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Han Z, Migheli Q, Kong Q. Fusion Expression of Peptides with AflR Binuclear Zinc Finger Motif and Their Enhanced Inhibition of Aspergillus flavus: A Study of Engineered Antimicrobial Peptides. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:13360-13370. [PMID: 38830379 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c01259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
This study reports a peptide design model for engineering fusion-expressed antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with the AflR dinuclear zinc finger motif to improve the defense against aflatoxins and Aspergillus flavus. The study identified AflR, a Zn2Cys6-type sequence-specific DNA-binding protein, as a key player in the regulation of aflatoxin biosynthesis. By integrating the AflR motif into AMPs, we demonstrate that these novel fusion peptides significantly lower the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and reduce aflatoxin B1 and B2 levels, outperforming traditional AMPs. Comprehensive analysis, including bioinformatics and structural determination, elucidates the enhanced structure-function relationship underlying their efficacy. Furthermore, the study reveals the possibility that the fusion peptides have the potential to bind to the DNA binding sites of transcriptional regulators, binding DNA sites of key transcriptional regulators, thereby inhibiting genes critical for aflatoxin production. This research not only deepens our understanding of aflatoxin inhibition mechanisms but also presents a promising avenue for developing advanced antifungal agents, which are essential for global food safety and crop protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoyu Han
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Quirico Migheli
- Dipartimento di Agraria and Nucleo di Ricerca sulla Desertificazione, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari 07100, Italy
| | - Qing Kong
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266000, China
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Efremenko E, Aslanli A, Stepanov N, Senko O, Maslova O. Various Biomimetics, Including Peptides as Antifungals. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:513. [PMID: 37999154 PMCID: PMC10669293 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8070513] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomimetics, which are similar to natural compounds that play an important role in the metabolism, manifestation of functional activity and reproduction of various fungi, have a pronounced attraction in the current search for new effective antifungals. Actual trends in the development of this area of research indicate that unnatural amino acids can be used as such biomimetics, including those containing halogen atoms; compounds similar to nitrogenous bases embedded in the nucleic acids synthesized by fungi; peptides imitating fungal analogs; molecules similar to natural substrates of numerous fungal enzymes and quorum-sensing signaling molecules of fungi and yeast, etc. Most parts of this review are devoted to the analysis of semi-synthetic and synthetic antifungal peptides and their targets of action. This review is aimed at combining and systematizing the current scientific information accumulating in this area of research, developing various antifungals with an assessment of the effectiveness of the created biomimetics and the possibility of combining them with other antimicrobial substances to reduce cell resistance and improve antifungal effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Efremenko
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Lenin Hills 1/3, Moscow 119991, Russia
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Sweany RR, Cary JW, Jaynes JM, Rajasekaran K. Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Activity of Synthetic Peptides GV185 and GV187. PLANT DISEASE 2023; 107:3211-3221. [PMID: 36947838 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-11-22-2572-re] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Optimizing synthetic antimicrobial peptides for safe and enhanced activity against fungal and bacterial pathogens is useful for genetic engineering of plants for resistance to plant pathogens and their associated mycotoxins. Nine synthetic peptides modeled after lytic peptides tachyplesin 1, D4E1 from cecropin A, and protegrin 1 were added to germinated spores of fungal species Aspergillus flavus, Rhizopus stolonifer, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum, F. verticillioides, F. graminearum, Claviceps purpurea, Verticillium dahliae, and Thielaviopsis basicola and bacterial cultures of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci and Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris at different doses and inhibitory dose response curves, and were modeled to assess antimicrobial activity. Peptides GV185 and GV187, modified from tachyplesin 1, had superior abilities to inhibit fungal and bacterial growth (50% inhibitory concentrations [IC50] ranging from 0.1 to 8.7 µM). R. stolonifer (IC50 = 8.1 µM), A. flavus (IC50 = 3.1 µM), and F. graminearum (IC50 = 2.2 µM) were less inhibited by GV185 and GV187 than all the remaining fungi (IC50 = 1.4 µM) and bacteria (IC50 = 0.1 µM). Of the remaining peptides, GV193, GV195, and GV196 (IC50 range of 0.9 to 6.6 µM) inhibited fungal growth of A. flavus, F. verticillioides, and F. graminearum less than GV185 and GV187 (IC50 range of 0.8 to 3.9 µM), followed by GV197 (IC50 range of 0.8 to 9.1 µM), whereas GV190 and GV192 inhibited poorly (IC50 range of 28.2 to 36.6 µM and 15.5 to 19.4 µM, respectively) and GV198 stimulated growth. GV185 and GV187 had slightly weaker hydrophobic and cationic residues than other tachyplesin 1 modified peptides but still had unexpectedly high lytic activity. Germinated fungal spores of R. stolonifer and F. graminearum exposed to these two peptides and D4E1 and AGM182 appeared wrinkled, with perforations near potential cytoplasmic leakage, which provided evidence of plasma membrane and cell wall lysis. We conclude that peptides GV185 and GV187 are promising candidates for genetic engineering of crops for resistance to plant-pathogenic bacteria and fungi, including A. flavus and aflatoxin contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca R Sweany
