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Dang TT, Tran TTT, Pham SH, Quach TH, Ngo NTQ, Nguyen THN. Characterization of cyclotides Mra30 and cycloviolacin O17 derived from Viola dalatensis Gadnep. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:396. [PMID: 39249533 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-04122-0] [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: 07/22/2024] [Revised: 08/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria threaten human and animal health, and standard antibiotics no longer effective. Antibiotic-resistant microorganisms can make infection treatment challenging and perhaps fail. Investigating the attributes of cyclotide, a peptide with promising antibacterial properties that holds great potential in the field of antibiotic research. The structure of these cyclic peptides involves six conserved cysteine residues that form three disulfide bonds, resulting in a cyclic cystine knot (CCK). This feature guarantees their durability when exposed to changes in temperature, chemicals, and enzymatic degradation. The two cyclotides, cycloviolacin O17 and mra30, were obtained from Viola dalatensis Gadnep through a series of techniques including the use of a 50% acetonitrile/49% miliQ water/1% formic acid solution for extraction, ammonium salt precipitation, RP-HPLC purification and sequence identification by LC-MS/MS. These cyclotides exhibit antibacterial effects on specific strains of bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a concentration of 0.2 mg/mL, leading to inhibition zones ranging from 10 to 14 mm. In addition, the disulfide bonds play a crucial role in the antibacterial function of cyclotides. Disrupting the disulfide bonds through ankylation reaction results in the loss of antibacterial properties in the cyclotides (cyO17 and mra30). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of mra30 and cyO17 are significantly low, ranging from 0.1 to 0.6 µM. These values are approximately three times lower than the MIC values observed in salt precipitation samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tien T Dang
- Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1B TL29, District 12, Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam.
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, 100000, Viet Nam.
| | - Tam T T Tran
- Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1B TL29, District 12, Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam
| | - Son H Pham
- Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1B TL29, District 12, Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam
| | - Tong-Hung Quach
- Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1B TL29, District 12, Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam
| | - Nhu T Q Ngo
- Institute of Chemical Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1A TL29, Thanh Loc Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh, 700000, Viet Nam
| | - Tuan H N Nguyen
- Biomedical Research Center, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam
- Department of Medical Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam
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Akinniyi G, Akinboye AJ, Yang I, Lee JG. Plant proteins, peptides, and non-protein amino acids: Toxicity, sources, and analysis. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34890. [PMID: 39145010 PMCID: PMC11320209 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34890] [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: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Plants have evolved various mechanisms to synthesize diverse range of substances that contribute to their survival against pests, pathogens, predators, and adverse environmental conditions. Although several plant metabolites possess therapeutic potential, some can be potentially harmful to human and animal health when consumed in large proportion. Proteins, peptides, and non-protein amino acids are products of plant biochemical pathways with proven beneficial and nutritional effects. Despite these benefits, the in vivo toxicities associated with certain plant-derived proteins, peptides, and non-protein amino acids pose a significant risk to humans and animals. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hair and weight loss, goiter, cataracts, and infertility. Even though plant processing methods such as soaking and drying can reduce the amount of toxin contained in plants, complete riddance is often impossible. As such, food regulatory bodies need to prevent uncontrolled consumption of the listed and many other toxin-containing plant species to keep the public safe. For this purpose, this review collates crucial insights into the sources, and in vivo toxicity associated with certain plant-derived proteins, peptides, and non-protein amino acids that have the clear potential to adversely affect human health. Additionally, this review provides information on analytical methods suitable for the detection of these substances in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganiyu Akinniyi
- Department of Convergence Study on the Ocean Science and Technology, National Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan 49112, South Korea
| | - Adebayo J. Akinboye
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01811, South Korea
| | - Inho Yang
- Department of Convergence Study on the Ocean Science and Technology, National Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan 49112, South Korea
| | - Joon-Goo Lee
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01811, South Korea
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3
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Ebrahimi A, Didarian R, Ghorbanpoor H, Dogan Guzel F, Hashempour H, Avci H. High-throughput microfluidic chip with silica gel-C18 channels for cyclotide separation. Anal Bioanal Chem 2023; 415:6873-6883. [PMID: 37792070 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-023-04966-3] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, microfluidic-based separations have been used for the purification, isolation, and separation of biomolecules to overcome difficulties encountered by conventional chromatography-based methods including high cost, long processing times, sample volumes, and low separation efficiency. Cyclotides, or cyclic peptides used by some plant families as defense agents, have attracted the interest of scientists because of their biological activities varying from antimicrobial to anticancer properties. The separation process has a critical impact in terms of obtaining pure cyclotides for drug development strategies. Here, for the first time, a mimic of the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on microfluidic chip strategy was used to separate the cyclotides. In this regard, silica gel-C18 was synthesized and characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and then filled inside the microchannel to prepare an HPLC C18 column-like structure inside the microchannel. Cyclotide extract was obtained from Viola ignobilis by a low voltage electric field extraction method and characterized by HPLC and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF). The extract that contained vigno 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and varv A cyclotides was added to the microchannel where distilled water was used as a mobile phase with 1 µL/min flow rate and then samples were collected in 2-min intervals until 10 min. Results show that cyclotides can be successfully separated from each other and collected from the microchannel at different periods of time. These findings demonstrate that the use of microfluidic channels has a high impact on the separation of cyclotides as a rapid, cost-effective, and simple method and the device can find widespread applications in drug discovery research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliakbar Ebrahimi
- Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Production Application and Research Center (ESTEM), Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Reza Didarian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey
| | - Hamed Ghorbanpoor
- Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Production Application and Research Center (ESTEM), Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey
| | - Fatma Dogan Guzel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Hossein Hashempour
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Huseyin Avci
- Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Production Application and Research Center (ESTEM), Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey.
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey.
- Translational Medicine Research and Clinical Center (TATUM), Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Turkey.
