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Peel E, Hogg C, Belov K. Characterisation of defensins across the marsupial family tree. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 158:105207. [PMID: 38797458 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2024.105207] [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: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Defensins are antimicrobial peptides involved in innate immunity, and gene number differs amongst eutherian mammals. Few studies have investigated defensins in marsupials, despite their potential involvement in immunological protection of altricial young. Here we use recently sequenced marsupial genomes and transcriptomes to annotate defensins in nine species across the marsupial family tree. We characterised 35 alpha and 286 beta defensins; gene number differed between species, although Dasyuromorphs had the largest repertoire. Defensins were encoded in three gene clusters within the genome, syntenic to eutherians, and were expressed in the pouch and mammary gland. Marsupial beta defensins were closely related to eutherians, however marsupial alpha defensins were more divergent. We identified marsupial orthologs of human DEFB3 and 6, and several marsupial-specific beta defensin lineages which may have novel functions. Marsupial predicted mature peptides were highly variable in length and sequence composition. We propose candidate peptides for future testing to elucidate the function of marsupial defensins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Peel
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Australia.
| | - Carolyn Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Australia.
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Australia.
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2
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Single crystal investigation, spectroscopic, DFT studies, and in-silico molecular docking of the anticancer activities of acetylacetone coordinated Re(I) tricarbonyl complexes. Inorganica Chim Acta 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ica.2022.121335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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3
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Li S, Li H, Xu Y, Ning W, Hu S, Wei S, Song H, Sun J, Ziebolz D, Schmalz G, Hu X, Liu M. Implications of Human Antimicrobial Peptide Defensin Beta-1 in Clinical Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients via an Integrated Bioinformatics Approach. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2022; 2022:2203615. [PMID: 35222682 PMCID: PMC8881164 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2203615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The human antimicrobial peptide defensin beta 1 (DEFB1) has been found to play antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory roles in oral diseases; however, its tumor-regulating role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has not yet been researched by using an integrative bioinformatics approach. OBJECTIVE To investigate the regulating mechanisms of the DEFB1 gene in OSCC in terms of its expression patterns, prognostic values, biological functions, and implication for tumor immunity. METHODS The DEFB1 gene expression pattern and regulatory involvement in OSCC were investigated using publically accessible data from TCGA database. R software tools and public web servers were utilized to conduct statistical analysis of data from cancer and noncancerous samples. RESULTS DEFB1 was found to be significantly downregulated in OSCC tumor samples compared with healthy control oral samples. The DEFB1 gene was found associated with the prognostic outcomes of OSCC, and its upregulation represented better survival outcome. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) results showed that DEFB1-significantly correlated genes were mainly enriched in four signaling pathways mediating the antitumor role of DEFB1 in OSCC, including extracellular matrix-related pathway, RTK/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, keratinization, and cytokine-related pathway. The gene-gene interaction network showed that DEFB1 was closely correlated with several genes, for example, CCR6 (C-C motif chemokine receptor 6), CXCL1 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1), MAP4K2 (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase 2), PTGER3 (prostaglandin E receptor 3), and MMP7 (matrix metallopeptidase 7). Moreover, DEFB1 was found to be involved in the tumor immunity of OSCC by regulating the function of tumor macrophage cells, mast cells, T cells, and NK cells. CONCLUSIONS Given the dysregulation, prognostic value, and tumor progression-related biological pathway alteration, indicating the tumor immune-modulatory role of DEFB1 in OSCC, the DEFB1 gene should be regarded as a potential therapeutic target for treating oral cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simin Li
- Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, China
| | - Hu Li
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, Shandong Province 271000, China
| | - Yuzhen Xu
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, Shandong Province 271000, China
| | - Wanchen Ning
- Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, China
| | - Shaonan Hu
- Innovation Center Computer Assisted Surgery (ICCAS), Leipzig University, Semmelweisstraße 14, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Shanzun Wei
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, China
| | - Hongning Song
- Department of Stomatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, Shandong Province 271000, China
| | - Jianghe Sun
- Department of Stomatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, Shandong Province 271000, China
| | - Dirk Ziebolz
- Department of Cariology, Endodontology and Periodontology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gerhard Schmalz
- Department of Cariology, Endodontology and Periodontology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Xianda Hu
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Beijing Tibetan Hospital, China Tibetology Research Center, 218 Anwaixiaoguanbeili Street, Chaoyang, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Stomatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, Shandong Province 271000, China
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4
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Barroso C, Carvalho P, Gonçalves JFM, Rodrigues PNS, Neves JV. Antimicrobial Peptides: Identification of two Beta-Defensins in a Teleost Fish, the European Sea Bass ( Dicentrarchus labrax). Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14060566. [PMID: 34198571 PMCID: PMC8231796 DOI: 10.3390/ph14060566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Beta-defensins consist in a group of cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), widely found throughout vertebrate species, including teleost fish, with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. However, although the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) is one of the most commercially important farmed fish species in the Mediterranean area, the characterization of its beta-defensins and its potential applications are still missing. In this study, we characterized two members of the beta-defensin family in this species. Phylogenetic and synteny analysis places sea bass peptides in the beta-defensin subfamilies 1 and 2, sharing similar features with the other members, including the six cysteines and the tertiary structure, that consists in three antiparallel beta-sheets, with beta-defensin 1 presenting an extra alpha-helix at the N-terminal. Further studies are necessary to uncover the functions of sea bass beta-defensins, particularly their antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties, in order to develop novel prophylactic or therapeutic compounds to be used in aquaculture production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Barroso
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (P.N.S.R.); (J.V.N.)
