1
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Enninful GN, Kuppusamy R, Tiburu EK, Kumar N, Willcox MDP. Non-canonical amino acid bioincorporation into antimicrobial peptides and its challenges. J Pept Sci 2024; 30:e3560. [PMID: 38262069 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
The rise of antimicrobial resistance and multi-drug resistant pathogens has necessitated explorations for novel antibiotic agents as the discovery of conventional antibiotics is becoming economically less viable and technically more challenging for biopharma. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as a promising alternative because of their particular mode of action, broad spectrum and difficulty that microbes have in becoming resistant to them. The AMPs bacitracin, gramicidin, polymyxins and daptomycin are currently used clinically. However, their susceptibility to proteolytic degradation, toxicity profile, and complexities in large-scale manufacture have hindered their development. To improve their proteolytic stability, methods such as integrating non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) into their peptide sequence have been adopted, which also improves their potency and spectrum of action. The benefits of ncAA incorporation have been made possible by solid-phase peptide synthesis. However, this method is not always suitable for commercial production of AMPs because of poor yield, scale-up difficulties, and its non-'green' nature. Bioincorporation of ncAA as a method of integration is an emerging field geared towards tackling the challenges of solid-phase synthesis as a green, cheaper, and scalable alternative for commercialisation of AMPs. This review focusses on the bioincorporation of ncAAs; some challenges associated with the methods are outlined, and notes are given on how to overcome these challenges. The review focusses particularly on addressing two key challenges: AMP cytotoxicity towards microbial cell factories and the uptake of ncAAs that are unfavourable to them. Overcoming these challenges will draw us closer to a greater yield and an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach to make AMPs more druggable.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rajesh Kuppusamy
- University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Naresh Kumar
- University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mark D P Willcox
- University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
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2
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The impact of N-glycosylation on the properties of the antimicrobial peptide LL-III. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3733. [PMID: 36878924 PMCID: PMC9988962 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29984-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The misuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) may represent valuable alternative to antibiotics; nevertheless, the easy degradation due to environmental stress and proteolytic enzyme action, limits their use. So far, different strategies have been developed to overcome this drawback. Among them, glycosylation of AMPs represents a promising approach. In this work, we synthesized and characterized the N-glycosilated form of the antimicrobial peptide LL-III (g-LL-III). The N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) was covalently linked to the Asn residue and the interaction of g-LL-III with bacterial model membranes, together with its resistance to proteases, were investigated. Glycosylation did not affect the peptide mechanism of action and its biological activity against both bacteria and eukaryotic cells. Interestingly, a higher resistance to the activity of proteolytic enzymes was achieved. The reported results pave the way for the successful application of AMPs in medicine and biotechnological fields.
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3
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Pérez-Guillén I, Domènech Ò, Botet-Carreras A, Merlos A, Sierra JM, Albericio F, de la Torre BG, Montero MT, Viñas M, Borrell JH. Studying Lipid Membrane Interactions of a Super-Cationic Peptide in Model Membranes and Living Bacteria. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14102191. [PMID: 36297628 PMCID: PMC9611851 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14102191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The super-cationic peptide dendrimers (SCPD) family is a valuable class of antimicrobial peptide candidates for the future development of antibacterial agents against multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria. The deep knowledge of their mechanism of action is a major challenge in research, since it may be the basis for future modifications/optimizations. In this work we have explored the interaction between SCPD and membranes through biophysical and microbiological approaches in the case of the G1OLO-L2OL2 peptide. Results support the idea that the peptide is not only adsorbed or close to the surface of the membrane but associated/absorbed to some extent to the hydrophobic-hydrophilic region of the phospholipids. The presence of low concentrations of the peptide at the surface level is concomitant with destabilization of the cell integrity and this may contribute to osmotic stress, although other mechanisms of action cannot be ruled out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Pérez-Guillén
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology & Antimicrobials, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
- Physical Chemistry Section, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Òscar Domènech
- Physical Chemistry Section, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (Ò.D.); (J.M.S.)
| | - Adrià Botet-Carreras
- Physical Chemistry Section, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alexandra Merlos
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology & Antimicrobials, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep M. Sierra
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology & Antimicrobials, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (Ò.D.); (J.M.S.)
| | - Fernando Albericio
- Peptide Sciences Laboratory, School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University Road, Westville, Durban 4001, South Africa
- CIBER-BBN, Networking Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Beatriz G. de la Torre
- KRISP, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - M. Teresa Montero
- Physical Chemistry Section, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Viñas
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology & Antimicrobials, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi H. Borrell
- Physical Chemistry Section, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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4
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Novel Retro-Inverso Peptide Antibiotic Efficiently Released by a Responsive Hydrogel-Based System. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061301. [PMID: 35740323 PMCID: PMC9219916 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Topical antimicrobial treatments are often ineffective on recalcitrant and resistant skin infections. This necessitates the design of antimicrobials that are less susceptible to resistance mechanisms, as well as the development of appropriate delivery systems. These two issues represent a great challenge for researchers in pharmaceutical and drug discovery fields. Here, we defined the therapeutic properties of a novel peptidomimetic inspired by an antimicrobial sequence encrypted in human apolipoprotein B. The peptidomimetic was found to exhibit antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties at concentration values ranging from 2.5 to 20 µmol L−1, to be biocompatible toward human skin cell lines, and to protect human keratinocytes from bacterial infections being able to induce a reduction of bacterial units by two or even four orders of magnitude with respect to untreated samples. Based on these promising results, a hyaluronic-acid-based hydrogel was devised to encapsulate and to specifically deliver the selected antimicrobial agent to the site of infection. The developed hydrogel-based system represents a promising, effective therapeutic option by combining the mechanical properties of the hyaluronic acid polymer with the anti-infective activity of the antimicrobial peptidomimetic, thus opening novel perspectives in the treatment of skin infections.
