Bactericidal activity of cyclotides where phosphatidylethanolamine-lipid selectivity determines antimicrobial spectra

Kalata B1 Enhances Temozolomide Toxicity to Glioblastoma Cells

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive cancer originating in the brain, but unfortunately combination treatments with resection, radiation, and chemotherapy are relatively ineffective. Therefore, novel methods of adjuvant therapy are critically needed. Cyclotides are plant-derived circular peptides that chemosensitize drug-resistant breast cancer to doxorubicin. We analyzed naturally occurring and synthetic cyclotides (Cycloviolacin O3, Cycloviolacin O19, natural Kalata B1, synthetic Kalata B1, and Vitri E) alone and in co-exposure treatments with the drug temozolomide (TMZ) in human glioblastoma cells. The cyclotides were identified by UPLC-PDA and HPLC-UV. The synthetic Kalata B1 sequence was verified with orbitrap LC-MS, and structural confirmation was provided by NMR spectroscopy. The cyclotides displayed dose-dependent cytotoxicity (IC50 values 2.4-21.1 µM) both alone and as chemosensitizers of U-87 MG and T 98 cells to TMZ. In fact, a 16-fold lower concentration of TMZ (100 µM) was needed for significant cytotoxicity in U-87 MG cells co-exposed to synthetic Kalata B (0.5 µM). Similarly, a 15-fold lower concentration of TMZ (75 µM) was required for a significant reduction in cell viability in T 98 cells co-exposed to synthetic Kalata B1 (0.25 µM). Kalata B1 remained stable in human serum stability assays. The data support the assertion that cyclotides may chemosensitize glioblastoma cells to TMZ.

Recombinant Production of The Cyclotide Kalata B1 by Conditional Split Inteins

This study describes the design, production, and characterization of a novel conditional intein system for the recombinant production of cyclic peptides. The system is based on two key features: (1) a promiscuous extein recognition site allowing cyclization of virtually any peptide, and (2) a secondary split site within the intein itself enabling triggered splicing at will. Two intein precursors were recombinantly expressed, purified, and then self-assembled in vitro to cyclize the model peptide kalata B1 (kB1). Cyclized kB1 was successfully purified, refolded, and characterized by mass spectrometry and NMR, demonstrating correct disulfide bond formation and identical structure to synthetic kB1. Importantly, the intein-derived kB1 retained full biological activity as evidenced by insect cell toxicity assays. This work establishes a versatile and efficient approach for intein-mediated protein cyclization with potential applications in bioengineering and peptide discovery.

Plant proteins, peptides, and non-protein amino acids: Toxicity, sources, and analysis

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.

New Insights into Involvement of Low Molecular Weight Proteins in Complex Defense Mechanisms in Higher Plants

Dynamic climate changes pose a significant challenge for plants to cope with numerous abiotic and biotic stressors of increasing intensity. Plants have evolved a variety of biochemical and molecular defense mechanisms involved in overcoming stressful conditions. Under environmental stress, plants generate elevated amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and, subsequently, modulate the activity of the antioxidative enzymes. In addition, an increase in the biosynthesis of important plant compounds such as anthocyanins, lignin, isoflavonoids, as well as a wide range of low molecular weight stress-related proteins (e.g., dehydrins, cyclotides, heat shock proteins and pathogenesis-related proteins), was evidenced. The induced expression of these proteins improves the survival rate of plants under unfavorable environmental stimuli and enhances their adaptation to sequentially interacting stressors. Importantly, the plant defense proteins may also have potential for use in medical applications and agriculture (e.g., biopesticides). Therefore, it is important to gain a more thorough understanding of the complex biological functions of the plant defense proteins. It will help to devise new cultivation strategies, including the development of genotypes characterized by better adaptations to adverse environmental conditions. The review presents the latest research findings on selected plant defense proteins.

Important structural features of antimicrobial peptides towards specific activity: Trends in the development of efficient therapeutics

Proteins and peptides, as polypeptide chains, have usually got unique conformational structures for effective biological activity. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a group of bioactive peptides, which have been increasingly studied during recent years for their promising antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity, as well as, other esteemed bioactivities. Numerous AMPs have been separated from a wide range of natural resources, or produced in vitro through chemical synthesis and recombinant protein expression. Natural AMPs have had limited clinical application due to several drawbacks, such as their short half-life due to protease degradation, lack of activity at physiological salt concentrations, toxicity to mammalian cells, and the absence of suitable methods of delivery for the AMPs that are targeted and sustained. The creation of synthetic analogs of AMPs would both avoid the drawbacks of the natural analogs and maintain or even increase the antimicrobial effectiveness. The structure-activity relationship of discovered AMPs or their derivatives facilitates the development of synthetic AMPs. This review discovered that the relationship between the activity of AMPs and their positive net charge, hydrophobicity, and amino acid sequence and the relationship between AMPs' function and other features like their topology, glycosylation, and halogenation.

Plant peptides - redefining an area of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides

Covering 1965 to February 2024Plants are prolific peptide chemists and are known to make thousands of different peptidic molecules. These peptides vary dramatically in their size, chemistry, and bioactivity. Despite their differences, all plant peptides to date are biosynthesized as ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Decades of research in plant RiPP biosynthesis have extended the definition and scope of RiPPs from microbial sources, establishing paradigms and discovering new families of biosynthetic enzymes. The discovery and elucidation of plant peptide pathways is challenging due to repurposing and evolution of housekeeping genes as both precursor peptides and biosynthetic enzymes and due to the low rates of gene clustering in plants. In this review, we highlight the chemistry, biosynthesis, and function of the known RiPP classes from plants and recommend a nomenclature for the recent addition of BURP-domain-derived RiPPs termed burpitides. Burpitides are an emerging family of cyclic plant RiPPs characterized by macrocyclic crosslinks between tyrosine or tryptophan side chains and other amino acid side chains or their peptide backbone that are formed by copper-dependent BURP-domain-containing proteins termed burpitide cyclases. Finally, we review the discovery of plant RiPPs through bioactivity-guided, structure-guided, and gene-guided approaches.

Surface Chemistry of Cytosporone-B Incorporated in Models for Microbial Biomembranes as Langmuir Monolayers

Cytosporone-B, a polyketide renowned for its antimicrobial properties, was integrated into Langmuir monolayers composed of dipalmitoylphosphoethanolamine (DPPE) and dioleoylphosphoethanolamine (DOPE) lipids, effectively emulating microbial cytoplasmic membranes. This compound exhibited an expansive influence on DPPE monolayers while inducing condensation in DOPE monolayers. This led to a notable reduction in the compressibility modulus for both lipids, with a more pronounced effect observed for DPPE. The heightened destabilization observed in DOPE monolayers subjected to biologically relevant pressures was particularly noteworthy, as evidenced by surface pressure-time curves at constant area. In-depth analysis using infrared spectroscopy at the air-water interface unveiled alterations in the alkyl chains of the lipids induced by cytosporone-B. This was further corroborated by surface potential measurements, indicating a heightened tilt in the acyl chains upon drug incorporation. Notably, these observed effects did not indicate an aggregating process induced by the drug. Overall, the distinctive impact of cytosporone-B on each lipid underscores the importance of understanding the nuanced effects of microbial drugs on membranes, whether in condensed or fluid states.

