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Xiang K, Li Y, Cong H, Yu B, Shen Y. Peptide-based non-viral gene delivery: A comprehensive review of the advances and challenges. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 266:131194. [PMID: 38554914 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Gene therapy is the most effective treatment option for diseases, but its effectiveness is affected by the choice and design of gene carriers. The genes themselves have to pass through multiple barriers in order to enter the cell and therefore require additional vectors to carry them inside the cell. In gene therapy, peptides have unique properties and potential as gene carriers, which can effectively deliver genes into specific cells or tissues, protect genes from degradation, improve gene transfection efficiency, and enhance gene targeting and biological responsiveness. This paper reviews the research progress of peptides and their derivatives in the field of gene delivery recently, describes the obstacles encountered by foreign materials to enter the interior of the cell, and introduces the following classes of functional peptides that can carry materials into the interior of the cell, and assist in transmembrane translocation of carriers, thus breaking through endosomal traps to enable successful entry of genetic materials into the nucleus of the cell. The paper also discusses the combined application of peptide vectors with other vectors to enhance its transfection ability, explores current challenges encountered by peptide vectors, and looks forward to future developments in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Xiang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Yanan Li
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Hailin Cong
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China.
| | - Bing Yu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
| | - Youqing Shen
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Center for Bio nanoengineering, and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
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2
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Dixon JE, Wellington V, Elnima A, Eltaher HM. Effects of Microenvironment and Dosing on Efficiency of Enhanced Cell Penetrating Peptide Nonviral Gene Delivery. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:5014-5023. [PMID: 38313497 PMCID: PMC10831962 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Transfection, defined as functional delivery of cell-internalized nucleic acids, is dependent on many factors linked to formulation, vector, cell type, and microenvironmental culture conditions. We previously developed a technology termed glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-binding enhanced transduction (GET) to efficiently deliver a variety of cargoes intracellularly, using GAG-binding peptides and cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) in the form of nanoparticles, using conventional cell culture. Herein, we demonstrate that the most simple GET transfection formulation (employing the FLR peptide) is relatively poor at transfecting cells at increasingly lower dosages. However, with an endosomally escaping version (FLR:FLH peptide formulations) we demonstrate more effective transfection of cells with lower quantities of plasmid (p)DNA in vitro. We assessed the ability of single and serial delivery of our formulations to readily transfect cells and determined that temperature, pH, and atmospheric pressure can significantly affect transfected cell number and expression levels. Cytocompatible temperatures that maintain high cell metabolism (20-37 °C) were the optimal for transfection. Interestingly, serial delivery can maintain and enhance expression without viability being compromised, and alkaline pH conditions can aid overall efficiencies. Positive atmospheric pressures can also improve the transgene expression levels generated by GET transfection on a single-cell level. Novel nanotechnologies and gene therapeutics such as GET could be transformative for future regenerative medicine strategies. It will be important to understand how such approaches can be optimized at the formulation and application levels in order to achieve efficacy that will be competitive with viral strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E. Dixon
- Regenerative
Medicine and Cellular Therapies Division, The University of Nottingham
Biodiscovery Institute (BDI), School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
- NIHR
Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, University
of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Vanessa Wellington
- Regenerative
Medicine and Cellular Therapies Division, The University of Nottingham
Biodiscovery Institute (BDI), School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Alaa Elnima
- Regenerative
Medicine and Cellular Therapies Division, The University of Nottingham
Biodiscovery Institute (BDI), School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Hoda M. Eltaher
- Regenerative
Medicine and Cellular Therapies Division, The University of Nottingham
Biodiscovery Institute (BDI), School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
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3
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Ferreira MML, de Souza SEG, da Silva CC, Souza LEA, Bicev RN, da Silva ER, Nakaie CR. Pyroglutamination-Induced Changes in the Physicochemical Features of a CXCR4 Chemokine Peptide: Kinetic and Structural Analysis. Biochemistry 2023; 62:2530-2540. [PMID: 37540799 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the physicochemical effects of pyroglutamination on the QHALTSV-NH2 peptide, a segment of cytosolic helix 8 of the human C-X-C chemokine G-protein-coupled receptor type 4 (CXCR4). This modification, resulting from the spontaneous conversion of glutamine to pyroglutamic acid, has significant impacts on the physicochemical features of peptides. Using a static approach, we compared the transformation in different conditions and experimentally found that the rate of product formation increases with temperature, underscoring the need for caution during laboratory experiments to prevent glutamine cyclization. Circular dichroism experiments revealed that the QHALTSV-NH2 segment plays a minor role in the structuration of H8 CXCR4; however, its pyroglutaminated analogue interacts differently with its chemical environment, showing increased susceptibility to solvent variations compared to the native form. The pyroglutaminated analogue exhibits altered behavior when interacting with lipid models, suggesting a significant impact on its interaction with cell membranes. A unique combination of atomic force microscopy and infrared nanospectroscopy revealed that pyroglutamination affects supramolecular self-assembly, leading to highly packed molecular arrangements and a crystalline structure. Moreover, the presence of pyroglumatic acid has been found to favor the formation of amyloidogenic aggregates. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering pyroglutamination in peptide synthesis and proteomics and its potential significance in amyloidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana M L Ferreira