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Oliva R, Campanile M, Del Vecchio P, Pizzo E, Bosso A, Winter R, Petraccone L. The C-terminus of the GKY20 antimicrobial peptide, derived from human thrombin, plays a key role in its membrane perturbation capability. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:7994-8002. [PMID: 35314853 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp05857f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Previously, we characterized in detail the mechanism of action of the antimicrobial peptide GKY20, showing that it selectively perturbs the bacterial-like membrane employing peptide conformational changes, lipid segregation and domain formation as key steps in promoting membrane disruption. Here, we used a combination of biophysical techniques to similarly characterize the antimicrobial activity as well as the membrane perturbing capability of GKY10, a much shorter version of the GKY20 peptide. GKY10 is only half of the parent peptide and consists of the last 10 amino acids (starting from the C-terminus) of the full-length peptide. Despite a large difference in length, we found that GKY10, like the parent peptide, retains the ability to adopt a helical structure and to induce lipid segregation upon membrane binding. Overall, our results suggest that the amino acid sequence of GKY10 is responsible for most of the observed behaviors of GKY20. Our results shed further light on the mechanism of action of the full-length peptide and provide useful information for the design and development of new peptides that serve as antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Oliva
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn Street 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany.,Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Marco Campanile
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Pompea Del Vecchio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Elio Pizzo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Bosso
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Roland Winter
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn Street 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Luigi Petraccone
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy.
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6
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Lampitella E, Landi N, Oliva R, Gaglione R, Bosso A, De Lise F, Ragucci S, Arciello A, Petraccone L, Pizzo E, Del Vecchio P, Di Maro A. Toxicity and membrane perturbation properties of the ribotoxin-like protein Ageritin. J Biochem 2021; 170:473-482. [PMID: 33993266 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvab062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Ageritin is the prototype of a new ribotoxin-like protein family, which has been recently identified also in basidiomycetes. The protein exhibits specific RNase activity through the cleavage of a single phosphodiester bond located at sarcin/ricin loop of the large rRNA, thus inhibiting protein biosynthesis at early stages. Conversely to other ribotoxins, its activity requires the presence of divalent cations. In the present study, we report the activity of Ageritin on both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells showing that the protein has a prominent effect on cancer cells viability and no effects on eukaryotic and bacterial cells. In order to rationalize these findings, the ability of the protein to interact with various liposomes mimicking normal, cancer and bacterial cell membranes was explored. The collected results indicate that Ageritin can interact with DPPC/DPPS/Chol vesicles, used as a model of cancer cell membranes, and with DPPC/DPPG vesicles, used as a model of bacterial cell membranes, suggesting a selective interaction with anionic lipids. However, a different perturbation of the two model membranes, mediated by cholesterol redistribution, was observed and this might be at the basis of Ageritin selective toxicity towards cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erosantonio Lampitella
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Cintia, 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Nicola Landi
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Rosario Oliva
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Cintia, 80126, Napoli, Italy.,Physical Chemistry I-Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Rosa Gaglione
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Cintia, 80126, Napoli, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Biostrutture e Biosistemi (INBB), Viale delle Medaglie d'Oro 305, 00136, Roma, Italy
| | - Andrea Bosso
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, I-80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Federica De Lise
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, I-80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Sara Ragucci
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Angela Arciello
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Cintia, 80126, Napoli, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Biostrutture e Biosistemi (INBB), Viale delle Medaglie d'Oro 305, 00136, Roma, Italy
| | - Luigi Petraccone
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Cintia, 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Elio Pizzo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, I-80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Pompea Del Vecchio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Cintia, 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Antimo Di Maro
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
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7
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Insights into the Action Mechanism of the Antimicrobial Peptide Lasioglossin III. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22062857. [PMID: 33799744 PMCID: PMC8001998 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22062857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lasioglossin III (LL-III) is a cationic antimicrobial peptide derived from the venom of the eusocial bee Lasioglossum laticeps. LL-III is extremely toxic to both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and it exhibits antifungal as well as antitumor activity. Moreover, it shows low hemolytic activity, and it has almost no toxic effects on eukaryotic cells. However, the molecular basis of the LL-III mechanism of action is still unclear. In this study, we characterized by means of calorimetric (DSC) and spectroscopic (CD, fluorescence) techniques its interaction with liposomes composed of a mixture of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-rac-phosphoglycerol (POPG) lipids as a model of the negatively charged membrane of pathogens. For comparison, the interaction of LL-III with the uncharged POPC liposomes was also studied. Our data showed that LL-III preferentially interacted with anionic lipids in the POPC/POPG liposomes and induces the formation of lipid domains. Furthermore, the leakage experiments showed that the peptide could permeabilize the membrane. Interestingly, our DSC results showed that the peptide-membrane interaction occurs in a non-disruptive manner, indicating an intracellular targeting mode of action for this peptide. Consistent with this hypothesis, our gel-retardation assay experiments showed that LL-III could interact with plasmid DNA, suggesting a possible intracellular target.
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