- Iron and Innate Immunity, IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Programa Doutoral em Biologia Molecular e Celular (MCbiology), ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| | - Pedro Carvalho
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (P.C.); (J.F.M.G.)
| | - José F. M. Gonçalves
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (P.C.); (J.F.M.G.)
- CIIMAR—Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, 4450-208 Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro N. S. Rodrigues
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (P.N.S.R.); (J.V.N.)
- Iron and Innate Immunity, IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (P.C.); (J.F.M.G.)
| | - João V. Neves
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (P.N.S.R.); (J.V.N.)
- Iron and Innate Immunity, IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (P.C.); (J.F.M.G.)
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5
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Zhu S, Liu M, Bennett S, Wang Z, Pfleger KDG, Xu J. The molecular structure and role of CCL2 (MCP-1) and C-C chemokine receptor CCR2 in skeletal biology and diseases. J Cell Physiol 2021; 236:7211-7222. [PMID: 33782965 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, also called chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) or small inducible cytokine A2, is an inflammatory mediator capable of recruiting monocytes, memory T cells, and dendritic cells. CCL2 is a member of the CC chemokine superfamily, which binds to its receptor, C-C motif chemokine receptor-2 (CCR2), for the induction of chemotactic activity and an increase of calcium influx. It exerts multiple effects on a variety of cells, including monocytes, macrophages, osteoclasts, basophils, and endothelial cells, and is involved in a diverse range of diseases. This review discusses the molecular structure and role of CCL2 and CCR2 in skeletal biology and disease. Molecular structure analyses reveal that CCL2 shares a conserved C-C motif; however, it has only limited sequence homology with other CCL family members. Likewise, CCR2, as a member of the G-protein-coupled seven-transmembrane receptor superfamily, shares conserved cysteine residues, but exhibits very limited sequence homology with other CCR family members. In the skeletal system, the expression of CCL2 is regulated by a variety of factors, such as parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone-related peptide, interleukin 1b, tumor necrosis factor-α and transforming growth factor-beta, RANKL, and mechanical forces. The interaction of CCL2 and CCR2 activates several signaling cascades, including PI3K/Akt/ERK/NF-κB, PI3K/MAPKs, and JAK/STAT-1/STAT-3. Understanding the role of CCL2 and CCR2 will facilitate the development of novel therapies for skeletal disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteolysis and other inflammatory diseases related to abnormal chemotaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sipin Zhu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Mei Liu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology and College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Samuel Bennett
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Ziyi Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Kevin D G Pfleger
- Molecular Endocrinology and Pharmacology, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.,UWA Node, Australian Research Council Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, Melbourne and Perth, Victoria and Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jiake Xu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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In Vitro and In Vivo Antibiotic Capacity of Two Host Defense Peptides. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.00145-20. [PMID: 32366718 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00145-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Two nonamidated host defense peptides named Pin2[G] and FA1 were evaluated against three types of pathogenic bacteria: two (Staphylococcus aureus UPD13 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa UPD3) isolated from diabetic foot ulcer patients, and another (Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium [ATCC 14028]) from a commercial collection. In vitro experiments showed that the antimicrobial performance of the synthetic peptides Pin2[G] and FA1 was modest, although FA1 was more effective than Pin2[G]. In contrast, Pin2[G] had superior in vivo anti-infective activity to FA1 in rabbit wound infections by the diabetic foot ulcer pathogens S. aureus UPD13 and P. aeruginosa UPD3. Indeed, Pin2[G] reduced bacterial colony counts of both S. aureus UPD13 and P. aeruginosa UPD3 by >100,000-fold after 48 to 72 h on skin wounds of infected rabbits, while in similar infected wounds, FA1 had no major effects at 72 to 96 h of treatment. Ceftriaxone was equally effective versus Pseudomonas but less effective versus S. aureus infections. Additionally, the two peptides were evaluated in mice against intragastrically inoculated S. enterica serovar Typhimurium (ATCC 14028). Only Pin2[G] at 0.56 mg/kg was effective in reducing systemic (liver) infection by >67-fold, equivalent to the effect of treatment with levofloxacin. Pin2[G] showed superior immunomodulatory activity in increasing chemokine production by a human bronchial cell line and suppressing polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly[I:C])-induced proinflammatory IL-6 production. These data showed that the in vitro antimicrobial activity of these peptides was not correlated with their in vivo anti-infective activity and suggest that other factors such as immunomodulatory activity were more important.