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Batiha GES, Lukman HY, Shaheen HM, Wasef L, Hafiz AA, Conte-Junior CA, Al-Farga A, Chamba MVM, Lawal B. A Systematic Review of Phytochemistry, Nutritional Composition, and Pharmacologic Application of Species of the Genus Viola in Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs). EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2023; 2023:5406039. [PMID: 37941895 PMCID: PMC10630019 DOI: 10.1155/2023/5406039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Viola L. is the largest genus of the Violaceae family with more than 500 species across the globe. The present extensive literature survey revealed Viola species to be a group of important nutritional and medicinal plants used for the ethnomedicinal treatment of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, asthma, lung diseases, and fatigue. Many plant species of this genus have also received scientific validation of their pharmacological activities including neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, anticancer, antihypertensive, antidyslipidemic, analgesic, antipyretic, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, and antioxidant. Viola is highly rich in different natural products some of which have been isolated and identified in the past few decades; these include flavonoids terpenoids and phenylpropanoids of different pharmacological activities. The pharmacokinetics and clinical studies on this genus are lacking, and the present review is aimed at summarizing the current understanding of the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, nutritional composition, and pharmacological profile of medicinal plants from the Viola genus to reveal its therapeutic potentials, gaps, and subsequently open a new window for future pharmacological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaber El-Saber Batiha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22511, AlBeheira, Egypt
| | - Halimat Yusuf Lukman
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Biochemistry Unit, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Summit University Offa, Offa PMB 4412, Nigeria
| | - Hazem M. Shaheen
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22511, AlBeheira, Egypt
| | - Lamiaa Wasef
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22511, AlBeheira, Egypt
| | - Amin A. Hafiz
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
| | - Carlos Adam Conte-Junior
- Laboratory of Advanced Analysis in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (LAABBM), Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro RJ 21941-909, Brazil
| | - Ammar Al-Farga
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21577, Saudi Arabia
| | - Moses V. M. Chamba
- Department of Physics and Biochemical Sciences, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, Private Bag 303, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi
| | - Bashir Lawal
- Faculty of Medical Science, New Gate University, Minna, Nigeria
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Hashempour H, Herfati F, Valizadeh H, Mahmoudi-Kordi F, Ebrahimi SN, Hamburger M, Farimani MM. Sesquiterpene Lactones with Astrodaucane Skeleton from Astrodaucus orientalis. PLANTA MEDICA 2023; 89:134-139. [PMID: 35397480 DOI: 10.1055/a-1822-1486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Four sesquiterpene lactones, astrodaucanolide A - D (1: -4: ) with unique structures, toghether with two known phenylpropanoid esters (5: and 6: ) were isolated from a flower extract of Astrodaucus orientalis. The structures were established by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRESIMS), and the absolute configuration of 1: -4: was determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD). Compounds 1: -4: novel architecture represents a new class of sesquiterpenes with new skeleton. A putative biosynthetic pathway for their scaffold is proposed with a germacryl cation as the precursor. The suggested biosynthesis pathway is similar to that of eudesmane sesquiterpenes with a different direction of protonation which then leads to the new skeleton, named astrodaucane by the 1,2-methyl migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Hashempour
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Farshid Herfati
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hassan Valizadeh
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Mahmoudi-Kordi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Samad Nejad Ebrahimi
- Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Matthias Hamburger
- Pharmaceutical Biology, Pharmacenter, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mahdi Moridi Farimani
- Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Evin, Tehran, Iran
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DIDARIAN R, EBRAHIMI A, GHORBANPOOR H, BAGHEROGHLI H, DOGAN GÜZEL F, FARHADPOUR M, LOTFIBAKHSHAYESH N, HASHEMPOUR H, AVCI H. On chip microfluidic separation of cyclotides. Turk J Chem 2022; 47:253-262. [PMID: 37720850 PMCID: PMC10504020 DOI: 10.55730/1300-0527.3534] [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: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclotides as a cyclic peptide produced by different groups of plants have been a very attractive field of research due to their exceptional properties in biological activities and drug design applications. The importance of cyclotides as new biological activities from nature caused to attract researchers to develop new separation systems. Recent growth and development on chip-based technology for separation and bioassay especially for anticancer having sparklingly advantages comparison with common traditional methods. In this study, the microfluidic separation of Vigno 1-5 cyclotides extracted from Viola ignobilis by using polar and nonpolar forces as a liquid-liquid interaction was investigated through modified microfluidic chips and then the results were compared with a traditional counterpart technique of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The traditional process of separating cyclotides from plants is a costly and time-consuming procedure. The scientific novelty of this study is to accelerate the separation of cyclotides using modified microfluidic chips with low cost and high efficiency. The results revealed that a novel and simple microfluidic chip concept is an effective approach for separating the Vigno groups in the violet extract. We believe that the concept could potentially be utilized for further drug development process especially for anticancer studies by coupling bioassay chips as online procedures via reducing in time and cost compared with traditional offline methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza DIDARIAN
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara,
Turkey
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Eskişehir Osmangazi University Eskişehir,
Turkey
| | - Aliakbar EBRAHIMI
- Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Production Application and Research Center (ESTEM), Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir,
Turkey
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Eskişehir Osmangazi University Eskişehir,
Turkey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir,
Turkey
| | - Hamed GHORBANPOOR
- Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Production Application and Research Center (ESTEM), Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir,
Turkey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir,
Turkey
| | - Hesam BAGHEROGHLI
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz,
Iran
| | - Fatma DOGAN GÜZEL
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara,
Turkey
| | - Mohsen FARHADPOUR
- Department of Plant Bioproducts, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Shahrak-e Pajoohesh, Tehran,
Iran
| | - Nasrin LOTFIBAKHSHAYESH
- Department of Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran,
Iran
| | - Hossein HASHEMPOUR
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz,
Iran
| | - Hüseyin AVCI
- Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Production Application and Research Center (ESTEM), Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir,
Turkey
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Eskişehir Osmangazi University Eskişehir,
Turkey
- Translational Medicine Research and Clinical Center (TATUM), Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir,
Turkey
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Dayani L, Dinani MS, Aliomrani M, Hashempour H, Varshosaz J, Taheri A. Immunomodulatory effects of cyclotides isolated from Viola odorata in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis animal model of multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2022; 64:103958. [PMID: 35716476 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.103958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that causes chronic inflammation. Cyclotides are small plant proteins with a wide range of biological activity, making them a target for researchers to investigate. This study was conducted to investigate the possible effects of cyclotide-rich fractions from Viola odorata as an immunomodulatory agent in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS. METHODS At room temperature, the plant materials were subjected to maceration in methanol: dichloromethane (1:1; v/v) for 3 days. The extraction was repeated 3 times, and the final concentrated extract was partitioned 3 times by 1/2 volume of double-distilled water. The aqueous phases were separated and freeze-dried. Finally, the crude extract was fractionated by C18 silicagel using vacuum liquid chromatography, with mobile phases of 30%, 50% and 80% of ethanol: water, respectively. The 50%, and 80% fractions were analyzed by HPLC and MALDI-TOF analysis and administrated intraperitoneally to forty-five female C57BL/6 EAE-induced mice, at 5, 25, and 50 mg/kg doses. After 28 days, the animals were evaluated using EAE clinical scoring which was done every 3 days, cytokine levels, and myelination level. RESULTS The results confirmed the presence of cyclotides in V. odorata based on their retention time and the composition of mobile phase in HPLC and the molecular weight of the peaks in MALDI-TOF analysis. It was observed that cyclotides, especially in the 80% fraction group at the dose of 50 mg/kg significantly reduced the clinical scores, inflammation, and demyelination in EAE mice compared with the normal saline group (P<0.05), and the results of this group were comparable with fingolimod (P>0.05). CONCLUSION It could be concluded that V. odorata is a rich source of cyclotides which they could be extracted by an easily available process and also, they could be used as immunomodulatory agents in MS, with similar effects to fingolimod.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ladan Dayani
- Novel Drug Delivery Systems Research Centre, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Novel Drug Delivery Systems Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Masoud Sadeghi Dinani
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mehdi Aliomrani
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hossein Hashempour
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Jaleh Varshosaz
- Novel Drug Delivery Systems Research Centre, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Novel Drug Delivery Systems Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Azade Taheri
- Novel Drug Delivery Systems Research Centre, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Novel Drug Delivery Systems Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
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Taghizadeh MS, Retzl B, Muratspahić E, Trenk C, Casanova E, Moghadam A, Afsharifar A, Niazi A, Gruber CW. Discovery of the cyclotide caripe 11 as a ligand of the cholecystokinin-2 receptor. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9215. [PMID: 35654807 PMCID: PMC9163038 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13142-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The cholecystokinin-2 receptor (CCK2R) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is expressed in peripheral tissues and the central nervous system and constitutes a promising target for drug development in several diseases, such as gastrointestinal cancer. The search for ligands of this receptor over the past years mainly resulted in the discovery of a set of distinct synthetic small molecule chemicals. Here, we carried out a pharmacological screening of cyclotide-containing plant extracts using HEK293 cells transiently-expressing mouse CCK2R, and inositol phosphate (IP1) production as a readout. Our data demonstrated that cyclotide-enriched plant extracts from Oldenlandia affinis, Viola tricolor and Carapichea ipecacuanha activate the CCK2R as measured by the production of IP1. These findings prompted the isolation of a representative cyclotide, namely caripe 11 from C. ipecacuanha for detailed pharmacological analysis. Caripe 11 is a partial agonist of the CCK2R (Emax = 71%) with a moderate potency of 8.5 µM, in comparison to the endogenous full agonist cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8; EC50 = 11.5 nM). The partial agonism of caripe 11 is further characterized by an increase on basal activity (at low concentrations) and a dextral-shift of the potency of CCK-8 (at higher concentrations) following its co-incubation with the cyclotide. Therefore, cyclotides such as caripe 11 may be explored in the future for the design and development of cyclotide-based ligands or imaging probes targeting the CCK2R and related peptide GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Sadegh Taghizadeh
