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List J, Gattringer J, Huszarek S, Marinovic S, Neubauer HA, Kudweis P, Putz EM, Hellinger R, Gotthardt D. Boosting the anti-tumor activity of natural killer cells by caripe 8 - A Carapichea ipecacuanha isolated cyclotide. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 177:117057. [PMID: 38976957 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117057] [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: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Cyclotides are head-to-tail cyclized peptides with a unique cystine-knot motif. Their structure provides exceptional resistance against enzymatic, chemical, or thermal degradation compared to other peptides. Peptide-based therapeutics promise high specificity, selectivity and lower immunogenicity, making them safer alternatives to small molecules or large biologicals. Cyclotides were researched due to their anti-cancer properties by inducing apoptosis in tumor cells in the past, but the impact of cyclotides on cytotoxic immune cells was poorly studied. Natural Killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic innate lymphoid cells and play an important role in the defense against infected, stressed and transformed cells. NK cells do not need prior sensitization and act in an antigen independent manner, holding promising potential in the field of immunotherapy. To investigate the effect of immunomodulatory cyclotides on NK cells, we evaluated several peptide-enriched plant extracts on NK cell mediated cytotoxicity. We observed that the extract samples derived from Carapichea ipecacuanha (Brot.) L. Andersson augments the killing potential of mouse NK cells against different tumor targets in vitro. Subsequent isolation of cyclotides from C. ipecacuanha extracts led to the identification of a primary candidate that enhances cytotoxicity of both mouse and human NK cells. The augmented killing is facilitated by the increased degranulation capacity of NK cells. In addition, we noted a direct toxic effect of caripe 8 on tumor cells, suggesting a dual therapeutic potential in cancer treatment. This study offers novel insights how natural peptides can influence NK cell cytotoxicity. These pre-clinical findings hold significant promise for advancing current immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia List
- University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jasmin Gattringer
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Sonja Marinovic
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Petra Kudweis
- University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva-M Putz
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roland Hellinger
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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2
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Dang TT, Tran TTT, Tran GH, Pham SH, Nguyen THN. Cyclotides derived from Viola dalatensis Gagnep: A novel approach for enrichment and evaluation of antimicrobial activity. Toxicon 2024; 239:107606. [PMID: 38181837 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107606] [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: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Cyclotides, plant-derived cysteine-rich peptides, exhibit a wide range of beneficial biological activities and possess exceptional structural stability. Cyclotides are commonly distributed throughout the Violaceae family. Viola dalatensis Gagnep, a Vietnamese species, has not been well studied, especially for cyclotides. This pioneering research explores cyclotides from V. dalatensis as antimicrobials. This study used a novel approach to enhance cyclotides after extraction. The approach combined 30% ammonium sulfate salt precipitation and RP-HPLC. A comprehensive analysis was performed to ascertain the overall protein content, flavonoids content, polyphenol content, and free radical scavenging capacity of compounds derived from V. dalatensis. Six known cyclotides were sequenced utilizing MS tandem. Semi-purified cyclotide mixtures (M1, M2, and M3) exhibited antibacterial efficacy against Bacillus subtilis (inhibitory diameters: 19.67-23.50 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22.17-23.50 mm), and Aspergillus flavus (14.67-21.33 mm). The enriched cyclotide precipitate from the stem extract demonstrated a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.08 mg/mL against P. aeruginosa, showcasing significant antibacterial effectiveness compared to the stem extract (MIC: 12.50 mg/mL). Considerable advancements have been achieved in the realm of cyclotides, specifically in their application as antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tien T Dang
- Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1B TL29, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
| | - Tam T T Tran
- Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1B TL29, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Gia-Hoa Tran
- Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1B TL29, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Son H Pham
- Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1B TL29, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Tuan H N Nguyen
- Biomedical Research Center, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Viet Nam; Department of Medical Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Viet Nam
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Philippe GJB, Huang YH, Mittermeier A, Brown CJ, Kaas Q, Ramlan SR, Wang CK, Lane D, Loewer A, Troeira Henriques S, Craik DJ. Delivery to, and Reactivation of, the p53 Pathway in Cancer Cells Using a Grafted Cyclotide Conjugated with a Cell-Penetrating Peptide. J Med Chem 2024; 67:1197-1208. [PMID: 38174919 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Peptides are promising drug modalities that can modulate protein-protein interactions, but their application is hampered by their limited ability to reach intracellular targets. Here, we improved the cytosolic delivery of a peptide blocking p53:MDM2/X interactions using a cyclotide as a stabilizing scaffold. We applied several design strategies to improve intracellular delivery and found that the conjugation of the lead cyclotide to the cyclic cell-penetrating peptide cR10 was the most effective. Conjugation allowed cell internalization at micromolar concentration and led to elevated intracellular p53 levels in A549, MCF7, and MCF10A cells, as well as inducing apoptosis in A549 cells without causing membrane disruption. The lead peptide had >35-fold improvement in inhibitory activity and increased cellular uptake compared to a previously reported cyclotide p53 activator. In summary, we demonstrated the delivery of a large polar cyclic peptide in the cytosol and confirmed its ability to modulate intracellular protein-protein interactions involved in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégoire Jean-Baptiste Philippe
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Yen-Hua Huang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Anna Mittermeier
- Department of Biology, Technical University Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Christopher J Brown
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Quentin Kaas
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Siti Radhiah Ramlan
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Conan K Wang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - David Lane
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Alexander Loewer
- Department of Biology, Technical University Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Sónia Troeira Henriques
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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Muhammad T, Houssen WE, Thomas L, Alexandru-Crivac CN, Gunasekera S, Jaspars M, Göransson U. Exploring the Limits of Cyanobactin Macrocyclase PatGmac: Cyclization of PawS-Derived Peptide Sunflower Trypsin Inhibitor-1 and Cyclotide Kalata B1. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2023; 86:566-573. [PMID: 36917740 PMCID: PMC10043927 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c01158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The subtilisin-like macrocyclase PatGmac is produced by the marine cyanobacterium Prochloron didemni. This enzyme is involved in the last step of the biosynthesis of patellamides, a cyanobactin type of ribosomally expressed and post-translationally modified cyclic peptides. PatGmac recognizes, cleaves, and cyclizes precursor peptides after a specific recognition motif comprised of a C-terminal tail with the sequence motif -AYDG. The result is the native macrocyclic patellamide, which has eight amino acid residues. Macrocyclase activity can be exploited by incorporating that motif in other short linear peptide precursors, which then are formed into head-to-tail cyclized peptides. Here, we explore the possibility of using PatGmac in the cyclization of peptides larger than the patellamides, namely, the PawS-derived peptide sunflower trypsin inhibitor-1 (SFTI-1) and the cyclotide kalata B1. These peptides fall under two distinct families of disulfide constrained macrocyclic plant peptides. They are both implicated as scaffolds for drug design due to their structures and unusual stability. We show that PatGmac can be used to efficiently cyclize the 14 amino acid residue long SFTI-1, but less so the 29 amino acid residue long kalata B1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taj Muhammad
- Pharmacognosy,
Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Biomedical Centre, Box 591, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Wael E Houssen
- Department
of Chemistry, Marine Biodiscovery Centre, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, Scotland, U.K.
- Institute
of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, U.K.
| | - Louise Thomas
- Department
of Chemistry, Marine Biodiscovery Centre, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, Scotland, U.K.
- Institute
of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, U.K.
| | - Cristina-Nicoleta Alexandru-Crivac
- Department
of Chemistry, Marine Biodiscovery Centre, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, Scotland, U.K.
- Institute
of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, U.K.
| | - Sunithi Gunasekera
- Pharmacognosy,
Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Biomedical Centre, Box 591, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marcel Jaspars
- Department
of Chemistry, Marine Biodiscovery Centre, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, Scotland, U.K.
| | - Ulf Göransson
- Pharmacognosy,
Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Biomedical Centre, Box 591, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden
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Kushwaha AK, Dwivedi S, Mukherjee A, Lingwan M, Dar MA, Bhagavatula L, Datta S. Plant microProteins: Small but powerful modulators of plant development. iScience 2022; 25:105400. [PMID: 36353725 PMCID: PMC9638782 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroProteins (miPs) are small and single-domain containing proteins of less than 20 kDa. This domain allows microProteins to interact with compatible domains of evolutionary-related proteins and fine-tuning the key physiological pathways in several organisms. Since the first report of a microProtein in mice, numerous microProteins have been identified in plants by computational approaches. However, only a few candidates have been functionally characterized, primarily in Arabidopsis. The recent success of synthetic microProteins in modulating physiological activities in crops makes these proteins interesting candidates for crop engineering. Here, we comprehensively summarise the synthesis, mode of action, and functional roles of microProteins in plants. We also discuss different approaches used to identify plant microProteins. Additionally, we discuss novel approaches to design synthetic microProteins that can be used to target proteins regulating plant growth and development. We finally highlight the prospects and challenges of utilizing microProteins in future crop improvement programs. MicroProteins (miPs) are small-sized proteins with a molecular weight of 5–20 kDa MiPs can be detected through multiomics and computational approaches MiPs are crucial regulators of plant growth and development MiPs as condensates, synthetic miPs, and limitations
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Aslam L, Kaur R, Hussain S, Kapoor N, Mahajan R. LC-MS/MS identification and structural characterization of isolated cyclotides from precursor sequences of Viola odorata L. petiole tissue using computational approach. J Biosci 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12038-022-00283-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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The Influence of Plant Stress Hormones and Biotic Elicitors on Cyclotide Production in Viola uliginosa Cell Suspension Cultures. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11141876. [PMID: 35890511 PMCID: PMC9324686 DOI: 10.3390/plants11141876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Cyclotides are macrocycle peptides produced by plants from several families, including Violaceae. These compounds have the potential for applications in medicine, bioengineering and crop protection thanks to their multiple biological activities. In most cases, cyclotides are extracted from plant material. Plant cell culture provides a viable and sustainable form of plant biomass production Cyclotides are host defense peptides. The aim of the current study was to test whether different plant stress hormones and biological elicitors have effects on cyclotide production in Viola uliginosa suspension cultures. Different concentrations of jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), abscisic acid (ABA) and neutralized pathogens were tested. The cyclotide production was assessed using MALDI-MS. Five major peptides produced by V. uliginosa cultures were chosen for analysis, of which one was sequenced de novo. The treatments had little influence on the suspension’s growth, with the exception of 100 μM SA, which enhanced the biomass increase, and 100 μM ABA, which was toxic. Significant increases in the production of three cyclotides (viul M, cyO13 and cyO3) were observed in suspensions primed with JA (50 μM, 100 μM, 200 μM) after 14 days of culturing. Biotic elicitors had no observable effect on cyclotide production. The current study indicates that some cyclotides in V. uliginosa are triggered in response to JA. The stress plant hormones can be used to enhance plant cell culture-based production systems.