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7
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Jia J, Wang W, Kuang D, Lu C, Li N, Tong P, Han Y, Sun X, Dai J. mRNA profiling reveals response regulators of decreased fungal keratitis symptoms in a tree shrew model. Gene 2020; 737:144450. [PMID: 32057930 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.144450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fungal keratitis is a corneal disease with a high blindness rate caused by pathogenic fungal infections. The pathogenesis of fungal keratitis and the immune response after fungal infection are still unclear. Notably, the pathological features of fungal keratitis in tree shrews are similar to those in humans. In the present study, mRNA profiling of tree shrew corneas with fungal keratitis was performed. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed on the differentially expressed mRNAs, and the GO biological process ontology was used to analyze functional trends in the differentially expressed mRNAs. In total, 151 downregulated and 71 upregulated mRNAs were shared among the 7-day, 14-day and 30-day infection groups. These differentially expressed mRNAs were significantly enriched in the GO category immune response (GO: 0002376) and the KEGG pathways cytokine receptor binding (KEGG ID: tup04060) and cell adhesion (KEGG ID: tup04514). The downregulated mRNAs were significantly enriched in the corneal epithelial cell adhesion function. Fifty-eight initially upregulated mRNAs gradually decreased in expression, and these mRNAs were significantly enriched in the functions lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and antibacterial polypeptide recognition, cell differentiation, and cell rearrangement. Zeta chain of T-cell receptor associated protein kinase 70 (ZAP70), lymphocyte cytosolic protein 2 (LCP2), C-C motif chemokine and its receptor showed high degrees of connectivity in the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. We speculate that the decrease in symptoms of tree shrew fungal keratitis may be related to the upregulation of genes involved in immune regulation and macrophage colony stimulation. This study showed that the C-C motif chemokine and its receptor may play a key role in regulating tree shrew fungal keratitis, providing a theoretical basis for studying the pathogenesis of human fungal keratitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Jia
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming, China; Yunnan Innovation Team of Standardization and Application Research in Tree Shrew, Kunming, China
| | - WenGuang Wang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming, China; Yunnan Innovation Team of Standardization and Application Research in Tree Shrew, Kunming, China
| | - DeXuan Kuang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming, China; Yunnan Innovation Team of Standardization and Application Research in Tree Shrew, Kunming, China
| | - CaiXia Lu
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming, China; Yunnan Innovation Team of Standardization and Application Research in Tree Shrew, Kunming, China
| | - Na Li
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming, China; Yunnan Innovation Team of Standardization and Application Research in Tree Shrew, Kunming, China
| | - PinFen Tong
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming, China; Yunnan Innovation Team of Standardization and Application Research in Tree Shrew, Kunming, China
| | - YuanYuan Han
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming, China; Yunnan Innovation Team of Standardization and Application Research in Tree Shrew, Kunming, China
| | - XiaoMei Sun
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming, China; Yunnan Innovation Team of Standardization and Application Research in Tree Shrew, Kunming, China
| | - JieJie Dai
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming, China; Yunnan Innovation Team of Standardization and Application Research in Tree Shrew, Kunming, China.
