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R PA, Anbarasu A. Antimicrobial Peptides as Immunomodulators and Antimycobacterial Agents to Combat Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a Critical Review. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2023; 15:1539-1566. [PMID: 36576687 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-022-10018-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is a devastating disease foisting a significantly high morbidity, prepotent in low- and middle-income developing countries. Evolution of drug resistance among Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis, has made the TB treatment more complicated. The protracted nature of present TB treatment, persistent and tolerant Mtb populations, interaction with antiretroviral therapy and existing toxicity concerned with conventional anti-TB drugs are the four major challenges inflicted with emergence of drug-resistant mycobacterial strains, and the standard medications are unable to combat these strains. These factors emphasize an exigency to develop new drugs to overcome these barriers in current TB therapy. With this regard, antimycobacterial peptides derived from various sources such as human cells, bacterial sources, mycobacteriophages, fungal, plant and animal sources could be considered as antituberculosis leads as most of these peptides are associated with dual advantages of having both bactericidal activity towards Mtb as well as immuno-regulatory property. Some of the peptides possess the additional advantage of interacting synergistically with antituberculosis medications too, thereby increasing their efficiency, underscoring the vigour of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as best possible alternative therapeutic candidates or adjuvants in TB treatment. Albeit the beneficiary features of these peptides, few obstacles allied with them like cytotoxicity and proteolytic degradation are matter of concerns too. In this review, we have focused on structural hallmarks, targeting mechanisms and specific structural aspects contributing to antimycobacterial activity and discovered natural and synthetic antimycobacterial peptides along with their sources, anti-TB, immuno-regulatory properties, merits and demerits and possible delivery methods of AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preethi A R
- Medical & Biological Computing Laboratory, School of Bio-Sciences & Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore-632014, India
- Department of Biotechnology, SBST, VIT, Vellore-632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Anand Anbarasu
- Medical & Biological Computing Laboratory, School of Bio-Sciences & Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore-632014, India.
- Department of Biotechnology, SBST, VIT, Vellore-632014, Tamil Nadu, India.
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2
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Muhammad Rehman H, Rehman HM, Naveed M, Khan MT, Shabbir MA, Aslam S, Bashir H. In Silico Investigation of a Chimeric IL24-LK6 Fusion Protein as a Potent Candidate Against Breast Cancer. Bioinform Biol Insights 2023; 17:11779322231182560. [PMID: 37377793 PMCID: PMC10291407 DOI: 10.1177/11779322231182560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted delivery of therapeutic anticancer chimeric molecules enhances the efficacy of drug by improving cellular uptake and circulation time. Engineering the molecules to facilitate the specific interaction between chimeric protein and its receptor is critical to elucidate biological mechanism as well as accuracy in modeling of complexes. A theoretically designed novel protein-protein interfaces can serve as a bottom-up method for comprehensive understanding of interacting protein residues. This study was aimed for in silico analyses of a chimeric fusion protein against breast cancer. The amino acid sequences of the interleukin 24 (IL-24) and LK-6 peptide were used to design the chimeric fusion protein via a rigid linker. The secondary and tertiary structures along with physicochemical properties by ProtParam and solubility were predicted using online software. The validation and quality of the fusion protein was confirmed by Rampage and ERRAT2. The newly designed fusion construct has a total length of 179 amino acids. The top-ranked structure from alpha fold2 showed 18.1 KD molecular weight by ProtParam, quality factor of 94.152 by ERRAT, and a valid structure by a Ramachandran plot with 88.5% residues in the favored region. Finally, the docking and simulation studies were performed using HADDOCK and Desmond module of Schrodinger. The quality, validity, interaction analysis, and stability of the fusion protein depict a functional molecule. The fusion gene IL24-LK6 after cloning and expression in a suitable prokaryotic cell might be a useful candidate for developing a novel anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hafiz Muhammad Rehman
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
- University Institute of Medical Lab Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The University of Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Hafiz Muzzammel Rehman
- School of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Naveed
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Tahir Khan
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Aqib Shabbir
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Shakira Aslam
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Hamid Bashir
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
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3
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In Silico Prediction of Anti-Infective and Cell-Penetrating Peptides from Thalassophryne nattereri Natterin Toxins. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15091141. [PMID: 36145362 PMCID: PMC9501638 DOI: 10.3390/ph15091141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic potential of venom-derived peptides, such as bioactive peptides (BAPs), is determined by specificity, stability, and pharmacokinetics properties. BAPs, including anti-infective or antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), share several physicochemical characteristics and are potential alternatives to antibiotic-based therapies and drug delivery systems, respectively. This study used in silico methods to predict AMPs and CPPs derived from natterins from the venomous fish Thalassophryne nattereri. Fifty-seven BAPs (19 AMPs, 8 CPPs, and 30 AMPs/CPPs) were identified using the web servers CAMP, AMPA, AmpGram, C2Pred, and CellPPD. The physicochemical properties were analyzed using ProtParam, PepCalc, and DispHred tools. The membrane-binding potential and cellular location of each peptide were analyzed using the Boman index by APD3, and TMHMM web servers. All CPPs and two AMPs showed high membrane-binding potential. Fifty-four peptides were located in the plasma membrane. Peptide immunogenicity, toxicity, allergenicity, and ADMET parameters were evaluated using several web servers. Sixteen antiviral peptides and 37 anticancer peptides were predicted using the web servers Meta-iAVP and ACPred. Secondary structures and helical wheel projections were predicted using the PEP-FOLD3 and Heliquest web servers. Fifteen peptides are potential lead compounds and were selected to be further synthesized and tested experimentally in vitro to validate the in silico screening. The use of computer-aided design for predicting peptide structure and activity is fast and cost-effective and facilitates the design of potent therapeutic peptides. The results demonstrate that toxins form a natural biotechnological platform in drug discovery, and the presence of CPP and AMP sequences in toxin families opens new possibilities in toxin biochemistry research.