Cyclotides: The next generation in biopesticide development for eco-friendly agriculture

Chemical pesticides remain the predominant method for pest management in numerous countries. Given the current landscape of agriculture, the development of biopesticides has become increasingly crucial. The strategy empowers farmers to efficiently manage pests and diseases, while prioritizing minimal adverse effects on the environment and human health, hence fostering sustainable management. In recent years, there has been a growing interest and optimism surrounding the utilization of peptide biopesticides for crop protection. These sustainable and environmentally friendly substances have been recognized as viable alternatives to synthetic pesticides due to their outstanding environmental compatibility and efficacy. Numerous studies have been conducted to synthesize and identify peptides that exhibit activity against significant plant pathogens. One of the peptide classes is cyclotides, which are cyclic cysteine-rich peptides renowned for their wide range of sequences and functions. In this review, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of cyclotides, focusing on their structural attributes, developmental history, significant biological functions in crop protection, techniques for identification and investigation, and the application of biotechnology to enhance cyclotide synthesis. The objective is to emphasize the considerable potential of cyclotides as the next generation of plant protection agents on the global scale.

Peptide Toxins from Antarctica: The Nemertean Predator and Scavenger Parborlasia corrugatus (McIntosh, 1876)

Peptide toxins from marine invertebrates have found use as drugs and in biotechnological applications. Many marine habitats, however, remain underexplored for natural products, and the Southern Ocean is among them. Here, we report toxins from one of the top predators in Antarctic waters: the nemertean worm Parborlasia corrugatus (McIntosh, 1876). Transcriptome mining revealed a total of ten putative toxins with a cysteine pattern similar to that of alpha nemertides, four nemertide-beta-type sequences, and two novel full-length parborlysins. Nemertean worms express toxins in the epidermal mucus. Here, the expression was determined by liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. The findings include a new type of nemertide, 8750 Da, containing eight cysteines. In addition, we report the presence of six cysteine-containing peptides. The toxicity of tissue extracts and mucus fractions was tested in an Artemia assay. Notably, significant activity was observed both in tissue and the high-molecular-weight mucus fraction, as well as in a parborlysin fraction. Membrane permeabilization experiments display the membranolytic activity of some peptides, most prominently the parborlysin fraction, with an estimated EC50 of 70 nM.

Cyclotides derived from Viola dalatensis Gagnep: A novel approach for enrichment and evaluation of antimicrobial activity

Cyclotides, plant-derived cysteine-rich peptides, exhibit a wide range of beneficial biological activities and possess exceptional structural stability. Cyclotides are commonly distributed throughout the Violaceae family. Viola dalatensis Gagnep, a Vietnamese species, has not been well studied, especially for cyclotides. This pioneering research explores cyclotides from V. dalatensis as antimicrobials. This study used a novel approach to enhance cyclotides after extraction. The approach combined 30% ammonium sulfate salt precipitation and RP-HPLC. A comprehensive analysis was performed to ascertain the overall protein content, flavonoids content, polyphenol content, and free radical scavenging capacity of compounds derived from V. dalatensis. Six known cyclotides were sequenced utilizing MS tandem. Semi-purified cyclotide mixtures (M1, M2, and M3) exhibited antibacterial efficacy against Bacillus subtilis (inhibitory diameters: 19.67-23.50 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22.17-23.50 mm), and Aspergillus flavus (14.67-21.33 mm). The enriched cyclotide precipitate from the stem extract demonstrated a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.08 mg/mL against P. aeruginosa, showcasing significant antibacterial effectiveness compared to the stem extract (MIC: 12.50 mg/mL). Considerable advancements have been achieved in the realm of cyclotides, specifically in their application as antimicrobial agents.

Screening for antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of Sri Lankan marine sponges through microfractionation: Isolation of bromopyrrole alkaloids from Stylissa massa

Sri Lanka is a biodiversity hotspot and one of the richest geographical locations of marine sponges in the Indian ocean. However, the most extensive taxonomical study on Sri Lankan sponge biodiversity dates back ~100 years and only a limited number of studies have been conducted on sponge natural products. In the current study, 35 marine sponge specimens (collected from 16 sponge habitats around Sri Lanka) were identified, microfractionated and evaluated for antibacterial and anticancer assays. In total, 30 species were characterized, of which 19 species gave extracts with antibacterial and/or cytotoxic activities. Microfractionated organic extract of Aciculites orientalis gave the most potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and strongest lymphoma cell toxicity was exhibited by the organic extract of Acanthella sp. Guided by the molecular ion peaks in the bioactive fractions, large-scale extraction of Stylissa massa led to the isolation of three bromopyrrole alkaloids, sceptrin, hymenin and manzacidin A/C. Of these, sceptrin exhibited broad spectrum antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and S. aureus (MIC of 62.5 μM against both species). Based on natural product literature, seven promising species were identified as understudied. Their further exploration may lead to the discovery of structurally novel compounds.

In Silico Analysis of Natural Plant-Derived Cyclotides with Antifungal Activity against Pathogenic Fungi

BACKGROUND

Fungal infections in plants, animals, and humans are widespread across the world. Limited classes of antifungal drugs to treat fungal infections and loss of drug efficacy due to rapidly evolving fungal strains pose a challenge in the agriculture and health sectors. Hence, the search for a new class of antifungal agents is imperative. Cyclotides are cyclic plant peptides with multiple bioactivities, including antifungal activity. They have six conserved cysteine residues forming three disulfide linkages (CI-CIV, CII-CV, CIII-CVI) that establish a Cyclic Cystine Knot (CCK) structure, making them extremely resistant to chemical, enzymatic, and thermal attacks.

AIM

This in silico analysis of natural, plant-derived cyclotides aimed to assess the parameters that can assist and hasten the process of selecting the cyclotides with potent antifungal activity and prioritize them for in vivo/ in vitro experiments.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to conduct in silico studies to compare the physicochemical parameters, sequence diversity, surface structures, and membrane-cyclotide interactions of experimentally screened (from literature survey) potent (MIC ≤ 20 μM) and non-potent (MIC > 20 μM) cyclotides for antifungal activity.

METHODOLOGY

Cyclotide sequences assessed for antifungal activity were retrieved from the database (Cybase). Various online and offline tools were used for sequence-based studies, such as physicochemical parameters, sequence diversity, and neighbor-joining trees. Structure-based studies involving surface structure analysis and membrane-cyclotide interaction were also carried out. All investigations were conducted in silico.