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Wu WH, Guo J, Zhang L, Zhang WB, Gao W. Peptide/protein-based macrocycles: from biological synthesis to biomedical applications. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:815-829. [PMID: 35866174 PMCID: PMC9257627 DOI: 10.1039/d1cb00246e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Living organisms have evolved cyclic or multicyclic peptides and proteins with enhanced stability and high bioactivity superior to their linear counterparts for diverse purposes. Herein, we review recent progress in applying this concept to artificial peptides and proteins to exploit the functional benefits of these macrocycles. Not only have simple cyclic forms been prepared, numerous macrocycle variants, such as knots and links, have also been developed. The chemical tools and synthetic strategies are summarized for the biological synthesis of these macrocycles, demonstrating it as a powerful alternative to chemical synthesis. Its further application to therapeutic peptides/proteins has led to biomedicines with profoundly improved pharmaceutical performances. Finally, we present our perspectives on the field and its future developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hao Wu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry & Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 P. R. China
| | - Jianwen Guo
- Department of Geriatric Dentistry, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology Beijing 100081 P. R. China
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Peking University Beijing 100191 P. R. China
| | - Longshuai Zhang
- Department of Geriatric Dentistry, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology Beijing 100081 P. R. China
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Peking University Beijing 100191 P. R. China
| | - Wen-Bin Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry & Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University Beijing 100871 P. R. China
| | - Weiping Gao
- Department of Geriatric Dentistry, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology Beijing 100081 P. R. China
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Peking University Beijing 100191 P. R. China
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Dayani L, Dinani MS, Aliomrani M, Hashempour H, Varshosaz J, Taheri A. Immunomodulatory effects of cyclotides isolated from Viola odorata in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis animal model of multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2022; 64:103958. [PMID: 35716476 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.103958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that causes chronic inflammation. Cyclotides are small plant proteins with a wide range of biological activity, making them a target for researchers to investigate. This study was conducted to investigate the possible effects of cyclotide-rich fractions from Viola odorata as an immunomodulatory agent in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS. METHODS At room temperature, the plant materials were subjected to maceration in methanol: dichloromethane (1:1; v/v) for 3 days. The extraction was repeated 3 times, and the final concentrated extract was partitioned 3 times by 1/2 volume of double-distilled water. The aqueous phases were separated and freeze-dried. Finally, the crude extract was fractionated by C18 silicagel using vacuum liquid chromatography, with mobile phases of 30%, 50% and 80% of ethanol: water, respectively. The 50%, and 80% fractions were analyzed by HPLC and MALDI-TOF analysis and administrated intraperitoneally to forty-five female C57BL/6 EAE-induced mice, at 5, 25, and 50 mg/kg doses. After 28 days, the animals were evaluated using EAE clinical scoring which was done every 3 days, cytokine levels, and myelination level. RESULTS The results confirmed the presence of cyclotides in V. odorata based on their retention time and the composition of mobile phase in HPLC and the molecular weight of the peaks in MALDI-TOF analysis. It was observed that cyclotides, especially in the 80% fraction group at the dose of 50 mg/kg significantly reduced the clinical scores, inflammation, and demyelination in EAE mice compared with the normal saline group (P<0.05), and the results of this group were comparable with fingolimod (P>0.05). CONCLUSION It could be concluded that V. odorata is a rich source of cyclotides which they could be extracted by an easily available process and also, they could be used as immunomodulatory agents in MS, with similar effects to fingolimod.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ladan Dayani
- Novel Drug Delivery Systems Research Centre, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Novel Drug Delivery Systems Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Masoud Sadeghi Dinani
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mehdi Aliomrani
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hossein Hashempour
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Jaleh Varshosaz
- Novel Drug Delivery Systems Research Centre, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Novel Drug Delivery Systems Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Azade Taheri
- Novel Drug Delivery Systems Research Centre, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Novel Drug Delivery Systems Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
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Cyclotide host-defense tailored for species and environments in violets from the Canary Islands. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12452. [PMID: 34127703 PMCID: PMC8203695 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91555-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclotides are cyclic peptides produced by plants. Due to their insecticidal properties, they are thought to be involved in host defense. Violets produce complex mixtures of cyclotides, that are characteristic for each species and variable in different environments. Herein, we utilized mass spectrometry (LC–MS, MALDI-MS), transcriptomics and biological assays to investigate the diversity, differences in cyclotide expression based on species and different environment, and antimicrobial activity of cyclotides found in violets from the Canary Islands. A wide range of different habitats can be found on these islands, from subtropical forests to dry volcano peaks at high altitudes. The islands are inhabited by the endemic Viola palmensis, V. cheiranthifolia, V. anagae and the common V. odorata. The number of cyclotides produced by a given species varied in plants from different environments. The highest diversity was noted in V. anagae which resides in subtropical forest and the lowest in V. cheiranthifolia from the Teide volcano. Transcriptome sequencing and LC–MS were used to identify 23 cyclotide sequences from V. anagae. Cyclotide extracts exhibited antifungal activities with the lowest minimal inhibitory concentrations noted for V. anagae (15.62 μg/ml against Fusarium culmorum). The analysis of the relative abundance of 30 selected cyclotides revealed patterns characteristic to both species and populations, which can be the result of genetic variability or environmental conditions in different habitats. The current study exemplifies how plants tailor their host defense peptides for various habitats, and the usefulness of cyclotides as markers for chemosystematics.
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van den Broek K, Epple M, Kersten LS, Kuhn H, Zielesny A. Quantitative Estimation of Cyclotide-Induced Bilayer Membrane Disruption by Lipid Extraction with Mesoscopic Simulation. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:3027-3040. [PMID: 34008405 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cyclotide-induced membrane disruption is studied at the microsecond timescale by dissipative particle dynamics to quantitatively estimate a kinetic rate constant for membrane lipid extraction with a ″sandwich″ interaction model where two bilayer membranes enclose a cyclotide/water compartment. The obtained bioactivity trends for cyclotides Kalata B1, Cycloviolacin O2, and selected mutants with different membrane types are in agreement with experimental findings: For all membranes investigated, Cycloviolacin O2 shows a higher lipid extraction activity than Kalata B1. The presence of cholesterol leads to a decreased cyclotide activity compared to cholesterol-free membranes. Phosphoethanolamine-rich membranes exhibit an increased membrane disruption. A cyclotide's ″hydrophobic patch″ surface area is important for its bioactivity. A replacement of or with charged amino acid residues may lead to super-mutants with above-native activity but without simple charge-activity patterns. Cyclotide mixtures show linearly additive bioactivities without significant sub- or over-additive effects. The proposed method can be applied as a fast and easy-to-use tool for exploring structure-activity relationships of cyclotide/membrane systems: With the open software provided, the rate constant of a single cyclotide/membrane system can be determined in about 1 day by a scientific end-user without programming skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina van den Broek
- Inorganic Chemistry and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CeNIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany.,Institute for Bioinformatics and Chemoinformatics, Westphalian University of Applied Sciences, 45665 Recklinghausen, Germany
| | - Matthias Epple
- Inorganic Chemistry and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CeNIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Lisa Sophie Kersten
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Chemoinformatics, Westphalian University of Applied Sciences, 45665 Recklinghausen, Germany
| | - Hubert Kuhn
- CAM-D Technologies GmbH, 42697 Solingen, Germany
| | - Achim Zielesny
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Chemoinformatics, Westphalian University of Applied Sciences, 45665 Recklinghausen, Germany
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Lei X, Liu S, Zhou R, Meng XY. Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study on Interactions of Cycloviolacin with Different Phospholipids. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:3476-3485. [PMID: 33787269 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c10513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cyclotides are disulfide-rich cyclic peptides isolated from plants, which are extremely stable against thermal and proteolytic degradation, with a variety of biological activities including antibacterial, hemolytic, anti-HIV, and anti-tumor. Most of these bioactivities are related to their preference for binding to certain types of phospholipids and subsequently disrupt lipid membranes. In the present study, we use a cyclotide, cycloviolacin O2 (cyO2), as a model system to investigate its interactions with three lipid bilayers 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (POPE), 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (POPG)-doped POPE, and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC), to help understand its potential mechanism of action toward the membranes at the molecular level using molecular dynamics simulations. In our simulations, cyO2 repeatedly forms stable binding complexes with the POPE-containing bilayers, while within the same simulation time scale, it "jumps" back and forth on the surface of the POPC bilayer without a strong binding. Detailed analyses reveal that the electrostatic attraction is the main driving force for the initial bindings between cyO2 and the lipids, but with strikingly different strengths in different bilayers. For the POPE-containing bilayers, the charged residues of cyO2 attract both POPE amino and phosphate head groups favorably; meanwhile, its hydrophobic residues are deeply inserted into the lipid hydrophobic tails (core) of the membrane, thus forming stable binding complexes. In contrast, POPC lipids with three methyl groups on the amino head group create a steric hindrance when interacting with cyO2, thus resulting in a relatively difficult binding of cyO2 on POPC compared to POPE. Our current findings provide additional insights for a better understanding of how cyO2 binds to the POPE-containing membrane, which should shed light on the future cyclotide-based antibacterial agent design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Lei