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8
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Kang X, Elson C, Penfield J, Kirui A, Chen A, Zhang L, Wang T. Integrated solid-state NMR and molecular dynamics modeling determines membrane insertion of human β-defensin analog. Commun Biol 2019; 2:402. [PMID: 31701030 PMCID: PMC6825183 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0653-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human β-defensins (hBD) play central roles in antimicrobial activities against various microorganisms and in immune-regulation. These peptides perturb phospholipid membranes for function, but it is not well understood how defensins approach, insert and finally disrupt membranes on the molecular level. Here we show that hBD-3 analogs interact with lipid bilayers through a conserved surface that is formed by two adjacent loops in the solution structure. By integrating a collection of 13C, 1H and 31P solid-state NMR methods with long-term molecular dynamic simulations, we reveal that membrane-binding rigidifies the peptide, enhances structural polymorphism, and promotes β-strand conformation. The peptide colocalizes with negatively charged lipids, confines the headgroup motion, and deforms membrane into smaller, ellipsoidal vesicles. This study designates the residue-specific, membrane-bound topology of hBD-3 analogs, serves as the basis for further elucidating the function-relevant structure and dynamics of other defensins, and facilitates the development of defensin-mimetic antibiotics, antifungals, and anti-inflammatories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Kang
- Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
| | - Christopher Elson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 38505 USA
| | - Jackson Penfield
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 38505 USA
| | - Alex Kirui
- Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
| | - Adrian Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
| | - Liqun Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 38505 USA
| | - Tuo Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
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9
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Rodriguez A, Pedersen MØ, Villegas E, Rivas‐Santiago B, Villegas‐Moreno J, Amero C, Norton RS, Corzo G. Antimicrobial activity and structure of a consensus human β‐defensin and its comparison to a novel putative hBD10. Proteins 2019; 88:175-186. [DOI: 10.1002/prot.25785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Rodriguez
- Centro de Investigación en BiotecnologíaUniversidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos Cuernavaca Mexico
| | | | - Elba Villegas
- Centro de Investigación en BiotecnologíaUniversidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos Cuernavaca Mexico
| | - Bruno Rivas‐Santiago
- Medical Research Unit‐ZacatecasMexican Institute of Social Security IMSS Zacatecas Mexico
| | - Jessica Villegas‐Moreno
- Centro de Investigaciones QuímicasUniversidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos Cuernavaca Mexico
| | - Carlos Amero
- Centro de Investigaciones QuímicasUniversidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos Cuernavaca Mexico
| | - Raymond S. Norton
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical SciencesMonash University Parkville Victoria Australia
| | - Gerardo Corzo
- Instituto de BiotecnologíaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México Cuernavaca Mexico
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10
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Fast NMR method to probe solvent accessibility and disordered regions in proteins. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1647. [PMID: 30733478 PMCID: PMC6367444 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37599-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding protein structure and dynamics, which govern key cellular processes, is crucial for basic and applied research. Intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) regions display multifunctionality via alternative transient conformations, being key players in disease mechanisms. IDP regions are abundant, namely in small viruses, allowing a large number of functions out of a small proteome. The relation between protein function and structure is thus now seen from a different perspective: as IDP regions enable transient structural arrangements, each conformer can play different roles within the cell. However, as IDP regions are hard and time-consuming to study via classical techniques (optimized for globular proteins with unique conformations), new methods are required. Here, employing the dengue virus (DENV) capsid (C) protein and the immunoglobulin-binding domain of streptococcal protein G, we describe a straightforward NMR method to differentiate the solvent accessibility of single amino acid N-H groups in structured and IDP regions. We also gain insights into DENV C flexible fold region biological activity. The method, based on minimal pH changes, uses the well-established 1H-15N HSQC pulse sequence and is easily implementable in current protein NMR routines. The data generated are simple to interpret, with this rapid approach being an useful first-choice IDPs characterization method.
