1
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Lund PM, Kristensen K, Larsen NW, Knuhtsen A, Hansen MB, Hjørringgaard CU, Eriksen AZ, Urquhart AJ, Mortensen KI, Simonsen JB, Andresen TL, Larsen JB. Tuning the double lipidation of salmon calcitonin to introduce a pore-like membrane translocation mechanism. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 669:198-210. [PMID: 38713958 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.04.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
A widespread strategy to increase the transport of therapeutic peptides across cellular membranes has been to attach lipid moieties to the peptide backbone (lipidation) to enhance their intrinsic membrane interaction. Efforts in vitro and in vivo investigating the correlation between lipidation characteristics and peptide membrane translocation efficiency have traditionally relied on end-point read-out assays and trial-and-error-based optimization strategies. Consequently, the molecular details of how therapeutic peptide lipidation affects it's membrane permeation and translocation mechanisms remain unresolved. Here we employed salmon calcitonin as a model therapeutic peptide and synthesized nine double lipidated analogs with varying lipid chain lengths. We used single giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) calcein influx time-lapse fluorescence microscopy to determine how tuning the lipidation length can lead to an All-or-None GUV filling mechanism, indicative of a peptide mediated pore formation. Finally, we used a GUVs-containing-inner-GUVs assay to demonstrate that only peptide analogs capable of inducing pore formation show efficient membrane translocation. Our data provided the first mechanistic details on how therapeutic peptide lipidation affects their membrane perturbation mechanism and demonstrated that fine-tuning lipidation parameters could induce an intrinsic pore-forming capability. These insights and the microscopy based workflow introduced for investigating structure-function relations could be pivotal for optimizing future peptide design strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip M Lund
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kasper Kristensen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nanna W Larsen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Astrid Knuhtsen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Morten B Hansen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Claudia U Hjørringgaard
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anne Z Eriksen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andrew J Urquhart
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kim I Mortensen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jens B Simonsen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Thomas L Andresen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Jannik B Larsen
- Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark; DTU Health Tech, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
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2
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Wei L, Tu W, Xu Y, Xu C, Dou Y, Ge Y, Sun S, Wei Y, Yang K, Yuan B. Assembly-Induced Membrane Selectivity of Artificial Model Peptides through Entropy-Enthalpy Competition. ACS NANO 2024; 18:18650-18662. [PMID: 38959157 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c05265] [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: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Peptide design and drug development offer a promising solution for combating serious diseases or infections. In this study, using an AI-human negotiation approach, we have designed a class of minimal model peptides against tuberculosis (TB), among which K7W6 exhibits potent efficacy attributed to its assembly-induced function. Comprising lysine and tryptophan with an amphiphilic α-helical structure, the K7W6 sequence exhibits robust activity against various infectious bacteria causing TB (including clinically isolated and drug-resistant strains) both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, it synergistically enhances the effectiveness of the first-line antibiotic rifampicin while displaying low potential for inducing drug resistance and minimal toxicity toward mammalian cells. Biophysical experiments and simulations elucidate that K7W6's exceptional performance can be ascribed to its highly selective and efficient membrane permeabilization activity induced by its distinctive self-assembly behavior. Additionally, these assemblies regulate the interplay between enthalpy and entropy during K7W6-membrane interaction, leading to the peptide's two-step mechanism of membrane interaction. These findings provide valuable insights into rational design principles for developing advanced peptide-based drugs while uncovering the functional role played by assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Wei
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenqiang Tu
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research & School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yiwei Xu
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research & School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Cheng Xu
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China
| | - Yujiang Dou
- School of Electronic Information, Dongguan Polytechnic, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China
| | - Yuke Ge
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research & School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuqing Sun
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research & School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yushuang Wei
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China
| | - Kai Yang
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research & School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bing Yuan
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China
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3
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Sun L, Hristova K, Bondar AN, Wimley WC. Structural Determinants of Peptide Nanopore Formation. ACS NANO 2024; 18:15831-15844. [PMID: 38844421 PMCID: PMC11191747 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c02824] [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: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/19/2024]
Abstract
We have evolved the nanopore-forming macrolittin peptides from the bee venom peptide melittin using successive generations of synthetic molecular evolution. Despite their sequence similarity to the broadly membrane permeabilizing cytolytic melittin, the macrolittins have potent membrane selectivity. They form nanopores in synthetic bilayers made from 1-palmitoyl, 2-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) at extremely low peptide concentrations and yet have essentially no cytolytic activity against any cell membrane, even at high concentration. Here, we explore the structural determinants of macrolittin nanopore stability in POPC bilayers using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations and experiments on macrolittins and single-site variants. Simulations of macrolittin nanopores in POPC bilayers show that they are stabilized by an extensive, cooperative hydrogen bond network comprised of the many charged and polar side chains interacting with each other via bridges of water molecules and lipid headgroups. Lipid molecules with unusual conformations participate in the H-bond network and are an integral part of the nanopore structure. To explore the role of this H-bond network on membrane selectivity, we swapped three critical polar residues with the nonpolar residues found in melittin. All variants have potency, membrane selectivity, and cytotoxicity that were intermediate between a cytotoxic melittin variant called MelP5 and the macrolittins. Simulations showed that the variants had less organized H-bond networks of waters and lipids with unusual structures. The membrane-spanning, cooperative H-bond network is a critical determinant of macrolittin nanopore stability and membrane selectivity. The results described here will help guide the future design and optimization of peptide nanopore-based applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leisheng Sun
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane
University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, United States
| | - Kalina Hristova
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Institute
for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Ana-Nicoleta Bondar
- Faculty
of Physics, University of Bucharest, Atomiştilor 405, Măgurele 077125, Romania
- Forschungszentrum
Jülich, Institute of Computational
Biomedicine, IAS-5/INM-9,
Wilhelm-Johnen Straße, 5428 Jülich, Germany
| | - William C. Wimley
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane
University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, United States
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4
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Li S, Wang Z, Song S, Tang Y, Zhou J, Liu X, Zhang X, Chang M, Wang K, Peng Y. Membrane-Active All-Hydrocarbon-Stapled α-Helical Amphiphilic Tat Peptides: Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Activity and Low Incidence of Drug Resistance. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:1839-1855. [PMID: 38725407 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Multidrug resistance against conventional antibiotics has dramatically increased the difficulty of treatment and accelerated the need for novel antibacterial agents. The peptide Tat (47-57) is derived from the transactivating transcriptional activator of human immunodeficiency virus 1, which is well-known as a cell-penetrating peptide in mammalian cells. However, it is also reported that the Tat peptide (47-57) has antifungal activity. In this study, a series of membrane-active hydrocarbon-stapled α-helical amphiphilic peptides were synthesized and evaluated as antibacterial agents against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains. The impact of hydrocarbon staple, the position of aromatic amino acid residue in the hydrophobic face, the various types of aromatic amino acids, and the hydrophobicity on bioactivity were also investigated and discussed in this study. Among those synthesized peptides, analogues P3 and P10 bearing a l-2-naphthylalanine (Φ) residue at the first position and a Tyr residue at the eighth position demonstrated the highest antimicrobial activity and negligible hemolytic toxicity. Notably, P3 and P10 showed obviously enhanced antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria, low drug resistance, high cell selectivity, extended half-life in plasma, and excellent performance against biofilm. The antibacterial mechanisms of P3 and P10 were also preliminarily investigated in this effort. In conclusion, P3 and P10 are promising antimicrobial alternatives for the treatment of the antimicrobial-resistance crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Li
