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Leveraro S, Garstka K, Śliwka P, Janek T, Rowińska-Żyrek M, Remelli M, Bellotti D. Metal coordination governs the antimicrobial efficacy of calcitermin derivatives. Dalton Trans 2024; 53:12676-12687. [PMID: 39012520 DOI: 10.1039/d4dt01514b] [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: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides are promising alternatives to classical antibiotics. Their microbicidal activity can arise from different mechanisms, one of which is known as nutritional immunity and has metal micronutrients and metal-binding biomolecules as its main players. Calcitermin is an antimicrobial peptide and an effective metal chelator. Its properties as an antibacterial and anti-Candida agent have been recently studied both as a free peptide and in the presence of zinc and copper ions, with which it forms stable complexes. Calcitermin derivatives have also gained attention thanks to the possibility of improving their properties, like metal-binding affinity and/or stability in biological fluids, through ad hoc modifications of the native peptide sequence. In this work, the Ala-to-Ser substitutions close to the coordination site of calcitermin have been introduced to study the impact on the biological activity and metal-binding properties. Our results show that metal coordination has a clear impact on the bioactivity of the studied compounds, to the point that the truncated fragment of calcitermin, solely containing the main metal-binding residues, also shows antimicrobial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Leveraro
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Kinga Garstka
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Paulina Śliwka
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Tomasz Janek
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Maurizio Remelli
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Denise Bellotti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
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2
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Adriana M, Aleksandra M, Denise B, Kinga G, Joanna W, Aleksandra H, Robert W, Agnieszka MW, Magdalena RŻ. Zn(II) and Cu(II) Coordination Enhances the Antimicrobial Activity of Piscidin 3, but Not That of Piscidins 1 and 2. Inorg Chem 2024; 63:12958-12968. [PMID: 38946498 PMCID: PMC11256756 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c01659] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Piscidins, antimicrobial peptides isolated from fish, are potent against a variety of human pathogens; they show minimum inhibitory concentration values comparable to those of commercially used antimicrobials. Piscidins 1 and 2 are generally more effective than piscidin 3 when applied alone; the contrary is observed for their metal complexes: Zn(II) and Cu(II) coordination does not enhance the efficacy of piscidins 1 and 2, while a moderate enhancement is observed for piscidin 3. All three piscidins bind Cu(II) in a so-called albumin-like binding mode, while for Zn(II) complexes, two coordination modes are observed: piscidins 1 and 2 bind Zn(II) by imidazole nitrogens from His4, His11, and His17 side chains; piscidin 3 coordinates Zn(II) by His3, His4, and His11 imidazole nitrogens and additionally supports the interaction, formed by carbonyl oxygen from His4. Most likely, the high antimicrobial activity of piscidin complexes is due to neither the stability of their complexes nor the change in their secondary structure. Copper(II) complexes with piscidins 1 and 2 can form hydroxyl radicals, which could be responsible for the antimicrobial membrane damaging activity of these complexes. Clearly, a different mechanism (most likely an intercellular targeted one) is observed for piscidin 3 metal complexes; in most cases, the coordination of Cu(II) and Zn(II) enhances the antimicrobial potency of piscidin 3, showing that not only piscidin 3 alone but also its metal complexes have a different mode of action than piscidins 1 and 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miller Adriana
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, ul. F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Mikołajczyk Aleksandra
- Screening
of Biological Activity Assays and Collection of Biological Material
Laboratory, Wroclaw Medical University Biobank, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, ul. Borowska 211a, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Bellotti Denise
- Department
of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Garstka Kinga
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, ul. F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Wątły Joanna
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, ul. F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Hecel Aleksandra
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, ul. F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Wieczorek Robert
- Faculty
of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, ul. F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Matera-Witkiewicz Agnieszka
- Screening
of Biological Activity Assays and Collection of Biological Material
Laboratory, Wroclaw Medical University Biobank, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, ul. Borowska 211a, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
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3
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Bouraguba M, Schmitt AM, Yelisetty VS, Vileno B, Melin F, Glattard E, Orvain C, Lebrun V, Raibaut L, Ilbert M, Bechinger B, Hellwig P, Gaiddon C, Sour A, Faller P. Quest for a stable Cu-ligand complex with a high catalytic activity to produce reactive oxygen species. Metallomics 2024; 16:mfae020. [PMID: 38614957 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfae020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Metal ion-catalyzed overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is believed to contribute significantly to oxidative stress and be involved in several biological processes, from immune defense to development of diseases. Among the essential metal ions, copper is one of the most efficient catalysts in ROS production in the presence of O2 and a physiological reducing agent such as ascorbate. To control this chemistry, Cu ions are tightly coordinated to biomolecules. Free or loosely bound Cu ions are generally avoided to prevent their toxicity. In the present report, we aim to find stable Cu-ligand complexes (Cu-L) that can efficiently catalyze the production of ROS in the presence of ascorbate under aerobic conditions. Thermodynamic stability would be needed to avoid dissociation in the biological environment, and high ROS catalysis is of interest for applications as antimicrobial or anticancer agents. A series of Cu complexes with the well-known tripodal and tetradentate ligands containing a central amine linked to three pyridyl-alkyl arms of different lengths were investigated. Two of them with mixed arm length showed a higher catalytic activity in the oxidation of ascorbate and subsequent ROS production than Cu salts in buffer, which is an unprecedented result. Despite these high catalytic activities, no increased antimicrobial activity toward Escherichia coli or cytotoxicity against eukaryotic AGS cells in culture related to Cu-L-based ROS production could be observed. The potential reasons for discrepancy between in vitro and in cell data are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merwan Bouraguba
- Institut de Chimie, UMR 7177, Université́ de Strasbourg, CNRS, 4 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Adeline M Schmitt
- Institut de Chimie, UMR 7177, Université́ de Strasbourg, CNRS, 4 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Venkata Suseela Yelisetty
- Institut de Chimie, UMR 7177, Université́ de Strasbourg, CNRS, 4 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Bertrand Vileno
- Institut de Chimie, UMR 7177, Université́ de Strasbourg, CNRS, 4 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Frédéric Melin
- Laboratoire de Bioélectrochimie et Spectroscopie, UMR 7140, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 4 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Elise Glattard
- Institut de Chimie, UMR 7177, Université́ de Strasbourg, CNRS, 4 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Christophe Orvain
- Inserm UMR_S 1113, Université de Strasbourg, 3 avenue Molière, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - Vincent Lebrun
- Institut de Chimie, UMR 7177, Université́ de Strasbourg, CNRS, 4 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Laurent Raibaut
- Institut de Chimie, UMR 7177, Université́ de Strasbourg, CNRS, 4 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Marianne Ilbert
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Bioénergétique et Ingénierie des Protéines (BIP), UMR 7281, IMM, Marseille, France
| | - Burkhard Bechinger
- Institut de Chimie, UMR 7177, Université́ de Strasbourg, CNRS, 4 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, 75231 Paris, France
| | - Petra Hellwig
- Laboratoire de Bioélectrochimie et Spectroscopie, UMR 7140, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 4 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, 75231 Paris, France
| | - Christian Gaiddon
- Inserm UMR_S 1113, Université de Strasbourg, 3 avenue Molière, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - Angélique Sour
- Institut de Chimie, UMR 7177, Université́ de Strasbourg, CNRS, 4 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Peter Faller
- Institut de Chimie, UMR 7177, Université́ de Strasbourg, CNRS, 4 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, 75231 Paris, France
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4
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Dzień E, Wątły J, Kola A, Mikołajczyk A, Miller A, Matera-Witkiewicz A, Valensin D, Rowińska-Żyrek M. Impact of metal coordination and pH on the antimicrobial activity of histatin 5 and the products of its hydrolysis. Dalton Trans 2024; 53:7561-7570. [PMID: 38606466 DOI: 10.1039/d4dt00565a] [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: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
This work focuses on the relationship between the coordination chemistry and antimicrobial activity of Zn(II) and Cu(II) complexes of histatin 5 and the products of its hydrolysis: its N-terminal fragment (histatin 5-8) and C-terminal fragment (histatin 8). Cu(II) coordinates in an albumin-like binding mode and Zn(II) binds to up to 3 His imidazoles. The antimicrobial activity of histatins and their metal complexes (i) strongly depends on pH - they are more active at pH 5.4 than at 7.4; (ii) the complexes and ligands alone are more effective in eradicating Gram-positive bacteria than the Gram-negative ones, and (iii) Zn(II) coordination is able to change the structure of the N-terminal region of histatin 5 (histatin 5-8) and moderately increase all of the studied histatins' antimicrobial potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Dzień
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Joanna Wątły
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Arian Kola
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Aleksandra Mikołajczyk
- Screening of Biological Activity Assays and Collection of Biological Material Laboratory, Wroclaw Medical University Biobank, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Adriana Miller
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka Matera-Witkiewicz
- Screening of Biological Activity Assays and Collection of Biological Material Laboratory, Wroclaw Medical University Biobank, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Daniela Valensin
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
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5
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Oludiran A, Malik A, Zourou AC, Wu Y, Gross SP, Siryapon A, Poudel A, Alleyne K, Adams S, Courson DS, Cotten ML, Purcell EB. Host-defense piscidin peptides as antibiotic adjuvants against Clostridioides difficile. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0295627. [PMID: 38252641 PMCID: PMC10802969 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295627] [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: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The spore-forming intestinal pathogen Clostridioides difficile causes multidrug resistant infection with a high rate of recurrence after treatment. Piscidins 1 (p1) and 3 (p3), cationic host defense peptides with micromolar cytotoxicity against C. difficile, sensitize C. difficile to clinically relevant antibiotics tested at sublethal concentrations. Both peptides bind to Cu2+ using an amino terminal copper and nickel binding motif. Here, we investigate the two peptides in the apo and holo states as antibiotic adjuvants against an epidemic strain of C. difficile. We find that the presence of the peptides leads to lower doses of metronidazole, vancomycin, and fidaxomicin to kill C. difficile. The activity of metronidazole, which targets DNA, is enhanced by a factor of 32 when combined with p3, previously shown to bind and condense DNA. Conversely, the activity of vancomycin, which acts at bacterial cell walls, is enhanced 64-fold when combined with membrane-active p1-Cu2+. As shown through microscopy monitoring the permeabilization of membranes of C. difficile cells and vesicle mimics of their membranes, the adjuvant effect of p1 and p3 in the apo and holo states is consistent with a mechanism of action where the peptides enable greater antibiotic penetration through the cell membrane to increase their bioavailability. The variations in effects obtained with the different forms of the peptides reveal that while all piscidins generally sensitize C. difficile to antibiotics, co-treatments can be optimized in accordance with the underlying mechanism of action of the peptides and antibiotics. Overall, this study highlights the potential of antimicrobial peptides as antibiotic adjuvants to increase the lethality of currently approved antibiotic dosages, reducing the risk of incomplete treatments and ensuing drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adenrele Oludiran
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Areej Malik
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
- Biomedical Sciences Program, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Andriana C. Zourou
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Yonghan Wu
- Irvine Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Steven P. Gross
- Ivrine Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Albert Siryapon
- Irvine Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Asia Poudel
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Kwincy Alleyne
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Savion Adams
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - David S. Courson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Myriam L. Cotten
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Erin B. Purcell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
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6
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Gao N, Wang J, Fang C, Bai P, Sun Y, Wu W, Shan A. Combating bacterial infections with host defense peptides: Shifting focus from bacteria to host immunity. Drug Resist Updat 2024; 72:101030. [PMID: 38043443 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2023.101030] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections necessitates the exploration of novel paradigms for anti-infective therapy. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), also known as host defense peptides (HDPs), have garnered extensive recognition as immunomodulatory molecules that leverage natural host mechanisms to enhance therapeutic benefits. The unique immune mechanism exhibited by certain HDPs that involves self-assembly into supramolecular nanonets capable of inducing bacterial agglutination and entrapping is significantly important. This process effectively prevents microbial invasion and subsequent dissemination and significantly mitigates selective pressure for the evolution of microbial resistance, highlighting the potential of HDP-based antimicrobial therapy. Recent advancements in this field have focused on developing bio-responsive materials in the form of supramolecular nanonets. A comprehensive overview of the immunomodulatory and bacteria-agglutinating activities of HDPs, along with a discussion on optimization strategies for synthetic derivatives, is presented in this article. These optimized derivatives exhibit improved biological properties and therapeutic potential, making them suitable for future clinical applications as effective anti-infective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Gao
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Jiajun Wang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China.
