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Zhang K, Yang N, Teng D, Mao R, Hao Y, Wang J. Expression and characterization of the new antimicrobial peptide AP138L-arg26 anti Staphylococcus aureus. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:111. [PMID: 38229298 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12947-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The low activity and yield of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are pressing problems. The improvement of activity and yield through modification and heterologous expression, a potential way to solve the problem, is a research hot-pot. In this work, a new plectasin-derived variant L-type AP138 (AP138L-arg26) was constructed for the study of recombination expression and druggablity. As a result, the total protein concentration of AP138L-arg26 was 3.1 mg/mL in Pichia pastoris X-33 supernatant after 5 days of induction expression in a 5-L fermenter. The recombinant peptide AP138L-arg26 has potential antibacterial activity against selected standard and clinical Gram-positive bacteria (G+, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 2-16 µg/mL) and high stability under different conditions (temperature, pH, ion concentration) and 2 × MIC of AP138L-arg26 could rapidly kill Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (> 99.99%) within 1.5 h. It showed a high safety in vivo and in vivo and a long post-antibiotic effect (PAE, 1.91 h) compared with vancomycin (1.2 h). Furthermore, the bactericidal mechanism was revealed from two dimensions related to its disruption of the cell membrane resulting in intracellular potassium leakage (2.5-fold higher than control), and an increase in intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and reactive oxygen species (ROS), the decrease of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and further intervening metabolism in S. aureus. These results indicate that AP138L-arg26 as a new peptide candidate could be used for more in-depth development in the future. KEY POINTS: • The AP138L-arg26 was expressed in the P. pastoris expression system with high yield • The AP138 L-arg26 showed high stability and safety in vitro and in vivo • The AP138L-arg26 killed S. aureus by affecting cell membranes and metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Zhang
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Na Yang
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.
| | - Da Teng
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruoyu Mao
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Ya Hao
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianhua Wang
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.
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Benfield AH, Vernen F, Young RSE, Nadal-Bufí F, Lamb H, Hammerlindl H, Craik DJ, Schaider H, Lawrence N, Blanksby SJ, Henriques ST. Cyclic tachyplesin I kills proliferative, non-proliferative and drug-resistant melanoma cells without inducing resistance. Pharmacol Res 2024; 207:107298. [PMID: 39032840 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Acquired drug resistance is the major cause for disease recurrence in cancer patients, and this is particularly true for patients with metastatic melanoma that carry a BRAF V600E mutation. To address this problem, we investigated cyclic membrane-active peptides as an alternative therapeutic modality to kill drug-tolerant and resistant melanoma cells to avoid acquired drug resistance. We selected two stable cyclic peptides (cTI and cGm), previously shown to have anti-melanoma properties, and compared them with dabrafenib, a drug used to treat cancer patients with the BRAF V600E mutation. The peptides act via a fast membrane-permeabilizing mechanism and kill metastatic melanoma cells that are sensitive, tolerant, or resistant to dabrafenib. Melanoma cells do not become resistant to long-term treatment with cTI, nor do they evolve their lipid membrane composition, as measured by lipidomic and proteomic studies. In vivo studies in mice demonstrated that the combination treatment of cTI and dabrafenib resulted in fewer metastases and improved overall survival. Such cyclic membrane-active peptides are thus well suited as templates to design new anticancer therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie H Benfield
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Felicitas Vernen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Reuben S E Young
- Central Analytical Research Facility and School of Chemistry and Physics, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
| | - Ferran Nadal-Bufí
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Henry Lamb
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Heinz Hammerlindl
- Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Helmut Schaider
- Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Nicole Lawrence
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Stephen J Blanksby
- Central Analytical Research Facility and School of Chemistry and Physics, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
| | - Sónia Troeira Henriques
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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3
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Darwish RM, Salama AH. Developing antibacterial peptides as a promising therapy for combating antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. Vet World 2024; 17:1259-1264. [PMID: 39077460 PMCID: PMC11283607 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2024.1259-1264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim Antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa poses a serious health threat. This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial activity of peptide KW-23 against drug-resistant P. aeruginosa and its potential for enhancing the efficacy of conventional antibiotics. Materials and Methods KW-23 was synthesized from nine amino acids, specifically three tryptophans and three lysines. The purity of the substance was analyzed using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The peptide was identified through mass spectrometry using electrospray ionization. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of KW-23 in combination with conventional antibiotics against control and multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa were determined utilizing broth microdilution. The erythrocyte hemolytic assay was used to measure toxicity. The KW-23 effect was analyzed using the time-kill curve. Results The peptide exhibited strong antibacterial activity against control and multidrug-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa, with MICs of 4.5 μg/mL and 20 μg/mL, respectively. At higher concentration of 100 μg/mL, KW-23 exhibited a low hemolytic impact, causing no more than 3% damage to red blood. The cytotoxicity assay demonstrates KW-23's safety, while the time-kill curve highlights its rapid and sustained antibacterial activity. The combination of KW-23 and gentamicin exhibited synergistic activity against both susceptible and resistant P. aeruginosa, with fractional inhibitory concentration index values of 0.07 and 0.27, respectively. Conclusion The KW-23 synthesized in the laboratory significantly combats antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa. Due to its strong antibacterial properties and low toxicity to cells, KW-23 is a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics in combating multidrug-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rula M. Darwish
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, the University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | - Ali H. Salama
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Middle East University, Amman, 11831, Jordan
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He S, Deber CM. Interaction of designed cationic antimicrobial peptides with the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1894. [PMID: 38253659 PMCID: PMC10803810 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51716-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The outer membrane (OM) is a hallmark feature of gram-negative bacteria that provides the species with heightened resistance against antibiotic threats while cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAPs) are natural antibiotics broadly recognized for their ability to disrupt bacterial membranes. It has been well-established that lipopolysaccharides present on the OM are among major targets of CAP activity against gram-negative species. Here we investigate how the relative distribution of charged residues along the primary peptide sequence, in conjunction with its overall hydrophobicity, affects such peptide-OM interactions in the natural CAP Ponericin W1. Using a designed peptide library derived from Ponericin W1, we determined that the consecutive placement of Lys residues at the peptide N- or C-terminus (ex. "PonN": KKKKKKWLGSALIGALLPSVVGLFQ) enhances peptide binding affinity to OM lipopolysaccharides compared to constructs where Lys residues are interspersed throughout the primary sequence (ex. "PonAmp": WLKKALKIGAKLLPSVVKLFKGSGQ). Antimicrobial activity against multidrug resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was similarly found to be highest among Lys-clustered sequences. Our findings suggest that while native Ponericin W1 exerts its initial activity at the OM, Lys-clustering may be a promising means to enhance potency towards this interface, thereby augmenting peptide entry and activity at the IM, with apparent advantage against multidrug-resistant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley He
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Charles M Deber
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 1A8, Canada.
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Johnson TS, Bourdine AA, Deber CM. Hydrophobic moment drives penetration of bacterial membranes by transmembrane peptides. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105266. [PMID: 37734555 PMCID: PMC10585379 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
With antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remaining a persistent and growing threat to human health worldwide, membrane-active peptides are gaining traction as an alternative strategy to overcome the issue. Membrane-embedded multi-drug resistant (MDR) efflux pumps are a prime target for membrane-active peptides, as they are a well-established contributor to clinically relevant AMR infections. Here, we describe a series of transmembrane peptides (TMs) to target the oligomerization motif of the AcrB component of the AcrAB-TolC MDR efflux pump from Escherichia coli. These peptides contain an N-terminal acetyl-A-(Sar)3 (sarcosine; N-methylglycine) tag and a C-terminal lysine tag-a design strategy our lab has utilized to improve the solubility and specificity of targeting for TMs previously. While these peptides have proven useful in preventing AcrB-mediated substrate efflux, the mechanisms by which these peptides associate with and penetrate the bacterial membrane remained unknown. In this study, we have shown peptide hydrophobic moment (μH)-the measure of concentrated hydrophobicity on one face of a lipopathic α-helix-drives bacterial membrane permeabilization and depolarization, likely through lateral-phase separation of negatively-charged POPG lipids and the disruption of lipid packing. Our results show peptide μH is an important consideration when designing membrane-active peptides and may be the determining factor in whether a TM will function in a permeabilizing or non-permeabilizing manner when embedded in the bacterial membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler S Johnson
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aleksandra A Bourdine
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Charles M Deber
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Cadelis MM, Edmeades LR, Chen D, Gill ES, Fraser K, Rouvier F, Bourguet-Kondracki ML, Brunel JM, Copp BR. Investigation of Naphthyl-Polyamine Conjugates as Antimicrobials and Antibiotic Enhancers. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1014. [PMID: 37370335 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12061014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
As part of our search for new antimicrobials and antibiotic enhancers, a series of naphthyl- and biphenyl-substituted polyamine conjugates have been synthesized. The structurally-diverse library of compounds incorporated variation in the capping end groups and in the length of the polyamine (PA) core. Longer chain (PA-3-12-3) variants containing both 1-naphthyl and 2-naphthyl capping groups exhibited more pronounced intrinsic antimicrobial properties against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (MIC ≤ 0.29 µM) and the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans (MIC ≤ 0.29 µM). Closer mechanistic study of one of these analogues, 20f, identified it as a bactericide. In contrast to previously reported diarylacyl-substituted polyamines, several examples in the current set were able to enhance the antibiotic action of doxycycline and/or erythromycin towards the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Two analogues (19a and 20c) were of note, exhibiting greater than 32-fold enhancement in activity. This latter result suggests that α,ω-disubstituted polyamines bearing 1-naphthyl- and 2-naphthyl-capping groups are worthy of further investigation and optimization as non-toxic antibiotic enhancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa M Cadelis
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
- School of Medical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Liam R Edmeades
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Dan Chen
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Evangelene S Gill
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Kyle Fraser
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Florent Rouvier
- Membranes et Cibles Thérapeutiques (MCT), SSA, INSERM, Aix-Marseille Universite, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Marie-Lise Bourguet-Kondracki
- Laboratoire Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Micro-organismes, UMR 7245 CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 rue Cuvier (C.P. 54), 75005 Paris, France
| | - Jean Michel Brunel
- Membranes et Cibles Thérapeutiques (MCT), SSA, INSERM, Aix-Marseille Universite, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Brent R Copp
