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Okafor M, Gonzalez P, Ronot P, El Masoudi I, Boos A, Ory S, Chasserot-Golaz S, Gasman S, Raibaut L, Hureau C, Vitale N, Faller P. Development of Cu( ii)-specific peptide shuttles capable of preventing Cu–amyloid beta toxicity and importing bioavailable Cu into cells. Chem Sci 2022; 13:11829-11840. [PMID: 36320914 PMCID: PMC9580518 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc02593k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Copper (Cu) in its ionic forms is an essential element for mammals and its homeostasis is tightly controlled. Accordingly, Cu-dyshomeostasis can be lethal as is the case in the well-established genetic Wilson's and Menkes diseases. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), Cu-accumulation occurs in amyloid plaques, where it is bound to the amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ). In vitro, Cu–Aβ is competent to catalyze the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the presence of ascorbate under aerobic conditions, and hence Cu–Aβ is believed to contribute to the oxidative stress in AD. Several molecules that can recover extracellular Cu from Aβ and transport it back into cells with beneficial effects in cell culture and transgenic AD models were identified. However, all the Cu-shuttles currently available are not satisfactory due to various potential limitations including ion selectivity and toxicity. Hence, we designed a novel peptide-based Cu shuttle with the following properties: (i) it contains a Cu(ii)-binding motif that is very selective to Cu(ii) over all other essential metal ions; (ii) it is tagged with a fluorophore sensitive to Cu(ii)-binding and release; (iii) it is made of a peptide platform, which is very versatile to add new functions. The work presented here reports on the characterization of AKH-αR5W4NBD, which is able to transport Cu ions selectively into PC12 cells and the imported Cu appeared bioavailable, likely via reductive release induced by glutathione. Moreover, AKH-αR5W4NBD was able to withdraw Cu from the Aβ1–16 peptide and consequently inhibited the Cu-Aβ based reactive oxygen species production and related cell toxicity. Hence, AKH-αR5W4NBD could be a valuable new tool for Cu-transport into cells and suitable for mechanistic studies in cell culture, with potential applications in restoring Cu-homeostasis in Cu-related diseases such as AD. The synthetic peptide AKH-αR5W4NBD was designed as a shuttle to counteract copper imbalance in Alzheimer’s disease. In vitro, this shuttle is able to abstract Cu(ii) selectively from amyloid-β and transport it into cells in a bioavailable form.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Okafor
- Laboratory of Biometals and Biological Chemistry, Institut de Chimie (UMR 7177), Université de Strasbourg-CNRS, 4 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Paulina Gonzalez
- Laboratory of Biometals and Biological Chemistry, Institut de Chimie (UMR 7177), Université de Strasbourg-CNRS, 4 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Pascale Ronot
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC, UMR 7178, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Islah El Masoudi
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC, UMR 7178, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Anne Boos
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC, UMR 7178, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Stéphane Ory
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Sylvette Chasserot-Golaz
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Stéphane Gasman
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Laurent Raibaut
- Laboratory of Biometals and Biological Chemistry, Institut de Chimie (UMR 7177), Université de Strasbourg-CNRS, 4 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Nicolas Vitale
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Peter Faller
- Laboratory of Biometals and Biological Chemistry, Institut de Chimie (UMR 7177), Université de Strasbourg-CNRS, 4 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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Lin JLJ. Characterization of the novel cardiolipin binding regions identified on the protease and lipid activated PKC-related kinase 1. Protein Sci 2019; 28:1473-1486. [PMID: 31125460 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Protein kinase C-related kinase 1 (PRK1) or PKN is a protease and lipid activated protein kinase that acted downstream of the RhoA or Rac1 pathway. PRK1 comprises a unique regulatory domain and a PKC homologous kinase domain. The regulatory domain of PRK1 consists of homologous region -1 (HR1) and -2 (HR2). PRK1-(HR1) features a pseudosubstrate motif that overlapped with the putative cardiolipin and known RhoA binding sites. In fact, cardiolipin is the most potent lipid activator for PRK1 in respect of its either auto- or substrate phosphorylation activity. This study was thus aimed to characterize the binding region(s) of cardiolipin that was previously suggested for the regulatory domain of PRK1. The principal findings of this work established (i) PRK1-(HR1) folded into an active conformation where high affinity binding sites (mainly located in HR1a subdomain) were accessible for cardiolipin binding to protect against limited Lys-C digestion, (ii) the binding nature between acidic phospholipids and PRK1 (HR1) involved both polar and nonpolar components consistent with the amphipathic nature of the known cardiolipin-binding motifs, (iii) identification of the molecule masses of the Lys-C fragments of PRK1-(HR1) complexed with cardiolipin molecule, and (iv) appreciable reductions in the secondary structural contents at 222 nm measured by circular dichroism analyses demonstrated the binding of cardiolipin elicited the disruptive effect that was most evident among all phospholipids tested, suggestive of a functional correlation between the extents of helical disruption and PRK1 activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason L J Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