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Biotechnology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Bernhard Retzl
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Edin Muratspahić
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Trenk
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Emilio Casanova
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ali Moghadam
- Institute of Biotechnology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Ali Niazi
- Institute of Biotechnology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Christian W Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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9
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Conzelmann C, Muratspahić E, Tomašević N, Münch J, Gruber CW. In vitro Inhibition of HIV-1 by Cyclotide-Enriched Extracts of Viola tricolor. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:888961. [PMID: 35712712 PMCID: PMC9196940 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.888961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Since viral infectious diseases continue to be a global health threat, new antiviral drugs are urgently needed. A unique class of therapeutic compounds are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). They can be found in humans, bacteria and plants. Plants express a wide variety of such defense peptides as part of their innate immune system to protect from invading pathogens. Cyclotides are non-classical AMPs that share a similar structure. Their unique topology consists of a circular peptide backbone and disulfide bonds. In previous studies they have been attributed to a wide range of biological activities. To identify novel cyclotides with antiviral activity, we established a library of plant extracts largely consisting of cyclotide-rich species and screened them as inhibitors of HIV-1 infection. Subsequent extraction and fractionation revealed four cyclotide-containing subfractions from Viola tricolor with antiviral activity. These subfractions inhibited HIV-1 infection with IC50 values between 0.6 and 11.2 μg/ml, and selectivity indices of up to 8.1. The identification and characterization of antiviral cyclotides and the determination of the antiviral mechanisms may allow to develop novel agents to combat viral infections. Therefore, cyclotides represent a natural source of bioactive molecules with prospects for development as therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Conzelmann
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Edin Muratspahić
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nataša Tomašević
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jan Münch
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
- *Correspondence: Jan Münch, ; Christian W. Gruber,
| | - Christian W. Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Jan Münch, ; Christian W. Gruber,
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Ogbole OO, Akinleye TE, Nkumah AO, Awogun AO, Attah AF, Adewumi MO, Adeniji AJ. In vitro antiviral activity of peptide-rich extracts from seven Nigerian plants against three non-polio enterovirus species C serotypes. Virol J 2021; 18:161. [PMID: 34348755 PMCID: PMC8335448 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01628-7] [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: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 08/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background As frequent viral outbreaks continue to pose threat to public health, the unavailability of antiviral drugs and challenges associated with vaccine development underscore the need for antiviral drugs discovery in emergent moments (endemic or pandemic). Plants in response to microbial and pest attacks are able to produce defence molecules such as antimicrobial peptides as components of their innate immunity, which can be explored for viral therapeutics. Methods In this study, partially purified peptide-rich fraction (P-PPf) were obtained from aqueous extracts of seven plants by reverse-phase solid-phase extraction and cysteine-rich peptides detected by a modified TLC method. The peptide-enriched fractions and the aqueous (crude polar) were screened for antiviral effect against three non-polio enterovirus species C members using cytopathic effect reduction assay. Results In this study, peptide fraction obtained from Euphorbia hirta leaf showed most potent antiviral effect against Coxsackievirus A13, Coxsackievirus A20, and Enterovirus C99 (EV-C99) with IC50 < 2.0 µg/mL and selective index ≥ 81. EV-C99 was susceptible to all partially purified peptide fractions except Allamanda blanchetii leaf. Conclusion These findings establish the antiviral potentials of plants antimicrobial peptides and provides evidence for the anti-infective use of E. hirta in ethnomedicine. This study provides basis for further scientific investigation geared towards the isolation, characterization and mechanistic pharmacological study of the detected cysteine-rich peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omonike O Ogbole
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
| | - Toluwanimi E Akinleye
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Abraham O Nkumah
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Aminat O Awogun
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Alfred F Attah
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
| | - Moses O Adewumi
- Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Adekunle J Adeniji
- Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.,WHO Polio National Laboratory, Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
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11
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Gattringer J, Ndogo OE, Retzl B, Ebermann C, Gruber CW, Hellinger R. Cyclotides Isolated From Violet Plants of Cameroon Are Inhibitors of Human Prolyl Oligopeptidase. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:707596. [PMID: 34322026 PMCID: PMC8311463 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.707596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional medicine and the use of herbal remedies are well established in the African health care system. For instance, Violaceae plants are used for antimicrobial or anti-inflammatory applications in folk medicine. This study describes the phytochemical analysis and bioactivity screening of four species of the violet tribe Allexis found in Cameroon. Allexis cauliflora, Allexis obanensis, Allexis batangae and Allexis zygomorpha were evaluated for the expression of circular peptides (cyclotides) by mass spectrometry. The unique cyclic cystine-rich motif was identified in several peptides of all four species. Knowing that members of this peptide family are protease inhibitors, the plant extracts were evaluated for the inhibition of human prolyl oligopeptidase (POP). Since all four species inhibited POP activity, a bioactivity-guided fractionation approach was performed to isolate peptide inhibitors. These novel cyclotides, alca 1 and alca 2 exhibited IC50 values of 8.5 and 4.4 µM, respectively. To obtain their amino acid sequence information, combinatorial enzymatic proteolysis was performed. The proteolytic fragments were evaluated in MS/MS fragmentation experiments and the full-length amino acid sequences were obtained by de novo annotation of fragment ions. In summary, this study identified inhibitors of the human protease POP, which is a drug target for inflammatory or neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Gattringer
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Olivier Eteme Ndogo
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Retzl
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carina Ebermann
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian W Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roland Hellinger
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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12
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Aslam L, Kaur R, Sharma V, Kapoor N, Mahajan R. Isolation and characterization of cyclotides from the leaves of Viola odorata L. using peptidomic and bioinformatic approach. 3 Biotech 2021; 11:211. [PMID: 33927999 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-021-02763-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclotides are true gene products characterized by the presence of six conserved cysteine residues and knotted arrangement of three disulfide bonds. These macrocyclic peptides show exceptional resistance to thermal, chemical and enzymatic degradation which is defined due to their three-dimensional folding. The current study describes an efficient strategy involving reduction, enzymatic digestion and mass spectroscopy sequencing for the identification of the precursor sequences and the cyclotide domains present in the leaf tissue of Viola odorata. We observed 122 partial peptide sequences containing 31 cyclotide domains along with 19 unique sequences consisting of putative novel cyclotides and acyclotides. Four precursor sequences consisting of putative new and already reported domains were further characterized for cyclotide domains, their structure and subfamilies. The sequences revealed the presence of classic knotted cyclotide folds with similar six characteristic loops but different amino acid residues. Molecular modeling indicated that the secondary structures present in the cyclotides are mainly α-helix and random coils. Variation in the sequences and conservation in cysteine residues in the cyclotides was revealed by protein diversity wheel. The significant information observed in the current study expands our knowledge about the structure and type of cyclic peptides in V. odorata leaves. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02763-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubna Aslam
- School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Ramanjeet Kaur
- School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Venu Sharma
- School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Nisha Kapoor
- School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Ritu Mahajan
- School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India
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13
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Zhang JN, Xia YX, Zhang HJ. Natural Cyclopeptides as Anticancer Agents in the Last 20 Years. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3973. [PMID: 33921480 PMCID: PMC8068844 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22083973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclopeptides or cyclic peptides are polypeptides formed by ring closing of terminal amino acids. A large number of natural cyclopeptides have been reported to be highly effective against different cancer cells, some of which are renowned for their clinical uses. Compared to linear peptides, cyclopeptides have absolute advantages of structural rigidity, biochemical stability, binding affinity as well as membrane permeability, which contribute greatly to their anticancer potency. Therefore, the discovery and development of natural cyclopeptides as anticancer agents remains attractive to academic researchers and pharmaceutical companies. Herein, we provide an overview of anticancer cyclopeptides that were discovered in the past 20 years. The present review mainly focuses on the anticancer efficacies, mechanisms of action and chemical structures of cyclopeptides with natural origins. Additionally, studies of the structure-activity relationship, total synthetic strategies as well as bioactivities of natural cyclopeptides are also included in this article. In conclusion, due to their characteristic structural features, natural cyclopeptides have great potential to be developed as anticancer agents. Indeed, they can also serve as excellent scaffolds for the synthesis of novel derivatives for combating cancerous pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hong-Jie Zhang
- Teaching and Research Division, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China; (J.-N.Z.); (Y.-X.X.)
