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Bepler T, Barrera MD, Rooney MT, Xiong Y, Kuang H, Goodell E, Goodwin MJ, Harbron E, Fu R, Mihailescu M, Narayanan A, Cotten ML. Antiviral activity of the host defense peptide piscidin 1: investigating a membrane-mediated mode of action. Front Chem 2024; 12:1379192. [PMID: 38988727 PMCID: PMC11233706 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1379192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Outbreaks of viral diseases are on the rise, fueling the search for antiviral therapeutics that act on a broad range of viruses while remaining safe to human host cells. In this research, we leverage the finding that the plasma membranes of host cells and the lipid bilayers surrounding enveloped viruses differ in lipid composition. We feature Piscidin 1 (P1), a cationic host defense peptide (HDP) that has antimicrobial effects and membrane activity associated with its N-terminal region where a cluster of aromatic residues and copper-binding motif reside. While few HDPs have demonstrated antiviral activity, P1 acts in the micromolar range against several enveloped viruses that vary in envelope lipid composition. Notably, it inhibits HIV-1, a virus that has an envelope enriched in cholesterol, a lipid associated with higher membrane order and stability. Here, we first document through plaque assays that P1 boasts strong activity against SARS-CoV-2, which has an envelope low in cholesterol. Second, we extend previous studies done with homogeneous bilayers and devise cholesterol-containing zwitterionic membranes that contain the liquid disordered (Ld; low in cholesterol) and ordered (Lo, rich in cholesterol) phases. Using dye leakage assays and cryo-electron microscopy on vesicles, we show that P1 has dramatic permeabilizing capability on the Lo/Ld, an effect matched by a strong ability to aggregate, fuse, and thin the membranes. Differential scanning calorimetry and NMR experiments demonstrate that P1 mixes the lipid content of vesicles and alters the stability of the Lo. Structural studies by NMR indicate that P1 interacts with the Lo/Ld by folding into an α-helix that lies parallel to the membrane surface. Altogether, these results show that P1 is more disruptive to phase-separated than homogenous cholesterol-containing bilayers, suggesting an ability to target domain boundaries. Overall, this multi-faceted research highlights how a peptide that interacts strongly with membranes through an aromatic-rich N-terminal motif disrupt viral envelope mimics. This represents an important step towards the development of novel peptides with broad-spectrum antiviral activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Bepler
- New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Michael D. Barrera
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, United States
| | - Mary T. Rooney
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, United States
| | - Yawei Xiong
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States
| | - Huihui Kuang
- New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Evan Goodell
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States
| | - Matthew J. Goodwin
- Department of Chemistry, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States
| | - Elizabeth Harbron
- Department of Chemistry, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States
| | - Riqiang Fu
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, FL, United States
| | - Mihaela Mihailescu
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Aarthi Narayanan
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, United States
| | - Myriam L. Cotten
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
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2
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Méndez LR, Rodríguez-Cornejo T, Rodríguez-Ramos T, Al-Hussinee L, Velázquez J, Campbell JH, Carpio Y, Estrada MP, Dixon B. PACAP sequence modifications modulate the peptide antimicrobial activity against bacterial pathogens affecting aquaculture. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 148:109512. [PMID: 38499216 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2024.109512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The global aquaculture industry has significant losses each year due to disease outbreaks. Antibiotics are one of the common methods to treat fish infections, but prolonged use can lead to the emergence of resistant strains. Aeromonas spp. Infections are a common and problematic disease in fish, and members of this genera can produce antibiotic resistant strains. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as an alternative method to treat and prevent infections and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a prominent member of this family. The objective of this research was to study PACAP's direct antimicrobial activity and its toxicity in fish cells. Four synthetic variants of the natural PACAP from Clarias gariepinus were tested in addition to the natural variant. The experimental results show a different antimicrobial activity against A. salmonicida and A. hydrophila of each PACAP variant, and for the first time show dependence on the culture broth used. Furthermore, the results suggest that the underlying mechanism of PACAP antimicrobial activity includes a bacterial membrane permeabilizing effect, classifying PACAP as a membrane disruptive AMP. This study also demonstrated that the five PACAP variants evaluated showed low toxicity in vitro, at concentrations relevant for in vivo applications. Therefore, PACAP could be a promising alternative to antibiotics in the aquaculture sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rivera Méndez
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W., Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | | | - Tania Rodríguez-Ramos
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W., Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Lowia Al-Hussinee
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W., Waterloo, ON, Canada; Animal Health Laboratory, OVC, Guelph University, Canada
| | - Janet Velázquez
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), P.O. Box 6162, Havana, 10600, Cuba
| | - James Hugh Campbell
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W., Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Yamila Carpio
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), P.O. Box 6162, Havana, 10600, Cuba
| | - Mario Pablo Estrada
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), P.O. Box 6162, Havana, 10600, Cuba
| | - Brian Dixon
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W., Waterloo, ON, Canada.
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3
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Dzuvor CKO, Shen HH, Haritos VS, He L. Coassembled Multicomponent Protein Nanoparticles Elicit Enhanced Antibacterial Activity. ACS NANO 2024; 18:4478-4494. [PMID: 38266175 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c11179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The waning pipeline of the useful antibacterial arsenal has necessitated the urgent development of more effective antibacterial strategies with distinct mechanisms to rival the continuing emergence of resistant pathogens, particularly Gram-negative bacteria, due to their explicit drug-impermeable, two-membrane-sandwiched cell wall envelope. Herein, we have developed multicomponent coassembled nanoparticles with strong bactericidal activity and simultaneous bacterial cell envelope targeting using a peptide coassembly strategy. Compared to the single-component self-assembled nanoparticle counterparts or cocktail mixtures of these at a similar concentration, coassembled multicomponent nanoparticles showed higher bacterial killing efficiency against Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli by several orders of magnitude (about 100-1,000,000-fold increase). Comprehensive confocal and electron microscopy suggest that the superior antibacterial activity of the coassembled nanoparticles proceeds via multiple complementary mechanisms of action, including membrane destabilization, disruption, and cell wall hydrolysis, actions that were not observed with the single nanoparticle counterparts. To understand the fundamental working mechanisms behind the improved performance of coassembled nanoparticles, we utilized a "dilution effect" system where the antibacterial components are intermolecularly mixed and coassembled with a non-antibacterial protein in the nanoparticles. We suggest that coassembled nanoparticles mediate enhanced bacterial killing activity by attributes such as optimized local concentration, high avidity, cooperativity, and synergy. The nanoparticles showed no cytotoxic or hemolytic activity against tested eukaryotic cells and erythrocytes. Collectively, these findings reveal potential strategies for disrupting the impermeable barrier that Gram-negative pathogens leverage to restrict antibacterial access and may serve as a platform technology for potential nano-antibacterial design to strengthen the declining antibiotic arsenal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian K O Dzuvor
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Hsin-Hui Shen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Victoria S Haritos
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Lizhong He
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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4
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Wu M, Xu X, Hu R, Chen Q, Chen L, Yuan Y, Li J, Zhou L, Feng S, Wang L, Chen S, Gu M. A Membrane-Targeted Photosensitizer Prevents Drug Resistance and Induces Immune Response in Treating Candidiasis. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2207736. [PMID: 37875397 PMCID: PMC10724446 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202207736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Candida albicans (C. albicans), a ubiquitous polymorphic fungus in humans, causes different types of candidiasis, including oral candidiasis (OC) and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), which are physically and mentally concerning and financially costly. Thus, developing alternative antifungals that prevent drug resistance and induce immunity to eliminate Candida biofilms is crucial. Herein, a novel membrane-targeted aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizer (PS), TBTCP-QY, is developed for highly efficient photodynamic therapy (PDT) of candidiasis. TBTCP-QY has a high molar absorption coefficient and an excellent ability to generate 1 O2 and •OH, entering the interior of biofilms due to its high permeability. Furthermore, TBTCP-QY can efficiently inhibit biofilm formation by suppressing the expression of genes related to the adhesion (ALS3, EAP1, and HWP1), invasion (SAP1 and SAP2), and drug resistance (MDR1) of C. albicans, which is also advantageous for eliminating potential fungal resistance to treat clinical infectious diseases. TBTCP-QY-mediated PDT efficiently targets OC and VVC in vivo in a mouse model, induces immune response, relieves inflammation, and accelerates the healing of mucosal defects to combat infections caused by clinically isolated fluconazole-resistant strains. Moreover, TBTCP-QY demonstrates excellent biocompatibility, suggesting its potential applications in the clinical treatment of OC and VVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming‐Yu Wu
- Department of GastroenterologyMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryTaiKang Center for Life and Medical SciencesZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural DrugsSchool of Life Science and EngineeringSouthwest Jiaotong UniversityChengduSichuan610031China
| | - Xiaoyu Xu
- Department of GastroenterologyMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryTaiKang Center for Life and Medical SciencesZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
| | - Rui Hu
- Department of GastroenterologyMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryTaiKang Center for Life and Medical SciencesZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
- Department of Respiratory DiseasesThe Research and Application Center of Precision MedicineThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhou UniversityZhengzhou450014China
| | - Qingrong Chen
- Department of GastroenterologyMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryTaiKang Center for Life and Medical SciencesZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
| | - Luojia Chen
- Department of GastroenterologyMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryTaiKang Center for Life and Medical SciencesZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
| | - Yuncong Yuan
- Department of GastroenterologyMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryTaiKang Center for Life and Medical SciencesZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Medical Intensive Care UnitMaternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei ProvinceTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430070China
| | - Li Zhou
- Department of GastroenterologyMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryTaiKang Center for Life and Medical SciencesZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
| | - Shun Feng
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural DrugsSchool of Life Science and EngineeringSouthwest Jiaotong UniversityChengduSichuan610031China
| | - Lianrong Wang
- Department of GastroenterologyMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryTaiKang Center for Life and Medical SciencesZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
- Department of Respiratory DiseasesThe Research and Application Center of Precision MedicineThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhou UniversityZhengzhou450014China
| | - Shi Chen
- Department of GastroenterologyMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryTaiKang Center for Life and Medical SciencesZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
| | - Meijia Gu
- Department of GastroenterologyMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug DiscoveryTaiKang Center for Life and Medical SciencesZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhan430071China
- Department of Respiratory DiseasesThe Research and Application Center of Precision MedicineThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhou UniversityZhengzhou450014China
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5
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Balleza D. Peptide Flexibility and the Hydrophobic Moment are Determinants to Evaluate the Clinical Potential of Magainins. J Membr Biol 2023; 256:317-330. [PMID: 37097306 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-023-00286-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Using a flexibility prediction algorithm and in silico structural modeling, we have calculated the intrinsic flexibility of several magainin derivatives. In the case of magainin-2 (Mag-2) and magainin H2 (MAG-H2) we have found that MAG-2 is more flexible than its hydrophobic analog, Mag-H2. This affects the degree of bending of both peptides, with a kink around two central residues (R10, R11), whereas, in Mag-H2, W10 stiffens the peptide. Moreover, this increases the hydrophobic moment of Mag-H2, which could explain its propensity to form pores in POPC model membranes, which exhibit near-to-zero spontaneous curvatures. Likewise, the protective effect described in DOPC membranes for this peptide regarding its facilitation in pore formation would be related to the propensity of this lipid to form membranes with negative spontaneous curvature. The flexibility of another magainin analog (MSI-78) is even greater than that of Mag-2. This facilitates the peptide to present a kind of hinge around the central F12 as well as a C-terminal end prone to be disordered. Such characteristics are key to understanding the broad-spectrum antimicrobial actions exhibited by this peptide. These data reinforce the hypothesis on the determinant role of spontaneous membrane curvature, intrinsic peptide flexibility, and specific hydrophobic moment in assessing the bioactivity of membrane-active antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Balleza
- Laboratorio de Microbiología, Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Alimentos, Instituto Tecnológico de Veracruz, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Veracruz, Mexico.