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Chen J, Wang W, Wang Y, Yuan X, He C, Pei P, Su S, Zhao W, Luo SZ, Chen L. Self-assembling Branched Amphiphilic Peptides for Targeted Delivery of Small Molecule Anticancer Drugs. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2022; 179:137-146. [PMID: 36096399 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2022.09.005] [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: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Water insolubility poses a significant challenge in the clinical applications of many small molecule drugs. To improve the drug delivery efficiency, two branched amphiphilic peptides (BAPs) were designed in a computer-aided manner, for drug-loading through peptide self-assembling. The structures of the two BAPs, bis(LVFFA)-K-RGD (PepV-1) and bis(FHF)-K-RGD (PepV-2), were inspired by phospholipids, containing the RGD sequence as the hydrophilic head and two hydrophobic sequences as the hydrophobic tails. PepV-1 could self-assemble into nano-fibrils with a hydrophobic core and the RGD moiety on the surface. Its drug-loading efficiency (DE%) of three small molecule anticancer drugs (doxorubicin, camptothecin and curcumin) ranged from 9.90% to 11.74%, and entrapment efficiency (EE%) ranged from 37.30% to 43.00%. Pep-V2 could self-assemble into bilayer delimited nano-vesicles. The DE% of PepV-2 for these drugs ranged from 15.87% to 18.55%, and the EE% ranged from 60.45% to 73.23%. Both BAP carriers could prolong the release of the small molecule drugs, and the PepV-2 vesicles also showed pH-triggered increase of drug release due to the histidine residues. Bothe BAP carriers could increase the cytotoxicity against cancer cells, which might be due to the targeting on the cancer overexpressed integrins. The designed BAP carriers represent promising functional drug carriers for targeted drug delivery, and will be useful for improving the clinical use of small molecule drugs, especially for those with poor water solubility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialin Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China; State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Wujun Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Yue Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Xiushuang Yuan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Chengzhi He
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Pengfei Pei
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Shengdi Su
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Weihong Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Shi-Zhong Luo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China.
| | - Long Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China.
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Subramanian S, Daquinag AC, AghaAmiri S, Ghosh SC, Azhdarinia A, Kolonin MG. Characterization of Peptides Targeting Metastatic Tumor Cells as Probes for Cancer Detection and Vehicles for Therapy Delivery. Cancer Res 2021; 81:5756-5764. [PMID: 34607842 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-1015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, and metastatic cancers remain largely incurable due to chemoresistance. Biomarkers of metastatic cells are lacking, and probes that could be used to detect and target metastases would be highly valuable. Here we hypothesize that metastatic cancer cells express cell-surface receptors that can be harnessed for identification of molecules homing to metastases. Screening a combinatorial library in a mouse mammary tumor model of spontaneous metastasis identified cyclic peptides with tropism for cancer cells disseminated to the lungs. Two lead peptides, CLRHSSKIC and CRAGVGRGC, bound murine and human cells derived from breast carcinoma and melanoma in culture and were selective for metastatic cells in vivo. In mice, peptide CRAGVGRGC radiolabeled with 67Ga for biodistribution analysis demonstrated selective probe homing to lung metastases. Moreover, systemic administration of 68Ga-labeled CRAGVGRGC enabled noninvasive imaging of lung metastases in mice by PET. A CRAGVGRGC-derived peptide induced apoptosis upon cell internalization in vitro and suppressed metastatic burden in vivo. Colocalization of CLRHSSKIC and CRAGVGRGC with N-cadherin+/E-cadherin- cells indicated that both peptides are selective for cancer cells that have undergone the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. We conclude that CRAGVGRGC is useful as a probe to facilitate the development of imaging modalities and therapies targeting metastases. SIGNIFICANCE: This study identifies new molecules that bind metastatic cells and demonstrates their application as noninvasive imaging probes and vehicles for cytotoxic therapy delivery in preclinical cancer models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shraddha Subramanian
- Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Alexes C Daquinag
- Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Solmaz AghaAmiri
- Center for Molecular Imaging The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Sukhen C Ghosh
- Center for Molecular Imaging The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Ali Azhdarinia
- Center for Molecular Imaging The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Mikhail G Kolonin
- Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, Houston, Texas.