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14
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Retzl B, Hellinger R, Muratspahić E, Pinto MEF, Bolzani VS, Gruber CW. Discovery of a Beetroot Protease Inhibitor to Identify and Classify Plant-Derived Cystine Knot Peptides. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2020; 83:3305-3314. [PMID: 33118348 PMCID: PMC7705960 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c00648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Plant peptide protease inhibitors are important molecules in seed storage metabolism and to fight insect pests. Commonly they contain multiple disulfide bonds and are exceptionally stable molecules. In this study, a novel peptide protease inhibitor from beetroot (Beta vulgaris) termed bevuTI-I was isolated, and its primary structure was determined via mass spectrometry-based amino acid sequencing. By sequence homology analysis a few peptides with high similarity to bevuTI-I, also known as the Mirabilis jalapa trypsin inhibitor subfamily of knottin-type protease inhibitors, were discovered. Hence, we assessed bevuTI-I for inhibitory activity toward trypsin (IC50 = 471 nM) and human prolyl oligopeptidase (IC50 = 11 μM), which is an emerging drug target for neurodegenerative and inflammatory disorders. Interestingly, using a customized bioinformatics approach, bevuTI-I was found to be the missing link to annotate 243 novel sequences of M. jalapa trypsin inhibitor-like peptides. According to their phylogenetic distribution they appear to be common in several plant families. Therefore, the presented approach and our results may help to discover and classify other plant-derived cystine knot peptides, a class of plant molecules that play important functions in plant physiology and are currently being explored as lead molecules and scaffolds in drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Retzl
- Center
for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical
University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstraße 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Roland Hellinger
- Center
for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical
University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstraße 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Edin Muratspahić
- Center
for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical
University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstraße 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Meri E. F. Pinto
- Center
for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical
University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstraße 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Institute
of Chemistry, São Paulo State University-UNESP, 14800-060, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Vanderlan S. Bolzani
- Institute
of Chemistry, São Paulo State University-UNESP, 14800-060, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Christian W. Gruber
- Center
for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical
University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstraße 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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15
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Abstract
This Review explores the class of plant-derived macrocyclic peptides called cyclotides. We include an account of their discovery, characterization, and distribution in the plant kingdom as well as a detailed analysis of their sequences and structures, biosynthesis and chemical synthesis, biological functions, and applications. These macrocyclic peptides are around 30 amino acids in size and are characterized by their head-to-tail cyclic backbone and cystine knot motif, which render them to be exceptionally stable, with resistance to thermal or enzymatic degradation. Routes to their chemical synthesis have been developed over the past two decades, and this capability has facilitated a wide range of mutagenesis and structure-activity relationship studies. In turn, these studies have both led to an increased understanding of their mechanisms of action as well as facilitated a range of applications in agriculture and medicine, as ecofriendly crop protection agents, and as drug leads or scaffolds for pharmaceutical design. Our overall objective in this Review is to provide readers with a comprehensive overview of cyclotides that we hope will stimulate further work on this fascinating family of peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J de Veer
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
| | - Meng-Wei Kan
- 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
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16
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Álvarez CA, Barriga A, Albericio F, Romero MS, Guzmán F. Identification of Peptides in Flowers of Sambucus nigra with Antimicrobial Activity against Aquaculture Pathogens. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23051033. [PMID: 29702623 PMCID: PMC6100021 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23051033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The elder (Sambucus spp.) tree has a number of uses in traditional medicine. Previous studies have demonstrated the antimicrobial properties of elderberry liquid extract against human pathogenic bacteria and also influenza viruses. These properties have been mainly attributed to phenolic compounds. However, other plant defense molecules, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), may be present. Here, we studied peptide extracts from flowers of Sambucus nigra L. The mass spectrometry analyses determined peptides of 3 to 3.6 kDa, among them, cysteine-rich peptides were identified with antimicrobial activity against various Gram-negative bacteria, including recurrent pathogens of Chilean aquaculture. In addition, membrane blebbing on the bacterial surface after exposure to the cyclotide was visualized by SEM microscopy and SYTOX Green permeabilization assay showed the ability to disrupt the bacterial membrane. We postulate that these peptides exert their action by destroying the bacterial membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Andrés Álvarez
- Laboratorio de Fisiología y Genética Marina (FIGEMA), Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo 1781421, Chile.
- Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1781421, Chile.
- Centro AquaPacífico, Coquimbo 1781421, Chile.
| | - Andrés Barriga
- Unidad de Espectrometría de Masas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380494, Chile.
| | - Fernando Albericio
- Department of Organic Chemistry and CIBER-BBN, Networking Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08007, Spain.
- School of Chemistry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa.
| | - María Soledad Romero
- Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1781421, Chile.
| | - Fanny Guzmán
- Núcleo de Biotecnología de Curauma, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile.
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17
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Camarero JA. Cyclotides, a versatile ultrastable micro-protein scaffold for biotechnological applications. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2017; 27:5089-5099. [PMID: 29110985 PMCID: PMC5812341 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.10.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Revised: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Cyclotides are fascinating microproteins (≈30-40 residues long) with a unique head-to-tail cyclized backbone, stabilized by three disulfide bonds forming a cystine knot. This unique topology makes them exceptionally stable to chemical, thermal and biological degradation compared to other peptides of similar size. Cyclotides have been also found to be highly tolerant to sequence variability, aside from the conserved residues forming the cystine knot, able to cross cellular membranes and modulate intracellular protein-protein interactions both in vitro and in vivo. These properties make them ideal scaffolds for many biotechnological applications. This article provides and overview of the properties of cyclotides and their applications as molecular imaging agents and peptide-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio A Camarero
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121, USA.