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6
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Kulshrestha A, Punnathanam SN, Roy R, Ayappa KG. Cholesterol catalyzes unfolding in membrane-inserted motifs of the pore forming protein cytolysin A. Biophys J 2023; 122:4068-4081. [PMID: 37740492 PMCID: PMC10598289 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasma membrane-induced protein folding and conformational transitions play a central role in cellular homeostasis. Several transmembrane proteins are folded in the complex lipid milieu to acquire a specific structure and function. Bacterial pore forming toxins (PFTs) are proteins expressed by a large class of pathogenic bacteria that exploit the plasma membrane environment to efficiently undergo secondary structure changes, oligomerize, and form transmembrane pores. Unregulated pore formation causes ion imbalance, leading to cell death and infection. Determining the free energy landscape of these membrane-driven-driven transitions remains a challenging problem. Although cholesterol recognition is required for lytic activity of several proteins in the PFT family of toxins, the regulatory role of cholesterol for the α-PFT, cytolysin A expressed by Escherichia coli remains unexplained. In a recent free energy computation, we showed that the β tongue, a critical membrane-inserted motif of the ClyA toxin, has an on-pathway partially unfolded intermediate that refolds into the helix-turn-helix motif of the pore state. To understand the molecular role played by cholesterol, we carry out string-method-based computations in membranes devoid of cholesterol, which reveals an increase of ∼30 times in the free energy barrier for the loss of β sheet secondary structure when compared with membranes containing cholesterol. Specifically, the tyrosine-cholesterol interaction was found to be critical to creating the unfolded intermediate. Cholesterol also increases the packing and hydrophobicity of the bilayer, resulting in enhanced interactions of the bound protein before complete membrane insertion. Our study illustrates that cholesterol is critical to catalyzing and stabilizing the membrane-inserted unfolded state of the β tongue motif of ClyA, opening up fresh insights into cholesterol-assisted unfolding of membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avijeet Kulshrestha
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Sudeep N Punnathanam
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Rahul Roy
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India; Center for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - K Ganapathy Ayappa
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
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7
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Dzuvor CKO, Shanbhag BK, Shen HH, Haritos VS, He L. An Ultrastable Self-Assembled Antibacterial Nanospears Made of Protein. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023:e2302409. [PMID: 37120846 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202302409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Protein-based nanomaterials have broad applications in the biomedical and bionanotechnological sectors owing to their outstanding properties such as high biocompatibility and biodegradability, structural stability, sophisticated functional versatility, and being environmentally benign. They have gained considerable attention in drug delivery, cancer therapeutics, vaccines, immunotherapies, biosensing, and biocatalysis. However, so far, in the battle against the increasing reports of antibiotic resistance and emerging drug-resistant bacteria, unique nanostructures of this kind are lacking, hindering their potential next-generation antibacterial agents. Here, the discovery of a class of supramolecular nanostructures with well-defined shapes, geometries, or architectures (termed "protein nanospears") based on engineered proteins, exhibiting exceptional broad-spectrum antibacterial activities, is reported. The protein nanospears are engineered via spontaneous cleavage-dependent or precisely tunable self-assembly routes using mild metal salt-ions (Mg2+ , Ca2+ , Na+ ) as a molecular trigger. The nanospears' dimensions collectively range from entire nano- to micrometer scale. The protein nanospears display exceptional thermal and chemical stability yet rapidly disassemble upon exposure to high concentrations of chaotropes (>1 mm sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)). Using a combination of biological assays and electron microscopy imaging, it is revealed that the nanospears spontaneously induce rapid and irreparable damage to bacterial morphology via a unique action mechanism provided by their nanostructure and enzymatic action, a feat inaccessible to traditional antibiotics. These protein-based nanospears show promise as a potent tool to combat the growing threats of resistant bacteria, inspiring a new way to engineer other antibacterial protein nanomaterials with diverse structural and dimensional architectures and functional properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian K O Dzuvor
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Monash University Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Bhuvana K Shanbhag
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Monash University Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Hsin-Hui Shen
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Monash University Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Victoria S Haritos
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Monash University Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Lizhong He
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Monash University Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
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8
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Hisey EA, Martins BC, Donnelly CG, Cassano JM, Katzman SA, Murphy CJ, Thomasy SM, Leonard BC. Identification of putative orthologs of clinically relevant antimicrobial peptides in the equine ocular surface and amniotic membrane. Vet Ophthalmol 2022; 26 Suppl 1:125-133. [PMID: 36478371 PMCID: PMC10175123 DOI: 10.1111/vop.13042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to define the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) expression pattern of the equine ocular surface and amniotic membrane using a targeted qPCR approach and 3'Tag-sequencing. It will serve as a reference for future studies of ocular surface innate immunity and amniotic membrane therapies. PROCEDURES A targeted qPCR approach was used to investigate the presence of orthologs for three of the most highly expressed beta-defensins (DEFB1, DEFB4B, and DEFB103A) of the human ocular surface and amniotic membrane in equine corneal epithelium, conjunctiva, and amniotic membrane. 3'Tag-sequencing was performed on RNA from one sample of corneal epithelium, conjunctiva, and amniotic membrane to further characterize their AMP expression. RESULTS Equine corneal epithelium, conjunctiva, and amniotic membrane expressed DEFB1, DEFB4B, and DEFB103A. DEFB103A was expressed at the highest amounts in corneal epithelium, while DEFB4B was most highly expressed in conjunctiva and amniotic membrane. 3'Tag-sequencing from all three tissues confirmed these findings and identified expression of five additional beta-defensins, 11 alpha-defensins and two cathelicidins, with the alpha-defensins showing higher normalized read counts than the beta-defensins. CONCLUSIONS This study identified AMP expression in the equine cornea and conjunctiva, suggesting that they play a key role in the protection of the equine eye, similar to the human ocular surface. We also determined that equine amniotic membrane expresses a substantial number of AMPs suggesting it could potentiate an antimicrobial effect as a corneal graft material. Future studies will focus on defining the antimicrobial activity of these AMPs and determining their role in microbial keratitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin A Hisey
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bianca C Martins
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Callum G Donnelly
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer M Cassano
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Scott A Katzman
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Christopher J Murphy
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Sara M Thomasy
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Brian C Leonard
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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9
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In Silico Prediction of Anti-Infective and Cell-Penetrating Peptides from Thalassophryne nattereri Natterin Toxins. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15091141. [PMID: 36145362 PMCID: PMC9501638 DOI: 10.3390/ph15091141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic potential of venom-derived peptides, such as bioactive peptides (BAPs), is determined by specificity, stability, and pharmacokinetics properties. BAPs, including anti-infective or antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), share several physicochemical characteristics and are potential alternatives to antibiotic-based therapies and drug delivery systems, respectively. This study used in silico methods to predict AMPs and CPPs derived from natterins from the venomous fish Thalassophryne nattereri. Fifty-seven BAPs (19 AMPs, 8 CPPs, and 30 AMPs/CPPs) were identified using the web servers CAMP, AMPA, AmpGram, C2Pred, and CellPPD. The physicochemical properties were analyzed using ProtParam, PepCalc, and DispHred tools. The membrane-binding potential and cellular location of each peptide were analyzed using the Boman index by APD3, and TMHMM web servers. All CPPs and two AMPs showed high membrane-binding potential. Fifty-four peptides were located in the plasma membrane. Peptide immunogenicity, toxicity, allergenicity, and ADMET parameters were evaluated using several web servers. Sixteen antiviral peptides and 37 anticancer peptides were predicted using the web servers Meta-iAVP and ACPred. Secondary structures and helical wheel projections were predicted using the PEP-FOLD3 and Heliquest web servers. Fifteen peptides are potential lead compounds and were selected to be further synthesized and tested experimentally in vitro to validate the in silico screening. The use of computer-aided design for predicting peptide structure and activity is fast and cost-effective and facilitates the design of potent therapeutic peptides. The results demonstrate that toxins form a natural biotechnological platform in drug discovery, and the presence of CPP and AMP sequences in toxin families opens new possibilities in toxin biochemistry research.