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6
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Antimicrobial Peptides as Potential Anti-Tubercular Leads: A Concise Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14040323. [PMID: 33918182 PMCID: PMC8065624 DOI: 10.3390/ph14040323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite being considered a public health emergency for the last 25 years, tuberculosis (TB) is still one of the deadliest infectious diseases, responsible for over a million deaths every year. The length and toxicity of available treatments and the increasing emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis renders standard regimens increasingly inefficient and emphasizes the urgency to develop new approaches that are not only cost- and time-effective but also less toxic. Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are small cationic and amphipathic molecules that play a vital role in the host immune system by acting as a first barrier against invading pathogens. The broad spectrum of properties that peptides possess make them one of the best possible alternatives for a new “post-antibiotic” era. In this context, research into AMP as potential anti-tubercular agents has been driven by the increasing danger revolving around the emergence of extremely-resistant strains, the innate resistance that mycobacteria possess and the low compliance of patients towards the toxic anti-TB treatments. In this review, we will focus on AMP from various sources, such as animal, non-animal and synthetic, with reported inhibitory activity towards Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
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7
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Liscano Y, Oñate-Garzón J, Delgado JP. Peptides with Dual Antimicrobial-Anticancer Activity: Strategies to Overcome Peptide Limitations and Rational Design of Anticancer Peptides. Molecules 2020; 25:E4245. [PMID: 32947811 PMCID: PMC7570524 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25184245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptides are naturally produced by all organisms and exhibit a wide range of physiological, immunomodulatory, and wound healing functions. Furthermore, they can provide with protection against microorganisms and tumor cells. Their multifaceted performance, high selectivity, and reduced toxicity have positioned them as effective therapeutic agents, representing a positive economic impact for pharmaceutical companies. Currently, efforts have been made to invest in the development of new peptides with antimicrobial and anticancer properties, but the poor stability of these molecules in physiological environments has triggered a bottleneck. Therefore, some tools, such as nanotechnology and in silico approaches can be applied as alternatives to try to overcome these obstacles. In silico studies provide a priori knowledge that can lead to the development of new anticancer peptides with enhanced biological activity and improved stability. This review focuses on the current status of research in peptides with dual antimicrobial-anticancer activity, including advances in computational biology using in silico analyses as a powerful tool for the study and rational design of these types of peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamil Liscano
- Research Group of Chemical and Biotechnology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Universidad Santiago de Cali, 760035 Cali, Colombia;
- Research Group of Genetics, Regeneration and Cancer, Institute of Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, 050010 Medellin, Colombia;
| | - Jose Oñate-Garzón
- Research Group of Chemical and Biotechnology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Universidad Santiago de Cali, 760035 Cali, Colombia;
| | - Jean Paul Delgado
- Research Group of Genetics, Regeneration and Cancer, Institute of Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, 050010 Medellin, Colombia;
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Arellano VJ, Martinell García P, Rodríguez Plaza JG, Lara Ortiz MT, Schreiber G, Volkmer R, Klipp E, Rio GD. An Antimicrobial Peptide Induces FIG1-Dependent Cell Death During Cell Cycle Arrest in Yeast. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1240. [PMID: 29963019 PMCID: PMC6010521 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Although most antibiotics act on cells that are actively dividing and non-dividing cells such as in microbe sporulation or cancer stem cells represent a new paradigm for the control of disease. In addition to their relevance to health, such antibiotics may promote our understanding of the relationship between the cell cycle and cell death. No antibiotic specifically acting on microbial cells arrested in their cell cycle has been identified until the present time. In this study we used an antimicrobial peptide derived from α-pheromone, IP-1, targeted against MATa Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells in order to assess its dependence on cell cycle arrest to kill cells. Analysis by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy of various null mutations of genes involved in biological processes activated by the pheromone pathway (the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, cell cycle arrest, cell proliferation, autophagy, calcium influx) showed that IP-1 requires arrest in G0/G1 in order to kill yeast cells. Isolating cells in different cell cycle phases by elutriation provided further evidence that entry into cell cycle arrest, and not into G1 phase, is necessary if our peptide is to kill yeast cells. We also describe a variant of IP-1 that does not activate the pheromone pathway and consequently does not kill yeast cells that express the pheromone’s receptor; the use of this variant peptide in combination with different cell cycle inhibitors that induce cell cycle arrest independently of the pheromone pathway confirmed that it is cell cycle arrest that is required for the cell death induced by this peptide in yeast. We show that the cell death induced by IP-1 differs from that induced by α-pheromone and depends on FIG1 in a way independent of the cell cycle arrest induced by the pheromone. Thus, IP-1 is the first molecule described that specifically kills microbial cells during cell cycle arrest, a subject of interest beyond the process of mating in yeast cells. The experimental system described in this study should be useful in the study of the mechanisms at play in the communication between cell cycle arrest and cell death on other organisms, hence promoting the development of new antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir J Arellano
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Estructural, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Paula Martinell García
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Estructural, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,Theoretische Biophysik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Maria T Lara Ortiz
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Estructural, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Rudolf Volkmer
- Institut für Medizinische Immunologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Edda Klipp
- Theoretische Biophysik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gabriel Del Rio
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Estructural, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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Kamysz E, Smolarczyk R, Cichoń T, Jarosz-Biej M, Sikorska E, Sobocińska M, Jaśkiewicz M, Kamysz W. Antitumor activity of opiorphin, sialorphin and their conjugates with a peptide klaklakklaklak. J Pept Sci 2016; 22:723-730. [DOI: 10.1002/psc.2936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ryszard Smolarczyk
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer; Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch; Gliwice Poland
| | - Tomasz Cichoń
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer; Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch; Gliwice Poland
| | - Magdalena Jarosz-Biej
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer; Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch; Gliwice Poland
| | | | | | | | - Wojciech Kamysz
- Medical University of Gdansk; Faculty of Pharmacy; Gdansk Poland