| | - Chunyang Fang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Pengfei Bai
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Yu Sun
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Wanpeng Wu
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China.
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7
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Roy S, Chaturvedi A, Dey S, Puneeth Kumar DRGKR, Pahan S, Panda Mahapatra S, Mandal P, Gopi HN. Anion Tuned Structural Modulation and Nonlinear Optical Effects of Metal-Ion Directed 3 10 -Helix Networks. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202303135. [PMID: 37867145 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202303135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Metals play an important role in the structure and functions of various proteins. The combination of metal ions and peptides have been emerging as an attractive field to create advanced structures and biomaterials. Here, we are reporting the anion-influenced, silver ion coordinated diverse networks of designed short tripeptide 310 -helices with terminal pyridyl groups. The short peptides adopted classical right-handed, left-handed and 310 EL -helical conformations in the presence of different silver salts. The peptides have displayed conformational flexibility to accommodate different sizes and interactions of anions to yield a variety of metal-coordinated networks. The complexes of metal ions and peptides have shown different porous networks, right- and left-handed helical polymers, transformation of helix into superhelix and 2 : 2 metal-peptide macrocycles. Further, the metal-peptide crystals with inherent dipoles of helical peptides gave striking second harmonic generation response. The optical energy upconversion from NIR to red and green light is demonstrated. Overall, we have shown the utilization of short 310 -helices for the construction of diverse metal-coordinated helical networks and notable non-linear optical effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souvik Roy
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008, Pune, India
| | - Aman Chaturvedi
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008, Pune, India
| | - Sanjit Dey
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008, Pune, India
| | - DRGKoppalu R Puneeth Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008, Pune, India
| | - Saikat Pahan
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008, Pune, India
| | - Souvik Panda Mahapatra
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008, Pune, India
| | - Pankaj Mandal
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008, Pune, India
| | - Hosahudya N Gopi
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008, Pune, India
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8
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R PA, Anbarasu A. Antimicrobial Peptides as Immunomodulators and Antimycobacterial Agents to Combat Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a Critical Review. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2023; 15:1539-1566. [PMID: 36576687 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-022-10018-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is a devastating disease foisting a significantly high morbidity, prepotent in low- and middle-income developing countries. Evolution of drug resistance among Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis, has made the TB treatment more complicated. The protracted nature of present TB treatment, persistent and tolerant Mtb populations, interaction with antiretroviral therapy and existing toxicity concerned with conventional anti-TB drugs are the four major challenges inflicted with emergence of drug-resistant mycobacterial strains, and the standard medications are unable to combat these strains. These factors emphasize an exigency to develop new drugs to overcome these barriers in current TB therapy. With this regard, antimycobacterial peptides derived from various sources such as human cells, bacterial sources, mycobacteriophages, fungal, plant and animal sources could be considered as antituberculosis leads as most of these peptides are associated with dual advantages of having both bactericidal activity towards Mtb as well as immuno-regulatory property. Some of the peptides possess the additional advantage of interacting synergistically with antituberculosis medications too, thereby increasing their efficiency, underscoring the vigour of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as best possible alternative therapeutic candidates or adjuvants in TB treatment. Albeit the beneficiary features of these peptides, few obstacles allied with them like cytotoxicity and proteolytic degradation are matter of concerns too. In this review, we have focused on structural hallmarks, targeting mechanisms and specific structural aspects contributing to antimycobacterial activity and discovered natural and synthetic antimycobacterial peptides along with their sources, anti-TB, immuno-regulatory properties, merits and demerits and possible delivery methods of AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preethi A R
- Medical & Biological Computing Laboratory, School of Bio-Sciences & Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore-632014, India
- Department of Biotechnology, SBST, VIT, Vellore-632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Anand Anbarasu
- Medical & Biological Computing Laboratory, School of Bio-Sciences & Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore-632014, India.
- Department of Biotechnology, SBST, VIT, Vellore-632014, Tamil Nadu, India.
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9
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D'Accolti M, Bellotti D, Dzień E, Leonetti C, Leveraro S, Albanese V, Marzola E, Guerrini R, Caselli E, Rowińska-Żyrek M, Remelli M. Impact of C- and N-terminal protection on the stability, metal chelation and antimicrobial properties of calcitermin. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18228. [PMID: 37880318 PMCID: PMC10600247 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45437-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The main limitation to the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as regular drugs, against antibiotic and antifungal resistance, mainly relates to their rapid degradation by proteolytic enzymes. The introduction of suitable structural changes in the peptide chain can make the peptide less susceptible to the action of proteases, thus overcoming this problem. To improve the plasma stability of calcitermin, a metal-chelating AMP present in the human respiratory tract and investigated in the present study, C- and/or N- terminal modifications have been introduced in the native sequence. Evaluation of peptide stability has been performed to determine the half-life times in human plasma of both native calcitermin and its derivatives. However, the protection of the peptide termini can also affect its metal coordination behaviour. Thus, the characterization of Zn2+ and Cu2+ complexes has been performed by means of several techniques, including potentiometry, high-resolution mass spectrometry, UV-Vis, circular dichroism and EPR. On the basis of the obtained results, it was possible to compare the biological activity of the studied systems, taking into account both the metal-binding ability and the peptide stability to search for a link among them. A significant result of this study is that the N-terminal protection increases the calcitermin half-life over seven times and the formation of metal complexes confers resistance towards degradation almost doubling its half-life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria D'Accolti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Denise Bellotti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Emilia Dzień
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Carlotta Leonetti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Leveraro
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Valentina Albanese
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Erika Marzola
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Remo Guerrini
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Caselli
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Remelli
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
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10
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Joshua Ashaolu T, Lee CC, Opeolu Ashaolu J, Pourjafar H, Jafari SM. Metal-binding peptides and their potential to enhance the absorption and bioavailability of minerals. Food Chem 2023; 428:136678. [PMID: 37418874 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.136678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Minerals including calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, and copper have several human nutritional functions due to their metabolic activities. Body tissues require sufficient levels of a variety of micronutrients to maintain their health. To achieve these micronutrient needs, dietary consumption must be adequate. Dietary proteins may regulate the biological functions of the body in addition to acting as nutrients. Some peptides encoded in the native protein sequences are primarily responsible for the absorption and bioavailability of minerals in physiological functions. Metal-binding peptides (MBPs) were discovered as potential agents for mineral supplements. Nevertheless, sufficient studies on how MBPs affect the biological functions of minerals are lacking. The hypothesis is that the absorption and bioavailability of minerals are significantly influenced by peptides, and these properties are further enhanced by the configuration and attribute of the metal-peptide complex. In this review, the production of MBPs is discussed using various key parameters such as the protein sources and amino acid residues, enzymatic hydrolysis, purification, sequencing and synthesis and in silico analysis of MBPs. The mechanisms of metal-peptide complexes as functional food ingredients are elucidated, including metal-peptide ratio, precursors and ligands, complexation reaction, absorbability and bioavailability. Finally, the characteristics and application of different metal-peptide complexes are also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tolulope Joshua Ashaolu
- Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Viet Nam; Faculty of Medicine, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Viet Nam
| | - Chi Ching Lee
- Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Department of Food Engineering, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Joseph Opeolu Ashaolu
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Redeemers University, PMB 230, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Hadi Pourjafar
- Dietary Supplements and Probiotic Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Seid Mahdi Jafari
- Department of Food Materials and Process Design Engineering, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.
