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Sasselli IR, Coluzza I. Assessment of the MARTINI 3 Performance for Short Peptide Self-Assembly. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:224-238. [PMID: 38113378 PMCID: PMC10782451 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c01015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The coarse-grained MARTINI force field, initially developed for membranes, has proven to be an exceptional tool for investigating supramolecular peptide assemblies. Over the years, the force field underwent refinements to enhance accuracy, enabling, for example, the reproduction of protein-ligand interactions and constant pH behavior. However, these protein-focused improvements seem to have compromised its ability to model short peptide self-assembly. In this study, we assess the performance of MARTINI 3 in reproducing peptide self-assembly using the well-established diphenylalanine (FF) as our test case. Unlike its success in version 2.1, FF does not even exhibit aggregation in version 3. By systematically exploring parameters for the aromatic side chains and charged backbone beads, we established a parameter set that effectively reproduces tube formation. Remarkably, these parameter adjustments also replicate the self-assembly of other di- and tripeptides and coassemblies. Furthermore, our analysis uncovers pivotal insights for enhancing the performance of MARTINI in modeling short peptide self-assembly. Specifically, we identify issues stemming from overestimated hydrophilicity arising from charged termini and disruptions in π-stacking interactions due to insufficient planarity in aromatic groups and a discrepancy in intermolecular distances between this and backbone-backbone interactions. This investigation demonstrates that strategic modifications can harness the advancements offered by MARTINI 3 for the realm of short peptide self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan R. Sasselli
- Centro
de Física de Materiales (CFM), CSIC-UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
- Center
for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research
and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo de Miramón 182, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Ivan Coluzza
- Ikerbasque,
Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza de Euskadi 5, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
- BCMaterials,
Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU Science Park, 48940 Leioa, Spain
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2
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Dong XY, Liu R, Seroski DT, Hudalla GA, Hall CK. Programming co-assembled peptide nanofiber morphology via anionic amino acid type: Insights from molecular dynamics simulations. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1011685. [PMID: 38048311 PMCID: PMC10729967 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Co-assembling peptides can be crafted into supramolecular biomaterials for use in biotechnological applications, such as cell culture scaffolds, drug delivery, biosensors, and tissue engineering. Peptide co-assembly refers to the spontaneous organization of two different peptides into a supramolecular architecture. Here we use molecular dynamics simulations to quantify the effect of anionic amino acid type on co-assembly dynamics and nanofiber structure in binary CATCH(+/-) peptide systems. CATCH peptide sequences follow a general pattern: CQCFCFCFCQC, where all C's are either a positively charged or a negatively charged amino acid. Specifically, we investigate the effect of substituting aspartic acid residues for the glutamic acid residues in the established CATCH(6E-) molecule, while keeping CATCH(6K+) unchanged. Our results show that structures consisting of CATCH(6K+) and CATCH(6D-) form flatter β-sheets, have stronger interactions between charged residues on opposing β-sheet faces, and have slower co-assembly kinetics than structures consisting of CATCH(6K+) and CATCH(6E-). Knowledge of the effect of sidechain type on assembly dynamics and fibrillar structure can help guide the development of advanced biomaterials and grant insight into sequence-to-structure relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Y. Dong
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Renjie Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Dillon T. Seroski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Gregory A. Hudalla
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Carol K. Hall
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
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3
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Li Y, Kim M, Pial TH, Lin Y, Cui H, Olvera de la Cruz M. Aggregation-Induced Asymmetric Charge States of Amino Acids in Supramolecular Nanofibers. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:8176-8184. [PMID: 37721979 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c05598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Electrostatic interactions contribute critically to the kinetic pathways and thermodynamic outcomes of peptide self-assembly involving one or more than one charged amino acids. While it is well understood in protein folding that those amino acids with acidic/basic side chains could shift their pKas when placed in a hydrophobic microenvironment, to what extent aggregation of monomeric peptide units from the bulk solution could alter their charged status and how this change in pKa values would reciprocally impact their assembly outcomes. Here, we design and analyze two solution systems containing peptide amphiphiles with hydrocarbon chains of different lengths to determine the factor of deprotonation on assembly. Our results suggest that models of supramolecular nanofibers with uniformly distributed, fully charged amino acids are oversimplified. We demonstrate, with molecular dynamics simulations, and validate with experimental results that asymmetric, different protonation states of the peptides lead to distinct nanostructures after self-assembly. The results give estimates on the electrostatic interactions in peptide amphiphiles required for their self-assembly and shed light on modeling molecular assembly systems containing charged amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Center of Computation and Theory of Soft Materials, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - M Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Institute for NanoBiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - T H Pial
