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Fodil S, De Zotti M, Tundo S, Gabbatore L, Vettorazzo I, Luti S, Musetti R, Sella L, Favaron F, Baccelli I. Multiple lysine substitutions in the peptaibol trichogin GA IV enhance the antibiotic activity against plant pathogenic Pseudomonas syringae. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 201:105901. [PMID: 38685232 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2024.105901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Plant diseases caused by Pseudomonas syringae are essentially controlled in the field with the use of copper-based products and antibiotics, raising environmental and safety concerns. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) derived from fungi may represent a sustainable alternative to those chemicals. Trichogin GA IV, a non-ribosomal, 11-residue long AMP naturally produced by the fungus Trichoderma longibrachiatum has the ability to insert into phospholipidic membranes and form water-filled pores, thereby perturbing membrane integrity and permeability. In previous studies, peptide analogs modified at the level of specific residues were designed to be water-soluble and active against plant pathogens. Here, we studied the role of glycine-to-lysine substitutions and of the presence of a C-terminal leucine amide on bioactivity against Pseudomonas syringae bacteria. P. syringae diseases affect a wide range of crops worldwide, including tomato and kiwifruit. Our results show that trichogin GA IV analogs containing two or three Gly-to-Lys substitutions are highly effective in vitro against P. syringae pv. tomato (Pst), displaying minimal inhibitory and minimal bactericidal concentrations in the low micromolar range. The same analogs are also able to inhibit in vitro the kiwifruit pathogen P. syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) biovar 3. When sprayed on tomato plants 24 h before Pst inoculation, only tri-lysine containing analogs were able to significantly reduce bacterial titers and symptom development in infected plants. Our results point to a positive correlation between the number of lysine substitutions and the antibacterial activity. This correlation was supported by microscopy analyses performed with mono-, di- and tri-Lys containing analogs that showed a different degree of interaction with Pst cells and ultrastructural changes that culminated in cell lysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sihem Fodil
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Marta De Zotti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Silvio Tundo
- Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture, and Forestry (TESAF), University of Padova, Viale Dell' Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale Dell' Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Laura Gabbatore
- Department of Chemistry, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Irene Vettorazzo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Simone Luti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Firenze, Italy
| | - Rita Musetti
- Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture, and Forestry (TESAF), University of Padova, Viale Dell' Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Luca Sella
- Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture, and Forestry (TESAF), University of Padova, Viale Dell' Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Francesco Favaron
- Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture, and Forestry (TESAF), University of Padova, Viale Dell' Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Ivan Baccelli
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
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2
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Dalla Torre C, Sannio F, Battistella M, Docquier JD, De Zotti M. Peptaibol Analogs Show Potent Antibacterial Activity against Multidrug Resistant Opportunistic Pathogens. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097997. [PMID: 37175704 PMCID: PMC10178204 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097997] [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: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
New classes of antibacterial drugs are urgently needed to address the global issue of antibiotic resistance. In this context, peptaibols are promising membrane-active peptides since they are not involved in innate immunity and their antimicrobial activity does not involve specific cellular targets, therefore reducing the chance of bacterial resistance development. Trichogin GA IV is a nonhemolytic, natural, short-length peptaibol active against Gram-positive bacteria and resistant to proteolysis. In this work, we report on the antibacterial activity of cationic trichogin analogs. Several peptides appear non-hemolytic and strongly active against many clinically relevant bacterial species, including antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, and extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, against which there are only a limited number of antibiotics under development. Our results further highlight how the modification of natural peptides is a valuable strategy for obtaining improved antibacterial agents with potential therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Dalla Torre
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, I-35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Filomena Sannio
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 16, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Mattia Battistella
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, I-35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Jean-Denis Docquier
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 16, I-53100 Siena, Italy
- Lead Discovery Siena s.r.l., Via Fiorentina 1, I-53100 Siena, Italy
- Laboratoire de Bactériologie Moléculaire, Centre d'Ingénierie des Protéines-UR InBioS, University of Liège, Allée du Six Août 11, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Marta De Zotti
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, I-35131 Padova, Italy
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Anticancer and Targeting Activity of Phytopharmaceutical Structural Analogs of a Natural Peptide from Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Related Peptide-Decorated Gold Nanoparticles. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065537. [PMID: 36982610 PMCID: PMC10057332 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In the large field of bioactive peptides, peptaibols represent a unique class of compounds. They are membrane-active peptides, produced by fungi of the genus Trichoderma and known to elicit plant defenses. Among the short-length peptaibols, trichogin GA IV is nonhemolytic, proteolysis-resistant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic. Several trichogin analogs are endowed with potent activity against phytopathogens, thus representing a sustainable alternative to copper for plant protection. In this work, we tested the activity of trichogin analogs against a breast cancer cell line and a normal cell line of the same derivation. Lys-containing trichogins showed an IC50 below 12 µM, a peptide concentration not significantly affecting the viability of normal cells. Two analogs were found to be membrane-active but noncytotoxic. They were anchored to gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and further investigated for their ability to act as targeting agents. GNP uptake by cancer cells increased with peptide decoration, while it decreased in the corresponding normal epithelial cells. This work highlights the promising biological properties of peptaibol analogs in the field of cancer therapy either as cytotoxic molecules or as active targeting agents in drug delivery.