- Institute of Quantitative Biology and Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Shengtang Liu
- Institute of Quantitative Biology and Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ruhong Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Xuan-Yu Meng
- Institute of Quantitative Biology and Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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Zhang J, Yuan J, Li Z, Fu C, Xu M, Yang J, Jiang X, Zhou B, Ye X, Xu C. Exploring and exploiting plant cyclic peptides for drug discovery and development. Med Res Rev 2021; 41:3096-3117. [PMID: 33599316 DOI: 10.1002/med.21792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Ever since the discovery of insulin, natural peptides have become an important resource for therapeutic development. Decades of research has led to the discovery of a long list of peptide drugs with broad applications in clinics, from antibiotics to hypertension treatment to pain management. Many of these US FDA-approved peptide drugs are derived from microorganisms and animals. By contrast, the great potential of plant cyclic peptides as therapeutics remains largely unexplored. These macrocyclic peptides typically have rigid structures, good bioavailability and membrane permeability, making them appealing candidates for drug development and engineering. In this review, we introduce the three major classes of plant cyclic peptides and summarize their potential medical applications. We discuss how we can leverage the genome information of many different plants to quickly search for new cyclic peptides and how we can take advantage of the insights gained from their biosynthetic pathways to transform the process of production and drug development. These recent developments have provided a new angle for exploring and exploiting plant cyclic peptides, and we believe that many more peptide drugs derived from plants are about to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.,Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jimin Yuan
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhijie Li
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Chunjin Fu
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Menglong Xu
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xin Jiang
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Boping Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiufeng Ye
- Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Chengchao Xu
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.,Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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14
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Dancewicz K, Slazak B, Kiełkiewicz M, Kapusta M, Bohdanowicz J, Gabryś B. Behavioral and physiological effects of Viola spp. cyclotides on Myzus persicae (Sulz.). JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 122:104025. [PMID: 32059835 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2020.104025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Cyclotides are defense peptides produced by several plant families. Viola spp. (Violaceae) produce an array of cyclotides with varying biological activities. The peach potato aphid Myzus persicae (Sulz.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a generalist that feeds on the secondary hosts of over 40 plant families, including Violaceae. The present work aimed to evaluate the activities of cycloviolacins from Viola odorata L. and V. ulignosa Besser (cyO2, cyO3, cyO13, cyO19) against M. persicae. To investigate the peptides' influence on aphid feeding behavior, we used 20% sucrose diets supplemented with cyclotides and measured the effects with electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique. We also applied anti-cyclotide antibodies and immunohistochemistry to track the peptides in the digestive systems of the aphids. Our study shows that cyclotides affect aphid probing and feeding behavior and limit their diet sap uptake. The cycloviolacin cyclotides: cyO13 (100 µM) and cyO19 (50 µM) most strongly impeded aphid ingestion activities when applied in sucrose diet. Sustained ingestion of the diet was blocked by 100 µM cyO13, and no aphid showed ingestion of the diet for longer than 10 min. Cyclotides were detected in the pharynx, in contact with the epipharyngeal gustatory organ, in the stomach (midgut) and upper intestine. The present study shows the deterrent activity of cycloviolacins on M. persicae. This activity may be related to the peptides' effects on epithelial cells and gustatory organs along the aphid digestive system. We demonstrate that cyclotides may play an important role in plant-aphid interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Dancewicz
- Department of Botany and Ecology, University of Zielona Góra, Szafrana 1, 65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland
| | - Blazej Slazak
- W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, 46 Lubicz St., 31-512 Cracow, Poland; Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Biomedical Centre (BMC), Box 574, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Małgorzata Kiełkiewicz
- Section of Applied Entomology, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW (WULS-SGGW), 159 Nowoursynowska, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Kapusta
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, 59 Wita Stwosza St., 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jerzy Bohdanowicz
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, 59 Wita Stwosza St., 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Beata Gabryś
- Department of Botany and Ecology, University of Zielona Góra, Szafrana 1, 65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland
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15
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Tombling BJ, Wang CK, Craik DJ. EGF‐artige und andere disulfidreiche Mikrodomänen als therapeutische Molekülgerüste. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201913809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J. Tombling
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australien
| | - Conan K. Wang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australien
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australien
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16
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Tombling BJ, Wang CK, Craik DJ. EGF-like and Other Disulfide-rich Microdomains as Therapeutic Scaffolds. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:11218-11232. [PMID: 31867866 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201913809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Disulfide bonds typically introduce conformational constraints into peptides and proteins, conferring improved biopharmaceutical properties and greater therapeutic potential. In our opinion, disulfide-rich microdomains from proteins are potentially a rich and under-explored source of drug leads. A survey of the UniProt protein database shows that these domains are widely distributed throughout the plant and animal kingdoms, with the EGF-like domain being the most abundant of these domains. EGF-like domains exhibit large diversity in their disulfide bond topologies and calcium binding modes, which we classify in detail here. We found that many EGF-like domains are associated with disease phenotypes, and the interactions they mediate are potential therapeutic targets. Indeed, EGF-based therapeutic leads have been identified, and we further propose that these domains can be optimized to expand their therapeutic potential using chemical design strategies. This Review highlights the potential of disulfide-rich microdomains as future peptide therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Tombling
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Conan K Wang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
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17
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Zhao N, Cheng M, Lv W, Wu Y, Liu D, Zhang X. Peptides as Potential Biomarkers for Authentication of Mountain-Cultivated Ginseng and Cultivated Ginseng of Different Ages Using UPLC-HRMS. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2020; 68:2263-2275. [PMID: 31986019 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b05568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The growth conditions and age of Panax ginseng are vital for determining the quality of the ginseng plant. However, the considerable difference in price according to the cultivation method and period of P. ginseng leads to its adulteration in the trade market. We herein focused on ginseng peptides and the possibility of these peptides to be used as biomarker(s) for discrimination of P. ginseng. We applied an ultraperformance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry-based peptidomics approach to characterize ginseng peptides and discover novel peptide biomarkers for authentication of mountain-cultivated ginseng (MCG). We identified 52 high-confidence peptides and screened 20 characteristic peptides differentially expressed between MCG and cultivated ginseng (CG). Intriguingly, 6 differential peptides were expressed significantly in MCG and originated from dehydrins that accumulated during cold or drought conditions. In addition, 14 other differential peptides that were significantly expressed in CG derived from ginseng major protein, an essential protein for nitrogen storage. These biological associations confirmed the reliability and credibility of the differential peptides. Additionally, we determined several robust peptide biomarkers for discrimination of MCG through a precise selection process. These findings demonstrate the potential of peptide biomarkers for identification and quality control of P. ginseng in addition to ginsenoside analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry , Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Zhongshan Road 457 , Dalian 116023 , China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Yuquan Road 19 , Beijing 100049 , China
| | - Mengchun Cheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry , Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Zhongshan Road 457 , Dalian 116023 , China
| | - Wei Lv
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry , Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Zhongshan Road 457 , Dalian 116023 , China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , North Minzu University , Yinchuan 750021 , China
| | - Yulin Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry , Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Zhongshan Road 457 , Dalian 116023 , China
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine , Jinshui East Road 156 , Zhengzhou 450046 , China
| | - Dan Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry , Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Zhongshan Road 457 , Dalian 116023 , China
| | - Xiaozhe Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry , Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Zhongshan Road 457 , Dalian 116023 , China
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18
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Kan MW, Craik DJ. Discovery of Cyclotides from Australasian Plants. Aust J Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/ch19658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This article is part of a special issue celebrating the contributions of Professor Paul Alewood to peptide science. We begin by providing a summary of collaborative projects between the Alewood and Craik groups at The University of Queensland and highlighting the impacts of some of these studies. In particular, studies on the discovery, synthesis, structures, and bioactivities of disulfide-rich toxins from animal venoms have led to a greater understanding of the biology of ion channels and to applications of these bioactive peptides in drug design. The second part of the article focuses on plant-derived disulfide-rich cyclic peptides, known as cyclotides, and includes an analysis of the geographical distribution of Australasian plant species that contain cyclotides as well as an analysis of the diversity of cyclotide sequences found in Australasian plants. This should provide a useful resource for researchers to access native cyclotides and explore their chemistry and biology.