- Center of Computation and Theory of Soft Materials, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Y Lin
- Center of Computation and Theory of Soft Materials, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - H Cui
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Institute for NanoBiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Department of Oncology and Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - M Olvera de la Cruz
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Center of Computation and Theory of Soft Materials, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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4
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Rosa E, de Mello L, Castelletto V, Dallas ML, Accardo A, Seitsonen J, Hamley IW. Cell Adhesion Motif-Functionalized Lipopeptides: Nanostructure and Selective Myoblast Cytocompatibility. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:213-224. [PMID: 36520063 PMCID: PMC9832505 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The conformation and self-assembly of four lipopeptides, peptide amphiphiles comprising peptides conjugated to lipid chains, in aqueous solution have been examined. The peptide sequence in all four lipopeptides contains the integrin cell adhesion RGDS motif, and the cytocompatibility of the lipopeptides is also analyzed. Lipopeptides have either tetradecyl (C14, myristyl) or hexadecyl (C16, palmitoyl) lipid chains and peptide sequence WGGRGDS or GGGRGDS, that is, with either a tryptophan-containing WGG or triglycine GGG tripeptide spacer between the bioactive peptide motif and the alkyl chain. All four lipopeptides self-assemble above a critical aggregation concentration (CAC), determined through several comparative methods using circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence. Spectroscopic methods [CD and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy] show the presence of β-sheet structures, consistent with the extended nanotape, helical ribbon, and nanotube structures observed by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The high-quality cryo-TEM images clearly show the coexistence of helically twisted ribbon and nanotube structures for C14-WGGRGDS, which highlight the mechanism of nanotube formation by the closure of the ribbons. Small-angle X-ray scattering shows that the nanotapes comprise highly interdigitated peptide bilayers, which are also present in the walls of the nanotubes. Hydrogel formation was observed at sufficiently high concentrations or could be induced by a heat/cool protocol at lower concentrations. Birefringence due to nematic phase formation was observed for several of the lipopeptides, along with spontaneous flow alignment of the lyotropic liquid crystal structure in capillaries. Cell viability assays were performed using both L929 fibroblasts and C2C12 myoblasts to examine the potential uses of the lipopeptides in tissue engineering, with a specific focus on application to cultured (lab-grown) meat, based on myoblast cytocompatibility. Indeed, significantly higher cytocompatibility of myoblasts was observed for all four lipopeptides compared to that for fibroblasts, in particular at a lipopeptide concentration below the CAC. Cytocompatibility could also be improved using hydrogels as cell supports for fibroblasts or myoblasts. Our work highlights that precision control of peptide sequences using bulky aromatic residues within "linker sequences" along with alkyl chain selection can be used to tune the self-assembled nanostructure. In addition, the RGDS-based lipopeptides show promise as materials for tissue engineering, especially those of muscle precursor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Rosa
- School
of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights,
Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AD, U.K.,Department
of Pharmacy and Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides (CIRPeB), University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Domenico Montesano 49, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Lucas de Mello
- School
of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights,
Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AD, U.K.,Departamento
de Biofísica, Universidade Federal
de São Paulo, São
Paulo 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Valeria Castelletto
- School
of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights,
Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AD, U.K.
| | - Mark L. Dallas
- School
of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights,
Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AD, U.K.
| | - Antonella Accardo
- Department
of Pharmacy and Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides (CIRPeB), University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Domenico Montesano 49, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Jani Seitsonen
- Nanomicroscopy
Center, Aalto University, Puumiehenkuja 2, Espoo FIN-02150, Finland
| | - Ian W. Hamley
- School
of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights,
Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AD, U.K.,
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5
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Huang H, Kiick KL. Peptide-based assembled nanostructures that can direct cellular responses. Biomed Mater 2022; 17. [DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/ac92b5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Natural originated materials have been well-studied over the past several decades owing to their higher biocompatibility compared to the traditional polymers. Peptides, consisting of amino acids, are among the most popular programable building blocks, which is becoming a growing interest in nanobiotechnology. Structures assembled using those biomimetic peptides allow the exploration of chemical sequences beyond those been routinely used in biology. In this Review, we discussed the most recent experimental discoveries on the peptide-based assembled nanostructures and their potential application at the cellular level such as drug delivery. In particular, we explored the fundamental principles of peptide self-assembly and the most recent development in improving their interactions with biological systems. We believe that as the fundamental knowledge of the peptide assemblies evolves, the more sophisticated and versatile nanostructures can be built, with promising biomedical applications.
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