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic Phytomedicine Resources Ministry of Education, Shihezi University College of Pharmacy, Shihezi 832003, Xinjiang, P. R. China
| | - Zhaopeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Shibo Song
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yuanyuan Tang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jingjing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Xiaojing Liu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xingjiao Zhang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Min Chang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Kairong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Yali Peng
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
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5
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Guha S, Cristy SA, Buda De Cesare G, Cruz MR, Lorenz MC, Garsin DA. Optimization of the antifungal properties of the bacterial peptide EntV by variant analysis. mBio 2024; 15:e0057024. [PMID: 38587425 PMCID: PMC11077972 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00570-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Fungal resistance to commonly used medicines is a growing public health threat, and there is a dire need to develop new classes of antifungals. We previously described a peptide produced by Enterococcus faecalis, EntV, that restricts Candida albicans to a benign form rather than having direct fungicidal activity. Moreover, we showed that one 12-amino acid (aa) alpha helix of this peptide retained full activity, with partial activity down to the 10aa alpha helix. Using these peptides as a starting point, the current investigation sought to identify the critical features necessary for antifungal activity and to screen for new variants with enhanced activity using both biofilm and C. elegans infection assays. First, the short peptides were screened for residues with critical activity by generating alanine substitutions. Based on this information, we used synthetic molecular evolution (SME) to rationally vary the specific residues of the 10aa variant in combination to generate a library that was screened to identify variants with more potent antifungal activity than the parent template. Five gain-of-function peptides were identified. Additionally, chemical modifications to the peptides to increase stability, including substitutions of D-amino acids and hydrocarbon stapling, were investigated. The most promising peptides were additionally tested in mouse models of oropharyngeal and systemic candidiasis where their efficacy in preventing infection was demonstrated. The expectation is that these discoveries will contribute to the development of new therapeutics in the fight against antimicrobial resistant fungi. IMPORTANCE Since the early 1980s, the incidence of disseminated life-threatening fungal infections has been on the rise. Worldwide, Candida and Cryptococcus species are among the most common agents causing these infections. Simultaneously, with this rise of clinical incidence, there has also been an increased prevalence of antifungal resistance, making treatment of these infections very difficult. For example, there are now strains of Candida auris that are resistant to all three classes of currently used antifungal drugs. In this study, we report on a strategy that allows for the development of novel antifungal agents by using synthetic molecular evolution. These discoveries demonstrate that the enhancement of antifungal activity from naturally occurring peptides is possible and can result in clinically relevant agents that have efficacy in multiple in vivo models as well as the potential for broad-spectrum activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shantanu Guha
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Shane A. Cristy
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Giuseppe Buda De Cesare
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Melissa R. Cruz
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Michael C. Lorenz
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Danielle A. Garsin
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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6
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Jafari Z, Sadeghi S, Dehaghi MM, Bigham A, Honarmand S, Tavasoli A, Hoseini MHM, Varma RS. Immunomodulatory activities and biomedical applications of melittin and its recent advances. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2024; 357:e2300569. [PMID: 38251938 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202300569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Melittin (MLT), a peptide containing 26 amino acids, is a key constituent of bee venom. It comprises ∼40%-60% of the venom's dry weight and is the main pricing index for bee venom, being the causative factor of pain. The unique properties of MLT extracted from bee venom have made it a very valuable active ingredient in the pharmaceutical industry as this cationic and amphipathic peptide has propitious effects on human health in diverse biological processes. It has the ability to strongly impact the membranes of cells and display hemolytic activity with anticancer characteristics. However, the clinical application of MLT has been limited by its severe hemolytic activity, which poses a challenge for therapeutic use. By employing more efficient mechanisms, such as modifying the MLT sequence, genetic engineering, and nano-delivery systems, it is anticipated that the limitations posed by MLT can be overcome, thereby enabling its wider application in therapeutic contexts. This review has outlined recent advancements in MLT's nano-delivery systems and genetically engineered cells expressing MLT and provided an overview of where the MLTMLT's platforms are and where they will go in the future with the challenges ahead. The focus is on exploring how these approaches can overcome the limitations associated with MLT's hemolytic activity and improve its selectivity and efficacy in targeting cancer cells. These advancements hold promise for the creation of innovative and enhanced therapeutic approaches based on MLT for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohreh Jafari
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Sadeghi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Mirzarazi Dehaghi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ashkan Bigham
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council of Italy (IPCB-CNR), Naples, Italy
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Shokouh Honarmand
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Tavasoli
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Mostafa Haji Molla Hoseini
- Medical Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rajender S Varma
- Department of Chemistry, Centre of Excellence for Research in Sustainable Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
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7
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Ferrie RP, Fuselier T, Wimley WC. Cytosolic Delivery of Bioactive Cyclic Peptide Cargo by Spontaneous Membrane Translocating Peptides. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:8179-8187. [PMID: 38405535 PMCID: PMC10882622 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c08701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Cyclic peptides that inhibit protein-protein interactions have significant advantages over linear peptides and small molecules for modulating cellular signaling networks in cancer and other diseases. However, the permeability barrier of the plasma membrane remains a formidable obstacle to the development of cyclic peptides into applicable drugs. Here, we test the ability of a family of synthetically evolved spontaneous membrane translocating peptides (SMTPs) to deliver phalloidin, a representative bioactive cyclic peptide, to the cytosol of human cells in culture. Phalloidin does not enter cells spontaneously, but if delivered to the cytosol, it inhibits actin depolymerization. We thus use a wound-healing cell mobility assay to assess the biological activity of phalloidin conjugated to three SMTPs that we previously discovered. All three SMTPs can deliver phalloidin to the cell cytosol, and one does so at concentrations as low as 3 μM. Delivery occurs despite the fact that the SMTPs were originally selected based on membrane translocation with no cargo other than a small fluorescent dye. These results show that SMTPs are viable delivery vehicles for cyclic peptides, although their efficiency is moderate. Further, these results suggest that one additional generation of synthetic molecular evolution could be used to optimize SMTPs for the efficient delivery of any bioactive cyclic peptide into cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan P. Ferrie
- Department of Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology, Tulane University
School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, United States
| | - Taylor Fuselier
- Department of Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology, Tulane University
School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, United States
| | - William C. Wimley
- Department of Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology, Tulane University
School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, United States
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8
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Wachira FW, Githirwa DC, McPartlon T, Nazarenko V, Gonzales JJC, Gazura MM, Leen C, Clary HR, Alston C, Klees LM, Yao L, An M. D-to-E and T19V Variants of the pH-Low Insertion Peptide and Their Doxorubicin Conjugates Interact with Membrane at Higher pH Ranges Than WT. Biochemistry 2023; 62:2997-3011. [PMID: 37793002 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
