The Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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Basdevant N, Borgis D, Ha-Duong T. A Coarse-Grained Protein−Protein Potential Derived from an All-Atom Force Field. J Phys Chem B 2007; 111:9390-9. [PMID: 17616119 DOI: 10.1021/jp0727190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In order to study protein-protein nonbonded interactions, we present the development of a new reduced protein model that represents each amino acid residue with one to three coarse grains, whose physical properties are derived in a consistent bottom-up procedure from the higher-resolution all-atom AMBER force field. The resulting potential energy function is pairwise additive and includes distinct van-der-Waals and Coulombic terms. The van-der-Waals effective interactions are deduced from preliminary molecular dynamics simulations of all possible amino acid homodimers. They are best represented by a soft 1/r6 repulsion and a Gaussian attraction, with parameters obeying Lorentz-Berthelot mixing rules. For the Coulombic interaction, coarse grain charges are optimized for each separate protein in order to best represent the all-atom electrostatic potential outside the protein core. This approach leaves the possibility of using any implicit solvent model to describe solvation effects and electrostatic screening. The coarse-grained force field is tested carefully for a small homodimeric complex, the magainin. It is shown to reproduce satisfactorily the specificity of the all-atom underlying potential, in particular within a PB/SA solvation model. The coarse-grained potential is applied to the redocking prediction of three different protein-protein complexes: the magainin dimer, the barnase-barstar, and the trypsin-BPTI complexes. It is shown to provide per se an efficient and discriminating scoring energy function for the protein-protein docking problem that remains pertinent at both the global and refinement stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Basdevant
- Laboratoire Analyse et Modélisation pour la Biologie et l'Environnement Université d'Evry-Val-d'Essonne Rue du Pere André Jarlan, 91025 Evry Cedex, France
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Jang WS, Kim HK, Lee KY, Kim SA, Han YS, Lee IH. Antifungal activity of synthetic peptide derived from halocidin, antimicrobial peptide from the tunicate,Halocynthia aurantium. FEBS Lett 2006; 580:1490-6. [PMID: 16469314 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2006.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2005] [Revised: 01/06/2006] [Accepted: 01/12/2006] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Halocidin is an antimicrobial peptide isolated from the hemocytes of the tunicate. Among the several known synthetic halocidin analogues, di-K19Hc has been previously confirmed to have the most profound antibacterial activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This peptide has been considered to be an effective candidate for the development of a new type of antibiotic. In this study, we have assessed the antifungal activity of di-K19Hc, against a panel of fungi including several strains of Aspergillus and Candida. As a result, we determined that the MICs of di-K19Hc against six Candida albicans and two Aspergillus species were below 4 and 16 microg/ml, respectively, thereby indicating that di-K19Hc may be appropriate for the treatment of several fungal diseases. We also conducted an investigation into di-K19Hc's mode of action against Candida albicans. Our colony count assay showed that di-K19Hc killed C. albicans within 30s. Di-K19Hc bound to the surface of C. albicans via a specific interaction with beta-1,3-glucan, which is one of fungal cell wall components. Di-K19Hc also induced the formation of ion channels within the membrane of C. albicans, and eventually observed cell death, which was confirmed via measurements of the K+ released from C. albicans cells which had been treated with di-K19Hc, as well as by monitoring of the uptake of propidium iodide into the C. albicans cells. This membrane-attacking quality of di-K19Hc was also visualized via confocal laser and scanning electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woong Sik Jang
- Department of Bio-Technology, Hoseo University, 29-1 Sechuli, Baebang-Myun, Asan City, Chungnam-Do 336-795, Republic of Korea
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39
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Rautenbach M, Gerstner GD, Vlok NM, Kulenkampff J, Westerhoff HV. Analyses of dose-response curves to compare the antimicrobial activity of model cationic alpha-helical peptides highlights the necessity for a minimum of two activity parameters. Anal Biochem 2005; 350:81-90. [PMID: 16434018 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2005.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2005] [Revised: 11/16/2005] [Accepted: 11/18/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
To assess and compare different model Leu-Lys-containing cationic alpha-helical peptides, their antimicrobial activities were tested against Escherichia coli as target organism over a broad peptide concentration range. The natural cationic alpha-helical peptides magainin 2 and PGLa and the cyclic cationic peptide gramicidin S were also tested between comparison. The dose-response curves differed widely for these peptides, making it difficult to rank them into an activity order over the whole concentration range. We therefore compared five different inhibition parameters from dose-response curves: IC(min) (lowest concentration leading to growth inhibition), IC(50) (concentration that gives 50% growth inhibition), IC(max) (related to minimum inhibition concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration), inhibition concentration factor (IC(F); describing the increase in concentration of the peptide between minimum and maximum inhibition), and activity slope (A(S); related to the Hill coefficient). We found that these parameters were covariant: two of them sufficed to characterize the dose dependence and hence the activity of the peptides. This was corroborated by showing that the dose dependences followed the Hill equation, with a small, constant aberration. We propose that the activity of antimicrobial peptides can readily be characterized by both IC(50) and IC(F) (or A(S)) rather than by a single parameter and discuss how this may relate to investigations into their mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Rautenbach
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Republic of South Africa.