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10
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Miao F, Tai Z, Wang Y, Zhu Q, Fang JKH, Hu M. Tachyplesin I Analogue Peptide as an Effective Antimicrobial Agent against Candida albicans- Staphylococcus aureus Poly-Biofilm Formation and Mixed Infection. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:1839-1850. [PMID: 35998684 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Microbial biofilms are difficult to tackle in many infectious diseases. Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus are prevalent symbiotic strains in polymicrobial biofilms, which showed enhanced antimicrobial resistance and made identifying effective treatment techniques more difficult. The antibiofilm abilities of tachplesin I analogue peptide (TP11A) and tachplesin I were investigated quantitatively in this study. Both inhibited C. albicans monomicrobial, S. aureus monomicrobial, and C. albicans-S. aureus polymicrobial biofilms quite well. TP11A suppressed the biofilm- and virulence-related genes of C. albicans (hwp 1) and S. aureus (ica A, fnb B, agr A, hla, nor A, and sig B) in the mixed biofilm, according to quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. We created an injectable thermosensitive in situ PLEL@TP11A gel system by simply adding TP11A into poly(d,l-lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(d,l-lactide) (PLEL). Using C. albicans-S. aureus mixed infected wound models of mice, the in vivo therapeutic effect of TP11A and PLEL@TP11A in polymicrobial infections was investigated. The findings revealed that TP11A and PLEL@TP11A could efficiently reduce bacterial and fungal burden in wound infections, as well as accelerated wound healing. Based on above findings, TP11A might be an effective antimicrobial against C. albicans-S. aureus poly-biofilm formation and mixed infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengze Miao
- International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.,Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Zongguang Tai
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200443, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Topical Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200443, China
| | - Youji Wang
- International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.,Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Quangang Zhu
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200443, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Topical Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200443, China
| | - James Kar-Hei Fang
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon 999077, China
| | - Menghong Hu
- International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.,Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
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11
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Alfei S, Caviglia D, Piatti G, Zuccari G, Schito AM. Synthesis, Characterization and Broad-Spectrum Bactericidal Effects of Ammonium Methyl and Ammonium Ethyl Styrene-Based Nanoparticles. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:nano12162743. [PMID: 36014607 PMCID: PMC9416641 DOI: 10.3390/nano12162743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Untreatable infections, growing healthcare costs, and increasing human mortality due to the rising resistance of bacteria to most of the available antibiotics are global phenomena that urgently require the discovery of new and effective antimicrobial agents. Cationic macromolecules, acting as membrane disruptors, are widely studied, and several compounds, including two styrene-based copolymers developed by us (P5 and P7), have proved to possess potent broad-spectrum antibacterial effects, regardless of the resistance profiles of the bacteria. Here, we first reported the synthesis and physicochemical characterization of new cationic nanoparticles (NPs) (CP1 and OP2), obtained by polymerizing the monomers 4-ammoniummethylstyrene (4-AMSTY) and 4-ammoniumethylstyrene (4-AESTY) hydrochlorides, whose structures were designed using the cationic monomers of P5 and P7 as template compounds. The antibacterial activity of CP1 and OP2 was assessed against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens, observing potent antibacterial effects for both CP1 (MICs = 0.1-0.8 µM) and OP2 (MICs = 0.35-2.8 µM) against most of the tested isolates. Additionally, time-killing studies carried out with CP1 and OP2 on different strains of the most clinically relevant MDR species demonstrated that they kill pathogens rapidly. Due to their interesting physicochemical characteristics, which could enable their mutual formulation as hydrogels, CP1 and OP2 could represent promising ingredients for the development of novel antibacterial dosage forms for topical applications, capable of overcoming severe infections sustained by bacteria resistant to the presently available antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvana Alfei
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano, 16148 Genoa, Italy
| | - Debora Caviglia
- Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV-6, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Gabriella Piatti
- Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV-6, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Guendalina Zuccari
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano, 16148 Genoa, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Schito
- Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV-6, 16132 Genoa, Italy
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12
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New Antimicrobial Peptide with Two CRAC Motifs: Activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081538. [PMID: 36013956 PMCID: PMC9412426 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the emergence of multiple antibiotic resistance in many pathogens, the studies on new antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have become a priority scientific direction in fundamental and applied biology. Diverse mechanisms underlie the antibacterial action of AMPs. Among them are the effects that AMPs cause on bacterial cell membranes. In this work, we studied the antibacterial activity of a peptide named P4 with the following sequence RTKLWEMLVELGNMDKAVKLWRKLKR that was constructed from two alpha-helical fragments of the influenza virus protein M1 and containing two cholesterol-recognizing amino-acid consensus (CRAC) motifs. Previously we have shown that 50 μM of peptide P4 is toxic to cultured mouse macrophages. In the present work, we have found that peptide P4 inhibits the growth of E. coli and B. subtilis strains at concentrations that are significantly lower than the cytotoxic concentration that was found for macrophages. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for B. subtilis and E. coli cells were 0.07 ± 0.01 μM and 1.9 ± 0.4 μM, respectively. Scramble peptide without CRAC motifs did not inhibit the growth of E. coli cells and was not cytotoxic for macrophages but had an inhibitory effect on the growth of B. subtilis cells (IC50 0.4 ± 0.2 μM). A possible involvement of CRAC motifs and membrane sterols in the mechanism of the antimicrobial action of the P4 peptide is discussed. We assume that in the case of the Gram-negative bacterium E. coli, the mechanism of the toxic action of peptide P4 is related to the interaction of CRAC motifs with sterols that are present in the bacterial membrane, whereas in the case of the Gram-positive bacterium B. subtilis, which lacks sterols, the toxic action of peptide P4 is based on membrane permeabilization through the interaction of the peptide cationic domain and anionic lipids of the bacterial membrane. Whatever the mechanism can be, we report antimicrobial activity of the peptide P4 against the representatives of Gram-positive (B. subtilis) and Gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria.
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13
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Fischer M, Müller P, Scheidt HA, Luck M. Drug-Membrane Interactions: Effects of Virus-Specific RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Inhibitors Remdesivir and Favipiravir on the Structure of Lipid Bilayers. Biochemistry 2022; 61:1392-1403. [PMID: 35731976 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The two RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitors remdesivir and favipiravir were originally developed and approved as broad-spectrum antiviral drugs for the treatment of harmful viral infections such as Ebola and influenza. With the outbreak of the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the two drugs were repurposed for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Clinical studies suggested that the efficacy of the drugs is enhanced in the case of an early or even prophylactic application. Because the contact between drug molecules and the plasma membrane is essential for a successful permeation process of the substances and therefore for their intracellular efficiency, drug-induced effects on the membrane structure are likely and have already been shown for other substances. We investigated the impact of remdesivir and favipiravir on lipid bilayers in model and cell membranes via several biophysical approaches. The measurements revealed that the embedding of remdesivir molecules in the lipid bilayer results in a disturbance of the membrane structure of the tested phospholipid vesicles. Nevertheless, in a cell-based assay, the presence of remdesivir induced only weak hemolysis of the treated erythrocytes. In contrast, no experimental indication for an effect on the structure and integrity of the membrane was detected in the case of favipiravir. Regarding potential prophylactic or accompanying use of the drugs in the therapy of COVID-19, the physiologically relevant impacts associated with the drug-induced structural modifications of the membrane might be important to understand side effects and/or low effectivities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Fischer
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig University, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Peter Müller
- Institute of Biology, Biophysical Chemistry, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Holger A Scheidt
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig University, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Meike Luck
- Institute of Biology, Biophysical Chemistry, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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14
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Shannon AH, Adelman SA, Hisey EA, Potnis SS, Rozo V, Yung MW, Li JY, Murphy CJ, Thomasy SM, Leonard BC. Antimicrobial Peptide Expression at the Ocular Surface and Their Therapeutic Use in the Treatment of Microbial Keratitis. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:857735. [PMID: 35722307 PMCID: PMC9201425 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.857735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial keratitis is a common cause of ocular pain and visual impairment worldwide. The ocular surface has a relatively paucicellular microbial community, mostly found in the conjunctiva, while the cornea would be considered relatively sterile. However, in patients with microbial keratitis, the cornea can be infected with multiple pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Fusarium sp. Treatment with topical antimicrobials serves as the standard of care for microbial keratitis, however, due to high rates of pathogen resistance to current antimicrobial medications, alternative therapeutic strategies must be developed. Multiple studies have characterized the expression and activity of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), endogenous peptides with key antimicrobial and wound healing properties, on the ocular surface. Recent studies and clinical trials provide promise for the use of AMPs as therapeutic agents. This article reviews the repertoire of AMPs expressed at the ocular surface, how expression of these AMPs can be modulated, and the potential for harnessing the AMPs as potential therapeutics for patients with microbial keratitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison H. Shannon
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Sara A. Adelman
- William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Erin A. Hisey
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Sanskruti S. Potnis
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Vanessa Rozo
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Madeline W. Yung
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Jennifer Y. Li
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Christopher J. Murphy
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Sara M. Thomasy
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Brian C. Leonard
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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15
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Houston S, Schovanek E, Conway KME, Mustafa S, Gomez A, Ramaswamy R, Haimour A, Boulanger MJ, Reynolds LA, Cameron CE. Identification and Functional Characterization of Peptides With Antimicrobial Activity From the Syphilis Spirochete, Treponema pallidum. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:888525. [PMID: 35722306 PMCID: PMC9200625 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.888525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The etiological agent of syphilis, Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum, is a highly invasive “stealth” pathogen that can evade the host immune response and persist within the host for decades. This obligate human pathogen is adept at establishing infection and surviving at sites within the host that have a multitude of competing microbes, sometimes including pathogens. One survival strategy employed by bacteria found at polymicrobial sites is elimination of competing microorganisms by production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Antimicrobial peptides are low molecular weight proteins (miniproteins) that function directly via inhibition and killing of microbes and/or indirectly via modulation of the host immune response, which can facilitate immune evasion. In the current study, we used bioinformatics to show that approximately 7% of the T. pallidum proteome is comprised of miniproteins of 150 amino acids or less with unknown functions. To investigate the possibility that AMP production is an unrecognized defense strategy used by T. pallidum during infection, we developed a bioinformatics pipeline to analyze the complement of T. pallidum miniproteins of unknown function for the identification of potential AMPs. This analysis identified 45 T. pallidum AMP candidates; of these, Tp0451a and Tp0749 were subjected to further bioinformatic analyses to identify AMP critical core regions (AMPCCRs). Four potential AMPCCRs from the two predicted AMPs were identified and peptides corresponding to these AMPCCRs were experimentally confirmed to exhibit bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity against a panel of biologically relevant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Immunomodulation assays performed under inflammatory conditions demonstrated that one of the AMPCCRs was also capable of differentially regulating expression of two pro-inflammatory chemokines [monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8)]. These findings demonstrate proof-of-concept for our developed AMP identification pipeline and are consistent with the novel concept that T. pallidum expresses AMPs to defend against competing microbes and modulate the host immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Houston
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Ethan Schovanek
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Kate M. E. Conway
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Sarah Mustafa
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Alloysius Gomez
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Raghavendran Ramaswamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Ayman Haimour
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Martin J. Boulanger
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Lisa A. Reynolds
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Caroline E. Cameron
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- *Correspondence: Caroline E. Cameron,
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16
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Anticancer activity of chicken cathelicidin peptides against different types of cancer. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:4321-4339. [PMID: 35449320 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07267-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study served as the pioneer in studying the anti-cancer role of chicken cathelicidin peptides. METHODS AND RESULTS Chicken cathelicidins were used as anticancer agent against the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and human colon cancer cell line (HCT116). In addition, the mechanism of action of the interaction of cationic peptides with breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was also investigated. An in vivo investigation was also achieved to evaluate the role of chicken cathelicidin in Ehrlich ascites cell (EAC) suppression as a tumor model after subcutaneous implantation in mice. It was found during the study that exposure of cell lines to 40 µg/ml of chicken cathelicidin for 72 h reduced cell lines growth rate by 90-95%. These peptides demonstrated down-regulation of (cyclin A1 and cyclin D genes) of MCF-7 cells. The study showed that two- and three-fold expression of both of caspase-3 and - 7 genes in untreated MCF-7 cells compared to treated MCF-7 cells with chicken cathelicidin peptides. Our data showed that chicken (CATH-1) enhance releasing of TNFα, INF-γ and upregulation of granzyme K in treated mice groups, in parallel, the tumor size and volume was reduced in the treated EAC-bearing groups. Tumor of mice groups treated with chicken cathelicidin displayed high area of necrosis compared to untreated EAC-bearing mice. Based on histological analysis and immunohistochemical staining revealed that the tumor section in Ehrlich solid tumor exhibited a strong Bcl2 expression in untreated control compared to mice treated with 10 & 20 µg of cathelicidin. Interestingly, low expression of Bcl2 were observed in mice taken 40 µg/mL of CATH-1. CONCLUSIONS This study drive intention in treatment of cancer through the efficacy of anticancer efficacy of chicken cathelicidin peptides.