To improve targeted cargo delivery to cancer cells, pH-Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) variants were developed to interact with the membrane at pH values higher than those of the WT. The Asp-to-Glu variants aim to increase side chain pKa without disturbing the sequence of protonations that underpin membrane insertion. The Thr19 variants represent efforts to perturb the critical Pro20 residue. To study the effect of cargo on pHLIP insertion, doxorubicin (Dox), a fluorescent antineoplastic drug, was conjugated to selected variants near the inserting C-terminus. Variants and conjugates were characterized on a POPC membrane using Trp and Dox fluorescence methods to define the entire pH range of insertion (pHinitial-pHfinal). Compared to WT with a pHi-pHf range of 6.7-5.6, D25E-D31E-D33E, D14E-D25E-D31E-D33E, and T19V-D25E variants demonstrated higher pHi-pHf ranges of 7.3-6.1, 7.3-6.3, and 8.2-5.4, respectively. The addition of Dox expanded the pHi-pHf range, mainly by shifting pHi to higher pH values (e.g., WT pHLIP-Dox has a pHi-pHf range of 7.7-5.2). Despite the low Hill coefficient observed for the conjugates, D14E-D25E-D31E-D33E pHLIP-Dox completed insertion by a pHf of 5.7. However, the Dox cargo remained in the hydrophobic membrane interior after pHLIP insertion, which may impede drug release. Finally, a logistic function can describe pHLIP insertion as a peripheral-to-TM (start-to-finish) two-state transition; wherever possible, we discuss data deviating from such sigmoidal fitting in support of the idea that pH-specific intermediate states distinct from the initial peripheral state and the final TM state exist at intervening pH values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faith W Wachira
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Dancan C Githirwa
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Thomas McPartlon
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Vladyslav Nazarenko
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Jerel J C Gonzales
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Makenzie M Gazura
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Caitlin Leen
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Hannah R Clary
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Claire Alston
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Lukas M Klees
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Lan Yao
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
- Department of Physics, SUNY, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Ming An
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
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9
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Almeida PF. In Search of a Molecular View of Peptide-Lipid Interactions in Membranes. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023. [PMID: 37478368 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c00538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Lipid bilayer membranes are often represented as a continuous nonpolar slab with a certain thickness bounded by two more polar interfaces. Phenomena such as peptide binding to the membrane surface, folding, insertion, translocation, and diffusion are typically interpreted on the basis of this view. In this Perspective, I argue that this membrane representation as a hydrophobic continuum solvent is not adequate to understand peptide-lipid interactions. Lipids are not small compared to membrane-active peptides: their sizes are similar. Therefore, peptide diffusion needs to be understood in terms of free volume, not classical continuum mechanics; peptide solubility or partitioning in membranes cannot be interpreted in terms of hydrophobic mismatch between membrane thickness and peptide length; peptide folding and translocation, often involving cationic peptides, can only be understood if realizing that lipids adapt to the presence of peptides and the membrane may undergo considerable lipid redistribution in the process. In all of those instances, the detailed molecular interactions between the peptide residues and the lipid components are essential to understand the mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo F Almeida
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403, United States
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10
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Deng Z, You X, Lin Z, Dong X, Yuan B, Yang K. Membrane-Active Peptides Attack Cell Membranes in a Lipid-Regulated Curvature-Generating Mode. J Phys Chem Lett 2023:6422-6430. [PMID: 37432779 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c01115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Membrane-active peptides (MAPs) exhibit great potential in biomedical applications due to their unique ability to overcome the cell membrane barrier. However, the interactions between MAPs and membranes are complex, and little is known about the possibility of MAP action being specific to certain types of membranes. In this study, a combination of molecular dynamics simulations and theoretical analysis was utilized to investigate the interactions between typical MAPs and realistic cell membrane systems. Remarkably, the simulations revealed that MAPs can attack membranes by generating and sensing positive mean curvature, which is dependent on lipid composition. Furthermore, theoretical calculations demonstrated that this lipid-regulated curvature-based membrane attack mechanism is an integrated result of multiple effects, including peptide-induced membrane wedge and softening effects, the lipid shape effect, the area-difference elastic effect, and the boundary edge effect of formed peptide-lipid nanodomains. This study enhances our comprehension of MAP-membrane interactions and highlights the potential for developing membrane-specific MAP-based agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixiong Deng
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research & School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xin You
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research & School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhao Lin
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Xuewei Dong
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research & School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bing Yuan
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan 523808 Guangdong, China
| | - Kai Yang
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research & School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan 523808 Guangdong, China
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11
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Konakbayeva D, Karlsson AJ. Strategies and opportunities for engineering antifungal peptides for therapeutic applications. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 81:102926. [PMID: 37028003 PMCID: PMC10229436 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Antifungal peptides (AFPs) are widely described as promising prospects to treat and prevent fungal infections, though they are far less studied than their antibacterial counterparts. Although promising, AFPs have practical limitations that have hindered their use as therapeutics. Rational design and combinatorial engineering are powerful protein engineering strategies with much potential to address the limitations of AFPs by designing peptides with improved physiochemical and biological characteristics. We examine how rational design and combinatorial engineering approaches have already been used to improve the properties of AFPs and propose key opportunities for applying these strategies to push the design and application of AFPs forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinara Konakbayeva
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, 2113 Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Building (#090), 4418 Stadium Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Amy J Karlsson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, 2113 Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Building (#090), 4418 Stadium Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
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12
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Chen CH, Bepler T, Pepper K, Fu D, Lu TK. Synthetic molecular evolution of antimicrobial peptides. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2022; 75:102718. [PMID: 35395425 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
As we learn more about how peptide structure and activity are related, we anticipate that antimicrobial peptides will be engineered to have strong potency and distinct functions and that synthetic peptides will have new biomedical applications, such as treatments for emerging infectious diseases. As a result of the enormous number of possible amino acid sequences and the low-throughput nature of antimicrobial peptide assays, computational tools for peptide design and optimization are needed for direct experimentation toward obtaining functional sequences. Recent developments in computational tools have improved peptide design, saving labor, reagents, costs, and time. At the same time, improvements in peptide synthesis and experimental platforms continue to reduce the cost and increase the throughput of peptide-drug screening. In this review, we discuss the current methods of peptide design and engineering, including in silico methods and peptide synthesis and screening, and highlight areas of potential improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles H Chen
- Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Tristan Bepler
- Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Simons Machine Learning Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Karen Pepper
- Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Debbie Fu
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Timothy K Lu
- Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Senti Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
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13