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11
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Machado LESF, De Paula VS, Pustovalova Y, Bezsonova I, Valente AP, Korzhnev DM, Almeida FCL. Conformational Dynamics of a Cysteine-Stabilized Plant Defensin Reveals an Evolutionary Mechanism to Expose Hydrophobic Residues. Biochemistry 2018; 57:5797-5806. [PMID: 30207151 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Sugar cane defensin 5 (Sd5) is a small antifungal protein, whose structure is held together by four conserved disulfide bridges. Sd5 and other proteins sharing a cysteine-stabilized α-β (CSαβ) fold lack a regular hydrophobic core. Instead, they are stabilized by tertiary contacts formed by surface-exposed hydrophilic and hydrophobic residues. Despite excessive cross-links, Sd5 exhibits complex millisecond conformational dynamics involving all secondary structure elements. We used Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) NMR relaxation dispersion (RD) measurements performed at different temperatures and denaturant concentrations to probe brief excursions of Sd5 to a sparsely populated "excited" state. Temperature-dependent CPMG RD experiments reveal that the excited state is enthalpically unfavorable, suggesting a rearrangement of stabilizing contacts formed by surface-exposed side chains and/or secondary structure, while the experiments performed at different denaturant concentrations suggest a decrease in accessible surface area of Sd5 in the excited state. The measured backbone 15N chemical shift changes point to a global conformational rearrangement such as a potential α- to β-transition of the Sd5 α-helix or other major secondary structure reorganization and concomitant conformational changes in other parts of the protein. Overall, the emerging picture of Sd5 dynamics suggests this protein can populate two alternative well-ordered conformational states, with the excited conformer being more compact than the native state and having a distinct secondary structure and side-chain arrangements. The observation of an energetically unfavorable yet more compact excited state reveals a remarkable evolution of the CSαβ fold to expose and reorganize hydrophobic residues, which enables the creation of versatile binding sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana E S F Machado
- Centro Nacional de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear de Macromoléculas, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica e Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO) , Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro 21941-902 , Brazil
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics , University of Connecticut Health Center , Farmington , Connecticut 06030 , United States
| | - Viviane S De Paula
- Centro Nacional de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear de Macromoléculas, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica e Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO) , Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro 21941-902 , Brazil
| | - Yulia Pustovalova
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics , University of Connecticut Health Center , Farmington , Connecticut 06030 , United States
| | - Irina Bezsonova
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics , University of Connecticut Health Center , Farmington , Connecticut 06030 , United States
| | - Ana Paula Valente
- Centro Nacional de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear de Macromoléculas, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica e Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO) , Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro 21941-902 , Brazil
| | - Dmitry M Korzhnev
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics , University of Connecticut Health Center , Farmington , Connecticut 06030 , United States
| | - Fabio C L Almeida
- Centro Nacional de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear de Macromoléculas, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica e Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO) , Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro 21941-902 , Brazil
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12
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de Paula VS, Valente AP. A Dynamic Overview of Antimicrobial Peptides and Their Complexes. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23082040. [PMID: 30111717 PMCID: PMC6222744 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23082040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 08/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In this narrative review, we comprehensively review the available information about the recognition, structure, and dynamics of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Their complex behaviors occur across a wide range of time scales and have been challenging to portray. Recent advances in nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular dynamics simulations have revealed the importance of the molecular plasticity of AMPs and their abilities to recognize targets. We also highlight experimental data obtained using nuclear magnetic resonance methodologies, showing that conformational selection is a major mechanism of target interaction in AMP families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviane Silva de Paula
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA.
| | - Ana Paula Valente
- Centro de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Centro Nacional de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear Jiri Jonas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil.
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13
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Fruitwala S, El-Naccache DW, Chang TL. Multifaceted immune functions of human defensins and underlying mechanisms. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2018; 88:163-172. [PMID: 29501617 PMCID: PMC6485945 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2018.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Defensins have been long recognized as natural antimicrobial peptides, but they also possess diverse and versatile immune functions. Defensins can both induce inflammation and suppress inflammatory responses by acting on specific cells through distinct mechanisms. Defensins can also modulate the immune response by forming a complex with cellular molecules including proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. The mechanisms of defensin-mediated immune modulation appear to be cell-type and context specific. Because the levels of human defensins are often altered in response to infection or disease states, suggesting their clinical relevance, this review summarizes the complex immune functions of human defensins and their underlying mechanisms of action, which have implications for the development of new therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saahil Fruitwala