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17
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Traditional and Computational Screening of Non-Toxic Peptides and Approaches to Improving Selectivity. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15030323. [PMID: 35337121 PMCID: PMC8953747 DOI: 10.3390/ph15030323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptides have positively impacted the pharmaceutical industry as drugs, biomarkers, or diagnostic tools of high therapeutic value. However, only a handful have progressed to the market. Toxicity is one of the main obstacles to translating peptides into clinics. Hemolysis or hemotoxicity, the principal source of toxicity, is a natural or disease-induced event leading to the death of vital red blood cells. Initial screenings for toxicity have been widely evaluated using erythrocytes as the gold standard. More recently, many online databases filled with peptide sequences and their biological meta-data have paved the way toward hemolysis prediction using user-friendly, fast-access machine learning-driven programs. This review details the growing contributions of in silico approaches developed in the last decade for the large-scale prediction of erythrocyte lysis induced by peptides. After an overview of the pharmaceutical landscape of peptide therapeutics, we highlighted the relevance of early hemolysis studies in drug development. We emphasized the computational models and algorithms used to this end in light of historical and recent findings in this promising field. We benchmarked seven predictors using peptides from different data sets, having 7–35 amino acids in length. According to our predictions, the models have scored an accuracy over 50.42% and a minimal Matthew’s correlation coefficient over 0.11. The maximum values for these statistical parameters achieved 100.0% and 1.00, respectively. Finally, strategies for optimizing peptide selectivity were described, as well as prospects for future investigations. The development of in silico predictive approaches to peptide toxicity has just started, but their important contributions clearly demonstrate their potential for peptide science and computer-aided drug design. Methodology refinement and increasing use will motivate the timely and accurate in silico identification of selective, non-toxic peptide therapeutics.
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18
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Sarker SR, Polash SA, Karim MN, Saha T, Dekiwadia C, Bansal V, Sabri Y, Kandjani AE, Bhargava SK. Functionalized Concave Cube Gold Nanoparticles as Potent Antimicrobial Agents against Pathogenic Bacteria. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2022; 5:492-503. [PMID: 35129945 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c00902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Gold (Au) is an inert metal in a bulk state; however, it can be used for the preparation of Au nanoparticles (i.e., AuNPs) for multidimensional applications in the field of nanomedicine and nanobiotechnology. Herein, monodisperse concave cube AuNPs (CCAuNPs) were synthesized and functionalized with a natural antioxidant lipoic acid (LA) and a tripeptide glutathione (GSH) because different crystal facets of AuNPs provide binding sites for distinct ligands. There was an ∼10 nm bathochromic shift of the UV-vis spectrum when CCAuNPs were functionalized with LA, and the size of the as-synthesized monodisperse CCAu nanoparticles was 76 nm. The LA-functionalized CCAu nanoparticles (i.e., CCAuLA) showed the highest antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis. Both fluorescence images and scanning electron microscopy images confirm the damage of the bacterial cell wall as the mode of antibacterial activity of CCAuNPs. CCAuNPs also cause the oxidation of bacterial cell membrane fatty acids to produce reactive oxygen species, which pave the way for the death of bacteria. Both CCAu nanoparticles and their functionalized derivatives showed excellent hemocompatibility (i.e., percentage of hemolysis is <5% at 80 μg of AuNPs) to human red blood cells and very high biocompatibility to HeLa, L929, and Chinese hamster ovary-green fluorescent protein (CHO-GFP) cells. Taken together, LA and GSH enhance the antibacterial activity and biocompatibility, respectively, of CCAu nanoparticles that interact with the bacteria through Coulomb as well as hydrophobic interactions before demonstrating antibacterial propensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satya Ranjan Sarker
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne 3001, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Savar 1342, Bangladesh
| | - Shakil Ahmed Polash
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Savar 1342, Bangladesh.,Ian Potter NanoBiosensing Facility, NanoBiotechnology Research Laboratory (NBRL), School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne 3001, Victoria, Australia
| | - Md Nurul Karim
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne 3001, Victoria, Australia.,Ian Potter NanoBiosensing Facility, NanoBiotechnology Research Laboratory (NBRL), School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne 3001, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tanushree Saha
- Department of Textile Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology, Gazipur, Gazipur 1700, Bangladesh.,School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne 3001, Australia
| | - Chaitali Dekiwadia
- RMIT Microscopy and Microanalysis Facility, RMIT University, Melbourne 3001, Victoria, Australia
| | - Vipul Bansal
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne 3001, Victoria, Australia.,Ian Potter NanoBiosensing Facility, NanoBiotechnology Research Laboratory (NBRL), School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne 3001, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ylias Sabri
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne 3001, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ahmad E Kandjani
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne 3001, Victoria, Australia.,Manufacturing, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia
| | - Suresh K Bhargava
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne 3001, Victoria, Australia
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19
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Design of Membrane Active Peptides Considering Multi-Objective Optimization for Biomedical Application. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12020180. [PMID: 35207101 PMCID: PMC8880019 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12020180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
A multitude of membrane active peptides exists that divides into subclasses, such as cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) capable to enter eukaryotic cells or antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) able to interact with prokaryotic cell envelops. Peptide membrane interactions arise from unique sequence motifs of the peptides that account for particular physicochemical properties. Membrane active peptides are mainly cationic, often primary or secondary amphipathic, and they interact with membranes depending on the composition of the bilayer lipids. Sequences of these peptides consist of short 5–30 amino acid sections derived from natural proteins or synthetic sources. Membrane active peptides can be designed using computational methods or can be identified in screenings of combinatorial libraries. This review focuses on strategies that were successfully applied to the design and optimization of membrane active peptides with respect to the fact that diverse features of successful peptide candidates are prerequisites for biomedical application. Not only membrane activity but also degradation stability in biological environments, propensity to induce resistances, and advantageous toxicological properties are crucial parameters that have to be considered in attempts to design useful membrane active peptides. Reliable assay systems to access the different biological characteristics of numerous membrane active peptides are essential tools for multi-objective peptide optimization.
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20
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Zhang Y, Yu J, Zhang H, Li Y, Wang L. Nanofibrous dressing: Potential alternative for fighting against antibiotic‐resistance wound infections. J Appl Polym Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/app.52178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yingjie Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles Donghua University Shanghai China
- Key Laboratory of Textile Industry for Biomedical Textile Materials and Technology Donghua University Shanghai China
| | - Juan Yu
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles Donghua University Shanghai China
- Key Laboratory of Textile Industry for Biomedical Textile Materials and Technology Donghua University Shanghai China
| | - Huiru Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles Donghua University Shanghai China
- Key Laboratory of Textile Industry for Biomedical Textile Materials and Technology Donghua University Shanghai China
| | - Yan Li
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles Donghua University Shanghai China
- Key Laboratory of Textile Industry for Biomedical Textile Materials and Technology Donghua University Shanghai China
| | - Lu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles Donghua University Shanghai China
- Key Laboratory of Textile Industry for Biomedical Textile Materials and Technology Donghua University Shanghai China
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21
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Matsuzaki K. Elucidation of Complex Dynamic Intermolecular Interactions in Membranes. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2022; 70:1-9. [PMID: 34980725 DOI: 10.1248/cpb.c21-00815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Biomembranes composed of various proteins and lipids play important roles in cellular functions, such as signal transduction and substance transport. In addition, some bioactive peptides and pathogenic proteins target membrane proteins and lipids to exert their effects. Therefore, an understanding of dynamic and complex intermolecular interactions among these membrane constituents is needed to elucidate their mechanisms. This review summarizes the major research carried out in the author's laboratory on how lipids and their inhomogeneous distributions regulate the structures and functions of antimicrobial peptides and Alzheimer's amyloid β-protein. Also, how to detect transmembrane helix-helix and membrane protein-protein interactions and how they are modulated by lipids are discussed.
