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Blanchet X, Weber C, von Hundelshausen P. Chemokine Heteromers and Their Impact on Cellular Function-A Conceptual Framework. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10925. [PMID: 37446102 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310925] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemoattractant cytokines or chemokines are proteins involved in numerous biological activities. Their essential role consists of the formation of gradient and (immune) cell recruitment. Chemokine biology and its related signaling system is more complex than simple ligand-receptor interactions. Beside interactions with their cognate and/or atypical chemokine receptors, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), chemokines form complexes with themselves as homo-oligomers, heteromers and also with other soluble effector proteins, including the atypical chemokine MIF, carbohydrate-binding proteins (galectins), damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) or with chemokine-binding proteins such as evasins. Likewise, nucleic acids have been described as binding targets for the tetrameric form of CXCL4. The dynamic balance between monomeric and dimeric structures, as well as interactions with GAGs, modulate the concentrations of free chemokines available along with the nature of the gradient. Dimerization of chemokines changes the canonical monomeric fold into two main dimeric structures, namely CC- and CXC-type dimers. Recent studies highlighted that chemokine dimer formation is a frequent event that could occur under pathophysiological conditions. The structural changes dictated by chemokine dimerization confer additional biological activities, e.g., biased signaling. The present review will provide a short overview of the known functionality of chemokines together with the consequences of the interactions engaged by the chemokines with other proteins. Finally, we will present potential therapeutic tools targeting the chemokine multimeric structures that could modulate their biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Blanchet
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Weber
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, 80636 Munich, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Philipp von Hundelshausen
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, 80636 Munich, Germany
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2
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Zhou AL, Jensen DR, Peterson FC, Thomas MA, Schlimgen RR, Dwinell MB, Smith BC, Volkman BF. Fragment-based drug discovery of small molecule ligands for the human chemokine CCL28. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2023:S2472-5552(23)00019-9. [PMID: 36841432 DOI: 10.1016/j.slasd.2023.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
The mucosal chemokine CCL28 is a promising target for immunotherapy drug development due to its elevated expression level in epithelial cells and critical role in creating and maintaining an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Using sulfotyrosine as a probe, NMR chemical shift mapping identified a potential receptor-binding hotspot on the human CCL28 surface. CCL28 was screened against 2,678 commercially available chemical fragments by 2D NMR, yielding thirteen verified hits. Computational docking predicted that two fragments could occupy adjoining subsites within the sulfotyrosine recognition cleft. Dual NMR titrations confirmed their ability to bind CCL28 simultaneously, thereby validating an initial fragment pair for linking and merging strategies to design high-potency CCL28 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela L Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Davin R Jensen
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Program in Chemical Biology, Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Francis C Peterson
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Program in Chemical Biology, Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Monica A Thomas
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Roman R Schlimgen
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Michael B Dwinell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Center for Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Brian C Smith
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Program in Chemical Biology, Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Brian F Volkman
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Program in Chemical Biology, Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Center for Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
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3
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Azemin WA, Alias N, Ali AM, Shamsir MS. Structural and functional characterisation of HepTH1-5 peptide as a potential hepcidin replacement. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:681-704. [PMID: 34870559 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.2011415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Hepcidin is a principal regulator of iron homeostasis and its dysregulation has been recognised as a causative factor in cancers and iron disorders. The strategy of manipulating the presence of hepcidin peptide has been used for cancer treatment. However, this has demonstrated poor efficiency and has been short-lived in patients. Many studies reported using minihepcidin therapy as an alternative way to treat hepcidin dysregulation, but this was only applied to non-cancer patients. Highly conserved fish hepcidin protein, HepTH1-5, was investigated to determine its potential use in developing a hepcidin replacement for human hepcidin (Hepc25) and as a therapeutic agent by targeting the tumour suppressor protein, p53, through structure-function analysis. The authors found that HepTH1-5 is stably bound to ferroportin, compared to Hepc25, by triggering the ferroportin internalisation via Lys42 and Lys270 ubiquitination, in a similar manner to the Hepc25 activity. Moreover, the residues Ile24 and Gly24, along with copper and zinc ligands, interacted with similar residues, Lys24 and Asp1 of Hepc25, respectively, showing that those molecules are crucial to the hepcidin replacement strategy. HepTH1-5 interacts with p53 and activates its function through phosphorylation. This finding shows that HepTH1-5 might be involved in the apoptosis signalling pathway upon a DNA damage response. This study will be very helpful for understanding the mechanism of the hepcidin replacement and providing insights into the HepTH1-5 peptide as a new target for hepcidin and cancer therapeutics.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Atirah Azemin