- Public Health Research Institute, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Darine W El-Naccache
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA; Public Health Research Institute, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Theresa L Chang
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA; Public Health Research Institute, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
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14
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Li R, Zhang H, Liu H, Lin C, Cao Y, Zhang W, Shen Z, Xu J. High expression of C-C chemokine receptor 2 associates with poor overall survival in gastric cancer patients after surgical resection. Oncotarget 2018; 7:23909-18. [PMID: 26992207 PMCID: PMC5029673 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Being a critical chemokine receptor in chemoattracting myeloid cells into tumor tissues, C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) has been detected in many malignant tumors. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of CCR2 expression in patients with gastric cancer after surgery. RESULTS CCR2 expression was detected in the accessory cells around gastric cancer cells in a diffused manner. CCR2 high expression was correlated with tumor invasion depth (P=0.006 and P=0.004, respectively), lymph node metastasis (P=0.038 and P=0.011, respectively) and TNM stage (P=0.003 and P=0.001, respectively) in the two independent sets. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identifies CCR2 high expression was an independent poor prognostic factor for OS of patients with gastric cancer in the two sets (P=0.013 and P=0.006, respectively). Integration of CCR2 expression and TNM stage could provide additional prognostic value for OS than TNM stage alone in the two sets (P=0.038 and P=0.002, respectively). METHODS Two independent sets comprising a total of 474 patients who received standard gastrectomy were enrolled in the study. The expression level of CCR2 was detected by immunohistochemistry. The correlations between CCR2 expression and clinicopathological factors were explored, and the prognostic significance for overall survival (OS) was determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis. CONCLUSIONS CCR2 high expression in the tumor microenvironment is a novel independent unfavorable prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancer. Combination of CCR2 expression and TNM stage could provide a better prognostic model for OS of gastric cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruochen Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Heng Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifan Cao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weijuan Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenbin Shen
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiejie Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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15
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Yang M, Zhang C, Zhang MZ, Zhang S. Novel synthetic analogues of avian β-defensin-12: the role of charge, hydrophobicity, and disulfide bridges in biological functions. BMC Microbiol 2017; 17:43. [PMID: 28231771 PMCID: PMC5324278 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-017-0959-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Avian β-defensins (AvBD) possess broad-spectrum antimicrobial, LPS neutralizing and chemotactic properties. AvBD-12 is a chemoattractant for avian immune cells and mammalian dendritic cells (JAWSII) — a unique feature that is relevant to the applications of AvBDs as chemotherapeutic agents in mammalian hosts. To identify the structural components essential to various biological functions, we have designed and evaluated seven AvBD analogues. Results In the first group of analogues, the three conserved disulfide bridges were eliminated by replacing cysteines with alanine and serine residues, peptide hydrophobicity and charge were increased by changing negatively charged amino acid residues to hydrophobic (AvBD-12A1) or positively charged residues (AvBD-12A2 and AvBD-12A3). All three analogues in this group showed improved antimicrobial activity, though AvBD-12A3, with a net positive charge of +9, hydrophobicity of 40% and a predicted CCR2 binding domain, was the most potent antimicrobial peptide. AvBD-12A3 also retained more than 50% of wild type chemotactic activity. In the second group of analogues (AvBD-12A4 to AvBD-12A6), one to three disulfide bridges were removed via substitution of cysteines with isosteric amino acids. Their antimicrobial activity was compromised and chemotactic activity abolished. The third type of analogue was a hybrid that had the backbone of AvBD-12 and positively charged amino acid residues AvBD-6. The antimicrobial and chemotactic activities of the hybrid resembled that of AvBD-6 and AvBD-12, respectively. Conclusions While the net positive charge and charge distribution have a dominating effect on the antimicrobial potency of AvBDs, the three conserved disulfide bridges are essential to the chemotactic property and the maximum antimicrobial activity. Analogue AvBD-12A3 with a high net positive charge, a moderate degree of hydrophobicity and a CCR2-binding domain can serve as a template for the design of novel antimicrobial peptides with chemotactic property and salt resistance. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-017-0959-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yang
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Chunye Zhang
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Michael Z Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.,Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Shuping Zhang
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA. .,Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
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16