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22
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Tang Y, Zhang D, Gong X, Zheng J. Repurposing of intestinal defensins as multi-target, dual-function amyloid inhibitors via cross-seeding. Chem Sci 2022; 13:7143-7156. [PMID: 35799805 PMCID: PMC9214849 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc01447e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid formation and microbial infection are the two common pathological causes of neurogenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), type II diabetes (T2D), and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). While significant efforts have been made to develop different prevention strategies and preclinical hits for these diseases, conventional design strategies of amyloid inhibitors are mostly limited to either a single prevention mechanism (amyloid cascade vs. microbial infection) or a single amyloid protein (Aβ, hIAPP, or hCT), which has prevented the launch of any successful drug on the market. Here, we propose and demonstrate a new “anti-amyloid and anti-bacteria” strategy to repurpose two intestinal defensins, human α-defensin 6 (HD-6) and human β-defensin 1 (HBD-1), as multiple-target, dual-function, amyloid inhibitors. Both HD-6 and HBD-1 can cross-seed with three amyloid peptides, Aβ (associated with AD), hIAPP (associated with T2D), and hCT (associated with MTC), to prevent their aggregation towards amyloid fibrils from monomers and oligomers, rescue SH-SY5Y and RIN-m5F cells from amyloid-induced cytotoxicity, and retain their original antimicrobial activity against four common bacterial strains at sub-stoichiometric concentrations. Such sequence-independent anti-amyloid and anti-bacterial functions of intestinal defensins mainly stem from their cross-interactions with amyloid proteins through amyloid-like mimicry of β-sheet associations. In a broader view, this work provides a new out-of-the-box thinking to search and repurpose a huge source of antimicrobial peptides as amyloid inhibitors, allowing the blocking of the two interlinked pathological pathways and bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and intestines via the gut–brain axis associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Amyloid formation and microbial infection are the two common pathological causes of neurogenerative diseases. Here, we proposed a new “anti-amyloid and anti-bacteria” strategy to repurpose two intestinal defensins as multiple-target, dual-function amyloid inhibitors.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijing Tang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Ohio, USA
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Ohio, USA
| | - Xiong Gong
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Ohio, USA
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Ohio, USA
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23
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Kratochvil HT, Newberry RW, Mensa B, Mravic M, DeGrado WF. Spiers Memorial Lecture: Analysis and de novo design of membrane-interactive peptides. Faraday Discuss 2021; 232:9-48. [PMID: 34693965 PMCID: PMC8979563 DOI: 10.1039/d1fd00061f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Membrane-peptide interactions play critical roles in many cellular and organismic functions, including protection from infection, remodeling of membranes, signaling, and ion transport. Peptides interact with membranes in a variety of ways: some associate with membrane surfaces in either intrinsically disordered conformations or well-defined secondary structures. Peptides with sufficient hydrophobicity can also insert vertically as transmembrane monomers, and many associate further into membrane-spanning helical bundles. Indeed, some peptides progress through each of these stages in the process of forming oligomeric bundles. In each case, the structure of the peptide and the membrane represent a delicate balance between peptide-membrane and peptide-peptide interactions. We will review this literature from the perspective of several biologically important systems, including antimicrobial peptides and their mimics, α-synuclein, receptor tyrosine kinases, and ion channels. We also discuss the use of de novo design to construct models to test our understanding of the underlying principles and to provide useful leads for pharmaceutical intervention of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huong T Kratochvil
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Robert W Newberry
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Bruk Mensa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Marco Mravic
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - William F DeGrado
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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24
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Gupta M, Weaver DF. Axonal plasma membrane-mediated toxicity of cholesterol in Alzheimer's disease: A microsecond molecular dynamics study. Biophys Chem 2021; 281:106718. [PMID: 34808480 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2021.106718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is increasingly being recognized as an immune-mediated disease of brain. Since physiological brain health and brain immune function is dependent upon homeostatic neuronal membrane structure and function, alterations in membrane lipid biochemistry may predispose to disease. Brain is rich in cholesterol, and cholesterol metabolism dysfunction is a known risk factor for AD. Employing extensive microsecond all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we investigated the properties of model neuronal membranes as a function of cholesterol concentration; phospholipid and phospholipid/cholesterol bilayers were also simulated to compare against available experimental data. Increased cholesterol concentrations compact and stiffen the lipid membrane, reducing permeability while modulating local water densities in the peri-membranous environment. Conversely, lower cholesterol mole fraction yields membranes with increased molecular disorder, enhanced fluidity, higher molecular tilting, and augmented interdigitation between bilayer leaflet lipids. Our findings provide a molecular insight on effect of cholesterol composition on various biochemical processes occurring at neuronal axon plasma membrane. These calculations also endeavor to establish a membrane-based link between cholesterol as an AD risk factor and possible AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayuri Gupta
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Donald F Weaver
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto M5T 0S8, Canada; Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto M55 3H6, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 2C4, Canada; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3M2, Canada.
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25
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Anselmo S, Sancataldo G, Mørck Nielsen H, Foderà V, Vetri V. Peptide-Membrane Interactions Monitored by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging: A Study Case of Transportan 10. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:13148-13159. [PMID: 34714654 PMCID: PMC8582253 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c02392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The interest on detailed analysis of peptide-membrane interactions is of great interest in both fundamental and applied sciences as these may relate to both functional and pathogenic events. Such interactions are highly dynamic and spatially heterogeneous, making the investigation of the associated phenomena highly complex. The specific properties of membranes and peptide structural details, together with environmental conditions, may determine different events at the membrane interface, which will drive the fate of the peptide-membrane system. Here, we use an experimental approach based on the combination of spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy methods to characterize the interactions of the multifunctional amphiphilic peptide transportan 10 with model membranes. Our approach, based on the use of suitable fluorescence reporters, exploits the advantages of phasor plot analysis of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy measurements to highlight the molecular details of occurring membrane alterations in terms of rigidity and hydration. Simultaneously, it allows following dynamic events in real time without sample manipulation distinguishing, with high spatial resolution, whether the peptide is adsorbed to or inserted in the membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Anselmo
- Dipartimento
di Fisica e Chimica−Emilio Segré, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze ed. 18 90128, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Sancataldo
- Dipartimento
di Fisica e Chimica−Emilio Segré, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze ed. 18 90128, Palermo, Italy
| | - Hanne Mørck Nielsen
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vito Foderà
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Valeria Vetri
- Dipartimento
di Fisica e Chimica−Emilio Segré, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze ed. 18 90128, Palermo, Italy
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26
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Tsukamoto M, Zappala E, Caputo GA, Kikuchi JI, Najarian K, Kuroda K, Yasuhara K. Mechanistic Study of Membrane Disruption by Antimicrobial Methacrylate Random Copolymers by the Single Giant Vesicle Method. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:9982-9995. [PMID: 34378943 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c01047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Cationic amphiphilic polymers have been a platform to create new antimicrobial materials that act by disrupting bacterial cell membranes. While activity characterization and chemical optimization have been done in numerous studies, there remains a gap in our knowledge on the antimicrobial mechanisms of the polymers, which is needed to connect their chemical structures and biological activities. To that end, we used a single giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) method to identify the membrane-disrupting mechanism of methacrylate random copolymers. The copolymers consist of random sequences of aminoethyl methacrylate and methyl (MMA) or butyl (BMA) methacrylate, with low molecular weights of 1600-2100 g·mol-1. GUVs consisting of an 8:2 mixture of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (POPE) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1'-rac-glycerol), sodium salt (POPG) and those with only 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) were prepared to mimic the bacterial (Escherichia coli) or mammalian membranes, respectively. The disruption of bacteria and mammalian cell membrane-mimetic lipid bilayers in GUVs reflected the antimicrobial and hemolytic activities of the copolymers, suggesting that the copolymers act by disrupting cell membranes. The copolymer with BMA formed pores in the lipid bilayer, while that with MMA caused GUVs to burst. Therefore, we propose that the mechanism is inherent to the chemical identity or properties of hydrophobic groups. The copolymer with MMA showed characteristic sigmoid curves of the time course of GUV burst. We propose a new kinetic model with a positive feedback loop in the insertion of the polymer chains in the lipid bilayer. The novel finding of alkyl-dependent membrane-disrupting mechanisms will provide a new insight into the role of hydrophobic groups in the optimization strategy for antimicrobial activity and selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manami Tsukamoto
- Division of Materials Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 6300192, Japan
| | - Emanuele Zappala
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2800, United States
| | - Gregory A Caputo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Jun-Ichi Kikuchi
- Division of Materials Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 6300192, Japan
| | - Kayvan Najarian
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2800, United States
| | - Kenichi Kuroda
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, 1011 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Kazuma Yasuhara
- Division of Materials Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 6300192, Japan
- Center for Digital Green-innovation, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 6300192, Japan
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27
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Preliminary Characterization of NP339, a Novel Polyarginine Peptide with Broad Antifungal Activity. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:e0234520. [PMID: 34031048 PMCID: PMC8284473 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02345-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi cause disease in nearly one billion individuals worldwide. Only three classes of antifungal agents are currently available in mainstream clinical use. Emerging and drug-resistant fungi, toxicity, and drug-drug interactions compromise their efficacy and applicability. Consequently, new and improved antifungal therapies are urgently needed. In response to that need, we have developed NP339, a 2-kDa polyarginine peptide that is active against pathogenic fungi from the genera Candida, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus, as well as others. NP339 was designed based on endogenous cationic human defense peptides, which are constituents of the cornerstone of immune defense against pathogenic microbes. NP339 specifically targets the fungal cell membrane through a charge-charge-initiated membrane interaction and therefore possesses a differentiated safety and toxicity profile to existing antifungal classes. NP339 is rapidly fungicidal and does not elicit resistance in target fungi upon extensive passaging in vitro. Preliminary analyses in murine models indicate scope for therapeutic application of NP339 against a range of systemic and mucocutaneous fungal infections. Collectively, these data indicate that NP339 can be developed into a highly differentiated, first-in-class antifungal candidate for poorly served invasive and other serious fungal diseases.