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40
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Raimondo D, Andreotti G, Saint N, Amodeo P, Renzone G, Sanseverino M, Zocchi I, Molle G, Motta A, Scaloni A. A folding-dependent mechanism of antimicrobial peptide resistance to degradation unveiled by solution structure of distinctin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2005; 102:6309-14. [PMID: 15840728 PMCID: PMC1088359 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0409004102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Many bioactive peptides, presenting an unstructured conformation in aqueous solution, are made resistant to degradation by posttranslational modifications. Here, we describe how molecular oligomerization in aqueous solution can generate a still unknown transport form for amphipathic peptides, which is more compact and resistant to proteases than forms related to any possible monomer. This phenomenon emerged from 3D structure, function, and degradation properties of distinctin, a heterodimeric antimicrobial compound consisting of two peptide chains linked by a disulfide bond. After homodimerization in water, this peptide exhibited a fold consisting of a symmetrical full-parallel four-helix bundle, with a well secluded hydrophobic core and exposed basic residues. This fold significantly stabilizes distinctin against proteases compared with other linear amphipathic peptides, without affecting its antimicrobial, hemolytic, and ion-channel formation properties after membrane interaction. This full-parallel helical orientation represents a perfect compromise between formation of a stable structure in water and requirement of a drastic structural rearrangement in membranes to elicit antimicrobial potential. Thus, distinctin can be claimed as a prototype of a previously unrecognized class of antimicrobial derivatives. These results suggest a critical revision of the role of peptide oligomerization whenever solubility or resistance to proteases is known to affect biological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Raimondo
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council, Comprensorio Olivetti, Edificio 70, I-80078 Pozzuoli (Naples), Italy
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41
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de Lima DC, Alvarez Abreu P, de Freitas CC, Santos DO, Borges RO, dos Santos TC, Mendes Cabral L, Rodrigues CR, Castro HC. Snake Venom: Any Clue for Antibiotics and CAM? EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2005; 2:39-47. [PMID: 15841277 PMCID: PMC1062156 DOI: 10.1093/ecam/neh063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2004] [Revised: 12/30/2004] [Accepted: 01/10/2005] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Lately several naturally occurring peptides presenting antimicrobial activity have been described in the literature. However, snake venoms, which are an enormous source of peptides, have not been fully explored for searching such molecules. The aim of this work is to review the basis of antimicrobial mechanisms revealing snake venom as a feasible source for searching an antibiotic prototype. Therefore, it includes (i) a description of the constituents of the snake venoms involved in their main biological effects during the envenomation process; (ii) examples of snake venom molecules of commercial use; (iii) mechanisms of action of known antibiotics; and (iv) how the microorganisms can be resistant to antibiotics. This review also shows that snake venoms are not totally unexplored sources for antibiotics and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Deivy Clementino de Lima
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Modelagem Molecular (LaBioMol), Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal FluminenseCEP 24001-970, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Paula Alvarez Abreu
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Modelagem Molecular (LaBioMol), Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal FluminenseCEP 24001-970, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Cícero Carlos de Freitas
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Modelagem Molecular (LaBioMol), Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal FluminenseCEP 24001-970, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Dilvani Oliveira Santos
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Modelagem Molecular (LaBioMol), Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal FluminenseCEP 24001-970, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Oliveira Borges
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Modelagem Molecular (LaBioMol), Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal FluminenseCEP 24001-970, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Lúcio Mendes Cabral
- Instituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em SaúdeFundação Oswaldo Cruz, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carlos R. Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Modelagem Molecular e QSAR (ModMolQSAR), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroCEP 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Helena Carla Castro