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Analogs of a Natural Peptaibol Exert Anticancer Activity in Both Cisplatin- and Doxorubicin-Resistant Cells and in Multicellular Tumor Spheroids. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168362. [PMID: 34445069 PMCID: PMC8394784 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptaibols, by disturbing the permeability of phospholipid membranes, can overcome anticancer drug resistance, but their natural hydrophobicity hampers their administration. By a green peptide synthesis protocol, we produced two water-soluble analogs of the peptaibol trichogin GA IV, termed K6-Lol and K6-NH2. To reduce production costs, we successfully explored the possibility of changing the naturally occurring 1,2-aminoalcohol leucinol to a C-terminal amide. Peptaibol activity was evaluated in ovarian cancer (OvCa) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) cell lines. Peptaibols exerted comparable cytotoxic effects in cancer cell lines that were sensitive—and had acquired resistance—to cisplatin and doxorubicin, as well as in the extrinsic-drug-resistant OvCa 3-dimensional spheroids. Peptaibols, rapidly taken up by tumor cells, deeply penetrated and killed OvCa-spheroids. They led to cell membrane permeabilization and phosphatidylserine exposure and were taken up faster by cancer cells than normal cells. They were resistant to proteolysis and maintained a stable helical structure in the presence of cancer cells. In conclusion, these promising results strongly point out the need for further preclinical evaluation of our peptaibols as new anticancer agents.
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De Zotti M, Syryamina VN, Hussain R, Longo E, Siligardi G, Dzuba SA, Stella L, Formaggio F. A Temperature-Driven, Reversible, Helical-Handedness Inversion in Peptaibol Analogues Tuned by the C-Terminal Capping Moiety. Chembiochem 2019; 20:2125-2132. [PMID: 31095838 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Trichogin is a natural peptide endowed with antimicrobial and antitumor activity. A member of the peptaibol family, trichogin possesses a C-terminal amino alcohol. In the past, this moiety was substituted for a methyl ester for synthetic purposes and it was observed that this apparently slight modification caused significant changes in the peptide bioactivity. With the aim of understanding the reasons behind such observations, a detailed spectroscopic study on a number of trichogin analogues has been performed. Herein, data obtained from synchrotron radiation circular dichroism, NMR spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy in organic solvents at cryogenic temperatures are compared with those independently acquired by means of EPR spectroscopy at 80 K. It is unambiguously revealed that the presence of a reversible, temperature-driven, screw-sense interconversion from a right- to left-handed helix is determined by the C-terminal capping moiety. Data demonstrate, for the first time, the key role of a C-terminal methyl ester in promoting peptide screw-sense inversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta De Zotti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Victoria N Syryamina
- Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, RAS, Ulitsa Institutskaya 3, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation.,Novosibirsk State University, Ulitsa Pirogova 2, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation
| | - Rohanah Hussain
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Innovation Campus, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Edoardo Longo
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100, Bozen-Bolzano, Italy
| | - Giuliano Siligardi
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Innovation Campus, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Sergei A Dzuba
- Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, RAS, Ulitsa Institutskaya 3, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation.,Novosibirsk State University, Ulitsa Pirogova 2, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation
| | - Lorenzo Stella
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, via della ricerca scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Fernando Formaggio
- Department of Chemistry, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy
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Adam C, Peters AD, Lizio MG, Whitehead GFS, Diemer V, Cooper JA, Cockroft SL, Clayden J, Webb SJ. The Role of Terminal Functionality in the Membrane and Antibacterial Activity of Peptaibol-Mimetic Aib Foldamers. Chemistry 2018; 24:2249-2256. [PMID: 29210477 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201705299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Peptaibols are peptide antibiotics that typically feature an N-terminal acetyl cap, a C-terminal aminoalcohol, and a high proportion of α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) residues. To establish how each feature might affect the membrane-activity of peptaibols, biomimetic Aib foldamers with different lengths and terminal groups were synthesised. Vesicle assays showed that long foldamers (eleven Aib residues) with hydrophobic termini had the highest ionophoric activity. C-terminal acids or primary amides inhibited activity, while replacement of an N-terminal acetyl with an azide group made little difference. Crystallography showed that N3 Aib11 CH2 OTIPS folded into a 310 helix 2.91 nm long, which is close to the bilayer hydrophobic width. Planar bilayer conductance assays showed discrete ion channels only for N-acetylated foldamers. However long foldamers with hydrophobic termini had the highest antibacterial activity, indicating that ionophoric activity in vesicles was a better indicator of antibacterial activity than the observation of discrete ion channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Adam
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Anna D Peters
- School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.,Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess St, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - M Giovanna Lizio
- School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.,Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess St, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - George F S Whitehead
- School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Vincent Diemer
- School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.,Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess St, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - James A Cooper
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ, UK
| | - Scott L Cockroft
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ, UK
| | - Jonathan Clayden
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Simon J Webb
- School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.,Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess St, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
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