RESULTS

Physicochemical parameter values, viz. isoelectric point, net charge, and the number of basic amino acids, were significantly higher in potent cyclotides compared to non-potent cyclotides. The surface structure of potent cyclotides showed a larger hydrophobic patch with a higher number of hydrophobic amino acids. Furthermore, the membrane-cyclotide interaction studies of potent cyclotides revealed lower transfer free energy (ΔG transfer) and higher penetration depth into fungal membranes, indicating higher binding stability and membrane-disruption ability.

CONCLUSION

These in silico studies can be applied for rapidly identifying putatively potent antifungal cyclotides for in vivo and in vitro experiments, which will ultimately be relevant in the agriculture and pharmaceutical sectors.

Resistance is futile: targeting multidrug-resistant bacteria with de novo Cys-rich cyclic polypeptides

The search for novel antimicrobial agents to combat microbial pathogens is intensifying in response to rapid drug resistance development to current antibiotic therapeutics. The use of disulfide-rich head-to-tail cyclized polypeptides as molecular frameworks for designing a new type of peptide antibiotics is gaining increasing attention among the scientific community and the pharmaceutical industry. The use of macrocyclic peptides, further constrained by the presence of several disulfide bonds, makes these peptide frameworks remarkably more stable to thermal, biological, and chemical degradation showing better activities when compared to their linear analogs. Many of these novel peptide scaffolds have been shown to have a high tolerance to sequence variability in those residues not involved in disulfide bonds, able to cross biological membranes, and efficiently target complex biomolecular interactions. Hence, these unique properties make the use of these scaffolds ideal for many biotechnological applications, including the design of novel peptide antibiotics. This article provides an overview of the new developments in the use of several disulfide-rich cyclic polypeptides, including cyclotides, θ-defensins, and sunflower trypsin inhibitor peptides, among others, in the development of novel antimicrobial peptides against multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Cyclic Peptides with Antifungal Properties Derived from Bacteria, Fungi, Plants, and Synthetic Sources

Fungal infections remain a significant concern for human health. The emergence of microbial resistance, the improper use of antimicrobial drugs, and the need for fewer toxic antifungal treatments in immunocompromised patients have sparked substantial interest in antifungal research. Cyclic peptides, classified as antifungal peptides, have been in development as potential antifungal agents since 1948. In recent years, there has been growing attention from the scientific community to explore cyclic peptides as a promising strategy for combating antifungal infections caused by pathogenic fungi. The identification of antifungal cyclic peptides from various sources has been possible due to the widespread interest in peptide research in recent decades. It is increasingly important to evaluate narrow- to broad-spectrum antifungal activity and the mode of action of synthetic and natural cyclic peptides for both synthesized and extracted peptides. This short review aims to highlight some of the antifungal cyclic peptides isolated from bacteria, fungi, and plants. This brief review is not intended to present an exhaustive catalog of all known antifungal cyclic peptides but rather seeks to showcase selected cyclic peptides with antifungal properties that have been isolated from bacteria, fungi, plants, and synthetic sources. The addition of commercially available cyclic antifungal peptides serves to corroborate the notion that cyclic peptides can serve as a valuable source for the development of antifungal drugs. Additionally, this review discusses the potential future of utilizing combinations of antifungal peptides from different sources. The review underscores the need for the further exploration of the novel antifungal therapeutic applications of these abundant and diverse cyclic peptides.

Transforming Cross-Linked Cyclic Dimers of KR-12 into Stable and Potent Antimicrobial Drug Leads

Is it possible to enhance structural stability and biological activity of KR-12, a truncated antimicrobial peptide derived from the human host defense peptide LL-37? Based on the mapping of essential residues in KR-12, we have designed backbone-cyclized dimers, cross-linked via a disulfide bond to improve peptide stability, while at the same time improving on-target activity. Circular dichroism showed that each of the dimers adopts a primarily alpha-helical conformation (55% helical content) when bound to lyso-phosphatidylglycerol micelles, indicating that the helical propensity of the parent peptide is maintained in the new cross-linked cyclic form. Compared to KR-12, one of the cross-linked dimers showed 16-fold more potent antimicrobial activity against human pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans and 8-fold increased activity against Escherichia coli. Furthermore, these peptides retained antimicrobial activity at physiologically relevant conditions, including in the presence of salts and in human serum, and with selective Gram-negative antibacterial activity in rich growth media. In addition to giving further insight into the structure-activity relationship of KR-12, the current work demonstrates that by combining peptide stabilization strategies (dimerization, backbone cyclization, and cross-linking via a disulfide bond), KR-12 can be engineered into a potent antimicrobial peptide drug lead with potential utility in a therapeutic context.

Cyclic cystine knot and its strong implication on the structure and dynamics of cyclotides

The archetypal Viola odorata cyclotide cycloviolacin-O1 and its seven analogs, created by partial or total reduction of the three native S-S linkages belonging to the "cyclic cystine knot" (CCK) motif are studied for their structural and dynamical diversities using molecular dynamics simulations. The results indicate interesting interplay between the constraints imposed by the S-S bonds on the dynamical modes and the corresponding structure of the model peptide. Principal component analysis brings out the variation in the extent of dynamical freedom along the peptide backbone for each model. The motions are characterized by low amplitude diffusive modes in the peptides retaining most of the native S-S linkages in contrast to the large amplitude discrete jumps where at least two or all of the three S-S linkages are reduced. Simulation results further indicate that the disulfide bond between Cys1-18 is formed at a much faster pace compared with its two other peers Cys5-20 and Cys10-25 as found in the native peptide. This gives insight as to why the S-S linkages appear in the native peptide in a particular combination. Model therapeutics and drug delivery engines can potentially utilize this information to customize the engineered S-S bonds and gauge its impact on the dynamic flexibility of a model macrocyclic peptide.

Screening for Cyclotides in Sri Lankan Medicinal Plants: Discovery, Characterization, and Bioactivity Screening of Cyclotides from Geophila repens

Cyclotides are an intriguing class of structurally stable circular miniproteins of plant origin with numerous potential pharmaceutical and agricultural applications. To investigate the occurrence of cyclotides in Sri Lankan flora, 50 medicinal plants were screened, leading to the identification of a suite of new cyclotides from Geophila repens of the family Rubiaceae. Cycloviolacin O2-like (cyO2-like) gere 1 and the known cyclotide kalata B7 (kB7) were among the cyclotides characterized at the peptide and/or transcript level together with several putative enzymes, likely involved in cyclotide biosynthesis. Five of the most abundant cyclotides were isolated, sequenced, structurally characterized, and screened in antimicrobial and cytotoxicity assays. All gere cyclotides showed cytotoxicity (IC50 of 2.0-10.2 μM), but only gere 1 inhibited standard microbial strains at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 4-16 μM. As shown by immunohistochemistry, large quantities of the cyclotides were localized in the epidermis of the leaves and petioles of G. repens. Taken together with the cytotoxicity and membrane permeabilizing activities, this implicates gere cyclotides as potential plant defense molecules. The presence of cyO2-like gere 1 in a plant in the Rubiaceae supports the notion that phylogenetically distant plants may have coevolved to express similar cytotoxic cyclotides for a specific functional role, most likely involving host defense.