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Diener C, Garza Ramos Martínez G, Moreno Blas D, Castillo González DA, Corzo G, Castro-Obregon S, Del Rio G. Effective Design of Multifunctional Peptides by Combining Compatible Functions. PLoS Comput Biol 2016; 12:e1004786. [PMID: 27096600 PMCID: PMC4838304 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Multifunctionality is a common trait of many natural proteins and peptides, yet the rules to generate such multifunctionality remain unclear. We propose that the rules defining some protein/peptide functions are compatible. To explore this hypothesis, we trained a computational method to predict cell-penetrating peptides at the sequence level and learned that antimicrobial peptides and DNA-binding proteins are compatible with the rules of our predictor. Based on this finding, we expected that designing peptides for CPP activity may render AMP and DNA-binding activities. To test this prediction, we designed peptides that embedded two independent functional domains (nuclear localization and yeast pheromone activity), linked by optimizing their composition to fit the rules characterizing cell-penetrating peptides. These peptides presented effective cell penetration, DNA-binding, pheromone and antimicrobial activities, thus confirming the effectiveness of our computational approach to design multifunctional peptides with potential therapeutic uses. Our computational implementation is available at http://bis.ifc.unam.mx/en/software/dcf. Most proteins and peptides in nature display multiple activities either by fusing different domains (with different activities) or by evolving multiple activities in a single domain. Understanding which activities may be combined to render multifunctional proteins remains an open question relevant to understanding the organization of living organisms and to improve the design of pharmacological peptides. To address this problem, we introduce the concept of compatible activities, that is, activities that may combine without losing any of these in a single polypeptide chain. To identify compatible activities in peptide sequences, we used a machine-learning approach and discovered that a penetrating activity should be compatible with DNA-binding and antimicrobial activities. To test if these activities may combine without any functional loss, we designed peptide sequences that harbor two independent activities (nuclear localization and pheromone) and experimentally showed that all our designed peptides display penetrability, pheromone, antimicrobial and DNA-binding activities, supporting the idea that multifunctionality may be achieved combining compatible activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Diener
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Institute of Cellular Physiology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Daniel Moreno Blas
- Department of Neurodevelopment and Physiology, Institute of Cellular Physiology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - David A. Castillo González
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Institute of Cellular Physiology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gerardo Corzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Bioprocesses, Institute of Biotechnology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca Morelos, México
| | - Susana Castro-Obregon
- Department of Neurodevelopment and Physiology, Institute of Cellular Physiology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gabriel Del Rio
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Institute of Cellular Physiology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- * E-mail:
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11
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Soleimani M, Mirmohammad-Sadeghi H, Sadeghi-Aliabadi H, Jahanian-Najafabadi A. Expression and purification of toxic anti-breast cancer p28-NRC chimeric protein. Adv Biomed Res 2016; 5:70. [PMID: 27169101 PMCID: PMC4854029 DOI: 10.4103/2277-9175.180639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chimeric proteins consisting of a targeting moiety and a cytotoxic moiety are now under intense research focus for targeted therapy of cancer. Here, we report cloning, expression, and purification of such a targeted chimeric protein made up of p28 peptide as both targeting and anticancer moiety fused to NRC peptide as a cytotoxic moiety. However, since the antimicrobial activity of the NRC peptide would intervene expression of the chimeric protein in Escherichia coli, we evaluated the effects of two fusion tags, that is, thioredoxin (Trx) and 6x-His tags, and various expression conditions, on the expression of p28-NRC chimeric protein. MATERIALS AND METHODS In order to express the chimeric protein with only 6x-His tag, pET28 expression plasmid was used. Cloning in pET32 expression plasmid was performed to add both Trx and 6x-His tags to the chimeric protein. Expression of the chimeric protein with both plasmids was evaluated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blot analysis following optimization of expression conditions and host strains. RESULTS Expression of the chimeric protein in pET28a was performed. However, expression yield of the chimeric protein was low. Optimization of culture conditions and host strains led to reasonable expression yield of the toxic chimeric protein in pET32a vector. In cases of both plasmids, approximately 10 kDa deviation of the apparent molecular weight from the theoretical one was seen in SDS-PAGE of purified chimeric proteins. CONCLUSIONS The study leads to proper expression and purification yield of p28-NRC chimeric protein with Trx tag following optimizing culture conditions and host strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meysam Soleimani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | | | - Hojjat Sadeghi-Aliabadi
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ali Jahanian-Najafabadi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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12
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Arosio D, Casagrande C. Advancement in integrin facilitated drug delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2016; 97:111-43. [PMID: 26686830 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2015.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Revised: 11/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/03/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The research of integrin-targeted anticancer agents has recorded important advancements in ingenious design of delivery systems, based either on the prodrug approach, or on nanoparticle carriers, but for now, none of these has reached a clinical stage of development. Past work in this area has been extensively reviewed by us and others. Thus, the purpose and scope of the present review is to survey the advancement reported in the last 3years, with focus on innovative delivery systems that appear to afford openings for future developments. These systems exploit the labelling with conventional and novel integrin ligands for targeting the interface of cancer cells and of endothelial cells involved in cancer angiogenesis, with the proteins of the extracellular matrix, in the circulation, in tissues, and in tumour stroma, as the site of progression and metastatic evolution of the disease. Furthermore, these systems implement the expertise in the development of nanomedicines to the purpose of achieving preferential biodistribution and uptake in cancer tissues, internalisation in cancer cells, and release of the transported drugs at intracellular sites. The assessment of the value of controlling these factors, and their combination, for future developments requires support of biological testing in appropriate mechanistic models, but also imperatively demand confirmation in therapeutically relevant in vivo models for biodistribution, efficacy, and lack of off-target effects. Thus, among many studies, we have tried to point out the results supported by relevant in vivo studies, and we have emphasised in specific sections those addressing the medical needs of drug delivery to brain tumours, as well as the delivery of oligonucleotides modulating gene-dependent pathological mechanism. The latter could constitute the basis of a promising third branch in the therapeutic armamentarium against cancer, in addition to antibody-based agents and to cytotoxic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Arosio
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Molecolari (ISTM), CNR, Via C. Golgi 19, I-20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Cesare Casagrande
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Chimica, Via C. Golgi 19, I-20133 Milan, Italy.