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
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7
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Chen D, Cadelis MM, Rouvier F, Troia T, Edmeades LR, Fraser K, Gill ES, Bourguet-Kondracki ML, Brunel JM, Copp BR. α,ω-Diacyl-Substituted Analogues of Natural and Unnatural Polyamines: Identification of Potent Bactericides That Selectively Target Bacterial Membranes. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:5882. [PMID: 36982955 PMCID: PMC10052977 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, α-ω-disubstituted polyamines exhibit a range of potentially useful biological activities, including antimicrobial and antibiotic potentiation properties. We have prepared an expanded set of diarylbis(thioureido)polyamines that vary in central polyamine core length, identifying analogues with potent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii and Candida albicans growth inhibition properties, in addition to the ability to enhance action of doxycycline towards Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The observation of associated cytotoxicity/hemolytic properties prompted synthesis of an alternative series of diacylpolyamines that explored aromatic head groups of varying lipophilicity. Examples bearing terminal groups each containing two phenyl rings (15a-f, 16a-f) were found to have optimal intrinsic antimicrobial properties, with MRSA being the most susceptible organism. A lack of observed cytotoxicity or hemolytic properties for all but the longest polyamine chain variants identified these as non-toxic Gram-positive antimicrobials worthy of further study. Analogues bearing either one or three aromatic-ring-containing head groups were either generally devoid of antimicrobial properties (one ring) or cytotoxic/hemolytic (three rings), defining a rather narrow range of head group lipophilicity that affords selectivity for Gram-positive bacterial membranes versus mammalian. Analogue 15d is bactericidal and targets the Gram-positive bacterial membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Chen
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Melissa M. Cadelis
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Florent Rouvier
- UMR MD1 “Membranes et Cibles Therapeutiques”, U1261 INSERM, Faculté de Pharmacie, Aix-Marseille Universite, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Thomas Troia
- UMR MD1 “Membranes et Cibles Therapeutiques”, U1261 INSERM, Faculté de Pharmacie, Aix-Marseille Universite, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Liam R. Edmeades
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Kyle Fraser
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Evangelene S. Gill
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Marie-Lise Bourguet-Kondracki
- Laboratoire Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Micro-Organismes, UMR 7245 CNRS, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 57 Rue Cuvier (C.P. 54), 75005 Paris, France
| | - Jean Michel Brunel
- UMR MD1 “Membranes et Cibles Therapeutiques”, U1261 INSERM, Faculté de Pharmacie, Aix-Marseille Universite, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Brent R. Copp
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
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Development of a Novel Antibacterial Peptide, PAM-5, via Combination of Phage Display Selection and Computer-Assisted Modification. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13030466. [PMID: 36979401 PMCID: PMC10046784 DOI: 10.3390/biom13030466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibacterial peptides (ABPs) have been proposed as potential candidates for alternative antibacterial agents due to the extensive dissemination of antibiotic resistance. However, ABP isolation from natural resources can be tedious without consistent yield. Moreover, many natural ABPs are not developed for clinical application due to potential toxicity to mammalian cells. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a potent ABP with minimal toxicity via phage display selection followed by computer-assisted modification. Briefly, a 12-mer phage-displayed peptide library was used to isolate peptides that bound to the cell surface of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with high affinity. The affinity-selected peptide with the highest selection frequency was modified to PAM-5 (KWKWRPLKRKLVLRM) with enhanced antibacterial features by using an online peptide database. Using in vitro microbroth dilution assay, PAM-5 was shown to be active against a panel of Gram-negative bacteria and selected Gram-positive bacteria. Interestingly, the peptide was stable in human plasma by exhibiting a similar bactericidal effect via ex vivo assay. Scanning electron microscopy and SYTOX Green uptake assay revealed that PAM-5 was able to cause membrane disruption and permeabilization of the bacteria. Additionally, the peptide was also able to bind to bacterial DNA as demonstrated by gel retardation assay. In the time-kill assay, PAM-5 was shown to kill the bacteria rapidly in 10 min. More importantly, PAM-5 was non-cytotoxic to Vero cells and non-haemolytic to human erythrocytes at all concentrations tested for the antibacterial assays. Thus, this study showed that the combination of phage display screening and computer-assisted modification could be used to develop potent novel ABPs, and PAM-5 derived from these approaches is worth to be further elucidated for its potential clinical use.
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You Y, Liu H, Zhu Y, Zheng H. Rational design of stapled antimicrobial peptides. Amino Acids 2023; 55:421-442. [PMID: 36781451 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-023-03245-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
The global increase in antimicrobial drug resistance has dramatically reduced the effectiveness of traditional antibiotics. Structurally diverse antibiotics are urgently needed to combat multiple-resistant bacterial infections. As part of innate immunity, antimicrobial peptides have been recognized as the most promising candidates because they comprise diverse sequences and mechanisms of action and have a relatively low induction rate of resistance. However, because of their low chemical stability, susceptibility to proteases, and high hemolytic effect, their usage is subject to many restrictions. Chemical modifications such as D-amino acid substitution, cyclization, and unnatural amino acid modification have been used to improve the stability of antimicrobial peptides for decades. Among them, a side-chain covalent bridge modification, the so-called stapled peptide, has attracted much attention. The stapled side-chain bridge stabilizes the secondary structure, induces protease resistance, and increases cell penetration and biological activity. Recent progress in computer-aided drug design and artificial intelligence methods has also been used in the design of stapled antimicrobial peptides and has led to the successful discovery of many prospective peptides. This article reviews the possible structure-activity relationships of stapled antimicrobial peptides, the physicochemical properties that influence their activity (such as net charge, hydrophobicity, helicity, and dipole moment), and computer-aided methods of stapled peptide design. Antimicrobial peptides under clinical trial: Pexiganan (NCT01594762, 2012-05-07). Omiganan (NCT02576847, 2015-10-13).
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Affiliation(s)
- YuHao You
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - HongYu Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - YouZhuo Zhu
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Heng Zheng
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China.
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Hyaluronan-cecropin B interactions studied by ultrasound velocimetry and isothermal titration calorimetry. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 227:786-794. [PMID: 36549616 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.12.144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Interactions between hyaluronan and the antimicrobial peptide cecropin B were studied in water and PBS using high-resolution ultrasonic spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry. Although each technique is fundamentally different, they both gave identical results. It was found that the molecular weight of hyaluronan plays an important role in the interactions - in particular, the transition between the rod conformation and the random coil conformation. In water, interactions were saturated in a molar charge ratio of 1.5 and not 1.0 as expected. The later saturation of the interaction probably occurred either for steric reasons or due to the interaction between functional groups in the cecropin structure, which allowed complete dissociation of the antimicrobial peptide. In PBS, in contrast to water, no interactions were observed, irrespective of the molecular weight of hyaluronan. Thus, at a sufficiently high ionic strength, the interactions were suppressed.
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11
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Anticancer peptides mechanisms, simple and complex. Chem Biol Interact 2022; 368:110194. [PMID: 36195187 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Peptide therapy has started since 1920s with the advent of insulin application, and now it has emerged as a new approach in treatment of diseases including cancer. Using anti-cancer peptides (ACPs) is a promising way of cancer therapy as ACPs are continuing to be approved and arrived at major pharmaceutical markets. Traditional cancer treatments face different problems like intensive adverse effects to patient's body, cell resistance to conventional chemical drugs and in some worse cases the occurrence of cell multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancerous tissues against chemotherapy. On the other hand, there are some benefits conceived for peptides usage in treatment of diseases specifically cancer, as these compounds present favorable characteristics such as smaller size, high activity, low immunogenicity, good biocompatibility in vivo, convenient and rapid way of synthesis, amenable to sequence modification and revision and there is no limitation for the type of cargo they carry. It is possible to achieve an optimum molecular and functional structure of peptides based on previous experience and bank of peptide motif data which may result in novel peptide design. Bioactive peptides are able to form pores in cell membrane and induce necrosis or apoptosis of abnormal cells. Moreover, recent researches have focused on the tumor recognizing peptide motifs with the ability to permeate to cancerous cells with the aim of cancer treatment at earlier stages. In this strategy the most important factors for addressing cancer are choosing peptides with easy accessibility to tumor cell without cytotoxicity effect towards normal cells. The peptides must also meet acceptable pharmacokinetic requirements. In this review, the characteristics of peptides and cancer cells are discussed. The various mechanisms of peptides' action proposed against cancer cells make the next part of discussion. It will be followed by giving information on peptides application, various methods of peptide designing along with introducing various databases. Future aspects of peptides for employing in area of cancer treatment come as conclusion at the end.
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12
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Mitchell CJ, Johnson TS, Deber CM. Transmembrane peptide effects on bacterial membrane integrity and organization. Biophys J 2022; 121:3253-3262. [PMID: 35923102 PMCID: PMC9463641 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
As the bacterial multidrug resistance crisis continues, membrane-active antimicrobial peptides are being explored as an alternate treatment to conventional antibiotics. In contrast to antimicrobial peptides, which function by a nonspecific membrane disruption mechanism, here we describe a series of transmembrane (TM) peptides that are designed to act as drug efflux inhibitors by aligning with and out-competing a conserved TM4-TM4 homodimerization motif within bacterial small multidrug resistance proteins. The peptides contain two terminal tags: a C-terminal lysine tag to direct the peptides toward the negatively charged bacterial membrane, and an uncharged N-terminal sarcosine (N-methyl-glycine) tag to promote membrane insertion. While effective at inhibiting efflux activity, ostensibly through their designed mechanism of action, the impact of the peptides on the bacterial inner membrane remains undetermined. To evaluate the extant peptide-membrane interactions, we performed a series of biophysical measurements. Circular dichroism spectroscopy and Trp fluorescence showed that the peptides insert into the membrane generally in helical form. Interestingly, differential scanning calorimetry of the peptides added to bacterial-like membranes (POPE:POPG 3:1) revealed the peptides' ability to demix the POPE and POPG lipids, creating two pools, one of which is likely a peptide-POPG conglomerate, and the other a POPE-rich component where the native POPG content has been depleted. However, dye leakage assays confirmed that these events occur without causing significant membrane disruption both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that the peptides can target the small multidrug resistance TM4-TM4 motif without nonspecific membrane disruption. In related studies, DiOC2(3) fluorescence indicated moderate peptide-mediated reduction of the proton motive force for all peptides, including control peptides that did not display inhibitory activity. The overall findings suggest that peptides designed with suitable tags, sequence hydrophobicity, and charge distribution can be directed more generally to impact proteins whose function involves membrane-embedded protein-protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe J Mitchell
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto M5G 0A4, Ontario, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tyler S Johnson
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto M5G 0A4, Ontario, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Ontario, Canada
| | - Charles M Deber
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto M5G 0A4, Ontario, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Ontario, Canada.