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28
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Schito AM, Piatti G, Caviglia D, Zuccari G, Alfei S. Broad-Spectrum Bactericidal Activity of a Synthetic Random Copolymer Based on 2-Methoxy-6-(4-Vinylbenzyloxy)-Benzylammonium Hydrochloride. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5021. [PMID: 34065133 PMCID: PMC8125966 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22095021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Low-molecular-weight organic ammonium salts exert excellent antimicrobial effects by interacting lethally with bacterial membranes. Unfortunately, short-term functionality and high toxicity limit their clinical application. On the contrary, the equivalent macromolecular ammonium salts, derived from the polymerization of monomeric ammonium salts, have demonstrated improved antibacterial potency, a lower tendency to develop resistance, higher stability, long-term activity, and reduced toxicity. A water-soluble non-quaternary copolymeric ammonium salt (P7) was herein synthetized by copolymerizing 2-methoxy-6-(4-vinylbenzyloxy)-benzylammonium hydrochloride monomer with N, N-di-methyl-acrylamide. The antibacterial activity of P7 was assessed against several multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical isolates of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative species. Except for colistin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, most isolates were susceptible to P7, also including some Gram-negative bacteria with a modified charge in the external membrane. P7 showed remarkable antibacterial activity against isolates of Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas, and on different strains of Escherichia coli and Stenotrophomonas maltophylia, regardless of their antibiotic resistance. The lowest minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) observed were 0.6-1.2 µM and the minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were frequently overlapping with the MICs. In 24-h time-kill and turbidimetric studies, P7 displayed a rapid non-lytic bactericidal activity. P7 could therefore represent a novel and potent tool capable of counteracting infections sustained by several bacteria that are resistant to the presently available antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Schito
- Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, I-16132 Genova, Italy; (A.M.S.); (G.P.); (D.C.)
| | - Gabriela Piatti
- Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, I-16132 Genova, Italy; (A.M.S.); (G.P.); (D.C.)
| | - Debora Caviglia
- Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, I-16132 Genova, Italy; (A.M.S.); (G.P.); (D.C.)
| | - Guendalina Zuccari
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano, 16148 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Silvana Alfei
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano, 16148 Genoa, Italy;
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29
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Alfei S, Piatti G, Caviglia D, Schito AM. Synthesis, Characterization, and Bactericidal Activity of a 4-Ammoniumbuthylstyrene-Based Random Copolymer. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:1140. [PMID: 33918374 PMCID: PMC8038196 DOI: 10.3390/polym13071140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The growing resistance of bacteria to current chemotherapy is a global concern that urgently requires new and effective antimicrobial agents, aimed at curing untreatable infection, reducing unacceptable healthcare costs and human mortality. Cationic polymers, that mimic antimicrobial cationic peptides, represent promising broad-spectrum agents, being less susceptible to develop resistance than low molecular weight antibiotics. We, thus, designed, and herein report, the synthesis and physicochemical characterization of a water-soluble cationic copolymer (P5), obtained by copolymerizing the laboratory-made monomer 4-ammoniumbuthylstyrene hydrochloride with di-methyl-acrylamide as uncharged diluent. The antibacterial activity of P5 was assessed against several multi-drug-resistant clinical isolates of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative species. Except for strains characterized by modifications of the membrane charge, most of the tested isolates were sensible to the new molecule. P5 showed remarkable antibacterial activity against several isolates of genera Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, and against Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, displaying a minimum MIC value of 3.15 µM. In time-killing and turbidimetric studies, P5 displayed a rapid non-lytic bactericidal activity. Due to its water-solubility and wide bactericidal spectrum, P5 could represent a promising novel agent capable of overcoming severe infections sustained by bacteria resistant the presently available antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvana Alfei
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano, 16148 Genoa, Italy
| | - Gabriella Piatti
- Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132 Genova, Italy; (G.P.); (D.C.); (A.M.S.)
| | - Debora Caviglia
- Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132 Genova, Italy; (G.P.); (D.C.); (A.M.S.)
| | - Anna Maria Schito
- Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132 Genova, Italy; (G.P.); (D.C.); (A.M.S.)
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30
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Aslan M. Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid and Sphingolipid Measurements by Tandem Mass Spectrometry. MINI-REV ORG CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.2174/1570193x17999200504094901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Linoleic Acid (LA) (omega-6) and Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) (omega-3) are essential
fatty acids and give rise to Arachidonic Acid (AA), Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic
Acid (DHA) that are important in metabolic homeostasis. The omega-6:omega-3 ratio can be
a prognostic consideration in cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. Sphingolipids are bioactive
lipids found in cell membranes that play a role in cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Electrospray
Ionization (ESI) coupled with tandem Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS) is a simple and speedy
method to identify and quantify these lipids in various biological matrices. Tandem mass spectrometric
analyses can be performed on cell lysates, tissue homogenates and serum samples to measure
quantitative changes directly in lipid extracts from these different matrices. The present review summarizes
measurement of omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs),
their metabolism to eicosanoids and their role in certain disease states. Altered sphingolipid metabolism
is also associated with a number of human diseases. Therefore, understanding sphingolipid metabolism
is important to comprehend the function of sphingolipids in cellular processes. In this review,
we focus on pathways of Ceramide (CER) and Sphingomyelin (SM) synthesis and discuss altered
levels reported in disease states. Results of reported studies herein clearly show that PUFAs,
SMs and CERs carry out a large number of fundamental functions. They serve as structural elements
in cellular membranes, and they work as signaling molecules. Alterations in their amounts of expression
occurring in diabetes, obesity, inflammation and ER stress-related conditions lead to dysfunctions
contributing to disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mutay Aslan
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
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31
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Vasquez-Montes V, Ladokhin AS. Expanding MPEx Hydropathy Analysis to Account for Electrostatic Contributions to Protein Interactions with Anionic Membranes. J Membr Biol 2021; 254:109-117. [PMID: 33564913 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-021-00170-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Hydropathy plots are a crucial tool to guide experimental design, as they generate predictions of protein-membrane interactions and their bilayer topology. The predictions are based on experimentally determined hydrophobicity scales, which provide an estimate for the propensity and stability of these interactions. A significant improvement to the accuracy of hydropathy analyses was provided by the development of the popular Wimley-White interfacial and octanol hydrophobicity scales. These scales have been previously incorporated into the freely available MPEx (Membrane Protein Explorer) online application. Here, we introduce a substantial update to MPEx that allows for the consideration of electrostatic contributions to the bilayer partitioning free energy. This component originates from the Coulombic attraction or repulsion of charges between proteins and membranes. Its inclusion in hydropathy calculations increases the accuracy of hydropathy plot predictions and extends their use to more complex systems (i.e., anionic membranes). We illustrate the application of this analysis to studies on the membrane selectivity of antimicrobial peptides, the membrane partitioning of ion-channel gating modifiers, and the amyloid proteins α-synuclein and Tau, as well as pH-dependent bilayer interactions of diphtheria toxin and apoptotic inhibitor Bcl-xL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Vasquez-Montes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
| | - Alexey S Ladokhin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
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32
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Makowski M, Felício MR, Fensterseifer ICM, Franco OL, Santos NC, Gonçalves S. EcDBS1R4, an Antimicrobial Peptide Effective against Escherichia coli with In Vitro Fusogenic Ability. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21239104. [PMID: 33265989 PMCID: PMC7730630 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Discovering antibiotic molecules able to hold the growing spread of antimicrobial resistance is one of the most urgent endeavors that public health must tackle. The case of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens is of special concern, as they are intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics, due to an outer membrane that constitutes an effective permeability barrier. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been pointed out as potential alternatives to conventional antibiotics, as their main mechanism of action is membrane disruption, arguably less prone to elicit resistance in pathogens. Here, we investigate the in vitro activity and selectivity of EcDBS1R4, a bioinspired AMP. To this purpose, we have used bacterial cells and model membrane systems mimicking both the inner and the outer membranes of Escherichia coli, and a variety of optical spectroscopic methodologies. EcDBS1R4 is effective against the Gram-negative E. coli, ineffective against the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and noncytotoxic for human cells. EcDBS1R4 does not form stable pores in E. coli, as the peptide does not dissipate its membrane potential, suggesting an unusual mechanism of action. Interestingly, EcDBS1R4 promotes a hemi-fusion of vesicles mimicking the inner membrane of E. coli. This fusogenic ability of EcDBS1R4 requires the presence of phospholipids with a negative curvature and a negative charge. This finding suggests that EcDBS1R4 promotes a large lipid spatial reorganization able to reshape membrane curvature, with interesting biological implications herein discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Makowski
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.M.); (M.R.F.)
| | - Mário R. Felício
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.M.); (M.R.F.)
| | - Isabel C. M. Fensterseifer
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Pós-graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília 71966-700, Brazil; (I.C.M.F.); (O.L.F.)
- S-Inova Biotech, Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-010, Brazil
| | - Octávio L. Franco
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Pós-graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília 71966-700, Brazil; (I.C.M.F.); (O.L.F.)
- S-Inova Biotech, Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-010, Brazil
| | - Nuno C. Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.M.); (M.R.F.)
- Correspondence: (N.C.S.); (S.G.)
| | - Sónia Gonçalves
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.M.); (M.R.F.)
- Correspondence: (N.C.S.); (S.G.)