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11
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Asensio-Calavia P, González-Acosta S, Otazo-Pérez A, López MR, Morales-delaNuez A, Pérez de la Lastra JM. Teleost Piscidins-In Silico Perspective of Natural Peptide Antibiotics from Marine Sources. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12050855. [PMID: 37237758 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12050855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Fish, like all other animals, are exposed to constant contact with microbes, both on their skin and on the surfaces of their respiratory and digestive systems. Fish have a system of non-specific immune responses that provides them with initial protection against infection and allows them to survive under normal conditions despite the presence of these potential invaders. However, fish are less protected against invading diseases than other marine vertebrates because their epidermal surface, composed primarily of living cells, lacks the keratinized skin that serves as an efficient natural barrier in other marine vertebrates. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are one type of innate immune protection present in all life forms. AMPs have been shown to have a broader range of biological effects than conventional antibiotics, including antibacterial, antiviral, antiprotozoal, and antifungal effects. Although other AMPs, such as defensins and hepcidins, are found in all vertebrates and are relatively well conserved, piscidins are found exclusively in Teleost fish and are not found in any other animal. Therefore, there is less information on the expression and bioactivity of piscidins than on other AMPs. Piscidins are highly effective against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria that cause disease in fish and humans and have the potential to be used as pharmacological anti-infectives in biomedicine and aquaculture. To better understand the potential benefits and limitations of using these peptides as therapeutic agents, we are conducting a comprehensive study of the Teleost piscidins included in the "reviewed" category of the UniProt database using bioinformatics tools. They all have amphipathic alpha-helical structures. The amphipathic architecture of piscidin peptides and positively charged residues influence their antibacterial activity. These alpha-helices are intriguing antimicrobial drugs due to their stability in high-salt and metal environments. New treatments for multidrug-resistant bacteria, cancer, and inflammation may be inspired by piscidin peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Asensio-Calavia
- Biotechnology of Macromolecules Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), Avda. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez, 3, 38206 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
- School of Doctoral and Graduate Studies, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez, SN. Edificio Calabaza-Apdo. 456, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Sergio González-Acosta
- Biotechnology of Macromolecules Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), Avda. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez, 3, 38206 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
- School of Doctoral and Graduate Studies, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez, SN. Edificio Calabaza-Apdo. 456, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Andrea Otazo-Pérez
- Biotechnology of Macromolecules Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), Avda. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez, 3, 38206 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
- School of Doctoral and Graduate Studies, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez, SN. Edificio Calabaza-Apdo. 456, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Manuel R López
- Biotechnology of Macromolecules Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), Avda. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez, 3, 38206 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Antonio Morales-delaNuez
- Biotechnology of Macromolecules Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), Avda. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez, 3, 38206 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - José Manuel Pérez de la Lastra
- Biotechnology of Macromolecules Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), Avda. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez, 3, 38206 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
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12
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Yu Q, Wang Q, Zhang L, Deng W, Cao X, Wang Z, Sun X, Yu J, Xu X. The applications of 3D printing in wound healing: the external delivery of stem cells and antibiosis. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 197:114823. [PMID: 37068658 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
As the global number of chronic wound patients rises, the financial burden and social pressure on patients increase daily. Stem cells have emerged as promising tissue engineering seed cells due to their enriched sources, multidirectional differentiation ability, and high proliferation rate. However, delivering them in vitro for the treatment of skin injury is still challenging. In addition, bacteria from the wound site and the environment can significantly impact wound healing. In the last decade, 3D bioprinting has dramatically enriched cell delivery systems. The produced scaffolds by this technique can be precisely localized within cells and perform antibacterial actions. In this review, we summarized the 3D bioprinting-based external delivery of stem cells and their antibiosis to improve wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingtong Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
| | - Qilong Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
| | - Linzhi Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
| | - Wenwen Deng
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
| | - Xia Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
| | - Zhe Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
| | - Xuan Sun
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
| | - Jiangnan Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China
| | - Ximing Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China.
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13
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Donaghy C, Javellana JG, Hong YJ, Djoko K, Angeles-Boza AM. The Synergy between Zinc and Antimicrobial Peptides: An Insight into Unique Bioinorganic Interactions. Molecules 2023; 28:2156. [PMID: 36903402 PMCID: PMC10004757 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28052156] [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: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are essential components of innate immunity across all species. AMPs have become the focus of attention in recent years, as scientists are addressing antibiotic resistance, a public health crisis that has reached epidemic proportions. This family of peptides represents a promising alternative to current antibiotics due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and tendency to avoid resistance development. A subfamily of AMPs interacts with metal ions to potentiate antimicrobial effectiveness, and, as such, they have been termed metalloAMPs. In this work, we review the scientific literature on metalloAMPs that enhance their antimicrobial efficacy when combined with the essential metal ion zinc(II). Beyond the role played by Zn(II) as a cofactor in different systems, it is well-known that this metal ion plays an important role in innate immunity. Here, we classify the different types of synergistic interactions between AMPs and Zn(II) into three distinct classes. By better understanding how each class of metalloAMPs uses Zn(II) to potentiate its activity, researchers can begin to exploit these interactions in the development of new antimicrobial agents and accelerate their use as therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Donaghy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | | | - Young-Jin Hong
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Karrera Djoko
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Alfredo M. Angeles-Boza
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
- Institute of Materials Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
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14
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Bellotti D, D’Accolti M, Pula W, Huang N, Simeliere F, Caselli E, Esposito E, Remelli M. Calcitermin-Loaded Smart Gels Activity against Candida albicans: A Preliminary In Vitro Study. Gels 2023; 9:gels9020165. [PMID: 36826335 PMCID: PMC9957098 DOI: 10.3390/gels9020165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcitermin is an antimicrobial peptide of 15 amino acids found in human nasal fluid characterized by antifungal and antibacterial properties. Candida albicans is the most common human fungal pathogen affecting many tissues, such as vaginal mucosa. In this study a formulation suitable for calcitermin administration on vaginal mucosa was developed for the treatment of fungal infections. To favor topical application, mucosal adhesion, and permanence, gels based on poloxamer 407 and xanthan gum were designed and compared with regard to their rheological behavior, erosion, and leakage. The selected gel was loaded with calcitermin, whose release kinetic was evaluated in vitro by Franz cells. An antifungal activity assay was conducted to assess the calcitermin anticandidal potential and the effect of its inclusion in the selected gel. The rheological study revealed the elastic and viscous moduli behavior as a function of poloxamer 407 and xanthan gum concentration. Xanthan gum presence decreased the transition temperature of the gel, while prolonging its erosion and leakage. Particularly, poloxamer 407, 18% and xanthan gum 0.4% were chosen. The calcitermin loading in the selected gel resulted in a transparent and homogeneous formulation and in a 4-fold decrease of the release rate with respect to the calcitermin solution, as evidenced by Franz cell study. The anticandidal activity tests demonstrated that calcitermin-loaded gel was more active against Candida albicans with respect to the peptide solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Bellotti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, I-44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Maria D’Accolti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, I-44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Walter Pula
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, I-44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Nicolas Huang
- Institut Galien Paris-Saclay (CNRS UMR 8612), Faculté de Pharmacie, Bâtiment Henri Moissan, Université Paris-Saclay, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Fanny Simeliere
- Institut Galien Paris-Saclay (CNRS UMR 8612), Faculté de Pharmacie, Bâtiment Henri Moissan, Université Paris-Saclay, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Elisabetta Caselli
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, I-44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Correspondence: (E.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Elisabetta Esposito
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, I-44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Correspondence: (E.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Maurizio Remelli
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, I-44121 Ferrara, Italy
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15
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Georgieva S, Todorov P, Staneva D, Grozdanov P, Nikolova I, Grabchev I. Metal-Peptide Complexes with Antimicrobial Potential for Cotton Fiber Protection. J Funct Biomater 2023; 14:jfb14020106. [PMID: 36826905 PMCID: PMC9962186 DOI: 10.3390/jfb14020106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
A study of the formation of copper (II) complexes with hemorphin peptide motifs in alkalic water solutions is presented. The effect of the peptide ligand on the complexing properties of the Cu (II) ion was quantified by giving the stoichiometry and stability of the complex compounds in the medium in which they are formed using voltammetric (cyclic) and spectral (UV-Vis and fluorimetric) analytical techniques. The resulting complexes were examined via IR spectroscopy to detect M-N and M-O oscillations and using the EPR approach in solution and in the solid phase to view the coordination and ligand binding regime. The possibility of the synergistic action of copper ions in the antivirus protection processes of cotton fibers coated in the same solvent with the newly obtained complex compounds was also investigated. One of the advantages is the formation of the complexes in an environment where the immobilization takes place, which contributes to increasing the efficiency of the process. The obtained results may serve as an aid for future more detailed biological studies of structure-activity relationships (SARs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stela Georgieva
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria
- Correspondence: (S.G.); (P.T.)
| | - Petar Todorov
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria
- Correspondence: (S.G.); (P.T.)
| | - Desislava Staneva
- Department of Textile, Leathers and Fuels, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Petar Grozdanov
- The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ivanka Nikolova
- The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ivo Grabchev
- Faculty of Medicine, Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, 1407 Sofia, Bulgaria
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16
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Greve JM, Cowan JA. Activity and Synergy of Cu-ATCUN Antimicrobial Peptides. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214151. [PMID: 36430622 PMCID: PMC9692552 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance demands innovative strategies and therapies. The pairs of antimicrobial peptides tested in this work show broad-spectrum synergy and are capable of interacting with diverse bacterial membranes. In most cases, the ATCUN motif enhanced the activity of peptides tested in combination. Our studies also show CP10A to be a multifaceted peptide, displaying both cell membrane and intracellular activity and acting as a chameleon, improving the activity of other peptides as needed. The results of the synergy experiments demonstrate the importance of varied modes of action and how these changes can affect the ability to combat pathogens, while also illustrating the value of the metal-binding domain in enhancing the activity of antimicrobial peptides in combination.
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17
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Chen X, Han J, Cai X, Wang S. Antimicrobial peptides: Sustainable application informed by evolutionary constraints. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 60:108012. [PMID: 35752270 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.108012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The proliferation and global expansion of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria have deepened the need to develop novel antimicrobials. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are regarded as promising antibacterial agents because of their broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and multifaceted mechanisms of action with non-specific targets. However, if AMPs are to be applied sustainably, knowledge of how they induce resistance in pathogenic bacteria must be mastered to avoid repeating the traditional antibiotic resistance mistakes currently faced. Furthermore, the evolutionary constraints on the acquisition of AMP resistance by microorganisms in the natural environment, such as functional compatibility and fitness trade-offs, inform the translational application of AMPs. Consequently, the shortcut to achieve sustainable utilization of AMPs is to uncover the evolutionary constraints of bacteria on AMP resistance in nature and find the tricks to exploit these constraints, such as applying AMP cocktails to minimize the efficacy of selection for resistance or combining nanomaterials to maximize the costs of AMP resistance. Altogether, this review dissects the benefits, challenges, and opportunities of utilizing AMPs against disease-causing bacteria, and highlights the use of AMP cocktails or nanomaterials to proactively address potential AMP resistance crises in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Chen
- College of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China; College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Jinzhi Han
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Xixi Cai
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Shaoyun Wang
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China.