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13
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Li SA, Cadelis MM, Deed RC, Douafer H, Bourguet-Kondracki ML, Michel Brunel J, Copp BR. Valorisation of the diterpene podocarpic acid - Antibiotic and antibiotic enhancing activities of polyamine conjugates. Bioorg Med Chem 2022; 64:116762. [PMID: 35477062 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2022.116762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
As part of our search for new antimicrobials and antibiotic adjuvants, a series of podocarpic acid-polyamine conjugates have been synthesized. The library of compounds made use of the phenolic and carboxylic acid moieties of the diterpene allowing attachment of polyamines (PA) of different lengths to afford a structurally-diverse set of analogues. Evaluation of the conjugates for intrinsic antimicrobial properties identified two derivatives of interest: a PA3-4-3 (spermine) amide-bonded variant 7a that was a non-cytotoxic, non-hemolytic potent growth inhibitor of Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 9d, a PA3-8-3 carbamate derivative that was a non-toxic selective antifungal towards Cryptococcus neoformans. Of the compound set, only one example exhibited activity towards Gram-negative bacteria. However, in the presence of sub-therapeutic amounts of either doxycycline (4.5 µM) or erythromycin (2.7 μM) several analogues were observed to exhibit weak to modest antibiotic adjuvant properties against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and/or Escherichia coli. The observation of strong cytotoxicity and/or hemolytic properties for subsets of the library, in particular those analogues bearing methyl ester or n-pentylamide functionality, highlighted the fine balance of structural requirements and lipophilicity for antimicrobial activity as opposed to mammalian cell toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven A Li
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Melissa M Cadelis
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Rebecca C Deed
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Hana Douafer
- Aix-Marseille Universite, INSERM, SSA, MCT, Faculté de Pharmacie, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Marie-Lise Bourguet-Kondracki
- Laboratoire Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Micro-organismes, UMR 7245 CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 rue Cuvier (C.P. 54), 75005 Paris, France
| | - Jean Michel Brunel
- Aix-Marseille Universite, INSERM, SSA, MCT, Faculté de Pharmacie, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Brent R Copp
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
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14
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Evolving and assembling to pierce through: Evolutionary and structural aspects of antimicrobial peptides. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:2247-2258. [PMID: 35615024 PMCID: PMC9117813 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The burgeoning menace of antimicrobial resistance across the globe has necessitated investigations into other chemotherapeutic strategies to combat infections. Antimicrobial peptides, or host defense peptides, are a set of promising therapeutic candidates in this regard. Most of them cause membrane permeabilization and are a key component of the innate immune response to pathogenic invasion. It has also been reported that peptide self-assembly is a driving factor governing the microbicidal activity of these peptide candidates. While efforts have been made to develop novel synthetic peptides against various microbes, many clinical trials of such peptides have failed due to toxicity and hemolytic activity to the host. A function-guided rational peptide engineering, based on evolutionary principles, physicochemical properties and activity determinants of AMP activity, is expected to help in targeting specific microbes. Furthermore, it is important to develop a unified understanding of the evolution of AMPs in order to fully appreciate their importance in host defense. This review seeks to explore the evolution of AMPs and the physicochemical determinants of AMP activity. The specific interactions driving AMP self-assembly have also been reviewed, emphasizing implications of this self-assembly on microbicidal and immunomodulatory activity.
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15
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Glibowicka M, He S, Deber CM. Enhanced proteolytic resistance of cationic antimicrobial peptides through lysine side chain analogs and cyclization. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 612:105-109. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.04.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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16
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He S, Stone TA, Deber CM. Uncoupling Amphipathicity and Hydrophobicity: Role of Charge Clustering in Membrane Interactions of Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides. Biochemistry 2021; 60:2586-2592. [PMID: 34423969 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Peptides with a combination of high positive charge and high hydrophobicity have high antimicrobial activity, as epitomized by peptide venoms, which are designed by nature as disruptors of host membranes yet also display significant efficacy against pathogens. To investigate this phenomenon systematically, here we focus on ponericin W1, a peptide venom isolated from Pachycondyla goeldii ants (WLGSALKIGAKLLPSVVGLFKKKKQ) to examine whether Lys positioning can be broadly applied to optimize the functional range of existing natural sequences. We prepared sets of ponericin W1 analogues, where Lys residues were either distributed in an amphipathic manner throughout the sequence (PonAmp), clustered at the N-terminus (PonN), or clustered at the C-terminus (PonC), along with their counterparts of reduced hydrophobicity through 2-4 Leu-to-Ala replacements. We found that wild-type ponericin W1 and all three variants displayed toxicity against human erythrocytes, but hemolysis was eliminated by the replacement of two or more Leu residues by Ala residues. As well, peptides containing up to 3 Leu-to-Ala replacements retained antimicrobial activity against E. coli bacteria. Biophysical analyses of peptide-membrane interaction patterns by circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed a novel mode of cluster-dependent peptide positioning vis-à-vis the water-membrane interface, where PonAmp and PonC peptides displayed full or partial helical structures, while PonN peptides were unstructured, likely due, in part, to dynamic interchange between aqueous and membrane surface environments. The overall findings suggest that the lower membrane penetration of N-terminal charge-clustered constructs coupled with moderate sequence hydrophobicity may be advantageous for conferring enhanced target selectivity for bacterial versus mammalian membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley He
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Tracy A Stone
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Charles M Deber
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
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17
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Wester A, Hansen AM, Hansen PR, Franzyk H. Perfluoro-tert-butanol for selective on-resin detritylation: a mild alternative to traditionally used methods. Amino Acids 2021; 53:1455-1466. [PMID: 34410506 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-021-03059-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Solid-phase synthesis of cyclic, branched or side-chain-modified peptides typically involves introduction of a residue carrying a temporary side-chain protecting group that undergoes selective on-resin removal. In particular, Nα-Fmoc-Nε-(4-methyltriphenylmethyl) (Mtt)-protected lysine and its shorter analogues are commercially available and extensively used in this context. Nevertheless, rapid reliable methods for on-resin removal of Mtt groups in the presence of tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) groups are needed. Current commonly used conditions involve low concentrations (1-3%) of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in dichloromethane, albeit adjustment to each specific application is required to avoid premature removal of Boc groups or cleavage from the linker. Hence, a head-to-head comparison of several deprotection conditions was performed. The selected acids represent a wide range of acidity from TFA to trifluoroethanol. Also, on-resin removal of the N-(4-methoxytriphenylmethyl) (Mmt) and O-trityl groups (on serine) was investigated under similar conditions. The mildest conditions identified for Mtt deprotection involve successive treatments with 30% hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) or 30% perfluoro-tert-butanol [(CF3)3COH] in dichloromethane (3 × 5 or 3 × 15 min, respectively), while 30% HFIP, 30% (CF3)3COH, or 10% AcOH-20% trifluoroethanol (TFE) in CH2Cl2 (3 × 5 min) as well as 5% trichloroacetic acid in CH2Cl2 (3 × 2 min) enabled Mmt removal. Treatment with 1% TFA with/without 2% triisopropylsilane added (3 × 5 min), but also prolonged treatment with 30% (CF3)3COH (5 × 15 min), led to selective deprotection of an O-Trt group on a serine residue. In all cases, the sequences also contained N-Boc or O-tBu protecting groups, which were not affected by 30% HFIP or 30% (CF3)3COH even after a prolonged reaction time of 4 h. Finally, the optimized conditions involving HFIP or (CF3)3COH proved applicable also for selective deprotection of a longer resin-bound peptide [i.e., Ac-Gly-Leu-Leu-Lys(Mtt)-Arg(Pbf)-Ile-Lys(Boc)-Ser(tBu)-Leu-Leu-RAM-PS] as well as allowed for an almost complete deprotection of a Dab(Mtt) residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Wester
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 162, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna Mette Hansen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 162, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Paul R Hansen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 162, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Franzyk
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 162, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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18
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Frederiksen N, Louka S, Mudaliar C, Domraceva I, Kreicberga A, Pugovics O, Żabicka D, Tomczak M, Wygoda W, Björkling F, Franzyk H. Peptide/β-Peptoid Hybrids with Ultrashort PEG-Like Moieties: Effects on Hydrophobicity, Antibacterial Activity and Hemolytic Properties. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22137041. [PMID: 34208826 PMCID: PMC8268887 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22137041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
PEGylation of antimicrobial peptides as a shielding tool that increases stability toward proteolytic degradation typically leads to concomitant loss of activity, whereas incorporation of ultrashort PEG-like amino acids (sPEGs) remains essentially unexplored. Here, modification of a peptide/β-peptoid hybrid with sPEGs was examined with respect to influence on hydrophobicity, antibacterial activity and effect on viability of mammalian cells for a set of 18 oligomers. Intriguingly, the degree of sPEG modification did not significantly affect hydrophobicity as measured by retention in reverse-phase HPLC. Antibacterial activity against both wild-type and drug-resistant strains of Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumannii (both Gram-negative pathogens) was retained or slightly improved (MICs in the range 2–16 µg/mL equal to 0.7–5.2 µM). All compounds in the series exhibited less than 10% hemolysis at 400 µg/mL. While the number of sPEG moieties appeared not to be clearly correlated with hemolytic activity, a trend toward slightly increased hemolytic activity was observed for analogues displaying the longest sPEGs. In contrast, within a subseries the viability of HepG2 liver cells was least affected by analogues displaying the longer sPEGs (with IC50 values of ~1280 µg/mL) as compared to most other analogues and the parent peptidomimetic (IC50 values in the range 330–800 µg/mL).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicki Frederiksen
- Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (N.F.); (S.L.); (C.M.); (F.B.)
| | - Stavroula Louka
- Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (N.F.); (S.L.); (C.M.); (F.B.)
| | - Chirag Mudaliar
- Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (N.F.); (S.L.); (C.M.); (F.B.)
| | - Ilona Domraceva
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, 1006 Riga, Latvia; (I.D.); (A.K.); (O.P.)
| | - Agrita Kreicberga
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, 1006 Riga, Latvia; (I.D.); (A.K.); (O.P.)
| | - Osvalds Pugovics
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, 1006 Riga, Latvia; (I.D.); (A.K.); (O.P.)
| | - Dorota Żabicka
- Department of Epidemiology and Clinical Microbiology, National Medicines Institute, ul. Chełmska 30/34, 00-725 Warsaw, Poland; (D.Ż.); (M.T.); (W.W.)
| | - Magdalena Tomczak
- Department of Epidemiology and Clinical Microbiology, National Medicines Institute, ul. Chełmska 30/34, 00-725 Warsaw, Poland; (D.Ż.); (M.T.); (W.W.)
| | - Weronika Wygoda
- Department of Epidemiology and Clinical Microbiology, National Medicines Institute, ul. Chełmska 30/34, 00-725 Warsaw, Poland; (D.Ż.); (M.T.); (W.W.)
| | - Fredrik Björkling
- Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (N.F.); (S.L.); (C.M.); (F.B.)
| | - Henrik Franzyk
- Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (N.F.); (S.L.); (C.M.); (F.B.)