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Rasoolian M, Kheirollahi M, Hosseini SY. MDA-7/interleukin 24 (IL-24) in tumor gene therapy: application of tumor penetrating/homing peptides for improvement of the effects. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2019; 19:211-223. [PMID: 30612497 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2019.1566453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION MDA-7/Interleukin-24 (IL-24), as a pleiotropic cytokine, exhibits a specific tumor suppression property that has attracted a great deal of attention. While its anti-tumor induction is mostly attributed to endogenous gene expression, attachment of secreted MDA-7/IL-24 to cognate receptors also triggers the death of cancerous cell via different pathways. Therefore, precise targeting of secreted MDA-7/IL-24 to tumor cells would render it more efficacy and specificity. AREAS COVERED In order to target soluble cytokines, particularly MDA-7/IL-24 to the neighbor tumor sites and enhance their therapeutic efficiency, fusing with cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) or Tumor homing peptides (THPs) seems logical due to the improvement of their bystander effects. Although the detailed anti-tumor mechanisms of endogenous mda-7/IL-24 have been largely investigated, the significance of the secreted form in these activities and methods of its improving by CPPs or THPs need more discussion. EXPERT OPINION While the employment of CPPs/THPs for the improvement of cytokine gene therapy is desirable, to create fusions of CPPs/THPs with MDA-7/IL-24, some hurdles are not avoidable. Regarding our expertise, herein, the importance of CPPs/THPs, needs for their elegant designing in a fusion structure, and their applications in cytokine gene therapy are discussed with a special focus on mda-7/IL-24.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Rasoolian
- a Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine , Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , Isfahan , Iran
| | - Majid Kheirollahi
- a Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine , Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , Isfahan , Iran.,b Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Pediatrics Inherited Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease School of Medicine , Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , Isfahan , Iran
| | - Seyed Younes Hosseini
- c Bacteriology and Virology Department, School of Medicine , Shiraz University of Medical Sciences , Shiraz , Iran
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Hedegaard SF, Derbas MS, Lind TK, Kasimova MR, Christensen MV, Michaelsen MH, Campbell RA, Jorgensen L, Franzyk H, Cárdenas M, Nielsen HM. Fluorophore labeling of a cell-penetrating peptide significantly alters the mode and degree of biomembrane interaction. Sci Rep 2018; 8:6327. [PMID: 29679078 PMCID: PMC5910404 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24154-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The demand for highly efficient macromolecular drugs, used in the treatment of many severe diseases, is continuously increasing. However, the hydrophilic character and large molecular size of these drugs significantly limit their ability to permeate across cellular membranes and thus impede the drugs in reaching their target sites in the body. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) have gained attention as promising drug excipients, since they can facilitate drug permeation across cell membranes constituting a major biological barrier. Fluorophores are frequently covalently conjugated to CPPs to improve detection, however, the ensuing change in physico-chemical properties of the CPPs may alter their biological properties. With complementary biophysical techniques, we show that the mode of biomembrane interaction may change considerably upon labeling of the CPP penetratin (PEN) with a fluorophore. Fluorophore-PEN conjugates display altered modes of membrane interaction with increased insertion into the core of model cell membranes thereby exerting membrane-thinning effects. This is in contrast to PEN, which localizes along the head groups of the lipid bilayer, without affecting the thickness of the lipid tails. Particularly high membrane disturbance is observed for the two most hydrophobic PEN conjugates; rhodamine B or 1-pyrene butyric acid, as compared to the four other tested fluorophore-PEN conjugates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Fogh Hedegaard
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mohammed Sobhi Derbas
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tania Kjellerup Lind
- Department of Biomedical Science and Biofilms - Research Center for Biointerfaces, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Per Albin Hanssons väg 35, 214 32, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Marina Robertnova Kasimova
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Symphogen A/S, Pederstrupvej 93, 2750, Ballerup, Denmark
| | - Malene Vinther Christensen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 162, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maria Høtoft Michaelsen
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Richard A Campbell
- Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 avenue des Martyrs, CS20156, 38042, Grenoble, France
| | - Lene Jorgensen
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 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
| | - Marité Cárdenas
- Department of Biomedical Science and Biofilms - Research Center for Biointerfaces, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Per Albin Hanssons väg 35, 214 32, Malmö, Sweden.