- School of Agriculture Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia.,Bioinformatics Research Group (BIRG), Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Nadiawati Alias
- School of Agriculture Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Abdul Manaf Ali
- School of Agriculture Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Shahir Shamsir
- Bioinformatics Research Group (BIRG), Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia.,Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Pagoh Higher Education Hub, Muar, Johor, Malaysia
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4
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Qiao D, Zhao Y, Pei C, Zhao X, Jiang X, Zhu L, Zhang J, Li L, Kong X. Genome-wide identification, evolutionary analysis, and antimicrobial activity prediction of CC chemokines in allotetraploid common carp, Cyprinus carpio. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 130:114-131. [PMID: 36084887 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2022.09.002] [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: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Chemokines are a group of secreted small molecules which are essential for cell migration in physiological and pathological conditions by binding to specific chemokine receptors. They are structurally classified into five groups, namely CXC, CC, CX3C, XC and CX. CC chemokine group is the largest one among them. In this study, we identified and characterized 61 CC chemokines from allotetraploid common carp (Cyprinus carpio). The sequence analyses showed that the majority of CC chemokines had an N-terminal signal peptide, and an SCY domain, and all CC chemokines were located in the extracellular region. Phylogenetic, evolutionary and syntenic analyses confirmed that CC chemokines were annotated as 11 different types (CCL19, CCL20, CCL25, CCL27, CCL32, CCL33, CCL34, CCL35, CCL36, CCL39, and CCL44), which exhibited unique gene arrangement pattern and chromosomal location respectively. Furthermore, genome synteny analyses between common carp and four representative teleost species indicated expansion of common carp CC chemokines resulted from the whole genome duplication (WGD) event. Additionally, the continuous evolution of gene CCL25s in teleost afforded a novel viewpoint to explain the WGD event in teleost. Then, we predicted the three-dimensional structures and probable function regions of common carp CC chemokines. All the CC chemokines core structures were constituted of an N-loop, a three-stranded β-sheet, and a C-terminal helix. Finally, 43 CC chemokines were predicted to have probable general antimicrobial activity. Their tertiary structures, cationic and amphiphilic physicochemical property supported the viewpoint. To verify the prediction, six recombinant CCL19s proteins were prepared and the antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Aeromonas hydrophila were verified. The results supported our prediction that rCCL19a.1s (rCCL19a.1_a, rCCL19a.1_b) and rCCL19bs (rCCL19b_a, rCCL19b_b), especially rCCL19bs, exhibited extremely significant inhibition to the growth of both E. coli and A. hydrophila. On the contrary, two rCCL19a.2s had no significant inhibitory effect. These studies suggested that CC chemokines were essential in immune system evolution and not monofunctional during pathogen infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Qiao
- Engineering Lab of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Disease Control, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Henan province, PR China
| | - Yanjing Zhao
- Engineering Lab of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Disease Control, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Henan province, PR China
| | - Chao Pei
- Engineering Lab of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Disease Control, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Henan province, PR China
| | - Xianliang Zhao
- Engineering Lab of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Disease Control, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Henan province, PR China
| | - Xinyu Jiang
- Engineering Lab of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Disease Control, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Henan province, PR China
| | - Lei Zhu
- Engineering Lab of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Disease Control, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Henan province, PR China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Engineering Lab of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Disease Control, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Henan province, PR China
| | - Li Li
- Engineering Lab of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Disease Control, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Henan province, PR China
| | - Xianghui Kong
- Engineering Lab of Henan Province for Aquatic Animal Disease Control, College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Henan province, PR China.