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18
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Fahradpour M, Keov P, Tognola C, Perez-Santamarina E, McCormick PJ, Ghassempour A, Gruber CW. Cyclotides Isolated from an Ipecac Root Extract Antagonize the Corticotropin Releasing Factor Type 1 Receptor. Front Pharmacol 2017; 8:616. [PMID: 29033832 PMCID: PMC5627009 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00616] [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: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclotides are plant derived, cystine-knot stabilized peptides characterized by their natural abundance, sequence variability and structural plasticity. They are abundantly expressed in Rubiaceae, Psychotrieae in particular. Previously the cyclotide kalata B7 was identified to modulate the human oxytocin and vasopressin G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), providing molecular validation of the plants' uterotonic properties and further establishing cyclotides as valuable source for GPCR ligand design. In this study we screened a cyclotide extract derived from the root powder of the South American medicinal plant ipecac (Carapichea ipecacuanha) for its GPCR modulating activity of the corticotropin-releasing factor type 1 receptor (CRF1R). We identified and characterized seven novel cyclotides. One cyclotide, caripe 8, isolated from the most active fraction, was further analyzed and found to antagonize the CRF1R. A nanomolar concentration of this cyclotide (260 nM) reduced CRF potency by ∼4.5-fold. In contrast, caripe 8 did not inhibit forskolin-, or vasopressin-stimulated cAMP responses at the vasopressin V2 receptor, suggesting a CRF1R-specific mode-of-action. These results in conjunction with our previous findings establish cyclotides as modulators of both classes A and B GPCRs. Given the diversity of cyclotides, our data point to other cyclotide-GPCR interactions as potentially important sources of drug-like molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Fahradpour
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of ViennaVienna, Austria.,Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti UniversityTehran, Iran
| | - Peter Keov
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, BrisbaneQLD, Australia
| | - Carlotta Tognola
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of ViennaVienna, Austria
| | | | - Peter J McCormick
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of SurreyGuildford, United Kingdom
| | - Alireza Ghassempour
- Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti UniversityTehran, Iran
| | - Christian W Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of ViennaVienna, Austria.,Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, BrisbaneQLD, Australia
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19
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Dong G, Fu X, Li H, Pan X. An Accurate Sequence Assembly Algorithm for Livestock, Plants and Microorganism Based on Spark. INT J PATTERN RECOGN 2017. [DOI: 10.1142/s0218001417500240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Sequence Assembly is one of the important topics in bioinformatics research. Sequence assembly algorithm has always met the problems of poor assembling precision and low efficiency. In view of these two problems, this paper designs and implements a precise assembling algorithm under the strategy of finding the source of reads based on the MapReduce (SA-BR-MR) and Eulerian path algorithm. Computational results show that SA-BR-MR is more accurate than other algorithms. At the same time, SA-BR-MR calculates 54 sequences which are randomly selected from animals, plants and microorganisms with base lengths from hundreds to tens of thousands from NCBI. All matching rates of the 54 sequences are 100%. For each species, the algorithm summarizes the range of [Formula: see text] which makes the matching rates to be 100%. In order to verify the range of [Formula: see text] value of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and related variants, the randomly selected eight HCV variants are calculated. The results verify the correctness of [Formula: see text] range of hepatitis C and related variants from NCBI. The experiment results provide the basis for sequencing of other variants of the HCV. In addition, Spark platform is a new computing platform based on memory computation, which is featured by high efficiency and suitable for iterative calculation. Therefore, this paper designs and implements sequence assembling algorithm based on the Spark platform under the strategy of finding the source of reads (SA-BR-Spark). In comparison with SA-BR-MR, SA-BR-Spark shows a superior computational speed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaifang Dong
- College of Computer and Information Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, P. R. China
| | - Xueliang Fu
- College of Computer and Information Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, P. R. China
| | - Honghui Li
- College of Computer and Information Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, P. R. China
| | - Xu Pan
- College of Computer and Information Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, P. R. China
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20
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Abstract
Cyclotides are globular microproteins with a unique head-to-tail cyclized backbone, stabilized by three disulfide bonds forming a cystine knot. This unique circular backbone topology and knotted arrangement of three disulfide bonds makes them exceptionally stable to chemical, thermal, and biological degradation compared to other peptides of similar size. In addition, cyclotides have been shown to be highly tolerant to sequence variability, aside from the conserved residues forming the cystine knot. Cyclotides can also cross cellular membranes and are able to modulate intracellular protein-protein interactions, both in vitro and in vivo. All of these features make cyclotides highly promising as leads or frameworks for the design of peptide-based diagnostic and therapeutic tools. This article provides an overview on cyclotides and their applications as molecular imaging agents and peptide-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Gould
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121, USA
| | - Julio A. Camarero
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121, USA
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21
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Koehbach J, Clark RJ. Unveiling the diversity of cyclotides by combining peptidome and transcriptome analysis. Biopolymers 2016; 106:774-783. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.22858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Revised: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Koehbach
- School of Biomedical Sciences; The University of Queensland; 4072 St. Lucia QLD Australia
| | - Richard J. Clark
- School of Biomedical Sciences; The University of Queensland; 4072 St. Lucia QLD Australia
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22
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Weidmann J, Craik DJ. Discovery, structure, function, and applications of cyclotides: circular proteins from plants. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2016; 67:4801-12. [PMID: 27222514 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erw210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Cyclotides are plant-derived cyclic peptides that have a head-to-tail cyclic backbone and three conserved disulphide bonds that form a cyclic cystine knot motif. They occur in plants from the Violaceae, Rubiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae families, typically with 10-100 cyclotides in a given plant species, in a wide range of tissues, including flowers, leaves, stems, and roots. Some cyclotides are expressed in large amounts (up to 1g kg(-1) wet plant weight) and their natural function appears to be to protect plants from pests or pathogens. This article provides a brief overview of their discovery, distribution in plants, and applications. In particular, their exceptional stability has led to their use as peptide-based scaffolds in drug design applications. They also have potential as natural 'ecofriendly' insecticides, and as protein engineering frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Weidmann
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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23
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Okinyo-Owiti DP, Young L, Burnett PGG, Reaney MJT. New flaxseed orbitides: Detection, sequencing, and (15)N incorporation. Biopolymers 2016; 102:168-75. [PMID: 24408479 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2013] [Revised: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Three new orbitides (cyclolinopeptides 17, 18, and 19) were identified in flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) extracts without any form of purification. Their structures were elucidated by a combination of (15) N-labeling experiments and extensive tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) with electrospray ionization (ESI). Putative linear peptide sequences of the new orbitides were used as the query in the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) searches of flax genome database. These searches returned linear sequences for the putative precursors of cyclolinopeptides 17 and 19 among others. Cyclolinopeptide 18 contains MetO (O) and is not directly encoded, but is a product of post-translation modification of the Met present in 17. The identification of precursor proteins in flax mRNA transcripts and DNA sequences confirmed the occurrence and amino acid sequences of these orbitides as [1-9-NαC]-MLKPFFFWI, [1-9-NαC]-OLKPFFFWI, and [1-9-NαC]-GIPPFWLTL for cyclolinopeptides 17, 18, and 19, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis P Okinyo-Owiti
- Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A8, Canada
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24
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Attah AF, Hellinger R, Sonibare MA, Moody JO, Arrowsmith S, Wray S, Gruber CW. Ethnobotanical survey of Rinorea dentata (Violaceae) used in South-Western Nigerian ethnomedicine and detection of cyclotides. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2016; 179:83-91. [PMID: 26721222 PMCID: PMC5858781 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.12.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Revised: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE People living in the tropical rain forest of South-Western Nigeria use Rinorea dentata (P. Beauv.) Kuntze (Violaceae) in ethno-veterinary medicine to facilitate parturition. There are no evidence-based pharmacological investigations for the uterotonic activity of this plant. AIMS OF STUDY (i) Collection of data about the ethnopharmacological uses of R. dentata and evaluation of its uses and applications in health care; (ii) determining potential uterotonic effects in vitro, and (iii) chemical characterization of R. dentata, which is a member of the Violaceae family known to express circular cystine-knot peptides, called cyclotides. MATERIALS AND METHODS The ethnopharmacological use of R. dentata in settlement camps within the area J4 of Omo forest has been investigated by semi-structured questionnaires and open interviews. Use index analysis has been performed by seven quantitative statistical models. Respondents' claim on the beneficial ethno-veterinary application of the plant to aid parturition has been investigated in vitro by myometrial contractility organ bath assays. The bioactive plant extract was screened by chemical derivatization and mass spectrometry-based peptidomics using reversed-phase HPLC fractionation and MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis. RESULTS Based on the survey analysis, medicinal preparations of R. dentata have been used for anti-microbial and anti-malaria purpose in humans, and for aiding parturition in farm animals. The latter application was mentioned by one out of six respondents who claimed to use this plant for any medicinal purpose. The plant extract exhibited a weak uterotonic effect using organ bath studies. The plant contains cyclotides and the peptide riden A has been identified by de novo amino acid sequencing using mass spectrometry. CONCLUSION Few dwellers around the settlement camps of the tropical forest of Omo (Nigeria) use R. dentata for various health problems in traditional veterinary and human medicine. The weak uterotonic effect of the cyclotide-rich extract is in agreement with the low use value index obtained for this plant. Cyclotides have been reported in the genus Rinorea confirming the ubiquitous expression of these stable bioactive plant peptides within the family of Violaceae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred F Attah
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstr. 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Roland Hellinger
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstr. 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mubo A Sonibare
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Jones O Moody
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Sarah Arrowsmith
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Harris-Wellbeing Preterm Birth Centre, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Wray
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Harris-Wellbeing Preterm Birth Centre, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Christian W Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstr. 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia.