| | - Hanne Mørck Nielsen
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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A New Noncanonical Anionic Peptide That Translocates a Cellular Blood-Brain Barrier Model. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22101753. [PMID: 29057814 PMCID: PMC6151732 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22101753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The capacity to transport therapeutic molecules across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) represents a breakthrough in the development of tools for the treatment of many central nervous system (CNS)-associated diseases. The BBB, while being protective against infectious agents, hinders the brain uptake of many drugs. Hence, finding safe shuttles able to overcome the BBB is of utmost importance. Herein, we identify a new BBB-translocating peptide with unique properties. For years it was thought that cationic sequences were mandatory for a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) to achieve cellular internalization. Despite being anionic at physiological pH, PepNeg (sequence (SGTQEEY) is an efficient BBB translocator that is able to carry a large cargo (27 kDa), while maintaining BBB integrity. In addition, PepNeg is able to use two distinct methods of translocation, energy-dependent and -independent, suggesting that direct penetration might occur when low concentrations of peptide are presented to cells. The discovery of this new anionic trans-BBB peptide allows the development of new delivery systems to the CNS and contributes to the need to rethink the role of electrostatic attraction in BBB-translocation.
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6
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Kristensen M, Birch D, Mørck Nielsen H. Applications and Challenges for Use of Cell-Penetrating Peptides as Delivery Vectors for Peptide and Protein Cargos. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:E185. [PMID: 26840305 PMCID: PMC4783919 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17020185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Revised: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The hydrophilic nature of peptides and proteins renders them impermeable to cell membranes. Thus, in order to successfully deliver peptide and protein-based therapeutics across the plasma membrane or epithelial and endothelial barriers, a permeation enhancing strategy must be employed. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) constitute a promising tool and have shown applications for peptide and protein delivery into cells as well as across various epithelia and the blood-brain barrier (BBB). CPP-mediated delivery of peptides and proteins may be pursued via covalent conjugation of the CPP to the cargo peptide or protein or via physical complexation obtained by simple bulk-mixing of the CPP with its cargo. Both approaches have their pros and cons, and which is the better choice likely relates to the physicochemical properties of the CPP and its cargo as well as the route of administration, the specific barrier and the target cell. Besides the physical barrier, a metabolic barrier must be taken into consideration when applying peptide-based delivery vectors, such as the CPPs, and stability-enhancing strategies are commonly employed to prolong the CPP half-life. The mechanisms by which CPPs translocate cell membranes are believed to involve both endocytosis and direct translocation, but are still widely investigated and discussed. The fact that multiple factors influence the mechanisms responsible for cellular CPP internalization and the lack of sensitive methods for detection of the CPP, and in some cases the cargo, further complicates the design and conduction of conclusive mechanistic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mie Kristensen
- Section for Biologics, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Ditlev Birch
- Section for Biologics, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Hanne Mørck Nielsen
- Section for Biologics, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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7