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Wichmann N, Lund PM, Hansen MB, Hjørringgaard CU, Larsen JB, Kristensen K, Andresen TL, Simonsen JB. Applying flow cytometry to identify the modes of action of membrane-active peptides in a label-free and high-throughput fashion. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2022; 1864:183820. [PMID: 34813768 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2021.183820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Membrane-active peptides (MAPs) have several potential therapeutic uses, including as antimicrobial drugs. Many traditional methods used to evaluate the membrane interactions of MAPs have limited applicability. Low-throughput methods, such as microscopy, provide detailed information but often rely on fluorophore-labeled MAPs, and high-throughput assays, such as the calcein release assay, cannot assess the mechanism behind the disruption of vesicular-based lipid membranes. Here we present a flow cytometric assay that provides detailed information about the peptide-lipid membrane interactions on single artificial lipid vesicles while being high-throughput (1000-2000 vesicles/s) and based on label-free MAPs. We synthesized and investigated six MAPs with different modes of action to evaluate the versatility of the assay. The assay is based on the flow cytometric readouts from artificial lipid vesicles, including the fluorescence from membrane-anchored and core-encapsulated fluorophores, and the vesicle concentration. From these parameters, we were able to distinguish between MAPs that induce vesicle solubilization, permeation (pores/membrane distortion), and aggregation or fusion. Our flow cytometry findings have been verified by traditional methods, including the calcein release assay, dynamic light scattering, and fluorescence microscopy on giant unilamellar vesicles. We envision that the presented flow cytometric assay can be used for various types of peptide-lipid membrane studies, e.g. to identify new antibiotics. Moreover, the assay can easily be expanded to derive additional valuable information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanna Wichmann
- Department of Health Technology, Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Philip M Lund
- Department of Health Technology, Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Morten B Hansen
- Department of Health Technology, Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Claudia U Hjørringgaard
- Department of Health Technology, Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jannik B Larsen
- Department of Health Technology, Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kasper Kristensen
- Department of Health Technology, Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Thomas L Andresen
- Department of Health Technology, Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Jens B Simonsen
- Department of Health Technology, Center for Intestinal Absorption and Transport of Biopharmaceuticals, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
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14
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Delvaux NA, Rice KG. The Reduced-Charge Melittin Analogue MelP5 Improves the Transfection of Non-Viral DNA Nanoparticles. J Pept Sci 2022; 28:e3404. [PMID: 35001445 PMCID: PMC10069327 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3404] [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: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Melittin is a 26 amino acid amphiphilic alpha-helical peptide derived from honeybee venom. Prior studies have incorporated melittin into non-viral delivery systems to effect endosomal escape of DNA nanoparticles and improve transfection efficiency. Recent advances have led to the development of two newer melittin analogues, MelP5 and Macrolittin 70, with improved pore formation in lipid bilayers while possessing fewer positive charges relative to natural melittin. Consequently, MelP5 and Macrolittin 70 were conjugated through a disulfide bond to a DNA binding polyacridine peptide. The resulting peptide conjugates were used to prepare DNA nanoparticles to compare their relative endosomolytic potency by transfection of HepG2 cells. Melittin and MelP5 conjugates were equally potent at mediating in vitro gene transfer, whereas PEGylation of DNA nanoparticles revealed improved transfection with MelP5 relative to melittin. The results demonstrate the ability to substitute a potent, reduced charge analogue of melittin to improve overall DNA nanoparticle biocompatibility needed for in vivo testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan A Delvaux
- Division of Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - Kevin G Rice
- Division of Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
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15
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Schaefer KG, Grau B, Moore N, Mingarro I, King GM, Barrera FN. Controllable membrane remodeling by a modified fragment of the apoptotic protein Bax. Faraday Discuss 2021; 232:114-130. [PMID: 34549736 PMCID: PMC8712456 DOI: 10.1039/d0fd00070a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Intrinsic apoptosis is orchestrated by a group of proteins that mediate the coordinated disruption of mitochondrial membranes. Bax is a multi-domain protein that, upon activation, disrupts the integrity of the mitochondrial outer membrane by forming pores. We strategically introduced glutamic acids into a short sequence of the Bax protein that constitutively creates membrane pores. The resulting BaxE5 peptide efficiently permeabilizes membranes at acidic pH, showing low permeabilization at neutral pH. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging showed that at acidic pH BaxE5 established several membrane remodeling modalities that progressively disturbed the integrity of the lipid bilayer. The AFM data offers vistas on the membrane disruption process, which starts with pore formation and progresses through localized exposure of membrane monolayers leading to stable and small (height ∼ 16 Å) lipid-peptide complexes. The different types of membrane morphology observed in the presence of BaxE5 suggest that the peptide can establish different types of membrane interactions. BaxE5 adopts a rare unstructured conformation when bound to membranes, which might facilitate the dynamic transition between those different states, and then promote membrane digestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine G Schaefer
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
| | - Brayan Grau
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 37996, USA.
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Estructura de Recerca Interdisciplinar en Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (ERI BioTecMed), Universitat de València, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Nicolas Moore
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 37996, USA.
| | - Ismael Mingarro
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Estructura de Recerca Interdisciplinar en Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (ERI BioTecMed), Universitat de València, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Gavin M King
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, 65211, USA
| | - Francisco N Barrera
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 37996, USA.
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16
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Synthetic Molecular Evolution of Cell Penetrating Peptides. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2383:73-89. [PMID: 34766283 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1752-6_5] [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: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Rational design and optimization of cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) is difficult to accomplish because of the lack of quantitative sequence-structure-function rules describing the activity and because of the complex, poorly understood mechanisms of CPPs. Synthetic molecular evolution is a powerful method to identify gain-of-function cell penetrating peptide variants in this situation. Synthetic molecular evolution requires the design and synthesis of iterative, knowledge-based peptide libraries and the screening of such libraries in complex orthogonal cell-based screens for improved activity. In this chapter, we describe methods for synthesizing powerful combinatorial peptide libraries for synthetic molecular evolution.
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17
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Guha S, Ferrie RP, Ghimire J, Ventura CR, Wu E, Sun L, Kim SY, Wiedman GR, Hristova K, Wimley WC. Applications and evolution of melittin, the quintessential membrane active peptide. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 193:114769. [PMID: 34543656 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Melittin, the main venom component of the European Honeybee, is a cationic linear peptide-amide of 26 amino acid residues with the sequence: GIGAVLKVLTTGLPALISWIKRKRQQ-NH2. Melittin binds to lipid bilayer membranes, folds into amphipathic α-helical secondary structure and disrupts the permeability barrier. Since melittin was first described, a remarkable array of activities and potential applications in biology and medicine have been described. Melittin is also a favorite model system for biophysicists to study the structure, folding and function of peptides and proteins in membranes. Melittin has also been used as a template for the evolution of new activities in membranes. Here we overview the rich history of scientific research into the many activities of melittin and outline exciting future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shantanu Guha
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ryan P Ferrie
- Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Jenisha Ghimire
- Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Cristina R Ventura
- Seton Hall University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Orange, NJ, USA
| | - Eric Wu
- Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Leisheng Sun
- Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Sarah Y Kim
- Duke University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Gregory R Wiedman
- Seton Hall University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Orange, NJ, USA
| | - Kalina Hristova
- Johns Hopkins University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Wimley C Wimley
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Houston, TX, USA.