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19
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Abstract
This Review explores the class of plant-derived macrocyclic peptides called cyclotides. We include an account of their discovery, characterization, and distribution in the plant kingdom as well as a detailed analysis of their sequences and structures, biosynthesis and chemical synthesis, biological functions, and applications. These macrocyclic peptides are around 30 amino acids in size and are characterized by their head-to-tail cyclic backbone and cystine knot motif, which render them to be exceptionally stable, with resistance to thermal or enzymatic degradation. Routes to their chemical synthesis have been developed over the past two decades, and this capability has facilitated a wide range of mutagenesis and structure-activity relationship studies. In turn, these studies have both led to an increased understanding of their mechanisms of action as well as facilitated a range of applications in agriculture and medicine, as ecofriendly crop protection agents, and as drug leads or scaffolds for pharmaceutical design. Our overall objective in this Review is to provide readers with a comprehensive overview of cyclotides that we hope will stimulate further work on this fascinating family of peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J de Veer
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
| | - Meng-Wei Kan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
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20
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Foreman DJ, Parsley NC, Lawler JT, Aryal UK, Hicks LM, McLuckey SA. Gas-Phase Sequencing of Cyclotides: Introduction of Selective Ring Opening at Dehydroalanine via Ion/Ion Reaction. Anal Chem 2019; 91:15608-15616. [PMID: 31746593 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b03671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The gas-phase linearization of cyclotides via site-selective ring opening at dehydroalanine residues and its application to cyclotide sequencing is presented. This strategy relies on the ability to incorporate dehydroalanine into macrocyclic peptide ions, which is easily accomplished through an ion/ion reaction. Triply protonated cyclotide cations are transformed into radical cations via ion/ion reaction with the sulfate radical anion. Subsequent activation of the cyclotide radical cation generates dehydroalanine at a single cysteine residue, which is easily identified by the odd-electron loss of ·SCH2CONH2. The presence of dehydroalanine in cyclotides provides a site-selective ring-opening pathway that, in turn, generates linear cyclotide analogues in the gas phase. Unlike cyclic variants, product ions derived from the linear peptides provide rich sequence information. The sequencing capability of this strategy is demonstrated with four known cyclotides found in Viola inconspicua, where, in each case, greater than 93% sequence coverage was observed. Furthermore, the utility of this method is highlighted by the partial de novo sequencing of an unknown cyclotide with much greater sequence coverage than that obtained with a conventional Glu-C digestion approach. This method is particularly well-suited for cyclotide species that are not abundant enough to characterize with traditional methods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicole C Parsley
- Department of Chemistry , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27514 , United States
| | | | | | - Leslie M Hicks
- Department of Chemistry , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27514 , United States
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21
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Zheng W, Zhou T, Li J, Jiang W, Zhang J, Xiao C, Wei D, Yang C, Xu R, Gong A, Zhang C, Bi Y. The Biosynthesis of Heterophyllin B in Pseudostellaria heterophylla From prePhHB-Encoded Precursor. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1259. [PMID: 31749814 PMCID: PMC6842982 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Plant cyclic peptides (CPs) are a large group of small molecule metabolites found in a wide variety of plants, including traditional Chinese medicinal plants. However, the majority of plant CPs have not been studied for their biosynthetic mechanisms, including heterophyllin B (HB), which is one of the characteristic chemical components of Pseudostellaria heterophylla. Here, we screened the precursor gene (prePhHB) of HB in P. heterophylla and functionally identified its correctness in vivo and in vitro. First, we developed a new method to screen the precursors of HB from 16 candidate linear peptides. According to transcriptome sequencing data, we cloned the genes that encoded the HB precursor peptides and confirmed that the prePhHB-encoded precursor peptide could enzymatically synthesize HB. Next, we generated the transgenic tobacco that expressed prePhHB, and the results showed that HB was detected in transgenic tobacco. Moreover, we revealed that prePhHB gene expression is positively correlated with HB accumulation in P. heterophylla. Mutations in the prePhHB gene may influence the accumulation of HB in P. heterophylla. These results suggest that HB is ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptide (RiPP) derived from the precursor gene prePhHB-encoded precursor peptide, and the core peptide sequence of HB is IFGGLPPP in P. heterophylla. This study developed a new idea for the rapid identification of Caryophyllaceae-type CP precursor peptides via RNA-sequencing data mining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zheng
- Experiment Center, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Tao Zhou
- Experiment Center, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Jun Li
- Experiment Center, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Weike Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Jinqiang Zhang
- Experiment Center, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Chenghong Xiao
- Experiment Center, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Dequn Wei
- Experiment Center, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Changgui Yang
- Experiment Center, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Rong Xu
- Experiment Center, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Anhui Gong
- Experiment Center, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Experiment Center, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Yan Bi
- Experiment Center, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
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22
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Ojeda PG, Cardoso MH, Franco OL. Pharmaceutical applications of cyclotides. Drug Discov Today 2019; 24:2152-2161. [PMID: 31541712 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cyclotides are cyclic peptides, present in several plant families, that show diverse biological properties. Structurally, cyclotides share a distinctive head-to-tail circular knotted topology of three disulfide bonds. This framework provides cyclotides with extraordinary resistance to thermal and chemical denaturation. There is increasing interest in the therapeutic potential of cyclotides, which combine several promising pharmaceutical properties, including binding affinity, target selectivity, and low toxicity towards healthy mammalian cells. Recently, cyclotides have been reported to be orally bioavailable and have proved to be amenable to modifications. Here, we provide an overview of the structure, properties, and pharmaceutical applications of cyclotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola G Ojeda
- Escuela de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Maule, Av. San Miguel 3605, Talca 3480112, Chile
| | - Marlon H Cardoso
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil; 3S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Octávio L Franco
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil; 3S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil.
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23
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Narayani M, Sai Varsha MKN, Potunuru UR, Sofi Beaula W, Rayala SK, Dixit M, Chadha A, Srivastava S. Production of bioactive cyclotides in somatic embryos of Viola odorata. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2018; 156:135-141. [PMID: 30292877 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2018.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 09/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Viola odorata L. (Violaceae), an Indian medicinal plant, contains a plethora of cyclotides, which are a class of cyclic peptides derived from plants, possessing several applications. Somatic embryo culture of V. odorata was developed, via indirect somatic embryogenesis, to serve as an alternative to natural plant biomass for sustainable and continuous production of its bioactive ingredients, such as cyclotides. Among the various combinations of phytohormones tested, Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 1 mg/l thidiazuron gave rise to the maximum frequency of induction (86.7%) and a high number of somatic embryos (3) from an embryogenic callus. Identification and characterization of cyclotides in the somatic embryos were carried out using a Fourier transform mass spectrometer coupled with liquid chromatography (LC-FTMS). Among the cyclotides identified in the study, few were found to be exclusively present in the somatic embryo culture. Furthermore, the relative abundance of the cyclotides was higher in somatic embryo extract than in the natural plant extract. The biological activities (cytotoxic, haemolytic and antimicrobial) of the somatic embryos and the parent plant were compared. Unlike the natural plants, the somatic embryo extracts demonstrated specificity i.e. they were found to be potent against cancerous cells but not against non-cancerous cell line or red blood cells. In contrast to the plant extract, the somatic embryos extracts were found to be potent against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. These results suggest that somatic embryos of V. odorata (rich in cyclotides) can be used as an alternative to plant biomass for its therapeutic applications and germplasm conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Narayani
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai-600 036, India
| | - M K N Sai Varsha
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai-600 036, India
| | - Uma Rani Potunuru
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai-600 036, India
| | - W Sofi Beaula
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai-600 036, India
| | - Suresh Kumar Rayala
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai-600 036, India
| | - Madhulika Dixit
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai-600 036, India
| | - Anju Chadha
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai-600 036, India
| | - Smita Srivastava
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai-600 036, India.
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24
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Ramalho SD, Wang CK, King GJ, Byriel KA, Huang YH, Bolzani VS, Craik DJ. Synthesis, Racemic X-ray Crystallographic, and Permeability Studies of Bioactive Orbitides from Jatropha Species. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2018; 81:2436-2445. [PMID: 30345754 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.8b00447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Orbitides are small cyclic peptides with a diverse range of therapeutic bioactivities. They are produced by many plant species, including those of the Jatropha genus. Here, the objective was to provide new structural information on orbitides to complement the growing knowledge base on orbitide sequences and activities by focusing on three Jatropha orbitides: ribifolin (1), pohlianin C (7), and jatrophidin (12). To determine three-dimensional structures, racemic crystallography, an emerging structural technique that enables rapid crystallization of biomolecules by combining equal amounts of the two enantiomers, was used. The high-resolution structure of ribifolin (0.99 Å) was elucidated from its racemate and showed it was identical to the structure crystallized from its l-enantiomer only (1.35 Å). Racemic crystallography was also used to elucidate high-resolution structures of pohlianin C (1.20 Å) and jatrophidin (1.03 Å), for which there was difficulty forming crystals without using racemic mixtures. The structures were used to interpret membrane permeability data in PAMPA and a Caco-2 cell assay, showing they had poor permeability. Overall, the results show racemic crystallography can be used to obtain high-resolution structures of orbitides and is useful when enantiopure samples are difficult to crystallize or solution structures from NMR are of low resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suelem D Ramalho
- Institute of Chemistry , São Paulo State University-UNESP , Araraquara , São Paulo 14800-060 , Brazil
| | - Conan K Wang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
| | - Gordon J King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
| | - Karl A Byriel
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
| | - Yen-Hua Huang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
| | - Vanderlan S Bolzani
- Institute of Chemistry , São Paulo State University-UNESP , Araraquara , São Paulo 14800-060 , Brazil
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
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25
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Niyomploy P, Chan LY, Harvey PJ, Poth AG, Colgrave ML, Craik DJ. Discovery and Characterization of Cyclotides from Rinorea Species. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2018; 81:2512-2520. [PMID: 30387611 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.8b00572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Cyclotides are macrocyclic cystine-knotted peptides most commonly found in the Violaceae plant family. Although Rinorea is the second-largest genera within the Violaceae family, few studies have examined whether or not they contain cyclotides. To further our understanding of cyclotide diversity and evolution, we examined the cyclotide content of two Rinorea species found in Southeast Asia: R. virgata and R. bengalensis. Seven cyclotides were isolated from R. virgata (named Rivi1-7), and a known cyclotide (cT10) was found in R. bengalensis. Loops 2, 5, and 6 of Rivi1-4 contained sequences not previously seen in corresponding loops of known cyclotides, thereby expanding our understanding of the diversity of cyclotides. In addition, the sequence of loop 2 of Rivi3 and Rivi4 were identical to some related noncyclic "acyclotides" from the Poaceae plant family. As only acyclotides, but not cyclotides, have been reported in monocotyledons thus far, our findings support an evolutionary link between monocotyledon-derived ancestral cyclotide precursors and dicotyledon-derived cyclotides. Furthermore, Rivi2 and Rivi3 had comparable cytotoxic activities to the most cytotoxic cyclotide known to date: cycloviolacin O2 from Viola odorata; yet, unlike cycloviolacin O2, they did not show hemolytic activity. Therefore, these cyclotides represent novel scaffolds for use in future anticancer drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ploypat Niyomploy
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science , Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok 10330 , Thailand
| | - Lai Yue Chan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
| | - Peta J Harvey
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
| | - Aaron G Poth
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
| | - Michelle L Colgrave
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food , 306 Carmody Road , St. Lucia , Queensland 4067 , Australia
- School of Science , Edith Cowan University , 270 Joondalup Drive , Joondalup , WA 6027 , Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia
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Extensive characterization and differential analysis of endogenous peptides from Bombyx batryticatus using mass spectrometric approach. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2018; 163:78-87. [PMID: 30286438 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2018.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Bombyx batryticatus, the dried larva of Bombyx mori L. (4th-5th instars) infected with Beauveria bassiana Vuill, is an important animal-derived medicine effective against several diseases. The metamorphosis of silkworm can result insignificant changes in the levels of proteins and polypeptides in the 4th and 5th instar larvae. Here, we performed extensive characterization of Bombyx batryticatus peptides, including polypeptides containing cysteines, using an MS-based data mining strategy. A total of 779 peptides with various PTMs (post-translational modifications) were identified through database search and de novo sequencing. Some of these peptides might have important biological activities. Besides, the differential analysis of polypeptides between the head and body of Bombyx batryticatus was performed to provide a clinical basis for rational use of the drugs derived from it. This study illustrates the abundance and sequences of endogenous Bombyx batryticatus polypeptides, and thus, provides potential candidates for the screening of active compounds for future biological research and drug discovery studies.