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Kristensen M, Nielsen HM. Cell-Penetrating Peptides as Carriers for Oral Delivery of Biopharmaceuticals. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2015; 118:99-106. [PMID: 26525297 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.12515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Oral delivery of biopharmaceuticals, for example peptides and proteins, constitutes a great challenge in drug delivery due to their low chemical stability and poor permeation across the intestinal mucosa, to a large extent limiting the mode of administration to injections, which is not favouring patient compliance. Nevertheless, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have shown promising potential as carriers to overcome the epithelium, and this minireview highlights recent knowledge gained within the field of CPP-mediated transepithelial delivery of therapeutic peptides and proteins from the intestine. Two approaches may be pursued: co-administration of the carrier and therapeutic peptide in the form of complexes obtained by simple bulk mixing, or administration of covalent conjugates demanding more advanced production methodologies. These formulation approaches have their pros and cons, and which is to be preferred depends on the physicochemical properties of both the specific CPP and the specific cargo. In addition to the physical epithelial barrier, a metabolic barrier must be overcome in order to obtain CPP-mediated delivery of a cargo drug from the intestine, and a number of strategies have been employed to delay enzymatic degradation of the CPP. The mechanisms by which CPPs translocate across membranes are not fully understood, but possibly involve endocytosis as well as direct translocation, and the CPP-mediated transepithelial delivery of cargo drugs thus likely involves similar mechanisms for the initial membrane interaction and translocation. However, the mechanisms responsible for transcytosis of the cargo drug, if taken up by an endocytic mechanism, or direct translocation across the epithelium are so far not known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mie Kristensen
- Section for Biologics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hanne Mørck Nielsen
- Section for Biologics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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8
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Garro AD, Olivella MS, Bombasaro JA, Lima B, Tapia A, Feresin G, Perczel A, Somlai C, Penke B, López Cascales J, Rodríguez AM, Enriz RD. Penetratin and Derivatives Acting as Antibacterial Agents. Chem Biol Drug Des 2013; 82:167-77. [DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.12143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2012] [Revised: 03/13/2013] [Accepted: 04/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mónica S. Olivella
- Departamento de Química; Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Chacabuco 917; 5700; San Luis; Argentina
| | - José A. Bombasaro
- Departamento de Química; Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Chacabuco 917; 5700; San Luis; Argentina
| | - Beatriz Lima
- Instituto de Biotecnología; Facultad de Ingeniería; Universidad Nacional de San Juan; Av. Libertador General San Martín 1109 (O); CP 5400; San Juan; Argentina
| | - Alejandro Tapia
- Instituto de Biotecnología; Facultad de Ingeniería; Universidad Nacional de San Juan; Av. Libertador General San Martín 1109 (O); CP 5400; San Juan; Argentina
| | - Gabriela Feresin
- Instituto de Biotecnología; Facultad de Ingeniería; Universidad Nacional de San Juan; Av. Libertador General San Martín 1109 (O); CP 5400; San Juan; Argentina
| | - Andras Perczel
- Protein Modeling Group HAS-ELTE; Institute of Chemistry; Eötvös Loránd University; Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A; H-1117; Budapest; Hungary
| | - Csaba Somlai
- Department of Medical Chemistry; University of Szeged; H-6720, Dóm tér 8; Szeged; Hungary
| | - Botond Penke
- Department of Medical Chemistry; University of Szeged; H-6720, Dóm tér 8; Szeged; Hungary
| | - Javier López Cascales
- Grupo de Bioinformática y Macromoléculas (BioMac) Aulario II; Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena; Campus de Alfonso XIII; 30203; Cartagena; Murcia; Spain
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Bechara C, Sagan S. Cell-penetrating peptides: 20 years later, where do we stand? FEBS Lett 2013; 587:1693-702. [PMID: 23669356 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 638] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2012] [Revised: 04/22/2013] [Accepted: 04/29/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Twenty years ago, the discovery of peptides able to cross cellular membranes launched a novel field in molecular delivery based on these non-invasive vectors, most commonly called cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) or protein transduction domains (PTDs). These peptides were shown to efficiently transport various biologically active molecules inside living cells, and thus are considered promising devices for medical and biotechnological developments. Moreover, CPPs emerged as potential tools to study the prime mechanisms of cellular entry across the plasma membrane. This review is dedicated to CPP fundamentals, with an emphasis on the molecular requirements and mechanism of their entry into eukaryotic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chérine Bechara
- UPMC-Univ Paris 6, Laboratoire des BioMolecules, cc 182, UMR 7203 CNRS, ENS, Paris, France.