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Modelagem Molecular (LaBioMol), Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal FluminenseCEP 24001-970, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
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Plesniak LA, Parducho JI, Ziebart A, Geierstanger BH, Whiles JA, Melacini G, Jennings PA. Orientation and helical conformation of a tissue-specific hunter-killer peptide in micelles. Protein Sci 2005; 13:1988-96. [PMID: 15273301 PMCID: PMC2279830 DOI: 10.1110/ps.04853204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Hunter-killer peptides are chimeric synthetic peptides that selectively target specific cell types for an apoptotic death. These peptides, which are models for potential therapeutics, contain a homing sequence for receptor-mediated interactions and a pro-apoptotic sequence. Homing domains have been designed to target angiogenic tumor cells, prostate cells, arthritic tissue and, most recently, adipose tissue. After a receptor-mediated internalization, the apoptotic sequence, which contains D-enantiomer amino acids, initiates apoptosis through mitochondrial membrane disruption. We have begun structure and functional studies on a peptide (HKP1) that specifically targets angiogenic tumor cells for apoptosis. As a model for mitochondrial membrane disruption, we have examined peptide-induced leakage of a calcein fluorophore from large unilamellar vesicles. These experiments demonstrate more potent leakage activity by HKP1 than the peptide lacking the homing domain. Circular dichroism and 2D homonuclear NMR experiments demonstrate that this tumor-specific HKP adopts a left-handed amphipathic helix in association with dodecylphosphorylcholine micelles in a parallel orientation to the lipid-water interface with the homing domain remaining exposed to solvent. The amphipathic helix of the apoptotic domain orients with nonpolar leucine and alanine residues inserting most deeply into the lipid environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh A Plesniak
- Department of Chemistry, University of San Diego, San Diego, California 92110, USA.
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Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) of innate origin are agents of the most ancient form of defense systems. They can be found in a wide variety of species ranging from bacteria through insects to humans. Through the course of evolution, host organisms developed arsenals of AMPs that protect them against a large variety of invading pathogens including both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. At a time of increasing bacterial resistance, AMPs have been the focus of investigation in a number of laboratories worldwide. Although recent studies show that some of the peptides are likely to have intracellular targets, the vast majority of AMPs appear to act by permeabilization of the bacterial cell membrane. Their activity and selectivity are governed by the physicochemical parameters of the peptide chains as well as the properties of the membrane system itself. In this review, we will summarize some of the recent developments that provide us with a better understanding of the mode of action of this unique family of antibacterial agents. Particular attention will be given to the determinants of AMP-lipid bilayer interactions as well as to the different pore formation mechanisms. The emphasis will be on linear AMPs but representatives of cysteine-bridged AMPs will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orsolya Toke
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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Toke O, O'Connor RD, Weldeghiorghis TK, Maloy WL, Glaser RW, Ulrich AS, Schaefer J. Structure of (KIAGKIA)3 aggregates in phospholipid bilayers by solid-state NMR. Biophys J 2004; 87:675-87. [PMID: 15240501 PMCID: PMC1304391 DOI: 10.1529/biophysj.103.032714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2003] [Accepted: 03/04/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The interchain (13)C-(19)F dipolar coupling measured in a rotational-echo double-resonance (REDOR) experiment performed on mixtures of differently labeled KIAGKIA-KIAGKIA-KIAGKIA (K3) peptides (one specifically (13)C labeled, and the other specifically (19)F labeled) in multilamellar vesicles of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (1:1) shows that K3 forms close-packed clusters, primarily dimers, in bilayers at a lipid/peptide molar ratio (L/P) of 20. Dipolar coupling to additional peptides is weaker than that within the dimers, consistent with aggregates of monomers and dimers. Analysis of the sideband dephasing rates indicates a preferred orientation between the peptide chains of the dimers. The combination of the distance and orientation information from REDOR is consistent with a parallel (N-N) dimer structure in which two K3 helices intersect at a cross-angle of approximately 20 degrees. Static (19)F NMR experiments performed on K3 in oriented lipid bilayers show that between L/P = 200 and L/P = 20, K3 chains change their absolute orientation with respect to the membrane normal. This result suggests that the K3 dimers detected by REDOR at L/P = 20 are not on the surface of the bilayer but are in a membrane pore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orsolya Toke