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Slazak B, Kapusta M, Strömstedt AA, Słomka A, Krychowiak M, Shariatgorji M, Andrén PE, Bohdanowicz J, Kuta E, Göransson U. How Does the Sweet Violet ( Viola odorata L.) Fight Pathogens and Pests - Cyclotides as a Comprehensive Plant Host Defense System. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:1296. [PMID: 30254654 PMCID: PMC6141879 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Cyclotides are cyclic plant polypeptides of 27-37 amino acid residues. They have been extensively studied in bioengineering and drug development contexts. However, less is known about the relevance of cyclotides for the plants producing them. The anti-insect larvae effects of kB1 and antibacterial activity of cyO2 suggest that cyclotides are a part of plant host defense. The sweet violet (Viola odorata L.) produces a wide array of cyclotides, including kB1 (kalata B1) and cyO2 (cycloviolacin O2), with distinct presumed biological roles. Here, we evaluate V. odorata cyclotides' potency against plant pathogens and their mode of action using bioassays, liposome experiments and immunogold labeling for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We explore the link between the biological activity and distribution in plant generative, vegetative tissues and seeds, depicted by immunohistochemistry and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI). Cyclotides cyO2, cyO3, cyO13, and cyO19 are shown to have potent activity against model fungal plant pathogens (Fusarium oxysporum, F. graminearum, F. culmorum, Mycosphaerella fragariae, Botrytis cinerea) and fungi isolated from violets (Colletotrichum utrechtense and Alternaria alternata), with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 0.8 μM to 25 μM. Inhibition of phytopathogenic bacteria - Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, Dickeya dadantii and Pectobacterium atrosepticum - is also observed with MIC = 25-100 μM. A membrane-disrupting antifungal mode of action is shown. Finding cyO2 inside the fungal spore cells in TEM images may indicate that other, intracellular targets may be involved in the mechanism of toxicity. Fungi can not break down cyclotides in the course of days. varv A (kalata S) and kB1 show little potency against pathogenic fungi when compared with the tested cycloviolacins. cyO2, cyO3, cyO19 and kB1 are differentially distributed and found in tissues vulnerable to pathogen (epidermis, rizodermis, vascular bundles, protodermis, procambium, ovary walls, outer integuments) and pest (ground tissues of leaf and petiole) attacks, respectively, indicating a link between the cyclotides' sites of accumulation and biological role. Cyclotides emerge as a comprehensive defense system in V. odorata, in which different types of peptides have specific targets that determine their distribution in plant tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blazej Slazak
- W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
- Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Małgorzata Kapusta
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Adam A. Strömstedt
- Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Aneta Słomka
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Marta Krychowiak
- Laboratory of Biologically Active Compounds, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Mohammadreza Shariatgorji
- Medical Mass Spectrometry Imaging, National Resource for Mass Spectrometry Imaging, Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Per E. Andrén
- Medical Mass Spectrometry Imaging, National Resource for Mass Spectrometry Imaging, Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jerzy Bohdanowicz
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Kuta
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Ulf Göransson
- Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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28
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Chemical Synthesis and Functional Analysis of VarvA Cyclotide. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23040952. [PMID: 29671790 PMCID: PMC6017059 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23040952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 04/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclotides are circular peptides found in various plant families. A cyclized backbone, together with multiple disulfide bonds, confers the peptides’ exceptional stability against protease digestion and thermal denaturation. In addition, the features of these antimicrobial molecules make them suitable for use in animal farming, such as aquaculture. Fmoc solid phase peptide synthesis on 2-chlorotrityl chlorine (CTC) resin using the “tea-bag” approach was conducted to generate the VarvA cyclotide identified previously from Viola arvensis. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry determined the correct peptide amino acid sequence and the cyclization sites-critical in this multicyclic compound. The cyclotide showed antimicrobial activity against various Gram-negative bacteria, including recurrent pathogens present in Chilean aquaculture. The highest antimicrobial activity was found to be against Flavobacterium psychrophilum. In addition, membrane blebbing on the bacterial surface after exposure to the cyclotide was visualized by SEM microscopy and the Sytox Green permeabilization assay showed the ability to disrupt the bacterial membrane. We postulate that this compound can be proposed for the control of fish farming infections.
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Bernardino K, Pinto MEF, Bolzani VS, de Moura AF, Batista Junior JM. Pinpointing disulfide connectivities in cysteine-rich proteins. Chem Commun (Camb) 2018; 53:7337-7340. [PMID: 28508909 DOI: 10.1039/c7cc02333b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A simple MD-based protocol is presented to accurately predict both the sequence and order of disulfide bond formation in proteins containing multiple cysteine residues. It provides a detailed description of their dynamical and structural features, which can be used to perform ensemble-averaged ECD calculations. Plant cyclotides are used as model compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Bernardino
- Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos - UFSCar, São Carlos, SP 13565-905, Brazil.
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30
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Uddin SJ, Muhammad T, Shafiullah M, Slazak B, Rouf R, Göransson U. Single-step purification of cyclotides using affinity chromatography. Biopolymers 2018; 108. [PMID: 28009046 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Revised: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cyclotides are considered promising scaffolds for drug development owing to their inherent host defence activities and highly stable structure, defined by the cyclic cystine knot. These proteins are expressed as complex mixtures in plants. Although several methods have been developed for their isolation and analysis, purification of cyclotides is still a lengthy process. Here, we describe the use of affinity chromatography for the purification of cyclotides using polyclonal IgG antibodies raised in rabbits against cycloviolacin O2 and immobilized on NHS-activated Sepharose columns. Cycloviolacin O2 was used as a model substance to evaluate the chromatographic principle, first as a pure compound and then in combination with other cyclotides, that is, bracelet cyclotide cycloviolacin O19 and Möbius cyclotide kalata B1, and in a plant extract. We demonstrate that single-step purification of cyclotides by affinity chromatography is possible but cross reactivity may occur between homologue cyclotides of the bracelet subfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaikh Jamal Uddin
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Uppsala, SE, 75123, Sweden.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Box 574, Uppsala, SE, 75123, Sweden.,Pharmacy Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh
| | - Taj Muhammad
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Uppsala, SE, 75123, Sweden.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Box 574, Uppsala, SE, 75123, Sweden
| | - Md Shafiullah
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Uppsala, SE, 75123, Sweden.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Box 574, Uppsala, SE, 75123, Sweden
| | - Blazej Slazak
- W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Science, Cracow, 31-512, Poland
| | - Razina Rouf
- Pharmacy Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh
| | - Ulf Göransson
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Uppsala, SE, 75123, Sweden.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Box 574, Uppsala, SE, 75123, Sweden
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Bactericidal activity of cyclotides where phosphatidylethanolamine-lipid selectivity determines antimicrobial spectra. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2017; 1859:1986-2000. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2017.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Craik DJ, Lee MH, Rehm FBH, Tombling B, Doffek B, Peacock H. Ribosomally-synthesised cyclic peptides from plants as drug leads and pharmaceutical scaffolds. Bioorg Med Chem 2017; 26:2727-2737. [PMID: 28818463 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2017.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 08/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Owing to their exceptional stability and favourable pharmacokinetic properties, plant-derived cyclic peptides have recently attracted significant attention in the field of peptide-based drug design. This article describes the three major classes of ribosomally-synthesised plant peptides - the cyclotides, the PawS-derived peptides and the orbitides - and reviews their applications as leads or scaffolds in drug design. These ribosomally-produced peptides have a range of biological activities, including anti-HIV, cytotoxic and immunomodulatory activity. In addition, recent interest has focused on their use as scaffolds to stabilise bioactive peptide sequences, thereby enhancing their biopharmaceutical properties. There are now more than 30 published papers on such 'grafting' applications, most of which have been reported only in the last few years, and several such studies have reported in vivo activity of orally delivered cyclic peptides. In this article, we describe approaches to the synthesis of cyclic peptides and their pharmaceutically-grafted derivatives as well as outlining their biosynthetic routes. Finally, we describe possible bioproduction routes for pharmaceutically active cyclic peptides, involving plants and plant suspension cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
| | - Meng-Han Lee
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Fabian B H Rehm
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Benjamin Tombling
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Benjamin Doffek
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Hayden Peacock
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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Resistance to the Cyclotide Cycloviolacin O2 in Salmonella enterica Caused by Different Mutations That Often Confer Cross-Resistance or Collateral Sensitivity to Other Antimicrobial Peptides. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2017; 61:AAC.00684-17. [PMID: 28607015 PMCID: PMC5527591 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00684-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are essential components of innate immunity in all living organisms, and these potent broad-spectrum antimicrobials have inspired several antibacterial development programs in the past 2 decades. In this study, the development of resistance to the Gram-negative bacterium-specific peptide cycloviolacin O2 (cyO2), a member of the cyclotide family of plant miniproteins, was characterized in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium LT2. Mutants isolated from serial passaging experiments in increasing concentrations of cyO2 were characterized by whole-genome sequencing. The identified mutations were genetically reconstituted in a wild-type background. The additive effect of mutations was studied in double mutants. Fitness costs, levels of resistance, and cross-resistance to another cyclotide, other peptide and nonpeptide antibiotics, and AMPs were determined. A variety of resistance mutations were identified. Some of these reduced fitness and others had no effect on fitness in vitro, in the absence of cyO2. In mouse competition experiments, four of the cyO2-resistant mutants showed a significant fitness advantage, whereas the effects of the mutations in the others appeared to be neutral. The level of resistance was increased by combining several individual resistance mutations. Several cases of cross-resistance and collateral sensitivity between cyclotides, other AMPs, and antibiotics were identified. These results show that resistance to cyclotides can evolve via several different types of mutations with only minor fitness costs and that these mutations often affect resistance to other AMPs.