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Esmaeili MA, Abagheri-Mahabadi N, Hashempour H, Farhadpour M, Gruber CW, Ghassempour A. Viola plant cyclotide vigno 5 induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis via cytochrome C release and caspases activation in cervical cancer cells. Fitoterapia 2016; 109:162-8. [PMID: 26751970 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2015.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Revised: 12/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cyclotides describe a unique cyclic peptide family that displays a broad range of biological activities including uterotonic, anti-bacteria, anti-cancer and anti-HIV. The vigno cyclotides consist of vigno 1-10 were reported recently from Viola ignobilis. In the present study, we examined the effects of vigno 5, a natural cyclopeptide from V. ignobilis, on cervical cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms. We found that vigno 5-treated Hela cells were killed off by apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner within 24h, and were characterized by the appearance of nuclear shrinkage, cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and DNA fragmentation. The mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis revealed that cytochrome C is released from mitochondria to cytosol, associated with the activation of caspase-9 and -3, and the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Overall, the results indicate that vigno 5 induces apoptosis in part via the mitochondrial pathway, which is associated with a release of cytochrome C and elevated activity of caspase-9 and -3 in Hela cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ali Esmaeili
- Department of Biology, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nazanin Abagheri-Mahabadi
- Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Hashempour
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohsen Farhadpour
- Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Christian W Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alireza Ghassempour
- Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran.
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Farhadpour M, Hashempour H, Talebpour Z, A-Bagheri N, Shushtarian MS, Gruber CW, Ghassempour A. Microwave-assisted extraction of cyclotides from Viola ignobilis. Anal Biochem 2015; 497:83-9. [PMID: 26706804 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2015.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Revised: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Cyclotides are an interesting family of circular plant peptides. Their unique three-dimensional structure, comprising a head-to-tail circular backbone chain and three disulfide bonds, confers them stability against thermal, chemical, and enzymatic degradation. Their unique stability under extreme conditions creates an idea about the possibility of using harsh extraction methods such as microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) without affecting their structures. MAE has been introduced as a potent extraction method for extraction of natural compounds, but it is seldom used for peptide and protein extraction. In this work, microwave irradiation was applied to the extraction of cyclotides. The procedure was performed in various steps using a microwave instrument under different conditions. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) results show stability of cyclotide structures on microwave radiation. The influential parameters, including time, temperature, and the ratio of solvents that are affecting the MAE potency, were optimized. Optimal conditions were obtained at 20 min of irradiation time, 1200 W of system power in 60 °C, and methanol/water at the ratio of 90:10 (v/v) as solvent. The comparison of MAE results with maceration extraction shows that there are similarities between cyclotide sequences and extraction yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Farhadpour
- Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Hashempour
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Zahra Talebpour
- Department of Chemistry, Alzahra University, Vanac, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nazanin A-Bagheri
- Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Christian W Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alireza Ghassempour
- Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Evin, Tehran, Iran.
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Hellinger R, Koehbach J, Soltis DE, Carpenter EJ, Wong GKS, Gruber CW. Peptidomics of Circular Cysteine-Rich Plant Peptides: Analysis of the Diversity of Cyclotides from Viola tricolor by Transcriptome and Proteome Mining. J Proteome Res 2015; 14:4851-62. [PMID: 26399495 PMCID: PMC4642221 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5b00681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
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Cyclotides are plant-derived mini proteins. They are genetically
encoded as precursor proteins that become post-translationally modified
to yield circular cystine-knotted molecules. Because of this structural
topology cyclotides resist enzymatic degradation in biological fluids,
and hence they are considered as promising lead molecules for pharmaceutical
applications. Despite ongoing efforts to discover novel cyclotides
and analyze their biodiversity, it is not clear how many individual
peptides a single plant specimen can express. Therefore, we investigated
the transcriptome and cyclotide peptidome of Viola tricolor. Transcriptome mining enabled the characterization of cyclotide
precursor architecture and processing sites important for biosynthesis
of mature peptides. The cyclotide peptidome was explored by mass spectrometry
and bottom-up proteomics using the extracted peptide sequences as
queries for database searching. In total 164 cyclotides were discovered
by nucleic acid and peptide analysis in V. tricolor. Therefore, violaceous plants at a global scale may be the source
to as many as 150 000 individual cyclotides. Encompassing the
diversity of V. tricolor as a combinatorial library
of bioactive peptides, this commercially available medicinal herb
may be a suitable starting point for future bioactivity-guided screening
studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Hellinger
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna , Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes Koehbach
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna , Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland , St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Douglas E Soltis
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
| | - Eric J Carpenter
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Gane Ka-Shu Wong
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada.,BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Christian W Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna , Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland , St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
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Hellinger R, Koehbach J, Puigpinós A, Clark RJ, Tarragó T, Giralt E, Gruber CW. Inhibition of Human Prolyl Oligopeptidase Activity by the Cyclotide Psysol 2 Isolated from Psychotria solitudinum. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2015; 78:1073-82. [PMID: 25894999 PMCID: PMC4444998 DOI: 10.1021/np501061t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Cyclotides are head-to-tail cyclized peptides comprising a stabilizing cystine-knot motif. To date, they are well known for their diverse bioactivities such as anti-HIV and immunosuppressive properties. Yet little is known about specific molecular mechanisms, in particular the interaction of cyclotides with cellular protein targets. Native and synthetic cyclotide-like peptides from Momordica plants are potent and selective inhibitors of different serine-type proteinases such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, matriptase, and tryptase-beta. This study describes the bioactivity-guided isolation of a cyclotide from Psychotria solitudinum as an inhibitor of another serine-type protease, namely, the human prolyl oligopeptidase (POP). Analysis of the inhibitory potency of Psychotria extracts and subsequent fractionation by liquid chromatography yielded the isolated peptide psysol 2 (1), which exhibited an IC50 of 25 μM. In addition the prototypical cyclotide kalata B1 inhibited POP activity with an IC50 of 5.6 μM. The inhibitory activity appeared to be selective for POP, since neither psysol 2 nor kalata B1 were able to inhibit the proteolytic activity of trypsin or chymotrypsin. The enzyme POP is well known for its role in memory and learning processes, and it is currently being considered as a promising therapeutic target for the cognitive deficits associated with several psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, such as schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. In the context of discovery and development of POP inhibitors with beneficial ADME properties, cyclotides may be suitable starting points considering their stability in biological fluids and possible oral bioavailability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Hellinger
- Center
for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical
University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes Koehbach
- Center
for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical