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33
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A review: Biologically active 3,4-heterocycle-fused coumarins. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 212:113034. [PMID: 33276991 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.113034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The combination of heterocycles offers a new opportunity to create novel multicyclic compounds having improved biological activity. Coumarins are ubiquitous natural heterocycle widely adopted in the design of various biologically active compounds. Fusing different heterocycles with coumarin ring is one of the interesting approaches to generating novel hybrid molecules having highlighted biological activities. In the efforts to develop heterocyclic-fused coumarins, a wide range of 3,4-heterocycle-fused coumarins have been introduced bearing outstanding biological activity. The effect of heterocycles annulation at 3,4-positions of coumarin ring on the biological activity of the target structures were discussed. This review focuses on the important progress of 3,4-heterocycle-fused coumarins providing better insight for medicinal chemists on the design and preparation of biologically active heterocycle-fused coumarins with a significant therapeutic effect in the future.
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34
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Phuong PT, Oliver S, He J, Wong EHH, Mathers RT, Boyer C. Effect of Hydrophobic Groups on Antimicrobial and Hemolytic Activity: Developing a Predictive Tool for Ternary Antimicrobial Polymers. Biomacromolecules 2020; 21:5241-5255. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Pham Thu Phuong
- Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Susan Oliver
- Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Junchen He
- Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Edgar H. H. Wong
- Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Robert T. Mathers
- Department of Chemistry, Penn State University, New Kensington, Pennsylvania 15068, United States
| | - Cyrille Boyer
- Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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35
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Juhl DW, Glattard E, Lointier M, Bampilis P, Bechinger B. The Reversible Non-covalent Aggregation Into Fibers of PGLa and Magainin 2 Preserves Their Antimicrobial Activity and Synergism. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:526459. [PMID: 33102247 PMCID: PMC7554302 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.526459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Magainin 2 and PGLa are antimicrobial peptides found together in frog skin secretions. When added as a mixture they show an order of magnitude increase in antibacterial activity and in model membrane permeation assays. Here we demonstrate that both peptides can form fibers with beta-sheet/turn signature in ATR-FTIR- and CD-spectroscopic analyses, but with different morphologies in EM images. Whereas, fiber formation results in acute reduction of the antimicrobial activity of the individual peptides, the synergistic enhancement of activity remains for the equimolar mixture of PGLa and magainin 2 also after fibril formation. The biological significance and potential applications of such supramolecular aggregates are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Wilkens Juhl
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Elise Glattard
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Morane Lointier
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Panos Bampilis
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Burkhard Bechinger
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
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Abstract
Cholesterol is an integral component of eukaryotic cell membranes and a key molecule in controlling membrane fluidity, organization, and other physicochemical parameters. It also plays a regulatory function in antibiotic drug resistance and the immune response of cells against viruses, by stabilizing the membrane against structural damage. While it is well understood that, structurally, cholesterol exhibits a densification effect on fluid lipid membranes, its effects on membrane bending rigidity are assumed to be nonuniversal; i.e., cholesterol stiffens saturated lipid membranes, but has no stiffening effect on membranes populated by unsaturated lipids, such as 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC). This observation presents a clear challenge to structure-property relationships and to our understanding of cholesterol-mediated biological functions. Here, using a comprehensive approach-combining neutron spin-echo (NSE) spectroscopy, solid-state deuterium NMR (2H NMR) spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations-we report that cholesterol locally increases the bending rigidity of DOPC membranes, similar to saturated membranes, by increasing the bilayer's packing density. All three techniques, inherently sensitive to mesoscale bending fluctuations, show up to a threefold increase in effective bending rigidity with increasing cholesterol content approaching a mole fraction of 50%. Our observations are in good agreement with the known effects of cholesterol on the area-compressibility modulus and membrane structure, reaffirming membrane structure-property relationships. The current findings point to a scale-dependent manifestation of membrane properties, highlighting the need to reassess cholesterol's role in controlling membrane bending rigidity over mesoscopic length and time scales of important biological functions, such as viral budding and lipid-protein interactions.
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Timmons PB, Hewage CM. HAPPENN is a novel tool for hemolytic activity prediction for therapeutic peptides which employs neural networks. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10869. [PMID: 32616760 PMCID: PMC7331684 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67701-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing prevalence of resistance to antibiotics motivates the search for new antibacterial agents. Antimicrobial peptides are a diverse class of well-studied membrane-active peptides which function as part of the innate host defence system, and form a promising avenue in antibiotic drug research. Some antimicrobial peptides exhibit toxicity against eukaryotic membranes, typically characterised by hemolytic activity assays, but currently, the understanding of what differentiates hemolytic and non-hemolytic peptides is limited. This study leverages advances in machine learning research to produce a novel artificial neural network classifier for the prediction of hemolytic activity from a peptide's primary sequence. The classifier achieves best-in-class performance, with cross-validated accuracy of [Formula: see text] and Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.71. This innovative classifier is available as a web server at https://research.timmons.eu/happenn , allowing the research community to utilise it for in silico screening of peptide drug candidates for high therapeutic efficacies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Brendan Timmons
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, UCD Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Chandralal M Hewage
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, UCD Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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Chowdhury T, Mandal SM, Kumari R, Ghosh AK. Purification and characterization of a novel antimicrobial peptide (QAK) from the hemolymph of Antheraea mylitta. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 527:411-417. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.04.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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40
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Michl TD, Hibbs B, Hyde L, Postma A, Tran DTT, Zhalgasbaikyzy A, Vasilev K, Meagher L, Griesser HJ, Locock KES. Bacterial membrane permeability of antimicrobial polymethacrylates: Evidence for a complex mechanism from super-resolution fluorescence imaging. Acta Biomater 2020; 108:168-177. [PMID: 32179195 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Amphiphilic polymers bearing cationic moieties are an emerging alternative to traditional antibiotics given their broad-spectrum activity and low susceptibility to the development of resistance. To date, however, much remains unclear regarding their mechanism of action. Using functional assays (ATP leakage, cell viability, DNA binding) and super-high resolution structured illumination microscopy (OMX-SR) of fluorescently tagged polymers, we present evidence for a complex mechanism, involving membrane permeation as well as cellular uptake, interaction with intracellular targets and possible complexation with bacterial DNA. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This manuscript details the first study to systematically and directly investigate the mechanism of action of antimicrobial polymers, using super-resolution fluorescence imaging as well as functional assays. While many in the field cite membrane permeation as the sole mechanism underlying the activity of such polymers, we present evidence for multimodal actions including high cellular uptake and interaction with intracellular targets. It is also the first report to show competitive binding of antimicrobial polymers with bacterial DNA in a dose-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D Michl
- School of Engineering, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Blvd, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
| | - Ben Hibbs
- Materials Characterisation and Fabrication Platform, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Lauren Hyde
- Materials Characterisation and Fabrication Platform, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Almar Postma
- CSIRO Manufacturing, Research Way, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Dung Thuy Thi Tran
- School of Engineering, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Blvd, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
| | - Aigerim Zhalgasbaikyzy
- School of Engineering, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Blvd, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
| | - Krasimir Vasilev
- School of Engineering, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Blvd, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
| | - Laurence Meagher
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Hans J Griesser
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Blvd, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
| | - Katherine E S Locock
- CSIRO Manufacturing, Research Way, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia; Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
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41
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Tuerkova A, Kabelka I, Králová T, Sukeník L, Pokorná Š, Hof M, Vácha R. Effect of helical kink in antimicrobial peptides on membrane pore formation. eLife 2020; 9:47946. [PMID: 32167466 PMCID: PMC7069690 DOI: 10.7554/elife.47946] [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: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Every cell is protected by a semipermeable membrane. Peptides with the right properties, for example Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), can disrupt this protective barrier by formation of leaky pores. Unfortunately, matching peptide properties with their ability to selectively form pores in bacterial membranes remains elusive. In particular, the proline/glycine kink in helical peptides was reported to both increase and decrease antimicrobial activity. We used computer simulations and fluorescence experiments to show that a kink in helices affects the formation of membrane pores by stabilizing toroidal pores but disrupting barrel-stave pores. The position of the proline/glycine kink in the sequence further controls the specific structure of toroidal pore. Moreover, we demonstrate that two helical peptides can form a kink-like connection with similar behavior as one long helical peptide with a kink. The provided molecular-level insight can be utilized for design and modification of pore-forming antibacterial peptides or toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alzbeta Tuerkova
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Czech Republic.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Czech Republic
| | - Ivo Kabelka
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Czech Republic.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Králová
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Sukeník
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Czech Republic.,Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská, Czech Republic
| | - Šárka Pokorná
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Hof
- J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Robert Vácha
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Czech Republic.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Czech Republic.,Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská, Czech Republic
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42
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Tanhaeian A, Azghandi M, Mousavi Z, Javadmanesh A. Expression of Thanatin in HEK293 Cells and Investigation of its Antibacterial Effects on Some Human Pathogens. Protein Pept Lett 2020; 27:41-47. [PMID: 31438823 PMCID: PMC6978649 DOI: 10.2174/0929866526666190822162140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thanatin is the smallest member of Beta-hairpin class of cationic peptide derived from insects with vast activities against various pathogens. OBJECTIVE In this study, the antimicrobial activity of this peptide against some species of human bacterial pathogens as well as its toxicity on NIH cells were evaluated. METHODS Thanatin DNA sequence was cloned into pcDNA3.1+ vector and transformed into a DH5α bacterial strain. Then the recombinant plasmids were transfected into HEK-293 cells by calcium phosphate co-precipitation. After applying antibiotic treatment, the supernatant medium containing thanatin was collected. The peptide quantity was estimated by SDS-PAGE and GelQuant software. The antimicrobial activity of this peptide was performed with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) method. In addition, its toxicity on NIH cells were evaluated by MTT assay. RESULTS The peptide quantity was estimated approximately 164.21 µmolL-1. The antibacterial activity of thanatin was estimated between 0.99 and 31.58 µmolL-1 using MIC method. The result of cytotoxicity test on NIH cell line showed that the peptide toxicity up to the concentration of 394.10 µmolL-1 and for 48 hours, was not statistically significant from negative control cells (P>0.05). The antimicrobial assay demonstrated that thanatin had an antibacterial effect on some tested microorganisms. The results obtained in this study also showed that thanatin had no toxicity on mammalian cell lines including HEK293 and NIH. CONCLUSION Antimicrobial peptides such as thanatin are considered to be appropriate alternatives to conventional antibiotics in treating various human pathological diseases bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbas Tanhaeian