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA
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45
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Powers JPS, Hancock REW. The relationship between peptide structure and antibacterial activity. Peptides 2003; 24:1681-91. [PMID: 15019199 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2003.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 643] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2003] [Accepted: 08/08/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Cationic antimicrobial peptides are a class of small, positively charged peptides known for their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. These peptides have also been shown to possess anti-viral and anti-cancer activity and, most recently, the ability to modulate the innate immune response. To date, a large number of antimicrobial peptides have been chemically characterized, however, few high-resolution structures are available. Structure-activity studies of these peptides reveal two main requirements for antimicrobial activity, (1) a cationic charge and (2) an induced amphipathic conformation. In addition to peptide conformation, the role of membrane lipid composition, specifically non-bilayer lipids, on peptide activity will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon-Paul S Powers
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, #300-6174 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3.
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Jang WS, Kim CH, Kim KN, Park SY, Lee JH, Son SM, Lee IH. Biological activities of synthetic analogs of halocidin, an antimicrobial peptide from the tunicate Halocynthia aurantium. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2003; 47:2481-6. [PMID: 12878508 PMCID: PMC166113 DOI: 10.1128/aac.47.8.2481-2486.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Halocidin is a heterodimer antimicrobial peptide previously isolated from the tunicate Halocynthia aurantium. Based on the larger monomer (18Hc) of halocidin, nine halocidin congeners, including a series of 6 peptides truncated successively from the carboxyl-terminal end of 18Hc and 3 analogs (18HcKK, K19Hc, and K19HcKK), which have lysine residues in place of two internal histidines or have a lysine added to the amino terminus of the 18Hc molecule, were prepared. Each peptide was also converted into a homodimeric version. The antimicrobial activities of halocidin congeners truncated from the C terminus were dramatically decreased, suggesting that the full length of 18Hc is required for maintaining its maximum antimicrobial activity. Dimer forms of halocidin congeners exhibited stronger antimicrobial activities than the monomer of the corresponding peptide. Four dimer peptides (di-18Hc, di-18HcKK, di-K19Hc, and di-K19HcKK) were analyzed for antimicrobial activities against 10 clinically isolated antibiotic-resistant bacteria in elevated concentrations of NaCl or MgCl(2). Of the peptides studied here, di-K19Hc retained invariably strong activity against all bacteria in diverse conditions and also showed much reduced hemolytic activity against human erythrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woong Sik Jang
- Department of Life Science, Hoseo University, Asan City, Choongnam-Do 336-795, South Korea
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Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides have been isolated and characterized from tissues and organisms representing virtually every kingdom and phylum, ranging from prokaryotes to humans. Yet, recurrent structural and functional themes in mechanisms of action and resistance are observed among peptides of widely diverse source and composition. Biochemical distinctions among the peptides themselves, target versus host cells, and the microenvironments in which these counterparts convene, likely provide for varying degrees of selective toxicity among diverse antimicrobial peptide types. Moreover, many antimicrobial peptides employ sophisticated and dynamic mechanisms of action to effect rapid and potent activities consistent with their likely roles in antimicrobial host defense. In balance, successful microbial pathogens have evolved multifaceted and effective countermeasures to avoid exposure to and subvert mechanisms of antimicrobial peptides. A clearer recognition of these opposing themes will significantly advance our understanding of how antimicrobial peptides function in defense against infection. Furthermore, this understanding may provide new models and strategies for developing novel antimicrobial agents, that may also augment immunity, restore potency or amplify the mechanisms of conventional antibiotics, and minimize antimicrobial resistance mechanisms among pathogens. From these perspectives, the intention of this review is to illustrate the contemporary structural and functional themes among mechanisms of antimicrobial peptide action and resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Yeaman
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Harbor-University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA.
