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Lund PM, Kristensen K, Larsen NW, Knuhtsen A, Hansen MB, Hjørringgaard CU, Eriksen AZ, Urquhart AJ, Mortensen KI, Simonsen JB, Andresen TL, Larsen JB. Tuning the double lipidation of salmon calcitonin to introduce a pore-like membrane translocation mechanism. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 669:198-210. [PMID: 38713958 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.04.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
A widespread strategy to increase the transport of therapeutic peptides across cellular membranes has been to attach lipid moieties to the peptide backbone (lipidation) to enhance their intrinsic membrane interaction. Efforts in vitro and in vivo investigating the correlation between lipidation characteristics and peptide membrane translocation efficiency have traditionally relied on end-point read-out assays and trial-and-error-based optimization strategies. Consequently, the molecular details of how therapeutic peptide lipidation affects it's membrane permeation and translocation mechanisms remain unresolved. Here we employed salmon calcitonin as a model therapeutic peptide and synthesized nine double lipidated analogs with varying lipid chain lengths. We used single giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) calcein influx time-lapse fluorescence microscopy to determine how tuning the lipidation length can lead to an All-or-None GUV filling mechanism, indicative of a peptide mediated pore formation. Finally, we used a GUVs-containing-inner-GUVs assay to demonstrate that only peptide analogs capable of inducing pore formation show efficient membrane translocation. Our data provided the first mechanistic details on how therapeutic peptide lipidation affects their membrane perturbation mechanism and demonstrated that fine-tuning lipidation parameters could induce an intrinsic pore-forming capability. These insights and the microscopy based workflow introduced for investigating structure-function relations could be pivotal for optimizing future peptide design strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip M Lund
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kasper Kristensen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nanna W Larsen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Astrid Knuhtsen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Morten B Hansen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Claudia U Hjørringgaard
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anne Z Eriksen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andrew J Urquhart
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kim I Mortensen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jens B Simonsen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Thomas L Andresen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Jannik B Larsen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
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Gostaviceanu A, Gavrilaş S, Copolovici L, Copolovici DM. Membrane-Active Peptides and Their Potential Biomedical Application. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2091. [PMID: 37631305 PMCID: PMC10459175 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15082091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane-active peptides (MAPs) possess unique properties that make them valuable tools for studying membrane structure and function and promising candidates for therapeutic applications. This review paper provides an overview of the fundamental aspects of MAPs, focusing on their membrane interaction mechanisms and potential applications. MAPs exhibit various structural features, including amphipathic structures and specific amino acid residues, enabling selective interaction with multiple membranes. Their mechanisms of action involve disrupting lipid bilayers through different pathways, depending on peptide properties and membrane composition. The therapeutic potential of MAPs is significant. They have demonstrated antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi, making them promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics. MAPs can selectively target cancer cells and induce apoptosis, opening new avenues in cancer therapeutics. Additionally, MAPs serve as drug delivery vectors, facilitating the transport of therapeutic cargoes across cell membranes. They represent a fascinating class of biomolecules with significant potential in basic research and clinical applications. Understanding their mechanisms of action and designing peptides with enhanced selectivity and efficacy will further expand their utility in diverse fields. Exploring MAPs holds promise for developing novel therapeutic strategies against infections, cancer, and drug delivery challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreea Gostaviceanu
- Faculty of Food Engineering, Tourism and Environmental Protection, and Institute for Research, Development and Innovation in Technical and Natural Sciences, Aurel Vlaicu University, Elena Drăgoi St., No. 2, 310330 Arad, Romania; (A.G.); (S.G.); (L.C.)
- Biomedical Sciences Doctoral School, University of Oradea, University St., No. 1, 410087 Oradea, Romania
| | - Simona Gavrilaş
- Faculty of Food Engineering, Tourism and Environmental Protection, and Institute for Research, Development and Innovation in Technical and Natural Sciences, Aurel Vlaicu University, Elena Drăgoi St., No. 2, 310330 Arad, Romania; (A.G.); (S.G.); (L.C.)
| | - Lucian Copolovici
- Faculty of Food Engineering, Tourism and Environmental Protection, and Institute for Research, Development and Innovation in Technical and Natural Sciences, Aurel Vlaicu University, Elena Drăgoi St., No. 2, 310330 Arad, Romania; (A.G.); (S.G.); (L.C.)
| | - Dana Maria Copolovici
- Faculty of Food Engineering, Tourism and Environmental Protection, and Institute for Research, Development and Innovation in Technical and Natural Sciences, Aurel Vlaicu University, Elena Drăgoi St., No. 2, 310330 Arad, Romania; (A.G.); (S.G.); (L.C.)
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Caliari A, Hanczyc MM, Imai M, Xu J, Yomo T. Quantification of Giant Unilamellar Vesicle Fusion Products by High-Throughput Image Analysis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098241. [PMID: 37175944 PMCID: PMC10179211 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial cells are based on dynamic compartmentalized systems. Thus, remodeling of membrane-bound systems, such as giant unilamellar vesicles, is finding applications beyond biological studies, to engineer cell-mimicking structures. Giant unilamellar vesicle fusion is rapidly becoming an essential experimental step as artificial cells gain prominence in synthetic biology. Several techniques have been developed to accomplish this step, with varying efficiency and selectivity. To date, characterization of vesicle fusion has relied on small samples of giant vesicles, examined either manually or by fluorometric assays on suspensions of small and large unilamellar vesicles. Automation of the detection and characterization of fusion products is now necessary for the screening and optimization of these fusion protocols. To this end, we implemented a fusion assay based on fluorophore colocalization on the membranes and in the lumen of vesicles. Fluorescence colocalization was evaluated within single compartments by image segmentation with minimal user input, allowing the application of the technique to high-throughput screenings. After detection, statistical information on vesicle fluorescence and morphological properties can be summarized and visualized, assessing lipid and content transfer for each object by the correlation coefficient of different fluorescence channels. Using this tool, we report and characterize the unexpected fusogenic activity of sodium chloride on phosphatidylcholine giant vesicles. Lipid transfer in most of the vesicles could be detected after 20 h of incubation, while content exchange only occurred with additional stimuli in around 8% of vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Caliari
- Laboratory of Biology and Information Science, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
- Laboratory for Artificial Biology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Polo Scientifico e Tecnologico Fabio Ferrari, Polo B, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Povo, Italy
| | - Martin M Hanczyc
- Laboratory for Artificial Biology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Polo Scientifico e Tecnologico Fabio Ferrari, Polo B, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Povo, Italy
| | - Masayuki Imai
- Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aramaki, Aoba, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Jian Xu
- Laboratory of Biology and Information Science, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Tetsuya Yomo
- Laboratory of Biology and Information Science, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
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Larsen AH. Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Curved Lipid Membranes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:8098. [PMID: 35897670 PMCID: PMC9331392 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic cells contain membranes with various curvatures, from the near-plane plasma membrane to the highly curved membranes of organelles, vesicles, and membrane protrusions. These curvatures are generated and sustained by curvature-inducing proteins, peptides, and lipids, and describing these mechanisms is an important scientific challenge. In addition to that, some molecules can sense membrane curvature and thereby be trafficked to specific locations. The description of curvature sensing is another fundamental challenge. Curved lipid membranes and their interplay with membrane-associated proteins can be investigated with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Various methods for simulating curved membranes with MD are discussed here, including tools for setting up simulation of vesicles and methods for sustaining membrane curvature. The latter are divided into methods that exploit scaffolding virtual beads, methods that use curvature-inducing molecules, and methods applying virtual forces. The variety of simulation tools allow researcher to closely match the conditions of experimental studies of membrane curvatures.
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