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Abstract
Among the various molecules that plants produce for defense against pests and pathogens, cyclotides stand out as exceptionally stable and structurally unique. These ribosomally synthesized peptides are around 30 amino acids in size, and are stabilized by a head-to-tail cyclic peptide backbone and three disulfide bonds that form a cystine knot. They occur in certain plants of the Rubiaceae, Violaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae families, with an individual plant producing up to hundreds of different cyclotides. Aside from being exploitable as crop protection agents based on their natural pesticidal activities, cyclotides are amenable to repurposing by chemists for use as drug leads or as tools in chemical biology. Their macrocyclic peptide backbone and knotted arrangement of three disulfide bonds engenders cyclotides with resistance to proteolytic degradation, high temperatures, and chemical chaotropes. Furthermore, their small size makes them accessible to synthesis using solid-phase peptide chemistry and so non-natural cyclotides can be designed and synthesized for a variety of applications. Our focus here is on cyclotides as tools in chemical biology, and there are four main areas of application that have appeared in the literature so far: (i) cyclotides as probes of membrane binding; (ii) cyclotides as probes of biosynthetic pathways for peptide cyclization; (iii) cyclotides as probes of protease specificity and function; and (iv) cyclotides as probes of receptor binding and specificity, with the potential for them to be developed as drug leads. The main methods used in these studies include solid-phase peptide chemistry for synthesis and NMR spectroscopy for structural characterization, as well as a wide range of biochemical and biophysical techniques for probing intermolecular interactions. In addition, cyclotides have been examined in diverse biological assays, ranging from enzyme inhibition to cell penetration, intracellular targeting and cytotoxicity. The main finding to have emerged from studies over the past decade is that cyclotides are exceptionally stable under a variety of conditions (in assay buffers, biological fluids, membranes, and recombinant expression systems). Furthermore, they are structurally very well-defined and amenable to sequence substitutions that can introduce new desired biological activities, generally without compromising their exceptional stability. Both features contribute to their use as peptide-based frameworks in drug design. Finally, they occupy a size niche between traditional small-molecule drugs (<500 Da in molecular weight) and protein-based biologics (>5000 Da) and thus can probe receptors, membranes, and protein-protein interactions in different ways to what is possible with either small molecules or biologics. Overall, cyclotides are an exciting class of peptides that have great potential as ultrastable chemical biology probes in a variety of applications. They have the advantage of specificity (typical of proteins) combined with the synthetic accessibility of small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J. de Veer
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Joachim Weidmann
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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Bohlin L, Cárdenas P, Backlund A, Göransson U. 35 Years of Marine Natural Product Research in Sweden: Cool Molecules and Models from Cold Waters. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR AND SUBCELLULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 55:1-34. [PMID: 28238034 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-51284-6_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Currents efforts in marine biodiscovery have essentially focused on temperate to tropical shallow water organisms. With more than 6000 species of marine plants and animals, the Kosterfjord area has the richest marine biodiversity in Swedish waters, but it remains understudied. The overall objective of our marine pharmacognosy research is to explore and reveal the pharmacological potential of organisms from this poorly explored region. More generally, we wish to understand aspects of structure-activity relationships of chemical interactions in cold-water marine environment (shallow and deep). Our strategy is based on ecologically guided search for compounds through studies of physiology and organism interactions coupled to identification of bioactive molecules guided by especially in vivo assays. The research programme originated in the beginning of the 1980s with a broad screening of Swedish marine organisms using both in vitro and in vivo assays, resulting in isolation and identification of several different bioactive molecules. Two congenerous cyclopeptides, i.e. barettin and 8,9-dihydrobarettin, were isolated from the deep-sea sponge Geodia barretti, and structurally elucidated, guided by their antifouling activity and their affinity to a selection of human serotonin receptors. To optimize the activity a number of analogues of barettin were synthezised and tested for antifouling activity. Within the EU project BlueGenics, two larger homologous peptides, barrettides A and B, were isolated from G. baretti. Also, metabolic fingerprinting combined with sponge systematics was used to further study deep-sea natural product diversity in the genus Geodia. Finally, the chemical property space model 'ChemGPS-NP' has been developed and used in our research group, enabling a more efficient use of obtained compounds and exploration of possible biological activities and targets. Another approach is the broad application of phylogenetic frameworks, which can be used in prediction of where-in which organisms-to search for novel molecules or better sources of known molecules in marine organisms. In a further perspective, the deeper understanding of evolution and development of life on Earth can also provide answers to why marine organisms produce specific molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Bohlin
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 574, 751 23, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Paco Cárdenas
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 574, 751 23, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anders Backlund
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 574, 751 23, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ulf Göransson
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 574, 751 23, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Cyclotides as drug design scaffolds. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2017; 38:8-16. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2017.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Ravipati AS, Poth AG, Troeira Henriques S, Bhandari M, Huang YH, Nino J, Colgrave ML, Craik DJ. Understanding the Diversity and Distribution of Cyclotides from Plants of Varied Genetic Origin. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2017; 80:1522-1530. [PMID: 28471681 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.7b00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Cyclotides are a large family of naturally occurring plant-derived macrocyclic cystine-knot peptides, with more than 400 having been identified in species from the Violaceae, Rubiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae families. Nevertheless, their specialized distribution within the plant kingdom remains poorly understood. In this study, the diversity of cyclotides was explored through the screening of 197 plants belonging to 43 different families. In total, 28 cyclotides were sequenced from 15 plant species, one of which belonged to the Rubiaceae and 14 to the Violaceae. Every Violaceae species screened contained cyclotides, but they were only sparsely represented in Rubiaceae and nonexistent in other families. The study thus supports the hypothesis that cyclotides are ubiquitous in the Violaceae, and it adds to the list of plants found to express kalata S and cycloviolacin O12. Finally, previous studies suggested the existence of cyclotide isoforms with either an Asn or an Asp at the C-terminal processing site of the cyclotide domain within the precursor proteins. Here we found that despite the discovery of a few cyclotides genuinely containing an Asp in loop 6 as evidenced by gene sequencing, deamidation of Asn during enzymatic digestion resulted in the artifactual presence of Asp isoforms. This result is consistent with studies suggesting that peptides can undergo deamidation after being subjected to external factors, including pH, temperature, and enzymatic digestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjaneya S Ravipati
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland , Brisbane 4072, Queensland Australia
| | - Aaron G Poth
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland , Brisbane 4072, Queensland Australia
| | - Sónia Troeira Henriques
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland , Brisbane 4072, Queensland Australia
| | - Murari Bhandari
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland , Brisbane 4072, Queensland Australia
| | - Yen-Hua Huang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland , Brisbane 4072, Queensland Australia
| | - Jaime Nino
- Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira , Cra 27 No 10-02-Los Álamos, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia
| | - Michelle L Colgrave
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Agriculture and Food, St Lucia 4067, Queensland, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland , Brisbane 4072, Queensland Australia
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Zheng Y, Li Z, Ren J, Liu W, Wu Y, Zhao Y, Wu C. Artificial disulfide-rich peptide scaffolds with precisely defined disulfide patterns and a minimized number of isomers. Chem Sci 2017; 8:2547-2552. [PMID: 28553486 PMCID: PMC5431680 DOI: 10.1039/c6sc05710a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Disulfide-rich peptides are emerging as potential templates for drug design applications. However, the synthesis and reengineering of disulfide-rich peptides are challenging, owing to the complexity of the oxidative folding process involving a number of diverse isomeric structures. Novel disulfide-rich peptide scaffolds that are not besieged by their disulfide isomers are still greatly desired. In this work, we report the design and synthesis of a novel class of artificial disulfide-rich peptide scaffolds with precisely defined disulfide patterns and a minimized number of isomers. In theory, natural peptides with three disulfide bonds have 15 possible isomers. By rationally engineering the thiol-framework of a peptide containing six cysteines with penicillamines and a dithiol amino acid, we demonstrated, for the first time, that the total number of isomers formed after oxidative folding can be decreased to a minimum of two (i.e., from 15 to 2). As fewer isomeric folds are involved in the oxidative folding, the pathway of the folding becomes more concise and the yield of the artificial scaffolds is substantially increased compared to that of its six-cysteine-containing analogue, which makes the artificial disulfide-rich scaffolds (with only 2 predefined isomeric folds) extremely promising for being exploited as structurally complex templates for the design of peptide therapeutics and ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwu Zheng
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation , State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces , Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials , Department of Chemistry , College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Xiamen University , Xiamen , 361005 , P.R. China .
| | - Zhuoru Li
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation , State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces , Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials , Department of Chemistry , College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Xiamen University , Xiamen , 361005 , P.R. China .
| | - Jing Ren
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation , State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces , Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials , Department of Chemistry , College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Xiamen University , Xiamen , 361005 , P.R. China .
| | - Weidong Liu
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation , State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces , Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials , Department of Chemistry , College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Xiamen University , Xiamen , 361005 , P.R. China .
| | - Yaqi Wu
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation , State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces , Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials , Department of Chemistry , College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Xiamen University , Xiamen , 361005 , P.R. China .
| | - Yibing Zhao
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation , State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces , Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials , Department of Chemistry , College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Xiamen University , Xiamen , 361005 , P.R. China .
| | - Chuanliu Wu
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis and Instrumentation , State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces , Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials , Department of Chemistry , College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Xiamen University , Xiamen , 361005 , P.R. China .