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18
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Review Marine Pharmacology in 2018: Marine Compounds with Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antifungal, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiprotozoal, Antituberculosis and Antiviral Activities; Affecting the Immune and Nervous Systems, and other Miscellaneous Mechanisms of Action. Pharmacol Res 2022; 183:106391. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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19
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Bellotti D, Remelli M. Lights and Shadows on the Therapeutic Use of Antimicrobial Peptides. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27144584. [PMID: 35889455 PMCID: PMC9317528 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27144584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of antimicrobial-resistant infections is still a major concern for public health worldwide. The number of pathogenic microorganisms capable of resisting common therapeutic treatments are constantly increasing, highlighting the need of innovative and more effective drugs. This phenomenon is strictly connected to the rapid metabolism of microorganisms: due to the huge number of mutations that can occur in a relatively short time, a colony can “adapt” to the pharmacological treatment with the evolution of new resistant species. However, the shortage of available antimicrobial drugs in clinical use is also caused by the high costs involved in developing and marketing new drugs without an adequate guarantee of an economic return; therefore, the pharmaceutical companies have reduced their investments in this area. The use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represents a promising strategy for the design of new therapeutic agents. AMPs act as immune defense mediators of the host organism and show a poor ability to induce antimicrobial resistance, coupled with other advantages such as a broad spectrum of activity, not excessive synthetic costs and low toxicity of both the peptide itself and its own metabolites. It is also important to underline that many antimicrobial peptides, due to their inclination to attack cell membranes, have additional biological activities, such as, for example, as anti-cancer drugs. Unfortunately, they usually undergo rapid degradation by proteolytic enzymes and are characterized by poor bioavailability, preventing their extensive clinical use and landing on the pharmaceutical market. This review is focused on the strength and weak points of antimicrobial peptides as therapeutic agents. We give an overview on the AMPs already employed in clinical practice, which are examples of successful strategies aimed at overcoming the main drawbacks of peptide-based drugs. The review deepens the most promising strategies to design modified antimicrobial peptides with higher proteolytic stability with the purpose of giving a comprehensive summary of the commonly employed approaches to evaluate and optimize the peptide potentialities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Bellotti
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Maurizio Remelli
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Correspondence:
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20
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de Amaral M, Ienes-Lima J. Anurans against SARS-CoV-2: A review of the potential antiviral action of anurans cutaneous peptides. Virus Res 2022; 315:198769. [PMID: 35430319 PMCID: PMC9008983 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2022.198769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
At the end of 2019, in China, clinical signs and symptoms of unknown etiology have been reported in several patients whose sample sequencing revealed pneumonia caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. COVID-19 is a disease triggered by this virus, and in 2020, the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic. Since then, efforts have been made to find effective therapeutic agents against this disease. Identifying novel natural antiviral drugs can be an alternative to treatment. For this reason, antimicrobial peptides secreted by anurans' skin have gained attention for showing a promissory antiviral effect. Hence, this review aimed to elucidate how and which peptides secreted by anurans' skin can be considered therapeutic agents to treat or prevent human viral infectious diseases. Through a literature review, we attempted to identify potential antiviral frogs' peptides to combat COVID-19. As a result, the Magainin-1 and -2 peptides, from the Magainin family, the Dermaseptin-S9, from the Dermaseptin family, and Caerin 1.6 and 1.10, from the Caerin family, are molecules that already showed antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2 in silico. In addition to these peptides, this review suggests that future studies should use other families that already have antiviral action against other viruses, such as Brevinins, Maculatins, Esculentins, Temporins, and Urumins. To apply these peptides as therapeutic agents, experimental studies with peptides already tested in silico and new studies with other families not tested yet should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjoriane de Amaral
- Comparative Metabolism and Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Sarmento Leite, 500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 90050-170, Brazil.
| | - Julia Ienes-Lima
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
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21
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Greve JM, Cowan JA. Tackling antimicrobial stewardship through synergy and antimicrobial peptides. RSC Med Chem 2022; 13:511-521. [PMID: 35694695 PMCID: PMC9132191 DOI: 10.1039/d2md00048b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The unrestricted use of antibiotics has led to rapid development of antibiotic resistance (AR) and renewed calls to address this serious problem. This review summarizes the most common mechanisms of antibiotic action, and in turn antibiotic resistance, as well as pathways to mitigate the harm. Focus is then turned to emerging antibiotic strategies, including antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), with a discussion of their modes of action, biochemical features, and potential challenges for their use as antibiotics. The role of synergy in antimicrobials is also examined, with a focus on the synergy of AMPs and other emerging interactions with synergistic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna M Greve
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University 100 West 18th Avenue Columbus Ohio 43210 USA +1 614 292 2703
| | - James A Cowan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University 100 West 18th Avenue Columbus Ohio 43210 USA +1 614 292 2703
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22
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Anjomshoa M, Amirheidari B. Nuclease-like metalloscissors: Biomimetic candidates for cancer and bacterial and viral infections therapy. Coord Chem Rev 2022; 458:214417. [PMID: 35153301 PMCID: PMC8816526 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2022.214417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Despite the extensive and rapid discovery of modern drugs for treatment of cancer, microbial infections, and viral illnesses; these diseases are still among major global health concerns. To take inspiration from natural nucleases and also the therapeutic potential of metallopeptide antibiotics such as the bleomycin family, artificial metallonucleases with the ability of promoting DNA/RNA cleavage and eventually affecting cellular biological processes can be introduced as a new class of therapeutic candidates. Metal complexes can be considered as one of the main categories of artificial metalloscissors, which can prompt nucleic acid strand scission. Accordingly, biologists, inorganic chemists, and medicinal inorganic chemists worldwide have been designing, synthesizing and evaluating the biological properties of metal complexes as artificial metalloscissors. In this review, we try to highlight the recent studies conducted on the nuclease-like metalloscissors and their potential therapeutic applications. Under the light of the concurrent Covid-19 pandemic, the human need for new therapeutics was highlighted much more than ever before. The nuclease-like metalloscissors with the potential of RNA cleavage of invading viral pathogens hence deserve prime attention.
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23
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Zhang J, Islam MS, Wang J, Zhao Y, Dong W. Isolation of Potato Endophytes and Screening of Chaetomium globosum Antimicrobial Genes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094611. [PMID: 35563004 PMCID: PMC9099842 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have natural antibacterial activities that pathogens find difficult to overcome. As a result of this occurrence, AMPs can act as an important substitute against the microbial resistance. In this study, we used plate confrontation tests to screen out 20 potential endophytes from potato tubers. Among them, endophyte F5 was found to significantly inhibit the growth of five different pathogenic fungi. Following that, phylogenetic analysis revealed that the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences were 99% identical to Chaetomium globosum corresponding sequences. Thereafter, the Bacillus subtilis expression system was used to create a C. globosum cDNA library in order to isolate the resistance genes. Using this approach, the resistance gene screening technology in the indicator bacteria built-in library was used to identify two antimicrobial peptides, CgR2150 and CgR3101, with broad-spectrum antibacterial activities. Furthermore, the results showed that CgR2150 and CgR3101 have excellent UV, thermal, and enzyme stabilities. Also, these two peptides can significantly inhibit the growth of various bacteria (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola, Clavibacter michiganensis, and Clavibacter fangii) and fungi (Fusarium graminearum, Rhizoctonia solani, and Botrytis cinerea). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed that CgR2150 and CgR3101 peptides act against bacteria by disrupting bacterial cell membranes. Moreover, hemolytic activity assay showed that neither of the two peptides exhibited significant hemolytic activity. To conclude, the antimicrobial peptides CgR2150 and CgR3101 are promising in the development of a new antibacterial agent and for application in plant production.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Wubei Dong
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-150-0710-9436
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24
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Ngoepe MP, Clayton HS. Metal Complexes as DNA Synthesis and/or Repair Inhibitors: Anticancer and Antimicrobial Agents. PHARMACEUTICAL FRONTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1741035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractMedicinal inorganic chemistry involving the utilization of metal-based compounds as therapeutics has become a field showing distinct promise. DNA and RNA are ideal drug targets for therapeutic intervention in the case of various diseases, such as cancer and microbial infection. Metals play a vital role in medicine, with at least 10 metals known to be essential for human life and a further 46 nonessential metals having been involved in drug therapies and diagnosis. These metal-based complexes interact with DNA in various ways, and are often delivered as prodrugs which undergo activation in vivo. Metal complexes cause DNA crosslinking, leading to the inhibition of DNA synthesis and repair. In this review, the various interactions of metal complexes with DNA nucleic acids, as well as the underlying mechanism of action, were highlighted. Furthermore, we also discussed various tools used to investigate the interaction between metal complexes and the DNA. The tools included in vitro techniques such as spectroscopy and electrophoresis, and in silico studies such as protein docking and density-functional theory that are highlighted for preclinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hadley S. Clayton
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
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25
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Kotynia A, Wiatrak B, Kamysz W, Neubauer D, Jawień P, Marciniak A. Cationic Peptides and Their Cu(II) and Ni(II) Complexes: Coordination and Biological Characteristics. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222112028. [PMID: 34769458 PMCID: PMC8584440 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222112028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides are a promising group of compounds used for the treatment of infections. In some cases, metal ions are essential to activate these molecules. Examples of metalloantibiotics are, for instance, bleomycin and dermcidin. This study is focused on three new pseudopeptides with potential biological activity. The coordination behavior of all ligands with Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions has been examined. Various analytical methods such as potentiometric titration, UV-Vis and CD spectroscopies, and mass spectrometry were used. All compounds are convenient chelators for metal ion-binding. Two of the ligands tested have histidine residues. Surprisingly, imidazole nitrogen is not involved in the coordination of the metal ion. The N-terminal amino group, Dab side chains, and amide nitrogen atoms of the peptide bonds coordinated Cu(II) and Ni(II) in all the complexes formed. The cytotoxicity of three pseudopeptides and their complexes was evaluated. Moreover, their other model allowed for assessing the attenuation of LPS-induced cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activities were also evaluated, the results of which revealed to be very promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Kotynia
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
- Correspondence: (A.K.); (A.M.); Tel.: +48-71-784-03-35 (A.K.)
| | - Benita Wiatrak
- Department of Pharmacology, Wroclaw Medical University, Jana Mikulicza-Radeckiego 2, 50-345 Wroclaw, Poland; (B.W.); (P.J.)
| | - Wojciech Kamysz
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gen. J. Hallera 107, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland; (W.K.); (D.N.)
| | - Damian Neubauer
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gen. J. Hallera 107, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland; (W.K.); (D.N.)
| | - Paulina Jawień
- Department of Pharmacology, Wroclaw Medical University, Jana Mikulicza-Radeckiego 2, 50-345 Wroclaw, Poland; (B.W.); (P.J.)