Nutritional and Pharmaceutical Applications of Under-Explored Knottin Peptide-Rich Phytomedicines

Phytomedicines reportedly rich in cystine knot peptides (Knottins) are found in several global diets, food/herbal supplements and functional foods. However, their knottin peptide content has largely been unexplored, notably for their emerging dual potentials at both the food and medicine space. The nutritional roles, biological targets and mechanism(s) of activity of these knotted peptides are largely unknown. Meanwhile, knottins have recently been unveiled as emerging peptide therapeutics and nutraceuticals of primary choice due to their broad spectrum of bioactivity, hyper stability, selective toxicity, impressive selectivity for biomolecular targets, and their bioengineering applications. In addition to their potential dietary benefits, some knottins have displayed desirable limited toxicity to human erythrocytes. In an effort to appraise what has been accomplished, unveil knowledge gaps and explore the future prospects of knottins, an elaborate review of the nutritional and pharmaceutical application of phytomedicines rich in knottins was carried out. Herein, we provide comprehensive data on common dietary and therapeutic knottins, the majority of which are poorly investigated in many food-grade phytomedicines used in different cultures and localities. Findings from this review should stimulate scientific interest to unveil novel dietary knottins and knottin-rich nutraceutical peptide drug candidates/leads with potential for future clinical application.

Using the Cyclotide Scaffold for Targeting Biomolecular Interactions in Drug Development

This review provides an overview of the properties of cyclotides and their potential for developing novel peptide-based therapeutics. The selective disruption of protein–protein interactions remains challenging, as the interacting surfaces are relatively large and flat. However, highly constrained polypeptide-based molecular frameworks with cell-permeability properties, such as the cyclotide scaffold, have shown great promise for targeting those biomolecular interactions. The use of molecular techniques, such as epitope grafting and molecular evolution employing the cyclotide scaffold, has shown to be highly effective for selecting bioactive cyclotides.

In pursuit of next-generation therapeutics: Antimicrobial peptides against superbugs, their sources, mechanism of action, nanotechnology-based delivery, and clinical applications

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) attracted attention as potential source of novel antimicrobials. Multi-drug resistant (MDR) infections have emerged as a global threat to public health in recent years. Furthermore, due to rapid emergence of new diseases, there is pressing need for development of efficient antimicrobials. AMPs are essential part of the innate immunity in most living organisms, acting as the primary line of defense against foreign invasions. AMPs kill a wide range of microorganisms by primarily targeting cell membranes or intracellular components through a variety of ways. AMPs can be broadly categorized based on their physico-chemical properties, structure, function, target and source of origin. The synthetic analogues produced either with suitable chemical modifications or with the use of suitable delivery systems are projected to eliminate the constraints of toxicity and poor stability commonly linked with natural AMPs. The concept of peptidomimetics is gaining ground around the world nowadays. Among the delivery systems, nanoparticles are emerging as potential delivery tools for AMPs, amplifying their utility against a variety of pathogens. In the present review, the broad classification of various AMPs, their mechanism of action (MOA), challenges associated with AMPs, current applications, and novel strategies to overcome the limitations have been discussed.

A stable cyclized antimicrobial peptide derived from LL-37 with host immunomodulatory effects and activity against uropathogens

The increasing antibiotic resistance among uropathogenic bacteria warrants alternative therapeutic strategies. We demonstrate the potential of the synthetic peptide CD4-PP, designed by dimerization and backbone cyclization of the shortest antimicrobial region of human cathelicidin, LL-37. CD4-PP is active against clinical and type strains of common uropathogens Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at concentrations substantially below cellular cytotoxic levels and induced membrane deformation and leakage in E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, CD4-PP treatment prevented the formation of new biofilm and dissolved mature biofilm created by E. coli and P. aeruginosa and targeted curli amyloid in E. coli biofilms. In addition, CD4-PP also induced production of LL-37 by uroepithelial cells and increased the expression of tight junction proteins claudin-14 and occludin. During uroepithelial cell infection, CD4-PP significantly reduced uropathogen survival when treatment was given at the start of infection. Low micromolar of CD4-PP treatment initiated after 2 h was successful with all tested species, except P. aeruginosa where CD4-PP was unable to reduce survival, which could be attributed by early biofilm formation. Finally, we demonstrated that urinary catheter pieces coated with saline fluid supplemented with CD4-PP reduced the attachment of E. coli, giving it a potential clinical application.

Immunomodulatory effects of cyclotides isolated from Viola odorata in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis animal model of multiple sclerosis

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.

In vitro Inhibition of HIV-1 by Cyclotide-Enriched Extracts of Viola tricolor

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.

The Past and the Future of Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett Films

The Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique, through which monolayers are transferred from the air/water interface onto a solid substrate, was the first method to allow for the controlled assembly of organic molecules. With its almost 100 year history, it has been the inspiration for most methods to functionalize surfaces and produce nanocoatings, in addition to serving to explore concepts in molecular electronics and nanoarchitectonics. This paper provides an overview of the history of Langmuir monolayers and LB films, including the potential use in devices and a discussion on why LB films are seldom considered for practical applications today. Emphasis is then given to two areas where these films offer unique opportunities, namely, in mimicking cell membrane models and exploiting nanoarchitectonics concepts to produce sensors, investigate molecular recognitions, and assemble molecular machines. The most promising topics for the short- and long-term prospects of the LB technique are also highlighted.

Antimicrobial-wound healing peptides: Dual-function molecules for the treatment of skin injuries

Chronic non-healing wounds caused by microbial infections extend the necessity for hospital care and constitute a public health problem and a great financial burden. Classic therapies include a wide range of approaches, from wound debridement to vascular surgery. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a preserved trait of the innate immune response among different animal species, with known effects on the immune system and microorganisms. Thus, AMPs may represent promising candidates for the treatment of chronic wounds with dual functionality in two of the main agents that lead to this condition, proliferation of microorganisms and uncontrolled inflammation. Here, our goal is to critically review AMPs with wound healing properties. We strongly believe that these dual-function peptides alone, or in combination with other wound healing strategies, constitute an underexplored field that researchers can take advantage of.