- Departamento de Biofísica─Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo─São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Sinval E G de Souza
- Departamento de Biofísica─Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo─São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Caroline C da Silva
- Departamento de Biofísica─Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo─São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Louise E A Souza
- Departamento de Biofísica─Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo─São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Renata N Bicev
- Departamento de Biofísica─Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo─São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Emerson R da Silva
- Departamento de Biofísica─Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo─São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Clovis R Nakaie
- Departamento de Biofísica─Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo─São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
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4
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Hamley IW, Castelletto V. Small-angle scattering techniques for peptide and peptide hybrid nanostructures and peptide-based biomaterials. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 318:102959. [PMID: 37473606 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2023.102959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
The use of small-angle scattering (SAS) in the study of the self-assembly of peptides and peptide conjugates (lipopeptides, polymer-peptide conjugates and others) is reviewed, highlighting selected research that illustrates different methods and analysis techniques. Both small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) are considered along with examples that exploit their unique capabilities. For SAXS, this includes the ability to perform rapid measurements enabling high throughput or fast kinetic studies and measurements under dilute conditions. For SANS, contrast variation using H2O/D2O mixtures enables the study of peptides interacting with lipids and TR-SANS (time-resolved SANS) studies of exchange kinetics and/or peptide-induced structural changes. Examples are provided of studies measuring form factors of different self-assembled structures (micelles, fibrils, nanotapes, nanotubes etc) as well as structure factors from ordered phases (lyotropic mesophases), peptide gels and hybrid materials such as membranes formed by mixing peptides with polysaccharides or peptide/liposome mixtures. SAXS/WAXS (WAXS: wide-angle x-ray scattering) on peptides and peptide hybrids is also discussed, and the review concludes with a perspective on potential future directions for research in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian W Hamley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AD, UK.
| | - Valeria Castelletto
- Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AD, UK
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5
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Lourenço TC, de Mello LR, Icimoto MY, Bicev RN, Hamley IW, Castelletto V, Nakaie CR, da Silva ER. DNA-templated self-assembly of bradykinin into bioactive nanofibrils. SOFT MATTER 2023. [PMID: 37334565 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00431g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Bradykinin (BK) is a peptide hormone that plays a crucial role in blood pressure control, regulates inflammation in the human body, and has recently been implicated in the pathophysiology of COVID-19. In this study, we report a strategy for fabricating highly ordered 1D nanostructures of BK using DNA fragments as a template for self-assembly. We have combined synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering and high-resolution microscopy to provide insights into the nanoscale structure of BK-DNA complexes, unveiling the formation of ordered nanofibrils. Fluorescence assays hint that BK is more efficient at displacing minor-groove binders in comparison with base-intercalant dyes, thus, suggesting that interaction with DNA strands is mediated by electrostatic attraction between cationic groups at BK and the high negative electron density of minor-grooves. Our data also revealed an intriguing finding that BK-DNA complexes can induce a limited uptake of nucleotides by HEK-293t cells, which is a feature that has not been previously reported for BK. Moreover, we observed that the complexes retained the native bioactivity of BK, including the ability to modulate Ca2+ response into endothelial HUVEC cells. Overall, the findings presented here demonstrate a promising strategy for the fabrication of fibrillar structures of BK using DNA as a template, which keep bioactivity features of the native peptide and may have implications in the development of nanotherapeutics for hypertension and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago C Lourenço
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04062-000, Brazil.
| | - Lucas R de Mello
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04062-000, Brazil.
| | - Marcelo Y Icimoto
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04062-000, Brazil.
| | - Renata N Bicev
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04062-000, Brazil.
| | - Ian W Hamley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AD, UK
| | | | - Clovis R Nakaie
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04062-000, Brazil.
| | - Emerson R da Silva
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04062-000, Brazil.