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13
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Enhanced killing of breast cancer cells by a d-amino acid analog of the winter flounder-derived pleurocidin NRC-03. Exp Mol Pathol 2015; 99:426-34. [PMID: 26344617 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2015.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAPs) defend against pathogens and, in some cases, exhibit potent anticancer activities. We previously reported that the pleurocidin NRC-03 causes lysis of breast cancer and multiple myeloma cells. NRC-03 also reduces the EC50 of other cytotoxic compounds and prevents tumor growth in vivo. However, the therapeutic utility of NRC-03 may be limited by its susceptibility to degradation by proteases. The goal of this study was to characterize the anticancer activities of a d-amino acid analog of NRC-03 ([D]-NRC-03) that was predicted to be resistant to proteolytic degradation. Unlike NRC-03, [D]-NRC-03 was not degraded by human serum or trypsin and, in comparison to NRC-03, showed increased killing of breast cancer cells, including multidrug-resistant cells; however, [D]-NRC-03 was somewhat more cytotoxic than NRC-03 for several types of normal cells. Importantly, [D]-NRC-03 was more effective than NRC-03 in vivo since 4-fold less peptide was required for an equivalent inhibitory effect on the growth of breast cancer cell xenografts in immune-deficient mice. These findings demonstrate that a d-amino acid analog of NRC-03 overcomes a major limitation to the therapeutic use of NRC-03, namely peptide stability. Further modification of [D]-NRC-03 is required to improve its selectivity for cancer cells.
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14
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Daquinag AC, Tseng C, Salameh A, Zhang Y, Amaya-Manzanares F, Dadbin A, Florez F, Xu Y, Tong Q, Kolonin MG. Depletion of white adipocyte progenitors induces beige adipocyte differentiation and suppresses obesity development. Cell Death Differ 2014; 22:351-63. [PMID: 25342467 PMCID: PMC4291494 DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2014.148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Revised: 07/29/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Overgrowth of white adipose tissue (WAT) in obesity occurs as a result of adipocyte hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Expansion and renewal of adipocytes relies on proliferation and differentiation of white adipocyte progenitors (WAP); however, the requirement of WAP for obesity development has not been proven. Here, we investigate whether depletion of WAP can be used to prevent WAT expansion. We test this approach by using a hunter-killer peptide designed to induce apoptosis selectively in WAP. We show that targeted WAP cytoablation results in a long-term WAT growth suppression despite increased caloric intake in a mouse diet-induced obesity model. Our data indicate that WAP depletion results in a compensatory population of adipose tissue with beige adipocytes. Consistent with reported thermogenic capacity of beige adipose tissue, WAP-depleted mice display increased energy expenditure. We conclude that targeting of white adipocyte progenitors could be developed as a strategy to sustained modulation of WAT metabolic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Daquinag
- Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - C Tseng
- Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - A Salameh
- Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Y Zhang
- Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - F Amaya-Manzanares
- Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - A Dadbin
- Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - F Florez
- Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Y Xu
- Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Q Tong
- Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - M G Kolonin
- Center for Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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15
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Rotstein BH, Zaretsky S, Rai V, Yudin AK. Small Heterocycles in Multicomponent Reactions. Chem Rev 2014; 114:8323-59. [DOI: 10.1021/cr400615v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 664] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin H. Rotstein
- Davenport
Research Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario Canada, M5S 3H6
- Division
of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital,
and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Serge Zaretsky
- Davenport
Research Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario Canada, M5S 3H6
| | - Vishal Rai
- Davenport
Research Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario Canada, M5S 3H6
- Department
of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal, Indore By-pass Road, Bhauri, Bhopal 462 066, MP India
| | - Andrei K. Yudin
- Davenport
Research Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario Canada, M5S 3H6
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16
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Rodriguez Plaza JG, Morales-Nava R, Diener C, Schreiber G, Gonzalez ZD, Lara Ortiz MT, Ortega Blake I, Pantoja O, Volkmer R, Klipp E, Herrmann A, Del Rio G. Cell penetrating peptides and cationic antibacterial peptides: two sides of the same coin. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:14448-57. [PMID: 24706763 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.515023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell penetrating peptides (CPP) and cationic antibacterial peptides (CAP) have similar physicochemical properties and yet it is not understood how such similar peptides display different activities. To address this question, we used Iztli peptide 1 (IP-1) because it has both CPP and CAP activities. Combining experimental and computational modeling of the internalization of IP-1, we show it is not internalized by receptor-mediated endocytosis, yet it permeates into many different cell types, including fungi and human cells. We also show that IP-1 makes pores in the presence of high electrical potential at the membrane, such as those found in bacteria and mitochondria. These results provide the basis to understand the functional redundancy of CPPs and CAPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan G Rodriguez Plaza