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Marjan Azghandi
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Zahra Mousavi
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ali Javadmanesh
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
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43
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Wu F, Tan C. Dead bacterial absorption of antimicrobial peptides underlies collective tolerance. J R Soc Interface 2020; 16:20180701. [PMID: 30958185 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The collective tolerance towards antimicrobial peptides (APs) is thought to occur primarily through mechanisms associated with live bacterial cells. In contrast to the focus on live cells, we discover that the LL37 antimicrobial peptide kills a subpopulation of Escherichia coli, forming dead cells that absorb the remaining LL37 from the environment. Combining mathematical modelling with population and single-cell experiments, we show that bacteria absorb LL37 at a timing that coincides with the permeabilization of their cytoplasmic membranes. Furthermore, we show that one bacterial strain can absorb LL37 and protect another strain from killing by LL37. Finally, we demonstrate that the absorption of LL37 by dead bacteria can be reduced using a peptide adjuvant. In contrast to the known collective tolerance mechanisms, we show that the absorption of APs by dead bacteria is a dynamic process that leads to emergent population behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis , Davis, CA 95616 , USA
| | - Cheemeng Tan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis , Davis, CA 95616 , USA
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44
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Arias M, Haney EF, Hilchie AL, Corcoran JA, Hyndman ME, Hancock REW, Vogel HJ. Selective anticancer activity of synthetic peptides derived from the host defence peptide tritrpticin. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2020; 1862:183228. [PMID: 32126228 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2020.183228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitute a diverse family of peptides with the ability to protect their host against microbial infections. In addition to their ability to kill microorganisms, several AMPs also exhibit selective cytotoxicity towards cancer cells and are collectively referred to as anticancer peptides (ACPs). Here a large library of AMPs, mainly derived from the porcine cathelicidin peptide, tritrpticin (VRRFPWWWPFLRR), were assessed for their anticancer activity against the Jurkat T cell leukemia line. These anticancer potencies were compared to the cytotoxicity of the peptides towards normal cells isolated from healthy donors, namely peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and red blood cells (RBCs; where hemolytic activity was assessed). Among the active tritrpticin derivatives, substitution of Arg by Lys enhanced the selectivity of the peptides towards Jurkat cells when compared to PBMCs. Additionally, the side chain length of the Lys residues was also optimized to further enhance the tritrpticin ACP selectivity at low concentrations. The mechanism of action of the peptides with high selectivity involved the permeabilization of the cytoplasmic membrane of Jurkat cells, without formation of apoptotic bodies. The incorporation of non-natural Lys-based cationic amino acids could provide a new strategy to improve the selectivity of other synthetic ACPs to enhance their potential for therapeutic use against leukemia cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Arias
- Biochemistry Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada; Biophysics Group, School of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Sede Medellín, Calle 65 No 59A-110, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Evan F Haney
- Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Ashley L Hilchie
- Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Jennifer A Corcoran
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease Department, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - M Eric Hyndman
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Southern Alberta Institute of Urology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2V 1P9, Canada
| | - Robert E W Hancock
- Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Hans J Vogel
- Biochemistry Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
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45
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The role of C-terminal amidation in the mechanism of action of the antimicrobial peptide aurein 1.2. THE EUROBIOTECH JOURNAL 2020. [DOI: 10.2478/ebtj-2020-0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
C-terminal amidation is a common feature of wild type membrane disrupting antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Empirical evidence suggests that this modification increases antimicrobial efficacy. However, the actual role of C-terminal amidation in the molecular mechanism of action of AMPs is not fully understood. Amidation alters two key properties simultaneously: the net charge and helicity of the peptide, both of which are implicated in the mechanism of action. However, the differences between the physicochemical properties of the carboxyl and amide moieties have been disregarded in former studies. In this study we assessed whether the difference in activity is only caused by changes in the helicity and overall charge of a peptide, i.e. whether the chemistry of the terminus is otherwise irrelevant. To do so, the membrane disrupting activity of a modified aurein 1.2 peptide was studied in which a secondary amide was formed with a terminal methyl group, instead of the primary amide as in the wild type peptide. Results of quartz crystal microbalance, dye leakage and circular dichroism experiments show that the activity of the modified peptide is substantially reduced compared to the wild type peptide, in particular that the modified peptide exhibited a much-reduced ability to bind to the membrane. Thus, the primary amide at the C-terminus is required to bind to the membrane, and a secondary amide cannot serve the same purpose. We hypothesize that this difference is related to the hydration state of the terminus. The lack of membrane binding ability of the modified peptide identifies the primary amide moiety at the C terminus as a specific membrane binding motif.
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46
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Hanashima S, Yano Y, Murata M. Enantiomers of phospholipids and cholesterol: A key to decipher lipid‐lipid interplay in membrane. Chirality 2020; 32:282-298. [DOI: 10.1002/chir.23171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Hanashima
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of ScienceOsaka University Toyonaka Japan
| | - Yo Yano
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of ScienceOsaka University Toyonaka Japan
| | - Michio Murata
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of ScienceOsaka University Toyonaka Japan
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47
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Comert F, Greenwood A, Maramba J, Acevedo R, Lucas L, Kulasinghe T, Cairns LS, Wen Y, Fu R, Hammer J, Blazyk J, Sukharev S, Cotten ML, Mihailescu M. The host-defense peptide piscidin P1 reorganizes lipid domains in membranes and decreases activation energies in mechanosensitive ion channels. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:18557-18570. [PMID: 31619519 PMCID: PMC6901303 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.010232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The host-defense peptide (HDP) piscidin 1 (P1), isolated from the mast cells of striped bass, has potent activities against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and cancer cells and can also modulate the activity of membrane receptors. Given its broad pharmacological potential, here we used several approaches to better understand its interactions with multicomponent bilayers representing models of bacterial (phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)/phosphatidylglycerol) and mammalian (phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol (PC/Chol)) membranes. Using solid-state NMR, we solved the structure of P1 bound to PC/Chol and compared it with that of P3, a less potent homolog. The comparison disclosed that although both peptides are interfacially bound and α-helical, they differ in bilayer orientations and depths of insertion, and these differences depend on bilayer composition. Although Chol is thought to make mammalian membranes less susceptible to HDP-mediated destabilization, we found that Chol does not affect the permeabilization effects of P1. X-ray diffraction experiments revealed that both piscidins produce a demixing effect in PC/Chol membranes by increasing the fraction of the Chol-depleted phase. Furthermore, P1 increased the temperature required for the lamellar-to-hexagonal phase transition in PE bilayers, suggesting that it imposes positive membrane curvature. Patch-clamp measurements on the inner Escherichia coli membrane showed that P1 and P3, at concentrations sufficient for antimicrobial activity, substantially decrease the activating tension for bacterial mechanosensitive channels. This indicated that piscidins can cause lipid redistribution and restructuring in the microenvironment near proteins. We conclude that the mechanism of piscidin's antimicrobial activity extends beyond simple membrane destabilization, helping to rationalize its broader spectrum of pharmacological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatih Comert
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland 20850
| | - Alexander Greenwood
- Department of Applied Science, William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
| | - Joseph Maramba
- Biology Department, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
| | - Roderico Acevedo
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland 20850
| | - Laura Lucas
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland 20850
| | - Thulasi Kulasinghe
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland 20850
| | - Leah S Cairns
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Yi Wen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
| | - Riqiang Fu
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, Florida 32310
| | - Janet Hammer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701
| | - Jack Blazyk
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701
| | - Sergei Sukharev
- Biology Department, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
| | - Myriam L Cotten
- Department of Applied Science, William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185.
| | - Mihaela Mihailescu
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland 20850.
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48
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Beyond electrostatics: Antimicrobial peptide selectivity and the influence of cholesterol-mediated fluidity and lipid chain length on protegrin-1 activity. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2019; 1861:182977. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2019.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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49
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Gatadi S, Gour J, Nanduri S. Natural product derived promising anti-MRSA drug leads: A review. Bioorg Med Chem 2019; 27:3760-3774. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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50
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Vernen F, Harvey PJ, Dias SA, Veiga AS, Huang YH, Craik DJ, Lawrence N, Troeira Henriques S. Characterization of Tachyplesin Peptides and Their Cyclized Analogues to Improve Antimicrobial and Anticancer Properties. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E4184. [PMID: 31455019 PMCID: PMC6747087 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tachyplesin I, II and III are host defense peptides from horseshoe crab species with antimicrobial and anticancer activities. They have an amphipathic β-hairpin structure, are highly positively-charged and differ by only one or two amino acid residues. In this study, we compared the structure and activity of the three tachyplesin peptides alongside their backbone cyclized analogues. We assessed the peptide structures using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, then compared the activity against bacteria (both in the planktonic and biofilm forms) and a panel of cancerous cells. The importance of peptide-lipid interactions was examined using surface plasmon resonance and fluorescence spectroscopy methodologies. Our studies showed that tachyplesin peptides and their cyclic analogues were most potent against Gram-negative bacteria and melanoma cell lines, and showed a preference for binding to negatively-charged lipid membranes. Backbone cyclization did not improve potency, but improved peptide stability in human serum and reduced toxicity toward human red blood cells. Peptide-lipid binding affinity, orientation within the membrane, and ability to disrupt lipid bilayers differed between the cyclized peptide and the parent counterpart. We show that tachyplesin peptides and cyclized analogues have similarly potent antimicrobial and anticancer properties, but that backbone cyclization improves their stability and therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicitas Vernen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Peta J Harvey
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Susana A Dias
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Salomé Veiga
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Yen-Hua Huang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Nicole Lawrence
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Sónia Troeira Henriques
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia.
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