- Correspondence:
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19
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A review: Biologically active 3,4-heterocycle-fused coumarins. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 212:113034. [PMID: 33276991 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.113034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The combination of heterocycles offers a new opportunity to create novel multicyclic compounds having improved biological activity. Coumarins are ubiquitous natural heterocycle widely adopted in the design of various biologically active compounds. Fusing different heterocycles with coumarin ring is one of the interesting approaches to generating novel hybrid molecules having highlighted biological activities. In the efforts to develop heterocyclic-fused coumarins, a wide range of 3,4-heterocycle-fused coumarins have been introduced bearing outstanding biological activity. The effect of heterocycles annulation at 3,4-positions of coumarin ring on the biological activity of the target structures were discussed. This review focuses on the important progress of 3,4-heterocycle-fused coumarins providing better insight for medicinal chemists on the design and preparation of biologically active heterocycle-fused coumarins with a significant therapeutic effect in the future.
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20
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Frederiksen N, Hansen PR, Zabicka D, Tomczak M, Urbas M, Domraceva I, Björkling F, Franzyk H. Alternating Cationic-Hydrophobic Peptide/Peptoid Hybrids: Influence of Hydrophobicity on Antibacterial Activity and Cell Selectivity. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:2544-2561. [PMID: 33029927 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The influence of hydrophobicity on antibacterial activity versus the effect on the viability of mammalian cells for peptide/peptoid hybrids was examined for oligomers based on the cationic Lys-like peptoid residue combined with each of 28 hydrophobic amino acids in an alternating sequence. Their relative hydrophobicity was correlated to activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive species, human red blood cells, and HepG2 cells. This identified hydrophobic side chains that confer potent antibacterial activity (e. g., MICs of 2-8 μg/mL against E. coli) and low toxicity toward mammalian cells (<10 % hemolysis at 400 μg/mL and IC50 >800 μg/mL for HepG2 viability). Most peptidomimetics retained activity against drug-resistant strains. These findings corroborate the hypothesis that for related peptidomimetics two hydrophobicity thresholds may be identified: i) it should exceed a certain level in order to confer antibacterial activity, and ii) there is an upper limit, beyond which cell selectivity is lost. It is envisioned that once identified for a given subclass of peptide-like antibacterials such thresholds can guide further optimisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicki Frederiksen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 162, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Paul R Hansen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 162, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dorota Zabicka
- Department of Epidemiology and Clinical Microbiology, National Medicines Institute, ul. Chełmska 30/34, 00-725, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Tomczak
- Department of Epidemiology and Clinical Microbiology, National Medicines Institute, ul. Chełmska 30/34, 00-725, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Urbas
- Department of Epidemiology and Clinical Microbiology, National Medicines Institute, ul. Chełmska 30/34, 00-725, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ilona Domraceva
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, 1006, Riga, Latvia
| | - Fredrik Björkling
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 162, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Franzyk
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 162, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Peacock H, Henriques ST, Benfield AH, Elliott AG, Luo J, Luccarelli J, Nagano M, Craik DJ, Hamilton AD. Antimicrobial Peptide Mimetics Based on a Diphenylacetylene Scaffold: Synthesis, Conformational Analysis, and Activity. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:1932-1939. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hayden Peacock
- Department of Chemistry The University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-0033 Japan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
- Chemistry Research Laboratory The University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Sónia Troeira Henriques
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation and Translational Research Institute Queensland University of Technology Brisbane QLD, 4102 Australia
| | - Aurélie H. Benfield
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation and Translational Research Institute Queensland University of Technology Brisbane QLD, 4102 Australia
| | - Alysha G. Elliott
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Jinghui Luo
- Chemistry Research Laboratory The University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology Paul Scherrer Institute 5232 Villigen Switzerland
| | - James Luccarelli
- Chemistry Research Laboratory The University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
- Department of Psychiatry Massachusetts General Hospital Boston MA 02114 USA
| | - Masanobu Nagano
- Department of Chemistry The University of Tokyo 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-0033 Japan
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Andrew D. Hamilton
- Department of Chemistry New York University New York NY 10003 USA
- Chemistry Research Laboratory The University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
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22
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Vernen F, Craik DJ, Lawrence N, Troeira Henriques S. Cyclic Analogues of Horseshoe Crab Peptide Tachyplesin I with Anticancer and Cell Penetrating Properties. ACS Chem Biol 2019; 14:2895-2908. [PMID: 31714739 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.9b00782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Tachyplesin-I (TI) is a host defense peptide from the horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus that has outstanding potential as an anticancer therapeutic lead. Backbone cyclized TI (cTI) has similar anticancer properties to TI but has higher stability and lower hemolytic activity. We designed and synthesized cTI analogues to further improve anticancer potential and investigated structure-activity relationships based on peptide-membrane interactions, cellular uptake, and anticancer activity. The membrane-binding affinity and cytotoxic activity of cTI were found to be highly dependent on peptide hydrophobicity and charge. We describe two analogues with increased selectivity toward melanoma cells and one analogue with the ability to enter cells with high efficacy and low toxicity. Overall, the structure-activity relationship study shows that cTI can be developed as a membrane-active antimelanoma lead, or be employed as a cell penetrating peptide scaffold that can target and enter cells without damaging their integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicitas Vernen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Nicole Lawrence
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Sónia Troeira Henriques
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia
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Frederiksen N, Hansen PR, Björkling F, Franzyk H. Peptide/Peptoid Hybrid Oligomers: The Influence of Hydrophobicity and Relative Side-Chain Length on Antibacterial Activity and Cell Selectivity. Molecules 2019; 24:E4429. [PMID: 31817108 PMCID: PMC6943742 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24244429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous optimisation studies of peptide/peptoid hybrids typically comprise comparison of structurally related analogues displaying different oligomer length and diverse side chains. The present work concerns a systematically constructed series of 16 closely related 12-mer oligomers with an alternating cationic/hydrophobic design, representing a wide range of hydrophobicity and differences in relative side-chain lengths. The aim was to explore and rationalise the structure-activity relationships within a subclass of oligomers displaying variation of three structural features: (i) cationic side-chain length, (ii) hydrophobic side-chain length, and (iii) type of residue that is of a flexible peptoid nature. Increased side-chain length of cationic residues led to reduced hydrophobicity till the side chains became more extended than the aromatic/hydrophobic side chains, at which point hydrophobicity increased slightly. Evaluation of antibacterial activity revealed that analogues with lowest hydrophobicity exhibited reduced activity against E. coli, while oligomers with the shortest cationic side chains were most potent against P. aeruginosa. Thus, membrane-disruptive interaction with P. aeruginosa appears to be promoted by a hydrophobic surface of the oligomers (comprised of the aromatic groups shielding the cationic side chains). Peptidomimetics with short cationic side chains exhibit increased hemolytic properties as well as give rise to decreased HepG2 (hepatoblastoma G2 cell line) cell viability. An optimal hydrophobicity window could be defined by a threshold of minimal hydrophobicity conferring activity toward E. coli and a threshold for maximal hydrophobicity, beyond which cell selectivity was lost.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Henrik Franzyk
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 162, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (N.F.); (P.R.H.); (F.B.)