Cyclotides Chemosensitize Glioblastoma Cells to Temozolomide

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive cancer originating in the brain, with a median survival of 12 months. Most patients do not respond to or develop resistance to the only effective chemotherapeutic drug, temozolomide (TMZ), used to treat gliomas. Novel treatment methods are critically needed. Cyclotides are plant peptides that may be promising adjuvants to TMZ chemotherapy. They exhibit antitumor activity and chemosensitize cells to doxorubicin in breast cancer studies. During this research, we optimized cyclotide isolation techniques, and several cyclotides (CyO2, CyO13, kalata B1, and varv peptide A) exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity in MTT assays with IC₅₀ values of 2.15-7.92 μM against human brain astrocytoma cells (U-87 MG) and human bone marrow derived neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y). CyO2 and varv peptide A increased TMZ-induced cell death in U-87 MG cultures alone and when coexposed with CyO2 or varv peptide A plus TMZ. Phase contrast microscopy of glioblastoma cells exposed to cyclotides alone and coexposed to TMZ indicated shrunken, granular cells with blebbing, and the most pronounced effects were observed with coexposure treatments of cyclotides and TMZ. Cumulative results provide the proof-of-concept that cyclotides may enhance TMZ chemotherapy, and in vivo pharmacokinetic investigations of cyclotides are warranted with respect to GBM.

Antifungal activity and mode of action of synthetic peptides derived from the tick OsDef2 defensin

Candida albicans is the principal opportunistic fungal pathogen in nosocomial settings and resistance to antifungal drugs is on the rise. Antimicrobial peptides from natural sources are promising novel therapeutics against C. albicans. OsDef2 defensin was previously found to be active against only Gram-positive bacteria, whereas derived fragments Os and its cysteine-free analogue, Os-C, are active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria at low micromolar concentrations. In this study, OsDef2-derived analogues and fragments were screened for anticandidal activity with the aim to identify peptides with antifungal activity and in so doing obtain a better understanding of the structural requirements for activity and modes of action. Os, Os-C and Os(11-22)NH₂ , a Os-truncated carboxy-terminal-amidated fragment, had the most significant antifungal activities, with minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) in the micromolar range (6-28 μM). C. albicans killing was rapid and occurred within 30-60 min. Further investigations showed all three peptides interacted with cell wall derived polysaccharides while both Os and Os(11-22)NH₂ permeabilized fungal liposomes. Confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed that Os-C and Os(11-22)NH₂ could enter the cytosol of live cells and subsequent findings suggest that the uptake of Os and Os-C, in contrast to Os(11-22)NH₂ , is energy dependent. Although Os, Os-C and Os(11-22)NH₂ induced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), co-incubation with ascorbic acid revealed that only ROS generated by Os-C and to a lesser extent Os(11-22)NH₂ resulted in cell death. Overall, Os, Os-C and Os(11-22)NH₂ are promising candidacidal agents.

Solution NMR and racemic crystallography provide insights into a novel structural class of cyclic plant peptides

Head-to-tail cyclic and disulfide-rich peptides are natural products with applications in drug design. Among these are the PawS-Derived Peptides (PDPs) produced in seeds of the daisy plant family. PDP-23 is a unique member of this class in that it is twice the typical size and adopts two β-hairpins separated by a hinge region. The β-hairpins, both stabilised by a single disulfide bond, fold together into a V-shaped tertiary structure creating a hydrophobic core. In water two PDP-23 molecules merge their hydrophobic cores to form a square prism quaternary structure. Here, we synthesised PDP-23 and its enantiomer comprising d-amino acids and achiral glycine, which allowed us to confirm these solution NMR structural data by racemic crystallography. Furthermore, we discovered the related PDP-24. NMR analysis showed that PDP-24 does not form a dimeric structure and it has poor water solubility, but in less polar solvents adopts near identical secondary and tertiary structure to PDP-23. The natural role of these peptides in plants remains enigmatic, as we did not observe any antimicrobial or insecticidal activity. However, the plasticity of these larger PDPs and their ability to change structure under different conditions make them appealing peptide drug scaffolds.

Larger members of the PawS-Derived family of cyclic plant peptides form complex structures. The graphical abstract shows the racemic crystal structure of the homodimeric PDP-23 as well as the solution NMR structure of PDP-24.

Advances on chemically modified antimicrobial peptides for generating peptide antibiotics

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are pinpointed as promising molecules against antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Nevertheless, there is a discrepancy between the AMP sequences generated and the tangible outcomes in clinical trials. AMPs' limitations include enzymatic degradation, chemical/physical instability and toxicity toward healthy human cells. These factors compromise AMPs' bioavailability, resulting in limited therapeutic potential. To overcome such obstacles, peptidomimetic approaches, including glycosylation, PEGylation, lipidation, cyclization, grafting, D-amino acid insertion, stapling and dendrimers are promising strategies to fine-tune AMPs. Here we focused on chemical modifications applied for AMP optimization and how they have helped these peptide-based antibiotic candidates' design and translational potential.

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of Evernia prunastri extracts and their isolates

Lichens are symbiotic organisms formed by a fungus and one or more photosynthetic partners which are usually alga or cyanobacterium. Their diverse and scarcely studied metabolites facilitate adaptability to extreme living conditions. We investigated Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach., a widely distributed lichen, for its antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. E. prunastri was sequentially extracted by hexane (Hex), dichloromethane (DCM) and acetonitrile (ACN) that were screened for their antioxidant and antimicrobial (against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans) activities. The Hex extract possessed the highest antioxidant capacity (87 mg ascorbic acid/g extract) corresponding to the highest content of phenols (73 mg gallic acid/g extract). The DCM and Hex extracts were both active against S. aureus (MICs of 4 and 21 µg/ml, respectively) but were less active against Gram-negative bacteria and yeast. The ACN extract exhibited activity on both S. aureus (MIC 14 µg/ml) and C. albicans (MIC 38 µg/ml) and was therefore further fractionated by silica gel column chromatography. The active compound of the most potent fraction was subsequently characterized by 1H and 13C-NMR spectroscopy and identified as evernic acid. Structural similarity analyses were performed between compounds from E. prunastri and known antibiotics from different classes. The structural similarity was not present. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of E. prunastri extracts originate from multiple chemical compounds; besides usnic acid, most notably evernic acid and derivatives thereof. Evernic acid and its derivatives represent possible candidates for a new class of antibiotics.