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Berg C, Wedemeyer MJ, Melynis M, Schlimgen RR, Hansen LH, Våbenø J, Peterson FC, Volkman BF, Rosenkilde MM, Lüttichau HR. The non-ELR CXC chemokine encoded by human cytomegalovirus UL146 genotype 5 contains a C-terminal β-hairpin and induces neutrophil migration as a selective CXCR2 agonist. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010355. [PMID: 35271688 PMCID: PMC8939814 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a major pathogen in immunocompromised patients. The UL146 gene exists as 14 diverse genotypes among clinical isolates, which encode 14 different CXC chemokines. One genotype (vCXCL1GT1) is a known agonist for CXCR1 and CXCR2, while two others (vCXCL1GT5 and vCXCL1GT6) lack the ELR motif considered crucial for CXCR1 and CXCR2 binding, thus suggesting another receptor targeting profile. To determine the receptor target for vCXCL1GT5, the chemokine was probed in a G protein signaling assay on all 18 classical human chemokine receptors, where CXCR2 was the only receptor being activated. In addition, vCXCL1GT5 recruited β-arrestin in a BRET-based assay and induced migration in a chemotaxis assay through CXCR2, but not CXCR1. In contrast, vCXCL1GT1 stimulated G protein signaling, recruited β-arrestin and induced migration through both CXCR1 and CXCR2. Both vCXCL1GT1 and vCXCL1GT5 induced equally potent and efficacious migration of neutrophils, and ELR vCXCL1GT4 and non-ELR vCXCL1GT6 activated only CXCR2. In contrast to most human chemokines, the 14 UL146 genotypes have remarkably long C-termini. Comparative modeling using Rosetta showed that each genotype could adopt the classic chemokine core structure, and predicted that the extended C-terminal tail of several genotypes (including vCXCL1GT1, vCXCL1GT4, vCXCL1GT5, and vCXCL1GT6) forms a novel β-hairpin not found in human chemokines. Secondary NMR shift and TALOS+ analysis of vCXCL1GT1 supported the existence of two stable β-strands. C-terminal deletion of vCXCL1GT1 resulted in a non-functional protein and in a shift to solvent exposure for tryptophan residues likely due to destabilization of the chemokine fold. The results demonstrate that non-ELR chemokines can activate CXCR2 and suggest that the UL146 chemokines have unique C-terminal structures that stabilize the chemokine fold. Increased knowledge of the structure and interaction partners of the chemokine variants encoded by UL146 is key to understanding why circulating HCMV strains sustain 14 stable genotypes. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a prevalent herpesvirus infecting an estimated 60% of the human population worldwide. It is commonly transmitted during early childhood and leads to life-long latency, where viral reactivation can cause severe complications in case of host immune suppression. Furthermore, HCMV is the leading cause of congenital infections. Circulating HCMV strains exhibit great genetic diversity unusual for DNA viruses. One of its most diverse genes is UL146, which encodes a chemokine that facilitates viral dissemination by exploiting the human immune system through mimicry of key immunity components. In this study, we investigate how the diversity of UL146 affects its signaling and structural properties to understand why its genetic diversity is maintained across human populations. We find that certain genotypes that lack key structural domains present in the human homologs nonetheless exert similar functions in the virus-host relationship. Furthermore, many of the UL146 genotypes contain novel structural elements critical for correct protein folding and with the potential to provide HCMV with additional immune modulatory and evasive features. Together, our data highlight a considerable degree of host-adaptation by HCMV and propose novel structural interactions with implications for the virus-host interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Berg
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Unit for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Herlev-Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Michael J. Wedemeyer
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Motiejus Melynis
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Roman R. Schlimgen
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Lasse H. Hansen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Jon Våbenø
- Helgeland Hospital Trust, Sandnessjøen, Norway
| | - Francis C. Peterson
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Brian F. Volkman
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Mette M. Rosenkilde
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- * E-mail: (MMR); (HRL)
| | - Hans R. Lüttichau
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Unit for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Herlev-Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
- * E-mail: (MMR); (HRL)
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6
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McKenna S, Giblin SP, Bunn RA, Xu Y, Matthews SJ, Pease JE. A highly efficient method for the production and purification of recombinant human CXCL8. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258270. [PMID: 34653205 PMCID: PMC8519433 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokines play diverse and fundamental roles in the immune system and human disease, which has prompted their structural and functional characterisation. Production of recombinant chemokines that are folded and bioactive is vital to their study but is limited by the stringent requirements of a native N-terminus for receptor activation and correct disulphide bonding required to stabilise the chemokine fold. Even when expressed as fusion proteins, overexpression of chemokines in E. coli tends to result in the formation of inclusion bodies, generating the additional steps of solubilisation and refolding. Here we present a novel method for producing soluble chemokines in relatively large amounts via a simple two-step purification procedure with no requirements for refolding. CXCL8 produced by this method has the correct chemokine fold as determined by NMR spectroscopy and in chemotaxis assays was indistinguishable from commercially available chemokines. We believe that this protocol significantly streamlines the generation of recombinant chemokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie McKenna