- From the Biochemistry and Structural Biology Department, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior S/N Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 México D.F., México
| | - Rosmarbel Morales-Nava
- Materials science and biophysics department, Instituto de Ciencias Fisicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad S/N, Col. Chamilpa, 62210 Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Christian Diener
- From the Biochemistry and Structural Biology Department, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior S/N Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 México D.F., México
| | - Gabriele Schreiber
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A.P. 510-3, Colonia Miraval, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México 62250
| | - Zyanya D Gonzalez
- From the Biochemistry and Structural Biology Department, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior S/N Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 México D.F., México
| | - Maria Teresa Lara Ortiz
- From the Biochemistry and Structural Biology Department, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior S/N Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 México D.F., México
| | - Ivan Ortega Blake
- Materials science and biophysics department, Instituto de Ciencias Fisicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad S/N, Col. Chamilpa, 62210 Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Omar Pantoja
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A.P. 510-3, Colonia Miraval, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México 62250
| | - Rudolf Volkmer
- Institut für Medizinische Immunologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Strasse 3-4, 10117 Berlin and Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Robert-Roessle Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany, and
| | - Edda Klipp
- Theoretische und Molekulare Biophysik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Herrmann
- Theoretische und Molekulare Biophysik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gabriel Del Rio
- From the Biochemistry and Structural Biology Department, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior S/N Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 México D.F., México,
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17
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Pathuri G, Hedrick AF, Awasthi V, Ihnat MA, Gali H. Evaluation of 99mTc-probestin for imaging APN expressing tumors by SPECT. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 23:5049-52. [PMID: 23937983 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.07.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2013] [Revised: 07/12/2013] [Accepted: 07/22/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Aminopeptidase N (APN) is known to play important roles in tumor angiogenesis, tumor cell invasion, and metastasis. Thus, APN is an attractive biomarker for imaging tumor angiogenesis. Here we report results obtained from biodistribution and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging studies of a technetium-99m labeled probestin (a potent APN inhibitor) conjugate containing a tripeptide, Asp-DAP-Cys (DAP=2,3-diaminopropionic acid), chelator and a 8-amino-3,6-dioxaoctanoic acid (PEG2) linker conducted in nude mice xenografted with HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma tumors (APN-positive tumors). These results collectively demonstrate that (99m)Tc-probestin uptake by tumors and other APN expressing tissues in vivo is specific and validate the use of probestin as a vector for targeting APN in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopal Pathuri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73117, USA
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18
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Rodríguez Plaza JG, Villalón Rojas A, Herrera S, Garza-Ramos G, Torres Larios A, Amero C, Zarraga Granados G, Gutiérrez Aguilar M, Lara Ortiz MT, Polanco Gonzalez C, Uribe Carvajal S, Coria R, Peña Díaz A, Bredesen DE, Castro-Obregon S, del Rio G. Moonlighting peptides with emerging function. PLoS One 2012; 7:e40125. [PMID: 22808104 PMCID: PMC3396687 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2012] [Accepted: 06/01/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hunter-killer peptides combine two activities in a single polypeptide that work in an independent fashion like many other multi-functional, multi-domain proteins. We hypothesize that emergent functions may result from the combination of two or more activities in a single protein domain and that could be a mechanism selected in nature to form moonlighting proteins. We designed moonlighting peptides using the two mechanisms proposed to be involved in the evolution of such molecules (i.e., to mutate non-functional residues and the use of natively unfolded peptides). We observed that our moonlighting peptides exhibited two activities that together rendered a new function that induces cell death in yeast. Thus, we propose that moonlighting in proteins promotes emergent properties providing a further level of complexity in living organisms so far unappreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan G. Rodríguez Plaza
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology Department, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F., México
| | - Amanda Villalón Rojas
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology Department, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F., México
| | - Sur Herrera
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology Department, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F., México
| | - Georgina Garza-Ramos
- Biochemistry Department, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F., México
| | - Alfredo Torres Larios
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology Department, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F., México
| | - Carlos Amero
- Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca Morelos, México
| | - Gabriela Zarraga Granados
- Department of Developmental Genetics and Molecular Physiology, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca Morelos, México
| | - Manuel Gutiérrez Aguilar
- Molecular Genetics Department, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F., México