Tropical vibes from Sri Lanka - cyclotides from Viola betonicifolia by transcriptome and mass spectrometry analysis

Cyclotides are an extremely stable class of peptides, ubiquitously distributed in Violaceae. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of cyclotides in Sri Lankan Violaceae plants, using combined tools of transcriptomics and mass spectrometry. New cyclotides were discovered for the first time in the wild flora of Sri Lanka, within Viola betonicifolia, a plant used in traditional medicine as an antimicrobial. Plant extracts prepared in small scale from Viola betonicifolia were first subjected to LC-MS analysis. Subsequent transcriptome de novo sequencing of Viola betonicifolia uncovered 25 new (vibe 1-25) and three known (varv A/kalata S, viba 17, viba 11) peptide sequences from Möbius and bracelet cyclotide subfamilies as well as hybrid cyclotides. Among the transcripts, putative linear acyclotide sequences (vibe 4, vibe 10, vibe 11 and vibe 22) that lack a conserved asparagine or aspartic acid vital for cyclisation were also present. Four asparagine endopeptidases (AEPs), VbAEP1-4 were found within the Viola betonicifolia transcriptome, including a peptide asparaginyl ligase (PAL), potentially involved in cyclotide backbone cyclisation, showing >93% sequence homology to Viola yedoensis peptide asparaginyl ligases, VyPALs. In addition, we identified two protein disulfide isomerases (PDIs), VbPDI1-2, likely involved in cyclotide oxidative folding, having high sequence homology (>74%) with previously reported Rubiaceae and Violaceae PDIs. The current study highlights the ubiquity of cyclotides in Violaceae as well as the utility of transcriptomic analysis for cyclotides and their putative processing enzyme discovery. The high variability of cyclotide sequences in terms of loop sizes and residues in V. betonicifolia showcase the cyclotide structure as an adaptable scaffold as well as their importance as a combinatorial library, implicated in plant defense.

Comparison of a Short Linear Antimicrobial Peptide with Its Disulfide-Cyclized and Cyclotide-Grafted Variants against Clinically Relevant Pathogens

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the development of resistance against antibiotics by microbes is one of the most pressing health concerns. The situation will intensify since only a few pharmacological companies are currently developing novel antimicrobial compounds. Discovery and development of novel antimicrobial compounds with new modes of action are urgently needed. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are known to be able to kill multidrug-resistant bacteria and, therefore, of interest to be developed into antimicrobial drugs. Proteolytic stability and toxicities of these peptides are challenges to overcome, and one strategy frequently used to address stability is cyclization. Here we introduced a disulfide-bond to cyclize a potent and nontoxic 9mer peptide and, in addition, as a proof-of-concept study, grafted this peptide into loop 6 of the cyclotide MCoTI-II. This is the first time an antimicrobial peptide has been successfully grafted onto the cyclotide scaffold. The disulfide-cyclized and grafted cyclotide showed moderate activity in broth and strong activity in 1/5 broth against clinically relevant resistant pathogens. The linear peptide showed superior activity in both conditions. The half-life time in 100% human serum was determined, for the linear peptide, to be 13 min, for the simple disulfide-cyclized peptide, 9 min, and, for the grafted cyclotide 7 h 15 min. The addition of 10% human serum led to a loss of antimicrobial activity for the different organisms, ranging from 1 to >8-fold for the cyclotide. For the disulfide-cyclized version and the linear version, activity also dropped to different degrees, 2 to 18-fold, and 1 to 30-fold respectively. Despite the massive difference in stability, the linear peptide still showed superior antimicrobial activity. The cyclotide and the disulfide-cyclized version demonstrated a slower bactericidal effect than the linear version. All three peptides were stable at high and low pH, and had very low hemolytic and cytotoxic activity.

Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study on Interactions of Cycloviolacin with Different Phospholipids

Cyclotides are disulfide-rich cyclic peptides isolated from plants, which are extremely stable against thermal and proteolytic degradation, with a variety of biological activities including antibacterial, hemolytic, anti-HIV, and anti-tumor. Most of these bioactivities are related to their preference for binding to certain types of phospholipids and subsequently disrupt lipid membranes. In the present study, we use a cyclotide, cycloviolacin O2 (cyO2), as a model system to investigate its interactions with three lipid bilayers 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (POPE), 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (POPG)-doped POPE, and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC), to help understand its potential mechanism of action toward the membranes at the molecular level using molecular dynamics simulations. In our simulations, cyO2 repeatedly forms stable binding complexes with the POPE-containing bilayers, while within the same simulation time scale, it "jumps" back and forth on the surface of the POPC bilayer without a strong binding. Detailed analyses reveal that the electrostatic attraction is the main driving force for the initial bindings between cyO2 and the lipids, but with strikingly different strengths in different bilayers. For the POPE-containing bilayers, the charged residues of cyO2 attract both POPE amino and phosphate head groups favorably; meanwhile, its hydrophobic residues are deeply inserted into the lipid hydrophobic tails (core) of the membrane, thus forming stable binding complexes. In contrast, POPC lipids with three methyl groups on the amino head group create a steric hindrance when interacting with cyO2, thus resulting in a relatively difficult binding of cyO2 on POPC compared to POPE. Our current findings provide additional insights for a better understanding of how cyO2 binds to the POPE-containing membrane, which should shed light on the future cyclotide-based antibacterial agent design.

Amino acid-derived defense metabolites from plants: A potential source to facilitate novel antimicrobial development

For millennia, humanity has relied on plants for its medicines, and modern pharmacology continues to reexamine and mine plant metabolites for novel compounds and to guide improvements in biological activity, bioavailability, and chemical stability. The critical problem of antibiotic resistance and increasing exposure to viral and parasitic diseases has spurred renewed interest into drug treatments for infectious diseases. In this context, an urgent revival of natural product discovery is globally underway with special attention directed toward the numerous and chemically diverse plant defensive compounds such as phytoalexins and phytoanticipins that combat herbivores, microbial pathogens, or competing plants. Moreover, advancements in “omics,” chemistry, and heterologous expression systems have facilitated the purification and characterization of plant metabolites and the identification of possible therapeutic targets. In this review, we describe several important amino acid–derived classes of plant defensive compounds, including antimicrobial peptides (e.g., defensins, thionins, and knottins), alkaloids, nonproteogenic amino acids, and phenylpropanoids as potential drug leads, examining their mechanisms of action, therapeutic targets, and structure–function relationships. Given their potent antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and antiviral properties, which can be superior to existing drugs, phytoalexins and phytoanticipins are an excellent resource to facilitate the rational design and development of antimicrobial drugs.

An insight into biological activities of native cyclotides for potential applications in agriculture and pharmaceutics

Cyclotides are plant-derived mini-proteins of 28 - 37 amino acids. They have a characteristic head-to-tail cyclic backbone and three disulfide cross-linkages formed by six highly conserved cysteine residues, creating a unique knotted ring structure, known as a cyclic cystine knot (CCK) motif. The CCK topology confers immense stability to cyclotides with resistance to thermal and enzymatic degradation. Native cyclotides are of interest due to their multiple biological activities with several potential applications in agricultural (e.g. biopesticides, antifungal) and pharmaceutical (e.g. anti-HIV, cytotoxic to tumor cells) sectors. The most recent application of insecticidal activity of cyclotides is the commercially available biopesticidal spray known as 'Sero X' for cotton crops. Cyclotides have a general mode of action and their potency of bioactivity is determined through their binding ability, pore formation and disruption of the target biological membranes. Keeping in view the important potential applications of biological activities of cyclotides and the lack of an extensive and analytical compilation of bioactive cyclotides, the present review systematically describes eight major biological activities of the native cyclotides from four angiosperm families viz. Fabaceae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae, Violaceae. The bioactivities of 94 cytotoxic, 57 antibacterial, 44 hemolytic, 25 antifungal, 21 anti-HIV, 20 nematocidal, 10 insecticidal and 5 molluscicidal cyclotides have been comprehensively elaborated. Further, their distribution in angiosperm families, mode of action and future prospects have also been discussed.