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48
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Abstract
Many organisms employ antimicrobial peptides to fend off microbial pathogens. Amphibian skin is one of the most generous sources of these peptides. In the past couple of years, intriguing additional insights on various aspects of frog skin peptides have been reported. Several novel molecules, often with unprecedented structural features, have been discovered. Studies focusing on the factors that regulate the in vivo synthesis of skin peptides in response to infection have gained in prominence. Moreover, recent results indicate new possibilities for the development of effective human therapeutics based on antimicrobial peptides and partially disclosed the biotechnological potential of these molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea C Rinaldi
- Cattedra di Chimica Biologica, Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Internistiche, Università di Cagliari, I-09042 (CA), Monserrato, Italy.
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Mukai Y, Matsushita Y, Niidome T, Hatekeyama T, Aoyag H. Parallel and antiparallel dimers of magainin 2: their interaction with phospholipid membrane and antibacterial activity. J Pept Sci 2002; 8:570-7. [PMID: 12450326 DOI: 10.1002/psc.416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Magainin 2 (M2) forms pores by associating with several other M2 molecules in lipid membranes and shows antibacterial activity. To examine the effect of M2 dimerization on biological activity and membrane interaction, parallel and antiparallel M2 dimers were prepared from two monomeric precursors. Antibacterial and haemolytic activities were enhanced by dimerization. CD measurements showed that both dimers and monomers have an alpha-helical structure in the presence of lipid vesicles. Tryptophan fluorescence shift and KI quenching studies showed that all the peptides were more deeply embedded in acidic liposomes than in neutral liposomes. Experiments on dye-leakage activity and membrane translocation of peptides suggest that dimers and monomers form pores through lipid membranes, although the pore formation may be accompanied by membrane disturbance. Although dimerization of M2 increased the interaction activity with lipid membranes, no appreciable difference between the activities of parallel and antiparallel M2 dimers was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiro Mukai
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
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Wakamatsu K, Takeda A, Tachi T, Matsuzaki K. Dimer structure of magainin 2 bound to phospholipid vesicles. Biopolymers 2002; 64:314-27. [PMID: 12124849 DOI: 10.1002/bip.10198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Magainin 2 from African clawed frog Xenopus laevis is an antimicrobial peptide with broad spectra and action mechanisms considered to permeabilize bacterial membranes. CD, vibration, and solid-state NMR spectroscopies indicate the peptide adopts an alpha-helical conformation on binding to phospholipid bilayers, and its micelle-bound conformation, being monomeric and alpha-helical, is well detailed. We showed, however, that the peptide dimerizes on binding to phospholipid bilayers. This difference in the conformation and aggregation state between micelle- and bilayer-bound states prompted us to analyze the conformation of an equipotent analog of magainin 2 (F5Y,F16W magainin 2) bound to phosphatidylcholine vesicles using transferred nuclear Overhauser enhancement (TRNOE) spectroscopy. While observed medium-range TRNOE cross peaks were characteristic of alpha-helix, many long-range cross peaks were not compatible with the peptide's monomeric state. Simulated annealing calculations generated dimer structures indicating (1) two peptide molecules have a largely helical conformation in antiparallel orientation forming a short coiled-coil structure, (2) residues 4-20 are well converged and residues 9-20 are in an alpha-helical conformation, and (3) the interface of the two peptide molecules is formed by well-defined side chains of hydrophobic residues. Finally, determined structures are compatible with numerous investigations examining magainin-phospholipid interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaori Wakamatsu
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Gunma University, Kiryu, Gunma 376-8515, Japan.
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