| | - María Teresa Lara Ortiz
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology Department, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F., México
| | - Carlos Polanco Gonzalez
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology Department, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F., México
| | - Salvador Uribe Carvajal
- Molecular Genetics Department, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F., México
| | - Roberto Coria
- Molecular Genetics Department, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F., México
| | - Antonio Peña Díaz
- Molecular Genetics Department, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F., México
| | - Dale E. Bredesen
- Buck Institute for Age Research, Novato, California, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Susana Castro-Obregon
- Department of Developmental Genetics and Molecular Physiology, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca Morelos, México
| | - Gabriel del Rio
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology Department, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F., México
- * E-mail:
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19
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Rotstein BH, Winternheimer DJ, Yin LM, Deber CM, Yudin AK. Thioester-isocyanides: versatile reagents for the synthesis of cycle–tail peptides. Chem Commun (Camb) 2012; 48:3775-7. [DOI: 10.1039/c2cc16027g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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20
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Pathuri G, Hedrick AF, Disch BC, Doan JT, Ihnat MA, Awasthi V, Gali H. Synthesis and evaluation of novel Tc-99m labeled probestin conjugates for imaging APN/CD13 expression in vivo. Bioconjug Chem 2011; 23:115-24. [PMID: 22148582 DOI: 10.1021/bc200546b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The enzyme aminopeptidase N (APN, also known as CD13) is known to play an important role in tumor proliferation, attachment, angiogenesis, and tumor invasion. In this study, we hypothesized that a radiolabeled high affinity APN inhibitor could be potentially useful for imaging APN expression in vivo. Here, we report synthesis, radiolabeling, and biological evaluation of new probestin conjugates containing a tripeptide, N,N-dimethylglycyl-l-lysinyl-l-cysteinylamide (N(3)S), chelator. New probestin conjugates were synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis method, purified by reversed-phase HPLC, and characterized by electrospray mass spectrometry. The conjugates were complexed with Re(V) and (99m)Tc(V) by transmetalation using corresponding Re(V) or (99m)Tc(V) gluconate synthon. The mass spectral analyses of ReO-N(3)S-Probestin conjugates were consistent with the formation of neutral Re(V)O-N(3)S complexes. Initial biological activity of ReO-N(3)S-Probestin conjugates determined by performing an in vitro APN enzyme assay using intact HT-1080 cells demonstrated higher inhibition of APN enzyme activity than bestatin. In vivo biodistribution and whole body planar imaging studies of (99m)TcO-N(3)S-PEG(2)-Probestin performed in nude mice xenografted with human fibrosarcoma tumors derived from HT-1080 cells demonstrated a tumor uptake value of 2.88 ± 0.64%ID/g with tumor-to-blood and tumor-to-muscle ratios of 4.8 and 5.3, respectively, at 1 h postinjection (p.i.). Tumors were clearly visible in whole body planar image obtained at 1 h p.i., but not when the APN was competitively blocked with a coinjection of excess nonradioactive ReO-N(3)S-PEG(2)-Probestin conjugate. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using high affinity APN inhibitor conjugates as targeting vectors for in vivo targeting of APN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopal Pathuri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1110 N. Stonewall Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73117, United States
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21
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Al-Benna S, Shai Y, Jacobsen F, Steinstraesser L. Oncolytic activities of host defense peptides. Int J Mol Sci 2011; 12:8027-51. [PMID: 22174648 PMCID: PMC3233454 DOI: 10.3390/ijms12118027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2011] [Accepted: 11/07/2011] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer continues to be a leading source of morbidity and mortality worldwide in spite of progress in oncolytic therapies. In addition, the incidence of cancers affecting the breast, kidney, prostate and skin among others continue to rise. Chemotherapeutic drugs are widely used in cancer treatment but have the serious drawback of nonspecific toxicity because these agents target any rapidly dividing cell without discriminating between healthy and malignant cells. In addition, many neoplasms eventually become resistant to conventional chemotherapy due to selection for multidrug-resistant variants. The limitations associated with existing chemotherapeutic drugs have stimulated the search for new oncolytic therapies. Host defense peptides (HDPs) may represent a novel family of oncolytic agents that can avoid the shortcomings of conventional chemotherapy because they exhibit selective cytotoxicity against a broad spectrum of malignant human cells, including multi-drug-resistant neoplastic cells. Oncolytic activity by HDPs is usually via necrosis due to cell membrane lysis, but some HDPs can trigger apoptosis in cancer cells via mitochondrial membrane disruption. In addition, certain HDPs are anti-angiogenic which may inhibit cancer progression. This paper reviews oncolytic HDP studies in order to address the suitability of selected HDPs as oncolytic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sammy Al-Benna
- Laboratory for Molecular Oncology and Wound Healing, Department of Plastic Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44789, Germany; E-Mails: (S.A.-B.); (F.J.)
| | - Yechiel Shai
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; E-Mail:
| | - Frank Jacobsen
- Laboratory for Molecular Oncology and Wound Healing, Department of Plastic Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44789, Germany; E-Mails: (S.A.-B.); (F.J.)
| | - Lars Steinstraesser
- Laboratory for Molecular Oncology and Wound Healing, Department of Plastic Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44789, Germany; E-Mails: (S.A.-B.); (F.J.)