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6
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Porosk L, Härk HH, Bicev RN, Gaidutšik I, Nebogatova J, Armolik EJ, Arukuusk P, da Silva ER, Langel Ü. Aggregation Limiting Cell-Penetrating Peptides Derived from Protein Signal Sequences. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054277. [PMID: 36901707 PMCID: PMC10002422 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease (ND) and the leading cause of dementia. It is characterized by non-linear, genetic-driven pathophysiological dynamics with high heterogeneity in the biological alterations and the causes of the disease. One of the hallmarks of the AD is the progression of plaques of aggregated amyloid-β (Aβ) or neurofibrillary tangles of Tau. Currently there is no efficient treatment for the AD. Nevertheless, several breakthroughs in revealing the mechanisms behind progression of the AD have led to the discovery of possible therapeutic targets. Some of these include the reduction in inflammation in the brain, and, although highly debated, limiting of the aggregation of the Aβ. In this work we show that similarly to the Neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (NCAM1) signal sequence, other Aβ interacting protein sequences, especially derived from Transthyretin, can be used successfully to reduce or target the amyloid aggregation/aggregates in vitro. The modified signal peptides with cell-penetrating properties reduce the Aβ aggregation and are predicted to have anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, we show that by expressing the Aβ-EGFP fusion protein, we can efficiently assess the potential for reduction in aggregation, and the CPP properties of peptides in mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ly Porosk
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
- Correspondence:
| | - Heleri Heike Härk
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Renata Naporano Bicev
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Ilja Gaidutšik
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | | | - Eger-Jasper Armolik
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Piret Arukuusk
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | | | - Ülo Langel
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
- Department Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, S.Arrheniusv. 16B, Room C472, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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7
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Infrared nanospectroscopic imaging of DNA molecules on mica surface. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18972. [PMID: 36348038 PMCID: PMC9643503 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23637-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Significant efforts have been done in last two decades to develop nanoscale spectroscopy techniques owning to their great potential for single-molecule structural detection and in addition, to resolve open questions in heterogeneous biological systems, such as protein-DNA complexes. Applying IR-AFM technique has become a powerful leverage for obtaining simultaneous absorption spectra with a nanoscale spatial resolution for studied proteins, however the AFM-IR investigation of DNA molecules on surface, as a benchmark for a nucleoprotein complexes nanocharacterization, has remained elusive. Herein, we demonstrate methodological approach for acquisition of AFM-IR mapping modalities with corresponding absorption spectra based on two different DNA deposition protocols on spermidine and Ni2+ pretreated mica surface. The nanoscale IR absorbance of distinctly formed DNA morphologies on mica are demonstrated through series of AFM-IR absorption maps with corresponding IR spectrum. Our results thus demonstrate the sensitivity of AFM-IR nanospectroscopy for a nucleic acid research with an open potential to be employed in further investigation of nucleoprotein complexes.
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8
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A Biophysical Study of DNA Condensation Mediated by Histones and Protamines. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.120745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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9
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Liu L, Wang C, Zhang M, Zhang Z, Wu Y, Zhang Y. An Efficient Evaluation System Accelerates α-Helical Antimicrobial Peptide Discovery and Its Application to Global Human Genome Mining. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:870361. [PMID: 35547131 PMCID: PMC9083330 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.870361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), as an important part of the innate immune system of an organism, is a kind of promising drug candidate for novel antibiotics due to their unique antibacterial mechanism. However, the discovery of novel AMPs is facing a great challenge due to the complexity of systematic experiments and the poor predictability of antimicrobial activity. Here, a novel and comprehensive screening system, the Multiple Descriptor Multiple Strategy (MultiDS), was proposed based on 59 physicochemical and structural parameters, three strategies, and four algorithms for the mining of α-helical AMPs. This approach was applied to mine the encrypted peptide antibiotics from the global human genome, including introns and exons. A library of approximately 70 billion peptides with 15–25 amino acid residues was screened by the MultiDS system and generated a list of peptides with the Multiple Descriptor Index (MD index) scores, which was the core part of the MultiDS system. Sixty peptides with top MD scores were chemically synthesized and experimentally tested their antimicrobial activity against 10 kinds of Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria (including drug-resistant pathogens). A total of fifty-nine out of 60 (98.3%) peptides exhibited antimicrobial activity (MIC ≤ 64 μg/mL), and 24 out of 60 (40%) peptides showed high activity (MIC ≤ 2 μg/mL), validating the MultiDS system was an effective and predictive screening tool with high hit rate and superior antimicrobial activity. For further investigation, AMPs S1, S2, and S3 with the highest MD scores were used to treat the skin infection mouse models in vivo caused by Escherichia coli, drug-resistance Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. All of S1, S2, and S3 showed comparable therapeutic effects on promoting infection healing to or even better than the positive drug levofloxacin. A mechanism study discovered that rapid bactericidal action was caused by cell membrane disruption and content leakage. The MultiDS system not only provides a high-throughput approach that allows for the mining of candidate AMPs from the global genome sequence but also opens up a new route to accelerate the discovery of peptide antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Licheng Liu
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Caiyun Wang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Mengyue Zhang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zixuan Zhang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yingying Wu
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yixuan Zhang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
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10
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Methods for Small-Angle Scattering Measurements on Peptiplexes of DNA with Cell-Penetrating Peptides. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 34766290 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1752-6_12] [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: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Peptiplexes are soft biomaterials formed through the noncovalent association between cell-penetrating peptides and nucleic acids. Although internalization often involves electrostatic anchoring followed by endocytosis, the mode of action of these transporters remains elusive in many cases, and proper understanding of mechanisms behind their penetrating capabilities necessarily entails structural data at the nanoscopic scale. In this chapter, we examine the structural landscape of peptiplexes, emphasizing the complex behavior of these polyelectrolyte self-assemblies and how supramolecular order impacts their translocation efficiency. We discuss experimental tools commonly used to investigate the structure of peptiplexes and pay special attention to small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) as a suitable method for unveiling their nanoscale organization. A roadmap for standard SAXS measurements in CPP/DNA samples is presented alongside a selection of observations from our own experience dealing with SAXS applied to the investigation of CPPs.