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18
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Gou S, Li B, Ouyang X, Ba Z, Zhong C, Zhang T, Chang L, Zhu Y, Zhang J, Zhu N, Zhang Y, Liu H, Ni J. Novel Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Peptide Derived from Anoplin and Its Activity on Bacterial Pneumonia in Mice. J Med Chem 2021; 64:11247-11266. [PMID: 34180670 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria has major issues for treating bacterial pneumonia. Currently, anoplin (GLLKRIKTLL-NH2) is a natural antimicrobial candidate derived from wasp venom. In this study, a series of new antimicrobial peptide (AMP) anoplin analogues were designed and synthesized. The relationship between their biological activities and their positive charge, hydrophobicity, amphipathicity, and secondary structure are described. The characteristic shared by these peptides is that positively charged amino acids and hydrophobic amino acids are severally arranged on the hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface of the α-helix to form a completely amphiphilic structure. To achieve ideal AMPs, below the range of the threshold of the cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity, their charges and hydrophobicity were increased as much. Among the new analogues, A-21 (KWWKKWKKWW-NH2) exhibited the greatest antimicrobial activity (geometric mean of minimum inhibitory concentrations = 4.76 μM) against all the tested bacterial strains, high bacterial cell selectivity in vitro, high effectiveness against bacterial pneumonia in mice infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae, and low toxicity in mice (LD50 = 82.01 mg/kg). A-21 exhibited a potent bacterial membrane-damaging mechanism and lipopolysaccharide-binding ability. These data provide evidence that A-21 is a promising antimicrobial candidate for the treatment of bacterial pneumonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanhu Gou
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.,Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Beibei Li
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xu Ouyang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zufang Ba
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Chao Zhong
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.,Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Tianyue Zhang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - LinLin Chang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.,Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yuewen Zhu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jingying Zhang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.,Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ningyi Zhu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jingman Ni
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.,Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
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19
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Tuning of a Membrane-Perforating Antimicrobial Peptide to Selectively Target Membranes of Different Lipid Composition. J Membr Biol 2021; 254:75-96. [PMID: 33564914 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-021-00174-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The use of designed antimicrobial peptides as drugs has been impeded by the absence of simple sequence-structure-function relationships and design rules. The likely cause is that many of these peptides permeabilize membranes via highly disordered, heterogeneous mechanisms, forming aggregates without well-defined tertiary or secondary structure. We suggest that the combination of high-throughput library screening with atomistic computer simulations can successfully address this challenge by tuning a previously developed general pore-forming peptide into a selective pore-former for different lipid types. A library of 2916 peptides was designed based on the LDKA template. The library peptides were synthesized and screened using a high-throughput orthogonal vesicle leakage assay. Dyes of different sizes were entrapped inside vesicles with varying lipid composition to simultaneously screen for both pore size and affinity for negatively charged and neutral lipid membranes. From this screen, nine different LDKA variants that have unique activity were selected, sequenced, synthesized, and characterized. Despite the minor sequence changes, each of these peptides has unique functional properties, forming either small or large pores and being selective for either neutral or anionic lipid bilayers. Long-scale, unbiased atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations directly reveal that rather than rigid, well-defined pores, these peptides can form a large repertoire of functional dynamic and heterogeneous aggregates, strongly affected by single mutations. Predicting the propensity to aggregate and assemble in a given environment from sequence alone holds the key to functional prediction of membrane permeabilization.
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20
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Kim SY, Bondar AN, Wimley WC, Hristova K. pH-triggered pore-forming peptides with strong composition-dependent membrane selectivity. Biophys J 2021; 120:618-630. [PMID: 33460594 PMCID: PMC7896028 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptides that self-assemble into nanometer-sized pores in lipid bilayers could have utility in a variety of biotechnological and clinical applications if we can understand their physical chemical properties and learn to control their membrane selectivity. To empower such control, we have used synthetic molecular evolution to identify the pH-dependent delivery peptides, a family of peptides that assemble into macromolecule-sized pores in membranes at low peptide concentration but only at pH < ∼6. Further advancements will also require better selectivity for specific membranes. Here, we determine the effect of anionic headgroups and bilayer thickness on the mechanism of action of the pH-dependent delivery peptides by measuring binding, secondary structure, and macromolecular poration. The peptide pHD15 partitions and folds equally well into zwitterionic and anionic membranes but is less potent at pore formation in phosphatidylserine-containing membranes. The peptide also binds and folds similarly in membranes of various thicknesses, but its ability to release macromolecules changes dramatically. It causes potent macromolecular poration in vesicles made from phosphatidylcholine with 14 carbon acyl chains, but macromolecular poration decreases sharply with increasing bilayer thickness and does not occur at any peptide concentration in fluid bilayers made from phosphatidylcholine lipids with 20-carbon acyl chains. The effects of headgroup and bilayer thickness on macromolecular poration cannot be accounted for by the amount of peptide bound but instead reflect an inherent selectivity of the peptide for inserting into the membrane-spanning pore state. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the effect of thickness is due to hydrophobic match/mismatch between the membrane-spanning peptide and the bilayer hydrocarbon. This remarkable degree of selectivity based on headgroup and especially bilayer thickness is unusual and suggests ways that pore-forming peptides with exquisite selectivity for specific membranes can be designed or evolved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Y Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ana-Nicoleta Bondar
- Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Physics, Theoretical Molecular Biophysics Group, Berlin, Germany.
| | - William C Wimley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.
| | - Kalina Hristova
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
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21
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Porosk L, Gaidutšik I, Langel Ü. Approaches for the discovery of new cell-penetrating peptides. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2020; 16:553-565. [PMID: 33874824 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2021.1851187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: The capability of cell-penetrating peptides (CPP), also known as protein transduction domains (PTD), to enter into cells possibly with an attached cargo, makes their application as delivery vectors or as direct therapeutics compelling. They are generally biocompatible, nontoxic, and easy to synthesize and modify. Three decades after the discovery of the first CPPs, ~2,000 CPP sequences have been identified, and many more predicted. Nevertheless, the field has a strong commitment to authenticate new, more efficient, and specific CPPs.Areas covered: Although a scattering of CPPs have been found by chance, various systematic approaches have been developed and refined over the years to directly aid the identification and depiction of new peptide-based delivery vectors or therapeutics. Here, the authors give an overview of CPPs, and review various approaches of discovering new ones. An emphasis is placed on in silico methods, as these have advanced rapidly in recent years.Expert opinion: Although there are many known CPPs, there is a need to find more efficient and specific CPPs. Several approaches are used to identify such sequences. The success of these approaches depends on the advancement of others and the successful prediction of CPP sequences relies on experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ly Porosk
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ilja Gaidutšik
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ülo Langel
- Department Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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22
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Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Entry Inhibition by Interfacially Active Peptides. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.01682-20. [PMID: 32907984 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01682-20] [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] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous peptides inhibit the entry of enveloped viruses into cells. Some of these peptides have been shown to inhibit multiple unrelated viruses. We have suggested that such broad-spectrum antiviral peptides share a property called interfacial activity; they are somewhat hydrophobic and amphipathic, with a propensity to interact with the interfacial zones of lipid bilayer membranes. In this study, we further tested the hypothesis that such interfacial activity is a correlate of broad-spectrum antiviral activity. In this study, several families of peptides, selected for the ability to partition into and disrupt membrane integrity but with no known antiviral activity, were tested for the ability to inhibit multiple diverse enveloped viruses. These include Lassa pseudovirus, influenza virus, dengue virus type 2, herpes simplex virus 1, and nonenveloped human adenovirus 5. Various families of interfacially active peptides caused potent inhibition of all enveloped viruses tested at low and submicromolar concentrations, well below the range in which they are toxic to mammalian cells. These membrane-active peptides block uptake and fusion with the host cell by rapidly and directly interacting with virions, destabilizing the viral envelope, and driving virus aggregation and/or intervirion envelope fusion. We speculate that the molecular characteristics shared by these peptides can be exploited to enable the design, optimization, or molecular evolution of novel broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics.IMPORTANCE New classes of antiviral drugs are needed to treat the ever-changing viral disease landscape. Current antiviral drugs treat only a small number of viral diseases, leaving many patients with established or emerging infections to be treated solely with supportive care. Recent antiviral peptide research has produced numerous membrane-interacting peptides that inhibit diverse enveloped viruses in vitro and in vivo Peptide therapeutics are becoming more common, with over 60 FDA-approved peptides for clinical use. Included in this class of therapeutics is enfuvirtide, a 36-residue peptide drug that inhibits HIV entry/fusion. Due to their broad-spectrum mechanism of action and enormous potential sequence diversity, peptides that inhibit virus entry could potentially fulfill the need for new antiviral therapeutics; however, a better understanding of their mechanism is needed for the optimization or evolution of sequence design to combat the wide landscape of viral disease.