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Molesini B, Treggiari D, Dalbeni A, Minuz P, Pandolfini T. Plant cystine-knot peptides: pharmacological perspectives. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2017; 83:63-70. [PMID: 26987851 PMCID: PMC5338163 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.12932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Revised: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystine-knot miniproteins are a class of 30-50 amino acid long peptides widespread in eukaryotic organisms. Due to their very peculiar three-dimensional structure, they exhibit high resistance to heat and peptidase attack. The cystine-knot peptides are well represented in several plant species including medicinal herbs and crops. The pharmacological interest in plant cystine-knot peptides derives from their broad biological activities, mainly cytotoxic, antimicrobial and peptidase inhibitory and in the possibility to engineer them to incorporate pharmacophoric information for oral delivery or disease biomonitoring. The mechanisms of action of plant cystine-knot peptides are still largely unknown, although the capacity to interfere with plasma membranes seems a feature common to several cystine-knot peptides. In some cases, such as potato carboxypetidase inhibitor (PCI) and tomato cystine-knot miniproteins (TCMPs), the cystine-knot peptides target human growth factor receptors either by acting as growth factor antagonist or by altering their signal transduction pathway. The possibility to identify specific molecular targets of plant cystine-knot peptides in human cells opens novel possibilities for the pharmacological use of these peptides besides their use as scaffold to develop stable disease molecular markers and therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Davide Treggiari
- Department of Medicine, Section of Internal MedicineUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | - Andrea Dalbeni
- Department of Medicine, Section of Internal MedicineUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | - Pietro Minuz
- Department of Medicine, Section of Internal MedicineUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
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Park S, Yoo KO, Marcussen T, Backlund A, Jacobsson E, Rosengren KJ, Doo I, Göransson U. Cyclotide Evolution: Insights from the Analyses of Their Precursor Sequences, Structures and Distribution in Violets ( Viola). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:2058. [PMID: 29326730 PMCID: PMC5741643 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.02058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Cyclotides are a family of plant proteins that are characterized by a cyclic backbone and a knotted disulfide topology. Their cyclic cystine knot (CCK) motif makes them exceptionally resistant to thermal, chemical, and enzymatic degradation. By disrupting cell membranes, the cyclotides function as host defense peptides by exhibiting insecticidal, anthelmintic, antifouling, and molluscicidal activities. In this work, we provide the first insight into the evolution of this family of plant proteins by studying the Violaceae, in particular species of the genus Viola. We discovered 157 novel precursor sequences by the transcriptomic analysis of six Viola species: V. albida var. takahashii, V. mandshurica, V. orientalis, V. verecunda, V. acuminata, and V. canadensis. By combining these precursor sequences with the phylogenetic classification of Viola, we infer the distribution of cyclotides across 63% of the species in the genus (i.e., ~380 species). Using full precursor sequences from transcriptomes, we show an evolutionary link to the structural diversity of the cyclotides, and further classify the cyclotides by sequence signatures from the non-cyclotide domain. Also, transcriptomes were compared to cyclotide expression on a peptide level determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the novel cyclotides discovered were associated with the emergence of new biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungkyu Park
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ki-Oug Yoo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea
| | - Thomas Marcussen
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders Backlund
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Erik Jacobsson
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - K. Johan Rosengren
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Inseok Doo
- Biotech Research Team, Biotech Research Center of Dong-A Pharm Co Ltd., Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ulf Göransson
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Ulf Göransson
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Niyomploy P, Chan LY, Poth AG, Colgrave ML, Sangvanich P, Craik DJ. Discovery, isolation, and structural characterization of cyclotides from
Viola sumatrana
Miq. Pept Sci (Hoboken) 2016; 106:796-805. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.22914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Revised: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ploypat Niyomploy
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbane QLD4072 Australia
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of ScienceChulalongkorn UniversityBangkok10330 Thailand
| | - Lai Yue Chan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbane QLD4072 Australia
| | - Aaron G. Poth
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbane QLD4072 Australia
| | | | - Polkit Sangvanich
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of ScienceChulalongkorn UniversityBangkok10330 Thailand
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbane QLD4072 Australia
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Johansson JR, Beke-Somfai T, Said Stålsmeden A, Kann N. Ruthenium-Catalyzed Azide Alkyne Cycloaddition Reaction: Scope, Mechanism, and Applications. Chem Rev 2016; 116:14726-14768. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Johan R. Johansson
- Cardiovascular
and Metabolic Diseases, Innovative Medicines and Early Development
Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, SE-43183 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Tamás Beke-Somfai
- Research
Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Magyar tudósok
krt. 2, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Said Stålsmeden
- Chemistry
and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-41296 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Nina Kann
- Chemistry
and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-41296 Göteborg, Sweden
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Slazak B, Kapusta M, Malik S, Bohdanowicz J, Kuta E, Malec P, Göransson U. Immunolocalization of cyclotides in plant cells, tissues and organ supports their role in host defense. PLANTA 2016; 244:1029-1040. [PMID: 27394154 PMCID: PMC5052299 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-016-2562-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The distribution of cyclotides was visualized in plant cells, tissues and organs using immunohistochemistry. Finding of cyclotides in tissues potentially vulnerable to pathogen attacks supports their role as defense molecules. The cyclotide family of plant peptides is characterized by the cyclic cystine knot motif and its diverse biological activities. Given their insecticidal and antimicrobial properties, the role of cyclotides in planta is probably associated with host defense. Our current understanding of the cellular compartmentalization of cyclotides in the vacuole is based on indirect studies on transgenic model plants that do not express cyclotides naturally. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) imaging has also been used to study the distribution of cyclotides, but the technique's resolution was insufficient to determine their tissue or cell distribution. To avoid the limitations of these approaches, immunohistochemical visualization methods were used. Antibodies were raised in rabbits using cycloviolacin O2 (cyO2), and their specificity was determined by Western and dot blot experiments. Slides for immunohistochemical analysis were prepared from leaf, petiole and root fragments of Viola odorata and Viola uliginosa, and specimens were visualized using indirect epifluorescence microscopy. The antibodies against cyclotides were specific against selected bracelet cyclotides with high similarity (cyO2, cyO3, cyO8, cyO13) and suitable for immunohistochemistry. The tissue distribution of the cyclotides visualized in this way is consistent with their proposed role in host defense-relatively large quantities were observed in the leaf and petiole epidermis in both Viola species. Cyclotides were also found in vascular tissue in all the assessed plant organs. The vacuole storage of cyclotides was directly shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blazej Slazak
- W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Science, 46 Lubicz St, 31-512, Cracow, Poland.
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Box 574, 751 23, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Małgorzata Kapusta
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, 59 Wita Stwosza St, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Sohaib Malik
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Box 574, 751 23, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jerzy Bohdanowicz
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, 59 Wita Stwosza St, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Kuta
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, 9 Gronostajowa St, 30-387, Cracow, Poland
| | - Przemysław Malec
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 7 Gronostajowa St, 30-387, Cracow, Poland
| | - Ulf Göransson
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Box 574, 751 23, Uppsala, Sweden
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44
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Slazak B, Kapusta M, Malik S, Bohdanowicz J, Kuta E, Malec P, Göransson U. Immunolocalization of cyclotides in plant cells, tissues and organ supports their role in host defense. PLANTA 2016. [PMID: 27394154 DOI: 10.1016/10.1007/s00425-016-2562-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The distribution of cyclotides was visualized in plant cells, tissues and organs using immunohistochemistry. Finding of cyclotides in tissues potentially vulnerable to pathogen attacks supports their role as defense molecules. The cyclotide family of plant peptides is characterized by the cyclic cystine knot motif and its diverse biological activities. Given their insecticidal and antimicrobial properties, the role of cyclotides in planta is probably associated with host defense. Our current understanding of the cellular compartmentalization of cyclotides in the vacuole is based on indirect studies on transgenic model plants that do not express cyclotides naturally. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) imaging has also been used to study the distribution of cyclotides, but the technique's resolution was insufficient to determine their tissue or cell distribution. To avoid the limitations of these approaches, immunohistochemical visualization methods were used. Antibodies were raised in rabbits using cycloviolacin O2 (cyO2), and their specificity was determined by Western and dot blot experiments. Slides for immunohistochemical analysis were prepared from leaf, petiole and root fragments of Viola odorata and Viola uliginosa, and specimens were visualized using indirect epifluorescence microscopy. The antibodies against cyclotides were specific against selected bracelet cyclotides with high similarity (cyO2, cyO3, cyO8, cyO13) and suitable for immunohistochemistry. The tissue distribution of the cyclotides visualized in this way is consistent with their proposed role in host defense-relatively large quantities were observed in the leaf and petiole epidermis in both Viola species. Cyclotides were also found in vascular tissue in all the assessed plant organs. The vacuole storage of cyclotides was directly shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blazej Slazak
- W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Science, 46 Lubicz St, 31-512, Cracow, Poland.