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Fredriksson J, de Paula VS, Valente AP, Almeida FCL, Billeter M. DIADECOMP: A new approach to analyze decompositions from projection spectroscopy. JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE (SAN DIEGO, CALIF. : 1997) 2016; 273:1-8. [PMID: 27718459 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmr.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Revised: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/01/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate for the first time a complete small protein characterization with the projection-decomposition approach, including full assignments as well as determination of the 3D fold. In TOCSY- and NOESY-type 4D experiments, pairing of signals from hydrogens and from their respective heavy atoms in decompositions represents a new problem. An approach, referred to as "DIADECOMP" (diagonal decomposition), is introduced to solve this problem; it consists of two separate decompositions of the input projections, differing in a 45° rotation of the spectral axes. While DIADECOMP requires a somewhat complex formulation, in practice it results in observing signals in the rotated decompositions that correspond to sums or differences of frequencies. When applied to a small protein, human defensin β6, the analysis of a HCC(CO)NH-TOCSY with DIADECOMP results in largely unambiguous assignments of the aliphatic side chain groups. Furthermore, DIADECOMP applied to a 15N-HSQC-NOESY-15N-HSQC provides all expected short distances between amide groups (defined as all HN-HN distances <3.5Å in a reference structure). It is worth noting that short HN-HN distances unambiguously define α-helices, the alignment of β-strands in sheets, as well as the presence of β-bulges. This approach of using a minimal amount of NMR data, namely four projection experiments recorded in ∼2.5days, resulted for the human defensin β6 in complete assignments and a backbone fold with a RMSD of the non-flexible structure of 0.6Å. Uniqueness of decompositions specifically from TOCSY- and NOESY-type 4D experiments is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Fredriksson
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Viviane S de Paula
- Campus Xerem, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Duque de Caxias, Brazil; Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Valente
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, National Center of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Jiri Jonas, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Fabio C L Almeida
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, National Center of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Jiri Jonas, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Center for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Martin Billeter
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
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17
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Nix MA, Kaelin CB, Palomino R, Miller JL, Barsh GS, Millhauser GL. Electrostatic Similarity Analysis of Human β-Defensin Binding in the Melanocortin System. Biophys J 2016; 109:1946-58. [PMID: 26536271 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2015.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2015] [Revised: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The β-defensins are a class of small cationic proteins that serve as components of numerous systems in vertebrate biology, including the immune and melanocortin systems. Human β-defensin 3 (HBD3), which is produced in the skin, has been found to bind to melanocortin receptors 1 and 4 through complementary electrostatics, a unique mechanism of ligand-receptor interaction. This finding indicates that electrostatics alone, and not specific amino acid contact points, could be sufficient for function in this ligand-receptor system, and further suggests that other small peptide ligands could interact with these receptors in a similar fashion. Here, we conducted molecular-similarity analyses and functional studies of additional members of the human β-defensin family, examining their potential as ligands of melanocortin-1 receptor, through selection based on their electrostatic similarity to HBD3. Using Poisson-Boltzmann electrostatic calculations and molecular-similarity analysis, we identified members of the human β-defensin family that are both similar and dissimilar to HBD3 in terms of electrostatic potential. Synthesis and functional testing of a subset of these β-defensins showed that peptides with an HBD3-like electrostatic character bound to melanocortin receptors with high affinity, whereas those that were anticorrelated to HBD3 showed no binding affinity. These findings expand on the central role of electrostatics in the control of this ligand-receptor system and further demonstrate the utility of employing molecular-similarity analysis. Additionally, we identified several new potential ligands of melanocortin-1 receptor, which may have implications for our understanding of the role defensins play in melanocortin physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Nix
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California
| | - Christopher B Kaelin
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Rafael Palomino
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California
| | - Jillian L Miller
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California
| | - Gregory S Barsh
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
| | - Glenn L Millhauser
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California.
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Use of Resonance Energy Transfer Techniques for In Vivo Detection of Chemokine Receptor Oligomerization. Methods Mol Biol 2016; 1407:341-59. [PMID: 27271913 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3480-5_24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Since the first reports on chemokine function, much information has been generated on the implications of these molecules in numerous physiological and pathological processes, as well as on the signaling events activated through their binding to receptors. As is the case for other G protein-coupled receptors, chemokine receptors are not isolated entities that are activated following ligand binding; rather, they are found as dimers and/or higher order oligomers at the cell surface, even in the absence of ligands. These complexes form platforms that can be modified by receptor expression and ligand levels, indicating that they are dynamic structures. The analysis of the conformations adopted by these receptors at the membrane and their dynamics is thus crucial for a complete understanding of the function of the chemokines. We focus here on the methodology insights of new techniques, such as those based on resonance energy transfer for the analysis of chemokine receptor conformations in living cells.