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23
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Wu E, Jenschke RM, Hristova K, Wimley WC. Rational Modulation of pH-Triggered Macromolecular Poration by Peptide Acylation and Dimerization. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:8835-8843. [PMID: 32892626 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c05363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The synthetically evolved pH-dependent delivery (pHD) peptides are a unique family that bind to membranes, fold into α-helices, and form macromolecule-sized pores at low concentration at pH < 6. These peptides have potential applications in drug delivery and tumor targeting. Here, we show how pHD peptide activity can be modulated without changing the amino acid sequence. We increased the hydrophobicity of a representative peptide, pHD108 (GIGEVLHELAEGLPELQEWIHAAQQLGC-amide), by coupling hydrophobic acyl groups of 6-16 carbons and by forming dimers. Unlike the parent peptide, almost all variants showed activity at pH 7. This was due to strong partitioning into phosphatidylcholine vesicle bilayers and induced helix formation. The dimer maintained some pH sensitivity while being the most active peptide studied in this work, with macromolecular poration occurring at 1:2000 peptide:lipid at pH 5. These results confirm that membrane binding, rather than pH, is the determining factor in activity, while also showing that acylation and dimerization are viable methods to modulate pHD108 activity. We propose a possible toroidal pore architecture with peptides in a parallel or mixed parallel/antiparallel orientation without strong electrostatic interactions between peptides in the pore as evidenced by a lack of dependence of activity on either pH or salt concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, United States
| | - Ramsey M Jenschke
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, United States
| | - Kalina Hristova
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - William C Wimley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, United States
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24
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Hammond K, Ryadnov MG, Hoogenboom BW. Atomic force microscopy to elucidate how peptides disrupt membranes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2020; 1863:183447. [PMID: 32835656 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2020.183447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy is an increasingly attractive tool to study how peptides disrupt membranes. Often performed on reconstituted lipid bilayers, it provides access to time and length scales that allow dynamic investigations with nanometre resolution. Over the last decade, AFM studies have enabled visualisation of membrane disruption mechanisms by antimicrobial or host defence peptides, including peptides that target malignant cells and biofilms. Moreover, the emergence of high-speed modalities of the technique broadens the scope of investigations to antimicrobial kinetics as well as the imaging of peptide action on live cells in real time. This review describes how methodological advances in AFM facilitate new insights into membrane disruption mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine Hammond
- National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington TW11 0LW, UK; London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London WC1H 0AH, UK; Department of Physics & Astronomy, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - Maxim G Ryadnov
- National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington TW11 0LW, UK; Department of Physics, King's College London, Strand Lane, London WC2R 2LS, UK.
| | - Bart W Hoogenboom
- London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London WC1H 0AH, UK; Department of Physics & Astronomy, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
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25
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Gu C, Geng Y, Zheng F, Rotello VM. Rapid evaluation of gold nanoparticle-lipid membrane interactions using a lipid/polydiacetylene vesicle sensor. Analyst 2020; 145:3049-3055. [PMID: 32140698 PMCID: PMC7158861 DOI: 10.1039/d0an00226g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Surface modification of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) has significant and complicated effects on their interactions with cell membranes. In this study, we used a lipid/polyacetylene (PDA) vesicle sensor as the lipid membrane model to evaluate AuNP-lipid membrane interactions. Based on the colorimetric response (CR) of PDA vesicles before and after incubation with AuNPs, it was found that the interaction was highly dependent on the surface charge of AuNPs. As compared to the positively charged NPs, neutral and zwitterionic NPs adsorbed much less on the lipid membrane. Negatively charged NPs did not induce any noticeable color changes even at high concentrations. A class of cationic AuNPs with different degrees of surface hydrophobicity was further selected to investigate the role of hydrophobicity in interacting with lipid/PDA vesicles, and log(EC50) was employed as the evaluation index. According to the log(EC50)-NP concentration curve, the hydrophobicity of NPs enhanced the lipid membrane affinity, but electrostatic interactions weakened this effect. Finally, different concentrations of bovine serum albumin (BSA) were used to study the effect of the protein corona on NP-lipid membrane interactions. The formation of a NP-protein corona was found to mask the electrostatic interactions, leading to the decrease of the CR values of cationic NPs, and highly hydrophobic NPs were less affected by a low concentration of BSA due to the strong hydrophobic interactions. Although the effect of NP surface properties on their interactions with cells is far more complicated, our study provides a rapid and effective method for the evaluation of the interactions between surface modified AuNPs and lipid membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Gu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, China. and Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yingying Geng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 710 N. Pleasant St., Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | - Feng Zheng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, China. and Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, China and Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 710 N. Pleasant St., Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | - Vincent M Rotello
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 710 N. Pleasant St., Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
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26
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Synthetic molecular evolution of host cell-compatible, antimicrobial peptides effective against drug-resistant, biofilm-forming bacteria. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:8437-8448. [PMID: 32241895 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1918427117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel classes of antibiotics and new strategies to prevent and treat infections are urgently needed because the rapid rise in drug-resistant bacterial infections in recent decades has been accompanied by a parallel decline in development of new antibiotics. Membrane permeabilizing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have long been considered a potentially promising, novel class of antibiotic, especially for wound protection and treatment to prevent the development of serious infections. Yet, despite thousands of known examples, AMPs have only infrequently proceeded as far as clinical trials, especially the chemically simple, linear examples. In part, this is due to impediments that often limit their applications in vivo. These can include low solubility, residual toxicity, susceptibility to proteolysis, and loss of activity due to host cell, tissue, and protein binding. Here we show how synthetic molecular evolution can be used to evolve potentially advantageous antimicrobial peptides that lack these impediments from parent peptides that have at least some of them. As an example of how the antibiotic discovery pipeline can be populated with more promising candidates, we evolved and optimized one family of linear AMPs into a new generation with high solubility, low cytotoxicity, potent broad-spectrum sterilizing activity against a panel of gram-positive and gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens, and antibiofilm activity against gram-positive and gram-negative biofilms. The evolved peptides have these activities in vitro even in the presence of concentrated host cells and also in vivo in the complex, cell- and protein-rich environment of a purulent animal wound model infected with drug-resistant bacteria.
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27
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Sepehri A, PeBenito L, Pino-Angeles A, Lazaridis T. What Makes a Good Pore Former: A Study of Synthetic Melittin Derivatives. Biophys J 2020; 118:1901-1913. [PMID: 32183940 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pore formation by membrane-active peptides, naturally encountered in innate immunity and infection, could have important medical and technological applications. Recently, the well-studied lytic peptide melittin has formed the basis for the development of combinatorial libraries from which potent pore-forming peptides have been derived, optimized to work under different conditions. We investigate three such peptides, macrolittin70, which is most active at neutral pH; pHD15, which is active only at low pH; and MelP5_Δ6, which was rationally designed to be active at low pH but formed only small pores. There are three, six, and six acidic residues in macrolittin70, pHD15, and MelP5_Δ6, respectively. We perform multi-microsecond simulations in 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) of hexamers of these peptides starting from transmembrane orientations at neutral pH (all residues at standard protonation), low pH (acidic residues and His protonated), and highly acidic environments in which C-termini are also protonated. Previous simulations of the parent peptides melittin and MelP5 in 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) are repeated in POPC. We find that the most potent pore-forming peptides exhibit strong interpeptide interactions, including salt bridges, H-bonds, and polar interactions. Protonation of the C-terminus promotes helicity and pore size. The proximity of the peptides allows fewer lipid headgroups to line the pores than in previous simulations, making the pores intermediate between barrel stave and toroidal. Based on these structures and geometrical arguments, we attempt to rationalize the factors that under different conditions can increase or decrease pore stability and propose mutations that could be tested experimentally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliasghar Sepehri
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The City College of New York, New York, New York
| | - Leo PeBenito
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The City College of New York, New York, New York; Graduate Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York
| | - Almudena Pino-Angeles
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The City College of New York, New York, New York
| | - Themis Lazaridis
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The City College of New York, New York, New York; Graduate Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York.