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11
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de Mello LR, Porosk L, Lourenço TC, Garcia BBM, Costa CAR, Han SW, de Souza JS, Langel Ü, da Silva ER. Amyloid-like Self-Assembly of a Hydrophobic Cell-Penetrating Peptide and Its Use as a Carrier for Nucleic Acids. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2021; 4:6404-6416. [PMID: 35006917 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c00601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are a topical subject potentially exploitable for creating nanotherapeutics for the delivery of bioactive loads. These compounds are often classified into three major categories according to their physicochemical characteristics: cationic, amphiphilic, and hydrophobic. Among them, the group of hydrophobic CPPs has received increasing attention in recent years due to toxicity concerns posed by highly cationic CPPs. The hexapeptide PFVYLI (P, proline; F, phenylalanine; V, valine; Y, tyrosine; L, leucine; and I, isoleucine), a fragment derived from the C-terminal portion of α1-antitrypsin, is a prototypal example of hydrophobic CPP. This sequence shows reduced cytotoxicity and a capacity of nuclear localization, and its small size readily hints at its suitability as a building block to construct nanostructured materials. In this study, we examine the self-assembling properties of PFVYLI and investigate its ability to form noncovalent complexes with nucleic acids. By using a combination of biophysical tools including synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy-based infrared spectroscopy, we discovered that this CPP self-assembles into discrete nanofibrils with remarkable amyloidogenic features. Over the course of days, these fibrils coalesce into rodlike crystals that easily reach the micrometer range. Despite lacking cationic residues in the composition, PFVYLI forms noncovalent complexes with nucleic acids that retain β-sheet pairing found in amyloid aggregates. In vitro vectorization experiments performed with double-stranded DNA fragments indicate that complexes promote the internalization of nucleic acids, revealing that tropism toward cell membranes is preserved upon complexation. On the other hand, transfection assays with splice-correction oligonucleotides (SCOs) for luciferase expression show limited bioactivity across a narrow concentration window, suggesting that the propensity to form amyloidogenic aggregates may trigger endosomal entrapment. We anticipate that the findings presented here open perspectives for using this archetypical hydrophobic CPP in the fabrication of nanostructured scaffolds, which potentially integrate properties of amyloids and translocation capabilities of CPPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas R de Mello
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Ly Porosk
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu 50411, Estonia
| | - Thiago C Lourenço
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Bianca B M Garcia
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Carlos A R Costa
- Laboratório Nacional de Nanotecnologia (LNNano), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Campinas 13083-861, Brazil
| | - Sang W Han
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Juliana S de Souza
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André 09210580, Brazil
| | - Ülo Langel
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu 50411, Estonia
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm SE-10691, Sweden
| | - Emerson R da Silva
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
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12
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Mello LR, Aguiar RB, Yamada RY, Moraes JZ, Hamley IW, Alves WA, Reza M, Ruokolainen J, Silva ER. Amphipathic design dictates self-assembly, cytotoxicity and cell uptake of arginine-rich surfactant-like peptides. J Mater Chem B 2021; 8:2495-2507. [PMID: 32108843 DOI: 10.1039/c9tb02219h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Amphiphilicity is the most critical parameter in the self-assembly of surfactant-like peptides (SLPs), regulating the way by which hydrophobic attraction holds peptides together. Its effects go beyond supramolecular assembly and may also trigger different cell responses of bioactive peptide-based nanostructures. Herein, we investigate the self-assembly and cellular effects of nanostructures based on isomeric SLPs composed by arginine (R) and phenylalanine (F). Two amphipathic designs were studied: a diblock construct F4R4 and its bolaamphiphile analog R2F4R2. A strong sequence-dependent polymorphism emerges with appearance of globules and vesicle-like assemblies, or flat nanotapes and cylindrical micelles. The diblock construct possesses good cell penetrating capabilities and effectiveness to kill SK-MEL-28 melanoma tumor cells, in contrast to reduced intracellular uptake and low cytotoxicity exhibited by the bolaamphiphilic form. Our findings demonstrate that amphipathic design is a relevant variable for self-assembling SLPs to modulate different cellular responses and may assist in optimizing the production of nanostructures based on arginine-enriched sequences in cell penetrating and antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas R Mello
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04044-020, Brazil.