- Department of Biostructure and Animal Physiology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25/27, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Marciniak
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
- Correspondence: (A.K.); (A.M.); Tel.: +48-71-784-03-35 (A.K.)
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26
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Brewster RC, Labeaga IC, Soden CE, Jarvis AG. Macrocylases as synthetic tools for ligand synthesis: enzymatic synthesis of cyclic peptides containing metal-binding amino acids. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:211098. [PMID: 34737880 PMCID: PMC8564625 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Improving the sustainability of synthesis is a major goal in green chemistry, which has been greatly aided by the development of asymmetric transition metal catalysis. Recent advances in asymmetric catalysis show that the ability to control the coordination sphere of substrates can lead to improvements in enantioselectivity and activity, in a manner resembling the operation of enzymes. Peptides can be used to mimic enzyme structures and their secondary interactions and they are easily accessible through solid-phase peptide synthesis. Despite this, cyclic peptides remain underexplored as chiral ligands for catalysis due to synthetic complications upon macrocyclization. Here, we show that the solid-phase synthesis of peptides containing metal-binding amino acids, bipyridylalanine (1), phenyl pyridylalanine (2) and N,N-dimethylhistidine (3) can be combined with peptide macrocylization using peptide cyclase 1 (PCY1) to yield cyclic peptides under mild conditions. High conversions of the linear peptides were observed (approx. 90%) and the Cu-bound cyclo(FSAS(1)SSKP) was shown to be a competent catalyst in the Friedel-Crafts/conjugate addition of indole. This study shows that PCY1 can tolerate peptides containing amino acids with classic inorganic and organometallic ligands as side chains, opening the door to the streamlined and efficient development of cyclic peptides as metal ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard C. Brewster
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Rd, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, Scotland
| | - Irati Colmenero Labeaga
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Rd, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, Scotland
| | - Catriona E. Soden
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Rd, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, Scotland
| | - Amanda G. Jarvis
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Rd, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, Scotland
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27
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Miller A, Matera-Witkiewicz A, Mikołajczyk A, Wieczorek R, Rowińska-Żyrek M. Chemical "Butterfly Effect" Explaining the Coordination Chemistry and Antimicrobial Properties of Clavanin Complexes. Inorg Chem 2021; 60:12730-12734. [PMID: 34382773 PMCID: PMC8424629 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c02101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Can a minor difference in the nonmetal binding sequence of antimicrobial clavanins explain the drastic change in the coordination environment and antimicrobial efficiency? This study answers the question with a definite "yes", showing the details of the bioinorganic chemistry of Zn(II) and Cu(II) complexes with clavanins, histidine-rich, antimicrobial peptides from hemocytes of the tunicate Styela clava.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Miller
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Matera-Witkiewicz
- Screening Laboratory of Biological Activity Tests and Collection of Biological Material, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Mikołajczyk
- Screening Laboratory of Biological Activity Tests and Collection of Biological Material, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Robert Wieczorek
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
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29
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Comert F, Heinrich F, Chowdhury A, Schoeneck M, Darling C, Anderson KW, Libardo MDJ, Angeles-Boza AM, Silin V, Cotten ML, Mihailescu M. Copper-binding anticancer peptides from the piscidin family: an expanded mechanism that encompasses physical and chemical bilayer disruption. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12620. [PMID: 34135370 PMCID: PMC8208971 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91670-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the search for novel broad-spectrum therapeutics to fight chronic infections, inflammation, and cancer, host defense peptides (HDPs) have garnered increasing interest. Characterizing their biologically-active conformations and minimum motifs for function represents a requisite step to developing them into efficacious and safe therapeutics. Here, we demonstrate that metallating HDPs with Cu2+ is an effective chemical strategy to improve their cytotoxicity on cancer cells. Mechanistically, we find that prepared as Cu2+-complexes, the peptides not only physically but also chemically damage lipid membranes. Our testing ground features piscidins 1 and 3 (P1/3), two amphipathic, histidine-rich, membrane-interacting, and cell-penetrating HDPs that are α-helical bound to membranes. To investigate their membrane location, permeabilization effects, and lipid-oxidation capability, we employ neutron reflectometry, impedance spectroscopy, neutron diffraction, and UV spectroscopy. While P1-apo is more potent than P3-apo, metallation boosts their cytotoxicities by up to two- and seven-fold, respectively. Remarkably, P3-Cu2+ is particularly effective at inserting in bilayers, causing water crevices in the hydrocarbon region and placing Cu2+ near the double bonds of the acyl chains, as needed to oxidize them. This study points at a new paradigm where complexing HDPs with Cu2+ to expand their mechanistic reach could be explored to design more potent peptide-based anticancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatih Comert
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Frank Heinrich
- Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA
| | - Ananda Chowdhury
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Mason Schoeneck
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, 14620, USA
| | - Caitlin Darling
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Kyle W Anderson
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
- Biomolecular Measurement Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA
| | - M Daben J Libardo
- Department of Chemistry and Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Alfredo M Angeles-Boza
- Department of Chemistry and Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Vitalii Silin
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Myriam L Cotten
- Department of Applied Science, William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, 23185, USA.
| | - Mihaela Mihailescu
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA.
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30
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Yu Z, Hendricks AL, Cowan JA. G-quadruplex targeting chemical nucleases as a nonperturbative tool for analysis of cellular G-quadruplex DNA. iScience 2021; 24:102661. [PMID: 34189433 PMCID: PMC8215219 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplex structures are associated with various biological activities, while in vivo evidence is essential to confirm the formation of G-quadruplexes inside cells. Most conventional agents that recognize G-quadruplex, including antibodies and small-molecule G-quadruplex ligands, either stabilize the G-quadruplex or prevent G-quadruplex unfolding by helicase, thereby artificially increasing the G-quadruplex levels in cells. Unambiguous study of G-quadruplexes at natural cellular levels requires agents that do not enhance the stability of G-quadruplex. Herein, we report the first example of nonperturbative chemical nucleases that do not influence the stability of G-quadruplex telomeric DNA but can selectively cleave G-quadruplex DNA over duplex DNA. These chemical nucleases can be readily taken up by cells and promote selective cleavage of telomeric DNA with low levels of nonselective DNA cleavage of other regions of the genome. The cleavage of G-quadruplex telomeric DNA by nonperturbative chemical nucleases confirms the formation of G-quadruplex telomeric DNA in live cells. Novel chemical nucleases exhibit no effect on G-quadruplex telomeric DNA stability Selective nucleases cleave G-quadruplex DNA over duplex DNA Cleavage of G-quadruplex telomeric DNA motifs confirms their existence in cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Yu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Amber L. Hendricks
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - James A. Cowan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Corresponding author
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31
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Fu R, Rooney MT, Zhang R, Cotten ML. Coordination of Redox Ions within a Membrane-Binding Peptide: A Tale of Aromatic Rings. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:4392-4399. [PMID: 33939920 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c00636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The amino-terminal-copper-and-nickel-binding (ATCUN) motif, a tripeptide sequence ending with a histidine, confers important functions to proteins and peptides. Few high-resolution studies have been performed on the ATCUN motifs of membrane-associated proteins and peptides, limiting our understanding of how they stabilize Cu2+/Ni2+ in membranes. Here, we leverage solid-state NMR to investigate metal-binding to piscidin-1 (P1), a host-defense peptide featuring F1F2H3 as its ATCUN motif. Bound to redox ions, P1 chemically and physically damages pathogenic cell membranes. We design 13C/15N correlation experiments to detect and assign the deprotonated nitrogens produced and/or shifted by Ni2+-binding. Occupying multiple chemical states in P1-apo, H3 and the neighboring H4 respond to metalation by populating only the τ-tautomer. H3, as a proximal histidine, directly coordinates the metal, compared to the distal H4. Density functional theory calculations reflect this noncanonical arrangement and point toward cation-π interactions between the F1/F2/H4 aromatic rings and metal. These structural findings, which are relevant to other ATCUN-containing membrane peptides, could help design new therapeutics and materials for use in the areas of drug-resistant bacteria, neurological disorders, and biomedical imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riqiang Fu
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, 1800 East Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32310, United States
| | - Mary T Rooney
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185, United States
| | - Rongfu Zhang
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, 1800 East Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32310, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, United States
| | - Myriam L Cotten
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185, United States
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32
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Thompson Z, Greve JM, Cowan JA. Enhanced Synergism and Mechanism of Action Studies of Synthetic Antimicrobial Metallopeptides. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:2112-2120. [PMID: 33825350 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202100063] [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] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are found throughout most kingdoms of life, are an important part of host immunity, and have been shown to act synergistically in various organisms to ameliorate bacterial infections. Herein, we report the synergistic behavior observed between two AMPs, Sub5 and CP10A, against E. coli. In addition, enhanced synergistic activity against E. coli and MRSA 43300 for two derivatives of Sub5, extended with the amino-terminal copper and nickel (ATCUN) binding motif, is observed when dosed together with CP10A, while displaying little cytotoxicity towards human dermal fibroblasts. All three combinations of peptides co-localized within bacterial cells as evidenced by fluorescence confocal microscopy. Investigations into the mechanism of synergy shows that all peptides indirectly damage DNA within cells, while only the ATCUN derivatives can oxidize phospholipids. Combinations of peptides were also shown to upregulate the concentration of reactive oxygen species within both E. coli and MRSA 43300. These results suggest that the production of reactive oxygen species is an important aspect mechanistically and further highlights the potential of these metallopeptides to aid in the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zechariah Thompson
- Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Evans Laboratory of Chemistry 100, West 18th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - Jenna M Greve
- Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Evans Laboratory of Chemistry 100, West 18th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - James Allan Cowan
- Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Evans Laboratory of Chemistry 100, West 18th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA