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19
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Breast Cancer-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Characterization and Contribution to the Metastatic Phenotype. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:634865. [PMID: 26601108 PMCID: PMC4639645 DOI: 10.1155/2015/634865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2015] [Revised: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The study of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cancer progression is a complex and rapidly evolving field. Whole categories of cellular interactions in cancer which were originally presumed to be due solely to soluble secreted molecules have now evolved to include membrane-enclosed extracellular vesicles (EVs), which include both exosomes and shed microvesicles (MVs), and can contain many of the same molecules as those secreted in soluble form but many different molecules as well. EVs released by cancer cells can transfer mRNA, miRNA, and proteins to different recipient cells within the tumor microenvironment, in both an autocrine and paracrine manner, causing a significant impact on signaling pathways, mRNA transcription, and protein expression. The transfer of EVs to target cells, in turn, supports cancer growth, immunosuppression, and metastasis formation. This review focuses exclusively on breast cancer EVs with an emphasis on breast cancer-derived exosomes, keeping in mind that breast cancer-derived EVs share some common physical properties with EVs of other cancers.
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20
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Lee AY, Phan TK, Hulett MD, Körner H. The relationship between CCR6 and its binding partners: Does the CCR6–CCL20 axis have to be extended? Cytokine 2015; 72:97-101. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2014.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2014] [Revised: 11/26/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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21
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De Paula VS, Pomin VH, Valente AP. Unique properties of human β-defensin 6 (hBD6) and glycosaminoglycan complex: sandwich-like dimerization and competition with the chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) binding site. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:22969-22979. [PMID: 24970887 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.572529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Defensins are components of the innate immune system that promote the directional migration and activation of dendritic cells, thereby modulating the adaptive immune response. Because matrix glycosaminoglycan (GAG) is known to be important for these functions, we characterized the structural features of human β-defensin 6 (hBD6) and GAG interaction using a combination of structural and in silico analyses. Our results showed that GAG model compounds, a pentasaccharide (fondaparinux, FX) and an octasaccharide heparin derivative (dp8) bind to the α-helix and in the loops between the β2 and β3 strands, inducing the formation of a ternary complex with a 2:1 hBD6:FX stoichiometry. Competition experiments indicated an overlap of GAG and chemokine receptor CCR2 binding sites. An NMR-derived model of the ternary complex revealed that FX interacts with hBD6 along the dimerization interface, primarily contacting the α-helices and β2-β3 loops from each monomer. We further demonstrated that high-pressure NMR spectroscopy could capture an intermediate stage of hBD6-FX interaction, exhibiting features of a cooperative binding mechanism. Collectively, these data suggest a "sandwich-like" model in which two hBD6 molecules bind a single FX chain and provide novel structural insights into how defensin orchestrates leukocyte recruitment through GAG binding and G protein-coupled receptor activation. Despite the similarity to chemokines and hBD2, our data indicate different properties for the hBD6-GAG complex. This work adds significant information to the currently limited data available for the molecular structures and dynamics of defensin carbohydrate binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviane S De Paula
- Centro Nacional de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear de Macromoléculas and Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro RJ 21941-902, Brazil; Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro RJ 21941-902, Brazil.
| | - Vitor H Pomin
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Valente
- Centro Nacional de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear de Macromoléculas and Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro RJ 21941-902, Brazil; Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro RJ 21941-902, Brazil.
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22
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Silva PM, Gonçalves S, Santos NC. Defensins: antifungal lessons from eukaryotes. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:97. [PMID: 24688483 PMCID: PMC3960590 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2013] [Accepted: 02/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last years, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been the focus of intense research toward the finding of a viable alternative to current antifungal drugs. Defensins are one of the major families of AMPs and the most represented among all eukaryotic groups, providing an important first line of host defense against pathogenic microorganisms. Several of these cysteine-stabilized peptides present a relevant effect against fungi. Defensins are the AMPs with the broader distribution across all eukaryotic kingdoms, namely, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia, and were recently shown to have an ancestor in a bacterial organism. As a part of the host defense, defensins act as an important vehicle of information between innate and adaptive immune system and have a role in immunomodulation. This multidimensionality represents a powerful host shield, hard for microorganisms to overcome using single approach resistance strategies. Pathogenic fungi resistance to conventional antimycotic drugs is becoming a major problem. Defensins, as other AMPs, have shown to be an effective alternative to the current antimycotic therapies, demonstrating potential as novel therapeutic agents or drug leads. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on some eukaryotic defensins with antifungal action. An overview of the main targets in the fungal cell and the mechanism of action of these AMPs (namely, the selectivity for some fungal membrane components) are presented. Additionally, recent works on antifungal defensins structure, activity, and cytotoxicity are also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia M Silva
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sónia Gonçalves
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Nuno C Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon, Portugal
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