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28
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Stulz A, Breitsamer M, Winter G, Heerklotz H. Primary and Secondary Binding of Exenatide to Liposomes. Biophys J 2020; 118:600-611. [PMID: 31972156 PMCID: PMC7002983 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The interactions of exenatide, a Trp-containing peptide used as a drug to treat diabetes, with liposomes were studied by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), tryptophan (Trp) fluorescence, and microscale thermophoresis measurements. The results are not only important for better understanding the release of this specific drug from vesicular phospholipid gel formulations but describe a general scenario as described before for various systems. This study introduces a model to fit these data on the basis of primary and secondary peptide-lipid interactions. Finally, resolving apparent inconsistencies between different methods aids the design and critical interpretation of binding experiments in general. Our results show that the net cationic exenatide adsorbs electrostatically to liposomes containing anionic diacyl phosphatidylglycerol lipids (PG); however, the ITC data could not properly be fitted by any established model. The combination of electrostatic adsorption of exenatide to the membrane surface and its self-association (Kd = 46 μM) suggested the possibility of secondary binding of peptide to the first, primarily (i.e., lipid-) bound peptide layer. A global fit of the ITC data validated this model and suggested one peptide to bind primarily per five PG molecules with a Kd ≈ 0.2 μM for PC/PG 1:1 and 0.6 μM for PC/PG 7:3 liposomes. Secondary binding shows a weaker affinity and a less exothermic or even endothermic enthalpy change. Depending on the concentration of liposomes, secondary binding may also lead to liposomal aggregation as detected by dynamic light-scattering measurements. ITC quantifies primary and secondary binding separately, whereas microscale thermophoresis and Trp fluorescence represent a summary or average of both effects, possibly with the fluorescence data showing somewhat greater weighting of primary binding. Systems with secondary peptide-peptide association within the membrane are mathematically analogous to the adsorption discussed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Stulz
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michaela Breitsamer
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Gerhard Winter
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Heiko Heerklotz
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, Germany; Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, Freiburg, Germany; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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29
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Chen CH, Lu TK. Development and Challenges of Antimicrobial Peptides for Therapeutic Applications. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9010024. [PMID: 31941022 PMCID: PMC7168295 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9010024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 279] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 3000 antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been discovered, seven of which have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Now commercialized, these seven peptides have mostly been utilized for topical medications, though some have been injected into the body to treat severe bacterial infections. To understand the translational potential for AMPs, we analyzed FDA-approved drugs in the FDA drug database. We examined their physicochemical properties, secondary structures, and mechanisms of action, and compared them with the peptides in the AMP database. All FDA-approved AMPs were discovered in Gram-positive soil bacteria, and 98% of known AMPs also come from natural sources (skin secretions of frogs and toxins from different species). However, AMPs can have undesirable properties as drugs, including instability and toxicity. Thus, the design and construction of effective AMPs require an understanding of the mechanisms of known peptides and their effects on the human body. This review provides an overview to guide the development of AMPs that can potentially be used as antimicrobial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles H. Chen
- Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Correspondence: (C.H.C.); (T.K.L.)
| | - Timothy K. Lu
- Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Correspondence: (C.H.C.); (T.K.L.)
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30
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Wen S, Yao D, Liu X, Wang F. A Novel Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer-Based High-Throughput Screening Method for Generation of Lysozyme with Improved Antimicrobial Activity against Escherichia coli Strains. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2019; 67:12584-12589. [PMID: 31640344 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b05364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Lysozyme has emerged to be a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics to deal with the increasing antibiotic resistance of bacteria. However, its application is hampered by its inferior bactericidal activity against Gram-negative bacteria. To address this problem, a novel "enzyme-cascade fluorescent high-throughput screening (HTS) method" was designed and constructed based on detection of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and enzyme-cascade reaction of lysozyme and protease. As a proof of concept, site-saturation mutagenesis libraries targeting at residues of the unstructured stretch at the N-terminus of Antheraea pernyi lysozyme were constructed and screened by the proposed HTS method. The isolated lysozyme variants proved to exhibit higher antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli K12, demonstrating the significance of this region for the bactericidal function of lysozyme. The presented cell-based fluorescent HTS method is a new tool for screening lysozyme variants with improved bactericidal efficacy against Gram-negative bacteria and for exploring the sequence-structure-function relationship of lysozyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Wen
- Beijing Higher Institution Engineering Research Center of Food Additives and Ingredients, School of Light Industry , Beijing Technology and Business University , Beijing 100048 , China
| | - Dongmei Yao
- Beijing Higher Institution Engineering Research Center of Food Additives and Ingredients, School of Light Industry , Beijing Technology and Business University , Beijing 100048 , China
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- Beijing Higher Institution Engineering Research Center of Food Additives and Ingredients, School of Light Industry , Beijing Technology and Business University , Beijing 100048 , China
| | - Fenghuan Wang
- Beijing Higher Institution Engineering Research Center of Food Additives and Ingredients, School of Light Industry , Beijing Technology and Business University , Beijing 100048 , China
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31
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Wimley WC, Hristova K. The Mechanism of Membrane Permeabilization by Peptides: Still an Enigma. Aust J Chem 2019; 73:96-103. [PMID: 32341596 DOI: 10.1071/ch19449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Peptide-induced permeabilization of lipid vesicles has been measured for decades and has provided many insights into the sequence-structure-function relationships of membrane-active peptides. However, researchers in the field have noted that many experiments show transient permeabilization, in which a burst of leakage occurs immediately after peptide addition, followed by a slowdown or cessation of leakage before all contents have been released. This widely observed, but rarely studied, phenomenon is not explained by standard equilibrium pore models that are commonly invoked in both experimental and computational studies. Here we discuss observations of transient permeabilization, and we outline a pathway towards understanding this enigmatic phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- William C Wimley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112
| | - Kalina Hristova
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218
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32
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Marinko J, Huang H, Penn WD, Capra JA, Schlebach JP, Sanders CR. Folding and Misfolding of Human Membrane Proteins in Health and Disease: From Single Molecules to Cellular Proteostasis. Chem Rev 2019; 119:5537-5606. [PMID: 30608666 PMCID: PMC6506414 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Advances over the past 25 years have revealed much about how the structural properties of membranes and associated proteins are linked to the thermodynamics and kinetics of membrane protein (MP) folding. At the same time biochemical progress has outlined how cellular proteostasis networks mediate MP folding and manage misfolding in the cell. When combined with results from genomic sequencing, these studies have established paradigms for how MP folding and misfolding are linked to the molecular etiologies of a variety of diseases. This emerging framework has paved the way for the development of a new class of small molecule "pharmacological chaperones" that bind to and stabilize misfolded MP variants, some of which are now in clinical use. In this review, we comprehensively outline current perspectives on the folding and misfolding of integral MPs as well as the mechanisms of cellular MP quality control. Based on these perspectives, we highlight new opportunities for innovations that bridge our molecular understanding of the energetics of MP folding with the nuanced complexity of biological systems. Given the many linkages between MP misfolding and human disease, we also examine some of the exciting opportunities to leverage these advances to address emerging challenges in the development of therapeutics and precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin
T. Marinko
- Department
of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37240, United States
- Center
for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37240, United States
| | - Hui Huang
- Department
