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Adak A, Castelletto V, de Sousa A, Karatzas KA, Wilkinson C, Khunti N, Seitsonen J, Hamley IW. Self-Assembly and Antimicrobial Activity of Lipopeptides Containing Lysine-Rich Tripeptides. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:1205-1213. [PMID: 38204421 PMCID: PMC10865344 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01184] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The conformation and self-assembly of two pairs of model lipidated tripeptides in aqueous solution are probed using a combination of spectroscopic methods along with cryogenic-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The palmitoylated lipopeptides comprise C16-YKK or C16-WKK (with two l-lysine residues) or their respective derivatives containing d-lysine (k), i.e., C16-Ykk and C16-Wkk. All four molecules self-assemble into spherical micelles which show structure factor effects in SAXS profiles due to intermicellar packing in aqueous solution. Consistent with micellar structures, the tripeptides in the coronas have a largely unordered conformation, as probed using spectroscopic methods. The molecules are found to have good cytocompatibility with fibroblasts at sufficiently low concentrations, although some loss of cell viability is noted at the highest concentrations examined (above the critical aggregation concentration of the lipopeptides, determined from fluorescence dye probe measurements). Preliminary tests also showed antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anindyasundar Adak
- School
of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AH, U.K.
| | - Valeria Castelletto
- School
of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AH, U.K.
| | - Ana de Sousa
- School
of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AH, U.K.
| | - Kimon-Andreas Karatzas
- School
of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AH, U.K.
| | - Callum Wilkinson
- School
of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AH, U.K.
| | - Nikul Khunti
- Diamond
Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0DE, U.K.
| | - Jani Seitsonen
- Nanomicroscopy
Center, Aalto University, Puumiehenkuja 2, FIN-02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - Ian W. Hamley
- School
of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AH, U.K.
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