- Food and Feed Safety Research Unit, Southern Regional Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, New Orleans, LA 70124
| | - Jeffrey W Cary
- Food and Feed Safety Research Unit, Southern Regional Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, New Orleans, LA 70124
| | - Jesse M Jaynes
- Genvor, LLC, Dallas, TX 75240
- College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences, and College of Arts and Sciences, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088
| | - Kanniah Rajasekaran
- Food and Feed Safety Research Unit, Southern Regional Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, New Orleans, LA 70124
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Lin L, Chen S, Xia W, Li T, Dong L, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Li H, Zhao Y, Fu X. A new strategy: Inhibitory effect and mechanism of Cymbopogon martinii essential oil on Aspergillus flavus. FOOD BIOSCI 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2022.102315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Wang HS, Zhang LF, Liu MX, Gu XJ, Li MF, Zheng CP, Wang K, Xiao D, Zhou M, Li XM, Hu QF, Li YK. Two New CPA-Type Indole Alkaloids from the Tobacco-Derived Fungus Aspergillus versicolor and the Anti-TMV Activity. Chem Nat Compd 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10600-022-03822-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Kulawik P, Jamróz E, Janik M, Tkaczewska J, Krzyściak P, Skóra M, Guzik P, Milosavljević V, Tadele W. Biological activity of biopolymer edible furcellaran-chitosan coatings enhanced with bioactive peptides. Food Control 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2022.108933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Gressel J. Perspective: It is time to consider new ways to attack unpesticidable (undruggable) target sites by designing peptide pesticides. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2022; 78:2108-2112. [PMID: 35088529 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Evolved resistance and regulatory deregistration have severely limited farmers' pesticide options. Many potential new pesticide target sites have been elucidated using targeted gene suppression and mutational tools, but few small molecules could be found that inhibit the target enzymes; the targets were considered 'undruggable'. Some organisms from all biological kingdoms use toxic peptides to ward off or kill enemies, and the agrochemical industry has used a few peptide analogs (glufosinate and bialophos) for field application. Conversely, pharmaceutical scientists have been using three-dimensional target protein structure to discover and synthesize short peptides that bind tightly to the surfaces of, and inhibit previously undruggable targets. New computational tools to quickly elucidate 3-D protein structure from amino acid sequence have just emerged. They replace crystallizing target proteins and performing X-ray crystallography to elucidate 3-D structure. These new tools allow prediction of peptides that will bind to the target proteins. They have further modified such peptides to enhance penetration, translocation and temperature stability. There is reason to assume that the same pioneering techniques can be used to develop peptide pesticides as well as pesticide synergists that act against undruggable targets and have excellent environmental and toxicological profiles. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Gressel
- Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel and Hi-Cap Formulations (Israel) Ltd, Rehovot, Israel
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Acevedo‐Juárez S, Guajardo‐Flores D, Heredia‐Olea E, Antunes‐Ricardo M. Bioactive peptides from nuts: A review. Int J Food Sci Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/ijfs.15543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sheccid Acevedo‐Juárez
- Centro de Biotecnología‐FEMSA Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias Tecnologico de Monterrey Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur Monterrey NL C.P. 64849 México
| | - Daniel Guajardo‐Flores
- Centro de Biotecnología‐FEMSA Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias Tecnologico de Monterrey Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur Monterrey NL C.P. 64849 México
| | - Erick Heredia‐Olea
- Centro de Biotecnología‐FEMSA Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias Tecnologico de Monterrey Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur Monterrey NL C.P. 64849 México
| | - Marilena Antunes‐Ricardo
- Centro de Biotecnología‐FEMSA Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias Tecnologico de Monterrey Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur Monterrey NL C.P. 64849 México