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Moyer TB, Purvis AL, Wommack AJ, Hicks LM. Proteomic response of Escherichia coli to a membrane lytic and iron chelating truncated Amaranthus tricolor defensin. BMC Microbiol 2021; 21:110. [PMID: 33845758 PMCID: PMC8042948 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-021-02176-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plant defensins are a broadly distributed family of antimicrobial peptides which have been primarily studied for agriculturally relevant antifungal activity. Recent studies have probed defensins against Gram-negative bacteria revealing evidence for multiple mechanisms of action including membrane lysis and ribosomal inhibition. Herein, a truncated synthetic analog containing the γ-core motif of Amaranthus tricolor DEF2 (Atr-DEF2) reveals Gram-negative antibacterial activity and its mechanism of action is probed via proteomics, outer membrane permeability studies, and iron reduction/chelation assays. RESULTS Atr-DEF2(G39-C54) demonstrated activity against two Gram-negative human bacterial pathogens, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Quantitative proteomics revealed changes in the E. coli proteome in response to treatment of sub-lethal concentrations of the truncated defensin, including bacterial outer membrane (OM) and iron acquisition/processing related proteins. Modification of OM charge is a common response of Gram-negative bacteria to membrane lytic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to reduce electrostatic interactions, and this mechanism of action was confirmed for Atr-DEF2(G39-C54) via an N-phenylnaphthalen-1-amine uptake assay. Additionally, in vitro assays confirmed the capacity of Atr-DEF2(G39-C54) to reduce Fe3+ and chelate Fe2+ at cell culture relevant concentrations, thus limiting the availability of essential enzymatic cofactors. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the utility of plant defensin γ-core motif synthetic analogs for characterization of novel defensin activity. Proteomic changes in E. coli after treatment with Atr-DEF2(G39-C54) supported the hypothesis that membrane lysis is an important component of γ-core motif mediated antibacterial activity but also emphasized that other properties, such as metal sequestration, may contribute to a multifaceted mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa B Moyer
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Rd. CB#3290, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | | | - Andrew J Wommack
- Department of Chemistry, High Point University, High Point, NC, USA
| | - Leslie M Hicks
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Rd. CB#3290, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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Ye Z, Zhu H, Zhang S, Li J, Wang J, Wang E. Highly efficient nanomedicine from cationic antimicrobial peptide-protected Ag nanoclusters. J Mater Chem B 2021; 9:307-313. [PMID: 33289752 DOI: 10.1039/d0tb02267e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Designing the homogeneous assembly of the bio-nano interface to fine-tune the interactions between the nanoprobes and biological systems is of prime importance to improve the antimicrobial efficiency of nanomedicines. In this work, highly luminescent silver nanoclusters with the homogeneous conjugation of an antimicrobial peptide (referred to as Dpep-Ag NCs) were achieved via the reduction-decomposition-reduction process as a single package. The as-designed Dpep-Ag NCs inherited the two distinctive features of bactericides from the Ag+ species and the antimicrobial peptide of Dpep, and exhibited enhanced bacterial killing efficiency compared with other control groups including BSA-capped Ag NCs and the original antimicrobial peptide bactenecin (Opep)-protected Ag nanoparticles (Opep-Ag NPs). The ultrasmall size feature of Dpep-Ag NCs combined with the positively charged bactericidal tail allow a better interface and interaction with the cell membrane owing to the selective targeting of lipopolysaccharides in the Gram-negative bacteria and electrostatic interaction, facilitating the membrane permeability. Dpep-Ag NCs restrained the E. coli growth visibly and outperformed commercial Ag NPs (30 nm) with reduced (ca. 100-fold) minimal inhibitory concentration. The analysis of infected wound sizes and tissues treated with Dpep-Ag NCs in a murine model reveal obvious differences in the healing effect compared with the other counterparts, demonstrating its antibacterial efficiency in practical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhikai Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China. and University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230029, P. R. China
| | - Haishuang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China. and University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230029, P. R. China
| | - Shan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China. and University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230029, P. R. China
| | - Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China.
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Physics and Applied Mathematics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York 11794-3400, USA.
| | - Erkang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China.
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Portelinha J, Heilemann K, Jin J, Angeles-Boza AM. Unraveling the implications of multiple histidine residues in the potent antimicrobial peptide Gaduscidin-1. J Inorg Biochem 2021; 219:111391. [PMID: 33770667 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2021.111391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The development of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as potential therapeutics requires resolving the foundational principles behind their structure-activity relationships. The role of histidine residues within AMPs remains a mystery despite the fact that several potent peptides containing this amino acid are being considered for further clinical development. Gaduscidin-1 (Gad-1) is a potent AMP from Atlantic cod fish that has a total of five His residues. Herein, the role of His residues and metal-potentiated activity of Gad-1 was studied. The five His residues contribute to the broad-spectrum activity of Gad-1. We demonstrated that Gad-1 can coordinate two Cu2+ ions, one at the N-terminus and one at the C-terminus, where the C-terminal binding site is a novel Cu2+ binding motif. High affinity Cu2+ binding at both sites was observed using mass spectrometry and isothermal titration calorimetry. Electron paramagnetic resonance was used to determine the coordination environment of the Cu2+ ions. Cu2+ binding was shown to be responsible for an increase in antimicrobial activity and a new mode of action. Along with the traditional AMP mode of action of pore formation, Gad-1 in the presence of Cu2+ (per)oxidizes lipids. Importantly, His3, His11, His17, and His21 were found to be important to lipid (per)oxidation. This insight will help further understand the inclusion and role of His residues in AMPs, the role of the novel C-terminal binding site, and can contribute to the field of designing potent AMPs that bind metal ions to potentiate activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Portelinha
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269, United States of America
| | - Kara Heilemann
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269, United States of America
| | - Jing Jin
- Magnetic Resonance Center, Boston College, 2609 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, United States of America
| | - Alfredo M Angeles-Boza
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269, United States of America; Institute of Material Science, University of Connecticut, 97 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269, United States of America.
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Wątły J, Miller A, Kozłowski H, Rowińska-Żyrek M. Peptidomimetics - An infinite reservoir of metal binding motifs in metabolically stable and biologically active molecules. J Inorg Biochem 2021; 217:111386. [PMID: 33610030 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2021.111386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The involvement of metal ions in interactions with therapeutic peptides is inevitable. They are one of the factors able to fine-tune the biological properties of antimicrobial peptides, a promising group of drugs with one large drawback - a problematic metabolic stability. Appropriately chosen, proteolytically stable peptidomimetics seem to be a reasonable solution of the problem, and the use of D-, β-, γ-amino acids, unnatural amino acids, azapeptides, peptoids, cyclopeptides and dehydropeptides is an infinite reservoir of metal binding motifs in metabolically stable, well-designed, biologically active molecules. Below, their specific structural features, metal-chelating abilities and antimicrobial potential are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Wątły
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, Joliot - Curie 14, Wroclaw 50-383, Poland.
| | - Adriana Miller
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, Joliot - Curie 14, Wroclaw 50-383, Poland
| | - Henryk Kozłowski
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, Joliot - Curie 14, Wroclaw 50-383, Poland; Department of Health Sciences, University of Opole, Katowicka 68, Opole 45-060, Poland
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Portelinha J, Duay SS, Yu SI, Heilemann K, Libardo MDJ, Juliano SA, Klassen JL, Angeles-Boza AM. Antimicrobial Peptides and Copper(II) Ions: Novel Therapeutic Opportunities. Chem Rev 2021; 121:2648-2712. [PMID: 33524257 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of new pathogens and multidrug resistant bacteria is an important public health issue that requires the development of novel classes of antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a promising platform with great potential for the identification of new lead compounds that can combat the aforementioned pathogens due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and relatively low rate of resistance emergence. AMPs of multicellular organisms made their debut four decades ago thanks to ingenious researchers who asked simple questions about the resistance to bacterial infections of insects. Questions such as "Do fruit flies ever get sick?", combined with pioneering studies, have led to an understanding of AMPs as universal weapons of the immune system. This review focuses on a subclass of AMPs that feature a metal binding motif known as the amino terminal copper and nickel (ATCUN) motif. One of the metal-based strategies of hosts facing a pathogen, it includes wielding the inherent toxicity of copper and deliberately trafficking this metal ion into sites of infection. The sudden increase in the concentration of copper ions in the presence of ATCUN-containing AMPs (ATCUN-AMPs) likely results in a synergistic interaction. Herein, we examine common structural features in ATCUN-AMPs that exist across species, and we highlight unique features that deserve additional attention. We also present the current state of knowledge about the molecular mechanisms behind their antimicrobial activity and the methods available to study this promising class of AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Portelinha
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Searle S Duay
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States.,Chemistry Department, Adamson University, 900 San Marcelino Street, Ermita, Manila 1000, Philippines
| | - Seung I Yu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Kara Heilemann
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - M Daben J Libardo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Samuel A Juliano
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Jonathan L Klassen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Alfredo M Angeles-Boza
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States.,Institute of Material Science, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
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Singh N, Singh R, Sharma S, Kesharwani K, Joshi KB, Verma S. Transition-metal ion-mediated morphological transformation of pyridine-based peptide nanostructures. NEW J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d0nj04260a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Pyridine-mediated constitutionally isomeric artificial metallopeptides possess remarkable advantages over the natural counterparts mainly due to their tailor-made chemical structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narendra Singh
- Department of chemistry
- Indian Institute of Technology
- Kanpur-208016
- India
| | - Ramesh Singh
- Department of Chemistry
- School of Chemical Science and Technology
- Dr HarisinghGour Central University
- Sagar
- India
| | - Swati Sharma
- Department of chemistry
- Indian Institute of Technology
- Kanpur-208016
- India
| | - Khushboo Kesharwani
- Department of Chemistry
- School of Chemical Science and Technology
- Dr HarisinghGour Central University
- Sagar
- India
| | - Khashti Ballabh Joshi
- Department of Chemistry
- School of Chemical Science and Technology
- Dr HarisinghGour Central University
- Sagar
- India
| | - Sandeep Verma
- Department of chemistry
- Indian Institute of Technology
- Kanpur-208016
- India