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24
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Benkova M, Soukup O, Prchal L, Sleha R, Eleršek T, Novak M, Sepčić K, Gunde‐Cimerman N, Dolezal R, Bostik V, Bostik P, Marek J. Synthesis, Antimicrobial Effect and Lipophilicity‐Activity Dependence of Three Series of Dichained
N
‐Alkylammonium Salts. ChemistrySelect 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.201902357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marketa Benkova
- Department of EpidemiologyUniversity of Defence in Brno Třebešská 1575, 500 05 Hradec Králové Czech Republic
- University Hospital Hradec Králové Sokolská 581 500 05 Hradec Králové Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Soukup
- University Hospital Hradec Králové Sokolská 581 500 05 Hradec Králové Czech Republic
| | - Lukas Prchal
- University Hospital Hradec Králové Sokolská 581 500 05 Hradec Králové Czech Republic
| | - Radek Sleha
- Department of EpidemiologyUniversity of Defence in Brno Třebešská 1575, 500 05 Hradec Králové Czech Republic
| | - Tina Eleršek
- Department for Genetic Toxicology and Cancer BiologyNational Institute of Biology Večna pot 111 1111 Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Martin Novak
- University Hospital Hradec Králové Sokolská 581 500 05 Hradec Králové Czech Republic
| | - Kristina Sepčić
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Ljubljana Jamnikarjeva 101 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Nina Gunde‐Cimerman
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Ljubljana Jamnikarjeva 101 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Rafael Dolezal
- University Hospital Hradec Králové Sokolská 581 500 05 Hradec Králové Czech Republic
| | - Vanda Bostik
- Department of EpidemiologyUniversity of Defence in Brno Třebešská 1575, 500 05 Hradec Králové Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Bostik
- Department of EpidemiologyUniversity of Defence in Brno Třebešská 1575, 500 05 Hradec Králové Czech Republic
| | - Jan Marek
- Department of EpidemiologyUniversity of Defence in Brno Třebešská 1575, 500 05 Hradec Králové Czech Republic
- University Hospital Hradec Králové Sokolská 581 500 05 Hradec Králové Czech Republic
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25
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Peptide-Based Efflux Pump Inhibitors of the Small Multidrug Resistance Protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:AAC.00730-19. [PMID: 31209007 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00730-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria have acquired multiple mechanisms to evade the lethal effects of current therapeutics, hindering treatment of bacterial infections, such as those caused by the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is responsible for nosocomial and cystic fibrosis lung infections. One resistance mechanism involves membrane-embedded multidrug efflux pumps that can effectively extrude an array of substrates, including common antibiotics, dyes, and biocides. Among these is a small multidrug resistance (SMR) efflux protein, consisting of four transmembrane (TM) helices, that functions as an antiparallel dimer. TM helices 1 to 3 (TM1 to TM3) comprise the substrate binding pocket, while TM4 contains a GG7 heptad sequence motif that mediates the SMR TM4-TM4 dimerization. In the present work, we synthesized a series of peptides containing the residues centered on the TM4-TM4 binding interface found in the P. aeruginosa SMR (PAsmr), typified by Ac-Ala-(Sar)3-LLGIGLIIAGVLV-KKK-NH2 (helix-helix interaction residues are underlined). Here, the acetylated N-terminal sarcosine (N-methyl-Gly) tag [Ac-Ala-(Sar)3] promotes membrane penetration, while the C-terminal Lys tag promotes selectivity for the negatively charged bacterial membranes. This peptide was observed to competitively disrupt PAsmr-mediated efflux, as measured by efflux inhibition of the fluorescent dye ethidium bromide, while having no effect on cell membrane integrity. Alternatively, a corresponding peptide in which the TM4 binding motif is scrambled was inactive in this assay. In addition, when Escherichia coli cells expressing PAsmr were combined with sublethal concentrations of several biocides, growth was significantly inhibited when peptide was added, notably, by up to 95% with the disinfectant benzylalkonium chloride. These results demonstrate promise for an efflux pump inhibitor to address the increasing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
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26
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Stone TA, Cole GB, Ravamehr-Lake D, Nguyen HQ, Khan F, Sharpe S, Deber CM. Positive Charge Patterning and Hydrophobicity of Membrane-Active Antimicrobial Peptides as Determinants of Activity, Toxicity, and Pharmacokinetic Stability. J Med Chem 2019; 62:6276-6286. [PMID: 31194548 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Natural α-helical cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAP) sequences are predominantly amphipathic, with only ca. 2% containing four or more consecutive positively charged amino acids (Lys/Arg). We have designed synthetic CAPs that deviate from these natural sequences, as typified by the charge-clustered peptide KKKKKKAAFAAWAAFAA-NH2, (termed 6K-F17), which displays high antimicrobial activity with no toxicity to mammalian cells. We created a series of peptides varying in charge patterning, increasing the amphipathic character of 6K-F17 to mimic the design of natural CAPs (e.g., KAAKKFAKAWAKAFAA-NH2). Amphipathic sequences displayed increased antimicrobial activity against bacteria but were significantly more toxic to mammalian cells and more susceptible to protease degradation than their corresponding charge-clustered variants, suggesting that amphipathic sequences may be desirable in nature to allow for more versatile functions (i.e., antibacterial, antifungal, antipredator) and rapid clearance from vulnerable host cells. Our approach to clustering of charges may therefore allow for specialization against bacteria, in concert with prolonged peptide half-life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy A Stone
- Department of Biochemistry , University of Toronto , Toronto , M5S 1A8 Ontario , Canada
| | - Gregory B Cole
- Division of Molecular Medicine , Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto M5G 0A4 Ontario , Canada
| | - Dorna Ravamehr-Lake
- Division of Molecular Medicine , Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto M5G 0A4 Ontario , Canada
| | - Huong Q Nguyen
- Division of Molecular Medicine , Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto M5G 0A4 Ontario , Canada
| | - Farheen Khan
- Division of Molecular Medicine , Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto M5G 0A4 Ontario , Canada
| | - Simon Sharpe
- Division of Molecular Medicine , Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto M5G 0A4 Ontario , Canada
| | - Charles M Deber
- Division of Molecular Medicine , Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto M5G 0A4 Ontario , Canada
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27
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Taheri B, Mohammadi M, Momenzadeh N, Farshadzadeh Z, Roozbehani M, Dehghani P, Hajian S, Darvishi S, Shamseddin J. Substitution of lysine for isoleucine at the center of the nonpolar face of the antimicrobial peptide, piscidin-1, leads to an increase in the rapidity of bactericidal activity and a reduction in toxicity. Infect Drug Resist 2019; 12:1629-1647. [PMID: 31354312 PMCID: PMC6585414 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s195872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Piscidin-1 is an effective antimicrobial peptide (AMP) against a variety of microbes. However, its toxicity has been reported as a limitation for its potential therapeutic applications. The toxicity of piscidin-1 may be related to the long nonpolar face of this AMP. Here, we investigated different piscidin-1 analogs to reach a peptide with the reduced toxicity. Material and methods: In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity and toxicity of piscidin-1 analogs generated by replacement of isoleucine at the border (I9) or the center (I16) of the nonpolar face of piscidin-1 by alanine or lysine were investigated. Results: The results indicated that among all peptides, piscidin-1 with the highest HPLC retention time (RT) and I16K-piscidin-1 with the lowest RT had the highest and lowest cytotoxicity, respectively. Although I16K-piscidin-1 possessed the same MIC value as the parent peptide (piscidin-1) and other analogs, I16K-piscidin-1 exhibited a higher rapidity of bactericidal action at 5×MIC. The β-galactosidase leakage and propidium iodide staining assays indicated a higher pore-forming capacity of I16K-piscidin-1 relative to the parent peptide (piscidin-1). Taken together, RT is suggested to have a direct association with the toxicity and an inverse association with the rapidity of bactericidal action and pore-forming capacity. After infection of mice with clinical colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii or clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains, treatment with I16K-piscidin-1, but not piscidin-1 and other analogs, resulted in a significantly stronger bactericidal potency. Furthermore, I16K-piscidin-1 exhibited the lowest in vivo toxicity. Conclusion: Overall, in vitro and in vivo comparison of piscidin-1 and its analogs together documented that replacement of isoleucine at the center of the nonpolar face of piscidin-1(I16) by lysine leads to not only a decrease in toxicity potential but also an increase in bactericidal potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behrouz Taheri
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mohsen Mohammadi
- The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Niloofar Momenzadeh
- The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Zahra Farshadzadeh
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.,Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mona Roozbehani
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parva Dehghani
- The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Sobhan Hajian
- Student Research Committee, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Sadegh Darvishi
- Student Research Committee, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Jebreil Shamseddin
- Infection and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
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28
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Yang N, Teng D, Mao R, Hao Y, Wang X, Wang Z, Wang X, Wang J. A recombinant fungal defensin-like peptide-P2 combats multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and biofilms. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:5193-5213. [PMID: 31025073 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-09785-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to discover new active drugs to combat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is a serious threat to humans and animals and incompletely eliminated by antibiotics due to its intracellular accumulation in host cells, production of biofilms, and persisters. Fungal defensin-like peptides (DLPs) are emerging as a potential source of new antibacterial drugs due to their potent antibacterial activity. In this study, nine novel fungal DLPs were firstly identified by querying against UniProt databases and expressed in Pichia pastoris, and their antibacterial and anti-biofilm ability were tested against multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. aureus. Results showed that among them, P2, the highest activity and expression level, showed low toxicity, no resistance, and high stability. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of P2 against Gram-positive bacteria were < 2 μg/mL. P2 exhibited the potent activity against intracellular MDR S. aureus (bacterial reduction in 80-97%) in RAW264.7 macrophages. P2 bound to/disrupted bacterial DNA, wrinkled outer membranes and permeabilized cytoplasmic membranes, but maintained the integrity of bacterial cells. P2 inhibited/eradicated the biofilm and killed 99% persister bacteria, which were resistant to 100× MIC vancomycin. P2 upregulated the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) and downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α/IL-1β) and chemokine (MCP-1) levels in RAW 264.7 macrophages and in mice, respectively. Five milligram per kilogram P2 enhanced the survival of S. aureus-infected mice (100%), superior to vancomycin (30 mg/kg), inhibited the bacterial translocation, and alleviated multiple-organ injuries (liver, spleen, kidney, and lung). These data suggest that P2 may be a candidate for novel antimicrobial agents against MDR staphylococcal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Yang
- Team of Alternatives to Antibiotics, Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Da Teng
- Team of Alternatives to Antibiotics, Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruoyu Mao
- Team of Alternatives to Antibiotics, Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Ya Hao
- Team of Alternatives to Antibiotics, Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Team of Alternatives to Antibiotics, Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenlong Wang
- Team of Alternatives to Antibiotics, Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiumin Wang
- Team of Alternatives to Antibiotics, Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jianhua Wang
- Team of Alternatives to Antibiotics, Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.