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Box 574, 751 23, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Małgorzata Kapusta
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, 59 Wita Stwosza St, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Sohaib Malik
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Box 574, 751 23, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jerzy Bohdanowicz
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, 59 Wita Stwosza St, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Kuta
- Department of Plant Cytology and Embryology, Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, 9 Gronostajowa St, 30-387, Cracow, Poland
| | - Przemysław Malec
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 7 Gronostajowa St, 30-387, Cracow, Poland
| | - Ulf Göransson
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Box 574, 751 23, Uppsala, Sweden
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45
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Martinez OF, Agbale CM, Nomiyama F, Franco OL. Deciphering bioactive peptides and their action mechanisms through proteomics. Expert Rev Proteomics 2016; 13:1007-1016. [PMID: 27650042 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2016.1238305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Bioactive peptides such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), ribosomally synthesized and post translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) and the non-ribosomal peptides (NRPs) have emerged with promising applications in medicine, agriculture and industry. However, their development has been limited by several difficulties making it necessary to search for novel discovery methods. In this context, proteomics has been considered a reliable tool. Areas covered: This review highlights recent developments in proteomic tools that facilitate the discovery of AMPs, RiPPs and NRPs as well as the elucidation of action mechanisms of AMPs and resistance mechanisms of pathogens to them. Expert commentary: Proteomic approaches have emerged as useful tools for the study of bioactive peptides, especially mass spectrometry-based peptidomics profiling, a promising strategy for AMP discovery. Furthermore, the rapidly expanding fields of genome mining and genome sequencing techniques, as well as mass spectrometry, have revolutionized the discovery of novel RiPPs and NRPs from complex biological samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osmel Fleitas Martinez
- a Pos-Graduação em Patologia olecular , Universidade de Brasilia , Brasilia-DF Brazil.,b Centro de Analises Proteomicas e Bioquimicas, Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Ciencias Genomicas e Biotecnologia , Universidade Catolica de Brasilia , Brasília , Brazil
| | - Caleb Mawuli Agbale
- c S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Biotecnologia , Universidade Catolica Dom Bosco , Campo Grande , Brazil.,d Department of Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences , University of Cape Coast , Cape Coast , Ghana
| | - Fernanda Nomiyama
- b Centro de Analises Proteomicas e Bioquimicas, Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Ciencias Genomicas e Biotecnologia , Universidade Catolica de Brasilia , Brasília , Brazil
| | - Octávio Luiz Franco
- a Pos-Graduação em Patologia olecular , Universidade de Brasilia , Brasilia-DF Brazil.,b Centro de Analises Proteomicas e Bioquimicas, Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Ciencias Genomicas e Biotecnologia , Universidade Catolica de Brasilia , Brasília , Brazil.,c S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Biotecnologia , Universidade Catolica Dom Bosco , Campo Grande , Brazil
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Thermodynamic instability of viral proteins is a pathogen-associated molecular pattern targeted by human defensins. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32499. [PMID: 27581352 PMCID: PMC5007486 DOI: 10.1038/srep32499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human defensins are innate immune defense peptides with a remarkably broad repertoire of anti-pathogen activities. In addition to modulating immune response, inflammation, and angiogenesis, disintegrating bacterial membranes, and inactivating bacterial toxins, defensins are known to intercept various viruses at different stages of their life cycles, while remaining relatively benign towards human cells and proteins. Recently we have found that human defensins inactivate proteinaceous bacterial toxins by taking advantage of their low thermodynamic stability and acting as natural “anti-chaperones”, i.e. destabilizing the native conformation of the toxins. In the present study we tested various proteins produced by several viruses (HIV-1, PFV, and TEV) and found them to be susceptible to destabilizing effects of human α-defensins HNP-1 and HD-5 and the synthetic θ-defensin RC-101, but not β-defensins hBD-1 and hBD-2 or structurally related plant-derived peptides. Defensin-induced unfolding promoted exposure of hydrophobic groups otherwise confined to the core of the viral proteins. This resulted in precipitation, an enhanced susceptibility to proteolytic cleavage, and a loss of viral protein activities. We propose, that defensins recognize and target a common and essential physico-chemical property shared by many bacterial toxins and viral proteins – the intrinsically low thermodynamic protein stability.
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47
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Weidmann J, Craik DJ. Discovery, structure, function, and applications of cyclotides: circular proteins from plants. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2016; 67:4801-12. [PMID: 27222514 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erw210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Cyclotides are plant-derived cyclic peptides that have a head-to-tail cyclic backbone and three conserved disulphide bonds that form a cyclic cystine knot motif. They occur in plants from the Violaceae, Rubiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, and Solanaceae families, typically with 10-100 cyclotides in a given plant species, in a wide range of tissues, including flowers, leaves, stems, and roots. Some cyclotides are expressed in large amounts (up to 1g kg(-1) wet plant weight) and their natural function appears to be to protect plants from pests or pathogens. This article provides a brief overview of their discovery, distribution in plants, and applications. In particular, their exceptional stability has led to their use as peptide-based scaffolds in drug design applications. They also have potential as natural 'ecofriendly' insecticides, and as protein engineering frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Weidmann
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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48
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Grosse-Holz FM, van der Hoorn RAL. Juggling jobs: roles and mechanisms of multifunctional protease inhibitors in plants. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2016; 210:794-807. [PMID: 26800491 DOI: 10.1111/nph.13839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Multifunctional protease inhibitors juggle jobs by targeting different enzymes and thereby often controlling more than one biological process. Here, we discuss the biological functions, mechanisms and evolution of three types of multifunctional protease inhibitors in plants. The first type is double-headed inhibitors, which feature two inhibitory sites targeting proteases with different specificities (e.g. Bowman-Birk inhibitors) or even different hydrolases (e.g. α-amylase/protease inhibitors preventing both early germination and seed predation). The second type consists of multidomain inhibitors which evolved by intragenic duplication and are released by processing (e.g. multicystatins and potato inhibitor II, implicated in tuber dormancy and defence, respectively). The third type consists of promiscuous inhibitory folds which resemble mouse traps that can inhibit different proteases cleaving the bait they offer (e.g. serpins, regulating cell death, and α-macroglobulins). Understanding how multifunctional inhibitors juggle biological jobs increases our knowledge of the connections between the networks they regulate. These examples show that multifunctionality evolved independently from a remarkable diversity of molecular mechanisms that can be exploited for crop improvement and provide concepts for protein design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friederike M Grosse-Holz
- Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Renier A L van der Hoorn
- Plant Chemetics Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK
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49
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Clifton LA, Ciesielski F, Skoda MWA, Paracini N, Holt SA, Lakey JH. The Effect of Lipopolysaccharide Core Oligosaccharide Size on the Electrostatic Binding of Antimicrobial Proteins to Models of the Gram Negative Bacterial Outer Membrane. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2016; 32:3485-94. [PMID: 27003358 PMCID: PMC4854487 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b00240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2016] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the electrostatic interactions between bacterial membranes and exogenous proteins is crucial to designing effective antimicrobial agents against Gram-negative bacteria. Here we study, using neutron reflecometry under multiple isotopic contrast conditions, the role of the uncharged sugar groups in the outer core region of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in protecting the phosphate-rich inner core region from electrostatic interactions with antimicrobial proteins. Models of the asymmetric Gram negative outer membrane on silicon were prepared with phopshatidylcholine (PC) in the inner leaflet (closest to the silicon), whereas rough LPS was used to form the outer leaflet (facing the bulk solution). We show how salt concentration can be used to reversibly alter the binding affinity of a protein antibiotic colicin N (ColN) to the anionic LPS confirming that the interaction is electrostatic in nature. By examining the interaction of ColN with two rough LPS types with different-sized core oligosaccharide regions we demonstrate the role of uncharged sugars in blocking short-range electrostatic interactions between the cationic antibiotics and the vulnerable anionic phosphate groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke A Clifton
- ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory , Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 OQX, United Kingdom
| | - Filip Ciesielski
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford , Oxford, OX1 3RB, United Kingdom
| | - Maximilian W A Skoda
- ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory , Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 OQX, United Kingdom
| | - Nicolò Paracini
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University , Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen A Holt
- Bragg Institute, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation , Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, New South Wales 2232, Australia
| | - Jeremy H Lakey
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University , Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
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50
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Wang CK, Stalmans S, De Spiegeleer B, Craik DJ. Biodistribution of the cyclotide MCoTI-II, a cyclic disulfide-rich peptide drug scaffold. J Pept Sci 2016; 22:305-10. [PMID: 26929247 DOI: 10.1002/psc.2862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Revised: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Disulfide-rich macrocyclic peptides are promising templates for drug design because of their unique topology and remarkable stability. However, little is known about their pharmacokinetics. In this study, we characterize the biodistribution in mice of Momordica cochinchinensis trypsin inhibitor-II (MCoTI-II), a cyclic three-disulfide-containing peptide that has been used in a number of studies as a drug scaffold. The distribution of MCoTI-II was compared with that of chlorotoxin, which is a four-disulfide-containing peptide that has been used to develop brain tumor imaging agents; dermorphin, which is a disulfide-less peptide; and bovine serum albumin, a large protein. Both MCoTI-II and chlorotoxin distributed predominantly to the serum and kidneys, confirming that they are stable in serum and suggesting that they are eliminated from the blood through renal clearance. Although cell-penetrating peptides have been reported to be able to transport across the blood-brain barrier, MCoTI-II, which is a cell-penetrating peptide, showed no uptake into the brain. The uptake of chlorotoxin was higher than that of MCoTI-II but lower than that of dermorphin, which is considered to have low uptake into the brain. This study provides insight into the behavior of disulfide-rich peptides in vivo. Copyright © 2016 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conan K Wang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Sofie Stalmans
- Drug Quality and Registration (DruQuaR) Group, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart De Spiegeleer
- Drug Quality and Registration (DruQuaR) Group, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
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