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Antifungal Peptides and Proteins to Control Toxigenic Fungi and Mycotoxin Biosynthesis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413261. [PMID: 34948059 PMCID: PMC8703302 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The global challenge to prevent fungal spoilage and mycotoxin contamination on food and feed requires the development of new antifungal strategies. Antimicrobial peptides and proteins (AMPs) with antifungal activity are gaining much interest as natural antifungal compounds due to their properties such as structure diversity and function, antifungal spectrum, mechanism of action, high stability and the availability of biotechnological production methods. Given their multistep mode of action, the development of fungal resistance to AMPs is presumed to be slow or delayed compared to conventional fungicides. Interestingly, AMPs also accomplish important biological functions other than antifungal activity, including anti-mycotoxin biosynthesis activity, which opens novel aspects for their future use in agriculture and food industry to fight mycotoxin contamination. AMPs can reach intracellular targets and exert their activity by mechanisms other than membrane permeabilization. The mechanisms through which AMPs affect mycotoxin production are varied and complex, ranging from oxidative stress to specific inhibition of enzymatic components of mycotoxin biosynthetic pathways. This review presents natural and synthetic antifungal AMPs from different origins which are effective against mycotoxin-producing fungi, and aims at summarizing current knowledge concerning their additional effects on mycotoxin biosynthesis. Antifungal AMPs properties and mechanisms of action are also discussed.
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Yang R, Chen X, Huang Q, Chen C, Rengasamy KRR, Chen J, Wan C(C. Mining RNA-Seq Data to Depict How Penicillium digitatum Shapes Its Transcriptome in Response to Nanoemulsion. Front Nutr 2021; 8:724419. [PMID: 34595200 PMCID: PMC8476847 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.724419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Penicillium digitatum is the most severe pathogen that infects citrus fruits during storage. It can cause fruit rot and bring significant economic losses. The continuous use of fungicides has resulted in the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Consequently, there is a need to develop naturally and efficiently antifungal fungicides. Natural antimicrobial agents such as clove oil, cinnamon oil, and thyme oil can be extracted from different plant parts. They exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and have great potential in the food industry. Here, we exploit a novel cinnamaldehyde (CA), eugenol (EUG), or carvacrol (CAR) combination antifungal therapy and formulate it into nanoemulsion form to overcome lower solubility and instability of essential oil. In this study, the antifungal activity evaluation and transcriptional profile of Penicillium digitatum exposed to compound nanoemulsion were evaluated. Results showed that compound nanoemulsion had a striking inhibitory effect on P. digitatum in a dose-dependent manner. According to RNA-seq analysis, there were 2,169 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between control and nanoemulsion-treated samples, including 1,028 downregulated and 1,141 upregulated genes. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis indicated that the DEGs were mainly involved in intracellular organelle parts of cell component: cellular respiration, proton transmembrane transport of biological process, and guanyl nucleotide-binding molecular function. KEGG analysis revealed that metabolic pathway, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism were the most highly enriched pathways for these DEGs. Taken together, we can conclude the promising antifungal activity of nanoemulsion with multiple action sites against P. digitatum. These outcomes would deepen our knowledge of the inhibitory mechanism from molecular aspects and exploit naturally, efficiently, and harmlessly antifungal agents in the citrus postharvest industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruopeng Yang
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Postharvest Technology and Nondestructive Testing of Fruits & Vegetables, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Honghe University, Mengzi, China
| | - Xiu Chen
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Postharvest Technology and Nondestructive Testing of Fruits & Vegetables, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Qiang Huang
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Postharvest Technology and Nondestructive Testing of Fruits & Vegetables, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Chuying Chen
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Postharvest Technology and Nondestructive Testing of Fruits & Vegetables, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Kannan R. R. Rengasamy
- Green Biotechnologies Research Centre of Excellence, University of Limpopo, Mankweng, South Africa
| | - Jinyin Chen
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Postharvest Technology and Nondestructive Testing of Fruits & Vegetables, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
- College of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Pingxiang University, Pingxiang, China
| | - Chunpeng (Craig) Wan
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Postharvest Technology and Nondestructive Testing of Fruits & Vegetables, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
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