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sean Patrick Giblin
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rosemarie Anne Bunn
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yingqi Xu
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - James Edward Pease
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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7
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Dishman AF, He J, Volkman BF, Huppler AR. Metamorphic Protein Folding Encodes Multiple Anti- Candida Mechanisms in XCL1. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10060762. [PMID: 34204234 PMCID: PMC8235156 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida species cause serious infections requiring prolonged and sometimes toxic therapy. Antimicrobial proteins, such as chemokines, hold great interest as potential additions to the small number of available antifungal drugs. Metamorphic proteins reversibly switch between multiple different folded structures. XCL1 is a metamorphic, antimicrobial chemokine that interconverts between the conserved chemokine fold (an α–β monomer) and an alternate fold (an all-β dimer). Previous work has shown that human XCL1 kills C. albicans but has not assessed whether one or both XCL1 folds perform this activity. Here, we use structurally locked engineered XCL1 variants and Candida killing assays, adenylate kinase release assays, and propidium iodide uptake assays to demonstrate that both XCL1 folds kill Candida, but they do so via different mechanisms. Our results suggest that the alternate fold kills via membrane disruption, consistent with previous work, and the chemokine fold does not. XCL1 fold-switching thus provides a mechanism to regulate the XCL1 mode of antifungal killing, which could protect surrounding tissue from damage associated with fungal membrane disruption and could allow XCL1 to overcome candidal resistance by switching folds. This work provides inspiration for the future design of switchable, multifunctional antifungal therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Acacia F. Dishman
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Jie He
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
| | - Brian F. Volkman
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
- Correspondence: (B.F.V.); (A.R.H.)
| | - Anna R. Huppler
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
- Correspondence: (B.F.V.); (A.R.H.)
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Zhang X, Ni Y, Guo K, Dong Z, Chen Y, Zhu H, Xia Q, Zhao P. The mutation of SPI51, a protease inhibitor of silkworm, resulted in the change of antifungal activity during domestication. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 178:63-70. [PMID: 33609582 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.02.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Domestication of silkworm has led to alterations in various gene expression patterns. For instance, many protease inhibitors were significantly downregulated in the domestic silkworm cocoon compared to its wild progenitor. Considering that SPI51 is the most abundant protease inhibitor in silkworm cocoons, herein, we compared the gene structures and sequences of SPI51 from B. mori (BmoSPI51) and B. mandarina (BmaSPI51). Comparing to the "RGGFR" active site in BmaSPI51, that of BmoPI51 is "KGSFP" and the C-terminal "YNTCECSCP" tail sequence is lost in the latter. To investigate the effect elicited by the active site and tail sequences on the function of SPI51, we expressed two mutated forms of BmoSPI51, namely, BmoSPI51 + tail and BmoSPI51M. BmoSPI51, BmoSPI51 + tail and BmoSPI51M were compared and found to have similar levels of inhibitory activity against trypsin. However, the BmoSPI51 + tail and BmoSPI51M proteins exhibited significantly stronger capacities to inhibit fungi growth, compared to BmoSPI51. We concluded that the specific amino acid sequence of the active site, as well as its the disulfide bond formed by C-terminal sequence in the BmaSPI51, represent the key factors responsible for its higher antifungal activity. This study provided new insights into the antifungal mechanisms elicited by protease inhibitors in the cocoons of silkworms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Biological Science Research Center Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Yuhui Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Kaiyu Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Biological Science Research Center Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Zhaoming Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Biological Science Research Center Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Yuqing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Hongtao Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Biological Science Research Center Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Biological Science Research Center Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Ping Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Biological Science Research Center Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.