University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Albert Puigpinós
- Institute
for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Richard J. Clark
- School
of Biomedical Sciences, The University of
Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Teresa Tarragó
- Institute
for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ernest Giralt
- Institute
for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, University of Barcelona
(UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Christian W. Gruber
- Center
for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical
University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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Abstract
AbstractPeptides of great number and diversity occur in all domains of life and exhibit a range of pharmaceutically relevant bioactivities. The complexity of biological samples including human cells or tissues, plant extracts or animal venom cocktails, often impedes the discovery of novel bioactive peptides using mass spectrometrybased peptidomics analysis. An increasing number of publicly available genome and transcriptome datasets, together with refined bioinformatics analysis, allows for rapid identification of novel peptides which may have been previously unrecognized. Moreover, a combination of information extracted from
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30
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Burman R, Yeshak MY, Larsson S, Craik DJ, Rosengren KJ, Göransson U. Distribution of circular proteins in plants: large-scale mapping of cyclotides in the Violaceae. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:855. [PMID: 26579135 PMCID: PMC4621522 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.00855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
During the last decade there has been increasing interest in small circular proteins found in plants of the violet family (Violaceae). These so-called cyclotides consist of a circular chain of approximately 30 amino acids, including six cysteines forming three disulfide bonds, arranged in a cyclic cystine knot (CCK) motif. In this study we map the occurrence and distribution of cyclotides throughout the Violaceae. Plant material was obtained from herbarium sheets containing samples up to 200 years of age. Even the oldest specimens contained cyclotides in the preserved leaves, with no degradation products observable, confirming their place as one of the most stable proteins in nature. Over 200 samples covering 17 of the 23-31 genera in Violaceae were analyzed, and cyclotides were positively identified in 150 species. Each species contained a unique set of between one and 25 cyclotides, with many exclusive to individual plant species. We estimate the number of different cyclotides in the Violaceae to be 5000-25,000, and propose that cyclotides are ubiquitous among all Violaceae species. Twelve new cyclotides from six phylogenetically dispersed genera were sequenced. Furthermore, the first glycosylated derivatives of cyclotides were identified and characterized, further increasing the diversity and complexity of this unique protein family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Burman
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala UniversityUppsala, Sweden
| | - Mariamawit Y. Yeshak
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala UniversityUppsala, Sweden
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa UniversityAddis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Sonny Larsson
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala UniversityUppsala, Sweden
| | - David J. Craik
- Craik Lab, Chemistry and Structural Biology Division, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - K. Johan Rosengren
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala UniversityUppsala, Sweden
- Laboratory for Peptide Structural Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ulf Göransson
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala UniversityUppsala, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Ulf Göransson
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31
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MUW resarcher of the month. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2014; 126:555-6. [DOI: 10.1007/s00508-014-0615-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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32
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Cyclotide structure-activity relationships: qualitative and quantitative approaches linking cytotoxic and anthelmintic activity to the clustering of physicochemical forces. PLoS One 2014; 9:e91430. [PMID: 24682019 PMCID: PMC3969350 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2013] [Accepted: 02/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclotides are a family of plant-derived proteins that are characterized by a cyclic backbone and a knotted disulfide topology. Their cyclic cystine knot (CCK) motif makes them exceptionally resistant to thermal, chemical, and enzymatic degradation. Cyclotides exert much of their biological activity via interactions with cell membranes. In this work, we qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the cytotoxic and anthelmintic membrane activities of cyclotides. The qualitative and quantitative models describe the potency of cyclotides using four simple physicochemical terms relevant to membrane contact. Specifically, surface areas of the cyclotides representing lipophilic and hydrogen bond donating properties were quantified and their distribution across the molecular surface was determined. The resulting quantitative structure-activity relation (QSAR) models suggest that the activity of the cyclotides is proportional to their lipophilic and positively charged surface areas, provided that the distribution of these surfaces is asymmetric. In addition, we qualitatively analyzed the physicochemical differences between the various cyclotide subfamilies and their effects on the cyclotides' orientation on the membrane and membrane activity.
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33
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Burman R, Gunasekera S, Strömstedt AA, Göransson U. Chemistry and biology of cyclotides: circular plant peptides outside the box. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2014; 77:724-36. [PMID: 24527877 DOI: 10.1021/np401055j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Cyclotides stand out as the largest family of circular proteins of plant origin hitherto known, with more than 280 sequences isolated at peptide level and many more predicted from gene sequences. Their unusual stability resulting from the signature cyclic cystine knot (CCK) motif has triggered a broad interest in these molecules for potential therapeutic and agricultural applications. Since the time of the first cyclotide discovery, our laboratory in Uppsala has been engaged in cyclotide discovery as well as the development of protocols to isolate and characterize these seamless peptides. We have also developed methods to chemically synthesize cyclotides by Fmoc-SPPS, which are useful in protein grafting applications. In this review, experience in cyclotide research over two decades and the recent literature related to their structures, synthesis, and folding as well the recent proof-of-concept findings on their use as "epitope" stabilizing scaffolds are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Burman
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University , Biomedical Centre, Box 574, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
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Oxytocic plant cyclotides as templates for peptide G protein-coupled receptor ligand design. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:21183-8. [PMID: 24248349 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1311183110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclotides are plant peptides comprising a circular backbone and three conserved disulfide bonds that confer them with exceptional stability. They were originally discovered in Oldenlandia affinis based on their use in traditional African medicine to accelerate labor. Recently, cyclotides have been identified in numerous plant species of the coffee, violet, cucurbit, pea, potato, and grass families. Their unique structural topology, high stability, and tolerance to sequence variation make them promising templates for the development of peptide-based pharmaceuticals. However, the mechanisms underlying their biological activities remain largely unknown; specifically, a receptor for a native cyclotide has not been reported hitherto. Using bioactivity-guided fractionation of an herbal peptide extract known to indigenous healers as "kalata-kalata," the cyclotide kalata B7 was found to induce strong contractility on human uterine smooth muscle cells. Radioligand displacement and second messenger-based reporter assays confirmed the oxytocin and vasopressin V1a receptors, members of the G protein-coupled receptor family, as molecular targets for this cyclotide. Furthermore, we show that cyclotides can serve as templates for the design of selective G protein-coupled receptor ligands by generating an oxytocin-like peptide with nanomolar affinity. This nonapeptide elicited dose-dependent contractions on human myometrium. These observations provide a proof of concept for the development of cyclotide-based peptide ligands.