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29
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Li Y, Zhang Y, Wu M, Chang Q, Hu H, Zhao X. Improving Selectivity, Proteolytic Stability, and Antitumor Activity of Hymenochirin-1B: A Novel Glycosylated Staple Strategy. ACS Chem Biol 2019; 14:516-525. [PMID: 30789695 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.9b00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
As a host defense peptide, hymenochirin-1B has attracted increasing attention for its strong cytotoxic activities. However, its poor selectivity and proteolytic stability remain major obstacles for clinical application. To solve these problems, we designed and synthesized a series of peptide analogues of hymenochirin-1B based on cationic residue substitution and stapling combined with a glycosylation strategy. Some analogues showed improvement not only in selectivity and proteolytic stability but also in antitumor activity. Among them, the glycosylated stapled peptide H-58 was identified as the most potential antitumor peptide. Flow cytometry and a competitive binding assay revealed that H-58 displayed significant antitumor selectivity. Confocal microscopy and nuclear staining with Hoechst dye demonstrated that H-58 entered the nucleus and caused DNA damage. In summary, the strategy of glycosylated stapled peptides is a promising approach for improving the antitumor selectivity, proteolytic stability, and antitumor activity of hymenochirin-1B, which can be used for other bioactive peptide modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulei Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Yihan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Minghao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Qi Chang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Honggang Hu
- Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200436, China
| | - Xia Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
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30
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Selectivity of Antimicrobial Peptides: A Complex Interplay of Multiple Equilibria. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1117:175-214. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-3588-4_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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31
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Nam BH, Park EH, Shin EH, Kim YO, Kim DG, Kong HJ, Park JY, Seo JK. Development of novel antimicrobial peptides derived from anti-lipopolysaccharide factor of the swimming crab, Portunus trituberculatus. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 84:664-672. [PMID: 30336284 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2018.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Anti-lipopolysaccharide factors (ALFs) are a representative host defense protein in crustaceans. In this study, we successfully developed two novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), named crab-ALF2A and crab-ALF6A, which contain changes to the amino acid sequences of the lipopolysaccharide binding domain and signal peptide, respectively, of the ALF of the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus. The crab-ALF2A peptide showed potent antimicrobial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus iniae (minimal effective concentration [MEC] 1.51-1.93 μg/mL) and the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli (MEC 1.87-1.98 μg/mL), with maximal bactericidal activity at a peptide concentration of 5 μg/mL. The crab-ALF6A peptide also showed potent antimicrobial activity against B. cereus, S. aureus, and S. iniae (MEC 1.49-2.3 μg/mL) and P. aeruginosa and E. coli (MEC 1.72-1.19 μg/mL) at a peptide concentration of 5 μg/mL. Notably, the crab-ALF2A and crab-ALF6A peptides exhibited strong activity against Candida albicans (MECs of 2.11 and 1.95 μg/mL, respectively). These activities were stable following heat treatment. Moreover, the effect of crab-ALF2A and crab-ALF6A peptide treatment on microbe cell morphology was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Membrane disruption and damage, and the leakage of cytoplasmic content were clearly observed. A downsizing peptide approach illustrated that the hexapeptide ALF6A8 (RVLLRL) was the shortest peptide showing significant antimicrobial activity. Our approach allows for the generation of novel antimicrobial peptides in a cost effective manner as potential next-generation antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Hye Nam
- Biotechnology Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Haean-ro 216, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, 619-705, Republic of Korea.
| | - Eun-Hee Park
- Biotechnology Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Haean-ro 216, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, 619-705, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Ha Shin
- Biotechnology Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Haean-ro 216, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, 619-705, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Ok Kim
- Biotechnology Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Haean-ro 216, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, 619-705, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Gyun Kim
- Biotechnology Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Haean-ro 216, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, 619-705, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Jeong Kong
- Biotechnology Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Haean-ro 216, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, 619-705, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Youn Park
- Biotechnology Research Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Haean-ro 216, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, 619-705, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Kil Seo
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kunsan National University, Republic of Korea.
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32
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Konaklieva MI. Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance through New Medicinal and Synthetic Chemistry Strategies. SLAS DISCOVERY 2018; 24:419-439. [PMID: 30523713 DOI: 10.1177/2472555218812657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Over the past century, a multitude of derivatives of structural scaffolds with established antimicrobial potential have been prepared and tested, and a variety of new scaffolds have emerged. The effectiveness of antibiotics, however, is in sharp decline because of the emergence of drug-resistant microorganisms. The prevalence of drug resistance, both in clinical and community settings, is a consequence of bacterial ingenuity in altering pathways and/or cell morphology, making it a persistent threat to human health. The fundamental ability of pathogens to survive in a multitude of habitats can be triggered by recognition of chemical signals that warn organisms of exposure to a potentially harmful environment. Host immune defenses, including reactive oxygen intermediates and antibacterial substances, are among the multitude of chemical signals that can subsequently trigger expression of phenotypes better adapted for survival in that hostile environment. Thus, resistance development appears to be unavoidable, which leads to the conclusion that developing an alternative perspective for treatment options is vital. This review will discuss emerging medicinal chemistry approaches for addressing the global multidrug resistance in the 21st century.
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33
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Marggraf MB, Panteleev PV, Emelianova AA, Sorokin MI, Bolosov IA, Buzdin AA, Kuzmin DV, Ovchinnikova TV. Cytotoxic Potential of the Novel Horseshoe Crab Peptide Polyphemusin III. Mar Drugs 2018; 16:md16120466. [PMID: 30486233 PMCID: PMC6315362 DOI: 10.3390/md16120466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological activity of the new antimicrobial peptide polyphemusin III from the horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus was examined against bacterial strains and human cancer, transformed, and normal cell cultures. Polyphemusin III has the amino acid sequence RRGCFRVCYRGFCFQRCR and is homologous to other β-hairpin peptides from the horseshoe crab. Antimicrobial activity of the peptide was evaluated and MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) values were determined. IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) values measured toward human cells revealed that polyphemusin III showed a potent cytotoxic activity at concentrations of <10 μM. Polyphemusin III caused fast permeabilization of the cytoplasmic membrane of human leukemia cells HL-60, which was measured with trypan blue exclusion assay and lactate dehydrogenase-release assay. Flow cytometry experiments for annexin V-FITC/ propidium iodide double staining revealed that the caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-FMK, did not abrogate disruption of the plasma membrane by polyphemusin III. Our data suggest that polyphemusin III disrupts the plasma membrane integrity and induces cell death that is apparently not related to apoptosis. In comparison to known polyphemusins and tachyplesins, polyphemusin III demonstrates a similar or lower antimicrobial effect, but significantly higher cytotoxicity against human cancer and transformed cells in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana B Marggraf
- M.M. Shemyakin & Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, the Russian Academy of Sciences, Mikhluho-Maklaya str. 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia.
| | - Pavel V Panteleev
- M.M. Shemyakin & Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, the Russian Academy of Sciences, Mikhluho-Maklaya str. 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia.
| | - Anna A Emelianova
- M.M. Shemyakin & Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, the Russian Academy of Sciences, Mikhluho-Maklaya str. 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia.
| | - Maxim I Sorokin
- Department of Bioinformatics and Molecular Networks, Omicsway Corp., Walnut, CA 91789, USA.
- Department of Biotechnology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow 119991, Russia.
| | - Ilia A Bolosov
- M.M. Shemyakin & Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, the Russian Academy of Sciences, Mikhluho-Maklaya str. 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia.
| | - Anton A Buzdin
- M.M. Shemyakin & Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, the Russian Academy of Sciences, Mikhluho-Maklaya str. 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia.
- Department of Bioinformatics and Molecular Networks, Omicsway Corp., Walnut, CA 91789, USA.
- Department of Biotechnology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow 119991, Russia.
| | - Denis V Kuzmin
- M.M. Shemyakin & Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, the Russian Academy of Sciences, Mikhluho-Maklaya str. 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia.
| | - Tatiana V Ovchinnikova
- M.M. Shemyakin & Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, the Russian Academy of Sciences, Mikhluho-Maklaya str. 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russia.
- Department of Biotechnology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow 119991, Russia.