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9
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Chaves AFA, Xander P, Romera LMD, Fonseca FLA, Batista WL. What is the elephant in the room when considering new therapies for fungal diseases? Crit Rev Microbiol 2021; 47:275-289. [PMID: 33513315 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2021.1876632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The global scenario of antimicrobial resistance is alarming, and the development of new drugs has not appeared to make substantial progress. The constraints on drug discovery are due to difficulties in finding new targets for therapy, the high cost of development, and the mismatch between the time of drug introduction in a clinic and microorganism adaptation to a drug. Policies to address neglected diseases miss the broad spectrum of mycosis. Society is not aware of the actual threat represented by fungi to human health, food security, and biodiversity. The evidence discussed here is critical for warning governments to establish effective surveillance policies for fungi.HIGHLIGHTSFungal diseases are ignored even among neglected disease classifications.There are few options to treat mycoses, which is an increasing concern regarding fungal resistance to drugs, as evidenced by the spread of Candida auris.Fungal diseases represent a real threat to human health and food security.Investment in research to investigate the potential of repurposing drugs already in use could obtain results in the short term.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patricia Xander
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Wagner Luiz Batista
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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10
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Chemokine CCL28 Is a Potent Therapeutic Agent for Oropharyngeal Candidiasis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.00210-20. [PMID: 32423961 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00210-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is a commensal organism that causes life-threatening or life-altering opportunistic infections. Treatment of Candida infections is limited by the paucity of antifungal drug classes. Naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides are promising agents for drug development. CCL28 is a CC chemokine that is abundant in saliva and has in vitro antimicrobial activity. In this study, we examine the in vivo Candida killing capacity of CCL28 in oropharyngeal candidiasis as well as the spectrum and mechanism of anti-Candida activity. In the mouse model of oropharyngeal candidiasis, application of wild-type CCL28 reduces oral fungal burden in severely immunodeficient mice without causing excessive inflammation or altering tissue neutrophil recruitment. CCL28 is effective against multiple clinical strains of C. albicans Polyamine protein transporters are not required for CCL28 anti-Candida activity. Both structured and unstructured CCL28 proteins show rapid and sustained fungicidal activity that is superior to that of clinical antifungal agents. Application of wild-type CCL28 to C. albicans results in membrane disruption as measured by solute movement, enzyme leakage, and induction of negative Gaussian curvature on model membranes. Membrane disruption is reduced in CCL28 lacking the functional C-terminal tail. Our results strongly suggest that CCL28 can exert antifungal activity in part via membrane permeation and has potential for development as an anti-Candida therapeutic agent without inflammatory side effects.