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35
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Gerlach SL, Göransson U, Kaas Q, Craik DJ, Mondal D, Gruber CW. A systematic approach to document cyclotide distribution in plant species from genomic, transcriptomic, and peptidomic analysis. Biopolymers 2013; 100:433-7. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.22258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2012] [Revised: 03/26/2013] [Accepted: 04/08/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L. Gerlach
- Department of Pharmacology; School of Medicine; Tulane University; 1430 Tulane Ave New Orleans LA 70112
| | - Ulf Göransson
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry; Uppsala University; Biomedical Centre 574 S-75123 Uppsala Sweden
| | - Quentin Kaas
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology; Institute for Molecular Bioscience; University of Queensland; Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - David J. Craik
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology; Institute for Molecular Bioscience; University of Queensland; Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Debasis Mondal
- Department of Pharmacology; School of Medicine; Tulane University; 1430 Tulane Ave New Orleans LA 70112
| | - Christian W. Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology; Medical University of Vienna; Schwarzspanierstr. 17 1090 Vienna Austria
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Koehbach J, Attah AF, Berger A, Hellinger R, Kutchan TM, Carpenter EJ, Rolf M, Sonibare MA, Moody JO, Ka-Shu Wong G, Dessein S, Greger H, Gruber CW. Cyclotide discovery in Gentianales revisited--identification and characterization of cyclic cystine-knot peptides and their phylogenetic distribution in Rubiaceae plants. Biopolymers 2013; 100:438-52. [PMID: 23897543 PMCID: PMC3816352 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2012] [Accepted: 06/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Cyclotides are a unique class of ribosomally synthesized cysteine-rich miniproteins characterized by a head-to-tail cyclized backbone and three conserved disulfide-bonds in a knotted arrangement. Originally they were discovered in the coffee-family plant Oldenlandia affinis (Rubiaceae) and have since been identified in several species of the violet, cucurbit, pea, potato, and grass families. However, the identification of novel cyclotide-containing plant species still is a major challenge due to the lack of a rapid and accurate analytical workflow in particular for large sampling numbers. As a consequence, their phylogeny in the plant kingdom remains unclear. To gain further insight into the distribution and evolution of plant cyclotides, we analyzed ∼300 species of >40 different families, with special emphasis on plants from the order Gentianales. For this purpose, we have developed a refined screening methodology combining chemical analysis of plant extracts and bioinformatic analysis of transcript databases. Using mass spectrometry and transcriptome-mining, we identified nine novel cyclotide-containing species and their related cyclotide precursor genes in the tribe Palicoureeae. The characterization of novel peptide sequences underlines the high variability and plasticity of the cyclotide framework, and a comparison of novel precursor proteins from Carapichea ipecacuanha illustrated their typical cyclotide gene architectures. Phylogenetic analysis of their distribution within the Psychotria alliance revealed cyclotides to be restricted to Palicourea, Margaritopsis, Notopleura, Carapichea, Chassalia, and Geophila. In line with previous reports, our findings confirm cyclotides to be one of the largest peptide families within the plant kingdom and suggest that their total number may exceed tens of thousands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Koehbach
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alfred F. Attah
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Andreas Berger
- Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Roland Hellinger
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Eric J. Carpenter
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Megan Rolf
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO
| | - Mubo A. Sonibare
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Jones O. Moody
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Gane Ka-Shu Wong
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- BGI-Shenzhen, Bei Shan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, China
| | - Steven Dessein
- National Botanic Garden of Belgium, Domein van Bouchout, 1860 Meise, Belgium
| | - Harald Greger
- Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian W. Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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Gründemann C, Thell K, Lengen K, Garcia-Käufer M, Huang YH, Huber R, Craik DJ, Schabbauer G, Gruber CW. Cyclotides Suppress Human T-Lymphocyte Proliferation by an Interleukin 2-Dependent Mechanism. PLoS One 2013; 8:e68016. [PMID: 23840803 PMCID: PMC3694003 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2013] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclotides are a diverse and abundant group of ribosomally synthesized plant peptides containing a unique cyclic cystine-knotted topology that confers them with remarkable stability. Kalata B1, a representative member of this family of mini-proteins, has been found to inhibit the proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Analysis of T-cell proliferation upon treatment with chemically synthesized kalata B1 mutants revealed a region comprising inter-cysteine loops 1 and 2 of the cyclotide framework to be important for biological activity. Cytokine signaling analysis using an 'active' kalata B1 mutant [T20K], and the reference drug cyclosporin A (CsA) demonstrated that treatment of activated T-lymphocytes with these compounds decreased the expression of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) surface receptor as well as IL-2 cytokine secretion and IL-2 gene expression, whereas the 'inactive' kalata B1 mutant [V10K] did not cause any effects. The anti-proliferative activity of [T20K] kalata B1 was antagonized by addition of exogenous IL-2. Furthermore, treatment with [T20K] kalata B1 led to an initial reduction of the effector function, as indicated by the reduced IFN-γ and TNF-α production, but the levels of both cytokines stabilized over time and returned to their normal levels. On the other hand, the degranulation activity remained reduced. This indicated that cyclotides interfere with T-cell polyfunctionality and arrest the proliferation of immune-competent cells through inhibiting IL-2 biology at more than one site. The results open new avenues to utilize native and synthetically-optimized cyclotides for applications in immune-related disorders and as immunosuppressant peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Gründemann
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Complementary Medicine, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Thell
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Lengen
- Center for Complementary Medicine, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Manuel Garcia-Käufer
- Center for Complementary Medicine, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Yen-Hua Huang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Roman Huber
- Center for Complementary Medicine, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gernot Schabbauer
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian W. Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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38
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A peptide derived from phage display library exhibits anti-tumor activity by targeting GRP78 in gastric cancer multidrug resistance cells. Cancer Lett 2013; 339:247-59. [PMID: 23792224 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2013.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2013] [Revised: 06/09/2013] [Accepted: 06/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Multidrug resistance (MDR) remains a significant challenge to the clinical treatment of gastric cancer (GC). In the present study, using a phage display approach combined with MTT assays, we screened a specific peptide GMBP1 (Gastric cancer MDR cell-specific binding peptide), ETAPLSTMLSPY, which could bind to the surface of GC MDR cells specifically and reverse their MDR phenotypes. Immunocytochemical staining showed that the potential receptor of GMBP1 was located at the membrane and cytoplasm of MDR cells. In vitro and in vivo drug sensitivity assays, FACS analysis and Western blotting confirmed that GMBP1 was able to re-sensitize MDR cells to chemical drugs. Western blotting and proteomic approaches were used to screen the receptor of GMBP1, and GRP78, a MDR-related protein, was identified as a receptor of GMBP1. This result was further supported by immunofluoresence microscopy and Western blot. Additionally, Western blotting demonstrated that pre-incubation of GMBP1 in MDR cells greatly diminished MDR1, Bcl-2 and GRP78 expression but increased the expression of Bax, whereas downregulation of GRP78, function as a receptor and directly target for GMBP1, only inhibited MDR1 expression. Our findings suggest that GMBP1 could re-sensitize GC MDR cells to a variety of chemotherapeutic agents and this role might be mediated partly through down-regulating GRP78 expression and then inhibiting MDR1 expression. These findings indicate that peptide GMBP1 likely recognizes a novel GRP78 receptor and mediates cellular activities associated with the MDR phenotype, which provides new insight into research on the management of MDR in gastric cancer cells.
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39
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Demartini DR, Pasquali G, Carlini CR. An overview of proteomics approaches applied to biopharmaceuticals and cyclotides research. J Proteomics 2013; 93:224-33. [PMID: 23777896 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2013.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2013] [Revised: 06/03/2013] [Accepted: 06/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The evolution in proteomics approaches is notable, including quantitative proteomics and strategies for elucidation of post-translational modifications. Faster and more accurate mass spectrometers as well as cleverer bioinformatics tolls are making the difference in such advancement. Among the wide range of research in plant proteomics, biopharmaceutical production using plants as "biofactories" and the screening of new activities of new molecules, in this case, peptides, are quite important regarding translational proteomics. The present review is focused on "recombinant proteins and bioactive peptides", with biopharmaceuticals and cyclotides chosen as examples. Their application and challenges are focused on a "translational proteomics" point of view, in order to exemplify some new areas of research based on proteomics strategies. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Translational Plant Proteomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo Ribeiro Demartini
- Center of Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul., Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Prédio 43431, Sala 214, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil.
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