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Sowińska M, Laskowska A, Guśpiel A, Solecka J, Bochynska-Czyż M, Lipkowski AW, Trzeciak K, Urbanczyk-Lipkowska Z. Bioinspired Amphiphilic Peptide Dendrimers as Specific and Effective Compounds against Drug Resistant Clinical Isolates of E. coli. Bioconjug Chem 2018; 29:3571-3585. [PMID: 30235928 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Evolution-derived natural compounds have been inspirational for design of numerous pharmaceuticals, e.g., penicillins and tetracyclines. Herein, we present a bioinspired strategy to design peptide dendrimers for the effective therapy of E. coli infections where the selection of appropriate amino acids and the mode of their assembly are based on the information gained from research on membranolytic natural antimicrobial peptides (AMP's). On the molecular level two opposite effects were explored: the effect of multiple positive charges necessary for membrane disintegration was equilibrated by the anchoring role of tryptophanes. Indeed, a series of Trp-terminated dendrimers exhibited high potency against clinical isolates of antibiotic resistant ESBL E. coli strains, stability in human plasma along with very low hemo- and genotoxicity. Investigation of the underlying antimicrobial mechanism indicated that the dendrimers studied at minimal inhibitory concentration showed weak permeability toward membranes. Solid-state 2D NMR studies revealed their presence on and inside the model membranes. Therefore, their biological properties might be explained by targeting of extra- or intracellular receptors. Our results point to a new approach to design novel branched antimicrobials with high therapeutic index.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Sowińska
- Institute of Organic Chemistry PAS , Kasprzaka Str. 44/54 , Warsaw 01-224 , Poland
| | - Anna Laskowska
- National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene , Chocimska Str. 24 , Warsaw 00-791 , Poland
| | - Adam Guśpiel
- National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene , Chocimska Str. 24 , Warsaw 00-791 , Poland
| | - Jolanta Solecka
- National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene , Chocimska Str. 24 , Warsaw 00-791 , Poland
| | - Marta Bochynska-Czyż
- Mossakowski Medical Research Centre PAS , Pawinskiego Str. 5 , 02-106 Warsaw , Poland
| | - Andrzej W Lipkowski
- Mossakowski Medical Research Centre PAS , Pawinskiego Str. 5 , 02-106 Warsaw , Poland
| | - Katarzyna Trzeciak
- Institute of Organic Chemistry PAS , Kasprzaka Str. 44/54 , Warsaw 01-224 , Poland.,Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies PAS , Sienkiewicza 112 , 90-363 Lodz , Poland
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Beaudoin T, Stone TA, Glibowicka M, Adams C, Yau Y, Ahmadi S, Bear CE, Grasemann H, Waters V, Deber CM. Activity of a novel antimicrobial peptide against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14728. [PMID: 30283025 PMCID: PMC6170476 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33016-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
With the increasing recognition of biofilms in human disease, the development of novel antimicrobial therapies is of critical importance. For example, in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), the acquisition of host-adapted, chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is associated with a decline in lung function and increased mortality. Our objective was to test the in vitro efficacy of a membrane-active antimicrobial peptide we designed, termed 6K-F17 (sequence: KKKKKK-AAFAAWAAFAA-NH2), against multidrug resistant P. aeruginosa biofilms. This peptide displays high antimicrobial activity against a range of pathogenic bacteria, yet is non-hemolytic to human erythrocytes and non-toxic to human bronchial epithelial cells. In the present work, P. aeruginosa strain PAO1, and four multidrug resistant (MDR) isolates from chronically infected CF individuals, were grown as 48-hour biofilms in a static biofilm slide chamber model. These biofilms were then exposed to varying concentrations of 6K-F17 alone, or in the presence of tobramycin, prior to confocal imaging. Biofilm biovolume and viability were assessed. 6K-F17 was able to kill biofilms - even in the presence of sputum - and greatly reduce biofilm biovolume in PAO1 and MDR isolates. Strikingly, when used in conjunction with tobramycin, low doses of 6K-F17 significantly potentiated tobramycin killing, leading to biofilm destruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor Beaudoin
- Division of Translational Medicine, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Tracy A Stone
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Miroslawa Glibowicka
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Christina Adams
- Division of Translational Medicine, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Yvonne Yau
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pediatric Laboratory Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Saumel Ahmadi
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christine E Bear
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hartmut Grasemann
- Division of Translational Medicine, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Valerie Waters
- Division of Translational Medicine, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Charles M Deber
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. .,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Andreev K, Martynowycz MW, Huang ML, Kuzmenko I, Bu W, Kirshenbaum K, Gidalevitz D. Hydrophobic interactions modulate antimicrobial peptoid selectivity towards anionic lipid membranes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2018; 1860:1414-1423. [PMID: 29621496 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2018.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Hydrophobic interactions govern specificity for natural antimicrobial peptides. No such relationship has been established for synthetic peptoids that mimic antimicrobial peptides. Peptoid macrocycles synthesized with five different aromatic groups are investigated by minimum inhibitory and hemolytic concentration assays, epifluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray reflectivity. Peptoid hydrophobicity is determined using high performance liquid chromatography. Disruption of bacterial but not eukaryotic lipid membranes is demonstrated on the solid supported lipid bilayers and Langmuir monolayers. X-ray reflectivity studies demonstrate that intercalation of peptoids with zwitterionic or negatively charged lipid membranes is found to be regulated by hydrophobicity. Critical levels of peptoid selectivity are demonstrated and found to be modulated by their hydrophobic groups. It is suggested that peptoids may follow different optimization schemes as compared to their natural analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin Andreev
- Department of Physics, Center for Molecular Study of Condensed Soft Matter (μCoSM), Pritzker Institute of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3440 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
| | - Michael W Martynowycz
- Department of Physics, Center for Molecular Study of Condensed Soft Matter (μCoSM), Pritzker Institute of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3440 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60616, United States; Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Lemont, IL 60439, United States
| | - Mia L Huang
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, NY 10003, United States
| | - Ivan Kuzmenko
- Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Lemont, IL 60439, United States
| | - Wei Bu
- The Center for Advanced Radiation Sources (CARS), University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
| | - Kent Kirshenbaum
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, NY 10003, United States
| | - David Gidalevitz
- Department of Physics, Center for Molecular Study of Condensed Soft Matter (μCoSM), Pritzker Institute of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3440 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60616, United States.
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Influence of hydrocarbon-stapling on membrane interactions of synthetic antimicrobial peptides. Bioorg Med Chem 2018; 26:1189-1196. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2017.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Revised: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Antimicrobial peptides, nanotechnology, and natural metabolites as novel approaches for cancer treatment. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 183:160-176. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2017.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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39
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Hao Y, Yang N, Teng D, Wang X, Mao R, Wang J. A review of the design and modification of lactoferricins and their derivatives. Biometals 2018; 31:331-341. [PMID: 29455278 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-018-0086-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Lactoferricin (Lfcin), a multifunction short peptide with a length of 25 residues, is derived from the whey protein lactoferrin by acidic pepsin hydrolysis. It has potent nutritional enhancement, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiviral, antiparasitic, and anti-inflammatory activities. This review describes the research advantages of the above biological functions, with attention to the molecular design and modification of Lfcin. In this examination of design and modification studies, research on the identification of Lfcin active derivatives and crucial amino acid residues is also reviewed. Many strategies for Lfcin optimization have been studied in recent decades, but we mainly introduce chemical modification, cyclization, chimera and polymerization of this peptide. Modifications such as incorporation of D-amino acids, acetylation and/or amidation could effectively improve the activity and stability of these compounds. Due to their wide array of bio-functions and applications, Lfcins have great potential to be developed as biological agents with multiple functions involved with nutritional enhancement, as well as disease preventive and therapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Hao
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.,R & D Center, Beijing Shengtai Clouds Bio-Technology, Inc., Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.,Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Na Yang
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.,Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Da Teng
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.,Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiumin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.,Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruoyu Mao
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.,Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianhua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China. .,Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.
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40
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Su X, Zhou X, Tan Z, Zhou C. Highly efficient antibacterial diblock copolypeptides based on lysine and phenylalanine. Biopolymers 2017; 107. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.23041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaokai Su
- School of Materials Science and Engineering; Tongji University, 4800 Caoan Road; Shanghai 201804 China
| | - Xinyu Zhou
- School of Materials Science and Engineering; Tongji University, 4800 Caoan Road; Shanghai 201804 China
| | - Zhengzhong Tan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering; Tongji University, 4800 Caoan Road; Shanghai 201804 China
| | - Chuncai Zhou
- School of Materials Science and Engineering; Tongji University, 4800 Caoan Road; Shanghai 201804 China
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41
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Stone TA, Deber CM. Therapeutic design of peptide modulators of protein-protein interactions in membranes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2016; 1859:577-585. [PMID: 27580024 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2016.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Revised: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Membrane proteins play the central roles in a variety of cellular processes, ranging from nutrient uptake and signalling, to cell-cell communication. Their biological functions are directly related to how they fold and assemble; defects often lead to disease. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) within the membrane are therefore of great interest as therapeutic targets. Here we review the progress in the application of membrane-insertable peptides for the disruption or stabilization of membrane-based PPIs. We describe the design and preparation of transmembrane peptide mimics; and of several categories of peptidomimetics used for study, including d-enantiomers, non-natural amino acids, peptoids, and β-peptides. Further aspects of the review describe modifications to membrane-insertable peptides, including lipidation and cyclization via hydrocarbon stapling. These approaches provide a pathway toward the development of metabolically stable, non-toxic, and efficacious peptide modulators of membrane-based PPIs. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Lipid order/lipid defects and lipid-control of protein activity edited by Dirk Schneider.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy A Stone
- Division of Molecular Structure & Function, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto M5G 0A4, Ontario, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Ontario, Canada
| | - Charles M Deber
- Division of Molecular Structure & Function, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto M5G 0A4, Ontario, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Ontario, Canada.
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42
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Edwards IA, Elliott AG, Kavanagh AM, Zuegg J, Blaskovich MAT, Cooper MA. Contribution of Amphipathicity and Hydrophobicity to the Antimicrobial Activity and Cytotoxicity of β-Hairpin Peptides. ACS Infect Dis 2016; 2:442-450. [PMID: 27331141 PMCID: PMC4906375 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.6b00045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Bacteria have acquired
extensive resistance mechanisms to protect themselves against antibiotic
action. Today the bacterial membrane has become one of the “final
frontiers” in the search for new compounds acting on novel
targets to address the threat of multi-drug resistant (MDR) and XDR
bacterial pathogens. β-Hairpin antimicrobial peptides are amphipathic,
membrane-binding antibiotics that exhibit a broad range of activities
against Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and fungal pathogens. However,
most members of the class also possess adverse cytotoxicity and hemolytic
activity that preclude their development as candidate antimicrobials.
We examined peptide hydrophobicity, amphipathicity, and structure
to better dissect and understand the correlation between antimicrobial
activity and toxicity, membrane binding, and membrane permeability.
The hydrophobicity, pI, net charge at physiological
pH, and amphipathic moment for the β-hairpin antimicrobial peptides
tachyplesin-1, polyphemusin-1, protegrin-1, gomesin, arenicin-3, and
thanatin were determined and correlated with key antimicrobial activity
and toxicity data. These included antimicrobial activity against five
key bacterial pathogens and two fungi, cytotoxicity against human
cell lines, and hemolytic activity in human erythrocytes. Observed
antimicrobial activity trends correlated with compound amphipathicity
and, to a lesser extent, with overall hydrophobicity. Antimicrobial
activity increased with amphipathicity, but unfortunately so did toxicity.
Of note, tachyplesin-1 was found to be 8-fold more amphipathic than
gomesin. These analyses identify tachyplesin-1 as a promising scaffold
for rational design and synthetic optimization toward an antibiotic
candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid A. Edwards
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 306 Carmody Road (Building 80), Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Alysha G. Elliott
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 306 Carmody Road (Building 80), Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Angela M. Kavanagh
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 306 Carmody Road (Building 80), Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Johannes Zuegg
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 306 Carmody Road (Building 80), Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Mark A. T. Blaskovich
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 306 Carmody Road (Building 80), Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Matthew A. Cooper
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, 306 Carmody Road (Building 80), Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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Niemirowicz K, Surel U, Wilczewska AZ, Mystkowska J, Piktel E, Gu X, Namiot Z, Kułakowska A, Savage PB, Bucki R. Bactericidal activity and biocompatibility of ceragenin-coated magnetic nanoparticles. J Nanobiotechnology 2015; 13:32. [PMID: 25929281 PMCID: PMC4458011 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-015-0093-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ceragenins, synthetic mimics of endogenous antibacterial peptides, are promising candidate antimicrobial agents. However, in some settings their strong bactericidal activity is associated with toxicity towards host cells. To modulate ceragenin CSA-13 antibacterial activity and biocompatibility, CSA-13-coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNP-CSA-13) were synthesized. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize MNP-CSA-13 physicochemical properties. Bactericidal action and ability of these new compounds to prevent Pseudomonas. aeruginosa biofilm formation were assessed using a bacteria killing assay and crystal violet staining, respectively. Release of hemoglobin from human red blood cells was measured to evaluate MNP-CSA-13 hemolytic activity. In addition, we used surface activity measurements to monitor CSA-13 release from the MNP shell. Zeta potentials of P. aeruginosa cells and MNP-CSA-13 were determined to assess the interactions between the bacteria and nanoparticles. Morphology of P. aeruginosa subjected to MNP-CSA-13 treatment was evaluated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) to determine structural changes indicative of bactericidal activity. Results Our studies revealed that the MNP-CSA-13 nanosystem is stable and may be used as a pH control system to release CSA-13. MNP-CSA-13 exhibits strong antibacterial activity, and the ability to prevent bacteria biofilm formation in different body fluids. Additionally, a significant decrease in CSA-13 hemolytic activity was observed when the molecule was immobilized on the nanoparticle surface. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that CSA-13 retains bactericidal activity when immobilized on a MNP while biocompatibility increases when CSA-13 is covalently attached to the nanoparticle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Niemirowicz
- Department of Microbiological and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, Mickiewicza 2c, 15-222, Bialystok, Poland.