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Maiti BK, Govil N, Kundu T, Moura JJ. Designed Metal-ATCUN Derivatives: Redox- and Non-redox-Based Applications Relevant for Chemistry, Biology, and Medicine. iScience 2020; 23:101792. [PMID: 33294799 PMCID: PMC7701195 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The designed "ATCUN" motif (amino-terminal copper and nickel binding site) is a replica of naturally occurring ATCUN site found in many proteins/peptides, and an attractive platform for multiple applications, which include nucleases, proteases, spectroscopic probes, imaging, and small molecule activation. ATCUN motifs are engineered at periphery by conjugation to recombinant proteins, peptides, fluorophores, or recognition domains through chemically or genetically, fulfilling the needs of various biological relevance and a wide range of practical usages. This chemistry has witnessed significant growth over the last few decades and several interesting ATCUN derivatives have been described. The redox role of the ATCUN moieties is also an important aspect to be considered. The redox potential of designed M-ATCUN derivatives is modulated by judicious choice of amino acid (including stereochemistry, charge, and position) that ultimately leads to the catalytic efficiency. In this context, a wide range of M-ATCUN derivatives have been designed purposefully for various redox- and non-redox-based applications, including spectroscopic probes, target-based catalytic metallodrugs, inhibition of amyloid-β toxicity, and telomere shortening, enzyme inactivation, biomolecules stitching or modification, next-generation antibiotic, and small molecule activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biplab K. Maiti
- National Institute of Technology Sikkim, Ravangla Campus, Barfung Block, Ravangla Sub Division, South Sikkim 737139, India
| | - Nidhi Govil
- National Institute of Technology Sikkim, Ravangla Campus, Barfung Block, Ravangla Sub Division, South Sikkim 737139, India
| | - Taraknath Kundu
- National Institute of Technology Sikkim, Ravangla Campus, Barfung Block, Ravangla Sub Division, South Sikkim 737139, India
| | - José J.G. Moura
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
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Bouraguba M, Glattard E, Naudé M, Pelletier R, Aisenbrey C, Bechinger B, Raibaut L, Lebrun V, Faller P. Copper-binding motifs Xxx-His or Xxx-Zzz-His (ATCUN) linked to an antimicrobial peptide: Cu-binding, antimicrobial activity and ROS production. J Inorg Biochem 2020; 213:111255. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2020.111255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Maiti BK. Potential Role of Peptide-Based Antiviral Therapy Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2020; 3:783-785. [PMID: 32821885 PMCID: PMC7393772 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Because of the uninterrupted spread of novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infectious disease (COVID-19) with substantial illness and mortality rates, there is an urgent requirement of suitable antiviral agent/therapy to control this pandemic, but not yet established. The primary cause of SARS-CoV-2 infection is the crosstalk between the SARS-CoV-2 and host surface receptor protein, human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2), prior to cellular entry. Hence, blocking at the initial stage of virus entry could be a promising strategy/therapy to combat the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Many drugs as SARS-CoV-2 blocker have been proposed. Among them, peptide-based antivirals are one. This Viewpoint discusses the potential antiviral role and feasibility of two classes of peptides for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection, where (1) a designed peptide (replication of virus binding domain of hACE2), and (2) antimicrobial peptides (AMPs; natural and first line host defense peptide), both may reduce virus load into the host cell by blocking cellular surface receptors and/or disruption of virus cell membrane at the stage of virus entry. These finding may provide a novel antiviral therapy against COVID-19, which might control the current global health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biplab K. Maiti
- National Institute of Technology
Sikkim, Ravangla Campus, Barfung Block,
Ravangla Sub Division, South Sikkim 737139, India
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Peters AD, Borsley S, Della Sala F, Cairns-Gibson DF, Leonidou M, Clayden J, Whitehead GFS, Vitórica-Yrezábal IJ, Takano E, Burthem J, Cockroft SL, Webb SJ. Switchable foldamer ion channels with antibacterial activity. Chem Sci 2020; 11:7023-7030. [PMID: 32953034 PMCID: PMC7481839 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc02393k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic ion channels may have applications in treating channelopathies and as new classes of antibiotics, particularly if ion flow through the channels can be controlled. Here we describe triazole-capped octameric α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) foldamers that "switch on" ion channel activity in phospholipid bilayers upon copper(ii) chloride addition; activity is "switched off" upon copper(ii) extraction. X-ray crystallography showed that CuCl2 complexation gave chloro-bridged foldamer dimers, with hydrogen bonds between dimers producing channels within the crystal structure. These interactions suggest a pathway for foldamer self-assembly into membrane ion channels. The copper(ii)-foldamer complexes showed antibacterial activity against B. megaterium strain DSM319 that was similar to the peptaibol antibiotic alamethicin, but with 90% lower hemolytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna D Peters
- Department of Chemistry , University of Manchester , Oxford Road , Manchester M13 9PL , UK .
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology , University of Manchester , 131 Princess St , Manchester M1 7DN , UK
| | - Stefan Borsley
- Department of Chemistry , University of Manchester , Oxford Road , Manchester M13 9PL , UK .
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry , University of Edinburgh , Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road , Edinburgh EH9 3FJ , UK
| | - Flavio Della Sala
- Department of Chemistry , University of Manchester , Oxford Road , Manchester M13 9PL , UK .
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology , University of Manchester , 131 Princess St , Manchester M1 7DN , UK
| | - Dominic F Cairns-Gibson
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry , University of Edinburgh , Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road , Edinburgh EH9 3FJ , UK
| | - Marios Leonidou
- Department of Chemistry , University of Manchester , Oxford Road , Manchester M13 9PL , UK .
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology , University of Manchester , 131 Princess St , Manchester M1 7DN , UK
| | - Jonathan Clayden
- School of Chemistry , University of Bristol , Cantock's Close , Bristol BS8 1TS , UK
| | - George F S Whitehead
- Department of Chemistry , University of Manchester , Oxford Road , Manchester M13 9PL , UK .
| | | | - Eriko Takano
- Department of Chemistry , University of Manchester , Oxford Road , Manchester M13 9PL , UK .
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology , University of Manchester , 131 Princess St , Manchester M1 7DN , UK
| | - John Burthem
- Department of Haematology , Manchester Royal Infirmary , Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust , Manchester M13 9WL , UK
- Division of Cancer Sciences , School of Medical Sciences , University of Manchester , Manchester , UK
| | - Scott L Cockroft
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry , University of Edinburgh , Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road , Edinburgh EH9 3FJ , UK
| | - Simon J Webb
- Department of Chemistry , University of Manchester , Oxford Road , Manchester M13 9PL , UK .
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology , University of Manchester , 131 Princess St , Manchester M1 7DN , UK
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Mercer DK, Torres MDT, Duay SS, Lovie E, Simpson L, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, de la Fuente-Nunez C, O'Neil DA, Angeles-Boza AM. Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Antimicrobial Peptides to Better Predict Efficacy. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:326. [PMID: 32733816 PMCID: PMC7358464 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
During the development of antimicrobial peptides (AMP) as potential therapeutics, antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) stands as an essential part of the process in identification and optimisation of candidate AMP. Standard methods for AST, developed almost 60 years ago for testing conventional antibiotics, are not necessarily fit for purpose when it comes to determining the susceptibility of microorganisms to AMP. Without careful consideration of the parameters comprising AST there is a risk of failing to identify novel antimicrobials at a time when antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is leading the planet toward a post-antibiotic era. More physiologically/clinically relevant AST will allow better determination of the preclinical activity of drug candidates and allow the identification of lead compounds. An important consideration is the efficacy of AMP in biological matrices replicating sites of infection, e.g., blood/plasma/serum, lung bronchiolar lavage fluid/sputum, urine, biofilms, etc., as this will likely be more predictive of clinical efficacy. Additionally, specific AST for different target microorganisms may help to better predict efficacy of AMP in specific infections. In this manuscript, we describe what we believe are the key considerations for AST of AMP and hope that this information can better guide the preclinical development of AMP toward becoming a new generation of urgently needed antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcelo D. T. Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Institute for Computational Science, and Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Searle S. Duay
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Emma Lovie
- NovaBiotics Ltd, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Institute for Computational Science, and Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | - Alfredo M. Angeles-Boza
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
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Thompson Z, Cowan JA. Artificial Metalloenzymes: Recent Developments and Innovations in Bioinorganic Catalysis. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e2000392. [PMID: 32372559 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202000392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Cellular life is orchestrated by the biochemical components of cells that include nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, and cofactors such as metabolites and metals, all of which coalesce and function synchronously within the cell. Metalloenzymes allow for such complex chemical processes, as they catalyze a myriad of biochemical reactions both efficiently and selectively, where the metal cofactor provides additional functionality to promote reactivity not readily achieved in their absence. While the past 60 years have yielded considerable insight on how enzymes catalyze these reactions, a need to engineer and develop artificial metalloenzymes has been driven not only by industrial and therapeutic needs, but also by innate human curiosity. The design of miniature enzymes, both rationally and through serendipity, using both organic and inorganic building blocks has been explored by many scientists over the years and significant progress has been made. Herein, recent developments over the past 5 years in areas that have not been recently reviewed are summarized, and prospects for future research in these areas are addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zechariah Thompson
- Evans Laboratory of Chemistry, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - James Allan Cowan
- Evans Laboratory of Chemistry, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
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Di Natale C, De Benedictis I, De Benedictis A, Marasco D. Metal-Peptide Complexes as Promising Antibiotics to Fight Emerging Drug Resistance: New Perspectives in Tuberculosis. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9060337. [PMID: 32570779 PMCID: PMC7344629 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9060337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In metal-peptide interactions, cations form stable complexes through bonds with coordinating groups as side chains of amino acids. These compounds, among other things, exert a wide variety of antimicrobial activities through structural changes of peptides upon metal binding and redox chemistry. They exhibit different mechanisms of action (MOA), including the modification of DNA/RNA, protein and cell wall synthesis, permeabilization and modulation of gradients of cellular membranes. Nowadays, the large increase in antibiotic resistance represents a crucial problem to limit progression at the pandemic level of the diseases that seemed nearly eradicated, such as tuberculosis (Tb). Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics due to chromosomal mutations which can lead to the onset of novel strains. Consequently, the maximum pharmaceutical effort should be focused on the development of new therapeutic agents and antimicrobial peptides can represent a valuable option as a copious source of potential bioactive compounds. The introduction of a metal center can improve chemical diversity and hence specificity and bioavailability while, in turn, the coordination to peptides of metal complexes can protect them and enhance their poor water solubility and air stability: the optimization of these parameters is strictly required for drug prioritization and to obtain potent inhibitors of Mtb infections with novel MOAs. Here, we present a panoramic review of the most recent findings in the field of metal complex-peptide conjugates and their delivery systems with the potential pharmaceutical application as novel antibiotics in Mtb infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Concetta Di Natale
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80134 Napoli NA, Italy; (C.D.N.); (I.D.B.); (A.D.B.)