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10
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Pourmousa M, Karttunen M. Early stages of interactions of cell-penetrating peptide penetratin with a DPPC bilayer. Chem Phys Lipids 2013; 169:85-94. [PMID: 23499547 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2013.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2012] [Revised: 02/28/2013] [Accepted: 02/28/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Cell-penetrating-peptides (CPPs) can deliver themselves together with a macromolecular cargo into cells and, hence, have promising applications in drug delivery. The detailed physical mechanisms that underlie and determine their cellular uptake remain unknown. We used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the interaction of a well-known CPP, namely penetratin, with a zwitterionic di-palmitoyl-phosphatidyl-choline (DPPC) bilayer. Our study shows that the arginine and lysine residues play a crucial role in peptide-membrane binding through charge-pair and hydrogen bond interactions. We also characterize peptide conformation and show that it remains helical near the N-terminus but can fold into a variety of other conformations in the residues close to the C-terminus. The response of membrane to the peptide is also investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Pourmousa
- Department of Applied Mathematics, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5B7
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12
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Hong M, Su Y. Structure and dynamics of cationic membrane peptides and proteins: insights from solid-state NMR. Protein Sci 2011; 20:641-55. [PMID: 21344534 DOI: 10.1002/pro.600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2010] [Revised: 01/14/2011] [Accepted: 01/18/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Many membrane peptides and protein domains contain functionally important cationic Arg and Lys residues, whose insertion into the hydrophobic interior of the lipid bilayer encounters significant energy barriers. To understand how these cationic molecules overcome the free energy barrier to insert into the lipid membrane, we have used solid-state NMR spectroscopy to determine the membrane-bound topology of these peptides. A versatile array of solid-state NMR experiments now readily yields the conformation, dynamics, orientation, depth of insertion, and site-specific protein-lipid interactions of these molecules. We summarize key findings of several Arg-rich membrane peptides, including β-sheet antimicrobial peptides, unstructured cell-penetrating peptides, and the voltage-sensing helix of voltage-gated potassium channels. Our results indicate the central role of guanidinium-phosphate and guanidinium-water interactions in dictating the structural topology of these cationic molecules in the lipid membrane, which in turn account for the mechanisms of this functionally diverse class of membrane peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Hong
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA.
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Wang Q, Hong G, Johnson GR, Pachter R, Cheung MS. Biophysical properties of membrane-active peptides based on micelle modeling: a case study of cell-penetrating and antimicrobial peptides. J Phys Chem B 2011; 114:13726-35. [PMID: 20939546 DOI: 10.1021/jp1069362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the molecular mechanisms of short peptides interacting with membrane-mimetic systems. Three short peptides were selected for this study: penetratin as a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP), and temporin A and KSL as antimicrobial peptides (AMP). We investigated the detailed interactions of the peptides with dodecylphosphocholine (DPC) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles, and the subsequent peptide insertion based on free energy calculations by using all-atomistic molecular dynamics simulations with the united atom force field and explicit solvent models. First, we found that the free energy barrier to insertion for the three peptides is dependent on the chemical composition of the micelles. Because of the favorable electrostatic interactions between the peptides and the headgroups of lipids, the insertion barrier into an SDS micelle is less than a DPC micelle. Second, the peptides' secondary structures may play a key role in their binding and insertion ability, particularly for amphiphilic peptides such as penetratin and KSL. The secondary structures with a stronger ability to bind with and insert into micelles are the ones that account for a smaller surface area of hydrophobic core, thus offering a possible criterion for peptide design with specific functionalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wang
- Department of Physics, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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14
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Ye J, Fox SA, Cudic M, Rezler EM, Lauer JL, Fields GB, Terentis AC. Determination of penetratin secondary structure in live cells with Raman microscopy. J Am Chem Soc 2010; 132:980-8. [PMID: 20041639 DOI: 10.1021/ja9043196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) have attracted recent interest as drug delivery tools, although the mechanisms by which CPPs are internalized by cells are not well-defined. Here, we report a new experimental approach for the detection and secondary structure determination of CPPs in live cells using Raman microscopy with heavy isotope labeling of the peptide. As a first demonstration of principle, penetratin, a 16-residue CPP derived from the Antennapedia homeodomain protein of Drosophila, was measured in single, living melanoma cells. Carbon-13 labeling of the Phe residue of penetratin was used to shift the intense aromatic ring-breathing vibrational mode from 1003 to 967 cm(-1), thereby enabling the peptide to be traced in cells. Difference spectroscopy and principal components analysis (PCA) were used independently to resolve the Raman spectrum of the peptide from the background cellular Raman signals. On the basis of the position of the amide I vibrational band in the Raman spectra, the secondary structure of the peptide was found to be mainly random coil and beta-strand in the cytoplasm, and possibly assembling as beta-sheets in the nucleus. The rapid entry and almost uniform cellular distribution of the peptide, as well as the lack of correlation between peptide and lipid Raman signatures, indicated that the mechanism of internalization under the conditions of study was probably nonendocytotic. This experimental approach can be used to study a wide variety of CPPs as well as other classes of peptides in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Ye
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, USA