Challenges to antimicrobial susceptibility testing of plant-derived polyphenolic compounds

As multidrug resistance gains momentum, the last two decades have seen an ever-growing interest in the antimicrobial properties of plant extracts and plant-derived compounds. Most of the focus is on polyphenols – a large and diverse group of phytochemicals with strong antibacterial activity. Testing methods provide reliable results as long as they follow standard procedures. However, methods and procedures used in antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) are often too diverse to allow comparison of results. The lack of uniformity and comparability is much owed to the absence of guidelines. The focus of this review is to give a critical overview of different methods used in the assessment of polyphenols antimicrobial efficacy and to highlight the importance of their standardisation.

Behavioral and physiological effects of Viola spp. cyclotides on Myzus persicae (Sulz.)

Cyclotides are defense peptides produced by several plant families. Viola spp. (Violaceae) produce an array of cyclotides with varying biological activities. The peach potato aphid Myzus persicae (Sulz.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a generalist that feeds on the secondary hosts of over 40 plant families, including Violaceae. The present work aimed to evaluate the activities of cycloviolacins from Viola odorata L. and V. ulignosa Besser (cyO2, cyO3, cyO13, cyO19) against M. persicae. To investigate the peptides' influence on aphid feeding behavior, we used 20% sucrose diets supplemented with cyclotides and measured the effects with electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique. We also applied anti-cyclotide antibodies and immunohistochemistry to track the peptides in the digestive systems of the aphids. Our study shows that cyclotides affect aphid probing and feeding behavior and limit their diet sap uptake. The cycloviolacin cyclotides: cyO13 (100 µM) and cyO19 (50 µM) most strongly impeded aphid ingestion activities when applied in sucrose diet. Sustained ingestion of the diet was blocked by 100 µM cyO13, and no aphid showed ingestion of the diet for longer than 10 min. Cyclotides were detected in the pharynx, in contact with the epipharyngeal gustatory organ, in the stomach (midgut) and upper intestine. The present study shows the deterrent activity of cycloviolacins on M. persicae. This activity may be related to the peptides' effects on epithelial cells and gustatory organs along the aphid digestive system. We demonstrate that cyclotides may play an important role in plant-aphid interactions.

Backbone Cyclization and Dimerization of LL-37-Derived Peptides Enhance Antimicrobial Activity and Proteolytic Stability

Can antimicrobial activity and peptide stability of alpha-helical peptides be increased by making them into dimers and macrocycles? Here, we explore that concept by using KR-12 as the starting point for peptide engineering. KR-12 has previously been determined as the minimalized antimicrobial fragment of the human host defense peptide LL-37. Backbone-cyclized KR-12 dimers, tethered by linkers of two to four amino acid residues, were synthesized and their antimicrobial activity, proteolytic stability and structures characterized. A modified KR-12 sequence, with substitutions at previously identified key residues, were also included in the screening panel. The backbone cyclized KR-12 dimers showed improved antimicrobial activity and increased stability compared to monomeric KR-12. The most active cyclic dimer displayed 16-fold higher antibacterial activity compared to KR-12 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, and 8-fold increased fungicidal activity against Candida albicans. It also showed increased hemolytic and cytotoxic activity. Enhanced antimicrobial activity coincided with increased membrane permeabilization of liposomes with one distinct discrepancy: monomeric KR-12 was much less disruptive of liposomes with bacterial lipid composition compared to liposomes from fungal lipid extract. Circular dichroism showed that the four-residue linked most active cyclic dimer had 65% helical content when bound to lyso-phosphatidylglycerol micelles, indicating that the helical propensity of the parent peptide is maintained in the new macrocyclic form. In conclusion, the current work on KR-12 suggests that dimerization together with backbone cyclization is an effective strategy for improving both potency and stability of linear antimicrobial peptides.

Screening for bioactive secondary metabolites in Sri Lankan medicinal plants by microfractionation and targeted isolation of antimicrobial flavonoids from Derris scandens

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sri Lanka is known to have very diverse flora. Many of these species are used for plant-based remedies, which form the integral part of two Sri Lankan systems of traditional medicine, Ayurveda and Deshiya Chikitsa. Despite their widespread use, only a limited number of studies have probed into the scientific evidence for bioactivity of these medicinal plants. Such studies rarely progress to the identification of bioactive natural products.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The primary aim was to develop a bioactivity screening method and apply it to 50 Sri Lankan medicinal plants where antimicrobial properties could be relevant for its traditional use. The subsequent aim was the progression into defining and characterising potent isolates within targeted compound classes from such plants, i.e. Derris scandens and its antimicrobial flavonoids.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The plant collection comprised 24 species of Fabaceae, 15 Rubiaceae, 7 Solanaceae and 4 Cucurbitaceae plants. These 50 species were collected based on their ethnopharmacological importance and use in Sri Lankan traditional medicine. Crude extracts from each species were initially subjected to radial disc diffusion and microdilution assays. Subsequently, aqueous extracts of all plants were microfractionated in deep well plates using reversed-phase HPLC. Fractions were tested for antibacterial and cytotoxic activities and masses of target bioactive compounds were identified using mass spectrometry. Bioactive compounds with the masses identified through microfractions were isolated from Derris scandens using reversed-phase HPLC. The isolated pure compounds were characterised using LC-MS and NMR.

RESULTS

Crude aqueous extracts from 19 species showed activity against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus) in the radial disc diffusion assay. Crude aqueous extracts from 34 plant species and organic extracts from 46 plant species were active against S. aureus (≤4 mg mL^-1) in the microdilution assay. Microfractionation demonstrated antibacterial activity for 19 plants and cytotoxicity for 6 plants. Furthermore, target bioactive compounds and their molecular ions were identified during microfractionation. Dalpanitin and vicenin-3, two of the flavonoids isolated from Derris scandens gave MICs of 23 μg mL^-1 against S. aureus. Dalpanitin also exhibited relevant MICs on Gram-negative bacteria (94 μg mL^-1 against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa).