- Center for Advanced Biomaterial for Health Care (CABHC), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 80125 Naples, Italy
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB) and Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, University of Naples Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Ilaria De Benedictis
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80134 Napoli NA, Italy; (C.D.N.); (I.D.B.); (A.D.B.)
| | - Arianna De Benedictis
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80134 Napoli NA, Italy; (C.D.N.); (I.D.B.); (A.D.B.)
| | - Daniela Marasco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80134 Napoli NA, Italy; (C.D.N.); (I.D.B.); (A.D.B.)
- Correspondence:
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Juliano SA, Serafim LF, Duay SS, Heredia Chavez M, Sharma G, Rooney M, Comert F, Pierce S, Radulescu A, Cotten ML, Mihailescu M, May ER, Greenwood AI, Prabhakar R, Angeles-Boza AM. A Potent Host Defense Peptide Triggers DNA Damage and Is Active against Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Pathogens. ACS Infect Dis 2020; 6:1250-1263. [PMID: 32251582 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Gram-negative bacteria are some of the biggest threats to public health due to a large prevalence of antibiotic resistance. The difficulty in treating bacterial infections, stemming from their double membrane structure combined with efflux pumps in the outer membrane, has resulted in a much greater need for antimicrobials with activity against these pathogens. Tunicate host defense peptide (HDP), Clavanin A, is capable of not only inhibiting Gram-negative growth but also potentiating activity in the presence of Zn(II). Here, we provide evidence that the improvements of Clavanin A activity in the presence of Zn(II) are due to its novel mechanism of action. We employed E. coli TD172 (ΔrecA::kan) and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay to show in cellulae that DNA damage occurs upon treatment with Clavanin A. In vitro assays demonstrated that Zn(II) ions are required for the nuclease activity of the peptide. The quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations were used to investigate the mechanism of DNA damage. In the rate-determining step of the proposed mechanism, due to its Lewis acidity, the Zn(II) ion activates the scissile P-O bond of DNA and creates a hydroxyl nucleophile from a water molecule. A subsequent attack by this group to the electrophilic phosphorus cleaves the scissile phosphoester bond. Additionally, we utilized bacterial cytological profiling (BCP), circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy in the presence of lipid vesicles, and surface plasmon resonance combined with electrical impedance spectroscopy in order to address the apparent discrepancies between our results and the previous studies regarding the mechanism of action of Clavanin A. Finally, our approach may lead to the identification of additional Clavanin A like HDPs and promote the development of antimicrobial peptide based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A. Juliano
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Leonardo F. Serafim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States
| | - Searle S. Duay
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Maria Heredia Chavez
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Gaurav Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States
| | - Mary Rooney
- Department of Applied Science, William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 23187-8795, United States
| | - Fatih Comert
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, 9600 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Scott Pierce
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Andrei Radulescu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Myriam L. Cotten
- Department of Applied Science, William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 23187-8795, United States
| | - Mihaela Mihailescu
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, 9600 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, United States
| | - Eric R. May
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Alexander I. Greenwood
- Department of Applied Science, William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 23187-8795, United States
| | - Rajeev Prabhakar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States
| | - Alfredo M. Angeles-Boza
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
- Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, 97 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
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47
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Plaza-Garrido M, Salinas-García MC, Martínez JC, Cámara-Artigas A. The effect of an engineered ATCUN motif on the structure and biophysical properties of the SH3 domain of c-Src tyrosine kinase. J Biol Inorg Chem 2020; 25:621-634. [PMID: 32279137 DOI: 10.1007/s00775-020-01785-0] [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] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Metal binding to sites engineered in proteins can provide an increase in their stability and facilitate new functions. Besides the sites introduced in purpose, sometimes they are present accidentally as a consequence of the expression system used to produce the protein. This happens with the copper- and nickel-binding (ATCUN) motif generated by the amino-terminal residues Gly-Ser-His. This ATCUN motif is fortuitously present in many proteins, but how it affects the structural and biophysical characterization of the proteins has not been studied. In this work, we have compared the structure and biophysical properties of a small modular domain, the SH3 domain of the c-Src tyrosine kinase, cloned with and without an ATCUN motif at the N terminus. At pH 7.0, the SH3 domain with the ATCUN motif binds nickel with a binding constant Ka = 28.0 ± 3.0 mM-1. The formation of the nickel complex increases the thermal and chemical stability of the SH3 domain. A comparison of the crystal structures of the SH3 domain with and without the ATCUN motif shows that the binding of nickel does not affect the overall structure of the SH3 domain. In all crystal structures analyzed, residues Gly-Ser-His in complex with Ni2+ show a square planar geometry. The CD visible spectrum of the nickel complex shows that this geometry is also present in the solution. Therefore, our results not only show that the ATCUN motif might influence the biophysical properties of the protein, but also points to an advantageous stabilization of the protein with potential biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Plaza-Garrido
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Almería, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence ceiA3 and CIAMBITAL, 04120, Almería, Spain
| | - Mª Carmen Salinas-García
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Almería, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence ceiA3 and CIAMBITAL, 04120, Almería, Spain
| | - José C Martínez
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Ana Cámara-Artigas
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Almería, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence ceiA3 and CIAMBITAL, 04120, Almería, Spain.
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Yu Z, Cowan JA. Design and applications of catalytic metallodrugs containing the ATCUN motif. Med Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.adioch.2019.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Bellotti D, Toniolo M, Dudek D, Mikołajczyk A, Guerrini R, Matera-Witkiewicz A, Remelli M, Rowińska-Żyrek M. Bioinorganic chemistry of calcitermin - the picklock of its antimicrobial activity. Dalton Trans 2019; 48:13740-13752. [PMID: 31475275 DOI: 10.1039/c9dt02869b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Calcitermin, an antimicrobial peptide from the fluid of the human airways, is a well-conserved, 15 amino acid C-terminal cleavage fragment of calgranulin C (VAIALKAAHYHTHKE), which is active under acidic pH conditions (pH 5.4). In an attempt to understand the impact of the coordination of Zn(ii) and Cu(ii) on the biological activity of calcitermin, we mutated each of the histidines with an alanine and studied the thermodynamics, binding mode and antimicrobial activity of wild type calcitermin and its H9A, H11A and H13A mutants and their Zn(ii) and Cu(ii) complexes. Both metals strongly enhance the antimicrobial activity of calcitermin-like peptides, although the link between the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values and the stability, charge or structure of the complexes is not so obvious. As expected, the increase in the number of histidines makes the coordination of both metals more effective. There is no preferred Cu(ii) binding site in calcitermin: the stabilities of the Cu(ii)-H9A and Cu(ii)-H13A complexes are almost identical, while the Cu(ii)-H11A complex (in which two histidines are separated by three amino acids and only one His residue is involved in binding) is less stable. On the other hand, the higher stability of the Zn(ii)-H13A complex with respect to those formed by H9A and H11A suggests a pivotal role of His9 and His11 in Zn(ii) complexation. Impressive MIC breakpoints were obtained, similar and lower than those for commonly used antimicrobial agents that treat Candida albicans (Zn(ii) and Cu(ii) complexes of WT calcitermin and H9A, as well as H9A alone), Enterococcus faecalis (H11A, H13A and their metal complexes) and Staphylococcus aureus (H13A and its complexes).
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Bellotti
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy. and Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Mattia Toniolo
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Dorota Dudek
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Mikołajczyk
- Screening Laboratory of Biological Activity Test and Collection of Biological Material, Faculty of Pharmacy with Division of Laboratory Diagnostics, Wrocław Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Remo Guerrini
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Agnieszka Matera-Witkiewicz
- Screening Laboratory of Biological Activity Test and Collection of Biological Material, Faculty of Pharmacy with Division of Laboratory Diagnostics, Wrocław Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Maurizio Remelli
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
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Alexander JL, Thompson Z, Yu Z, Cowan JA. Cu-ATCUN Derivatives of Sub5 Exhibit Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity via Multiple Modes of Action. ACS Chem Biol 2019; 14:449-458. [PMID: 30742402 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.8b01087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are short, amphipathic peptides that are typically cationic in sequence and display broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, fungi, and protists. Herein, we report the effect of appending the amino terminal copper and nickel binding motif (ATCUN) to Sub5. The Cu-ATCUN derivatives show a two- to three-fold increase in antimicrobial activity for a variety of microbes, relative to Sub5, with MICs as low as 0.3 ± 0.1 μM toward Enterococcus faecium. Sub5 and the ATCUN derivatives bind both plasmid DNA and 16s A-site rRNA with low micromolar affinity. Native Sub5 and the metallopeptide derivatives were shown to promote damage against DNA to similar extents in cellular studies against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis, with an almost threefold higher activity against the latter organism. Liposome experiments show that the metallopeptides have a greater affinity for model membranes of E. coli and S. aureus relative to Sub5, which correlates with their enhanced antimicrobial activity. Sub5 and the metalloderivatives also display no cytotoxicity toward adult human dermal fibroblasts. Addition of the ATCUN motif conferred the ability to promote lipid oxidation toward E. coli and S. epidermidis and enhanced membrane permeability, as evidenced by the extent of ATP leaked from cellular membranes relative to Sub5 alone. These data suggest that Cu-ATCUN derivatives inhibit microbes through multiple modes of action, resulting in an enhancement in their overall potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L. Alexander
- Evans Laboratory of Chemistry, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Zechariah Thompson
- Evans Laboratory of Chemistry, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Zhen Yu
- Evans Laboratory of Chemistry, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - J. A. Cowan
- Evans Laboratory of Chemistry, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
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