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Zhu WL, Shin SY. Antimicrobial and cytolytic activities and plausible mode of bactericidal action of the cell penetrating peptide penetratin and its lys-linked two-stranded peptide. Chem Biol Drug Des 2009; 73:209-15. [PMID: 19207423 DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-0285.2008.00769.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The cell penetrating peptide, penetratin (RQIKIWFQNRRMKWKK-NH2) showed potent antimicrobial activity (MIC: 0.5-4 microM) without any cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. This study investigated the effect of linking together two peptide chains of penetratin on antimicrobial and cytolytic activities and plausible mode of bactericidal action. Two-stranded penetratin was prepared by a simultaneous solid-phase synthesis of the two strands of a single lysine residue attached to the solid support. Two-stranded penetratin markedly increased cytolytic activity against human erythrocytes and NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblast cells without a significant effect on antimicrobial activity. This finding suggested that penetratin is active as a monomer to bacterial cells but as an oligomer to mammalian cells. Circular dichroism analysis revealed that the alpha-helical content of the membrane-bound penetratin was unaffected by two-stranded Lys-linkage. Penetratin had very weak ability in the depolarization of membrane potential of intact Staphylococcus aureus cells and the fluorescent dye leakage of calcein-entrapped negatively charged bacterial membrane-mimicking vesicles. In contrast, two-stranded penetratin significantly caused membrane depolarization and dye leakage. These results suggest that the two-stranded penetratin induces a significant change in its mode of bactericidal action from the intracellular-target mechanism to the membrane-targeting mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan Long Zhu
- Department of Bio-Materials, Graduate School, Research Center for Proteineous Materials and Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Korea
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16
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Aulisa L, Forraz N, McGuckin C, Hartgerink JD. Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation by designed peptide amphiphiles. Acta Biomater 2009; 5:842-53. [PMID: 19249722 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2008.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2008] [Revised: 11/05/2008] [Accepted: 11/06/2008] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
HOX genes encode conserved transcription factors that control the morphological diversification along the anteroposterior body axis. HOX proteins bind to DNA through a highly conserved 60 amino acid sequence called the homeodomain, and greater DNA binding specificity and stability are achieved when it forms complexes with cofactors such as PBX and MEIS in humans. In particular, HOX proteins from paralog groups 1-8, interact with PBX proteins via a specific and highly conserved hydrophobic six amino acid sequence localized in the N-terminal region of HOX. In several oncogenic transformations, deregulated HOX gene expression has been observed, indicating an involvement of these transcriptional regulators in carcinogenesis and metastasis. Inhibition of the HOX-PBX interaction could be a strategy to control the abnormal proliferation of these cancer cells. In this study we describe a small designed peptide amphiphile (PA) which self-assembles into micelles and shows inhibition of T3M4 pancreatic cancer cells, K562 leukemia cells and MJT1 melanoma cells while non-cancerous fibroblast NIH 3T3 cells are less affected. This molecule contains three critical regions: a 9-amino-acid sequence designed to disrupt HOX/PBX/DNA complex formation, a 16-amino-acid sequence to deliver the peptide into the cell and a 16-carbon-acyl chain which we show leads to the molecule's self-assembly and significantly enhances the effectiveness of the molecule to slow cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Aulisa
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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17
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Polyansky AA, Volynsky PE, Arseniev AS, Efremov RG. Adaptation of a Membrane-active Peptide to Heterogeneous Environment. I. Structural Plasticity of the Peptide. J Phys Chem B 2009; 113:1107-19. [DOI: 10.1021/jp803640e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anton A. Polyansky
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Pavel E. Volynsky
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Alexander S. Arseniev
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Roman G. Efremov
- M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
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18
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Reversible sheet-turn conformational change of a cell-penetrating peptide in lipid bilayers studied by solid-state NMR. J Mol Biol 2008; 381:1133-44. [PMID: 18656895 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2008.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2008] [Revised: 05/07/2008] [Accepted: 06/04/2008] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The membrane-bound conformation of a cell-penetrating peptide, penetratin, is investigated using solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The (13)C chemical shifts of (13)C, (15)N-labeled residues in the peptide indicate a reversible conformational change from beta-sheet at low temperature to coil-like at high temperature. This conformational change occurs for all residues examined between positions 3 and 13, at peptide/lipid molar ratios of 1:15 and 1:30, in membranes with 25-50% anionic lipids, and in both saturated DMPC/DMPG (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylchloline/1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylglycerol) membranes and unsaturated POPC/POPG (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine/1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylglycerol) membranes. Thus, it is an intrinsic property of penetratin. The coil state of the peptide has C-H order parameters of 0.23-0.52 for C(alpha) and C(beta) sites, indicating that the peptide backbone is unstructured. Moreover, chemical shift anisotropy lineshapes are uniaxially averaged, suggesting that the peptide backbone undergoes uniaxial rotation around the bilayer normal. These observations suggest that the dynamic state of penetratin at high temperature is a structured turn instead of an isotropic random coil. The thermodynamic parameters of this sheet-turn transition are extracted and compared to other membrane peptides reported to exhibit conformational changes. We suggest that the function of this turn conformation may be to reduce hydrophobic interactions with the lipid chains and facilitate penetratin translocation across the bilayer without causing permanent membrane damage.