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +49-234-302-3442; Fax: +49-234-302-6379
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22
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Kim HY, Kim S, Youn H, Chung JK, Shin DH, Lee K. The cell penetrating ability of the proapoptotic peptide, KLAKLAKKLAKLAK fused to the N-terminal protein transduction domain of translationally controlled tumor protein, MIIYRDLISH. Biomaterials 2011; 32:5262-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.03.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2011] [Accepted: 03/29/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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23
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Ali M, Vanniasinghe A, Kumar V, Barnett R, Alberto R, Manolios N. 99mTc-technetium labeling of antiarthritic peptides to evaluate homing and biodistribution at inflamed joints. Nucl Med Biol 2011; 38:751-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2011.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2010] [Revised: 01/16/2011] [Accepted: 01/23/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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24
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An FPGA implementation to detect selective cationic antibacterial peptides. PLoS One 2011; 6:e21399. [PMID: 21738652 PMCID: PMC3125173 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2010] [Accepted: 06/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Exhaustive prediction of physicochemical properties of peptide sequences is used in different areas of biological research. One example is the identification of selective cationic antibacterial peptides (SCAPs), which may be used in the treatment of different diseases. Due to the discrete nature of peptide sequences, the physicochemical properties calculation is considered a high-performance computing problem. A competitive solution for this class of problems is to embed algorithms into dedicated hardware. In the present work we present the adaptation, design and implementation of an algorithm for SCAPs prediction into a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) platform. Four physicochemical properties codes useful in the identification of peptide sequences with potential selective antibacterial activity were implemented into an FPGA board. The speed-up gained in a single-copy implementation was up to 108 times compared with a single Intel processor cycle for cycle. The inherent scalability of our design allows for replication of this code into multiple FPGA cards and consequently improvements in speed are possible. Our results show the first embedded SCAPs prediction solution described and constitutes the grounds to efficiently perform the exhaustive analysis of the sequence-physicochemical properties relationship of peptides.
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25
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Franzen S. A comparison of peptide and folate receptor targeting of cancer cells: from single agent to nanoparticle. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2011; 8:281-98. [DOI: 10.1517/17425247.2011.554816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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26
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Pathuri G, Sahoo K, Awasthi V, Gali H. Synthesis and in vivo evaluation of Tc-99m-labeled cyclic CisoDGRC peptide conjugates for targeting αvβ3 integrin expression. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2010; 20:5969-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2010.08.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2010] [Revised: 08/13/2010] [Accepted: 08/17/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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27
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Cationic amphiphiles, a new generation of antimicrobials inspired by the natural antimicrobial peptide scaffold. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2010; 54:4049-58. [PMID: 20696877 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00530-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 232] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Naturally occurring cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and their mimics form a diverse class of antibacterial agents currently validated in preclinical and clinical settings for the treatment of infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Numerous studies with linear, cyclic, and diastereomeric AMPs have strongly supported the hypothesis that their physicochemical properties, rather than any specific amino acid sequence, are responsible for their microbiological activities. It is generally believed that the amphiphilic topology is essential for insertion into and disruption of the cytoplasmic membrane. In particular, the ability to rapidly kill bacteria and the relative difficulty with which bacteria develop resistance make AMPs and their mimics attractive targets for drug development. However, the therapeutic use of naturally occurring AMPs is hampered by the high manufacturing costs, poor pharmacokinetic properties, and low bacteriological efficacy in animal models. In order to overcome these problems, a variety of novel and structurally diverse cationic amphiphiles that mimic the amphiphilic topology of AMPs have recently appeared. Many of these compounds exhibit superior pharmacokinetic properties and reduced in vitro toxicity while retaining potent antibacterial activity against resistant and nonresistant bacteria. In summary, cationic amphiphiles promise to provide a new and rich source of diverse antibacterial lead structures in the years to come.
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Jayanna P, Bedi D, Gillespie J, DeInnocentes P, Wang T, Torchilin V, Bird R, Petrenko V. Landscape phage fusion protein-mediated targeting of nanomedicines enhances their prostate tumor cell association and cytotoxic efficiency. NANOMEDICINE : NANOTECHNOLOGY, BIOLOGY, AND MEDICINE 2010; 6:538-46. [PMID: 20138246 PMCID: PMC2952829 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2010.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2009] [Revised: 12/27/2009] [Accepted: 01/07/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Tumor-specific cytotoxicity of drugs can be enhanced by targeting them to tumor receptors using tumor-specific ligands. Phage display offers a high-throughput approach to screen for the targeting ligands. We have successfully isolated phage fusion peptides selective and specific for PC3 prostate cancer cells. Also, we have demonstrated a novel approach of targeting liposomes through tumor-specific phage fusion coat proteins, exploiting the intrinsic properties of the phage coat protein as an integral membrane protein. Here we describe the production of Rhodamine-labeled liposomes as well as doxorubicin-loaded long-circulating liposomes targeted to PC3 prostate tumor cells via PC-specific phage peptides, as an extension of our previous studies. Targeting of labeled liposomes was demonstrated using fluorescence microscopy as well as flow cytometry. Targeting of doxorubicin-loaded liposomes enhanced their cytotoxic effect against PC3 cells in vitro, indicating a possible therapeutic advantage. The simplicity of the approach for generating targeted liposomes coupled with the ability to rapidly obtain tumor-specific phage fusion proteins via phage display may contribute to a combinatorial system for the production of targeted liposomal therapeutics for advanced stages of prostate tumor. From the clinical editor: This paper demonstrates targeting cytotoxic agents to tumor receptors using tumor-specific ligands. The authors describe the production of Rhodamine-labeled liposomes as well as doxorubicin loaded long circulating liposomes targeted to PC3 prostate tumor cells via PC-specific phage peptides. This approach may be especially relevant for advanced prostate tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- P.K. Jayanna
- Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University, AL-36849
| | - D Bedi
- Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University, AL-36849
| | | | | | - T Wang
- Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University, AL-36849
| | - V.P Torchilin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA-02115
| | - R.C. Bird
- Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University, AL-36849
| | - V.A. Petrenko
- Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University, AL-36849
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