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Dishman AF, Lee MW, de Anda J, Lee EY, He J, Huppler AR, Wong GCL, Volkman BF. Switchable Membrane Remodeling and Antifungal Defense by Metamorphic Chemokine XCL1. ACS Infect Dis 2020; 6:1204-1213. [PMID: 32243126 PMCID: PMC7258946 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
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Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are
a class of molecules which generally
kill pathogens via preferential cell membrane disruption. Chemokines
are a family of signaling proteins that direct immune cell migration
and share a conserved α–β tertiary structure. Recently,
it was found that a subset of chemokines can also function as AMPs,
including CCL20, CXCL4, and XCL1. It is therefore surprising that
machine learning based analysis predicts that CCL20 and CXCL4’s
α-helices are membrane disruptive, while XCL1’s helix
is not. XCL1, however, is the only chemokine known to be a metamorphic
protein which can interconvert reversibly between two distinct native
structures (a β-sheet dimer and the α–β chemokine
structure). Here, we investigate XCL1’s antimicrobial mechanism
of action with a focus on the role of metamorphic folding. We demonstrate
that XCL1 is a molecular “Swiss army knife” that can
refold into different structures for distinct context-dependent functions:
whereas the α–β chemokine structure controls cell
migration by binding to G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs), we find
using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) that only the β-sheet
and unfolded XCL1 structures can induce negative Gaussian curvature
(NGC) in membranes, the type of curvature topologically required for
membrane permeation. Moreover, the membrane remodeling activity of
XCL1’s β-sheet structure is strongly dependent on membrane
composition: XCL1 selectively remodels bacterial model membranes but
not mammalian model membranes. Interestingly, XCL1 also permeates
fungal model membranes and exhibits anti-Candida activity in vitro, in contrast to the usual mode of antifungal defense
which requires Th17 mediated cell-based responses. These observations
suggest that metamorphic XCL1 is capable of a versatile multimodal
form of antimicrobial defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Acacia F. Dishman
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226 United States
| | - Michelle W. Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Jaime de Anda
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Ernest Y. Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- UCLA-Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Jie He
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226 United States
| | - Anna R. Huppler
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226 United States
| | - Gerard C. L. Wong
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Brian F. Volkman
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226 United States
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Moussouras NA, Hjortø GM, Peterson FC, Szpakowska M, Chevigné A, Rosenkilde MM, Volkman BF, Dwinell MB. Structural Features of an Extended C-Terminal Tail Modulate the Function of the Chemokine CCL21. Biochemistry 2020; 59:1338-1350. [PMID: 32182428 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The chemokines CCL21 and CCL19, through binding of their cognate receptor CCR7, orchestrate lymph node homing of dendritic cells and naïve T cells. CCL21 differs from CCL19 via an unstructured 32 residue C-terminal domain. Previously described roles for the CCL21 C-terminus include GAG-binding, spatial localization to lymphatic vessels, and autoinhibitory modulation of CCR7-mediated chemotaxis. While truncation of the C-terminal tail induced chemical shift changes in the folded chemokine domain, the structural basis for its influence on CCL21 function remains largely unexplored. CCL21 concentration-dependent NMR chemical shifts revealed weak, nonphysiological self-association that mimics the truncation of the C-terminal tail. We generated a series of C-terminal truncation variants to dissect the C-terminus influence on CCL21 structure and receptor activation. Using NMR spectroscopy, we found that CCL21 residues 80-90 mediate contacts with the chemokine domain. In cell-based assays for CCR7 and ACKR4 activation, we also found that residues 92-100 reduced CCL21 potency in calcium flux, cAMP inhibition, and β-arrestin recruitment. Taken together, these structure-function studies support a model wherein intramolecular interactions with specific residues of the flexible C-terminus stabilize a less active monomer conformation of the CCL21. We speculate that the autoinhibitory intramolecular contacts between the C-terminal tail and chemokine body are disrupted by GAG binding and/or interactions with the CCR7 receptor to ensure optimal functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha A Moussouras
- From the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
| | - Gertrud M Hjortø
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Francis C Peterson
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
| | - Martyna Szpakowska
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Immuno-Pharmacology and Interactomics, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette L-4354, Luxembourg
| | - Andy Chevigné
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Immuno-Pharmacology and Interactomics, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette L-4354, Luxembourg
| | - Mette M Rosenkilde
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
| | - Brian F Volkman
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
| | - Michael B Dwinell
- From the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, United States
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The blood proteomic signature of early-onset pediatric atopic dermatitis shows systemic inflammation and is distinct from adult long-standing disease. J Am Acad Dermatol 2019; 81:510-519. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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