CONCLUSION

The microfractionation protocol developed in this study enabled time-efficient screening of many plants species, using a small quantity of sample material. In addition, microfractionation served as a guiding tool for identifying individual antimicrobial compounds. Through this process, flavonoids were isolated from Derris scandens, out of which dalpanitin and vicenin-3 showed activity in the low micromolar range. The high hit rate for in vitro antibacterial properties from this ethnopharmacologically guided sample collection gives credence to Sri Lankan traditional herbal medicine as a source for drug discovery.

Cyclotides: From Structure to Function

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.

Antimicrobial Peptides - Small but Mighty Weapons for Plants to Fight Phytopathogens

Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) have diverse structures, varied modes of actions, and can inhibit the growth of a wide range of pathogens at low concentrations. Plants are constantly under attack by a wide range of phytopathogens causing massive yield losses worldwide. To combat these pathogens, nature has armed plants with a battery of defense responses including Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs). These peptides form a vital component of the two-tier plant defense system. They are constitutively expressed as part of the pre-existing first line of defense against pathogen entry. When a pathogen overcomes this barrier, it faces the inducible defense system, which responds to specific molecular or effector patterns by launching an arsenal of defense responses including the production of AMPs. This review emphasizes the structural and functional aspects of different plant-derived AMPs, their homology with AMPs from other organisms, and how their biotechnological potential could generate durable resistance in a wide range of crops against different classes of phytopathogens in an environmentally friendly way without phenotypic cost.

Pharmaceutical applications of cyclotides

Cyclotides are cyclic peptides, present in several plant families, that show diverse biological properties. Structurally, cyclotides share a distinctive head-to-tail circular knotted topology of three disulfide bonds. This framework provides cyclotides with extraordinary resistance to thermal and chemical denaturation. There is increasing interest in the therapeutic potential of cyclotides, which combine several promising pharmaceutical properties, including binding affinity, target selectivity, and low toxicity towards healthy mammalian cells. Recently, cyclotides have been reported to be orally bioavailable and have proved to be amenable to modifications. Here, we provide an overview of the structure, properties, and pharmaceutical applications of cyclotides.

The Potential of the Cyclotide Scaffold for Drug Development

Cyclotides are a novel class of micro-proteins (≈30-40 residues long) with a unique topology containing a head-to-tail cyclized backbone structure further stabilized by three disulfide bonds that form a cystine knot. This unique molecular framework makes them exceptionally stable to physical, chemical, and biological degradation compared to linear peptides of similar size. The cyclotides are also highly tolerant to sequence variability, aside from the conserved residues forming the cystine knot, and are orally bioavailable and able to cross cellular membranes to modulate intracellular protein-protein interactions (PPIs), both in vitro and in vivo. These unique properties make them ideal scaffolds for many biotechnological applications, including drug discovery. This review provides an overview of the properties of cyclotides and their potential for the development of novel peptide-based therapeutics. The selective disruption of PPIs still remains a very challenging task, as the interacting surfaces are relatively large and flat. The use of the cell-permeable highly constrained polypeptide molecular frameworks, such as the cyclotide scaffold, has shown great promise, as it provides unique pharmacological properties. The use of molecular techniques, such as epitope grafting, and molecular evolution have shown to be highly effective for the selection of bioactive cyclotides. However, despite successes in employing cyclotides to target PPIs, some of the challenges to move them into the clinic still remain.

How Does the Sweet Violet (Viola odorata L.) Fight Pathogens and Pests - Cyclotides as a Comprehensive Plant Host Defense System

Cyclotides are cyclic plant polypeptides of 27-37 amino acid residues. They have been extensively studied in bioengineering and drug development contexts. However, less is known about the relevance of cyclotides for the plants producing them. The anti-insect larvae effects of kB1 and antibacterial activity of cyO2 suggest that cyclotides are a part of plant host defense. The sweet violet (Viola odorata L.) produces a wide array of cyclotides, including kB1 (kalata B1) and cyO2 (cycloviolacin O2), with distinct presumed biological roles. Here, we evaluate V. odorata cyclotides' potency against plant pathogens and their mode of action using bioassays, liposome experiments and immunogold labeling for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We explore the link between the biological activity and distribution in plant generative, vegetative tissues and seeds, depicted by immunohistochemistry and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI). Cyclotides cyO2, cyO3, cyO13, and cyO19 are shown to have potent activity against model fungal plant pathogens (Fusarium oxysporum, F. graminearum, F. culmorum, Mycosphaerella fragariae, Botrytis cinerea) and fungi isolated from violets (Colletotrichum utrechtense and Alternaria alternata), with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 0.8 μM to 25 μM. Inhibition of phytopathogenic bacteria - Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, Dickeya dadantii and Pectobacterium atrosepticum - is also observed with MIC = 25-100 μM. A membrane-disrupting antifungal mode of action is shown. Finding cyO2 inside the fungal spore cells in TEM images may indicate that other, intracellular targets may be involved in the mechanism of toxicity. Fungi can not break down cyclotides in the course of days. varv A (kalata S) and kB1 show little potency against pathogenic fungi when compared with the tested cycloviolacins. cyO2, cyO3, cyO19 and kB1 are differentially distributed and found in tissues vulnerable to pathogen (epidermis, rizodermis, vascular bundles, protodermis, procambium, ovary walls, outer integuments) and pest (ground tissues of leaf and petiole) attacks, respectively, indicating a link between the cyclotides' sites of accumulation and biological role. Cyclotides emerge as a comprehensive defense system in V. odorata, in which different types of peptides have specific targets that determine their distribution in plant tissues.

PepSAVI-MS reveals anticancer and antifungal cycloviolacins in Viola odorata

Widespread resistance to antimicrobial and cancer therapeutics is evolving in every country worldwide and has a direct impact on global health, agriculture and the economy. The specificity and selectivity of bioactive peptide natural products present a possible stopgap measure to address the ongoing deficit of new therapeutic compounds. PepSAVI-MS (Statistically-guided bioActive Peptides prioritized VIa Mass Spectrometry) is an adaptable method for the analysis of natural product libraries to rapidly identify bioactive peptides. This pipeline was validated via screening of the cyclotide-rich botanical species Viola odorata and identification of the known antimicrobial and anticancer cyclotide cycloviolacin O2. Herein we present and validate novel bioactivities of the anthelmintic V. odorata cyclotide, cycloviolacin O8 (cyO8), including micromolar anticancer activity against PC-3 prostate, MDA-MB-231 breast, and OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cell lines and antifungal activity against the agricultural pathogen Fusarium graminearum. A reduction/alkylation strategy in tandem with PepSAVI-MS analysis also revealed several previously uncharacterized putatively bioactive cyclotides. Downstream implementation of ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) tandem mass spectrometry is demonstrated for cyO8 as a method to address traditionally difficult-to-sequence cyclotide species. This work emphasizes the therapeutic and agricultural potential of natural product bioactive peptides and the necessity of developing robust analytical tools to deconvolute nature's complexity.