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19
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Stewart KM, Horton KL, Kelley SO. Cell-penetrating peptides as delivery vehicles for biology and medicine. Org Biomol Chem 2008; 6:2242-55. [DOI: 10.1039/b719950c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 316] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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20
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El Amri C, Bruston F, Joanne P, Lacombe C, Nicolas P. Intrinsic flexibility and structural adaptability of Plasticins membrane-damaging peptides as a strategy for functional versatility. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL: EBJ 2007; 36:901-9. [PMID: 17622524 DOI: 10.1007/s00249-007-0199-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2007] [Revised: 05/16/2007] [Accepted: 05/28/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The Plasticins are a family of antimicrobial, 23-29-residue Gly-Leu-rich ortholog peptides from the frog skin that have very similar amino acid sequences, hydrophobicities, and amphipathicities but differ markedly in their conformational plasticity and spectrum of activity. The intrinsic flexibility and structural malleability of Plasticins modulate their ability to bind to and disrupt the bilayer membranes of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and/or to reach intracellular targets, therefore, triggering functional versatility. The discussion is opened herein on several examples of other membrane-active peptides, like viral fusion peptides, cell-penetrating peptides, that are able to display antimicrobial activity. Hence, Plasticins could be regarded as models of multipotent membrane-active peptides guided by structural plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- C El Amri
- FRE 2852 Protéines: Biochimie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, Université Paris 6-CNRS, Peptidome de la peau d'amphibiens, tour 43, 4, Place Jussieu 75252, Paris Cedex 05, France.
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21
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Bruston F, Lacombe C, Zimmermann K, Piesse C, Nicolas P, El Amri C. Structural malleability of plasticins: Preorganized conformations in solution and relevance for antimicrobial activity. Biopolymers 2007; 86:42-56. [PMID: 17309077 DOI: 10.1002/bip.20703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Plasticins (23 long-residue glycine-leucine-rich dermaseptin-related peptides produced by the skin of South American hylids) have very similar amino acid sequences, hydrophobicities, and amphipathicities, but differ in their membrane-damaging properties and structurations (i.e. destabilized helix states, beta-hairpin, beta-sheet, and disordered states) at anionic and zwitterionic membrane interfaces. Structural malleability of plasticins in aqueous solutions together with parameters that may govern their ability to fold within beta-hairpin like structures were analyzed through circular dichroism and FTIR spectroscopic studies completed by molecular dynamics simulations in polar mimetic media. The goal of this study was to probe to which extent pre-existent peptide conformations, i.e. intrinsic "conformational landscape", may be responsible for variability in bioactive conformation and antimicrobial/hemolytic mechanisms of action of these peptides in relation with their various membrane disturbing properties. All plasticins present a turn region that does not always result in folding into a beta-hairpin shaped conformation. Residue at position 8 plays a major role in initiating the folding, while position 12 is not critical. Conformational stability has no major impact on antimicrobial efficacy. However, preformed beta-hairpin in solution may act as a conformational lock that prevents switch to alpha-helical structure. This lock lowers the antimicrobial efficiency and explains subtle differences in potencies of the most active antimicrobial plasticins.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Bruston
- FRE 2852 Protéines: Biochimie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, Université Paris 6-CNRS, Peptidome de la peau d'amphibiens, tour 43, 4, Place Jussieu 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France
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