of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37240, United States
- Center
for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37240, United States
| | - Wesley D. Penn
- Department
of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - John A. Capra
- Center
for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37240, United States
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37245, United States
| | - Jonathan P. Schlebach
- Department
of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Charles R. Sanders
- Department
of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37240, United States
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33
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Hong J, Lu X, Deng Z, Xiao S, Yuan B, Yang K. How Melittin Inserts into Cell Membrane: Conformational Changes, Inter-Peptide Cooperation, and Disturbance on the Membrane. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24091775. [PMID: 31067828 PMCID: PMC6539814 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24091775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), as a key component of the immune defense systems of organisms, are a promising solution to the serious threat of drug-resistant bacteria to public health. As one of the most representative and extensively studied AMPs, melittin has exceptional broad-spectrum activities against microorganisms, including both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Unfortunately, the action mechanism of melittin with bacterial membranes, especially the underlying physics of peptide-induced membrane poration behaviors, is still poorly understood, which hampers efforts to develop melittin-based drugs or agents for clinical applications. In this mini-review, we focus on recent advances with respect to the membrane insertion behavior of melittin mostly from a computational aspect. Membrane insertion is a prerequisite and key step for forming transmembrane pores and bacterial killing by melittin, whose occurrence is based on overcoming a high free-energy barrier during the transition of melittin molecules from a membrane surface-binding state to a transmembrane-inserting state. Here, intriguing simulation results on such transition are highlighted from both kinetic and thermodynamic aspects. The conformational changes and inter-peptide cooperation of melittin molecules, as well as melittin-induced disturbances to membrane structure, such as deformation and lipid extraction, are regarded as key factors influencing the insertion of peptides into membranes. The associated intermediate states in peptide conformations, lipid arrangements, membrane structure, and mechanical properties during this process are specifically discussed. Finally, potential strategies for enhancing the poration ability and improving the antimicrobial performance of AMPs are included as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Hong
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research & School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
| | - Xuemei Lu
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research & School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
| | - Zhixiong Deng
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research & School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
| | - Shufeng Xiao
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research & School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
| | - Bing Yuan
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research & School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
| | - Kai Yang
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research & School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
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34
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Kim SY, Pittman AE, Zapata-Mercado E, King GM, Wimley WC, Hristova K. Mechanism of Action of Peptides That Cause the pH-Triggered Macromolecular Poration of Lipid Bilayers. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:6706-6718. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b01970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Y. Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | | | - Elmer Zapata-Mercado
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | | | - William C. Wimley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, United States
| | - Kalina Hristova
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute for NanoBioTechnology, and Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
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35
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Al-Rehili S, Alyami M, Zhang Y, Moosa B, Yang P, Alamoudi K, Alharbi S, Alharbi O, Sougrat R, AlMalik A, Khashab NM. Self-Assembled Metal–Organic Complexes for Thermally Reversible Permeabilization of Cell Membranes. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2019; 2:970-974. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.8b00720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Abdulaziz AlMalik
- Life Sciences and Environment Research Institute, Center of Excellence in Nanomedicine (CENM), King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia
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36
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Simulation-Guided Rational de Novo Design of a Small Pore-Forming Antimicrobial Peptide. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:4839-4848. [PMID: 30839209 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b11939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In the age of failing small-molecule antibiotics, tapping the near-infinite structural and chemical repertoire of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offers one of the most promising routes toward developing next-generation antibacterial compounds. One of the key impediments en route is the lack of methodologies for systematic rational design and optimization of new AMPs. Here we present a new simulation-guided rational design approach and apply it to develop a potent new AMP. We show that unbiased atomic detail molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are able to predict structures formed by evolving peptide designs enabling structure-based rational fine-tuning of functional properties. Starting from a 14-residue poly leucine template we demonstrate the design of a minimalistic potent new AMP. Consisting of only four types of amino acids (LDKA), this peptide forms large pores in microbial membranes at very low peptide-to-lipid ratios (1:1000) and exhibits low micromolar activity against common Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. Remarkably, the four amino acids were sufficient to encode preferential poration of bacterial membranes with negligible damage to red blood cells at bactericidal concentrations. As the sequence is too short to span cellular membranes, pores are formed by stacking of channels in each bilayer leaflet.
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37
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Guha S, Ghimire J, Wu E, Wimley WC. Mechanistic Landscape of Membrane-Permeabilizing Peptides. Chem Rev 2019; 119:6040-6085. [PMID: 30624911 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Membrane permeabilizing peptides (MPPs) are as ubiquitous as the lipid bilayer membranes they act upon. Produced by all forms of life, most membrane permeabilizing peptides are used offensively or defensively against the membranes of other organisms. Just as nature has found many uses for them, translational scientists have worked for decades to design or optimize membrane permeabilizing peptides for applications in the laboratory and in the clinic ranging from antibacterial and antiviral therapy and prophylaxis to anticancer therapeutics and drug delivery. Here, we review the field of membrane permeabilizing peptides. We discuss the diversity of their sources and structures, the systems and methods used to measure their activities, and the behaviors that are observed. We discuss the fact that "mechanism" is not a discrete or a static entity for an MPP but rather the result of a heterogeneous and dynamic ensemble of structural states that vary in response to many different experimental conditions. This has led to an almost complete lack of discrete three-dimensional active structures among the thousands of known MPPs and a lack of useful or predictive sequence-structure-function relationship rules. Ultimately, we discuss how it may be more useful to think of membrane permeabilizing peptides mechanisms as broad regions of a mechanistic landscape rather than discrete molecular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shantanu Guha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Tulane University School of Medicine , New Orleans , Louisiana 70112 , United States
| | - Jenisha Ghimire
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Tulane University School of Medicine , New Orleans , Louisiana 70112 , United States
| | - Eric Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Tulane University School of Medicine , New Orleans , Louisiana 70112 , United States
| | - William C Wimley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Tulane University School of Medicine , New Orleans , Louisiana 70112 , United States
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38
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Wimley WC. Application of Synthetic Molecular Evolution to the Discovery of Antimicrobial Peptides. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1117:241-255. [PMID: 30980361 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-3588-4_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Despite long-standing promise and many known examples, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have failed, with few exceptions, to significantly impact human medicine. Impediments to the systemic activity of AMPs include proteolysis, host cell interactions, and serum protein binding, factors that are not often considered in the early stages of AMP development. Here we discuss how synthetic molecular evolution, iterative cycles of library design, and physiologically relevant screening can be used to evolve AMPs that do not have these impediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- William C Wimley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
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