| | - Urszula Surel
- Department of Microbiological and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, Mickiewicza 2c, 15-222, Bialystok, Poland.
| | | | - Joanna Mystkowska
- Department of Materials and Biomedical Engineering, Białystok University of Technology, 15-351, Białystok, Poland.
| | - Ewelina Piktel
- Department of Microbiological and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, Mickiewicza 2c, 15-222, Bialystok, Poland.
| | - Xiaobo Gu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
| | - Zbigniew Namiot
- Department of Physiology, Medical University of Białystok, 15-230, Białystok, Poland.
| | - Alina Kułakowska
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-230, Bialystok, Poland.
| | - Paul B Savage
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
| | - Robert Bucki
- Department of Microbiological and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, Mickiewicza 2c, 15-222, Bialystok, Poland. .,Department of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Microbiology of Infections, The Faculty of Health Sciences of the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, 25-317, Kielce, Poland.
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Lapidot I, Albeck A, Gellerman G, Shatzmiller S, Grynszpan F. 1,4-Dihydropyridine Cationic Peptidomimetics with Antibacterial Activity. Int J Pept Res Ther 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-015-9460-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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45
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The chain length of biologically produced (R)-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid affects biological activity and structure of anti-cancer peptides. J Biotechnol 2015; 204:7-12. [PMID: 25820126 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2015.02.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2014] [Revised: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Conjugation of DP18L peptide with (R)-3-hydroxydecanoic acid, derived from the biopolymer polyhydroxyalkanoate, enhances its anti-cancer activity (O'Connor et al., 2013. Biomaterials 34, 2710-2718). However, it is unknown if other (R)-3-hydroxyalkanoic acids (R3HAs) can enhance peptide activity, if chain length affects enhancement, and what effect R3HAs have on peptide structure. Here we show that the degree of enhancement of peptide (DP18L) anti-cancer activity by R3HAs is carbon chain length dependent. In all but one example the R3HA conjugated peptides were more active against cancer cells than the unconjugated peptides. However, R3HAs with 9 and 10 carbons were most effective at improving DP18L activity. DP18L peptide variant DP17L, missing a hydrophobic amino acid (leucine residue 4) exhibited lower efficacy against MiaPaCa cells. Circular dichroism analysis showed DP17L had a lower alpha helix content and the conjugation of any R3HA ((R)-3-hydroxyhexanoic acid to (R)-3-hydroxydodecanoic acid) to DP17L returned the helix content back to levels of DP18L. However (R)-3-hydroxyhexanoic did not enhance the anti-cancer activity of DP17L and at least 7 carbons were needed in the R3HA to enhance activity of D17L. DP17L needs a longer chain R3HA to achieve the same activity as DP18L conjugated to an R3HA. As a first step to assess the synthetic potential of polyhydroxyalkanoate derived R3HAs, (R)-3-hydroxydecanoic acid was synthetically converted to (±)3-chlorodecanoic acid, which when conjugated to DP18L improved its antiproliferative activity against MiaPaCa cells.
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46
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Bellmann-Sickert K, Stone TA, Poulsen BE, Deber CM. Efflux by small multidrug resistance proteins is inhibited by membrane-interactive helix-stapled peptides. J Biol Chem 2014; 290:1752-9. [PMID: 25425644 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.616185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial cell membranes contain several protein pumps that resist the toxic effects of drugs by efficiently extruding them. One family of these pumps, the small multidrug resistance proteins (SMRs), consists of proteins of about 110 residues that need to oligomerize to form a structural pathway for substrate extrusion. As such, SMR oligomerization sites should constitute viable targets for efflux inhibition, by disrupting protein-protein interactions between helical segments. To explore this proposition, we are using Hsmr, an SMR from Halobacter salinarum that dimerizes to extrude toxicants. Our previous work established that (i) Hsmr dimerization is mediated by a helix-helix interface in Hsmr transmembrane (TM) helix 4 (residues (90)GLALIVAGV(98)); and (ii) a peptide comprised of the full TM4(85-105) sequence inhibits Hsmr-mediated ethidium bromide efflux from bacterial cells. Here we define the minimal linear sequence for inhibitor activity (determined as TM4(88-100), and then "staple" this sequence via Grubbs metathesis to produce peptides typified by acetyl-A-(Sar)3-(88)VVGLXLIZXGVVV(100)-KKK-NH2 (X = 2-(4'-pentenyl)alanine at positions 92 and 96; Z = Val, Gly, or Asn at position 95)). The Asn(95) peptide displayed specific efflux inhibition and resensitization of Hsmr-expressing cells to ethidium bromide; and was non-hemolytic to human red blood cells. Stapling essentially prevented peptide degradation in blood plasma and liver homogenates versus an unstapled counterpart. The overall results confirm that the stapled analog of TM4(88-100) retains the structural complementarity required to disrupt the Hsmr TM4-TM4 locus in Hsmr, and portend the general validity of stapled peptides as therapeutics for the disruption of functional protein-protein interactions in membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Bellmann-Sickert
- From the Division of Molecular Structure and Function, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4 and
| | - Tracy A Stone
- From the Division of Molecular Structure and Function, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4 and the Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Bradley E Poulsen
- From the Division of Molecular Structure and Function, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4 and the Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Charles M Deber
- From the Division of Molecular Structure and Function, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4 and the Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
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47
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Lin YC, Hiss JA, Schneider P, Thelesklaf P, Lim YF, Pillong M, Koehler FM, Dittrich PS, Halin C, Wessler S, Schneider G. Piloting the membranolytic activities of peptides with a self-organizing map. Chembiochem 2014; 15:2225-31. [PMID: 25204788 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201402231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) show remarkable selectivity toward lipid membranes and possess promising antibiotic potential. Their modes of action are diverse and not fully understood, and innovative peptide design strategies are needed to generate AMPs with improved properties. We present a de novo peptide design approach that resulted in new AMPs possessing low-nanomolar membranolytic activities. Thermal analysis revealed an entropy-driven mechanism of action. The study demonstrates sustained potential of advanced computational methods for designing peptides with the desired activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Chu Lin
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, 8093 Zürich (Switzerland)
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48
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Troeira Henriques S, Huang YH, Chaousis S, Wang CK, Craik DJ. Anticancer and toxic properties of cyclotides are dependent on phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipid targeting. Chembiochem 2014; 15:1956-65. [PMID: 25099014 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201402144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Cyclotides, ultrastable disulfide-rich cyclic peptides, can be engineered to bind and inhibit specific cancer targets. In addition, some cyclotides are toxic to cancer cells, though not much is known about their mechanisms of action. Here we delineated the potential mode of action of cyclotides towards cancer cells. A novel set of analogues of kalata B1 (the prototypic cyclotide) and kalata B2 and cycloviolacin O2 were examined for their membrane-binding affinity and selectivity towards cancer cells. By using solution-state NMR, surface plasmon resonance, flow cytometry and bioassays we show that cyclotides are toxic against cancer and non-cancerous cells and their toxicity correlates with their ability to target and disrupt lipid bilayers that contain phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipids. Our results suggest that the potential of cyclotides as anticancer therapeutics might best be realised by combining their amenability to epitope engineering with their ability to bind cancer cell membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sónia Troeira Henriques
- The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Carmody Road, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072 (Australia).
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49
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Comparative mechanistic studies of brilacidin, daptomycin, and the antimicrobial peptide LL16. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2014; 58:5136-45. [PMID: 24936592 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02955-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Brilacidin (PMX30063) has shown potent bactericidal activity against drug-resistant and -susceptible strains of multiple Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens. In this study, we demonstrate that brilacidin causes membrane depolarization in the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, to an extent comparable to that caused by the lipopeptidic drug daptomycin. Transcriptional profiling of Staphylococcus aureus by deep sequencing shows that the global response to brilacidin treatment is well correlated to those of treatment with daptomycin and the cationic antimicrobial peptide LL37 and mostly indicates abrogation of cell wall and membrane functions. Furthermore, the upregulation of various chaperones and proteases by brilacidin and daptomycin indicates that cytoplasmic protein misfolding stress may be a contributor to the mechanism of action of these drugs. These stress responses were orchestrated mainly by three two-component systems, GraSR, VraSR, and NsaSR, which have been implicated in virulence and drug resistance against other clinically available antibiotics.
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50
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Bobone S, Bocchinfuso G, Park Y, Palleschi A, Hahm KS, Stella L. The importance of being kinked: role of Pro residues in the selectivity of the helical antimicrobial peptide P5. J Pept Sci 2013; 19:758-69. [DOI: 10.1002/psc.2574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2013] [Revised: 09/17/2013] [Accepted: 09/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Bobone
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche; Università di Roma Tor Vergata; Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 00133 Rome Italy
| | - Gianfranco Bocchinfuso
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche; Università di Roma Tor Vergata; Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 00133 Rome Italy
| | - Yoonkyung Park
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine; Chosun University; Gwangju 501-759 Korea
| | - Antonio Palleschi
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine; Chosun University; Gwangju 501-759 Korea
| | - Kyung-Soo Hahm
- BioLeaders Corp.; 559 Yongsan-Dong, Yuseong-Ku Daejeon 305-500 Korea
| | - Lorenzo Stella
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche; Università di Roma Tor Vergata; Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 00133 Rome Italy
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