| | - Rodrigo B Aguiar
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04044-020, Brazil.
| | - Renata Y Yamada
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04044-020, Brazil.
| | - Jane Z Moraes
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04044-020, Brazil.
| | - Ian W Hamley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AD, UK
| | - Wendel A Alves
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, 09210-580, Brazil
| | - Mehedi Reza
- Nanomicroscopy Center, Aalto University, Puumiehenkuja 2, FIN-02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - Janne Ruokolainen
- Nanomicroscopy Center, Aalto University, Puumiehenkuja 2, FIN-02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - Emerson R Silva
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04044-020, Brazil.
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13
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Molecular structure and supramolecular assembly of a TGF-β1 mimetic oligopeptide. J Mol Struct 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2020.128691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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He Z, Zhang Y, Khan AR, Ji J, Yu A, Zhai G. A novel progress of drug delivery system for organelle targeting in tumour cells. J Drug Target 2020; 29:12-28. [PMID: 32698651 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2020.1797051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
At present, malignant tumours have become one of the most serious diseases that endanger human health. According to a survey on causes of death in Chinese population in early 1990s, the malignant tumours were the second leading cause of death. In the treatment of tumours, the ideal situation is that drugs should target and accumulate at tumour sites and destroy tumour cells specifically, without affecting normal cells and stem cells with regenerative capacity. This requires drugs to be specifically transported to the target organs, tissues, cells, and even specific organelles, like mitochondria, nuclei, lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and Golgi apparatus (GA). The nano drug delivery system can not only protect drugs from degradation but also facilitate functional modification and targeted drug delivery to the tumour site. This article mainly reviews the targeting of nano drug delivery systems to tumour cytoplasmic matrix, nucleus, mitochondria, ER, and lysosomes. Organelle-specific drug delivery system will be a major mean of targeting drug delivery with lower toxicity, less dosage and higher drug concentration in tumour cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijing He
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China
| | - Yanan Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China
| | - Abdur Rauf Khan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China
| | - Jianbo Ji
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China
| | - Aihua Yu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China
| | - Guangxi Zhai
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China
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Mello LR, Hamley IW, Castelletto V, Garcia BBM, Lourenço TC, Vassiliades SV, Alves WA, Han SW, Silva ER. Self-assembly and intracellular delivery of DNA by a truncated fragment derived from the Trojan peptide Penetratin. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:4746-4755. [PMID: 32329496 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm00347f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Penetratin is a short Trojan peptide that attracts great interest in biomedical research for its capacity to translocate biological membranes. Herein, we study in detail both self-assembly and intracellular delivery of DNA by the heptamer KIWFQNR, a truncated peptide derived from Penetratin. This shortened sequence possesses a unique design with bolaamphiphilic characteristics that preserves the longest noncationic amino acid portion found in Penetratin. These features convey amphipathicity to assist self-assembly and make it a suitable model for exploring the role of hydrophobic residues for peptide interaction and cell uptake. We show that the fragment forms peptiplexes (i.e., peptide-DNA complexes), and aggregates into long nanofibers with clear β-sheet signature. The supramolecular structure of nanofibers is likely composed of DNA cores surrounded by a peptide shell to which the double helix behaves as a template and induces fibrillization. A nucleation and growth mechanism proceeding through liquid-liquid phase separation of coacervates is proposed for describing the self-assembly of peptiplexes. We also demonstrate that peptiplexes deliver double-stranded 200 bp DNA into HeLa cells, indicating its potential for preparing non-viral vectors for oligonucleotides through noncovalent strategies. Since the main structural features of native Penetratin are conserved in this simpler fragment, our findings also highlight the role of uncharged amino acids for structuration, and thus for the ability of Penetratin to cross cell membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas R Mello
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil.
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